Cui He said, “Why do you care who likes whom! It’s not like he likes you anyway!”

Ding Bing added, “Yeah, like he’d like a bubble teapot like you!”

“What is it?” Jiang Ruotang asked.

“Tonight, a few friends of mine who also work as print models are going to sing karaoke. Would you honor us with your presence?” Li Ying smiled as he spoke, leaning forward slightly—close enough for them to clearly see each other’s eyes, but not crossing the line into physical intimacy.

This guy clearly wanted to get close to Jiang Ruotang but didn’t want to risk turning him off.

“There’s no need to invite me, is there?”

“Everyone just wants to meet the promising young painter from the Art Institute.”

“So, when you asked me my name, you already knew who I was,” Jiang Ruotang said bluntly, not in the mood to play games. “Li Ying, we’ve been taking the same public English class for over a semester. If you were interested in me, you wouldn’t have waited until now to make a move. Instead of staging all these ‘coincidences’ to get close to me and pretending you’ve put in effort, why don’t you just tell me what you really want?”

Li Ying was stunned. He thought he was a seasoned player and had heard that artists like Jiang Ruotang were always vulnerable to “chance encounters.” But now it seemed Jiang Ruotang wasn’t someone he could charm.

“If you don’t want to say it, forget it. Find another target.”

With that, Jiang Ruotang turned to leave.

Li Ying quickly blurted out, “Wait! It’s… it’s because of my boss…”

“Your boss? What boss?” Jiang Ruotang paused and turned back.

“The editor-in-chief of the magazine I model for. And the investors. They just told me to try to win your favor…”

Jiang Ruotang almost laughed. He’d seen this kind of thing in his past life too—though back then, it was always some big-shot investor and he was just a lackey lighting their cigarettes.

“Let me guess—you were the pick of the litter, hand-selected from a group of male models. Must’ve been tough.”

Li Ying looked embarrassed.

“KTV tonight? Sure. Have your editor-in-chief and those investors come too. Tell them I prefer open, honest conversations. Here’s a number—once you’ve decided the location and room, send the details there.”

Li Ying quickly took out his phone to write it down.

Jiang Ruotang appeared calm and casual, but his presence made Li Ying visibly nervous—his hands were sweating as he typed the number.

He immediately contacted his boss, who canceled his business trip and booked a high-end private club for the night.

Li Ying hadn’t expected Jiang Ruotang to have this much influence.

But when he texted the room info to that number, he got this reply:

[Received. I’m his legal representative, Dai Ming.]

That message instantly made Li Ying anxious—it was clearly a warning: if they tried any funny business after Jiang Ruotang showed up, this powerful lawyer would be on their necks.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ruotang was totally at ease. After a nap in the dorm, he casually headed over to the venue.

The club’s interior had a European-style luxury to it. When Jiang Ruotang was shown to the private room, a man in glasses and a suit, along with someone vaguely familiar, both stood up to greet him.

“Young Master Jiang, long time no see—you’re even more handsome than before.”

Jiang Ruotang tilted his head, trying to remember. “Have we met?”

The other man showed no sign of awkwardness and extended a hand smoothly. “You might not recall, but we met last year at Jinshang Mall.”

Only then did Jiang Ruotang remember. “Oh, you’re that Pei Qian! You were shopping with your boyfriend and then tried to hit on me afterward!”

“Yes, I overestimated myself. Please forgive me if I offended you,” Pei Qian replied smoothly, clearly a seasoned pro at social maneuvering.

Just as Jiang Ruotang sat down, the door opened and several attractive young men entered. They poured drinks and flattered him, calling him a young talent and rising star in the art world, saying they came specifically to meet him.

Some even sat beside him.

Jiang Ruotang chuckled lightly, then shifted his seat to the small coffee table, placing himself opposite the group—breaking their encirclement in an instant.

“Mr. Pei, I only have half an hour. After that, my boyfriend will come to pick me up. I assume you’re here on behalf of Qilin Video? So should we talk business now, or keep wasting time?”

Pei Qian looked into Jiang Ruotang’s eyes. They weren’t cold or oppressive, but he knew Jiang meant what he said.

“Yes, Director Jiang’s Xichuang Ghost Tales is currently in preparation. He declined our investment. Frankly, we don’t know if we’ll even be able to buy the distribution rights in the future. So we’re wondering if it’s possible to get a few of our artists a cameo role in the drama.”

Pei Qian gestured subtly at the young men in the room. Jiang Ruotang now understood why they looked different from usual KTV hosts—they weren’t professionals, they were actors.

The bespectacled man added, “Young Master Jiang, with your sharp eye, perhaps one of these young men might catch your attention? Just a single word to Director Jiang would be a huge opportunity for them.”

Jiang Ruotang sighed and shook his head. “What is this, a concubine selection?”

The man could only laugh awkwardly.

Jiang didn’t even glance at the boys again but looked straight at Pei Qian and said, “My dad is very principled. He might spoil me, but he’s deadly serious about his work. If I recommend someone, he’ll demand to know why. Then you’ll get dragged in—and land on his blacklist.”

Pei Qian sighed. He had heard of Jiang Huaiyuan’s personality.

“My dad values acting skills and, even more so, attitude. Mr. Pei, these artists you brought must be the most promising ones in your company, right? I don’t know if they’re classically trained, but if I were you, I’d hire professional acting coaches for them. Give each one a specific role, start from the basics—lines, expressions, emotions—grind it all in. There’s still time before the shoot starts. If they don’t make it, fine. But if my dad sees you’ve made real effort instead of relying on looks, he’ll respect you. Even if not this project, you’ll get another shot.”

The artists looked visibly disappointed—they hadn’t expected the director’s son to offer them no help.

Pei Qian pondered for a moment. He could sense that Jiang Ruotang, like his father, was unyielding. Still, the advice was sound.

“I understand. Thank you, Young Master Jiang.”

“Oh, one more thing, Mr. Pei.”

“Yes?”

“I do like men. But I already have a boyfriend. And when I fall for someone, I won’t turn back, even if I hit a wall. So please help spread the word—anyone trying to use some ‘beautiful man’ trick on me, or pillow talk their way in, is getting blacklisted. I’m open-minded about everything—but I don’t play with feelings. Anyone who tries that? Permanently blocked.”

Pei Qian hadn’t expected him to be this blunt. Romantic deals were common in the industry, but there were still people who drew hard lines—his father Jiang Huaiyuan was one of them.

“I understand.”

Just then, the private room door was knocked on again, and a waiter led someone else in.

Everyone looked up at once—to see a young man in a shirt and slacks, tall and impeccably handsome.

Even someone as jaded as Pei Qian had to admit, this man had flawless features and presence. He was so good-looking it was almost surreal.

The other artists were also stunned. He was barefaced, no makeup—and still looked better than all of them combined.

“All done talking? Should I wait outside?” Lu Guifan adjusted his tie. He had just finished a presentation, got Jiang’s text, and came right over—only to see him perched on a table, looking like he was surveying the group of men like royalty.

“All done. Let’s go,” Jiang said, tugging on Lu Guifan’s wrist. Then he noticed—

No glasses!

He was letting everyone see his full face?

Unacceptable!

Lu Guifan glanced at the expensive wine bottles nearby. “You’ve been drinking?”

“A bit. Feeling dizzy.”

Everyone was confused. When had Jiang Ruotang had anything to drink?

Even Pei Qian, who had seen his share of drama, was momentarily speechless.

“If you can’t drink, you should’ve just said no.”

Then Lu Guifan leaned down, slid one arm under Jiang’s legs, and scooped him up effortlessly.

Gasps all around.

No one else here could do that—not with that strength and ease.

Jiang Ruotang wrapped an arm around Lu Guifan’s neck, half-lying against his shoulder. He threw a meaningful smile at Pei Qian.

And suddenly, Pei Qian remembered—the boy who once ran over in high school to shield Jiang Ruotang?

They were still together?

And that boy turned out to be this gorgeous?

Why hadn’t Jiang put him in a show? He could debut straight into stardom!

Li Ying stood frozen, finally understanding why Jiang Ruotang had shown no interest in him. A line popped into his head unbidden:

“How can fireflies compare to the moon?”

Out in the corridor, Jiang Ruotang clung to Lu Guifan’s shoulder and giggled quietly.

“What are you laughing at?” Lu Guifan asked.

“I think I pulled off the domineering CEO routine pretty well.”

“Oh, the kind of CEO who gets carried out by his boyfriend?”

Still giggling, Jiang was set down on the hood of Lu Guifan’s SUV. Lu Guifan leaned in, hands braced on either side of him, gazing seriously into his eyes.

“You know what I felt the moment I walked in?”

“That I stayed clean in a sea of temptation? I didn’t let any of them touch me,” Jiang said proudly.

Lu Guifan laughed. “I suddenly realized—you’ve got a lot of temptation around you.”

What if he’d stayed in the lab a few more days and came back to find himself replaced?

“Huh? What temptation? More like a circus freak show.”

Jiang tugged on Lu Guifan’s tie and kissed him. “Why aren’t you wearing your glasses?”

“So they could clearly see what type you really go for.”

“Exactly! This is my type—and nothing in the world can replace it.”

Lu Guifan smiled and rubbed noses with him.

They were each other’s one and only—perfectly matched, like no one else.