"YoYo, let's go." Xie Wang checked the time, then said, "I'll take you to your rehearsal."
Lin Jianlu was going to attend a performance that involved singing and dancing, so he had to practice the choreography.
Xie Wang drove him directly to the rehearsal dance studio arranged by the organizers.
The dance instructor was already waiting there. Lin Jianlu wasn't a dancer, so he always needed plenty of preparation for anything involving singing and dancing on stage.Work stolen from https://chipoholictranslations.blogspot.com/p/homepage.html
Xie Wang was well aware of this.
"You practice, and I'll go meet the jewelry designer," Xie Wang said.
Lin Jianlu: "Okay."
In the studio, the dance instructor taught him the choreography and then left, leaving Lin Jianlu to practice on his own.
After running through the dance twice, there was a knock at the door. An omega Lin Jianlu didn't recognize appeared in the doorway.
"Oh, sorry," the omega said, "I've got the wrong room."
Lin Jianlu, catching his breath and wiping the sweat from his cheeks with a towel, replied, "It's okay."
However, the person didn't leave. Instead, they stood at the door and asked, "Are you Lin Jianlu?"
Lin Jianlu: "You know me?"
"Of course I know you," the person said. "I'm Wang Yao. Does that name ring a bell?"
The name did sound familiar to Lin Jianlu, but he had never seen the person in front of him.
The actor who had been replaced at the last minute by Xie Wang for the film Hidden Blade was named Wang Yao.
When Lin Jianlu joined the cast, he took Wang Yao's place.
So, was Wang Yao here to confront him because of that?
"Don't worry, I don't mean anything by this," Wang Yao said. "I just saw you here and thought I'd stop to say hello. In fact, I should thank you. I heard filming this movie was particularly grueling—dragged through freezing lake water in the dead of winter. Glad it wasn't me!"
His attitude was unexpectedly good, and even seemed friendly.
"I think it was fine, not that hard," Lin Jianlu replied briefly.
For him, Hidden Blade was a significant and cherished experience, not something to complain about.
"Have you seen Xie Wang's Weibo?" Wang Yao didn't leave but stood by the studio door cheerfully, as if gossiping about something. "He said he has an omega. Did you ever see him when you were on set?"
Lin Jianlu knew Xie Wang had a carefully prepared plan for making the news public. He didn't want to disrupt Xie Wang and the company's arrangements, so he replied, "I don't know much about that."
"I see." The omega named Wang Yao smiled. "I thought I might get some inside scoop from you."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Wang Yao finally left the dance studio.
Meanwhile, Xie Wang had driven two jewelry designers to the brink of collapse and temporarily finalized a design for a wedding ring. Then he grabbed the plan, picked up a strawberry-flavored daifuku and leisurely headed back to the dance studio.
The music in the room was turned down low. Lin Jianlu was facing the mirror, repeatedly practicing a dance sequence. His black hair was damp with sweat, clinging obediently to his forehead. His slightly parted lips, open as he caught his breath, looked beautiful and sexy.
When Xie Wang pushed open the door, Lin Jianlu saw him but didn't stop. He continued practicing, determined to finish the sequence.
When the music stopped, Xie Wang tossed him a bottle of water, which Lin Jianlu caught with a casual raise of his hand.
"Nice dance," Xie Wang said.
"Really?" Lin Jianlu twisted the cap open and took two gulps with his head back. Clear water trickled down from the corner of his mouth to his neck, leaving a shiny trail. His sweat-drenched shirt was already semi-transparent, and now the moisture accentuated the butterfly-wing-shaped birthmark below his collarbone. It looked like a butterfly poised to take flight in the mist.
Lin Jianlu wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Seeing the look in the eyes of the alpha opposite him, he quickly said, "I'm just drinking water."
No other meaning.
Xie Wang mocked mercilessly: "I didn't do anything either."
Lin Jianlu shot him a glare. His usually cold gaze now carried a hint of embarrassed anger.
He sat down next to Xie Wang by the mirror to rest. Xie Wang draped a hand casually around his neck, idly stroking it.
A gentle tingling spread from the nape of Lin Jianlu's neck, making him squint his eyes in relaxation. When Xie Wang's touch occasionally grew a bit too firm, he would lightly push at him—more like a soft slap from a small animal's paw than any real attempt to fend him off.
"Da Wang, do you know Wang Yao?" Lin Jianlu asked.
Of course Xie Wang knew him.
Wang Yao was the omega actor originally cast as the hostage in the film Hidden Blade.
This guy joined the cast with money, but his acting was so bad that most of the hostage scenes were cut when the movie was released.
The movie ultimately became a pure showdown between him and Chen Yimo, but it lacked the emotional punch the hostage subplot could have provided.
So after his rebirth, he had insisted on replacing Wang Yao to ensure filming Hidden Blade would not leave any regrets. Lin Jianlu's performance in the role had indeed delivered, elevating the movie's emotional depth.
"I just saw him earlier," Lin Jianlu said. "He said... he came to say hello to me."
"Ignore him," Xie Wang said. "I'm the one who replaced him in the role. If he has any complaints, they should be directed at me."
Lin Jianlu shared the same thought.
Feeling the soreness in his limbs after the dance, he sat down on the floor and began stretching with the simple moves his instructor had taught him.
"You're surprisingly flexible," Xie Wang commented, watching Lin Jianlu in the mirror.
Sitting on the floor, Lin Jianlu spread his legs, placed his hands on the ground, and leaned forward to touch the mirror just ahead of him.
Lin Jianlu replied without thinking, "Yeah, it can unlock a lot of positions."
A cascade of explicit images flooded Xie Wang's mind, rendering him momentarily stunned. Lin Jianlu, however, remained perfectly composed, his expression calm and detached as usual.
The alpha in the mirror was faintly blushing. Seeing this, Lin Jianlu had a naughty idea. He knelt on the floor and reached out with his right hand, using a single finger to lift the alpha's chin.
"Already can't handle it?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, disdain in his gaze as he leaned close to Xie Wang's ear and murmured, "Little virgin A."
Xie Wang's breathing grew erratic.
Lin Jianlu hooking him so brazenly was an entirely different feeling.
Xie Wang calmed himself down and taunted, "Haven't been one for a while. But if you keep this up, I might just put everything from your 'study materials' into practice."
The playful confidence on Lin Jianlu's face froze. He shifted his knees and moved back a little: "You peeked at my files."
"I wouldn't call it that," Xie Wang replied innocently. "Your little sea king buddy sent you a message, and I accidentally saw it."
Lin Jianlu: "?"
How do you know my little buddy is a sea king?
Xie Wang: "It wasn't intentional! I'm a victim here, Lin Jianlu! I've never been corrupted like this in my life."
Furious, Lin Jianlu stood up, only to be pulled back into Xie Wang's arms. The alpha's hands roamed freely, treating him like a favorite toy, rubbing and hugging him, alternating between light and firm touches. The rough play made Lin Jianlu gasp softly.
"Lin Jianlu, are you done practicing? The song selection for the Seeking Sound finals..." The manager from Xingluo Entertainment knocked on the door and entered.
The music in the studio came to a halt. Xie Wang had one hand buried in Lin Jianlu's hair, thoroughly ruffling it into a messy state.
The manager selectively ignored Xie Wang.
"I've decided," Lin Jianlu freed himself from Xie Wang's grip. "I'll sing my own original song, Waiting for You."
As a singer-songwriter, it was only fitting that he perform his own work for the finals.
Xie Wang, standing nearby, seemed to be lost in thought as something clicked in his memory.
"Alright, I'll go register that for you…" The manager's words were interrupted.
"Wait a moment, how about switching to another song?" Xie Wang suggested.
"Switch?" Lin Jianlu frowned.
"Yes," Xie Wang nodded. "Waiting for You is too simple. It sounds good, but doesn't have enough elements to show off," he explained. "It's a competition after all. It's better to pick something with more scoring potential."
He recalled watching Lin Jianlu's competition videos in his previous life out of idle curiosity.
In the finals, Lin Jianlu only got third place, and the judges' main critique was precisely this—his song lacked the technical flair to clinch a higher score.
However, the marks deduction for song choice was not enough to make Lin Jianlu, who was leading by a wide margin, drop to the third spot.
There was something else.
On the day of the finals, Lin Jianlu had appeared unwell. He kept coughing as he walked off the stage, and his pale cheeks were flushed from the effort, showing a kind of morbid fragility.
If it wasn't a cold, then it must have been an allergic reaction to accidentally ingesting some medication.
Just in case—
"YoYo, on the day of the finals, don't drink anything anyone gives you. Except me," Xie Wang said.
Lin Jianlu: "Huh?"
"Yes, you need to be careful." The manager looked thoughtful. The reminder slightly improved her impression of Xie Wang. "Seeking Sound is a very important competition, so we really need to be more cautious."
Xie Wang just smiled.
While the results and rankings of Seeking Sound wouldn't ultimately affect Lin Jianlu's bright future, he had seen firsthand how much Lin Jianlu loved and worked hard for his music.
Lin Jianlu must get the ranking and achievement he deserves.
***
Three days later, on the day of the Seeking Sound finals, the backstage area of the show was bustling with activity.
Lin Jianlu was taken early in the morning by his assistant to change into his outfit, then pushed into the makeup room for styling.
"Your hair would look quite nice if dyed brown," the makeup artist suggested. "Do you want to give it a try?"
Lin Jianlu shook his head.
He didn't want to fuss with it because Xie Wang seemed to really like his soft, fine black hair. Every time the alpha spread his fingers and combed through his hair, Xie Wang would squint his eyes in comfort.
"It's good as it is now," he said.
As a judge and mentor, Xie Wang was even busier than those backstage. After finishing his makeup, he was immediately pulled to the front stage by the production team for an interview.
For most of the day, Lin Jianlu hadn't had a chance to see Xie Wang.
[YoYo]: Have you had lunch?
[Da Wang]: No, I didn't have time. This stupid production team is squeezing me dry.
[Da Wang]: Not interested in work, just want to hold Lin Jianlu.
Lin Jianlu's lips curved into a faint smile.
After finishing his makeup, he stayed in the practice room, rehearsing his song for the finals over and over again.
"Lin Jianlu?" A voice interrupted him.
He looked up and saw a fairly familiar face.
This was Cen Fei, a beta, the contestant currently ranked second in audience votes—right behind him.
"The competition is about to start. Are you nervous?" Cen Fei asked.
Lin Jianlu shook his head.
"Your lips look dry. Have some water." The other person pushed a bottle of mineral water toward him. "I'll go get some water for the others."
Lin Jianlu: "Thank you."
The water was an ordinary bottle of mineral water, with the Seeking Sound production logo sticker on it.
He unscrewed the cap, put the bottle mouth to his lips, but suddenly remembered Xie Wang's warning.
Lin Jianlu didn't drink it. Instead, he placed the water back on the table.
Then he "accidentally" spilled half of it into the trash can before screwing the cap back on.
"By the way, Lin Jianlu." The second-place contestant was back. "The chief director mentioned that tonight's competition will be live streamed on the whole network. When we are on stage together, could we have a bit more verbal interaction?"
Lin Jianlu: "Sure."
Cen Fei's gaze swept over the half-drunk bottle of mineral water on the windowsill, and he smiled a bit wider.Work stolen from https://chipoholictranslations.blogspot.com/p/homepage.html
Turn somebody's trick against them—this was something Lin Jianlu had learned from Xie Wang.
If someone was truly trying to pull a trick, it was better for him to feign falling into their trap than to let them continue devising more schemes.
The Seeking Sound finale was live streamed nationwide, and fans had been eagerly waiting in front of their screens to watch their favorite singers perform.
When Lin Jianlu stepped onto the stage, the comment section and barrage were very lively.
@Apple: Ahhh, Lin Jianlu must win!
@Pineapple: YoYo chose such a difficult song today—good luck!
@NotACicada: Wow, he's an artist from our Xingluo Entertainment. Come on! We gotta support him!
@Orange: Just watching casually—go, go, go!
The omega in a black dress shirt stood under the stage lights, his gaze locking with Xie Wang’s from afar.
Xie Wang muted his microphone and softly sang along with the music.
Under the lights and shadows, the omega's profile was serene and beautiful, just like the countless times Xie Wang had seen him in his dreams and longings after his rebirth. And now, he was right there, within reach.
This time, Lin Jianlu performed his chosen song flawlessly, without a single mistake.
As he stepped off the stage, he passed by the second-place contestant, whose expression didn't look too good.
Lin Jianlu vaguely understood something.
From the judges' seats, Xie Wang gave him an encouraging gesture from afar.
The alpha seemed to be saying: Don't be afraid. With me here, you don't have to brave the storm alone.
When the competition results were announced, as Xie Wang had predicted, Lin Jianlu was the fully deserving champion.
"The Seeking Sound competition has finally come to an end. Do you all have anything you'd like to share?" the host asked.
In such situations, Lin Jianlu usually had little to say. But as he looked up, his eyes caught Xie Wang leaning back casually in the judges' seat.
"My song…is for the one I love." Lin Jianlu said.
The barrage chuckled at his words.
Lin Jianlu's doghouse was in an uproar.
@LinJianlu'sDog523: Hahaha, he said he loves me.
@LinJianlu'sDog6321: I love you too!
@LinJianlu'sDog998: WuWuWu, YoYo just confessed to me.
Catching a glimpse of the live comments, Xie Wang's lips twitched.
The host then turned the microphone toward the runner-up. "Cen Fei, do you have anything you'd like to say?"
Cen Fei, whose expression had been sour the entire time, responded, "Thank you to my fans for always supporting me. I'm very happy to receive this award. I got here with my own strength, without taking advantage of any loopholes. I sang with my true voice, and I'm proud of that.”
Lin Jianlu frowned slightly at his words.
As soon as this was said, the live chat room of the Seeking Sound finals exploded with comments.
[Why does he sound so passive-aggressive and green-tea-ish? Who's he implying didn't use their real voice? Lin Jianlu? No way, this is a live performance show.]
[Who knows? Lin Jianlu's performance just now was so perfect, it really did sound like a pre-recording.]
[No way. Why would Seeking Sound play favorites with Lin Jianlu?]
[Is Cen Fei sick in the head? He got second place and now accuses someone of lip-syncing?]
"It's fine," Xie Wang said calmly. "We just need to prove it."
Lin Jianlu took the microphone from the host's hand and performed the same song again.
No background music. No stage effects.
The boy's ethereal and beautiful voice filled the room, its penetrating clarity striking straight into the listeners' hearts.
The uproarious audience and the barrage all shut up.
A raw, unaccompanied performance was the best proof of true skill.
Sweat trickled down Cen Fei's temple: "Well… Sorry, I must have misheard."
Barrage—
[The singing is too beautiful. No wonder there was doubt.]
[Don't do this next time.]
[He's already apologized, let's just move on.]
[A little drama in the finals, huh? Maybe he was just too eager to win, but it really didn't look good.]
Xie Wang, who had been silent until now, finally turned on his mic: "Whether you heard it right or not is one thing, but you were already sure he wouldn't be able to sing well. Isn't that right?"
The beta singer's face turned pale.
The host's expression subtly shifted as their earpiece relayed instructions from the chief director. The host's gaze at Cen Fei grew more complicated.
Meanwhile, a video began circulating online.
Barrage—
[There's surveillance footage—it shows him giving Lin Jianlu the water.]
[The video is pretty clear. He put omega pheromone suppressant powder in it. I remember Lin Jianlu mentioning during a livestream that he's allergic to many types of blocker patches and oral meds. He can only use collars and injections every time.]
[Although oral meds allergy isn't life-threatening, it causes coughing. This is too much...]
[How did he even know such detailed information?]
[Close the doors and let Lin Jianlu's dogs bite him to death!]
[My wife is so smart, knowing to pour the water out. I love Lin Jianlu even more now!]
In the show's backstage lounge, Lin Jianlu cooperated with the investigation, recounting the experience of receiving the bottle of water.
If nothing unexpected happened, Cen Fei, the beta singer, would have his results invalidated.
"Are you happy, champ?" Xie Wang lounged on the sofa, fiddling with the newly awarded trophy. "From now on, you'll be the famous singer Lin Jianlu."
"Thank you," Lin Jianlu replied.
Xie Wang's face lit up with a pleased smile.
Since he was reborn, Xie Wang had finally managed to help Lin Jianlu right some of the wrongs he had suffered. His Lin Jianlu couldn't be bullied by anyone.
"I just don't understand…" Lin Jianlu said, frowning slightly. "Such an obvious tactic is easy to uncover. Why would he still go through with it?"
"That's because we caught it," Xie Wang replied with a faint smile. "But what if we hadn't? A small mistake in your finale performance wouldn't be taken seriously. Even if it were discovered later, the production team wouldn't bother organizing a rematch. As stupid as it seems, the potential payoff is actually high."
Lin Jianlu nodded in understanding.
"Get some rest," Xie Wang said, standing up. "I'll go check on the situation next door."
In the adjacent room, Cen Fei was being interrogated.
Xie Wang pulled out a chair and sat down lazily, leaning slightly forward as he scrutinized the beta in front of him.
"Who put you up to this?" Xie Wang hit the mark with a single question.
Cen Fei: "I…"
"Jealousy might make you stupid, but you're not bold enough to pull this off on your own," Xie Wang said. "Someone instructed you, assuring that even if it got exposed, Lin Jianlu wouldn't be able to make a big fuss. Am I right?"
Cen Fei: "…"
"Someone from the Lin family?" Xie Wang probed, watching his reaction closely.
"Do you want to be blacklisted from the entire industry?" Xie Wang asked in an almost offhand manner. "He's an artist under Xingluo Entertainment. The evidence has already been handed over to them."
Fear and struggle flashed across Cen Fei's face, betraying his thoughts. Xie Wang smiled slightly—no further confirmation was necessary. He'd guessed correctly.
Even though he and Lin Jianlu were already engaged, the Lin family clearly had no intention of letting Lin Jianlu live peacefully.
But the Lins had severely underestimated how much Lin Jianlu meant to him.
In the lounge, Lin Jianlu was still engrossed in examining his trophy. The unique design, featuring one large and one small golden music note intricately crafted, caught his fascination. The more he looked at it, the more reluctant he was to put it down.
When he noticed Xie Wang entering the room, Lin Jianlu seemed a bit embarrassed and quickly hid the trophy behind his back.
So cute! Lin Jianlu claimed not to care about winning first place, but he sure spent a lot of time playing with the trophy.
Xie Wang endured it and didn't expose him.
Yet again, his heart ached as if stung. He couldn't help but think how sad Lin Jianlu must have felt when he lost the first place before his rebirth.
He had met Lin Jianlu too late in that life, and because he was too slow to understand his own feelings, he even let Lin Jianlu suffer too many injustices.
"Would you mind if I want to deal with the Lin family?" Xie Wang asked.
Lin Jianlu shook his head.
This is what it feels like to be protected by someone.
It was warmer than the shelter he imagined.
"Xie Wang," Lin Jianlu called his name softly.
Xie Wang: "What do you want?"
"I want..." Lin Jianlu leaned close, mumbling a position into Xie Wang's ear. "Can you?"
The alpha's ears turned red as he coughed dryly and turned his face away.
Little yellow deer, torturing his waist again.
"Let's go home first," Xie Wang said.
The room door was pushed open as Xie Wang burst in. Lin Jianlu, still barefoot and not having had time to switch into his fluffy white slippers, was lifted by the alpha who was barely holding on and pressed against the wall. His cheek was cool against the surface as his alpha's dominant presence surrounded him, leaving him unable to resist, like prey caught in a predator's grasp.
"Kiss me…" Lin Jianlu demanded.
The alpha ignored him, his right hand trailing down his spine to his waist, igniting waves of heat along the way.
"Kiss me…" The hunter, who had lost control of his prey, ordered stubbornly.
"Let me play with you first." A low chuckle escaped the alpha's lips.
Everything spiraled out of control.
A few hours later, the thoroughly exhausted Lin Jianlu had fallen into a deep sleep. It seemed that the feeling of being pinned down and thrust hard into by a certain someone still clung to him, and he held onto Xie Wang's neck.
Xie Wang answered a call on his behalf. Lin Jianlu's cheeks were still flushed, and even in sleep, he stayed tightly wrapped around Xie Wang like a vine.
"Lin Jianlu," His manager's voice came through the phone, "congratulations on winning the championship. Rest up well. But I just saw someone scolding you online. Ask Xie Wang to see how to respond. The team's ready to respond."
Xie Wang: "I am Xie Wang."
The manager paused for a few seconds, seemingly holding back from asking where Lin Jianlu was, then redirected the conversation.
Xie Wang glanced at the screenshots the manager had sent. He quickly understood the situation.
Someone had started rumors online, claiming Lin Jianlu and Xie Wang were in an intimate relationship, and yet, Xie Wang already had an omega.
@KingOysterMushroom: Isn't Lin Jianlu a little too close to Xie Wang? You can't tell from the Seeking Sound set, and Lin Jianlu even switched groups. But the leaked photos of them were way too intimate! Lin Jianlu looks all serious and proper, but it's all an act!
@OysterMushroom: Yeah, and isn't Xie Wang already engaged? I heard his fiancé is from a business family too, so they are definitely a good match.
@EnokiMushroom: Wasn't Lin Jianlu sticking to Xie Wang during that fashion magazine gala? What, does movie promotion need intimacy now? In the pictures leaked last time, he was even carried by Xie Wang!
@TeaTreeMushroom: Don't say that. He's the new Seeking Sound champion. He's a big deal now.
Xie Wang: "…"
Work stolen from https://chipoholictranslations.blogspot.com/p/homepage.html
He roughly knew what was going on. His Lin Jianlu was gaining recognition step by step, and certain people couldn't handle it. There are many different opinions on the Internet, and these insults were just groundless accusations and were not worth losing sleep over.
But it just so happened that it was time to make it public.
He'd been given a second chance, and he would never let Lin Jianlu suffer any injustice again, not even for another minute.
Late that night, Lin Jianlu's social account was suddenly updated with a post.
This account directly published a photograph of a marriage certificate, and the names on the certificate read—
Xie Wang and Lin Jianlu.
@NineColoredDeerYoYo: [Marriage Certificate].jpg. Married. Don't bother him.
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