The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 213

Qing Lee was visibly flustered, even her hand holding the champagne glass seemed slightly unnatural.

But Lin Zhen couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it—someone so insignificant wasn’t worth his emotional energy.

Retracting his gaze, he bypassed Qing Lee and moved on to the next exhibit area.

The attendees at the event were all seasoned players. While everyone put on an air of sophistication, the slightest whiff of tension would immediately draw their attention.

Qing Lee’s awkward defeat didn’t go unnoticed. Some found it amusing, others started to look down on her, and still others began speculating about Lin Zhen’s background. Everyone harbored their own thoughts, and the dim lighting of the exhibition hall served as the perfect cover for their musings.

Lin Zhen, however, remained oblivious. He tilted his head slightly, whispering to Jian Fu, “I honestly don’t understand much of this.”

Jian Fu replied, “I don’t get it either, and I don’t particularly like it. But if you’re interested, we can attend more private salons where the artists themselves explain their works.”

Lin Zhen nodded. “Yeah, I guess she did remind me—I’m in this industry now, so I should understand at least a little.”

He knew Jian Fu likely understood far more than he let on, but Jian Fu’s response made him feel comfortable, as though they were equals. It was a kind of relaxed camaraderie that was both reassuring and considerate.

Jian Fu patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t stress yourself out. Art is about interpretation. Once it’s created, it’s up to the audience to make sense of it—there’s no single right answer.”

Lin Zhen smiled. “It’s more about improving my aesthetic sensibility.”

Jian Fu quipped, “With your level of influence, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to absorb it all in time.”

As they chatted, they wandered through the exhibits. Whenever they came across an artist Jian Fu recognized, he would share anecdotes about their personalities and quirks, as well as interesting stories behind their work.

For the first time, Lin Zhen felt that these stiff, lifeless artworks had come to life. Behind them were vivid, fascinating individuals.

Jian Fu always had a knack for turning mundane experiences into something engaging.

The two-story exhibition hall wasn’t particularly large, and after finishing their tour, Lin Zhen took Sister Mei and Jian Fu to meet the designers.

As he approached, two senior designers were drinking and chatting with a well-known opera singer.

Lin Zhen stepped forward to introduce himself, clinked glasses with them, and posed for a friendly photo.

One of the designers remarked, “Lin Zhen, you look very dashing.”

Lin Zhen responded politely, “It’s all thanks to the design of the clothes.”

The designer laughed. “Haha, no, you wear them beautifully. Very impressive. Let’s work together more in the future.”

Lin Zhen replied, “Thank you for the compliment, teacher. I look forward to collaborating more.”

After exchanging pleasantries with Lin Zhen, the designer turned to glance at Jian Fu. “And who might this be?”

Jian Fu was quite good-looking, but since he wasn’t wearing the designer’s clothes, the designer wasn’t sure if he was an invited guest.

Jian Fu said casually, “I’m Lin Zhen’s friend.”

Lin Zhen added, “He came along with me.”

The designer nodded. “I see, I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”

His instinct told him Jian Fu’s identity wasn’t ordinary. While Jian Fu’s attire was more casual compared to Lin Zhen’s, those accustomed to mingling in the upper echelons of society tend to have a keen sense for such things.

Jian Fu smiled. “Thank you, I quite like it.”

His response was calm and self-assured, showing no inclination to curry favor with anyone.

At that moment, an assistant hurried over, looking serious, and spoke to the designer, “Sir, there’s been a conflict between actress Qing Li’s team and a hotel guest at the crystal staircase.”

The designer frowned. “What happened?”

The assistant explained, “Her team handled things poorly—they spoke harshly, claiming Qing Li needed to rush her shoot and brought a whole group of photographers to the staircase. A guest was also taking photos there and refused to move. The situation escalated into a conflict, and now the hotel manager is mediating.”

The designer’s expression darkened slightly. “Understood, but that’s out of our control.”

As the host, he had arranged suites for all the celebrities. Conflicts between their teams and guests made things difficult for him.

But Qing Li was still Qing Li, and no matter how troublesome the situation, he couldn’t openly criticize her.

Sister Mei, however, grew concerned. “It’s not resolved yet?”

The assistant glanced at Sister Mei and shook his head. “The guest is being quite insistent and demands an apology from Qing Li herself, but she refuses. So, it’s at a stalemate.”

Sister Mei wasn’t worried about Qing Li. Instead, she was concerned about her own plans to use the crystal staircase for Lin Zhen’s photos. Now that Qing Li’s team was embroiled in a dispute, they couldn’t go there either.

Checking the time, Sister Mei said, “Zhenbao, let’s head to the rooftop garden first. We’re on a tight schedule.”

The event had many celebrities, and prime locations had to be reserved or queued for.

But when they arrived at the rooftop garden, three teams were already there shooting. Worse, the flowers and decorations were so similar that the photos would all look identical.

Sister Mei smiled wryly. “When these go on Weibo tonight, everyone will have the same background.”

A single person using it might be called “fashionable,” but when it’s overused, it becomes “cliché.”

Jian Fu looked puzzled. “Do you have to shoot at the hotel?”

Sister Mei explained, “Well, these are haute couture outfits. If they get damaged or dirty, it’s hard to account for. Most teams return the clothes right after the shoot. Shooting at the hotel is convenient and fast.”

Jian Fu pointed across the street. “What about the Ninth District building? The environment there looks nice, no obstructions, and you’d get the city center’s tower and Ferris wheel in the background.”

Sister Mei sighed. “That’s an office building—how could they let you in to take photos? It’s hard to negotiate.”

Jian Fu chuckled. “Who says?”

Lin Zhen added confidently, “We can.”

Sister Mei was stunned. “Huh?”

Lin Zhen replied softly, “The Ninth District’s Ghost Eye division head is a friend of mine.”

Jian Fu nodded. “Yeah, he’s my brother.”

Sister Mei was floored. “!!!”

She muttered, “… Zhenbao, could you let the team know about your connections in advance next time?”

Lin Zhen smiled helplessly. “It’s unrelated to work, so I didn’t mention it. We were all high school classmates.”

Sister Mei sighed in disbelief. “Your high school really is full of hidden talents.”

Lin Zhen smiled. “Yeah, it was pretty great.”

Being able to shoot at a unique location that no one else could was undoubtedly the best option. As Sister Mei prepared to lead the team downstairs, a manager from a pop star’s team stopped her. “Hey, you’re not waiting in line anymore? We’ll let you go next after us.”

Sister Mei laughed politely. “No need. We’re heading over to the Ninth District building for our shoot. The hotel’s been overdone anyway, haha.”

The other manager looked intrigued. “Can you just walk into that building? It’s pretty tall. We’ve been trying to find unique spots, too—don’t want everyone’s pictures looking the same tonight.”

Sister Mei quickly waved her hands and responded vaguely, “Oh no, you can’t just walk in. Lin Zhen happens to have a friend there. Anyway, we’ve got to go—time is tight.”

The other manager looked surprised. “Lin Zhen has friends in Blue Pivot’s Ninth District?”

Sister Mei covered her mouth and chuckled softly, “Classmate, classmate, keep a low profile.”

The other person said enviously, “That’s so great. It’s really hard to get good shots at the hotel. At this rate, we’re all planning to shoot in the bathtubs of our rooms.”

Sister Mei responded politely, “That’s nice too! Your artist has a unique style, so there’s no need to worry about the same background.”

 The other person laughed nervously, “Hopefully.”

Before heading to the Ninth District building, Jian Fu called Cen Xiao and found out that Li Rong was also there.

This piqued Lin Zhen’s interest even more.

The group, armed with photography gear, headed to the Ninth District in high spirits.

It was fortunate that the security at the Ninth District was strict; otherwise, Lin Zhen, as a high-profile public figure, would have easily caused a crowd.

Jian Fu shielded Lin Zhen with an umbrella and escorted him all the way to the lobby of the Ninth District. It was Sister Mei’s first time visiting such a place, and she couldn’t help but look around in awe, clicking her tongue in amazement.

When they reached Cen Xiao’s office, Li Rong was sitting in Cen Xiao’s chair, casually munching on pistachios, while Cen Xiao leaned against the desk, reviewing documents. Every now and then, he would bend down, and Li Rong would feed him a pistachio.

As soon as Lin Zhen saw Li Rong, his eyes lit up, and he ran over excitedly. “Class monitor!”

Li Rong smiled warmly at him. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to A City today?”

Lin Zhen immediately sighed dramatically, “There’s no time! I have to fly back right after this event. I didn’t want to bother you.”

Li Rong looked him up and down. “Hmm, not bad. The plateau didn’t tan you too much.”

Lin Zhen pouted. “Actually, I did get tanned. It’s all makeup. I’m under the sun every day—it’s impossible not to tan.”

Li Rong pushed a cup of Shoumei tea toward Lin Zhen. “Then I’ll urge the director to start a project for a highly effective sunscreen spray.”

Jian Fu interjected, “Are you two done pretending yet?”

Li Rong chuckled. “Of course we are. I’m secretly sneaking into Cen’s office to meet him. Whenever someone comes, I hide under the desk.”

Cen Xiao glanced at Li Rong with a faint laugh.

This was pure nonsense. Whenever someone came, Cen Xiao would step out to handle things, while Li Rong, exhausted from his day, stayed lazily curled up in the chair, not even lifting a leg.

Jian Fu believed him and asked earnestly, “Doesn’t he have a lounge here? Why hide under the desk?”

Li Rong raised an eyebrow and replied meaningfully, “Your brother has his preferences. Some hobbies you wouldn’t understand.”

Lin Zhen’s face turned bright red in an instant, and he lowered his head involuntarily.

Whether Jian Fu understood or not was unclear, but Lin Zhen clearly did, and he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed for understanding.

Sister Mei cautiously knocked on the door. “Lin Zhen, are you done chatting? The photographer found a few good spots, and we need to get to shooting.”

With Cen Xiao’s permission, the photographers were allowed to move around the Ninth District’s public areas. The Ninth District was known for its luxurious and modern architectural style, a stark contrast to the old-fashioned solemnity of the Hongsuo Research Institute.

Although Lin Zhen was reluctant to part with Li Rong, he had work to do and had to leave with Sister Mei.

Jian Fu, however, stayed behind.

He mysteriously locked the door, pulled up a chair, and sat down across from Li Rong and Cen Xiao, his expression unusually serious. “I’ve got something I need to talk to you two about.”

Li Rong paused mid-pistachio and looked at Jian Fu in surprise. “So serious?”

Cen Xiao also put down his documents. Jian Fu rarely acted this solemn; it seemed like a real issue.

Jian Fu scratched his head, looking troubled. “I don’t even know how to put this. It’s hard to say out loud, but I’ve got no one else to ask besides you two.”

Cen Xiao frowned slightly. “Then just say it.”

Jian Fu scooted his chair closer, lifting his hips slightly. “Lately, I’ve been finding Lin Zhen’s figure really attractive, and he’s quite good-looking too. Honestly, I feel like I can’t get enough of looking at him.”

Li Rong smiled. “Oh? Are you thinking of taking up fitness too?”

Cen Xiao shot Li Rong a sidelong glance, knowing full well that Li Rong was pretending not to understand.

Jian Fu shook his head vigorously. “No, it’s not that. I just feel like sticking to him all the time. I want to see him every day. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Actually, I think I might’ve liked him back in high school already. Anyway… I feel like our brotherly bond is starting to change. You know, kind of like what you two have. I feel for him the way my brother feels about you. But Lin Zhen is straight. It’s driving me crazy.”

Cen Xiao stayed silent for a while before he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure…”

Before he could finish, Li Rong grabbed Cen Xiao’s wrist, feigning concern. “Exactly, Lin Zhen is straight. How did you end up with this kind of idea?”

Cen Xiao: “…”

He wouldn’t argue with anything Li Rong said. If Lin Zhen was straight, so be it.

Jian Fu slumped over, holding his face in his hands with frustration. “Maybe I’m just not pure enough. How could I develop these feelings for my brother? But I can’t help it. I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my life.”

Li Rong spoke slowly, “You know, I used to be straight too, right?”

Jian Fu peeked at him through his fingers, blinking. “Which is why I came to ask you. How did my brother win you over?”

Li Rong poured himself a cup of tea, speaking casually. “By appealing to my interests, treating me sincerely, and giving selflessly. At the time, I was consumed with the desire for revenge, and Cen Xiao had the power to help me. To me, that was irresistible.”

Jian Fu pondered this seriously but couldn’t see how it applied. Compared to Li Rong’s tumultuous life, his and Lin Zhen’s relationship seemed smooth and straightforward.

How was he supposed to display his charm? It felt like he had all this charisma but nowhere to channel it.

With a confused expression, Jian Fu muttered, “Fine, I’ll think it over. For now, I’ll go check on his photoshoot.”

Jian Fu wandered off in a daze. Cen Xiao pinched Li Rong’s chin. “Why tease him? It’s hard enough for him to see things clearly.”

Li Rong nuzzled Cen Xiao’s palm and said seriously, “I wasn’t trying to make things hard for him. The two of them are different from us. We come from special circumstances and can make our own decisions. But they both have close ties to their families. For Lin Zhen, choosing this path comes at a higher cost than it does for Jian Fu.

“You know it too—Jian Fu has always had an easy time getting what he wants, but Lin Zhen worked hard for everything he has now. Jian Fu needs to understand that. He can’t take Lin Zhen’s sacrifices lightly just because Lin Zhen likes him.”

Cen Xiao said quietly, “Jian Fu may seem carefree, but he’s soft-hearted and kind. He won’t take Lin Zhen’s feelings for granted.”

Li Rong’s eyes curved in a smile. “Alright, I might be biased toward Lin Zhen. After knowing what Lin Zhen went through in his past life, I just hope Jian Fu cherishes this relationship.”

Cen Xiao was reminded of something Li Rong had said earlier and couldn’t help but remark, “So, your favorite thing about me is that I could help you get revenge.”

Li Rong’s gaze sparkled as he brushed his shoe lightly against Cen Xiao’s leg, teasing. “I also like what you can do in bed.”