The hot pot restaurant remained filled with boisterous, cheerful sounds.
Some people came here precisely for the atmosphere, much like how lonely individuals in the city, when gathered together, seem to feel less alone listening to each other's clamor and cheers.
Night lamps flickered with the breeze, traffic flowed like water, neon lights pulsed across the world. Ren Yuanhao felt like a detached observer, the juice in his hand intoxicating like fire to a knife.
But at this moment, Liu Yu's voice grew increasingly sharp, and even the three people beside him couldn't restrain him.
"Brother Yu, there are many people here. Maintain your image, you need to stay calm." The man, like Liu Yu's agent, had broad shoulders that nearly swung into Liu Yu's face, but Liu Yu was like a leopard that had swallowed explosives; he couldn't be stopped.
"Zhao Yishu, I just want to know why. What am I lacking compared to him!"
Zhao Yishu didn't understand love. She only followed her heart. "Does this need comparison? What he can give me, you cannot. I don't understand love, I only know that I want him to be happy, I'm happy when I see him, I want to hear him speak, feel his gentle breath. When I'm with him, I feel completely at ease. Isn't that enough?"
"Heh, yes, even this trash, without money, without power, even if he can't give you the material life you desire, you're still willing to follow him unconditionally. This is what you call love, right?"
Liu Yu hadn't finished speaking when Ren Yuanhao suddenly turned his head, his eyes flashing an unnerving golden hue!
"Trash? Hmph, I seem to have heard those two words too many times. And I just don't understand, where do you celebrities get your sense of superiority? Why do you think the women you fancy, or even pursue like dogs, are guaranteed to be yours? If anything, it's something called possessiveness at play, isn't it? You like someone, but you don't even know what she wants most, or what she's been through. How can you claim to like her?"
Ren Yuanhao thought to himself: Brother, I just want to have a good meal. I don't want to be a part of this damn melodrama or this idiotic idol soap opera.
"Name your price. How much to let go."
Liu Yu prepared to deploy what he considered his trump card. "Or, if you want to debut, I can help you. Even if you want a certain position, I can satisfy you, as long as you stay far away from Zhao Yishu."
Bang!
Zhao Yishu's long-suppressed murderous intent finally erupted.
"Liu Yu, I used to think you might just be a playboy, a big star. I never expected you to be this kind of man. Get out of my sight, and never appear before me again. The sight of you makes me sick!"
"I make you sick? The people who like me can form a line down the street." Liu Yu was forced back two steps by Zhao Yishu's gaze.
"But I don't like you. Isn't that enough?" Zhao Yishu slowly sat down and added in a cold tone, "Now, you can leave. Please don't disrupt our meal anymore, alright?"
Liu Yu no longer looked at Zhao Yishu. Perhaps, as she said, his initial pursuit of her was simply because her temperament was entirely different from other women's. She was like the most coveted toy placed at the highest shelf in a store, or the most unscalable peak in the world. Failing to win her would be a blemish on his life!
She was a symbol. He wouldn't have her, and he wouldn't allow anyone else to touch her!
"Bastard, say it, what do you want? I can satisfy anything!"
Ren Yuanhao was too lazy to bother with him and was about to bring out his visa gold card as a killer move to strike this psychologically twisted man. But at this moment, the acquaintance who would save him finally arrived.
"Yuanhao? What a coincidence! What are you doing here?"
Hearing his real name called in this place, Ren Yuanhao shivered all over. He turned and saw a female celebrity he hadn't seen in a long time, the one he had helped in Donglü City: Xiao Yue!
"Xiao Yue? What are you doing here too?"
Ren Yuanhao stood up, completely oblivious to the changing expressions of Liu Yu and the others. He pulled the masked Xiao Yue to the side. "Xiao Yue, don't call me by my real name. My alias now is Qin Baobao."
"Qin Baobao? You're really good at taking advantage."
Xiao Yue's eyes were no longer dispirited; instead, she was radiant and full of life.
"Alright then, I'll call you Brother Bao."
"Ah, sure."
The two returned to their original spot. Ren Yuanhao was about to introduce them, but Mu Ziyue and Zhao Yishu stood up first. Mu Ziyue was almost so excited she wanted to jump onto Xiao Yue. "Tsk tsk, Sister Xiao Yue! It's really you! I'm your super fan! Wow, you look even better in person than on TV! Your acting is so explosive, so much better than those so-called 'fresh meat' next to you, hmph."
"It's a pleasure, Miss Xiao Yue."
Zhao Yishu gracefully extended her fair hand, but her heart was startled. After all, Brother Bao knew such a big star, and even the notorious playboy from Fangxin Media was respectful to him. Who exactly was Brother Bao?
Of course, the more powerful the man a woman liked, the happier she would secretly feel.
As Xiao Yue was about to move to Zhao Yishu's side, Liu Yu suddenly grabbed Xiao Yue's arm.
"Impossible. Xiao Yue should still be stuck on Dongda Avenue. You must be a body double!"
"Don't be ridiculous. Don't you know that I, Xiao Yue, never use body doubles?" Xiao Yue tried to break free, but Liu Yu held on even tighter. "Let go!"
Seeing this, Ren Yuanhao immediately shot Liu Yu another cold glance, his golden pupils spewing forth a terrifying killing intent. This aura hit him like solidified force, causing him to involuntarily release Xiao Yue's hand.
"Actually, I was in the car too. I saw a figure that looked like Brother Bao in the rearview mirror, so I told the driver to switch cars, and I sneaked out. Unfortunately, Brother Bao and little sister were too fast. I searched for a long time, and with a 'let's try' mindset, I came into this store. I didn't expect Brother Bao to really be here. That's great!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yue's explanation, Ren Yuanhao suddenly realized. "Oh, so the big star in that Rolls-Royce Phantom was you? We were just talking about how that car was blocking the road and wondering which celebrity was being so extravagant."
"I didn't want to either, but they insisted it was because this area is close to Xihuang, and they were worried about troublemakers causing disturbances, so they made such a big commotion." Xiao Yue wore a hat with lace trimming, but seeing the boiling hot pot, her foodie instincts couldn't be contained any longer.
"Brother Bao, last time was too rushed, and I didn't get a chance to thank you. Here, let me toast you with this drink."
"Alright, to our friendship, let's clink glasses!"
Ren Yuanhao's words were clear. As for what Xiao Yue and Zhao Yishu thought in their hearts, he was unaware.