Chapter 11: Part 2

Ye Shen finally left with her entourage, leaving only one bodyguard behind to accompany Ye Can.

The bodyguard’s name was Tong Lin—tall, skilled in combat, few words, and extremely obedient. Ye Shen had given her a strict order: whatever Ye Can said, she did; wherever Ye Can went, she followed. Ye Can’s safety came first above all.

Lin Zixi watched the extent of Ye Shen’s concern for Ye Can and couldn’t fathom why Ye Can had been wandering alone on a deserted highway in the middle of the night the day before.

Wasn’t someone watching her? How did she end up running around like that?

Whatever. It has nothing to do with me. Time to focus on writing my script.

She sighed and turned toward her office. Ye Can hurried after her, following step for step. Trailing Ye Can was the sunglasses-wearing, stern-faced female bodyguard Tong Lin, who stuck to her like a mountain—never more than an inch away.

The trio drew plenty of eyes. They’d only taken a couple of steps when they ran into Jiang Yue emerging from her office.

Jiang Yue greeted Lin Zixi, then her gaze landed on Ye Can behind her. She gave a light smile and said hello, “Miss Ye Can.”

Ye Can found her voice familiar and twisted her head for a glance. “Lin Zixi’s boss?”

She recalled the voice from the phone—this must be the person Lin Zixi had mentioned needing to compensate.

Jiang Yue blinked at the title but quickly recovered, explaining, “Jiang Yue and Teacher Lin are collaborators. I’m not exactly her boss.”

Ye Can let out an “oh” and nodded. “Do you need something?” Can’t you see Lin Zixi is busy? If it’s nothing, get out of the way.

Jiang Yue shot Lin Zixi a subtle glance, conveying a silent question: Any trouble? Lin Zixi smiled and shook her head to signal she was fine.

Jiang Yue got the sense this wasn’t urging Lin Zixi to work—it was shooing her away.

Ever since Jiang Yue exploded in popularity five years ago with her role as Qi Yu in Jade Coquette, her fame had overshadowed most top-tier young stars. Even if people didn’t know her real name, they could usually name her characters.

But just now, Ye Can had acted like she’d never laid eyes on her. It was downright odd. Lin Zixi wondered if Ye Can was one of those weirdos who never watched TV dramas.

Sure enough, Ye Can looked completely baffled. “Who’s Jiang Yue?”

Lin Zixi chuckled softly. “The person who just talked to you.”

Ye Can suddenly realized. “Oh, your boss is named Jiang Yue. Got it.”

Lin Zixi didn’t bother explaining further. Once they were in the office, she pulled open her drawer, took out some snacks and fruit, and handed them to Ye Can—like she was instructing a child. “Here’s some food. Eat if you’re hungry to tide you over.”

“If you want a real meal, have your bodyguard get it for you.”

“If you go out for a walk, remember to take the bodyguard. Got it?”

Ye Can lowered her gaze to the snacks Lin Zixi had pulled out. Her slender index finger poked through the pile, selecting a chocolate bar.

She unwrapped it, popped the chocolate into her mouth with a flick, and mumbled around it, “I’m not going anywhere. I have to keep an eye on you.”

Lin Zixi wasn’t annoyed. She glanced at Ye Can, who was looking around, and sighed. “Fine then. Just eat quietly, don’t talk, and don’t disturb me while I write.”

Ye Can huffed in reluctant agreement.

She dragged a chair over, flipped it backward to straddle it, and draped herself over the backrest, staring intently at Lin Zixi. Behind her, bodyguard Tong Lin stood with arms crossed, her sunglass-shielded face looking utterly cold and intimidating.

Lin Zixi glanced at them and couldn’t shake the feeling she was facing down two debt-collecting thugs from a shady loan shark operation.

The thought made Lin Zixi laugh at herself. She had to compose herself before opening her laptop and typing away at the unfinished script.

Limbo Inn was an anthology series. The main storyline for season two involved rescuing various Demon Fiends and ghosts eroded by bosses.

The episode Lin Zixi was writing was a classic tale of a Calamity Nation Beauty and the Faint Lord.

The Beauty was a subordinate of the boss, sent to subvert the emperor’s rule. The emperor had started as a wise ruler, but under the Beauty’s spell, he waged endless wars, leaving the people destitute.

Sincere affection can’t hold on—only schemes win hearts. The story was old, but for a fantastical romance drama, crafting a tearjerker tragedy meant half the script’s job was done.

Lin Zixi didn’t consider herself talented. Writing a solid, by-the-numbers story was good enough for her.

The chronic pressure of deadlines pulled her right into the zone. In no time, she’d finished a scene.

Ye Can tore open a bag of chips and, sprawled over her chair, crunched away noisily while mumbling her question. “Why does the Faint Lord have to start as a heroic young king?”

“And why does the Beauty have to seduce him into toppling his own kingdom?”

Her sudden voice startled Lin Zixi. After recovering, Lin Zixi turned with a puzzled look. “You can see what I’m writing?”

Ye Can nodded. “Yeah, crystal clear.”

“Nice eyesight,” Lin Zixi praised offhand. Ye Can smugly arched her brows.

Her excitement was so obvious—and with her good looks, she had that youthful, spirited vibe.

Lin Zixi smiled and explained, “The Faint Lord starts heroic because even heroes can’t resist a beauty. That tragedy hits harder, makes people sigh.”

But Ye Can disagreed. “Not necessarily.”

Lin Zixi looked at her, eyes soft. “You seem to have a different take. Care to share?”

When it came to Faint Lords, Ye Can was an expert—after all, it was basically her day job. She set aside the chip bag, clapped her hands clean, and told Lin Zixi, “A Faint Lord is a Faint Lord from the start!”

“Only a dimwitted, incompetent ruler qualifies. A heroic, capable king? That’s no Faint Lord!”