episode 1
At nine o'clock in the evening, the night was hazy, and the heavy rain that had poured down all afternoon finally turned into a light drizzle.
Pedestrians hurried along the street, and speeding vehicles whizzed over puddles, splashing up ripples.
On the bus, several female students who had just finished their evening self-study session were chatting and laughing on their phones by the window.
A slender, handsome young man sat alone in the last row, arms crossed, eyes closed, seemingly resting.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "Holy crap! That idiot guy who sexually assaulted girls on the Hengdian film set has escaped from prison!"
Upon hearing this, He Xun finally opened his eyes and, without making a sound, glanced at the phone screens of the girls in the front row. His gaze fell squarely on the face of the escaped female rapist.
Surprisingly, unlike the stereotypical fierce-looking person, the man had handsome features, with only a small scar across his cheek near his earlobe.
"I remember the prison where he was detained is in our city, right?!"
"Holy crap, is this for real?!"
"Really! The media is even doing live coverage! Look!"
"This is terrifying..."
"......"
The girls continued their tentative discussion, but He Xun had already looked away and closed his eyes again.
Too.
What business is it of his?
Five minutes later, a female voice broadcasting over the bus began to blare overhead.
He Xun took a long stride, got off the bus, held an umbrella in his left hand and put his right hand in his pocket, and strolled unhurriedly to a hotel shrouded in a halo of light.
He glanced casually at the hotel's signboard, then took out his phone to compare it with the message Mu Xianglu had sent:
Room 703, Blue House Hotel
"After delivering the milk, wait for Mo Shao to come back together and remind him to drink less alcohol."
He Xun slightly bent his long fingers, replied to Mu Xianglu with "Okay, Aunt Mu," then closed his umbrella and went into the hotel.
As soon as I entered the lobby, the two receptionists, both dressed in gray business suits, turned their eyes to me.
They glanced at the newcomer as usual, and saw a slender, tall young man deftly put his umbrella into the standing umbrella stand by the door, and then walk unhurriedly toward the front desk.
If you look down a little further, you can see that he has a heavy brown paper bag hooked around his left forearm.
"Hello, sir."
The receptionists averted their gazes and all flashed impeccable eight-tooth smiles. "How many of you are there?"
"I'm not going to eat; I'm going to find someone."
He Xun glanced around, then turned his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. He casually draped his right arm over the counter, his clear voice soft: "Excuse me, ladies, could you tell me which side room 703 is on?"
Actually, these kinds of words can easily come across as glib, but double standards are innate in people, and when they come from a handsome guy, it's a different story.
The receptionists were indeed all smiles, and one of them patiently pointed to one side: "Take the elevator to the seventh floor, it's the third one from the left."
*
The seventh floor, a private room.
The chandeliers flickered, glasses clinked, and men in suits toasted and laughed at the reddish-brown ebony dining table.
The table was filled with familiar CEOs from major internet companies, so the atmosphere at the dinner was fairly harmonious.
Mo Shilin, who was in the main seat, was obviously very relaxed. A faint smile was on his face, which was much more handsome and younger than the others. His black suit jacket was open, revealing a high-quality black and white floral lining underneath. He leaned back slightly in his chair, holding a glass of wine in his right hand, and occasionally making a few jokes with others.
The atmosphere was getting lively when suddenly a rhythmic knocking came from the door. The person near the door thought it was a waiter, took a swig of wine, and called the person in.
When the door opened, the person standing outside wasn't a waiter.
He was a young man with an extremely striking appearance.
The crowd fell silent, their inquisitive gazes sweeping over the young man, each wondering whose lover had come to check up on him.
After all, such scandalous news is not uncommon in their circle.
"Greetings, CEOs."
He Xun remained expressionless, holding the milk he had just bought from the convenience store in both hands. His gaze precisely caught Mo Shilin, and then he gave a very polite smile: "Young Master Mo, Aunt Mu instructed me to bring you milk."
Those who knew about Mo Shilin's family situation couldn't help but turn to look at him and tease, "Is this your family's little male servant? He's quite dedicated, coming out to bring you milk even in the rain. You'd better finish it quickly, don't let his kindness go to waste."
The implication was that Mo Shilin, at such an age, was still being controlled by his family, and everyone burst into laughter.
It's no wonder people make fun of me.
It's true that Mo Shilin founded his internet company from scratch, but the Mo family has been a scholarly family for three generations. Mo Shilin's parents were both engaged in scientific research, and the family had strict rules. The servants in the family also followed these rules. Mu Xianglu, the nanny who watched Mo Shilin grow up, took care of him in every detail after he started his own business. Now that she knew he was out socializing, she insisted on arranging for a male servant to bring him milk that wouldn't upset his stomach.
Mo Shilin wasn't annoyed. He just casually played with the wine glass in his hand, his knuckles showing a faint reddish hue. He said to He Xun in a very polite manner, "Put it here."
He Xun nodded in agreement and placed the milk in front of Mo Shilin. Just as he was about to suggest waiting outside, the slick-haired man, who seemed to enjoy the drama, pulled him in to stay and drink with him.
He wasn't one to mince words, and after meeting Mo Shilin's noncommittal gaze, he sat down as well.
"Come, come, little servant, sit next to your young master."
A person nearby moved a chair over to Mo Shilin's side with ill intent and had a new set of tableware brought out.
In this situation, He Xun naturally knew how to avoid attracting attention. He picked up his wine glass as usual, stood up, and said, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you all. I'll punish myself with a drink first."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and poured the glass of wine down his throat.
He drank quickly, and a few drops of dark red liquid inevitably spilled from his lips, spreading to the corners of his mouth, then down to his delicate chin, and finally slowly slid down his neck. His Adam's apple bobbed, tinged with red, and his upturned face, illuminated by the dazzling chandelier, resembled a porcelain doll that glowed white.
It's beautiful and alluring, making many people's hearts itch with desire.
Because there are plenty of men at this table who are having sex with each other in private.
But his generous attitude made it difficult for others to make things difficult for him. As people looked at Mo Shilin's calm demeanor, their eyes changed from teasing to restrained. They didn't say anything, but they were mindful that he was Mo Shilin's male servant.
To put it bluntly, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner, right? And judging from Mo Shilin's attitude, he clearly doesn't intend to let them play with him.
Soon enough, someone changed the subject, and the others, seeing that things were going well, went along with it and continued chatting about the previous topic.
He Xun breathed a sigh of relief, unconsciously licked the corner of his lips, and then calmly sat back down in his original position, dutifully unscrewing the lid of the milk carton for Mo Shilin.
Mo Shilin put down his wine glass, tapped the edge of the table lightly with his left hand, and narrowed his eyes as he fixed his gaze on him.
The young man in front of me had fair skin, dark pupils, and full, round lips set in moist, thin lips. When he opened his mouth to speak, two small, pointed canine teeth would peek out.
Looking at his face alone, the features are a bit too delicate, but because He Xun has an innate air of ease and confidence, coupled with his almost bluish-black hair, the fragility of his features is greatly reduced. Instead, he exudes a bit of frivolous desire and the unique spirit of youth.
At this moment, though his expression was serious, his face, damp with rain, appeared somewhat cold.
Noticing the man's scrutiny, He Xun subconsciously rubbed the plain ring on his left hand, then raised his hand and pushed the milk over.
"Shilin, is your company organizing the charity gala next month?"
Someone asked a question, and Mo Shilin casually replied with an "Mm," then turned to look at He Xun with a half-smile, his voice low: "Are you new here?"
The man's hot breath tickled He Xun's ears, but he resisted the urge to move and obediently replied, "I'm new here, Young Master Mo."
Mo Shilin laughed again, his tone a bit harsh: "Coming here without wearing a uniform, people who don't know better would think you're someone I know."
Upon hearing this, He Xun's gaze froze, and the uniform attire of the Mo family's male servants quickly flashed through his mind—
Black silk long-sleeved shirt.
Snow-white cotton apron.
They also had to wear matching black bow chokers around their necks.
Um.
Good question.
Why aren't you wearing work clothes?
What do you think?
Is it appropriate for someone who doesn't even like cosplay to dress up like that in the middle of the night?!
But He Xun quickly suppressed his thoughts that were about to wander into outer space, and his smile was dignified, responding to all changes with composure: "Aunt Mu asked me to tell you to drink less alcohol."
Upon hearing this, Mo Shilin curled his lips, politely picked up the milk and took a sip, then turned to deal with others.
......
Everyone was in high spirits, but the sudden addition of He Xun, a stranger, coupled with their mismatched identities and the fact that the venue wasn't some erotic club, made the conversation a bit awkward, and the event ended soon after.
Upon leaving the hotel, He Xun followed closely behind Mo Shilin, holding an umbrella for him.
He was quite tall, a good 1.8 meters, but Mo Shilin was more than half a head taller than him. He raised his arms, and his movements gradually became a little difficult.
Mo Shilin may look like a wicked young wolf, but he is actually very thoughtful. He turned around and generously told He Xun that there was no need to hold an umbrella for him, since he wasn't a paper doll who would get sick if he got wet in the rain.
He Xun agreed verbally, but the umbrella in his hand did not move an inch.
Who knows if your boss is genuinely generous or just pretending?
If the other party is genuinely considerate of you, that's the best outcome. But if the other party is someone with a narrow mind—in fact, most leaders in the market are like this—then your career is practically over.
He Xun understood this principle well.
Seeing this, Mo Shilin raised his eyebrows slightly, and was about to say something more when a black Maybach slowly stopped in front of him.
The sound of the engine mixed with the rain poured into their ears, breaking the quiet atmosphere, and the two turned their heads at the same time.
He Xun recognized the license plate number and, without waiting for the driver in the front seat to get out, took a few steps forward and opened the back door.
Mo Shilin didn't get into the car immediately. Instead, he unbuttoned a button on his shirt, glanced at He Xun's figure, and his dark eyes revealed a scrutinizing look that he didn't try to hide.
So He Xun turned around and his eyes met his gaze perfectly.
The deep darkness of the night accentuated the man's bone structure, revealing his almond-shaped eyes that were both upturned and slanted. When he looked down at people, he exuded a sense of superiority and aloofness, as well as a feeling of oppression.
He Xun paused for a moment, then pursed his lips and quickly looked away.
Mo Shilin then strode into the car and raised an eyebrow to remind him, "It's this late, there probably aren't any buses running. Take a taxi back, and you can get reimbursed at the end of the month."
The man's tone was a bit more serious than before.
"Okay, Mr. Mo."
The car door slammed shut, and the expensive sedan sped away.
As the night rain gradually stopped, He Xun stared at the scene for a while before putting away his umbrella and slowly opening a ride-hailing app.
After calling the car, he stood there, a rare look of disbelief on his face.
He has been unexpectedly transported into this novel for a month now—
A month ago, he was brutally run over by a speeding car, his ears still filled with the piercing sound of car horns and the screams of passersby. The next second, he was teleported here and transformed into a male servant in Mo Shilin's house.
Having lived for over twenty years, and graduating from the Communication University of China, his only area of expertise was journalism, and his most proficient job was as an entertainment reporter. After his death, he became a male servant...
Fortunately, his appearance hasn't changed; it's still the same face that people often mistakenly label as a scumbag. To be honest, it would be hard to accept if he had to spend the rest of his life with the face of a stranger.
Based on the memories that inexplicably existed in his mind, he knew that the original plot was a very typical BL novel trope—a melodramatic love triangle.
The original novel's protagonist is a game streamer, and the other protagonist is a beauty streamer. Both of them are under the management of the second protagonist, Mo Shilin's, company.
During a company dinner, the aloof and profound Mo Shilin met the original protagonist (the one who is the main character in the novel) and was immediately attracted by his gentle and sweet nature and his indomitable spirit. Thus began his passionate pursuit of love. Unfortunately, his role as the cannon fodder second lead meant he was destined to become part of the original protagonist's love triangle. After a series of dramatic and melodramatic love triangle scenes, the deeply in love Mo Shilin finally let go, allowing the original protagonist to be together. From then on, he silently protected the original protagonist from behind, until he died alone...
After reviewing the plot, He Xun felt a pang of sadness.
Perhaps because he was seeing the story from Mo Shilin's perspective, he found it quite tragic.
Everyone is the protagonist of their own life, and everyone is a supporting character in someone else's life.
Indeed, the greatest truths are the simplest.
However, after a month, He Xun felt that the novel's plot he knew was slightly different from the facts.
First, there's Mo Shilin, the only one in the main group he came into contact with.
Although he had rarely interacted with the other person in close proximity during the past month, his intuition told him that, putting aside his naturally aloof and handsome face, this person was completely different from the stereotypes of "cold" and "profound." In fact, he seemed to have a bit of a two-faced and hypocritical nature.
That's true, capitalists are the kind of people who can be truly benevolent.
Thinking of this, He Xun scoffed coldly, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes.
He was convinced that even novels created with truth, goodness, and beauty as their core message had become flesh and blood by the time they ended, beyond the creator's control. Therefore, even if the other person was one of the protagonists representing truth, goodness, and beauty, as long as one delved into the world of the novel and unveiled that veil of emptiness, one would surely capture the baser instincts of humanity in him.
......
Before long, the retro green taxi screeched to a halt in front of He Xun with a beautiful and skillful U-turn that rivaled that of a sports car.
"Mr. He, right?" The driver, with a cigarette in his mouth, rolled down the window and honked the horn at him crisply.
He Xun snapped out of his reverie, nodded, avoided the puddles, and was about to open the door when he suddenly heard rapid breathing and the sound of footsteps splashing into the deep puddles behind him.
He paused, squinted, and looked back while holding onto the car door.
A truck with its high beams on sped past, and in front of the shimmering lights, a man clutching a dagger was running menacingly toward the taxi!
"Get the hell out of my way!"
The man moved with incredible speed, appearing in front of the taxi in the blink of an eye. He shoved He Xun aside, roughly pulled open the car door, and plopped himself inside.
He freed one hand and gripped the driver's left shoulder tightly, while his right hand, holding a sharp, cold military knife, pressed it against the driver's neck without hesitation: "Stop talking nonsense! Drive forward! I'm in a hurry!"
The sharp blade gleamed coldly as it was pressed against his throat. The driver was so frightened that he dropped his cigarette and it took him several seconds to frantically pull the handbrake.
Seeing this, the man then viciously moved the dagger away a little, giving the driver room to adjust his posture and drive.
At the same time, the scar on his cheek was clearly imprinted in He Xun's eyes.
Tsk.
I hadn't originally intended to get involved.
But the other party kept him from getting off work, which he could no longer tolerate.
He Xun smacked his cheek in annoyance, reached out and tapped the car door a few times, looking inside with a half-smile: "You just had to crash into it yourself, huh? Fine, I'll grant your wish."
After saying that, before the scarred man could react, he yanked open the passenger door and sat down, ignoring the driver's horrified yet admiring gaze.
"You fucking—"
Before the scarred man could finish speaking, He Xun scoffed impatiently and, in a twisting motion, cleanly and decisively chopped down the military knife.
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