Luo Muchen sat in his lavish study, bathed in the dim glow of golden morning light. He leaned back in his leather chair, his piercing eyes fixed on the computer screen displaying complex lines of code.

With a cigarette dangling from his fingertips, he spoke into his sleek cell phone, his voice laced with authority. He was trying to authenticate what Qie Xieling had said earlier about hacking Lee Ya’s server at the nightclub and from what his subordinate reported, it had been successful.

As Luo Muchen concluded the call, he glanced out of the corner of his eye and noticed a flash of movement. One of his cars darted out of the estate, its tyres screeching against the asphalt. Frowning, Luo Muchen muted the call, his mind racing.

He picked up the intercom and pressed a button. "Butler Zhang," he called, his voice echoing through the mansion’s speaker system.

Within moments, the butler, entered the study, his eyes respectfully averted. "You called, sir?" he inquired, his voice calm and measured.

Luo Muchen’s gaze narrowed as he questioned, "Did Qie Xieling just leave the mansion?"

Butler Zhang hesitated, knowing the gravity of his response. "That was Mr Qie, sir."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Luo Muchen’s face, his mind grappling with the decision he had made last night. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Qie Xieling was inebriated and he couldn’t be in the same room as him. Rejecting him had been a necessary precaution but as it turns out Qie Xieling took his words to heart.

Last night Qie Xieling had told him that if he dared to leave then he shouldn’t come to find him again but Luo Muchen didn’t think he was that serious. In fact, he regarded it as the words of a drunken man but now he wasn’t so sure.

Luo Muchen exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression hardening. "Very well... don’t let him back into my property without my consent," he responded, his voice tinged with annoyance. If Qie Xieling wanted to play games then he was more than ready to participate.

The butler nodded, understanding the unspoken implications behind Luo Muchen’s words. "Yes sir," he acknowledged, his demeanour calm and professional.

As the butler left the study, Luo Muchen reclined in his chair deep in thought as he replayed yesterday’s events.

***

Qie Xieling got back to his apartment with Bo Ailun, his mood extremely bad. He locked himself in his room seeming like he was going to adopt the Otaku lifestyle and stay away from the rest of the world.

Jolie would have normally left him like that but she was an AI on a mission. She booked a photoshoot for him and an interview. Thus Qie Xieling found himself being dragged out of bed by midday but he wasn’t going down without a fight.

"Noooo, I am taking a holiday. Jolie have you no heart? I am a broken-hearted man," he said clutching to the bed sheets tightly you would think he was a wee little lamb being sent to the slaughterhouse.

Jolie had anchored her feet to the floor realising the disparity in their strengths. She planned to pick a female bodybuilder’s body in the next world to suppress him. This kid was completely disregarding all her efforts.

She stepped back and wiped the sweat on her forehead before saying, "Lin Lin, if you want to get back at him you have to make him jealous. If he really loves you he will react accordingly."

Even Qie Xieling who had no experience being in love felt something was very wrong with her statement but who was he to refute her?

He sat up and said, "I danced with Lee Ya yesterday after you told me to but still he rejected me. How sure are you that this plan will work?"

Jolie almost rolled her eyes. Who said it would only take one time for it to work? Luo Muchen had a strong personality and just like a coconut, it was going to take a little more effort to get him to break.

"Trust me... I was there when your dads got together. You really need this photoshoot," she said and Qie Xieling finally stopped struggling. He got up with heavy steps and entered the bathroom to take a shower.

Two hours later they reached a studio bustling with so many people that it was easy to mistake the place for a fish market. Qie Xieling was a little overwhelmed but he got himself together and sat in front of the makeup artist.

Bo Ailun on the other hand was busy fluttering the editor and chief of the magazine as it would be Qie Xieling’s first appearance after the rumours of his death. His client was broke and in need of money so he would even pimp himself out to make some money.

The studio was adorned with sleek lights and a luxury car set the stage for the captivating shots. As Qie Xieling stepped onto the set, he was introduced to the female champion in the world motocross competition which involved dirt bikes.

She smiled as he shook her hand but her nerves were evident by her bright red ears. The photographer directed Qie Xieling and his co-star to pose together outside the car but after snapping a few times the photographer wasn’t satisfied.

"I want tension. Give me tension, not sibling energy," he said and Qie Xieling felt bad because it was all his fault. He wasn’t into the photoshoot at all. Realising that this business transaction would help him make money as his bank balance was literally close to zero he tried his best to cooperate. The young lady, on the other hand, was satisfying all the photographer’s requirements.

After five camera flashes and the photographer yelling, "No No No," several times, Qie Xieling apologised and the young lady nodded her head shyly.

Qie Xieling saw that there was a piece of lint on her shoulder so he pointed at it letting her know but after swatting it several times she still couldn’t get it. Qie Xieling asked, "May I," and she nodded her head.

He pinched the stubborn lint and tossed it away only to hear the man behind the camera screaming, "Yes, yes... brilliant. Just don’t make it look like a wedding picture. I want sexy and bad-boy vibes. You are a racer no? Channel that energy."

Once he was satisfied he asked them to get into the car that barely had enough leg room. Qie Xieling was about to enter the car when he heard the man say, "She should sit in your lap. I want to see your watch peeking through your cuff and sexy tension in your eyes."