CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3: Unexpected Disasters

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

Lu Chengyan glanced at him once.

“Why?”

Xu Chen looked toward the approaching actor.

Lin Yichen was smiling.

That alone was not dangerous.

The dangerous part was that he was walking directly toward Lu Chengyan with the confidence of someone who had already decided something unreasonable.

And unfortunately—

People with that expression usually caused problems.

Large problems.

Beautiful problems.

“Just a feeling,” Xu Chen replied diplomatically.

Meanwhile—

On the opposite side of the ballroom—

Song Yu was already sensing catastrophe approaching at full speed.

“Slow down,” he hissed quietly while following behind Yichen. “Why are you walking so fast?”

“Because true love waits for no one.”

“You saw him thirty seconds ago!”

“And I’ve seen enough.”

Song Yu looked exhausted. “You cannot decide to chase a CEO because he’s handsome.”

“Why not?”

“Because this is real life!”

Yichen gasped dramatically. “Your lack of faith in romance wounds me deeply.”

“You don’t even know his personality!”

“I can fix that.”

“You sound insane.”

“I prefer passionate.”

Song Yu wanted to resign.

Unfortunately, before he could continue arguing—

They arrived.

Close enough now that details became clearer.

Lu Chengyan somehow looked even more intimidating up close. Tall, calm, dressed entirely in black, with the kind of face that made expensive magazines fight for photoshoots.

Cold eyes.

Sharp jawline.

Perfect posture.

Honestly unfair.

Even Song Yu had to admit it.

No wonder Yichen looked like he was about to commit crimes.

And beside him—

Xu Chen turned slightly.

Their eyes met.

Song Yu froze.

Completely.

His soul nearly left his body.

Wait.

WAIT.

No.

No no no no no—

That face—

THAT FACE—

Song Yu’s brain immediately replayed an extremely cursed memory from one month ago.

A nightclub.

Too much alcohol.

Crying dramatically because his longtime crush had called him “like a little brother” before introducing his boyfriend.

Worst night of his life.

Then—

A man sitting alone at the bar.

Cold-looking.

Handsome.

Wearing glasses.

Drinking quietly.

One thing somehow led to another.

Then another.

Then—

Song Yu nearly blacked out from secondhand embarrassment.

OH MY GOD.

THAT WAS XU CHEN.

LU CHENGYAN’S ASSISTANT.

The one-night stand assistant.

The extremely calm one-night stand assistant.

The one-night stand assistant currently staring directly at him without changing expression.

Song Yu internally screamed.

Outwardly, he smiled like someone dying peacefully.

“…Hello,” he managed weakly.

Xu Chen’s gaze rested on him for one extra second.

Then—

“Hello.”

Calm.

Professional.

Nothing else.

No shock.

No recognition.

No reaction.

Song Yu blinked.

…Wait.

Did he not remember?

Right.

They had both been drunk.

And Song Yu had escaped the hotel room early in the morning like a criminal avoiding taxes.

Maybe Xu Chen genuinely forgot.

A wave of relief almost hit him—

Until Xu Chen suddenly added politely,

“Your alcohol tolerance seems better tonight.”

Song Yu’s soul ascended.

HE REMEMBERED.

HE ABSOLUTELY REMEMBERED.

Song Yu nearly choked on oxygen itself.

Beside him, Lin Yichen noticed immediately.

“…Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” he whispered.

Song Yu smiled painfully. “I’m experiencing death.”

“Huh?”

Before Yichen could question further—

Lu Chengyan finally spoke.

“Mr. Lin.”

His voice was low and calm.

Yichen instantly forgot everything else.

Including Song Yu’s ongoing spiritual collapse.

“Mr. Lu,” Yichen replied smoothly, smiling brightly.

Their handshake lasted exactly three seconds.

Long enough for Yichen to think:

His hands are nice too.

Dangerous thought.

Very dangerous.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Yichen said casually.

“Likewise.”

Cold.

Polite.

Professional.

Yichen became even more interested.

Ah.

A difficult type.

Fun.

Meanwhile behind them—

Song Yu was trying not to make eye contact with Xu Chen.

Xu Chen, meanwhile, looked perfectly composed.

Almost too composed.

Which somehow made it worse.

“You seem nervous,” Xu Chen commented quietly.

“I’m not.”

“You almost walked into a flower arrangement.”

Song Yu glanced at the destroyed corner of flowers beside him.

“…That was emotional support.”

Xu Chen looked at him for two silent seconds.

Then unexpectedly—

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Not fully.

Barely noticeable.

But definitely there.

Song Yu stared.

OH NO.

HE WAS HANDSOME WHEN HE SMILED.

This was terrible.

Absolute disaster.

Meanwhile—

Completely unaware of the side romance chaos happening beside them—

Lin Yichen was still focused entirely on Lu Chengyan.

Up close, the CEO was even colder.

Not rude.

Just distant.

Like someone naturally separated from everyone around him.

Most people would probably feel pressured talking to him.

Lin Yichen, unfortunately, felt the opposite.

Interested.

Very interested.

“So,” Yichen said lightly, swirling his champagne glass, “you’re the famous Mr. Lu.”

“And you’re the famous Mr. Lin.”

“I think your title sounds cooler.”

Lu Chengyan looked at him quietly.

“…Is that important?”

“Yes,” Yichen answered seriously. “Image matters.”

For the first time—

Xu Chen noticed Lu Chengyan pause slightly.

Probably because nobody usually spoke to him like this.

Most people became nervous around him.

Lin Yichen somehow looked relaxed enough to start a podcast.

Interesting.

“Mr. Lin seems very comfortable in social situations,” Lu Chengyan observed calmly.

“That’s because I’m beautiful.”

Song Yu closed his eyes.

Xu Chen looked away briefly, clearly suppressing amusement.

Even Lu Chengyan fell silent for half a second.

Then—

Unexpectedly—

“I can see that,” he replied.

The entire atmosphere froze.

Yichen blinked.

Song Yu’s eyes widened.

Xu Chen looked genuinely shocked for the first time in years.

Because—

Did Lu Chengyan just flirt?

No.

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Meanwhile Yichen slowly smiled.

Bright.

Victorious.

Dangerous.

Ah.

This CEO was definitely getting kidnapped emotionally.

Without hesitation, he stepped slightly closer.

“Mr. Lu,” he said warmly, “I think we’re going to get along very well.”

Lu Chengyan looked down at him calmly.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Yichen’s smile widened innocently.

“Because,” he said softly, “I like beautiful things.”

Xu Chen immediately looked at the ceiling.

Song Yu wanted to faint.

And for the very first time that evening—

Lu Chengyan felt something unfamiliar.

Not annoyance.

Not interest.

Something stranger.

As if a very dangerous person had just quietly stepped into his perfectly controlled life.

And somehow—

He had a feeling things were about to become troublesome.

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