Lin Muci had to go to the television station after school to rehearse the stage for her new song, "Breaking the Fog."
It had started raining from the afternoon, and the rain was getting heavier.
She went to a convenience store to buy an umbrella, but inside, she overheard some young girls chatting.
"Is the scandal about Ling Qianhe real or fake? I heard that PS technology nowadays is incredibly lifelike... Maybe he offended someone and they maliciously Photoshopped his pictures and videos."
"And that girl they said is his assistant, I don't think so."
"The lighting was so dim, only Ling Qianhe's face was perfectly clear."
"Even if he did date someone, it's not right to call Qianhe-didi a man-whore, is it? Maybe he's very devoted."
Lin Muci listened from the side.
She took a deep breath and couldn't help but blurt out.
"He's not exactly a man-whore..."
As a result, she was recognized by these young girls.
"Lin Muci? It's Lin Muci!"
These young girls stared at Lin Muci with wide eyes.
Disbelief filled their eyes.
"Then what about you?"
"Are you upset seeing the photos!"
"Are you also flirting with him? You co-starred in a movie, and you were his fan before, you must like him a lot too."
Lin Muci just deflected.
"Whether he's dating or not has nothing to do with me."
"I respect him, and I admire his achievements in his career, that's all."
She grabbed her umbrella and got into the car. The system couldn't help but mutter.
"Host, you're just being stubborn, you clearly care."
As the car drove into the television station's parking lot, Lin Muci looked at the car next to hers. The familiar license plate, mC520, made her heart skip a beat.
How come—Ling Qianhe was here too?
...
In the practice room.
Lin Muci was rehearsing the live stage version of "Breaking the Fog" with Yang Weiyang and the others.
They danced it over and over, ensuring that the first public performance would be flawless.
The song's melody was catchy and instantly addictive.
It was indeed very suitable for them.
Not only in Asia, but even in Europe and America, which traditionally favored fast-paced electronic dance music, the response was enthusiastic.
A globally explosive song could not afford the slightest mistake.
After dancing, Lin Muci was breathless.
When she left the television station again.
The rain had become much heavier.
She saw a figure in the distance walking towards her in the rain. Her heart leaped, and almost instinctively, she walked over and reached out to hold up her umbrella to shield him.
Being his Muci-jie and his assistant, sheltering him from wind and rain had become an instinct etched into her soul.
She didn't even realize it herself as she proactively held an umbrella for him.
Ling Qianhe, however, pulled her by the waist.
He held her, nuzzled against her ear, and asked her softly.
"You're worried about me getting rained on?"
Caught red-handed, Lin Muci couldn't play coy this time.
Her heart rate quickened.
The television station was still brightly lit. Lin Muci, afraid of being seen or photographed, instinctively wanted to pull away from him, but Ling Qianhe's fingers held onto her body tightly.
"Afraid of being photographed?"
Lin Muci angrily whispered and cursed him.
"You might not care about your reputation, but I do! Your photos were just exposed, if you want to die, don't drag me down!"
Ling Qianhe smiled meaningfully.
"Alright. Then let's go somewhere safe."
Lin Muci didn't want to deal with him and wanted to turn to create a safe distance.
Ling Qianhe's palm slowly brushed across her face, and he sighed as if.
"If I really fall from being a top star because of scandals, become obscure."
"And lose the battle for family assets to my elder brother, becoming worthless."
"Would you still want me?"
Lin Muci knew this damned guy was definitely pretending to be pitiful!
"Whether you die or lose has nothing to do with me, let me go!"
Ling Qianhe sighed. "Such a heartless girl, but I happen to like heartless girls like you."
"Do you really not know? I could give you my life."
Lin Muci put on a cold face, pretending not to understand.
Ling Qianhe, however, still stared at her with burning eyes.
"I came to find you for something serious."
"Sister Lan asked me to bring you a video message. Since you think being intimate at the television station is dangerous and you're worried about being photographed, then come to my car to watch Sister Lan's video message."
"She has something to ask for our help."
"You won't refuse her request, will you?"
"I know you're generous to others. Your psychologist, your classmate, you're willing to help them."
"You're only heartless to me."
The system chuckled, "Host, Ling Qianhe is quite self-aware, hahaha."
Lin Muci glanced at him. Although she was very angry, if it was truly Sister Lan asking for her help, she hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Ling Qianhe brought Zhao Lan's video message.
"Fang Fei Juedai" was scheduled to be released on May 1st. One could imagine how much the plot would torment the audience. In the story, Qi Qingling lost the young marshal's child and eventually died in his arms.
He then carried her corpse for thousands of miles in the snow, and finally ended his own life with a bullet.
Ling Qianhe looked at Lin Muci.
"Sister Lan said to film a modern epilogue when we have time, as a comfort to the audience who were heartbroken by the plot."
Lin Muci was very confused.
"Why do we have to film it so soon? Can't we wait until after the movie is released?"
Ling Qianhe lowered his gaze heavily. "Don't you want to film it?"
"But you're supposed to join another production later, aren't you?"
He was surprisingly well-informed. He knew Lin Muci already had a new script.
However, Lin Muci wasn't too wary at this moment.
She just felt that since Ling Qianhe was so familiar with Sister Lan, it wasn't strange for him to know about her new script.
She nestled in Ling Qianhe's car and watched Sister Lan's video message.
After watching it, she took a deep, sharp breath.
"So..."
Lin Muci looked up at Ling Qianhe dazedly.
"We meet again in modern times—and then you regain your memory first, recognize me. And then you have a 'chasing wife and crematorium' storyline?"
Ling Qianhe looked at her and smiled.
"You're not satisfied with this plot?"
Lin Muci just felt that a scummy man like Ling Qianhe shouldn't get off too easily.
She lowered her head to study the plot, but Ling Qianhe's deep sigh could be heard beside her. She heard Ling Qianhe pitifully lamenting to her.
"Muci-jie, why won't you look at me?"
Lin Muci froze. She looked up at Ling Qianhe, about to tell him not to get his hopes up, but the man's lips had already curved into a smile, and he quickly kissed her on the corner of her mouth.
"So sweet."
Lin Muci glared at him ferociously.
But he didn't care at all. The smile on his lips spread, and he slowly pressed his fingers on her shoulders.
"Why did you hold an umbrella for me when you saw me getting rained on?"
"So you do care about me after all."
Lin Muci was about to retort that he shouldn't get too pleased, when she saw stray dogs on the roadside also getting umbrellas. Ling Qianhe had already changed the subject.
"How did you feel when the video of us kissing went viral?"
"Did you feel a flutter at that moment?"
"How I wish there was a machine that could let me see how much love you have for me..."
"That way, I wouldn't have to suffer so much, tossing and turning sleeplessly over your every reaction."
He sighed.
The system chuckled foolishly.
"He can't see your affection points, but Host, you can see his affection points!"
"We should torment him unilaterally, watch him cry, watch him go crazy for Host, let him get and lose, lose and get... torture him to death!"
Lin Muci looked at him as he lowered his head.
His eyes were bright and captivating, yet he had been so fierce when he had entered her before.
She had been tormented by him to the brink of death, yet also felt as if she were in a fog. This man had no idea what it meant to know when to stop.
But now he looked like a wet, fluffy puppy that had lost its home.
With watery eyes, he looked at her, and then Ling Qianhe cautiously leaned towards her lips and kissed her again, lightly.
Just a light touch.
As if afraid she would get angry.
"Don't... leave me, okay?"
"I won't force you anymore."
"This time, let's take it slow, okay?"
Lin Muci was actually a little soft-hearted.
But a voice in her heart was frantically warning her.
Don't trust Ling Qianhe's words—if she softened her heart for him again.
She would be swallowed whole by him again!
Once a lunatic, always a lunatic.
Stubborn, unrepentant!
If she believed Ling Qianhe, she was finished.
She bit her lip.
"Who said we're taking it slow?"
"Open the car door, I'm getting out. Ling Qianhe, don't think I can't do without you."
Ling Qianhe's voice was so pitiable.
"I know."
"You're always the one who leaves whenever you say so, who leaves without looking back. The one who can't leave you, the one who goes crazy for you, has always been me."
"Don't go."
He hugged her body, his chin resting on her shoulder.
"I swear, forever and ever, both my body and my heart belong only to you."
"So, please don't leave me, okay?"