Chapter 13: Unexpected meeting

The metallic surface of the elevator reflected off the subdued interior yellow light and the floor numbers blinked as it signaled the passing of each floor– the company building had nine elevators in total with 3 of them being glass lifts. Usually, these would be enough to accommodate the normal traffic inside the company but today it was a bit different.

And, Feng Xue appeared like an amazonian warrior despite her somewhat slight stature as she fought to reserve this elevator solely to themselves. Yang Jingshen of course couldn't say that he didn't enjoy the twisted looks on the faces of a handsome but pompous-looking young man and his assistant/agent who failed to board this ride with them and had to watch as the elevator door closed off mere inches from their noses.

"Hmph!" Feng Xue hmphed delicately after delivering this roundabout blow and Yang Jingshen decided not to pry into the matter. Instead, he opted to honestly stand in place and observe the elevator keypad with an interested look on his face.

A 'ding' sounded as the lift stopped at the third floor and a group of people entered. Hearing his cousin greet them enthusiastically, he also muttered a polite 'hello' and moved aside to give space for them while not really paying much attention.

But the man in front of him didn't move even after some time passed, prompting him to glance at this person but this one look made Yang Jingshen freeze up on the spot.

Because standing in front of him was someone he knew– a person he met earlier during a little episode of his life he wished to forget or at least pretend had never happened. A moment so utterly embarrassing and cringe-worthy that he himself had started questioning his sanity during the months that followed.

For, standing in front of him was none other than the handsome young man he met in a hospital corridor while still recovering– the one he, you know, flipped the bird at before running away? Yeah, the very same dude! T_T

Later, he had found himself agonizing over this humiliating encounter in the months to come as it kept repeatedly playing in his mind like a broken old recorder, even losing his sleep in the process. And, why did he worry so much over this single run-in, you ask? Did he fall in love with that guy or something?

Of course NOT!!

Actually, he initially forgot his shame after cringing over it for a day or two– after all, no matter how embarrassed he was, Yang Jingshen could still be considered someone who was quite thick-skinned. And, a person he didn't know and wouldn't ever again meet… why should he worry so much about such an unrelated individual? Cheh!

But then, a few weeks after getting discharged, he had made a discovery that had left him horrified to his bones. Because the person he met that day looked totally similar to an artist of 'Dream star entertainment'. And not just any artist, but their company's top performer and trendsetter, and one of the youngest film emperors in the last two decades!

Luo Cheng– the male god of Star dreams entertainment and the dream lover of countless women across the whole country.

'...'

He sure can cause trouble of epic proportion. ⧬_⧬

At first, yang Jingshen had tried to convince himself that he saw wrong or they were not the same person but only someone who looked similar. After all, he had also still been quite ill at that time so the chances of his sickness clouding his judgment were quite high too, right?

Just look at the way he acted back then! He had never done such an embarrassing thing in both of his lives and not even when he had been a kid in a straightjacket ah!

But now, staring at the young man standing a good foot taller than him, Yang Jingshen had no more doubts. It was evident in the way the other's obsidian eyes focused on him like laser beams as a glimmer of recognition appeared in them… or was it amusement?

"Little Xi?"

Luo Cheng stared interestedly at the young girl in front of him who looked like a cornered rabbit as she held still under his gaze, not moving an inch. Various expressions flashed past her beautiful pale brown eyes until the voice of the other woman who had been with her almost broke this weird stalemate. Even so, she still didn't move.

'Cute.'

He could hear the woman apologizing and his agent answering her politely, but Luo Cheng didn't break his stare as well. He usually doesn't pay attention to unrelated people, but even so, this young girl had left quite the impression on him.

Because, it had been the first time in his life that another human being had acted so rudely right in his face, and it was a woman not to say the least. Really unnatural, but he couldn't say he didn't enjoy this differential treatment, even if it was just a little bit. But now looking at her…

'She was from the company?' Luo Cheng slightly furrowed his brows as a hard-to-explain unhappiness engulfed his heart.

'Ah'Cheng" The concerned voice of Qin Mu was what dragged him back to earth. He finally turned away from the young woman and turned to look at his assistant as his expression returned to its usual apathy.

At last, the elevator dinged to a stop and the two women got out, but not before the one who called his pale-eyed rabbit 'Little Xi' politely bowed to them.

Luo Cheng could feel both his agent and his assistant staring at him, but he continued staring at the changing floor numbers on the display, his stoic expression betraying none of what he was really thinking in his head.

Jiang Yiran finally heaved a sigh; his artist, everything about him was good, except that he rarely expressed what he was really thinking inside. This was a good trait for a celebrity to have, but it can be so not cute at certain times.

Adjusting his glasses, he finally voiced his doubt. "Ah'Cheng, do you know that girl?"

"Don't know" The reply was as indifferent and as stolid as ever. Agent Jiang couldn't help feeling speechless; did this rascal expect him to believe this? He helplessly turned to Qin Mu, but judging from his equally confused expression, it was evident that he didn't know who it was either.

'Forget it.' He finally had to accept defeat. Luo Cheng might have fooled anyone else, but he hadn't been the other's agent for years for nothing. 'I can always ask around ne. But… that atmosphere was a bit weird.'

'...'

Luo Cheng quietly sat on one of the comfortable lounge chairs in his personal office and checked his schedule for the next week as he absentmindedly listened to his agent talking– but his mind was miles away.

he kept thinking about the girl he met in the elevator and her weariness when she saw him. Maybe she acted so rudely to him earlier because she hated him or something, right? She was probably an anti-fan. Ah, so it must be that! ⁰𝛚⁰

Suddenly feeling a lot less unhappy, he started to properly focus on what Jiang Yiran was saying.

'But earlier, she looked a bit weird when walking– like a man.'

'...'

***

Yang Jingshen could feel Feng Xue's eyes literally boring a hole in his back as the elevator door closed behind them, but he felt too relieved to care about her at the moment.

It hadn't only been embarrassment that had been at play at that moment. Of course, he had felt totally mortified at first when he realized that the witness of his once-in-a-lifetime loss of face belonged to the same company as him.

But, then he had realized something else– something he had overlooked. That man not only witnessed his, Yang Jingshen's shame, but also his sole OC behavior aside from that time he acted up after waking up in the hospital. But then again, that one time doesn't count, right?

What if Feng Xue learned of this erratic behavior of her younger cousin? Would she start suspecting him?

The probability of this Luo Cheng person running off his mouth about Yang Jingshen was very low judging by how he looked, as he didn't look like someone who'd tattletale. But then again, he had long since learned by experience not to judge others based on their appearance.

All this while, he had played the obedient and perfect little sister in front of his older cousin and even if his cover wouldn't be blown, the idea of someone else having even the slightest glimpse into his secret didn't sit well with him.

"What was that?" ^_^

"Eh?"

"Don't eh me! What happened earlier? You were acting weird." # `⦀′

Yang Jingshen could feel his heartbeat accelerating when he saw the hawk-like expression on Feng Xue's face. It had been with this same expression that she had forced him to change his attire, and damn if it didn't give him a fright, this time even more severe than the last.

But then, he breathed in deeply to calm down, as his mind started working furiously. 'Damn! I can't believe I'm doing this. But then, there's no other choice ne?'

So, the next moment, Yang Jingshen caught a few strands of his hair between his thumb and index finger and twirled them around before abruptly releasing them, but you couldn't mistake the bashful and slightly dreamy look in his eyes.

Feng Xue: "..." Oh this…

Then he started gushing, not giving his cousin any chance to express her thoughts.

"Big sister, that's male god Luo Cheng ah! I saw him in flesh– Aaah!! He looked so handsome, just like in those movies… *Squeal* and he looked at me and I thought my heart's gonna stop. Then, that movie he acted blah blah blah. And then blah blah blah." ≥∇≤

Feng Xue: "..." She suddenly felt so tired. Bringing up a child– it sure can be draining.

#####

A/N:

Sooooo guys, WPC 309 That I entered this book is gonna end this Sunday. As you can see, there're roughly around two days remaining. So before the time is up, don't forget to give 'How to be a superstar' some power stone votes, so it can climb up the ranks and get a chance at scoring a win. Thanks a lot in advance *heart heart*