CH 8

“… I,” Fang Lin confirmed that his voice wasn’t trembling, but his voice changed a little when he spoke again, “I didn’t… avoid you.”

“Yes.” Duan Changke looked down at the cigarette between Fang Lin’s index finger and middle finger.

Fang Lin didn’t seem very good at smoking. The second inhale was too hard. 

Fang Lin knew that his nervousness was exposed.

He really wasn’t calm. Grabbing his cigarette was just to hide this emotion with his actions.

Duan Changke finally stopped asking questions.

The lighting in his office was very good. Fang Lin saw himself and Duan Changke in the reflection of the glass window.

“Smoking is not a good habit.” He suddenly said, “Don’t learn from me.”

With that, he naturally took the remaining half from Fang Lin’s hand, but didn’t snuff it out. He just focused on the place he had used and gently held it with his lips.

Fang Lin looked at him in a daze.

Fang Lin finally felt the temperature of Duan Changke’s hand that just rubbed his hair.

Duan Changke seemed to have a relaxed mood, tone and attitude towards him.

Fang Lin stood where he was, waiting. He needed a decision or clarification.

But he just finished the cigarette and walked back to Fang Lin.

Duan Changke’s eyes were very calm, which reminded Fang Lin of the silent river he had seen at night.

There was no sound and it was so dark that he couldn’t see it clearly.

He stretched out his finger again and pressed against his lips.

Compared with rubbing his hair and pinching his neck just now, Duan Changke’s strength this time was a little heavier, but it didn’t make Fang Lin feel uncomfortable.

His lips were light pink and soft. When pressed down by his finger, they turned pale briefly. When the other’s finger moved away, they returned to their original state.

If he bent over and kissed him now, Fang Lin wouldn’t struggle.

He saw Duan Changke get closer and closer until the tips of their noses were about to touch each other.

But the kiss didn’t happen in the end.

Fang Lin didn’t have time to respond. He just felt a soft touch on his waist——

Duan Changke gently pulled him, put his hand on his waist and half hugged him with one hand.

“All right.” His tone was still calm, but his other hand gently patted Fang Lin on the back, it may have been an illusion, but Fang Lin did feel a little comfort from this hug that wasn’t a hug.

“Take it easy.” He heard Duan Changke say.

Fang Lin was actually being this impulsive for the first time. He felt that he should be more obedient and sensible.

So he rubbed against Duan Changke’s jaw with his face and withdrew.

“I’m not nervous.”

A moment later, Duan Changke’s hand withdrew, and he himself took a step back.

When the sun came in, Fang Lin narrowed his eyes, and the last oppression brought by the other’s height disappeared.

“Yes.” Duan Changke rubbed his fingers, “You just let me touch you.”

There was a knock at the door. After hearing the reply, Duan Changke’s secretary, He Cong, came in.

He greeted them politely, he obviously had no intention to explore the relationship between his boss and him. He finished the work report without squinting, and took out the documents that needed his signature.

Duan Changke didn’t have that careless aura when working. He continued to approve the documents after asking for some key details one by one.

Fang Lin was beside him and watched as he signed the contracts, then he got distracted and thought of his “contract” that wasn’t a contract.

At that time, Duan Changke was also like this. Did he write down his name without expression like it was a project?

As Duan Changke signed, he saw one of the documents, paused then he grabbed it and naturally handed it to Fang Lin who was in a daze.

“Do you know this brand? They produce one of the fragrances,” he continued speaking without looking up. “If you are interested, I can recommend you to be a promotion ambassador for a single product.”

After all, it was still too high-profile for him to directly win all the endorsements deals of a whole brand. Duan Changke even kindly let him take only one product, which was safe and would have less negative impact on him.

He Cong quickly replied, “Yes, I’ll go back and sort out the information and send it to Mr. Fang.”

“This is not Hailin’s project, but my personal connection with the brand.” Duan Changke said, “As for what Hailin can give you…”

He Cong immediately handed the tablet to Fang Lin.

“This one, this one, this one, and this one,” he held his glasses. “Recently, there’re many projects promoted by the company, mostly dramas and films. See if you like any.”

“Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like it. There will be new ones at that time.”

“…” Fang Lin had no time to think about whether he had a backer or not.

He underestimated the ability of a backer.

He recalled Tao Le’s sentence “What are you doing? Hurry up”, and looked at Duan Changke with a guilty expression.

Duan Changke didn’t know whether he had received them or not. He just returned all the signed documents to He Cong, “Send Mr. Fang back.”

No one mentioned the ambiguity in the office just now. He Cong respectfully led Fang Lin downstairs and introduced him to the resources that might be given to him in the future.

Fang Lin was overwhelmed to the point that his face turned red: “It’s better to slow down first…”

After all, if he suddenly got so many projects, he would definitely be scolded online.

It was too much.

But still, Fang Lin looked at the contents of the documents.

What kind of role did he want?

“Oh, you don’t have to worry.” He Cong said, “after [Gentle moonlight] is broadcast, it won’t be too abrupt. If it doesn’t work, Hailin’s public relations team is also first-class. Don’t worry.”

His tone was very firm, as if he had foreseen the fame of the drama: “President Duan said he believes in you.”

Fang Lin was stunned.

Sometimes he thought that maybe Duan Changke really didn’t want to be with him like that.

For example, if he asked and hinted at it, he would turn him down gently. After giving him so many benefits, he casually asked him to go back. He didn’t even look up when the office door closed.

It seemed that he was just doing charity because he was bored, and even disdained to go further with him.

But now Fang Lin heard this…..

He had tried to remain calm and humble.

But now Duan Changke actually told someone that he believed in him.

He was confused. He thought he would be smarter after his rebirth, but now he didn’t seem to be.

A week later, the crew of “gentle moonlight” released the fixed makeup photos of all important characters.

The most eye-catching was the male and female protagonists. Fans on both sides began to forward the pictures. Companies were busy striking while the iron was hot, and there were three hot searches about the characters at one time.

Buying hot search was the most common marketing strategy. If it was a good topic, they could get twice the result with half the effort. If it wasn’t, it would be caught and netizens would mock them.

Some netizens began to distinguish which of these hot searches were bought and which were true, but as long as there was a hot search, there were always real passers-by who would curiously check.

This led to the fermentation of new topics.

“Is this the picture I saw last time?”

“Ah, ah, ah, what’s the matter with the unexpected sta-bbing! When I was a teenager, this novel was my first love.”

“The key is that as soon as he took this role, I started liking him.”

“I have to say that Jing Chuan’s actor looks really good, woo woo woo.”

“Hey, didn’t you say that Meng Jinyu was sure to take this role?”

Some words were like a fuse.

“Hehe, he has been unknown for so long. Suddenly, he got such a resource. It seems that he has begun to contact a major brand fragrance company. He sold his body.”

“How terrible.”

“Was the crew short of money? They actually chose this kind of artist.”

“Hey, maybe it just happened, hee hee.”

But interestingly, whether it was because Meng Jinyu’s fans bit too hard and made disgusting comments, or someone deliberately led them, Fang Lin was still the weak side in all aspects. Gradually, some real passers-by began to pity and even help him speak.

“They’re here again! They’re here again!”

“His fans have started acting up again? Either your brother gets the resources or the other party sold himself?”

“If your brother doesn’t get the role, you start biting others without evidence?”

“Oh, thinking about it like that. It’s a pity that your brother’s body is not good enough.”

“The photos of Meng Jinyu going out to dinner alone with a rich real estate businessman in the early days of his debut, are you guys being selectively amnesic?”

“If I remember correctly, the boss has two children…”

“Don’t ask, asking is looking for trouble.”

“Oh, your brother didn’t get the role, maybe he wasn’t good enough.”

Today’s hot search was especially lively.

In addition to #Gentle moonlight fixed makeup photos#, # Chu Chen is so good #, # Immortal Photography Award #, a # Meng Jinyu new EP #, # Ugly # quietly emerged.

Then, as if to join the fun on purpose, Hailin media official page, which had been jokingly known as the grass of Weibo, sent a new post.

“Welcome new artist @ Fang Lin as he joins the Hailin family. Let’s work together in the future. We wish you a smooth future!”

Then a strange topic finally appeared on the hot search list.

#Meng Jinyu, Hailin is coming #.

“Wow, Hailin.”

“Hahaha, this topic is getting interesting.”

“Tut Tut, Meng Jinyu has two hot searches a day. I’m tired of seeing his name.”

“Don’t be shy. What Hailin? It’s better to remove the word Hailin directly and change it to that name.”

“As we all know, Mr. Duan doesn’t like being on the hot search list. No matter how bold the blogger, it can’t take this risk. It can only be changed into the company.”

“I don’t care about Meng Jinyu’s presence. I just want to say that Prince Duan is really wonderful!”

“Maybe he will hug Duan’s thigh the next second.”

“Xswl, who doesn’t know who Hailin’s boss is? Although I don’t feel much about this little star, Meng Jinyu’s fans’ hysteria is too terrible. Can they stand this?”

[TN: Xswl —– ‘Laughing myself to death’.]

“Laughing to death. Laughing to death. Duan Changke has been implicated.”

“Wow, according to the words of Meng Jinyu’s fans, the upper position depends on selling bodies. Getting the role of male number three is based on selling his body, and getting the endorsement of a product is selling his body. even if he entered Hailin, it was because he sold his body.”

“Please let Meng Jinyu’s fans have some brains, find out who the boss of Hailin is, and then come back to fight.”

“This is today’s funniest moment.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.”