Chapter 29: Picking Male Models
Rival?
Who?
The actor playing Lu Beichen?
Seeing Zhao Yuheng’s reply, Shen Shuyi was speechless.
After spending some time together recently, he realized that Zhao Yuheng was a man with a mind smaller than a needle tip.
And he’s jealous about this too?
He can’t be the type of boyfriend who gets upset when his girlfriend likes a celebrity and then goes online crying about breaking up, right?
Besides, his interest in Lu Beichen was only a fleeting crush.
Moreover, he was just a CP (couple pairing) fan. He also planned to buy Song Qinghan’s Baba Magazine—he just hadn’t sent the link yet. ^ ^
Shen Shuyi replied: “What rival? You’re not even the same kind of person.”
Still being kind and considerate, he explained.
Not the same? How so?
“I’m the big one, he’s the small one. Are there going to be four, five, six next?”
Thinking that Shen Shuyi could even have this kind of greedy idea made Zhao Yuheng feel an inexplicable irritation.
Can’t he just focus on keeping one person?
“Not allowed to buy.”
Zhao Yuheng replied.
Shen Shuyi actually didn’t really want to buy it anyway.
If Zhao Yuheng forbade him, fine. Today it’s Lu Beichen, tomorrow it’ll be Gu Beichen.
Shen Shuyi only had three-minute passions for such things; by the next day, he might have already forgotten.
Shen Shuyi didn’t reply again. He rolled over on the sofa and asked Mrs. Li to take the carpet away for cleaning.
He logged into Shen Lu’s iPad account and browsed Sotheby’s spring jewelry auction. Since all his cards were frozen, he could only admire the diamonds on the tablet, longing but restrained.
Damn, damn, damn!
Among the spring auction jewelry, there was a ruby brooch he desperately wanted!
Shen Shuyi zoomed in, admiring it repeatedly, when Zhao Yuheng’s message arrived at the worst possible time.
“Why do you want to buy this magazine?”
Shen Shuyi: ?
Shen Shuyi: ……
He looked at the chat timestamp in disbelief. Over twenty minutes had passed, and Zhao Yuheng was still sulking about this.
Shen Shuyi was astounded.
Does this guy only have one brain cell?
He was about to reply angrily when Zhao Yuheng’s message came again:
“You should read fewer vulgar magazines like this.”
What the hell? How is it vulgar?
Staring at the message, Shen Shuyi replied angrily: “Where’s the vulgarity? :)”
Zhao Yuheng ignored the question: “Do you want to buy this magazine because of the abs on the cover?”
Shen Shuyi: ?
No way.
But he had to go against Zhao Yuheng this time.
“Yes ^ ^”
“Otherwise? Why would I buy it? I just want to look, just look, just look, just look ^ ^”
As expected.
Zhao Yuheng clenched his phone. In his eyes, Shen Shuyi was just a fickle rich kid.
Shen Shuyi casually teased: “Fine if you don’t let me buy it. If I can’t see him, show me yours.”
He regretted saying it a little, but the message had already been sent.
Knowing Zhao Yuheng’s rigid personality, he would probably reply with six dots to express his speechlessness.
Shen Shuyi didn’t care; as long as he annoyed the other person, it was fine. ^ ^
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuheng typed for three minutes under “Typing…” and then sent a single message:
“Okay.”
As if making a major decision, he added: “Next time we meet, alright?”
Shen Shuyi: ……?
Who really wants to see it?!
Nope, gotta run 🙂
Three days remained before Shen Shuyi officially started work at the company.
These three days dragged on endlessly. Whenever he had free time, he called Shen Lu to pester him, hoping Shen Lu would take pity on him and let him continue lazing around at the villa, since he was clearly unfit for work.
Previously, although Shen Shuyi’s cards and shares were frozen, he could still charm his way into getting what he wanted.
Except for losing credit card freedom, whatever luxury watch or car he wanted today would be delivered tomorrow by Zhang Jun to Shallow Bay.
But for going to work, Shen Lu was unwavering.
Shen Shuyi threw tantrums and pleaded, but it couldn’t change the fate of starting work next Wednesday.
Hearing this, Lu Zhiwei felt heartbroken.
He immediately called Shen Shuyi out to throw a “last night of freedom” party for him.
Shen Shuyi didn’t want to go at first. Since returning to the country, he hadn’t really attended any gatherings of Hong Kong’s rich second generation. Those days of drunken decadence felt like a past life.
Now, all he had was a red envelope from Zhao Yuheng’s grandfather—1,500 yuan.
What kind of rich kid life is this?
Still, even in his poverty, he didn’t spend it. Before the party, he exchanged it for cash and kept it in his study.
This was also… the first time he’d received a red envelope from someone outside the Shen family.
Shen Shuyi valued this gesture more than others might realize.
Lu Zhiwei’s party was well-attended.
Half the people probably came for Shen Shuyi. Being the third son of Yinghua Group, many were eager to make connections.
To accommodate this, the venue changed from a private mansion to a seven-star hotel banquet hall.
Knowing Shen Shuyi was picky, Lu Zhiwei invited seven or eight Michelin chefs from France, personally tasting every appetizer, dessert, champagne, and wine.
The invitees included Hong Kong’s rich kids, ambitious newcomers, and even stars and influencers. Phones and cameras had to be handed in at the door.
Lights glittered, luxury surged.
This should have been Shen Shuyi’s favorite scene.
Several young men tried to chat with him over drinks, but seeing Shen Shuyi distracted and brooding, Lu Zhiwei sent them away.
“Sweetheart, who upset you now?”
“None.” Shen Shuyi weakly said. “Don’t call me sweetheart, it’s too cheesy. Say it again and I’ll hit you.”
“Okay, darling.”
Lu Zhiwei knew Shen Shuyi would actually hit him if provoked—no one else in Hong Kong had this combination of arrogance and indulgence.
“Still upset about your brother making you intern?”
Shen Shuyi: “I want a DNA test with my brother.”
…Already sad enough to doubt he’s Shen Lu’s biological brother.
Lu Zhiwei twitched and adjusted his expression, draping an arm over Shen Shuyi’s shoulder: “Don’t be sad. I’ll introduce someone, I promise you’ll be happy when you meet them!”
Shen Shuyi frowned, suspicious.
Suddenly, Lu Zhiwei waved to someone not far away. A young man holding champagne came over.
The closer he got, the more familiar he seemed.
This guy… haven’t I seen him somewhere?
The young man stopped in front of Shen Shuyi, nervous and restrained.
Lu Zhiwei winked: “See who it is!”
Shen Shuyi: “…Who?”
Lu Zhiwei, surprised: “Weren’t you talking about him on WeChat recently, asking us to find the male lead of that drama you were watching? Now he’s in front of you and you don’t recognize him?”
“Ohhh.” Shen Shuyi remembered, astonished: “Lu Beichen?”
Lu Beichen—the actor’s name is Lin Jiahao.
Lin Jiahao was thrilled to attend this party. A minor actor who became famous this year for Love Has a Way, he had never seen such luxury.
Upon entering, he realized most attendees were top actors or actresses.
He didn’t expect to be here because the third son of Yinghua Group liked him.
Shen Shuyi glanced at him and thought: wow, this actor is all smoke and mirrors. Without the drama makeup, he was almost unrecognizable.
And now he had to shake hands with him.
Hmm… Shen Shuyi noticed Lin Jiahao hadn’t washed his hands after eating dessert. He wasn’t too eager.
His initial interest in Love Has a Way was coincidental. With his brother freezing his card, he stumbled upon the drama online. The ad displayed Lin Jiahao as Lu Beichen, handsome but fragile, a stubborn white-flower type.
For a second, he almost hallucinated him as Zhao Yuheng.
After watching the drama, he got hooked until the finale—but then forgot about it.
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhiwei saw his WeChat posts and brought this actor here.
Shen Shuyi was disinterested and awkward.
Lin Jiahao hurriedly raised a glass: “Third Master, I heard you’ve been watching my drama… I feel very, uh, honored…”
He stuttered, further proof he wasn’t Zhao Yuheng.
Shen Shuyi picked up his phone: “I hate you.”
Zhao Yuheng: “?”
Zhao Yuheng: “Why so sudden? How long will this hatred last?”
Shen Shuyi: “Don’t ask. Hating. End time TBD.”
He looked up, finally giving Lin Jiahao a barely perceptible nod. Lin Jiahao overjoyed, downed three glasses of champagne.
Perhaps the nod implied something, because he shamelessly hovered around Shen Shuyi, refusing to leave.
Shen Shuyi, annoyed, thought of kicking him out but remembered Lu Zhiwei brought him.
Fine, tolerate (fist squeeze).
Shen Shuyi excused himself to the restroom but actually went to the VIP lounge.
After a while, he needed the toilet and used the private VIP path.
After washing up, he emerged into the hotel corridor, designed with Zen aesthetics. Dim light, bamboo outside.
A few people chatted on a balcony. Shen Shuyi ignored them, walking past.
“Seriously? Yan Chi is coming back next month? I thought he was sent to Australia by Shen Lu and couldn’t even attend the Shen elder’s funeral.”
“Yeah, adopted son, not real family. Shen Lu runs the show now.”
“Back then in Hong Kong, it was rumored Yan Chi had a fling with Shen Shuyi…”
Shen Shuyi paused.
“Think about it, adopted son vs. biological brother. Shen Lu pampered his real brother, so Yan Chi was sent to Australia the next day. Supposedly studying abroad, but never returned.”
“Exile, more like it.”
“By the way, Jiahao, didn’t your agent tell you to flirt with Shen Shuyi? Progress?”
It was Lin Jiahao. Unlike before, now smoking, frowning, irritated.
“Don’t mention it. I suspect my agent tricked me. Said Shen Shuyi liked me… damn, he was so cold earlier. I wouldn’t flirt with a man otherwise! Shen Shuyi is handsome, but he’s… you know, male! I don’t wanna be gay.”
He smoked, then walked off.
Two steps later—bam!
He collided with a vase, fell, stunned.
“Who the hell hit me?!”
Lin Jiahao looked up in shock. The culprit was Shen Shuyi, expressionless: “Why stop talking?”
Lin Jiahao’s lips turned pale, shaking.
“Being gay, so what? Gay eat your family’s rice?” Shen Shuyi lowered his gaze.
Lu Zhiwei rushed over, about to scold the celebrity.
Vase shards everywhere, Lin Jiahao bleeding. Lu Zhiwei checked Shen Shuyi: fine.
“Baby, are you okay?”
Lin Jiahao sat, terrified, slapping himself to calm down.
Lu Zhiwei asked: “Shuyi, what happened?”
Shen Shuyi: “I ruined your fun. Send the vase bill to Shallow Bay, I’ll have someone pay in a few days.”
Lu Zhiwei: “…Why money? Are we still best friends?”
Shen Shuyi: ?
Probably not… when were they best friends?
Lu Zhiwei calmed Shen Shuyi, then glared at Lin Jiahao: “What are you waiting for? Get out. Our temple is small, can’t afford a big Buddha.”
Bodyguards escorted Lin Jiahao out. Shen Shuyi had already left.
He didn’t return to Shuiwan One, instead went to a quiet, private bar. Ordered a drink, sat a while.
The more he thought about Lin Jiahao, the angrier he got.
This actor, supposedly Lu Beichen, was such a jerk!
Drank a shot, grabbed his phone, and texted Zhao Yuheng: “Come out for a drink.”
Zhao Yuheng sent a photo of his desk: still working.
Shen Shuyi: “Oh.”
No worries.
Zhao Yuheng ignored the phone.
Suddenly, Shen Shuyi sent 8–9 photos. Zhao Yuheng’s heart skipped—new selfie? New outfit?
But opening them, eight male models appeared, shirtless with abs.
Zhao Yuheng: …
His hand clenched the phone, vein on his forehead twitching.
“What does this mean?”
Shen Shuyi: “Nothing.”
“If you don’t come, I’ll pick all eight of them =.=”
Author’s Note:
Brother Yuheng, these are your eight new “brothers” in the house… (not really)
Don’t come? The kitty has plenty of company! [panda emoji]
