Chapter 40
Xiang Boyan once had a serious conversation with Tang Ying, making it clear — if An Ye asks you anything related to Zhou Yuanzhe, you must keep it a secret.
As a result, with a straight face, Tang Ying sternly responded, "It's none of your business."
An Ye was just casually asking as a matter of fact, as there was previously no interaction between Tang Ying and Zhou Yuanzhe. However, Tang Ying's reply immediately put him on high alert, wondering how another rival had cropped up so quickly!
But An Ye did not devote too much energy to worry about Tang Ying's existence. His shooting of Youth Adventure was coming to an end, and the filming of The Beauty's Hairpin was on the horizon. Each day was a whirl of activity.
With the soaring popularity of Youth Adventure, An Ye's social media followers increased significantly. Being a national idol, combined with the influence of the reality show, his follower count easily exceeded 20 million. The previously sluggish engagement on his social media posts increased concurrently, surpassing several popular fresh faces.
However, participating in the reality show also had its disadvantages. There were many people who mocked An Ye for his lack of acting skills, attributing his fanbase only to the reality show.
"I still remember the idol drama he acted in before, it was truly an eye-sore. I hope he stays in reality shows."
"Though An Ye's reality show performance is not bad, the idol drama he acted in is a psychological shadow for me."
"He reached peak popularity after his debut, but An Ye hasn't had a good performance since his first show."
Comments like these quickly disappeared amid the control of die-hard fans, but An Ye did notice them. It must be said that Zhou Yuanzhe helped him make an incredibly correct decision by accepting the script for The Beauty's Hairpin. Not only does it follow the reality show, but it can also erase the bad impression people have about his acting skills.
Two months later, Youth Adventure reached its finale. The last stop was held in the city's renowned H-city square. It was crowded with people, almost half of them being An Ye's fans. Neat rows of supportive banners and signs were lit from the early morning, displayed around the square for the whole day.
An Ye never thought he would gain so many fans through a reality show. Seeing his name sparkle on various signs, he felt profoundly moved and emotional.
In his previous life, he had never received attention. No matter how hard he strived to act, the spotlight would never shine on him.
He should thank the heavens for the chance to have a new life, and he should also be grateful to… Zhou Yuanzhe.
In the last episode of Youth Adventure, An Ye said to the camera, "I am very grateful for the opportunity the show team has given me to meet long-lasting partners in my fleeting youth. I also want to thank my manager, Brother Yuan, for recommending me to this show..."
Combined with touching background music, the ratings for the episode soared to a peak. Zhou Yuanzhe, who was mentioned briefly, quietly appeared on the popular search list.
It's fair to say that this reality show went from being an initially overlooked program to a phenomenal one in the spring season, bringing enormous profits to the TV station and Xing Entertainment.
An Ye was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary.
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Just as everyone was admiring An Ye's agent's unique vision, the official Weibo account of The Beauty's Hairpin released promotional content and tagged several lead actors, with An Ye's name quietly arranged after the male and female leads.
This perfectly timed exposure instantly created immense anticipation.
The popularity of both the male and female leads wasn't very high, and An Ye was in the limelight for only playing the supporting male role. This led some people who had initially thought highly of Zhou Yuanzhe's tactics to doubt: was it difficult to secure the male lead role while An Ye's popularity was soaring?
However, An Ye showed no dissatisfaction with this role. He actively reposted the promotional Weibo for The Beauty's Hairpin and stated that it was his first time acting in a costume drama and hoped everyone would be lenient.
As a result, many discordant voices appeared in the comments.
"Just said I hoped he wouldn't act. He's accepted a role so soon."
"Please, don't waste the accumulated goodwill from Youth Adventure..."
"This choice is unwise."
"The promotional pictures look nice, but I guess that's all it'll be."
Even the employees at Xing Entertainment thought Zhou Yuanzhe's choice this time was unwise. Regardless of whether An Ye's acting skills could handle a costume drama, just being the supporting male role was putting him at a disadvantage.
The popularity An Ye gained from reality shows, everyone's guesses about An Ye's celebrity status, and the gorgeous lead actors' photos, all these factors brought The Beauty's Hairpin — a costume drama originally prepared low-key — into everyone's view. The high degree of attention made the investors grin from ear to ear.
The Beauty's Hairpin caused a sensation before it aired, but Zhou Yuanzhe seemed to not care at all.
Right after the Labor Day holiday, Zhou Yuanzhe took Tang Ying to audition for a literary film. All the way, the atmosphere between the two was very silent. Zhou Yuanzhe was because he didn't like Tang Ying very much, and the latter was nervous.
"Brother... Brother Yuan..." Tang Ying's fingers were almost crumbling the script, "If I forget my lines later, could you remind me?"
"No." Zhou Yuanzhe didn't even bother to look at him, "You've asked this question 213 times already, stop it already."
Tang Ying quickly skimmed the script again. He had never auditioned for a movie's male lead before and wasn't confident that he could be chosen. In the past, he could only play the fourth male role in idol dramas. Although his acting skills were good, he had never been praised.
Therefore, his legs were still shaking even at the audition site.
In fact, Zhou Yuanzhe wasn't too invested in Tang Ying's career. Just out of courtesy for his diligent assistance over the past two months, he helped him reluctantly pick a script.
Cheng Xuyuan, with his repository of agent knowledge, knew very clearly that Tang Ying was most suitable for literary films. The box office might not be too high, but it was the perfect choice for award contention.
This happened to be the best way out for the introverted Tang Ying.
Tang Ying, who had been nervous all along, miraculously relaxed as soon as he entered the audition state, perfectly presenting the crying scenes of the male lead in the movie. His suppressed sobbing made the entire room eerily quiet as sadness overwhelmed everyone present.
Once the audition was over, Tang Ying seemed to transform instantly, following Zhou Yuanzhe around non-stop, asking: "Brother Yuan, Brother Yuan, I don't think I cried well just now, the first tear fell a bit early..."
Zhou Yuanzhe: "..."
Zhou Yuanzhe: "Can you talk with some arrogance now that you're a male lead?"
"The director might not even want me." Tang Ying's eyes were hesitant, "Or forget it, let's go to the director and say we'll just play the second male lead..."
"Listen here, Tang Ying." Zhou Yuanzhe suddenly looked at him seriously, "If you say something that pessimistic again, I'll send you back to Chen Rong."
Cheng Xuyuan was really tired of listening, a threat like this and the effect was immediate, Tang Ying dared not say anything similar again.
When they returned to the company, An Ye was already sitting in Zhou Yuanzhe's office. Seeing him come in, An Ye immediately clung up and asked, "Have you seen my costume photo? Isn't it handsome beyond words?"
Tang Ying skillfully got between the two and said, "Brother Ye, you're devastatingly handsome."
An Ye gritted his teeth and said, "I didn't ask you."
"You're quite handsome." Zhou Yuanzhe responded casually, "There's a script read-through tomorrow. Don't be late. Take good care of yourself once the production starts."
An Ye blinked, the tear mole at the corner of his eye making him look slightly mischievous, "Aren't you going with me?"
"...No." Let Xiang Boyan accompany you. Cheng Xuyuan really wanted to say this.
Tang Ying cut in, "Brother Yuan is very busy."
An Ye thought to himself, 'what's it to you', but his face still smiled, "Then Brother Yuan, you must visit the set often, so you can understand my situation."
Tang Ying immediately said, "That's not possible, I will also be starting shoot, Brother Yuan will need to visit my set."
An Ye, unable to bear it, said, "Tang Ying, can you not..."
Zhou Yuanzhe interrupted the two of them, "Are you guys going on set or being hospitalized? Do I need to bring a fruit basket for a visit?"
The two shut their mouths simultaneously.
It has to be said, ever since Xiang Boyan arranged for Tang Ying to stay around Zhou Yuanzhe, indeed, the rumors about An Ye and Zhou Yuanzhe had significantly reduced.
But what Xiang Boyan did not expect was that the rumors started to take a different turn and it became quite bizarre.
In a private group chat of a certain company employee:
"Why is Tang Ying always clinging to Brother Yuan? He's even clingier than An Ye..."
"I spotted Tang Ying being the third wheel again today. [Photo]"
In the photo, Tang Ying very adeptly squeezed himself between An Ye and Zhou Yuanzhe, so fast that his figure had blurred.
"He's not really a third wheel though, it feels like Brother Yuan has been quite indifferent to everyone lately."
"Does anyone remember the couple phones of Director Xiang and Brother Yuan?"
"There's too much mystery around these people's relationships…"
Cheng Xuyuan was not aware that various CPs (Note: couple pairings) had been created by others around him, and numerous dramatic love stories had been concocted. Immersed in his work, he didn't bother about anything else, which made Xiang Boyan somewhat concerned for him.
At the regular meeting of the Artists Management Department, Xiang Boyan specifically praised Zhou Yuanzhe: "Recently, Zhou Yuanzhe has been fully devoted to his work. His dedication is commendable, but I suggest everyone should still take care of their health."
Zhou Yuanzhe, who had already been trying to lower his presence, bizarrely became the focus. He calmly responded, "An Ye and Tang Ying are both in their upward phase, it's only right that they're busy."
After the meeting, Xiang Boyan sought out Zhou Yuanzhe and told him, "No matter how busy you are, take care of your health."
Cheng Xuyuan gave him a puzzled glance, unsure why Xiang Boyan was suddenly showing concern for him. He softly said a word of thanks and left without looking back.
Xiang Boyan watched Cheng Xuyuan's receding figure, always feeling that every time he wanted to say something more, he never managed to do so. What he really wanted to say was, "You look damn good when you're working hard."
________________________
Two days later.
As Cheng Xuyuan sat in his office chair, looking at a thermometer showing a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, he had only one thought: Xiang Boyan's damn jinx.
This was the first time Cheng Xuyuan had fallen sick since he started working in overdrive. In his previous lives, his physical fitness was exceptional, making him unlikely to fall ill; but, in this world, he was a mere mortal. With his intense workload, falling ill was inevitable.
Cheng Xuyuan drank a cup of hot water, intending to head to a nearby hospital alone. Just then, Tang Ying barged in, exclaiming excitedly: "Brother Yuan, I passed my audition!"
Zhou Yuanzhe licked his lips, his throat sounding a bit hoarse as he said, "Congratulations..."
The perceptive Tang Ying immediately sensed something was wrong with Zhou Yuanzhe. Seeing his flushed face, Tang Ying frowned worriedly, "Brother Yuan... are you running a fever?"
Cheng Xuyuan nodded, only wanting to go to the hospital quickly for an IV drip and then to get a good night's sleep.
"I-I'll take you to the hospital!" Tang Ying nervously grabbed Cheng Xuyuan's arm, realizing he was extremely weak. "Brother Yuan, hang on... Brother Yuan!"
Having eaten little that morning, Cheng Xuyuan's rising fever was causing him to feel dizzy and disoriented.
Just before he passed out, he asked his system, "Can you not make me a mortal in the next world?"
The system refused, "That's beyond my control, you can't blame me for your bad luck."
Annoyed, Cheng Xuyuan passed out from anger in Tang Ying's arms.
Tang Ying got a fright and hastily supported Cheng Xuyuan's body, pleading, "Brother Yuan, don't scare me! Brother Yuan, you can't just pass out like this, I just ordered some crayfish for you, it's not even here yet!"
The surprise and fear made Tang Ying momentarily forget about the crayfish. He carried Cheng Xuyuan sideways out of the room and darted towards the stairs.
Luckily, Cheng Xuyuan was slim; otherwise, Tang Ying wouldn't have been able to carry him.
The sight of Cheng Xuyuan being carried like a princess was so stunning it left all the employees of Xing Entertainment speechless, frozen in their tracks.
Linda, fresh from an event and not yet inside the company building, saw a tall youth carrying Cheng Xuyuan and shouting, "Make way, Brother Yuan fainted!"
Linda, in her high heels, rushed forward and asked, "What happened to Brother Yuan?!"
Meanwhile, Xiang Boyan had just alighted from his car. Seeing the unfolding scene in front of him, his expression turned grave and anxious. He yelled, "Tang Ying, what's happening?"
With urgency in his strides, he moved towards Tang Ying, intending to take the man he was carrying from him.
But Tang Ying, an honest and straightforward youth, had no other thoughts aside from rushing Cheng Xuyuan to the hospital. Ignoring Xiang Boyan's outstretched hand, he quickly explained, "Brother Yuan has fainted from a fever, I'm taking him to the hospital now."
"But if you just hand him to me, I will..."
Before Xiang Boyan could finish his sentence, Tang Ying had already requested Linda to open the car door. He situated Cheng Xuyuan at the back seat, quickly took the driver's seat, and expertly started the car toward the hospital.
As he watched the car pull away, Xiang Boyan furrowed his brows. Behind him, the employees had begun to buzz with discussion, their murmurs reaching his ears.
"That little brother Tang Ying is so manly, I used to think he was too introverted, but now my opinion has changed!"
"Brother Yuan must be exhausted recently, but it's a good thing Tang Ying is always there to look after him."
"The way Tang Ying acted earlier, he was like a devoted 'milk dog' totally disregarding his own safety for his loved one!"
"Young 'milk dog' carrying indifferent boss like a princess... what kind of fairy-tale plot is this..."
(Note: 'Milk dog' is a term used in Chinese pop culture to describe someone who is young and enthusiatic, often with a pleasing personality.)
The corner of Xiang Boyan's mouth twitched. As he listened to the whispers around him, his heart sank rapidly, and the grim expression on his face was enough to cause unease.
"Linda, help me handle the inbox files." Xiang Boyan opened the door of his sports car, his gaze landing firmly on the steering wheel, "I’m going to the hospital."
It was time for him to make some changes.
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