Chapter 61: This Is a Foul!

“Eat,” Lin Zhiwei motioned with her lips.

Now she should finally be at ease. Still, it was understandable that the girl remained wary; after all, she was alone with a strange man she’d only met once, and in such dire circumstances. Sharing a room like this would inevitably make her uncomfortable.

Yin Mier settled herself, took a slice of bread, and ate quietly, her eyes involuntarily flickering toward the man beside her.

His name was Lin Zhi; it was quite a distinctive name. He had saved her, too. Remembering how close they’d been last night, with him holding her, his gentle breath lingering by her ear, her cheeks flushed faintly...

Lin Zhiwei noticed the girl’s unease and cleared her throat softly, her face full of gentle warmth. “I’ll head out soon to buy some daily necessities. You can stay here for now; everything in this place is at your disposal, so don’t worry.”

“Lin Zhi, I...” Yin Mier hesitated.

“It’s alright, I understand your concerns. Now that you’re one of our company’s artists, I’ll make sure everything is properly arranged for you,” Lin Zhiwei assured her.

“But my face… it’s ruined.”

“It’s not a big issue. The wounds have scabbed over and fallen off. I’ll contact the hospital for some restorative work; it won’t be too noticeable in the future.”

Yin Mier nodded, looking rather embarrassed.

“Ling Ruoyu is our boss, but you know his character—he never involves himself in the sordid affairs of the entertainment world. So whichever path you wish to pursue, we can plan it together,” Lin Zhiwei said earnestly.

A spark flickered in Yin Mier’s eyes; the passion for acting that had long been extinguished suddenly rekindled. Did she really have another chance? But now, she was no match for the newcomers.

Lin Zhiwei’s phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen—speak of the devil.

Ling Ziheng’s avatar appeared.

Ling Ziheng: Weiwei, come up and rest. There’s a spare room.

Cute Little Cuihua: On my way, thank you, boss.

Lin Zhiwei washed the plates, then turned to the bewildered girl and smiled. “There’s a spare company laptop here, and some materials I’ve organized. You can start looking through them today. They’re part of a plan I designed for your comeback last night.”

Yin Mier looked in surprise at the computer and documents at the end of the table. He had managed to prepare so much in just one night. Her big eyes sparkled with gratitude.

Seeing the girl’s shy, excited face, Lin Zhiwei felt her spirits brighten. She continued, “You still need to rest these next couple of days. I’m going upstairs to the boss’s place to rest. Your accommodation has already been arranged. I’ll be off now.”

She grabbed a jacket and was about to leave when Yin Mier called after her, “Lin Zhi, thank you.”

Though her voice was barely audible, she’d mustered all her courage to say it.

Lin Zhiwei waved her hand. “Don’t mention it. It’s part of my job—to help the boss find trustworthy talent. Besides, I can’t stand seeing women bullied.”

Yin Mier watched the slender figure of the man disappear, feeling a pang of disappointment. Was it really just because… of work?

Pretending to be mature in front of the girl, Lin Zhiwei was actually exhausted, her vision swimming, limbs weak. She hadn’t exercised in ages, and now felt truly fatigued.

Indeed, those years of Lin Qiongjiu’s devilish training were necessary. When it counted, you had to fight your own battles. Unfortunately, she’d always been lazy back then and never really took the training seriously.

Dragging her heavy body to the door, she rang the bell. When Ling Ziheng opened the door, Lin Zhiwei stumbled in like the walking dead and collapsed onto the sofa.

Ling Ruoyu’s apartment was twice the size of hers—three bedrooms, two living rooms, with the sitting room facing the towering buildings of the riverfront. The view was exceptional, sunlight streaming in brilliantly.

Lin Zhiwei shielded her eyes with her hand, blocking the glare, and lay on the sofa, eager for sleep, caring about nothing else.

Ling Ziheng closed the door and smiled helplessly. This girl really had no reservations.

“Take off your makeup and sleep inside. Clean clothes are in the bedroom,” Ling Ziheng’s gentle voice sounded.

Lin Zhiwei waved weakly. “I’m utterly exhausted. I made breakfast for the girl this morning, tried to maintain gentlemanly manners—being a man is so tiring… Only those who sleep on the sofa know how it feels. I have no energy left. I’ll just make do here.”

She didn’t hear his reply, assuming he couldn’t be bothered to deal with her. The next second, she was suddenly lifted off the ground, jolting her awake. She looked up into Ling Ziheng’s enchanting eyes, unable to utter a word. “I… I can…”

Ling Ziheng showed no intention of negotiating, carrying her into the room and gently placing her on the bed.

This girl was far too light—no weight at all. She really had grown thin from exhaustion lately…

Lin Zhiwei tried to get up, but Ling Ziheng held her hands and said, “Let me help you remove your makeup. Just sit still.”

His gentle manner, paired with his handsome face in the sunlight, left Lin Zhiwei—who’d just been so smugly teasing girls—utterly defeated.

Ling Ziheng… Lin Zhiwei silently recited his name. This was simply unfair…

She immediately refused, “No, no, I’m wide awake. The steps to remove this disguise are rather complicated. You should rest, I’ll do it myself, really.” As she spoke, she awkwardly turned her head to avoid his gaze.

Ling Ziheng didn’t insist, standing up and looking down at her with a serious expression. “Your hand is injured; you can’t touch water.”

“It’s just a little scratch, nothing major,” Lin Zhiwei hurried to add.

“I’ve learned the basics of disguise removal, so do you want to be held while I do it, or sit here?” Ling Ziheng’s words were so casual, yet they struck Lin Zhiwei like a bomb, leaving her utterly flustered.

Her lips twitched, and she squeezed out a few words, “Here, please.”

When did it begin—this man becoming so impossible to refuse?

It must be because he was the boss.

And the first rule for any employee was never to go against the boss…

Cowardly Lin Zhiwei chose to surrender.