Chapter Text
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” These were the words of Sun Tzu in his magnus opus ‘The Art of War’, and there were no days that Luo Binghe never recounted those chapters of that book. It was his routine and ‘Bible’ before doing the most ridiculous things for his part-time job of being a ‘gold digger’.
A cantil snake disguises its tail in the shape and color of a worm, this caudal luring pushes prey inside the area of the predator to eventually meet their fate to its fangs.
At first, it really started by Shen Qingqiu paying him for a fake date to make Luo Qingge jealous. Then, because people were so impressed by his acting skills, they paid him for similar jobs until it just got ridiculous as cosplaying and one night stands–not that Luo Binghe had complaints, he was earning more per hour than his previous job as a manager at their company. No higher ups yelling or ordering him around, no more fake smiles from employees, no more unpaid late nights.
Luo Binghe was where he should be.
At least that’s what he should be thinking while he stared at his new client’s text.
‘And to move on in the Academy Awards of Merit!’ Loud music from the flat-screen television began resounding the penthouse as Luo Binghe sipped on his red wine. The lights of the Hollywood stage showered different actors as the host kept talking. If this was his first time watching this, he might be standing close to the TV biting his lip with quiet intensity. But, this was his fifth time watching this. ‘Gaining popularity with his latest work ‘The Mandela Organization’, may I now present to you…The best actor and winning director…He Yu!’
Hair as dark as China’s midnight sky, eyes as red as a cup of blood, and all painted in the paleness of his skin. The man stood up from his velvet seat and began walking on the red carpet with his glistening suit, he pulled his hair back when a microscopic bang fell from his unwrinkled forehead. Even the way he walked was demanding silence from viewers who were watching, and when he arrived at the stage with those two trophies on both hands, his veiny hands clenched on the statuette's waist. No matter how much wine Luo Binghe had drank, it wasn’t enough for him to stop the thirst of his eyes.
He sipped again looking at the short wikipedia page of the actor. "He Yu...studied in France for high school, and Huzhou University for college." He nodded in approval as he watched the clips for the tenth time already, "He looks like Zhou Yiran, are they related…?" Even when the anonymous client told him that uncovering the guy's 'abyssal secret' was of serious importance, Luo Binghe couldn't help but to laugh just by the sheer peculiarity of the whole situation.
He paused the video player and loudly groaned. He didn’t particularly like said director, mainly because the film ‘The Mandela Organization’ killed his favorite female actress! Plus, he found it narcissistic for the director to play as the main character. It doesn’t matter if He Yu, or his character that is, got shot by his ‘police friend’ at the end–it was still narcissistic.
His eyes traveled down to his phone again. The text of the random number was still there:
[I heard you’re the infamous man that can get any job done with 98.89% success.]
[I found your listing on a paper in Shanghai Times Square.]
[Thanks for reaching out. This is Luo Services, indeed.]
[But, take note that I don’t do murder. And any physical or sexual use for my body is an additional 25% of the base price.]
[50,000 RMB.]
[Expose Director He Yu’s secret.]
Luo Binghe’s eyes drifted to his ceiling, the golden lights of the chandelier hanging like clouds to his mental state. It was weird. He was used to odd jobs of spying and making cheaters come out, but the client’s request was too vague, that or the man’s life.
He took the remote again and skipped a few scenes in the awarding ceremony.
After He Yu’s speech that was replied with thousands of applause, the host shook hands with him and He Yu went down the stage. It looked normal but right there on the side before He Yu’s figure left, the camera caught the slightest gesture of him wiping the same hand he used to shake hands with the host.
This wasn’t enough to say this man was such a horrible person, of course, the host might’ve just had sweaty hands! What truly piqued Luo Binghe’s interest was how the social media mentioned little about He Yu. He was the first actor in Binghe’s life that had no leaked scandals, rumors, or wikipedia dictated to the man’s information. Even his social media website lacked vital information like where he went for school, how he joined the industry, or where he got the inspiration for his films and books (like come on? Isn’t that normal?!)
All Binghe ever knew was after reading two of the five books He Yu had written, he was a fan of psychological thrillers that Binghe never realized he liked as well. But, that doesn’t say much–plus, what’s with the main character and always liking someone from the police force? If not that, the doctor. Not that Luo Binghe didn’t like the trope too.
His eyes shot to the text again and he finally sat up properly. This had to be an angry fan. But, that doesn’t explain how this fan knew that He Yu had a ‘secret’, sure, judging from his lack of interface and information, he had secrets but come on…
[May I ask for elaboration? What secret?]
Luo Binghe hadn’t even finished sipping his drink, when the notification instantly lit his phone.
[VID1104 101 121 117.mp4]
His fingers were always out of control with one another. He would usually be patient, never the one to speak first unless spoken to, but the sudden file caught him off guard. He played it without a second thought and what played first were the sounds of Huzhou’s public streets with the bright lights and vibrant sounds. But, the camera particularly focused on a man wearing a black hat and red sweater, what seems to be He Yu, talking to a man slightly shorter than him.
“Please! Xie Qingcheng–” He Yu’s voice was heard at the camera, the audio not forgetting the man’s desperation. He grabbed the shorter man’s shoulders only to be met by a slap, then a punch to the gut sending his black hat to the feet of the one recording, revealing his red eyes.
Damn.
If Luo Binghe thought that Shen Qingqiu was the finest man he’d ever met, he would’ve lived his lifetime being wrong just because he hadn’t seen He Yu with his hair down. Apparently his hair being pulled back in the formal event like the Academy Award wasn’t attractive enough, God had to play favorites and bless him with the ‘Effortless Beauty’ package.
Binghe was getting distracted.
Some people stared at the two, but because this was Huzhou, they kept walking. The wiry man, Xie Qingcheng, shook He Yu away and walked inside the police station. He Yu was left there, it was upsetting too, Luo Binghe almost pitied him, then–
The one recording yelped in surprise when He Yu turned their way, the video abruptly ended.
“Damn…” Binghe ran a hand through his hair. Just when I thought I could stir out some gossip and let him hire me as a body guard…this is going to be harder than I thought.
He stretched his shoulders. This wasn't uncommon in Chinese media, fans hiring who and whom to find out if their celebrity crush is gay or dating someone. This was expected if you're a world fame actor.
He retraced back to his opinion as he sipped his tea. The only type of person to request for this kind of mission are either his ex or an angry fan. He snapped his fingers as he put his cup down. I can't pretend to be one of his ex, so maybe I can act like a fan!
The ever so powerful lotus didn't waste anytime searching around his database for any event, and like an invitation from heaven, He Yu was attending a meet-and-greet tomorrow at the Qianmen Mall Street in Beijing. It was an eight hour drive from Jiansu, the longest Binghe has ever driven to and that is saying he wouldn't stop to eat. All this for an actor.
Luo Binghe wasn’t the type to snicker when he’s winning, he preferred to let it simmer in his heart. So, he didn’t smile yet when he clicked on the ‘schedule your slot’ in the website, but his eyes brightened.
Too bad, young master He, your peace ends tomorrow.