Sweet bite
Mr. Chen! The contract! Put him on hold!
The name that the two had deliberately avoided last night reappeared. Yu Sheng's excitement over Lan Zhong's phone call was instantly extinguished by a bucket of cold water.
Through the crack in the door, his gaze lingered on Lu Chenyang's retreating figure after he hung up the phone. His head was slightly lowered, his shoulders rose and fell slowly with suppressed deep breaths, and his hands were gripping the edge of the stove, the veins bulging as if they were about to dig into the surface.
Yu Sheng didn't make a sound and quietly retreated back to the living room. The CEO of Tianheng Entertainment was surnamed Chen. In his memory, this man was already over sixty years old, with grandchildren running all over the place. Moreover, he had never heard of this CEO Chen liking men! At his age, he still had the energy to... "harass" young and strong male artists?
He had little contact with Tianheng, so he could only send a message to Lanzhong for help.
As expected, the "ultimate tool" did not disappoint. In less than fifteen minutes, Lan Zhong sent over the detailed information.
It turns out that Tianheng underwent a major change at the beginning of this year. The CEO Chen that Yu Sheng knew was already in a semi-retired state, and his eldest son, Chen Tianqi, who was originally supposed to take over, became a vegetable after an accidental car accident at the beginning of the year. His grandson was only three years old, so the CEO had no choice but to bring back his illegitimate son who had been raised outside.
And this illegitimate son lived up to expectations, taking control of Tianheng in just six months. The "President Chen" mentioned by Lu Chenyang's agent is most likely the newly appointed Chen Yi.
The information Lan Zhong sent was very detailed, clearly indicating that a background check had been conducted long ago.
Just as Yu Sheng was about to scroll down further, a message from Lan Zhong popped up on her phone: 'Sheng, everything else is fine, just stay away from Chen Yi. He's abnormal, incredibly eccentric. I've never met him, but my older brother knows him. He said that when Chen Yi was abroad, he took a liking to a boxer, but the boxer rejected him. So, Chen Yi then secretly added performance-enhancing drugs to the boxer's pre-match drink, effectively banning him from all competitions. Anyway, stay away from him.'
Yu Sheng's heart sank more and more as she looked at the document. She could now be certain that Chen Yi was plotting against Lu Chenyang.
Even after Lu Chenyang served him the "chicken and chili" dish he had been longing for, he remained in a state of deep thought with a furrowed brow.
"Why aren't you eating? Weren't you just saying you were hungry?" Lu Chenyang added a piece of chicken to his bowl, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes trying to maintain a gentle and calm demeanor. If Yu Sheng hadn't overheard that phone call, she would have been fooled by his perfect acting.
A dull pain pounded into Yu Sheng's chest. The more Lu Chenyang pretended to be nonchalant in front of him, the more his heart ached.
The chicken he ate became dry, hard, and bitter. He swallowed it forcefully, forced a smile, and casually brought up the subject, "Officer Lu... have you ever considered switching companies after your contract expires, like... Xinghua?"
"Don't misunderstand," Yu Shengqiang added before Lu Chenyang could speak. "It's Lan Zhong! Lan Zhong is very optimistic about your future and said that if you're willing to switch jobs, Xinghua will cover the breach of contract penalty. Xinghua Media's resources and platform in the industry are far superior to Tianheng's... Why don't you... consider it?"
Yu Sheng wasn't guilty at all for using Lan Zhong as a pretext. That's how brothers are used in crucial moments, and besides, Lan Zhong had indeed told him to poach Lu Chenyang, so it wasn't entirely unjust.
“…Forget it.” A glimmer of light flashed in Lu Chenyang’s eyes, then dimmed again. “Back then…when I was desperate and short of money, Tianheng helped me. The contract still has several years left…the penalty for breach of contract…is not a small amount.”
Yu Sheng wanted to say that Chen Yi was about to pin you down on the bed and seduce you, and you were still here arguing about some damn old feelings! But he couldn't say that, because Yu Sheng knew that Lu Chenyang's real concern was that he didn't want to put Yu Sheng in a difficult position.
Lu Chenyang was well aware of his status in the entertainment industry. Although he was popular, his acting roles were too limited, making a career transition a major challenge. Tianheng, especially Chen Yi, would never let him go easily and would definitely try to manipulate the contract to increase the penalty for breach of contract.
A large company like Xinghua has no reason to pay excessive breach of contract fees for him. If they did, Yu Sheng would owe a lot of favors and might even have to use his own money to cover his losses.
This is his own business, he can handle it. Chen Yi... is not incapable of dealing with it. This person is insidious but arrogant, and arrogant people are often accompanied by stupidity.
Yu Sheng pretended not to hear Lu Chenyang's rejection. He understood his concerns, and all he could do was pave a way out for him.
He didn't know when it happened, but this person was no longer someone who could be simply defined as a "medicinal ingredient" in his heart. He didn't want him to be sad, and he wanted him to have a smooth journey.
The two had their own thoughts while preparing the meal. After the meal, Lu Chenyang made sure he took his medicine and then hurriedly left to rush to a movie audition.
Since being discharged from the hospital, Lu Chenyang has had significantly less time to personally take care of Yu Sheng. However, as long as he is in Beijing, he will definitely rush back, even if his schedule is packed until late at night.
There's no other reason than that there's a young master in the family who's "unable to take care of himself," and he needs to apply ice to his legs and change elastic bandages.
After several autumn rains, the weather turned completely cold. Lu Chenyang flew around every day to attend events, while Yu Sheng spent all her time huddled in her study typing on her keyboard. Sometimes, if Lu Chenyang accidentally glanced at her computer screen, the young master would kick her out on the grounds of privacy.
Lu Chenyang didn't mind. He just smiled and told him from outside the door that he had passed the movie audition last month and would fly to Shanghai three days later to meet the director and investors and then sign the contract.
However, on the day of signing the contract, Yu Sheng received a call from Lu Chenyang. His voice sounded very muffled, as if even breathing made him extremely tired. "I'm not going back tonight. I've sent you the details of the steps for applying ice and changing bandages on WeChat. Do it yourself, be careful, and send me a message if you don't understand."
Yu Sheng sensed something was wrong with him and, after much questioning, learned that his role had been snatched away an hour before the signing ceremony, and the one who took the lead role was a junior colleague from the same company. Needless to say, it must have been that damned Chen Yi putting pressure on Lu Chenyang.
Not only that, Lu Chenyang, whose role was taken away, also had to rush to catch up on the last-minute schedule until late at night.
Yu Sheng suppressed her anger, gently comforted Lu Chenyang for a few words, and after ending the call, she found the number she had called most recently in her contacts and dialed it.
Lu Chenyang's drinking party went surprisingly smoothly. The client was a female CEO, straightforward and only focused on cooperation, without pressuring him to drink. The social gathering, which was expected to last three to five hours, ended in just one hour without a drop of alcohol.
Seeing that it was only 10 p.m., Lu Chenyang decisively changed his ticket and returned to Beijing that night. He imagined that when he got home, he would see Yu Sheng sleeping soundly in bed, and her surprised and delighted expression when she found him back the next morning.
Unexpectedly, when he opened his door, weary from his journey and full of anticipation, he was greeted by a cold, empty room.
When Yu Sheng pushed open the door, rubbing his legs and still smelling of alcohol, the first thing he saw was Lu Chenyang, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, sitting on the sofa waiting for him.
Yu Sheng's legs were already sore, and seeing this scene almost made him collapse and fall flat on his face. Fortunately, Lu Chenyang reacted quickly and caught him.
"...You, you're back...so early. Finished work?" Yu Sheng felt guilty and embarrassed, so she could only force a smile and try to make conversation.
“…Yu! Sheng!” Lu Chenyang practically squeezed out those two words through gritted teeth.
Yu Sheng, caught red-handed for making a mistake, obediently huddled on the sofa without moving, much like a cat caught sneaking out to cause trouble, slumped dejectedly in the corner of the sofa, wanting to argue but too afraid to utter a sound.
The exhaustion of the past few days, the frustration of having his role snatched away, the pressure from the company, and the worry about Yu Sheng running away despite her health all strained Lu Chenyang's ability to control his anger.
He stood in front of Yu Sheng, pointing his finger at him and listing all of Yu Sheng's faults for ten minutes, starting with "sneaking out to drink while still sick" and then moving on to "Yu Sheng is pretentious and difficult to please."
The beginning was alright, she could barely listen, but when she was told that he was pretentious and difficult to please, Yu Sheng immediately lost his temper!
But when she looked up and saw the dark circles under Lu Chenyang's eyes and the unconcealed weariness between his brows, the anger that rose within her couldn't be vented. She only glared at him angrily, her eyes red-rimmed, then gritted her teeth and limped towards the bedroom. She had drunk alcohol and walked quite a distance tonight, and her injured leg was a little sore, but the Second Young Master Yu, unusually defiant, decided to walk himself!
He gritted his teeth, refusing to let his tears of grievance fall. He hated his involuntary tears. He felt utterly useless.
Watching that stubborn figure disappear into the bedroom door, Lu Chenyang stood blankly in the living room for more than ten minutes.
What I just said seems a bit harsh. Which young master isn't precious? Which isn't picky? They're all difficult to please; it's just that he's "lucky" enough to have this little devil who's even more difficult to please than the young lady.
He silently turned and went to the kitchen, took out some pre-frozen ice from the bottom of the refrigerator, went to the bathroom to get a clean towel, wrapped it up, and returned to the bedroom.
Yu Sheng lay on the bed with her back to him, silent. Although Lu Chenyang had come to his senses, his resentment hadn't completely dissipated. The two remained in this silent stalemate, one lying there with the air of a spoiled young master, the other constantly applying ice and massaging himself, each harboring their own pent-up anger.
Even after the ice pack was finished and the two lay down, not a single "goodnight" was said.
Yu Sheng rarely suffered from insomnia under the influence of alcohol.
That phrase, "difficult to please and fussy," was like a thorn stuck in the softest, most uneasy corner of his heart. It made him uncomfortable and caused him pain.
Lu Chenyang…it seems he wasn’t wrong? It really is his problem…it seems…he’s going to be disliked again…
“…It was wrong of me to sneak out for drinks, and it was also wrong of me to lose my temper with you.” Yu Sheng’s voice echoed in the dark and gloomy bedroom as he stared blankly at the ceiling. “But…you said I was being dramatic and difficult to please, so I…I just feel…unhappy.”
After waiting for a long time, Yu Sheng received no response from Lu Chenyang. Silence engulfed her like a tide, leaving her with no sense of security whatsoever! Her grievances gradually turned into fear, and then into anger!
Suddenly, Yu Sheng flipped over, bracing his elbows on the sides of Lu Chenyang's head, trapping him within his control. He looked down at Lu Chenyang, glaring at him intently.
Her eyes were still red, but her voice suddenly rose an octave, her emotions becoming increasingly agitated. The fear and anxiety she had suppressed all night finally erupted, and she shouted, "I don't care what others say about me, but you can't... Lu Chenyang, you just can't! They all hate me, they despise me! They think I'm disobedient, they think I'm troublesome and superfluous, but you can't hate me! You just can't!"
Actually, Lu Chenyang hadn't wanted to refuse, but Yu Sheng's sudden apology had surprised him enough. Before he could react, he heard something even more unsettling.
Looking into those pained eyes so close to his, Lu Chenyang's heart trembled, and he quickly reached out to pull her into his arms. Why was he getting angry with a patient? Yu Sheng had finally recovered; if she had to go back to CIR because of him, he would feel guilty for the rest of his life.
Besides, hasn't Yu Sheng always been like this? Spoiled and willful, picky and difficult, it's always been that way. He's long been used to it. He even finds it somewhat endearing. He must be too tired today and has lost his mind!
"If you hate me too... I... I'll... I'll..."
"Alright, alright, Ah Sheng, it's my fault, it's my fault!" Lu Chenyang gently patted Yu Sheng's back to comfort her, speaking softly, "I don't hate you, not at all! I was just too tired to think, I spoke without thinking, I apologize. Please forgive me..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yu Sheng suddenly looked up, his tearful eyes revealing a fierce determination and a sense of pent-up grievance. He opened his mouth and bit Lu Chenyang's lower lip hard!
It wasn't a kiss, it was a bite. A bite that carried punishment and possessiveness.
The sharp canine teeth pierced through Lu Chenyang's soft lips in an instant, and a jolt of electric pain shot through his spine, causing all the muscles in his body to tense up.
Lu Chenyang groaned, the intense pain instinctively making him want to lean back and dodge, wanting to push away the out-of-control little madman on top of him.
However, despite his arm muscles bulging to their limit, he only managed to hold Yu Sheng even tighter in his arms. He forcefully suppressed his defensive instincts, compelling himself to remain motionless and endure this bloodthirsty and frenzied bite.
The sweet, metallic taste of blood quickly filled the air between their tightly pressed lips. The initial sharp pain was gradually replaced by a wet, soft, tentative licking sensation.
Yu Sheng's tongue carefully licked the wound, like a gentle soothing touch, meticulously tracing the scar he himself had inflicted.
The wet, warm sensation felt unfamiliar to Lu Chenyang, yet it strangely and effortlessly severed all the alarm and resistance links in his central nervous system. An indescribable tingling and itching sensation spread from the small wound, and his tense body gradually relaxed.
Lu Chenyang clearly felt the changes within himself. He closed his eyes, letting himself sink into this strange vortex of pain and solace. He was surprised that he could accept it so calmly, even... secretly enjoy this bloody intimacy. It wasn't resistance, it wasn't endurance, it was indulgence, it was...
“…Lu Chenyang. Why…don’t you push me away?”
Lu Chenyang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing emotions he himself had never seen before. He gently licked the slightly swollen wound on his lower lip, where the unique scent of Yu Sheng, mixed with blood, still lingered. "Because I don't want you to be sad." And also, I just don't want to.
Yu Sheng seemed to have exhausted all her strength, and softly leaned back against Lu Chenyang's chest, her cheek pressed against his violently heaving chest, greedily enjoying his disordered heartbeat. "But today... you didn't even ask me where I went out to do." His voice was muffled, still tinged with grievance. "You just assumed that I sneaked out to eat, drink, and have fun."
"I'm sorry." Lu Chenyang raised his hand, his long, slender fingers gently tracing the cool strands of Yu Sheng's hair, slowly smoothing its soft curves. A few strands of hair twirled around his fingertips as he spoke with apology and pity, "Then... are you still willing to tell me now? What did you do tonight?"
Yu Sheng snuggled against him, like a cat seeking comfort, and nodded vigorously.
"I'm going to find Yan Jianghe."
“Yan Jianghe? Editor Yan?!” Lu Chenyang suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Everyone in the industry knows the name Yan Jianghe. He is hailed as the industry's top screenwriter, a golden brand, having only polished ten film scripts in his lifetime, each one a masterpiece. To be able to star in one of his works is a qualitative leap in any actor's career.
Unfortunately, this top screenwriter had already retired before Lu Chenyang even debuted.
“Hmm.” Yu Sheng was not surprised by Lu Chenyang’s reaction. “I contacted him a long time ago and asked him to write a script. Tonight was the time to meet with him. That old guy is a drunkard, and business must be discussed over drinks, so I had a few drinks too.”
“You…” Lu Chenyang’s throat tightened, and he couldn’t utter a complete sentence for a moment.
“Hmm,” Yu Sheng found a more comfortable position in his arms, her voice tired but unusually clear, “I contacted him to write a script for you, tailor-made for you. Lu Chenyang, your acting range is too narrow, you need to transform. But your current 'entertainment industry police chief' persona is too deeply ingrained in people's minds, the transformation can't be too abrupt, otherwise fans and the market will find it hard to accept. So Yan and I have tentatively decided that the protagonist will be an undercover police officer walking on the edge of black and white, both righteous and evil, with a rich inner struggle, a three-dimensional and outstanding character, which can break through your current framework and allow the audience and fans to have a natural transition.”
He sighed with some regret as he spoke, "I've been busy with this all this time. I was planning to surprise you when the script came out. What a pity."
"...Why...help me?" Lu Chenyang's voice was completely hoarse, as if a huge, sour yet sweet cotton candy was stuck in his throat.
“Because I don’t want you to be sad either.” Yu Sheng raised his head, his beautiful eyes reflecting Lu Chenyang’s stunned face. He leaned closer and gently pecked the other’s lips, which were still bloodied from the kiss he had just given him. “If someone else steals your male lead, I’ll give you an even better one. No one can take him away. He’s your only male lead.”
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