Chapter 89 – Deep Sinking

This evening, Shen Fubai’s phone rang insistently three times, each call missed.

When the ringtone sounded for the third time, Shen Fubai was panting lightly, struggling to sit up and reach for his phone on the bedside table. “Let me answer this call.”

Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow. “Do you think you’re in any state to talk on the phone right now?” He leaned in, whispering in a voice that had the richness of a cello, “Afraid someone might ask why you’re so out of breath?”

Shen Fubai deflated instantly under his touch, collapsing back onto the pillow, gazing longingly at the ringing phone. “I just want to see who it is… They’ve called three times already, what if it’s an emergency…”

Jiang Heng extended his long arm effortlessly to grab the phone, his eyelids flickering when he saw the caller ID on the screen.

“Old, Horny Devil.” Jiang Heng read the words on the screen slowly, noticing the sudden stiffness in the body beneath him.

“…It’s not anyone important, just hang up,” Shen Fubai turned away.

Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes and answered the call without hesitation.

A lecherous, oily voice came from the phone: “Little Shen, I saw the news online, what do you mean you’re leaving the industry? No more concerts? Are you serious?”

Upon hearing that voice, Shen Fubai turned around in panic, his red-rimmed eyes strikingly vivid, pleading in their depths.

What are you doing, Heng Heng! Hang up the phone quickly!

They were currently in the midst of… Shen Fubai had no interest in giving people a live erotic show. Especially not with that person on the other end of the line; the thought was revolting.

Jiang Heng remained silent, neither speaking nor hanging up, waiting calmly for the person on the other end to continue.

The person rambled on: “It must be rumors, right? You have such a bright future ahead of you, don’t be rash! The company hasn’t been bad to you, has it? We provide you with all the resources you need, don’t do anything ungrateful.” There was a hint of threat in his words.

Jiang Heng’s expression grew colder with each word.

Shen Fubai bit his lip, too afraid to speak, silently urging Jiang Heng not to engage in idle chatter.

The voice on the phone continued to prattle on: “Are you still upset about that incident years ago? That’s all in the past, isn’t it? Now, with your status, who would dare make you accompany them for drinks or sleep with them…”

Hearing those words, Jiang Heng could no longer bear it. His voice, as cold as a poisoned ice blade, cut through the air: “Sorry, he’s mine now. Treasure tonight, because you’ll be dead tomorrow.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a roar: “Who are you? Where’s Little Shen?!”

But Jiang Heng had already hung up the phone.

Shen Fubai had never seen Jiang Heng like this before. In the past, Jiang Heng had always been gentle and elegant, almost childlike in his adorableness, teasing and joking with him.

Now, Jiang Heng’s cold, silent demeanor made him seem somewhat unfamiliar, despite his unchanged beauty.

Is he…angry?

Shen Fubai didn’t dare look at him, turning his head away, resting his forehead on his arm, burying his face in the pillow.

Jiang Heng withdrew, asking Shen Fubai calmly and tenderly, “Fubai, who was that?” He vowed to himself that he’d make sure that man paid dearly.

Shen Fubai mumbled, “Heng Heng, don’t ask. It’s all in the past.”

True, he had endured some hardships in the past, but compared to the sweetness of the present, they paled in significance. There was no need to bring them up again.

But Jiang Heng couldn’t let it go: “Fubai, listen to me.”

Just the nickname ‘Old Horny Devil’ was enough to ignite Jiang Heng’s fury. Fubai was always so polite; he wouldn’t have given someone such a derogatory name unless they had done something truly terrible. And the reference to ‘that incident’ years ago certainly wasn’t a good sign.

Shen Fubai didn’t want to talk, his face buried in the pillow.

Jiang Heng turned Shen Fubai over, gazing into his reddened eyes. “Fubai, don’t be afraid.”

He cupped the youth’s beautiful face, kissing him gently. “I’m here.”

Shen Fubai’s eyelashes fluttered, and after a long while, he said, “He’s the chairman of our company, Huang Shoudong.”

“I mentioned my father to you before, didn’t I?” Shen Fubai, like a fragile child, nestled in Jiang Heng’s embrace. Perhaps it was the intimacy between lovers that made him want to open up, to no longer hide anything.

His heart harbored many grievances, and he had never felt such a strong desire to share them.

Jiang Heng patted his back gently. “Mm, you did mention that he’s a famous dancer.”

“Dancers often carry injuries,” Shen Fubai said softly, lowering his eyes. “Later on, he injured his leg and could no longer dance. Actually, that was for the best; the money he saved in the first half of his life was enough to sustain him.”

“But he was a dancer, viewing dance as his life. He couldn’t accept the fact that he could no longer dance in the second half of his life. When he found it difficult to even do a simple split, he became irritable and easily angered.”

“And then…” Shen Fubai continued softly, “he started taking drugs.”

Jiang Heng’s pupils constricted.

“He believed that he danced well under the influence of drugs,” Shen Fubai murmured. “I thought he was insane.”

Watching his once graceful father dance wildly and crazily was a mixture of fear and sorrow.

“Drugs are expensive, you know that,” Shen Fubai said. “I couldn’t persuade him to stop, and I didn’t have the heart to report him to the police and send him to rehab. He was a distinguished artist, he shouldn’t have been reduced to such a pathetic state in public… I didn’t know what to do. I was only sixteen back then.”

Shen Fubai paused, then added, “Perhaps he loved dance more than he loved me.”

Eventually, it was the drugs that destroyed that man.

“The family soon fell into debt. He borrowed high-interest loans to fuel his addiction. During that period, debt collectors came to our house frequently, demanding payment. When we couldn’t pay, they resorted to violence, beating my father.” Shen Fubai recounted. “Because of this, I cut off contact with my mother’s side of the family, not wanting to cause them trouble. That happy family of three shouldn’t have to pay for the mess my father and I created.”

“Then I met a talent scout. They wanted me to become an idol, to drop out of school. I had no choice.”

“When I first debuted, as a newcomer without a background, but with a pretty face, you can imagine what kind of treatment I received in this industry.” Shen Fubai said with some annoyance. “At first, they asked me to accompany guests for drinks. For the sake of money, I endured it. Then, there were veiled suggestions of sexual favors… It was that Huang guy.”

Jiang Heng clenched his fists tightly.

…Fubai was only sixteen back then.

Disgusting.

“Did he touch you?” Jiang Heng’s heart skipped a beat.

The mere thought of that possibility sent a sharp, painful pang through his chest. It wasn’t just a prick from a needle; it was as if he was being pounded by a giant hammer.

“No, he didn’t,” Shen Fubai chuckled softly. “I hit him.”

Back then, he was so proud. Even though his father had gotten into trouble, and the family had fallen on hard times, he refused to contact his mother in America for help, not wanting to burden another happy family. Determined, he stepped into the entertainment industry.

At sixteen, the boy was breathtakingly handsome, naturally attracting the covetous gazes of many. Drugged and demeaned, he endured everything.

But the pride within him never faded. At a dinner party, a major client wanted him to sit on his lap, pouring wine down his collar. Smiling insincerely, Shen Fubai politely declined, inwardly disgusted with himself.

Then, the old man, older than his own father, tried to kiss him with his foul mouth.

The boy exploded on the spot, snatching the bottle of red wine and dousing the man’s head with it, completely ruining the deal.

Huang Shoudong, the chairman negotiating the deal, was stunned, slapping Shen Fubai twice and forcing him to apologize.

Shen Fubai refused to apologize.

Instead, the client, pitying the handsome face that had been slapped swollen, didn’t pursue the matter further, leaving angrily.

That night, Huang Shoudong came to his room, pretending to bring medicine, then hinted that if Shen Fubai followed him, he could forgive the past and have a bright future ahead.

The young man looked at him with a cold smile. People were all equally filthy.

Then he beat Huang Shoudong until he didn’t recognize his own mother.

Afterward, he was blacklisted. He played his hand poorly, having the most beautiful face yet the worst resources. Many within the company mocked him for not knowing his place.

Without good resources, he couldn’t earn money.

Debt collectors also showed up at his doorstep from time to time, attacking his father. After enduring cold stares at the company during the day and returning home exhausted, Shen Fubai had to chase away those who beat his father.

That was when he learned how to fight fiercely.

Things couldn’t go on like this forever.

After chasing away the debt collectors again, the battered Shen Fubai looked at his father, sprawled on the floor like a pile of mud, and slammed his head against the wall in frustration.

Blood filled his mouth, and as the boy opened his eyes, his stubborn gaze now held calculation and ruthlessness.

As Shen Fubai spoke, his body began to tremble. Jiang Heng held him tenderly. “Don’t say anymore. If you can’t go on, don’t force yourself…” He wanted to understand Fubai’s past, but that didn’t mean he wanted to rip open Fubai’s wounds.

“No,” Shen Fubai gazed at him gently. “I want to tell you, I’ll tell you everything.”

“I’ll tell you everything,” Shen Fubai repeated. “Then you can decide whether you still love me or not.”

He lowered his eyes. “I once…seduced our CEO.”

At sixteen, the boy, who had been somewhat aloof, was still a naive young master. Suddenly thrust into dealing with these complex matters, he didn’t have much experience.

He desperately needed money.

He needed to earn money, to gain resources. Every day that passed meant his father could be beaten to death at home.

And he had been blacklisted by Huang Shoudong’s order. Unless he could climb up to someone in the company with more power than Huang Shoudong, he would remain buried in obscurity.

So Shen Fubai set his sights on the CEO of Sheng Entertainment.

The man was in his twenties, decent-looking, and a playboy, often seen with various female companions, promoting numerous female stars. He was definitely straight.

That’s why Shen Fubai dared to take the gamble.

He piqued the man’s interest, using him to gain resources, without risking being taken advantage of.

With his face more beautiful than a woman’s and carefully calculated steps, Shen Fubai indeed caught the attention of CEO Han Sheng.

Han Sheng wasn’t a good person. Indeed, he was intrigued by Shen Fubai’s appearance and behavior, even willing to challenge his own sexual orientation to try something new.

But in bed, facing the perfect body of the young man, Han Sheng felt inexplicable disgust and kicked him off the bed. He was indeed straight, unable to bring himself to touch another man, no matter what.

The beautiful young man winced in pain, asking plaintively, “Don’t you want me anymore?”

Han Sheng impatiently replied, “Get lost.”

The young man persisted, “The resources you promised me…”

Han Sheng casually said, “There’s still a slot available on ‘Star of Tomorrow,’ alright?” He just wanted to get rid of the boy as quickly as possible. A slot in a talent show was a huge opportunity for Shen Fubai, but to Han Sheng, it was just an offhand remark.

Shen Fubai got his answer and left promptly, getting dressed and walking out.

Han Sheng didn’t see the radiant, mocking smile on the boy’s face as he turned away.

That was the real Shen Fubai.

Peeling away the mask of carefree innocence and naivety, he had been ruthless and calculating since he was sixteen. He was worldly and smooth, never just talking the talk.

A flower struggling to grow out of the mire, its roots entangled in the mud. No matter how pure its petals appeared, its core was dark.

He understood human nature so deeply.

Heng Heng, stripped of all the glitz and glamour, all the filters removed, the real me is far from beautiful.

Will you still love me?

Jiang Heng embraced the trembling youth. Since Shen Fubai finished speaking, he hadn’t dared to look at him, as if fearing that his image would shatter, leaving no good feelings behind.

But Shen Fubai chose honesty anyway.

Jiang Heng kissed him tenderly.

Of course, I love you.