Chapter 26
Half an hour later, the car arrived at its destination: Nanjiang Dining House.
After debuting for so many years, this was still Lin Zhiqiao’s first time attending this kind of dinner gathering.
He was just a washed-up little nobody from the eighteenth tier, and for some reason, he apparently had offended someone somewhere. He had not even gotten famous yet, but black rumors were already flying all over the place.
Wu Yuan had other artists under him with more potential, so he could not be bothered to put in extra effort for Lin Zhiqiao. Naturally, he would not bring him to this kind of dinner either.
To use Wu Yuan’s own words, seats at these dinners were limited, and bringing Lin Zhiqiao along would be a pure waste.
Wu Yuan led the way with practiced ease, heading straight for the private room on the eighth floor called Spring Room.
Behind him trailed a string of artists like little chicks. Lin Zhiqiao walked at the very end and could not help looking around from side to side.
The place was rich with classical charm, elegant and full of atmosphere.
[Just looking at this decor, you can tell it’s expensive.]
888 agreed: [You’d probably have to eat several pieces of gossip just to earn back the price of one meal here.]
Lin Zhiqiao deeply agreed.
[I heard Nanjiang Dining House belongs to the Song family.] he said. [The people who come here to eat are all big bosses. The cost of booking one private room is enough to equal one month’s salary for ordinary people—or even several months’.]
888 was shocked. [Then host, didn’t you totally hit the jackpot!]
The little person in Lin Zhiqiao’s heart proudly puffed out his chest. [That’s right! I totally hit the jackpot!]
Once the Song family was mentioned, Lin Zhiqiao inevitably thought of Song Fengshi again.
It had already been almost a month since he last reminded him to pay attention to his health.
888 said, [Don’t worry. Since he already had a checkup, he definitely won’t skip the follow-up treatment.]
[Director Fang said he’d treat me to a meal.] Lin Zhiqiao muttered. [Do you think if I specifically ask to eat at Nanjiang Dining House, President Song wouldn’t refuse?]
Rounded up, he was basically Song Fengshi’s lifesaver!
888 was not too sure. [The person in power over the Song family probably isn’t that stingy.]
While chatting idly, Wu Yuan had already pushed open the door to Spring Room.
Inside, the private room was lively and bustling. There were already quite a few people seated around the table.
Lin Zhiqiao gave them a rough glance. Some faces were unfamiliar, while others he recognized. Everyone was engaged in commercial flattery toward one another, and the atmosphere was extremely lively.
Lin Zhiqiao even spotted one of the higher-ups from Xinghe Entertainment.
That executive’s attitude toward Wu Yuan was very familiar, so Wu Yuan had probably only gotten this “opportunity” thanks to his connection.
“This is President Zhao… this is President Li, Director Zhang…”
Wu Yuan introduced the people present one by one.
Lin Zhiqiao and the others went around shaking hands and flattering them in turn, like some chaotic assembly line.
Wu Yuan said, “This is President Yuan from Tomato TV.”
Lin Zhiqiao reflexively reached out his hand. “President Yuan, hello, hello.”
A huge shadow suddenly fell over him.
Lin Zhiqiao looked up… it still was not enough, so he tilted his head up even more.
What a huge mountain! No, what a huge man!!
This President Yuan was nearly two meters tall, broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, and built like a bear. He did not look like someone in the film and television industry at all. He looked more like a gangster from the underworld.
At one glance, you could tell he was absolutely not someone to mess with.
[He looks like one punch from him could send two of me flying.] Lin Zhiqiao held his breath.
888 said, [Be bolder, host. Maybe four.]
Lin Zhiqiao: […]
He swallowed hard. Standing in front of the man, he felt enormous pressure. After a hurried handshake, he quickly stepped back a few paces and lowered his head.
And because of that, he missed the meaningful look the other man cast toward him.
The getting-to-know-you portion ended. With lightning-fast reflexes, Lin Zhiqiao chose a seat near the corner and sat down.
Concealed, low-key, and not eye-catching—it was the perfect gossip-eating seat.
Wu Yuan shot him a glare, looking very much like he hated to see such an unpromising piece of iron.
The commercial mutual praise at the dinner table continued, now with the added flattery and fawning of Wu Yuan and the others, making the atmosphere even more heated.
Only the little corner Lin Zhiqiao had curled up in remained quiet, as if completely cut off from the world.
[So hungry. When are they serving the food already!]
Lin Zhiqiao held his teacup and quietly drank tea, perfectly embodying what it meant to be a little nobody who could not read the room.
What he did not notice was that everyone in the private room paused at the same time, their gazes sweeping around in confusion.
Across the huge round dining table, the large and imposing President Yuan sat directly opposite Lin Zhiqiao.
Once the dishes had all been served, everyone began eating.
At the table, those good at talking kept talking, those making toasts kept making toasts, and those exchanging loaded glances kept exchanging loaded glances.
Only Lin Zhiqiao was seriously and sincerely focused on eating.
888 lowered its voice. [Are you ready, host!]
There was hidden excitement in Lin Zhiqiao’s voice. [I’m ready!]
Open the gossip blind box—
[President Li, whose catchphrase is “Of course my household runs on my say-so,” actually has a wife from a better family with a strong personality. If she says one, he doesn’t dare say two. If she points east, he doesn’t dare go west. Even the financial power at home is not in his hands. He’s scared of his wife to death.]
President Li at the table glared around furiously, yet had no idea where the voice was coming from.
[Every time he goes out, he has to report to his wife. If he gets home even one minute late, he has to kneel on a washboard and gets his allowance docked. All his relatives and friends say he’s a once-in-a-lifetime good man.]
[If he’s that scared of his wife, how dare he still come to this kind of drinking party? And even secretly keep a mistress or two outside? Isn’t he afraid his wife will find out one day and beat him up in the street?] Lin Zhiqiao curled his lips. [A good man? More like he’s a scumbag through and through! Tsk tsk.]
A young artist who had been happily chatting with President Li changed expression slightly and scooted backward a little to create some distance.
Lin Zhiqiao kept going.
[Good grief, Director Zhang looks so refined and scholarly, but privately he plays this wildly! Bondage play, blindfold play, cosplay play… he does everything!]
Lin Zhiqiao sucked in a breath of cold air. [He changes forty-nine boyfriends in a year, and every single one feels it’s too stimulating and can’t handle it. No matter how good the conditions Director Zhang offers, none of them come back!]
[Damn it! Let me see exactly how stimulating it is!!!]
The artist beside Director Zhang hesitated for a moment before asking softly, “How good are the conditions?”
“Three times a week, one time at this rate.” Director Zhang held up a hand to indicate the number. “And of course there are other resources too. Cash on delivery, never delayed.”
The young artist gritted his teeth. “Fine. I’m in!”
Lin Zhiqiao remained completely unaware of this and opened the third blind box.
[President Yuan from Tomato TV is 198 centimeters tall and weighs 189. He works out three hours every day. In the hearts of countless people in the station, he’s the perfect ultimate top—known as a walking blast of domineering pheromones. So many people want to spend one spring night with him and experience a dream night of overwhelming passion!]
Lin Zhiqiao secretly glanced at him and nodded inwardly.
He really was very imposing.
Calling President Yuan the ultimate top was not excessive at all.
[But no one knows that beneath President Yuan’s tough macho exterior, he actually has a soft, pure, and dreamy princess heart…?]
Lin Zhiqiao’s tone gradually turned hesitant and shocked.
[His favorite color is pink. His favorite thing to wear is puffy dresses. He has a full three wardrobes at home filled with pretty skirts. And the thing he likes doing most is… is putting on his favorite little dress and taking beautiful selfies in front of the mirror?!]
[President Yuan also has a secret no one knows… what!!! Such an alpha ultimate top! He actually! Is! The bottom!!! And his preference is younger cute skinny-dog tops?!]
Lin Zhiqiao put on a full live performance of a pupil quake right on the spot!
This gossip—was way too explosive!
Everyone present was shocked, some even terrified. Several artists who had obviously taken a liking to President Yuan and wanted to get closer to him all took a synchronized step backward, their gazes drifting elsewhere.
And after the initial daze, 198-centimeter “ultimate top” President Yuan casually showed off his bulging muscle lines in front of everyone as though by accident.
Once the others had looked away, President Yuan shifted his gaze onto Lin Zhiqiao. On that domineering macho face, a trace of shyness actually flashed by.
Lin Zhiqiao was completely immersed in the explosive gossip and noticed none of it.
[System, this gossip… is it really guaranteed genuine?]
For once, 888’s tone carried a trace of uncertainty. [It… should be genuine… right?]
Lin Zhiqiao took a breath, then continued—
[President Yuan never keeps any boyfriend for long, and the reason… well, those who know, know. This time he’s got his eye on a brand-new target. He’s been thinking about him day and night, openly saying this is his dream top!]
Lin Zhiqiao quietly held his breath.
[Let me see, let me see, just which chosen son of heaven this dream top is—huh?]
888 sounded excited. [Host, I think it’s you!]
Lin Zhiqiao: [?]
[Impossible! Absolutely impossible!] Lin Zhiqiao’s voice trembled. [How am I a skinny dog! I have muscles, okay!]
888 said in a tiny voice, [But host, your name is written right here!]
Lin Zhiqiao: […]
Across from him, President Yuan looked at him expectantly.
[But, but—] Lin Zhiqiao stole another glance at the giant macho man. [You want me to tearfully be the top?]
His vision went black, and he screamed inwardly, [This concubine cannot do it!!!]
*
At Nanjiang Dining House, inside the private room Autumn Room on the ninth floor—
Song Fengshi and Fang Xinnan were sitting across from one another.
Fang Xinnan asked, “Want a little alcohol?”
Song Fengshi’s dark eyes swept over him, silent and cold.
“All right, all right.” Fang Xinnan raised his hands in surrender. “Tea is fine. We’ll do it your way.”
Song Fengshi took a sip of tea, and a faint bitterness spread across his lips.
Fang Xinnan took the initiative to open the conversation. “I haven’t even congratulated you on getting discharged yet. I heard you’re recovering pretty well!”
Song Fengshi: “Mm.”
“It’s all thanks to our Xiao Qiao.” Fang Xinnan said with a smile. “Speaking of which, the popularity of my program this time exceeded expectations by more than ten times over. Did you know that?”
Song Fengshi replied calmly, “I was in the hospital, not cut off from the world.”
“You never used to pay much attention to entertainment news, so I was worried you might not know.” Fang Xinnan said. “Being able to get these results is also thanks to Lin Zhiqiao.”
“He’s basically become a little lucky star for both of us.”
Song Fengshi did not deny it.
Fang Xinnan asked him, “You promised before that you’d treat him to a meal. Do you still remember?”
Song Fengshi nodded. “Of course I remember.”
“Do you need me to invite him for you?”
“No need.” Song Fengshi set down his teacup. “I’ll go—”
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp shriek suddenly exploded in both their ears at the same time—
[You want me to tearfully be the top? This concubine cannot do it!!!]
