Chapter 27

Now, things were truly lively. Fang Shaoyi was on set, but could still make the headlines.

——“Why has there been so much drama regarding Fang Shaoyi recently? Has he gone cold? Using his personal life to gain popularity. I’m so annoyed reading about it.”

——“Who is this man? Where did this ‘young male celebrity’ come from? Is he an 18th tier wild model? He seems to have a good figure, but I can’t recognize his face. However, Fang is divorced anyways. Even if he really did something, he wouldn’t be in the wrong.”

——“[Eating melon][Eating melon] Since he pushed Yuan Ye out to take the blame, I’ve turned into his antifan. In the past, I felt that he was quite gentlemanly. I must’ve been blind and misinterpreted hypocrisy to be gentility. ‘Let’s allow emotions to resolve emotional troubles’ – so he’s resolving them like this? How are his ‘family matters’ now?”

——“I don’t think that these pictures can prove anything? When watching《In The Times》, I could tell through Fang’s gaze that he truly likes Yuan a lot……”

——“Gentlemanly……I’m laughing so hard. After getting divorced, he still went on a marriage and dating variety show. Is lying to fans considered gentlemanly? [Slight smile] Regarding the neighboring comment, how amusing that you’re still observing his gaze. Did you forget that he’s a film emperor?”

“Shaoyi ge, I’m extremely apologetic for causing trouble for you.” Yang Siran properly bowed to Fang Shaoyi. His expression was fairly dark too. “Do you need me to say something? I can make a Weibo post to explain. Or, I can cooperate with whatever the company’s arrangements are.”

Fang Shaoyi leaned against the windowsill. He didn’t get angry at the other, only saying, “It has nothing to do with you. It’s not your fault. You can leave.”

Yang Siran observed him, then turned to look at Geng Jinwei. After, he nodded and said, “If there’s something I can do, just tell me.”

Geng Jinwei nodded at him. Yang Siran left; he closed the door behind himself.

This news had suddenly popped out of nowhere last night. Previously, that XX Entertainment had had a pa.s.sable relationship with them. They were on speaking terms. But this time, unexpectedly, they had posted this article without even notifying them ahead of them.

Geng Jinwei said, “Someone’s watching us.”

Fang Shaoyi furrowed his brows. Right as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen. It was his dad.

“Dad,” Fang Shaoyi called out after answering.

Through the phone, Fang Han asked him, “How come there’s so much news about you recently? Can you handle it?”

Fang Shaoyi made a noise of acknowledgment. He lowly said, “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

The old man was currently filming in Europe. At such an age, he was still very dedicated to acting. He sounded very healthy, too. “You didn’t actually act out of line?”

“Not at all. How would I dare to?” Fang Shaoyi laughed. He joked with his dad, “I’m scared that you’d hit me if I did.”

Fang Han laughed too. He said, “As long as you didn’t actually act out of line, let them do whatever they want. If you’re standing up straight, you won’t be scared of your shadow being crooked. Say what you need to.”

Fang Shaoyi replied, “Okay. Take care of your health. Don’t worry about me. These are all trivial matters.”

After hanging up, Geng Jinwei asked him, “Has the old man been okay recently?”

“He’s fine. He still likes filming the most.” Fang Shaoyi sighed, “He’s been acting for his entire life.”

Aside from the contributions he had made to movies, the reason Fang Han had maintained such a high status all these years was also because of the air of justice that emanated off him. He was an honest and true old artist. He had never done anything messy that broke his moral bounds. Since young, Fang Shaoyi had grown up in a strict family. Though he was a second generation celebrity under the public eye, he wasn’t allowed to do anything out of line. He was forced to strictly hold himself to the standards of normal people, forbidden from acquiring an abundance of bad habits like others often did in this industry.

In his bones, Fang Shaoyi was very similar to his dad. He was disdainful of and disgusted by those dirty and illicit things. Thus, Geng Jinwei was the one who normally made sure that the company was still functioning. All Fang Shaoyi needed to do was act.

Geng Jinwei said, “Just film your movie. You don’t need to worry about anything else. You don’t need to give a response to this news either; it’s not worth it. I’ll just tell them to use the studio’s official account to release a statement later.”

This kind of news that exposed people made one feel disgusted just look at it, regardless of the content. Fang Shaoyi furrowed his brows and asked, “Where did the pictures come from?”

“The fake flowers in the hallway.”

Fang Shaoyi’s brows furrowed even more tightly together. “When did the camera get put there?”

“Day before yesterday.” Geng Jinwei pulled a tiny object out of his pocket and squeezed it. “I checked the security footage. Someone walked over, placed it there, and left. They wanted to get some gossip about you. This happened because they finally managed to get some content to post and fool the public. If you didn’t give them this opportunity, they probably would’ve wanted to post that you had spent the night in the director’s room.”

Geng Jinwei scoffed. Then, he told Fang Shaoyi, “I’ll take care of it. Keep filming your movie.”

Fang Shaoyi asked him, “Are you leaving today?”

Geng Jinwei answered, “I was originally going to, but I won’t for now. We’ll talk about it in the afternoon.”

As soon as the news got out, the atmosphere on set became more or less strange. Yang Siran had originally been a rookie under Fang Shaoyi anyways. The film crew had taken good care of him. With this news, even less people dared to bully him. Yang Siran had never filmed movies before or spent time on set, so didn’t have a good understanding of these things. However, he knew that speaking less was the right thing to do: the more you said, the more likely it was for you to say the wrong thing. After filming his scenes, he would directly make his way next to the director and listen to the director explain the scene, or, he would sit there by himself and think about it. He rarely even spoke to Fang Shaoyi. When he could, he hid from the other.

Ji Xiaotao noticed that he seemed quite pitiful, so walked over and handed him a cup of water. He said, “There’s no need to be so nervous. These are all trivial matters.”

“Thank you Xiaotao ge.” Yang Siran received the cup from him. He smiled at the other and said, “I just keep feeling like I’ve caused trouble for everyone.”

Ji Xiaotao shook his head and told him, “It’s not your fault. Relax.”

Yang Siran nodded. “Okay.”

Ji Xiaotao inquired, “Where’s your Chen ge? Not following you around?”

Yang Siran said, “Chen ge doesn’t feel that great today. I told him to rest. Either way, I’m just filming here. I’ve already gotten used to everything.”

“Ah.” Ji Xiaotao asked, “Where’s your phone? Who’s holding onto it for you?”

Yang Siran replied, “I turned it off and asked Hua ge to carry it for me.”

Ji Xiaotao said, “Then give it to me. I’ll help you hang onto it.”

Yang Siran hurriedly thanked him, “Thank you, Xiaotao ge.”

It was hard to tell if his personality was truly so calm or if he was faking it. Either way, even until now, Ji Xiaotao liked Yang Siran quite a bit. Normally speaking, after those pictures got posted, Yang Siran would obviously be a suspect. But Ji Xiaotao got the feeling that the other wasn’t the type to do such a thing. However, this industry wasn’t about whether or not people seemed like the type to do something. They were either truly well behaved or were truly good actors.

But to start using Fang Shaoyi as soon as he got signed to the company, that was too bold. p.i.s.sing off the boss before you had even started working?

Fang Shaoyi called Yuan Ye twice, but both times, the call didn’t connect. That person had turned his phone off again. Fang Shaoyi left Yuan Ye a message: Turn on your phone and return my call.

Geng Jinwei didn’t leave that day. He stayed on set and invited the whole crew to dinner. The producer was an old friend of his; he had also collaborated with Director Jiang before. Geng Jinwei had always been able to hold a comfortable conversation with them. In a private room with twenty-something people, Geng Jinwei had drinks with the director, producers, and main cast. Jiang Linchuan was a rough northerner. When he told stories, his tone would be filled with a brisk energy. Since they had already eaten, there was no need to drink stuffily. They were drinking, so ought to be drinking carefreely.

These occasions had nothing to do with a.s.sistants. Ji Xiaotao sat in the car outside and waited. This way, he could send whoever had become drunk back to the hotel. The other few a.s.sistants were waiting in their own cars too. Sometimes, they would also get out and chat with one another.

Normally, Yang Siran wouldn’t have been invited to such an occasion: he wouldn’t be allowed to sit at the table. However, he attended that day as well. The kid was very conscientious. When he walked over and poured alcohol for the director, Geng Jinwei said, “Director Jiang, I didn’t get the chance earlier to thank you for giving me so much face.”

Jiang Linchuan waved his hand and said, “Kid’s not bad. He’s a very talented actor.”

“Director has taught him well,” Geng Jinwei said. He glanced at Yang Siran. Thus, Yang Siran helped fill the director’s gla.s.s up to the brim. He lowly said, “Thank you, Director. I’m pretty dumb, but I also have thick skin. If I do anything wrong, feel free to scold me. I’ll do my best to change.”

Jiang Linchuan sipped at the alcohol he had poured. He said, “Learn well from your boss. He’s an expert at socializing.”

n.o.body knew if he was talking about Geng Jinwei or Fang Shaoyi. Either way, both of them laughed.

On the surface, Fang Shaoyi didn’t skip out on eating or speaking at all. But his phone was always in his grasp. He would occasionally glance down at it.

He called Yuan Ye again. The other’s phone was still turned off.

Usually, his phone wouldn’t be off at this time. Even if he didn’t call, he would at least send a message or something. Right now, the two of them were basically at that stage prior to when two young people would be getting into a relationship: stuck to each other like glue. But his phone was off today, which clearly meant that he had seen the news. However, he hadn’t even asked about it. Fang Shaoyi didn’t know what he was thinking.

n.o.body pursued people like this.

Fang Shaoyi wanted to send Yuan Ye a question: Did I pursue you in this manner back then?

“Is Shaoyi waiting for a call?” The executive producer asked from across the table. He joked, “I noticed that you haven’t set your phone down this whole time.”

Fang Shaoyi looked up and smiled, but didn’t answer.

Jiang Linchuan scoffed. He said, “He’s done something wrong. Don’t know who he’s p.i.s.sed off, but now he’s waiting for that person.”

As soon as the director said this, everyone started laughing. Only Yang Siran felt a little awkward. Fang Shaoyi begged for mercy, “Leaders, quit scolding me already. You guys keep chatting.”

The private room was bustling with noise. When Geng Jinwei was present, it was impossible for the atmosphere to get too cold. n.o.body noticed that someone was knocking at the door at first. Eventually, it was Yang Siran who heard it. They all thought that it was a server, so someone shouted, “Come in!”

——“So lively?”

Fang Shaoyi instantly looked over as soon as he heard this voice.

The door was open just a crack. Yuan Ye peeked his head in. He was wearing an athletic jacket, zipper pulled up all the way to his chin. With a big smile, he looked around the room and asked, “I’m coming in now, leaders. Is that okay?”

Jiang Linchuan laughed very loudly. He called out, “Hurry and get in here. Why are you peeking through that crack like a rat?”

Thus, Yuan Ye stood up straight. He used his shoulder to ram the door open, then walked in with his hands in his pockets.

Fang Shaoyi’s eyes had yet to leave his figure. Yuan Ye made eye contact with him, then c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. His gaze was quite meaningful. There was originally an actor from the same set sitting next to Fang Shaoyi. Now, he instantly stood up and told Yuan Ye, “Come sit here.”

Yuan Ye thanked him with a smile before plopping down.

Everyone sitting at the table was looking at him. Yuan Ye grabbed Fang Shaoyi’s gla.s.s and poured himself some alcohol. He smiled and held the gla.s.s up, then leaned his head back and downed the drink.

In actuality, Yuan Ye knew some of the people at this table, but he was unfamiliar with most of them. There were some he had never met before either. However, that didn’t mean that they were complete strangers and couldn’t sit down to have a meal together.

Among everyone, the one he was most familiar with aside from Fang Shaoyi was Geng Jinwei. Geng Jinwei asked him, “Are you visiting the set?”

Yuan Ye nodded at him in greeting and called out, “Geng ge,” then answered, “Nope.”

As Yuan Ye spoke, he casually scanned the room. His gaze happened to pa.s.s Yang Siran. This scene seemed a bit comical. Yang Siran nodded at him, faint smile on his face. He was polite and respectful.

Everyone else thought that he was joking when he said he wasn’t visiting. Geng Jinwei c.o.c.ked an eyebrow and asked him, “If you’re not visiting, does that mean you’ve traveled thousands of kilometers just to have a meal?”

Yuan Ye chuckled. He turned his head to the side to first glance at Fang Shaoyi, then at the director. After, he said, “Would I dare to enter this room if I was only visiting?”

Fang Shaoyi kept his gaze locked on Yuan Ye’s profile. He felt like Yuan Ye had lost a lot of weight, but he still looked very alert. There was always this feeling of power emanating off of him that made others feel energetic just by looking at him. Yuan Ye sat in the chair, smile reaching his ears. He said, “Who does this room need? Seems to me that it needs an on-site screenwriter.”

The author has something to say:

(Little Yuan: I already said I refuse to visit.)