The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 23

Mu Yunji’s pupils constricted upon hearing those words. The disdain and mockery on his face froze instantly, as if a thorn were stuck in his throat, leaving him unable to advance or retreat.

He had indeed known very early on about Lin Zhiyu’s plan to drug the drink. When he swapped that glass for Jiang Yubai’s, he had intended to watch Lin Zhiyu make a fool of himself. He had assumed that Mu Sui would simply throw Lin Zhiyu out of the room in a rage or make him suffer elsewhere. He only wanted him to understand the meaning of reaping what one sows.

But he never expected that when his father, burning with indignation, led him and his grandfather to push open the door, Mu Sui would be sitting in his wheelchair without a trace of resistance. He had looked over with a calm gaze, as if he had deliberately intended for them to see the scene before them.

Mu Yunji wanted to argue and explain, but seeing Mu Sui’s cold face, he could not stop himself from thinking that there was no point in saying anything to him. He decided to let Mu Sui think whatever he wanted.

“What, are you not just as stupid for being used by both sides?” Mu Yunji retorted sharply.

Mu Sui was not provoked by the remark. He leaned nonchalantly against the armrest of his wheelchair, his tone indifferent and steady. “I actually find it quite interesting,” he said. “It is as if a foreign fish has suddenly intruded into a pool of stagnant water. I am curious to see how much of a storm he can stir up.”

His fingers slowly stroked the armrest. As if thinking of something pleasant, the corners of his mouth curved upward into a faint, unreadable smile. It was this very look that made Mu Yunji’s skin crawl. He even felt that Mu Sui had been physically disabled for so long that his mind had become disabled as well.

Mu Yunji shuddered, let out a cold “Heh,” and was about to offer a few more sarcastic remarks when he heard a knock at the door from a waiter. As the spokesperson for Aurora, he still had to give a speech at the gala.

Mu Sui indifferently manipulated his wheelchair to turn his back, as if looking at his brother for one more second was a waste of time. Mu Yunji glanced back at him, let out a deliberate cold snort, muttered for him to keep letting Lin Zhiyu lie to him, and swept out of the room.

Meanwhile, in the grand ballroom, the magnificent crystal chandeliers cast a starlit glow, and the graceful sounds of string music echoed through the hall. Guests gathered in small groups, holding champagne or red wine while conversing in low tones; polite smiles rested perfectly on their faces.

While the Aurora Tenth Anniversary red carpet was public, the subsequent gala was very private, with not a single member of the media in sight.

The moment Lin Zhiyu entered the hall, he felt many gazes shift toward him. He feigned both blindness and ignorance as he moved through the crowd, nodding to those who greeted him even though he could not remember a single face. Having finally snagged a drink, he immediately retreated to a secluded corner, skillfully isolating himself behind the transparent barrier of the bustling party.

Messages popped up continuously on his phone as Chen Chen updated him in real time on the trending discussions regarding his red carpet appearance.

[Chen Chen]: Brother Lin, you are literally the talk of the internet right now! You are miles ahead of the second place! You are finally going to make it big!

[Chen Chen]: Everyone is guessing where your clothes came from. Someone already identified the brand. My god, Brother Lin, do you have such a wealthy friend? Is it that person again?

[Chen Chen]: But it is weird; I think I just saw Wen Lu entering in someone’s car. With such serious scandals, he should have been blacklisted. How can he still be here? Brother Lin, be careful; I am afraid this guy might go crazy.

Lin Zhiyu took a sip of his orange juice and scanned the gala venue inconspicuously. He did not see anyone resembling Wen Lu, so he shifted his attention to the window. The night outside was deep, and the brilliant lights were reflected on the massive glass panes. He could see himself in the reflection; the smooth lines of the gown made him look tall and upright. He lightly brushed the tassels of his earring, the demantoid garnets shimmering like stars under the lights.

He rubbed his earlobe, recalling the sensation of Mu Sui’s fingertips pressing against it a few hours ago. The tips of his ears began to burn with an uncontrollable heat.

However, he was not given much time to reminisce. The brief peace was easily shattered by an uninvited guest.

“Standing all alone like this makes you stand out a bit too much,” a voice said.

Lin Zhiyu turned to see a man in his thirties. He was dressed in a sophisticated, well-tailored suit, with his hair slicked back meticulously. He was not particularly tall; his arms, tightened by the fabric, showed a hint of muscle from exercise, but it could not hide the slight weight gain that came with age.

“My name is Jin Qiushan, and I am one of the investors for The Blue Bird,” the man said. “I have admired your talent and have wanted to meet you in person for a long time.”

Lin Zhiyu gave a perfunctory smile and said, “Mr. Jin, hello.” In his mind, he wondered what talent he actually had. If waiting to die and passive invisibility counted as talents, he hoped to max out those stats.

“A drink?” Jin Qiushan held up his glass and smiled.

Lin Zhiyu pursed his lips awkwardly and leaned his orange juice forward to clink glasses.

“Juice? That is not very spirited,” Jin Qiushan said. Without giving him a chance to react, he immediately signaled a waiter and took a glass of champagne from the tray, forcing it into Lin Zhiyu’s hand. “Just a little, for the sake of my pride?”

Lin Zhiyu really did not want to. What he hated most in life was drinking culture. On his very first day at his old job, his boss had ignored the fact that he was taking medicine for a cold and forced him to down a glass of liquor.

Fortunately, he had already trained himself in the art of feigning compliance. If you tell people like this that you cannot drink, they only try harder to persuade you. It was better to simply follow their lead until they got bored and moved on to the next person.

Lin Zhiyu assumed this Mr. Jin was just looking for someone to socialize with briefly. He gave a slight tug to the corners of his mouth, though his eyes remained devoid of emotion. He took the champagne, clinked it symbolically with the enthusiastic Jin Qiushan, and brought it to his lips for a tiny sip.

To his surprise, Jin Qiushan’s gaze was fixed directly on his glass, as if measuring exactly how much he drank. Seeing the other man finish his drink and show him the empty glass with a smile, Lin Zhiyu had no choice but to take a large gulp, cursing the man in his head the entire time.

“I heard you are adapting well to the crew, and Director Zhao is very satisfied,” Jin Qiushan said warmly. “Do you have any plans for what is next? I happen to have a few film projects on hand.”

Lin Zhiyu continued to brush him off. “Nothing for now. I might stop working after I finish this one.”

“How can that be?” Jin Qiushan’s gaze rolled over his face. The flickering light in his eyes was not regret, but rather a playful, disgusting desire. “With such an eye catching face, it would be such a pity to keep it hidden at home.”

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyu would have to be a fool not to realize something was wrong. He knew it; out of ten men who praised talent, eight had bad intentions. He let out a short, dry laugh and said, “Thank you for the compliment, but I do not think it is a pity at all.” He then used a quick excuse of needing the restroom to hurry past the man and into the crowd.

However, once he moved, others who had seen him talking to Jin Qiushan began to approach him. They were either commenting on his red carpet performance or asking about his recent status. Lin Zhiyu maintained a polite, stiff face as he responded. Although he skillfully deflected the topics, he was still forced to consume quite a bit of alcohol.

He suddenly envied the original owner. If the original Lin Zhiyu were here, with his abrasive personality, no one would dare approach him.

Lin Zhiyu felt a bit dizzy from the drinks. He finally managed to break away from the crowd and staggered along the walls for several turns until he found the restroom at the end of a corridor. Cold water flowed from the tap. Lin Zhiyu splashed it onto his face, and the dizzying heat was finally stimulated into receding slightly. He braced himself against the sink, looking at his reflection with hazy eyes. Water droplets ran down his cheeks, sliding over his jawline and trembling at his chin.

His state was still not quite right. His brain felt like it had been stirred into a mush, and his eyelids felt like they were weighed down by a thousand pounds of iron. He knew his limits; although he had been forced to drink a fair amount, he knew it should not have made him this drowsy.

As he thought this, a click sounded as the door closed behind him. A familiar figure appeared in his blurred vision. Lin Zhiyu dully turned to leave, but as he passed the person, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Lin Zhiyu was startled and immediately tried to resist, but the man yanked his arm and pressed him against the sink, wrapping him in a firm hold.

“No wonder you made Wen Lu so angry. You are quite something,” the man said.

The heavy scent of musk made Lin Zhiyu feel nauseous. Jin Qiushan’s breath fanned across his neck, giving him goosebumps from the discomfort.

“Who are you following now? Stop following him. How about coming with me? I guarantee I can make you famous.”

Seeing that Jin Qiushan’s hand had already reached his lower back and his mouth was moving toward his neck, Lin Zhiyu grabbed a ceramic ornament from the sink and smashed it directly against the man’s head.

“F***!” Jin Qiushan cried out in pain, clutching his head and staggering back several steps.

Lin Zhiyu had no intention of letting him go. He smashed the ornament into the man’s face, and while Jin Qiushan dodged to the side, Lin Zhiyu raised his leg and kicked him to the ground.

“I will f*** you instead!” If he were sober, he probably would not have used such harsh words. “You idiot. You have a head tied to your crotch. I hope you are impotent for the rest of your life!”

He added another kick for good measure, grabbed a perfume bottle from the counter, and bolted out without a moment’s delay.

Wen Lu, who was lurking outside the door, had not expected the restroom door to be flung open so suddenly. He froze in shock until he heard Jin Qiushan shout from inside to stop him and not let him run.

Wen Lu reacted immediately, reaching out to grab Lin Zhiyu, only to have Lin Zhiyu swing his hand and slap him across the face. Then, Lin Zhiyu grabbed the perfume bottle and smashed it against Wen Lu’s injured hand.

Wen Lu screamed in pain. Lin Zhiyu kicked him away and quickly chose a direction, running forward in a daze. The drink Jin Qiushan had given him was likely drugged. His legs had gone numb and weak; he could barely feel them. His consciousness was sinking bit by bit, and the straight corridor ahead was spinning. Lin Zhiyu did not know how long or where he had run until his legs gave way and he knelt on the floor.

He pinched the skin of his thigh, forcing himself to stay awake, but he was powerless. In his dazed state, someone seemed to grab his arm to help him up. Lin Zhiyu shuddered and used all his strength to shake off the hand and told the person to get lost and not to touch him.

A pair of polished leather shoes stopped in his lowered line of sight. The force pulling on his arm vanished, and a pair of well defined hands appeared in his vision, carrying that familiar, clean, and bitter scent of soap.

“Lin Zhiyu, it is me now.”