Chapter 248: Who Cares About Your Idol Image

I thought for a moment before replying to Mi Cai’s message: “Just asking around.”

“You’re still holding a grudge against her?”

I didn’t want to discuss the domestic affairs of Fang Yuan and Yan Yan with Mi Cai. To prevent her from asking further questions, I simply went along with her and replied: “Yes, I am holding a grudge.”

“So you’re actually such a petty person?”

“Yes, and if she dares to speak disrespectfully again, I’ll throw her into the river beside your villa.”

Mi Cai didn’t reply for quite a while, probably finding me utterly speechless, and I successfully diverted her attention.

I took a deep puff of my cigarette and exhaled a long stream, attempting to break through the darkness, only to realize I had forgotten to open the window. As a result, the night remained thick, and the small, closed room became filled with smoke.

I quickly stubbed out the cigarette and opened the window. A gust of cold wind blew in, as if it might tear me apart, so I left the window half-open, which made me feel slightly better.

I lit the half-burnt cigarette again and began pondering from whom I should borrow the 70,000 yuan for rent.

I thought of Roben and CC. I knew they would definitely lend me the money if I asked, but precisely because of that, I couldn’t bring myself to ask them. Who knew if they were already planning to buy a house in Suzhou?

Feeling helpless, I became bored and kept stubbing out and relighting the cigarette, repeating this several times, making time drag on endlessly.

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, mumbling many incomprehensible things until my phone beeped with a message notification, snapping me back to normal.

I quickly grabbed the phone from the bedside table, but it wasn’t from Mi Cai—it was from Leyao.

“Zhaoyang, are you resting?”

“Not yet. Did you find out about Roben’s first love?”

“I’ve asked someone to look into it, but there’s no news yet.”

“Oh.”

Leyao replied after a short while: “Can you come to Beijing now?”

“Why?”

“I’ve got a fever and feel terrible!”

“Then you should go to the hospital immediately!”

“I don’t feel like going anywhere alone.”

I hesitated a bit—it was still okay during the day, but it was already 9:30 PM now, making travel arrangements complicated.

After a brief hesitation, I still picked up my phone to check flights from Shanghai to Beijing and found there was one departing at 11:30 PM. If I moved quickly, I could still catch it.

I grabbed the clothes placed beside the bed and started dressing. In the process, I received another message, thinking it was from Mi Cai, but it turned out to be from Leyao.

“Get some rest. The inn is important, but don’t overwork yourself!”

I immediately stopped dressing and realized the unresolved nature of my relationship with Mi Cai. At this moment, rushing to Beijing like this—was it really appropriate?

Another voice echoed in my mind: “If I truly regard Leyao only as a close friend, why shouldn’t I go?”

Mi Cai and I had always lacked trust and understanding, and such an unexpected event was a test for both of us. If I were truly innocent and confident in my intentions, I should go to Beijing. This was the first time Leyao had asked me to take care of her when she was sick since moving to Beijing. Previously, it had always been Roben who did this before she returned to Suzhou. Therefore, Leyao must have thought carefully before making such a request—she wouldn’t ask unless absolutely necessary.

Conversely, if I harbored romantic feelings for Leyao, I shouldn’t go because going might lead to inappropriate actions.

With this thought, I no longer hesitated, dressed as quickly as possible, grabbed my suitcase, and headed downstairs to the hotel lobby.

Driving quickly all the way, I reached the airport, immediately booked a flight to Beijing, boarded fifteen minutes later, and began my two-hour aerial journey.

At 1:30 AM, I finally arrived in Beijing. Even in the dead of night, this imperial city remained awake. I easily hailed a taxi and immediately gave the driver Leyao’s address.

…

Twenty minutes later, I arrived at Leyao’s residence. After ringing the doorbell, she opened the door wrapped in a blanket.

Both air conditioners in the house were running, and the coffee table was littered with used tissues, indicating she was quite ill.

Leyao rubbed her nose and said with a hint of happiness: “Zhaoyang, I didn’t expect you to actually come.”

“I couldn’t just let you suffer… You’re such a troublemaker!” I said, feeling her forehead, which was scalding hot.

Leyao took my hand away and replied: “It’s so late; I think you’re the only one suitable to come to my place.”

“What about your agent? Doesn’t she care about your condition?”

“He’s a guy.”

I had always assumed her agent was female, so I was momentarily stunned by her answer before saying slowly: “You’re alone in Beijing; I think you should maintain a good relationship with your agent. At least someone could take care of you in daily life.”

Leyao sneezed again and replied: “I’ve never mistreated him, and he’s already received proper financial compensation from me.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“Are you suggesting I make him my boyfriend so we can cohabit legitimately, making it convenient for him to take care of me at night?”

I smiled at Leyao and said: “How come your thoughts are so indecent?”

“Me? That’s your own thought, right?”

“Would I really think like that? Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore—I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“I don’t want to go. They’ll give me injections!”

I urged impatiently: “What’s the big deal? Hurry up and find a thick coat to wear.”

“You’re not scared of needles, but does that mean nobody else is scared of them?”

“So you made me rush all the way to Beijing just to chat with you?”

Leyao blinked her eyes, seemingly thinking about how to respond. However, my concern overcame my patience. I dragged her, still wrapped in the blanket, to the door, saying: “You have a high fever; you definitely need an IV… Do you have a car? I’ll drive yours.”

“Yes, the car key is in my handbag inside.”

“Then give me the key to your apartment so I can go in and get it.”

Leyao pointed at herself, indicating I should look at her.

I examined her—wrapped in a blanket, wearing only a nightgown with no pockets. I felt a cold sweat forming on my forehead as I muttered: “…Is the apartment key also inside?”

Leyao replied unhappily: “What do you think? Hurrying like you’re rushing to reincarnate!”

“If you don’t go to the hospital, you really will reincarnate!”

Leyao: “…”

“Never mind, we’ll take a taxi.”

Leyao looked at herself wrapped in the blanket and glared at me: “Zhaoyang, you bastard! Don’t you know I have an image to maintain as a public figure? Hurry up and find a way to open my door so I can go in and change clothes.”

“Who cares about your image as a celebrity?” I said, then picked up the blanket-wrapped Leyao and carried her toward the elevator.