Chapter 9: Arrogant Big Star

No.

What kind of ridiculous dream was this? It was even starting to make noises now?

Lin Wu tried to shift Ji Xingci into a more comfortable position in his arms, but Ji Xingci clung desperately to his clothes.

He wouldn’t let go.

Lin Wu’s T-shirt was a total mess now.

They were in a luxury hotel, where there weren’t many people around, but this was still a public bathroom.

Voices suddenly sounded from outside. Someone was coming in.

Lin Wu instinctively clapped a hand over Ji Xingci’s mouth.

~~~

When the newcomers entered the bathroom, they only caught a glimpse of a stall door swinging shut.

They paid it no mind and instead lingered at the sinks, chatting away.

Inside the stall, Lin Wu kept his hand firmly over Ji Xingci’s mouth while pinning him hard against the wall.

Ji Xingci’s face was beet red, his brows tightly furrowed as he struggled even more fiercely.

Lin Wu had to restrain his arms and legs too.

Ji Xingci refused to cooperate. He was tall with long legs, draped over Lin Wu’s shoulders like this.

With no other choice, Lin Wu pressed him even harder against the wall. Then he felt Ji Xingci’s legs begin to tremble.

Stunned, Lin Wu glanced down.

Oh. He’d accidentally pressed against Little Xingci.

In truth, from Ji Xingci’s perspective right now, he hadn’t passed out at all. He’d simply been washing his face when someone attacked him from behind.

The assailant had the gall to try to fuck him and even shoved his head into the pool, preventing him from turning around.

Ji Xingci felt like he was drowning, furious beyond measure.

And yet, damn it all, his body betrayed him in the most uncontrollable way…

Lin Wu watched as Ji Xingci shook like a drenched dog, his bangs plastered to his forehead, eyes reddened, desperate to cry out.

It was a rare sight—Ji Xingci looking so disheveled.

Lin Wu tried to adjust their position again.

But with one hand clamped over Ji Xingci’s mouth and the other supporting his weight, it was no easy task.

Ji Xingci had no idea what was happening. One moment he was clutching Lin Wu’s clothes tightly; the next, he was writhing nonstop.

Lin Wu had to admit, Ji Xingci was heavy—solid waist, impressive strength.

Sweat beaded on Lin Wu’s brow.

In their flailing panic, they lost their balance and slammed into the opposite wall of the stall with a loud bang.

The voices outside fell silent.

Just as Ji Xingci opened his mouth to shout, Lin Wu desperately sealed it with his own.

Good. Quiet now.

Wait—no, that wasn’t right.

Ji Xingci’s eyes rolled back, and he passed out completely.

Lin Wu: “…”

“Bro? You okay in there?”

After a moment, the guests outside called out in concern.

Lin Wu pitched his voice lower. “Sorry, my leg’s gone numb.”

“Haha, happens to the best of us.”

Once they were gone, Lin Wu fumbled awkwardly for Ji Xingci’s phone. The screen was flooded with messages.

His assistant was probably on the way.

Lin Wu propped Ji Xingci against the sink, let out a long breath, and slipped out as quickly as he could.

~~~

Lin Wu figured Ji Xingci would wake up in a towering rage.

He was already mentally prepared not to cross paths with him for a good long while.

He’d only need to intervene again when Ji Xingci made contact with the protagonist, Xu Qing.

But he never imagined that by noon the next day, Ji Xingci would storm straight onto the film set.

Xu Qing hadn’t even shown up today, having heard Ji Xingci wouldn’t be there.

Ji Xingci kicked the door open with a bang, his face dark as thunder. He shoved through the crowd and grabbed Lin Wu by the collar.

Lin Wu: “?”

Lin Wu was dragged all the way out into the corridor before Ji Xingci released him with a shove and advanced a step.

“Where the hell did you go yesterday at the hotel?”

“Huh?” Lin Wu stared at him blankly.

“They said you left right after I did, but it took you thirty minutes to reach the main entrance. So where were you?”

…

The Young Master had indeed thrown a massive fit the day before. He’d demanded every scrap of security footage from the entire hotel.

There were no cameras in the bathroom, but the elevators and front doors were covered.

The butler had tracked down two people who’d entered the bathroom around that time, but Ji Xingci took one look and flatly declared they weren’t the ones.

Deep down, he suspected Lin Wu the most.

Logically speaking, Lin Wu was tall but lacked any real muscle. Ji Xingci could usually yank him around with ease, so it seemed impossible for him to overpower anyone.

But suspicion was suspicion.

Evidence or no, if Ji Xingci had his doubts, Lin Wu wasn’t getting off easy. He’d charged over here to interrogate him personally.

“Spit it out!”

Lin Wu gazed at him in a daze.

“You really want to know?”

“Of course I do.”

“But…”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll drag you to the police station right now.”

“No… I…” Lin Wu ducked his head, his ears turning pink. “I cried in the corridor for a bit.”

“What?”

Lin Wu’s forehead flushed as he forced his voice louder.

“You said I was ugly, so I… I cried in the corridor for a bit!”

Ji Xingci: “…”

He’d made such a huge scene dragging Lin Wu out here that most of the crew was now eavesdropping from around the corner.

And now Ji Xingci could feel their accusatory stares boring into his back through the walls.

As if he were some heartless scumbag.

Ji Xingci’s face heated up. “You—”

Lin Wu looked up at him with wide, pitiful eyes.

Ji Xingci shoved him away.

“I don’t buy it! No one can vouch for you.”

Lin Wu hung his head and said nothing, but most of the crew had already sided with him in their minds.

After all, who cries while clinging to the person who made them cry?

Even the director couldn’t stand it anymore. He stepped forward and asked Ji Xingci if they were continuing the shoot or not.

These delays weren’t sustainable. If Ji Xingci was breaching his contract, they’d need to recast.

Ji Xingci was on the verge of storming off for good, but on a whim, he jabbed a finger at Lin Wu.

“Will he keep filming?”

The director nodded. “Absolutely.”

He’d come to realize Lin Wu was the real linchpin of the production.

Just get a solid actor for Xing He, and Lin Wu could carry them.

But hearing that made Ji Xingci bristle unexpectedly.

Lin Wu had gone on about wanting to act alongside him, acting like it meant the world because of him.

And now with a new actor, he’d perform just the same!

Still doing all those sex scenes.

What a liar.

No wonder he played the pitiful card so well in front of all those ladies—that’s how he charmed them.

Ji Xingci’s chest heaved as his irritation mounted.

And since he’d been absent, they’d already shot most of the scenes without Xing He.

Today’s schedule happened to be the one where Lin Wu hooked up with someone else, only to get caught.

Ji Xingci eyed the set, then turned his glare on Lin Wu.

“And you?”

Lin Wu looked up. “Hm?”

“Aren’t you the one who wants to act with me? Aren’t you going to speak up for it? Won’t you beg me?”

Lin Wu: “…”

The seed had already been planted, so there was no real need…

“Please,” he said, unable to withstand Young Master Ji’s oppressive stare.

Lin Wu even reached out to tug at his clothes as he added, “Stay and film with me.”

Young Master Ji dodged away with a strange look on his face.

“What’s a grown man like you doing acting all cute… It’s disgusting.”

Everyone: “…” Wasn’t it you who told him to beg?

In the end, though, Young Master Ji decided to stay and film, even after taking sick leave earlier.

A swarm of assistants soon rushed back in to tidy up the rest room for him.

Everyone gained a fresh appreciation for Young Master Ji’s capricious whims, but no one dared breathe a word of complaint.

Lin Wu, however, had it all figured out. He’d just wrapped the scene where Jiang Fan had a one-night stand with some other guy, and the next bit had Xing He bursting in to deck him.

So that must be why Young Master Ji suddenly wanted to shoot again…

Lin Wu let out a soft sigh. Still, he glanced at Young Master Ji’s retreating back.

He couldn’t help but marvel.

What boundless energy.

By all rights, after getting pregnant yesterday, the man should have slept the day away—or at least holed up at home, too dejected to show his face. Lin Wu could have understood either.

Yet here was Young Master Ji, full of vim and vigor. He’d scoured the surveillance footage, and now he even had the mood to come pick a fight…

What energy.

Young Master Ji turned around and caught Lin Wu staring right at him. Even when their eyes met, Lin Wu didn’t look away. Young Master Ji averted his gaze with an exasperated huff.

Up to his old tricks again…

He’d eat his words soon enough.

Filming resumed.

As Lin Wu embraced the other actor, he could practically feel Young Master Ji’s glare burning a hole through his back.

Hmm… Should he numb the pain later?

“Jiang! Fan!”

With a furious roar, Young Master Ji charged in.

“What the hell are you doing? Who is he?”

“You’re mad?”

“What do you mean by this? What am I to you?!”

Lin Wu had already squeezed his eyes shut by the time Young Master Ji yanked him off the bed.

But as he stared down at Lin Wu’s face, Young Master Ji’s raised fist froze midair. He just… couldn’t bring it down.

Why…

Why did the mere thought of punching him make his stomach twinge?

Lin Wu cracked his eyes open and seized the moment to wrap his arms around him.

Then, sticking to the script, he kissed him, murmured apologies, and let tears well up.

“I’m sorry.”

“I was wrong. Xing He, I didn’t know…”

“I’ll only be with you from now on.”

Young Master Ji’s face was cupped in Lin Wu’s hands as he planted kiss after kiss on it—then one right on his mouth. Color flooded his cheeks. Hitting anyone flew straight out of his mind. His head swam in a pleasant haze.