Ye Nanqi thought, It’s because I refuse to show that side of myself in front of you. For some inexplicable reason, he also felt a surge of unwillingness to admit defeat in front of his romantic rival and sworn enemy. Arguing back would make him seem too childish, so he grumbled silently to himself. Distracted for a moment, he accidentally fed himself a spoonful of porridge.
It was so hot that tears nearly sprang from his eyes.
Shen Du cursed, “Idiot,” then immediately turned around, poured a glass of cold water, added two ice cubes, and handed it to Ye Nanqi.
He still had lines to deliver during the audition later. Ye Nanqi couldn’t afford to mess up at such a crucial moment, so he quickly took the glass and held a mouthful of cold water in his mouth. He went to rinse it out, and when he returned, Shen Du had already left. A tube of Yunnan Baiyao had been left on the table.
Ye Nanqi was momentarily stunned. His mouth was still burning, and the feelings in his heart were difficult to describe. He muttered, “It’s not poisoned, is it?” but obediently applied the medicine anyway.
Fortunately, the porridge hadn’t been particularly hot. It had only scalded the tip of his tongue, turning it a little red. After finishing breakfast, Ye Nanqi waited for the driver to arrive and got into the car. After hesitating for quite a while, he finally took out his phone and sent Shen Du a message.
【Thank you.】
Shen Du replied rather quickly:
【I’m afraid you’ll get scalded to death. I’d be the prime suspect.】
Ye Nanqi’s smile remained unchanged, but the force with which he jabbed at his phone more than doubled.
【Don’t worry. If anyone’s going to die, it definitely won’t be me first.】
After sending the message, Ye Nanqi suddenly realized how childish he was being. Shen Du always managed to calmly provoke him into losing his temper. He wasn’t acting like himself at all. He pursed his lips, switched to another number, and checked the itinerary and contact information for Jiang Yuanyu that the private investigator had sent him. Seeing that there were no problems for the time being, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t that he was being overly nervous without reason. The same manager, the same investment company, a similar temperament and personality—even the speed at which they’d risen to fame was alike. Jiang Yuanyu was practically another Ye Mei.
He just didn’t know whether that unseen hand would drag him into the abyss as well, just as it had all those years ago.
The audition went smoothly.
When it came to acting, Ye Nanqi had always been confident in himself. By the time it ended, he could tell that Director Xu was quite satisfied with his performance.
He had done everything he could. Now all that remained was to do his best and leave the rest to fate. Ye Nanqi bowed, then quietly withdrew. As he left, he brushed past a young man and noticed at a glance that, like him, the other was one of the young pretty-boy stars who had recently become popular.
His acting reputation, however, wasn’t as good as Ye Nanqi’s.
Ye Nanqi deliberately slowed his pace a little. He vaguely heard that the other man was also there to compete for the role of the third male lead.
There was no way he’d lose to him, right?
Ye Nanqi smiled faintly and stopped thinking about it. Wen Chen wiped away his sweat and patted Ye Nanqi on the shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard. You did really well. Even watching you made me nervous. Sigh, why is Cui Hao so tragic? He’s forced to shoot his friend. Thankfully, the bullet misses his heart…”
Ye Nanqi listened to him before saying, “Brother Wen, that means you haven’t understood the character deeply enough. Cui Hao genuinely wanted to shoot his friend dead.”
Wen Chen froze. “Why?”
Ye Nanqi replied, “He’s been trapped in a den of bandits for so many years. There’s no way he could have held firmly to his original beliefs without wavering. This friend doesn’t know about his mission and has nearly exposed his identity several times. For the sake of the justice he’s pursuing and his ultimate goal, sacrificing someone has become perfectly normal in Cui Hao’s eyes.”
Therefore, whoever played this role would have to portray not only Cui Hao’s already cold and deranged true nature, but also the contradictions and suffering beneath it.
Wen Chen thought it over, then gave him a thumbs-up. “I knew I wasn’t wrong about you back then. You’re definitely going to become a huge star someday.”
Ye Nanqi smiled without saying anything.
Wen Chen’s confidence that Ye Nanqi would land the role shot up to full. In an excellent mood after the audition, he suggested that they go eat hot pot to warm themselves up. It was early winter, after all, and a new hot pot restaurant had just opened nearby. It had a nice atmosphere and authentic flavors. Even its clear broth was delicious.
Ye Nanqi hardly ever got to eat hot pot throughout the year. Unfortunately, the tip of his tongue had started burning again. He drew in a slight breath and said helplessly, “Take your sister-in-law instead. I’m a little tired and want to go home and rest.”
Wen Chen was deeply moved by the sacrifice Ye Nanqi was making to maintain his figure. He immediately left in high spirits.
A little while later, he sent over a whole bunch of pictures: steaming hot pot, bright red chili oil, and plates upon plates of ingredients. Just looking at them was enough to imagine the taste.
It wasn’t that Ye Nanqi didn’t eat spicy food. He simply couldn’t handle it, yet he still craved that spicy flavor. After seeing the pictures Wen Chen sent, he threatened to block him.
Only then was Wen Chen finally satisfied and stopped.
Shen Du’s villa was enormous and empty. Aside from the hourly cleaner who came every day and the two people who were always rushing in and out, there was hardly any life in the house. Although its owner was rather unpleasant, the interior was decorated in a Scandinavian style—very simple and minimalist, so minimalist that a distinctly cold, detached atmosphere seemed to permeate every corner.
Ye Nanqi remembered that he’d promised his younger sister he would visit her once work was finished. He went upstairs to change clothes and happened to glance at the mirror. The person reflected in it had soft features, clear brows and bright eyes, and an elegant face. His eye sockets were somewhat deep, however, so unless he deliberately lowered his eyes in a gentle manner, he could appear inscrutable and difficult to read.
Although Ye Wan couldn’t see, Ye Nanqi still took his time getting properly dressed. He put on his hat and went downstairs. Just as he reached the door, he heard a click.
Shen Du had returned.
Ye Nanqi and Shen Du stared at each other from opposite sides of the doorway. He blinked, then remembered that today was Saturday.
So what had Shen Du gone out to do so early in the morning?
The question popped into his mind but was quickly tossed aside. He casually nodded at Shen Du and, not wanting to waste time, walked past him and straight out the door.
He’d dressed so meticulously and elegantly, and had even put on a little perfume. He looked just like someone going on a date with a secret lover.
Shen Du frowned as he watched Ye Nanqi’s graceful figure walking away. He decided that if any rumors about an affair surfaced, he would seize the opportunity to use them to pressure Ye Nanqi into filing for divorce.
Ye Nanqi first called Mother Ye. Today, she was going to a neighboring city with Mother Shen to see an art exhibition, and she sounded quite excited. As soon as she received her son’s call, she knew Ye Nanqi’s audition must have finished.
Because of what had happened to Ye Mei, she was a thousand times unwilling to let her son step into that murky world again. However, even after a year of giving him the cold shoulder, she hadn’t managed to change his mind. In the end, she’d simply stopped asking questions and never showed any interest in Ye Nanqi’s work.
When she heard Ye Nanqi say he was going to the hospital, Mother Ye smiled and asked, “Why don’t you invite Shen Du along? Wanwan would probably be very happy.”
Ye Nanqi choked for a moment and furrowed his brows somewhat awkwardly. “He’s busy with work. He went out early this morning, so I won’t bother him. Mom, you two have fun, and be careful.”
After hanging up, Ye Nanqi went to a flower shop and bought a bouquet of yellow lilies. He looked around to make sure no paparazzi were following him before driving to the hospital.
Normally, Ye Nanqi didn’t care how the paparazzi secretly photographed him or what stories they made up. His reputation had already been muddied beyond repair. Whether his fans believed him or not, as long as he could keep generating buzz and attracting discussion, he wouldn’t have to worry about running out of acting jobs.
He simply didn’t want those bloodsucking bastards who profited from other people’s suffering to exploit his family to generate more gossip.
What had happened eight years ago often caused Mother Ye to wake from nightmares. Even after all these years, she had never truly found peace.
Ye Nanqi hadn’t arrived at a good time. He’d been stuck in traffic the whole way, and by the time he got there, Ye Wan had just taken her medicine and fallen asleep.
Her emotions had been unstable recently, and she often suffered from insomnia. Her medication contained sedative ingredients, so she was sleeping very soundly.
The young nurse was a fan of Ye Nanqi’s. Her cheeks flushed red as she told him about Ye Wan’s recent condition, going into every little detail. Then, in a very quiet voice, she asked whether Ye Nanqi could give her an autograph.
As long as Shen Du wasn’t around, Ye Nanqi was always gentle, refined, and courteous. Smiling, he signed an autograph for her. Not wanting to disturb the young woman any further, he gently set down the flowers and sat nearby.
Before he knew it, Ye Wan had grown up too. Yet because of her physical disability, she’d spent her entire life in hospitals and had never been able to live like an ordinary girl.
The girl’s delicate features were becoming more and more like Ye Mei’s, whose appearance had remained forever frozen in time eight years ago.
Ye Nanqi sat quietly for a long time. Only then did he lean forward and place a kiss on Ye Wan’s forehead, whispering softly, “Good night.”
It was already dark. Ye Nanqi had originally planned to drive straight back to Shen Du’s house. But halfway there, while waiting at a traffic light, he happened to glance to the side and spotted Fang Xingyuan.
Fang Xingyuan walked into a Western restaurant across the street. He didn’t look as though he was meeting anyone. Ye Nanqi rarely had opportunities to get close to him, so he stared at the restaurant for a while, his gaze deep and thoughtful. Then he decisively found somewhere to park. After thinking it over, he bought a bouquet of pink roses from a nearby flower shop and walked inside with an unhurried air.
As soon as he entered, Ye Nanqi spotted Fang Xingyuan with his sharp eyes. Pretending not to see him, he walked straight past, holding the bouquet. Sure enough, just as he passed, he heard Fang Xingyuan’s voice.
“Xiao Ye?”
Ye Nanqi immediately put on an expression that said, Oh no, I’ve been spotted. He tightened his grip on the flowers somewhat awkwardly and turned around in surprise.
“Brother Fang? What a coincidence.”
Fang Xingyuan glanced over his meticulously dressed appearance, then at the flowers. As though he’d understood something, he smiled. “What a coincidence indeed. Meeting someone?”
“…No.” Ye Nanqi tossed the flowers into the trash can. The corners of his lips lifted in a gentle smile, and his eyes curved slightly. There was an indescribably sweet, yet intensely captivating charm to him.
Ye Nanqi and Ye Mei didn’t look alike. The only feature they shared was their eyes, which were remarkably similar.
Fang Xingyuan’s expression turned momentarily dazed. He quickly recovered, assuming that Ye Nanqi was simply being cautious and didn’t want his young lover exposed. Very considerately, he nodded and casually asked, “If you’re not meeting anyone, would you like to have dinner together?”
Ye Nanqi had achieved his goal. He hesitated for a moment before smiling faintly and taking a seat. He also took out his phone and pretended to tap at it a few times, as though sending someone a message. Fang Xingyuan didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he handed him the menu with considerable grace and called over a waiter.
Ye Nanqi’s mind wasn’t on the food. He wanted to coax information out of Fang Xingyuan, but he was also afraid of alerting him. He pretended to study the menu seriously while actually pondering how to pry open the mouth of that old bastard.
The way he lowered his eyes and behaved so meekly made him resemble someone from the past even more. Fang Xingyuan’s gaze grew increasingly complicated. After Ye Nanqi finished ordering, he suddenly said, “You don’t look much like your older sister.”
Ye Nanqi hadn’t expected Fang Xingyuan to be the one to tear away the veil first. He paused slightly, then lifted his head with a smile, saying nothing. Fang Xingyuan didn’t seem to mind his reaction and continued, “She wasn’t as ambitious as you are, either.”
Ye Nanqi’s smile remained flawless. He replied casually, “You’re joking, Brother Fang. We aren’t alike at all. I wouldn’t sink as low as she did.”
His words were light and casual, but his heart was bleeding.
Fang Xingyuan looked at Ye Nanqi for a while, seeming somewhat disappointed. He didn’t mention Ye Mei again.
He’s very wary.
Ye Nanqi thought silently. Why is he so wary? He must know something.
Fang Xingyuan was now thriving in the circle of talent agents. Even if he hadn’t personally played a part in what happened back then, he must have received no shortage of money to keep his mouth shut. And perhaps… he had even been the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, setting everything in motion.
But he’d gone to the cinema Ye Mei used to frequent, and had even quietly watched that movie all the way through.
Did that mean the old bastard still felt at least a little guilty?
By the time dinner ended, the two of them had done nothing more than exchange casual pleasantries. Ye Nanqi hadn’t tried to indirectly probe him. Fang Xingyuan was far too guarded; even the slightest hint of trouble would make him keep his distance.
When Ye Nanqi returned home, Shen Du wasn’t in the living room. Ye Nanqi was still thinking about Fang Xingyuan. He carried his coffee past the study and heard the rapid clatter of typing coming from inside.
Through the crack in the door, he could see Shen Du working with complete concentration.
The heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart suddenly lifted considerably. Instead, a mischievous urge rose within him. After thinking for a moment, Ye Nanqi finished his coffee, then relaxed his hand.
With a loud crash, the sound rang out, especially clearly in the otherwise empty house.
He knocked on the door and said without the slightest sincerity, “Oops, sorry. My hand slipped. I didn’t disturb you, did I, President Shen?”
Shen Du remained seated in the study and didn’t come out. He listened to the noisy commotion outside as Ye Nanqi cleaned everything up. After quite a while, he finally muttered under his breath, “Childish.”
It didn’t take long before Ye Nanqi received a message from Wen Chen. Director Xu’s side had already started contacting him. As long as a comet didn’t come crashing into Earth, the role was practically guaranteed to be his.
Ye Nanqi was in an excellent mood. Even when he looked at Shen Du, the man didn’t seem quite as unpleasant as usual.
But just two days later, Wen Chen called him again. His voice sounded uneasy.
“I have two pieces of news, one good and one bad. Which do you want to hear first?”
Ye Nanqi had a feeling that the bad news would be terrible. After a moment of silence, he said, “The good news?”
“There’s a banquet at the end of the month, and the invitation has arrived. You happen to be free then. A lot of big-name celebrities and well-known entrepreneurs will be attending.”
Ye Nanqi felt somewhat relieved. That really was good news. He asked, “What’s the bad news?”
“…” Wen Chen swallowed. “Someone stole your role right out from under you.”