Fang Shaoyi was already quite skilled with the scissors. He looked just like a professional hair stylist, except he was a bit tall and needed the chair to be raised to its highest level to work comfortably. 

Liu An reassured him that he was good enough as he was, with just the scissors, comb, and hair dryer. He casually pulled a youth over and said, "Come here, your hair is getting long, let Shaoyi give you a haircut."

The youth's eyes showed fear, but he didn't resist. He sat down on the chair, resigned to his fate, and said, "Okay."

Fang Shaoyi looked at him in the mirror and smiled, saying, "Don't be nervous."

The youth looked miserable and said, "That's impossible...but my hair grows fast, so it's okay." 

Liu An patted his shoulder and leaned back, sipping his milk tea with a smile. "If the haircut isn't good, I'll let someone fix it for you." 

The youth nodded and sat there, letting Fang Shaoyi work his magic. In fact, he got more than just a haircut - it came with a head massage too. 

The scene in the movie was blurred, but it was set in the 90s, so there were no fancy reclining chairs for hair washing like in modern salons. Instead, they sat in regular chairs and used their hands to lather up the shampoo while massaging the scalp. 

And since it was the hands of a movie emperor like Fang Shaoyi, the youth couldn't help but laugh and say, "I should take a picture and send it to my girlfriend. She loves Fang-laoshi...Sen Cha." 

Fang Shaoyi teased him by glancing at him in the mirror and saying, "When you were shouting at me yesterday, you should have live-streamed it to your girlfriend." 

"Oh my god," the youth blinked his eyes and looked at Liu An, who was smiling on the side. He whispered, "Director said that Fang-lao...he said he doesn't hold grudges." 

Everyone around them laughed. The atmosphere only relaxed when Fang Shaoyi started working. If he had nothing to do, these people would have to find work for him and even exclude him. But everyone was used to it now, and sometimes even forgot that he was Fang Shaoyi. They had successfully brainwashed themselves. 

In just one week, filming for Fang Shaoyi's new movie would begin. It had been almost a month since the preparations started, and it was not an easy time. There were all sorts of intentional difficulties and attacks, some of which were quite excessive. If it were any other actor of his caliber, they would have lost their temper long ago.

Yuan Ye had said that he would chase him, but there had been no further action. The online gossip about their divorce also stopped spreading, and it all came down to Fang Shaoyi's Weibo post. From then on, it was just idle speculation and analysis from the audience. The main characters had gone quiet, and there was nothing more to dig up about them. 

However, it was also because Geng Jinwei and the public relations company were keeping a tight lid on things. Fang Shaoyi had never really needed public relations in all these years, but this was the first time he required such a high level of attention. 

Geng Jinwei was fed up with these two people's antics and hadn't talked to them much in the past few days. 

Later, Ji Xiaotao brought someone to the dressing room and said to Fang Shaoyi, "Brother, the new employee has arrived." 

Fang Shaoyi turned his head and glanced at them. The male youth that Geng Jinwei had brought before smiled at him and greeted him, "Brother Shaoyi." 

Fang Shaoyi nodded in response and asked, "Have you met the director yet?" 

Yang Siran said, "Not yet, I just arrived." 

Fang Shaoyi made a sound of acknowledgement and asked him, "Has the company assigned someone to accompany you? Do you have an assistant?" 

"Yes, President Geng arranged an assistant for me," Yang Siran nodded. 

"Okay," Fang Shaoyi said, "If you need anything, you can also talk to Xiaotao." 

"Okay, Brother Shaoyi." 

This youth seemed quite obedient and didn't talk much. He was good at reading people's expressions and didn't rely on assistants much after joining the crew. When he had nothing to do, he would help Ji Xiaotao with his work. 

It was clear that Geng Jinwei really wanted to promote him, as the assistant assigned to him was not a newcomer and had been with the company for several years, working with several artists and having some connections and resources of their own.

Ji Xiaotao privately told Fang Shaoyi, "I think the kid is pretty good. He's obedient and doesn't have any major flaws. His conditions are also good, so if we promote him, he should be able to become popular."

Fang Shaoyi hadn't had much contact with him, but if Geng Jinwei wanted to promote him, he would support it without any objections. This newcomer Yang Siran was signed by Fang Shaoyi's studio, and since Fang Shaoyi himself was also on set, he was treated quite well. 

Yang Siran was respectful to everyone, even the crew members, and never acted superior. However, many newcomers are like this when they have no fame, and once they become popular, they change. The entertainment industry is a place of fame and fortune, where lifting up and putting down others has become a habit.

Fang Shaoyi's first scene was with him, and it was intentionally arranged by the director. Among all the newcomers in this scene, Yang Siran was the only one. The director gave Fang Shaoyi the scene to help him get into the rhythm quickly. Since Yang Siran was signed by Fang Shaoyi's studio, it was only right for Fang Shaoyi to guide him at the start. 

Before filming started, Yang Siran said to Fang Shaoyi, "Brother Shaoyi, I've never acted in a movie before. If there's anything I'm not doing well, just tell me directly. You don't have to spare my feelings or anything."

Fang Shaoyi glanced at him and replied, "Don't worry, there's no need to be nervous. Since President Geng signed you, he must see potential in you. Take it slow."

Yang Siran smiled awkwardly and said, "I'm just afraid of causing trouble for you and slowing things down. So if there's anything I'm not doing well, please let me know." 

But what was surprising was that this child actor was actually quite good. 

In the first scene, Fang Shaoyi rented a room in the small town and Yang Siran played the role of Sen Cha's landlord. He was a timid college student who wore glasses and was assigned to work in a pharmaceutical factory after graduation. Later, he quit his job due to poor health and relied on rent to make a living while idle at home when Sen Cha arrived in the small town. 

Sometimes, new actors struggle for days to pass their first scene, but they passed it in just four takes. Some people have a natural sense for the camera, even if they haven't acted before. 

Directors prefer these types of people. They love talented actors who haven't had much experience because they have a clean slate and haven't learned too many techniques. With their natural abilities, they can be polished to perfection, and there may even be some unexpected surprises. 

After the shoot, Director Jiang said to Fang Shaoyi, "This young actor did pretty well." 

Fang Shaoyi nodded and replied, "He did okay. It was lucky for him to have his first role in your film." 

"What luck?" Director Jiang sneered. "President Geng deliberately stuffed him in. There was actually a more suitable actor, but you guys squeezed him out." 

Fang Shaoyi smiled and spoke straightforwardly to Jiang Linchuan, "Brother Geng wants me to guide him along."

Jiang Linchuan didn't say much, after all, it wasn't a major role, and Yang Siran, the kid, was pretty good.

This modern film wasn't as difficult to shoot as a period drama, so Fang Shaoyi didn't suffer as much, and Ji Xiaotao was also much more at ease. But now that he was at ease, he started worrying about useless things again and asked Fang Shaoyi, "Brother, has Brother Ye started pursuing you?"

Fang Shaoyi replied, "What do you think?"

"I haven't seen any movement between you two," Ji Xiaotao probed, "When did Brother Ye start pursuing you?"

Fang Shaoyi didn't even lift his head, "Go ask him."

"He's not responding to my messages, it's driving me crazy," Ji Xiaotao said. 

Yuan Ye was really not responding to his messages. He had been so annoyed by Xiaotao that the only thing he hadn't done was block him. 

Fang Shaoyi scolded him, "I told you not to bother him all the time." 

"But if I don't contact him, the two of you won't talk for a long time. Aren't I being anxious for you?" Ji Xiaotao handed over the script for tomorrow's play that the assistant director had brought over and said, "We'll be tied up with filming until May next year, and you'll just be staying on the set and can't go out. If I don't call Brother Ye over, when will you two make up?" 

Fang Shaoyi was also annoyed with him. He glanced at the door and gestured for him to leave, saying, "Go back to sleep and stop nagging here." 

Ji Xiaotao was also about to leave and said to him, "Then you should go to bed early too, brother. I'll come and wake you up at six tomorrow." 

Fang Shaoyi waved his hand, letting Ji Xiaotao leave. 

This guy Yuan Ye was unreliable. He claimed to want to pursue him, and he had also agreed, but after making a phone call he disappeared without a trace. The online fans of this CP were constantly asking about Yuan Ye's progress, hoping to see them together again. But this guy kept disappearing, leaving everyone hanging. 

Fang Shaoyi took out his phone and sent a message to Yuan Ye. 

Their chat history was still stuck on the last time Yuan Ye sent him a message saying, "Thank you for our fate." 

They hadn't messaged each other since then. Fang Shaoyi pursed his lips and sent a message to Yuan Ye: "Waiting for fate to fall on your head?" 

He didn't expect Yuan Ye to reply. He wasn't even sure when Yuan Ye would check his phone. 

When Yuan Ye messaged back, Fang Shaoyi was already asleep. He replied with a voice message in the middle of the night, "Hahaha." 

His phone was right next to his bed, so he picked it up and frowned before sending a voice message back, "What are you foolishly laughing at?" 

He was half-awake, his voice low and hoarse. Even through the phone, it made Yuan Ye's ears tingle. Yuan Ye sent him a voice message in return, "Are you trying to flirt with me, bro?" 

Fang Shaoyi closed his eyes and sent a voice message back, "What did I do to flirt with you?" 

Yuan Ye quickly replied, "You're flirting with my ears." 

Fang Shaoyi still had his eyes closed and asked, "Are you turned on?" 

Yuan Ye sent a message with ellipses first, then after a few seconds, he sent a two-second voice message while laughing, "F*ck..." 

These two are quite crazy. One of them probably hasn't slept yet, while the other woke up halfway and they just chatted back and forth, saying things that were not very virtuous.

Yuan Ye asked Fang Shaoyi, "Is Xiaotao gay? He doesn't seem like a straight guy now. He talks like an old lady."

"I don't know," Fang Shaoyi didn't pay much attention to his assistant's love life and was clueless. "If he annoys you, just block him."

"I can't do that. Sometimes he does have important matters to discuss."

It had been a long time since they had chatted like this, just sending messages to each other purely for the sake of conversation. That was something they did many years ago when they had nothing on their minds and could talk about anything.

Later, Yuan Ye directly made a voice call and Fang Shaoyi answered. Yuan Ye laughed and called him "Brother Yi." 

Fang Shaoyi responded with a nasal sound, "Mm."

Yuan Ye said, "Don't you think we're like two old men pretending to be young boys in love?"

Fang Shaoyi raised an eyebrow, "Are young boys the only ones allowed to chat? Did they patent it?"

Yuan Ye burst out laughing again, coughing twice from the laughter.

After he finished laughing, Fang Shaoyi called out to him, "Yuan Ye."

Yuan Ye loved it when Fang Shaoyi called him by his name, he really loved it. When others called him by the same two words, it didn't have the same flavor as when Fang Shaoyi said it. It was only when it was Fang Shaoyi that it sounded especially nice. Yuan Ye responded, "Yeah."

Fang Shaoyi said, "Quit smoking."

Yuan Ye paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "I knew you were going to bring up my smoking."  

Yuan Ye used to smoke for a while. Many writers have this habit of picking up a cigarette while writing. He used to cough a lot, but Fang Shaoyi forced him to quit.

Now, Yuan Ye has a heavy addiction to smoking, and he knows it won't be easy to quit. "I'll try to cut back," he says.

Fang Shaoyi didn't say much, just a simple "okay."

They spoke like this on the phone, holding their phones close to their ears, listening to each other's soft voices in the late night. It's quite comforting. But after a while it got too late, and Fang Shaoyi still has to film tomorrow. Yuan Ye says, "You should go to bed, or you won't be able to do your makeup tomorrow."

Fang Shaoyi agrees and tells Yuan Ye, "You should go to bed early too. Don't stay up too late, you're over thirty now."

Yuan Ye says, "Okay." 

Both of them were waiting for the other to hang up. Before hanging up, Fang Shaoyi called out to Yuan Ye. 

"What's up?" Yuan Ye asked. 

Fang Shaoyi closed his eyes and asked him softly, "When do you plan to come out and look for your fate."