183: Let's have less contact in the future.

The person in charge finally waved his hand outward, signaling Zheng Ge to leave quickly.

It was obvious that the talk had fallen through.

Zheng Ge stood there, his face flushed red. He then turned to lose his temper at his assistant. The little assistant, likely used to it, continued looking around without even a change in expression. Immediately after, Zheng Ge saw Shen Lian.

That haggard face instantly turned pale.

This goes to show that in life, one should offend fewer people; there's no telling when the tables might turn.

The Original Host had once been pushed to the brink of ruin, swallowing his pride to find a way out, but Zhou Tangsi and Zheng Ge hadn't given him one. There had even been scenes like this before—Zheng Ge surrounded by admirers like a star, while the Original Host stood in the shadows like a stray dog.

Shen Lian still didn't know why he had come to this world, but he felt that the Original Host's experiences—the exclusion, the suppression, and finally the painful death from a heart attack in a cramped rental room—were all real.

Shen Lian sipped his water while enjoying the look on Zheng Ge's face. Once the other party grew increasingly humiliated and angry, he calmly looked away and returned to the spotlight to continue filming.

This scene stung Zheng Ge deeply, but instead of chasing after him as he would have in the past, he turned and fled with large strides.

In the past, Shen Lian was someone everyone despised, but now he shone brightly; Zheng Ge didn't dare.

His ears were filled with a chaotic buzz, and his pace was extremely fast. The little assistant cursed inwardly while chasing after him: "Aren't you usually frail and sickly? When you call that CEO Zhou, it's either crying or making a scene, hospitalized today and dying tomorrow—aren't you perfectly fine right now?"

Bursting out the main door, a slanted wind blew a steady stream of rain across his face.

Zheng Ge calmed down instantly.

His eyes grew dazed as he inexplicably recalled some past events.

Both he and "Shen Lian" had debuted through a boy band survival show.

Back then, "Shen Lian" was someone appreciated by both the dance instructors and several small-time bosses, often accompanying them to dinners and gatherings. For the obscure and rookie Zheng Ge, there was only a heart full of envy.

As for how much jealousy was bred from that envy, Zheng Ge didn't dwell on it.

Only, one day, the young master with the strongest backing in the boy band had a conflict with "Shen Lian." In a place like the entertainment industry, where there are many wolves and little meat, becoming an overnight sensation seems simple but actually requires heaven-defying luck. The opportunity "Shen Lian" was about to grasp vanished just like that.

The moment Zheng Ge heard the news, he voiced his regrets, but his heart was filled with uncontrollable excitement.

Once, after being scolded by a teacher, Zheng Ge hid in the dance studio alone to cry. Before long, footsteps approached, and someone said in a gentle voice, "Wipe your tears."

With tear-blurred eyes, Zheng Ge looked up to see "Shen Lian." The other man had just had many of his resources cut, yet he could still manage a smile.

"Thank you," Zheng Ge said as he took it.

[Stop pretending; you can't even save yourself right now.]

"Don't be sad," the young man comforted him.

"Okay," Zheng Ge replied.

[You're probably just here to laugh at me, aren't you?]

Zheng Ge's expression was pure and kind, looking so natural that "Shen Lian" didn't suspect a thing.

During that most critical time, "Shen Lian" had the chance to dine with a major brand partner. Zheng Ge, who was on the verge of being kicked out of the group, desperately begged "Shen Lian." After listening, "Shen Lian" went to find Uncle Li, who was looking after them at the time.

That night's dinner was never going to be simple. Uncle Li looked Zheng Ge over, saw that he had a decent face, and quietly agreed.

At the cocktail party, Zheng Ge saw Zhou Tangsi for the first time. Such a dazzling scion of a wealthy family should have had no overlap with him, but soon, Zheng Ge saw a sort of nostalgia and an unhideable affection in "Shen Lian's" eyes.

At that moment, an absurd emotion swelled from his heart.

"Shen Lian" is about to be kicked out anyway. If he can do it, why can't I?

Afterward, amidst the chaotic revelry, Zheng Ge endured an old man groping him, then noticed "Shen Lian" helping Zhou Tangsi upstairs. Using the bathroom as an excuse, he secretly followed them. Zheng Ge thought "Shen Lian" was going to take advantage of Zhou Tangsi's drunkenness to climb into his bed. While he felt contempt, he couldn't help but feel envious; "Shen Lian's" luck always seemed to be good.

But to his surprise, "Shen Lian" took care of Zhou Tangsi until he fell asleep, brought hot water to wipe his face, and stood by the bed for a moment without doing anything inappropriate.

Zhou Tangsi was heavily intoxicated, and "Shen Lian" had to support him with effort. The door wasn't fully closed, so Zheng Ge saw everything clearly from the doorway.

"It's actually sincere," Zheng Ge thought.

In truth, Zheng Ge hadn't been in many relationships himself, but without exception, they were all transactional. After all, this industry was a melting pot of corruption. But for someone like "Shen Lian," who felt that even a slight touch was an offense, what could it be if not sincere love?

Not knowing what he was thinking, Zheng Ge hid in a nearby restroom before "Shen Lian" left.

After "Shen Lian" left, Zheng Ge, as if possessed, walked to the bedside and scrutinized Zhou Tangsi as if he weren't a person but an exquisite work of art. Greed flickered in his eyes, but in the end, Zheng Ge didn't dare; if he were retaliated against, even ten lives wouldn't be enough to pay the price. However, as he turned to leave, his wrist was grabbed.

"Did you bring me up here?" Zhou Tangsi asked, his fatigue still evident as he squinted at Zheng Ge.

"The opportunity is here," a voice in Zheng Ge's heart told him.

"CEO Zhou, you're drunk," Zheng Ge said, tilting his body because someone had told him his profile looked exceptionally pure.

Zheng Ge won his gamble; Zhou Tangsi liked exactly this type.

While "Shen Lian" accompanied others in drinking until dawn, Zheng Ge and Zhou Tangsi spent a night of wild abandon in the room.

As long as Zhou Tangsi was conscious, this was a massive stroke of luck for Zheng Ge. Even a fleeting affair could change his current predicament.

More than that, Zhou Tangsi became obsessed with Zheng Ge almost overnight.

"Shen Lian" had drunk so much he was on the verge of gastric bleeding. When he saw Zheng Ge, he was startled, his eyes full of worry. "Where did you go? I was looking for you..."

The next second, a large hand rested on Zheng Ge's shoulder as Zhou Tangsi pulled him into his arms. Zheng Ge tilted his head, revealing a clear hickey on his neck.

"Shen Lian" froze instantly.

Zheng Ge's very soul was in a frenzy of excitement.

[Your expression is really funny. Why aren't you pretending anymore?]

"Shen Lian" reeked of alcohol, his clothes were disheveled, and behind him were all the drunken bosses. Zhou Tangsi swept a glance over him, seemingly forming a general idea of his identity. The man's expression was cold as he pulled Zheng Ge along and turned to leave. "Who is that?"

Zheng Ge whispered, "He's from the same company as me..."

"Have less contact with him in the future."

"Shen Lian" heard Zhou Tangsi say those words.

At that time, "Shen Lian" didn't know the meaning of "destiny." He only felt that no matter how sincere he was, even if he carved the word "innocence" onto his face, Zhou Tangsi wouldn't believe a single word. They dragged him down into this farce of "do you love me or not" to sink together. "Shen Lian" accepted all the endless verbal abuse and ridicule from the outside world, for nothing else but his sincere heart.

Something that even an onlooker like Zheng Ge could see clearly at a glance, Zhou Tangsi was blinded to.

Afterward, Zheng Ge advanced triumphantly all the way, and even he felt like he was a darling of fate.

But fate has its limits.

Zheng Ge didn't know that on the night Chu Yilan cornered him, when "Shen Lian" opened his eyes again, his retribution had arrived.