Four-Faced Buddha [To My Shore] - Chap 16
Chapter 16 Interesting Games
2024-10-13 07:12 Category: Four-Faced BuddhaTurn off the lights
Lu Zhen took a deep breath and strode onto the catwalk. He wasn’t a professional catwalk model; he wasn’t tall enough and lacked experience. Fortunately, the employer didn’t care, as long as he looked good and suited the items being displayed.
Ultimately, the main reason is that small-time models like Lu Zhen are cheap.
It was supposed to be a rehearsal, but Lu Zhen was unusually nervous. The second-to-last model had already stepped out from backstage into the spotlight, and as he turned at the end of the runway, Lu Zhen took his first step.
As the last model to appear, he wore a unique limited-edition men’s crown. Unlike the other jewelry items displayed earlier, the significance of this crown lay solely in enhancing the brand’s value and showcasing the designer’s technical prowess.
Because it was a rehearsal, there were only a few spectators around the runway, mainly staff from the organizers and brand companies.
There are also those who stand out, like the man sitting at the far end of the runway. He wears a sharp, dark suit paired with a matching vintage shirt, the buttons fastened neatly all the way to his chin, a striking combination of restraint and nobility.
With his long legs casually crossed, his bespoke suit exuding strength and vitality, he became the center of attention the moment he sat down.
The man’s eyes were calm as he gazed at the catwalk directly in front of him. After enduring numerous intentional and unintentional glances, he finally revealed an extremely handsome smile.
Lu Zhen approached gracefully, but his mental preparation crumbled at the sight of that fleeting smile, causing him to stumble and nearly fall.
The man in the audience frowned slightly, lowered his crossed legs, but did not show any sign of alarm.
Lu Zhen quickly adjusted his posture, stood up straight, turned around and headed back, completing a less-than-perfect closing performance.
“Mr. Fan,” Lu Zhen said, her makeup still on, as she entered the rest area. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“I didn’t have to wait long, and the show was very enjoyable.” Without any feigned politeness, Fan Xiao’s tone sounded genuinely sincere.
“You like watching fashion shows?” Lu Zhen was a little surprised. Fan Xiao sometimes gave people the same feeling as You Shulang, gentle and proper, knowing when to advance and retreat. So he naturally assumed that Fan Xiao would also have little interest in this kind of fashion event, just like You Shulang.
Fan Xiao gently stroked Lu Zhen’s hair, causing the glittering shards used for decoration to flutter down. Some shards stubbornly clung tightly to the hair strands. He picked at the shards with his fingertips and casually replied, “It’s because of you that I find it interesting.”
Boom! Lu Zhen felt as if he had fallen into a pool of boiling water, like a shrimp that had no idea what was going to happen, being slowly steamed into an intoxicating color.
He fidgeted with his trousers, and after a moment of catching his breath, he asked, “Mr. Fan, are you going to ask me to be your model again this time?”
The shards of hair were swept away, and Fan Xiao’s hand gently slid down the strands of hair, resting against Lu Zhen’s shoulder and hanging at his side.
“No, this time I’ve come specifically to ask for your help.”
Lu Zhen looked puzzled: “Help? Help with what? Is there anything I can do to help Mr. Fan?”
Fan Xiao smiled indulgently: “Of course, how about our Zhenzhen is a little more confident?”
“I have a rather important banquet tomorrow night, but as you know, I’m new here and don’t have any friends who can help me make a good impression. There are three people at the banquet, and I don’t want to go alone. So, could you come with me and help me entertain the guests?”
“Entertaining guests?” Lu Zhen’s circle is full of dirty dealings, and the word “entertaining” can have many interpretations.
Fan Xiao immediately understood and smiled slightly: “It’s just a matter of us having a few drinks and chatting. I promise I’ll make sure you get home safely before midnight.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” Lu Zhen was a little embarrassed, but then he became a little happy. “Mr. Fan helped me so much last time, I will definitely do my best this time.”
Just as Fan Xiao was about to express his gratitude, he saw a man wearing a beret walking towards him. The man looked somewhat troubled, but he quickly explained his purpose.
“Lu Zhen, the brand asked me to inform you that you won’t be showcasing the final crown; someone else will be doing it. You’ll still be showcasing the previous jewelry sets.”
Lu Zhen was somewhat surprised, and felt awkward because Fan Xiao was present. He hurriedly asked, “Why was I replaced? Was it because I didn’t perform well during the rehearsal?”
Imperfections during rehearsals are common, after all, no one gives it their all. The beret-wearing man paused for a moment, then pouted and said, “That’s just how it is in our industry. Whoever gets paid the most calls the shots, you know that. Alright, it’s just a niche brand. Losing the finale is fine, there’s always next time.”
“Next time…” Lu Zhen swallowed the rest of his words and fell silent with a look of disappointment.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Fan Xiao asked after the beret left.
Lu Zhen shook his head with a wry smile, then forced a smile and said, “I’ll be there on time tomorrow night.”
The “Airbus” bar is very famous in this city.
Push open the water-rotted and insect-eaten wooden door, and you’ll find yourself in a vast and boundless starry sky, deep and mysterious, vast and boundless, with star clusters stretching into the depths, flares as smooth as a mirror, and different ethereal atmospheres rising from all directions.
The creaking wooden door slowly closed, as if severing all ties between the intruder and the mortal world. Everything that was once considered eternal, infinite, and limitless was nothing but a fleeting illusion.
Leaning back on the sofa, Fan Xiao slowly sipped his wine. Gazing at the starry sky, he suddenly felt that his game was utterly boring.
Over the years, he had always tried to find amusement in his dull and tedious life, and You Shulang was the one that kept him interested the longest and that he put the most effort into. But now, enveloped in a galaxy of illusions, he felt weary and exhausted again, and a sense of utter despair washed over him once more.
The icy seawater seemed to slowly surge up from his feet, and he felt as if he were back in that terrifying and tragic world. Towering waves, screaming crowds, instinctive escape, people constantly being swept away by the sea, only that pair of warm and soft hands firmly holding him, telling him, “Fan Xiao, run!”
I don’t want to run anymore, I can’t run anymore.
If you’re scared, just light a match.
The matches are wet too, take me with you.
“Mr. Fan!” The seawater slowly receded, revealing Lu Zhen’s smiling face. “Let’s have a drink together.”
“Okay,” Fan Xiao replied calmly, “but I’d like to hear you sing a song first.”
“Me? Sing?” Lu Zhen glanced at the microphone standing in the center of the bar stage. “I can’t do it, I’m a bad singer.”
Fan Xiao took an exquisite gift box from his assistant, untied the ribbon with his fingers, and opened the deep blue velvet packaging. A crown inlaid with various crystals shone brightly under the refraction of the vast starry sky.
Lu Zhen was stunned: “This is… the crown that was the finale of the show?”
“Yes, it belongs to you now,” Fan Xiao said lightly. “Since it’s yours, it’s not appropriate for anyone else to wear it.”
Seeing that Lu Zhen was still somewhat confused, Fan Xiao’s Chinese assistant said at the right time: “Mr. Lu, President Fan has become the first major client of ‘Xinni’ jewelry’s autumn/winter show. This crown was bought by him as a gift for you. In addition, the brand said that as the owner of this crown, you should be the one to show it on the runway.”
Before Lu Zhen could process this information, Fan Xiao took the crown from the gift box and placed it on his head. He whispered in his ear, “Your Highness, would you have the honor of singing me a song?”
“What kind of show is this?”
Fan Xiao’s friends crowded around, egging him on. Lu Zhen quickly stood up, blushing and awkwardly saying, “Mr. Fan, if you don’t mind, I’ll…”
Fan Xiao slowly leaned back, rested one hand on the back of the sofa, stretched out his body, crossed his legs, and his eyes shone brighter than starlight.
“Go,” he said.
As the music began, the already dim lights in the bar dimmed again, concentrating all the remaining light on the center of the stage. A slow song drifted in, Lu Zhen’s voice was pleasant and full of emotion.
He looked down from the stage wearing a crown, and Fan Xiao raised his glass.
“And who is this?” Shi Lihua asked, holding her wine glass. “Why have you been hiring so many men lately?”
Fan Xiao didn’t say anything, but pushed him away. It was time to end the game quickly, so he took out his phone, dialed a number, and sped up the game’s progress.
The phone was answered after only a few rings, and in the noisy environment, Fan Xiao heard a warm “President Fan”.
Mr. Fan.
Two simple words abruptly pulled him back into the dimly lit carriage. He was pressing down on the burning hot man, demanding punishment. The man’s expectant, almost greedy gaze lingered on his hands before he softly asked, “How should I punish you?”
How should he be punished?! Fan Xiao’s pent-up frustration from yesterday is stirring again!
This… is not normal.
“Fan Xiao?” You Shulang’s voice came through the phone again, this time addressing him differently.
“Shulang,” Fan Xiao’s voice was somewhat deep as he asked amidst the noise, “What are you doing?”
“Me? I didn’t do anything, just stayed home and watched the game.”
Fan Xiao’s gaze fell on Lu Zhen on the stage, and he said softly, “Having a girlfriend with you? That’s nice.”
The other person paused, then said, “Just myself.”
“Oh? Director You has no lady to keep you company through the long night?”
“He has a business dinner tonight.”
“What a pity for such a beautiful night.”
Fan Xiao’s words were somewhat inappropriate, and the tone on the other end was helpless: “Did you call to ask me something?”
“It’s nothing,” Fan Xiao said with a smile. “I heard someone singing well at the bar and wanted to invite you to listen, since you’re my only friend in this city.”
He held up his phone, the heat in his eyes gradually fading: “Did you hear that? Was it good?”
The singing was distant and shrouded in a jumble of noises. After a moment of silence, the other person gave a perfunctory answer: “It’s alright.”
“Shulang, want to come hang out for a bit? I’m Airbus, just a few friends I get along with.”
“Don’t you only have me as a friend in this city?” A low laugh came from the other end of the phone. “President Fan has friends wherever he goes, so don’t flatter me in the future.”
“Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up now, I’m watching the game.”
The rather impolite tone amused Fan Xiao, who said good-naturedly, “Director You is getting more and more impolite to me. Where did your politeness and courtesy go when we first met?”
The person on the other end laughed and said, “Politeness is for outsiders; you probably don’t qualify.”
My heart suddenly went blank, and the singing on stage stopped.
After a long while, Fan Xiao held up his phone and thought, “Actually, the game is quite interesting.”
