After Dumping the Scumbag Top, I Was Relentlessly Chased by a Top-Tier Idol - Chapter 10

As the words fell, two pairs of eyes fixed on him simultaneously.

Cui Sula’s gaze held confusion, while Lin Yizhou sensed something brewing beneath the surface.

Shen Xu shrugged slightly, maintaining his nonchalant air. “Just a reminder: survival variety shows have things like rats, snakes, venomous insects… and then there are mountains, rivers, lakes, and oceans. The crew might not provide lights at night, and if the guests can’t start a fire, well… there are a lot of potential danger factors.”

Lin Yizhou looked up, his expression one of disbelief. Did Shen Xu know about his past? But he quickly dismissed the thought; the other man had listed a variety of scenarios—it was likely just a coincidence.

He hadn’t ignored the points Shen Xu raised. Rats, deep water, and darkness were his greatest fears, and he would almost certainly encounter them on this show.

However, he wanted to overcome them. Moreover, as Cui Sula had said, this was the best resource he could access given his current status. Setting aside all the complications, he had to participate, if only for the prize money.

Cui Sula glanced at Shen Xu with a knowing smile, then quickly regained her composure as she turned to Lin Yizhou. “Though this ‘little ancestor’ is usually flippant, he is serious and meticulous when it counts. The factors he mentioned are things you need to consider carefully.”

“I’ve considered it. I’m in,” Lin Yizhou said with certainty.

Ursula caught Shen Xu’s lack of reaction out of the corner of her eye and nodded. “Good. I’ll have Xiao Jiang contact you regarding the specifics.”

“Oh, right—Xiao Jiang. He’ll be your traveling assistant from now on. I’ll have him come in now so you can get acquainted.”

With that, Cui Sula made a quick call. About a minute later, there was a knock on the meeting room door.

“Come in,” Cui Sula commanded.

A young man entered, appearing to be in his early twenties. He had healthy, wheat-colored skin and an honest, sturdy look about him, with smooth, well-defined muscles on his exposed arms.

He looked less like an assistant and more like a bodyguard.

He walked up to Lin Yizhou, flashing a row of straight white teeth. “Hello, Teacher Lin. I am Jiang Yue.”

Lin Yizhou stood up and extended his hand. “Hello, I’m Lin Yizhou. I’ll be in your care.”

Flattered, Jiang Yue grabbed his hand, unable to hide his excitement. “No trouble at all! I will fulfill my duties and serve you well!”

Two coughing fits erupted simultaneously. “Ahem… cough…”

“Xiao Jiang, ‘serve’ isn’t quite the right word. ‘Take care of’ is more accurate,” Ursula said. Glancing at Shen Xu, she quickly pried their hands apart. She pulled Jiang Yue aside and handed him a set of car keys, seamlessly changing the subject. “This is the car the company assigned to Yizhou. Xiao Jiang, make sure you work hard for Teacher Lin.”

Leaning in, she pretended to whisper casually into Jiang Yue’s ear, “I’m sure after last night’s trending search, you know how special Teacher Lin is to your BOSS. You catch my drift?”

Jiang Yue looked up and met Shen Xu’s murderous, “smiling-tiger” gaze. His body shuddered, and he nodded vigorously as if preparing for a heroic sacrifice. “Understood! I will take excellent care of Teacher Lin!”

Ursula patted his shoulder with satisfaction. “Alright, we’re done here. Send Yizhou back home.”

Lin Yizhou declined. “There’s no need for today. You can pick me up when there are scheduled events.”

“Oh, one more thing I forgot to tell you,” Ursula added. “The company provides apartments for our artists. Of course, the artists have the right to choose; living there is entirely optional.”

“However, Yizhou, I know the area listed on your resume. For an artist, the security there is too poor. At this stage, I suggest you move into the company apartment. At least your personal safety will be more guaranteed. What do you think?”

She knew the truth: Lin Yizhou lived in an old neighborhood in an urban village. It wasn’t that the security was “poor”—there was no security at all. Anyone could walk in.

For some reason, Lin Yizhou was skeptical of the “company-assigned apartment” claim, making him want to refuse instinctively. But considering the stir his comeback had caused and the fact that fans had previously tracked down his home to threaten him, he accepted the offer after some thought. “Thank you.”

Ursula noticed a certain someone’s body suddenly relax, which, in turn, made her feel relieved. “Great. Xiao Jiang will help you move today. He knows where the apartment is.”

Remembering something, she turned to the silent Shen Xu, her eyes narrowing. “Ancestor, since you’re free anyway, why don’t you go help your idol move?”

Shen Xu was about to speak, but Lin Yizhou beat him to it. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Mr. Shen is too famous; if he’s recognized, it might cause trouble for him.”

“In that case,” Shen Xu sat up straight, propping his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his interlaced fingers. He stared at Lin Yizhou, his smiling peach-blossom eyes radiating an effortless charm. “I’ll listen to my idol.”

Avoiding his gaze, Lin Yizhou said calmly, “Then I’ll take my leave.”

Cui Sula: “Alright, contact me anytime if you need anything.”

Lin Yizhou nodded and headed for the door. After a few steps, he remembered something and stopped.

At the same time, Shen Xu called out to him, “Teacher Lin.”

He turned back and collided with Shen Xu’s fixed gaze.

Shen Xu remained composed, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “Did you have something to say to me?”

Lin Yizhou nodded. He took two photos and a pen out of his bag and placed them in front of him. Before he could speak, Shen Xu saw the person in the photos and said excitedly, “You like me too?”

His light blue eyes sparkled instantly as he looked at Lin Yizhou, resembling a puppy wagging its tail, waiting for its master’s approval.

“No,” Lin Yizhou explained flatly. “My sister seems to be a fan of yours. I was wondering if I could trouble you for an autograph.”

Based on Lin Yidan’s attitude last night, she was clearly furious. If he ignored her, she would make a scene with Gu Lan, making everything harder to handle. He had printed the photos after their call, thinking that even if he didn’t see Shen Xu, he could ask Ursula to pass them along.

“Oh, I see. Of course, no problem.” The smile on Shen Xu’s face dimmed slightly. He obediently signed his name, put the pen away, and handed them back.

“Thank you,” Lin Yizhou said, reaching for the photos, but Shen Xu didn’t let go.

Looking up, he saw Shen Xu staring directly at him, a faint smile on his lips. “Teacher Lin, since you’ve joined our company, I think it’s necessary for you to know our company motto.”

He paused, then spoke slowly, “If others leave me alone, we coexist in harmony; if others provoke me, I pay them back twofold.”

“Make sure to remember it.”

With that, his grip on the photos loosened.

“I’ve got it,” Lin Yizhou took the photos, gave Shen Xu a final look, and said, “Goodbye.”

Once the two had left the office, Ursula spun her chair to face Shen Xu, her eyes narrowing. “BOSS… it seems you know more about him than I thought. In that case, should I let you review his future assignments first?”

Shen Xu watched the figure behind the glass wall disappear completely before turning back to Ursula with a slight smile. “I don’t mind being kept in the loop, but I trust your arrangements. I won’t interfere; the final choice belongs to him.”

Just as he stepped out of the office, Lin Yizhou opened his phone and ordered a same-city express delivery. By the time he walked out of the building, the courier was already waiting at the entrance.

While coordinating with the courier, Jiang Yue peeked his head out and grinned. “Brother Zhou, I feel like your sister must be so happy to have a brother like you.”

To this, Lin Yizhou merely offered a faint smile and remained silent.

When the car reached the base of the old apartment building, Jiang Yue headed off to find a parking spot, so Lin Yizhou went upstairs ahead of him.

Unexpectedly, before he even reached his front door, he was blocked at the stairwell landing by two burly men dressed in black suits.

He assessed the situation quickly and tried to retreat inconspicuously, but his intentions were spotted. The two bodyguards moved swiftly to restrain him, flanking him and forcing him up the stairs.

Unsurprisingly, Lin Yizhou saw the impeccably dressed Song Chizheng waiting at his doorstep.

The bodyguards dropped Lin Yizhou in front of Song Chizheng but kept his arms pinned behind him. Unable to move, he could only watch as Song Chizheng walked up and placed a hand on his face.

“Get your filthy hand off me,” Lin Yizhou said coldly.

Song Chizheng chuckled, completely unfazed by the provocation. His cold fingertips traced the contours of Lin Yizhou’s face. “I was careless last time. I forgot you used to practice Sanda. I underestimated your small frame.”

As he spoke, he leaned close to Lin Yizhou’s ear, his voice a soft whisper that felt like the flick of a snake’s tongue. His words made Lin Yizhou’s blood run cold.

“Based on what I know of you, even if someone is chasing you now, you probably haven’t been ‘eaten’ yet, right?”

“These past few days, your face keeps popping up in my head whenever I’m having sex with Sisi. The more I think about it, the more I feel I’ve shortchanged myself. I chased you for a year and we were together for two, yet I never got to taste you.”

He hissed softly, “Tell you what, sleep with me once—we’ll try every position—and I promise I’ll never show my face in front of you again. How about it?”

“I know you still like me. You must be happy, right? I turned a blind eye to all your old tricks, but now I’ve come to your door personally.”

Lin Yizhou’s hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides. He was so angry he laughed, lifting his eyelids to look at the man with eyes full of ice and disdain. “Song Chizheng, after being together so long, how did I never realize you were this narcissistic? Do you actually think I can’t live without you?”

“Or do you really think I’m so stupid that I didn’t know you were out partying every night? Then again, if I knew all that, why would I have stayed by your side to please you?”

A sneer curled on his lips. “I’ve signed with EverStar now. Do you really think I still give a damn about you?”

“Have I made myself clear enough?”

Song Chizheng listened intently, his mouth twitching occasionally. When Lin Yizhou finished, he finally burst into laughter.

“Hahahahahaha…”

It was as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. His laughter was manic, echoing through the empty corridor.

Lin Yizhou watched him double over with laughter before he suddenly straightened up and kicked the apartment door.

With a loud bang, the old door was forced open, swinging back and hitting the wall with a violent crash.

Song Chizheng turned around, grinning. “Oh, my poor Zhouzhou. The way you try so hard to salvage a bit of dignity is truly hilarious.”

“I know what you mean. Aren’t you just upset that the person I was partying with every night wasn’t you? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make sure you enjoy yourself today.”

He leaned into his ear, his voice turning vicious. “One more thing. I think you know very well that compared to EverStar, the Song Corporation is an elephant’s leg to an ant. Whether I squash it or crush it is just a matter of a single word from me.”

The smile on his face froze instantly. “Take him inside and tie him to the bed.”

The two bodyguards obeyed without a word, dragging Lin Yizhou toward the room.

“Let go of me! Song Chizheng, you lunatic!” Lin Yizhou struggled to break free, but he was like an ant trying to shake a giant tree; his struggles didn’t loosen the bodyguards’ grip in the slightest.

“Wait a minute!”

A deep, powerful voice rang out from behind. Lin Yizhou looked back to see Jiang Yue, two floral-patterned woven bags slung over his shoulders. He looked like a comical young man returning to his village from a fair, strolling casually out of the stairwell.

Seeing everyone’s eyes on him, Jiang Yue immediately hunched his shoulders slightly and crossed his hands in front of his chest, a flattering smile on his face. “Big brothers, can we not do this? I’m having a great day today; I really don’t want to get violent.”

Song Chizheng scoffed with contempt. He yanked Lin Yizhou in front of him and ordered, “You two, deal with him first.”

As the two bodyguards stretched their limbs and walked toward him, Jiang Yue stood up straight. The smile vanished from his face as he set the woven bags aside. “Tsk. I really was in a good mood today. Such a shame.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he lunged forward. In less than a minute, both bodyguards were lying on the ground, unable to move.

“So, as for this… uncle.” Jiang Yue turned to face the remaining two, his eyes fixed on Song Chizheng with a menacing glare. “Are you going to let go of Brother Zhou yourself, or am I going to kick you away?”

Fury burned in Song Chizheng’s eyes, but he didn’t dare move. He could only vent his rage on the bodyguards, kicking them as they lay there. “Get up, you useless trash.”

When he reached the stairwell, Song Chizheng stopped and looked back at Lin Yizhou. The anger in his eyes had turned into something sinister. “We aren’t finished yet,” he said in a chilling tone.

Once they had left, the fierce expression on Jiang Yue’s face vanished instantly, switching back to “little sheep” mode. He picked up the woven bags and ran to Lin Yizhou. “Brother Zhou, are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

He was so frantic he didn’t know where to put his hands, circling Lin Yizhou like an ant on a hot griddle.

Lin Yizhou grabbed his wrist to stop the pacing. He offered a gentle smile. “I’m fine. What about you? Are you hurt?”

Seeing Jiang Yue’s face slump into a dejected look, Lin Yizhou’s expression changed immediately. Thinking he was injured somewhere, he reached out to support his shoulders to check him over.

“I’m fine. I could take ten more losers like those two without a scratch.” Jiang Yue brushed his hands away and forced a smile through teary eyes. “I just wanted to say… you really are a good person, just like Old… Teacher Shen.”

Hearing he was okay, Lin Yizhou breathed a sigh of relief. He played along. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, Teacher Shen was the first person to care about me, and you’re the second,” Jiang Yue said emotionally. “I used to be an underground bare-knuckle fighter. Once, I was beaten half to death and dumped on the street. Teacher Shen picked me up, gave me a stable job, and even found someone to teach me. He’s truly a wonderful person.”

Lin Yizhou nodded slightly but said nothing.

So far, Shen Xu did seem like a good person, but he didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

The sleeves that were never removed, the cartoon band-aid on his neck, the reaction to smiling while cutting his finger…

There were too many mysteries surrounding that man.

“You’re a wonderful person too!” Jiang Yue swung the floral woven bags back and forth to cheer him up. “Don’t let those pieces of trash and social pollutants ruin your mood. It’s not worth it.”

Lin Yizhou snapped back to reality. Watching the comical movement, he let out a light laugh. “Yeah. Let’s go pack.”

He just wanted to move out as quickly as possible. He was lucky Jiang Yue had come back with him today; otherwise, he couldn’t imagine what would have happened…

Jiang Yue nodded and followed him. Lin Yizhou suddenly remembered something and turned around to instruct him, “Don’t tell Sister Ursula or the others about what happened today.”

“Why?” Jiang Yue asked innocently.

“They’re busy. Let’s not add to their troubles,” Lin Yizhou lied casually.

“Okay, I definitely won’t say a word,” Jiang Yue promised solemnly.

However, the moment they stepped inside, Jiang Yue used the excuse of going to the bathroom to report everything that had happened to Shen Xu, word for word.

Shen Xu replied instantly: [Take good care of him. I’ll handle the rest.]

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