Category: Surrender 2

       Zhuo Yue felt that he really couldn’t figure out Fang Mingyan. His attitude, his thoughts, his purpose, almost nothing could be discerned.

       It was as if he brought him out but did nothing. He leisurely strolled around the business district, randomly chose a teahouse by the roadside, and sat down to have tea. He had this spirit of being someone who was the biggest boss out there and that the world was in the palm of his hand. Zhuo Yue had to be patient and accompany him even though he was full of questions.

       The sky was blue and cloudless. The sun was hanging in the sky, and the soft sunlight shone warmly on people. Not far away was a small park in the centre of the city, where flocks of pigeons had landed on the ground, waiting for visitors to feed them. On the crowded pedestrian street, everyone had a different expression on their face.

       In the elegant teahouse, a man was delicately setting the tea utensils in front of him with his slender fingers. What he drank was Dahongpao¹an expensive type of oolong tea, and the tea slowly filled the small cup from the purple clay teapot. The fragrance of the tea permeated the air, lingering around the tip of the nose. It seemed that the whole world had settled down with each breath.

       Zhuo Yue watched his movements quietly, with eyes clean and gentle, like a focused deer in the woods.

       “How long has it been since you’ve gone out for a stroll like this?” Fang Mingyan started talking.

       He thought for a moment and said, “It’s been a long time. I’ve been at home most of the time.”

       “Fortunately, you don’t come out often; otherwise, those young ladies would all have developed neck problems.” The man teased.

       With their good looks and the fact that they were sitting by a window along the street, they naturally attracted a lot of attention. A few girls probably recognised Zhuo Yue, stretched their necks and stood at a distance, whispering, and even took out their mobile phones to take pictures.

       Hearing this, Zhuo Yue curled his lips and smiled with a gentle light in his unstretched eyebrows.

       Fang Mingyan picked up the cup, put it to his lips, took a sip and said, “Guess what gossip about you will be on the Internet?”

       Zhuo Yue was stunned, then understood and said, “When I meet you, there will naturally be rumours of me changing agency.”

       “You’re not too stupid.” There seemed to be approval in the man’s eyes. “You’ve been silent for too long and need to return to the public eye in a special way. I’ll have someone hype up this news and launch some attacks on your former employer. If Fenglan responds, the attention on this news will be even greater; people love watching these kinds of drama. As for you, just remain silent throughout this process. From today on, Everything you say on social networks must be approved by the company.”

       “I understand.” Zhuo Yue looked down at the transparent glass in his hand. The Junshan Yinzhen²Junshan Yinzhen is a yellow tea from Junshan Island of the Hunan Province in China. It is considered to be China’s rarest tea and one of the Ten Chinese Famous Teas.’s leaves were floating as if dancing.

       The silver bell hanging on the door made an ethereal sound, and someone pushed the door open and walked straight towards the two of them.

       Fang Mingyan raised his wrist to look at his watch, smiled at the man and said, “You’re right on time.”

       “You know I’m never late.” The man who spoke was a man in his thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a coat dr4p3d over a well-ironed suit. The whole person had a calm and reserved appearance. Behind him was a young female secretary whose skirt fit the curves of her body, outlining her perfect figure.

       The man took two sets of documents from the secretary and handed them to Fang Mingyan, “These three documents are termination agreements; Fenglan has already signed them. Additionally, this one is a contract drafted according to your request.”

       “It’s so worry-free to have a legal advisor like you. Let me introduce Zhuo Yue, Party B in the contract.” After Fang Mingyan finished speaking, he turned to Zhuo Yue and said, “This is Lawyer Qin Mu, Huasheng’s chief legal advisor.”

       “Hello, I’m sorry to trouble you.” Zhuo Yue stood up and reached out his hand. Qin Mu politely took off the black leather glove on his right hand and shook hands with him, “Mr. Zhuo, as a lawyer, I have the obligation to remind you that many clauses in the contract are unfair to Party B.”

       Zhuo Yue was stunned when he heard this and pursed his lips, “I understand, thank you.” This lawyer made him feel a faint sense of oppression, which was somewhat similar to the feeling Fang Mingyan gave him as if he was completely dominant, powerful, strong and confident.

       The lawyer glanced at Fang Mingyan, who was smiling next to him, and there was a bit of understanding in his eyes. He said nothing more, took the tea that was handed to him, and took a sip.

       “Would you like to have dinner together at noon? I have an appointment with the Earl.” Boss Fang invited him enthusiastically.

       “You’re really making the best use of people.” Qin Mu raised his hand and looked at his watch. “I have a lawsuit to deal with this afternoon, so I need to go back and prepare. Once the contract is signed, notify me, and I’ll have my assistant come to pick it up.”

       “Okay.” Fang Mingyan responded, lazily leaning on the chair and waving his hands, “Good luck this afternoon.”

       “I humbly accept your words of blessing and hope they will come true.” Qin Mu didn’t stay long and left with his female secretary.

       The man moved the materials on the table in front of Zhu Ye, “Let’s take a look.”

       Zhuo Yue didn’t read the paper with black characters carefully. He turned to the last page, picked up the pen on the table used to write the opinion sheet, quickly signed his name in the Party B column, and then handed it back to the other side.

       “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll sell you out in the contract if you sign it so hastily?” Fang Mingyan looked at him jokingly.

       “I promised that I would do whatever you want.”

       Hearing this, a smile appeared on the man’s eyes, “I didn’t expect you to be… so good.” The deliberate drawl was a bit frivolous, which made Zhuo Yue’s cheeks heat up, and he turned to look out the window hastily.

       Lunch was served in a private club with a quiet environment.

       With green bricks and blue tiles, artificial hills and pond fish, and carved wooden windows, the courtyard was filled with classical Chinese beauty at every turn. Several birdcages hung on the patio, and the birds inside were chirping gracefully as if welcoming familiar guests. In the centre of a mahogany round table sits an old-fashioned copper hot pot, with red-starred charcoal burning underneath, boiling the bone broth with a bubbling sound, filling the air with a rich aroma of meat. Platefuls of all kinds of fresh ingredients were placed on the table, and Zhi Ye couldn’t help but gulp down his saliva.

       “Are you hungry?” Fang Mingyan asked.

       “No.” He felt a little embarrassed and got up to tease the budgerigar³The budgerigar, also known as the common parakeet, shell parakeet or budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot next to the pillar. Sensing someone approaching behind him, he turned his face to see a golden-coloured snack being handed to his mouth. He pursed his lips and reached out to take it but was avoided by the other party.

       “This thing is deep-fried; after grabbing it, you’ll need to wash your hands again. Just eat it like this.” The man brought it to his lips again.

       Zhuo Yue was immediately embarrassed, took a step back and said, “I’m actually not very hungry…”

       Originally, he had no intention of teasing him and just wanted him to satisfy his belly first, but his expression aroused Fang Mingyan’s bad taste. The man deliberately approached, forcing him to lean his back against the pillar. Passing the small snack to his mouth, he lowered his voice and said, “You don’t want to eat like this. Do you want me to feed you the way I did last night?”

       Zhuo Yue’s face turned red when he heard him mention last night. He was in a stalemate for a while and had to open his mouth and bite down.

       At this moment, there was a slight cough at the door.

       Somebody was coming.

       Zhuo Yue was startled and almost choked. He finally swallowed it and stood behind Fang Mingyan with a red face. Boss Fang calmly wiped his hands with a wet wipe and said to the visitor, “You arrived so slowly that we are almost starving to death.”

       “Really? I’m sure you have many ways to spend your time.” The man in a long black coat put his hands in his pockets, a cashmere scarf casually dr4p3d around his neck, and his eyes were as deep as an abyss in his handsome face. Just a quick glance made Zhuo Yue nervous. The one next to him was slightly shorter, with clear eyes and a faint smile.

       Fang Mingyan said to Zhuo Yue, “Do you need me to introduce you? You should have seen this person before.”

       “Second Young Master.” Zhuo Yue greeted very respectfully. Chu Yu, the second son of the Golden Eagle Group, appeared to be a reputable chaebol but was rumoured to control the triads. Many people in the entertainment industry wanted to get close to him, but this one was very cold and difficult to get close to. Zhuo Yue had only seen him from a distance a few times when participating in charity activities. He heard a while ago that the Second Young Master came out as gay publicly and got married abroad with a male partner, so the person around him should be… Zhuo Yue noticed that the two of them were wearing the same style of ring on their ring fingers.

       “This is the new chairman of Baihe Group, Xu Ye, the Second Young Master’s wife.” Fang Mingyan continued to introduce.

       “…What wife! You really…” The shorter, handsome man glared at him and then looked at the Second Young Master Chu next to him somewhat aggrievedly.

       There was a gentle smile in Chu Yu’s eyes, and he corrected, “My spouse.”

       “Okay, Second Young Master’s spouse.” Fang Mingyan corrected helplessly, “This is Zhuo Yue, the artist I just signed.”

       “I’ve seen your movie.” Xu Ye thought for a while and said, “It seems to be a historical movie with a complicated name. What is it called?”

       “Is it ‘The Flowers Bloom on the Road for the Lord’s Care’?” Zhuo Yue asked.

       “Yes. It happened to be on TV when I was sick last time, so I watched a few episodes. You acted really well, but the plot was too melodramatic. I suggest you not collaborate with that screenwriter named Mo Qingcheng next time; every script that person writes turns out to be trash⁴LMAOOOOOO.”

       Zhuo Yue laughed.

       Under the dim sunlight, these two people stood together. The two men were like two pieces of jade; one was smooth and warm, and the other was clear and transparent.

       The other two men exchanged glances. Fang Mingyan smirked, unreservedly took a seat, and picked up a piece of beef, putting it into the copper pot. He said, “Alright, let’s eat and talk. The pot is almost drying up.”

       The three of them sat down, with Xu Ye next to Zhu Ye. He was interested in the process of TV drama production, so the two of them chatted while they ate.

       Chu Yu glanced at Zhu Ye and asked Fang Mingyan, “Your people?”

       “My artist,” he added.

       “So there must be another reason why you invited me to dinner today.” Chu Yu peeled off the shells of the boiled shrimp and put them in Xu Ye’s bowl. The other party happened to give him fish balls, and the two looked at each other and smiled.

       “I heard Golden Eagle is investing in a movie, and Xie Anqing is currently selecting the cast.” Fang Mingyan swung the cabbage leaves in the hot pot and said bluntly, “Give him a chance to audition.”

       “Chu Xuan is in charge of everything in the cultural industry, and I rarely interfere. But it’s rare for you to speak to me. I’ll do you a favour this time.” Second Young Master Chu pressed the phone and asked, “His name consists of which two characters?”

       “Zhuo means ‘outstanding’, and Yue means ‘pleasing’.”

       Soon, the message came back.

       “Let him go to the Changting studio for an audition tomorrow afternoon. The main roles have basically been decided, except for one supporting male role left.” Chu Yu looked up at Fang Mingyan with a hint of playfulness in his eyes and added, “It’s a gay.”

       Fang Mingyan was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhuo Yue, who was lowering his head to eat food, and slowly showed a smile, “It would be nice to let him expand his acting career.” After a moment, he added, “I almost forgot, there’s one more thing. I need you to help me give a heads up.”

       “You invite me to a meal and make a bunch of requests.” The Second Young Master Chu glanced at him.

       “Mainly, this matter is in your territory, and it’s tricky for me to handle.” Fang Mingyan looked innocent. “This kid is involved in some affairs on your Guangyu Street.”

       Chu Yu frowned, “How much?”

       “Including interest, it’s over three million.”

       “Leave this matter to Tang Can, and I’ll contact you when the result comes.”

       “Okay.” Fang Mingyan smiled slyly as he placed a cooked precious crab leg into Chu Yu’s bowl. He said, “Eat without worries; everything’s fine now.”

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Notes:
I didn’t notice I kept writing him as Zhuo Ye coz I kept recalling Xu Ye’s name until I realised it was supposed to be Zhuo Yue instead. (ノД`)

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       Zhuo Yue hastily wiped away the tears on his face with the back of his hand. He stood up and picked up his clothes in embarrassment. He really couldn’t hold his liquor well, and now he was walking a little unsteadily. He finally managed to put on his clothes, lowered his eyes and apologised, “I’m sorry for bothering you tonight…” After saying that, he was about to run away in a hurry, but his legs were stuck on the low stool beside him. His balance shifted, and he fell toward the coffee table filled with bottles and glasses. Fortunately, Fang Mingyan grabbed his waist in time. Zhuo Yue, who was still in shock, clutched the other person’s arm tightly. It took him a long time to recover and let go of his hand in embarrassment.

       “Okay, I’ll take you back.” Fang Mingyan spoke.

       “No need, I…”

       “If something happens to you tonight, I will not be able to get out of it.” The man interrupted and glanced at him lightly, “Don’t worry, I don’t have a hobby of forcing others to go to bed.”

       It would be unreasonable to refuse at this point, so Zhuo Yue got into Fang Mingyan’s car. He was silent the rest of the journey after telling him the address. With the surge of alcohol, his stomach felt uncomfortable, and his head felt heavy, so he leaned on the back seat and fell asleep in a daze.

       The driver followed the address and drove the car to an old urban area. The government initially wanted to requisition this area, but it had to be put on hold because of the large number of residents and the difficulty of demolition. These houses were quite old, built densely and crowded, and the plaster on many exterior walls had peeled off to reveal the red bricks. A row of hair salons opened along the street, with pink gauze covering the windows. Inside, women with exposed milky-white thighs awaited customers. In the dark and narrow alley, one or two unhappy cats occasionally popped out.

       This area belonged to the Black Eagle Society’s sphere of influence, and the police didn’t have much control over it. There were a lot of people from all sorts of religions, and there had been a murder and dismemberment case a while ago, which had not been solved yet.

       The driver stopped the car on the side of the road and said, “Mr. Fang, the front is too narrow, and we can’t drive in.”

       “Just stop here.” Fang Mingyan looked sideways at Zhuo Yue beside him and said.

       He was sleeping peacefully, his brows furrowed slightly as if he had had a bad dream. Under the light of the street lamp that came in, the eyelashes cast a small shadow under the eyes, and there seemed to be traces of tears remaining in the corners of the eyes. Because of the alcohol, his breathing was slightly heavy.

       Compared with when they met two years ago, he had lost a lot of weight, his chin was sharpened, his face was haggard, and he did not look as bright as he did at that time.

       “Mmmm…” The person who had been asleep jolted awake with a sudden tremor in their throat. He covered his mouth and opened the car door in a panic. He stumbled out and vomited while holding on to a tree on the side of the road.

       Fang Mingyan was stunned by his sudden movement, chuckled to himself, and got out of the car helplessly.

       Zhuo Yue hadn’t had dinner and had nothing in his stomach except alcohol. At this moment, it was the reaction to alcohol intoxication. He vomited thoroughly, almost regurgitating the bitter bile. His body was limp and powerless, and his arms were supported by the person next to him.

       “Open your mouth and rinse your mouth.” A mineral water was handed to his mouth, and Zhuo Yue followed the instructions in a daze.

       Fang Mingyan helped him sit back in the car. After vomiting and regaining consciousness, he said softly, “Thank you…”

       “How long have you lived here?” the man asked.

       He pursed his lips and replied, “Two weeks.” He never appeared on variety shows before, and he was picky about advertisements. He didn’t earn much money. The money from selling the house plus his savings were not enough to pay off his foster father’s debt, so he could only afford to rent a more affordable place in the neighbourhood.

       “How much money does your dad owe?” Fang Mingyan saw Zhuo Yue looking at him in shock and smiled, “It’s not difficult to have someone check your current situation.”

       Zhuo Yue knew that he had many connections and did not hide it from him. He told the truth, “He co-signed a loan for someone, and that person disappeared with the money. The debt fell on him, and fearing his family would find out, he resorted to taking out high-interest loans from a loanshark to settle it. However, the interest kept accumulating, and now, even with all my money and selling the house, I’m still short by over three million yuan. I don’t have a job or any income, and starting this month, I can’t make the payments anymore…”

       “Where is the other person now?”

       “I asked the old couple to go to a relative’s house in the countryside for the time being.”

       “You want to shoulder it alone?”

       Zhuo Yue lowered his eyes and said nothing.

       “I can give you a chance. But what I want you to sign is a contract. For the next ten years, regardless of what I arrange for you, you must comply. This includes taking on roles you’re not good at, participating in variety shows and events you don’t like, and attending social functions. Your scandals, your love life, and all sorts of publicity will be all under my control. You will have no choice or right to oppose. I will control all of your time, and you won’t have personal time without my permission. Can you accept these terms?”

       This sudden turn of events shocked Zhuo Yue, and it took him a long time to react. He pursed his lips and said softly, “I know I am not qualified to make any demands, but…” His eyes trembled, “Is it possible to exclude any involvement in sexual activities?”

       The man chuckled, “The company won’t force you to sleep with me. As for situations like that when socializing, it’s up to you how to deal with them skillfully.”

       He lowered his eyes to hide all the emotions in his eyes and said, “I accept.”

       Fang Mingyan slightly hooked his lips and told the driver, “Chen Li, drive home.” He looked at Zhu Ye’s confused and bewildered expression, and he said, “I won’t allow my artist to live in a place like this. Until we find a suitable apartment for you, you’ll stay temporarily at my place.”

       Fang Mingyan lived in a villa area in the east of the city.

       It was already so late, and he was so groggy that Zhuo Yue was in a daze and couldn’t see the name at the entrance clearly. When the car stopped, the driver came over and opened the door. As soon as he got out, someone hugged him. Zhuo Yue was startled and moved and heard the man say in a deep voice, “Don’t move.”

       The other party was now not only his boss but also his benefactor. Zhuo Yue had no choice but to remain still as he was carried. At a height of 179 centimetres, it was the first time he had been carried like a young lady, and his hands awkwardly didn’t know where to rest, making his whole body tense.

       Fang Mingyan carried him directly into the guest room on the third floor and put him on the bed, “You should rest first and talk about it tomorrow.” After that, he turned and left.

       The room was warm. Zhuo Yue was still drunk; his head was dazed from the alcohol, and he didn’t have much strength. He reluctantly took off his coat, pulled the quilt to wrap himself up, and fell asleep in a short while.

       He had many disorganized dreams one night in which debt collector gangsters came to his door with axes and machetes. He panicked and ran away, but he could not get rid of those people no matter what. With no way to escape, he fell from the tall building and woke up suddenly.

       The quilt was kicked to the ground by him at some point. His throat was dry, and his head was numb, all from the reaction of being hungover. He sat for a while, then stood up and opened the curtains and was suddenly startled.

       Wrapped around the villa was an exquisite courtyard. Snow covered the tall trees with fallen leaves, showing a unique winter beauty. On a distant hillside, there seemed to be other similar single-family houses, obscured by the shadows of the trees, which made it difficult to see them clearly. There was a lake as far as the eye could see. The vast mist on the water gradually dissipated, and the sun poured down from the clouds, casting a sparkling golden light on the lake.

       K City, which had been engulfed by high-rise buildings, still had such a quiet place.

       Sunlight streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The post-modern decoration style revealed a bit of yuppie¹Yuppie, short for “young urban professional” or “young upwardly-mobile professional”, is a term coined in the early 1980s for a young professional person working in a city characteristic. The white undulating three-dimensional decorations on the wall formed a wave-like pattern, and a black pendant lamp hung in a simple inverted triangle shape. An exaggerated portrait of a certain country’s leader hung on the wall. The room was predominantly in black and white tones, with minimal red accents on decorative items and embellished by green plants, exuding a bold, lively, yet stable atmosphere.

       Just as Zhuo Yue was looking around, there was a knock on the door.

       He opened the door, and outside was a middle-aged man in a black suit. He handed him the clothes in his hand with a smile, “Mr. Zhuo, my name is Zhou Chi, and I am Young Master Ming’s butler. This is the clean clothes he asked me to prepare for you.”

       “…Thank you.” Zhuo Yue looked down and saw the light grey underwear on the top, and his face turned red.

       “Please come downstairs for breakfast after changing.” Zhou Chi’s attitude was generous and polite, and he didn’t forget to close the door for him before leaving.

       Those clothes were all new, the tags had been cut off, and the price could not be seen. But Zhuo Yue knew this brand. It was a practical, high-end brand that discreetly marked its presence in inconspicuous places like cuffs or the back collar. It was definitely not inexpensive.

       The smell of alcohol still lingered on his body, so he simply went to take a shower and put on his clothes one by one.

       They were the right size, even his underwear and shoes.

       He looked at himself wrapped in new clothes in the standing mirror and felt dazed for a moment. It seems like he had returned to the time two years ago when he was in high spirits, well-dressed and waiting to go to various events. It was a pity that he had long been like a different person, and now he was in such dire straits that even underwear had to be gifted by others.

       The Zhuo Yue in the mirror smiled bitterly.

       In the dining room on the first floor, Fang Mingyan was sitting, browsing and looking at the tablet in his hand. When he saw Zhuo Yue coming down, he took a sip of coffee and asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”

       “Very good.” Zhuo Yue paused and said, “Thank you for yesterday…”

       “I’m not interested in accepting thanks.” The man interrupted, “I’m a businessman. I don’t accept you to do good things but to gain profits from you. In short, you are my tool to make money.”

       Zhuo Yue’s expression stiffened a little.

       Fang Mingyan swept him a glance, “What, I said it too bluntly, you can’t accept it?”

       “No.” He lowered his head slightly, “You are my boss. No matter what you say, I will accept it.”

       This attitude was a bit out of Fang Mingyan’s expectation, and there was a pleasant smile on his lips, “Eat breakfast first, and then go out with me.”

       Zhou Chi on the side immediately brought hot porridge and placed it in front of Zhu Ye together with several plates of refreshing side dishes. He didn’t know what was put in the porridge, but it smelled good. He had thrown up like that yesterday and was now hungry. He lowered his head and took a bite before remembering to ask, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

       “I have already eaten.”

       “Oh.” He responded, scooped a spoonful of porridge and put it into his mouth. It was probably hot. He swallowed it with difficulty and hurriedly stuck out his tongue to inhale. Seeing Fang Mingyan looking at him with interest, he immediately blushed and covered his mouth with his hands.

       “Do you need me to ask Zhou Chi to cool you down?” The man teased him deliberately.

       “…No need.” Zhuo Yue paused for a while, lowered his head and continued eating. When he looked up, he saw Fang Mingyan sitting opposite, still looking at him with interest, and whispered in embarrassment, “Do you have to watch me eat like this?”

       “How can you be an actor if you are so afraid of being seen?”

       He was stunned by the other person’s rhetorical question, and it was only after a long time that he stifled his frustration and said, “I’m not acting right now.”

       “Are you so shy when you’re not acting?” The man asked with a half-smile, “Or do you get shy so easily when I’m watching you?”

       He was stunned, and his face turned red uncontrollably until even the base of his ears felt hot. He hurriedly lowered his head to avoid the sight, took a few more bites and said, “I’m full.”

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       On a winter night, after a heavy snowfall, a thick layer of white frost was still on the roadside.

       Zhuo Yue gathered up his scarf, put his hands in his pockets and quickly turned around the corner. Because he walked too fast, his face was slightly flushed, and his breath formed a small cloud of warm mist before him.

       This was the most bustling entertainment district in City K, where passionate and lively people scattered in places filled with excitement and extravagance, indulging in a life of luxury. He stopped in front of a gorgeously decorated building and raised his face to gaze at the huge sign above his head. His face, hidden behind a dark collar, was revealed. It was a young and handsome face, and the neon lights reflected a mottled colour in his eyes, which were black and shining. Under the high bridge of the nose, the thin lips softly pronounced the establishment’s name.

       “The Lost City…”

       He pulled out a black card from his pocket, glanced at it, held it tightly, walked up the marble steps to the brightly lit foyer, and calmly handed the membership card to the doorman. However, his slightly curled fingers revealed his uneasiness. The card was borrowed. Memberships for such high-end clubs often cost tens of thousands annually, and now he was simply unable to afford it.

       “Welcome to the Lost City, sir.” The doorman swiped the card through the card reader and handed the card back with both hands. “Can I help you store your coat and scarf?”

       “No need.” He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and pretended to have a bad memory, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here…Which private room does Chairman Fang of Huasheng Entertainment use?”

       “Please come with me.” The seductive female greeter came forward enthusiastically and guided the way with a smile.

       The elevator went up to the eighth floor, and the greeter stopped in front of a door. She was about to knock on the door when he stopped him.

       “No need for you. I’ll go in by myself.”

       “Okay sir, I wish you a pleasant stay in the Lost City tonight.” She bowed slightly and turned to leave.

       Zhuo Yue stood outside the door, looking at the dark door that blocked sight and sound. He hesitated for a long time and finally grasped the even colder metal door handle with his cold hands. He slowly exhaled and pushed it open.

       A stream of warm air hit his face.

       Inside the private room, the changing lights created an ambiguous atmosphere, the decadent music echoed in the ears, and the vibrating heavy bass seemed to beat at the heart. A young boy was standing in front of the big screen, singing an English rock song with a slightly husky voice. The man bartending at the bar saw him, raised his eyebrows and asked, “What’s the matter?”

       Zhuo Yue pursed his lips and said, “I’m looking for Chairman Fang.”

       The man turned back and shouted towards the semi-circular sofa area, “Marvin, someone is looking for you.”

       The tall man sitting leisurely in the middle of the sofa was currently holding two handsome MBs¹Money Boys or gigolos in his arms and telling some interesting jokes. When he heard that, he looked up at the door. His eyes paused on him, and a playful smile flickered in his eyes as he raised his hand in acknowledgement.

       The singing stopped suddenly. The singer glanced at Zhuo Yue, turned off the music, and sat aside with a calm expression. For a moment, the entire private room was eerily quiet.

       Zhuoyue walked to the sofa and said, “Chairman Fang, I’m here today because…”

       “Mr. Zhuo.” The man interrupted him unceremoniously, “No matter what you want to talk about, isn’t it a bit rude to interrupt my private time uninvited like this?”

       He stiffened, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t make an appointment with your secretary, so I had to…”

       The other party smiled nonchalantly, “You came to me because you are considering changing jobs?”

       Zhuo Yue pursed his lips and lowered his head slightly, “Yes.”

       “You offended the investors with your rudeness, got abandoned by Fenglan, and now, with no other options, you want to turn to Huasheng. You’ve played your cards quite well.” The sarcasm in the smile on the man’s lips became more and more intense, “Do you think I,  Fang Mingyan, is a scrap collection station?”

       These words were merciless, like a pair of hands slamming his self-esteem into the mud. Zhuo Yue’s face turned pale, and his nails were pressed so hard that they almost pierced his palms.

       With exceptional looks and a natural charisma in his eyes, he had enjoyed a smooth sailing career since his debut. Before even graduating, he caught the eye of Shen Haofeng, the boss of Fenlang, and took on the leading role in a historical TV drama, “Conquest of Mountains and Rivers.” This move earned him the Best TV Newcomer Award. Rising to fame at a young age, he didn’t pay much attention to others, displaying a cold and proud demeanour, and was not good at getting along with others.

       New talents were emerging constantly in the entertainment industry, and Zhuo Yue’s acting career had always been fixed on the young man in ancient attire. At the age of twenty-six, he was pushed aside by the young fresh faces. A few months ago, the company won him the leading role in a drama and asked him to accompany the producer. Perhaps due to some inappropriate advances from the producer, Zhuo Yue responded with a slap. Not only did he lose the role, it also caused the company to lose investment. Shen Haofeng, furious at the incident, decided to shelve him. His agents and assistants were all withdrawn, leaving him to fend for himself. The producer was quite powerful in the industry, and many historical drama crews did not dare to invite him again. In the past six months, he had not received a single advertisement, a role, or a notice. If he continued like this, he would soon fade out of people’s sight—it was undoubtedly a fatal blow to an artist. The high-interest loans his foster father had taken out had only worsened his situation, pushing him to a point of no return.

       Zhuo Yue lowered his head, his eyelashes slightly drooped to cover the emotions in his eyes, and spoke with some difficulty, “I was careless with my words. The other party always said a lot of inappropriate things. I apologise…”

       Two years ago, Huasheng extended his goodwill to him, offering a high salary to entice him to switch jobs. The boss, Fang Mingyan, even talked to him once in person. At that time, he was at the height of his popularity, so he refused without any room for manoeuvre, which was quite embarrassing for the other party. Now, he was asking for help because he was really desperate. Huasheng was larger than Fenglan, and Fang Mingyan held a high status in the industry, navigating both legitimate and less savoury circles, and even the producer had to give him some respect. Upon careful consideration, he was the only hope for making a comeback on his own terms.

       “If you want to apologise, just saying it doesn’t seem very sincere.” Fang Mingyan leaned on the sofa, his voice was a bit lazy, “Drink this glass of wine.”

       Zhuo Yue looked at the light cyan liquid in the goblet and tightened his lip. He was a light drinker and gets drunk easily, so he usually avoided drinking, but at this moment, he found himself in a difficult situation and couldn’t easily decline. He picked up the goblet, closed his eyes, tilted his neck back and swallowed. The alcohol was very high in alcohol content, and when he swallowed it, he only felt the flame burning all the way from his oesophagus to his stomach, which was hot and spicy. He forced himself to endure the discomfort and asked, “Does Chairman Fang think I am sincere enough now?”

       “I accept your apology. However, from a business perspective, your range in roles is limited. You’ve stirred up trouble by offending investors, and you have been stuck at the bottom of the box for such a long time without exposure. Why do you think I should invest money in you?”

       Zhuo Yue was silent for a long time, with a layer of cold despair in his eyes, as if his soul had been sucked out, and he said stiffly, “You really have no reason to sign with me.” After saying that, he turned around and walked out.

       “Stop.” came a deep voice.

       He stood still, turned around and said coldly, “What else does Chairman Fang want? Forcing me to have another drink?”

       Fang Mingyan curled his lips.

       This guy’s temper was still the same as two years ago, with a noble and cold arrogance coming from his bones, like a lotus flower in the mud, beautiful and clean. However, in this seething cauldron of industry, such people usually only had two outcomes: they lost power and faded away, or they became tainted. Sure enough, in just two years, he fell from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley and had to bow his head and ask for help. However, even when he was asking for help, his attitude was still so unruly, like a stubborn and untamed wild horse, unwilling to compromise.

       Overall, Zhuo Yue was not bad. Unlike those actors who relied solely on their handsome appearance, his eyes were bright and clear. When focused, it was as if he peered into your soul. Every movement carried a graceful and serene charm as if he had stepped out of an ancient painting, leaving a lasting impression. This was why historical dramas preferred to cast him in leading roles. With proper nurturing, he had great potential. However, the first step was to smooth out those sharp edges he carried.

       Fang Mingyan looked at the man indifferently, “If I give you a chance, what are you going to give in exchange?”

       Zhuo Yue was confused for a moment.

       He stood alone, with many indescribable emotions in his eyes. Finally, as if he had given up something, he lowered his eyes gently, “Everything I have.”

       Hearing this answer, Fang Mingyan smiled and asked playfully, “Including your self-respect, perseverance, and limits?”

       He was silent for a while and replied, “…Yes.”

       “Okay.” The man sat lazily, with his long legs resting on the coffee table. “Since you’ve come here to seek my favour, you must have investigated my preferences. If you can satisfy me tonight, I’ll sign you.”

       Zhuo Yue froze on the spot for a while, then took off his scarf and took off his coat as if he was resigned to his fate. The two MBs beside Fang Mingyan had already stood aside knowingly. Zhuo Yue sat down next to the man, picked up the foreign wine on the table, poured half a glass and brought it to the man. He didn’t say anything and looked at the man nervously with a pair of black eyes. The temperature in the private room was quite high. He had been wrapped in a thick coat and scarf just now, and there was a thin layer of sweat on his body. Moreover, the alcohol he had just consumed slowly came on, and his body also became hot, and his fair face was dyed with a faint red colour.

       He never liked such occasions and never participated. Even at the opening banquet and closing banquet, he would only sit briefly before leaving. He was popular at that time, and Shen Haofeng didn’t force him. So until today, he had never taken the initiative to drink with someone, and he didn’t know what to say at all.

       The man glanced at the small ice bucket on the table and continued to look at him calmly.

       Zhuo Yue guessed that it probably meant adding ice cubes. He was not sure of the quantity, so he only took out two small pieces, put them into the glass, and handed them over again.

       Fang Mingyan curled his lips and said to the two MBs standing aside, “The newcomer doesn’t seem to know how to accompany a drink. You guys can set an example.”

       The two nodded. The taller one poured a glass of wine, took a big sip, and pointed to his bulging mouth, indicating that he didn’t swallow it, gesturing to Zhuo Yue. Then he hooked the short man’s neck, kissed him, and fed him the wine in his mouth. As lips and tongues intertwined, wine dripped from the corner of his mouth, and the sound made Zhuo Yue blush.

       “Have you learnt?” The man sitting on the sofa looked at him leisurely.

       Zhuo Yue felt stiff all over and stood helplessly.

       He needed this opportunity. His acting career had reached an impasse, and the high-interest loans his foster father borrowed were about to come due. If he didn’t repay the money, those underworld gangsters would literally beat him to death…

       He picked up the glass numbly, his mind in chaos.

       There was a voice whispering in his ear over and over again—if you fail today, you will never get ahead again. Aren’t you an actor? Can’t you use your acting skills to put on a good show? The most you can do is sacrifice yourself. You have nothing left, so how much is this body worth? This is just an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry. They all do this, and you are not the only one…

       Anyway, it was a show… He closed his eyes in pain. When he opened it again, his eyes had changed. The confusion was gone, and the dark eyes settled down, glowing with a gloomy light.

       This was his state when he entered the play.

       Zhuo Yue took a sip of wine and held it in his mouth, getting closer to Fang Mingyan, then stretched his neck and leaned in without hesitation. The lips touched each other and slowly opened. When he wanted to put all the wine into the man’s mouth, he was entangled by the tongue that suddenly came out. In the blink of an eye, the other person invaded his wet and hot mouth.

       Zhuo Yue had only a few kissing experiences, so he was no match for him. He was defeated in a matter of minutes, allowing the other party to march in and take away control. After a while, his throat trembled, and he was forced to swallow all the wine. He was so tortured by the pressure between his lips and tongue that he couldn’t breathe. He put his hands on his chest and tried hard but couldn’t push the man above him away. He couldn’t help but make a guttural sound of “Woo…”

       This was the first time he had been kissed by a man and the oppressive feeling of being controlled frightened him. After the kiss finally ended, Zhuo Yue gasped and leaned on the sofa, saying, “Chairman Fang, I’m not good at drinking. I’ll get drunk if I keep drinking like this…” There was a hint of pleading in his words, and his voice was also much softer.

       Fang Mingyan curled his lips, “How much I drink depends on whether you feed me well.”

       Zhuo Yue held the glass in his hand and leaned close to the man. He raised his face, looked at the man with his dark eyes, and said softly, “Does Chairman Fang think I’m stupid?”

       Such a display of coquetry might be an easy flirtatious gesture for others, but for the usually aloof Zhuo Yue, it was pushing the limits. His body was getting closer, but his heart longed to escape immediately. The overly intimate proximity made the hand holding the glass so nervous that he couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

       “It’s okay, I can teach you.” Fang Mingyan held his wrist, brought the glass of wine to his mouth and took a sip. He then lifted his chin and pressed it down. This time, the invasion was more forceful than before. He pinched Zhuo Yue’s chin semi-forcefully to make him open his mouth and even held the back of his neck forcefully. With a push of his tongue, the wine and ice cubes were pushed into Zhuo Yue’s mouth. The man’s tongue acted recklessly in the mouth full of wine, attacking the mouth that had been cooled by the cold wine, teasing the small ice cubes that were gradually melting, entangled with the shy and flustered soft tongue, and examining every inch of the territory that was filled with the cold wine.

       Zhuo Yue, who was already drunk, was a little confused at this time, and the lack of oxygen made his head even more dizzy. He half-closed his eyes helplessly and gave up resistance. The wine in his mouth had already been swallowed by the man’s skillful teasing, and a small amount of wine dripped from the corner of his mouth, adding a bit of lustful feeling. He didn’t come back to his senses until the third button of his shirt was unbuttoned.

       Seeing this situation, the other people in the private room wisely withdrew, leaving only him and Fang Mingyan. At this moment, he was being pressed on the sofa by the other party, being torn open like a package of express mail.

       As long as you obey…it will be over if you endure it for a while…Only by completing this scene well can you please him…

       Zhuo Yue tried his best to self-hypnotize, but his body was resisting, and he was so tense and stiff that he couldn’t make any movements. When the man opened his shirt, his naked upper body felt the coolness and could not help but shiver.

       Fang Mingyan’s warm fingers lingered on the collarbone and then touched the sensitive breasts on his chest. He pinched them tightly with two fingers and pulled them, causing the man under him to gasp unbearably.

       “Ah… don’t…” There was some feeble softness in that voice, which was touching people’s hearts. Zhuo Yue didn’t expect that he would make such a sound, so he covered his mouth with the back of his hand in shame.

       “That’s a beautiful sound.” The man turned to the other bulge without mercy and ravaged it into the same beautiful crimson colour. “It looks like tonight will be a lot of fun.” As he said that, he moved his hand between his legs and kneaded the most vulnerable part through his pants.

       Zhuo Yue shivered and shrank his body, but he couldn’t escape the man’s control. Instead, he was gripped by the suddenly tightened hand, causing him to groan in pain.

       “Behave yourself if you don’t want to be hurt.” Fang Mingyan neatly tore off his outer pants and threw them aside along with his underwear.

       His naked body was completely exposed to sight. Zhuo Yue’s delicate c0ck was very light in colour, like an abstinent boy, looking like he had never been to sex before. The slender legs that were trying to be closed were forcefully stretched to a painful angle, and even his buttocks were spread apart, revealing the tender secret point hidden between them.

       Accepting another man’s inspection in such a shameful posture made Zhuo Yue’s face turn pale. He stiffly endured the other party’s teasing, and when the touch of his finger landed near the opening, he couldn’t help but tremble all over, and tears rolled down from his empty eyes.

       He tried hard. He tried to make himself understand the current situation and try to please the man to gain opportunities. But thinking about what would happen next, the humiliation, fear, helplessness and panic made him completely collapse, and he struggled hard. It was a pity that he was much weaker in terms of strength, and with the alcohol, he couldn’t exert much strength. Not only was he unable to break away at all, but the man tied his hands behind his back with his shirt.

       “No… please…” he cried and begged, “Fang Mingyan… please, let me go…”

       “Can’t continue your act anymore?” The man pinned him down like a lion, his cold voice filled with sarcasm, “Wanting to receive but unwilling to give, aren’t you a bit too greedy, Zhuo Yue?”

       Big tears welled up in his eyes. He choked and said intermittently, “I have no choice…it is clear that there is nothing left, and it is clear that I have made up my mind…but I still can’t do it…”

       In many years, except for acting needs, he had never cried like this in front of others. The pressure and fear drove him to a complete breakdown. At this moment, Zhuo Yue was like a wronged and sad child, exposing all his vulnerability in front of Fang Mingyan.

       The man narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment and let go of him, letting him cry to his heart’s content. He waited until he gradually calmed down before speaking again, “Have you cried enough?”

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Notes:
This book also has quite different chapter numbering I found in aggregator (supposed to be from the source before author moved to miguo) and the one posted in miguo
So I just tried to make sense of the chapter numbering, and I hoped it wouldn’t affect your reading experience too much (⚆︵⚆)

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You walk alone and depressed, bearing countless scars as you walk on that long road full of thorns.

Lost in desire, wandering in embarrassment.

Indulged in deception and believed in illusions.

One day, I will wear a crown on my head, be clothed in beautiful clothes, and hold glory in my hands.

Until one day, with a crown on your head, adorned in splendour, holding the glory in your hands.

Who will be there to make you, walking under the dazzling lights, involuntarily turn around and look back?

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Notes:
Hey hey~
I’m back with volume 2~~
Volume 2 is somewhat longer than volume 1, and it focuses more on Marvin. He’s not as much of a green flag than Chu Yu, so well… I’ll try to tl it as much as I can but no promises as I still have couple of series I need to release once a week 😀
Also coz basically I have 2 raws that have different chapter numbering… I gotta… do some recheck…
Look forward to it~

---

Support the author by buying the author’s works and/or giving some kisses here~
(It’s very easy to buy from myrics.com because they support Paypal payment in small amounts~)

We have a discord server for those who want to receive an update ping and various announcements~
Join here ^^

And please buy me some kofi if you like the translation~

Also leave some ratings if you like this series here~