A Contractual Proposal and a Desperate Plea

A complex melange of emotions swirled within Lin Yu’s eyes: a profound lack of fear towards death, intertwined with an intense unwillingness for his brief, unremarkable life to simply fade away.

He found himself adrift, unsure of what he should do, or even what he *could* do.

A torrent of chaotic, overlapping memories assailed him. Though outwardly composed, his inner world was a tattered ruin, unable to withstand the slightest disturbance.

“The wound isn’t deep,” the junior nurse said, quickly stemming the blood from Lin Yu’s neck. She shook her head, a worried frown on her face. “It’s a mercy his limbs were weak from the fever, otherwise, what if he’d truly severed an artery?”

Jiang Yan’s expression was terrifyingly grim as he carried Lin Yu, who was as limp as a puppet, back to the ward.

He gently placed Lin Yu on the bed, his voice laced with a quiet command. “You’re coming with me to rehearsal tomorrow.”

Lin Yu’s emotional state was far too volatile; Jiang Yan couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him unsupervised even for a moment.

Just then, Wang Jian rushed in. He had already settled down for the night in his office, but the junior nurse’s phone call had startled him. He couldn’t believe Lin Yu had caused such a stir, attempting suicide.

Upon examining Lin Yu, he quickly noticed the boy’s extreme listlessness. Lin Yu’s eyes remained unblinking, and aside from his slow, steady breaths, his entire being exuded an alarming fragility.

“You can’t take him with you tomorrow. What did you say to him this time?” Wang Jian pulled a grim-faced Jiang Yan into the living room, asking in a hushed tone.

“A sort of… contractual arrangement. I asked him to try being my boyfriend.” Jiang Yan stated plainly.

“Hiss…” Wang Jian clicked his tongue, pointing a finger into the air, utterly speechless. “You truly have no dating experience. You don’t understand that he’s been severely hurt in this regard.”

Jiang Yan looked perplexed.

“Someone who’s been hurt in love…” Wang Jian began to explain, but Jiang Yan ruthlessly cut him off.

“Do you think Lin Yu ever liked Cai Xinyu?” He didn’t believe it himself; or rather, he *didn’t want* to believe it.

Wang Jian merely stared.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded. “I did indeed infer his mental state from a doctor’s perspective. Alright, let’s assume he never liked Cai Xinyu. But he was deeply hurt by Cai Xinyu maintaining a romantic relationship with him. So, do you truly believe he would agree to be your boyfriend—a contractual boyfriend, no less—at a time like this?”

Jiang Yan waved a dismissive hand. “I considered that. He’d feel like he’d just escaped a wolf’s den only to fall into a tiger’s lair. I… but I never imagined his reaction would be so extreme as to try to cut his own throat.”

Jiang Yan pointed to himself, addressing Wang Jian. “My identity is well-known. My fans are aware that I’m not just a film emperor; I’m also the sole heir to the Jiang Group. In this world, there’s nothing I, Jiang Yan, can’t give Lin Yu. I’m not like Cai Xinyu. So, I confidently believed I could offer him security, allowing him to boldly and willingly accept my genuine affection.”

“Oh, my dear young master,” Wang Jian sighed. “He’s a patient. You don’t need Old Zhang to conduct a professional psychological evaluation; even you and I can see how fragile he is. Of course, you’re not a doctor, so it’s normal that you don’t grasp this. But listen to me now, Jiang Yan: he cannot be understood or communicated with using normal thought processes, alright?” Wang Jian could discern Jiang Yan’s emotions; he was both angry and blaming himself.

Here was a soaring success, a wealthy scion of immense means, a renowned film emperor with a flourishing career, and the magnate of a global corporation—yet he couldn’t persuade the person he’d fallen for at first sight to choose him without reservation. It was undeniably painful, and Jiang Yan felt a deep unease in his heart.

“Don’t rush,” Wang Jian advised Jiang Yan. “Our top priority is to stabilize Lin Yu’s emotions and help him gradually forget his past hurts. You don’t need to give him any verbal promises; he likely won’t be able to hear them for a while. Trust me, I’ve spoken with Old Zhang quite a bit and understand some methods for guiding psychological patients. Jiang Yan, some people genuinely don’t care whether you’re rich or not. You need to slowly figure out what Lin Yu truly needs.”

At half past two in the morning, a sudden gale whipped up outside the window, bringing with it fat raindrops and downy snowflakes that descended in a vast, overwhelming curtain.

Jiang Yan absorbed Wang Jian’s words, nodding slowly. “I was impulsive tonight. Because… he said he wanted to go out and work as a cleaner, earn money for a train ticket, and go see his grandma. His grandma passed away on the 22nd of last month, and I’ll admit, I’m pathetic; I didn’t want him to leave on his own. So, I wanted to find the quickest way for him to shed his psychological burdens and accept my kindness. I truly had no ulterior motives; I simply wanted to be good to him, but he doesn’t seem to believe it.”

“And how could he believe that?” Wang Jian retorted, instructing him. “From now on, whenever you’re good to him, make him repay you on the spot.”

“Repay on the spot?”

“You’re dense,” Wang Jian said, rolling his eyes subtly. “You’re a whiz in business, with eight hundred tricks up your sleeve, yet look at you, completely stuck when it comes to pursuing someone!”

“Stop with the chatter, just teach me.” Jiang Yan urged.

“Alright, alright. Here’s what you do: arrange for him to work for you.”

Jiang Yan blinked. “Huh?”

“Those insignificant little documents from your company, small design tasks, statistical work—anything that can be done from home, assign it to him. Don’t make the workload too heavy; something that takes fifteen minutes to complete would be perfect. Just tell him it’s to offset his medical expenses.”

“I had considered that approach, but I still just wanted him to rest and do nothing,” Jiang Yan admitted. Yet, he immediately conceded to Wang Jian’s point. “Still, I’ll try it. The boy has too much pride; this kind of ‘transaction’ might be the only thing he’s willing to accept.”

“Yes, let’s give it a try.” Seeing Jiang Yan’s mood somewhat appeased, Wang Jian patted his shoulder. “Just make do and sleep on the living room sofa for the night.”

“Thank you, Wang Jian.” Jiang Yan’s emotions had never fluctuated so wildly. While he typically calmed down quickly, having a friend willing to offer advice and strategies in such a moment was an invaluable help.

“I actually don’t have much ability; I just happened to be born into wealth.” He genuinely admired Wang Jian from the bottom of his heart.

Wang Jian’s problem-solving skills were undoubtedly superior to his own.

“What are you talking about? You have no ability? Being overly modest is just hypocrisy, you know?” Setting aside his other ventures, Jiang Yan hadn’t relied on his parents since he was eighteen. He had carved out a name for himself in the business world, and to this day, everyone called him a prodigy.

Even his path as an actor was certainly not due to luck or his family background alone.

Wang Jian knew that Jiang Yan had secretly studied acting throughout his four years of university; he was incredibly diligent. This man approached every task with meticulous care.

Otherwise, how could anyone succeed so casually?

His character was defined by a singular desire to break free from his parents’ financial support and prove his true capabilities.

It was only in the realm of romance, Wang Jian thought, that he truly couldn’t offer any praise.

‘Tsk, no one’s perfect, after all.’

****

The following morning, Lin Yu opened his eyes to the sight of Jiang Yan.

After a night of heavy rain, the sky outside the window was remarkably clear. Streaks of warm sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a golden glow upon Jiang Yan’s gently smiling face.

Lin Yu gazed at Jiang Yan, his eyes wide and unblinking.

‘He’d made such a scene last night, so humiliating, hadn’t he?’

‘Why wasn’t Jiang Yan angry at all? Why hadn’t he scolded him or found him repulsive?’

“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?” Jiang Yan joked, a light chuckle in his voice. “Did I get uglier overnight?”

After all, he hadn’t slept a wink, staying by Lin Yu’s side, listening to his fragmented nightmares, piecing together his past, and feeling utterly dejected the entire night.

“I only ever lose my mind, only ever cause trouble for others. I’m mentally ill, and no one but Cai Xinyu would ever be willing to take me in…” Lin Yu’s gaze never left Jiang Yan’s gentle, all-encompassing face. His voice was a little hoarse as he murmured these words.

“It was my own depravity that made me follow him, it was my inability to earn money, it was I who made Grandma suffer… but I don’t even care for Cai Xinyu’s charity. If I could choose again…” Lin Yu suddenly sat up, staring intently into Jiang Yan’s tender, liquid eyes. He spoke with unwavering conviction: “If, I could, choose again, I would definitely… kill Cai Xinyu!”

“Lin Yu.” Jiang Yan reached out, intending to soothe him, but Lin Yu recoiled, shrinking into the corner of the bed. He shook his head, his expression vacant. “As long as you don’t mentally abuse or control me, I’ll try my best to stop being crazy.”

Jiang Yan stared. “What?”

“Every word Cai Xinyu said to me, I knew he was deliberately trying to suppress me, to make me believe I was worthless, to make me feel like I couldn’t leave him.” Lin Yu was unusually calm now, his words clear and precise. “But I couldn’t become strong on my own. I unconsciously accepted all his verbal manipulation. I was in so much pain because I never had a chance to go out, never knew if I had any work capabilities, so I couldn’t refute him.”

After speaking, Lin Yu seemed to lose all strength. His gaze grew unfocused, and he hugged his knees, shifting his eyes away from Jiang Yan’s face.

Jiang Yan had never imagined that the seemingly fragile Lin Yu possessed such immense inner strength.

Despite three years of psychological abuse, he had still managed to cling to a thread of reason amidst his despair, constantly reminding himself not to fully succumb to Cai Xinyu’s malice.

Yet, even the sturdiest shield could be damaged by prolonged exposure to poison; that last sliver of intactness was all too prone to collapse.

Listening to Lin Yu bare his soul, Jiang Yan felt a surge of excitement. Lin Yu was willing to entrust him with the most vulnerable parts of his heart.

This signified the beginning of a trusting relationship.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand psychological games; the intricate machinations between businessmen were far more captivating.

It simply hadn’t occurred to Jiang Yan that the methods he used to decipher others’ minds in business could be applied to… pursuing someone.

But now, it seemed he could connect the dots.

The two were interconnected.

‘Last night’s outburst, he realized, must have been Lin Yu testing if he could truly handle his emotions.’

This was excellent. Although he had almost failed to contain it, the source of his anger wasn’t Lin Yu’s suicide attempt, but rather Cai Xinyu.

And thankfully, Wang Jian had offered timely guidance.

Lin Yu’s confession today was nothing short of a delightful surprise for Jiang Yan.

“Lin Yu, after your check-up this morning, take a nap at noon, then come with me to rehearsal this afternoon. I’ll take you out to clear your head.” He was pleased as he extended the invitation.

Lin Yu offered no response, his eyelashes lowered, lost in thought.

Jiang Yan, however, remained in good spirits; Lin Yu hadn’t refused. This was a promising start.

Throughout the morning, Lin Yu’s emotions remained remarkably stable, and he cooperated fully with every doctor’s examination.

Wang Jian’s father personally conducted a full neurological examination on Lin Yu. He informed Jiang Yan that there were no issues with the boy’s nerve endings or pain perception.

They surmised that the previous episode of acute full-body pain was primarily due to psychological triggers, causing a temporary systemic disruption.

Dr. Zhang Shengyang, the psychotherapist, deliberately changed into casual clothes and “accidentally” met Lin Yu in the small garden for a chat.

Having met at a dinner party before and offered Lin Yu a few words of guidance, this encounter significantly eased Lin Yu’s emotional state.

Although Lin Yu spoke little, he answered every question Dr. Zhang Shengyang posed.

Naturally, Dr. Zhang, possessing extensive experience in psychological counseling, avoided asking questions that would be too difficult for Lin Yu to answer, gauging his responses.

He relayed all the information he had gathered to Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan now had a rough understanding of Lin Yu’s situation.

At noon, Lin Yu was also very compliant, slowly finishing a bowl of steamed egg custard and even eating a little fruit.

However, he didn’t want to nap. Jiang Yan, unable to resist sleep any longer, dozed off leaning against Lin Yu’s shoulder while they basked in the sun.

Lin Yu tilted his head, gazing at Jiang Yan, who now sported distinct dark circles under his eyes. He remained perfectly still, afraid of waking him.

The man he had only ever admired on the big screen was now genuinely by his side for five days, tangible and real. He could hear Jiang Yan’s gentle voice and feel his meticulous care.

Lin Yu admitted to himself that he wasn’t dreaming; his idol was taking care of him.

Yet, he possessed a keen self-awareness and dared not let a sense of happiness emerge. He was determined to manage himself, not to burden Jiang Yan for too long.

At two in the afternoon, Jiang Yan’s phone rang. It was the director from the production team, giving him advance notice to be backstage by three o’clock to try on costumes, run through his lines a few times, and rehearse with the newly replaced actor.

He awoke, and his immediate thought was that he had actually fallen asleep, resting his head on the shoulder of the physically fragile Lin Yu.

Jiang Yan immediately sat up, reaching out to massage Lin Yu’s shoulder, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, did I make it numb? Why didn’t you wake me?”

Lin Yu remained silent, looking against the sunlight at the figure who, in this moment, felt like his own personal deity.

This tenderness, which he had never dared to crave, made Lin Yu reluctant to blink, unwilling for time to pass.

He didn’t want to speak and break the tranquility of the moment.

As Jiang Yan massaged his shoulder, he answered his phone, murmured a few affirmations, and then hung up.

“So, shall we go?”

The phone call hadn’t been quiet, and Lin Yu had heard every word of its content.

Jiang Yan had clearly told the director that he was bringing someone of special significance to accompany him to rehearsal, instructing the director to prepare a direct passage and ensure complete confidentiality.

How could Lin Yu refuse?

He yearned to stay by Jiang Yan’s side.

Nodding, he stood up.

Today he was dressed in the white sweater Jiang Yan had prepared for him, a light blue overcoat, a cashmere scarf with a white and blue plaid pattern, and a pair of white leather shoes.

He had never dressed like this before. When Jiang Yan had him look in the mirror, Lin Yu felt as if he had grown up.

He had always worn more casual clothes, and with his delicate features, people often mistook him for a high school student.

He also disliked his own lingering childishness.

Lin Yu desperately wanted to mature.

At two fifty in the afternoon, the always punctual Jiang Yan arrived at the rehearsal venue with Lin Yu, who was bundled up almost like a zongzi.

He repeatedly cautioned Lin Yu not to remove his mask, sunglasses, or bucket hat.

He had to remain completely covered.

Jiang Yan had no intention of exposing Lin Yu.

Lin Yu nodded obediently.

He was discreetly led by a staff member to a corner seat, so as not to draw attention from other actors’ accompanying friends.

Jiang Yan had to go backstage first to get his makeup done and change into his stage costume. After asking Lin Yu if he preferred to wait in his seat, Jiang Yan repeatedly instructed his bodyguards to take good care of Lin Yu before leaving.

Fearing Lin Yu might get bored, Jiang Yan had even brought along the little white cat, its cage held by a bodyguard.

Several people, also bundled up like zongzi and unidentifiable from their distant seats, grew curious about the person Jiang Yan had brought. They used the excuse of playing with the little white cat to approach and sit near him.

Lin Yu didn’t want them to come closer, as the kitten seemed sensitive to their perfume and began to puff up and cry out in its cage.

However, one tall boy among them was oblivious, reaching out to tease the kitten and casually strike up a conversation with Lin Yu. “Are you Jiang Yan’s friend? What circles do you run in? Is he planning to cast you in a show? How lucky, to be promoted by Jiang Yan.”

“Indeed,” the two people behind him echoed sarcastically.

The bodyguard politely gestured for him not to disturb Lin Yu.

The boy symbolically stepped back a few paces, then sat down, not giving up on his attempts to chat. “Can I get your contact info? If Jiang Yan ever gets tired of playing with you, would you hook a brother up? Let me experience some of Jiang Yan’s… ‘goodness’ too?”

Anyone brought in secretly wouldn’t be an ordinary friend; everyone in the industry understood that much.

Lin Yu remained silent. He took the cage from the bodyguard, cradling it in his arms, trying to offer the little white cat some familiar sense of security.

“Can I pet it?” The boy asked. “I have experience with cats. In my hands, it won’t cry, believe me.”

Lin Yu finally tilted his head slightly to glance at him.

Seeing Lin Yu didn’t refuse, the boy told the bodyguard, “Don’t stop me.”

Then he reached out, grabbed the cage, opened its door directly, and extended his hand to grab the frightened kitten.

Lin Yu stood up to snatch it back, and the bodyguards quickly restrained the boy.

The kitten, terrified by the sudden commotion and so many people, cried out, scratching the person holding it fiercely. It then sprang away, frantically leaping across chair backs, and quickly darted out.

Lin Yu immediately gave chase, and the bodyguards rushed after him.

“It’s gone!” The person who had grabbed the cat cried out, clutching the bleeding gash on his hand, panic-stricken.

“You’ve caused trouble!” His friends beside him looked alarmed.

“Jiang Yan bringing him here means their relationship is at least unusual right now. Why did you have to provoke him?”

“Hmph, I’ve recommended myself to Jiang Yan countless times and been rejected every time. I just wanted to see what kind of person Jiang Yan brings along,” he retorted stubbornly.

“Jiang Yan is famously protective, you know that. Even if it’s just a casual fling, if you let his cat run away, do you think he’ll let you off? Have you forgotten how protective he is even of his own bodyguards?”

The boy said nothing, an air of defiance clinging to him.

‘Worst case, I’ll just be a little manipulative, pretend to be pathetic, and cry to apologize. What could Jiang Yan possibly do to him?’

Lin Yu had just recovered from a high fever last night, and his neck still bore a bandaged wound. His body was very weak. After running a few steps, he began to pant.

One bodyguard, seeing him stop, also halted to ensure his safety. The other bodyguard searched for the cat, gradually running further away.

The kitten, panicked and disoriented, dashed out of the recording studio and vanished into the street.

The bodyguard looked distressed. ‘Where to find it?’

Lin Yu was so anxious he broke into a cold sweat and struggled to breathe, so he removed his mask. His sunglasses were obstructing his vision, so he took those off too.

He pleaded with the bodyguard accompanying him to also search for the kitten, and then stood up, intending to continue the search himself.

The bodyguard couldn’t dissuade him, so he reluctantly urged Lin Yu to wait in place and then went off to look for the cat.

Lin Yu also moved with faltering steps, attempting to search for the kitten in the surrounding greenery.

“Youyou, Youyou.” He called out.

“Oh, if it isn’t my dearest darling, little Yu?” A greasy voice, sickeningly familiar to Lin Yu, suddenly came from behind him.

His entire body trembled slightly as he rigidly turned around. In the brilliant autumn sunlight, Cai Xinyu’s despicable and shameless face was illuminated.

“Miss me, little Yu? Having fun playing with the great film emperor these past few days? Why are you so cheap? He satisfied you, didn’t he, hmm?” Cai Xinyu’s face was twisted in a lewd sneer, and his large hands reached out to grab Lin Yu.