He Zhi woke up on the floor the next morning, feeling his throat scratchy and painful, his eyelids heavy.
As he came to, he stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, a sense of confusion in his eyes.
“Awake?”
Chen Yuebai’s deep voice sounded beside him, causing He Zhi’s pupils to contract. Memories of last night flooded back, and his face instantly turned bright red.
Chen Yuebai lounged next to He Zhi, his white shirt unbuttoned, a cigarette dangling from one hand, resting casually on his knee, exuding a relaxed charm.
The curtains fluttered, letting in a sliver of sunlight from outside.
“Chen… Chen Ge…” He Zhi sat up, his voice hoarse. In an instant, darkness threatened to close in on him, and he realized his head was pounding, his cheeks burning—perhaps he was truly unwell.
“Get up, wash up, and let’s go,” Chen Yuebai said as he stood, stretching lazily, seemingly in a good mood. “Aren’t you supposed to do voice work for Lian Lian? Your car is still at the bar, right? I’ll drive you there today.”
He Zhi felt a pang in his heart but nodded silently, lowering his gaze.
“Are you feeling alright?” Chen Yuebai asked, watching He Zhi’s unsteady steps toward the bathroom.
He Zhi turned around, his expression unreadable, and asked in a hoarse voice, “Chen Ge, what would you do if I said I wasn’t feeling well?”
Chen Yuebai seemed taken aback by the question. After a moment, he replied, “You finish the voice work for Lian Lian, and I’ll take you to the hospital?”
A bitter smile appeared on He Zhi’s face. “No need, Chen Ge, I’m fine.” With that, he turned and entered the bathroom.
Chen Yuebai didn’t take He Zhi’s words to heart, thinking only that the young man’s attitude was a bit strange.
……
After washing up and changing clothes, He Zhi followed Chen Yuebai downstairs.
Having gone out late last night in light clothing and getting involved with Chen Yuebai, he had naturally caught a chill and developed a fever. His head felt foggy, and as he walked, he realized his whole body ached—even his bones hurt.
What he really wanted was to sleep soundly without a care in the world.
But he couldn’t; he had to help Bai Lian with her voice work.
Bai Lian was a top artist under the entertainment giant Tianxing. Young and having burst onto the scene through a talent show, she gained fame with a hit historical drama, backed by the Bai Family. Many influential figures in the industry had connections to her, allowing her to rise smoothly, adored by everyone—a rising star in the film industry, a true darling of the public.
The company had arranged a path for her that balanced popularity and acting skills, promoting her as someone who always used her original voice.
But in reality? He Zhi chuckled to himself bitterly: the “original voice” that the world praised as Bai Lian’s top-notch acting wasn’t even hers. If it hadn’t been for Chen Yuebai placing a contract in front of him, he would never have signed it…
Chen Yuebai’s car came to a stop, and He Zhi took a deep breath, forcing himself to muster some energy as he got out and entered the Tianxing building—Bai Lian’s project was also produced by Tianxing, and the voice work would take place in their studio.