The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 24

Lin Zhiyu struggled to lift his head. His vision was obscured by blurry tears and a heavy, clouded consciousness; the figure before him seemed to be separated by a thick veil of mist, making it difficult to see clearly.

But in his heart, he knew exactly who it was.

“Mu Sui,” Lin Zhiyu’s voice trembled, and his throat was so dry it felt sharp with pain.

His head felt heavy, and he let it drop again. Then, exerting all his strength, he stared at that hand for a few seconds before slowly placing his own atop it. His hand was burning, but Mu Sui’s was cool and comfortable, seemingly dispelling all his gloom and irritability in an instant.

Lin Zhiyu tried to use the leverage to stand, but his thighs were so weak they felt as if they belonged to someone else. Mu Sui tightened his fingers, clasping his hand firmly. Fingertips brushed against the back of his hand, and a thumb pressed into the inside of his wrist. Lin Zhiyu’s body shivered involuntarily; a fleeting thought of struggle was quickly extinguished by his total lack of strength.

“What happened?” Mu Sui supported his swaying body. Though his face maintained its usual cold composure, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of turbulence in his eyes.

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes welled up. He had managed to keep his composure until now, but hearing that single sentence made him feel an uncontrollable wave of grievance. He bit his lip hard, trying to suppress the whimpers rising in his throat, but his emotions surged like a tide, swallowing his logic bit by bit. He could only grip Mu Sui’s hand tightly, as if clutching the last straw.

“The drink,” Lin Zhiyu answered weakly. His head rested powerlessly against Mu Sui’s knee, and his voice was fragmented. “Drugged. Wen Lu teamed up with that bastard Jin Qiushan. They wanted to harass me.”

Mu Sui’s gaze darkened instantly. He reflexively tightened his grip on Lin Zhiyu’s hand, only to hear a soft, pained whimper.

“Mmh.”

He loosened his grip and looked down to scrutinize Lin Zhiyu’s disheveled state. Meticulously styled hair was now stuck messily to his cheeks, and his eyelids were drooping like withered leaves in the wind. A rolled up sleeve exposed a pale wrist marked with faint red splotches, which were clearly finger marks left by someone else.

Mu Sui’s thumb brushed inconspicuously over the red marks. The flash of anger on his face was quickly suppressed, leaving only a bone chilling silence.

“Can you walk?”

Lin Zhiyu, dazed, pressed his forehead against Mu Sui’s knee and rubbed it slightly. A faint wet mark was left on the fine texture of the suit pants. Mu Sui glanced at Zhou Ming, about to signal him to help Lin Zhiyu up, when the sound of footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor.

Jin Qiushan rushed over aggressively, blood still wet on his temple, and his face was dark and distorted. Wen Lu followed behind, gritting his teeth in pain, with one side of his face visibly swollen.

When Jin Qiushan saw Mu Sui in front of Lin Zhiyu, his pupils dilated sharply, and his pace slowed. Behind him, Wen Lu, not understanding the situation, opened his mouth to lash out but shut it immediately upon seeing Jin Qiushan’s grim expression.

“President Mu, why are you here?” Jin Qiushan tried to suppress his urge to grit his teeth, but his tone was exceptionally stiff.

Mu Sui ignored him, whispering to Lin Zhiyu, “I will have Zhou Ming carry you out.”

“Jin.” Wen Lu could not help but tug at Jin Qiushan’s clothes, only to be met with a fierce glare.

“Does President Mu also have a connection with Lin Zhiyu?” Jin Qiushan asked tentatively.

Mu Sui’s gaze swept over him like a layer of frost. Standing there, Jin Qiushan’s calves actually trembled uncontrollably. Wen Lu waited for a moment. Seeing that Jin Qiushan had no intention of speaking, he took a step forward and said, “President Mu, we have some private matters with Lin Zhiyu. I hope you can give Young Master Jin some face and let us talk to him privately.”

To his surprise, Mu Sui let out a cold scoff.

“Zhou Ming, it seems I did not handle the instructions I gave you properly,” Mu Sui said flatly.

Zhou Ming replied, “Apologies, President Mu, but the Blue Bird production has indeed terminated its cooperation with him.”

“Do not let it happen again.”

Jin Qiushan did not react in time. By the time he wanted to stop Wen Lu, it was too late.

“What terminated cooperation?” The color drained from Wen Lu’s face. In an instant, he seemed to understand something and screamed, “You did this! You want to blacklist me? The person sponsoring Lin Zhiyu is.”

Jin Qiushan covered Wen Lu’s mouth and dragged him back, his face turning various shades of blue and white. He cursed Wen Lu hundreds of times in his head. The boy had told him that Lin Zhiyu had sold himself to someone just to get the role in the Blue Bird, and that Lin Zhiyu was the one who leaked the scandals that led to his blacklisting.

But he never imagined that the person behind Lin Zhiyu was Mu Sui. If he had known, he would never have followed Wen Lu’s instigation. He should have discarded Wen Lu the moment the scandals broke; he should not have believed his lies.

“President Mu, I did not know before.”

“You know now,” Mu Sui said sinisterly. “If you still want to discuss private matters, feel free to come to the Mu Group headquarters tomorrow. I also happen to want to discuss the funding issues regarding the Jinsheng land plot.”

But Jinsheng was not under his control! It was a project they had worked hard to secure; if his father found out. Jin Qiushan panicked completely. His lips trembled, unable to say a word for a long time. He could only glare at Wen Lu, unsure whether to blame the boy’s instigation or his own failure to stop Lin Zhiyu in time.

“And him, I do not want to see him in any setting again.”

Wen Lu realized belatedly that he had provoked someone he should not have. He wanted to struggle, but under Jin Qiushan’s grip, he could not say a word. Mu Sui paid no further attention to their reactions. He held Lin Zhiyu’s hand, placed it gently on his own thigh, and lowered his gaze, slowly and meticulously tidying the messy cuffs. He was as focused as if he were handling a piece of art.

Lin Zhiyu’s consciousness drifted. All the conversation just now sounded like the buzzing of bees; it was noisy but devoid of logic. At this moment, he could only feel Mu Sui’s long fingers and the slight calluses on his thumb sliding across his wrist.

“Let us go. We are going home.”

Perhaps it was his subconscious playing tricks, but he felt Mu Sui’s voice had grown soft. Zhou Ming lifted him gently from the ground. Lin Zhiyu felt Mu Sui’s hand withdrawing and instinctively wanted to hold on, but he was powerless. In his dazed state, he noticed his cuffs were neatly fastened, hiding the red marks on his wrist. It was as if Mu Sui wanted to erase the unpleasant memories of the restroom for him.

Lin Zhiyu hung limply on Zhou Ming’s back, his heart racing. He struggled to turn his head for one last look at Mu Sui, but the heat from his wrist burned throughout his body, and his last bit of consciousness vanished in the blaze.

The vehicle outside the emergency exit was ready. Lin Zhiyu was placed in the back seat. Zhou Ming carefully closed the door and then skillfully helped Mu Sui into the car.

Perhaps due to the drug, Lin Zhiyu was restless even in sleep. His breathing was irregular, and cold sweat kept appearing on his forehead. As soon as Mu Sui sat down, Lin Zhiyu leaned over with a groan, his head landing heavily on Mu Sui’s shoulder. After a while, he seemed uncomfortable and adjusted his position several times with a frown.

“Mr. Mu,” Zhou Ming glanced back.

“Just drive,” Mu Sui said. He reached out and shifted Lin Zhiyu’s head so that he was lying sideways with his head on Mu Sui’s lap.

Taking advantage of the situation, Lin Zhiyu clung to Mu Sui’s arm and buckled his fingers into the man’s. Mu Sui tried to pull his hand away, but no matter how he moved, Lin Zhiyu held on tight, even pouting and grumbling in dissatisfaction at the force. Mu Sui almost laughed; he could only let the boy clutch his hand against his chest.

“Only children like to hold onto things while they sleep,” he muttered softly.

By the faint light coming through the window, Mu Sui studied Lin Zhiyu’s sleeping face. There were traces of tears on his eyelashes, and because of his poor sleep, his long, curled lashes were fluttering; he looked absolutely pitiful.

It was a total contrast to his appearance on the red carpet. Lin Zhiyu probably did not know that because of his overly hasty attitude toward procedures, he often looked nonchalantly world weary on camera, appearing cold and detached like an immortal. But while some immortals are meant to be worshiped, others make one want to grab their white robes and pull them down into the mud.

Mu Sui used his other hand to gently press against Lin Zhiyu’s lips. The lower lip was pushed into a soft curve, forcing his mouth slightly open. Under the influence of alcohol, the remaining apricot colored lipstick was smudged, leaving faint marks at the corners of his mouth. He looked exceptionally alluring.

Lin Zhiyu groaned and moved his lips. His moist, warm tongue brushed against Mu Sui’s fingertip as he murmured a sentence. Mu Sui’s eyes flickered; he leaned in to listen, only to hear the boy mumble, “Parting today, I do not know when we will meet again. Zhuoyu, please help me look after him a bit.”

Mu Sui thought, “…”

Then the tone shifted, becoming urgent, “Cannot add more. Adding more is a different price. You cannot just freeload.”

Mu Sui could not help but cover his eyes, unsure whether to laugh or cry. A moment later, Zhou Ming heard a click from the back. Maintaining his professional ethics, he stole a glance in the rearview mirror. He saw Mu Sui editing something on his phone with an expressionless face, the cold white light of the screen reflecting on his deep features.

Suddenly, Mu Sui’s eyes flashed like a stone thrown into a dark pool. Beneath the surface, something was stirring. Zhou Ming found it hard to describe; it was like a caged beast smelling freedom, desperate to break its chains yet restrained by something, leaving only a hint of unutterable desire in its eyes. This desire was like winding vines, ready to entangle everything in its territory.

Mu Sui put down his phone and looked straight into the rearview mirror. Zhou Ming quickly looked away.

“That day I watched The Truman Show with him,” Mu Sui said softly. “I was thinking, if Truman discovered one day that he had a companion by his side, what would happen?”

Zhou Ming, trying to stay calm, replied, “He might incite the companion to escape with him.”

Mu Sui chuckled, looking at his hand clasped with Lin Zhiyu’s, thinking of who knows what.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, creating a soft warmth in the room. Lin Zhiyu’s eyelids fluttered as the morning light woke him. His head felt like it was splitting, his nerves throbbed, and his consciousness felt like lead. His throat was so dry it felt as if he had swallowed needles.

He blinked with effort, and as his thoughts gathered, he realized he was lying in a soft, large bed. Familiar ceiling and furnishings were visible; he was back at Mu Sui’s house.

“Ugh, what happened,” he said. He sat up, his voice hoarse.

The sound of a wheelchair rolling came from the door. Lin Zhiyu turned his head to find Mu Sui sitting there with a cup of hot coffee, watching him quietly.

“Awake?” Mu Sui’s voice was deep, with a hint of morning laziness. He rolled the wheelchair to the bedside, took a sip of coffee, and said, “Your assistant called ten minutes ago. I requested leave for you.”

Lin Zhiyu froze, instinctively reaching for his phone. Blurred images flooded back, including the red carpet, the gala, the restroom, and Mu Sui’s hand reaching out in the chaos.

“Last night,” Lin Zhiyu stopped, a flash of panic in his eyes. “I.”

“It has been handled,” Mu Sui said. “You will not see them again.”

Lin Zhiyu nodded blankly, looking down at his fingers. “Thank you.”

It was a good thing he chose the right direction to run last night. If he had not run into Mu Sui, who knows what would have happened. Though there were no media at the gala, gossip travels fast. If he had been found by Jin Qiushan in a secluded place. But his smash with the ceramic piece was quite heavy; Jin Qiushan’s head probably hurt more than his.

Serves him right!

If given another chance, he would look for a toilet plunger; it has low damage but is highly insulting! Or he would just give a kick so that bastard would remember the pain for the rest of his life.

Wait, he thought he heard Wen Lu scream something in his dazed state last night.

His emotions were written clearly on his face. Mu Sui, seeing he was fine, turned the wheelchair to leave. “Zhou Ming bought breakfast; it is on the table.”

“Mr. Mu,” Lin Zhiyu called out from behind. “The scandals about Wen Lu, did you have Assistant Zhou release those?”

Mu Sui turned his head slightly, his face carrying an unutterable expression as if silently asking, “You are just realizing this now?”

Lin Zhiyu rubbed his hair. Remembering the time he told Mu Sui that Jiang Yubai’s team is reliable, he lowered his voice guiltily. “I thought the god of justice had finally punished him. Thank you for this too.” He looked up at Mu Sui and asked blankly after a pause, “But why help me?”

Mu Sui was silent for a moment, his deep gaze as unpredictable as mist.

“Because the way a certain someone was whining on the bed looked quite pitiful,” Mu Sui said coldly, followed by a low chuckle. “It was just convenient; it is not a difficult task for me.”

Lin Zhiyu thought to himself that this was the legendary overbearing CEO move. But it did feel quite good.

The room fell silent as Mu Sui wheeled out. Lin Zhiyu sat there for a while before stumbling out of bed to take a shower. He realized belatedly that his clothes had been changed.

It could not be Mu Sui, he thought. That would be too much work for someone in a wheelchair. A memory of Zhou Ming carrying him flashed in his mind; it must have been Assistant Zhou again.

As the hot water poured over him, the memories of last night became clearer. He remembered rubbing his eyes against Mu Sui’s knee, and how Mu Sui held his hand to straighten his cuffs. He even remembered refusing to let go of Mu Sui’s hand when Zhou Ming tried to pick him up.

Lin Zhiyu covered his face, his ears burning red. He wished he could take a time machine back to last night; he would not have drunk the wine, and he would have found a burlap sack to give those two a thorough beating instead of embarrassing himself.

But looking at it this way, Mu Sui was not as cold blooded as described in the original book. In the original, Mu Sui would have just let him rot or complained about his tears ruining the clothes. Lin Zhiyu washed off the suds, thinking his decision to stay quiet and not cause trouble after marriage had paid off. He felt his escape from a tragic ending was within reach.

Mu Sui only had Chen Chen request half a day of leave; Lin Zhiyu had to return to the set in the afternoon. However, he never expected that due to the red carpet buzz from last night, the filming site was packed inside and out.

“Why are there suddenly so many people?” Lin Zhiyu was startled. He turned to Chen Chen, only to find the assistant had the same reaction.

Two unlucky guys who had never seen the world before stood together. Lin Zhiyu scanned the crowd, which mostly consisted of young girls and some men with DSLR cameras. He wanted to head straight to the dressing room, but a deafening shout erupted from the crowd: “Lin Zhiyu is here!”

“Damn, been waiting all morning. A young master is still a young master; he can even skip work on Zhao Jinyu’s set.”

“Do not talk nonsense! The staff said he took leave because he was unwell!”

“Lin Zhiyu, look here!”

“Holy. No makeup at all? He looks even better than in the live stream!”

“People say Lin Zhiyu is not great, but his face is truly top tier.”

Lin Zhiyu thought, “???”

What kind of situation was this, with “anti-fans” confronting him directly? Lin Zhiyu’s pace of escape quickened. However, amidst the noisy shouting, someone raised a support flag that had been crafted overnight. It featured a photo of him on the red carpet from the previous evening.

“Lin Zhiyu!” It was difficult for Lin Zhiyu to imagine that a young girl a head shorter than him could produce such a powerful voice. “I want your ‘Hengshui-style’ calligraphy signature! Can you give me one? It must be exactly like the one on the signing board from last night!”

 

Lin Zhiyu remained silent. He froze on the spot. He felt his spirit wither. After half a minute of hesitation, he finally walked toward her.

 

Seeing him approach, the girl next to her immediately began taking photos with her phone. Lin Zhiyu took the pen handed to him and muttered, “This is the first time I have heard such a bizarre request.” Then, raising his volume, he asked gently, “Where should I sign?”

 

The girl pulled a signature board from her bag and handed it to Lin Zhiyu with a beaming smile. Lin Zhiyu was utterly defeated. He thought to himself that fans were truly efficient. If he were this fast at work, he would not be tortured by deadlines every single time.

 

Using a gold-leaf pen, he signed his name stroke by stroke. After a moment of thought, he added a note at the end: “(Not for other uses).” His safety awareness was perfect. This drew a laugh from the girls.

 

“Lin Zhiyu, focus on your acting. Stop thinking about men like ‘A-Mu’ or ‘A-Jiang.’ Once your career succeeds, you will have everything you want,” she said earnestly. “The fan club is already being rebuilt. This visit was a bit rushed, but I hope you continue to shine just like you did on the red carpet last night.”

 

Startled for a moment, Lin Zhiyu replied warmly, “Thank you, I will.”

 

With the ice broken, the people nearby began chattering, all requesting his signature. Experiencing this for the first time, Lin Zhiyu was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He wished he could sprout eight hands on the spot. He signed the items in a frantic blur. Finally, Chen Chen arrived to deliver a message from Zhao Jinyu. Only then did Lin Zhiyu return the signed banners and boards to the fans.

 

“Just one more!” “I want one too!”

 

“Next time, next time! I already lost money by taking leave this morning. If I am late this afternoon, I will be paying the studio to let me work!” Lin Zhiyu waved his hands repeatedly and ran away. He left a group of people staring at each other.

 

“If I remember correctly, are they not paid based on their scenes?”

 

“Oh no, my last idol was not very bright. Now that I have finally switched favorites, I hope I have not picked another one who is dim-witted.”

 

“It is okay, sister. Our ‘Paper Fish’ might be silly, but he is truly beautiful.”

 

The commotion caused by this group of fans visiting the Blue Bird set was so significant that it quickly became a trending topic on Weibo. The posts included various high-definition candid shots of Lin Zhiyu without makeup. Uninformed passersby assumed Lin Zhiyu was causing trouble again. However, once they viewed the posts, they were stunned by his raw photos which featured no filters or retouching.

 

The Unexpected Guest

 

At that moment, Lin Zhiyu had just finished a scene with Xie Jingyao. He was slumped in his chair like a dead fish. He groggily pulled out his phone, opened the search bar, and hesitantly typed a few words.

 

Xie Jingyao, who was eating ice cream, leaned over and asked, “Should we go over the next scene?” Glimpsing the screen, he said in surprise, “What are you looking at? Are you buying a gift for someone?”

 

Lin Zhiyu lifted his eyelids listlessly and nodded. He figured that since Mu Sui had handled the trouble with Wen Lu and helped him escape Jin Qiushan’s unwanted attention at the banquet, he had to show some gratitude. Otherwise, his small conscience would not let him rest.

 

Xie Jingyao sat on the arm of the chair and put an arm around his shoulder. “Is it for a man or a woman? I am an expert at gift-giving.”

 

Lin Zhiyu was at a loss for what to choose, so he welcomed the advice. But just as he was about to speak, he felt a sudden chill down his spine. Then, a sharp voice drifted over: “You are an expert at receiving gifts, more like.”

 

Startled, Lin Zhiyu nearly dropped his phone. He looked back to see a man standing nearby. The man’s face was a masterpiece, with a high bridge of the nose and deep brow bones. His hair was long and tied in a casual low ponytail. He wore a crisp trench coat like high-fashion clothing.

 

However, the most striking thing was the parakeet on his shoulder. The bird was vibrant yellow and green. It stood tall on his shoulder, its round eyes scanning the surroundings while it chirped.

 

The man’s gaze swept over Lin Zhiyu’s startled face. As he stepped forward, the parakeet erupted in a shrill cry: “Warning! Warning! Love rival detected! Warning!”

 

Lin Zhiyu was confused. Xie Jingyao burst out laughing. He beckoned to the bird and teased, “What are you teaching him every day? Boss Jiu, come here.” The parrot landed on Xie Jingyao’s fingertip.

 

“I am being framed,” the newcomer said nonchalantly. “Maybe because a certain someone has not been home for days, he thinks his father is being abandoned and is protesting on my behalf.”

 

The man approached unhurriedly. He stepped between Lin Zhiyu and Xie Jingyao, subtly separating them. He rested a hand on Xie Jingyao’s shoulder and smiled. “Apologies, he is quite chatty.” He then took a large bite of Xie Jingyao’s ice cream. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lin Zhaoyan, his family member.”

 

The parrot hopped and shouted, “Daddy!” The bird rubbed its head against Xie Jingyao’s hand. “Xie Jingyao, you abandoned your husband and son! You have no loyalty!”

 

Xie Jingyao stared at the empty cone, glared at Lin Zhaoyan, and shoved the remaining waffle into his arms. “Why are you here instead of your own set?”

 

Lin Zhiyu noticed Lin Zhaoyan’s fingers squeeze the back of Xie Jingyao’s neck. The gesture was intimate. Lin Zhiyu wished he could hide under his seat.

 

“We are so close; will you not even let me visit?” Lin Zhaoyan said. “Zhao Jinyu mentioned someone bailed on your crew, and she asked if I could recommend some actors to fill in. I figured I am free lately, so I came to volunteer.”

 

Xie Jingyao glanced at Lin Zhiyu and asked, “Do you mean Shen Xiuming’s role?”

 

“Yes,” Lin Zhaoyan sighed. “I wanted to give you a surprise, but it seems it was all one-sided. What should we do, Boss Jiu? Your mother does not seem to want to see us.”

 

The parrot looked at Xie Jingyao with a pitiful gaze. Lin Zhiyu thought they were an entire family of dramatic actors. He tried to move away, but Lin Zhaoyan noticed. “Ah Yao often praises your talent. Since I want to act, I look forward to working together.”

 

His tone made Lin Zhiyu nervous. Lin Zhiyu forced a smile and replied, “I look forward to it as well.”

 

“Don’t worry,” Lin Zhaoyan smiled warmly. “I have plenty of experience training actors.”

 

Xie Jingyao finally grabbed the hand on his shoulder and explained to Lin Zhiyu, “Zhaoyan used to be an actor. He is a director now.” Then he turned to Lin Zhaoyan. “Shen Xiuming does not have many scenes. Go back once you have finished. Is this because I did not wear the outfit you picked for the red carpet?”

 

“Am I really that childish?” Lin Zhaoyan asked.

 

Xie Jingyao stood up. “Since you are here, help me go over my lines. Do not waste Lin Zhiyu’s time.” Lin Zhaoyan was delighted.

 

“But Zhiyu,” Xie Jingyao suddenly leaned in. “Given your orientation, if you are giving a gift to another man, it is best not to give a watch.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It is easy to misunderstand,” Xie Jingyao smiled, then led the man and the bird away. Lin Zhiyu watched them go. He saw Lin Zhaoyan wrap an arm around Xie Jingyao’s neck and ask about the meaning of ties, belts, and perfume. Lin Zhiyu silently noted these as potential gift ideas or mistakes to avoid.

 

The Reshoot

 

After picking a gift for Mu Sui and paying, Lin Zhiyu felt a pang of regret seeing his balance decrease. A gift for Mu Sui could not be cheap. Fortunately, Lin Zhiyu had saved a decent amount of money. However, as a former office worker, spending such a large sum was difficult to process. He comforted himself by remembering it was a return for a life-saving favor.

 

He searched for “Lin Zhaoyan” and discovered that the man had won Best Actor awards at two film festivals before becoming a director. According to Chen Chen, he was not taking a salary for this role. “Is this the power of the wealthy?” Lin Zhiyu wondered.

 

Because Lin Zhaoyan’s schedule was tight, the next scene was changed to reshoot Shen Xiuming’s parts. Lin Zhaoyan was an expert actor. To everyone’s surprise, Lin Zhiyu performed excellently alongside him. The moment he stepped into the frame, his aura changed. He became sharp and calm.

 

He was incredibly relaxed. Whether he was fighting with a sword or leaping across rooftops, his movements were clean and decisive. When their blades clashed, the air seemed to freeze with killing intent. Lin Zhiyu was agile and natural. He seemed born to play the role of Xie Yunce.

 

Zhao Jinyu watched the monitor. She knew this version was much better than the previous one. “He rises to the challenge,” she mused. “I wish I could keep Lin Zhaoyan here longer.”

 

“I heard Lin Zhaoyan is preparing a new movie,” she said to Xie Jingyao. “Could he be scouting actors?”

 

Xie Jingyao laughed. “He does not have that kind of cunning.” However, his smile suggested otherwise. “I will suggest that Zhaoyan contact him.”

 

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

 

Lin Zhiyu sheathed his sword and took a cup of water. His strength vanished instantly. His muscles began to spasm, and his hand trembled. Chen Chen noticed him spilling water and called out to him, but Lin Zhiyu did not respond. He seemed deaf to the noise around him.

 

Lin Zhaoyan’s parakeet flew over and landed on Lin Zhiyu’s hand. Its soft head rubbed against his wrist. It was not until Jiang Yubai appeared in full costume that Lin Zhiyu’s focus returned. Lin Zhiyu stared at Jiang Yubai’s face.

 

Before Jiang Yubai could react, Lin Zhiyu rushed up to him while holding the parakeet. Jiang Yubai froze in place.

 

“How was your trip to the Sea of Non-Crossing? Did you find the pearl you desired?” Lin Zhiyu gently stroked Jiang Yubai’s face and held the bird out to him. “Wei Zheng brought some curiosities from the Northern Territories. I have no use for them; you should take them.”

 

His voice was doting. Everyone on the set was shocked by the scene. “Am I dreaming? Lin Zhiyu is talking to Jiang Yubai with such affection.”

 

Only Lin Zhaoyan shouted in fury while being held back by Xie Jingyao: “That is my bird! Lin Zhiyu, give me back my son!”