From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL)-Chapter 20: Song Zijian’s True Face

The scene was... incredibly intimate. A beauty sat astride a handsome man, his milk-white legs straddling either side. His long black hair, as dark as the night sky, cascaded over his shoulders, falling forward due to his leaning posture. But this romantic image quickly shattered if one focused on the beauty’s hands—hands gripping the neck of the man beneath him with such force that blue veins stretched visibly from his hands to his forearms.

Sian was exhausted, trapped between the haze of sleep and wakefulness. For a fleeting moment, he thought he had returned to his original world—a world of ruin, chaos, and death lurking in every corner. In that world, Sian never dared to sleep deeply; it was a luxury that could easily cost him his life. Many had tried to kill him in his sleep, so waking up to an attack had become second nature to him. When he felt hands on him, his instincts immediately took over, identifying it as a threat.

"Sian," Lan Qisheng rasped, his voice hoarse as he reached out a trembling hand to touch Sian’s cold cheek. "It’s alright. No one will hurt you. Don’t be afraid."

Lan Qisheng’s heart ached for Sian. What kind of life had this boy led that he couldn’t even sleep peacefully? That he attacked anyone who came near him while he slept? The thought pained him deeply. More than just pity, it was a raw, overwhelming anguish. He wished he had known Sian earlier—so he could have protected him, shielded him from every hurt. If only he had, perhaps Sian wouldn’t be haunted by nightmares, wouldn’t flinch at every sound, and wouldn’t have wrapped himself in thorns to keep the world at bay.

While Lan Qisheng’s eyes brimmed with unspoken emotions, Sian slowly regained his senses. He remembered—this wasn’t his old world anymore. He wasn’t in a place where he had to fight to survive, even in his sleep. He was somewhere else, somewhere he could afford to lower his guard. Everything would be fine now.

Suppressing the fear, memories, and emotions from his past, Sian closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again. The panic, confusion, and unease were gone, as though they had never existed. Rising off, Lan Qisheng spoke calmly, "I’m sorry. As I’ve said before, I don’t like anyone approaching me unnoticed. I react instinctively. I apologize for hurting you. Next time, call my name before you come near."

Lan Qisheng got up from the floor, his gaze was soft and indulgent as he looked at Sian. "It’s fine. It was my fault. I just wanted to carry you to the bedroom so you could sleep comfortably. You can sleep with me and the others in one room. Let’s go."

After that, Sian and Lan Qisheng behaved as if nothing had happened, heading upstairs together to sleep.

Tong Xiao and the others, still in the living room, were left speechless: "..."

Had they just witnessed something... so provocative? They had been prepared to step in, ready to rescue Lan Qisheng from being strangled to death by Sian. But instead, it had ended just like that. In a flash. Wow.

Meanwhile, on the livestream, the audience was treated to Sian’s dramatic entrance, half-naked, as Zhao Ling had aptly described. Initially, they were stunned. Of course, with such beauty, who wouldn’t be? But soon, the insults began to pour in, relentless and scathing.

"Is that Sian? He looks like a slut."

"How can a guy like him even call himself an idol?"

"Look at his clothes! Is he seriously walking around in a bathrobe, shamelessly flaunting himself?"

"He says he doesn’t care, but we do! My eyes are bleeding, you trashy degenerate!"

"Has he really left the entertainment industry, though?"

"Haven’t you seen the official statement from Hangyu Entertainment? They confirmed it—his contract’s been terminated. I doubt any company would be stupid enough to take him in."

"Right! And did you hear the rumors? Apparently, Sian was always trying to seduce the company’s CEO, but the CEO only had eyes for Jiang Hangyu. After being rejected multiple times, Sian even attacked Song Zijian, his childhood friend."

"Throwing away years of friendship over a man... What a scumbag."

"But, honestly, that scene with Sian on top of the soldier... It was hotter than anything with Tong Xiao. I... I might have been hard."

"You pervert! Are you seriously getting turned on by someone like him? Disgusting!"

"Yeah, get lost! I bet the upstairs hasn’t had any sex life for a long time, and that’s why he was affected by Sian’s scandalous scene."

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In an opulent apartment in the wealthiest part of City B, a pale-skinned teenager with delicate features sat in a spacious, luxurious living room. Everything around him screamed money and extravagance. While his skin was soft and fair, his features weren’t remarkable—ordinary, even. Without the light makeup he wore, he might have looked downright unattractive.

This was Song Zijian, the so-called "angel" in the eyes of many. But if his fans saw him now, it was doubtful they’d continue to call him that. Empty liquor bottles littered the table before him, accompanied by a pack of cigarettes and several used butts scattered carelessly.

"That bastard, Sian. Why does he still get attention, even after his reputation is in ruins? I thought I’d finally gotten rid of him this time. Damn it."

On the TV, clips of Sian in the forest played—a fan compilation, ironically. Yes, fans.

You see, not all fans are supportive. Some hate-follow idols, tracking their every move just to tear them down. This kind of attention still generates traffic, money, and fame—even infamy has its price in the entertainment industry.

Song Zijian’s hatred burned as he watched Sian’s serene face on the screen. Since childhood, he had despised him. Sian, who everyone adored without effort, who was handed everything on a silver platter, who shone so brightly it eclipsed everyone around him. Song Zijian had mastered the art of hiding his envy, pretending to be the sweet and innocent boy everyone believed him to be. Even Sian had treated him like a little brother.

But Song Zijian had always dreamed of destroying him. Why should Sian have the better looks? The better life? He had even tricked Sian into dyeing his natural silver hair as a child, making it less striking. When Sian returned to his natural color, everyone accused him of copying Song Zijian. That had been a satisfying victory.

Still, it wasn’t enough. Song Zijian thought the survival reality show would be the final nail in Sian’s coffin, the ultimate scandal to make everyone hate and forget him. Yet, things hadn’t gone as planned.

Even with public opinion turned against him, Song Zijian couldn’t shake the feeling that Sian was slipping through his grasp. Sian, who had once seemed desperate for love and fame, now carried himself with a calm confidence. He even admitted, without hesitation, that he was no longer an idol. It didn’t make sense. Sian would never give up on his dream so easily.

"There’s something off about him. He’s different now," Song Zijian muttered, lighting another cigarette. Taking a drag, he exhaled a plume of smoke, a cruel smile curving his lips.

"No matter. I broke him once, and I can do it again. Playing with him will be fun. I can’t wait to see his reaction when he finds out about my engagement to Jiang Hangyu."

Staring at Sian’s composed face on the screen, Song Zijian scowled. "I need to get him out of this city as soon as possible. If the Qing family discovers his presence... No, that can’t happen. I’ll get rid of him before they even suspect a thing."

His gaze darkened, sharp and resolute. "Sian, for me to live a good life... you can’t be allowed to exist. Not ever."

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Erato has something to say:

So, dear readers, you must have noticed something: do you think Sian’s identity is more than an ordinary orphan? Or idol?

We will see in the next Chapters.

Thanks for the support.

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