Xiang Lin got ready so early in the morning. He packed his things in a huge backpack and made sure that he looked good in his casual attire. He had never prepared and felt so nervous as today ever since his first date a couple of years ago.
The boarding station for the bus was full since it was the weekdays so he was prompted to take the taxi and pay a bit more for his fare. But he was not feeling stingy that day as he was going to do an important job that could lead to his own goal.
When the time for his plane to arrive and start boarding passengers, Xiang Lin pulled on the nervously glanced at the time. It was almost 8 in the morning. The flight will take at least two hours to reach Paradise City. And within those two hours, his meeting with Editor Chang and Feng Huai will happen as well.
That's right. Instead of going over to their usual meeting and handing over the USB he had in his hands, Xiang Lin decided to follow Senior Wu's instruction and fly to Paradise City to accompany Zhang Yiqing. It wasn't that he disregarded his own cooperation with Feng Huai to dig up as much personal information of Chestnut's artists, but he just couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet the President of Chestnut Entertainment, who has been blurred in the background.
Accompanying Zhang Yiqing, of course, was his second course of action. He will diligently handle all Zhang Yiqings needs after seeing the president. Xiang Lin still wants to experience being someone who can stay beside an artist and act as their assistant, which he was unable to do because he was a secondary assistant destined to be Feng Huai's slave.
The plane he will board that day arrived earlier so all passengers boarded it. It took 2 long hours to arrive at Paradise City.
It was Xiang Lin's first time in another city and he felt quite anxious. He didn't know where to go and who to call, but then he remembered Senior Wu's number. Should he reach out to him and call him?
Just as Xiang Lin was about to press the call button, a car blew their horn in front of him. It was an expensive nanny van in shiny black paint. As soon as the car parked in front of the entrance of the airport, a lot of people turned their heads at their direction.
"Hey, isn't that the new and limited edition of the car brand Panda?"
"Mommy, I want to buy that car!"
"You're right! What the heck, I heard that it sold around 12 million to 15 million. Could that man know the owner of that car?"
Xiang Lin felt embarrassed at their question as they pointed at him and whispered in their low voices.
A lot of passersby who came out of the airport like Xiang Lin were in awe of the car, but Xiang Lin, who stood in front of the car, felt so awkward. He stepped to the side so he wouldn't block the door and wanted to stay out of its way.
But who would have thought that the moment he stepped a foot away from it, the car door slid open and the insides of the car was revealed. The expensive and beautiful interior of the car almost blinded the people seeing this.
On the other hand, Xiang Lin couldn't keep his eyes away from the car. Because in front of him… isn't this the number 1 star in the company, Ran Xueyi?!
Even though she was wearing a cover up disguise to not get recognized, Xiang Lin still knew who the foreigner sitting beside her was. It was Adelle, Ran Xueyi's manager. There could be only one artist who could sit together with Adelle, and it was Ran Xueyi!
"Xiang Lin?"
Xiang Lin still hasn't snapped out of his shock and stared at Ran Xueyi with his jaw slacked.
Ran Xueyi paused for a second and looked at Adelle, who shrugged. Then, she repeated, "You're Xiang Lin, right?"
Of course, she already knew who was standing in front of her in the reports that Uncle Wu had compiled for her to review.
Xiang Lin, age 32. He had a thin and short build. His height stopped at 172 cm and currently living in the apartment building that Ran Xueyi bought for her employees to live in. He had a younger sister who he was taking care of after his parents died. And according to the reports, he didn't graduate from the university he used to go to.
There wasn't much to see in his personal data. Xiang Lin was a normal guy who had experienced being responsible and taking care of his family at such a young age. The only notable thing about him is that he had a little bit of knowledge in hacking computers.
Xiang Lin finally recovered from his daze and exclaimed, "Yes! It's my great honor and pleasure to meet you here, Miss–!"
"Alright, you don't have to scream so loudly." Adelle interjected before he could finish his words. She waved for him and ordered, "Just get inside the car for now so we can arrive at our destination quickly."
Xiang Lin did not refuse, or more precisely, he couldn't refuse. He was on cloud nine when he got into the car. Was he really sharing a car with a superstar like Ran Xueyi? Is this really alright for him to sit in the same space and breathe the same air as her?
But wait…
"Uh… Did Senior Wu send you to get me?" Xiang Lin asked, wondering how did they know about him?
Adelle nodded. "We were on our way to meet Zhang Yiqing anyway so I told him that we don't mind having you on board with us in our car." She paused for a bit and looked at him. "What? You don't like being with us? Is that it?"
Xiang Lin instantly shook his head as if he was a hen picking corn on the ground. "Of course not! Please don't misunderstand!" The latter part was said to Ran Xueyi, who was leaning her back against the back of her chair and seemingly resting.
But it was Ran Xueyi, who should have been resting, answered him, "Adelle is just messing with you. Don't be afraid." She turned her head slightly so she could face him and asked, "I heard you are working directly under Xiao Feng. It has been a while since the last time I've met and talked to him, but how is he?"
At her words, Xiang Lin stopped speaking for a short moment. He didn't know why but when this question was directed at him, he felt that he was forced to swim in ice.
He was afraid that what he and Feng Huai had been doing would be found out, so he tried to make an excuse by saying, "Huai Ge is doing well. But we don't see each other that much."
"Oh? How so?" Ran Xueyi asked without being suspicious.
"Just that… He's quite preoccupied with some matters regarding Zhang Yiqing's development so I don't see him much." Xiang Lin told half truths and half lies. It was true that they didn't see each other because Feng Huai only came to him whenever he wanted him to compile documents.
"I see." Ran Xueyi looked away and just when Xiang Lin was about to feel relieved, he heard her speak, "How about you? How was it working under Feng Huai?"
Xiang Lin paused and looked at Ran Xueyi, but because the back of the chair was in the way of his line of sight, he could only see a part of her head and face.
He hadn't even responded to her question when Ran Xueyi continued nonchalantly, "I heard that he's quite outstanding in his job. The president of the company mentioned to me last time that Xiao Feng might get another promotion to a higher position in the company… Xiao Lin, what are your thoughts about this?"
"I need your opinion since you're someone that worked closely with Xiao Feng. Should I say a few good things to the president?"
Xiang Lin felt sweat coming off his forehead and back. The air conditioner inside the car was great, but his shirt was being soaked with cold sweat.
When he heard that Feng Huai might get a promotion in Chestnut Entertainment, he couldn't help but feel extreme envy. How could he not? Feng Huai was already betraying Chestnut and sailing on Dauntless' ship without much guilt. Yet, he is actually getting a promotion to a higher position?!
Xiang Lin didn't know whether Feng Huai's ancestors had done a good life in the past for him to experience such good karma. He was actually getting promoted in Chestnut and offered to transfer to the top entertainment company in the country!
Although he knew he shouldn't do it, Xiang Lin couldn't stop his mouth from saying, "I… I think Feng Huai is also great. He knows and works a lot so the promotion is something to celebrate if it was given to him…" There was a long pause and after much hesitation and thought on his part, he finally added, "But I think he is not deserving."
How can Feng Huai actually get all the good things in this world? Even if fate allowed him , Xiang Lin certainly wouldn't allow that from happening!
At his words, Ran Xueyi unknowingly smiled. What Xiang Lin didn't know was that he was actually falling in a deep pit of trap she made for him.