Starlight Descends - 58
Volcano
This was the first time she had ever seen him in a suit in person.
It was far more fatal than she had ever imagined, or than any photograph or magazine reprint could convey.
Not the barely-grown young man attending his coming-of-age ceremony. Not the ambitious graduate delivering a commencement speech from the cover of a magazine. This was a man who had completed some profound transformation, standing before her in living color, impeccably dressed and perfectly composed.
Upright, yet effortless. Relaxed, yet impossibly refined.
Carrying an unrivaled presence and a heart-stirring pull beyond words as he walked directly toward her through the crowd.
Like a dream she'd been having for years.
Her heart was still pounding in her chest. Qi Yao closed her eyes briefly and let out a slow breath.
Even knowing that this man had chatted with her on WeChat last night and even wished her goodnight before bed, the moment their eyes met across the sea of people, she still couldn't control herself. Like a teenage girl falling in love at first sight.
A suit, when worn by the right person, possessed truly terrifying lethality.
The tidal wave rising inside her heart was enough to drown an erupting volcano.
Inappropriately, Qi Yao found herself remembering the phrase Gu Heng's fans used whenever he appeared in a suit at events.
"As long as the face remains, the kingdom remains."
Looking at Yu Jiashu now, she suddenly felt Gu Heng's kingdom wasn't all that impressive after all.
She pushed all the air from her lungs, bottoming out, then drew in a fresh breath and opened her eyes.
The elevator was quiet. Lizi remained as she always did, eyes lowered, minding her own business without saying a word. Qiao Nian, however, wasn't nearly so silent.
She had, after all, spent years navigating the muck of the entertainment industry; her eye for people was sharp, especially in a situation charged with this kind of unspoken undercurrent.
Even if she hadn't seen the gossip posts that morning, it wouldn't have been hard to figure out his identity from the timing, the place, Qi Yao's abrupt pause, Lizi's unusual silence, and the man's appearance.
"There were too many people at your place earlier. I didn't get a chance to ask." Standing behind Qi Yao with her arms folded, Qiao Nian frowned. "Are you seeing someone?"
Dragged out of her tangled thoughts, Qi Yao paused for a moment before lifting her face. "Yeah. I forgot to tell you the other day," she said. "I'm in a relationship."
She said it openly.
Silence settled in the elevator.
Her frankness was so absolute that Qiao Nian felt her next question falter. She paused for two seconds. "Serious?"
The numbers on the overhead display changed and stopped. The elevator's ascent halted, creating that brief sensation of suspension.
In the quiet hum of the doors opening, Qiao Nian watched Qi Yao calmly gather her skirt and step out, leaving behind a quiet sentence.
"I couldn't be more serious."
That's what she said.
***
Inside the venue, the lighting was brilliant and bright.
Livestream cameras hung overhead as technicians adjusted them. Rows upon rows of white-covered chairs filled the spacious hall, arranged with neat precision.
The stage was enormous. A massive LED screen behind it continuously played promotional films and product videos.
Crowds filed in from the entrances, guided by staff to their assigned sections. Qi Yao took her seat in the center of the first row and watched quietly for a while.
There were about five videos on the loop. One focused on company values, one covered design inspiration and material selection, others featured interviews with management team, and even the short film she had made during her first-round interview.
She hadn't watched it in a long time.
The memories of carrying her camera outside to shoot footage, the all-nighter spent editing, it all felt like yesterday. Yet now she was sitting in the audience, waiting for her appearance during the interactive segment later.
Perhaps because the color grading and storytelling style differed from the others, she occasionally overheard word of appreciation or praise from nearby attendees.
Qi Yao caught them all, a sudden wave of emotion washed over her.
So it's true, no road in life was ever walked in vain.
Every single step you take in life counts.
Ten minutes later, nearly all the seats had filled. The promotional videos disappeared, replaced by a sixty-second countdown. The numbers flickered across the screen, and the venue gradually quieted.
The livestream camera swept across the center of the hall, its arm lowered from an overhead angle into close-up shots.
Qi Yao was very familiar with that movement.
At countless award ceremonies, the shifting camera always puts people on alert. If someone chatting beside you suddenly adjusted their posture and sat up straighter, it usually meant a camera was approaching.
Ye Qingman had even developed an entire guide titled "How to Look Your Best on Livestream" and generously taught it to her.
Press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth to sharpen your jawline in profile. Keep your back straight. Relax your shoulders. Rest your hands naturally on your knees. It maintained elegance without looking stiff.
In an industry built on appearances, even someone like Qi Yao, whose posture was already excellent, had to remain vigilant in front of cameras.
The camera grazed past her face. She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, on the flashing countdown numbers, when suddenly, a streak of black appeared in her peripheral vision.
A deep, obsidian black.
A faint sound followed, and then a crisp, sharp scent of mountain fir and mint lingered in the air around her, crisp and cool.
The man casually took the seat beside her.
Qi Yao had to practically hold her breath to keep her expression neutral in front of the cameras.
It was strange. Though they hadn't been dating long, she'd already overcome the tendency to lose control around him. At the very least, she no longer blushed and panicked at the mere sight of him.
Yet today, all her usual rules seemed to be failing. Perhaps it was the nervousness and uncertainty of appearing publicly together for the first time.
With cameras pointed at them, Yu Jiashu didn't speak to her. He just sat quietly.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him cross one leg over the other. The crease of his suit trousers remained sharp and immaculate. He leaned lazily against the chair, expression indifferent, looking both detached and completely at ease.
Meanwhile, the livestream comments were exploding.
[FUCK WHO IS THIS GUY WHY IS HE SO HOT AAAAAAAAAAA WHERE DID THIS RANDOM HANDSOME MAN COME FROM AAAAAAAAA]
[A random guy? No way. He must be some newly signed actor?]
[You think this is an awards show? Qi Yao's the only celebrity here. Where would another actor come from? And sitting in the front row, no less? Dream on.]
[No clue who he is but who cares, i'm just here for the pretty people. These two look insanely good together! They're even wearing matching colors. Black dress, black suit. SOS. Their visual power is insane, my brain is already auto-generating ten thousand words of an arranged-marriage novel.]
[The comment above is killing me. You're shipping them just because? Can't you see they haven't even exchanged a glance!]
[Maybe it's a ice-queen celebrity wife and her aloof billionaire husband she barely knows? Arranged marriage, then falling in love? Hahahaha.]
[WAIT THAT ACTUALLY HAS THE VIBE. They're still in the "married but not in love yet" phase. Two alpha personalities pulling against each other. Someone write this immediately!]
[I saw some gossip posts this morning saying there was something between the two. Looking at them now, it doesn't seem like it.]
[Just because it doesn't show, doesn't mean it's not there. You think she deserves to sit there otherwise? It's called avoiding suspicion in public. What did you expect? Them to be all lovey-dovey on livestream?]
[Damn, so much bad energy before me. Stop believing every rumor you hear. Block. Block. Block. Yao-mei's styling today is AMAZING.]
[Qi Yao looks gorgeous today, holy shit! Red lips, black hair, black dress. She's giving untouchable elegant heiress energy.]
[The photos are already everywhere on Weibo. Every random snapshot looks like a luxury magazine cover. Our Yao-mei is a super gorgeous queen who can rock any style!]
[Can you people calm down? This is a product launch, not your idol's fan meeting. So annoying.]
[LMAO then don't look. Turn off the comments yourself. Why are you trying to police everyone else?]
...
The countdown changed from three to one, then finally hit zero. The stage lights blazed to life, the giant screen switched to the promotional poster for the new series, and the launch event officially began.
The first half was highly technical. The host elaborated on every aspect of the new product line from the stage. The chipset, the operating system, gaming performance, pixel array, sensors, color science and materials, comparisons across the full series, and battery life benchmarks against other market brands.
Time passed quietly. Qi Yao watched with genuine interest; this was her first time at a big tech event like this, and she was still fascinated by the phone she'd been using for the past two weeks.
Especially when the discussion turned to the chipset section.
"The XM-9521 chip powering the Fengxing X-11 series is the first fully independently developed and manufactured semiconductor chip in the country. It utilizes an advanced global 7-nanometer process and a proprietary instruction architecture, delivering a dramatic performance improvement over the previous generation."
The host raised the microphone and gestured toward the front row. His voice rose, emphasizing every word as he continued.
"And our partner, Jingfan, is currently the only enterprise in the entire country to fully integrate chip design, materials, process technology, semiconductor manufacturing, and chip packaging and testing into a single independent ecosystem, achieving complete technological self-sufficiency across the semiconductor industry."
Whether it was the atmosphere or the industry insiders in the audience understanding the full significance of that statement, spontaneous, thunderous applause erupted from the seats. Long, resounding, and sustained.
Qi Yao applauded as well. Raising her hands, she clapped twice before finally taking the opportunity to glance toward the man beside her.
Yu Jiashu sat calmly in his seat, spine resting against the chair, upright yet relaxed. Even being name-checked only earned a slight nod from him. He lifted his eyes, swept a glance over the camera now focused on his face, then casually looked away again.
His bearing held no trace of awkwardness. There was a cold, composed, almost arrogant self-assurance radiated from him.
No matter when or where, that sense that everything remained firmly under his control was incredibly captivating. Just like the boy he had been years ago, standing on that auditorium stage.
In places neither of them could see, the livestream comments instantly multiplied.
[Holy f*ck, that one glance just hit me right in the heart AAAAAAAAA]
[My breath literally stopped when his eyes met the camera, does anyone understand, guys... this is the power of a handsome man...]
[No... this is the power of a handsome, elite man... young, in a suit, sitting in the first row at a Fengxing event! This whole aura is something those himbo pretty boys could NEVER compete with!!!]
[You're still underestimating him. Not only is he sitting next to a celebrity in the front row (without even glancing at her), the guy's gonna be up on that stage speaking later.]
[And let's add that he's not just an honored guest of Fengxing, he's Fengxing's heir. Rich. Highly educated. Charismatic. Ridiculously handsome. The buffs are stacked. I'm just gonna say it: Hi, husband.]
[@FengxingYuChongshan Do you happen to need a daughter-in-law?!?!?!]
...
The host on stage was now rattling off one technical term after another, but Qi Yao couldn't focus on it anymore. Knowing the camera probably wouldn't return anytime soon, she kept sneaking glances at the person beside her.
This man who seemed capable of everything was her boyfriend, Qi Yao thought.
The feeling was difficult to describe, like a fleeting, impossible dream.
She stole another glance. This time Yu Jiashu turned his head and caught her in the act. There was the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow at her.
"..."
Heat instantly flooded Qi Yao's ears, she quickly looked away.
Two seconds later, the bottle of Evian water on the table in front of the first row suddenly tipped over. Yu Jiashu made a slight, dismissive gesture, stopping a staff member from rushing forward to right it.
The bottle sat between their seats, forcing him to move closer. He leaned forward, stretching his long arm. The scent of cedar and mint suddenly intensified. Clean, cool, sharp.
Qi Yao had already unconsciously softened her breathing, one second later, her breath stopped entirely.
She felt something graze her fingertip. Long, slightly cool. Then, her index finger was hooked.
A very familiar touch. Distinct knuckles, long elegant fingers, cool to the touch.
Yu Jiashu's hand.
...While pretending to reach for the water bottle, this man had hooked her finger where neither the cameras nor anyone else could see.
Qi Yao's heartbeat thundered.
Yet she didn't dare make any obvious movement. All she could do was maintain a calm expression while enduring the maddening tickle spreading across her palm.
As though nothing had happened, Yu Jiashu picked up the fallen bottle and slowly set it upright.
At the same time, the fingers of his other hand traced light, deliberate strokes across her palm.
He seemed to be writing something. Qi Yao fought the urge to curl her fingers, while also having to split her focus to decipher the strokes.
Each movement seemed to ignite heat in her skin, rising from her palm and spreading through her entire body.
Even childhood games of writing words on someone's back had never felt this torturous.
A moment later, Yu Jiashu straightened, his back settled lazily against the chair once more. His expression returned to that familiar cool calmness.
Only Qi Yao remained sitting there with her hand curled tightly, her ears and cheeks burning.
No one knew. In the middle of the cameras and the crowd, his seemingly casual lean over had been to write on her palm:
"Look later at home."
Don't keep staring at your boyfriend now.
You can look all you want once you're home.
***
The first portion of the launch event gradually drew to a close as the products fully introduced.
The second half was dedicated to audience interaction.
Qiao Nian was waiting at the main entrance of the convention center. A black business van pulled up in front of her. When the door opened, a man in a suit stepped out.
"How's the situation?" Qiu Lang asked succinctly.
"Not great." Qiao Nian frowned and hurried alongside him. "There are two main narratives right now. One says she's a fraud who only looks good in edited photos, but that pretty much died on its own once the livestream started. After her fansite released photos, the new look even started to go viral, trending positively."
"And the second?"
"The backdoor deal rumors." Qiao Nian pressed the elevator button. "It's a sensitive topic, people are naturally prone to suspicion. We can issue a clarification, of course, but public credibility might not hold."
"The real problem is…" Qiao Nian, for a rare moment, stumbled over her words.
Qiu Lang shot her a look. "Spit it out."
"They really are dating."
"..."
Silence followed.
Qiu Lang paused for a second. His expression unreadable, he looked at her before turning forward and continuing toward the venue.
By the time they reentered the hall, the second half was already underway. Unlike the technical presentations earlier, the atmosphere was now far livelier. Especially when Qi Yao stepped onto the stage, finished introducing herself, and bowed slightly while holding the neckline of her dress.
The audience erupted into cheers.
The black satin gown made her skin appear dazzlingly pale. Her waist slender, an arm's span.
Whenever she tilted her head to listen to the host's questions, the hem of her dress swayed gently, revealing long, straight, slender legs.
The thin straps of her stilettos wound around her glimmering white ankles like briars growing around a white rose, disappearing into the shadows.
"Yao-mei has a new drama currently airing, isn't that right? It's generated huge buzz online. You play a very cute pastry chef."
Qi Yao nodded. Holding the microphone with both hands, she tilted her head slightly and smiled toward the camera. Her peach blossom eyes curved beautifully. "That's right."
[F*ck, who is she trying to kill with that beauty, i'm deceased.]
[aaaaaaaaaah that smile, aaaaaaaaaah!! what is this? Wife, give me a kiss, I can't moved my eyes away.]
[Qi Yao's fashion sense is unmatched. How does she make black look both icy and pure at the same time? When she's not smiling, she's a proud, untouchable heiress. And then she smiles and she's the sweetest girl ever, the duality, i'm DEAD aaaaaaaaaah.]
[I came specifically because of the rumors. And this is supposed to be a catfish? I can't believe i fell for those marketing accounts' BS.]
[I have NEVER in real life seen an average person who is prettier than a female celebrity... the gap between some influencer and a real star is already astronomical, let alone a normal person. Where where do these chronically online pick-mes get off trying to compete, i'm dying.]
[The funniest part is she had to add "not to sound overconfident." Lady, if you're not overconfident, then what are you? How miserable does your real life have to be that you have to maliciously photoshop and slander someone online?]
[The clowns keep jumping around. You think Yao-mei even notices you? May all the rumor spreaders get what they deserve.]
...
After a few pleasantries, the host steered the conversation back toward the products.
"We heard your vlog from last week was filmed using the Fengxing X-11. Is that right?"
Following his lead, Qi Yao nodded and responded softly. The conversation flowed naturally on stage, their banter wasn't densely packed, but it built naturally, not some exaggerated, manufactured performance. The pace was unhurried and comfortable, occasionally drawing laughter from the audience.
Yu Jiashu lounged in his seat, watching her under the bright stage lights.
The feeling was difficult to describe. It was like once, a very long time ago, he had seen a little toy rabbit by the side of the road. It was lying there, all alone, its white fur gathering dust.
People walked past it without noticing its beauty. Not seeing its drooping ears, and its wet, black eyes.
By chance, he'd looked down and met its gaze, drawn in by its pure sincerity and kindness.
After a long, long time of wait, he'd picked it up, taken it home, cleaned it off, and set it on the terrace to bask in the sun.
Later, that rabbit became the most beautiful rabbit in the world.
Everyone noticed it.
Everyone praised its beauty.
And he was sitting in the audience, watching her shine in the brightest place imaginable, watching her stand beneath the grandest spotlight, her every smile and frown captured everyone's attention.
Only he knew.
Only the two people whose eyes keep finding each other across the crowd knew.
She would always be his rabbit.
***
Halfway through the interactive segment, someone suddenly took the empty seat next to him. Yu Jiashu never had much interest in other people, his eyes remained fixed on the woman onstage posing for a selfie with the host.
He couldn't even spare a glance for the newcomer.
Until the man beside him spoke.
"President Yu."
At the sound, Yu Jiashu slowly raised his eyelids, turned his face slightly, and met the man's eyes.
"Do you remember me?" Qiu Lang asked.
This wasn't the first time he'd met Yu Jiashu. Back when he was seeking investment for Sheng Yu, he'd attended countless business dinners and networking events. When word got out that Fengxing intended to enter the entertainment industry, he'd used Tian Ying's connections to arrange a meeting with Yu Chongshan.
He hadn't managed to get him out to dinner, it had been a doorstep visit. When he arrived at the Nanshan residence with gifts, the family had just finished dinner. A housekeeper opened the door. Yu Chongshan greeted him without ceremony and asked him to wait in the study upstairs.
Before heading up, he'd caught a glimpse of someone sitting on the sofa.
Black hair, loose locks falling over the forehead. The young man lounged casually against the cushions, holding a phone sideways to play a game, exposing a stretch of pale neck, the bones at the base stood out sharply.
Yu Chongshan had called out to him from downstairs, and the man who was ruthless and decisive in the business world had softened his tone to a ramble, saying after graduation, he should shut down that little company, or sell it if he couldn't bear to, in any case, he should stop wasting his mind on that little toy and come home.
Qiu Lang never heard the reply. At the time, he'd assumed the young master of the Yu family was just another wastrel, someone who loved to play and wouldn't settle down, the same old story in so many second-generation households.
The thought barely lingered before he dismissed it, and their brief encounter ended there.
The next time he saw Yu Jiashu again was when he started appearing regularly in financial and tech news reports.
Remarkably, the label attached to him was not "Fengxing.”
That was when he learned this man was different from the other heirs.
Top domestic undergraduate program, master's degree from Stanford. Founded a company with a team while still a junior, held national-level patents by graduation, and his master's advisor was a titan of the industry. To call him a leading authority is no exaggeration.
The "little toy" Yu Chongshan had mocked was now the biggest dark horse in the semiconductor industry.
Back then, Qiu Lang had just laughed, saying other people's definition of a "little toy" was really on a different level from us ordinary folks. But it remained nothing more than amusing news to discuss after dinner.
Never once had he imagined that he or Qi Yao would ever become connected to someone like this.
Right now, this man had raised his eyes and was looking at him with zero discernible emotion, his pupils pitch black, one eyebrow rose slightly.
Qiu Lang paused, then decided to cut straight to the chase. "Here's the thing. Are you aware of what people are saying online right now? About you and her."
He pointed toward the stage. Qi Yao was interacting with a randomly selected fan, smiling brightly as she reached for a card in the host's hand. She looked almost too beautiful to belong to the mortal world.
Following his gaze, Yu Jiashu raised his chin slightly. His fingertips tapped lazily against his leg, his expression remained calm.
"They're saying your relationship..." Qiu Lang paused, choosing a diplomatic phrase. "Isn't exactly appropriate."
Perhaps realizing how unpleasant it sounded, he continued before Yu Jiashu could respond. "This kind of public opinion might not have any real impact on you. But our industry runs on reputation and public perception. If these rumors continue spreading, it could be very detrimental to her future."
Seeing the man still wasn't taking the bait, Qiu Lang thought for a moment and continued, "Our Yao-mei might be quiet and doesn't talk much, but she's actually incredibly strong-willed. She might not fit the definition of 'obedience' you're used to in your circles. Not the type to keep by your side."
"I've known her for five or six years now. We've come up from nothing together. If I speak to her, she'll probably listen." Qiu Lang paused, keeping his expression neutral, "But I don't want to interfere in her personal relationships and have her blame me later."
The earlier remarks could perhaps be forgiven, but this one carried a very different implication.
Yu Jiashu's eyebrow lifted slightly. He repeated the phrase "our Yao-mei," in his mind and suddenly let out a short, unreadable laugh.
"So?" The question came without emotion. Yu Jiashu's expression was tired and lazy, his eyelids lifting carelessly, gaze fixed straight ahead, not even bothering to look at the man beside him.
Finally receiving a response, Qiu Lang also turned his gaze forward, dropping all pretense. "So, I was thinking, wouldn't you consider not continuing this any further?"
"Qi Yao is very beautiful, yes, but there are plenty of even more beautiful girls in this industry. With your status and position, there's no need to tether yourself to one tree. We can't afford the consequences.”
That's what Qiu Lang said, the words fell into silence. No response came.
Yu Jiashu's mouth twisted into a sardonic, mirthless curve. For a long moment, he didn't speak.
He found the entire thing absurd. Qiu Lang's speech was clearly predicated on the assumption that their relationship was improper, that sincerity couldn't possibly exist where money and power were involved.
Yu Jiashu had grown up surrounded by people like this. Unlike Qi Yao, he didn't instinctively assume the best of others, but neither did he automatically assume the worst.
He truly hadn't expected that someone Qi Yao described as "an inspired director," "a mentor who saw her potential," would be so malicious in his assumptions about her.
Standing on a pedestal of "having her best interests at heart,” he arrogantly acted as though he understood everything, self-righteous and selfish.
Yu Jiashu let out a silent, scornful laugh, cold and cutting.
Then he turned his head, his dark eyes locked directly onto Qiu Lang, one eyebrow arching slightly. Circling back to the beginning of the conversation, he finally answered with a lazy drawl.
"Sorry."
The upward sweep of his eyes seemed sharp and cold at that moment. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and asked quietly:
"And who exactly are you?"
---
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