ADTCP Ch32

NOTE: I’ll be changing Gen Z to Z Era company it sounds better.

After all, a physique like Zhu Wensheng’s wasn’t something just anyone could have. At Light Club, all the other fighters felt inferior in comparison.

Standing close to 1.9 meters, he was like a crane among chickens.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, a perfect inverted triangle. Muscles solid, lines smooth, his chest stretching the suit just enough to fit snugly.

The way he moved was like something straight out of The Matrix, or like one of those gang bosses from Western gangster films, calm and in command.

Surrounded by executives, he walked forward, drawing closer and closer to Tao Zhen.

Tao Zhen’s breath hitched slightly. Just as he was about to clearly see the Crown Prince’s face, Qi Qi beside him suddenly exclaimed, then darted forward, snatching the suit jacket draped over Tao Zhen’s arm as if it were burning hot.

“Tao Zhen! Damn, what’s with this drink? It’s soaked through… Sihan, do you have tissues? Lend me a couple so he can wipe it off- ”

With a “thump,” it was like the heart caught in Tao Zhen’s throat finally dropped back into place. He quickly pulled back his gaze, lowered his head, and saw that at some point, a glass of champagne had been spilled all over his suit jacket, water droplets still dripping down.

Qi Qi borrowed tissues from Sihan and tried wiping for a while, but it was useless. The once-smooth fabric was covered in wine stains and wrinkled.

“My god, how did this even happen?”

At that moment, Li Jie, who was nearby, looked over in surprise. He set his empty wine glass on a side table and said, “Just now someone came in at the entrance, I was looking that way, and it seems someone bumped into me…”

“What now? The ball’s about to start. With your clothes like this, how can you wear them?”

At those words, Tao Zhen’s movements stilled. He thanked Qi Qi for helping wipe his clothes, then straightened up and looked at Li Jie.

Li Jie’s brows furrowed slightly, as though he wore genuine concern. But unlike Qi Qi, who was truly anxious, his “worry” carried a faint trace of schadenfreude.

Having gone through Wu Bin and the others’ betrayal, Tao Zhen no longer failed to sense malice like when he’d first entered school. He could clearly feel that this head of the university arts troupe didn’t much like him. Maybe even this champagne “accident” wasn’t all that unintentional.

“Forget it. It wasn’t that expensive anyway. I just won’t wear it again.”

Tao Zhen gave Li Jie a steady look, tucked his phone back away, and smiled at Qi Qi: “Qi Qi-Ge, I’ll go tidy up first. This works out fine, I don’t have a dance partner anyway, so I won’t join the ball.”

Qi Qi paused, sharply sensing something. He instinctively glanced at Li Jie, then only raised his brows and smiled: “Alright, go on.”

Tao Zhen gave a soft “mm,” not even lifting his head again to look at the Crown Prince who had caught his attention, before heading off toward the restroom.

On the other side, Zhu Wensheng was frozen in place.

He stood as though under a spell, rooted to the spot, unable to take another step.

The executives around him looked back in surprise, but he didn’t react, until he saw that golden-haired boy clutching his jacket as he hurried away from the hall. Only then did the ice thaw from his body, the suffocating tension gradually easing, the buzzing in his ears replaced again by the sound of the executives talking.

“Young Master Zhu? Young Master Zhu? What are you looking at? That over there is our music channel section, we’re considering signing some new bloggers…”

Zhu Wensheng forced his wildly beating heart down. He couldn’t help but glance again at the spot where the golden-haired boy had vanished around the corner, then said quietly, “Mm, I know.”

He should have guessed earlier. Tao Zhen had clearly mentioned his concern over teamwork problems. On Wednesday night, when he received the invitation, he had called him so many times. And just a short while ago, he’d said he was “attending an event.”

It was only that Zhu Wensheng had been blinded for a moment. He never thought the event Tao Zhen mentioned would be the Z Era exhibition. And he definitely never thought that he had almost, just almost, met Tao Zhen here tonight as the Crown Prince.

He didn’t dare imagine what kind of consequences that would bring.
Absolutely, he must not let Tao Zhen find out.

“The music channel’s traffic is good.” Zhu Wensheng retracted his gaze, his voice calm and cold again. “I’ll review the other channels later. For now, I need to step into the side hall for a bit.”

“And also, make sure they don’t take photos of me. Don’t let anything be uploaded online.”

The executives were stunned. They didn’t know why Zhu Wensheng wanted to leave so soon after just arriving, but all of them were skilled flatterers. Once they heard the order, they immediately said there was no problem and began arranging for everything to be handled as instructed.

After Zhu Wensheng strode swiftly out of the exhibition hall, a few balding executives rubbed their shiny heads, pausing to think for a moment. One veteran who had worked for the Si family for many years, and only after much effort had climbed to his current high position, was the first to react. His eyes lit up, and he immediately turned to follow.

His friend grabbed him and asked in a low voice, “Where are you going?”

The old executive said nothing, dragging his friend along toward the restroom, a mysterious smile tugging at his lips: “Didn’t you notice?”

“Notice what?”

“From the moment we entered the hall, our little Young Master Zhu’s eyes were locked on the music channel area. He never once looked away. At first, I thought he was staring at that female influencer, but it wasn’t her. He was watching that golden-haired boy.”

That beautiful, doll-like golden-haired youth…

The friend froze, recalling Zhu Wensheng’s actions just now, and suddenly slapped his thigh in realization: “You’re right!”

“So,” the old executive stopped at the restroom door and patted his perceptive friend, “you know what to say later, right?”

***
Inside the restroom, Tao Zhen had fussed for a while, but no matter what, he couldn’t clean the champagne stains from his jacket. Eventually, he gave up and sent Zhu Wensheng a message: “I just saw someone who looked like you.”

He went to the sink to wash his hands. When he lifted his head, he caught sight, reflected in the mirror, of two middle-aged men standing behind him. Both were dressed in formal suits, radiating the aura of company executives.

Tao Zhen froze and instinctively turned, meeting their eyes. The two men walked toward him with kindly smiles.

“You’re… ‘ZhenZhibang,’ aren’t you?” one of them said warmly. “Nice to meet you. I’ve seen a few of your popular videos recently.”

No matter how many times it happened, Tao Zhen still wasn’t used to people calling him by his online name directly. Embarrassed, he scratched his cheek and greeted the two executives in turn.

If it were just small talk, that should have been the end of it. But these two were clearly enthusiastic. Not only did they hand him business cards, they even asked his thoughts on contracts and requirements.

Tao Zhen grew serious and discussed with them briefly. Then, the one who had first spoken to him glanced at his watch, looking slightly troubled: “Ah, the ball is about to begin, and we still need to use the restroom… There isn’t enough time to go into detail now.”

“How about this, go to the side hall. Our Young Master Zhu is there right now. You can talk to him directly.”

Young Master Zhu? Isn’t that the Crown Prince?

Thinking of Wu Bin’s downfall, Tao Zhen hesitated. But the two executives gave him no time to refuse. They quickly pointed out the direction of the side hall, then rushed into the restroom themselves.

A little uncertain, Tao Zhen scratched his cheek, but in the end, he couldn’t resist and walked toward the side hall.

***

By this time, the ball inside was about to start.

Blinding spotlights dimmed, the hall gradually darkened, as if moonlight poured like silk across the floor.

A band holding violins, cellos, and other instruments was already seated, tuning finished, and began to play softly before the velvet curtain.

Unaware, Tao Zhen reached the side hall door.

It was half-open, crystal chandeliers casting fractured light across the floor.

A tall figure stood not far away, quietly.

Something about it felt familiar. Tao Zhen’s heart quickened. He took a deep breath before cautiously saying, “Excuse me, may I come in?”

The figure suddenly stiffened. At the same moment, the music outside surged loudly, and the lights went out one by one with sharp “pah, pah, pah” sounds.

Darkness engulfed everything. Tao Zhen flinched, shut his eyes, and reflexively spilled the lines he had prepared like beans scattering:

“Manager Liu asked me to discuss the new contract model with you. I’m from the music channel. My online name is ‘ZhenZhibang,’ my real name is Tao Zhen, ”

Bang!

It was like a giant stone crashing into a snowy ravine, echoing downwards until it struck the ground with a deafening crash, triggering avalanches on both sides.

Zhu Wensheng’s heart went wild. He turned in disbelief, the golden sheen of Tao Zhen’s hair reflected in his dark eyes.

Tao Zhen? Why is he here?

They actually took it upon themselves to bring him to me?!

Urgency and suffocating anger collided violently inside him, nearly choking his throat.

What if someone here wasn’t trustworthy?

What if someone tried to use threats or coercion against Tao Zhen?

His gaze fixed on Tao Zhen’s slight frame in just a shirt and vest. After a few seconds, he suddenly strode forward.

Tao Zhen waited after finishing, but when no response came from the so-called Young Master Zhu, he cracked his eyes open a little.

The music swelled around him, moonlight faintly outlining the tall man’s silhouette.

The suited man looked like some gangster boss, head lowered, silent, striding toward him.

In an instant, Tao Zhen’s instincts flared like a small animal sensing danger, hairs standing on end. He stepped back quickly:
“Young Master Zhu, if this is inconvenient, I’ll leave first, ”

“Tao Zhen.”

In the dim light, the man’s face was blurred, his voice distorted through the muffled music, pitched oddly low.

He pulled off his black jacket with one hand. His white shirt beneath strained across his chest, buttons pulling to reveal a tantalizing line, perfectly outlining the curve of his pectoral muscles.

“Don’t.”

Tao Zhen’s breath caught, like a kitten grabbed by the scruff.

The Crown Prince… is undressing?

What was he trying to do?

His heart raced faster, blood boiling. When the “Crown Prince” bent toward him, both hands reaching out, Tao Zhen’s fear and panic surged uncontrollably. Unable to endure, he flung his hand out wildly,

Slap!

The crisp sound rang out.

The “Crown Prince” turned his head aside.

At the same time, Tao Zhen felt warmth on his shoulders, an elegant, expensive suit jacket had been draped over him.