The Top Star Is a Hopeless Romantic - Chapter 1

Dusk was falling over the Jincun Junlin Building.

The private elevator descended from the forty-fifth floor. Owing to the relationship between Lu Ke and Li Jinglin, StarTide Entertainment occupied ten whole floors in this central CBD skyscraper, even setting aside two dedicated elevators exclusively for its artists.

Lin Yu stood facing the floor-to-ceiling glass, taking in the vast river view, yet his gaze remained locked on the reflection in the mirrored panel. He gave his choker a slight tug, ran a hand through his hair, and the corners of his lips curled up; he was clearly quite satisfied with his own appearance.

Then again, anyone blessed with his looks could hardly help being a little vain: standing at 183 centimeters with lean, perfectly toned muscles; sharp, heroic eyebrows framing deep-set contours; a pair of fox-like eyes with upturned outer corners, where a roll of his chestnut-brown pupils instantly radiated cleverness and vitality; a high-bridged nose; and crisp, clean lines to his thin lips. He wasn’t just handsome; he possessed an extraordinarily distinctive face.

In an entertainment industry overflowing with attractive men and women, a face that could make people “remember you at a single glance” was exceptionally precious.

Having just finished dance practice, heat was still rising from his body. His oversized T-shirt was loosely knotted at the waist, exposing a section of his lean, trim midsection, where the faint outline of his abs peeked through even in a relaxed stance.

Since there were no outsiders in the elevator, his assistant, Ding Song, chuckled softly: “Brother Yu, you’re getting handsomer by the day.” He tiptoed closer to Lin Yu’s ear and whispered in a low voice, “I heard Sister Jiang reported to President Lu a few times, trying to secure the cover of this year’s New Year Special for you…”

StarTide Entertainment was one of the “Big Three” in Jincun. Every year-end, it released an exclusive magazine to showcase the charm and talent of its signed artists in-depth.

Jiang Shiyue was the manager for NovaFlare (NF). As a top-tier manager, she held significant clout within the company. Her other identity was his ex-girlfriend. Though they had broken up, they hadn’t cut ties, and she had always favored him.

Lin Yu rolled his eyes at Ding Song. “Don’t spread rumors about things that haven’t been settled.” He added, “Even if it is settled, keep your mouth shut. Who knows if a bigger fish might jump out of nowhere and snatch it away.”

This sort of thing was common in their circle. Everyone had a backer behind them, each bigger than the last. StarTide Entertainment’s New Year Special was different from ordinary fashion magazines; it didn’t care about absolute status, only about who was hot and generating explosive topics that year. It was a battleground where everyone used their own tricks to shine.

Although Lin Yu was the group leader, NF’s activities hadn’t been very frequent this year, and their new album sales were only lukewarm, making the cover grab a bit of a long shot. Nevertheless, he had to show his appreciation for the gesture. Taking his phone out of his pocket, his slender fingers rapidly tapped out an emotionally expressive thank-you text message and sent it to his ex-girlfriend.

Right after he hit send, the phone chimed with a “ding,” and a red notification dot popped up at the top of his pinned chats, containing only two words: “Canceled.”

The reply wasn’t from Jiang Shiyue, but from Su Xi. The two of them had originally agreed to get a drink tonight.

Lin Yu tsked and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

Ding Song, sharp-eyed as ever, was well aware of the interactions between Lin Yu and Vice President Su of Junlin. Spotting the message, he let out an awkward laugh: “Since Sister Su is busy… should we head back to the dance studio to practice a bit more?”

Lin Yu raised his hand and flicked him sharply on the forehead. “Back my ass! I’m practically ready to throw up from practicing!” He muttered under his breath, “I’d rather go home and play a couple of gaming matches instead. It’s been forever since I logged on.”

Ding Song sighed, unable to say much else. Pushing any further would only annoy him.

He wasn’t Lin Yu’s exclusive assistant, but he had been assigned to NF ever since he joined the company. Later on, he managed many newcomers as well, often poking fun at himself for being a brick, to be moved wherever he was needed.

Yet out of all the artists, Lin Yu was his favorite to work with. For no other reason than this: although this guy liked to jump around and cause a stir, he was genuinely righteous. At the very least, when trouble arose, he wouldn’t make his assistant take the fall. Last time, when he arrived half an hour late for a variety show recording, a senior artist on the same show posted a message dissing the lateness. There were several newcomers in that batch, and the senior didn’t name anyone directly, but Lin Yu posted an apology right under that Weibo post using his personal account. He didn’t claim there was a traffic jam, nor did he say his assistant forgot to wake him, even though those were objective facts. He simply admitted to oversleeping, which prompted the senior to drop the matter, delete the post, and even follow him back.

He had good looks and an endearing personality, yet he remained only moderately famous. In Ding Song’s eyes, aside from luck, this guy was also a bit lazy. In terms of talent, whether in dance or vocals, Lin Yu was a standout not just in NF, but across the entirety of StarTide Entertainment. Yet all day long, he seemed terrified of overworking himself; once he mastered a dance or a song, don’t even think about getting him to put in a single extra bit of effort.

“Ding, ”

The elevator stopped at the fortieth floor. The doors slid open, and two figures stepped inside, one behind the other.

Ding Song immediately put on a smiling face to greet them: “Teacher Hou, Teacher Xu.”

Lin Yu turned around, his gaze sweeping past the slightly shorter side profile and landing on the taller man. “Hello, Teachers. What a coincidence, Brother Chao? Oh, got a new hairstyle?”

Hou Chao’s signature medium-length chestnut-gold hair had been cut short and dyed ash brown. He was two centimeters taller than Lin Yu, and his recent muscle gains were noticeable, making his companion beside him look somewhat small and delicate by comparison.

“Getting a haircut and still getting chewed out for not submitting an approval beforehand, isn’t that ridiculous?!” Hou Chao had a look of indignation, but he still had to wait for the elevator doors to close before he dared to complain.

It isn’t ridiculous at all! Changing your look without permission during a drama’s promotional period, who else would they scold if not you? Lin Yu thought to himself, but flattering words came out of his mouth: “It doesn’t matter, Brother Chao can rock any hairstyle.” Coming from his mouth, this kind of “sweet talk” didn’t sound cheesy in the slightest; paired with a sincere expression, it was very comforting to hear.

Hou Chao sized him up. “Just finished practicing? I haven’t moved a muscle in ages.” Saying that, he draped an arm over Lin Yu’s shoulder. “Everyone says you’re the best dancer; teach me some moves later.”

Lin Yu smoothly slipped out from under his arm without leaving a trace. “How would I dare display my meager skills before an expert? Everyone knows Brother Chao is a natural-born idol.” He added, “Your presence is so imposing; no wonder you play the overbearing CEO so well.”

In the past two years, the official authorities had relaxed restrictions on male-led dual-protagonist dramas. Hou Chao and Xu Yiqing, standing beside him, had co-starred in a drama titled This Overbearing Love. He had bulked up as required by the role, carrying the demeanor from the show with him, which indeed gave him an imposing air.

Ding Song chimed in from the side to join the fun: “A few of my friends who watched it said Domineering Love is great, tight plot, plenty of tension. You two teachers might even officially announce your CP, and the ‘Best Couple’ at the end of the year is definitely a sure thing.”

An official CP, an A-list screen couple, not only had strict viewership rating requirements for their starring drama, but their popularity on the hot search lists also had to continually climb. Very few became an official CP off just a single show. Ding Song’s words were intended as a compliment, but somehow it offended Hou Chao. Hou Chao curled his lip, let out a cold snort, and didn’t pick up the conversation.

Instead, the figure standing in the corner of the elevator raised his head and said in a low voice, “Thank you.”

Ding Song froze for a moment. “You’re too polite, Teacher Xu.”

Lin Yu’s gaze flicked past Xu Yiqing, turned to glare at Ding Song, and then looked out the window. Wild winds were blowing across the river surface, and a heavy downpour was imminent.

The elevator quickly reached the parking garage. The moment the doors opened, several paparazzi carrying cameras rushed forward. In theory, squatting at the workplace was forbidden, but for the sake of traffic, security had always turned a blind eye, managing things according to the company’s instructions.

Hou Chao and Xu Yiqing’s new drama was currently airing, and publicity required hype. As the flashes burst frantically, Hou Chao completely shed his indifferent attitude, reaching out to sling an arm around Xu Yiqing. The two pressed close together, putting on an act of intimate best friends.

Ding Song tugged at Lin Yu’s sleeve and whispered, “Should we go… grab a bit of the spotlight too?” Hou Chao and Xu Yiqing’s new drama was receiving enthusiastic feedback, attracting plenty of traditional and self-media outlets. Since they were from the same company, riding on the traffic wasn’t a big deal.

“Grab my ass!” Lin Yu glanced at the two put-on-a-show figures holding each other, bit his lip, stooped down, and walked briskly toward his second-hand BMW GT. A camera chased him for two steps, but seeing him moving as if he had wind under his feet and clearly refusing to provide material, it had no choice but to turn back to shoot the couple “displaying affection.”

Once inside the car, Ding Song was still stomping his feet: “Brother Yu, you haven’t completed your publicity KPI for this month yet. Wasn’t that the perfect…”

“Don’t worry, would the company really kick me out over a little thing like this?” Lin Yu had a nonchalant expression. He was only twenty-four, but he had been lingering in the circle for five years, a seasoned veteran. He knew clear as day which tasks were mandatory and which ones he could just slapdash through.

Aside from sighing, Ding Song could only sigh. He looked up at the sky: “How about… you give me a ride? It’s not like you have anything to do anyway.” He wouldn’t dare make this request in front of other artists, but he dared to do it with Lin Yu. This guy didn’t like putting on airs, nor did he have much self-awareness about being a star. He often ran around everywhere without even wearing a mask, thanks to not being terribly famous.

“Mm.” Lin Yu turned the steering wheel and drove out of the underground garage. The wild wind whipped raindrops against the windshield; early autumn rain in Jincun always came without warning. He parked the car near the side entrance of the building, in no rush to leave.

“Are you still waiting for someone?” Ding Song asked.

Lin Yu rolled his eyes: “I danced for half a day, am I not allowed to be tired? I’m resting a bit.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to go home and lie down…”

“You sure talk a lot!” He reached into the armrest box, pulled out a tangerine peel candy, and tossed it onto Ding Song’s lap. Breath fresheners and probiotics were common in an artist’s car, but dried tangerine candy was rare.

“This candy is way too sour…” Ding Song peeled open the wrapper, stuffed it into his mouth, wrinkled his nose from the sourness, and added, “Brother Yu, your teeth must be really strong.”

Lin Yu didn’t reply, his gaze shifting toward the rearview mirror.

A moment later, Hou Chao’s Mercedes drove out. The driver was at the wheel, and two faint figures were visible in the back seat, clearly sitting very close despite the privacy tint.

“Those two teachers really have it hard, still having to put on a show after off-duty hours.” Ding Song leaned forward, watching the receding headlights. “Though it’s rare for Teacher Hou to give Teacher Xu a ride. I heard they usually go their separate ways…”

“What else did you hear?” Lin Yu waited until the car was far ahead before pressing the accelerator unhurriedly, merging into the sea of lights and traffic.

“Teacher Xu finally got famous, so he ought to buy a car soon, right? Sending that John of his is usually the most unreliable, though he has a lot of people to pick up and drop off,” Ding Song leaned back in the passenger seat, casually chatting about the gossip he’d overheard. “I heard that once after work, Teacher Xu couldn’t catch a taxi and took the subway back. Someone snapped a photo and posted it online, saying that while being grounded is great, it ultimately looked a bit shabby.”

Lin Yu frowned. “What’s the point of buying a car? He doesn’t even know how to drive.”

“Teacher Xu doesn’t know how to drive? That’s impossible,” Ding Song discovered something even more astonishing. “Brother Yu, how do you know?”

Lin Yu remained calm and unhurried. “You’re the only one with sharp ears? I forgot who I heard it from.” He casually switched on the audio system; the radio happened to be playing the theme song of Domineering Love.

“He really hit it big,” Ding Song remarked emotionally. “The fans rented dozens of massive screens; you can see him wherever you go.”

Lin Yu hummed along with the tune for two lines: “How many years has he been knocking around in this circle? It was about time he got famous.”

“Still, I think Teacher Xu is pretty miserable,” Ding Song blurted out of nowhere. Although he joined the company later than Lin Yu, he started from the bottom doing odd jobs as an assistant, had a broad network among the lower ranks, and was the most well-informed.

“His Instagram gained hundreds of thousands of followers; how is he miserable?” Lin Yu glanced at him.

“Brother Yu, can’t you tell? Brother Chao doesn’t want to sell the CP narrative with him at all. Just now when I mentioned officially announcing the CP, he wasn’t happy about it.” Ding Song grew energized. “And did you watch that interview last time? The host asked them to pose intimately, and Teacher Xu reached his hand out, but Brother Chao completely ignored him. It made the whole scene terribly awkward, and the production team wasn’t decent either; they actually edited it and broadcast it! Sigh, even a big beauty has to suffer the bitterness of love.”

Lin Yu frowned: “What love?! They are just partners, partner, do you understand? Hou Chao wants to have his cake and eat it too! Taking on a BL drama yet refusing to cooperate with fanservice, he’s so damn unprofessional!” Seeing the car ahead cut in line, he slammed his hand against the steering wheel in frustration: “Do you even know how to drive?!”

Ding Song didn’t understand his sudden outburst of anger and couldn’t help secretly rolling his eyes: As if you’re so professional yourself. But he only dared to think it; he wouldn’t say it out loud. “Teacher Xu really is gorgeous!” He turned his head and started fangirling. “Even the overhead lights in the elevator couldn’t hide his beauty. Amy said Teacher Xu’s skin is better than Sister Sandy’s; forget stubble roots, he doesn’t even have blackheads or visible pores! Mm, Teacher Xu must have done follicle management; I’ll find an opportunity to ask him which clinic he went to…”

Xu Yiqing was a man whom describing as “gorgeous” didn’t feel out of place at all; that face of his was striking enough to take people’s breath away even in the entertainment industry. It was just a pity that his height was slightly on the shorter side, officially listed at 178 cm, though 175 cm at most. Furthermore, the route his previous agency planned for him was flawed; despite having a face like that, they insisted on making him play tough martial-arts guys. It was only after signing with StarTide and filming Domineering Love that he gradually hit his stride.

For a universally acknowledged beauty, Lin Yu just had to sing a different tune: “Is there any need to exaggerate like that? He’s just… average.”

“Looking like that is considered average?” Ding Song let out a shocked cry.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To me, he just seems pretty average.” Lin Yu’s temper came fast and went just as quickly. Right now, holding the steering wheel with one hand and resting his chin in the other, he wore an utterly nonchalant expression.

Ding Song refused to accept it: “You’ve got straight-man aesthetics! Which girl in our company isn’t obsessed with him? Lucy from the wardrobe department said the clothes he changes out of always smell fragrant, and he doesn’t throw them around messily either. Even the script supervisors say that purely in terms of looks, Brother Chao isn’t worthy of him…”

“How long have you been in this industry? Haven’t you seen enough handsome men and pretty women?” Lin Yu interrupted him mockingly, a faint, lingering smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Some artists disliked their assistants praising others’ looks, but Lin Yu wasn’t that type of person. Ding Song talked back casually, “Either way, I think Teacher Xu is really good-looking. Everyone’s happy for him that he hit it big this time. But then again,” he knitted his brows, “Teacher Xu is great in every way, except…”

“Except what?”

“He’s a bit old.” Ding Song let out a sigh. “He’s already thirty-three; his prime years have passed. Why does Brother Chao dislike him? Isn’t it precisely because of this? Brother Chao is only two years older than you, Brother Yu…”

“Old? How is he old? He indeed looks average, but calling him old might not be accurate! Spouting nonsense all day long!” Lin Yu shot him a cross look, then stepped sharply on the brake, pulling up at the subway entrance. “Get out, get out, hurry up! Take the subway back yourself; I still have things to do!”

Driven out of the car, Ding Song was still in a daze. This little devil’s temper recently was truly unpredictable, good one moment and foul the next. He stomped his feet, muttered a few words toward the receding taillights, and turned to walk into the subway station.