The Shadow of Lin Cheng
Li Yue had spent the last few hours wandering through this strange, unnatural world, barely holding herself together.
Her mind was overwhelmed—every street, every glowing sign, and every person who passed her in their odd garments only confirmed that this world was not hers.
She had accepted that.
Or at least, she was trying to.
But what she saw now—this was impossible.
She stood frozen before a massive glass display, her breath caught in her throat.
And staring back at her was a face she could never forget.
Lin Cheng.
Her stomach turned violently.
The man who had betrayed her.
The man who had sworn to protect her—only to plunge a dagger into her trust.
The man who had been working for her enemies all along.
He was here.
In this world.
Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to look at the image again.
It was him.
The same sharp jawline. The same piercing gaze.
But something was wrong.
He was… smiling.
Not the smirk of a warrior, not the cold, unreadable mask he had worn in her world—but a charismatic, charming smile meant to captivate.
His long hair was gone, replaced with a short, styled cut. He wore no armor, no sword at his hip—only finely tailored clothing, sleek and modern.
And above his image, in bold, glowing letters, was a name:
Lin Cheng – The Nation's Leading Star.
Star?
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
The more she stared, the more her mind refused to accept it.
The Lin Cheng she knew was a warrior, a knight who had pledged his sword to her family. A man who had fought in wars, bathed in blood, before revealing his treachery.
And yet here, in this foreign world, he was… a performer?
A beloved figure.
Respected. Worshipped. Admired.
She swallowed hard.
Was this truly the same man?
Or was this another illusion—another cruel trick played upon her?
She staggered back, her breathing uneven.
This was wrong.
This was all wrong.
How could he be here? Had he also been brought to this world?
Or had he always existed in this place?
Her hands trembled as she turned away, her feet carrying her blindly down the crowded sidewalk.
She needed answers.
She ducked into a small café, forcing herself to breathe as she found an empty seat in the corner.
Nearby, people were laughing, and chatting, unaware of the chaos in her mind.
And then—
"Did you see Lin Cheng's latest interview?"
Her head snapped toward the voices.
At the table beside her, a group of young women were huddled together, one holding a glowing tablet in her hands.
The screen flickered—Lin Cheng's face appeared once more.
Smiling. Charming. A lie.
"He's amazing," one of the women gushed. "I swear, no one in the industry has his presence."
"Did you hear about his new role? It's supposed to be his darkest character yet!"
"Oh, I love it when he plays villains," another sighed dreamily. "No one does it like him."
A sharp chill ran down Li Yue's spine.
Villain?
She leaned forward slightly, barely daring to breathe as the interview played.
Lin Cheng's voice—smooth, deep, familiar—filled the air.
"I've always enjoyed playing complicated characters," he said, flashing an easy, practiced smile. "Something is fascinating about stepping into the mind of someone dark, someone twisted."
The women at the table giggled.
"God, even when he talks about villains, he sounds sexy," one of them whispered.
Li Yue's stomach churned.
They were praising him.
They were speaking of a monster as if he were some divine figure.
"They don't know. They don't know what he is."
Her fingers dug into her sleeves.
This world did not see the blood on his hands.
They did not know what he had done.
What he was capable of.
Her heart pounded violently.
Lin Cheng had already destroyed her world once.
Would he do it again?
She couldn't stay ignorant.
She needed to know what he was in this world, how much power he had, and what dangers he posed.
If he was anything like Lin Cheng she knew…
Her breath hitched.
She pushed away from the table, leaving the café in a rush.
She needed to find a way to learn more.
This world had its records, its knowledge.
If he was as famous as the signs claimed, there had to be something written about him.
A place where people stored their knowledge, their history.
A library? A scholar's hall?
She scanned the streets desperately, her eyes landing on a large building with glowing letters:
"CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY."
A library.
Her heart thundered with purpose.
She rushed inside.
The moment she stepped in, she froze.
It was unlike any library she had ever seen.
There were no scrolls, no ink-stained desks.
Only endless rows of thin, identical books, and glowing devices where people sat, staring at the bright screens.
She swallowed, her mind whirling.
"No time to be overwhelmed. Focus."
She spotted a young man behind a counter—a librarian? A scholar?
Gathering herself, she approached him carefully.
"Excuse me," she said, keeping her voice calm. "I need information on Lin Cheng."
The man blinked.
"You mean the actor?"
She nodded stiffly.
"Uh… yeah, sure. There's a lot on him," he said. "Do you want recent news? A biography?"
Biography.
That word sounded like what she needed.
"Yes," she said quickly. "A biography."
The man gestured to a nearby machine.
"You can search for it here."
Li Yue stared at it blankly.
The librarian noticed her hesitation.
"First time?" he asked with a friendly chuckle.
She forced a small smile.
"Yes."
He reached over and tapped a panel of glowing symbols.
The screen changed instantly, a long list of text appearing.
"There. Just pick one and click it," he said.
Li Yue nodded slowly, staring at the screen.
She had no idea what click meant, but she would figure it out.
The librarian wandered off, leaving her alone.
She reached out cautiously, pressing her finger against the screen.
It responded immediately, shifting to a new page.
Her breath caught in her throat.
There it was.
A detailed history of Lin Cheng.
Her fingers trembled as she read:
Lin Cheng – Award-Winning Actor, International Star
Born into a wealthy family, Lin Cheng's rise to fame was swift. Known for his striking visuals and powerful performances, he has captivated audiences worldwide. Despite his popularity, he remains private about his personal life…
Li Yue's pulse pounded.
This world did not know him as a traitor.
It knew him as a king of the stage.
A beloved idol.
She swallowed hard.
It didn't matter if this version of him had never drawn a sword.
She knew the truth.
A shadow was still a shadow, no matter what shape it took.
Lin Cheng had betrayed her once.
She would not let it happen again.
And if he was truly the same man—
She would make sure he never got the chance.