Chapter 1: Zhou Yili, I Have Nowhere Else to Go

In the cool, understated luxury of the apartment, the curtains blocked out every trace of light. The man in bed was roused by the ringing of his phone, his sinewy forearm draped lazily over his eyes.

“Brother Zhou, are you awake?”

“Did you check the trending topics? Your good days are coming!”

His assistant, Mo, sounded positively gleeful on the other end.

Zhou Yili, still half asleep, lifted his gaze to the screen and glanced at it with bleary eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed twice, and his thin lips uttered four indifferent words:

“None of my business.”

He didn’t need to open the trending topics himself; Weibo had already pushed them to the homepage. The same name appeared everywhere.

#Shen Jixing# [Explosion]
#Shen Jixing’s image collapses# [Explosion]
#Shen Jixing’s fake identity# [Explosion]
#Shen Jixing backed by mysterious sponsor, sleeps with male fans# [Explosion!]
#…?# [Explosion]

Such obscure words, detonating the trending list.

Shen Jixing, the unrivaled superstar who ruled half of the entertainment industry, his position never threatened. One could imagine the storm these negative rumors had stirred.

“Brother, have you ever heard the phrase ‘when a whale falls, all things thrive’?” Mo whispered excitedly, covering his mouth. “We’ve always called Shen the resource-hoarding demon king in private!”

All the best opportunities had to be fought for, and goddamn it, you couldn’t win against him.

Who would have thought the tides would turn, and the demon king would fall?

Mo’s innocence was almost charming: “All the male stars in the industry can finally feast on the demon king’s leftovers!”

“…"

For a moment, it was unclear who he was mocking.

The male star himself, Zhou Yili, replied coldly, “If you can’t speak properly, go sit at the dogs’ table.”

Mo was quick to apologize, “Brother, sorry, my fault.”

Zhou Yili couldn’t be bothered to respond. His long, cool fingers swiped the screen indifferently, but the trending plaza was jammed, impossible to scroll.

He simply closed the app. “I’m not so desperate that I’d swoop in and snatch his leftovers.”

Whoever brought Shen Jixing down, it had nothing to do with him.

Even if it was truly the whale’s fall and the swarm rushed towards the deep, he would never drift with the current, gnawing at the body of someone who would never awaken.

“Focus on yourself. Less surfing, less gossip.”

Yet the whole industry was feasting on the drama.

Mo nodded obediently, “Yes, yes, Brother.”

He hung up and immediately sent his twenty burner accounts darting through the grapevine, gathering firsthand intel.

The apartment was silent.

Slivers of light leaked through the curtain gaps. The emptiness of waking up at dusk settled heavily, and Zhou Yili felt a sudden restlessness.

He tipped back two glasses of cold water and opened the group chat.

[Z]: 1

A bunch of old friends, no need for words—it meant drinks.

[Sheng Que]: Zhou, in a bad mood again?

[Z]: You already know?

Ignoring the undertone of mockery, Sheng Que’s reply was sincerely earnest.

[Sheng Que]: Would you ever think of your brothers when you’re in a good mood? ^_^

[Z]: Definitely not ^_^

[Sheng Que]: Damn, you dog bastard!

[Sheng Que]: [I’m standing here, the world’s middle finger raised to you.ipg]

Zhou Yili let out two amused snorts, slipped his phone into his pocket, and stood up.

Through the refracted light against the wall, he caught a glimpse of himself. He was still wearing the black shirt from that afternoon’s shoot, creased into chaos, his dark hair wild and unruly, a few streaks of dyed blue jutting out at the crown.

Stripped of his daytime polish, he looked like a well-rested but ill-tempered sloth.

Rather disheveled.

Unbothered, Zhou Yili grabbed his car keys and strode to the door—

“Ding dong.”

The doorbell rang abruptly, and Zhou Yili halted.

His long eyes narrowed, fixed on the tightly closed door a meter away.

This apartment was a hidden address, unknown even to his assistant.

Who could it be?

The bell rang only once; when no answer came, the visitor turned to leave.

Suddenly, with a loud swish, the door was yanked open and banged against the inner wall with a soft thud.

Shen Jixing looked up at him.

The man leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, surprised to see his visitor. His brows arched with a lazy, mocking smile: “Well, what a rare guest.”

His tone was casual, almost provocative.

Unexpectedly, Shen Jixing simply answered with a calm “Mm.”

This so-called demon king of resource monopolization, always possessed a composure beyond ordinary, cold and aloof.

He spoke quietly: “Zhou Yili, I have nowhere else to go.”

Even words of vulnerability and helplessness were delivered with icy indifference.

Zhou Yili let out a low chuckle: “Oh? And?”

As if oblivious to his mood, Shen Jixing’s gaze was clear and cold: “Let me stay.”

“Why should I?”

His smile lingered in his eyes, but within, darkness and blunt scorn.

Not directed at the trending news, only him.

Shen Jixing’s brows twitched slightly, then reverted to their frosty norm.

“Didn’t you say, if I ever had nowhere to go, I could come find you?”

His voice was cool and steady.

Yet somehow, it struck a nerve in Zhou Yili, and his smile faded completely.

In truth, Zhou Yili was usually easygoing, approachable, always with a smile. But his bone structure was excellent, and when his face hardened, his features became sharp and wild.

Quite intimidating.

Shen Jixing sensed he might want to fight him.

The notion felt absurd.

He decided not to provoke further, “If not, then—”

“Hahaha—”

Suddenly, Zhou Yili burst into laughter, his broad shoulders shaking, the black diamond on his ear catching the light. It was as if he’d heard the funniest joke.

He grinned wildly, eyes glinting.

“You smashed my head open with a bottle once, left me half dead, and now you dare show up at my door.”

“Saying you want to stay in my house, sleep in my bed.”

It was the ultimate insult, and Zhou Yili, angered, found himself laughing.

He stepped forward.

Shen Jixing calmly and cautiously retreated, “Take it easy.”

He always exuded a serene composure, as if even if Zhou Yili dropped dead the next second, he would merely bend down, pinch his philtrum, and say:

Your mental resilience is rather lacking.

Zhou Yili’s shirt was rumpled, the collar hanging open to reveal a sliver of collarbone, his whole presence radiating fierce aggression.

Like a beast closing in on its prey.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you, darling?”

“…”

His back pressed lightly against the wall—Shen Jixing had nowhere left to retreat.

After all his wanderings, fatigue weighed heavy.

He’d slipped away in the midst of an event, the venue packed, his home and office besieged, everyone desperate for a word from him.

He had nowhere to go.

Shen Jixing closed his eyes, hiding those cold, arrogant pupils behind long lashes. His exquisitely sculpted face betrayed a hint of fragility.

Wasn’t he always so formidable? So capable?

Wasn’t he above everyone, unimpressed by all?

Zhou Yili watched his lashes and wondered.

Finally, those eyes slowly opened, calm as the surface of a silent lake, looking up at him with near tranquility.

Softly, he said: “I don’t know who to turn to. I have no friends.”

—

Baby, come to me, let me be your friend!!!

Cold, arrogant beauty of a movie emperor (bottom) × wild, capricious, younger rock singer (top)

Probably a short, sweet second-chance romance in the entertainment world, with a happy ending~(?) A first attempt, exaggerated and illogical style, just letting loose, don’t overthink it :-D

Jiao Jiao is here to accompany you through autumn~