Eternal Replay: A Love Rekindled

Chapter Four

Corey spent a long time in the toilet fiddling with the powder compact. Finally, he managed to cover up the hickey to a certain extent and then reluctantly walked out of the toilet.

As soon as he stepped out of the toilet door, he saw that Nicholas hadn't really left. He was standing at the entrance of the restaurant, and could be clearly seen from Joyce's angle. The heart that Corey had just put down was suddenly raised again. If it was just in the toilet, that would be one thing, but if Nicholas went crazy here, he wouldn't even have a chance to explain.

However, he had already spent too much time in the toilet. If he didn't go back now, it would be extremely impolite. Corey hesitated again and again, but still walked past Nicholas. He was praying in his heart, but unexpectedly, Nicholas didn't even glance at him and just let Corey walk by.

Corey was both relieved and felt a sense of unease, as if there was a time - bomb buried beside him.

Joyce looked up at this time. Seeing Corey walking back, she smiled at him.

With Joyce in front and Nicholas behind, if it weren't for his many years of acting skills, Corey really wouldn't have been able to return a smile to Joyce.

"There was a problem with the toilet in the restaurant. I waited there for a while." Corey made up a lie to explain.

Joyce nodded and her eyes glanced at Nicholas again, making Corey extremely nervous.

"What's wrong?"

"The young master of the Leon family," Joyce lowered her eyes and slowly cut the steak on the plate, explaining to Corey, "It seems that we chose the wrong place to play this time. Wherever he is, there's bound to be trouble."

"Why, why is that?" On one hand, Corey admired Joyce's clairvoyance. On the other hand, he was completely unaware that Joyce actually knew Nicholas.

"You probably aren't familiar with these things," Joyce smiled, "I only know a little because the elders in my family have old friendships with the Leon family. I was being too talkative before and a bit exaggerated. They do their things, and we enjoy ourselves. It won't affect us."

The Leon family? Corey knew nothing about Nicholas' background. Only when he heard Joyce's words did he realize that the father he thought was dead was actually alive. Joyce did have a bit of background in the industry as rumored. When considering this, it was clear that the Nicholas' family was not an ordinary one.

Nicholas' sudden disappearance was because he had returned to the Leon family. Just from Joyce's brief description, one could tell that the Leon family was not easy to deal with.

Could he believe Nicholas' words that he didn't see him for his own safety?

Corey's thoughts couldn't help but wander again. He picked up the knife and fork again. Hearing the sound of footsteps walking away at the restaurant entrance, he slightly tilted his head and peeked out of the corner of his eye. Nicholas and a group of people had already walked out.

Among the crowd, Nicholas' tall figure seemed a bit strange to Corey.

The place on his neck where Nicholas had kissed still seemed to be faintly hot. So, for the rest of the meal, even though he still had topics to talk about with Joyce, Corey was always a bit absent - minded.

After going upstairs, the two separated at the elevator entrance.

In Joyce's eyes, Corey was a very promising junior. He was hard - working, sincere, and his mannerisms were endearing. Joyce really liked Corey.

He also noticed that Corey was not in a good state in the second half of the meal. Although he didn't know the reason, Joyce had the urge to comfort him.

"Would you like to come to my room and have a seat?" He stopped and tilted his head to look at Corey.

If it was before he met Nicholas again, upon hearing Joyce's suggestive words, Corey would definitely have immediately followed him eagerly. But now, no matter how carefree he was, he just wasn't in the mood.

"I still haven't fully adjusted to the time difference. I'm a bit tired. I want to have a good rest tonight." Corey tactfully declined Joyce's invitation.

Joyce was a little disappointed, but didn't show it on her face: "Then good night. See you tomorrow."

She lowered her head and still gracefully kissed Corey on the cheek. But at the moment she pulled away, as the crystal chandelier's light flickered, she seemed to see a dark mark on Corey's neck.

Joyce was stunned, and Corey had already taken a big step back.

"Good night!" He said and quickly parted ways with Joyce. If he wasn't afraid of being noticed by Joyce, Corey would have run away.

His originally well - planned things were all messed up by Nicholas. Corey was in a terrible mood at this time.

"Nicholas, f**k you!" Corey closed the door and the anger he had held in for half the night immediately burst out in curses. Since he wasn't worried about being heard by anyone, he didn't hold back his voice at all.

Unexpectedly, the next second, he was almost scared to the point of his legs going weak by the figure sitting on the sofa.

"You might as well just f**k me." In the dim light, Nicholas said to Corey calmly while taking off his watch. The window behind him was still open, and the cool wind was blowing in.

Corey's first reaction was to hold the doorknob, wanting to escape while there was still some distance between him and Nicholas. Then his steps paused.

He had nowhere to run, and thinking carefully, running was useless. It was better to solve the problems directly.

With a reckless attitude, Corey turned around and went back. The anger that surged to the top of his head made him like an angry cat, with his emotions exploding.

"What on earth do you want, Nicholas? After six or seven years of not seeing each other, is this how you start making a mess?"

The tone of his voice still subconsciously regarded Nicholas as the half - grown kid from before. But the Nicholas he saw now, even the exposed part of his forearm was strong and sturdy. The contradiction between memory and reality made Corey a bit at a loss, and he couldn't find the right tone to confront him.

On the other hand, Corey completely didn't understand why Nicholas could disappear for seven years and then come back as if nothing had happened to disrupt his life.

What was going on? Was he, Corey, fated to encounter such a crazy person?

With a mess of emotions all jumbled together, it was impossible for Corey to sort them all out at once.

Nicholas got up and walked to Corey's side, affectionately holding his hand and leading him into the room. The angry words Corey had just said seemed to have passed by his ears without causing the slightest reaction.

Compared with Corey's seething emotions, Nicholas was terrifyingly calm at this time.

"I've been keeping an eye on you," he looked into Corey's eyes, and his tone could almost be called gentle. But the things deep in his eyes were like a snake's tongue, wrapping around Corey with a bone - chilling coldness. Nicholas began to explain what had happened over the years, "I returned to my biological father's side. The past few years were very unstable. If you had any connection with me at that time, my enemies might have hurt you, so I never came to find you."

Corey was a very soft - hearted person. When Nicholas said it as if he had great difficulties, Corey really couldn't curse him anymore. So he remained silent and listened to Nicholas continue: "I've learned about and approved every advertisement and every TV drama you've made over the years..."

"Approved?" Corey suddenly sensed something wrong. He interrupted Nicholas' words and asked him in return, "What do you mean by approved?"

It seemed that no past could withstand the slightest ripple, yet every word fell on Corey's heart, burning astonishingly. Nicholas' fingertips gently rubbed Corey's eyes, and he really wanted to lower his head and kiss his eyelids, but he still suppressed this impulse and replied, "Just to see which dramas are more suitable for you."

However, Corey's mind went blank with a buzzing sound. He didn't know about the Leon family, nor did he know what Nicholas had been up to all these years. But from Joyce's reticence and the changes in Nicholas himself, it wasn't difficult for him to guess that the Leon family was definitely not an ordinary family, and it was probably a piece of cake for them to interfere in the career of a small - time star like him. Nicholas' so - called "approval" was likely one of the reasons for the strange twists and turns in his stardom over the years.

Why were there so many great resources, but in the end, the roles he got were always unexpected?

Why, although his status in the industry wasn't high, he had rarely been harassed?

Why had his love life been so bumpy over the years, with so many people backing out at the last moment?

Some questions that Corey couldn't figure out before now suddenly had answers. Even though this hypothesis seemed a bit far - fetched to Corey at the moment, it made him shudder at the thought.