The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 203

Lin Zhen walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair, and saw Jian Fu sitting on the bed, staring blankly at his phone.

He wasn’t playing on it—just staring at the dark screen, lost in thought.

Jian Fu rarely ever seemed pensive, so Lin Zhen couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched. “What are you thinking about?”

Jian Fu flinched and immediately looked at Lin Zhen, his expression slightly guilty. “Huh?”

Blinking in confusion, Lin Zhen walked over to the edge of Jian Fu’s bed, studying him with suspicion. “What’s wrong? Why are you zoning out with your phone in hand?”

Lin Zhen’s shampoo and body wash were from a brand he endorsed—high quality and pleasantly scented.

As Lin Zhen leaned closer, Jian Fu caught a faint whiff of coconut.

His mind wandered. Lin Zhen really did have a clean and refined look, with excellent proportions. It wasn’t surprising so many people liked him.

Who wouldn’t?

Lin Zhen frowned slightly and waved his hand in front of Jian Fu’s face. “You’re acting weird.”

Jian Fu finally snapped out of it, tossed his phone aside, and rubbed the tip of his nose. “I lost a game. I was just replaying it in my head.”

Lin Zhen nodded. “So what if you lost? If you don’t shower tonight and sweat again tomorrow, don’t come near me.”

“I’ll shower, I’ll shower!” Jian Fu jumped up from the bed, grabbing his clothes and bolting toward the bathroom.

He moved so quickly mostly to hide his guilt. He wasn’t replaying a game in his head—he’d been replaying the scene of Lin Zhen showering.

But that was too strange, too embarrassing to admit. How could he be ogling his buddy’s physique?

“Definitely acting weird,” Lin Zhen muttered softly as he watched Jian Fu retreat.

Inside the bathroom, Jian Fu found the warmth and lingering fragrance of Lin Zhen’s shower still in the air. It was as if Lin Zhen had left a part of himself behind.

Jian Fu swallowed hard, undressed, and turned on the shower.

Hot water poured down over him, and it was only then Jian Fu realized his heartbeat was racing slightly. Luckily, only he could feel its rhythm, drowned out by the sound of the water.

When Jian Fu finished his shower and stepped out, he found Lin Zhen already curled up in bed with his eyes closed.

A dim bedside lamp cast a soft yellow glow. Lin Zhen was wearing a black sleep mask, the blanket forming a neat little mound over him, while the rest of the bedding remained tidy and unwrinkled.

Lin Zhen was a quiet sleeper, never moving his hands or feet, his breathing barely audible. Jian Fu could only make out the faint parting of his lips.

Jian Fu stared at Lin Zhen’s sleeping posture for a few moments, feeling a sudden wave of gratitude that he had decided to tag along.

During the filming period, he could share a room with Lin Zhen every night and watch him sleep.

Jian Fu climbed into his own bed, reached out to switch off the bedside lamp, and settled in.

He had enjoyed countless good nights of sleep in his life, but this one was particularly sweet.

***

At 5:30 a.m., the manager knocked on the door right on schedule, the loud rapping impossible to ignore for anyone trying to sleep.

Jian Fu, accustomed to a life of comfort, was slightly grumpy upon waking. Throwing off his blanket, he was about to yell at the person outside to stop knocking when he saw Lin Zhen remove his sleep mask, rub his eyes, and obediently sit up.

With a drowsy yawn and a nasal tone, Lin Zhen mumbled, “I need to get up for makeup. You can sleep a little longer.”

Jian Fu’s morning grumpiness evaporated instantly. He rubbed his face and sat up straight. “I’ll go with you.”

Lin Zhen didn’t object.

No one enjoys getting up this early to work, and if Jian Fu had gone back to sleep, Lin Zhen might have felt even less motivated.

The hotel breakfast was decent, offering both Western and Chinese options.

Lin Zhen ate a sandwich and drank a glass of vegetable juice before hurrying off for his makeup session.

Jian Fu, meanwhile, finished two bowls of rice noodles and was now fully awake.

After setting down his bowl, he made his way to the makeup room to see what was happening.

Lin Zhen was filming a period drama, which required a significant amount of effort for his daily makeup. As a well-known actor, he shared a makeup room with the male and female leads.

Jian Fu quietly slipped in through the doorway and found the male and female leads chatting.

The female lead said, “I need to take a day off the day after tomorrow to attend the Tech Gala.”

The male lead replied, “Ah, is it the one hosted by that big tech company? I saw the announcement.”

The female lead smiled. “You saw it, huh?”

The male lead nodded. “Yeah, that’s impressive. It sounds like a lot of big-name directors and producers were invited.”

The female lead said modestly, “Well, I’m only going because my boss is taking me along.”

The male lead encouraged her, “Don’t be so modest! It’s because they recognize your popularity and your work.”

The female lead shook her head, smiling, “Not at all.”

The male and female leads chatted happily, and once their makeup was done, they left the makeup room surrounded by staff.

Lin Zhen’s makeup artist also paused their work to escort the leads out.

Lin Zhen, with the hairspray on his styled hair still drying, adjusted his bangs in the mirror.

He was aware of the gala they had mentioned. Some of the veterans from his company had been invited, but while he had the popularity, his body of work wasn’t strong enough yet for the company to recommend him.

Jian Fu leaned against the doorway, watching Lin Zhen’s realistic-looking period drama wig. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch it. “Wow.”

It was silky and smooth, almost like Lin Zhen had grown it himself.

Lin Zhen scolded him softly, “Don’t mess it up.”

Only then did Jian Fu withdraw his hand, grinning. He casually asked, “Do you want to go to that gala they were talking about?”

Lin Zhen glanced at him and replied quietly, “No, I’m still a newcomer. I lack experience and need to focus all my energy on acting.”

Lin Zhen’s manager overheard Jian Fu’s remark and instantly looked concerned. She said sternly, “Watch what you’re saying. As someone close to Lin Zhen, you shouldn’t act recklessly. That gala is for seasoned industry professionals. It’s not something you can just attend casually. If rumors spread that Lin Zhen wants to go, people might think our team is overestimating itself.”

Jian Fu wrinkled his nose, puzzled. “Huh? Is that being reckless? It doesn’t seem like such a big deal to me.”

After all, his father was an honorary guest at the gala, and the invitation was still sitting on their dining table. His father had even wanted to bring him along, but he had turned him down so he could follow Lin Zhen to the shoot.

Understanding this, he had only brought it up because of the conversation earlier. He hadn’t expected the entertainment industry to be so cautious.

Lin Zhen coughed lightly and glanced at his manager. “Sister Mei, he doesn’t get it. He really can go if he wants, so there’s no need to explain.”

The manager widened her eyes in shock, hesitating for a few seconds before turning to stare at Jian Fu closely.

Jian Fu usually hung around Lin Zhen, always joking and carefree. Though he wore branded clothes, they weren’t excessively luxurious, and he came across as just an ordinary rich second-generation kid.

She had never imagined this guy had such a background.

From that moment, her perspective on Jian Fu shifted dramatically.

She suddenly realized that Lin Zhen’s time in high school hadn’t been wasted. The well-known researcher Li Rong, famous online, was Lin Zhen’s classmate. Now, it turned out this wealthy second-generation heir was also his classmate.

With their support, Lin Zhen’s career path would undoubtedly be more secure.

Sister Mei forced a stiff smile at Jian Fu. “Actually, if you can attend, it’s better to go and make connections.”

From a pragmatic perspective, this minor supporting role is clearly less important than meeting major directors and producers at a banquet.

Jian Fu could also see it—he had become valuable now, and even Lin Zhen’s manager’s attitude had changed.

He smiled faintly without giving anything away.

But Lin Zhen sternly refused, “I’m serious. Filming already takes up so much of my energy. I don’t want to delay the crew or take any leave.”

Sister Mei looked at Lin Zhen and sighed.

Lin Zhen’s personality, honestly, was quite good. Everyone was willing to be friends with him and work around him. But in the entertainment industry, he was too soft-hearted and too gentle.

Sometimes, not being opportunistic doesn’t necessarily lead to good outcomes. Genuine effort doesn’t always result in equal rewards.

This is the harsh reality of a place that firmly believes in the principle of “every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him.” Every resource and opportunity is a struggle, both overt and covert, with no pretense of civility or decency.

The more glamorous the surface, the more sinister and ruthless it is underneath.

But since she had recognized Lin Zhen’s talent and chosen him, what could she say? All she could do was protect him to the best of her ability and help him achieve his dreams.

Jian Fu clapped Lin Zhen on the shoulder and sincerely reassured him, “Don’t worry. Whenever you want to go, I’ll coax them into holding another event.”

While Lin Zhen was getting his makeup done, he wore just a thin white T-shirt. When Jian Fu placed his hand on Lin Zhen’s shoulder, the warmth of his palm was immediately felt against Lin Zhen’s collarbone.

Although Jian Fu was usually carefree and casual, his seriousness at times gave an inexplicable sense of security.

Lin Zhen’s gaze flickered slightly, and he averted his eyes, lowering his lashes. “Stop messing around.”

It was an hour later when Lin Zhen finished his makeup.

The lead actor and actress were filming their first meeting scene, and Lin Zhen waited on the side, putting on his costume.

The traditional costume had six or seven layers, thick and cumbersome. As soon as he put it on, he began to sweat.

The high-altitude environment was also harsh, with scorching sunlight. Actors had to frequently reapply sunscreen and touch up their makeup.

After dressing, Lin Zhen found that the leads hadn’t finished their scene yet, so he could only sit and wait under the shade.

The chair under the canopy was decent, but the ground was overgrown with weeds, and there were small bugs among them.

Jian Fu sat beside Lin Zhen, holding a chilled drink. From time to time, he’d offer the straw to Lin Zhen for a sip to cool down.

Lin Zhen listened attentively to the director’s instructions and didn’t refuse the drink brought to his lips.

Thus, Jian Fu alternated between taking a sip himself and giving one to Lin Zhen, quickly finishing the large bottle of the drink.

Lin Zhen knew they were sharing the same straw but merely lifted his eyelids slightly, saying nothing.

Finally, the lead actors wrapped up their scene, and it was Lin Zhen’s turn. As he stood up, bracing his hands on his knees, he suddenly felt an itch on his back.

With the heavy layers of his costume, moving too much would easily mess up the wardrobe that the stylist had meticulously arranged.

So Lin Zhen pointed to his back and said to Jian Fu, “Help me scratch it. My back’s itchy.”

Jian Fu’s gaze shifted downward, landing on Lin Zhen’s back. He licked his lips and casually tossed the empty drink bottle aside. “Where exactly?”

He carefully extended his hand, slipping it into Lin Zhen’s collar and along the skin of his shoulder and neck, reaching further back.

Lin Zhen directed him, “A little lower.”

Jian Fu swallowed hard and slid his hand deeper.

Lin Zhen wasn’t the type to sweat easily, but in this weather, a light sheen had formed. If it had been anyone else, Jian Fu would definitely have been put off, but when it came to Lin Zhen, not only did he not mind, he actually found himself oddly pleased.

Lin Zhen hadn’t expected Jian Fu’s touch to be so gentle—so gentle it almost tickled.

Feeling uneasy, he shifted his shoulder blades slightly and murmured, “Right there.”

Jian Fu’s hand paused, then softly scratched the spot with the pad of his finger. “Here?”

Lin Zhen’s back had a few ticklish spots, and when Jian Fu scratched lightly, Lin Zhen immediately jolted, his muscles tensing up.

(Note for review: This is genuinely about scratching an itch—please work diligently, thank you.)

Lin Zhen’s face flushed red, his fists clenched tightly, and he gritted his teeth as he said, “I have ticklish spots. Don’t… don’t do it so lightly.”

Jian Fu felt his heart skip a beat at Lin Zhen’s reaction. With his hand pressed against Lin Zhen’s back, he could feel every subtle movement of his muscles.

But he hadn’t done anything inappropriate—how could there be such a sensitive guy?

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