Chapter 5: So This Is the Unspoken Rule?

Shen Yijue raised his hand and caught Mo Qi’s fingers. “Don’t move.”

Mo Qi quietly ground her teeth, but on the surface she obediently leaned back against the chair and stopped moving.

Shen Yijue leaned in a little, his long and powerful arms encircling Mo Qi’s waist, his head resting against her chest. “Raise your hands above your head. Unless I say otherwise, stand still.”

“King Shen—” Mo Qi barely got the words out before she suddenly felt a weight on her, nearly losing her balance.

Looking down, she found the elegant and captivating man holding her just like that, completely relaxed—sound asleep!

Shen Yijue’s features were striking and well-defined, with a faint air of European nobility. His eyebrows seemed to sweep sharply toward his temples, his eyes deep and intense—so much so that even now, with them closed, one could not ignore how calm and piercing they would be when open.

Mo Qi’s gaze followed the smooth lines of his face, lingering over his straight nose, lips that were neither too thin nor too full with a hint of soft pink, and his resolute chin.

This man was truly beautiful; his features were in perfect balance—one touch more or less would have ruined the effect. No wonder he had entranced so many women, both young and mature.

In the past, all she cared about was making money and helping He Shuai rise to fame; she’d never paid much attention to anyone or anything else.

She’d thought that once He Shuai gained fame, she’d naturally bask in the spotlight as well.

If she hadn’t accidentally stumbled upon that disgusting scene that day, who knew how long He Shuai would have continued to take advantage of her?

The smile on Mo Qi’s face gradually faded, replaced by a cold glint in her eyes.

Zhang Fan and the others had waited in the studio for ages, but Shen Yijue still hadn’t returned, and they were beginning to find it odd.

The chief director of “Let Dreams Take Flight” was growing impatient as well. He quietly moved next to Xiao Zhang and whispered, “Is King Shen still getting his makeup fixed? It’s been an hour and a half already—there are dozens of contestants waiting.”

An hour and a half—surely even a decade’s worth of pent-up emotion would have been spent by now?

Xiao Zhang did a quick calculation in his mind before nodding. “Don’t worry, Director, I’m sure something unexpected came up. I’ll go check.”

“Alright.” The chief director thought for a moment, then added, “If King Shen has urgent matters, let him take care of them first. We’re not in a rush.”

Xiao Zhang went to the dressing room backstage, pressed his ear to the door, and, hearing nothing, hesitantly knocked. “Brother Shen, the auditions are about to start recording.”

Mo Qi felt the weight around her waist lighten considerably.

Shen Yijue slowly opened his eyes, was silent for two seconds, then released her waist and said in a deep voice, “Understood.”

Xiao Zhang said no more and dutifully waited outside.

Shen Yijue stood up, straightened his tie and fastened his cufflinks, then took his phone from his suit pocket and handed it to Mo Qi. “Enter your number.”

Mo Qi took the phone and said, “It’s locked.”

“2580.”

She unlocked it, only to find the default sky-blue wallpaper. She pursed her lips, entered her number, and created a new contact.

“Done.”

Shen Yijue took back the phone, scrolled through the contacts, found her name, and dialed.

Mo Qi’s phone buzzed in her pocket.

She took it out and showed it, shrugging innocently.

He was a judge for the competition, and with his abilities, finding her would be child’s play. There was no need for her to deliberately enter a wrong number.

Only then did Shen Yijue seem satisfied; he put away his phone, grabbed his suit jacket from the arm of the sofa, put it on, and left.

“Brother Shen.” Xiao Zhang immediately stepped forward.

“After the event, arrange a car to take her home to pack her things.”

Xiao Zhang had been by Shen Yijue’s side for three or four years, but all the shock he’d experienced in that time paled in comparison to today.

“Yes, Brother Shen, I’ll handle it.” Xiao Zhang considered whether he should report this to the agent, Guan Min.

King Shen seemed to be taking an unusual interest in this Mo Qi.

Mo Qi, having stood motionless for an hour and a half, felt her legs stiffen. Once the dressing room door closed, she slumped into the chair Shen Yijue had just vacated.

What exactly did Shen Yijue mean? Just because he’d held her waist and napped for a bit, did that count as casting-couch behavior?

After the auditions ended, all the successful contestants had to gather for a motivational talk and to be informed about the next stages.

Mo Qi lingered in Shen Yijue’s dressing room for a while longer, waiting for the feeling to return to her legs before she headed to the room where the other successful candidates were waiting.

As soon as she entered, several pairs of eyes surreptitiously sized her up.

The circle at these auditions was small—no one was surprised to hear that Shen Yijue had called her out alone.

Mo Qi closed the door behind her.

Xie An stood up from the sofa and waved. “Mo Qi, come sit here.”

Mo Qi smiled and walked over. “Congratulations on making it through.”

“And congratulations to you too,” Xie An replied, a little shyly. “Mo Qi, let me introduce you: this is Lin Zheng. Lin Zheng, this is my friend, Mo Qi.”

“Hello,” Lin Zheng nodded, smiling as she patted the sofa beside her. “Standing all this time must be exhausting. Come, sit down and chat.”

Mo Qi nodded her greeting and sat down as invited.

Lin Zheng was cheerful and easygoing, with not a hint of awkwardness. She teased, “I remember you. Not many people can sleep so calmly just before the auditions start.”

Mo Qi smiled, but before she could respond, someone nearby twisted her face and loudly sneered, “Some people have powerful connections backing them up, of course they can relax. Not like us—we have to work so hard just to get through the first round, and even then, there’s no guarantee.”

Others might not have voiced agreement, but their eyes betrayed their thoughts.

“Wang Min, what’s that supposed to mean?” Xie An frowned in displeasure.

“What do I mean? Isn’t it obvious?” Wang Min looked down her nose at Mo Qi and sneered. “If someone’s shameless enough to climb up on connections, why should they be afraid of gossip?”

“Mo Qi got through the first round on her own merit. Don’t assume everyone’s as underhanded as you,” Xie An retorted, his face darkening.

Lin Zheng snorted. “I don’t see what’s wrong with having connections. It’s still better than those who try every trick to find a backer and can’t even manage that.”

“You—!” Wang Min glared daggers at Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng continued, “I saw someone twisting her hips trying to get in to see King Shen, but she didn’t even make it past the door. Pathetic, really.”

“What do you mean by that, Lin Zheng?” Wang Min stomped over in her high heels, and two people hurriedly pulled her back.

Lin Zheng was unafraid and stood up as well.

Mo Qi grabbed Lin Zheng’s hand, looking rather innocent as she said, “King Shen was just giving me some tips on acting. Did you misunderstand?”

Her words only made others more convinced she was hiding something.

Mo Qi suddenly widened her eyes in mock astonishment. “Wang Min, do you really think King Shen is that kind of person?!”

Everyone knew the entertainment industry’s dark side, but such behavior was still frowned upon. Wang Min certainly didn’t dare pin that reputation on King Shen.

No one expected Mo Qi to play this card; even the two who had been trying to break up the fight instinctively let go of Wang Min and stepped back.

Wang Min was momentarily speechless, only then realizing how foolish she’d been in her impulsiveness.

She had some connections of her own, but King Shen was not someone she could afford to offend—not if she valued her life.

The atmosphere in the waiting room instantly grew tense and oppressive.