Being a gigolo was too much for him, so he had to become a music superstar.

Then he can pay back the money he owes Su Nianwei with interest, and settle the score completely.

Let's give it a shot.

Lin Buyi gritted his teeth and pressed the dial button.

The phone was answered after only two rings.

"What? You miss me already?" Su Nianwei's languid voice came from the other end of the phone.

Lin Buyi took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm: "Senior, I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Oh?" Su Nianwei's tone changed, becoming slightly playful. "That's interesting. Besides money, you actually have other things you want from me?"

"I want to participate in the Future Star competition," Lin Buyi said directly. "I know the registration deadline has passed, and I also know that your family has shares in Tianhai Entertainment. I want a spot in the competition."

Su Nianwei did not speak immediately.

Lin Buyi could hear the sound of her fingers lightly tapping on the table through the phone.

Da, da, da.

Each blow struck a nerve with Lin Buyi.

"A future star?" Su Nianwei finally spoke, her voice filled with obvious curiosity. "You want to be a star?"

"I want to make money." Lin Buyi didn't hide his true purpose. "The champion gets five million. With that money, I can pay back everything I owe you."

"Pay it back?" Su Nianwei chuckled. "Lin Buyi, aren't you being too naive? Do you think money can pay back what you owe me?"

Lin Buyi frowned: "Everyone gets what they need, that's what we agreed on back then."

"Yes, it was a promise." Su Nianwei said slowly and deliberately, "So why should I help you? What benefit would I get from letting you participate in the show? I paid to keep you by my side, not so you could sing for other people."

Lin Buyi clenched his fist: "I can agree to your other conditions."

"Other conditions?" Su Nianwei repeated these words, her smile widening.

Lin Buyi felt a bad premonition.

"It's hard to explain over the phone," Su Nianwei said. "Come back now and talk to me in person."

"I'm in the hospital right now..." Lin Buyi instinctively wanted to refuse.

"Then come straight back after you leave the hospital." Su Nianwei interrupted him. "Remember, I'm only giving you half an hour. If I don't see you after half an hour, this is off the table."

After saying that, she hung up the phone immediately.

Hearing the busy tone from his phone, Lin Buyi cursed under his breath.

It takes half an hour to get back to the villa from the hospital; even taking a taxi might not be enough time.

He glanced at the roasted chestnuts in his hand.

The chestnuts are still warm.

He turned around and strode into the inpatient department, taking the elevator to the seventh floor.

Pushing open the ward door, I saw Lin Qingxue leaning against the headboard reading a book.

"Brother, you bought it!" Lin Qingxue smiled happily when she saw Lin Buyi.

"Mmm, eat it while it's hot." Lin Buyi placed the chestnuts on the bedside table, patted her head, and said, "Something urgent came up at my company, and my supervisor wants me to go back right away. I have to go now."

Lin Qingxue nodded understandingly: "Work is important, brother, you should go quickly, be careful on the road."

"Okay, you get some rest. Call me if you need anything."

Lin Buyi didn't dare linger and turned to leave the ward.

He jogged out of the hospital and hailed a taxi on the roadside.

"Driver, please go to the Yujingwan Villa District in the western suburbs. Please hurry, I'm in a rush."

The taxi stopped outside the gate of the Yujingwan villa area.

Security here is extremely strict; no outside vehicles are allowed to enter.

Lin Buyi paid the fare and strode towards the gate. The security guard recognized him and knew he was working for the eldest daughter of the Su family, so he let him through immediately.

He jogged along, keeping to the half-hour mark, and pushed open the door to Su Nianwei's villa.

The living room was quiet.

Su Nianwei had changed into a set of silk loungewear; the wine-red fabric clung to her body, outlining her extremely alluring curves. She was leaning back on a large leather sofa, holding a glass of red wine, swirling it gently in her hand.

Hearing the door open, she turned around and looked at Lin Buyi, who was panting heavily.

"Pretty punctual." She took a sip of red wine, put down her glass, and pointed to the sofa opposite her. "Sit."

Lin Buyi walked over and sat down on the sofa. He tried to calm his breathing and looked directly into Su Nianwei's eyes.

"Speak, what are your conditions?" Lin Buyi didn't want to waste time and cut straight to the point.

Su Nianwei ignored his impatience. She changed her position, crossing her legs, and looked Lin Buyi up and down.

That look in his eyes was clearly that of someone looking at their prey.

"Before we discuss terms, there's something I'm curious about," Su Nianwei said slowly. "You can sing? I've never heard of that before."

"Whether I can sing or not has nothing to do with this," Lin Buyi replied curtly. "You just need to tell me whether you're willing to give me this spot."

"Of course it's related," Su Nianwei laughed. "Although Tianhai Entertainment has shares in our family, I don't want to put a useless person in there. It would be embarrassing for me. If you're eliminated in the first round, wouldn't all my efforts have been wasted?"

"I won't be eliminated," Lin Buyi said bluntly. "I can win the championship."

Su Nianwei raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat surprised by his confidence.

In her memory, Lin Buyi had always been a taciturn person with a strong sense of self-respect and a strong desire to save face; he would never say such boastful things.

"You've got quite the nerve." Su Nianwei stood up and slowly walked up to Lin Buyi.

She looked down at him, a faint scent of perfume mixed with the aroma of red wine wafting towards him.

"Alright, since you're so confident, I'll give you the chance."

Lin Buyi was secretly delighted, but before he could celebrate too soon, Su Nianwei changed the subject.

"I can give you the spot, but you have to promise me three things."

Lin Buyi looked at her warily: "Which three items?"

Su Nianwei held up one finger: "First, you still have to stay here during the competition and you must come back on time every night."

Lin Buyi frowned.

Living here? How can he concentrate on preparing for the competition? Talent shows usually involve closed training. This woman's request clearly shows she doesn't want to let him go.

"Talent shows all involve closed training sessions—"

"I don't care," Su Nianwei interrupted him. "These are my conditions. You either stay here, or you don't go."

Lin Buyi took a deep breath and endured it.

"Secondly," Su Nianwei held up a second finger, "You can't tell anyone that I helped you with the competition. To the outside world, you're just an ordinary amateur contestant who registered and passed on your own. It has nothing to do with me."

This was exactly what Lin Buyi wanted. He didn't want others to know about his relationship with Su Nianwei. If word got out that a kept man was participating in a talent show, he wouldn't even need to compete; he'd be socially dead.