Soaked in the hot water, Yu Junqing gazed at the man’s broad back, momentarily lost in thought. Today, he had nearly reached the point of no return.
Yu Junqing was a top actor—many people knew that—but fewer knew just how hard he had worked, step by step, to reach that status.
The entertainment industry was a place full of intrigue. Yu Junqing had formal training, and with his striking looks and long, straight legs, he had been a standout even as a student, admired secretly by many boys and girls alike.
He was a talented actor, and anyone who knew him could attest to it. Even now, his teachers would often recount his early stories with pride shining on their faces.
Yet Yu Junqing’s life had not been easy. The path of an actor was grueling.
He first gained attention through a school drama called My Lover. The script itself had no real highlights, but the director captured the mindset of young people perfectly. The characters were all conventionally attractive, and it drew a lot of attention.
Yu Junqing, handsome and talented, made it through the auditions and landed the role of the devoted, steadfast male lead’s second-in-command.
The character was perfect—a campus heartthrob, gentle and considerate, almost flawless. No girl could resist him. Yu Junqing brought the role to life, conveying deep emotion with just his eyes, making countless women fall for the character. He quickly rose to fame.
However, Yu Junqing came from humble beginnings—he had no background, having grown up in an orphanage. After his rise, he was signed by Star Entertainment.
Star Entertainment was a leading agency with the best contracts in the industry, but it was notorious for unscrupulous methods.
Upon signing, Yu Junqing was assigned a manager, Xu Zong. Xu Zong oversaw many talents, but seeing Yu Junqing’s exceptional looks, he had certain ulterior motives.
Yu Junqing refused to comply. As a result, despite his meteoric rise, Xu Zong suppressed him for half a year.
By the time the company remembered him, his momentum had waned, making it even harder to climb back.
Yu Junqing did not give up. With no support from his manager, he actively sought roles in various productions, both films and TV dramas, as long as the roles fit.
But without a backing, directors were hesitant to hire a newcomer. This struggle lasted for five long years.
Everything changed when Director Shi, working on the historical epic The Emperor, chose Yu Junqing as the male lead.
Yu Junqing was ecstatic—but the contract still required company approval. When he mentioned it to Xu Zong, the vindictive manager forced him into a small supporting role in a trashy film, sabotaging his opportunity.
Yu Junqing was nearly desperate. He had finally gotten a break, but refused to comply with his manager’s unethical demands. The chance slipped away, and he was on the verge of taking drastic measures.
Fortunately, Director Shi truly believed in his talent and intervened. Yu Junqing was finally able to complete filming.
The Emperor was a carefully produced TV drama, with Director Shi’s proven track record ensuring high investment and quality. Riding this wave, Yu Junqing won that year’s Best Actor award.
Six years after debuting, despite years of suppression, Yu Junqing’s skill finally brought him fame. Everyone in the city knew him.
But just as his career peaked, his old agency threw cold water on him.
Whether due to Xu Zong or company leadership, Star Entertainment claimed Yu Junqing’s success was mere luck and that he had no real potential. They began promoting a wave of newcomers, attempting to capitalize on his momentum.
Yu Junqing had no choice but to endure. Under dual pressure from his manager and the company, he mentored one rookie after another, and two years passed.
The title “Top Actor” had become almost a joke. He hadn’t taken on any major projects, and his popularity dwindled.
Until recently, he finally bypassed his manager and spoke with Vice President Wang Anhai, requesting a new manager. That led to today: he was sent to the city’s most notorious “money pit” to have dinner with a so-called “boss.”
Yu Junqing had almost resigned himself. If he refused, he might never get another role. But he couldn’t accept it. He refused to surrender.
Fueled by alcohol and desperation, he had done the boldest thing of his life—forcing a bottle into that “boss”’s throat and running from that hellish place.
Then he met this good man.
Yu Junqing slowly came to his senses, his gaze landing on Bo Rui’s strong, steady back. A faint smile replaced his previous despair.
“Thank you for bringing me home,” Yu Junqing murmured, almost inaudible.
“No problem. Drink less next time. A grown man—solve what you can, don’t try to drown it with alcohol,” Bo Rui replied, noticing his dazed expression as he turned off the water and grabbed a towel. Concerned Yu Junqing might nod off and slip into the tub, he kept a careful eye on him.
Yu Junqing froze. He was used to the indirect, manipulative ways of the entertainment world. Bo Rui’s blunt, straightforward words startled him.
“Keep soaking too long and you’ll shrivel up. Can you stand?” Bo Rui asked, wrapping a bath towel around Yu Junqing’s wet hair and stepping into the tub to lift him out.
“This apartment’s all mine. I’ve repurposed the other rooms, so you can crash here tonight. My bed’s big—roll around all you want,” Bo Rui said as he carried him to the bedroom, removing the towel once it had absorbed most of the water and setting him on the large bed.
Yu Junqing, still reeling from being effortlessly lifted and carried, was placed on a bed with pure black sheets. He absentmindedly noticed, wondering if it was chosen for practicality.
Seeing he wouldn’t regain full awareness anytime soon, Bo Rui retrieved a dry towel and gently wrapped Yu Junqing’s head, checking his jaw thoughtfully. He dared not wash Yu Junqing’s hair himself—his hands were too heavy.
Yu Junqing had no idea how undignified he looked—long unused to receiving attention, his pale, smooth skin now fully exposed.
Bo Rui, accustomed to sleeping naked, left him be on the bed. The room was large; four rooms totaling over 180 square meters. Two had been merged into a master bedroom, one became a gym, and the other split into a massive bathroom and walk-in closet.
The living room was huge but minimal—TV, sofa, a rattan lounge on the balcony. Kitchen clean and simple, a double-door fridge and cabinets.
Seeing no better option, Bo Rui decided Yu Junqing would sleep here tonight.
Flipping off the lights, he returned to the bedroom and saw Yu Junqing lying across the black sheets. The sight was unexpectedly enticing.
Yu Junqing was still in a daze, his mind and body dulled from alcohol.
Bo Rui didn’t overthink it. He removed the towel from Yu Junqing’s head and used a hairdryer to dry both their hair. Feeling sleepy, he realized having someone in the apartment was strangely comforting.
He pressed Yu Junqing’s head onto the pillow, covered him with a blanket, switched off the light, and finally went to sleep.