"True. He seems to be at the library every day and is probably not interested in dating."
"He's too aloof," another alpha commented. "Does he really have no estrus? The world of brainiacs is different from ours."
"And look at who his friend is—Wei Lan. Wei Lan always talks in that stiff tone, like he's old at a young age."
The alphas walked past Xie Wang.
Xie Wang was dying to join in their conversation—he couldn't agree more.
So he wasn't the only one who thought Lin Jianlu was cold.
Everyone thought the same.
It's just that he gradually figured it out.
There is nothing wrong with a cold personality.
Lin Jianlu is good-looking, has a great body, and takes his work seriously.
On weekday mornings, Lin Jianlu would still ask him to get up with a cold face, and when Xie Wang, grumpy from being woken, threw off the covers and gave him a couple of swats on the butt, saying a few harsh words, Lin Jianlu would just silently glower while hugging the blanket.
Not being clingy or acting cute is also quite good.
It probably wasn't because of their parents' arrangements, nor was he controlled by that accidental marking.
F*ck! I just like the cold and aloof O.
Xie Wang, who gave up on himself, said this in his heart.
Luckily, after being reborn, he knew a lot more and was more mature.
This time, he was determined to pamper Lin Jianlu well and never let him suffer any grievances again.
"Senior?" A voice interrupted his thoughts.
Lin Jianlu?
"Are you here to correct your file?" Lin Jianlu asked.
Xie Wang nodded: "Yes, thank you for reminding me that day."
"You're welcome," Lin Jianlu replied, hugging the book in his arms.
"Isn't it tiring?" Xie Wang asked. "Bringing books with you even when you go out?"
Lin Jianlu shook his head.
Xie Wang lowered his head and glanced at the time on his watch, which happened to be noon.
"Are you hungry?" he asked. "I could treat you to lunch."
Lin Jianlu looked up. The previously distant look in his eyes now focused on Xie Wang's face, making him feel a bit flustered.
"That's not a good idea," Lin Jianlu said.
"In the show Seeking Sound, Senior is a mentor, and I'm a contestant and also a student," Lin Jianlu explained. "Gossip is a fearful thing. Outside of work, we should not meet in private."
"YoYo!" Wei Lan called out, holding a stack of books and waiting at the bottom of the steps.
Lin Jianlu walked over to his friend, leaving Xie Wang behind.
Xie Wang: "..."
So aloof.
But… that familiar feeling was back.
This trifling difficulty cannot stump him.
He will try again.
If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.
So, as long as he kept at it, no matter how cold Lin Jianlu was, he could warm him up.
He just had to like that cold, aloof omega. "YoYo," Wei Lan asked, "who was that just now?"
He was wrapped up pretty tight.
Must be a celebrity who flourished from X University.
"Xie Wang," Lin Jianlu replied.
His arm holding the book loosened a bit, revealing the title on the cover—
"How to Make an Alpha Hellbent on Me: Beginner Level."
"Six-pack abs?" Wei Lan guessed.
Lin Jianlu: "Yeah."
"No wonder," Wei Lan said. "He really does have some good qualities."
Lin Jianlu: "He's okay."
But it was strange.
Sometimes, Xie Wang made him feel impulsive, but other times, like just now, he couldn't muster much interest.
He was just an A who caught his eye.
"Then let him bite you," Wei Lan suggested. "That way, your dad will give up and stop trying to play the matchmaker rebar."
Lin Jianlu: "Hmm."
Lin Jianlu: "I want to observe him a bit more."
"I finished the book," he said, placing the white-covered book in his hand on top of the stack Wei Lan was holding. "Give me the next one."
Wei Lan pulled "How to Make an Alpha Hellbent on Me: Intermediate Level" out from the pile with some difficulty and handed it to him.
"There's also an advanced and a master level," Wei Lan added. "Once you're done with this one, I'll go to the library and borrow them for you."
***
The first episode of "Seeking Sound" was still in editing and post-production, but the program team had released some teaser clips online to build anticipation.
The videos already available included who's who of the mentors, as well as a few brief segments featuring some of the contestants.
@Papaya: Ahhh, they actually got Xie Wang! This should be his variety show debut, right?
@WaxApple: Yeah, the production team is freaking awesome. I wonder how much they spent.
@Mangosteen: Get real! His family background means he's loaded. He must have been invited by a friend.
@Sunshine Rose: Lin Jianlu, did you guys notice this contestant? Dang! With this attractive index, he can debut directly, why is he even participating in a competition?!
@Apple: Saw it, hahaha, X Uni's "campus beauty." But don't call him that to his face, he really dislikes it. He sings pretty well, but from the clips, it seems like Xie Wang doesn't like him much. Poor guy, he's even in Xie Wang's team.
"Rumormonger! This is a rumormonger!" Xie Wang roared. "Which eye of yours saw that I wasn't happy?"
In the office of Yanxing Media, Sun Lei almost fell from shock.
"You yourself had a sulky face during the recording, and now you're blaming people for spreading rumors," said agent Sun Lei. "I thought you were just playing the cool guy; after all, you always do it."
Xie Wang fell silent.
How could this happen?
Lin Jianlu would likely be upset if he saw these comments.
Just what bullshit was he thinking at the time? How could he be so mean to his wife?
Lin Jianlu must have an awful impression of him.
***
X University, student dormitory.
"He's cool," Wei Lan said, pointing at Xie Wang in the teaser video. "YoYo, isn't he your type?"
Lin Jianlu sent over a video of Xie Wang's costume drama.
In it, Xie Wang played a young prince in black short armor leading a rebellion. With a blood-stained longsword in hand, he pressed it against the neck of the former monarch.
"Wow!" Wei Lan remarked, "He's really suited for these violent and treacherous roles, it's so exciting."
Lin Jianlu nodded.
Putting aside the script, Xie Wang still exuded arrogance under the camera—he clashed with reporters and sasaeng fans, and acted as if the world revolved around him.
[ A sasaeng fan is the South Korean term for an obsessive fan who invades the privacy of idols, drama actors, or other public figures in the entertainment industry.]
Yet sometimes, when Xie Wang looked at him, he would have a cautious expression, like a raging and roaring beast showing a confused expression to an inconspicuous herbivore.
Why was that?
He wasn't special.
Anyway, he had only just turned down Xie Wang's invitation at noon, and they were meeting again in the evening.
The director of the film "Hidden Blade" was adamant about inviting him for a meal.
He didn't get to eat at the launch banquet, so the director wanted to make it up to him.
Xingluo's manager dropped him off at the hotel, gave him some dining etiquette tips, and stuffed two omega inhibitors and one alpha inhibitor into his backpack before letting him go upstairs.
As soon as he pushed the door open, Chen Yimo, who was sitting by the window, jumped up and shouted, "DaWang, your wife is here!"
Lin Jianlu: "."
He had expected Xie Wang to reprimand Chen Yimo, but instead, Xie Wang looked up and smiled at him.
Lin Jianlu: "?"
"Xiao Lin, come quickly," the director warmly welcomed. "Our crew doesn't bother with those empty etiquettes. You sit next to DaWang and you two can cultivate your feelings."
So, Lin Jianlu was surrounded by everyone and pushed to sit next to Xie Wang.
"Is it too cold under the air conditioning?" Xie Wang muttered, grabbing the remote and adjusting the direction of the cold air.
The cool breeze now blew against Chen Yimo on Lin Jianlu's left.
"Pervert, pour Xiao Lin some tea," the director called out.
"Got it," Chen Yimo said, but instead of tea, he grabbed sweet milk. "May I, my hostage?"
"Thank you," Lin Jianlu replied.
Xie Wang shot a sideways glare at Chen Yimo.
The private room door closed, and the dinner officially began.
The film had been in production for over half a month, so the crew members were already quite familiar with each other. There was no barrier when chatting, and they joked about everything.
Lin Jianlu sat quietly between the two alphas, slowly sipping his sweet milk.
Xie Wang's arm rested casually on the edge of the table beside him. The thin yet powerful muscles of his forearm gave his arm a strong, defined look.
"Am I in your way? Then I'll move a bit," Xie Wang noticed Lin Jianlu's gaze and put his arm down, adding, "Help yourself."
Lin Jianlu looked at him without speaking.
After a moment, Xie Wang took the empty bowl in front of Lin Jianlu and filled it with a heaping serving of food.
Lemon shredded chicken, fried vegetable dumplings, and honey-glazed grilled fish.
"Thank you," Lin Jianlu said as he picked up his chopsticks.
Seemed like... they were all his favorites.
"Hey, this is super delicious." Chen Yimo was very enthusiastic, grabbing the serving chopsticks and placing a large pig's trotter into Lin Jianlu's bowl.
Lin Jianlu: "."
Xie Wang: "..."
If he remembered correctly, his omega hates pigs trotters.
"Why don't you ask me?" Xie Wang moved the pig's trotter to his own bowl. "I love this."
"Have some shame. I think you look like a big pig's trotter," Chen Yimo retorted. "Snatching food from a newcomer."
[calling a man "big pig trotter" is similar to calling someone a "cad," but in this case Chen Yimo is just joking and doesn't really mean to say DaWang is fickle.]
Yet sometimes, when Xie Wang looked at him, he would have a cautious expression, like a raging and roaring beast showing a confused expression to an inconspicuous herbivore.
Why was that?
He wasn't special.
Anyway, he had only just turned down Xie Wang's invitation at noon, and they were meeting again in the evening.
The director of the film "Hidden Blade" was adamant about inviting him for a meal.
He didn't get to eat at the launch banquet, so the director wanted to make it up to him.
Xingluo's manager dropped him off at the hotel, gave him some dining etiquette tips, and stuffed two omega inhibitors and one alpha inhibitor into his backpack before letting him go upstairs.
As soon as he pushed the door open, Chen Yimo, who was sitting by the window, jumped up and shouted, "DaWang, your wife is here!"
Lin Jianlu: "."
He had expected Xie Wang to reprimand Chen Yimo, but instead, Xie Wang looked up and smiled at him.
Lin Jianlu: "?"
"Xiao Lin, come quickly," the director warmly welcomed. "Our crew doesn't bother with those empty etiquettes. You sit next to DaWang and you two can cultivate your feelings."
So, Lin Jianlu was surrounded by everyone and pushed to sit next to Xie Wang.
"Is it too cold under the air conditioning?" Xie Wang muttered, grabbing the remote and adjusting the direction of the cold air.
The cool breeze now blew against Chen Yimo on Lin Jianlu's left.
"Pervert, pour Xiao Lin some tea," the director called out.
"Got it," Chen Yimo said, but instead of tea, he grabbed sweet milk. "May I, my hostage?"
"Thank you," Lin Jianlu replied.
Xie Wang shot a sideways glare at Chen Yimo.
The private room door closed, and the dinner officially began.
The film had been in production for over half a month, so the crew members were already quite familiar with each other. There was no barrier when chatting, and they joked about everything.
Lin Jianlu sat quietly between the two alphas, slowly sipping his sweet milk.
Xie Wang's arm rested casually on the edge of the table beside him. The thin yet powerful muscles of his forearm gave his arm a strong, defined look.
"Am I in your way? Then I'll move a bit," Xie Wang noticed Lin Jianlu's gaze and put his arm down, adding, "Help yourself."
Lin Jianlu looked at him without speaking.
After a moment, Xie Wang took the empty bowl in front of Lin Jianlu and filled it with a heaping serving of food.
Lemon shredded chicken, fried vegetable dumplings, and honey-glazed grilled fish.
"Thank you," Lin Jianlu said as he picked up his chopsticks.
Seemed like... they were all his favorites.
"Hey, this is super delicious." Chen Yimo was very enthusiastic, grabbing the serving chopsticks and placing a large pig's trotter into Lin Jianlu's bowl.
Lin Jianlu: "."
Xie Wang: "..."
If he remembered correctly, his omega hates pigs trotters.
"Why don't you ask me?" Xie Wang moved the pig's trotter to his own bowl. "I love this."
"Have some shame. I think you look like a big pig's trotter," Chen Yimo retorted. "Snatching food from a newcomer."
[calling a man "big pig trotter" is similar to calling someone a "cad," but in this case Chen Yimo is just joking and doesn't really mean to say DaWang is fickle.]
Chen Yimo was about to get a piece again, but Xie Wang reached out and turned the table.
Lin Jianlu: "..."
"Xiao Lin," the director interrupted them, "let me tell you about the overall changes in the script."
Lin Jianlu: "Okay."
Sure enough, tonight's dinner wasn't just to make up for him missing the launch banquet; it was also to inform him that there had been some minor changes to the script since he joined.
In order to enhance the character of the protagonist detective and deepen the complexity of the high-IQ yukaihan's role in the film, his scenes had been increased by quite a few paragraphs.
"There are two major changes, and I need to get your opinion," the director said. "First, the opening close-up shot of the movie will be on you. Second, you have a kissing scene with DaWang. We might not be able to use camera tricks, so it could be a real kiss. Do you mind?"
Chen Yimo let out a whistle.
"I don't mind," Xie Wang said nonsense.
Lin Jianlu: "?"
--------------------
Dawang (The "glaring at Chen Yimo" edition): That's my wife! Why the hell are you picking food for him?!
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