The quiet hum of the private jet's engine was a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Lu Cheng's mind. His fingers drummed absentmindedly against the leather armrest, his sharp eyes staring out into the endless blue sky. He hated these trips, necessary as they were. They always pulled him away from what truly mattered at Spring Entertainment.
His phone buzzed on the table, and his gaze flickered to the notification. It was from his assistant, Zhang Wei. Ivy had completed her interview. Lu Cheng clenched his jaw. That damn twin of his, Lu Tian, must have had a field day impersonating him again. He hadn't expected to be delayed, and his brother had filled in, laughing at the idea of fooling Ivy, who had no idea the wrong Lu had conducted the interview.
But there was no room for error. Everything had to be perfect, and yet, this distraction gnawed at him. Ivy wasn't like the others. Her file intrigued him, her determination and independence standing out from the usual applicants.
He could trust Lu Feng to act the part, but how far had he taken the joke? His brother's dangerously playful attitude was notorious, often pushing limits for his own amusement.
As the jet began its descent, Lu Cheng shifted in his seat, his mind traveling back to the rumors that circulated the company. The mask. Always the mask.
They said he wore it to hide an unsightly scar. Some whispered it was because of a disfigurement from an accident in his youth, others claimed it was out of vanity, to protect his flawless skin from the public eye. None of them knew the truth. It wasn't vanity, nor disfigurement, it was control.
The mask was his shield. In a world where everyone craved his attention, his power, his wealth, the mask gave him anonymity, the ability to move undetected, unseen. It was his way of maintaining distance. Distance from those who sought to manipulate or exploit him. Distance from the world that always seemed to close in on him.
And then there was the real reason, a secret he hadn't shared with anyone, not even his twin. He ran a hand over his jaw, feeling the smooth skin beneath the mask. There was no scar, no flaw. But there was a darkness, a memory he couldn't shake.
The jet touched down, and Lu Cheng adjusted his tie, his reflection catching briefly in the mirror. Handsome, yes, but his features were hard, almost calculating. His brother had always joked about how their looks could kill, Lu Tian, dangerously handsome, with a wicked charm, while Lu Cheng was more the silent predator, his beauty cold, almost intimidating.
He took a deep breath and stood, the cabin crew already preparing for his exit. The mask felt heavier today, like a reminder of the burden he carried. As he stepped off the jet and into the waiting car, his phone buzzed again.
Another message from Zhang Wei.
"Miss Xu Xiao has left the building. She seemed… impressed."
Lu Cheng smirked beneath the mask. Impressed was good. But he couldn't afford any more surprises. Not with someone like Ivy. She would soon know the real Lu Cheng, and that was something no one could prepare for.
As the car sped through the streets, his mind wandered back to the building, to Ivy, and to what would come next. He wouldn't let his twin play his games for long. Soon enough, he would face her himself. Mask or no mask, Ivy would come to see the man behind the reputation, and when that time came, she'd have no idea what she was truly up against.