Lin Yuan’s expression was hard to describe as he looked at the man before him.
——Wearing a horizontally striped polo shirt on top, gray dress pants on the bottom, a Seven Wolves leather belt holding a jangling keychain that clattered with every step.
On his feet, a pair of old leather shoes, his hair slicked back with oil into a neat side-part.
The only thing that could be called “refined” was the medical blue mask covering his face, the gold-rimmed glasses framing a pair of sly, wandering eyes, with swollen eye bags— clearly showing he had been drinking half the night again.
“Bro, you really live up to being my real brother.” Lin Yuan was speechless and choked up. “If we told Mom and Dad, they might not even recognize you.”
Lin Shen adjusted his slipping glasses and smiled proudly: “I put on makeup for an entire afternoon.”
“…Is that Liu Ge?”
“Call him Jennifer, or he’ll get mad.” Lin Shen nodded. “My team’s makeup artists came over to help.”
Lin Yuan: “……”
You mean you had those top-tier makeup artists on your team, who each make a hundred thousand a month, do this kind of makeup?
Ever since word got out that Lin Shen would appear as a guest at this small city school’s sports day, the gates of Second High School had never cleared. People came in waves, gathered in waves.
Even though Lin Shen and the school issued joint statements in the name of the Studio, saying he wouldn’t be coming to the school today and asking fans not to disturb the event, the crowds outside the gates never thinned.
Not only were there diehard fans staking out, but also curious onlookers who heard the news and came to watch the excitement, plus paparazzi waiting to snap photos of Lin Shen’s younger brother.
Because of this, Lin Yuan had always been worried about Lin Shen’s idea of coming to watch his performance at school.
He never expected his brother would hit him with such a brutal blow.
Lin Yuan took a deep breath and firmly patted Lin Shen’s shoulder, speaking sincerely: “Promise me, no matter what, don’t let your fans… no, don’t let anyone know your true identity, okay?”
His brother’s image was backed by a bunch of Blue Blood Endorsements, and now this look had totally destroyed all of that.
——What if someone demands Lin Shen pay a breach of contract penalty and bankrupts your family?
But Lin Shen thought Lin Yuan was worried for his safety and felt quite touched: “Little Yuan, don’t worry, I’ll be very careful!”
He gently stroked Lin Yuan’s head, looking at the identical slicked-back hairstyle and sighing with emotion: “I remember you were just a kid holding onto my leg, calling me ‘brother’ and asking for candy. How did you suddenly grow up so much overnight?”
He looked up and down at Lin Yuan’s outfit, unable to hide his satisfaction: “As expected of Little Yuan, you look good in anything.”
Lin Yuan was silent for a moment, unsure whether to mock his brother’s taste or the eighteen layers of filters he was seeing himself through.
To portray the sleazy last King of Saint Malo, Ouwena had encouraged Zhang Jiajia to design an incredibly greasy middle-aged Parnaki male look for the character “Zhou Puyuan.”
Only his brother would blindly praise it.
“Lin Yuan, it’s time to go on stage!”
Su Mingya, in charge of actor coordination, poked her head out from backstage and called to Lin Yuan.
“Alright, I’m going on.”
“Go perform!” Lin Shen gave him a thumbs-up. “I’ll record every scene carefully and make a Blu-ray set to play at home and the Studio on a 24-hour loop!”
Lin Yuan: “???”
Bro, are you actually holding a grudge against me?!
…
“Up next, please enjoy the play from Class 9, Grade 11: ‘Thunderstorm · Revised Phantom Edition.’”
‘Long, long ago, on a certain island in the Empire, King Zhou Puyuan oppressed his people and was a tyrant. The fallen old noble Lu Guishè, destitute and desperate, brought his youngest daughter to the palace seeking a livelihood.’
The narrator’s voice came from none other than Rui Hang, the homeroom teacher of Class 9, Grade 11.
There was a commotion on stage as the curtain slowly drew open, revealing a lavish Parnaki-style palace set.
In the grand hall, Bai Luo, dressed in a maid’s uniform, was dusting the sofa listlessly, struggling to suppress his embarrassment.
No one expected cross-dressing so soon, and the audience erupted into enthusiastic cheers.
Though Bai Luo was male, his delicate features and a little makeup made him look like a pretty young maiden.
Calm down, I must stay calm…
Bai Luo took several deep breaths, encouraging himself silently and trying to fully immerse in the performance.
Soon after, Zhao Yaya, also in cross-dress as the butler, strode onto the stage, her eyes flickering with calculating gleam as they roamed Bai Luo.
“Four Phoenix,” Lu Guishè called out, “the soup medicine prepared for the Queen is ready. Go serve it to her.”
Four Phoenix glanced at him but said nothing, turning to head inside, only to be stopped by Lu Guishè’s quick grab.
“Wait, I have something to ask you.”
“Dad, what now?” Four Phoenix looked impatient.
“Your mother is coming back; don’t forget what I told you.”
“Got it—”
“And your money—”
“Money?!” Four Phoenix’s eyes widened. “Where would I have money? I gambled it all away!”
“I’m your dad,” Lu Guishè raised his voice a bit, eyes shifting before grinning mischievously: “So?”
Four Phoenix flustered: “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
“Alright, alright,” he said with a sigh, “Although our Lu family has fallen on hard times, we still have some capital.”
His next words were cut off as Four Phoenix hastily covered her mouth, glaring angrily at Lu Guishè, then angrily shoved a few copper coins into his hand. “Mom and big sister will be back tonight; you better not let them hear this!”
Mentioning the youngest daughter talking about mother and sister, Lu Guishè snorted in disdain.
“Don’t be like your mother, slaving away at the school all year for only a few coins.”
“Mom went to school; she’s different from others!”
“School? What good is it for a woman? Your mother has spoiled you with all this Eastern decadence! Work hard, earn money, marry well—that’s your dignity.”
“What about big sister?”
“Your sister? Hmph, I want to say even more about her. A girl who doesn’t want to marry and instead runs around working with a bunch of men— is crazy!” Lu Guishè sneered, “Luckily, she’s not my real daughter, or I wouldn’t recognize her!”
“Big sister’s money isn’t taken by you!”
“So what? Your mom took her as a burden, and I ended up raising both of them.” Lu Guishè chuckled proudly, “Still, my daughter has guts and vision.”
“You just wait!” Four Phoenix, embarrassed and angry, started to leave but was pulled back again. “Anything else?”
“Don’t rush. One thing to remind you— don’t wander around the palace during the day,” Lu Guishè said.
This piqued Four Phoenix’s curiosity. She stopped and asked, “I heard the palace is haunted…”
“Of course, I’ve seen it.” Lu Guishè smiled ambiguously. Seeing Four Phoenix’s gaze, half boastful and half warning, he said, “Two ghosts in black, sitting together by the window. The female ghost crying softly, held in the male ghost’s arms. A flash of lightning lit half the male ghost’s face— guess who it was?”
“Who?”
Lu Guishè said nothing, only looking at her mysteriously: “Go deliver the medicine; the Queen is waiting anxiously. Be careful— her temper is bad; you don’t want to be scolded.”
Four Phoenix felt baffled but didn’t ask further, turning to leave.
A beam of light shone down on Lu Guishè, who shook his head slightly and sighed with a half-smile: “Who’d have thought those two ghosts were the Queen and the Crown Prince? Only my foolish daughter still dreams of marrying the prince.”
…
The curtain closed and then opened again, this time revealing Lin Lang on stage wearing a magnificent court gown. Standing beside her, Gao Shu had his back to her.
Lin Lang—the Queen Fanyi—looked at him with a sorrowful gaze: “Why don’t you come back to see me?”
“…I came to apologize.” Gao Shu—the Crown Prince Zhou Ping— looked stiff. “Tomorrow, I’m leaving with the knights to travel across the country.”
“What status do you have to apologize to me? My adopted son? Or my lover?”
The word ‘lover’ struck like an electric shock; Zhou Ping shuddered violently and quickly turned around: “Don’t say such things!”
“Say what? Our relationship? Or that I am your mother?” Fanyi stepped forward and grabbed his hand amidst his flustered eyes. “I’m only six years older than you! I’m human, not a pet imprisoned by your father! I’m Fanyi, a woman who saw Zhou Ping and came back to life!”
“How can you speak of Father like that?” Zhou Ping said. “He is my father and your husband!”
He forcefully pulled his hand away: “You seduced me; I couldn’t help myself then…”
“Seduced? How dare you say that!” Lin Lang trembled, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. “How can you say that about me!”
“……”
Fanyi’s anger turned into a bitter laugh: “No, no. You are the illegitimate son of your father, the Crown Prince of this country! Yet in love, you are always a coward! I was wrong to have unnecessary delusions about you!”
“…If that’s how you feel, then I will be just that.” Zhou Ping no longer wanted to argue, trying to leave the room hastily. But before a few steps, he heard Fanyi’s plaintive call.
“Ping’er.”
Zhou Ping stopped in his tracks.
“The accompanying Wen Lang family has ill intentions. Be careful!”
Zhou Ping said nothing more, didn’t look back, and left.
The empty room was finally left with only Fanyi, who leaned against the window.
Tears she’d been holding back slowly streamed down her cheeks but were wiped away forcefully.
Her sorrowful and painful gaze shifted with the lighting, showing subtle changes.
…
Elsewhere, Zhou Ping and Four Phoenix, who was delivering medicine, crossed paths in the corridor.
“Your Highness!” Four Phoenix’s cheeks flushed, bright-eyed and sweet. “What are you doing here?”
“…It’s Four Phoenix.” Zhou Ping’s expression was stiff but soon softened into tender affection. “What are you doing here?”
“Delivering medicine to the Queen.”
“Oh, then hurry up.” Zhou Ping was about to leave, but Four Phoenix bit her lip and looked reluctantly at his departing back.
After a few steps, Zhou Ping stopped and smiled at Four Phoenix: “I’ll come pick you up tonight.”
“Eh!” Joy returned to Four Phoenix’s face as she hummed a tune and cheerfully knocked on Fanyi’s door.
Looking at the lively girl at the door like a little bird, Fanyi’s eyes flickered with faint and subtle reminiscence.
But then the black liquid in Four Phoenix’s hand made her expression turn cold.
“What are you here for?” Fanyi asked knowingly.
“Your medicine,” Four Phoenix said. “I brewed it for you.”
“I’m not sick; why should I drink medicine?” Fanyi pushed the cup aside coldly. “Take it away and don’t let me see you again.”
“…But His Majesty ordered that you can’t miss a dose.”
“Are you threatening me?” Fanyi’s eyes darkened.
Four Phoenix quickly lowered her head: “Your Highness, you worry too much; I’m only following orders…”
“I told you, I’m not sick. Why would a healthy person need medicine?” Fanyi changed the subject abruptly. “Who were you talking to just now, laughing so happily?”
“Your Highness, that was Crown Prince Zhou Ping.”
Fanyi looked down on Four Phoenix from above, her gaze shifting ambiguously, her voice as cold as ever: “Is that so? You can leave.”
“Yes…”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Lu Guishè arrived, breaking the stalemate with a smile. “His Majesty the King has returned from inspection. Please come.”
“…Understood.” Fanyi nodded lightly and walked inside.
Lu Guishè gave Four Phoenix a look, signaling her to hurry with the medicine.
They hurried through the corridor to the reception hall, where Lin Yuan, playing King Zhou Puyuan, was already seated on the sofa, leisurely sipping a glass of red wine.
…
Finally spotting his younger brother, Lin Shen, mingling in the parents’ group, stood up excitedly and shouted, “Here he is!”
“Hey, you in front, sit down, you’re blocking my view!”
His overenthusiastic outburst quickly drew disapproval from other parents.
“Have some manners! No yelling during a play!”
“Never seen such bad behavior.”