CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2: First Sight Trouble

“NO.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Just once.”

“Absolutely not.”

Lin Yichen leaned dramatically across the sofa, looking personally betrayed by the universe.

“Song Yu,” he said solemnly, “your heart grows colder every year.”

Song Yu didn’t even look up from the tablet in his hands. “And yours grows more embarrassing every day.”

“That’s called personality.”

“That’s called being a public danger.”

Yichen ignored him completely.

“I just want to see the CEO photo.”

“You can wait until tonight.”

“But I’m curious.”

“You’re nosy.”

“That too.”

Song Yu sighed for what was probably the hundredth time that morning.

The endorsement contract from Lu Jewelry Industry had officially been confirmed yesterday evening. Which meant tonight’s luxury business gala would be their first formal meeting with the company executives.

Including the CEO.

And unfortunately—

Lin Yichen had suddenly become very interested in CEOs.

“Is he really that handsome?” Yichen asked again while lazily scrolling through fan comments online.

Song Yu finally looked up.

“…Yes.”

That answer came too fast.

Yichen narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Oh?” he drawled. “You sound sincere.”

“He’s objectively handsome.”

“Objectively?”

“Very annoyingly objectively.”

Yichen gasped softly. “Now I’m excited.”

“That’s exactly what worries me.”

Yichen grinned.

Bright.

Dangerous.

The kind of grin that usually meant trouble for everyone nearby.

—

By evening, the entire luxury hotel glowed under golden lights.

Crystal chandeliers reflected across polished marble floors while soft classical music floated through the grand hall. Famous celebrities, wealthy investors, executives, and reporters moved through the crowd with practiced elegance.

Everything looked expensive.

Yichen loved it immediately.

“Wow,” he whispered while stepping inside. “This place smells rich.”

Song Yu nearly choked.

“You cannot say things like that out loud.”

“Why not? It does.”

“You’re representing a luxury brand tonight.”

“I am luxury.”

“You ate instant noodles in bed yesterday.”

“That was emotionally luxurious.”

Song Yu closed his eyes briefly.

Behind them, several staff members from Lu Jewelry were already approaching politely.

“Mr. Lin, welcome.”

Yichen instantly switched into professional mode, smiling warmly enough to make the poor employee visibly nervous.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

Song Yu watched the transformation happen in real time and felt mildly offended every single time.

This man could become charming faster than most people could breathe.

“Mr. Lu will arrive shortly,” the employee added carefully.

At that—

Yichen’s interest visibly sharpened.

“Oh?”

Song Yu immediately noticed the expression.

Danger.

Dangerous expression.

Abort mission.

“Behave,” Song Yu warned quietly.

“I always behave.”

“That sentence itself is a lie.”

Yichen laughed softly before casually accepting a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

The lights above reflected against the crystal, scattering gold across his fingers.

Beautiful.

Carefree.

Like he belonged naturally in places like this.

And maybe he did.

Because only minutes after arriving, several celebrities had already approached him.

“Yichen!”

“You’re finally here!”

“You disappeared after filming again!”

One actress linked arms with him dramatically while another actor complained about unanswered messages.

The atmosphere around him became instantly lively.

Warm.

Chaotic.

Completely opposite from the other side of the ballroom.

Near the floor-to-ceiling windows stood a man dressed entirely in black.

Tall.

Calm.

Untouchable.

Even from a distance, people naturally avoided standing too close to him.

Not because he was unpleasant—

But because Lu Chengyan carried the kind of presence that made people instinctively straighten their posture.

His expression remained indifferent as another executive spoke beside him about market projections.

He listened quietly, one hand holding a champagne glass he hadn’t touched once.

“Mr. Lu,” Xu Chen said beside him, lowering his voice slightly, “our ambassador has arrived.”

“Mm.”

No interest.

Typical.

Xu Chen almost smiled.

Then—

From somewhere across the ballroom—

Laughter rang out.

Bright.

Unrestrained.

Completely out of place in this carefully controlled environment.

Lu Chengyan’s gaze shifted instinctively.

And stopped.

Under the golden chandelier lights stood a young man laughing while nearly spilling champagne because someone beside him said something ridiculous.

His hair was slightly messy despite obvious styling.

His smile looked real.

Too real.

Not refined.

Not calculated.

Alive.

“…”

For the first time that evening, Lu Chengyan’s attention left work entirely.

Xu Chen followed his gaze.

Ah.

So that was Lin Yichen.

Even from here, he looked different from everyone else in the room.

Most people at events like this smiled carefully.

Lin Yichen smiled like he genuinely enjoyed living.

Dangerous person, Xu Chen concluded immediately.

Meanwhile—

Completely unaware—

Yichen was still laughing when he suddenly felt something.

A gaze.

Strong enough to cut through the entire ballroom.

His smile slowly faded.

Then he turned.

Across layers of golden light and moving crowds—

Their eyes met for the very first time.

And suddenly—

Everything around Yichen became quieter.

The laughter.

The music.

The conversations.

Gone.

Only one thought remained in his head.

Holy shit.

Song Yu noticed the exact second disaster struck.

Because Lin Yichen—

Who normally flirted with the entire planet—

Actually looked stunned.

“Oh no,” Song Yu whispered immediately.

Too late.

Way too late.

Because across the ballroom stood the most handsome man Yichen had ever seen in his life.

Cold black suit.

Sharp jawline.

Calm eyes that looked completely unreadable.

Like ice carved into human form.

And for reasons Yichen himself didn’t understand—

His heart skipped violently.

“…That’s him?” he asked quietly.

Song Yu looked exhausted already. “Yes.”

Yichen stared for another full second.

Then another.

Then—

Very sincerely—

“…I’m gonna make him fall in love with me.”

Song Yu almost dropped his drink.

“WHAT?”

Unfortunately for him—

At the exact same moment—

Lu Chengyan watched the smiling actor suddenly straighten before walking directly toward him without hesitation.

Like a missile locked onto a target.

Xu Chen blinked slowly.

“…Mr. Lu.”

“Mm.”

“I think,” Xu Chen said carefully, “you may be in danger.”

XU CHEN

SONG YU

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