Chapter 2: I’m Not His Friend

Under the pale, cold light.

Shen Jixing surveyed the apartment with its cool, muted tones—it reeked of bachelorhood.

The light fell across his straight shoulders like a proud, white bird inspecting its new home.

No friends? Why should I care?

I’m not his friend anyway.

Zhou Yili leaned against the wall, eyes narrowed in displeasure, still unable to fathom what possessed him to step aside and let the other in.

The next moment, the little white bird’s gaze landed on his face.

What? Now I’m under your scrutiny too? Go on, throw me out if you dare.

“Are you going out?” Shen Jixing’s cool, direct gaze swept him from head to toe, finally settling on the car keys in his hand.

It was only then Zhou Yili remembered he was about to leave.

He snorted from his nose, “Yeah.”

“Where to?”

Just listen to that icy, arrogant tone.

Will this man ever change his annoying habits?

“What’s it to you?” Zhou Yili’s long legs crossed as he leaned back against the wall, his tone perfunctory, with a cold, impatient sneer.

Shen Jixing was quiet for a moment.

Before he could reply, Zhou Yili tossed out two curt words, “Supermarket.”

“Oh.”

Oh?

“Bring me a coffee. Thirty percent sugar, no milk.”

Shen Jixing reached into his pocket for his wallet but found nothing—he must have left it behind in his haste.

He looked up. “My phone’s dead. I’ll transfer you the money once it’s charged.”

Perhaps because he was temporarily under another’s roof, Shen Jixing, unusually, added, “Would that be all right?”

Under the bright light, his pale skin was almost translucent, like ice and snow. His long, black lashes were beautifully sharp, and his face remained cold and aloof, like a statue. Yet, needing a favor, he showed rare gentleness and calm.

Zhou Yili looked him over for a few seconds, gave a scornful laugh, and straightened up slowly.

“No, it’s not all right.”

With that, he strode out, lazily spinning the car keys around his finger, not even glancing back as he left the apartment.

Shen Jixing sighed silently. Whatever.

He plugged in his phone, and the screen immediately flooded with messages.

Shen Jixing didn’t have many friends. Setting aside the half-hearted probing and concern, most messages were from his company team and his assistant.

[Bear]: Brother Shen, where are you now?

[Bear]: You didn’t go home, did you? I’m downstairs at your place and already surrounded. If you’re home, don’t come out!

[Bear]: Our address has been leaked by the paparazzi. Maybe you should come to my place. I’ve got a new house for my future wife, but it’s not furnished yet. You’ll have to rough it a bit...

...

[S]: No need.

[S]: At a friend’s place.

A friend’s place?

His assistant had worked with him for a while and had never seen him keep in touch with any close friends.

[Bear]: Brother Shen, is your friend... reliable?

[Bear]: The unscrupulous media are offering big money for any fresh news about you. Is your friend... I mean, I’m just worried.

[S]: He won’t.

The reply came almost instantly, and Bear was relieved.

[Bear]: That’s good, that’s good.

Anyone Brother Shen trusts so much must be a good person!

The assistant wanted to keep comforting him, but clearly, Brother Shen didn’t need it.

Having waded through these muddy waters of greed and desire for so long, Shen Jixing was more clear-headed and rational than anyone.

[S]: Head home. I’ll deal with Manager Pei about the rest.

Manager Pei was his agent.

In times like this, assistants were of little use.

Shen Jixing was about to exit WeChat when a notification chimed.

[Bear]: No matter what, I’ll always be here for you!

[Bear]: [bear-heart.jpg]

Shen Jixing chuckled softly, then his gaze fell on his own words: He won’t.

Even he was surprised by this groundless trust.

Truthfully, his last meeting with Zhou Yili had been far from pleasant.

One could even call it bloody.

—Crash.

In memory, the champagne tower collapsed with a roar, shattering into a kaleidoscope of fragments on the ground.

That so-called “rookie devil” of the rock scene, with the wildest, most unrestrained smile, a reckless force of nature that swept through the entertainment industry like a storm, had been reduced to misery before him.

“Was it necessary?”

Blood seeped from the blue streaks in his hair, running down the chiseled planes of his face. The eyes that always held a smirk were now stained scarlet.

He asked in a low voice, “Did you really have to go this far, Shen Jixing?”

The young man raised his eyes, dry and raw, Adam’s apple bobbing, something dripping from his chin.

Through the haze of blood, he looked at him.

“Do you hate me that much?”

Shen Jixing closed his eyes lightly.

His phone buzzed twice and slipped from his hand, thudding dully onto the carpet.

He came back to himself, bent down twice to pick it up, and answered the call.

Pei Ming, his agent, roared from the other end, “How many times have I called you? Are you waiting for me to die before you pick up?”

“If you’re dead, there’s no need,” Shen Jixing replied coolly. “What is it?”

The hell? Pei Ming swallowed his temper. “I heard you left the event early. If you’re safe, get on Tencent Meeting now for an emergency PR session with the team.”

Shen Jixing glanced at the clock. Midnight.

“You’re not sleeping?”

“Who the hell can sleep right now!” Pei Ming was losing his mind.

With the mess outside, who could sleep?

Shen Jixing massaged his brow. Without caffeine, his mind was clearly flagging.

He disliked making any decisions when not fully awake.

He glanced at the tightly closed door, assuming Zhou Yili had probably gone out to party.

“I don't like making my staff work overtime. The meeting can wait until tomorrow.”

Pei Ming: “???”

Amazing.

Pei Ming countered, “Do you hear yourself?”

As the industry’s most ruthless agent, he knew better than anyone that every minute counted during a PR crisis.

And now you’re worried about employee welfare?

Shen Jixing replied, calm and detached, “Any response at this hour would be pointless.”

“Because—”

Pei Ming, having launched countless stars, was known for his sharp, discerning eye. The first time he met Shen Jixing, he was certain this man would become a superstar, famous across the land.

Some people are born to be in the spotlight; their very presence eclipses all others.

Shen Jixing lived up to those expectations, reaching unattainable heights, creating his own legend. In eight years, he’d never had a single scandal.

Outstanding, wise, courteous, dedicated.

Save for being too cold and reclusive, he was perfect—like a meticulously made machine.

Never had Pei Ming imagined that one day, so many negative rumors would fall on Shen Jixing’s head.

It was absurd.

And what happened next was even more absurd.

Shen Jixing said, “Everything on the trending searches is true.”

Because, everything on the trending searches was true.

...

His voice was so calm that Pei Ming actually nodded along, “Yeah, it’s all true?”

Shen Jixing’s lips curved. “Mm, rest early. I’ll come to the office tomorrow.”

“Wait, hold on—!!!”

Pei Ming finally snapped to attention and shouted, “It’s all true??!!!”

“What’s all true?! What do you mean it’s true?! Explain—”

Beeeeeep.

The line had already gone dead.

Pei Ming, hands shaking, dialed again, but that clever devil had already turned off his phone.

“Damn it!” Pei Ming cursed.

It’s all true… true.

Never mind the first two trending topics—just the last one, about having a mysterious backer and sleeping with a male fan.

All... all true?

Pei Ming’s head spun, dizziness overwhelming him. He gripped his desk for support, the image of that cold, aloof superstar shattering completely in his mind.

“Good God Almighty…”

In the brightly-lit office tower, deep in the night, a middle-aged man’s voice suddenly broke with despair—

“Shen! Ji! Xing! Just which male fan did you sleep with?!”