Arc 1.21

There was a familiar alienation in his gaze that chilled Shen Jiyu to the bones.

"Is there anything else I should be concerned about? Right, I forgot to tell you. Tonight, you will be having dinner with someone. He is a fan."

So wicked. He is really so wicked. Hatred, pain, and disappointment converged as a stabbing feeling in his chest. He crossed the distance in quick steps and leaned down. He placed his both hands on the chair arm trapping Nian Zhen within. 

"What do you mean by that? I have never given fan service." His voice was hoarse and his eyes were very dark.

Nian Zhen just lifted his eyebrow. Shen Jiyu was so close that he could see every pore on his face, his breath fanned his face in such quick succession that it showed just how much the youth before him was suppressing his anger. 

Did he notice something was amiss? He might have. Lu Yan was not an idiot, he was very smart but it did not matter. With the kind of contract that he signed, where would he run to? 

"There is a first time for everything. It's just having wine, you can even drink water if you like, don't think too much." 

"I should not think too much?" Shen Jiyu caught his breath and forced himself to calm down. When he spoke, his expression remained blank, but his fingers dug into the arms of the sofa. 

His eyes locked with Nian Zhen's. Behind the glasses were a pair of dark pupils surrounded by lighter irises which made his gaze very soft.  No matter what he was looking at, it was as if those pupils contained the only thing he cared about the most but Shen Jiyu could not see affection in that gaze, no affection, nothing, no emotion at all.

What was he thinking? What was he feeling? 

Who are you?

If you truly felt nothing then how could your soul split and be tethered to this realm because of obsessions? Those with obsessions are not those who felt nothing but those who thought too much, those who could not let go.

Everything he knew about this person seemed to be fleeting, and intangible, the knowledge disappointing him when he needed it the most.

"Okay. I will trust you." After saying this, he stepped back and gave Nian Zhen one last look. But Nian Zhen did not say anything or retract his earlier words, he just lifted the bottle of water and took another sip; looking like someone who had not just betrayed someone who trusted him. 

Shen Jiyu left the room and closed the door behind him. His face was dark as he entered the car.

"Realm Master" Xiao SHU asked softly.

"Just drive."

Five minutes after Shen Jiyu left, there was a loud crash in Nian Zhen's office. Nian Zhen watched as the laptop hit the wall before it broke into two parts and landed on the floor. After he stared at the mess for a few seconds, he picked up his phone and called his secretary, asking her to get a new laptop.

Shen Jiyu was quieter and kept to himself after visiting Nian Zhen's office. He did not say a word to Xiao Shu and the other did not ask. He could not presume to understand how the Realm Master was feeling.

"Realm Master, you are really going to meet Xui Fan." Xiao Shu asked with a little disbelief in his voice.

Shen Jiyu straightened his clothes, "Of course." 

The address had already been sent to him so he had Xiao Shu drive him to the restaurant. The restaurant was empty except for a tall man in a black suit waiting by one of the chairs.

When he saw Shen Jiyu, he seemed to be dazed before he smiled widely and stood up.

"Mr Yan. I am honored that you agreed to meet me." He ignored the hand that was outstretched in front of him and sat down opposite Xui Fan, blatantly staring at him and measuring the knot that Nian Zhen's obsession was tied to.

He was truly lacking in all measures. His soul might be a little purer than the majority of people he had seen in this realm but in the end, it was still nothing to write home about.

Shen Jiyu's action of ignoring Xui Fan did not seem to annoy Xui fan, rather his eyes were filled with nostalgia and the image of another aloof artist seemed to appear before his eyes. His smile turned even wider and he sat down, "Lu Yan, can I call you that? I have watched your movie and your performance in Ascension of the Demon King was truly exceptional."

Shen Jiyu nodded while using said acting skills to prevent him from saying or doing something to the man before him, He would just occasionally hum or nod once every six sentences.

That seemed to be enough for Xui Fan and they soon had their second meeting. This time around, they had not gone to a restaurant but had chosen to go have ice cream and take a walk.

Xui Fan prattled away next to him while he enjoyed his vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips. 

"Realm Master. Mu Ze is walking down the third corner. Both of you would meet within two minutes. What should I do?"

"Why should you do anything?" Shen Jiyu asked. It was not like he was some kind of mistress. He licked his ice cream without any fear. It was good if the other saw them, even better if he took some pictures. His acting skills were not so great that he could endure a third hangout. He glanced at Xui Fan, who was so closely covered.

"A face cap, gloves, coat, mask, scarves, Mr Xui are you a thief? Why are you covered so tightly."

Xui Fan chuckled, "Ah! It is because I am a little popular so I have to cover my face when I go out. You are an artist so you understand, ba." 

Shen Jiyu snorted and stopped, "Take it off."

Xui Fan's face changed; he normally does not indulge his lovers like this but Shen Jiyu was just like his ex. They looked extremely alike and had the same personality, it was as if his white moonlight was right by his side.

The thought made him move closer to Shen Jiyu and pull his mask away revealing his full face. "Help me take off the scarf, I can not go it by myself.:

"Realm Master! Mu Ze is at the corner, his bodyguard is taking pictures." Xiao Shu's voice was loud and Shen Jiyu hissed. Xui Fan took it as a rejection of his advances and grabbed Shen Jiyu, pulling him closer.

"We are adults. My thoughts towards you, Mr. Yan should have an idea. I can promise you all the resources that you want. What do you say?

Shen Jiyu was quiet for a while and then he asked Xiao Shu, "It has been 45 seconds, they must have taken enough pictures, right?"

Xiao Shu nodded, "Yes"

Receiving his affirmation, Shen Jiyu suddenly smiled.

"You are accepted…" He had not finished speaking when he felt a pain in his legs. He stumbled and looked at Shen Jiyu who had just kicked him without any mercy, only to see a fist landing on his face. 

His eyes turned and he fell to the ground. Xui Fan had never imagined such a situation, especially as he had sent his bodyguards away so there would be no leak. He wanted to sit up and fight back but the man sitting on him seemed to be as heavy as a mountain. Blows and Blows continued to rain on him.

He was thoroughly beaten in and out of his consciousness that he could not see that a young man with white hair suddenly appeared next to him, nervously trying to pull Shen Jiyu back, "Realm Master, you are going to kill him."