Chapter 18 Uncomfortable

Lu Zhao finished the intense recording of the third round of the talent show and returned to the private dance studio that was custom-built for him at the Lu family home.

Sweat soaked through his black vest, and his muscles trembled slightly from the long hours of practice, but he seemed somewhat distracted, his gaze repeatedly drifting to his silent phone.

The farmer who used to enjoy ordering him around has recently entered the busy farming season, and she's been busy dealing with various group projects, so the frequency with which she orders him around has plummeted.

The world suddenly fell silent, and Lu Zhao felt a sense of emptiness, as if the noisy background music had been abruptly cut off. Even when practicing in front of the mirror, he seemed somewhat restless, and would subconsciously glance at the dark screen between movements.

This inexplicable sense of expectation and dependence made him somewhat irritable, yet he couldn't control himself.

"Buzz—"

The phone screen lit up, accompanied by the familiar vibration.

He sprang up from the floor almost reflexively, his movement so fast that he knocked over a water bottle next to him.

However, the name displayed on the screen was Su Yuqing.

A mix of disappointment and inexplicable guilt welled up inside him, and his hand, which was holding his phone, paused for a moment.

Su Yuqing's information remains impeccable:

[Congratulations, Zhao! I've watched the second round of video clips several times. Your stage presence has improved rapidly. I've followed all the trending topics about your killer gaze and your kingly presence! (Attached are screenshots of trending topics such as #LuZhaoKillerGaze# and #LuZhaoKinglyStagePresence#)]

Seeing so many people discover your talent truly makes me happy for you. From the moment I first saw you persevering in the practice room, I knew you were destined for greatness, and I was right.

After the second round of audition videos were released, he became even more popular.

Even Mr. Lu, who had always opposed this, underwent a subtle change in his attitude.

Last night, I even called him to the study, which was unusual for me. Although he still had a stern face, his tone had softened considerably: "Since you're determined to take this path, you're starting to... look quite promising. Do you need the family to arrange a professional agent for you? Just so you don't get scammed outside."

This unprecedented recognition and support stirred Lu Zhao's heart for a long time.

In the past, if he had received such sincere praise and honor from his mentor at such a moment, he would have been extremely excited, feeling that his hard work had finally paid off, and that she deserved half of his joy and honor.

But now, Lu Zhao simply looked down at the fervent praises on the screen and the trending topics screenshots carefully selected by Su Yuqing. His fingertips hovered over the keyboard for a long time before he finally typed out a dry reply:

【Yes, thank you, Sister Yuqing.】

After sending the message, he impatiently turned off the screen and tossed the phone aside.

But after a few seconds, he couldn't help but grab it back, his fingertips quickly swiping across the message list, where the familiar profile picture remained silent.

Even people overseas saw his trending topic. How come the person who usually bosses him around didn't react at all?

An inexplicable sense of unease settled in my chest, making even breathing difficult.

Su Yuqing, who was far away in a foreign country, noticed this unusual indifference and distance.

The phone rang immediately, and her voice, still gentle, came through the receiver: "Ah Zhao, what's wrong? You sound a little listless. Are you too tired from training, or did something unpleasant happen?"

"I'm not unhappy," Lu Zhao denied instinctively, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he was stunned.

Why...didn't he feel the overwhelming joy and urge to confide that he had imagined? This sudden self-examination left him momentarily stunned, and he forgot to respond.

"Ah Zhao? Ah Zhao?" He only snapped back to reality when Su Yuqing raised her voice on the other end of the phone and called his name several times with concern.

"Yes, I'm listening."

Su Yuqing seemed to hesitate for a moment before steer the conversation toward what she was truly concerned about: "By the way, how are your brother and his girlfriend doing lately? No conflicts, right?"

Lu Zhao felt a slight pinch on his heart, and his tone unconsciously hardened: "I don't know. If Sister Yuqing wants to know, she can ask my brother directly."

These words carried a clear sense of rejection, leaving Su Yuqing speechless on the other end of the phone.

In Lu Yan's social network, Su Yuqing does indeed occupy a relatively special position. He includes her in the category of "friends," and he replies to her messages and occasionally takes the initiative to greet her.

But that's all.

Su Yuqing's carefully crafted hints and roundabout tactics were almost completely exposed in front of Lu Yan's calm and insightful eyes.

He never pointed it out, but instead gently corrected her without causing any offense, subtly pushing her probing back within safe boundaries.

She certainly didn't dare to act out her feelings in front of Lu Yan.

The atmosphere turned subtly cold.

Su Yuqing quickly adjusted her emotions, her voice light and cheerful: "My filming with Director Anderson's team is going very smoothly, and I'll be wrapping up soon and going back to China."

She looked forward to Lu Zhao excitedly asking when she would return, or enthusiastically offering to pick her up at the airport.

However, Lu Zhao did indeed say he would pick you up from the airport: "Yeah, that's great. Send me your flight information, and I'll come pick you up."

His tone was casual, and he even subconsciously added at the end, "Don't let the landing time be too ominous."

These words were considerate and consistent with what he would always do for her.

But Su Yuqing's fingers tightened slightly as she held the phone.

He agreed to pick him up at the airport, but his words lacked the enthusiasm that Lu Zhao usually displayed; they were calm, as if he were talking to Lu Yan.

That phrase, "Don't let the landing time be too unlucky," sounded like a casual complaint from a spoiled young master, based on his own convenience, but it was also the first time... Lu Zhao had made a condition in front of her.

A sense of unease crept into Su Yuqing's heart.

She didn't say anything, but gently said "Goodnight" before hanging up the phone.

Hearing the busy tone from the receiver, Lu Zhao slumped backward in frustration, letting his body crash onto the floor. He turned his head to look at his reflection in the mirror, his mind in turmoil.

On the other end of the phone, the gentle smile on Su Yuqing's face vanished the moment the call ended.

She stared at the darkened screen, her nails unconsciously digging into her palms.

“Being away from the country for so long has caused me to neglect maintaining relationships…” she muttered to herself, a hint of coldness in her voice.

She walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling mirror in the hotel room and examined herself in the mirror.

It was a face beautiful enough, yet it felt somewhat unfamiliar to her.

Just like her past life, when she was active in web dramas as "Little Ling Wei," she had achieved some success.

Having tasted success, in order to be more like Ling Wei, she made special adjustments to the shape of her eyes and studied every interview she could find about Ling Wei repeatedly, striving to be closer to her in both appearance and spirit.