Chapter 2: He’s Not My Friend
Under the cold, harsh light.
Shen Jixing surveyed the sparsely furnished apartment, reeking strongly of single-dog life.
The light fell on his straight shoulders, like a proud, white bird surveying its new home.
“It’s none of my business if he has no friends?”
“He’s not my friend!”
Zhou Yili, leaning against the wall with an unhappy squint, couldn’t figure out why he’d impulsively given way.
The next moment, the “little white bird’s” appraising gaze fell on his face.
“What?”
“Am I also going to be subjected to your scrutiny? Got the guts to kick me out?”
“Are you going out?” Shen Jixing’s cold, direct gaze swept over him from head to toe, finally resting on the keychain.
Zhou Yili then remembered he was supposed to go out.
He let out a cold snort from his nose. “Mm.”
“Where to?”
Look at this icy, arrogant tone.
Doesn’t this guy ever change his bad habits?
“What’s it to you?” Zhou Yili crossed his long legs, leaning against the wall, his tone perfunctory and laced with a cold, impatient sneer.
Shen Jixing was silent for a moment.
Before he could speak, he heard Zhou Yili coldly throw out two words, “Supermarket.”
“Oh.”
Oh?
“Get me a coffee, three sugars, no milk.”
Shen Jixing reached into his pocket, but didn’t find his wallet; he must have left it behind in his haste.
He looked up. “My phone’s dead. I’ll transfer the money later when it’s charged.”
Perhaps because he was relying on others, Shen Jixing unusually added a softening word: “Okay?”
Under the bright light, his pale skin was as thin as ice and snow, his long, dark eyelashes beautifully sharp, still a cold, arrogant, deathly face.
Yet, because he needed something from another person, a rare softness and peacefulness showed through.
Zhou Yili stared at him for a few seconds, scoffed, and slowly straightened up.
“No.”
He strode away, his index finger lazily twirling his car keys, and left the apartment without looking back.
Shen Jixing sighed silently, whatever.
After charging his phone, a flood of messages popped up.
Shen Jixing didn’t have many friends; apart from half-hearted probes of concern, most were from his company team and his assistant.
【Xiong Xiong】: Brother Shen, where are you?
【Xiong Xiong】: You’re not home, are you? I’m surrounded by paparazzi downstairs your building! If you’re home, please don’t come out!
【Xiong Xiong】: Our address has been leaked by the paparazzi. Why don’t you come to my place? I have a new apartment prepared for my future wife, it’s just not decorated yet, you’ll have to put up with it…
…
【S】: No.
【S】: At a friend’s place.
A friend’s place?
His assistant had worked with him for quite some time, and had never seen him contact any close friends.
【Xiong Xiong】: Brother Shen, is your friend… reliable?
【Xiong Xiong】: The unscrupulous marketing accounts are offering high prices for your first-hand information. Is your friend… well, I don’t mean anything bad, I’m just worried about you.
【S】: He is.
An almost instant reply, Xiong Xiong’s heart settled.
【Xiong Xiong】: That’s good, that’s good.
The person who can be so trusted by Brother Shen must be a good person!
The assistant wanted to say something more comforting, but Brother Shen obviously didn’t need it.
Having navigated the treacherous waters of the entertainment industry for so long, Shen Jixing was more rational and clear-headed than anyone.
【S】: Go home early. I will deal with Brother Pei.
Brother Pei was his agent.
The assistant wasn’t much use in this situation.
Shen Jixing was about to exit WeChat when there was a ‘ding’ sound.
【Xiong Xiong】: Yes, yes, no matter what, I’ll always be with you!
【Xiong Xiong】: [Xiong Xiong heart.jpg]
Shen Jixing chuckled softly, then his gaze fell on the words ‘He is.’
He was surprised by his unfounded trust.
To be fair, his last encounter with Zhou Yili was not pleasant.
It was even bloody.
“——Crash.”
A champagne tower crashed in his memory, shattering into a myriad of broken, bizarre lights.
The rock musician, hailed as the “devil rookie,” possessed the most unrestrained and flamboyant smile. His unrestrained wildness made him like a gust of wind, forcefully sweeping through the entertainment industry.
Yet, he was pathetic in front of Shen Jixing.
“Was it necessary?”
Blood flowed from his dyed blue hair, across his sharp features, those eyes that always smiled were stained crimson.
He whispered, “Was it necessary to go this far? Shen Jixing.”
The young man raised his eyes dryly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, as if something was dripping from his chin.
Seeing him through the bloody mess.
“Do you hate me that much?”
Shen Jixing closed his eyes gently.
His phone vibrated twice, slipping from his hand and thudding onto the carpet.
He snapped back to reality, bending down to pick it up twice, then answered the call.
His agent, Pei Ming, roared on the other end, “How many calls have I made to you? Do you have to wait until I’m dead before answering?”
“If you were dead, I wouldn’t need to answer.” Shen Jixing said calmly, “Just get to the point.”
What the…?
Pei Ming couldn’t argue with him, suppressing his anger, “I heard you left the event midway. If you’re safe, go online for a Tencent Meeting, and have an emergency PR meeting with the team.”
Shen Jixing glanced at the clock; twelve o’clock.
“Aren’t you sleeping?”
“Sleep my ass!” Pei Ming was going crazy.
What a mess it was outside, who the hell could sleep?
Shen Jixing rubbed his temples. Without the help of caffeine, he was clearly a bit groggy.
He didn’t like to make any decisions when he wasn’t clear-headed.
Glancing at the closed door, he thought Zhou Yili had probably gone out to cause trouble.
“I don’t like to exploit employees after work hours. The meeting can be held tomorrow.”
Pei Ming: “???”
Amazing.
Pei Ming asked back, “Do you want to hear what you’re saying?”
As a ruthless top agent in the industry, he knew better than anyone that every minute of crisis PR was precious.
Are you feeling sympathetic to the common people now?
Shen Jixing simply said calmly, “Any response at this time is useless.”
“Because—”
Pei Ming, as a top agent in the industry, had promoted countless stars.
He always had a discerning eye, yet when he first met Shen Jixing, he believed that he would become a top star and become famous throughout China.
Some people are naturally the focus, eclipsing everyone else as soon as they appear.
Shen Jixing indeed lived up to his expectations, reaching an unattainable peak, creating his own myth, and maintaining eight years in the industry without a single scandal.
Excellent, wise, courteous, and dedicated.
Apart from being overly cold and aloof, he was perfect, like a meticulously crafted robot.
Pei Ming never imagined that so many negative news would fall on Shen Jixing one day.
It was too absurd.
The next second, something even more absurd happened.
Shen Jixing said, “Everything on the hot searches is true.”
Because, everything on the hot searches was true.
“…”
His tone was so calm and indifferent that Pei Ming even nodded along, “Ah, it’s all true, huh?”
Shen Jixing’s lips curled up, “Mm, get some rest, I’ll go to the company tomorrow.”
“No, wait…!!!”
Pei Ming reacted and yelled, “It’s all true??!!!”
“What’s all true!!? True what!!??! Tell me clearly—”
“Beep.”
The line went dead.
Pei Ming shakily dialed again, that clever ancestor had already shut down.
“Fuck?” Pei Ming was forced to swear.
It’s all true… really.
Let alone the first two hot searches, just the last one about having a mysterious patron and sleeping with male fans.
It’s all true?
Pei Ming felt dizzy, his legs unsteady as he supported himself on the desk, his image of the cold and aloof top star completely collapsing.
“My God…”
In the brightly lit office building at night, a middle-aged man’s desperate yell suddenly rang out—
“Shen, Ji, Xing! Which male fan did you sleep with??!!!”