Chapter 38 – Let Me Sing You a Song
The big boss at ‘Star Creation’ summoned General Manager Zhang for a scolding, blaming him for being unable to control the artists under his management, calling it incompetence. As the situation spiraled further, ‘Star Creation’s’ reputation was already taking a hit.
Taking advantage of this incident, several former ‘Star Creation’ artists who had paid exorbitant breach-of-contract fees stepped forward to support Lin Jiu’s legal fight, despite not knowing him personally. Their shared resentment toward ‘Star Creation’ united them.
General Manager Zhang was growing angrier by the minute. He knew that if he couldn’t resolve this, his position would be in jeopardy. He had to come up with a solution fast—there was no way he could let Lin Jiu continue to act so boldly.
Mr. Zhang initially thought using Jiang Xiwen would be enough to entangle Lin Jiu, but he hadn’t expected to lose both Lin Jiu and Jiang Xiwen in one move. Not only did she quit, but she also left a gift for the company on her way out. Even though she resigned, Jiang Xiwen could forget about finding work in the industry. What company would dare hire a manager who betrayed her former employer? She had helped Lin Jiu, but at the cost of her own future!
Zhang drank several cups of water in frustration before an idea struck him. They still held dirt on Lin Jiu. If they played it right, they could not only destroy him but also force him to withdraw the lawsuit.
He immediately called Qiu Er.
Meanwhile, Lin Jiu had no idea that someone was plotting against him again.
For the past few days, Si Xu had been very busy and hadn’t come to the shop to eat. However, he still sent people to pick up meals from Demon Fish Shop at noon and in the evening. This made it convenient for Lin Jiu to continue delivering the first batch of magic-enhanced meals.
Every day, the person who came to pick up the food was Si Xu’s personal assistant, Xiao Qiu, a cheerful young man who always greeted Lin Jiu with a ‘Brother Jiu,’ which made Lin Jiu feel a bit embarrassed. Xiao Qiu was actually a few years older than him, so calling him ‘brother’ felt a little off. After correcting him several times, Xiao Qiu finally started calling him ‘Boss Lin.’
Carrying a small thermal box, Xiao Qiu waved goodbye to Lin Jiu as he walked away. “See you later, I’m heading off now!”
Lin Jiu: “…”
He’s just too energetic.
Lin Jiu glanced at the dark alley across the street before turning back into the shop.
Since limiting the number of tables, Demon Fish Shop now closed earlier than usual. Normally, they’d be done by around 9 PM, and sometimes even as early as 8 PM.
After locking the door, Lin Jiu hopped on his bike to head home, only to be stopped by someone blocking his path. The person stood in front of his bike, wearing a hat and a mask, wrapped in a long coat, clearly trying to avoid being recognized.
“A-Jiu, long time no see.”
Lin Jiu rested one foot on the ground, looking at the person in front of him. A flash of rage crossed his usually calm heart.
“What do you want?” Lin Jiu’s voice was emotionless.
“I want to talk to you. My car’s over there, let’s talk inside,” Duan Chengzhou pointed toward a parked car.
Lin Jiu got off his bike. “No need for the car. I’m afraid if I get in, tomorrow there’ll be rumors about us having a ‘car affair.’”
Duan Chengzhou paused, “Are you still angry?”
On the dark, deserted street, the two stood facing each other. If not for recognizing each other’s voices, they might not have known who they were even face to face.
Lin Jiu let out a cold laugh. “Angry? Not really. I just feel disgusted.”
Duan Chengzhou’s expression shifted, “That was truly an accident. I didn’t expect us to get caught. My feelings for you are genuine. As long as you’re willing, you don’t have to do anything. You can leave the entertainment industry, and I’ll take care of you…”
“Duan Chengzhou.” Lin Jiu called his name sharply. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll record this conversation?”
Duan Chengzhou froze, “You wouldn’t. You’ve never been one to fight for anything. You take whatever you’re given without asking for more. You wouldn’t stoop to such a petty act.”
Lin Jiu laughed bitterly. “I may not stoop to such pettiness, but you’ve already done it all. I never expected you’d have the nerve to show your face here after everything. Spreading rumors about me clinging to you? Are you trying to make me sick? Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. From head to toe, what’s there for me to cling to? Hiring paparazzi to stalk me, buying water armies to slander me—must’ve cost you a fortune, huh? And you didn’t do it alone, did you? With that pea-sized brain of yours, I bet Qiu Er helped you out, didn’t she? Scumbag and shameless woman—a match made in heaven!’”
The violent emotions in his heart kept surging. These words had been bottled up inside Lin Jiu for too long. With his usual temperament, he definitely wouldn’t have spoken them out loud, but now he not only wanted to curse, he wanted to hit someone.
Duan Chengzhou was stunned by the scolding, seriously doubting if the person in front of him was really Lin Jiu. The Lin Jiu he knew would never say such things. No matter the situation, he would always leave room for maneuver and never burn bridges.
“Duan Chengzhou, you and I both know the truth of what happened. Since you had the nerve to come here, let me put it this way: if you don’t clear this up by tomorrow, I’ll personally teach you how to set the record straight! Now, get lost!”
Lin Jiu feared that if he continued talking, he might lose control and solve this problem with violence.
Duan Chengzhou stared at Lin Jiu for a long moment. “So, you’ve really made up your mind to reject me?”
“Get lost!” Lin Jiu gripped his bike handles tightly, restraining the urge to grab his fishing spear.
“You’ll regret this!” Duan Chengzhou turned and left.
“Regret your mother!” Lin Jiu shouted, breathing heavily in anger.
* * *
The next morning, Lin Jiu was woken by urgent knocking. He groggily sat up, but the knocking persisted.
He grabbed his phone to check the time, but the battery was so low it had shut down.
After plugging it in to charge, Lin Jiu finally went to open the door.
Ling Chen and Huo Wei were standing there, looking at Lin Jiu’s half-asleep state with growing concern.
“What are you doing here?” Lin Jiu asked, stepping aside to let them in as he went to get a drink of water.
Ling Chen followed him inside. “Where’s your phone?”
“No battery. It’s charging.”
Huo Wei looked exasperated. “You’re trending.”
Lin Jiu finished drinking. “When haven’t I been trending these past few days?”
Huo Wei handed over his phone. “Take a look at this trend.”
Lin Jiu took it and glanced at the screen, freezing.
#Lin Jiu x Harassing Male Colleague from Same Company, Facing Lawsuit
#LinJiu Desperate, Threatening Suicide Over Unrequited Love
#LinJiu’s Same-Sex Partner Exposed
#Ex-Boyfriend Reveals Lin Jiu’s Bedroom Quirks
That morning’s trending topics were all about Lin Jiu.
“Creation Star” was cornered and decided to destroy Lin Jiu with this scandal, hoping to shift public attention away from the company and stop the backlash.
Lin Jiu refreshed the page again. His name had dropped off the trending list, but when he refreshed a little later, it was back again.
Lin Jiu understood. It was likely Si Xu helping him. “Creation Star” had invested a lot to keep him trending, determined to drag him through the mud.
Handing the phone back to Huo Wei, Lin Jiu went to his bedroom and checked his own phone. There were many missed calls, from Ling Chen, Jiang Xiwen, Si Xu, and Jiang Ge, none of which he had answered.
Lin Jiu called Si Xu back. The phone rang only once before it was answered.
“Are you okay? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this soon,” Si Xu’s steady voice came through.
“Don’t take the trends down just yet. Let them stay. I’ll make sure they personally clarify things,” Lin Jiu said before hanging up.
Si Xu didn’t understand, so he called back, but the line was busy.
Lin Jiu had called Director Zhang next. “I’ve thought it over. I’d like to meet with you in person. I need to see the boss, and it would be good if you’re there too. Oh, and Duan Chengzhou and Qiu Er should be present. I’ll probably need the finance department too, as I might have to calculate the penalty fees on the spot. Could you arrange that? I’ll be at the company around nine.”
Lin Jiu hung up, set his phone on silent, tossed it onto the bed, and started getting ready. After freshening up and dressing, he was about to leave when he realized he’d forgotten his phone and went back to get it.
After spending so much time in the Manghai realm, he constantly forgot his phone even after returning.
Ling Chen was worried. “Are you really going to pay that penalty fee?”
Lin Jiu gave him a puzzled look. “Do I look like an idiot?”
“Then why did you just say…”
“I was messing with him.”
Ling Chen: “…”
Huo Wei: “…”
Lin Jiu checked the time. “You guys drove here, right? Give me a ride to the company. Hurry up, so I can get back in time to open the shop.”
Ling Chen: “…”
Huo Wei: “…”
The three of them went downstairs and drove to the company.
Huo Wei, after holding it in for a while, awkwardly asked, “Are you going alone? If you get beaten up, you might not be able to handle it alone. If you need help, just let me know. I’ll help you beat up a few people.”
Lin Jiu didn’t respond, which made Huo Wei feel like challenging him to a real fight.
It wasn’t until they got out of the car that Lin Jiu finally spoke. “Fists won’t solve anything. They’ll only cause trouble. Only kids resort to fighting. You guys should head back; don’t come to the company for the next few days.”
Ling Chen and Huo Wei both jumped out of the car, unwilling to leave.
Huo Wei blocked his way. “Who are you calling a kid…? Wait, what are you going to do there alone? Planning to blow up the company building?”
Lin Jiu gave him a look that said, ‘Are you dumb?’ He pushed Huo Wei aside. “Go back and stay away from the company.”
Ling Chen and Huo Wei exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
This time, Lin Jiu didn’t wear a mask. With his stunning looks, he walked straight into the company, catching the attention of everyone who saw him. Even the security guard at the entrance couldn’t help but take a second look.
The receptionist, clutching her wildly beating heart, hurriedly approached. “Director Zhang and the others are in the conference room on the seventh floor. You can go straight up.”
Lin Jiu nodded. “Thank you.”
Receptionist: “…”
*Ahhhh!!! I’m dead! I’m dead! I haven’t seen him in two months, and Lin ‘pretty face’ has gotten even more beautiful! What do I do?!*
Lin Jiu took the elevator to the seventh floor and walked directly to the conference room.
He pushed open the door, and the conversation inside immediately stopped. All eyes turned to him.
Lin Jiu stepped inside, carefully closed the door, and glanced around at the people seated. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “The boss isn’t here?”
Mr. Zhang sat at the head of the table, his greedy gaze fixed on Lin Jiu’s face as he said coldly, “The boss is very busy; you can’t just meet him whenever you want. As for the termination, I have the authority to decide that.”
Lin Jiu’s eyes swept over Duan Chengzhou and Qiu Er, noticing two others nearby who appeared to be from the finance department.
Since Lin Jiu’s return, he had hardly appeared in public, always wearing a mask. Suddenly revealing his face now left everyone momentarily stunned. Duan Chengzhou’s gaze never left Lin Jiu from start to finish, as if he wanted to absorb every detail into his memory.
Lin Jiu sighed softly, “Since he’s not here, I’ll have to find another opportunity to sing for him alone.”
“Sing? Sing what?” They all thought they had misheard.
Qiu Er, her face cold, said, “He’s here to talk about terminating the contract. Why are we even here? Chengzhou is very busy and has a schedule to keep.”
Before Chairman Zhang could respond, Lin Jiu interrupted, “You’re the involved parties; how could you not be here? The trending news says I sexually harassed a male artist from the company. Are they referring to you, Duan Chengzhou?”
Qiu Er snorted, “You’ve harassed plenty of people; why stop at Chengzhou?”
Lin Jiu spoke slowly, “I’ve had a question these past few years. I was clearly one of Wen Jie’s artists, so how did I suddenly end up under your control? Even if I were debuting in a group, the one leading us should have been Wen Jie. Qiu Er, what did you do to push Wen Jie out, and what methods did you use?”
Qiu Er slammed the table in anger. “Lin Jiu! Don’t think that just because you’re terminating your contract, you can act so high and mighty! If you leave our company, you’ll be just as lost elsewhere!”
Lin Jiu remained calm. “Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you’re so worked up?”
Qiu Er’s face turned livid with rage, and she stood up. “Mr. Zhang, we have other things to do. We’ll be taking our leave.”
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Sit down,” Lin Jiu said with a beckoning gesture, as if teasing a cat.
Qiu Er was on the verge of exploding, her chest heaving with suppressed fury.
Lin Jiu’s gaze swept over everyone in the room before his lips curled into a smile. “Shall I sing a song for you?”
The people in the room: “…”
Before they could refuse, Lin Jiu had already started singing an old song, one by Si Xu.
As soon as he began, the five people in the conference room became entranced, their expressions dazed, their eyes fixed on Lin Jiu with a mixture of fascination and obsession.
Lin Jiu sang only a few lines before stopping. “Handle the online issue, will you? In a peaceful world, there should be no lies. Speak the truth.”
The five were still a bit confused, not entirely sure what had just happened, but they felt that Lin Jiu was right. Whatever he said was right.
“We understand. We’ll definitely tell the truth.”
Lin Jiu thought for a moment. “Is there any point in this company still existing?”
The five hesitated briefly. “Is there, or isn’t there?”
“What do you think?” Lin Jiu smiled lightly, and the five were completely captivated.
“Right. We won’t appear in front of you again. We’ll go about our business.”
The five: “We understood, we understand.”
Lin Jiu opened the door and left, asking the system in his mind, “Has the surveillance in the conference room been taken care of?”
[It’s handled. The cameras are functioning, but they didn’t capture anything.]
Lin Jiu confidently left the company. As he reached the first-floor lobby, a group of people approached quickly.
Lin Jiu was startled but quickly stepped forward. “Why are you here?”
Si Xu saw Lin Jiu, grabbed him, and looked him over carefully. “Are you alright?”
Lin Jiu looked puzzled. “I’m fine.”
Si Xu gritted his teeth but said nothing more, pulling Lin Jiu away.
Si Xu had called Lin Jiu several times, but no one answered. After monitoring “Creation Star” he saw Lin Jiu had gone to the company alone and rushed over with bodyguards, worried Lin Jiu might get into trouble.
Outside the company, Ling Chen and Huo Wei, who hadn’t left yet, watched as Lin Jiu was pulled away by a tall man surrounded by bodyguards. They both felt something was wrong. They wanted to help but knew rushing in would only get them knocked out.
“What should we do? Silly Jiu seems to have been kidnapped. Should we call the police?” Huo Wei estimated the opposition’s strength and concluded it would be safer to involve the authorities.
Ling Chen watched Lin Jiu get into a car with the man and leave. He didn’t look like he was being kidnapped.
He called Lin Jiu, but there was no answer, so he sent a message, which also went unanswered.
In the car.
Si Xu, his expression stern, said, “Didn’t I tell you not to go back to the company? They’re desperate, and there’s no guarantee they won’t try to harm you.”
Lin Jiu cautiously glanced at his expression but couldn’t see much as it was covered by a mask.
“We’re all civilized people. I just went to reason with them.”
Si Xu took a deep breath. “And did your reasoning work?”
Lin Jiu nodded obediently. “It did. They’re going to clarify everything soon.”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu: “That impressive, huh?”
Lin Jiu nodded enthusiastically. “Mm-hmm.”
Under Si Xu’s gaze, Lin Jiu quickly sat up straight. “Well… only a little impressive.”
Si Xu chuckled, amused by him. “Don’t do anything this risky again. If they really wanted to hurt you, I wouldn’t be able to save you in time… And your phone—can you treat it with a bit more respect? Its purpose is to keep in touch.”
Lin Jiu lowered his head. “I’ll remember.”
Seeing how obedient he was, Si Xu had the urge to ruffle his hair but held back. “Where’s your mask?”
Lin Jiu: “I didn’t wear it. After today, I won’t need it anymore.”
“No, you should still wear it.” Si Xu found a disposable mask in the car and put it on Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu: “It really doesn’t matter whether I wear it or not.”
“It matters.” Si Xu looked into his eyes. “You could dazzle people senseless.”
Lin Jiu: “…”
Driver: “…”
I’m just a chauffeur; I didn’t hear anything.
Lin Jiu’s ears quietly turned red. “T-Then I’ll wear it.”
Si Xu smiled. “Good, be good.”
Lin Jiu felt so dizzy from the praise that he lost all sense of direction.
Si Xu’s phone rang, and after listening for a long while without saying a word, he hung up.
He looked at Lin Jiu for a moment, then checked the internet to see what was happening.
The call was from Wen Qin, who was equally baffled. The situation online was a complete mess.
Rumors about Lin Jiu’s scandals kept appearing and disappearing as if out of control. The internet was in chaos—some people believed them, while others didn’t, leading to non-stop arguments.
Just moments ago, General Manager Zhang of “Creation Star” inexplicably posted on Weibo, revealing that all of Lin Jiu’s scandals were fabricated by the company as a form of pressure, trying to force Lin Jiu to drop the lawsuit. They offered to forgo the termination of his contract if he agreed to three conditions.
Following that, General Manager Zhang began a self-reflection post, listing all the things he had done over the years at “Creation Star” Among the most shocking revelations were the numerous men and women he had exploited—celebrities, managers, and more—along with names and intimate photos, which he posted himself on Weibo.
General Manager Zhang’s exploits were so widespread that he had slept with almost everyone at “Creation Star” except for the upper management. He would target anyone he could.
Besides General Manager Zhang, the one stirring up the most trouble was Duan Chengzhou.
Duan Chengzhou confessed that the events from a year ago were fake. Lin Jiu had never pursued him; it was Duan Chengzhou who had been chasing after Lin Jiu. He liked Lin Jiu very much and always found excuses to stay around him, even sending messages that Lin Jiu would occasionally respond to, though most of the time he didn’t.
The photos of them together, which had been taken when they went out, were orchestrated by Duan Chengzhou and his manager Qiu Er. The group was falling apart, and Duan Chengzhou wanted to go solo without taking the blame for breaking up the group. Lin Jiu, being quiet and reserved, was the perfect scapegoat.
Duan Chengzhou’s original plan was to ensure Lin Jiu couldn’t survive in the entertainment industry, so he could then take Lin Jiu under his wing and have him to himself.
That day, Duan Chengzhou asked Lin Jiu to meet. Lin Jiu agreed, but when Duan Chengzhou asked him to become his secret boyfriend, Lin Jiu refused and turned to leave. Duan Chengzhou hugged him from behind, which angered Lin Jiu, who pushed him against the wall and punched him. The so-called “forced kiss” never happened; the photos were staged.
The smear campaign that followed, painting Lin Jiu as a villain, was funded by Duan Chengzhou and Qiu Er, who hired trolls to spread the rumors. Duan Chengzhou’s fanbase, along with fans of the group and fans who felt bad for Huo Wei and Ling Chen, all joined in to bash Lin Jiu. With the trolls leading the charge, this led to the events of a year ago.
From start to finish, Lin Jiu was the most innocent party, yet he had been vilified the entire time. Had he been slightly weaker, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.
“Creation Star” tried to use the recent sexual harassment accusations against Duan Chengzhou to destroy Lin Jiu. If things went smoothly, Duan Chengzhou wouldn’t even need to appear; his name would simply be used. If things didn’t go as planned, “Creation Star” intended to fabricate evidence and sue Lin Jiu for sexually harassing a fellow male artist.
Even though more than a year had passed, the chances of evidence holding up were slim. But whether or not Lin Jiu would actually go to jail wasn’t the point. The aim was to saddle Lin Jiu with the reputation of a predator. The trending posts were just the beginning.
The internet was ablaze with outrage. People had always known the entertainment industry was messy, but no one expected it to be this dirty. These people were fearless, treating the law like it didn’t exist, behaving like they could get away with anything.
Lin Jiu’s old and new fans were furious. They cursed Duan Chengzhou, General Manager Zhang, and “Creation Star” their fingers nearly cramping from all the typing.
“Unbelievable! I can’t believe Jiu endured all this! None of them are human. Jail awaits them!”
“Don’t cry, Jiu! We’ll protect you from now on!”
“This is outrageous! They’ve turned everything upside down! Duan Chengzhou, get out of the entertainment industry!”
“Why hasn’t this garbage company gone bankrupt yet? I’ll donate a dollar to make sure it collapses!”
“I’ll donate my month’s salary to see that trash company fall!”
“It won’t be long. Look at General Manager Zhang—he’s still writing a confession. He’s just reached the part about the truth behind a female artist’s suicide.”
“I knew it! Was it about XX Bai? After she jumped, they said it was due to long-term depression. Turns out there was more to it?”
“Confirmed. Prison awaits this scumbag!”
“Where are all the trolls now? The ones who kept attacking Lin Jiu, where are they? How’s it feel now that your idol confessed?”
Compared to the chaos stirred by General Manager Zhang and Duan Chengzhou, Qiu Er and the two finance staff’s confessions were quieter.
Qiu Er admitted that since joining “Creation Star” she had used many shady methods to advance as a manager. The original manager of the Dream group was supposed to be Jiang Xiwen, but Qiu Er used underhanded tactics to steal the role from her. When it became clear the Dream group wasn’t going to succeed, she teamed up with Duan Chengzhou to pull off this scheme.
Qiu Er also confessed to exploiting her position, including her involvement in securing the rights to the hit song “Dreamer.” The song wasn’t actually written by Duan Chengzhou but by Ling Chen, and its original title was “To My Brother.”
When Ling Chen was test-singing the song, Duan Chengzhou overheard it and wanted to buy the song, including the credit for writing it. Ling Chen refused, so Duan Chengzhou enlisted Qiu Er’s help to negotiate with the company, wiping out all trace of Ling Chen’s involvement.
Ling Chen’s songwriting was very talented, and Duan Chengzhou wanted him to write songs exclusively for him, but Ling Chen refused. Qiu Er then applied pressure, leaving Ling Chen without work or representation for a year. But Ling Chen, stubborn as he was, would rather not write at all than see his work credited to someone else.
Huo Wei’s eyes turned red as he glared at Ling Chen. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?!”
Ling Chen sighed, “Telling you wouldn’t change anything. With your temper, you’d definitely go after Duan Chengzhou, and we’d both end up without work. I didn’t want to drag you down.”
Huo Wei, fuming with anger, yelled out in frustration, regretting how blind he had been to ever think Duan Chengzhou was a good person. He had even asked him to help Ling Chen find work. He cursed himself for being such an idiot!
Ling Chen was helpless. If it weren’t for the contract holding him back, he could’ve sued Duan Chengzhou and reclaimed his song.
Despite all his precautions when signing the contract, he still fell into the trap. One clause stated that all works produced by the artist during the contract period belonged to the company.
This meant that if the company allowed you to be credited, you’d get your name on the song. If not, even if you wrote it, it wasn’t yours—it was the company’s. The company could decide who sang it and who got credit for it.
Lin Jiu’s contract also had this clause, but since he wasn’t a songwriter, he didn’t have to worry about it. Ling Chen, on the other hand, was different; this clause completely stifled him.
Ling Chen used to enjoy writing songs, even though they weren’t particularly good, and he never received much recognition for them. He just treated it as a hobby, writing when he felt like it, without expecting them to ever be sung. But who could’ve imagined that after signing the contract, it was as if a creative floodgate had opened, and his songwriting skills kept improving. Several songs in their group’s albums were written by Ling Chen, and he retained credit for them.
If not for Duan Chengzhou’s theft of his song, Ling Chen wouldn’t have even remembered that this clause existed in the contract. The company used the contract to hold him back, and he had no choice but to let go of that song.
That song made Duan Chengzhou famous but crushed Ling Chen’s passion for songwriting. Over the past year, he hadn’t received any job offers and couldn’t write any new songs, just idling away at the company.
Thanks to Lin Jiu, he was able to sign under Brother Sen’s management. Now he could focus on songwriting without worrying about credit issues.
The online revelations were far from over. The two accountants in the finance department, who had been with the company for many years, gathered evidence of “Creation Star”’s tax evasion and sent it all to the tax authorities, asking them to investigate the company’s accounts.
After reading the online exposés, Si Xu’s gaze toward Lin Jiu changed.
Lin Jiu knew what they were planning but hadn’t expected them to be in such a hurry to expose themselves, racing to reveal their secrets.
Seeing the strange look in Si Xu’s eyes, Lin Jiu asked, “What are you staring at?”
Si Xu, still puzzled, wondered if Lin Jiu was also enhanced in some way. Otherwise, how could he have convinced people to ruin their own futures? These actions were harmful to themselves, and instead of hiding them, why would they rush to reveal them?
“Your reasoning was impeccable. They listened very well.”
Lin Jiu: “…”
He discreetly pulled out his phone and responded to Ling Chen’s message before checking his Weibo. He barely skimmed through it before his phone automatically shut down—the little bit of charge it had left was completely drained.
Lin Jiu: “…”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu sighed helplessly, took Lin Jiu’s phone, and while waiting at a red light, handed it to the driver to charge it.
Lin Jiu, feeling embarrassed, said, “Thank you.”
Si Xu’s phone rang again. He glanced at it and answered immediately, “What’s going on?”
Aunt Chen’s anxious voice came through, “Young master, can you come back? Madam has been crying non-stop, asking when Master will return. She wants to go find him…”
“I’ll come right away. Try to comfort her, and don’t let her hurt herself.” Si Xu hung up after speaking.
Seeing Si Xu’s urgency, Lin Jiu said, “You can drop me off here. You should go handle your business.”
“No need, you stay in this car, and I’ll take the bodyguard’s car back.” After a pause, Si Xu explained, “Something came up at home. I’ll come find you at the shop later.”
The driver pulled over so Si Xu could switch cars.
Si Xu left in a hurry, clearly facing something serious.
