Chapter 2

  In the novel, Ji Qingyuan's eventual rise to the position of a top male star in the entertainment industry was inseparable from the protection and support of his half-brother, Ji Linyu.

  Although Ji Linyu doesn't appear often, every time he does, he effectively saves the day. Some readers say that as long as they see the name "Ji Linyu," they know the game is won.

  However, the author planted many foreshadowing elements in the novel, explicitly and implicitly indicating that the relationship between the two brothers is not so simple. Some analysts, based on these foreshadowing elements, predict that Ji Linyu will be the biggest villain in the entire book. Judging from Ji Qingyuan's attitude towards Ji Linyu, the two brothers are likely to turn against each other and become sworn enemies later on.

  Zhu Xinyue stood there, stunned. So she had just... confessed to the male lead's nemesis?!

  Will the male lead still give her the house and resources that she is about to inexplicably obtain?

  Zhu Xinyue realized that her actions had deviated from the original plot of the book, and her tears fell even more genuinely.

  Is it too late for her to replace her now?

  Zhu Xinyue rubbed her eyes and turned to look at the male lead, Ji Qingyuan, who was walking towards her.

  If Ji Linyu's appearance is handsome, with regular features, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, like a ruthless and taciturn swordsman in a martial arts novel, then Ji Qingyuan's appearance is both heroic and gentle, with crescent-shaped eyes, full eye bags when he smiles, red lips and white teeth, like a spoiled young master.

  Ji Qingyuan caught the towel his friend tossed to him, casually dried his wet hair, and seeing that Zhu Xinyue was still staring at him, he naturally put his arm around her shoulder.

  He was clearly used to this way of getting along with "Zhu Xinyue," treating her no differently than he would his good brothers or friends. His attitude was familiar yet not overly intimate, unlike romantic feelings. There was a distance between their bodies, with only his wrist resting on her shoulder, and he maintained a perfect sense of proportion.

  Zhu Xinyue frowned slightly. To her, Ji Qingyuan was a stranger.

  But given the original owner's relationship with Ji Qingyuan, if she rejects Ji Qingyuan at this time, wouldn't that confirm that she likes Ji Linyu? Should she distance herself from Ji Qingyuan?

  A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. For the sake of her big house and resources, I'll endure it!

  "I didn't expect your criteria for choosing a partner to still be based on looks as always." Although Ji Qingyuan said this to Zhu Xinyue, he meant it to everyone.

  This not only complimented his brother's good looks but also helped Zhu Xinyue out of an awkward situation, explaining her earlier confession as simply admiring his appearance and reducing her embarrassment at being rejected.

  Zhu Xinyue couldn't help but secretly admire Ji Qingyuan's high emotional intelligence.

  Ji Linyu raised his hand and glanced at his watch.

  "Are you leaving, brother? I'll see you off." Ji Qingyuan casually brushed it off, released Zhu Xinyue's shoulder, and walked out with Ji Linyu.

  Zhu Xinyue can only see the two people closest to her right now.

  Without her glasses, she felt completely insecure. Moreover, the poolside was dark and slippery, and she was wearing high heels, making it easy for her to slip and fall. Once these two left, there was no point in her staying any longer, so she might as well go with them.

  Zhu Xinyue lowered her head and saw Ji Qingyuan beside her. He was only wearing swimming trunks. She didn't dare to look at him for long and immediately looked away. Then she caught sight of Ji Linyu passing by her.

  He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, which covered him completely. The sleeves of his suit jacket hung down just enough to cover his wrists. His dark coat and the white shirt that was barely visible underneath overlapped, and the dial of his watch shimmered dazzlingly under the light.

  In Zhu Xinyue's eyes, she only judges people by their color, shape, and lines. Ji Linyu caught her eye because his body proportions were good enough, like a male model who stepped out of a fashion magazine.

  Zhu Xinyue stared at Ji Linyu, treating him as a guiding light, and followed closely behind—after all, she couldn't see him clearly from a distance.

  She pursued Ji Linyu relentlessly, for reasons that were simple, but ultimately...

  However, those with a keen eye see it differently.

  Ji Qingyuan glanced at Zhu Xinyue behind them, then looked away and continued chatting with his brother.

  The shortest route from here to the main entrance requires passing through the indoor area first.

  Once inside, it became much quieter, with only the sound of their footsteps and the voices of the two people in front of them.

  “Brother, can I move in with you? The security in Lishan is better than here. Just last week, they caught a paparazzi who climbed over the wall into the community. Other residents complained that I was disturbing them.”

  "Come anytime you want, I welcome you anytime."

  "Thanks, bro! And there are a few notebooks that have been handed to me recently..."

  Zhu Xinyue followed the person in front of her with complete concentration. Ji Linyu was tall and had long legs, so it wasn't easy for her to keep up with him. She was wearing high heels that were at least ten centimeters high, and the sound of her heels hitting the smooth floor was louder than their voices.

  On his left, Ji Linyu listened to his younger brother's endless stream of plans, hoping that he would invest in the drama he wanted to film. On his right, he heard the woman's messy footsteps, like pattering on his eardrums, chaotic and disturbing his mind.

　　It's a bit annoying.

　　Ji Linyu glanced at the woman who was only half a step behind him and frowned slightly.

　　She followed him even closer than his bodyguards.

　　The evening breeze swept through the hall, carrying with it her perfume, a cloyingly sweet, powdery scent.

　　The two were so close that the hem of her skirt brushed against his suit trousers almost imperceptibly.

　　Ji Linyu tried to avoid it as fast as he could, running even faster as if being chased by a ghost.

　　There was a threshold in front of him, which Ji Linyu stepped over with ease.

　　Zhu Xinyue couldn't keep up with his long legs to begin with, and Ji Linyu was walking so fast that she didn't notice the threshold in front of her and almost tripped. Losing her balance, she instinctively reached out to find something to steady herself...

　　Ji Linyu felt the wind behind him. He was already experienced in dodging people. After taking a big step forward, he turned around and faced Zhu Xinyue, coldly observing her tricks.

　　In that brief second, countless thoughts of human relationships flashed through Zhu Xinyue's mind—it was already unclear if she had confessed to the wrong person, and if she pounced on him, it would only confirm that she had feelings for Ji Linyu.

　　Zhu Xinyue twisted her body, abruptly changing her trajectory from lunging at Ji Linyu, and instead fell towards the bodyguard next to her.

　　"Crack!" The change happened suddenly, and everything was quiet. The sound of the bone dislocating was deafening, as if it had hit their hearts. Anyone who heard it would feel pain on her behalf.

　　Ji Qingyuan gasped, unable to bear the sight.

　　Ji Linyu stood frozen in place, his initial annoyance melting away, replaced by a strange feeling.

　　Is she... keeping her distance from him because of his earlier rejection?

　　The bodyguard caught Zhu Xinyue when she fell.

　　Zhu Xinyue was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face. She didn't utter a sound, biting her lower lip as she fell into the arms of her bodyguard.

　　She was used to enduring the pain.

　　Or rather, she had long forgotten that she was capable of crying out in pain.

　　To outsiders, Zhu Xinyue looked incredibly pitiful.

　　Her brows furrowed, her eyes red-rimmed, and her pupils filled with tears. Even her curled eyelashes were wet, and large tears fell, landing on the hem of her red gauze skirt, making her look like a pear blossom in the rain.

　　As if she didn't want to cry so pathetically in front of others, she closed her eyes, bit her lower lip, tried to suppress the pain, took a deep breath, her body trembling, and when she opened her eyes again, she had composed herself.

　　Fragile yet resilient.

　　Ji Linyu's fingers curled up, and a feeling of regret flashed through his mind.

　　He misunderstood her; she's different from other women.

　　Ji Qingyuan had seen what it was like for "Zhu Xinyue" to cry in front of him. She would cry endlessly and for no reason, throw tantrums, and be hysterical. She would only be satisfied if someone tried to coax her in every way possible. He was annoyed by her constant crying, so when Zhu Xinyue shed tears, he was completely unmoved.

　　But this time it's different.

　　This was the first time Ji Qingyuan had seen her cry so quietly, and it was heartbreaking to see her cry like this.

　　Because of the intense pain, Zhu Xinyue gripped the bodyguard's sleeve so tightly that it wrinkled the sleeve.

　　She sniffed, looked up, and said to the bodyguard, "Thank you. I'm sorry I wrinkled your clothes."

　　Her voice was choked with sobs, and when she looked up, her eyes, brimming with tears, were studded with sparkling diamonds. Her tone was so sincere that anyone who met her would be completely bewildered.

　　The bodyguard stammered, "N-nothing."

　　"Why don't you leave me your contact information? I'll iron your clothes and return them to you." Zhu Xinyue put herself in his shoes; she only wore the same two sets of work clothes to work, and this bodyguard's clothes felt so good, they must not have been cheap.

　　Ji Linyu stared at the part of the bodyguard's sleeve that she had clenched so tightly, his lips pressed into a thin line.

　　The creases were deep, showing how much she had sacrificed to avoid him.

　　Ji Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping between Zhu Xinyue and the bodyguard. He casually ruffled his blond hair and interrupted the bodyguard before he could speak, saying, "Is your foot alright? Should we go to the hospital for an X-ray?"

　　With the help of her bodyguard, Zhu Xinyue tried to stand up, relying only on her good left leg for support. However, the high heels she was not used to wearing were already unstable, and now she was even more unsteady.

　　"Take an X-ray? No need. It's probably just a sprained ankle. Just apply some ointment and safflower oil when you get home, and it should be fine."

　　Going to the hospital is so expensive. The original owner left home to enter the entertainment industry for Ji Qingyuan, and the Zhu family wanted to force her to go back. They not only sent people to persuade her to return home, but also canceled all her credit cards. How could she afford the medical expenses?

　　Ji Qingyuan disagreed, saying, "I heard you say before that you live on the fifth floor. In your current state, can you even climb stairs?"

　　Zhu Xinyue pursed her lips and remained silent, seemingly pondering what he had said.

　　"Qingyuan!" At that moment, a voice calling Ji Qingyuan came from the poolside, as if someone was looking for him.

　　Ji Qingyuan looked up towards the swimming pool, his gaze searching for someone, his mind clearly more concerned about the other side.

　　Zhu Xinyue noticed Ji Qingyuan's distraction and was about to speak when she heard a steady voice.

　　"Today is your day, go and celebrate." Ji Linyu gently nudged his younger brother's shoulder, gesturing for him to go back. "I'll take Miss Zhu to the hospital."

　　His gaze lingered briefly on Zhu Xinyue. Zhu Xinyue's blurry vision prevented her from seeing his eyes, but she could see his movements.

　　Ji Qingyuan was clearly very comfortable entrusting Zhu Xinyue to his brother, and said cheerfully, "Okay, then I'll leave it to you, brother."

　　After saying that, he returned to his party.

　　The room fell silent again.

　　Ji Linyu walked towards her, and Zhu Xinyue smelled his scent—clean, elegant, and uniquely cool, like a gentle spring rain that had soaked through trees and grass, releasing the fragrance of plants.

　　In her field of vision, she saw once again that dark and white overlapping sleeve. The clothes were neatly pressed, the cuffs had a cold, hard line, and the hand hanging down at her side had distinct knuckles and prominent veins on the back of the hand, undulating like a mountain range.

　　Unlike before, he took the initiative to come to her.

　　“Miss Zhu, I’ll take you to the hospital,” said the owner of the sleeve.

　　Zhu Xinyue coughed lightly, her gaze wandering. Her fingers, gripping the hem of her skirt, tightened and loosened repeatedly. She hesitated and said, "Let's forget it. I... don't have the money to pay for medical expenses."

　　The sound grew fainter and fainter.

　　Ji Linyu stared at the tips of her ears, which gradually turned from fair to pink, and, as if possessed, made a deal that would cost him nothing:

　　"I'll pay."

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