Bai Yin returned to her room, took a nice relaxing hot bath, and washed away the stuffy irritation and displeasure knotted in her heart.
What first love, what did it have to do with her? All she needed to do was get the maximum benefit for herself in this sham marriage.
"Good wind takes advantage of force to send me high into the azure clouds!"
She let out a cry as if venting her emotions, sinking her head into the water for a very long time before finally coming back up for air.
That's right, good wind takes advantage of force.
Her dazzling path to stardom would definitely not be affected by other matters!
After her bath, Bai Yin blew dry her hair and tied it up in a towel. Carrying a scent of fragrant steam, she walked out of the room.
But unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out, she saw Chen Huaixiao standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Chen Huaixiao had just come out of the swimming pool. He had casually thrown on a casual black T-shirt, wireless earphones hanging from his ears, gazing out spellbound at the crescent moon in the mountains, with some heartfelt thoughts hidden in the dark depths of his eyes.
This look actually made him seem more unrestrained than Chen Jingye.
"Good wind takes advantage of force to send me high into the azure clouds?" He turned back, his voice calm: "Where is your good wind?"
Bai Yin was not afraid of him overhearing.
From the beginning, she had never concealed her intentions to take advantage of him.
"Is my good wind not right before my eyes?" She walked up behind him, her fingertips encircling his firm, well-built waist from behind, hugging him coquettishly: "Thank you, husband, for helping me clear away obstacles."
She was referring to... of course, Sheng XiRan's matter.
The woman's fair and nimble fingers started behaving unrestrainedly again.
Chen Huaixiao closed his eyes.
He really didn't like this, didn't like that every time he helped her with something, she would repay him in another way, as if paying compensation...
But he was helplessly addicted to it, powerless to extricate himself.
Chen Huaixiao grabbed her hand and pulled her in front of him. Bai Yin tiptoed, staring back at him fearlessly.
Her gaze was powerful.
It contained the tenacity to shoot straight up into the azure clouds and seize the moon from the ninth heaven.
Bai Yin's gaze almost suffocated Chen Huaixiao.
He threw her onto the bed, then took out from his pocket that cherry blossom handkerchief.
It was the handkerchief she had sold him in her youth, and was also the handkerchief she had silently used to cover his face that night...
Chen Huaixiao placed the handkerchief over her face, blindfolding her eyes.
Bai Yin knew what he was going to do next, and the corners of her mouth turned up: "Does brother like playing this game?"
...
Early morning, before daybreak, the gentle mountain breeze caressed the curtains, stirring up ripples.
When Bai Yin woke up, Chen Huaixiao had already put on a crisp shirt and suit, standing in front of the full-length mirror knotting his tie meticulously.
His finger joints were long and powerful, exerting a lot of force.
Bai Yin hesitated for a long time before finally asking: "Chen Huaixiao, what was your first love like?"
Chen Huaixiao glanced at her indifferently through the mirror.
The girl's hair draped over her fair shoulders, her skin as white as snow, a few faint red marks on her neck, as fragile as glass.
"It wasn't first love," he explained matter-of-factly without concealing anything. "It was a very small matter, the year my mother died, I met a girl at the funeral home. I've always remembered her - her mother had also passed away. We kept each other company for a few days... Later in high school when I got to know Qin Yao, she told me she was that girl, so I treated her a little differently than others."
"Oh, none of my damn business."
"..."
"Then why'd you ask."
Bai Yin rolled her eyes and went back to sleep: "I don't want to hear about your past affairs at all. Turn off the lights when you leave!"
Chen Huaixiao said no more and left the room.
Her room was surrounded by other artists, and their wake up times were probably similar, so Chen Huaixiao really had to leave like he was having an affair, when it was just getting light out.
Bai Yin didn't want anyone to know of her marital relations with him, in order to avoid muddying her dazzling path to stardom.
She really had a good scheme - she wanted him to send her high into the azure clouds, yet was unwilling to let anyone know that she had this "good wind".
Indeed, this was the best way -
As long as no one else knew, he could protect her for a long time.
...
The artists looked forward every day to next week's vocal class with Chen Jingye.
Although he was also at the resort, the artists' living and learning areas were completely separate from the rest of the resort, so they had only glimpsed him from afar in the car on the first day he arrived.
Chen Jingye either went swimming or rock climbing and camping every day.
Chen Huaixiao was surprisingly good-tempered, accompanying him for a few days when he was such a busy man at the company, not rushing to get back to work.
Today's physical training class focused on abdominal and lower back strength.
With the fitness coach's assistance, the artists used the equipment with faces twisted in pain.
Bai Yin looked thin, but the sports halter top she wore perfectly displayed her muscular curves.
Her arms and shoulders revealed the beautiful lines only attained through years of working out, making everyone envious.
Whether physical training or regular classes, Bai Yin could get the best scores.
If she really entered the entertainment industry, she would surely take the whole entertainment industry by storm.
Tang Yu walked into the gym. Everyone wiped their sweat and politely greeted her -
"Hello Sister Tang."
Tang Yu got straight to the point asking, "Which of you knows how to play tennis?"
The artists looked at each other, Bai Yin and another artist named Li Qinglu both raised their hands.
"Good, come with me then."
After going out, Bai Yin curiously asked: "Sister Tang, did something happen?"
Tang Yu casually said, "Mr. Chen is playing tennis on the court and needs an opponent."
"..."
Bai Yin really hadn't expected this. If she had known earlier, she would not have raised her hand no matter what!
"Coach Tang, my skills are terrible, I'm afraid I'm not qualified to play tennis with Mr. Chen."
After the Sheng XiRan incident, Tang Yu already suspected an unusual relationship between Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao.
Bai Yin must have been trying to get on Chen Huaixiao's good side, otherwise how could he not even give Sheng's family face and protect this newcomer.
However... giving her a chance to get close to Chen Huaixiao, she actually made excuses not to go!
This made Tang Yu look at her with some admiration.
Li Qinglu hoped Bai Yin wouldn't go, so she could be the one accompanying Chen Huaixiao to play tennis alone - what a good opportunity!
So she said: "Sister Tang, since Bai Yin's skills aren't good enough, then don't make her go, in case she loses and upsets Mr. Chen. I've played tennis for years, it's no problem at all for me."
Tang Yu was used to the muddy waters of the entertainment industry. She knew that as long as there was even a tiny chance to climb upwards, people would stick to it desperately like insects and fleas.
Finally she looked at Bai Yin again: "Are you sure you don't want to go?"
"Yes, my skills really aren't good."
She didn't force Bai Yin, letting her go back to the gym to do muscle exercises, and took Li Qinglu to the tennis court.
Li Qinglu glanced back at Bai Yin, looking as if she was staring at a fool.
Bai Yin had reached this point, coming to the classroom first every day and leaving last. She thought that as long as she worked hard enough and got high scores on the courses, she could make a name for herself.
How naive.
The entertainment industry was not a place where you could succeed just by working hard.
Opportunity was right before your eyes - it depended on whether you could seize it!
Bai Yin knew what Li Qinglu was thinking, but ignored her and returned to the gym.
Ten minutes later, Tang Yu came back with a very ugly looking Li Qinglu.
Interested, the artists gossiped and asked: "What happened?"
"Weren't you going to play with Mr. Chen, how come you're back already?"
Tang Yu said indifferently: "She lost in the first round. Mr. Chen's partner is a professional tennis player. Mr. Chen needs a real partner who can play tennis. Does anyone else want to give it a try?"
The artists looked at each other - they all wanted to go, but seeing Li Qinglu's dejected face, they hesitated.
Obviously this was a doubles match between Chen Huaixiao and Chen Jingye. Chen Jingye's teammate was a professional player, how could they dare be Chen Huaixiao's partner?
If they caused Mr. Chen to lose, they'd end up looking like Li Qinglu, not only losing face but also losing favor with the CEO.
Only a fool would go.
Seeing no one was willing, Tang Yu was in a difficult position.
Mr. Chen had ordered her to find a partner who could play tennis. Where could she go find one now?
Left with no choice, she looked again at Bai Yin, who was practicing abs: "Little Yin, why don't you just go after all."
"My skills are also mediocre. What if Mr. Chen blames me for losing?"
"Don't worry, just do your best, just help me out this once."
Tang Yu just needed to complete her KPI, and continued persuading: "Plus Mr. Chen isn't the kind of person who displaced blame."
Bai Yin's mouth twitched. As if!
Just looking at Li Qinglu's ugly, nearly crying expression you could tell she must have been viciously ridiculed by Chen Huaixiao.
But since Tang Yu was asking her to go, she also couldn't continue refusing, and said while getting up: "Then I'll try, don't blame me if we lose."
"Okay!"
Tang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, and took Bai Yin to the tennis court.
...
On the tennis court, Chen Huaixiao wore a white sweatband. He had on a black short-sleeved athletic top that revealed his strong, agile forearms. Gripping a tennis racket tightly, he played one against two.
Chen Jingye and the professional tennis player teamed up against him alone, and still seemed to be struggling a bit.
Aside from racing, tennis was... Chen Huaixiao's other big passion.
First semester of freshman year, when she still had a crush on Chen Huaixiao, she happened to see a WeChat moment Chen Huaixiao posted of a tennis racket -
"Looking for a doubles partner."
From this moment, she learned one piece of information - Chen Huaixiao liked playing tennis, and needed someone to partner with him in doubles.
From then on, tennis became Bai Yin's favorite competitive sport. After class and her part-time jobs, anytime she had free time she would run to the tennis courts.
She fantasized that one day, she would be qualified to play mixed doubles with Chen Huaixiao.
Heaven knew how hard she tried back then.
But that summer after freshman year, the night it happened, Bai Yin's dreams were shattered.
Looking back at Chen Huaixiao's WeChat moment.
He probably regretted not having a partner for that moment, but more so... the person before his eyes was not the one in his heart.
...
After a round finished, Chen Huaixiao turned back and saw the person behind Tang Yu was actually Bai Yin.
She wore a cropped tank top that showed her navel. Her abdomen was flat with nice obliques.
Her hair was neatly tied in a bun, with only a few strands hanging by her ears.
She had just finished exercising and her forehead was sweaty, looking extremely similar to how she did after their affairs.
Chen Huaixiao's gaze grew meaningful -
"You can play tennis?"
"I took tennis for PE a few times in college." Because she felt uncomfortable inside, Bai Yin really didn't want to play with him, only saying: "My skills are horrible."
But Chen Huaixiao said: "Don't worry, I'll lead you."
"?"
Unexpectedly, Chen Huaixiao threw his racket to her.
She hurriedly caught it, holding it very unprofessionally against her chest.
This racket... Chen Huaixiao had used it for many years. Although old, it was extremely professional quality, and of course very expensive.
Chen Huaixiao gave his racket to Bai Yin, and picked up another brand new one for himself, casually swinging it to get a feel for it.
Bai Yin had no choice but to partner with him in doubles.
Chen Jingye stared at Bai Yin for a long time, crying out in surprise: "You're the waitress from last night!"
Bai Yin awkwardly nodded: "Good morning, senior."
"Oh my god! You look so different! You really are Chen Huaixiao's employee?"
"Yes."
Bai Yin thought, although not a hotel waitress, as a company artist she was indeed Chen Huaixiao's employee.
Chen Jingye said in dissatisfaction: "Bro, where'd you find such a pretty girl? Making her work as a waitress is too unfair! With looks like that, she's more than qualified to be my sister-in-law!"
Bai Yin smiled indifferently: "Are all the beautiful women in the world meant to be your sister-in-law?"
Bai Yin also smiled: "What, you look down on my brother?"
"I prefer younger ones."
Chen Jingye saw that this girl was so good at joking. He was originally a playboy in the romantic world. Facing Bai Yin's gaze that was completely focused on him, he actually blushed: "I am indeed younger than him. Young lady, if you are interested, come be my partner?"
"Okay."
Bai Yin was just about to go over when she suddenly felt her wrist being violently grabbed. She looked back and saw Chen Huaixiao's icy gaze.
"Not all winds can bring you to the clouds."
The corners of his mouth raised as he spoke words carrying powerful deterrence: "Little braid, don't be a fickle woman."
"......"
