Pre-job Training

Gu Yan felt like his CPU had completely fried.

He moved stiffly, step by step, like a malfunctioning robot, to the sofa. Jiang Lin very naturally reached out, pulled him into his arms, and made him sit on his lap.

This position was intimate and dangerous. Gu Yan could feel Jiang Lin's warm body heat through the thin fabric, and the air around him was filled with that pleasant woody scent.

Normally, Gu Yan would have blushed and started daydreaming. But now, he just wanted to die on the spot.

"Um... Jiang Lin," Gu Yan tried to break free from his embrace, but failed. He had to give up resistance and spoke nervously, "You... what do you mean by what you just said?"

"Exactly what I said." Jiang Lin held him comfortably, even starting to play with the drawstring on his hoodie. "Aren't you using me as his substitute? I think this role is quite challenging, so I've decided to take it."

Gu Yan: "..."

Challenging? What the hell kind of challenging role is this?!

"No, no, I don't think it's a good idea!" Gu Yan shook his head frantically. "This role doesn't suit you! Your temperament is too... too CEO-like; you can't play that gentle and refined white moonlight!"

"If I can't play it, I can learn." Jiang Lin's tone was as casual as discussing what to have for dinner. "Just in time, you, as the 'director,' should know the 'original' very well, right?"

He paused, lifted Gu Yan's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes, a glint of amusement in his gaze. "Come on, give your 'professional substitute' a pre-job training lesson."

"Tell me his story, so I can imitate him better."

Gu Yan looked at Jiang Lin's handsome face so close, full of mischief, and closed his eyes in despair.

A demon! This was absolutely a demon!

Not only was he not angry or pursuing the matter, but he was actually going to drag him into playing 'role play'?

What kind of new, outrageous public execution was this?!

"What? Not willing?" Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow. "Or do you actually... not want me to imitate him?"

This sentence, like a precise key, hit the deepest corner of Gu Yan's heart that he himself dared not admit.

Yes, did he really want Jiang Lin to become like Shen Yu?

That gentle, distant Shen Yu, like the moon hanging in the sky, only to be looked at, never touched?

Gu Yan's mind flashed images of Jiang Lin bringing him hot meals when he worked overtime, clumsy care when he was sick, and unwavering protection when he was bullied... These scenes had nothing to do with 'gentleness,' but they were so real that they made his heart burn.

He realized that he seemed to have... gotten used to the 'Jiang Lin' version.

Seeing Gu Yan's silence, Jiang Lin's smile deepened. He knew he had won another round.

"It seems our 'Director Gu' isn't so deeply in love with the 'original' after all," he taunted softly.

Gu Yan's face turned bright red instantly, and he retorted in embarrassment, "Who said that! I just... I just think it's unfair to you!"

"Oh?" Jiang Lin made an attentive expression. "How is it unfair?"

"You... you're so outstanding, why should you be a substitute for someone else?" Gu Yan blurted out. "It's a sheer waste!"

Jiang Lin was stunned for a moment, then burst into a low laugh. He laughed so hard that his chest shook, and Gu Yan, sitting on his lap, trembled along.

"Gu Yan, Gu Yan," he finally stopped after laughing for a while, pinched Gu Yan's cheek, and said with a tone full of helplessness and affection, "What exactly is going on in that little head of yours?"

"Nothing!" Gu Yan insisted stubbornly.

"Alright, nothing." Jiang Lin didn't expose him, just followed his words. "Since you think I'm so outstanding, to live up to your 'appreciation,' I should play this 'substitute' role well and strive for an early 'promotion,' right?"

Gu Yan: "...That logic doesn't work!"

"Logic doesn't matter." Jiang Lin stood up, lifted Gu Yan off his lap, then picked up a photo of Shen Yu from the floor, handed it to him, and said seriously, "Pre-job training starts now."

"First lesson: Character biography."

"Name, age, personality, hobbies, and..." he paused, his gaze turning dangerous, "the part of him that fascinates you the most? Tell me, I'll focus on learning that."

Gu Yan held the photo, feeling like it was a hot potato.

He looked at Jiang Lin's innocent expression of 'I'm a diligent actor' and felt like crying but had no tears.

He felt that from today on, his life was about to enter a new, bizarre, and absurdly comedic chapter.