Chapter 7
Wen Xingze never expected to get drenched with water.
His luck had always been terrible, but from yesterday until now, it seemed as though an unknown guardian spirit had descended upon him, and he hadn’t encountered any bad luck.
What he didn’t know was that the combination of the Dragon Clan’s filter and the Mermaid’s Blessing worked best when immersed in water. These two auras spontaneously attracted water.
The Dragon Clan’s basic filter enhanced his presence, exuding dragon power that could astound everyone. Meanwhile, the Mermaid’s Blessing was like a plug-in, adding to his attractiveness. Under watery conditions, anyone who saw him for the first time would experience an accelerated heartbeat, and this captivating impression would continue to deepen.
It's very similar to the sea sirens, which were created by the merfolk.
The sequence of the dragon clan’s aura filter followed by the Mermaid’s Blessing left everyone, including Xu Baijing, dumbfounded.
Wringing out his wet clothes, Wen Xingze looked up. “Sister Ye?”
“Ahem,” Jiang Ye finally regained some clarity, rubbing her temples. “We probably can’t discuss things today. First, go say hello, and then find a place to change your clothes.”
It was magical.
Jiang Ye thought she had grown accustomed to Wen Xingze’s otherworldly beauty, but just now, she had been caught off guard.
To put it plainly, the feeling Wen Xingze gave her was akin to that of a royal being, aloof and unworldly, stunningly beautiful.
Her heart was still racing.
Even Jiang Ye, who had some immunity, felt this way. The others were likely even more affected — those four people stood there, speechless, immersed in shock.
After a long while.
Wen Xingze didn’t know where to change his clothes.
He followed Jiang Ye, and suddenly, a long-haired, disheveled man next to Zheng Xiao approached him, enthusiastically wanting to hug Wen Xingze.
Wen Xingze: “?”
He didn’t mind the man’s unkempt appearance. After all, he himself scavenged for junk. But he was still soaking wet. Was this really okay? Seeing Jiang Ye didn’t object, Wen Xingze awkwardly hugged the man.
The scruffy man spoke in somewhat broken Japanese: “You’re very handsome and perfectly fit my expectations for this character. I’m willing to write a song for you!”
If his Chinese were more proficient, he would have said more.
For instance, Wen Xingze was truly the perfect fit for this role. After seeing him, the man couldn’t imagine anyone else playing it: youthful, proud, carefree, and deeply cunning — all these complex feelings conveyed in a single glance. The script seemed tailor-made for Wen Xingze.
He believed Zheng Xiao thought the same. He knew his Chinese friend too well; his mild temperament meant he would blink repeatedly when truly excited.
Like now.
Jiang Ye introduced, “This is Mr. Inoshita, if I remember correctly, Director Zheng?”
Zheng Xiao nodded, and Jiang Ye continued, “He’s the music director for ‘Encounter with the Dragon.’”
Inoshita Ryunosuke, a Japanese-American musical genius.
Rumor had it he was also a performance artist, rarely appearing in the media, so most people didn’t know what he looked like.
Wen Xingze hadn’t expected the lineup for Encounter with the Dragon to be so formidable; it was truly awe-inspiring. And Xu Baijing—
Only now did Xu Baijing snap out of it, his face gradually turning pale.
This person was Inoshita Ryunosuke?!
Xu Baijing had previously pressured him through one of his wealthy dads, hoping he’d write a song for him, but Inoshita Ryunosuke had unhesitatingly refused.
And just now, Inoshita Ryunosuke had come to shake his hand, and Xu Baijing hadn’t even spared him a glance… His feelings now could only be described as regretful.
Zheng Xiao spoke gently from the side, “You’re Xiao Wen, right? Don’t catch a cold. We can talk another day. Jiang Ye can bring you back.” (Note: Xiao Wen = Little Wen, referring to Wen Xingze)
As expected, Zheng Xiao had guessed correctly. Although there hadn’t been a formal audition, Zheng Xiao himself was quite fond of Wen Xingze. The latter half of his sentence was a subtle hint.
Jiang Ye, being the sharp-witted person she is, immediately understood the situation. She patted Wen Xingze on the shoulder and said, “You should thank Director Zheng.”
Wen Xingze raised an eyebrow. “Thank you, Director Zheng.”
Not only Jiang Ye but also Xu Baijing caught on, and their expressions turned urgent.
Even Xu Baijing had to admit that Wen Xingze was exceptionally good-looking — a kind of attractiveness that could make people both envious and unable to forget. But how could he just let go? How could he lose to Wen Xingze, whom he had always dismissed?
He had planned to create a buzz by shipping Heng Zhi with the male lead from Encounter with the Dragon, a critical stepping stone for him. He had worked hard to arrange this dinner with Director Zheng, only to find himself playing matchmaker for someone else.
“Director Zheng, I think we can reconsider this,” Xu Baijing forced a smile, then turned to Wen Xingze. “You’re Wen Xingze, right? Long time no see. I must remind you that Manli has strict dress requirements, especially today when they’re hosting important guests. Oh, you might not be familiar with five-star hotels like Manli, but being able to book the entire venue is no small feat.”
“Before the waitstaff arrives, you should quickly change your clothes to avoid any embarrassment later.”
Being publicly escorted out would indeed be embarrassing.
Even Xu Baijing, despite his status, wouldn’t dare offend those who could afford to book Manli exclusively.
In Xu Baijing’s eyes, Wen Xingze was nothing more than a poor nobody. His background and demeanor already put him leagues ahead of Wen Xingze; there was no need for jealousy. Although Xu Baijing’s lengthy speech seemed to express concern for Wen Xingze, it subtly emphasized his financial shortcomings.
Wen Xingze couldn’t help but sigh. “You’re still the same as before, Xu Baijing. Quite the character.”
Familiar Xu Baijing, familiar tone. The same old sarcastic guy.
Xu Baijing remained silent, suspecting that Wen Xingze was subtly mocking him.
“Alright, Director Zheng, Mr. Jing, Sister Ye, I’ll head out now.” Wen Xingze, still dripping wet, shivered in the breeze. He didn’t want to linger any longer.
As he turned, he noticed a headwaiter in Manli’s uniform standing behind him. The headwaiter politely asked, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Wen Xingze?”
Wen Xingze wondered, Could it be? Are they really here to escort me out? And they’re even calling me out by name?
Wen Xingze replied, “Yes, that’s me.”
Xu Baijing smirked, as if saying, 'See, I told you so. I advised you to leave earlier.'
Zheng Xiao wanted to explain for Wen Xingze. “He was just—”
But the headwaiter’s next move stopped him mid-sentence.
The open-air pool led directly into the hotel lobby, with two grand spiral staircases extending from east to west. At that moment, the headwaiter made a gesture with his right hand.
The lobby’s revolving doors swung open, and the orchestra, already in position, began their countdown. Then, specially prepared symphonic music, accompanied by piano, resounded throughout the space, creating a magnificent echo against the custom-made walls!
This was the Vienna Philharmonic, whose appearance fee was exorbitant. They usually performed only during Manli’s anniversary celebrations or on New Year’s Eve. Xu Baijing had once lucked into a front-row seat, courtesy of his adoptive father, and had discreetly posted several Weibo updates to show off.
What was going on? In this day and age, did they really need a world-class orchestra to escort a minor character? Xu Baijing widened his eyes.
To the sound of the music, a row of well-trained waitstaff descended the stairs. They all wore uniform vests and white gloves, lined up on either side, centered around Wen Xingze. They bowed in unison.
“Welcome, Mr. Wen,” the headwaiter placed his left hand on his abdomen and bowed. “Your plane has already arrived at Gate 3.”
At this point, the headwaiter, Yu Guang, noticed Xu Baijing standing nearby and inwardly cursed. He bent even lower, his voice filled with trepidation:
“Mr. Wen, we apologize sincerely on behalf of Manli for any inconvenience caused by unrelated parties. This is a significant mistake on our part, and we ask for your forgiveness. The Presidential Suite has already been prepared with hot water for you. You can freely choose replacement clothing from the twenty-three luxury boutiques in the lobby, and Manli will cover the expenses.” The emphasis on 'unrelated parties' was deliberate.
“Once again, we apologize. This way, please.”
“…”
“…”
In the astonished gazes of Jiang Ye, Zheng Xiao, and Inoshita Ryunosuke, and the incredulous look from Xu Baijing, Wen Xingze slowly extended his hand, pointing to himself, and asked the headwaiter:
“…Me?”
“Of course, Mr. Wen,” the headwaiter’s tone was carefully measured, a voice that put people at ease. “We’ve heard that you enjoy classical music, so we specially invited a renowned orchestra in that field. Time is of the essence, and we apologize for any oversight in our hospitality.”
Wen Xingze: “…”
Indeed, he liked classical music because it didn’t have copyright issues, and he didn’t need a membership.
Among the classical styles, he particularly favored the Great Compassion Mantra and the Diamond Sutra. It was also because, during summer, he couldn’t afford a fan, and listening to sutras felt refreshingly cool.
Inoshita Ryunosuke, with an expression of utmost admiration, burst out in his native language, “This orchestra is incredibly, incredibly, incredibly amazing — sorry, I got a bit too excited. Mr. Wen, if you don’t mind, after the performance, can I take a photo with them and get their autographs?”
Jiang Ye and Zheng Xiao maintained a watchful attitude, stealing extra glances at Wen Xingze. Their thoughts remained a mystery.
“This must be some misunderstanding,” Xu Baijing’s face darkened. He spoke first, “Perhaps it’s a case of identical names? You must clarify this. Be careful not to mistake people and inadvertently neglect the true VIPs.”
Although Xu Baijing’s tone was sarcastic, it happened to echo Wen Xingze’s thoughts: “I apologize; let’s confirm once more.”
The headwaiter never once glanced at Xu Baijing, or anyone else for that matter. Rather, he completely tuned out everyone except Wen Xingze. Xu Baijing, at his level, wasn’t worth distracting himself from in front of a distinguished guest.
Encountering a VIP like Wen Xingze for the first time, the headwaiter maintained his professional demeanor despite the shock.
“Indeed, it’s you. We’ve cross-checked all the information more than ten times.” If they could mess this up, Manli might as well close shop.
Leaning closer to Wen Xingze, the headwaiter whispered in a voice audible only to the two of them, “You should have received a confirmation message this morning. According to the parents who booked the venue, you play the suona, love wearing underwear with SpongeBob prints, and can even name every data cable at home to prevent loss. Your favorite data cable is called Xiao Yan.”
“All of this has been arranged in your suite.”
“…”
Wen Xingze covered his eyes.
“Enough, let’s not dwell on it,” Wen Xingze couldn’t bear to look at the headwaiter any longer. He turned to Jiang Ye and Zheng Xiao, saying, “Sister Ye, they were indeed waiting for me. I’ll go change my clothes first. Director Zheng, Mr. Inoshita, I’ll visit another time. I apologize for today.”
Jiang Ye and Zheng Xiao nodded in agreement.
Inoshita Ryunosuke exclaimed, “The orchestra’s autographs! Autographs!!” Zheng Xiao playfully tapped his head.
The headwaiter responded, “If they’re friends of Mr. Wen, of course, it’s allowed.”
Wen Xingze nodded in agreement.
“This way, please.”
Guided by the headwaiter, Wen Xingze followed the VIP route. The waitstaff stood in formation, bowing uniformly.
As the situation settled, Xu Baijing’s shocked and angry voice echoed, “Wait! You’ve truly mistaken this. Wen Xingze is just a pauper. If I gave him a hundred bucks, he’d kneel down to thank me and then be run over by my Lamborghini…”
The headwaiter calmly replied, “Mr. Wen, how should unrelated parties be handled?”
Wen Xingze wondered if this was what happiness felt like for the wealthy.
While he was indeed a pauper, Xu Baijing’s rumor about him was uncalled for. Wen Xingze would never kneel to anyone for money — never had, never would.
Clearing his throat, Wen Xingze imitated Xu Baijing’s tone, “I’ve heard that your dress code requirements are quite strict. How do you usually handle such situations?”
Xu Baijing, hopping in frustration, was surprisingly clad in beach shorts and flip-flops. He had originally planned to swim; the spoiled rich kid persona remained intact.
Xu Baijing fumed, “Do you even know who my father is? My father—”
The headwaiter lowered his gaze, “Indeed, unrelated parties with inappropriate attire will be escorted out by security. Please wait.”
With a subtle gesture, the next moment—
Four security guards in suits and sunglasses appeared. After a respectful nod to Wen Xingze, they forcibly escorted the struggling ‘unrelated party’ out the door.
Xu Baijing’s indignant cries faded into the distance.
Wow.
Wen Xingze suddenly felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
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