Chapter 1407: He Felt Fear Too
Xia Yingluo did not understand as well.
She went to see Wei Lingnan at the underground base. He was wearing a white shirt and serving her some tea. The tea contained energy that she was urgently in need of, but she did not touch it. She simply looked into Wei Lingnan’s eyes. “What exactly do you want?”
Wei Lingnan sounded calm. “Don’t underestimate Jiang Yu. This bit of negative news might bring a minor celebrity down for good, but it’s not so serious for a Movie King who’s been in the entertainment circle for so many years. I just…”
“Just what?”
“I just don’t wish to see him next to you.” He did not wish to see any other man get close to her, or share her dream and glory.
Xia Yingluo was furious. “So you acted on an innocent person?”
“He’s not innocent,” Wei Lingnan said. “Ah Luo, he wants you, and that’s all the reason I need to do something to him. You should feel lucky that this is Earth. If we were on Skatana, he’d have died in my hands long ago.”
Xia Yingluo knew very well that he was speaking the truth.
The battle for a mate on the Skatana Planet was one of blood and death. Meanwhile, humans on Earth were way more mild and passive.
Wei Lingnan looked at her. “Ah Luo, you’ve been on Earth for too long, that’s why you’re becoming soft-hearted. Just like humans.”
Xia Yingluo shook her head. “I am human. Wei Lingnan, I bleed the blood of a human. If you think they are different from you and are subject to your wishes because you’re more powerful, then I’m sorry, we’re on different sides.”
Her gaze was cold and her tone serious. She kept her eyes fixed on him, showing her firmness.
Wei Lingnan was slightly stunned. “Then what is the Skatana Planet to you, Ah Luo?”
“As a traitor, you have no right to ask me this.” Xia Yingluo sneered.
Wei Lingnan inched the cup of lukewarm tea towards her. “I may be a traitor to the Skatana species, but I’m not a traitor to you. Ah Luo, drink this energy tea. I’ll protect you.”
She looked down at the cup and found the words to decline him, but they weren’t uttered.
If she did not have his help, she couldn’t guarantee to keep the World Tree well and alive.
She held the tea in her hands but did not drink it immediately. Instead, she asked Wei Lingnan, “You’ve already said this bit of negative news wouldn’t have that huge an impact on Jiang Yu. You don’t wish to see him get close to me? I don’t get you.”
Wei Lingnan looked at the cup she was holding. “If I tell you, will you drink it?”
“Yes.”
“Well…” He looked at her peacefully, as if they weren’t discussing anything of importance. “This negative news wouldn’t bring Jiang Yu down once and for all, but it’d take him a fair amount of time to settle it. If I remember correctly, ‘Star Wars Era 2’ is about to start filming soon. With his current reputation, he won’t be able to play the male lead. I want that role.”
This was his motive.
Xia Yingluo looked at him in shock. “You?”
“I’ve watched ‘Star Wars Era’. Ah Luo, you used some of the actual happenings on Skatana and in the universe as a reference. Although you integrated it well and it wasn’t obvious, I could tell.” Wei Lingnan went on, “You’ve encountered and gone through such experiences personally. As such, besides the popularity of usual celebrities, you’ve got the extra element of gaining a sense of admiration and respect from your fans, and this can be converted into energy for yourself. The closer this movie and its characters are to the actual history of the universe, the greater the energy conversion. In this case, if I come in as the male lead, my understanding of the role and of you would be of great help.”
When he was done speaking, he looked cautiously at Xia Yingluo, awaiting her response.
Xia Yingluo scoffed softly. “Seems like you have it all planned out.”
Wei Lingnan said, “It’s for your good, Ah Luo.”
“Isn’t it even better for you.” She exposed him mercilessly. “Wei Lingnan, I know you’ve been finding opportunities to get close to me, but so what if you manage to? There’s no turning back to a broken relationship, and I stand by this belief now and always.”
“Since you’re so confident about it, then why won’t you let me be the male lead?”
She kept quiet and glared angrily at this man who’d offered a concrete rebuttal.
Wei Lingnan smiled. “Since we can’t possibly be together anymore, then there’s no harm using me for your own good, isn’t it? I’m so popular now, and I’m able to bring this movie to its peak. With my understanding of this plot… it’s a good bargain, so why not?”
Xia Yingluo turned away in silence.
“Ah Luo,” Wei Lingnan gently said, “as long as you agree to this, I’m willing to help Jiang Yu settle all his problems. I can even take him to greater heights.”
She wavered. It was good enough that he didn’t make things difficult for Jiang Yu, let alone help him out. At this point, she figured that if Jiang Yu was the male lead for the second movie, Wei Lingnan would not stop harassing him in the future. If she loved Jiang Yu, she could face all his troubles with him. But she didn’t love him. She couldn’t allow herself to become an obstacle in his career.
“Alright, I agree to your request.” She finally concurred. “But you must promise me one thing—you’re not to do anything to the people around me.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Wei Lingnan smiled. “The tea is getting cold, drink it up.”
Xia Yingluo downed the cup of tea and placed the cup on the table. “You’ve got what you want, are you happy now? Don’t forget your promise, and… before we start filming for the movie, I don’t wish to see you.”
He watched as she left without turning back even once.
The smile on his face disappeared and was replaced by unconcealable loneliness.
He sat in the garden, from the afternoon till sunset, and from sunset till the night. He looked up at the stars in the night sky as the breeze brushed past him.
“Mister.” An old and haggard voice was heard.
He knew it was Old Zhou from the laboratory without having to turn back. That man had been with him all his life and was one of the very few people in the base who knew his true identity. “Tell me, do you think she’ll ever forgive me?” he said softly, his eyes still on the stars.
Old Zhou replied courteously, “Your determination is truly moving. You’ve come so far, you’ll definitely gain her understanding and forgiveness eventually.”
“That’s right, I’ve come so far…” he said with a sigh. In fact, each time he faced her, he’d tell himself that he needed to find a way for her to forgive and accept him. But each time they interacted, he couldn’t help but think, what was he to do if she never forgave him?
He was a smart creature, one with blood and flesh; he felt fear too.