Chapter 84 – Lin Xiaowen, My Girlfriend

After Da Lingzi gave a brief and general account of Cheng Yishu’s recent situation, Lin Xiaowen couldn’t help but feel a little worried as well. But seeing Cheng Yishu approaching her with a deliberately cheerful smile, she pretended to know nothing, returning his gaze with a gentle smile.

“We’ll take you home first, then head to the set. There’s still enough time,” Cheng Yishu said with a sigh, then continued, “But we might not be able to see each other for a few days. Brother Kai is helping me negotiate a movie role. If necessary, I’ll have to meet with the investors and so on…”

Just thinking about those social obligations gave Cheng Yishu a headache, but there was no way around it. For the sake of work, some dinners simply had to be attended.

“I understand. Just focus on your work, don’t worry about me,” Lin Xiaowen replied with a soft smile.

Since she couldn’t help Yishu, she certainly shouldn’t become a burden to him. She hoped that by the time they met again, both of them would have overcome their predicaments, and could finally enjoy peaceful, quiet days like this together.

“Brother Cheng, can we leave now? Otherwise we might be late!” Da Lingzi called out from the hallway.

“Alright, coming!” Cheng Yishu replied, somewhat disgruntled. He took Lin Xiaowen’s hand, reluctant to let go as he led her toward the door.

Once they stepped past that threshold, he knew he could no longer hold her hand, not even stay close to her. He tightened his grip, cherishing the feel of her small hand in his palm.

Da Lingzi rolled her eyes inwardly, almost wanting to shout, “Is this really necessary? You’d think it was a farewell for life and death!”

As Da Lingzi opened the door, she startled the person standing outside.

“Heavens, you scared me to death…” Chen Kai patted his chest, looking rather pale.

He hadn’t slept well for days, making endless phone calls, pulling every string he could find—Chen Kai was utterly exhausted.

Da Lingzi froze in the doorway, her heart leaping to her throat, afraid she might throw up if she spoke, so she pressed her lips tightly together.

“What’s wrong with you? See a ghost?” Chen Kai asked, puzzled by Da Lingzi’s even paler face. Looking past her, he caught sight of Lin Xiaowen—her face somewhat familiar—and the two hands clasped together.

It was as if something suddenly exploded in his mind. Like an impossible tangle of threads, he finally managed to unravel a little.

Chen Kai let out a rather dry laugh, nodded politely at Lin Xiaowen, and said, “And this is…?”

“Lin Xiaowen,” Cheng Yishu replied coldly, pulling Lin Xiaowen behind him as if shielding her, his voice frosted with a thin layer of ice. “My girlfriend.”

Lin Xiaowen, bewildered, found herself drawn behind Cheng Yishu. Her lowered gaze flickered with a complex, almost guilty emotion, like a schoolgirl caught doing something wrong and awaiting her teacher’s scolding.

“Miss Lin… Oh, now I remember! We met at that—what was it—‘No Fate Tonight.’ I was wondering why you looked so familiar. Xiaowen, right? I’m Chen Kai—you can just call me Brother Kai,” Chen Kai said, craning his neck, gaze skipping over the motionless Da Lingzi and the still wary Cheng Yishu, his smile radiant as he addressed Lin Xiaowen at the back.

His excessive warmth reminded Lin Xiaowen of their last unpleasant encounter. If she didn’t know better, she might have thought Chen Kai was simply an extremely friendly, easy-going sort of person.

“Hello,” Lin Xiaowen replied softly, polite but distant, more eager to avoid than to engage.

Even if she was naïve, Lin Xiaowen knew idol stars were forbidden from dating. Now, not only had they been caught red-handed, but Cheng Yishu had admitted it on the spot. No matter how amiable Chen Kai appeared as a manager, it would only be a facade.

What awaited them next was sure to be a series of melodramatic twists.

“Um, Brother Kai, Brother Cheng’s night shoot is about to start—we need to hurry to the set,” Da Lingzi said in a low voice, knowing she couldn’t escape a scolding and not daring to speak too loudly.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot Yishu had a big scene tonight. Well then, let’s all go together,” Chen Kai replied, his expression unchanged. “I need to talk to Yishu anyway, we can chat on the way. Miss Lin, are you coming to the set as well?”

Though he knew the answer, Chen Kai looked at Cheng Yishu, who answered coolly, “It’s already late. I’ll take Xiaowen home first.”

“That’s fine too,” Chen Kai nodded, glancing at his watch. “Then let’s not waste time—let’s get going.”

“I think it’s better if I take a cab home,” Lin Xiaowen said, quietly trying to slip her hand from Cheng Yishu’s grasp, only for him to hold it even tighter.

“It’s too late, I wouldn’t feel safe,” Cheng Yishu said gently as he drew her closer. “Don’t worry, the night shoot isn’t until much later. I have time to see you home first.”

With Cheng Yishu’s reassuring smile, Lin Xiaowen felt her tension slowly melt away.

Though the nanny van was spacious and comfortable, it was Lin Xiaowen’s first time riding in such a vehicle. Yet, like the other three, her heart was filled with unease.

Da Lingzi, at the wheel, kept sneaking glances at Chen Kai in the passenger seat, her mind as clear as a mirror. He might seem calm now, but who knew when he might blow up at her for “withholding information” and so on. There was no escaping it—maybe she’d even lose her job. She couldn’t help worrying about her “career.”

In the back, Cheng Yishu still held Lin Xiaowen’s hand tightly, as if she might run away the moment he let go. Yet he was also puzzled: What was Chen Kai really up to? Having found out about his secret relationship, Chen Kai showed not even a hint of anger—was that possible? Cheng Yishu didn’t believe for a second that Chen Kai would just let this pass.

“These past few days, I’ve been looking into why those endorsement deals were given to someone else. Guess what I found?” Chen Kai’s eyes glimmered with a smile, almost relieved, as he turned to look at Cheng Yishu.

Cheng Yishu’s eyelid twitched; he didn’t want to engage, just as he didn’t want Lin Xiaowen to know about his current predicament.

“I don’t know. Not interested,” Cheng Yishu replied, his gaze full of impatience and a desire for Chen Kai to drop the subject.

But Chen Kai pretended not to notice and continued, “Come on, after all the trouble I went to, you’re just ‘not interested’? Can’t do. Your fashion resources were already being diverted to Qin Xingyu by the company. Now, if you lose these endorsements too, and you can’t get any more roles, do you really want to end up taking minor supporting parts in commercials?” Chen Kai sighed, his tone sinking.

Lin Xiaowen noticed the anger building in Cheng Yishu’s eyes, as if it would burst forth at any moment. She suddenly realized that his situation might be much worse than Da Lingzi had let on—potentially far more serious.

Worried, she blurted out, “Why?”

As soon as the words escaped, she realized she might have overstepped, so she paused before continuing more softly, “I mean, why were the endorsements replaced? And why would you be out of roles? Didn’t you say there’s a movie coming up soon?”