The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 202

“Hey, big star, it’s finally summer break. Take me with you, please? I’ve never been to the highlands,” Jian Fu nudged Lin Zhen’s arm gently, pleading in a low voice.

Lin Zhen still had styling clips in his hair. While the makeup artist stepped away to grab something, he turned his head and glanced at Jian Fu. “It’s deep in the mountains—tough conditions. What’s there to enjoy?”

Jian Fu sighed dramatically. “I just don’t want to stay at A University, playing audience to my brother and the big panda. The two of them are acting up a storm, and I’m exhausted just watching.”

Lin Zhen gave him a serious look and sighed. “I’m going there for a cameo shoot—I won’t have time to keep you company.”

Jian Fu shrugged and blurted, “That’s fine. Wherever you go, I’ll go. Just being with you is good enough.”

Lin Zhen paused, giving Jian Fu a meaningful look.

At that moment, the makeup artist returned, and Jian Fu, realizing the mood, quickly stepped aside. Lin Zhen pretended nothing had happened and turned his head back.

The makeup artist teased, “Is this one of your staff, Teacher Lin?”

Lin Zhen opened his mouth to reply, but Jian Fu jumped in, “We’re tight buddies, inseparable!”

Lin Zhen swallowed his words and let it go.

The makeup artist raised an eyebrow. “Oh, someone from outside the industry?”

Lin Zhen coughed lightly and said flatly, “A high school classmate.”

Jian Fu had been about to add more, but seeing Lin Zhen’s indifferent expression, he hesitated, feeling a little awkward.

Just high school classmates? Why didn’t he want people to know how close they were?

Usually optimistic and thick-skinned, Jian Fu felt a twinge of bitterness for the first time over someone’s words. But embarrassed to show it, he simply sat in a corner, staring at his phone.

Lin Zhen noticed Jian Fu’s sulking expression in the mirror. Once his makeup was done and the artist left, leaving only the two of them in the room, Lin Zhen got up, walked over, and lightly tapped Jian Fu’s shoe with the tip of his own.

“People in the entertainment industry are especially nosy,” Lin Zhen explained softly. “Makeup rooms are breeding grounds for gossip. By the time rumors spread a few rounds, they’re completely twisted.”

Jian Fu looked surprised. “Twisted how?”

Lin Zhen replied, “Twisted enough to say I’m financially supporting you.”

Jian Fu frowned, thinking for a moment, and then grumbled, “Why would you be supporting me? Why not the other way around?”

Lin Zhen: “…Is that really the point?”

Jian Fu nodded earnestly. “Yeah! Do I not look rich to you? I think I pull off the vibe pretty well!”

Lin Zhen rolled his eyes silently and shook his head helplessly.

Seeing Lin Zhen speechless, Jian Fu leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Hey, why are you so cautious now?”

Leaning shoulder to shoulder with him, Lin Zhen let out a soft sigh. “I’ve learned a lot over the years from our class monitor. It’s been incredibly helpful. Back then, I didn’t even know how to read a contract, let alone spot traps. If I had never met you all, I might have signed with Wajing Entertainment through that talent show. Who knows how things would have turned out.”

Fate and chance are fascinating things. Sometimes, a seemingly insignificant choice can change everything.

Lin Zhen felt truly fortunate to have seen so much of the darker side of the industry before fully stepping into society. It kept him from being too naive and falling into the traps set by capital interests.

“Ah, what’s the point of overthinking? You didn’t end up signing with Wajing anyway,” Jian Fu said, slinging an arm around Lin Zhen’s shoulder and giving him two heavy pats.

Lin Zhen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Jian Fu, my hair…”

Succumbing to Jian Fu’s relentless pestering, Lin Zhen ultimately decided to take him along to the highlands for the shoot.

The team suddenly found itself with one more member.

The sudden addition of a new face to the team piqued everyone’s curiosity. They couldn’t help bombarding Lin Zhen with questions, but Lin Zhen insisted that it was just a high school classmate visiting for fun.

On the first day at the high-altitude location, the production crew allowed everyone to acclimate to the elevation, so no work was scheduled.

As a popular celebrity, Lin Zhen naturally had his own room, while other staff members shared double rooms.

When rooms were being assigned, Jian Fu looked at his key card for an ordinary double room, blinking in disbelief.

He’d never stayed in such a basic room before—he was used to being welcomed by five-star hotel managers whenever he traveled. But given the conditions on the plateau, even the lead actors’ accommodations weren’t particularly luxurious.

Lin Zhen’s agent was still fussing over him. “Zhenbao, go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow, you need to wake up by 5:30 for breakfast. I don’t want you to get altitude sickness. We’ll start makeup at 6 and then head to the set. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to wake you up on time.”

Jian Fu glanced at the burly man carrying his luggage beside him and asked, “I’m sharing a room with him?”

The executive agent turned to look at Jian Fu. “Is there a problem?”

Jian Fu immediately hooked his arm around Lin Zhen’s. “I want to share a room with Lin Zhen.”

The agent’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What did you just say? Do you know how many fans are tailing Zhenbao? If they find out you’re sharing a room, I wouldn’t even know how to explain it!”

Jian Fu looked baffled. “Explain what? I’ve even crashed on his dorm bed before.”

The agent was speechless. “You’ve even—”

Lin Zhen cut in, “It’s fine. My room is a bit bigger anyway, and sharing isn’t a big deal.”

Lin Zhen knew that Jian Fu was a quiet sleeper, while the bodyguard was known to snore. If Jian Fu shared a room with him, he probably wouldn’t get a good night’s rest.

“Zhenbao…” The agent still wasn’t convinced. Artists needed quiet, private spaces to rest, especially before a long day of work.

Lin Zhen waved him off. “Don’t worry. The hotel has pretty good privacy measures.”

Besides, his room had two large beds, and leaving one empty seemed wasteful.

Jian Fu happily carried his luggage into Lin Zhen’s room without the slightest hesitation, treating it as if it were his own space.

Watching his carefree figure, Lin Zhen chuckled, his eyes curving into a smile as he casually shut the door behind them.

Filming in such a remote, high-altitude location was undoubtedly tough. Although Lin Zhen didn’t have a particularly heavy role, he still had to be on set all day.

Some of his fans were unhappy with his choice of role, feeling it didn’t align with his current popularity. But Lin Zhen wasn’t one to aim for superficial gains. He valued the depth of the character and the professionalism of the director’s team, knowing he could learn a lot from this project.

He firmly believed that one’s abilities must match their level of fame. Only then could they have the confidence to sustain their career. Otherwise, it was only a matter of time before their shortcomings were exposed.

Having risen to stardom at a young age, Lin Zhen knew there was still so much to learn.

Before coming, several people at the company had warned him about the challenging shooting conditions. Wearing heavy historical costumes in the summer heat was said to be ten times harder than military training.

He had felt a lot of pressure when he first heard this and wasn’t particularly thrilled.

But ever since Jian Fu insisted on tagging along, that pressure had completely dissipated.

The thought of seeing Jian Fu every day on set made everything seem much more bearable.

Jian Fu was the most emotionally stable, healthy, and cheerful person Lin Zhen had ever met.

It seemed like nothing could leave a mark on Jian Fu’s heart. He was always able to shake off negative emotions effortlessly.

This optimism and self-confidence radiated an endless stream of energy to those around him, even though Jian Fu himself seemed unaware of it.

Jian Fu plopped down on one of the large beds and asked, “Both beds are huge. Which one are you taking? Or should we just share one?”

Lin Zhen shot him a glare. “Get lost.”

Jian Fu clicked his tongue. “Big star or not, you’re getting meaner and meaner to me.”

He pouted exaggeratedly, then threw himself onto the bed by the door, sprawling lazily as he rolled over onto his back with a satisfied sigh.

Lin Zhen walked over, knelt on one knee by the side of the bed, and tugged on Jian Fu’s clothes. “Get down. You haven’t showered yet—why are you already on the bed?”

Jian Fu turned his head and asked, “Are you a germaphobe?”

Lin Zhen replied, “It’s not about that. The car was so dirty, and now you’re lying on the bed. How are you going to sleep later?”

Jian Fu’s eyes lit up. “If my bed’s dirty, that means I can sleep in yours later, right?”

Lin Zhen froze for a moment before smacking Jian Fu lightly. “Fine, stay dirty for all I care!”

He didn’t delve into Jian Fu’s fixation with his bed, nor did Jian Fu realize his own subconscious desire to be close to Lin Zhen. Sometimes, the things one longs for most slip out without even realizing it.

Lin Zhen unpacked his belongings and prepared to take a shower, only to discover that the hotel bathroom was fitted with frosted glass.

Although frosted, the glass became slightly transparent when wet, and the silhouette of the person inside could still be vaguely seen.

Lin Zhen suddenly felt a bit awkward.

When he’d agreed to let Jian Fu stay in his room, he hadn’t even considered the issue of taking a shower.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Zhen noticed Jian Fu staring blankly at the bathroom, seemingly lost in thought.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Zhen asked, uncomfortable.

Jian Fu murmured, “Frosted glass, huh.”

Lin Zhen turned away. “I’m going to shower. Why don’t you step out for a while?”

“Why?” Jian Fu asked, puzzled. “Why would I leave just because you’re showering? You’re not a girl.”

Lin Zhen: “…”

Jian Fu’s reasoning was irrefutable.

Lin Zhen thought about it. If he were sharing a room with their class monitor, would he care about showering? Probably not.

In that case, Jian Fu, with his straightforward nature, wouldn’t be a big deal either.

It was already late, and they had to wake up early the next morning.

Reluctantly, Lin Zhen grabbed his change of clothes and stepped into the bathroom.

As soon as the bathroom’s warming light turned on, the silhouette behind the frosted glass became even more visible.

Jian Fu leaned against the headboard, planning to play some mobile games for a while.

Not long after, he heard the faint rustling of clothes being taken off. He couldn’t help but glance toward the bathroom several times.

His in-game teammate reminded him to focus, and he quickly lowered his head to play, only to hear the sound of water cascading to the floor moments later.

Once again, he paused his game, unconsciously looking toward the bathroom.

The steam from the hot water fogged up the frosted glass, making the silhouette behind it more distinct. The contours of Lin Zhen’s figure, as well as his fair skin, were faintly visible through the damp glass.

Lin Zhen’s proportions were impeccable—perfectly in line with the standards of the entertainment industry. His slim build made his legs appear especially long, and every movement of his was graceful and eye-catching.

Jian Fu stared through the glass, momentarily transfixed.

He didn’t know why he wanted to look. When he’d shared a room with Cen Xiao before, he’d never once been interested in his brother’s physique.

Teammate: “You #%$*! AFK idiot! Don’t let me catch you in another game!”

Startled, Jian Fu snapped back to reality. He looked down at the game—he had lost, and his teammate had blocked him.

Jian Fu: “…”