Chapter 52 Even I Am Afraid

Seeing the earnest expression on Su Chen’s face, Wang Yilong was momentarily stunned. But almost immediately, he shook his head as if it were a rattle-drum.

“No, no way.”

Wang Yilong’s answer was the last thing Su Chen expected, dousing his enthusiasm in an instant.

What on earth? If you don’t want to be a star, why did you join a talent show? Are you here just to annoy me, sent by heaven to test my patience?

Su Chen was full of complaints but could only press on with his questions.

“If you don’t want to be a star, why did you come to this show?”

Wang Yilong gave a sheepish grin. “Honestly, I just came for fun. I saw how all the girls on those Korean talent shows are pretty, so I wanted to see if I’d meet someone I liked. But none of the pretty girls even gave me the time of day!”

“And now I’ve figured it out. All these girls who want to enter showbiz—they’re all so calculating! I was born in ‘98, I can’t outplay them!”

Su Chen was rendered speechless.

I thought you were just a little eccentric, but it turns out you’re a rare breed, a true otherworldly flower!

Oblivious to Su Chen’s complicated expression, Wang Yilong continued, “Actually, after you went on stage and sang those two mind-blowingly cool songs, you totally turned your image around. The company saw it and wanted to sign me again, probably to ride your coattails.”

“How do I put it… it just made me feel kind of… gross.”

“So, thanks to you, I’ve seen through a lot of things. The entertainment industry is just too complicated—not my scene at all. I’m a sunny, cheerful guy. So, since I’m terminating my contract, might as well just quit the scene entirely.”

This answer was certainly easier for Su Chen to accept.

He asked, “So what will you do next?”

“What else? Go home, of course.” Wang Yilong shrugged indifferently. “My dad’s been nagging me a lot lately. He’s always wanted me to inherit his company. I wanted to do something I liked first, but after thinking it over, I’ve already had my fun. I can’t really let someone else take over the family business, right?”

Su Chen was taken aback, quickly catching the most crucial detail.

“…Go home to take over the family business? Your dad’s company?”

“Yep!”

“…Wait, I don’t think I ever mentioned it to you. My family’s company is pretty big—you’ve probably heard of it. It’s called Wanda.”

Su Chen swallowed nervously and asked in a small voice, “So your dad is…”

“My dad is Wang Jianlin.”

Su Chen: ???

In that instant, Su Chen simply gave up trying to make sense of things, standing there staring into space.

Wang Yilong suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh right, I’m about to leave and I haven’t even told you my real name!”

“…Isn’t it Wang Yilong?”

He shook his head, flashing a guileless smile. “Everyone in showbiz has a stage name, so I gave myself one too—Wang Yilong. My real name is Wang Sicong.”

Su Chen: “……”

Su Chen felt like a clown.

This conversation felt as if he’d suddenly crossed into another reality—the worldview had collapsed entirely!

Su Chen was completely numb.

Even as he walked back to the hotel alone, his mind was still buzzing…

After their meal, Wang Sicong waved goodbye with a smile and, after promising to visit Su Chen in Magic City when the show ended, climbed into a Cullinan with a starlit roof and rolled away into the distance…

Lying on his bed, Su Chen couldn’t help but sink deep into thought.

Are there really so many rich people nowadays? How is it that whoever I run into is either a superstar or the child of a billionaire?

This Wang Yilong—no, Wang Sicong—he actually approached me on his own!

Su Chen pondered for a long time but found no answer. In the end, he could only attribute it to an old saying:

Birds of a feather flock together.

Who could blame him for being so outstanding?

Staring at the ceiling, Su Chen sighed repeatedly.

Since there was a dinner with Yan Mi’s team tonight, Su Chen planned to take a nap and recharge.

One reason was that he’d stayed up all night, and then, just as he was drifting off at noon, Wang Sicong—the “genius”—had dragged him out of bed, so he was still sleep-deprived.

The other reason was that tonight’s dinner would inevitably involve drinking, especially since there were several guys from the northeast on the team, plus Xu Jiajia and Liu Ying, the two social butterflies—a combination that made Su Chen’s head ache just thinking about it.

Just as he was about to draw the curtains, his door was knocked on once more.

“One moment, I’m coming,” Su Chen called, pausing with the curtain half-pulled, before giving a wry smile and heading to the door.

Next time, he’d definitely hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign outside!

Click.

As he opened the door, Han Jiangxue slipped inside like a little mouse.

“Quick, close the door!” Han Jiangxue urged anxiously.

Su Chen was puzzled, but his hands moved swiftly, shutting the door. Only then did Han Jiangxue breathe a sigh of relief.

“Phew… Why do you take so long to open the door?” she complained.

“How was I supposed to know you’d come looking for me? Besides, wouldn’t it have been fine to wait a bit?”

“That’s not the point!” Han Jiangxue puffed her cheeks, her tone playful and mocking. “There are spies for my mother in this hotel. If I get caught coming to your room, you’ll have a whole group of people knocking down your door today!”

Su Chen was bewildered.

“…A group of people? Who?”

Han Jiangxue replied offhandedly, “Security guards.”

Su Chen: “……”

“Then why did you come in here? Get out, out!” He half-jokingly made to drag her and the chair out together.

“Don’t panic! I checked before coming—no one saw me.”

“If you drag me out now and someone sees, then there’s really no way to explain it!”

Seeing Su Chen’s stiff, awkward posture, Han Jiangxue massaged her temples.

Hearing her explanation, Su Chen finally stopped.

“…If your mom is so strict with you, why come looking for me?” he asked, puzzled.

Han Jiangxue curved her lips into a sly smile. “Because it’s thrilling!”

Su Chen: ???

“Miss, don’t joke like that. Our relationship is pure, purely platonic!”

Han Jiangxue burst out laughing at his words.

“Why do you sound so scared? Are you afraid of me or the security guards?”

Su Chen thought for a moment and answered seriously, “Adults never make choices.”

“I’m afraid of both.”