Chapter 93

Head Over Heels

"What do you mean?"

Xu Chenzhu had already half-guessed the shape of it. In earlier years, people had tried sending attractive individuals his way; after a few cold refusals, no one had dared again.

"Some people may have misread the situation and decided to use Mr. Chao as an avenue to impress you." The secretary was anxious not to let the boss misunderstand Chao Musheng, and pressed on with his defense: "Mr. Xu — Mr. Chao's character and capabilities speak for themselves. Employees within our own company have tried to curry his favor, and he's never moved an inch. Why would he be swayed by outside parties?"

"People from the company's film division — trying to curry favor with Mr. Chao?"

The secretary fell briefly silent. She looked at Xu Chenzhu's expression and felt that whatever point he was making with that question was not quite the same point she'd been trying to make.

"This is Luo Yixuan's file." She placed a document in front of him. "Ordinary background. No problematic habits. His acting is considered above average for the current generation of celebrities. For the last few months, he's been cut off from better opportunities because he refused to follow his company's directions."

Xu Chenzhu opened the file. The first thing he saw was a production still.

"That's the role that made him well-known — the second male lead in a campus idol drama. A devotedly romantic character."

Materials like this would ordinarily never reach the boss's desk. But because of Mr. Chao, he'd spared it more than a glance — the secretary wasn't sure whether that was good fortune or bad fortune for this Luo Yixuan.

In the production still, Xu Chenzhu saw the shadow of many people he recognized — Zhaozhao's friends.

Young. Vivid. Eyes full of an expectation that the world would be good.

He possessed everything the world called enviable — wealth, position — and yet a single photograph had produced in him something restless and uneasy. He closed the file without reading further and handed it back. "Take it away."

"And the contract for Luo Yixuan—"

Xu Chenzhu was quiet. Just as the secretary thought he wouldn't answer, she heard him.

"Wait until I've spoken with Mr. Chao."

Which meant — follow Mr. Chao's preference entirely?

"Understood, Mr. Xu." She took the file and left, pulling the door shut behind her to find several colleagues already waiting in the corridor.

"The boss isn't upset with Xiao Chao?"

"What did the boss say?"

She passed the artist's file to the nearest colleague. "The boss said nothing, didn't blame Xiao Chao at all — and whether this Luo Yixuan stays or goes is up to Xiao Chao."

"Xiao Chao hasn't actually taken a liking to him, has he?" The colleague flipped through the file briefly. "Decent-looking. Still — compared to Xiao Chao, a step down."

"He's been getting a lot of attention lately. Maybe Xiao Chao's just casually curious." They all got along well enough with Chao Musheng, and the tech department had effectively made him their patron saint, which gave him an unusual position within the president's office.

Xiao Chao's twenty. Could he really be involved in that kind of thing?

"What curiosity?" Secretary Liu came down the corridor with a stack of documents, spotted the cluster of colleagues whispering, and joined them. "What's Xiao Chao done?"

He had the closest relationship with Chao Musheng of anyone in the office. Seeing him, they handed over the artist's file. "Nothing much — someone's misread the situation around Xiao Chao."

"An artist?" Secretary Liu was confused. "I don't even work on the entertainment side. Why are you giving this to me?"

"New company signing?"

"Not yet." The secretary who'd come from the boss's office answered. "But it may end up in the Kunlun film division."

"What's special about him?" Secretary Liu leafed through it. A respectable artist — no bad habits, no character problems. Still, that alone didn't explain why so many colleagues were gathered discussing it.

"You haven't heard? This is a gift someone sent to curry favor with Xiao Chao." The colleague said with a laugh. "Xiao Chao's been away one day and he's already received a gift this generous."

"The boss knows?"

"Anything involving people in the president's office has to go up to the boss." She smiled. "Fortunately the boss isn't angry at Xiao Chao — and he's leaving the decision to Xiao Chao when he gets back."

Secretary Liu: "..."

The boss isn't angry — or the boss can't bring himself to be angry at Xiao Chao?

He looked through Luo Yixuan's file again more carefully. Outstanding on several counts — but not so outstanding that Xiao Chao would have taken an interest in a single day.

Xiao Chao had grown up surrounded by affection, and was remarkable in his own right. The one thing he had never lacked was people's regard.

But precisely because of that, he was also the kind of person least likely to be moved.

A person who can have sweets every day has no craving for one particular sweet.

"Xiao Chao hasn't developed any other feeling toward him." Secretary Liu returned the file and knocked on the boss's door.

"Come in."

He entered, set the documents down. "Boss — the Linhai branch company's third anniversary is tomorrow. The general manager has invited you to attend. Will you go?"

Linhai. The city where the fashion charity event was being held.

"When is the anniversary?"

"Tomorrow noon." Secretary Liu feigned having forgotten that he'd assigned the branch anniversary to Chao Musheng several days earlier. "The branch's first-half growth figures have been very strong. Your presence at the anniversary would mean a great deal to the staff there."

"Fine." A pause. "Go and arrange it now."

"Boss — with the fashion charity event running in Linhai, commercial flight seats—"

"Apply for a private aircraft route." Xu Chenzhu cut him off. "Expedited."

"Yes, boss." Secretary Liu set down his documents and went immediately to contact the aviation authority.

The boss is still rushing.

The things an onlooker can see clearly, the person in the middle cannot manage to approach with composure.

Love — what a frightening thing.

*

Chao Musheng didn't yet know that in a matter of a few hours, a considerable gift had been prepared in his name. He ate lunch in the restaurant, exchanging pleasantries with several company heads he recognized from the Wangyue, while simultaneously responding to help requests coming in from the tech department.

"Mr. Chao." A man Chao Musheng didn't know well brought Luo Yixuan over, his face arranged into maximum cordiality. "Xiao Luo is a local from Linhai. If you're interested in the local culture and scenery, he could accompany you around this afternoon."

"Mr. Luo is quite well-known — going out might be inconvenient for him." The man's smile stiffened slightly. "It's fine — mask, glasses, and a cap, and people won't recognize him."

Today's temperature in Linhai was 37 degrees. Going out fully masked in that weather wouldn't be inconvenient — it would be heat stroke.

Chao Musheng beckoned for Luo Yixuan to take the seat beside him. "Going out isn't necessary. If Mr. Luo has some time, perhaps share some stories from your sets — I've never had any exposure to the film and television world, and I'm genuinely curious."

The man brightened at once and turned to Luo Yixuan. "Xiao Luo — a guest deserves proper hosting. As a local, you should take good care of Mr. Chao."

Luo Yixuan nodded, his face white.

Half an hour ago, he had been informed that his management contract had been sent to Kunlun's entertainment division. No clear response from Kunlun yet — but he understood. From now on, his fate in the entertainment industry would be decided by the young Mr. Chao beside him.

There were far too many people around trying to get close to this young Mr. Chao. He could actually feel envious looks landing on him.

Laughable — envying a gift.

As a civilian, Mr. Chao was better-looking than anyone here by some distance — but nobody thought it strange that company heads in their fifties and sixties were fawning on a twenty-year-old.

Luo Yixuan moved to refill the nearly empty glass of juice in front of Mr. Chao — but a company head reached across faster, not only topping up the glass but shifting it to the position most convenient for Mr. Chao's hand.

Who said these figures didn't know how to be considerate?

He didn't understand the software discussions or the economic trends, but he could read the expressions around the table very well.

These people were delighted by every small fragment of information Mr. Chao let slip. Several of them could barely contain themselves from pushing him aside and taking his seat.

Yet when the food arrived, they all reined themselves in at once, not wanting to interfere with Mr. Chao's dining.

"Are all of these Linhai dishes?" Chao Musheng noticed Luo Yixuan sitting rigidly beside him, barely able to speak. He broke the silence himself. "I've just recovered from a cold — the doctor told me to avoid spicy food. Would you mind recommending a few dishes?"

Luo Yixuan gathered himself, stood, and used the serving chopsticks to select a few mild local specialties. "These are all Linhai classics. Please try them, Mr. Chao."

"Thank you." Chao Musheng tried the fish. The taste was fine — but not up to the fish Xu Chenzhu had made.

He tried another dish. Also passable. Not as tender as Xu Chenzhu's version.

"Very good — thank you." Chao Musheng looked over. "You haven't touched anything. Watching your weight?"

Luo Yixuan smiled and shook his head. In a setting like this, he wasn't supposed to be eating.

"Xiao Luo — with Mr. Chao being so gracious to you, shouldn't you toast him three times to express your gratitude?" A company head spoke up. "Mr. Chao — I have some excellent wine here. Won't you try a glass?"

"I'm afraid I don't drink." Chao Musheng lifted his juice glass. "I appreciate the thought — let me offer you a toast in fruit juice instead."

"Not drinking is the healthy choice." The man raised his glass with both hands, smiling. "I'll drink to you, Mr. Chao. I'll drink to you."

Someone had pressed a full glass of wine into Luo Yixuan's hand. He pressed a hand over his quietly aching stomach, tilted his head back to drink—

A hand with long, clean fingers covered the rim of the glass.

"Mr. Luo still needs to tell me about Linhai's culture this afternoon. Can't have him drunk."

"Absolutely right — how did I forget? My head—"

The wine bottle and glass in front of Luo Yixuan were quickly removed and replaced with a bowl of warm, steaming medicinal broth.

With everyone around him occupied in paying attention to Mr. Chao, no one troubled him further. Luo Yixuan felt the wound-tight tension in him begin to ease.

He took a quiet sip of the broth. His stomach, which had been cramping with hunger, finally had some relief.

The pain eased a little. He picked up the serving chopsticks and placed some fish in Mr. Chao's bowl.

Chao Musheng turned to him with a smile. "Don't mind me — eat your own meal."

The fish he'd served ended up eaten by Mr. Chao after all. But for the rest of the meal, he didn't see Mr. Chao reach for that dish again.

So Mr. Chao didn't actually like that one.

Luo Yixuan looked at the young man beside him — features like something drawn — and felt something in his chest he couldn't name.

"There's an artist interview segment this afternoon." Chao Musheng brought Luo Yixuan out of the restaurant and, once the other company heads had moved off, turned to him. "Shall I ask the organizers to come to the white building for your interview?"

Luo Yixuan hesitated, then caught up. "Mr. Chao — it's all right if I don't do the interview."

"That won't do. If you're not in the segment, it'll set tongues wagging — and your fans will worry." Chao Musheng smiled. "Your signed photos go for four figures online. You gave me the photos; I lent you the venue. Does that count as fair exchange?"

In that moment, Luo Yixuan suddenly understood that Mr. Chao was different from the others.

To Mr. Chao, he was an artist. A shining star. Not a piece of goods being offered up.

"Thank you." He said it again. "Mr. Chao — thank you."

"Sheng-sheng." Chao Yin came in from outside and, spotting Chao Musheng with an artist behind him, beckoned.

He jogged to her, lowering his voice. "Mom — you're back?"

The word came out barely above a breath. He was careful not to be heard — careful not to cause Chao Yin any complications.

"You know this artist?" She recognized the face — a popular current name, but from a management company known for its poor treatment of talent, cutting off good opportunities to keep their artists in line.

"I saw him being put in a difficult position this morning. I helped a little." Chao Musheng noticed she was still in heels. "Go rest — are your feet sore?"

"Not bad." She was well acquainted with this side of the industry, but she didn't disapprove of what he'd done. "I see."

"You two go ahead." Chao Yin gave a small nod to Luo Yixuan, who was waiting patiently. "The temperature is high today. If you want to go out for a walk, wait until five or six."

"Understood." He nodded. "I'll go out after your afternoon session."

She had already heard about that morning's complete attendance by the company heads, followed by Sheng-sheng's conspicuous absence — and couldn't help smiling. "All right."

She went up to the VIP building with her assistant and immediately heard, from some of the guests, that someone had sent Luo Yixuan's management contract to Kunlun's entertainment division as a gift to Chao Musheng.

"Who does something that clumsy?" Chao Yin's brow pulled together. On the surface, it looked like a gift to Sheng-sheng — in practice, it was flattery to Kunlun, with Sheng-sheng used as the bait. Her Sheng-sheng wasn't Kunlun's boss. A trick like this, reaching Kunlun's actual boss's ears, would only make the boss think Sheng-sheng was corruptible. Damaging and useless in equal measure.

Quite a poisonous move.

"Find out who was behind this." She told her assistant.

Everyone here was industry. If someone wanted to use a trick like that against her son, they should be prepared for her response.

*

When Luo Yixuan walked with Chao Musheng into the white building, Curly Hair was on the sofa, legs crossed, playing a game.

After multiple rounds of humiliation, she had arrived at a clear-eyed conclusion: position matters more than effort. In an instance populated with celebrities and watched by cameras from every angle, Xiao Chao's side was the safest place to be.

Trying harder would not make her luckier. It would only make her more catastrophically unlucky.

Since that morning, five more players had been eliminated.

"Xiao Chao." She put down her phone and looked at the unfamiliar man behind him. "Who's this?"

"Luo Yixuan — currently one of the most popular artists in the country." Chao Musheng gave her a look. "He's been a household name for months."

Terrible. She'd been too relaxed around Xiao Chao — she'd completely let her guard down.

"I've been busy with work and haven't been following entertainment news." Curly Hair worked to make her smile appropriately casual. "That explains why he's this good-looking."

"You have been... quite busy with work, yes." Chao Musheng nodded, apparently accepting the explanation, and introduced her to Luo Yixuan. "This is my friend Wang Xiaojuan."

"Ms. Wang." Luo Yixuan stepped forward to greet her.

Curly Hair picked up on something overly careful in his manner and felt a misgiving stir.

This artist wouldn't be—

Her eyes went wide.

Xiao Chao — does Boss Xu know about this?

Her mind raced through every possible cover story.

Three views and moral principles are for strangers. For Xiao Chao, she would take his side absolutely.

After she heard that Luo Yixuan's signed photos fetched four figures online, she shamelessly requested several. She was just about to put them away when the phone Chao Musheng had left on the table began buzzing. The caller ID: Mr. Xu.

Xu — Boss Xu?

She looked at Luo Yixuan. She looked at the phone. The signed photos in her hands felt hot.

"Xiao Chao — Mr. Xu is calling."

Chao Musheng looked up from the computer, reached for the phone, and answered. "Mr. Xu — I'm sorry, I had it on silent. I didn't hear you."

Xu Chenzhu stepped into the aircraft cabin. "No matter. How are you finding the climate in Linhai?"

"It's fine — just a bit hot today." Chao Musheng leaned back on the sofa, his voice settling. "The forecast says rain in the capital this afternoon. Please be careful on the roads when you head home."

Xu Chenzhu glanced at the sky, which had already gone heavy. "Noted."

"Zhaozhao." A two-second pause. "Have you made any interesting new friends in Linhai?"

"I've been in the compound the whole time — haven't gone anywhere." Chao Musheng glanced at Curly Hair, smiled. "Though I ran into Xiao Juan again. She's changed jobs."

Curly Hair sank into her shoulders and sneaked a look at Luo Yixuan sitting quietly in the corner. Xiao Chao — you really didn't need to mention me just now.

The slight tension at Xu Chenzhu's brow eased by a fraction.

Someone Zhaozhao hadn't even thought to mention — probably not that significant.

"Boss — the plane is about to take off."

"Zhaozhao — I have something to see to. I'll call you in two hours."

"All right." Chao Musheng hung up, stared at the phone for a few seconds. Xu Chenzhu's tone had been slightly unusual.

"Xiao Chao." Curly Hair edged over to the nearer end of the sofa. "Was that Mr. Xu?"

Chao Musheng looked at her with mild confusion. Curly Hair had always been someone who knew when not to pry — so why was she this interested in a phone call?

"Yes." He nodded. "He asked how things were going in Linhai. Nothing much."

Oh no.

Curly Hair thought inwardly. Xu Chenzhu almost certainly already knew about Luo Yixuan.

"Xiao Chao — the artist interview segment is this afternoon." She ventured carefully. "Shall we send Mr. Luo back to his room for the interview?"

"It's fine — I've already arranged with the organizers to come to the white building." He turned back to the keyboard. Luo Yixuan's situation right now wasn't something he could explain to Curly Hair in front of him. "I need to handle some work remotely. You two feel free."

Curly Hair turned to Luo Yixuan. "Mr. Luo — do you play games?"

Whatever happened, if Xu Chenzhu asked later, she would say Luo Yixuan had been with her the whole time. She had gaming records as proof.

"I'm not very good." Luo Yixuan looked a little embarrassed.

"That's all right." Curly Hair patted her chest. "I'll carry you."

Half an hour later, Curly Hair stared at her devastated game statistics and pulled together the best smile she could manage. "Don't worry about it — you're a beginner. It's normal to give up a few kills."

It's fine. She was not impatient. She was not upset.

She was doing this for Xiao Chao.

*

At three in the afternoon, the company heads resting in their rooms received word: Mr. Chao had gone to the conference room again.

...

An assistant looked at his boss delicately. "Will you be attending, sir?"

"I'm going." The boss hauled himself off the sofa, sucked in his stomach, tucked in his shirt. "If Mr. Chao is going, how can I not."

What was wrong with this Mr. Chao — participating one session and skipping the next — who exactly was in that conference room that he was being so diligent about attending?

"Mr. Chao — your notebook." Luo Yixuan set it in front of him. He glanced toward the back door and saw a company head bent nearly double, slinking in and shooing an assistant out of his reserved seat.

He quickly looked away, smoothed open his own notebook, and prepared to listen properly.

Less than ten minutes later, the conference room was packed again. Chao Yin opened her slides and formally began.

When the session ended, Chao Musheng led the applause. The room followed immediately — thunderous. Chao Yin received all the recognition she deserved.

She glanced at him with a look that said go now, before they all feel obligated to sit here on your account.

"His luck is something else." The artist watched his rival leave at Chao Musheng's side. His voice could have soured milk. "I heard the organizers went to the white building to do his solo interview."

"Don't be too envious." His manager pulled him out of earshot. "You know what his management company is like. Even if he gets to ride Mr. Chao's coattails for a while, he'll never have the standing you have at ours."

"Fair enough." The artist felt mollified. "I heard he was already being sent as a gift to Mr. Chao."

"Nothing is that simple." The manager shook her head. "If the real intention were to give someone to Mr. Chao, they wouldn't have sent the management contract to Kunlun's entertainment division. Someone used Luo Yixuan to deliberately trap Mr. Chao."

Once Mr. Chao figured out he'd been set up, the first casualty would be Luo Yixuan — the tool that had been used.

These powerful figures played their games with each other. They don't spare a thought for the tools they use.

*

Coming out of the conference building, Chao Musheng saw a figure in the distance that was somewhat familiar. He stopped. He thought he was imagining it.

"Mr. Chao?" Luo Yixuan had no idea why he'd stopped. He turned and looked at him, puzzled.

Xu Chenzhu spotted Chao Musheng from across the crowd immediately — the brightest point in any gathering. He walked two steps forward — then stopped when he saw the unfamiliar man at Chao Musheng's side.

"Mr. Xu." Chao Musheng confirmed that the figure under the tree was in fact Xu Chenzhu. His mouth curved without him meaning it to. He walked to him quickly. "Mr. Xu — what are you doing here?"

Xu Chenzhu was wearing a shirt with a subtle woven pattern today, the top button undone — a fraction more relaxed than usual.

"The branch anniversary. The general manager was very keen on my attending. After some consideration, I decided to come in person." He looked briefly toward Luo Yixuan, then reached up and smoothed down the piece of Chao Musheng's hair that was sticking up. "How are you finding Linhai?"

"I haven't actually been out yet." Chao Musheng looked at him. "Do you have plans after? If not — shall we go for a walk?"

"Yes." Xu Chenzhu smiled, just slightly.

Curly Hair, who had sprinted across half the compound the moment she got word, arrived just in time to see this. She hit the brakes.

"..."

Good. She didn't need to help cover for Xiao Chao after all.

Boss Xu, in front of Xiao Chao, doesn't dare show even a fraction of displeasure.

He's completely, utterly gone on him.