Yu Junqing slept soundly on Bo Rui’s bed, blissfully unaware, while his manager Xu Zong was anything but calm.
Previously, Xu Zong had received instructions from Vice President Wang Anhai to squeeze every last bit of value out of Yu Junqing. He mused: Yu Junqing’s career was nearly over—what value could he possibly have left?
Then it hit him—Yu Junqing’s youthful, delicate face still had appeal. Some wealthy clients liked that type, and perhaps he could fetch a good price.
Without hesitation, Xu Zong called a few of his usual high-paying clients. After a brief negotiation, a wealthy liquor businessman offered a tempting sum, and Xu Zong eagerly pushed Yu Junqing to “serve” the client.
He didn’t even ask Yu Junqing for consent. In his mind, anyone in the entertainment industry should know their role—spending one night with a client could earn money and secure better opportunities. Everyone else did it, so why shouldn’t Yu Junqing? But Yu Junqing, stubbornly pure and principled, refused. Xu Zong saw it as arrogance and defiance.
Xu Zong’s plan seemed perfect. Yu Junqing was twenty-nine, not yet thirty—still desirable. The client would enjoy him, Xu Zong would profit, and Yu Junqing would finally experience what he deemed “pleasure.” It was, in Xu Zong’s eyes, the last bit of value he could exploit.
To ensure everything went smoothly, Xu Zong brought along a young, attractive actor named Meng Ziyan, who was clever and compliant. That night, Xu Zong intended to indulge himself with Meng Ziyan while Yu Junqing “handled” the client.
But the plan unraveled quickly. Before Xu Zong could even act, the client called in a panic. Yu Junqing had forcefully pushed the client away? Not only that, he had actually escaped! Did he really mean to quit?
Xu Zong didn’t even have a chance to yell. The client verbally tore him apart in front of Meng Ziyan, leaving him humiliated.
Fearing to offend wealthy patrons, Xu Zong swallowed his pride, promised to compensate with an even younger actor the next day, and appeased the client. But inside, he seethed.
Yu Junqing’s stubborn integrity was unmatched. Xu Zong was curious to see how he would handle the fallout. Just days ago, rumors claimed Yu Junqing had “given in” to a client, yet now he had escaped the city’s most notorious “money pit” on his own. Xu Zong was furious.
He abandoned Yu Junqing completely, consumed himself with Meng Ziyan for the rest of the night, and finally slept at dawn.
Meanwhile, the media lost interest. Rumors cost money to propagate, and the company made no moves. Yu Junqing had dodged a major bullet by simply refusing to cooperate.
Yu Junqing, waking early with a hangover, opened his eyes. The first sight that met him was a broad, honey-toned chest and a jaw dusted with stubble. Shocked, he pushed himself upright.
“Already up? What are you doing?” Bo Rui’s voice, still hoarse with morning rasp, carried a hint of nasal tone that was oddly seductive, leaving Yu Junqing slightly entranced—he was a bit of a voice enthusiast.
“Alright, looks like you’re still half-asleep. I’ll make you some hangover soup. Go pick out some clothes from the walk-in,” Bo Rui said, casually moving Yu Junqing’s hand off his chest, swinging his legs off the bed, and walking out. He didn’t care that he was still naked, erection on full display.
Yu Junqing’s jaw dropped. He gaped, speechless, finally summing Bo Rui up in one word: rough.
Shivering from the sudden cold, he finally collected himself. Scanning the bed, he realized only the sheets and blankets covered anything, so with a resolute shrug, he walked naked toward the walk-in closet to find clothes.
Bo Rui wasn’t an exhibitionist; he simply slept naked. For his morning routine, he slipped on a bathrobe and went to the kitchen.
The kitchen was stocked with hangover soup ingredients—prepackaged and simple. Bo Rui lit multiple stoves, a testament to his love for cooking. This morning, he boiled the soup while making a simple breakfast: egg noodles. Yellow noodles, a few greens, and a creamy broth topped with chopped scallions.
Two bowls were ready. Bo Rui set them on the table, calling to the bathroom, “Breakfast is ready.”
Yu Junqing answered from the mirror, brushing his teeth, unsure how to feel. Being picked up from the street, bathed, and now seeing breakfast ready—it all felt strange, almost surreal.
He found a matching set of toiletries in the bathroom, clean and unused, and used them automatically.
Finally, leaving the bathroom, he saw Bo Rui already eating. One bowl for noodles, one small bowl for hangover soup.
Yu Junqing’s heart lifted. He hurried over and sat down, tilting his head: “For me?”
“Yes, drink the soup first. Otherwise, you won’t have room for noodles,” Bo Rui replied, lifting a half-eaten fried egg with his chopsticks, gesturing to the soup.
Yu Junqing obediently sipped the soup, grimacing at the taste. Bo Rui chuckled.
“See? Not pleasant, right? Don’t drink that much again. Next time, same soup, same taste!” His blunt words were rough but familiar, almost like teasing a husband returning from an evening out.
Despite the coarse tone, Yu Junqing felt a warm glow in his chest, unsure if it was the words or the control implied within them.
“Go on, eat. Grab the egg on the bottom. Men need breakfast,” Bo Rui said, swallowing the rest of his egg in one bite. His hearty manner made the noodles seem even more appetizing.
Yu Junqing’s appetite awakened. He copied Bo Rui, taking a large bite of egg. The aroma filled his nose.
“Good appetite! Egg tastes good, right?” Bo Rui grinned. Cleaning the dishes, he planned to run them through the dishwasher later.
Yu Junqing, mouth full, felt full in more ways than one. After the night he had, a morning like this felt like a rare blessing.
“By the way, I’m Bo Rui. Call me ‘Rui-ge’,” Bo Rui said, looking at Yu Junqing finishing the noodles. “You’re a star, right? At this hour, going back to your place won’t get you caught?”
Yu Junqing froze, remembering he had to return—to the company, and ultimately, back to the bosses’ beds.
His face drained of color. Bo Rui immediately realized he’d said the wrong thing. He was aware of Yu Junqing’s troubles with Star Entertainment and Xu Zong. Add yesterday’s newspaper rumors, and going back now would be like walking into the lion’s den.
Bo Rui quickly switched topics.
“Don’t just sit there. There’s an egg at the bottom—eat it. Skip the soup; you’ve had enough.”
Yu Junqing’s pale face regained color. He picked up the last egg, feeling comforted once more. He quickly finished the noodles and egg, leaving the soup untouched—it was too much for him.
Bo Rui cleared the dishes, returning to see Yu Junqing staring seriously at him.
“Rui-ge… can I stay here for a while?”