Yu Qingxian was actually fine. He had felt that the Man-Eating Flower King was about to self-destruct, and Chu Yi simply wouldn’t have made it out in time.
In his anxiety, he didn’t know what came over him—he just rushed out and collided with that mass of violent energy. He thought he was done for this time, that he was surely going to die. But unexpectedly, when that mass of energy touched him, not only did it not explode, it was sucked straight into his body…
After Yu Qingxian came to, he felt an unprecedented pain in his head, as if someone had taken an electric drill… No, more like someone wielding a massive hammer, relentlessly pounding away inside his skull with resounding bangs.
He had still been at work at Xingyao, but the headache made it impossible for him to focus on anything. Helplessly, he went to the bathroom to splash his face, got some medicine from his secretary, and took it. Yet the situation showed no signs of improvement.
In this state, he definitely couldn’t continue working. For the first time ever, Yu Qingxian left work early.
One of Xingyao’s vice presidents had come with a promising script to find the general manager and happened to brush past the hurried Yu Qingxian. The vice president paused in surprise and turned to the general manager’s secretary. “It’s only four in the afternoon—why did President Yu leave already?”
And his complexion looked so awful. Had something happened…?
The general manager’s secretary replied, “President Yu said he had a bit of a headache and went back early to rest. If it’s not urgent, Vice President Li, why not come back tomorrow?”
“It’s not that urgent…”
Before heading downstairs, Yu Qingxian had already notified his driver. He planned to hop in the car and go, but as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he ran into someone unexpected in the parking lot.
“President Yu!”
In his desperation, Liu Shengqing called out to stop him. Seeing Yu Qingxian turn back at the sound, he felt a twinge of regret.
But he was already here…
Gritting his teeth, Liu Shengqing walked up to Yu Qingxian. “Do you know where Chu Yi is? I haven’t been able to reach him for days.”
“Chu Yi?”
Yu Qingxian had seen Liu Shengqing several times before and had even discussed him with Chu Yi, but that was in his soul-separated state. In person, they’d only briefly crossed paths in the hotel corridor once?
Yet Liu Shengqing spoke as if they were close…
Though his head throbbed unbearably, Yu Qingxian had, after all, been around the entertainment industry. Liu Shengqing’s acting was exceedingly superficial—that look in his eyes, laced with unwillingness yet brimming with righteous indignation… Yu Qingxian was all too familiar with it.
He had thought Liu Shengqing looked somewhat familiar before, and even A’Yuan had casually mentioned him once. Now, suspicion arose in his heart, and his gaze toward Liu Shengqing turned scrutinizing.
What made him uncomfortable was that Liu Shengqing was inquiring about Chu Yi. They still kept in touch?!
A dark glint flashed in Yu Qingxian’s phoenix eyes, and as if beyond his control, the question burst from his lips. “What’s your relationship with Yu Minchen?”
“…” Liu Shengqing’s pupils dilated, a mix of surprise and the relief of being recognized.
He opened his mouth but said nothing, tacitly admitting it.
“So, I guessed right. You’re one of his illegitimate sons too?” Yu Qingxian sneered mockingly, his expression icy cold—completely at odds with his usual outwardly cool but inwardly warm, amiable demeanor. It was as if he were a different person.
But Liu Shengqing misunderstood, fury surging. “So you recognized me ages ago but pretended not to. You must have been thrilled seeing me deliberately get close to you, huh?”
To think he’d agonized over it for so long—wanting Yu Qingxian to recognize him yet fearing it. In the end, he’d been nothing but a ridiculous clown!
And wasn’t this guy supposed to be the elegant scion of a prestigious family in public? Turns out he was so vicious toward his half-brother who shared the same blood!
Liu Shengqing had once been a bit naive, believing he could make everyone who looked down on him see him in a new light through his own efforts. But after finishing Da Qing Feng Yun and circling around the film crew for a while, he realized that aside from jobs introduced by his professor, he couldn’t land any other roles. Even the resumes he sent to major entertainment companies vanished without a trace, no replies at all.
He’d messaged Chu Yi before, and though replies came slowly, Chu Yi hadn’t cut him off.
But now, days without a response, calls going unanswered—worry mingled with massive panic in Liu Shengqing’s heart.
With his current status, he’d only drift further from Chu Yi. Forget hanging out together on set like before; even occasional meetups would be impossible. Chu Yi was too busy—he couldn’t even arrange to see him!
Worse, what if Chu Yi deemed him useless and cut contact unilaterally?
Liu Shengqing panicked—or rather, he faced reality. Though he’d come to ask about Chu Yi’s whereabouts, deep down, he was compromising with himself, hoping Yu Qingxian would acknowledge him… hence his attitude.
Of course, Liu Shengqing’s self-deception wouldn’t let him admit it.
Yu Qingxian scoffed disdainfully. “You’re overthinking it. I just think your overly familiar tone is exactly like my dad’s other illegitimate sons.”
He gave Liu Shengqing no face at all, stripping him bare and deliberately jabbing at his sore spots by comparing him to the other illegitimate children—more painful to Liu Shengqing than death itself.
“You… I’m not like that at all!”
