Chapter 14: Celebrated as the "Nova" in Latin

Shen Jixing had no intention of lingering any longer. He came merely to confirm their safety, and perhaps, selfishly, to see them one last time.

"Don't blame yourself. I've never held it against you," Shen Jixing soothed, gently releasing her hand.

He bent to pick up the fallen hat, brushed off the dust with the pristine sleeve of his coat, and placed it delicately back on Mrs. Herbert's head.

"On the contrary, I ought to thank you and Mr. Herbert for coming all this way for me," he said, though the outcome had been less than ideal. Yet Shen Jixing did not mind.

Mrs. Herbert's wrinkled hand clasped his gently, her gray eyes brimming with guilt and tinged with pink. "We thought of reaching out to you beforehand, but I was afraid... afraid you wouldn't want to see us, Nova."

Shen Jixing's long lashes fluttered slightly. After two seconds, he replied, "I wouldn't."

This child was still as soft-hearted as ever, though he kept himself locked away behind a hard shell.

In the early days after his return, Mrs. Herbert phoned him weekly, sent him living expenses, and shipped carefully chosen clothes that suited him. He always received them graciously.

"Thank you, madam. I like them very much," the exquisitely handsome boy with black hair would sit across from her in the humble gray-white room, his beauty undiminished even through a blurry camera lens.

After a pause, he added, "But recently, the director bought us new clothes for the season. Life here is quite good. Please take care of yourself, and don't worry too much about me."

He never spoke the word "refuse," but every word conveyed "it's not needed."

"Have you booked your return flights? If you need, I can take you and Mr. Herbert to the airport."

He gently tucked a stray silver lock behind her ear.

The airport was always teeming with people. Mrs. Herbert smiled warmly, "We have, but we want to visit a calligraphy shop in the old city first. You know Herbert loves those things."

Often, things were left unsaid.

Shen Jixing understood she meant to decline his offer.

They had lived together for three months; many times, Shen Jixing was much like her.

"Alright," Shen Jixing nodded, saying no more. "Safe travels. May you arrive smoothly."

Mrs. Herbert raised her head and kissed his cheek. "We certainly will."

Shen Jixing exchanged a few polite words with Mr. Herbert. Any intimacy between grown men was inevitably awkward.

He bent to pick up the black umbrella from the corner. As he was about to step through the doorway, he suddenly heard Mrs. Herbert's trembling voice, "Nova..."

He paused mid-stride.

His hand gripped the umbrella's handle a little tighter, slender fingers gleaming cold white.

He glanced sideways, speaking softly, "If possible, I have a request."

Old Herbert knew he was in a difficult situation.

He answered solemnly, "Child, speak freely. Whatever it is, we'll do it."

Mrs. Herbert nodded gently through tears.

Outside, the rain blurred the glass, trickling down in slender streams.

Shen Jixing spoke calmly, "Next time we meet, I hope you both will use my Chinese name, Shen Jixing."

Old Herbert froze.

Mrs. Herbert suddenly covered her mouth, hot tears streaming down her face.

Old Herbert found himself unable to refuse. After a long silence, he nodded slowly, "Of course. We can."

Shen Jixing smiled faintly. "Thank you."

He turned and walked out of the lounge in quiet composure.

Nova, in Latin, meant "new star," symbolizing a new beginning, brilliance, and beauty.

But he no longer had a new beginning.

So he was not Nova.

...

"Help me look into something."

Shen Jixing's gentleness and patience were rare. More often, he was just the cold, arrogant, and utterly rude man that Zhou Yili described.

As if the brief moments of warmth had drained him; the humid late-summer air clung to his eyes, and even his tone was laced with a biting chill.

"Information on YC and Fang Siqian."

"Anything inconvenient?"

His voice was calm as water. "I want everything you have on them."

"Alright."

"…"

Shen Jixing rounded the corner and bumped into someone unexpectedly.

He stopped abruptly to avoid contact, but the other person stumbled toward him anyway.

Shen Jixing frowned slightly, yet still caught him with a gentle hand.

The silky expensive fabric brushed his palm. He heard a lazy, indifferent voice.

"Tsk, not watching where you—"

The man's voice paused, his brow arching with a hint of mischief, his eyes flashing with a rakish smile. "Well, isn't this someone I know?"

Shen Jixing: "..."

The sarcasm in his words was unmistakable.

His hurried departure that morning must have looked like he was dodging responsibility.

Shen Jixing parted his lips to speak, but Zhou Yili glanced at his phone screen, asking offhandedly, "Who are you calling?"

A man, apparently. Judging by the tone—probably a handsome one.

Before Zhou Yili could see the name, Shen Jixing discreetly turned the screen inward.

He spoke into the phone, "Send it to me tonight. That's all. Hanging up now."

Zhou Yili watched him with deep, dark eyes.

Shen Jixing put away his phone, looking at him calmly. "What are you doing here?"

Zhou Yili never attended outside events when working on a new album.

His presence at YC's celebration could only mean one thing—

"It has nothing to do with you." Zhou Yili withdrew his gaze in disinterest, slipping his hand into his trouser pocket. His silk shirt hung loose at the collar, revealing a sliver of elegant, alluring collarbone.

"I'm meeting someone."

Shen Jixing's gaze lingered on his sharp Adam's apple.

Zhou Yili rarely dressed this flamboyantly.

Everyone present was either from YC or from Fang Siqian’s camp. Before Zhou Yili could take another step, Shen Jixing stopped him.

"Who are you meeting?"

Well, listen to that tone.

Anyone would think I was his little lover.

Zhou Yili glanced at the hand barring his way—clean, slender, beautiful in its refined austerity.

He lazily curled his lips in a sneer. "What does it matter to you? Who am I to you, anyway? Movie King Shen."

Shen Jixing looked at him with clear, transparent eyes.

Zhou Yili's features were sharp and wild, a few tufts of blue hair rebelliously sticking up. He raised his brows knowingly, "Ah, that's right—your creditor."

"..."

Shen Jixing seemed at a loss for words.

Rainwater blurred his gaze, making his eyes moist and luminous like glass.

Zhou Yili felt a sudden itch in his hand.

He stared coldly at the man before him, abruptly cupping Shen Jixing’s chin, his demeanor icy and aggressive as he peered down.

"You'd best think carefully about how you're going to explain yourself to me tonight."

Shen Jixing was forced to take a step back, frowning as he looked at him, and retorted coldly, "Let go. I haven't forgotten."

Zhou Yili hadn't used much force—Shen Jixing's chin was slim, fitting perfectly in his palm.

The sensation was oddly addictive. He let go decisively. "Fine."

"Send it to me tonight. That's all. I'm leaving."

"..."

Those familiar words.

Zhou Yili strode away without a care, nearly bumping into the arm still outstretched across his path.

Shen Jixing quickly withdrew it.

Only when that arrogant, flamboyant figure disappeared around the corner did Shen Jixing finally come back to himself.

"Crazy," he muttered.

He raised his hand as if wiping away something dirty, his fingertips sliding over his cold white jaw.

Then he stepped calmly into the rain outside the corridor.

Two seconds later, icy raindrops struck his scalp, jolting his mind into clarity.

Shen Jixing lowered his gaze, opened his umbrella without expression.

"..."