Chapter 13 – The Marvels of the Mind’s Pathways

“Knock, knock, knock…”
The door of the lounge was rapped upon. As Cheng Yishu and Da Lingzi both glanced toward the entrance, Wu Xiaofei was already pushing the door open.

Wu Xiaofei, the rising starlet favored by Starlight Entertainment, possessed a pure and sweet beauty, charming and adorable. Her delicate, coquettish voice could make any man melt, and even women found their hearts fluttering upon hearing her lilt.

“Brother Yishu, I just had my assistant buy some Starbucks. I know you love Frappuccinos, so I brought you one especially!”

She gently set the two cups of coffee on the dressing table, then, ever thoughtful, picked one up and handed it to Cheng Yishu, her smile sweet and bashful as she looked at him.

“Thank you,” Cheng Yishu replied coolly, accepting the cup but not drinking from it. Instead, he set it directly on the table beside him.

Cheng Yishu’s gaze barely lingered on her, leaving Wu Xiaofei feeling somewhat awkward. Still, she managed a smile and replied,

“There’s no need to be so polite, Brother Yishu. If you hadn’t let me win during the game segment just now, I would’ve lost ages ago!”

Her smile grew even sweeter as she picked up the other iced Americano, sipping it delicately as she sat before the makeup mirror.

“The director’s team told me to. You don’t need to think about it,” Cheng Yishu replied indifferently, glancing at her once more as his phone buzzed twice in his hand.

“Pfft…” Da Lingzi, standing at Cheng Yishu’s side, couldn’t hold back a laugh, nearly bursting out before catching herself just in time. But Wu Xiaofei noticed, and her face instantly flushed crimson.

There was no helping it—her boss was infamous in the industry for his bluntness. He never bothered with euphemisms, regardless of whether the other party was man or woman; he treated everyone the same.

“Well, even so, I should thank you for looking after me. I missed your wrap party because of other commitments and didn’t get to wish you congratulations… But I figured we’d see each other back at the company, so I didn’t call or text you… You’re not angry, are you?”

Wu Xiaofei’s youthful energy was on full display in her red strapless dress, her hair cascading like clouds, her look both cute and dazzling. Her moist red lips pressed together as her almond-shaped eyes, limpid and luminous, gazed intently at Cheng Yishu, making his scalp tingle.

Cheng Yishu cleared his throat, turned away, and responded with natural simplicity, “It doesn’t matter.”

A phone call? A message?

Cheng Yishu had never given her any of his contact information. Although they were from the same company and had worked together just over a month ago, in Cheng Yishu’s eyes, their relationship was nothing more than that of work partners—not even friends.

After several cold responses, Wu Xiaofei’s smile faltered.

As another woman, Da Lingzi felt her boss was being a bit harsh. She was about to smooth things over when Cheng Yishu’s phone rang again—this time, a video call request.

Cheng Yishu immediately lowered his gaze to check the screen.

“Little Mosquito requests a video call…”

Da Lingzi glanced at the screen, her eyes widening in surprise, while Cheng Yishu merely looked up at Wu Xiaofei.

Wu Xiaofei understood; celebrities needed privacy for phone calls. She politely stood up and said,

“Then, Brother Yishu, you should rest. You still have to record this afternoon, so I’ll head out.”

Cheng Yishu nodded, as terse as ever, replying simply, “Alright.”

After Wu Xiaofei left, Cheng Yishu immediately picked up the untouched Frappuccino and handed it to Da Lingzi.

“Take this. Go find somewhere comfortable to finish it before you come back.”

“Oh…”

Da Lingzi was always happy to help Cheng Yishu deal with snacks. Even though she often complained her growing waistline was thanks to him, she never tired of the task.

She took a few steps toward the door, then suddenly turned back, worry written on her face as the phone continued to ring.

“Then…”

“Now. Immediately,” Cheng Yishu snapped, his rare displeasure enough to make Da Lingzi scurry out and close the door tightly behind her.

Once sure the door was shut, Cheng Yishu got up and strode to the dressing table, checking himself in the mirror.

Hair—fine. Clothes—no problem. He scrutinized his face.

Perfect.

He drew a deep breath and was just about to accept the video call when the request timed out.

As he pondered whether to call back, another barrage of calls began.

A barely perceptible smile tugged at his lips. He cleared his throat and finally pressed the answer button.

“You mangy dog, you finally deign to answer my video call. Do you have any idea how many messages I’ve sent you?”

Lin Xiaowen’s face appeared on the screen, immediately launching into a tirade.

Cheng Yishu reflexively leaned back, silently grateful for the noisy music in the studio next door.

“Tired?”

Lounging on the sofa, Cheng Yishu watched her on the other end of the camera, indignant and ranting.

Taking advantage of a brief pause, he calmly uttered just those two words.

Lin Xiaowen paused, realizing her whole speech had elicited not a hint of guilt from him.

“Where’s the money? Pay me back!”

She glared at the man on the screen, nearly burning a hole through her phone.

Enough with the wasted breath—it was all useless with him. She decided to be blunt.

“I never said I wouldn’t pay you back. Work came up unexpectedly… and I just forgot,” Cheng Yishu replied, eyes rolling as he explained.

“Forgot?” Lin Xiaowen was so angry, she nearly jumped up.

“I sent you messages all morning. Don’t you check your phone?”

“My phone was with my assistant. I took a red-eye flight and barely had time to sleep before I had to start hair and makeup… I only just got my phone during this break.”

Cheng Yishu, usually terse and expressionless, was uncharacteristically explaining his schedule to a “creditor,” even sounding slightly aggrieved.

“So you’re not in Shanghai right now?”

Lin Xiaowen’s eyes rounded, her tone dropping.

“That’s right. Why?”

Cheng Yishu smiled faintly. Seeing the little woman’s disappointed look actually made his heart flutter with a hint of excitement.

“Then you…” Lin Xiaowen began hesitantly.

“I…” Cheng Yishu was about to say, “I’ll be back on an afternoon flight…” but before he could finish, Lin Xiaowen’s feigned feeble laughter came through the phone.

“Heh… So, superstar Cheng… You’re not planning to come back, are you? Trying to run off with my money?”

Cheng Yishu’s smile froze, laced with exasperation—no, with a great deal of it.

“Lin Xiaowen, are you an idiot? You think I’d run off over that small amount of money?”

His expression shifted rapidly, but Lin Xiaowen paid him no mind.

“Good. Because if you don’t pay me back soon, I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Cheng Yishu, already annoyed, was curious to see what she’d say.

“I’ll charge you interest!” Lin Xiaowen threatened fiercely.

“Heh…”

He shot her a disdainful look and said coolly, “Whatever.”

With that, he hung up.

Resting his head on the sofa armrest, Cheng Yishu felt utterly deflated.

That woman’s logic could rival Da Lingzi’s—someone should check if they were long-lost sisters…