Chapter 47 [The Couple Made Up] If you...
An eerie silence fell over the private room, as if even the air itself had frozen.
The members of the Figaro film crew sitting at the main table turned pale, and some even trembled as if they could not bear the news.
If others were to talk about Zhuo Hongjie and He Xiao like that, saying such "unlucky" things, they would definitely have cursed them back in anger long ago; they are the most superstitious people in the circle.
Lin Suxing could produce two different sounds even though he didn't speak; this was definitely a supernatural power!
Zhuo Hongjie and the others dared not disbelieve the words spoken by the supernatural force.
The panic caused by the words "imprisonment" did not turn into questioning or anger towards Lin Suxing. Instead, it turned into an eagerness and motivation to help Lin Suxing complete the mission and obtain more information about their fate.
Zhuo Hongjie, editor-in-chief of Figaro, twitched his facial muscles several times before finally managing a slightly stiff but trying-to-appear warm smile.
He picked up his glass, his fingertips trembling slightly. He deliberately avoided the chilling topic, as if he hadn't heard anything, and spoke with an overly enthusiastic tone, turning to work.
“Su Xing,” he said in an exceptionally gentle tone, “the market response to this cover proves that you are very suitable for this kind of artistic and story-driven visual expression. Our editorial department is planning a series of features on ‘Emerging Forces,’ and I think we can tailor a more in-depth set of images and text just for you, continuing and elevating this ‘fragmented aesthetic’ style. What do you think?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the senior stylist next to him chimed in, his tone urgent and eager to prove his point: "Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Zhuo is absolutely right!"
The director in charge of the clothing department immediately chimed in after putting down his chopsticks: "Su Xing, I just received some new season collections from several independent designer brands. The concepts and textures of some of the outfits are practically made to solidify your current image! The silhouettes and fabrics are all very distinctive. I fully support you and will definitely be able to borrow them for you!"
As he spoke, he carefully observed Lin Suxing's expression out of the corner of his eye, afraid that he would refuse.
Lin Suxing was somewhat bewildered by their inexplicable enthusiasm. After swallowing the taro milk pastry in her mouth, she smiled and thanked them, "Okay, I'm very willing to work with everyone. I just don't know if it's appropriate to do another episode since we just worked together."
There seems to be a saying in the industry that publications shouldn't feature the same person in several consecutive issues, but Lin Suxing had never encountered this situation before, so she wasn't quite sure about it.
Zhuo Hongjie immediately said, "You don't need to worry about Su Xing. There were some traditional reasons why it was not allowed before, mainly for two reasons. First, it is easy to cause market fatigue by featuring the same person. Second, it is easy to give people something to say, that a certain artist monopolizes the publication and does not give others a chance. But our new collaboration is not a monthly cover, but a special feature shoot, so of course there is no problem."
Art director He Xiao then spoke up: "Su Xing, if you can solidify this image and make the 'broken' feel your unique style, you won't lack fashion resources in the future. Right now, no artist in the industry, especially a male artist, has become famous for this. So if any brand wants this style for an endorsement in the future, they will think of you first."
These words awakened Lin Suxing, who had not understood these things before.
"...Sister Xiaoxiao, thank you so much for telling me all this. I still don't have a spokesperson." Lin Suxing winked at the short-haired, capable woman. "If I can land a spokesperson, I'll definitely treat you to a big meal."
He Xiao was in his thirties. As someone working in the fashion industry, he naturally had a soft spot for pretty kids. At this moment, the admiration in his eyes almost materialized into a little monster that came out to pat Lin Suxing's head: "Haha, then I'll be waiting for you to treat me."
The operations director quickly adjusted his expression, forcing a warm smile from his earlier panic, and added, "Indeed, enhancing fashion resources requires continuous exposure and precise positioning. Su Xing, with your current momentum, one cover isn't enough. Next month's VOGUE Fashion Art Festival will be an excellent opportunity."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone guiding: "Not only will the heads of the Greater China regions of major luxury brands be present, but several editors-in-chief from magazines like ELLE and Marie Claire will also be attending. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and get noticed by more key figures. Our magazine can help coordinate and secure invitations and suitable introductions for you."
The brand director nodded repeatedly, as if trying to make amends: "That's right, consolidating our image and increasing resources are the top priorities. Our future cooperation can be planned in this direction, and we will definitely devote the best resources to it."
In an instant, the executives who had just looked ashen-faced gathered around Lin Suxing, offering various seemingly professional suggestions and plans aimed at helping him "enhance his fashion resources."
Their eyes flickered, and beneath their smiles lay undisguised surprise and curiosity, yet they dared not actually ask.
Clearly, the warning of "being imprisoned" hung like a sword of Damocles over their heads, causing them to cling tightly to Lin Suxing, who knew the inside story and had a mysterious background, in a state of extreme unease.
Even if it were just a matter of getting that supernatural force called "the system" to mention a few more words about why they were imprisoned, it would allow them to prepare in advance or avoid trouble altogether.
Lin Suxing looked at the group of seniors who had suddenly become "warm-hearted" and felt a little confused, but he couldn't figure out the reason. He just thought that he was lucky and had met a benefactor who was willing to help him.
***
Warm yellow light flowed from the hidden light strips along the edge of the ceiling, illuminating the entire bedroom.
The light gently outlined the shape of a large bed, the Italian velvet-trimmed headboard gleaming softly in the light, and the fluffy down comforter slightly sunken, as if someone had just rested there.
On the floating bedside table, a handcrafted glass lamp with a brass base stands quietly, with several open scripts scattered around it, and a shovel of agarwood still wafting in the air.
A minimalist ceramic vase sits in one corner of the counter, with a fresh white tulip inserted diagonally inside.
In this tranquil and warm glow, Lin Suxing sat on the edge of the bed.
He was wearing a light gray silk loungewear set, the loose neckline slightly open, revealing half of his delicate collarbone.
The soft light fell on his lowered eyebrows and eyes, and his long eyelashes cast dappled shadows on his cheeks. He looked like a meticulously painted picture, so beautiful that it seemed unreal.
"Good evening, everyone. I suddenly felt like doing a live stream to chat with you all today." Lin Suxing waved at the camera with a bright smile on her face. "Yesterday, Figaro officially went on sale, and today's sales have exceeded our expectations. I am especially grateful to everyone for supporting this issue of Figaro magazine."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice softening: "Actually... I wanted to ask you guys what you think of this cover?" He paused, his fingers unconsciously digging into the edge of the table. "During the shoot, because the style was quite bold and needed to create a broken and wet feeling, I was actually... quite nervous and a little reserved. It's a bit embarrassing to talk about, hehe."
His worries were quickly dispelled by the scrolling comments, and the enthusiastic praise from fans poured in like a warm tide:
My wife is finally live streaming! I'm drooling over her!
Oh my god, she looks so good even in pajamas, no wonder she's from "My Love from the Star"!
[The comments section is packed up, preventing others from seeing my wife, hmph!]
[My wife looks so beautiful! This style suits you perfectly!]
[Perfectly suited! The sense of vulnerability and the feeling of a story are absolutely amazing!]
Looking at it this way, the stars seem perfect for those art-house films; I can't even imagine how beautiful they would be on a movie screen...
Lin Suxing carefully read through each comment, and soon the barrage of messages was so fast that he couldn't keep up.
However, he still saw some flirtatious comments:
[Please livestream this for us next time you film! I really want to see you blushing while your skin is exposed, it's so sexy... prprpr...]
I really want to watch it too! Just thinking about it makes me want to go!
[Is that thing up there? Just in!]
[Exactly, this is what gets us male fans excited!]
Seeing these comments, Lin Suxing finally felt relieved and a bright smile appeared on her face.
He touched his nose sheepishly: "You guys... stop fooling around. But, thank you so much for liking it."
Just then, the live stream screen was suddenly flooded with a continuous stream of lavish gift animations.
User "Kieran" has given away one "Carnival" gift.
...
User "Kieran" has given away 100 "Carnival" gifts.
Within seconds, the user named "Kieran" effortlessly jumped to the top spot on Lin Suxing's live stream leaderboard with a massive donation of 100 Carnival tokens.
"Ah...!" Lin Suxing covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening slightly in shock. "Thank you... thank you Kieran for the 100 carnivals! This is too much, thank you so much!"
The voices praising Lin Suxing were immediately drowned out by the barrage of comments that had been boiling over due to the appearance of a wealthy fan.
Holy crap! The top player on the leaderboard has appeared!
[Wow, this is incredibly wealthy! Whose sister is so extravagant?!]
I know this Kieran! She apparently bought 1000 copies of Figaro magazine to support her idol!
[That's 1000 copies. The fan site admin posted a report on both the super topic and the main site, listing the total number of copies supported by fans and the Weibo IDs of the top 20 buyers. This admin is number one.]
[That's right! I'm usually active in the supertopic, but this girl never posts on Weibo. She's very low-key. She only comments like "take the picture" whenever a blogger shares a great picture of stars, and she even sends a big red envelope to the fan site admin who took the amazing picture...]
"You bought 1,000 copies?" Lin Suxing read out the comment and was so surprised that she didn't know how to react for a moment. She could only sincerely thank her again, "Really... really too much money, sister, thank you so much for your support."
He looked at the unfamiliar ID "Kieran" and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
Ever since the system told him that this world was a novel with Lin Ke as the protagonist and distorted values, and that his former fans would mistakenly believe Lin Ke's slander and defamation and turn against him, Lin Suxing forced himself not to care too much about the fans' love and opinions.
After all, the more he cares, the more upset he will be when the other party turns against him and hurts him.
But now he not only has many dedicated fans who fight for him, but also wealthy female fans who silently support him.
Kieran: I'm a man.
A barrage of glittering gold messages pops up at the top of the live stream, a privilege reserved for the top three donors, making it easier for the streamer to see the comments from these wealthy viewers.
Lin Suxing paused for a moment, then immediately corrected herself: "Thank you, Brother Kieran. I'm sorry, I didn't know if you were a boy or a girl before, so I called you the wrong person."
Kieran: It's okay.
Judging from the other person's words, he seemed to be a rather steady and reserved person. So Lin Suxing casually asked, "Are you older or younger than me? Is it appropriate for me to call you brother?"
Kieran: Hmm, that's suitable.
Lin Suxing laughed, her tone becoming more relaxed: "Okay, then thank you for your support, Brother Kieran. Look at the comments, everyone's saying you're a big shot, haha."
User "Kieran" has given away one "Carnival" gift.
...
User "Kieran" has given away 100 "Carnival" gifts.
The moment Lin Suxing finished speaking, the screen was instantly enveloped by the carnival rain, with special effects covering the entire screen and completely obscuring Lin Suxing.
Lin Suxing was stunned: "..."
How much money is that?! A single cigarette costs tens of thousands of yuan, so this must be worth millions!
Lin Suxing mentally counted on her fingers, feeling a pang of regret as she did so. She quickly said, "Brother, please don't send any more gifts. There are other sisters and brothers too. I started this live stream to chat with everyone, and I don't want you all to spend money."
On the other end of the live stream, Li Xinian, wearing Sennheiser headphones and intently staring at a tablet, frowned slightly.
...Why didn't he thank me this time?
For example, like last time... get close to the camera and give it a kiss or something.
But this amount of money was nothing to Li Xinian, so he didn't dwell on it too much.
Lin Suxing steered the conversation away from the astonishing amount of virtual gifts and began answering some questions from fans about her daily life. She chatted about the recent weather and shared her playlist, making the atmosphere in the live stream relaxed and warm again.
After interacting for a while, he seemed to remember something, and his tone became slightly more formal, with a joyful tone: "By the way, I want to share some good news with everyone. I recently auditioned for the drama 'I Am Immortal,' um... I'll keep the specific role a secret for now, but it's a role I really like. Luckily, I've already passed the second round."
He clenched his fist slightly, his eyes shining: "I'll be participating in the third round next week, and I hope to bring good luck to everyone."
This news sent fans into a frenzy, with messages of blessings and encouragement flooding the screen.
Wow, Xingxing is amazing! "I Am Immortal" is a big-budget production!
[That's amazing! You're the best, honey!!!]
I'm going to have a tarot reader calculate my destiny based on the stars, to see what role they've chosen for me!
[Hope this goes through! Good luck!]
[Our careers have reached a point where we can build a fan base and even become stars; we are truly satisfied.]
"And another thing," Lin Suxing continued after the comments subsided, his tone filled with mystery and anticipation, "I should be able to collaborate with the filming team of 'Figaro' again in the future."
He put a finger to his lips, making a gesture of secrecy, "But I can't say what it is right now, I'll keep it a secret for a while, and I'll tell everyone as soon as the time is right."
The lighting in the live stream room was carefully adjusted to softly envelop Lin Suxing, making his already exquisite features even more captivating.
After chatting for a while, he lowered his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something unpleasant. His thick, curled eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyelids like butterfly wings, trembling gently as he spoke in a somewhat dejected tone.
"Actually... something has been bothering me lately." He spoke, his voice softer than usual, with a slightly nasal tone, as if he had been wronged and was trying his best to endure it.
Her fair cheeks were flushed with a light pink, especially the tip of her delicate nose, which was also tinged with a faint pink, making her look exceptionally endearing.
Unconsciously, he repeatedly wrapped the drawstring of the hoodie with his slender fingers, tightening and loosening the thin string until his knuckles turned white from the slight force.
When she looked up at the camera, her clear eyes seemed to be veiled by a layer of misty rain from Jiangnan, moist and glistening, as if raindrops were about to fall from her eyes at any moment.
“There is someone who is very close to me and very important to me, but for some reason, lately it seems like they are avoiding me and don’t want to talk to me.”
As he said this, he subconsciously pursed his lips, making his pale lips appear slightly redder and even more pitiful.
His free hand gently squeezed the soft cat plush toy on the table, as if trying to draw a little comfort and courage from it, like a kitten trying to hide itself but unable to resist peeking out to find something to rely on.
“I really want to have a good talk with him, to find out if I did something wrong, or if there was some misunderstanding. But…” He paused, his voice lowered, tinged with sadness, “He seems a little resistant, unwilling to give me this opportunity.”
His appearance, coupled with his slightly messy soft hair and slightly open collar, created a fragile yet beautifully delicate sense of vulnerability. It was impossible for his fans not to feel sorry for him when they saw him like this.
【Huh? Who is it? If they're friends, they should say so. So, are they lovers?】
[Su Xing isn't an idol, and she doesn't have many female fans, so it's okay for her to date, right?]
[They could also be very important friends, so they don't want to just gloss over it as friends. There's no need to overinterpret it.]
Besides questions and speculations, the comments section was filled with messages like "hugs," "don't cry," and "I feel sorry for you."
[Give your wife a hug, or maybe try having a serious talk with him or her? Many things between friends can be resolved by speaking out, as long as they don't involve matters of principle.]
[The stars look like they're about to cry. Who is it that makes us stars so sad! [pulls out a knife.gif]]
[Don't cry, baby. Let's talk it out. If it's your fault, apologize. If it's his fault, I'm going to pull out a 30-meter-long sword. Who told him to make you sad and upset!]
Upon seeing the speculation about a "romantic relationship," Lin Suxing quickly shook his head. As he swayed, a few unruly strands of black hair brushed against the corners of his slightly reddened eyes, and a more noticeable blush crept onto his ears. He earnestly clarified, "No, no, everyone, please don't make wild guesses. It's not that kind of relationship."
He loosened the slightly crumpled drawstring, waved his hands helplessly in front of him, and his tone became more solemn, "But, he really is a... very, very important person. He's always been by my side, a very close person. So, when he suddenly becomes so indifferent, I feel... especially sad."
He tried hard to give his fans a reassuring smile, but the curve of his lips was clearly forced, and the disappointment in his eyes was still clearly visible. This forced smile only made people want to reach through the screen to comfort him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.
Li Xinian leaned back in the soft chair in the study, watching Lin Suxing's live stream on his tablet.
When he heard the young man describe the coldness of that "very important person" in such a wronged and confused tone, his fingers tightened slightly as he held the coffee cup.
Looking at Lin Suxing's eyes on the screen, glistening with tears as he tried to hide his sadness, and hearing the cautious grievance and barely perceptible coquettishness in his voice, the last bit of awkwardness and displeasure in Li Xinian's heart caused by the other party's failure to recognize him vanished instantly.
He suddenly realized how naive and unfair his previous deliberate aloofness and indifference had been.
Lin Suxing knew nothing. He didn't know that "Niannian" was Li Xinian. He was just confused and saddened by the disappearance of the "companionship" he cherished.
And yet, I inexplicably vented my emotions on him, making him so sad.
A surge of intense guilt and heartache welled up inside him, almost overwhelming him. Looking at the lonely and vulnerable young man in the video, he only wanted to immediately pull him into his arms and wipe away the sorrow between his brows.
***
In the dead of night, Lin Suxing stretched and leaned against the headboard after finishing her live stream.
Thinking about Li Xinian's matter, he still felt a lingering sense of grievance. The excitement after the live broadcast and his current thoughts intertwined, making him unable to sleep at all.
So Lin Suxing simply opened the system's companion module again, transforming into an invisible "ghost" and silently appearing in Li Xinian's study.
He thought to himself: If I ask him one more time and he still ignores me... then I'll never talk to him again! Humph!
Li Xinian sat behind a large desk, facing away from him. Only a desk lamp was on, and the soft, warm light outlined the profile of his focused face. He seemed to be reviewing documents, but upon closer inspection, his gaze was not focused on the pages.
Lin Suxing's heart tightened slightly. He focused his mind, sending his voice, like a gentle breeze, softly to Li Xinian's ear, carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance and a cautious probe:
"Niannian...are you still angry?"
Her voice paused, then took on a soft, pleading tone, almost like she was being coquettish, "Please don't ignore me, okay?"
The man behind the desk stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He slowly raised his eyes, his deep gray-blue eyes gazing into the void, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate an invisible barrier and precisely capture that "existence".
The hard lines on his face softened at a visible speed, and even a hint of doting smile appeared on his lips.
During the live stream, the young man's beautiful and delicate smile revealed his grievance and sadness when he talked about his indifference, which made him unable to bear continuing to ignore him.
Besides, he wasn't stupid; he could sense the feelings Lin Suxing had for him in her words.
Lin Suxing didn't know that he was Nian Nian. There must be some trickery involved that he didn't know about. How could he blame the innocent Lin Suxing for this?
If things are handled gradually, Lin Suxing is a smart man, and one day he will realize that he is Niannian and will transfer his feelings for Niannian to him.
“I’m not angry.” Li Xinian’s voice was deep and clear in the quiet study, carrying a kind of candor after letting down his guard. “I’m sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have ignored you.”
The moment Lin Suxing appeared in the form of a "ghost," Li Xinian sensed her presence.
The man, who hadn't expected to see her again tonight, hesitated for once, struggling with what topic would be more appropriate and natural to start the conversation.
But Lin Suxing spoke first, her tone soft and coquettish, completely disregarding his previous indifference, like a wonderful cat that had been kicked but still clung to him.
Li Xinian felt even more guilty and was already thinking about what he should give Lin Suxing as compensation.
He put down his pen, leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze still fixed on that direction, and asked in a tone of genuine concern, so gentle it was almost unbelievable: "...Why aren't you resting yet?"
Half an hour had passed since the live broadcast ended, and the clock had now struck past midnight. If Li Xinian was unable to sleep due to his emotional turmoil and simply continued working in his study, Lin Suxing would probably only be able to see his sleeping face.
The man asked a familiar question in a deep voice. Feeling that familiar concern, Lin Suxing's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled down, and an indescribable sense of joy and relief welled up inside her.
Almost subconsciously, he clicked the option "Sit down next to him," and his figure, carrying the crisp scent of cedar but invisible, immediately sat on the armrest of Li Xinian's large office chair, just inches away from Li Xinian.
"I can't sleep, thinking about you ignoring me... I'm so angry I can't sleep, I'm both angry and wronged, ugh." Those who are favored are always fearless. Seeing that Nian Nian was starting to care about him again, he poured out all his unhappiness, "I haven't had a good night's sleep these past few days, I dream about it all, why are you ignoring me..."
Li Xinian suddenly moved!
Without warning, he reached out with astonishing speed, with an undeniable force and determination, and suddenly reached for the previously empty handrail beside him!
His entire "existence" was firmly grasped by an irresistible force, and in the midst of the dizziness, he was accurately and firmly pulled over by Li Xinian!
"Ah!" Lin Suxing exclaimed in surprise.
After a dizzying moment, when Lin Suxing finally came to her senses from the extreme shock, she realized that she had fallen into a warm embrace filled with familiar scents.
Li Xinian's arms encircled him like iron hoops, the force so great that it almost crushed him and embedded it into his bones.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
The man's usually cold and stern voice was now as gentle as honey: "If you hate it, you can leave now. If you don't hate it, let me hold you for a while, okay?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Winking emoji] Hehe, hugging my wife.
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