Chapter 29: An incredibly cool and thrilling hero saves the damsel in distress...
The night, like a thick velvet cloth, slowly enveloped the city.
Dong Sheng stood on the balcony of the seventeenth floor, looking down at the winding river of cars below. He used to envy the people who lived in the bustling city center, but now that he was there, he felt only emptiness.
In the kitchen, the sound of running water stopped, followed by the soft rustling of dishes being put away, and then the footsteps of his wife, Zhou Yun, approaching.
She didn't turn on the main light in the living room, but only turned on the floor lamp next to the sofa.
Dong Sheng inexplicably recalled how, many years ago, she had washed her hair, and her short hair was still wet and frizzy.
“Dong Sheng,” she said, sitting down on the single sofa opposite him, her hands folded on her knees, her calm demeanor making Dong Sheng uneasy, “Let’s get a divorce.”
The air seemed to freeze instantly. The cigarette burned his fingers, and Dong Sheng jerked violently, ash falling in a flurry. He opened his mouth, but his throat felt constricted.
"No..." he finally managed to squeeze out the word, his voice hoarse, filled with a panic he himself hadn't anticipated, "Why are you suddenly saying this? Yunyun, we can communicate more, there's no need to come to this..."
How can we communicate? Haven't we tried communicating at all?
A sharp voice inside him questioned him.
His thoughts were suddenly pulled back to that rented room, which was only twenty square meters and leaked air in winter.
He remembered it so clearly: on a night when the north wind was howling, they huddled together around a small electric heater, sharing a laptop to work on a project.
Zhou Yun had very short hair back then, looking like a little boy. To keep warm, he wore his old down jacket with sleeves that were way too long.
As she blew on her frozen fingers to type, her eyes sparkled as she said to him, "Dong Sheng, when we have money in the future, the first thing we'll do is buy the best heater—no, we'll install underfloor heating!"
He recalled that in order to win over their first important client, they ate instant noodles for a whole week.
On the last day, Zhou Yun magically pulled out the last few crumpled bills from the inside pocket of her old suit, bought two of the cheapest boxed lunches, and put the few pieces of meat in them into his bowl. Her tone was still so decisive: "You need to be well-fed to have the strength to fight! Once we sign this deal, we're definitely going to rip you off!"
He remembered how excited they were when they received their first substantial project bonus, running like children through the deserted streets late at night. At that moment, the bond they formed in poverty, the warmth they shared from each other's bodies, was what he considered the strongest thing in the world.
Later, life really did get better. They moved from a rented room to an apartment, and then from the apartment to this high-rise building overlooking the city.
They bought a car, and Zhou Yun no longer needed to wear his old down jacket. She started growing her hair long, wearing soft dresses, and using exquisite perfumes. She became more and more beautiful and feminine, the perfect finishing touch to their "successful" family.
But Dong Sheng felt that something between them had disappeared along with their poverty.
The tomboy with bright eyes and short, neat hair in the rented room, whom he admired and was thrilled with, was gradually replaced by a gentle, refined wife who made him feel unfamiliar and distant.
He could no longer feel any attraction to his wife, and he even lost interest in another unspeakable area. This was not a physical issue (because he had already visited a urologist), but rather a complete loss of emotional interest in his wife.
But Dong Sheng didn't understand why.
He clearly loved and cherished his family, and never once wanted to betray his wife and family.
"Our child is still very young, and we've been married for almost twenty years. We don't need to get a divorce... Please listen to me..."
Zhou Yun listened quietly to Dong Sheng's rambling words. Her gaze swept across the warmly decorated living room and finally settled on his face, where she saw weariness, pity, and a knowing sadness.
She gently shook her head, her voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable resolve: "Dong Sheng, I've tried to communicate, but you haven't made any changes. I'm tired; there's no need to communicate anymore."
Like the final boulder, his wife's words shattered all of Dong Sheng's futile struggles. He slumped against the back of the sofa, the burning memories of their shared struggles churning in his mind, but they were like being immersed in ice water, unable to warm him in the slightest.
The home he had been protecting, the marriage, the "good life" they had worked so hard to achieve, was crumbling before his very eyes.
He wanted to try his best to repair the relationship, but he was frustrated and couldn't find any "materials" that could be used to fix it.
*
"If you want to know why Dong Sheng couldn't maintain his marriage, you'll have to work hard, complete the side quests, and get the individual seal~ Otherwise, I won't tell you easily~" The system's mechanical voice carried a mischievous sense of triumph over a successful prank.
"Damn, he's already gone!" Lin Suxing's urgent voice came from behind, bringing Dong Sheng back to his senses.
Like a drowning person desperately grabbing a piece of driftwood, Dong Sheng turned around almost without hesitation and quickly caught up with Lin Suxing, who was still hesitating in place: "Suxing, it's a bit of a pity about your variety show. It's been temporarily suspended from filming?"
"Yes, it's kind of you to remember that I participated in that program." Lin Suxing's reply was very polite.
Dong Sheng smiled politely, "Oh, after all, you are so good-looking and have such a humble and easy-going personality. And Huaiwen introduced us to each other, so of course I will pay more attention to you."
"...Is Brother Dong already married? He looks so young." Lin Suxing glanced at the wedding ring on his left ring finger and asked.
In fact, he didn't have much hope of getting the opportunity to shoot for the second magazine from Dong Sheng. After all, although he was a model, he was just a commercial model, and there was still a certain gap between him and those influential artists who could shoot solo covers.
"Of course, you're so good with words. I'm already in my forties." Dong Sheng looked at Lin Suxing's delicate features and had already made up his mind.
For the past six months, with his marriage on the verge of collapse, Dong Sheng has been completely preoccupied with business matters. He wants to save the marriage but struggles to find a way to address the issue.
Perhaps Lin Suxing's "system" can give him the answer he wants, allowing him to better... salvage this marriage.
"Su Xing, you worked as a model for several years before, right?" After making the decision, Dong Sheng began to consider whether Lin Su Xing was capable of taking on such a big responsibility as a solo cover shoot.
Lin Suxing nodded: "Yes, that's right. After I signed with a talent agency, I also acted in a few TV series."
“Oh,” Dong Sheng said knowingly, “I know, there’s a web series where you played a supporting male role, and it’s quite popular online.”
"Thanks, it's alright." Lin Suxing scratched his head awkwardly, feeling a bit socially awkward and unsure how to handle this situation of mutual flattery.
Dong Sheng smiled wickedly, thinking that having Lin Suxing shoot a solo cover was perfectly fine.
Although Lin Suxing's status is indeed a bit lower, Dong Sheng's considerations are very simple.
Recently, a major scandal involving Yu Xin, a post-95 actress selected for a magazine next month, has been exposed, involving her family's embezzlement, misappropriation of public property, and her own repeated bullying. As a result, the brands that have been working with this actress have issued statements to terminate their cooperation, and the magazine has also decided to cancel her photoshoot.
However, the cover shoot for next month is scheduled for this month, and finding an artist to "replace" this young actress born in the 90s is not an easy task.
Those top models who regularly grace the covers of the five major fashion magazines and two smaller ones naturally look down on photoshoots that are rushed due to a "gap" in coverage, and might complain that the magazines haven't prepared the themes according to their desired requirements.
However, if they were to find someone less famous than the previous post-95 actress, the editor-in-chief of the publication would feel like they were losing out.
These past few days, Dong Sheng heard that they were having a headache over who to replace him with. Two artists of similar status were already fully booked and unwilling to take on the role of this legally troubled individual, whose status had already been officially announced. After all, there would be other gigs in the future, but rushing to take on someone else's work could potentially damage their own reputation.
After much deliberation, Dong Sheng felt that Lin Suxing was a suitable candidate.
Even without hearing Lin Suxing's conversation with that strange voice, Lin Suxing, as a recently popular celebrity and the young master of the Lin family of the Yunyuan Group, could at least do the Lin family a favor by recommending him to the magazine's editor-in-chief. This connection could be useful if needed for haute couture clothing from the Lin family in the future.
Dong Sheng thought it over and it seemed more and more reasonable, so he couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Are you busy with your schedule lately? There's a firefighting shoot, I wonder if you'd be interested."
Lin Suxing: !
They'd barely exchanged a few words, and he hadn't even offered to film anything yet, and Dong Sheng was already offering to recommend him for work! Is it true that the more you lie low, the luckier you get?
"What kind of content is it? I'm not busy lately, and I'd be happy to help if I can," Lin Suxing replied.
Dong Sheng looked at him and said, word by word, "Yu Xin was originally officially announced for Figaro's solo cover next month, but recently her scandal has been making headlines, so Figaro decided to change the actress. However, there is only one week left before the shoot, and most of the artists of similar status have already filled their schedules, so it's a blank period."
The system initially didn't believe it, but when Dong Sheng said, "Figaro has been replaced, and now he's single-handedly sealing the game," it was dumbfounded: Holy crap, what kind of heavenly blessing is this host... Is it really true that men who give up are the luckiest??
Even though they did nothing, they still gained various opportunities and won!
“I happened to see you today and I think you’re a pretty suitable candidate,” Dong Sheng continued. “Since you happen to be free, I’ll recommend you to the editor-in-chief of Figaro and see if she thinks you’re a good fit for next month’s theme. If so, I’ll let you know and arrange a dinner for you with the editors of Figaro. What do you think?”
The opportunity presented itself to Lin Suxing, who was so moved that she almost shed tears as wide as rice noodles. She agreed without hesitation: "Okay, Brother Dong, thank you so much. I never thought I would have such a filming opportunity."
In fact, Lin Suxing is not as obscure as he imagines. He has a high profile in the commercial modeling industry, his previous web drama as the second male lead was a huge hit, and he was also very popular in a variety show. He can hardly be considered an obscure nobody.
Dong Sheng waved his hand to indicate that it was no problem: "I entered this industry as a model agent. It is my duty to find and provide opportunities for outstanding young people like you. There is no need to be so polite."
A middle-aged man, dressed in a well-fitting dark gray suit, stood on the edge of the commotion.
The light cast a soft shadow on his well-defined profile, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes concealed a barely perceptible weariness. His tightly pursed lips maintained a proper curve, yet revealed a hint of aloofness.
The system sighed softly, "Sigh, how come Dong Sheng is so shrewd usually, but so oblivious and stupid when it comes to matters of the heart?!"
Lin Suxing pricked up his ears: "I'd like to hear the details."
"Let me tell you, even if you tell him right now that he's gay, he'll keep brainwashing himself into believing he isn't," the system said with absolute certainty. "But actually, he's deeply closeted, and he doesn't even realize it!"
Dong Sheng frowned, gritted his teeth, and suppressed the urge to refute.
He and his wife Zhou Yun met when they were young and were each other's first love. They later got married and had a daughter and a son. How could he possibly be gay?
If he's gay, how could he possibly marry a woman and have her have two children?!
Although Dong Sheng's thinking is somewhat traditional and old-fashioned, he is by no means a scoundrel who would choose to commit marriage fraud because of traditional ideas.
Lin Suxing was also curious: "Could it be that he, like that British athlete, initially thought he was heterosexual and got married, but later gradually discovered that he was actually gay, but because of his faith or his responsibility to his marriage, he didn't want to get a divorce, so he brainwashed himself?"
The system snapped its fingers: "Host, you guessed right! That's exactly it! Actually, it's not Dong Sheng's fault. He didn't commit marriage fraud because although he had feelings for the same sex when he was young, he didn't take it seriously and got married quickly!"
The floodgates of memory were abruptly flung open by the system's words.
A scene from his university days suddenly flashed before Dong Sheng's eyes: a sweltering summer night, the bathroom next to the school swimming pool filled with steam.
His best friend He Xiao was rinsing with his back to him, his young body glistening with water under the dim light, his shoulder blades rising and falling with the movement, water droplets sliding down his firm spine.
At that moment, his throat tightened inexplicably, his heart pounded like a drum, and he subconsciously held his breath.
Realizing something was wrong with him, he frantically attributed his excitement to pure envy of his friend's figure, immediately looked away, and even deliberately made a loud joke to cover up his lapse in composure.
Such impulses and desires had occurred countless times before, but Dong Sheng had always ignored them and never thought about them from this perspective. At that time, he already had a girlfriend, Zhou Yun, whom he loved and admired. He dared not think about it, nor did he want to.
Looking back now, it was clearly the most primal desire and impulse that he had forcibly suppressed for twenty years.
The system continued to vent: "He's too responsible and too rational, which often suppresses his own emotions and impulses! Actually, the reason he liked his wife was because she was very handsome and androgynous, and had a decisive and domineering personality. So after she grew her hair long, wore skirts, and wore makeup, he lost interest."
"Bound by traditional ideas and the gaze of those around him, he thought he was attracted to women. Then, he happened to meet a wife who was very androgynous and resembled the traditional image of a man, so he thought he was really heterosexual! In fact, what aroused his impulses and sexual interest was those 'stereotypical masculine characteristics' in his wife!"
Everything was wrong, so incredibly wrong.
The color drained from his face, and his fingers, gripping the wine glass, were white at the knuckles from excessive force and trembling slightly.
He had to use all his strength to maintain his composure and prevent himself from losing his composure on the spot.
He couldn't bear to part with her. It wasn't just Zhou Yun herself he couldn't bear to part with, but also the years they had spent struggling together. Divorce seemed to negate not only their marriage, but also the entire past they had built together.
Zhou Yun is innocent. He can no longer bind Zhou Yun with marriage. He must end this mistake that has lasted for too long.
The only thing he could do, and the only thing he had to do, was to personally untie the chains binding Zhou Yun and release the self that had been imprisoned for half its life.
"Su Xing, I need to make a phone call. Wait a moment." Dong Sheng looked up, his rationality allowing him to maintain his composure even under such intense mental stress.
"Okay." Lin Suxing saw Dong Sheng walk away silently with his head down and his phone in hand, guessing that the other party's "wait a moment" was just a formality, so he said, "Where is Cheng Qiqi now? I'll go find her."
"Oh no!" The system suddenly emitted a sharp alarm. "She's been taken to that private room called 'The Debauchery'!"
*
The heavy velvet curtains completely blocked out the outside world, turning this place into a secluded and hidden kingdom.
A huge round dining table was set up in the center of a dazzling array of wine bottles, the amber, ruby red, and pure golden liquids reflecting softly in the dim light. In the crystal ashtray, half-burnt Havana cigars and slender cigarettes were piled up like the remains of a burnt-out cigarette.
The guests were lounging in the large European-style sofas, while several portly, composed businessmen occupied the main seats, with thick cigars between their fingers and lazily swirling the wine in their glasses.
Surrounding them were a group of exquisitely dressed young men and women, both male and female, like carefully selected decorations.
They wore heavy makeup and fashionable, revealing clothing, with some even wearing maid outfits resembling lingerie or lace stockings with miniskirts.
"Mr. Li, about that piece of land we talked about last time..." A slick-back-haired, lean man approached the portly businessman at the head of the table, his voice muffled, gesturing with his hand to indicate a number, "Could this amount help smooth things over at some crucial points?"
The wealthy businessman, referred to as President Li, took a puff of his cigar, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, squinted, and remained noncommittal, only tapping the rim of his wine glass lightly with his thick fingers.
A young boy next to him immediately understood and gracefully poured him a full glass of wine. When he bent over, he revealed a large expanse of his fair and slender back, drawing everyone's attention.
Inside the private room, it seemed that everything could continue. The wealthy businessman's rough hands kept stroking the bare knees or smooth backs of his companions, in a sensual manner.
The young men and women who were snuggling up to them completely condoned these actions. When they were handing out fruit and pouring wine, their fingertips would lightly touch the ugly "guests." When they whispered in each other's ears, their warm breaths would deliberately brush against the other person's earlobes and necks, eliciting even more intense "caresses."
In this suffocating private room filled with smoke and desire, Cheng Qiqi was like a little white rabbit that had accidentally wandered into a cage of wild beasts, completely out of place with everything around her.
She sat stiffly on the edge of the sofa, barely occupying a corner.
Unlike the men and women around her who were at ease and whose eyes sparkled with confidence, she clutched her small handbag tightly to her knees, her knuckles turning white from the force. She dared not look up at anyone, her gaze lowered, fixed on the intricate yet dirty patterns on the dark red carpet beneath her feet.
The executive who brought his company employees to the dinner was a balding middle-aged man who was chatting and laughing with another wealthy businessman across from her, occasionally spitting onto her arm, which was disgusting.
What disgusted Cheng Qiqi even more was that the bald man would occasionally stroke her bare shoulder with suggestive intent while talking to her, and his eyes were blatantly lewd.
With each touch, Cheng Qiqi would tremble almost imperceptibly, like a startled rabbit, but she had to forcefully suppress the gasp that was about to escape her lips.
"Qiqi, don't just stand there, pour Mr. Zhang some wine!" The boss's drunken voice rang in her ears, carrying an unquestionable command.
The girl jolted awake, hurriedly raising her head to meet Mr. Zhang's gaze, which was both amused and scrutinizing, as if he were appraising merchandise.
She frantically reached for the decanter on the table, but for some reason the surface of the cold, heavy glass was sticky and slippery. She almost dropped the glass bottle and smashed it on the table, making a soft but noticeable, sharp sound that drew attention.
"I'm so sorry..." Her voice was barely audible, trembling with sobs. She hurriedly used a tissue to wipe up the few drops of wine that had splashed out, her head hanging even lower.
She could feel the indifferent, mocking, or lustful gazes around her pricking her like needles.
She dared not resist, dared not leave directly. Because she knew that if she left, given the collusion among modeling agencies, she might never be signed by another agency, and the exorbitant breach of contract fees were beyond her means.
The heavy door to the private room was pushed open silently.
A tall, handsome young man in a waiter's white shirt walked in carrying a silver wine tray, his head bowed. His eyes were slightly lowered, and the wisps of hair on his forehead cast soft shadows under the light.
Cheng Qiqi, who had been staring intently at the carpet with her head down and was in a state of high tension, subconsciously looked up. The moment her eyes met that face, her pupils contracted sharply.
Lin Suxing?!
She almost blurted it out; her heart was pounding. How could it be him? How did he get in?
The boss had proudly boasted that the security in the private rooms of this club was extremely tight, and the identity verification was almost obsessive, so that not even a fly could get in. He had even mocked her, saying, "Don't expect your little boyfriend to find his way here."
But Lin Suxing, an artist, walked in openly through the main entrance of the private room dressed as a waiter, carrying a glass of wine!
Overwhelmed by shock and confusion, she froze on the spot, her mind blank, completely unable to comprehend the surreal scene before her.
Lin Suxing didn't look at her; he walked steadily toward her without glancing to either side.
Just as he passed by Boss Cheng Qiqi and the man who was trying to put his hand on the girl's bare back, the tip of his shoe seemed to accidentally trip over the edge of the carpet, and he suddenly leaned forward!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
