The Protagonist in This Bad Ending (BE) Story Is Reborn [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 2

The makeup artist finished with the eyeshadow palette and let out a long breath of relief. She looked into the mirror, her eyes meeting the young man’s reflection, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. No wonder the boss had personally requested him; his looks were truly exceptional. Just meeting his gaze in the mirror made her heart skip a beat.

What else is missing? She studied the suit he was wearing, and a sudden spark of inspiration hit her.

Right, the clothes. The boss had specifically requested that Shang Linyi wear the outfit they had prepared.

Looking a bit apologetic and slightly awkward, she weighed her words carefully. “Mr. Shang, per the organizer’s request, you need to change into the outfit they’ve provided.”

In this line of work, some performers came willingly, while others were forced. Usually, those who were coerced tended to take their frustration out on the makeup artist, and asking them to change clothes was a surefire way to get cursed out.

However, she had learned through long experience that if you smiled, looked helpless, and acted like a fellow victim of the “working class” struggle, people rarely directed their anger at you.

Shang Linyi glanced down at the clothes he was wearing.

He had gone through this exact sequence in his past life. Back then, he had felt nothing but stifled and humiliated. But back then, he was doing it for survival and had to bow his head. Now, things were different; he had something else driving him.

“Alright,” Shang Linyi said simply.

The makeup artist handed the box (which was personally selected by the boss) to him with both hands. “These are the clothes prepared by the organizers,” she said politely.

Shang Linyi took them and said softly, “Thank you for your hard work.”

The artist shook her head frantically. “No trouble at all, it’s just my job!”

She seemed terrified that he might fly into a rage once he saw the contents, so she hurried out and shut the door before he could even open the box.

Shang Linyi opened the lid. Just like in his previous life, it contained a shirt specifically designed to look “tattered.”

99, who had hidden back inside Shang Linyi when Wei Cheng appeared, manifested again as a white cat now that they were alone. It stood on the vanity, its blue eyes scanning the garment up and down.

Once it realized what it was looking at, the system’s fury boiled over. Bringing Shang Linyi here to perform was humiliating enough, but making him go on stage in this? Who were they trying to bully!

The cat waved its paws, its fur bristling with rage. “What kind of trashy clothes are these?”

Shang Linyi casually draped the shirt over a chair.

The more 99 looked at it, the angrier it got. “Host, let’s just go home,” it suggested. This was too much of an insult.

Shang Linyi let out a light chuckle.

99’s temper cooled slightly at the sound. No wonder its colleagues told it to pick a handsome host; otherwise, you’d be dying of anger only to look at an ugly face, which was a fate worse than never entering reincarnation.

“Close your eyes,” Shang Linyi said composedly.

99 didn’t catch on immediately. Why did it need to close its eyes?

As Shang Linyi turned his head, 99 was still blinking its big blue eyes. Shang Linyi gave a soft, internal “tsk,” then tossed his discarded suit jacket over 99, completely covering the cat.

He then grabbed the shirt from the edge of the chair.

By the time 99 managed to wiggle its way out from under the jacket, Shang Linyi had already finished changing.

The system, which had been gearing up for a small tantrum, now stared with eyes wider than saucers. Holy cat! This… who picked these clothes?! This Great King 99 shall reward them handsomely!!!

Shang Linyi buttoned the shirt and tucked the hem into his trousers. The creamy-white fabric was fashioned into a shirt style, but the “tears” were masterfully placed. They weren’t completely open; thin threads held the gaps together, creating a look that was dripping with temptation.

After tidying himself up, Shang Linyi’s long fingers curled slightly as he gave 99 a light tap on the head. “Go back. I’m going on stage.”

“Oh, okay.”

99 turned into a wisp of smoke and dived back into Shang Linyi’s body. As a system with excellent aesthetic taste, it had noticed the exposed areas around the collarbone. It cleverly settled right there, appearing on his skin as a small, cartoonish cat tattoo.

Shang Linyi took one last look at himself in the mirror and walked out with effortless composure.

******

“Rumble—”

The ground began to vibrate, and the crowd grew restless. Everyone instinctively turned their attention toward the stage.

The floor panels began to descend, leaving five pitch-black gaps that gave the illusion of a bottomless abyss.

Half a minute later, the vibration returned as the lifts began to rise.

First came the four rectangular sections, slowly bringing up four cages. Finally, the central section carrying the piano and seat emerged.

Before the full picture was revealed, the lights in the entire hall were cut, plunging the room into absolute darkness.

Yan Chen frowned as he looked down. A minute later, the spotlight over the piano flickered to life. The faint glow revealed the edges of the central stage, where a figure stood partially submerged in the shadows. The lines of his body, caught in the light, were breathtakingly beautiful.

Even from just a silhouette, he gave off the impression of someone of the highest caliber.

Yan Chen could clearly sense the undisguised gazes of desire and predatory intent coming from the crowd, all directed at the man below. If one listened closely, there was even the sound of people swallowing hard. Yan Chen suspected that if it weren’t for the railings, this crowd would have devoured the “white rabbit” below whole.

Five seconds later, the full house lights flared up.

The scene below was laid bare for all to see.

There were four cages, but they weren’t ordinary iron enclosures. The one to the east was composed of branches, vines, and flowers. The others consisted of red silk hangings, one made of solid gold, and one crafted from shards of glass.

Aside from the golden cage, each held a bed, and the number of people inside varied.

Yan Chen only gave them a fleeting glance before fixing his eyes on the central piano.

The area for the piano had clearly been specially designed; it sat significantly higher than the four cages.

Shang Linyi stood before the piano. When Yin She saw him, he nodded in satisfaction.

Dressed in his tattered, cream-colored shirt, Shang Linyi stood at the center. Under the spotlight, with his makeup and that outfit, he looked like a deity who had fallen into the mire.

Since he was below, Shang Linyi didn’t look up. He raised his right hand, placed it over his heart, and gave a slight, elegant bow; a perfectly gentlemanly gesture.

Ignoring the surroundings, one would have thought this was an international music festival.

Before Shang Linyi had even begun, the people in the cages had already started their “performances,” letting out a series of unspeakable sounds.

Shang Linyi nonchalantly pulled the hem of his shirt out from his black suit trousers. To him, the only benefit of this tattered garment was how easily it tore.

He held the fabric in place with one hand and gave a sharp tug with the other.

The sound of the fabric ripping was incredibly distinct, like the start of an erotic tug-of-war.

That single movement alone made the atmosphere feel intensely sexual.

The temperature in the room seemed to skyrocket. Just witnessing the contrast, some guests couldn’t help but have a physical reaction. This wasn’t a “proper” party to begin with; most of those who attended had brought their lovers, and some of those lovers were already kneeling between their legs.

Yin She watched his movements. His initial frown shifted into indifference. He took a sip of his wine, his gaze fixated on the stage with obsession. As long as Shang Linyi agreed to be here, Yin She was willing to turn a blind eye to whatever else he did.

Sitting in his chair, Wei Cheng was stunned. He knew Shang Linyi was slightly better-looking than him, but he thought the gap was small. After watching Shang Linyi’s maneuvers, he grumbled internally: Damn, I didn’t know he was like this.

Shang Linyi used the strip of fabric he had torn from his shirt to cover his eyes, tying it behind his head.

With that finished, he let out a faint smile, turned around, and sat at the piano with practiced ease.

Once a person’s eyes are covered, their other senses become hyper-aware, especially their hearing. He could clearly hear the movement around him.

The noises from the balcony, and the various sounds from the floor.

Shang Linyi was already exceptionally handsome, but with his eyes blindfolded, he became… indescribable. He was simply magnetic. The guests began to whisper among themselves.

Yin She stared at Shang Linyi with an undisguised look of “I will have him.”

Yan Chen crossed his arms and watched everything with a cold, detached eye.

The layout was designed to give the audience the clearest possible view, allowing them to look down and see everything. Nothing that happened on the floor could escape the eyes of those above.

Shang Linyi sat as poised as a noble white dove. The cream shirt gave him a touch of gentleness, but the torn sections created a sharp contradiction to that softness.

He usually gave off a cold aura. With his eyes covered, the curve of his nose and the smooth lines of his profile, combined with his natural air of frigid indifference, made him look incredibly conflicted—and yet, that was exactly what made him so alluring.

Shang Linyi lightly rolled up his sleeves, revealing the elegant lines of his wrists. He was naturally fair-skinned, but under the harsh white spotlights, he looked almost translucently pale.

His long, well-defined fingers settled onto the keys.

The music began to flow from his fingertips like a babbling brook, managing to soothe some of the restless energy in the room.

But as the night progressed and the “activities” in the cages intensified, the piano music grew increasingly urgent. It felt as though it wanted to pierce through the very heavens.

This went on for three full hours.

When the music finally stopped, Shang Linyi pulled off the blindfold. He stood up and, as if guided by some mysterious intuition, looked toward the area where Yan Chen was sitting.

Unfortunately, from his position below, he had to look up to see Yan Chen. Shang Linyi hated that feeling. In many ways, he and Yan Chen were similar; they both preferred to stand on the heights.

He directed his gaze toward the direction of Yan Chen’s seat.

Yan Chen’s eyes were lowered, his heart stirred by something he couldn’t name. When he looked up again, he saw Yin She had already stood up and left his seat. Yan Chen’s expression turned subtle, a flash of irritation surfacing.

As the lift slowly descended, Shang Linyi wrapped the cloth around his wrist. His eyes held a hint of wild rebellion, and his entire being radiated a vibrant, untamed energy.

A performance of this nature had been forcibly turned by Shang Linyi into a solo concert that belonged only to him.

Shang Linyi walked back to the dressing room. The makeup artist’s work for the day was done, and she had already left, leaving him alone. He packed his own clothes into a bag. The shirt he was wearing was already ruined, and since they had given it to him, he didn’t plan on changing out of it. He threw his suit jacket on over it, but he couldn’t leave just yet.

The most important part of the night was still to come.

And that was—

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door, one that managed to sound surprisingly polite. Shang Linyi arched an eyebrow.

“Come in.”

Yin She opened the door and walked in, locking it behind him.

Seeing the visitor, Shang Linyi wasn’t surprised at all. If Yin She was here, then the “main event” was about to begin.

With that thought, he leaned back against the edge of the vanity, propping himself up with his hands. He stood tall and lean, his expression languid as he studied the man who had entered.

The more Yin She looked at him, the more his heart itched. He couldn’t wait to get closer.

Seeing Shang Linyi at such a short distance, Yin She’s satisfaction grew. Shang Linyi’s looks were exactly his type. Features like a painting, phoenix eyes with corners that tilted up slightly like peach blossoms in spring. It was breathtaking. When he lowered his gaze, it was enough to make one’s heart race; when he looked at you and smiled, it was even more dangerous, a blatant and clear temptation.

Yin She’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked at him as if he were a delicious feast. Only a face like this was worthy of his favor.

He, Yin She, would only allow someone like this to be on top of him.

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