Chapter 2

In the novel, Ji Qingyuan’s rise to the top tier of the entertainment industry was inseparable from the support of his half-brother, Ji Linyu.
Although Ji Linyu didn’t appear frequently in the story, every time he did, it was to save the day effectively. Some readers remarked that as long as they saw the name “Ji Linyu,” they knew the situation was under control.
However, the author had planted numerous clues throughout the novel, subtly hinting that the relationship between the two brothers was not as simple as it seemed. Based on these hints, some speculated that Ji Linyu would turn out to be the ultimate antagonist of the story. Judging by Ji Qingyuan’s attitude toward Ji Linyu, it seemed likely that the brothers would eventually become bitter enemies.
Zhu Xinyue stood rooted to the spot. So, she had just… confessed to the male lead’s nemesis?!
Would the male lead still give her the house and resources she was inexplicably supposed to receive?
Realizing that her actions had deviated from the original plot, Zhu Xinyue’s tears flowed even more genuinely.
Was it too late to switch targets now?
Zhu Xinyue rubbed her eyes and turned to look at the male lead, Ji Qingyuan, who was walking toward her.
If Ji Linyu’s appearance could be described as handsome, with well-proportioned features, sharp eyebrows, and starry eyes, like a taciturn swordsman from a martial arts novel, then Ji Qingyuan’s looks were a blend of heroic charm and delicate beauty. His eyes curved like crescent moons, and when he smiled, his under-eye pouches were full, his lips red and teeth white, resembling a spoiled young master.
Ji Qingyuan caught the towel his friend tossed to him and casually dried his wet hair. Noticing Zhu Xinyue still staring at him, he naturally draped an arm over her shoulder.
He was clearly accustomed to this kind of interaction with “Zhu Xinyue,” treating her no differently from his close buddies or friends. His attitude was familiar yet not overly intimate, distinct from romantic affection. Their bodies maintained some distance, with only his wrist resting on her shoulder, a perfectly measured gesture.
Zhu Xinyue frowned slightly. To her, Ji Qingyuan was a stranger.
But according to the original host’s dynamic with Ji Qingyuan, if she rejected him now, wouldn’t that confirm her feelings for Ji Linyu? Should she create distance from Ji Qingyuan?
A little impatience could spoil great plans. For the sake of her future house and resources, she would endure it!
"I never expected your standards for a partner would still be so focused on looks." Although Ji Qingyuan's words were directed at Zhu Xinyue, they were meant for everyone to hear.
This statement both complimented his older brother's good looks and helped Zhu Xinyue save face, framing her earlier confession as simply appreciating his appearance, thus easing the awkwardness of her rejected confession.
Zhu Xinyue couldn't help but silently admire Ji Qingyuan's high emotional intelligence.
Ji Linyu raised his hand to glance at his wristwatch.
"Are you getting ready to leave, Brother? I'll walk you out." Ji Qingyuan smoothly moved past the topic, released Zhu Xinyue's shoulder, and walked out with Ji Linyu.
At that moment, Zhu Xinyue could only clearly see the two people closest to her.
Without her glasses, she felt completely insecure. Moreover, it was dark and slippery by the poolside, and she was wearing high heels, it would be easy to take a bad fall. With these two leaving, there was no point in her staying, so she might as well follow them.
Zhu Xinyue lowered her head and saw Ji Qingyuan beside her, wearing only swimming trunks. She didn't dare to look too long and immediately shifted her gaze, catching sight of Ji Linyu as he passed by her side.
He was dressed in a crisp, well-tailored suit that covered him completely, the cuffs of his sleeves just covering his wrist bones. The dark jacket overlapped with the faintly visible white shirt beneath, and the watch face on his wrist shimmered with a dazzling brilliance under the light.
In Zhu Xinyue's eyes, she perceived people only through colors, shapes, and lines. Ji Linyu caught her attention because his proportions were excellent, like a male model stepping out of a fashion magazine.
Zhu Xinyue stared at Ji Linyu, using him as a guiding streetlamp, and followed closely, after all, if she strayed too far, she wouldn't be able to see clearly.
Her reason for chasing after Ji Linyu was simple, but in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, it wasn't perceived that way.
Ji Qingyuan glanced at Zhu Xinyue behind them, then turned his attention back, continuing his casual conversation with his brother.
The shortest route from there to the main entrance required passing through the indoors.
Once inside, the surroundings grew much quieter, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the voices of the two men ahead.
"Brother, can I move in with you? The security at Lishan is better than here. Last week, they caught a paparazzo climbing over the wall into the complex. Other residents complained that I was disturbing them."
"You're welcome anytime. I'm always happy to have you."
"Thanks, Brother! Also, there are a few scripts that have come my way recently..."
Zhu Xinyue focused intently on following the person ahead. Ji Linyu was tall with long legs, making it difficult to keep up. Wearing heels that were a full ten centimeters high, her footsteps echoed loudly on the polished floor, even louder than their conversation.
On his left, Ji Linyu listened to his younger brother chattering endlessly about his plans, hoping for an investment in the drama he wanted to film. On his right, he heard the woman's chaotic footsteps, pounding on his eardrums, clattering, messy, and unsettling his mind.
It was a bit annoying.
Ji Linyu glanced at the woman trailing just half a step behind him, his brow slightly furrowed.
She was sticking closer than his bodyguard.
The evening breeze swept through the hall, carrying her perfume that clung to him like a shadow, an overly sweet, cloying powder scent.
They were too close; the hem of her dress seemed to brush faintly against his suit pants.
Ji Linyu avoided it as if fleeing from a ghost, quickening his pace.
There was a doorstep ahead. Ji Linyu stepped over it effortlessly.
Zhu Xinyue, already struggling to keep up with his long strides, didn’t notice the doorstep in front of her and nearly tripped. Losing her balance, she instinctively reached out for something to steady herself, her hand stretching forward…
Ji Linyu sensed the movement behind him. Having plenty of experience dodging people, he took a large step forward before turning around to face Zhu Xinyue, watching her antics with a cold, detached gaze.
In that brief second, countless social considerations flashed through Zhu Xinyue’s mind, having already muddled her confession by mistaking the person, throwing herself at him would only confirm her supposed interest in Ji Linyu.
With a twist of her body, Zhu Xinyue forcibly altered her trajectory away from Ji Linyu and instead tumbled toward the bodyguard beside them.
Crack! The sudden mishap occurred in the surrounding silence, and the sound of a bone dislocating was deafening, as if striking right at their hearts. Anyone who heard it would feel a sympathetic ache for her.
Ji Qingyuan gasped, unable to bear watching.
Ji Linyu froze in place, his earlier annoyance melting away, replaced by a peculiar feeling.
Was she… keeping her distance because of his earlier rejection?
The bodyguard caught the falling Zhu Xinyue.
Zhu Xinyue was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face, yet she didn’t make a sound, biting her lower lip as she fell into the bodyguard’s arms.
She was used to enduring pain.
Or rather, she had long forgotten that she was allowed to cry out in pain.
To onlookers, Zhu Xinyue looked utterly pitiful.
Her brows were furrowed, her eyes red and brimming with tears. Even her curled lashes were damp, and large teardrops fell one after another, staining her red gauze skirt, a poignant image of beauty in distress.
As if unwilling to cry so helplessly in front of others, she closed her eyes, bit her lower lip, and struggled to suppress the pain. Taking a deep, trembling breath, she reopened her eyes, having regained her composure.
Fragile yet resilient.
Ji Linyu’s fingers curled slightly, a fleeting wave of regret washing over him.
He had misjudged her. She was different from other women.
Ji Qingyuan had seen how "Zhu Xinyue" cried in front of him before, endless, unreasonable sobbing, tantrums, hysterics, demanding to be coaxed and appeased. He had always been annoyed by her constant crying, so when Zhu Xinyue shed tears this time, he initially felt nothing.
But this was different.
This was the first time Ji Qingyuan had seen her cry so quietly, in a way that tugged at his heartstrings.
Overwhelmed by the pain, Zhu Xinyue tightly gripped the bodyguard’s sleeve, wrinkling the fabric.
She sniffled, looked up, and said to the bodyguard, "Thank you. I’m sorry for wrinkling your clothes."
Her voice trembled with a choked sob. When she lifted her gaze, her tear-filled eyes sparkled like scattered diamonds, and her sincere tone was enough to bewilder anyone who met her gaze.
The bodyguard stammered, "I-It's fine."
"How about you leave me your contact information? I'll iron your clothes and return them to you." Zhu Xinyue put herself in his shoes, she only had two sets of work uniforms for her job, and this bodyguard's clothes felt so luxurious they must be expensive.
Ji Linyu stared at the crumpled sleeve where she had gripped the bodyguard, his lips pressed into a tight line.
The deep crease showed just how much she had sacrificed to avoid him moments earlier.
Ji Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between Zhu Xinyue and the bodyguard. He casually ruffled his golden hair and cut in before the bodyguard could speak. "Is your foot okay? Do you need to go to the hospital for an X-ray?"
Supported by the bodyguard, Zhu Xinyue tried to stand straight, relying solely on her uninjured left foot. But the unfamiliar high heels were already unsteady, and now she wobbled precariously.
"An X-ray? That shouldn't be necessary. It's probably just a sprain. I'll go back, apply a compress, and rub on some medicated oil. It should heal on its own."
Hospital visits were expensive. The original host had run away from home to join the entertainment industry for Ji Qingyuan, and the Zhu family, trying to force her back, had not only sent people to persuade her but also frozen all her cards. How could she afford medical fees?
Ji Qingyuan disagreed. "I heard you live on the fifth floor with no elevator. In your condition, can you manage the stairs?"
Zhu Xinyue pursed her lips and fell silent, seemingly pondering his words.
"Qingyuan!" A voice called from the poolside, as if someone needed him.
Ji Qingyuan looked toward the pool, searching for the caller, his mind clearly more preoccupied there.
Noticing his distraction, Zhu Xinyue was about to speak when a steady voice interrupted.
"Today is your day. Go enjoy the celebration." Ji Brother Linyuntly pushed his brother's shoulder, urging him to return. "I'll take Miss Zhu to the hospital."
His gaze briefly rested on Zhu Xinyue. Her blurred vision couldn't discern his expression, only his movements.
Ji Qingyuan clearly trusted his brother to handle the situation and said cheerfully, "Alright, I'll leave it to you, bro."
With that, he returned to his party.
The room fell quiet again.
As Ji Linyu approached, Zhu Xinyue caught his scent, clean, elegant, uniquely cool, like the subtle spring rain that soaks trees and grass, releasing an earthy fragrance.
Within her line of sight, the dark and white overlapping sleeve reappeared. The fabric was impeccably smooth, the cuff lines sharp and cold, and his hand hanging at his side had distinct knuckles and prominent veins, rising and falling like mountain ridges.
Unlike the previous encounter, this time he had taken the initiative to approach her.
"Miss Zhu, let me take you to the hospital," said the owner of the sleeve.
Zhu Xinyue let out a light cough, her gaze drifting. Her fingers, clutching her skirt, tightened and loosened repeatedly as she hesitated and said, "Never mind. I... don’t have money for the medical fees."
Her voice grew softer and softer.
Ji Linyu stared at the tips of her ears, which were turning from fair to pink, and, as if bewitched, made a deal that would cost him:
"I’ll pay."