Chapter 39: Gu Ye’s Anger
The voice beside his ear was incredibly clear, like a deafening clap of thunder splitting the sky. Lin Qingyan was so shocked his body froze, his blood seeming to flow backward, leaving him momentarily unable to react.
This wasn’t what he expected. Wen Yan actually knew him, and moreover… Lin Qingyan suddenly snapped back to reality, using his arm to push away the man holding him, but the embrace was too tight.
“YanYan, you feel the same way, don’t you?”
“YanYan, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I was wrong…”
Wen Yan’s eyes were already red-rimmed. He spoke excitedly in Lin Qingyan’s ear, his expression a mixture of crying and laughing, a far cry from his usual refined and gentle demeanor. He looked like a madman.
“Madman,” Lin Qingyan struggled forcefully, his heart in turmoil, yet his voice remained calm. “I don’t care who you are, let go of me immediately, or I’ll call the police.”
“YanYan…”
Before Wen Yan could finish, the restroom door was violently pushed open from outside. A tall figure swiftly rushed in, raising a hand without hesitation and striking Wen Yan across the face.
The punch was delivered with full force. Wen Yan’s face contorted in pain, instinctively releasing his hold on the young man and taking two steps back. Before he could recover, Gu Fei had already grabbed his collar, violently dragging him to the sink.
Wen Yan’s back slammed hard against the cold marble, causing him to gasp in pain. However, even more terrifying were the eyes that met his—calm yet sinister and ruthless, like a hunter staring at its dying prey.
Wen Yan had already witnessed Gu Fei’s methods. His scalp tingled, and cold sweat broke out. He stiffened his neck, forcing himself to remain calm and said, “What do you want? This is between him and me, you don’t need to interfere.”
Lin Qingyan, standing behind, took a shallow breath and spoke coldly, “I don’t know him.”
“Did you hear that? He says he doesn’t know you,” Gu Fei stared at the man in front of him, his pale lips slightly parted, his low, magnetic voice calm yet chilling. “Don’t let me see you near him again.”
Having held a high position for many years, Gu Fei always carried an aura of oppression. A low pressure filled the small restroom, making it difficult for Wen Yan to even breathe. He stubbornly refused to speak.
Gu Fei didn’t waste any more words. He released his grip, turned to Lin Qingyan, his previously terrifying icy gaze softening. He examined the young man from head to toe, his tone concerned, “Are you alright?”
Lin Qingyan softly shook his head, gently tugging at the man’s clothes, a subtle act of dependence he didn’t even realize himself. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
Gu Fei’s gaze lingered on the tugged fabric for a moment, then he hummed in response, putting an arm around the young man’s thin shoulders and walking out, seemingly protecting him, yet also deliberately showcasing his claim to him.
Wen Yan remained where he was, watching the two figures gradually disappear, a painful sight. His red eyes were filled with disappointment and agony, as if thousands of needles were piercing his heart, making it impossible to breathe.
“Why? How could this be…”
Since fate had given him a second chance, why couldn’t he win back the person he loved? YanYan clearly liked him. Why did Gu Fei get there first?
No… he wouldn’t give up.
He had lost YanYan in his past life. He couldn’t lose him again in this life. YanYan must still love him!
That’s right, Wen Yan was also reborn.
In his past life, when Lin Qingyan was forced to announce his retirement from the entertainment industry, Wen Yan was on a business trip abroad, very busy, and didn’t take the matter seriously. Only after returning did he discover that Lin Qingyan had vanished.
Calls went unanswered, his home was empty, and he couldn’t find him anywhere, without a single trace. It was as if he had evaporated.
An Nan Yi had comforted him then, saying that perhaps YanYan was just in a bad mood and wanted to find a quiet place to relax. He had believed that as well.
YanYan loved him so much; he would never disappear without a trace. He thought he might return in a few days.
But as day after day passed, Lin Qingyan still didn’t return, and Wen Yan finally started to panic. He began searching everywhere for him.
But the world is so vast, and it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. When he finally found the rented room where Lin Qingyan had been staying in a small county thousands of kilometers away, it was already empty.
Later, every time he saw Lin Qingyan, it was in the black and white photos on his tombstone…
——
“Ge Fei, I don’t want to eat anymore. Can we go home?”
“Okay, I’ll take you home.”
Gu Fei kept his arm around the young man’s shoulders until they reached the passenger side of the car, then he released him, watching him get in before getting into the driver’s seat himself.
The enclosed car was quiet. Lin Qingyan lowered his eyes, his long, thick eyelashes damp, trembling slightly. He absentmindedly picked at his fingers, whispering, “I’m sorry, I’ve caused you trouble.”
Another brief silence fell in the car, Lin Qingyan’s heart pounding.
Before the man could speak, his chin was gently lifted. The warm touch of a fingertip against his skin made his heart feel a sudden warmth.
Gu Fei gently raised the young man’s chin, his thin lips pursed, and took out a handkerchief to carefully wipe away the remaining water stains on his face.
From his forehead to his nose and cheeks, although the touch was light, the delicate skin that the soft handkerchief had touched turned slightly red.
The temperature in the car suddenly rose a few degrees. Lin Qingyan dared not move, but his hands nervously clutched his clothes. He spoke in a soft voice, like a kitten, “Ge Fei…”
Gu Fei’s movement paused. His fingertip moved lower, gently pressing against the soft, moving lips, stopping the words about to escape the young man’s mouth. Lin Qingyan only widened his eyes slightly, then lowered them to look at the hand pressing against his lips, still not daring to move.
Gu Fei finally spoke, “Lin Qingyan, you haven’t done anything wrong, and you haven’t caused me any trouble. There’s no need to apologize.” (He added silently in his heart: Even if it was trouble, it’s trouble I happily accept.)
“Mm…” Lin Qingyan nodded slightly.
Now he can let go, right?
But the fingertip on his lips pressed intentionally or unintentionally, and then moved away. The man’s gaze swept to the young man’s collar, then casually looked away.
Lin Qingyan looked down and realized his collar was open, revealing a small patch of chest. His blush had spread to his ears, and he quickly fastened the top two buttons.
“That man earlier, you really don’t know him?”
At the mention, Lin Qingyan’s body stiffened slightly. What he’d been dreading had finally arrived. There was no way to explain this. He didn’t even know what had happened. Unless it was a coincidence, Wen Yan had also been reborn.
“Um… I really don’t know him. He suddenly rushed in, hugged me, and started rambling nonsense. I guess he mistook me for someone else,” Lin Qingyan almost bit his tongue. Even he didn’t believe what he just said.
Gu Fei’s face showed no change of emotion, making it impossible to tell if he believed him or not. He simply looked into the young man’s eyes and solemnly instructed, “If he bothers you again, you must tell me.”
“Mm, I know.” Lin Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief.
“Seatbelt.”
“Oh… okay.”
Only after the young man fastened his seatbelt did the man start the car and quickly leave the restaurant.
Lin Qingyan rolled down the car window for some air. The hot summer wind blew in, ruffling his hair. He secretly glanced at the man’s sharp, exquisite profile, and his turbulent heart gradually calmed down.
Even if Wen Yan was also reborn, so what? It was all in the past. Regardless of Wen Yan’s feelings for him, he no longer felt that initial attraction.
The best outcome would be to become complete strangers who never interfere with each other.
Gu Fei’s words interrupted Lin Qingyan’s thoughts, “I forgot to tell you, your student record has been restored. You don’t have to go to school if you don’t want to; you can self-study.”
Lin Qingyan was stunned, once again marveling at the advantages of wealth. He had to add another entry to his gratitude notebook. Just as he was about to express his thanks, the man spoke again, “If you really want to thank me, then repay me with actions?”
Lin Qingyan: …How did this gentleman know what he was about to say?
Repay him with actions?
So how should he repay him?
As the richest man in Nancheng, Gu Ye lacked nothing. This was quite a problem. Lin Qingyan couldn’t think of a way to repay him, “This… what kind of action do you need?”
Gu Fei said, “You have to think about it yourself.”
Lin Qingyan nodded listlessly, “Okay.”
Without his noticing, the corner of the man’s lips curved slightly upward, revealing an almost imperceptible smile.
——
The interview for “Tomorrow’s Stars” was scheduled for September 10th, about ten days away. Lin Qingyan became busy, gradually putting Wen Yan behind him.
He spent long hours practicing singing and dancing. His current body hadn’t learned these things before, so it took time to adapt.
He went to Yi Hua Entertainment for practice during the day. The company had better facilities and professional teachers.
Gu’s Group headquarters was near Yi Hua. Gu Fei would take Lin Qingyan there in the morning and pick him up in the evening. If he had time during lunch, he would pick him up to eat together.
At first, Lin Qingyan felt very embarrassed. After all, Mr. Gu was a busy CEO, yet he drove him around every day, like a parent picking up their child from school.
But gradually, he got used to it.
If Gu Fei suddenly stopped picking him up one day, he might feel uncomfortable.
This evening, the familiar Maybach was still parked at the entrance of Yi Hua Entertainment, but the man behind the wheel was not the familiar one. “Are you Young Master Lin?”
Not seeing the expected person, Lin Qingyan felt a subtle sense of disappointment. He smiled politely, “Yes, who are you?”
“I’m Mr. Gu’s assistant. He has something to attend to today, so he asked me to pick you up.”
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