Chapter 102: Have you trained that tongue of yours?

Lin Yu was indeed not afraid of being hit. With those solid eight-pack abs and the title of Peerless Warrior of The Invincible General, to be honest, there were only a handful of people who would dare to fight him even if they could. And even if they did, they still would not win.

Xiao Lin had no choice but to bring out Ji Ya as her trump card. “If you keep this up, I’m calling the boss.”

“Oh, you should have said so sooner.” Lin Yu immediately turned to tidy himself up. Yet as he bent down, the strong, broad sweep of his back and the hard planes of his abdomen gave Xiao Lin a little feast for the eyes.

This man was a true clothes rack. Slim when dressed, all muscle when undressed.

Lin Yu naturally noticed the little glance from behind him, but he pretended not to. Even so, his pace of dressing slowed noticeably, and he kept showing off his cords of muscle as if by accident.

Xiao Lin saw through his intent and cursed inwardly that this boy really could not be praised. Once praised, he got carried away and started putting on airs. Her expression darkened, and suddenly she had a fine idea for punishing him. Without a word, she went into the bathroom, filled a cup with water, and then called out to him.

Ah!

Lin Yu was drenched head to toe. The cold water ran down over his abs and dripped from his wet hair. He looked far from pathetic; if anything, it only added a few more points to his masculine allure.

Xiao Lin curled her lips, turned, and walked away. Before leaving, she did not forget to remind him, “Get yourself ready and let’s go. Be late later and your pay will be docked to nothing.”

Lin Yu: ???

...

In June, only the early morning and evening were cooler; otherwise the air stayed hot and oppressive all day. Often one would shower, step outside, and return drenched in sweat. Every outing felt like a trip through hell, and coming back made one long to die in an air-conditioned room.

The production was filming a period drama this time, and in such sweltering weather, wearing those thick costume props was enough to leave a person half dead even if they did not actually die.

Lin Yu suddenly understood why filming had to start so early. If they did not take advantage of the good weather and shoot quickly, once the blazing sun rose higher later, it would truly be deadly.

Finish early, return early, and rest at the hotel; or go to the spa on the sixth floor, or the built-in bar, and sit under the air-conditioning with a drink. What was not to like about that?

It seemed he was not the only one with such thoughts. Everyone knew how to coast and fish for ease. Finding pleasure in small acts of slacking amid hard work was, as expected, not limited to ordinary wage earners; even people in these supposedly high-and-mighty circles were no different when it came to slacking off at work.

Lin Yu followed Xiao Lin onto the production team’s van. Looking out from the car, the road was empty. At this hour, even office workers would not have gotten up yet.

He could not help but sigh inwardly. Hardworking artists deserved respect. Those who only pretended to work hard in front of the camera were simply unworthy.

A five-minute drive from the filming location, Xiao Lin had arranged breakfast for Lin Yu: a cup of soy milk, a steamed bun, and a tea egg. Such a plain meal was not even enough to fill the gaps between a grown man’s teeth.

Lin Yu protested at once, only to be firmly rejected by Xiao Lin. “As an artist, and someone about to go on camera, you must keep your body in check.”

Lin Yu: ???

So that fancy Western dinner last night was his final meal before he could no longer act on his own whims?

He finished everything in one breath. While Xiao Lin was not looking, he even tried to sneak another bun. She slapped his hand away, her face stern. “Do not think I cannot see you just because I’m talking to someone else. My eyes are on you all the time.”

“If you don’t want to listen to me about keeping your shape and image, fine. Then terminate the contract.”

Lin Yu: ...

Was there any need to go this far? It was just a bun. If he did not eat it, so be it. Hmph.

He put the bun down and got into the car, but his stomach was still growling. If he had known that having a manager nearby would so severely restrict his freedom to eat and drink, he would have secretly bought breakfast on the road during his cardio run this morning.

Su Xiaolin looked at him speechlessly. “Do not try anything funny. Every week I check your weight record on the scale. If you go beyond the allowed range, you’re done for.”

Seeing through his thoughts and his embarrassment, Su Xiaolin softened her tone. “Why are the artists on camera all so perfect? Is it not because they keep moving and keep their mouths shut? There are plenty of good-looking artists everywhere, but you do not want your future ruined over appearance, do you?”

It was true enough. The camera was a magnifying glass. Someone who did not look fat in daily life would appear a full size larger under its scrutiny. This was especially true for female artists, who were all so thin they looked almost skin and bones.

Tastes of the age were increasingly leaning toward thinness as beauty, and the standard was equally fair to men and women. Lin Yu’s muscles did not really count as fat, but no one knew whether they would look flawed on camera.

After a moment of silence, Lin Yu said, “If it really comes to it, I can always take the rugged-man route...”

Su Xiaolin sized him up and curled her lip. “What, are you an athlete?”

“Or a bodybuilding champion? Why not just terminate the contract and sign with the national team?”

Lin Yu was frightened. The penalty for breaking the contract now would not be payable even if he lived three lifetimes without eating or drinking. He quickly changed the subject. “Sister Xiao Lin! Where did you learn all that sharp-tongued wit? This humble one is thoroughly impressed!”

Seeing him clasp his fists in mock instruction, Su Xiaolin could not help laughing. Then, spotting the production team’s driver getting into the car, she quickly resumed her usual expressionless face.

In this circle, whether artist or manager, one had to mind one’s image. Managers and artists complemented each other; if an artist had any negative news, the manager could help resolve it, but if the manager did poorly, the artist’s future would be affected.

“Ladies and gentlemen, shall we set off?” the driver asked with a squinting smile. A tall, burly northern man, he spoke with courtesy and restraint. Since he was drawing this salary, he naturally had to perform with the professionalism expected of a service worker.

When they arrived at the filming site, Lin Yu slipped quietly into a corner while Su Xiaolin was coordinating his scenes for the day with the directors. He pulled a meat bun from his pocket and bit into it at once.

Hungry. He was truly starving. The breakfast Su Xiaolin had prepared earlier had been too little even to get stuck between his teeth, and there was still filming ahead. As for body management... the calories from one meat bun, given that they were filming a period drama in this heat, would probably be burned off completely just from the sweat alone.

“Tasty, is it? Smells good, does it?”

“Yes, yes, it’s delicious—so delicious I’m seeing stars!”

Only then did Lin Yu realize belatedly what was happening. He looked up and found Su Xiaolin smiling at him, though the killing intent in her eyes could not be hidden.

Her hand shot out and snatched the half-eaten meat bun from his grasp. With hardly any hesitation, she tossed it into the nearby trash can, clapped her hands clean, and grabbed Lin Yu by the collar to haul him upright. No matter how pitifully he pleaded or how painfully he put on a look of surrender, she showed him not the slightest mercy. Taking out her phone, she dialed Ji Ya’s number.

“Looks like only contacting the boss can put a stop to you.”

Seeing he could not escape, Lin Yu simply gave up altogether. “I don’t believe the boss is awake this early. Aren’t you afraid that if you wake her, the one who gets scolded later will be you?”