Chapter 305

☆, (9 Fresh Coins) Chapter 254: Like a Curse

"I'm sorry, Miss He, to come and disturb you so presumptuously."

He Lele twitched the corner of her mouth, placed the teacup on the coffee table in front of Wu Ming, and sat down on the sofa opposite him. When Wu Ming called her, he had already arrived outside Dong× University. It was lunchtime, and the shops outside the West Gate were packed with students, making it inconvenient to talk, so she had no choice but to invite Wu Ming to her rented room.

"You don't need to be so polite. If there is something, please just say it directly."

He Lele's directness actually left Wu Ming not knowing where to start. He didn't really know if he should have come, but watching Ruan Lin on the verge of a breakdown while he remained helpless—that feeling of powerlessness forced him to come.

"Then I will be direct. Ruan Lin... if he continues like this, he will be ruined."

He Lele's heart skipped a beat. "It's, it's just some negative news, isn't that a bit extreme?"

"Once or twice, of course, it doesn't matter, but what if it's nothing but negative news from here on out?"

"..."

"Miss He, what do you think is the most valuable thing about Ruan Lin as an artist?"

He Lele thought for a moment. "Acting skills?"

Wu Ming shook his head.

"Appearance?"

"It's his image—the perfect gentleman image he spent seven years crafting. The fans' adoration and the advertisers' favor are all built on the foundation of this image. Once this image collapses, the value of the name 'Ruan Lin'... may cease to exist, and there will be no chance for redemption."

"... False things will always have a day when they collapse. If he chooses to stop pretending, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. With his strength, even if he hits rock bottom, he will surely return to the peak quickly. Besides, by facing the world as his truest self, he will also live more easily, won't he?"

Wu Ming was truly surprised. He had expected her to say something like, "What he does has nothing to do with me." He had even been thinking about what to do if she didn't care about Ruan Lin's life or death at all. Now it seemed... this girl wasn't completely indifferent to Ruan Lin! Especially the unwavering confidence in her words regarding Ruan Lin.

"Yes, that's true, but what if he isn't intending to face the world with his true self, but is intentionally trying to destroy his own acting career?"

Wu Ming left.

He Lele sat heavily on the sofa, constantly wiping away the images flooding her mind. But Ruan Lin's figure—his overbearing and arrogant look, his fierce roaring look, his dissolute look, his angry and awkward look, his deeply affectionate and doting look, his injured and heartbroken look, his struggling and desperate look... scene after scene, like a breached levee, washed over her broken heart-walls, leaving them in pieces.

That day at Memory's anniversary celebration, Liang Ge's young model girlfriend "accidentally" spilled a few drops of red wine on Ruan Lin. This cliché, outdated method of hitting on someone was something beauties always had a high success rate with, but that day, Ruan Lin unceremoniously swatted away the hand the model used to try and wipe the stain. Liang Ge, who happened to see this, went over to question Ruan Lin. Ruan Lin turned and walked away with a cold face. Feeling he had lost face, Liang Ge grabbed the red wine from a waiter's tray and splashed it right onto Ruan Lin's face.

If it had been the Ruan Lin of the past: one, he wouldn't have swatted away the model's hand, but would have smiled and stepped back; two, he wouldn't have refused to give Liang Ge face, but would have made up an excuse for both parties to step down; three, even if insulted in public, he absolutely would not have... beaten someone half to death.

Four or five people almost couldn't hold him back. In the end, Liang Ge was beaten until he passed out, crying.

Muse spent a great deal of effort to quell the public opinion and appease Memory, while simultaneously ordering Ruan Lin to stay in his apartment and not go out. This afternoon's announcement was not just a promotion but also a test; if Ruan Lin couldn't recover his state, he would be forbidden from going out until the release of "One Life, One Incarnation"!

At the same time, Shentu Mo personally issued a warning—if Ruan Lin didn't accept the punishment and went out, he would generously charter a plane to send Ruan Lin back to his home country!

"Did, did you ever give a tie to Ruan Lin?"

Before leaving, Wu Ming asked her this. Seeing her nod, he sighed softly. "Then it's no wonder. He... was wearing it that day."

Ruan Lin...

Her throat felt suddenly blocked by something; air could be drawn into her chest but couldn't be exhaled. He Lele gripped her thighs tightly, biting her teeth together to endure the terror and pain of suffocation. Yet in the end, she couldn't hold it back...

The sourness pressed against her throat surged to her nose, and the moment her throat opened, cold tears streamed from her eyes.

Lele, please, marry me... please... please...

Like a curse!

"The smile you gave, I repay with tears, wishing that you, who love me, stay far from worry and sorrow..."

The melodious singing voice rang out suddenly, startling He Lele from her trance.

Where did the sound come from? And this singing voice—isn't it her own?

Such a bizarre event made even He Lele, who never believed in ghosts or gods, feel a bit of a chill. But after steadying herself, He Lele stood up and listened carefully for the source of the sound—the sofa opposite, a mobile phone.

It wasn't Jiji's, nor was it Qin Zhixiu's. Was it left behind by Ruan Lin's manager just now? How could Mr. Wu Ming have an audio file of her singing? And use it as a ringtone? He Lele looked at the "Little Demon King" caller ID on the phone screen, not knowing whether to answer. After a moment of hesitation, the call hung up, leaving behind a red missed call mark.

He Lele checked the time. Wu Ming had a 2:00 PM flight to C City to meet up with Ruan Lin. He should be on his way to the airport right now. If he realized he had left his phone behind, there would still be time to turn back.

Wait, wait, wait... She waited on an empty stomach until one o'clock, but still didn't see Wu Ming return. He Lele walked around the sofa several times with the phone, biting her lip.

She was going to return the phone, not to see Ruan Lin! Yes, that was it!

Thinking this, He Lele grabbed her cloth bag and rushed to the door. Just as she opened it, she saw Li Yiquan raising his hand, looking as if he were about to knock.

Author's Note:

Girls, do you remember~~ Uncle Wu Ming's ringtone is Lele's singing voice~ Hehehehe~~ So, truth is stranger than fiction~~ Alright~~ there definitely won't be any more tonight~~ Night owls should also get some rest early~~ Love you all!!

Thank you girls for your tolerance~~ concern~~ comments~ votes~ support and gifts~~ and also Qiqi's recommendation~~ Group hug!

☆, (12 Fresh Coins) Chapter 255: Love and Punishment ===== CHAPTER 306 =====