Shi Yu had no interest in exploring the social circles of the entertainment industry. This was merely a single promotional collaboration, and the performance of the male star was quite impressive. Shi Yu tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment.
The person in charge of the magazine, hearing that he had arrived, hurried over. He bowed low and asked respectfully, “President Shi, these are the final shots. If you have any additional actions or scenes you would like to add, we can arrange them immediately.”
The gaze of Shi Yu fell on the monitor as he looked at a few shots. Zhou Yangyi was not only beautiful, but there was also an alluring charm in his eyes and gestures. The photographer had captured this perfectly. The softness of the star formed a strong contrast with the majestic hardness of the mountains and rivers, making the images particularly eye-catching.
“You can make the decisions,” Shi Yu said calmly.
The magazine staff was efficient. Before long, another set of photos was ready. After monitoring the site for a few minutes, Shi Yu received an urgent work call. By the time he finished discussing the details and returned, the set was on a ten-minute break, and Zhou Yangyi was nowhere to be found.
Shi Yu gave a few instructions to Assistant Yu and turned toward the restroom. The restrooms at the tourist site were divided into staff and visitor sections. To facilitate the shoot, this area had been cordoned off since morning, making the surroundings exceptionally quiet.
Coming out of the restroom, Shi Yu turned on the tap. Cool water flowed between his fingers. From around the corner came a rustling sound, followed by the crisp click of a lighter and a few hushed whispers. Zhou Yangyi was leaning against the wall while talking on the phone.
His long, slender fingers held a white cigarette as smoke rose. He narrowed his eyes and a beautiful smile played on his lips. “Yeah, guess what?”
Shi Yu had no interest in listening to the conversations of others. He pursed his lips, turned off the tap, and prepared to leave. Then, the playful voice of Zhou Yangyi drifted into his ears. “I went to the estate of President Xie with Duan Jinghuai a couple of days ago. He actually asked for my room card that night.”
Shi Yu was caught off guard and stopped in his tracks.
“Yeah, I thought he would come to my room, but he did not. There must have been someone else,” Zhou Yangyi said with a hint of regret, pausing before arching an eyebrow. “But he invited me to Tonight this evening.”
Tonight was the most luxurious nightclub in the capital. The thin lips of Shi Yu tightened into a straight line.
Zhou Yangyi continued, “I have heard he likes them pure. The purer the better. So it makes sense he would look for me. Do not worry, I will seize the opportunity.”
Shi Yu felt his blood freeze. For a moment, his mind went blank, and the passing wind felt like needles pricking his skin. Zhou Yangyi had already left, but Shi Yu stood still for a long time. His wet fingertips had long since been dried by the wind, and his knuckles felt chilled to the bone.
It felt as though there was a vortex beneath his feet, pulling him deeper and deeper. It was not until a staff member walked in and noticed his dark, unreadable expression that someone asked with concern, “President Shi, are you all right?”
Shi Yu snapped back to reality and realized his hands and feet were frozen stiff. “I am fine,” he said softly. The light reflected off his glasses, masking his expression.
Back at the office, his secretary brought him some documents. Seeing him in his gold-rimmed glasses and three-piece suit, her eyes lit up. “President Shi, you are wearing your glasses!” she said cheerfully.
The prescription for Shi Yu was not high. He only wore them occasionally for astigmatism caused by staying up late to read documents. He signed the papers and handed them to her. Seeing her looking at him so excitedly, he found it somewhat amusing and asked if the look was good.
“It looks great! Like a gentlemanly rogue,” the girl said excitedly. “But President Shi, you are not actually suited for glasses.”
“Why?”
She muttered, “Because you look too pure. You are the absolute peak of that pure aesthetic. Even with glasses on, you do not look like much of a rogue.”
Scattered sparks of starlight dotted the night sky. Tonight was bustling with people, and the shifting, unpredictable lights were dazzling. Inside a luxurious private booth, the atmosphere was hazy and dim. The exquisitely decorated walls were crowded with flickering lights and shadows.
It was the birthday of Xie Jiahao. He held a banquet here every year, inviting a mix of acquaintances and strangers from various industries. Anyone with even a slight connection could get in.
Duan Jinghuai arrived late, lazily carrying a suit jacket. A few buttons on his shirt were carelessly undone. The colorful lights fell across his face, accentuating his deep features and making him look as alluring as a siren. He exuded an icy, powerful aura. As soon as he stood at the door, the people in the booth felt a strong sense of pressure and fell silent, staring at him.
Xie Jiahao, who was playing drinking games with a beautiful woman on the sofa, hurried over to welcome him. “Brother Huai, you are here! Move it, show some initiative! Pour a drink and light a cigarette for Brother Huai.”
The men and women who had been chatting with Xie Jiahao focused their attention on him. When Xie Jiahao shouted, they snapped back to reality and began frantically searching for a cigarette case. Although rumors about Duan Jinghuai were rampant, opportunities to actually meet him were rare. The birthday of Xie Jiahao was one of them.
Duan Jinghuai tossed his jacket onto the side of the sofa and sat down casually, handing a gift box to Xie Jiahao. Xie Jiahao took it and offered a compliment. “God, Brother Huai, your presence is enough. We have known each other for years; why bring a gift?”
Duan Jinghuai gave him a cold look and leaned back into the sofa with his legs crossed. “Cut the crap.”
Xie Jiahao chuckled and quickly handed him an expensive cigarette. Although he was on good terms with Duan Jinghuai, half the people at this party were there just for him. His appearance was a major favor. A beautiful woman nearby already had a lighter ready. Seeing Duan Jinghuai put the cigarette in his mouth, she hurried forward to light it.
Duan Jinghuai frowned and picked up another lighter from the table. “No need. You guys go ahead and play.” He had no interest in the flashy parties Xie Jiahao liked to organize. Seeing this, Xie Jiahao signaled to the woman, who nodded and quickly moved away.
The lighter clicked, and the crimson glow at the tip of his cigarette lit up. Bluish-white smoke rose, obscuring his features. He leaned back lazily and pulled out his phone to check his messages.
The chat with Shi Yu was still stuck on the transfer record from a few days ago. He had not accepted the money, so it had naturally been returned. He had been busy lately, handling business day and night, and only today had he managed to find some free time.
Once he settled down, he could not help but think of Shi Yu. It felt as if a crack had been torn in his chest with the wind whistling through it. Yet he was also restless. He had not contacted Shi Yu, and Shi Yu had not sent him a single message, as if the events at the villa had never happened and they had returned to being strangers.
After a moment of stalemate, Duan Jinghuai began to talk himself around. He decided that since it was not the first day Shi Yu had been cold, sending a message first would not hurt.
But what should he say? He looked down, tapping his index finger against his knee as he thought. He wondered if Shi Yu had eaten. He likely had. Duan Jinghuai had worked late, and by the time he left his office, the lights on the top floor of the neighboring building were already out. He wondered if the foot injury of Shi Yu was better. It was mostly fine by the time they left the villa. He thought about asking what Shi Yu was doing, but he felt that sounded a bit too much like they were dating.
He typed a few words and deleted them then typed again. He let out a frustrated sound. Finally, his eyes flickered, and his long fingers flew across the keyboard. He sent a message asking if Shi Yu had seen the revised contract for Swan Bay. Talking about work first should be fine. He looked at it for a few moments and clicked send with satisfaction.
Inside the booth, the lights were decadent, and people were dancing. Zhou Yangyi sat in the corner with a glass of wine. His eyes had been locked on Duan Jinghuai since the moment he walked in. Though they had spent a night at the villa together, the moment the man appeared at the door, Zhou Yangyi was still overwhelmed by his deep features and powerful presence. This man was truly top-tier and the exact type he craved. He could already imagine how pleasant tonight would be.
Thinking this, Zhou Yangyi drained the strong liquor in his glass, took a deep breath to steady his heart, and approached. Duan Jinghuai tapped his cigarette, causing ash to fall, and took another puff. The smoke made his deep features appear ethereal.
Zhou Yangyi felt his heart skip a beat. He sat down beside Duan Jinghuai and asked in a clear voice if the man also liked this brand of cigarettes. Duan Jinghuai did not even look up. He narrowed his eyes and spoke coldly, saying that Xie Jiahao gave it to him. His fingers tapped the notification screen to refresh it then refreshed it again. It had been three minutes, and Shi Yu still had not replied.
He wondered if Shi Yu had not seen it, as WeChat usually has a notification sound, or if he was in the shower. Zhou Yangyi noted obediently that the brand was good and that he quite liked it too.
Silence was the only response. Zhou Yangyi pursed his lips but remained undeterred. He lowered his voice and suggested that Duan Jinghuai might get tired of it if he smoked too much. He invited the man to try his later while handing over his own cigarette case.
A pair of clean hands appeared in his peripheral vision. Duan Jinghuai paused and finally looked at him. Zhou Yangyi looked back with a shimmer in his dark eyes. His gaze was alluring and perfectly complemented the red mole. He knew that from this angle, he looked both pure and seductive, presenting an innocent look that best triggered the protective instincts of a man.
Sure enough, Duan Jinghuai looked at him and narrowed his deep eyes. The corners of the mouth of Zhou Yangyi curled up, and his heart filled with joy. He watched the thin lips of the man part, expecting a compliment or a flirtatious remark in that deep voice.
Instead, Duan Jinghuai asked if his phone signal was good.