Part 43：What kind of person is Chen Fusi?

What kind of person is Chen Fusi?

On the surface, he's good-looking, well-dressed, and gives off the vibe of someone who lives a comfortable, worry-free life. You can tell from every little detail that he doesn't have to worry about money. When it comes to social interactions, he's never pushy or forceful, but Zoe still feels uneasy. That discomfort doesn't seem to go away as she gets to know him better; if anything, it gets stronger. It feels more like an instinct.

"I heard the show you were filming in Hainan didn't work out," Chen Fusi brings it up, but doesn't mention the script revisions he made for her. "What happened?"

Zoe answers, "The director suddenly had to go to the hospital, so they had to delay filming."

Chen Fusi says, "That's really unlucky."

"Yeah, he stayed overnight and then came back." Zoe smiles, her eyes squinting into crescent moons.

"I saw in the news that you had lunch with that star... what's his name... Song, while you were in Hainan."

"Ah? You keep up with entertainment news, Mr. Chen?" Zoe waves her hand helplessly. "It just so happened that he was in Hainan too, so we decided to meet up for lunch to clear up the rumors. You know, those rumors were all over the place, and we issued a statement, but they still didn't believe it."

"Wouldn't it have been better to avoid being seen together, though?" Chen Fusi asks, sounding a bit curious.

"Not at all," Zoe shakes her head. "If we'd done that, it would've made things worse. If later on, someone caught us in a situation like last time, people would say, 'See? These two definitely have something going on, and they're denying it. They must be secretly dating.' So we had to be open about it. The rumors were completely baseless. The media can write whatever they want, but eventually, people get tired of it. 'Aren't they dating?' they'd ask. But when it comes to us, they can't even get us holding hands."

Zoe mimics the frantic way the media might interrogate her, making Chen Fusi laugh.

"You make a good point," he agrees.

Zheng Xiaowen chimes in, "I thought it was weird too. Song has had rumors with so many people, but he's never interacted with them. You're the first one."

Zoe answers, "It's because of the airport incident."

"Huh?" Zheng Xiaowen looks at her in surprise.

Zoe explains, "Someone pretending to be his fan threw tomato juice at me at the airport. People online were attacking him, so I helped clear things up. To return the favor, he cleared things up on Weibo and made his fans think we're good friends. That way, they stopped attacking me."

"Ah, right! I almost forgot about that. Did they catch the person who did it?" Zheng Xiaowen asks.

"Yeah, the police have already reprimanded them."

"Good. People like that need to be taught a lesson," Zheng Xiaowen says, clearly upset. "When I was abroad, I had some interactions with celebrities too. They'd get harassed by crazy fans, and some even sent dead rats to their apartments—just terrible."

At this moment, Chen Fusi suddenly says, "If you need, I can arrange a bodyguard."

Zoe quickly shakes her head. "No need, Mr. Chen. The company has already arranged one." After the airport incident, Lan had made sure to report to the company and ask for security. It's a normal thing for celebrities to have bodyguards, but Zoe wasn't popular enough before to have one.

Chen Fusi says, "Alright, but if you ever need one, just let me know. My security company's one of the best."

Zoe feels a little uneasy hearing this.

"A security company?" Zheng Xiaowen looks at Chen Fusi, surprised. "You own a security company?"

Chen Fusi smiles slightly. "Domestic security companies aren't very professional, so I had to start my own."

After lunch, Zoe gets a call from Lan, and she apologizes. "I have to leave now, sorry."

Chen Fusi stands up and buttons his coat. "Let me walk you out."

As they walk down the hallway, it's unusually quiet, much more peaceful than the noisy restaurant outside.

Their shoes make no sound on the thick carpet.

"Miss Zoe, you seem a bit nervous around me," Chen Fusi suddenly says.

Zoe wants to deny it but can't. When she turns to look at him, his eyes are locked on hers, and it feels like he can see right through her. It's like he's piercing her mask, and she opens her lips but can't find the words to deny it.

"Mr. Chen, please forgive me," she says softly.

Chen Fusi stays quiet for a moment before speaking. "If I've made you uncomfortable, I apologize."

His attitude eases Zoe's tension a little.

"Mr. Chen, you don't need to apologize. It's my own issue," Zoe shakes her head, forcing a smile, though the bitterness behind it is clear. "I just get nervous around strangers, especially... strangers like you."

"Like me..." Chen Fusi asks.

Zoe's fingers almost dig into her palms.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen. It's my problem, please understand," she says, lifting her head. Her eyes are bright and clear, filled with the kind of strength you only find in plants that survive in the harshest mountain climates. In the dimly lit hallway, it's striking, almost startling. "It has nothing to do with you. I should apologize."

Chen Fusi is silent for two seconds, then smiles with relief.

"I'm glad you said that. Don't worry, we'll talk next time." His expression softens, and he adds, "Come on, I'll walk you to the door. Isn't your manager already waiting for you?"

Zoe gets in the car, and he closes the door for her.

"Call me if you need anything. You know I'm happy to help you with whatever comes up."

Lan, sitting in the passenger seat, watches the unfamiliar but kind-looking man outside the car.

After the car drives off, Lan turns to look at Zoe. "What was that about?"

But Zoe doesn't hear him.

She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and slowly exhales.

The dark water rises over her mouth, her nose, and her head...

Her childhood dreams have long shattered, and when her drunk father opened the door that night, she never went back.