Chapter 27: Are you sick?

“…So what?”

“President, you are actually — Alice’s wife, right?”

I stared at her.

Her face was so close, her dark red eyes were wide, and her expression was as serious as if she were asking a question of life and death.

I remained silent for 5 seconds.

Then —

“You’re insane.”

Su Nian froze for a moment.

“Eh?”

“I said you’re insane.”

I tried to push her away, but her grip was too tight, and both of my wrists were pinned to the bed.

“Get up.”

“Oh, come on~ President, just tell me~”

Not only did she refuse to let go, but she leaned her face even closer, until the tip of her nose almost touched mine.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone!”

I really didn’t understand the way her mind worked.

Even if we had that kind of relationship, I should be the ‘husband,’ right?

I’m a guy, so how could I be the — ‘wife’?

But I was too lazy to correct her.

“Get off me first.”

“I won’t!”

“Let go — “

“No!”

She shook her head.

Her ponytail whipped around, brushing against my face.

‘Cursed paramecium!’

I struggled with all my might.

I couldn’t break free.

How did she suddenly become so strong?

Wait —

Su Nian noticed it too.

She blinked, her expression shifting from ‘interrogation’ to ‘confusion.’

“President… you don’t seem as strong as I am?”

‘Not good!’

I froze.

She stared at me, and her eyes began to change — from confusion to contemplation, then to a certain sparkle that said, ‘I think I’ve figured something out.’

“President, are you actually — “

‘It’s over!’

My mind raced.

If her next words were “Alice,” how would I respond?

Play dumb?

Admit it?

Or —

‘Where is that stinking white-haired girl! We still have a partnership — come save me!’

For a moment, I was actually panicked enough to think of that annoying woman.

I was truly desperate.

Because no matter how annoying she was — at least she was logical!

Su Nian took a deep breath, her expression becoming exceptionally solemn.

“President, are you actually — “

She paused, as if organizing her words.

“The Little White Face that Alice is keeping?”

No, even more intimate than a Little White Face?

Her little lover?

Her little cutie?”

Me: “……”

I looked at her.

She looked back at me.

In those dark red eyes was pure, unadulterated, serious confusion.

“……You.”

I spoke.

“Hmm?”

“Forget it.”

I closed my eyes.

‘What an idiot…’

It was a false alarm.

Su Nian was still waiting for an answer.

“President, tell me — what exactly is your relationship — “

“There is no relationship.”

“Liar! You spent ten million of her money!”

“That was my money.”

“Didn’t you say you were the one she was keeping?”

“You believed me just because I said it?”

Su Nian was stunned.

Her expression began to grow complex — confusion, suspicion, self-doubt, and a bit of grievance that said, ‘Was I being played?’

She lowered her head, looking at her hands pinned against my wrists.

Then she looked up at me.

Then back at her hands.

Then back at me.

“Then… then what…”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, until she was practically muttering.

“Alice’s wife…?”

“More importantly,” I opened my eyes and looked at her, “what will it take for you to get up?”

“What do you mean, President? I’m being very serious — “

She didn’t move; instead, she leaned her face even closer.

“Alice is my idol, you have to treat her well! If you dare to do anything bad, I’ll — “

“You’ll what?”

“I’ll… I’ll…”

She got stuck, clearly not having thought of a threat.

“I just won’t get up!”

I looked at her.

She looked at me.

Sunlight squeezed through the gap in the curtains, slicing a bright line across the floor.

Her eyelashes were very long, even more noticeable up close.

My face was reflected in her dark red eyes — that ordinary, pale, delicate-looking face.

She watched me with the gaze of a large dog waiting to be fed.

“Sigh….”

***

After Su Nian’s bizarre ‘threat,’ I rubbed my wrists, which were a bit sore from the pressure, and walked out of the room.

When I pushed the door open, someone was standing in the hallway.

Chuxue.

She was leaning against the wall, holding a cup of black tea, with a “I just watched a great show” smile on her face.

She seemed — no, she definitely was very happy.

“Morning, President Lin.”

I looked at her.

She looked at my wrists — the spot where Su Nian had left red marks.

“Miss Su Nian is very energetic today.”

“And,” she took a sip of tea, “‘Alice’s Little Lover’ — I’ll be sure to remember that title.”

‘ — Damned white-haired girl.

Always just looking for a laugh.’

I didn’t say anything and walked past her.

A soft laugh followed behind me.

In the training room.

Su Nian stood in front of the mirror, already changed into her sportswear.

Seeing me enter, she subconsciously took a step back.

I walked over.

“Morning run.”

“Yes!”

She turned to run.

“Wait.”

She stopped and looked back at me.

I walked up to her.

Then —

Thwack.

I gave her a kick.

“Ow — !”

She hopped around, clutching her leg.

“President, you’re doing it again!”

“For pinning me down.”

“That was… that was because I was seriously asking you a question!”

Thwack.

Another kick.

“It hurts — !”

“For talking back.”

She pouted, looking at me with a face full of grievance.

“Also,” I said, “the next time you ask a question, keep your distance.”

She blinked.

Then the corners of her mouth began to curl upward.

“President… are you shy?”

Thwack.

The third kick.

“Waaaaah — !!!”

A soft laugh came from nearby.

Chuxue was standing at the door, still holding that cup of black tea.

Watching this scene, the corners of her mouth curved up.

“Miss Su Nian,” she said, “you really are impressive.”

“Eh?”

Su Nian clutched her leg, looking confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

Chuxue turned and left.

I watched her back.

‘What are you laughing at?’

Turning back, Su Nian was still standing there, looking dazed.

“Run.”

“Yes — !”

She turned and ran, her ponytail swinging back and forth in the morning light.

***

In the afternoon.

I was still looking for people, for staff.

But the method had changed.

For some reason, after kicking that stinking paramecium, my head felt a bit clearer.

First was the issue of the venue —

3:42 PM.

I stood at the entrance of a theater.

It was a venue with an 800-person capacity.

The exterior walls were gray and white tiles, some of which were already cracked, but overall it was clean.

The sign at the entrance read “Starry Little Theater” in simple, direct red letters on a white background.

It met the requirements.

I pushed the door open and walked in.

It was darker inside than out.

The air conditioning was cranked up high.

Someone was adjusting the lights on the stage, while a few staff members sat below, discussing something over a stack of papers.

The person at the front desk looked up.

“Hello, may I help — “

“I’m looking for your Administrator.”

She paused, sizing me up.

T-shirt, jeans, a baseball cap with my long hair tucked inside.

Just an ordinary, somewhat delicate-looking boy.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No. Just tell him someone wants to talk business.”

She hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone.

5 minutes later, a middle-aged man in a dress shirt walked out from the back.

“You are…”

“Lin. That’s my surname.”

He nodded and led me into an office.

The office wasn’t large; it had a desk, a few chairs, and several performance posters hanging on the walls.

He sat behind the desk and gestured for me to sit.

“What kind of business does Mr. Lin wish to discuss?”

I looked at her.

He was around 40 years old, with thinning hair and small eyes that moved quickly — the kind of person who had spent a long time in the business world and would instinctively light up when they saw a fat sheep.

“17 days from now,” I said, “I want the headlining slot for a performance.”

He froze.

“The headliner? 17 days from now?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have an artist?”

“I do.”

He blinked, beginning to calculate.

“Mr. Lin, for the headlining slot, we usually require a three-month advance booking. 17 days…”

“50,000.”

He stopped.

That price was enough to rent this small theater for several days.

“What?”

I knew this well, but the current situation was special.

“50,000. To rent that final portion of the show.”

His eyes lit up.

But they quickly dimmed again — not because he wasn’t interested, but because he thought he could ask for more.

“Mr. Lin, it’s not a matter of money. There are the spectators, the reputation, and the staff to consider. Not to mention it’s the headlining spot — “

“100,000. During that period, I will come periodically to specially train the personnel.”

That’s right.

After kicking Su Nian, I realized that while I was already training a new idol, it would be impossible to recruit or train a whole new staff and find a venue in only 20 days.

The efficiency was too low.

So I planned to use someone else’s and then — give them special training.

He swallowed hard.

“Mr. Lin, listen to me — “

“150,000. That includes all your equipment, personnel, and venue. During that time, everyone follows my orders.”

I increased the price bit by bit, taking the opportunity to add my demands.

The office was silent for 3 seconds.

His mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

“150,000,” I repeated.

“Enough to rent this theater for one week.”

I only want one performance, the last few dozen minutes.

The headliner.

He turned his head toward the door.

A few more people had gathered there at some point — a woman with her hair tied back, likely the Stage Supervisor; a young man in work clothes, probably the Technical Lead; and an older man sitting in the corner who hadn’t spoken yet.

They began to exchange glances.

I recognized that look — Alice had seen it far too many times.

‘ — A fat sheep.’

“Mr. Lin,” the Administrator spoke, his voice sounding even more ‘troubled’ than before, “150,000 is indeed a lot, but as you know, the headlining slot is very important to us. If things go wrong…”

I didn’t speak.

He was waiting for me to raise the price.

I continued to remain silent.

He started to get a bit flustered.

“Mr. Lin, how about you add a little more, so it’s easier for us to arrange things on our end — “

“150,000.”

I cut him off.

“I’ll say it one last time. 150,000. Enough to rent this theater for one week. I only want one performance, 45 minutes.”

“We — “

— He already wanted to agree, but the Stage Supervisor deliberately ‘blocked’ him.

I stood up.

“Fine, I’ll find another venue. I’m sure for 150,000, they’ll be very happy to listen to what I have to say.”

I walked toward the door.

Hurried footsteps sounded behind me.

“Mr. Lin — wait a moment — “

This time, he wasn’t ‘blocked.’

But I didn’t stop.

“Mr. Lin — let’s discuss this further — “

My hand rested on the doorknob.

“Mr. Lin!”

I stopped.

I looked back.

The Administrator was standing three paces away.

The ‘troubled’ look was gone, replaced only by —

“Mr. Lin, we….”