The scandal of Pei Yan harassing a young star and being kicked out of Donghai Group grew larger and larger. Someone even took photos of him walking alone on the street, with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cheap takeout bag that can be found everywhere. He was not followed by any assistant, secretary, or bodyguard, and none of his former prestige and splendor remained. Against the bleak winter backdrop, he looked rather lonely and helpless alone.
In contrast, Cheng Yu, who had replaced him as the President of Donghai Group, was gaining increasing fame. The young and handsome president kept attending interview programs and appearing on the covers of finance magazines and weekly publications. His refined and gentle temperament and eloquent conversation quickly won the admiration of the public. Thus, so-called inside information about Donghai Group kept coming out.
It was said that Pei Yan’s dozens of bodyguards and secretaries had all been transferred away, leaving only Cheng Yu’s own people by his side. It was said that Pei Yan had been driven out of his family by Pei Junhai and was now penniless and wandering the streets, even going to hotels every day to drown his sorrows in drink. It was also said that Qi Feng had long been bothered by him and was actually closer to Cheng Yu, who had started out in Donghai Group’s advertisement department.
Human nature leads people to praise the mighty and denigrate the fallen. For a time, there was no end to the mocking comments about Pei Yan.
Backstage at the music show. Qi Feng, who was waiting to go on stage to perform, was tuning his guzheng.
Seeing no one around, Fang Cheng showed Qi Feng a photo he found online of Pei Yan walking alone on the street. “Xiao Feng, are those online rumors true? Has Mr. Pei really been completely kicked out of Donghai Group and the Pei family?”
Qi Feng glanced at it but said nothing.
Fang Cheng shook his head and sighed, “If it’s true, he’s too pitiful. Should we…help him?”
Qi Feng looked at him coldly, “What good has Pei Yan ever done for you that you speak for him like this?”
“Ah? I…I’ve never gotten any benefits from him. I just feel he treated us pretty well before…” Fang Cheng hurried to explain.
“That’s enough.” Qi Feng warned him, “Don’t mention Pei Yan in front of me again.”
Unable to guess Qi Feng’s thoughts, Fang Cheng lowered his head and kept silent.
As they were talking, a staff member was fiddling with equipment nearby, seemingly passing by them nonchalantly.
Qi Feng glanced sideways and, through a metal wall panel, saw the shadow of that person.
Soon after, a commotion sounded outside. A young female artist rushed in excitedly and told Qi Feng, “Wow, Qi Feng, someone came to see you! He brought takeout snacks and flowers, cakes, milk tea, and coffee for everyone!”
Surprised, Fang Cheng wondered – could it be Pei Yan who came? At a time like this, he’s still making a big fuss to see Qi Feng. That’s just confirming the harassment of a celebrity…sigh what exactly is Mr. Pei trying to do?
Qi Feng’s slender white fingers paused on the guzheng strings. He asked, “Who came?”
The female celebrity gushed, “Cheng Yu! The newly appointed President of Donghai Group.”
Fang Cheng: ?! “How is it him? Not Pei…”
Seeing Qi Feng’s warning look, Fang Cheng promptly shut his mouth.
The female celebrity said, “Cheng Yu is your fan too. Your popularity is so enviable.”
As she spoke, Cheng Yu walked in carrying a bunch of flowers and stood before Qi Feng as if they were very close friends. “Qi Feng, are you tired? I came to see you.”
Dressed in a crisp silver-white suit that gave him a refined and handsome air while retaining the bearing of a corporate president.
The artists and staff present flocked around him like stars around the moon, flattering him. He stood amongst them, looking at Qi Feng, humbly asking with a smile, “Sorry, am I disturbing you?”
“No.” Qi Feng stood up and responded the same way he did when Pei Yan came to see him before, smiling gracefully, “Thank you Mr. Cheng, it’s my honor that you came.”
As he spoke, he took the initiative to reach out and take the flowers from Cheng Yu.
Cheng Yu: “We’re such good friends, no need to be so polite. I happened to be passing by and heard you have a performance tonight, so I dropped in to see how you’re doing.”
“I still have to get back to work, perform well tonight, I’ll be cheering you on from in front of the TV.”
Qi Feng seemed a little embarrassed. “You’re so busy and still came to see me.”
“Well, I’m your fan after all.” Cheng Yu looked down with a smile at the boy holding the bouquet. “This weekend, after you finish shooting your endorsement photos, may I take you to dinner?”
Qi Feng hesitated briefly, then nodded.
After Cheng Yu left, the other artists waiting to perform buzzed in discussion:
“Qi Feng’s luck is just too good! The wealthy CEOs in City A are both his fans and friends.”
“Pei Yan, at best, is just Qi Feng’s fan. This one seems more like a friend.”
“You can tell Pei Yan is hard to get along with. President Cheng is more promising.”
“Humph, no matter which one it is, they just need to lift a finger to make a star popular. There are some things that we can’t envy.”
……
Qi Feng sat backstage and heard some of the discussions. But he remained unmoved, handing the bouquet Cheng Yu sent to Fang Cheng and focusing wholeheartedly on completing his performance that day.
However, Cheng Yu’s actions did not stop there. In the days that followed, Cheng Yu used his real name to appear in Qi Feng’s guzheng livestream, continuously sending gifts until he pushed Pei Yan from the top spot on the fan ranking list.
When attending interview shows, Cheng Yu unabashedly stated that his favorite celebrity was Qi Feng and that he’d like to collaborate with Qi Feng if there was an opportunity.
Later, Cheng Yu posted a status update:
“In the past, I liked someone but could only silently protect them. But now I can finally muster the courage to pursue him. He may not like me, but I’m willing to wait. Even if it’s forever.”
In this status that was like a confession, Cheng Yu used the pronoun ‘he’ for the man. Combined with his recent actions, it was obvious to associate this with Qi Feng.
Seeing this status that went viral on hot search, Fang Cheng was shocked. “Xiao Feng, President Cheng, he likes you?! No wonder he’s always so enthusiastic about your Donghai endorsement. Could it be he forced President Pei out of Donghai Group because he wanted to steal you from Pei Yan?”
In a few seconds, Fang Cheng imagined a corporate power struggle staged by two elite presidents fighting over their favorite celebrity.
Qi Feng sneered coldly, “Neither one is real. They’re all acting.”
Fang Cheng: ??? “What do you mean? Acting what?”
Qi Feng didn’t answer. He noticed a phrase in Cheng Yu’s status: ‘forever’.
Could it be Cheng Yu also had memories from the previous life? What was his relationship with Pei Yan? Why did he feel Cheng Yu seemed familiar?
Qi Feng tried hard to recall Cheng Yu’s appearance, searching his memories for such a person.
That night he dreamed that when Pei Yan came to the music hall to see him, he always had a deputy general with him. That deputy stood behind Pei Yan but was also always looking at him. Staring at him as deeply and persistently as Pei Yan. It was just that he had never noticed that deputy.
Qi Feng woke with a start from the dream.
Sure enough, Cheng Yu was also someone from the previous life and was Pei Yan’s subordinate.
The next day, Qi Feng had a photoshoot for Donghai Investment’s new season of endorsements. Early morning when he opened his door to leave home, the first thing he saw was Pei Yan standing by the elevator waiting for him.
Qi Feng paused briefly, then immediately glanced away from Pei Yan, ignoring him as he calmly walked to the elevator.
Pei Yan raised a hand to block the elevator button.
Qi Feng said indifferently: “Is something wrong?”
Pei Yan looked pitiful: “I’ve been cursed so terribly, don’t ignore me anymore, okay?”
Qi Feng: “You asked for it.”
Pei Yan smiled, his tall body blocking the elevator, “But you’re smart, you already know I brought this on myself.”
Qi Feng glanced at him haughtily, “After my shoot today, I’ll be having dinner with Cheng Yu.”
Pei Yan didn’t say anything to him, but he could guess some things. All he could do was watch events unfold.
“You’re having dinner with Cheng Yu, huh.” Pei Yan tsked, “Fine, let him be your plaything for a while, to keep you entertained.”
…Plaything.
Qi Feng reached out to pull Pei Yan, who was blocking the elevator, aside. The man’s physique was tall and strong, but his body obediently followed the boy’s force and moved aside to stand next to the elevator.
He coaxed gently, “After you eat with Cheng Yu, can you make it up to me with another meal? Qi Feng, I really…”
Lowering his voice, the man murmured, “…miss you so much.”
Qi Feng ignored him and walked straight into the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close, he said:
“Pei Yan, you better have a chance of winning.”
Outside the elevator, the corners of Pei Yan’s lips were raised, and his eyes were full of smiles.
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