Since all the guests invited that day were carefully selected, news about the Lu Corporation’s CEO getting engaged didn’t leak out. People only knew that yet another prime bachelor in the circle was off the market. For the socialites and heiresses who’d been dreaming of marrying into wealth, it was utterly heartbreaking. Good men were already a rare breed these days. It was one thing to compete with other women, but now they had to compete with men, too. How were they supposed to survive?
As for one of the main characters in this matter, Zuo Ning, his life hadn’t changed much at all. He still went to the set for filming every day. Aside from wearing his ring on a necklace around his neck, there wasn’t much difference from before. Coincidentally, his current scenes were all romantic ones. Given his current state of mind, he didn’t even need to get into character. Just imagining the female lead as Lu Chenghe was enough. His eyes full of affection made even the people watching think he might actually be in love with the actress.
During a break, Ni Hao lay under a fan, overheated and lifeless like a dead dog. Watching Zuo Ning walk over while rolling up his shirt sleeves, revealing fair and tender skin, he couldn’t help but click his tongue. “You look skinny, but you’ve actually got a bit of muscle, huh?”
Zuo Ning flexed his biceps and shook his little mouse muscle in front of him. “This is what they call ‘looks skinny in clothes, built when shirtless’. A good body like this isn’t something you can just envy into existence.”
Ni Hao wasn’t the least bit jealous of Zuo Ning’s build. He was a bit more solid himself, and with some training, his muscle lines were actually quite attractive. What he was jealous of was Zuo Ning’s unfair metabolism. He could eat and eat without gaining weight, and his skin stayed clear no matter what. Even after devouring a spicy hot pot in this sweltering weather, the next day, his skin was still dewy and flawless. Infuriating! The worst part was that, even after sweating through a whole scene, while everyone else had to touch up their makeup, Zuo Ning barely had anything on his face—a thin layer of powder, and that was it. No touch-up needed. Now that was what it meant to be naturally suited for the entertainment industry.
Glancing at the guy who had immediately started wolfing down a popsicle the moment he sat down, Ni Hao couldn’t help but ask his assistant for one, too. Lying back in his chair and watching the director explain a scene to another actor, he gossiped to Zuo Ning, “While you were in Italy, the crew next door started filming, too.”
Zuo Ning didn’t pay much attention to that kind of stuff. After wrapping up his scenes each day, he usually left right away. He had his assistant and manager handle social niceties. As long as he didn’t stir up trouble or offend anyone, his reputation would be just fine. Still, even if he didn’t actively follow the news, he was at least vaguely aware that the crew next door had begun production, too. But did that really warrant a special mention?
Seeing the confused look on Zuo Ning’s face, Ni Hao lowered his voice and said, “Rumor has it there’s a ton of drama in that crew. Like palace-intrigue level drama. There’s this one little pretty boy who’s seriously extra. Since filming started, he’s already driven out one male and one female supporting actor. He’s late every day, always showing off in some limited-edition sports car. Just yesterday, he had a huge blow-up with the director. The whole set shut down for half a day. We all thought the mess would drag on for a while, but surprisingly, they’re back to filming as usual today. Haven’t you noticed our own director’s mood has been better lately? Even with all those takes and NGs, he’s been explaining things patiently. He hasn’t even lost his temper once.”
Zuo Ning quickly nodded. “It really has gotten a lot better. Remember a couple of days ago when the costume designer messed up the outfit? Back then, the director would’ve started yelling on the spot. But this time, he didn’t say a word. He just told them to go switch it out, and that was that.”
Ni Hao chuckled. “That’s what they mean when they say ‘no comparison, no harm’. Look how harmonious our crew is—none of that backstabbing or scheming. But if you were filming with the crew next door, one day of work would take ten years off your life.”
Zuo Ning, as someone who used to be an outsider to the industry, had always heard people say the entertainment world was deep water—everything under the sun could happen, and there were sayings like “your circle plays hard”. But after having worked with several productions, he’d always gotten along just fine. Sure, for the first two gigs, he was literally a dog, so no one was going to bother scheming against him. But even in the last film he acted in, the cast and crew got along great. He still hadn’t encountered anything particularly deep or shady.
Now, being this close to some juicy gossip, Zuo Ning couldn’t help asking Ni Hao, “So who’s the guy? Is he famous? He must have a really strong backing if he’s acting like that.”
Ni Hao smiled. “Xing Ze. Polished abroad and came back with a golden aura. Of course, he’s different from us locals. His fans are next-level, too—not something us small-time stars can compare to. If you tick him off, his fans could dig up your personal info and show up at your house to rip you apart with their bare hands.”
Zuo Ning blinked blankly. Seeing his confused expression, Ni Hao looked at him like he couldn’t believe it. “You don’t know Xing Ze?”
Zuo Ning shook his head. “Our village just got internet.”
Ni Hao let out a helpless sigh. “He debuted overseas. Just when he was blowing up, hotter than the sun, he decided to come back and develop his career here. Every time he appears in public, his fans get so worked up they literally faint. He’s just like me—started with singing, then moved into acting. But people’s paths are different. Not that I want his kind of life. He once did a music video with a rookie female artist that had an intimate scene. After it dropped, his fans dug up the poor girl’s entire family history—eighteen generations back—and she even got eggs thrown at her on the street.”
Zuo Ning’s eyes widened. “Wait, I know that one! I read about it in the news. But the article said the girl seduced a married man, that’s why she got egged.”
Ni Hao gave a small laugh. “That’s showbiz for you. They can make something out of nothing and still sound totally convincing. His fans are really intense. Since our crew’s so close to theirs, you’d better be careful if you ever run into him.”
Ni Hao had just told him about these things in the morning, and by the afternoon, Zuo Ning had already run into the very person they had gossiped about. Unfortunately, Zuo Ning didn’t recognize the one called Xing Ze, and their encounter happened in the restroom of a restaurant.
The hotter the summer, the more Zuo Ning craved hotpot. Spicy, sizzling hotpot paired with ice-cold cola—pure heaven. And right here in their film and television city, there was a hotpot place that used a secret recipe for its base broth. The flavor was absolutely phenomenal—so good it could bring tears to your eyes. Sadly, the owner didn’t offer takeout and wouldn’t sell the base separately. If you wanted to eat it, you had to go to the restaurant in person.
While washing his hands in the restroom, Zuo Ning felt someone staring at him. He looked up and glanced around. There was a guy wearing a hat standing nearby, clearly looking at him. Zuo Ning shot him a quick glance to confirm he didn’t know him, then grabbed a paper towel to dry his hands and prepared to leave. But that guy blocked his way.
Zuo Ning immediately stepped back, full of alertness. If this guy dared do anything to him, he’d scratch him to death!
Seeing the guy still staring at him, Zuo Ning frowned and asked, “What do you want?”
The man smiled. “You’re Lu Ning, right? Hello, I’m Xing Ze.”
You don’t hit someone who’s smiling—though Zuo Ning found the whole situation puzzling, he still returned the greeting. “Hello.”
Xing Ze gave him a quick once-over. “Here to eat?”
Zuo Ning really wanted to roll his eyes. Obviously, he was here to eat. What else, sniff the air? Still, he had to keep up appearances in front of others, so he responded politely with a smile. “Yeah.”
Xing Ze smiled again. “If you don’t mind, how about we eat together? I happen to be alone.”
Zuo Ning replied, “Sorry, I have plans with someone.”
Xing Ze seemed to understand right away. “With President Lu? I’ve actually met him once before. I don’t think he’d mind having me join.”
Hearing that, Zuo Ning felt an even stronger urge to roll his eyes. What was that supposed to mean? Who gave this guy the confidence to think his Chenghe wouldn’t mind having an extra third wheel? How could someone be this shameless, to actually say something like that out loud!
However, Zuo Ning still held back his temper and forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he said, “Sorry, today’s not a good time. Maybe another day if there’s a chance.”
Xing Ze narrowed his eyes slightly, his smile fading a bit, now tinged with arrogance. “Come on, no need for that. Let’s just hang out together. We can even post something on our Moments later. You’re good-looking too. These days, fans love watching handsome guys. I think they’ll like you. Actually, there’s a role in my MV, and I think you’d be a great fit.”
Zuo Ning’s smile was gone. “Sorry, my schedule’s packed in the coming days. I probably won’t have the time. Thank you for the offer, but could you please move aside? I’ve been out for a while, I should be getting back.”
Xing Ze’s expression turned cold. “You’re really not going to join? Think carefully—opportunities like this don’t come often.”
Zuo Ning replied with a smile, “I’m sure. So, would you mind stepping aside?” Damn, this is so frustrating! Who are these people, acting like they’re doing others a favor? Never seen someone with such thick skin.
Just as Xing Ze was staring coldly at this tactless person in front of him, the restroom door was pushed open.
“What’s taking so long? You’ve been gone forever.”
Zuo Ning immediately lit up and ran over with a smile, “Coming, coming! Do you need to use the restroom?”
Lu Chenghe naturally reached out to hold his Little Pudding’s hand, then turned to lead him out.
At this moment, Xing Ze quickly spoke up, “President Lu, hello, what a coincidence running into you here.”
Lu Chenghe glanced at him. Xing Ze quickly removed his hat, his smile bright and enthusiastic, completely different from the cold, gloomy look he had just given Zuo Ning. “Do you remember me, President Lu? We met at the Fourth Young Master’s company before. My name is Xing Ze.”
Lu Chenghe gave him another look and said coldly, “Please move.”
In an instant, Xing Ze’s face turned the color of pig liver. Zuo Ning had originally been standing obediently by the side, but now his eyes shifted mischievously. He wrapped himself around Lu Chenghe’s arm like he had no bones in his body, and in a cloying, syrupy voice that could give anyone goosebumps, he whined, “Chenghe, I’m soooo hungry. Let’s go eat, okay?”
Lu Chenghe was caught off guard by that sticky-sweet tone and gave a slight shiver. He shot Zuo Ning a sideways glance, saw the mischievous glint in his eyes, and held back a laugh before heading straight for the private dining room.
As they passed by Xing Ze, Zuo Ning added, “I’ve had my eye on a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch. Over seventeen million. It’s a limited edition—so beautiful. I want it.”
Lu Chenghe tilted his head to glance at him and gave a small smile. “Alright, I’ll buy it for you.”
Zuo Ning immediately clung tighter to his arm and rubbed against it. “I knew you’re the best.”
It wasn’t until they’d clung to each other all the way into the private room that Zuo Ning finally let go of Lu Chenghe, then said fiercely, “I don’t even know where that guy came from! You have no idea, he was talking to me like he was doing me a favor. Said we should take a photo together to post on Weibo, even wanted me to shoot his MV.” As he spoke, he waved both hands in frustration. “The ego on that guy is huge!”
Lu Chenghe turned up the flame on the hotpot stove and tossed in all of Zuo Ning’s favorite ingredients, letting him rant away beside him. Once the meat was cooked, he placed it in Zuo Ning’s bowl. “Eat.”
After venting, Zuo Ning grabbed Lu Chenghe’s clothes. “There’s so much temptation out there. You’d better resist! Even looking a second longer is not allowed!”
Lu Chenghe pinched his chin. “So overbearing?”
Zuo Ning’s eyes widened instantly. “You do want to look, don’t you?!” As he spoke, he bared his sharp little canine teeth and gave them a lick with his tongue. “See this? These aren’t just for show!”
Lu Chenghe reached out and gently touched his teeth. “They really are sharp.”
“Scared now, huh!”
Lu Chenghe kissed him on the lips. “Mm-hmm. Terrified.”
Zuo Ning gave a satisfied hum and rubbed himself against Lu Chenghe’s chest. Hmph, Lu Chenghe was really getting more and more shameless.