Turns out I Was the CEO's White Moonlight [Rebirth] - Chapter 2

It was ten o’clock at Yaoyu. This was the day of Xie Yun’s new film audition.

A call came in from the driver, informing Shen Yelin that he had arrived at the hotel entrance. Shen Yelin expressionlessly hung up his phone, nodded to the receptionist, unplugged his charging cable, and gathered his belongings to head out.

Xie Yun was his junior from university. He was from the neighboring Arts Department and was incredibly talented; Shen Yelin frequently heard him being praised and admired by the department professors. The two of them had a decent relationship, or rather, the other party unilaterally clung to him. Because the Shen family had interests in the entertainment industry, Yaoyu, which Shen Yelin had gradually taken over from his uncle after coming of age, was one of the largest entertainment companies in the circle. Consequently, when Xie Yun debuted, Shen Yelin used their friendship as a reason to help him significantly.

Shen Yelin originally assumed that the other party was only being kind to him because of the Yaoyu connection. It was not until he saw the man’s behavior at the funeral that he realized Xie Yun had been after him all along.

He rifled through his memories. In his impression, he had not attended such an audition five years ago, nor had he even received an invitation from Xie Yun. It seemed that from this step onward, the future was already beginning to differ slightly from what he knew. This was not to mention the strange man he had inexplicably encountered in the guest room today; that event was a bolt from the blue that had truly shocked his fragile soul.

Shen Yelin sat in the back of the car. His head throbbed from a hangover as if it were about to explode. The driver caught a glimpse of his complexion in the rearview mirror and asked in a low voice if he needed to cancel today’s schedule to go back and rest.

“No need,” Shen Yelin said flatly. “Go home first, and then to the headquarters.”

Today’s audition for Xie Yun’s new film was being held at the Yaoyu headquarters. Since he had already agreed to attend, there was no reason to stand the man up.

“Understood.”

As the scenery outside receded, Shen Yelin turned on his phone screen and called Shen Xuan back. At yesterday’s birthday party, anyone could have been absent, but Shen Xuan certainly would not have been. He had been pressured into drinking so much yesterday that he had no memory of how the banquet ended. He thought that perhaps she would know something.

As soon as the call connected, she picked up excitedly. Her first words were, “Brother, is Xie Yun going to the Yaoyu headquarters today? I want to go to the office to see my idol. Take me with you!”

It seemed that nothing major had happened yesterday.

Shen Yelin pondered for a moment before asking diplomatically, “Where did you go after the banquet ended yesterday?”

“Oh, come on! I am an adult now. Do not be the kind of nagging brother who micromanages everything!” Shen Xuan complained. She then added innocently, “You blacked out yesterday. Brother Wencheng said he would take you back, so I went out to play with my girlfriends. I stayed at a friend’s place last night. Why do you ask?”

Ji Wencheng?

Shen Yelin contemplated the name. It felt like a normal progression of the story. The two had grown up in the same compound, and their relationship was close enough that they could share the same pair of pants. Shen Yelin’s social circle was not wide; he mostly associated with driven, ambitious people. Ji Wencheng was the sole exception, as he was the one who fit the stereotype of the upper-class socialite who spent his days playing and drifting through the dating scene. He was a textbook idle playboy.

If Shen Yelin had not heard the man’s true inner thoughts, he never would have believed that Ji Wencheng harbored ulterior motives toward him. However, since that barrier had not been broken yet, Ji Wencheng was still his “good brother” on the surface. Shen Xuan had followed the two of them around since she was a child and had called him “Brother Wencheng” for years. It was only natural that she felt safe leaving Shen Yelin in Ji Wencheng’s care.

Now, the problem remained: How exactly did he leave Ji Wencheng’s company and end up at a hotel with an unknown man? Furthermore, the room had been booked under his own name.

“Brother? Brother?” Shen Xuan seemed to notice his distraction and asked tentatively, “Are you still listening?”

“I am here,” Shen Yelin snapped back to reality and said softly. “Come to my place. I will pick you up when I head out.”

“Yay!” She cheered and blew a kiss into the receiver. “Thanks, Brother! I knew you were the best!”

Shen Yelin’s brow twitched, and he decisively hung up the phone.

By the time he finished the call, the car had arrived near his residence. Shen Yelin got out, went home, tossed his wine-soaked clothes into the laundry basket, and changed into a freshly pressed suit. He then headed out slowly, ready to depart for Yaoyu.

Shen Xuan had already used this time to dress up. Holding a sunshade, wearing large sunglasses, and sporting bright red lipstick, she stood outside waiting for him with an air of glamour. Seeing Shen Yelin, she lifted her sunglasses and gave him a flattering smile. This action instantly turned her high-profile, aggressive look into that of a silly girl who had secretly stolen her mother’s makeup.

Shen Yelin glanced at her and opened the car door. “Get in.”

“Okay!” Shen Xuan responded happily.

Shen Yelin lowered his head and followed her into the car. It was the height of summer, and he was dressed in several layers. Even though his natural body temperature was lower than average, a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead. He kept his eyes down, carefully reviewing recent internal company emails and recalling which projects he had approved to ensure he had not missed anything.

After all, five years had passed, and many memories had blurred. Although he had been born into a good life and was not overly busy as the head of Yaoyu, he wanted to personally organize everything just to be safe. Otherwise, if something went wrong, he would not be able to face his aunt and uncle.

As he was reading, a sigh sounded beside him. “Brother, why did you not join the entertainment industry? With a face this handsome, just staying home to sign documents is a total waste of natural resources!”

Shen Yelin’s hand paused, and he looked up. As expected, he saw Shen Xuan taking a barrage of photos of him with her phone. Once she was finished, she began editing the photos while saying with great regret, “It is such a shame that I can only enjoy your face in secret with my girlfriends. I do not even dare to post them online.”

Those words could be considered heart-piercing in another family, as one might suspect a plot over family assets or power. Fortunately, Shen Xuan had always been a simpleton who spoke without thinking. Shen Yelin listened, but he did not take it to heart. He put his phone away and said, “Then keep them for yourself. Without my permission, you are not allowed to send them to anyone else.”

“What?” Shen Xuan’s face fell. “No way! Not even to Yaoyao?”

Yaoyao was her best friend, Fang Heyao. Shen Yelin knew of her.

“Not allowed,” he coldly rejected her attempt to play the victim.

In the past, not knowing the intentions of those around him was fine, but now that he was reborn, he understood their hidden thoughts perfectly. If he let Shen Xuan take photos haphazardly, there was no telling what bizarre things might happen. He believed he understood these people better than his sister did, and she was far too naive. If a photo scandal broke out, the thought of it alone was exhausting.

Looking no further than Xie Yun, Shen Yelin felt the man was absolutely capable of doing something like that.

The System chimed in at the right moment: “Host, you are so smart. I just took a look for you; he really did do it! His phone wallpaper is a photo of you, and it was taken secretly!”

Shen Yelin thought, “I really do not want to know that.”

Before they knew it, the car had arrived at the Yaoyu building. Likely because news had leaked that the audition for Yaoyu’s new big-budget film was being held today, the vicinity was crowded with paparazzi. Because the investment was massive, the production was looking for A-list stars. Wherever top-tier idols went, there was never a shortage of people trying to pry into their privacy.

Fortunately, Shen Yelin did not need to deal with them. The driver turned the wheel, and the car cut through the crowd, entering the headquarters’ VIP lane.

Shen Yelin had taken a moment earlier to read through his past messages with Xie Yun. Aside from the phone calls he could not investigate further, he knew this audition was not exactly formal. Since Xie Yun was one of the investors for this drama, his position as the male lead had already been secured. Although his investment was not the largest, and bringing capital to the group to secure a role was not something to brag about, he had already won several Best Actor awards at a young age. His ratings and box-office appeal were top-tier, so there was no issue with him playing the lead.

He and Shen Xuan got out of the car together and stood in the elevator, watching the floor numbers slowly climb. Shen Xuan happily hooked her arm through his, acting like a spoiled little vixen. Shen Yelin looked at her reflection in the polished elevator doors with a cold expression and asked, “Can you act normal?”

“No, no.” Shen Xuan hugged his arm tighter. “Do not you dare stop me! I am telling you, every time I read a novel, I want to try this. But I cannot exactly link arms with my dad; how awkward would that be? Besides, everyone in the company knows me, so it is boring. Now that I have been abroad for a few years, no one remembers me. It is a rare opportunity, so do not you dare crush my dreams!”

Shen Yelin lowered his head, locked eyes with her for a moment, and ultimately gave in, letting her have her way. He thought that, in any case, he would not be the one losing face.

Just then, there was a chime, and the elevator doors opened.

Shen Xuan got her wish. Clutching Shen Yelin’s arm, she completed her mental scenario of being a sultry vixen who caught the eye of the cold CEO. She walked out with her head held high in her twelve-centimeter heels, making a loud sound as she moved through the envious and jealous gazes of the onlookers.

“She is literally insane,” Shen Yelin thought expressionlessly.

Whispers drifted from the surroundings.

“Who is that next to President Shen? I have not seen her before.”

“I have no idea where she came from. Is she a new girlfriend?”

“Do not scare me. A man as cold and unapproachable as President Shen would let someone like that catch him? Even novels would not dare write that.”

“Exactly! If it were anyone else, fine. But President Shen is such a flower on a high peak, and he is so clean-living. I cannot even imagine it. If I did not rely on him for my salary, I would go out and rebuke all those fans who brag about their idols’ beauty. The ‘Number One Face’ of Yaoyu is clearly our boss; those idols do not even rank!”

“Shh, keep it down.”

“I do not care! My dream is shattered. I am so jealous! Get away from my President Shen, you vixen!”

Shen Xuan stood calmly amidst the whispers, her eyebrows practically flying up from the sheer satisfaction. She secretly pinched Shen Yelin’s arm and whispered, “Brother, help me fix my hair. Be gentle and doting! I want to be the happiest little princess in the world!”

Shen Yelin felt a vein throb in his forehead.

“Hurry! Please!” she teased coquettishly.

Shen Yelin was silent for a moment. “Let go.”

Shen Xuan quickly released his arm. Her eyes blinked expectantly behind her sunglasses.

Shen Yelin did not know his acting skills could be so superb. With a stiff face and pursed lips, he followed her request and lowered his head, leaning in slightly to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. From a distance, it looked as though the two were leaning intimately against each other, flaunting their affection in public.

“Are you done?” Shen Yelin asked in a frigid tone.

“Done!” Shen Xuan replied with a beaming smile. She then turned around and let out a startled cry. “Xie Yun?!”

Shen Yelin’s movements froze. He looked in the direction she was pointing and saw Xie Yun, dressed in casual clothes, standing quietly at the corner of the stairs. He still possessed the lingering aura of a youth. Soft black hair was scattered over his forehead, and his features were delicate and beautiful with crimson lips. His pitch-black eyes were dark and murky, staring expressionlessly at the joy-filled Shen Xuan. That gaze was like a knife, aimed straight at the oblivious girl.

“Oho,” the System chimed happily. “Host, he is jealous!”

Shen Yelin thought, “…”