Linchuan had been by Shang Jie’s side since childhood, observant and reserved, which made his personality exceptionally stable. He knew when to speak and when to hold his tongue.
As a result, when he quietly stood beside Shang Jie, he was often overlooked.
From Jiang Xingxing’s perspective as a professional actor, Linchuan was undoubtedly the best supporting character in the entire play, always hidden behind the lead, only stepping forward when needed.
He was taciturn, didn’t steal the spotlight, and after finishing his tasks, he would quietly retreat.
Even during the lively dinner with a large group of people that night, Linchuan didn’t say much.
However, when he looked at Lu Wuqing, there was a subtle undercurrent in his gaze that was not easily detectable.
While chatting, Ming Jin asked Jiang Xingxing, “What’s the name of that handsome guy next to Mr. Shang?”
Linchuan stood up and introduced himself, “My surname is Lu, Lu Linchuan.”
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Ykdt Kkd zywtble yde pyke, “Ebyv y nskdnkeldnl, kv vwadp swv usw yde Nw Ewikdt yal qasx vbl pyxl qyxkzu, csvb pwadyxle Nw.”
Xq nswapl, elprkvl pbyakdt vbl pyxl pwadyxl, Nw Ewikdt nyxl qasx y rasxkdldv qyxkzu yde bye zkhle y zkql sq nsxqsav pkdnl nbkzebsse.
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Ykdt Kkd zssjle yv Nkdnbwyd yde vbld yv Nw Ewikdt, “Zsw vos alyzzu alplxczl lynb svbla; kv’p pwnb y qyvlqwz nsddlnvksd.”
Nw Ewikdt bye qyka yde vaydpzwnldv pjkd okvb elzknyvl qlyvwalp, y nzyppkn uswdt blyavvbasc zssj pwkvyczl qsa vbl ldvlavykdxldv kdewpvau, ulv bl yzps lmwele vbl nbyax sq y alqkdle tldvzlxyd. Rd nsdvaypv, Nkdnbwyd yrrlyale nsdpkelayczu xsal xyvwal, zkjlzu ewl vs tasokdt wr yzsdtpkel Fbydt Kkl. Tkp ellr czynj lulp blze y rasqswde elrvb, wdzkjl Nw Ewikdt’p nzlya yde kddsnldv tygl vurknyz sq y olyzvbu qyxkzu’p dyïhl psd.
Gnaspp vbl vyczl, Nw Ewikdt oyp yzps scplahkdt Nkdnbwyd nzsplzu.
Ms cl qyka, vblal oyp kdelle y alplxczydnl clvolld vblka lulp yde casop, cwv bl eked’v alnstdkgl bkx yv yzz.
Ebld Nw Ewikdt vwadle yaswde yde dsvknle Ykdt Kkd scplahkdt Nkdnbwyd okvb vbl pyxl kdvldpl tygl, bl qlzv y bkdv sq ekpnsxqsav.
“Brother Linchuan, it’s fate that we can get to know each other; I’ll drink to you,” Ming Jin raised her glass.
Linchuan politely raised his glass in return, smiling gracefully.
After drinking the toast, Ming Jin inexplicably felt her face warming up.
After dinner, Linchuan stood alone by the window at the end of the corridor. Outside, the snow fell like goose feathers in the deep night.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xingxing and Shang Jie were downstairs, lost in their romantic world.
Linchuan chose a spot where he could always keep an eye on his boss, while his boss couldn’t see him. This way, he was always ready to assist without being a distraction.
Linchuan was not just an assistant; he was also Shang Jie’s bodyguard, trained and skilled.
Ming Jin silently passed by Linchuan.
She wore her jacket deliberately loose, the collar slipping down to expose her rounded, fair shoulder and the black, snug camisole underneath, creating a fragrant breeze as she walked past.
She then took a couple of steps back to look at Linchuan.
Linchuan remained impassive.
Ming Jin moved closer, two meters, one meter, half a step… the safe distance between strangers had been breached. She tiptoed until her long eyelashes lightly brushed against his cheek.
No one noticed that Linchuan’s hidden hand suddenly tightened into a fist.
His nostrils filled with the thick and cloying scent of women’s makeup, something he had never experienced before. This was the fragrance of a woman.
Ming Jin blinked and stared at him for a long time before her rosy lips parted, and she softly said, “You look really good.”
He remained unfazed, lowering his gaze to scrutinize her delicate face. “Miss Ming Jin, you’re too close…”
“Why, are you afraid of me?”
“Not afraid, but your closeness could affect my work.”
Ming Jin smiled faintly and took a half step back. “You really resemble Lu Wuqing, but I’ve never thought he was handsome. He lacks a certain charm that you have.”
Linchuan asked, “What charm?”
“Masculinity,” she replied.
Linchuan’s Adam’s apple rolled slightly in his distinctly defined neck.
Ming Jin pulled out a lady’s cigarette. “Can I borrow a light?”
Linchuan rummaged through his bag and handed her a lighter, while Ming Jin leaned in close, wanting him to light it for her.
With a click, he pressed down on the lighter.
Ming Jin lowered her head to the flame, her soft body almost touching him. Linchuan could distinctly feel her slender waist pressing against his abdomen.
A woman’s body was inherently soft, but his flat and firm stomach tightened suddenly at her proximity.
The cigarette lit, and Ming Jin took a deep drag, exhaling smoke directly onto Linchuan’s face.
Linchuan’s expression remained unchanged, without a hint of disturbance.
Ming Jin raised an eyebrow and said, “Not very exciting.”
“Miss Ming Jin, I’m still at work,” he replied.
“Did I disturb your work?”
Linchuan didn’t answer.
“When do you get off?” she asked again.
“After Mr. Shang falls asleep.”
“Alright.” After taking another drag, Ming Jin placed the cigarette in his hand, the corners of her lips curling slightly. “I’m leaving.”
She turned and walked away, her silhouette disappearing at the end of the corridor.
The night was deep, and the corridor’s overhead light was dim and confusing. Linchuan picked up the cigarette butt and examined it closely. On the pristine white filter, traces of her rosy lip gloss were visible.
Looking further down, a tiny string of numbers was written on the slender cigarette body—her phone number.
However, the last digit had already been burned away by the embers.
On instinct, Linchuan almost didn’t think and snuffed out the cigarette with his rough fingers.
……
“The City of Daylight” was scheduled for release in March this year, with all the main cast attending the premiere and many media reporters coming for interviews. This was Jiang Xingxing’s first time attending a film premiere as the lead actress, so she was taking it very seriously.
Thanks to the backing of the Shang Corporation, the promotion for “The City of Daylight” was substantial. The formerly unknown Jiang Xingxing delivered an explosive performance in this film that almost carried the entire production.
In the film, Jiang Xingxing played Bai Qingqing, whose character undergoes distinct changes. She starts as a naive, white-flower student filled with expectations and dreams of love. However, following the destruction of her country and family, her innocence gradually fades as she matures into a mesmerizing socialite, captivating the men of Shanghai. Ultimately, when she appears in military uniform amidst the chaotic battlefield, this enchanting flower becomes a pawn for traitors and the enemy.
Such character development required a deep reservoir of acting experience.
Despite her youth, she was able to take on such a weighty role, earning her high praise from many film critics.
An Man, the supporting actress, was dressed to the nines one hour before the premiere, wearing a deep blue evening gown adorned with sparkling jewelry, radiating a glamorous and extravagant aura.
In comparison, Jiang Xingxing was much more understated. Her dress was a simple style provided by the production team, and she wore no extravagant jewelry around her neck.
This was Jiang Xingxing’s first time attending such a grand event as the lead actress, and she didn’t have a noteworthy evening gown or jewelry to present.
The surrounding supporting actresses looked at the elegantly dressed An Man, then at the plain Jiang Xingxing, whispering to each other—
“Dressed like that for the premiere, people might mistake An Man for the lead actress.”
“Jiang Xingxing is being way too understated.”
“Understated? She probably has no nice clothes to wear. At least she should’ve prepared a decent gown.”
An Man touched the diamond necklace around her neck and scoffed, “Some people, even if they’re the lead actress, what’s the point? They’re still low-class and can’t even wear a decent dress.”
Jiang Xingxing glanced back at her and replied coolly, “Some people, even if they wear a gorgeous gown, are still just supporting roles. No matter how many accessories they wear, they can never be the lead.”
“You…”
An Man’s face turned green with anger, but she didn’t want to make a scene in front of everyone. She sat down, fuming, “Just wait and see! You’re so cocky now; let’s see how you embarrass yourself in front of the reporters later!”
Jiang Xingxing ignored An Man and sat down to tidy her bangs, trying to cover the crescent-shaped scar on her forehead.
An Man cursed Jiang Xingxing in her mind for being ugly and called over a makeup artist to do her makeup.
At that moment, several men walked into the backstage makeup room. They were dressed in well-tailored black suits and white gloves, walking in an orderly manner, creating quite a scene.
All the girls around were drawn to them.
The male attendants approached Jiang Xingxing, polite and formal, forming two lines. Some held exquisite evening gowns, while others carried jewelry boxes.
Linchuan, tall and imposing, strode over to Jiang Xingxing and said, “Miss Jiang, Mr. Shang personally selected several gowns for you. You can choose any one to wear tonight; I’ll take the others to your home.”
The attendants unveiled the evening gowns, revealing a silver tassel long dress, a light pink short dress, and a long gown shimmering like a starry sky.
As soon as these valuable dresses were revealed, several girls nearby gasped in astonishment, covering their mouths. “So beautiful!”
“Oh my gosh, these must be custom-made!”
“Wearing these out tonight will surely land you on the cover of fashion magazines tomorrow!”
……
However, the excitement was far from over. After Jiang Xingxing chose her evening gown, another attendant presented a jewelry box.
When the elegant black velvet box opened, a necklace with a ruby the size of a pigeon’s egg sparkled dazzlingly, radiating brilliance.
Surrounding it were a circle of black crystals, and the ruby in the center looked like a devil’s eye.
Jiang Xingxing was stunned by the beautiful glow of the ruby necklace. Several girls around gasped in awe, “That’s the Eye of the Devil!”
“It’s the one that sold for twenty million in Las Vegas not long ago—the Eye of the Devil!”
“Could it be a fake?”
“It doesn’t look fake!”
……
As the ruby that drove women worldwide crazy hung around Jiang Xingxing’s neck, the surrounding girls couldn’t help but express their envy with exclamations.
An Man had never seen such a large gemstone in her life. Even the diamonds surrounding it, which served as embellishments, were larger than the stones she wore around her own neck.
Her eyes turned red with jealousy.
Before going on stage, Jiang Xingxing sent a text to Shang Jie: “Mr. Shang, this is too extravagant!”
During a meeting, Shang Jie saw the message on his phone and couldn’t help but smile slightly, replying, “Do you like the gemstone?”
“I do, but it’s too precious!” Jiang Xingxing sent a nervous emoji. “It’s too, too, too, too precious. After the premiere tonight, I’ll have Linchuan take it back to you.”
Shang Jie replied, “If you like it, keep it. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to wear it at future events.”
Jiang Xingxing responded, “No way! I can’t keep it at home; otherwise, who knows what international super spies or flying thieves would visit my house every day.”
Such a valuable gemstone was exactly the type of target often stolen in spy movies.
Shang Jie agreed, “That makes sense.”
Jiang Xingxing cautioned, “It needs to be secured with multiple layers of encryption. It must be well protected.”
Shang Jie suggested, “Then tonight, you should move into my house. I have the world’s most complex safe hidden in the most secret place; thieves wouldn’t be able to find it even if they searched three feet deep.”
Jiang Xingxing: …
Shang Jie added, “I’ve already sent someone to your house to pack up. After the premiere, just come straight over.”
At the premiere, Jiang Xingxing became the focus of all media reporters, and her stunning evening gown, along with the Eye of the Devil necklace around her neck, ensured her photos frequently appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines for a long time.
The scar on her face was no longer an ugly symbol; instead, it sparked a trend for the beauty of imperfection.
Not all perfect faces could be called beautiful, nor were all imperfect faces ugly.
Jiang Xingxing’s beauty lay in her elegance, unparalleled.
After that night, Jiang Xingxing moved into Shang Jie’s villa by the river. She simply packed some clothes and skincare products; there wasn’t much she needed to bring since his home had everything.
In the office of the president of the Shang Corporation, Shang Jie was reprimanding several managers whose poor performance led to declining results. Just then, he received a text from Jiang Xingxing: “Mr. Shang, I’ve moved in!”
Upon seeing the message, his mood inexplicably improved. He casually scolded the managers a few times before letting them leave.
As the managers exited, they exchanged glances, thinking they would face a storm of reprimands, only to find it was surprisingly easy to get off the hook.
This wasn’t like Shang Jie’s usual stern demeanor; that text he received truly saved their lives.
Looking at the message, Shang Jie couldn’t help but smile: “Be good and wait for me at home.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you to come back.”
In the afternoon, after finishing his tasks, Shang Jie was eager to return home, not wanting to delay even for a minute.
Just as he stepped out of the office, Linchuan rushed over, looking very troubled.
Shang Jie deliberately avoided him. “Whatever bad news you have for me, save it for tomorrow.”
He was heading home to be with his wife.
However, this time, Linchuan didn’t follow orders. He quickly caught up with Shang Jie and said urgently, “Doctor Lawrence has returned.”
Shang Jie paused: “Much sooner than expected; what’s going on?”
“Maybe he found out something,” Linchuan wasn’t sure. “He’s already waiting for you in the reception room. He came straight over after getting off the plane, and he brought someone with him. Second Boss, this situation may not be good.”
Shang Jie’s eye twitched slightly, and dark currents surged in the depths of his black eyes.
“No matter what method you use, keep him occupied for me. Also, call the civil affairs bureau and have them head to the villa by the river immediately. Bring all the materials we prepared before; the faster, the better!”
Linchuan widened his eyes at Shang Jie: “Second Boss, are you really determined? This is serious business.”
Shang Jie smiled wryly but looked very serious: “This is what I owe her…”
He was probably going to repay this debt with a lifetime of pampering.
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Wow !? This story is so exciting really different from what I have read so far.
I think the second master will merge with the first one.
Thank you