Morning light seeped through the gap in the curtains, casting a thin stripe across the floor.
It was the pain that woke Noah.
His lower back ached as if it had been broken, and somewhere more private throbbed with a dull, indescribable soreness.
He opened his eyes and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, taking several seconds to remember where he was.
Asher's apartment.
The events of last night flooded back.
That kiss. Those cold eyes. Asher's weight pressing down on him, the tearing pain when he entered, thrust after thrust...
That had been his first time. He'd never imagined it would be a transaction rather than love. Never imagined it would be with a man.
Noah lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Did he regret it?
He asked himself.
He didn't know.
But since he'd already made his choice, regret was meaningless.
He needed resources. Needed leverage to survive in this industry. And Asher could give him that.
As for the price he could afford to pay it.
He lay there for he didn't know how long before his stomach suddenly growled.
He was starving.
Noah laughed bitterly. At least his body was honest.
He'd barely eaten lunch yesterday, and then last night...
No wonder he was this hungry.
No matter what had happened, he still needed to eat.
Noah took a deep breath and forced himself to sit up.
The movement pulled at certain parts of his body, making him wince and suck in a sharp breath.
He gripped the edge of the bed and slowly stood. His legs were weak, his gait awkward.
---
The bathroom mirror showed him what he looked like.
Pale face. Faint shadows under his eyes. Several light red marks on his neck.
Noah stared at his reflection for a few seconds, then looked away.
He took off the robe and turned on the shower.
Warm water cascaded over his body, washing away some of the ache and exhaustion.
Halfway through, Noah felt a strange fullness in his stomach. A vague discomfort.
He frowned but didn't think much of it. He kept washing.
When he finished, he dried off with a towel and looked around, only to realize he had no clothes.
He put on a clean robe and walked to the door, cautiously poking his head out and glancing both ways.
The hallway was quiet. No sounds from the living room either.
Asher must not be here.
Noah relaxed slightly and hurried down the corridor toward the bathroom where he'd showered last night. He remembered leaving his clothes there.
He stepped inside and looked for them, but they were gone. He'd definitely left them right here.
Noah stood still, silent for a few seconds.
Someone had taken them?
Great. Now all he had was this robe.
He had no choice but to walk to the open kitchen in his robe and open the refrigerator.
Then he froze.
The refrigerator was nearly empty just a few bottles of mineral water and some cans of beer. No food.
Noah stared at the barren interior.
Did this man not eat? Did he survive on beer alone?
He closed the refrigerator and stood in the kitchen, somewhat at a loss.
He wanted to go out and buy something to eat, but he was wearing a robe. He couldn't exactly leave like this. Just as he was standing there wondering what to do...
Ding.
The elevator chimed.
Noah turned to see the doors open. A middle-aged man in a black suit stepped out, pushing a service cart.
The man saw Noah and inclined his head slightly. "Mr. Noah, good morning."
Noah blinked. "You are...?"
"I'm the household manager here. You may call me Vincent." The man's manner was respectful. "Mr. Asher instructed me to prepare your meals."
He pushed the cart to the dining table and began arranging the dishes.
Noah looked at the spread an elegant Western breakfast. Fried eggs, bacon, toast, fresh fruit, and a cup of hot coffee.
"Additionally, Mr. Asher asked me to prepare a change of clothes for you." Vincent added, hanging the garments on a rack nearby.
"...Thank you," Noah said.
Vincent nodded. "If you need anything, please press the call button on the living room wall. I'll come as quickly as I can."
With that, he pushed the empty cart into the elevator and left.
Noah walked to the table, sat down, and picked up his knife and fork. Halfway through the meal, his phone buzzed.
He picked it up and saw a message from Asher's assistant.
[Mr. Noah, good morning. After breakfast, please proceed to Onyx Entertainment to formally sign your contract. A car is waiting for you downstairs.]
Signing with Onyx Entertainment... He knew better than anyone what he'd traded for this.
Noah set down his phone and continued eating. Just then, he felt another twinge of discomfort in his stomach. Not the fullness from before this was a faint, nagging pain.
Noah frowned and pressed his hand against his lower abdomen. Probably just his stomach acting up from not eating properly these past few days.
It would pass once he finished eating. He didn't think much of it and finished his breakfast.
When he was done, his phone buzzed again.
This time it was his manager.
[The company terminated your contract.]
[What's going on?]
Noah looked at the messages, somewhat surprised.
That fast?
He hadn't even gone to the company yet, and Stellar had already let him go.
It had to be Asher.
No one else could make Stellar release him so quickly and cleanly.
Noah replied: [I'll explain everything later.]
Manager: [Okay.]
Noah put down his phone and went to the bedroom to change. The clothes were his size simple, understated, and judging by the label, expensive. He put them on and headed out.
---
Onyx Entertainment occupied the most prestigious block in the city center.
The building stood apart from the standard commercial towers none of the predictable boxy shapes. This structure had a distinctive artistic design, its form an irregular flowing curve, like a massive piece of modern sculpture. The exterior alternated between white panels and glass, refracting shifting light in the sun, appearing different colors from different angles.
Noah sat in the car, gazing at the building through the window.
This was the entertainment industry's most elite company. Nearly every artist under their banner was an A-lister. Resources were abundant, connections vast.
The car stopped at the entrance. The driver opened his door.
Noah stepped out and walked into the lobby.
The interior continued the building's artistic aesthetic curved walls, flowing lighting design. Behind the reception desk stretched a massive arc-shaped screen displaying rotating posters and clips of the company's artists and their work.
Noah had barely stepped inside when a woman in professional attire approached him.
She looked to be in her forties, wearing an ice-blue asymmetrical lapel blouse paired with high-waisted dark wide-leg trousers. Her hair was swept up in a sleek twist, her makeup refined everything about her exuding the cool elegance of old money.
Her presence was commanding. She walked with the confidence and composure of someone long accustomed to authority, her heels clicking crisply against the marble floor.
"Noah?" She stopped in front of him, her gaze appraising him from head to toe.
Noah nodded. "That's me."
Vivian studied him for a few seconds, then nodded. "Good-looking. Plenty of potential to make it big." Her tone was brisk, like she was stating an objective fact.
"I'm Vivian. People in the industry call me Viv. Starting today, I'm your manager. Follow me." She turned and walked away, her pace swift.
Noah followed, his mind rapidly processing what he knew.
Vivian.
He'd heard the name.
One of the industry's top gold-medal managers nearly every artist she'd handled had made it big. More importantly, she was currently Asher's manager.
Noah followed Vivian through the lobby and into an elevator.
Inside, she spoke.
"I've heard of you. Debuted through a talent show, solid dance background, but your company was too small and you never got proper resources." She glanced at him. "Now that you're at Onyx, resources won't be an issue. But be prepared the competition here is fiercer too."
Noah nodded. "I understand."
"One more thing." Vivian paused. "Word's already spread that Asher personally brought you into the company. A lot of people will be curious about you. A lot of people will be talking behind your back. You'll need to learn how to handle it."
Noah was silent for a moment. "I will."
The elevator stopped at the tenth floor.
Vivian led Noah into a conference room where legal department staff were already waiting.
The signing process began. Contracts, clauses, signatures, stamps. Everything proceeded smoothly.
After signing the final page, Noah officially became an artist under Onyx Entertainment.
Throughout the process, his stomach cramped several more times, each episode more noticeable than the last. The vague discomfort had become intermittent sharp stabs.
Noah gritted his teeth and endured.
After the signing, Vivian gave him a tour of the company.
Office areas, practice rooms, recording studios, conference rooms...
Onyx Entertainment's facilities were leagues beyond Stellar Entertainment. Night and day.
"Your dedicated practice room is on the fifteenth floor, B section, room three," Vivian said as they walked. "Just get your access card from reception."
Dedicated practice room?
Noah was surprised.
Practice rooms could be dedicated?
The treatment here really was exceptional.
Noah nodded without comment.
"Also, the shooting schedule for Desire Kiss is out." Vivian handed him a document. "Costume fitting and script reading start tomorrow. Times, locations, and notes are all in there. Look it over tonight."
Noah took the file. "Got it."
Vivian glanced at him. "That's all for today. Go home and rest. Tomorrow's work is important."
Noah nodded and turned to leave.
---
At the same time.
Onyx Holdings, Asher's private office.
Asher sat behind his desk, reviewing a project report.
A knock at the door.
"Come in."
His assistant entered, tablet in hand.
"Boss, Mr. Noah has completed his signing."
Asher didn't look up. "Mm."
The assistant continued, "Then, shall we proceed with clearing Mr. Noah's name? The PR department has a full plan ready. They can execute immediately."
Asher set down the document and leaned back in his chair.
"Do it. Handle everything before the official announcement for Desire Kiss."
"Understood."
The assistant nodded and left.
---
After leaving Onyx Entertainment, Noah didn't go straight back to the apartment.
He went to meet his former manager.
They'd arranged to meet at a quiet restaurant, choosing a corner table.
His manager was already there. Seeing Noah walk in, he waved him over.
Noah walked over and sat down.
A server came by and they ordered.
Once the server left, his manager leaned in and lowered his voice. "Alright, tell me. What's going on? Why did the company suddenly terminate your contract?"
Noah picked up his water glass and took a sip.
"I signed with Onyx."
His manager nearly dropped his fork. "What?!"
"Onyx Entertainment." Noah repeated. "Starting today, I'm one of their artists."
His manager's eyes went wide. It took him a while to find his voice.
"Onyx? That's a top-tier company! How did you get signed?"
"Asher recommended me."
His manager froze, his expression growing complicated.
"Asher?" He lowered his voice. "You two worked things out? Did you go apologize to him?"
"Something like that," Noah said, not elaborating.
His manager studied his face, seeming to sense something, but didn't press further.
"Well..." He sighed. "Whatever happened, getting signed to Onyx is a good thing."
He thought of something else. "Oh right, the smear campaign online that'll be taken care of too?"
"Yes," Noah said. "Onyx will handle it."
His manager nodded. "Good."
They ate and talked, catching up on past work and present changes.
His manager had always complained about Stellar not providing resources, but over the years he'd done his best to fight for opportunities for Noah. He was a good person, just limited in what he could do at a company that small.
As they talked, Noah's stomach grew more and more uncomfortable.
What had started as mild stabs had become distinct waves of pain, but he kept enduring, not letting it show.
Before they knew it, dusk had fallen. Neon lights flickered on outside the window, painting the city in brilliant color.
His manager checked the time. "It's getting late. You should head back and rest."
They stood and walked out of the restaurant.
At the entrance, his manager stopped and turned to face Noah.
"Noah, now that you're at Onyx, give it everything you've got." His tone turned serious. "It's a big platform. Lots of opportunities. You've got talent and you work hard. Don't waste it."
He clapped Noah on the shoulder. "I hope you make something great of yourself."
Noah nodded. "Thank you. These past few years... I appreciate everything you did."
His manager waved it off. "Don't get sentimental. Go on, get some rest."
Noah said goodbye and turned to leave.
He planned to take a taxi back to his own apartment.
The contract said he had to move in with Asher, but he felt too awful today. He didn't want to face that man.
But he'd barely taken a few steps when a black sedan pulled up in front of him.