Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen
Jing city.
Wang Shigang was completely drunk, sitting on the side of the road like a puddle of mud.
Not long after Yan Shu left the entertainment circle, the company dismissed him, citing his inadequate work abilities and the damage his artists caused to the company’s reputation.
How could Wang Shigang possibly believe this reason? He had been in the industry for quite some time.
His situation wasn’t so much about being abandoned by the company as it was someone clearly wanting him out of Longfeng.
In truth, it didn’t matter much. Leaving Longfeng, with his experience, he could still find a good position in another company.
But what followed was the beginning of a nightmare.
He interviewed with four or five companies in a day, all of them rejecting him, and this continued for a whole week.
He didn’t dare think in that direction, assuming it was because of what happened with Yan Shu tarnishing his reputation, causing others not to hire him.
Until one day, he saw a high-ranking member of the board and a young man walking side by side at the entrance of Longfeng Entertainment, looking like they had an excellent relationship.
The features of that young man were almost ninety percent similar to Guan Shuo, an artist he had managed before. In that moment, Wang Shigang understood everything.
Recalling the past, along with things he used to be wary of, now all backfired on him.
He should have known that Guan Shuo wasn’t a simple person. The young man must have had a direct blood relation with Guan Shuo. If he had a good relationship with Longfeng’s higher-ups, could his status be low?
He knew his actions had angered other SAP members. If someone wanted to retaliate against him, the most likely candidate would be the hot-tempered Guan Shuo.
They didn’t want him to succeed, didn’t want him to find another job in the industry. All it would take was a word from those in power, and he could be blacklisted in the circle.
Wang Shigang couldn’t help but feel resentment in his heart, but with his future now uncertain, he was too overwhelmed to even have the right to be resentful, especially considering the influence of Guan Shuo’s family.
He could only swallow his anger and keep quiet. He couldn’t casually expose any dirt on Guan Shuo, as it would only worsen his current situation.
The biting cold wind partially woke Wang Shigang up as he sat by the roadside. Just as he was about to wearily walk back, he suddenly saw a familiar person.
“When the hell is Wei Tingxiao coming back to Beijing? I want to damn well kill him! He’s not even here, yet he’s trying to set me up!”
Jia Chong came out of the bar and started yelling into his phone, venting his frustrations. In the midst of his outburst, he completely failed to notice someone watching him.
It wasn’t until he finished his call, hung up, and was about to get into his car that he felt someone grab onto his pants leg. That’s when he realized there was a drunkard following him.
Startled by the sudden action, Jia Chong dropped his phone and shouted, “What the hell!”
“Young Master Jia, please help me! You’re the only one who can help me now!” The drunkard knelt on the ground, completely devoid of dignity, tears and snot streaming down.
“Get lost! I don’t have any cash on me. Don’t pull my pants! Let go!” Jia Chong, still not quite understanding the situation, initially thought the beggar was after money.
“Young Master Jia, it’s me! We met at a dinner before. It’s me, Wang Shigang from Longfeng Entertainment. Do you remember?”
Upon hearing “Longfeng Entertainment”, Jia Chong finally took a closer look at the man’s face.
The man looked far from the radiant individual he remembered. A month’s absence had made the man not only weathered but also disheveled and unkempt.
Disgusted, Jia Chong demanded the man let go first before explaining what was going on.
If it weren’t for Yan Shu, Jia Chong wouldn’t have remembered this person at all.
This guy was unreliable. He had promised to personally escort Yan Shu to him, but somehow let him slip away and then leave the circle altogether.
Wang Shigang stood up and recounted the whole situation, all the while trying to gain sympathy.
After listening for a while, Jia Chong understood the gist: this agent had a bad reputation and had offended some big shot, leading to him being blacklisted in the industry.
Serves him right! A two-faced person like him, turning his back on both sides. As for Yan Shu’s matter, Jia Chong had considered settling scores with this guy!
“Young Master Jia, do you have any job openings for me? I remember you have an entertainment company. I’m willing to start from being an assistant. I’ll do anything!”
Initially, Jia Chong was about to kick the guy and leave, but at that moment… he suddenly had a change of heart.
“Anything?”
“Yes! I’m willing to do whatever it takes!”
Jia Chong chuckled, “Are you willing to work as a corporate spy? Are you willing to poach clients? Are you willing to engage in illegal activities… are you willing to do all that?”
“I’m will—” Wang Shigang paused, clenched his fist, then spoke with restraint, “If you can ensure my safety, I… I can.”
Jia Chong’s eyes gleamed with a calculating light. He truly needed a sharp knife in his hands right now, regardless of how blunt it was. The important thing was the willingness to wield it and strike.
Through Wei Tingxiao’s blow to him, he reflected on his lack of control over the connections in this circle. Those who had betrayed him would face his retaliation, and he would not let them off the hook.
Come on, surnamed Wei! Who’s afraid of whom? In the entertainment industry, you can’t dominate everything on your own!
After a moment of silence, Jia Chong stepped into his car, rolled down the window, “Fine, come to my company tomorrow for orientation. Remember what you promised me today.”
“Okay, okay! Thank you, Young Master Jia!” Wang Shigang was overjoyed, a stark contrast to his previous despondency.
The sports car roared to life, darting away like an arrow, quickly disappearing into the night.
On the set of “Sword Mountain Blood Jade”.
The filming of this show had been progressing steadily, and before they knew it, a month had passed.
The character played by Wei Tingxiao, Yue Qiusheng, was a fugitive pursued by the court, holding a coveted treasure sought after by everyone in the martial world. He escaped to the hidden valley of Sword Mountain and set up numerous defense mechanisms, making it perilous for outsiders to enter.
In the early stages, Wei Tingxiao’s character was intentionally portrayed as somewhat destitute, and he had deliberately not shaved during this period. The stubble on his chin grew easily.
Enhanced by makeup, this rugged image of a wanderer in the martial world came to life on screen.
During the filming of a scene today, halfway through, distant thunder rumbled in the sky.
Heavy rain was expected in the next few hours, making the mountain paths slippery and difficult to traverse after the rain. With many trees in the forest, it wasn’t safe during a thunderstorm. Considering these factors, the action director instructed everyone to return to the guesthouse.
Just as Wei Tingxiao finished removing his wig, the director came over to hurry him along.
“Don’t dawdle, get back! You’re not even enthusiastic after work. Do you really want to break your neck in a thunderstorm?” The action director liked to tease and joke around when speaking, sometimes even throwing in some sharp remarks.
Wei Tingxiao was already used to it, calmly changing into his costume.
He reassured the action director, “I’ll have to wear this costume again later. If it gets wet and dirty on the way back in the rain, the costume team will have to work hard again. I’ll finish up quickly, let the others go ahead.”
“You… worrying more than me at a time like this. Okay, okay, go ahead, just hurry up!”
Today’s filming started exceptionally early. Wei Tingxiao didn’t have his manager follow him. Luo Hui had been worried before that Wei Tingxiao might not adapt well to the mountain environment, but as it turned out, the one who struggled the most was Luo Hui himself.
After a month, Wei Tingxiao still hadn’t acclimated, leaving him momentarily speechless. He truly didn’t know who was taking care of whom.
He decided to leave Xiao Lin with Luo Hui, as there were plenty of crew members on set who often helped him voluntarily. He could manage on his own, and there wasn’t anything that required a special assistant to follow him around.
After changing his clothes, most of the crew had already moved ahead. Wei Tingxiao lazily caught up, taking the opportunity to observe the scenery along the way.
Some paths seemed unfamiliar, and he wondered if any of them were shortcuts.
“Teacher Wei, why did you stop?” A prop master approached from behind and asked.
Lost in thought, Wei Tingxiao pointed to the fork in the road, “Where does this path lead?”
“Oh, this road? I’ve walked it before. It merges back with the main road, leading to the same destination.”
“Ah.” Wei Tingxiao responded nonchalantly.
Ten minutes later. The heavy rain arrived as expected.
Seeking shelter from the rain under the eaves, the rebellious Wei Tingxiao muttered to himself, “…”
If Luo Hui had seen this scene, he would have scowled and exclaimed, “Ancestor, what’s gotten into you now?!”
Fortunately, his manager wasn’t present today, saving Wei Tingxiao from a scolding.
The prop master had only mentioned that this road would merge with the main road, failing to mention the numerous other branching paths along the way.
Caught off guard by the sudden downpour, Wei Tingxiao didn’t think much and simply ran in the direction of the nearest house he could see.
Now, he wasn’t sure which villager’s yard he was standing outside. Positioned at the gate, the tiled eaves above provided some cover from the rain, with occasional raindrops splashing onto the stone steps, spattering onto his pants and shoes.
The South was known for its frequent rainfall, especially in the mountains, where the weather could be unpredictable.
Wei Tingxiao had no intention of disturbing the villagers in this house. He decided to wait here until the rain subsided before continuing on. However, the gate wasn’t closed tightly, and with a gentle push, it opened slightly, revealing the layout and decoration of the courtyard inside. The courtyard was adorned with flowers and plants, meticulously maintained and beautiful.
Outside the house, there was a porch with a rattan chair, next to it was a small wooden square table, stacked with colorful threads and fabrics, and there was even a round embroidery frame.
Seeing so many embroidery supplies set out, Wei Tingxiao subconsciously thought that the owner of the house must be a woman.
Although it was a bit hazy through the rain curtain, it was impolite to spy on a female’s chambers1PREACH!! TELL THAT TO MY 3 ELDER BROTHERS AND MY PARENTS!! MY ROOM IS OFF LIMITS!!.
Without much thought, Wei Tingxiao prepared to turn away.
It was at this moment that the owner of the house suddenly emerged from the main hall, stretching lazily and then sitting back down on the rattan chair.
With slender fingers, the person picked up the embroidery frame with their left hand and held a needle with their right hand. There was no need for any preamble; the thread was already deftly weaving through the fabric, as if done a thousand times before.
What shocked Wei Tingxiao the most was not that the homeowner was embroidering, but…
The person was none other than the youth who had left the entertainment industry and the person whom Wei Tingxiao had thought he might never see again.
Yan Shu… He actually appeared here.
Was this his home?
Wei Tingxiao hadn’t particularly delved into Yan Shu’s background, only knowing that the boy had come from the countryside to Jing City, entered the entertainment circle without any connections, and was bullied by vile managers and the decadent Jing circle.
It turned out that the boy had grown up in these mountains, where the air was fresh, and the water clean. In such a beautiful place, it was no wonder he appeared so pure.
The first time he saw Yan Shu at the film and television city, he felt that this boy didn’t quite fit in with the entertainment industry.
For some inexplicable reason, Wei Tingxiao was incredibly grateful to be able to see the real Yan Shu after he had shed his mask.
Had the heavens heard his inner regret? Sending him astray just to catch another glimpse of the boy?
Yan Shu was dressed today in simple mountain attire, even wearing cloth shoes, giving off a down-to-earth vibe.
There was a small white flower embroidered on the collar of his clothes, and simple embroidery patterns on the shoes.
His intuition told him that Yan Shu had likely done these embroideries himself.
Why did this kid look good in everything he wore?
Just a moment ago, Wei Tingxiao had said he wouldn’t peek into people’s houses, yet now he was staring at the figure on the rattan chair. He even turned his whole body to get a better look, as if planning to stay for a while.
With the rain falling heavily, Yan Shu, seated under the porch, was completely unaware of the big man standing outside his courtyard gate.
He was in charge of guarding the house today, Uncle Lan was over at the guesthouse, and his dad was accompanying grandma down the mountain to buy silk threads and fabrics.
Grandma had an old friend she had been working with for many years, specializing in handmade silk threads. She only bought threads from her friend, whose shop had been around for decades and had become a well-established brand.
Originally, Yan Shu had wanted to go with them, but he hadn’t finished the task that grandma had assigned to him yesterday. He had vowed to be a good student who completed assignments on time.
Listening to the pouring rain, Yan Shu was relieved that his dad had taken an umbrella with him when they left. But they should be waiting for the rain to stop before returning, right? It was still early.
A bell rang from outside the courtyard, followed by the sound of something falling to the ground with a “thud.”
“Dad? Grandma?”
The young man on the porch called out clearly.
Wei Tingxiao, who was sheltering from the rain at the gate, was suddenly flustered and started fumbling around.
Just as his phone suddenly rang, he was startled and accidentally bumped into a wooden stick near the door. The stick was a bit thick, making quite a loud noise as it hit the stone steps.
Wei Tingxiao, fearing he might disturb the homeowner, quickly pressed the answer button on his phone and at the same time, considerately placed the wooden stick back in its original position.
Subconsciously crouching down, he pressed the phone to his ear, lowering his voice, “Hello…”
“Damn, you finally answered! Ancestor, where are you? Why haven’t you come back? Everyone from the crew has left, and you’re playing hide and seek with me. Do you think my heart isn’t fragile enough, that you need to keep me on edge?” Luo Hui’s voice carried a mix of urgency, anger, and a touch of sarcasm.
“The signal here in the mountains is bad, I tried calling many times but couldn’t get through. If anything happens to you, your antique of a dad will be the first to come after me.”
Wei Tingxiao didn’t dare to argue back, knowing he was in the wrong. He let Luo Hui scold him until he was out of breath before stopping.
“Hui-ge, calm down. I’m at fault, I’m guilty. Shall I come back and kneel before you? Don’t let me upset you further with my unfamiliarity here. I don’t want to give you a heart attack.”
As Luo Hui heard the last sentence, his tone rose again, “You know my condition, and you still intentionally play around like this!”
“Sorry, sorry, I was reckless, thought I could take a shortcut, but the heavy rain came early, and I accidentally stumbled upon a farmer’s house.” Wei Tingxiao spoke rapidly, occasionally glancing behind him.
“Don’t give me a rap, slow down!” Luo Hui’s head was spinning from listening, “Are you saying you’re at a villager’s house?”
“I’m just squatting outside their gate, taking shelter from the rain. When it lightens up, I’ll head back the way I came. I remember the way, so don’t worry, Lord Luo!”
Wei Tingxiao thought about hanging up the call but didn’t dare to actually do so. His manager was angry, but he also feared that the sound of the phone call might attract the young man. He was so flustered that even his Beijing accent slipped out.
“Wait for the rain to stop? How long are you going to wait? What if the rain doesn’t stop? Are you just going to keep squatting at someone’s door?” Luo Hui couldn’t bring himself to say even harsher words.
He already had that scene in his mind— the renowned actor, Wei, stranded in the mountains on a rainy day, mistakenly entering a farmer’s house and being treated like a dog.
The character was on the verge of collapsing, but it must not be known to the fans.
As his manager, Luo Hui understood Wei Tingxiao’s character the best. He always felt that one day Wei Tingxiao would lose control, and when that happened, the fans would be shattered.
“Ask someone from the village for directions, I’ll have Xiao Lin bring an umbrella to pick you up…”
“Hello, you are…”
Inside and outside the phone, two voices sounded simultaneously, and Wei Tingxiao’s left and right ear channels suddenly closed one of them.
Instinctively, he turned his head and looked up, only to see a young man holding a beige oil-paper umbrella, staring at him in surprise.
Wei Tingxiao saw his own sorry state reflected in the other’s eyes as he crouched on the ground.
His clothes were partially wet, his hair, now limp after removing the wig, was even more sticky from the rain, and the stubble on his chin, required for his role, hadn’t been tended to.
His current appearance could easily be cast in a modern drama as a homeless man.
On the other end of the phone, Luo Hui kept saying “hello, hello, hello”, with no response.
But he could also hear the young man’s clear voice, and his first reaction was that the villager had come out to drive Wei Tingxiao away.
“Wei Tingxiao, speak to them politely and ask for the address quickly!”
Wei Tingxiao couldn’t hear Luo Hui at all, just standing there awkwardly.
After several seconds of eye contact, the young man spoke first, “Are you hiding from the rain?”
“Uh…” Wei Tingxiao patted his pants and stood up, embarrassedly lowering his head.
Luckily, it seemed like Yan Shu didn’t recognize him. In this disheveled state, Wei Tingxiao wished he could dig a hole and disappear.
“The rain can still reach you here. Come inside and take shelter.” Yan Shu raised the umbrella, gesturing for Wei Tingxiao to step under it.
Wei Tingxiao was stunned, forgetting how he had reacted. Twenty seconds later, he found himself inexplicably standing under the porch of the villager’s house.
Yan Shu didn’t close the umbrella; instead, he placed it on the ground to let the water drip off.
Seeing Wei Tingxiao still lost in thought, he spoke up, “I’ll go get you a towel.”
As the young man ran into the house, Wei Tingxiao continued the call. This time, he didn’t say much, simply stating, “I’ll turn on my location, take a screenshot and find me. My phone is about to die, so I have to hang up for now.”
Without waiting for a response, the call abruptly ended.
“Your phone is about to die? There’s a charger inside, you can charge it.” Yan Shu, returning with a towel, happened to overhear Wei Tingxiao’s phone call.
Wei Tingxiao, looking at his phone with half battery left, nervously touched his nose.
He didn’t refuse, “Is it… in your room?”
For some reason, Wei Tingxiao was actually quite curious to see the young man’s room.
“No need, there’s one in the main hall, you can charge it there.” Yan Shu handed the towel to Wei Tingxiao and pointed to where the socket was located.
“Oh…” Wei Tingxiao pretended to go charge his phone.
As he turned around to stand up, the young man had already prepared a cup of hot tea inside.
“It’s a bit cold, have some hot water to warm up, Teacher Wei.”
Just as Wei Tingxiao was about to say “thank you”, upon hearing the final address, his hand reaching for the tea cup froze in mid-air.
Wei Tingxiao: “…”
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