Chapter 99: An Overwhelming Flood of Information

Lin Zhiwei secretly glanced at the man beside her. In truth, she knew very little about him and had deliberately avoided learning too much. Regarding him, she had always been torn between wanting to know and fearing the truth, hesitating constantly.

But now she was quite certain that the title of China’s top actor was merely a mask for Ling Ziheng. The entertainment industry was the perfect place to lie low. By openly appearing in the limelight, no matter who his enemies were, it would be difficult for anyone to make a move against him.

She also recalled Lin Qiongjiu’s warning: Ling Ziheng was no ordinary top actor or businessman—he was, in fact, very dangerous...

Ling Ziheng had long noticed the restless gaze of the little girl and smiled softly as he closed his book. “Do you have something to ask me?”

Lin Zhiwei sat up straight and, unusually serious, said, “You said we both have so many secrets—where exactly should we start being honest?”

He chuckled lightly. True to form, his little girl was sharp and perceptive; nothing could slip past her. “Ask me anything you want. Though, to be honest, there are many things even I haven’t figured out yet.”

He tilted his head back, wearing an expression of helplessness.

Lin Zhiwei shook her head. “We can explain the rest slowly later. If you tell me everything at once, it’s too much information—I might end up sleepless. Just start with this...”

Ling Ziheng’s eyes, clear as spring water, fixed on the earnest little girl, waiting for her question.

“Have you ever cooked for any other woman?” A small flame sparked in Lin Zhiwei’s eyes as she spoke seriously.

...

For once, Ling Ziheng was momentarily stunned. Could it be... this little girl was jealous?

“Only my mother,” he confessed immediately, driven by a sudden urge to clear things up.

Lin Zhiwei crossed her arms, satisfied. “That’s more like it. Okay, you pass—no problem.” She resumed flipping through her worn but treasured copy of the Divine Comedy.

“Weiwei, I have a question for you too,” Ling Ziheng said softly, running his hand through her loose hair.

“Ask away.”

“If you don’t inherit the lordship, what are your plans for the future?”

Lin Zhiwei was genuinely taken aback by the question. She hadn’t expected Ling Ziheng to ask something so profound, as if he had posed the same question when they first met.

She lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not just asking you to say something casually—I really don’t know. Maybe I could try the entertainment industry, act in films. It sounds interesting,” she said, giving Ling Ziheng a playful wink.

Though entering showbiz was challenging and she was lazy, it was also her specialty and might motivate her.

A flicker of subtle concern crossed Ling Ziheng’s eyes. News from M Country had already arrived: there were no records of Lin Zhiwei before high school—only some information from Floating World High School and university. It was plausible the lord erased her past for protection, but that explanation still felt forced.

Moreover, Lin Zhiwei’s appearance didn’t resemble her parents’. After regaining her true face, the person she resembled most was... Ling Ziheng’s mind held only one name—the lord of the Nameless Realm, Lin Qiongjiu.

Though this thought repeatedly flashed through his mind, he maintained a calm façade of ignorance. If this was a form of protection, he naturally did not want to uncover it.

“Then it’s up to my lady to earn the family’s living in the future,” he joked lightly.

“You’re retiring from acting?” Lin Zhiwei was startled.

“The entertainment industry was just a cover in earlier years. Once the timing is right, continuing won’t be convenient,” Ling Ziheng answered frankly, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes.

Lin Zhiwei immediately understood. It made sense—since their enemies were closely linked to the Nameless Realm, if war broke out, it would be unwise to expose herself to danger.

She gave a keen, knowing smile. “Makes sense. Once Ye Linyun or Chu Chuo find a breakthrough, it’s basically showing our hand. That’s good. And if I manage to win Best Actress and earn some pocket money, President Ling, you’ll just have to obediently be my headstrong husband.”

“Of course, it would be my honor at Artisan Star Entertainment to promote my lady’s debut,” Ling Ziheng said leisurely.

“Wait... you’re the real boss behind Artisan Star? Hold on, that’s a lot to take in—let me catch my breath,” Lin Zhiwei sat up, nearly losing her voice in excitement.

Artisan Star was currently China’s most powerful entertainment and film company, representing veteran actors who had reached the pinnacle of the Chinese film industry, many now retired. For several years, Artisan Star had shifted to investing behind the scenes in films and TV dramas, making it the most enigmatic presence in China’s entertainment circle.

“Anything produced by Artisan Star is guaranteed quality”—this was a well-known saying in the industry. No wonder Ling Ziheng’s films were all invested in by Artisan Star: he was effectively investing in himself, acting, and profiting.

Ling Ziheng truly played his cards well.

“Back then, you must have had countless enemies, so you hid out on set to avoid trouble. Smart move—with a team of crew, media, investors, and fans watching your back, your foes could only glare helplessly. It’s like an ironclad fortress,” Lin Zhiwei praised, thumbing up enthusiastically.

“My lady is wise,” Ling Ziheng felt deeply honored by her compliment. As long as his little girl was by his side, those dark days no longer felt bitter.

“Ah, in terms of acting and playing roles, you and my cousin really are a match,” Lin Zhiwei said, stroking her chin as she recalled Lin Qiongjiu’s terrifyingly cold face.

Ling Ziheng replied, “Compared to the lord, it’s just a drop in the ocean.”

“Then Chu Chuo is basically just a handyman, low level,” Lin Zhiwei scoffed disdainfully.

“Not quite,” Ling Ziheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Chu Chuo, he mused, was not so simple.

Lin Zhiwei glanced aside, unable to grasp the deeper meaning in his words for now.

Ling Ziheng understood that the little girl was genuinely interested in acting and the stage but lacked confidence and feared trouble. The best way to protect her was to keep her temporarily in China’s entertainment circle, where intertwined relationships and vested interests chewed away at scraps but maintained a delicate balance.

It truly was an excellent hiding place. No one dared move easily. Letting her return alone to the Nameless Realm would fill him with dread. He silently thought that his earlier gentle guidance had succeeded, allowing him to relax somewhat.

Speaking of which, Lin Zhiwei began to seriously consider the matter. If she only stayed by Ling Ziheng’s side, she would never access the full truth about the “Illusory World.” She would need to find an opportunity to enter the entertainment industry herself to investigate. To create such an opportunity, her current identity as Lin Zhi was undoubtedly a strong foundation.

Without this experience now, how could she pave the way for her future? She had no intention of always relying on Ling Ziheng’s help.

Her sixth sense told her that the “Illusory World” was deeply connected to her. Otherwise, with Lin Qiongjiu’s cunning, why would he so easily allow her to come to China? It was surely a way to test her and expect a satisfactory answer in return.