Chapter 4: A Possessive Instinct Bloomed

Back in the dorm, Xu Ci pulled the curtain closed.

The dim light filled the small space, and a sense of security returned. Only then did his tense shoulder blades slowly relax. He lay down on the bed, gently clutching the corner of the soft, white pillow in his hands.

His buttocks burned, and even after resting all day, the soreness and swelling hadn't subsided much.

After a long while, Xu Ci reached into his bag and pulled out a tube of anti-inflammatory ointment for external use.

If he didn't apply it, he'd probably have a fever again tomorrow.

Xu Ci's curled eyelashes trembled. He hated getting sick the most.

Whenever he coughed up blood or fell ill, he'd force himself to act indifferent. But only late at night, when everyone was asleep, would he secretly weep.

He wasn't a superhero. He feared pain, he feared all illness. The crushing weight of loneliness and sickness made life unbearable.

So pathetic, Xu Ci thought silently.

But what's wrong with crying? I'll cry again tomorrow!

The dorm had a bathroom and toilet, but his three roommates were all present.

Song Qi lay in bed playing on his phone, while Lao Er and Third Brother were at their desks playing games, both wearing headphones.

Xu Ci's conscience was heavy, and he was afraid he might accidentally moan out in pain while applying the ointment and be overheard. He slipped the ointment, a small packet of sterile wet wipes, and dry toilet paper into his pocket and went to the large bathroom at the end of the hallway.

Fortunately, the bathroom was empty.

Xu Ci's fingers were long and slender, his nails neatly trimmed and clean. After washing his hands at the sink, he entered a private stall.

The moment he pulled down his pants, his face flushed slightly with anger. The skin at the base of his pale thighs was bruised—whether from the force of the impact or the sheer frequency of the collisions, he didn't know.

Lifting his shirt, he revealed a slender, pale abdomen marked with numerous bite marks and red abrasions from the calloused pads of fingers.

In this world,

No one but him knew—

That the cold and restrained Great Actor Yu, in bed, was not only overwhelmingly possessive but also loved to caress a person's slender waist.

Xu Ci's thin lips moved slightly. "You bastard."

After sitting on the toilet to calm himself, he lowered his eyelashes and carefully read the ointment's instructions. The ointment needed to be applied internally to be effective in reducing inflammation and protecting the area.

Xu Ci hesitated for a second before squeezing a dollop of ointment onto his fingertip and applying it. His long, slender eyelashes trembled as they slowly misted over with moisture. Despite gritting his lips, soft whimpers escaped him. It was so uncomfortable; he should have let Yu Hanli help.

That way, Yu Hanli wouldn't have had to exert himself, only endure the pain.

After finishing the application, Xu Ci felt drained. The dark strands of hair on his forehead were slightly damp with sweat. He pulled up his pants, his legs still weak and shaky, and sat back down on the toilet to rest.

Xu Ci considered his relationship with Yu Hanli.

To be honest, he wanted to end the agreement.

Yu Hanli wasn't a considerate or gentle sugar daddy; he didn't even keep condoms at home.

But Yu Hanli paid well, and even this nourishing ointment on his hand cost over thirty thousand yuan on the market.

Yu Hanli was also stunningly handsome—at least, Xu Ci had never seen such a perfect man in his life. Finding another man with such top-tier looks might be impossible.

Such a rare specimen couldn't even be bought with money. So, was Yu Hanli basically paying to be fucked?

Thinking about it this way, wasn't he being ungrateful for avoiding the occasional rough sex with him?

Xu Ci was trying to make peace with himself.

Yu Hanli messaged him: "Did you put on the medicine?"

A barely perceptible anger flickered across Xu Ci's face. The culprit had the audacity to ask about his well-being.

Xu Ci snapped a photo of the curve where his buttock met his thigh, setting it to self-destruct in five seconds, and sent it: "It's all bruised."

Yu Hanli opened the photo.

A ripe, plump peach came into view.

Snow-white, translucent skin was tinged with a pathetic pale blue.

The thought that Xu Ci had taken the photo himself was more stimulating than seeing it with his own eyes.

Before he could fully appreciate it, the image vanished.

Rather than a complaint about his crime, it felt like a half-chiding, half-teasing provocation.

Considering the possibility, Yu Hanli coldly typed: "Are you always this bold and unrestrained when you chat with people?"

Xu Ci: "Not telling you."

Of course, it was only Yu Hanli.

Who else could have bruised his buttocks like this?

Xu Ci was a man himself and knew how possessive and petty men could be in such matters.

The more uncertain he was, the more it gnawed at him.

Keep thinking whatever you want, you bastard.

The next day, Xu Ci received a call from Xu Xiuzhu, asking him to come to the company to sign the contract for the variety show I Am an Acting Master.

Xu's Entertainment, once located in a dilapidated residential area, now occupied an entire office building in Kyoto's CBD.

The moment the dazzling Xu's Entertainment sign was hung, Xu Ci inexplicably suffered a heart attack.

Xu Ci's management contract was with Xu's Entertainment. In recent years, Father and Mother Xu had become increasingly active in high society, gradually loosening their grip on the family business. Although the two still appeared to be in charge of Xu's Entertainment, the true power had already shifted to Xu Xiuzhu.

Regardless of who was in charge, Xu Ci was never the company's priority. When he used to stream, he used a random English ID and could attract tens of thousands of viewers in an hour.

Even casually filmed short videos could top the daily viral video charts.

He possessed an extraordinary talent for aesthetics.

However, the Xu family swiftly suppressed these creations.

Father and Mother Xu's attitude toward the entertainment industry mirrored that of other wealthy families. No matter how successful someone became in the entertainment industry, in their eyes, they were merely actors for amusement—arrogant and disrespectful.

Xu Ci had always believed that Father and Mother Xu didn't want him to be exposed to the public too early, preferring he lay low and cultivate his skills until after graduation, when he could soar to stardom.

But then Qiao Mingchu returned after being recognized by the family and immediately secured the top position at Xu's Entertainment. He enjoyed lavish resources, dominating the trending topics with ten hot searches a day. Though Qiao Mingchu lacked talent, with such overwhelming support, even a pig could become a superstar.

Only then did Xu Ci realize that Father and Mother Xu didn't dislike the entertainment industry itself; they disliked him wanting to enter it.

He had never received a single resource from Xu's Entertainment.

I Am an Acting Master was a variety show produced by Kyoto TV Station. It held auditions at major film schools, selecting talented students as contestants who competed by showcasing their acting skills. The winner of each group received substantial resources.

The show's biggest draw was the friction generated between top-tier celebrity mentors and rookie contestants. The first season had been a ratings phenomenon, turning the winning newcomer into the year's biggest star.

The success of the first season made the show a coveted prize for major agencies, who clamored to get their artists onto it.

The contract for this variety show was a hard-won prize for Xu Ci, who had climbed through multiple rounds of auditions to secure it. Even if he wanted to sever ties with the Xu family, he absolutely had to get this contract.

Xu Ci arrived at the top-floor office and saw Qiao Mingchu already there. His slender eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Qiao Mingchu's face was delicate and refined, his snow-white neck completely concealed by a black turtleneck sweater. The stark contrast between black and white only intensified his delicate, pure, yet alluring aura, making him even more captivating.

Xu Xiuzhu, upon seeing Xu Ci, didn't hesitate or offer pleasantries. He cut straight to the point: "Mingchu's recent drama has received poor reviews. We need a program with a strong production team and positive reception to rebuild his image. The first season of I Am an Acting Master broke viewership records, and the second season features the addition of film queen Sheng Wu, TV king Shen An, and film emperor Yu Hanli. The attention it's receiving is unprecedented, making it ideal for Mingchu."

He had grown accustomed to this.

Accustomed to being pressured, and accustomed to Xu Ci compromising under that pressure—giving in to family ties, to Qiao Mingchu.

But this time...

A glint of defiance flashed in Xu Ci's beautiful eyes. "It is indeed ideal for him. Then I hope he also participates in the auditions and secures a spot."

Xu Xiuzhu froze.

"What did you say?"

Xu Ci's tone was dismissive. "Are you deaf?"

Xu Xiuzhu sneered. "Do you know how many wealthy heiresses and socialites were discussing yesterday whether Mingchu had been bullying you because of your stubbornness? You stole Qiao Mingchu's years of privileged life, and you still can't humble yourself and get along with him? So, you either apologize for causing a scene at Mingchu's birthday party, or you give up this contract."

The same nauseating rhetoric.

Even though Xu Ci had prepared for his shamelessness, he was still angered by his words. A cold arc flashed at the corners of his eyes as he sneered, "I earned this variety show invitation through my own efforts in the auditions. What right do you have to make me give it up?"

"Is that so?" Xu Xiuzhu countered. "Well, I had dinner with Director Shang the day before yesterday, and he discovered that Mingchu's commercial value and acting skills far surpass yours. Besides, they only need one person."

The day before yesterday?

So it had all been planned from the start. Whether he apologized or not, they never intended to give him the contract. They only brought him here to mock him in person.

"So you never planned to give me this opportunity from the beginning," Xu Ci said. "Even though I worked so hard to get this role, Xu's Entertainment refuses to give me a chance to prove myself, don't they?"

Xu Xiuzhu smiled faintly, sitting behind his desk and idly twirling a Montblanc pen. He looked directly at Xu Ci. "Ming Chu just won the Most Popular Actor award at the Kyoto Film Festival. What do you have to compare to him? Don't blame your own incompetence on the environment."

In the past, such words would have stung Xu Ci deeply.

But now, Xu Ci was different.

He was about to die soon, and he didn't want to waste the remaining time dwelling on such negativity.

Xu Ci smiled lightly. "Then let's terminate the contract."

Xu Xiuzhu's long eyebrows furrowed.

The Xu family had never given Xu Ci any financial freedom. As a child, Xu Ci had clung to Xu Chongchen, who was generous but not to the point of giving him vast sums of money.

Knowing that sacrificing Xu Ci's luck would bring him endless good fortune, Xu Xiuzhu had often indulged him with gifts. But these were all disposable luxuries that couldn't be exchanged for cash.

Thinking this, Xu Xiuzhu dismissed Xu Ci's words as a tantrum. "The termination fee is ten million. Can you afford it?"

Xu Ci produced a black gold card. "Swipe it."

The finance department verified the card's balance—it indeed held ten million.

But where had Xu Ci gotten this money?

If Xu Ci wanted money, his very appearance would have made him irresistible to the wealthy and powerful.

Xu Xiuzhu considered this possibility, his smile turning sinister. "You didn't... sell yourself, did you? Don't you dare tarnish the Xu family's reputation."

"I won't trouble you with that," Xu Ci said.

Since Xu Ci lacked substantial funds, a penalty clause had been included in his contract to prevent him from signing with other companies casually. To avoid raising his suspicions, the amount had been kept relatively low. Xu Ci could afford to pay the penalty and terminate the contract.

Though Xu Xiuzhu was reluctant, he had no choice. The termination process went smoothly.

Qiao Mingchu, who had initially planned to keep Xu Ci under his thumb at the company, felt a sense of crisis when Xu Ci left. He deliberately said, "Ci Ci is truly stunning. If he enters the entertainment industry, the stars will pale in comparison—no exaggeration. Second Brother, are you really letting him go? Aren't you afraid he'll become your rival someday?"

Xu Xiuzhu retorted coldly, "I don't need him. Let's see who dares to promote him."

The two spoke openly in front of Xu Ci, deliberately trying to intimidate and provoke him. Xu's Entertainment relied on viral marketing to create stars, and their suppression tactics were crude and brutal—a joint blacklist. Without any exposure, what impact could Xu Ci possibly make?

Xu Ci's thin lips moved. "Two idiots."

There's always someone better. If he couldn't make it big, wouldn't all those efforts have been for nothing?

Xu Xiuzhu watched Xu Ci's slender figure recede, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He made an internal call to his secretary: "Contact the industry. Coordinate a joint blacklist against Xu Ci. Don't let him get even a bit part as a groveling extra."

He hated Xu Ci's aloof, disdainful demeanor. He wanted to see what kind of trouble an insignificant adopted son could stir up.