You can always trust me

"Zheng Ge, President Chu actually hasn't come over this time."

Wu Cheng, who had clashed with Shen Lian outside the dressing room earlier, now stood beside Zheng Ge. His voice was teasing, but envy lurked in his eyes.

He knew some of the inside story behind this tangled relationship. Two golden boys were utterly smitten with Zheng Ge, laying resources at his feet by the handful. Who wouldn't be tempted?

As for Shen Lian, Wu Cheng held him in utter contempt.

But that contempt didn't necessarily stem from disliking Shen Lian's shameless fawning. Given the chance, Wu Cheng might well have fawned even harder. He was simply bitter that he wasn't the one involved.

He often imagined himself in Shen Lian's place and felt he would have done better. At the very least, he wouldn't have ended up universally despised.

Zheng Ge pressed his lips into a faint smile. "President Chu and I are just ordinary friends."

Despite his words, Zheng Ge was a little surprised himself.

In the past, whenever he was present, Chu Yilan's heavy gaze would settle on him from time to time. Eventually, Zheng Ge had grown used to it, then increasingly secure in that attention, until it began to irritate him.

He disliked the gloom that clung to Chu Yilan. By contrast, the confident, proud Zhou Tangsi was the one he wanted.

At that thought, Zheng Ge's heart inexplicably sped up. That familiar unease returned, and he instinctively looked up at Chu Yilan, only to find his gaze resting on a corner of the banquet hall. Following it, he saw Shen Lian's pale, cool profile.

Zheng Ge's heart gave a sudden jolt. Was Chu Yilan watching Shen Lian?!

A moment later, Chu Yilan withdrew his gaze and turned his head to listen to something Ning Sixian was saying.

I must have imagined it, Zheng Ge thought.

Meanwhile, Shen Lian had downed a glass of sake. The coercion he had expected never came. The man sitting across from him wasn't Xingtu's boss, but the head of another entertainment company, Qiming Media. The inducement, however, was unmistakable.

Qiming's president, Fang Sheng, was in his forties. Unlike those balding, middle-aged men with protruding beer bellies, he kept himself in excellent shape. His temples were slightly gray, his haircut neat and sharp, and he wore glasses. His features weren't particularly striking, but he carried himself with distinction.

Fang Sheng extended an olive branch, making no attempt to conceal his attraction to Shen Lian.

Qiming was a promising avenue. Getting in would mean new opportunities for Shen Lian, not to mention the prospect of becoming Fang Sheng's favorite.

Shen Lian raised his glass, his manner respectful. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, President Fang. Unfortunately, that isn't what I'm looking for."

Fang Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly. "An opportunity this good-are you sure?"

"Quite sure," Shen Lian said.

He was too used to holding his head high. Even at the hardest point in his previous life, he had never relied on someone else to climb the ladder. Starting over with a bad hand was practically routine for Shen Lian. Besides, in this life, he had met Chu Yilan.

When Shen Lian liked someone, the feelings he offered them had to be completely untainted.

Seeing that Shen Lian was serious rather than playing hard to get, Fang Sheng felt displeased, but his attraction only deepened. Men all had some desire to conquer.

"Here's my business card." Fang Sheng handed it to Shen Lian. "You're welcome to change your mind at any time."

Out of politeness, Shen Lian accepted it anyway. "Thank you, President Fang."

Chu Yilan happened to see this, and the air around him abruptly turned dangerous.

Feng Yueshan hurriedly stood and went around to Zhou Yuanlin's side, still muttering, "I give up. I don't know what's wrong with you, but don't take a swing at me just because you're upset."

Shen Lian said goodbye to Fang Sheng, then turned and headed for the restroom.

He tugged his collar loose a little, feeling that the sake burned quite a bit too.

Chu Yilan set down his glass. "Enjoy yourselves."

Zhou Yuanlin said, "I don't understand."

Feng Yueshan said, "Neither do I."

Zheng Ge hadn't noticed Shen Lian. Perhaps because Chu Yilan had shown him no attention at all today, he found himself caring a little for once. After all, Chu Yilan's disfigurement had happened because of him. Saying nothing wouldn't be right.

I should have a proper talk with Chu Yilan, get him to let me go and start living again. With that thought, Zheng Ge headed for the restroom too.

Even the restrooms here were decorated in lavish splendor.

Shen Lian washed his face. When he looked up, he saw Chu Yilan in the mirror and immediately gave a languid smile. "Master Chu."

Chu Yilan's tone was flat. "Going to Qiming?"

"Master Chu, becoming President Fang's bedmate is a prerequisite for joining Qiming." Shen Lian's voice was soft and leisurely, his affectionate eyes seeming to brush lightly over Chu Yilan.

Chu Yilan's expression darkened abruptly. He strode forward, seized Shen Lian's right hand, and pinned it behind his back, forcing him to turn around.

A storm brewed in Chu Yilan's face. "You agreed?"

Shen Lian let out a soft breath. With the alcohol going to his head, he stopped hiding and pretending. He wasn't afraid in the slightest. "Why do you have so little faith in me?"

"Mm, then I must not have made you feel secure enough."

Something stirred in Chu Yilan's heart. "I saw you take Fang Sheng's business card."

"That was just politeness." As he spoke, Shen Lian pulled the card out of his pocket with his free hand, casually crumpled it, and tossed it into the trash. "How about now?"

Chu Yilan was caught off guard.

On his way over, he had already decided what to do. If Shen Lian had agreed, forget joining Qiming-he would deal with Qiming too! Shen Lian ate his food and lived under his roof. Even if he was only nominally a kept pet, he couldn't slap him in the face like this.

But Chu Yilan had overlooked one thing: if Shen Lian really were just some fickle creature, he wouldn't have personally followed him to demand answers.

Instead, Shen Lian had thrown him a feint and was smiling so maddeningly, as though he had exposed Chu Yilan's true feelings.

"Chu Yilan," Shen Lian suddenly said. "You can always trust me."

The sincerity in his eyes made Chu Yilan freeze.

"Master Chu? Are you in there?" The unexpected voice cut off what Shen Lian was about to say next. Shen Lian clicked his tongue softly, recognizing Zheng Ge.

Chu Yilan was about to release Shen Lian when Shen Lian caught him around the waist instead, turned with him, and backed him into the nearest storage room.

The instant Shen Lian closed the door, Zheng Ge entered.

The storage room was clean and completely empty. Apart from their heartbeats pressed close together, all that remained was the sound of Zheng Ge's tentative footsteps outside.

"Were you afraid he'd get the wrong idea just now?" Shen Lian's voice was extremely quiet, but the gritted teeth behind it were unmistakable.

Chu Yilan frowned and mouthed, "No."

Wait, what was he afraid of? Why did he have to hide in here?

"We'll find out if that's true by testing it," Shen Lian said.

Chu Yilan's brow twitched violently. Before he could react, Shen Lian gave a sly smile.

The soft sensation against his lips brought Chu Yilan's brain to a complete halt.

Alcohol really did give cowards courage!

I'm giving him this first kiss today, no matter what! Shen Lian thought.

The fragrance of sake spread between their lips. Chu Yilan was dazed, leaving Shen Lian to take the lead, but Shen Lian didn't care. He pecked his lips a few more times, then lowered his eyes and drew back slightly. His face was a little pale, his raven-feather lashes trembling, like fine snow blown down from a mountaintop that would melt at the slightest warmth. But Chu Yilan knew it was all an illusion.

A large hand cupped the back of his head. Shen Lian abruptly looked up, and Chu Yilan's kiss had already descended.

Something exploded beside his ears with a thunderous force.

Though silent, it shook him to his core.

Shen Lian was delighted, triumphant. He wrapped his arms around Chu Yilan's neck and kissed him back fiercely.