By the time they wrapped up, the sky was already dark.

Lu Wen was called over to the monitor by Ren Shu. He watched his own performance in the raw footage, frame by frame, and found it magical. His mind wandered as he glanced at the empty chair beside him, unsure of when Qu Yanting had left.

On the screen, Ye Shan sat in the far corner. School had been out for a long time, and he was the only one left in the classroom. He gradually stopped writing, covered his face with his hands, and smelled the scent on his palms and cuffs.

Ren Shu said, "The emotional progression is very natural. From numbness to self-loathing, you've performed it with layers."

While acting this scene, Lu Wen remembered Qu Yanting saying he had no popularity, terrible results, and low pay. It was hard not to feel inferior.

In the final scene, Ye Shan rushed into the boys' bathroom and turned on the faucet to wash his hands. He scrubbed them forcefully and repeatedly until his ten fingers were red and scratch marks appeared on the backs of his hands.

Lu Wen didn't feel anything while filming, but watching it now as a bystander, the scene felt somewhat familiar.

Before he could figure it out, Ren Shu praised him, "Not bad. You've completed the task perfectly."

Lu Wen forced a smile. He wasn't good at hiding his feelings, and his low spirits were obvious at a glance.

Ren Shu said, "Xiao Lu, don't be discouraged. Even the best actors have NGs. How much experience do you have? It's normal."

Lu Wen felt a little better. "Thank you for your tolerance, Director Ren."

"Don't thank me. I'll still scold you if you don't act well next time," Ren Shu said. "Alright, pressure leads to progress. Your comprehension is very strong. Once you find the right feeling, you can act well."

Lu Wen had originally thought the director had a fiery temper, but after being stabbed into a hornet's nest by Qu Yanting's gentle blade, he could now sense a "tough guy with a soft heart" quality in Ren Shu. He said gratefully, "Director Ren, I will work hard."

A-team wrapped up, and everyone left the school building one after another. The dilapidated school didn't have a single high-wattage lamp, and it was dim and gloomy everywhere.

Back in the RV, Lu Wen changed his clothes and then fumbled with removing his makeup. He was clumsy, and every time he would lay out a table full of cotton pads, more than the gauze used for surgery.

Sun Xiaojian leaned against the window, sighing repeatedly. "Sigh, this time we've completely offended Screenwriter Qu."

Hearing the "Qu," Lu Wen's blood pressure shot up ten points. "Don't mention that man, thank you."

Sun Xiaojian was worried. "How did we fail to curry favor with him? And failing to curry favor is one thing, but how did it end up like this?"

Lu Wen was full of grievances. In his entire life, this was the first time he had suffered such a setback. For the sake of his future and his pride, he had already humbled himself before Qu Yanting. As for currying favor, Qu Yanting simply looked down on him. It would be useless even if he offered up his attentiveness on a silver platter.

Sun Xiaojian tried to console himself, "Screenwriter Qu's status is what it is. He says and does what he wants without considering other people's feelings. Maybe he didn't mean to attack you."

"Attack?" Lu Wen crumpled a cotton pad into a ball. "He didn't intentionally attack me; he ruthlessly crushed me, bombed me. If I went for an ECG right now, you know what you'd find?"

Sun Xiaojian asked, "What?"

Lu Wen said, "You'd find that my heart is a barren wasteland."

Sun Xiaojian had nothing more to say. Thinking back, they had run into Qu Yanting as soon as they arrived in Chongqing, and they happened to be staying at the same hotel, bumping into each other several times.

According to the normal course of events, with such a fateful connection, Lu Wen and Qu Yanting should have had an advantage due to their proximity. How did every encounter end in hidden sorrow and resentment?

"Let's just accept our fate," Lu Wen said. "Our stars are not aligned, me and the great Screenwriter Qu."

Sun Xiaojian was, after all, a master's graduate who believed in materialism. "Thinking about it now, you got in the wrong car, said the wrong thing, and mistook him for someone else. You actually offended Qu Yanting early on."

"But I apologized."

"Did Qu Yanting accept it?"

Lu Wen said, "Are you suggesting that Qu Yanting never accepted my apology and used today as an opportunity to mess with me?"

Sun Xiaojian's imagination ran wild. "Why do you think he changed the script for no reason? The inner monologue was increased, and the performance difficulty was raised. Could it be a trap he dug for you? He happened to come and supervise the scene, which gave him a legitimate reason to crush and bomb you, didn't it?"

A sudden realization dawned on Lu Wen. "He's using a public position to settle a private grudge!"

Suddenly, someone knocked on the RV window. It was a crew member.

Sun Xiaojian opened the door and saw Xiao Zhang with his bag, probably about to get off work.

Xiao Zhang didn't dare to neglect Qu Yanting's instructions and got it done before the night was over. He came to inform them, "Teacher Lu, I was afraid you were short-handed, so I've assigned you a crew assistant."

Being unpopular meant your words carried no weight. To suddenly be valued was a bit of a surprise. Sun Xiaojian confirmed, "To help us?"

Xiao Zhang said, "Yes, you can use him as a personal assistant. He's quite efficient. Try him out first. If you're not satisfied, I'll find you another one."

Sun Xiaojian said, "Thanks, sorry to trouble you."

"I should be the one apologizing. It was my negligence. I only made the arrangement today after being told to," Xiao Zhang said, in a hurry to leave. "I'll be off then. Teacher Lu, you should also get some rest."

The door closed, and Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian looked at each other. It was rare for something good to happen, and both of them found it a bit incredible.

Sun Xiaojian comforted him, "Don't be sad. You see, this is life. You win some, you lose some. Fortune favors fools."

Lu Wen said, "You should be less of a fool in the future."

Sun Xiaojian couldn't be bothered to argue. "Hey, Xiao Zhang said he was following instructions. Who do you think took pity on you?"

Lu Wen mulled it over. "Most likely Director Ren. The director has the most authority on set. Once Director Ren gave the order, Xiao Zhang got it done before wrap-up."

"Makes sense," Sun Xiaojian said. "Didn't Director Ren also praise your performance?"

Before joining the cast, he was full of expectations; on the first day of filming, he almost had to pack his bags and go home. Sun Xiaojian no longer expected Lu Wen to climb the social ladder. As long as he filmed properly and could wrap up smoothly, he would burn incense and pray to Buddha.

After removing his makeup, Lu Wen put on a baseball cap and pulled the brim down firmly.

"Don't be so down," Sun Xiaojian said. "I'll go with you to take your mind off things."

Lu Wen asked, "Where to?"

Sun Xiaojian thought for a moment. "A must-see for outsiders—Hongya Cave."

Leaving the set, they didn't take the nanny van but hailed a cab to Hongya Cave.

At night, Hongya Cave was like a city of lights, dazzlingly bright. There were more tourists than during the day, and the bustling atmosphere was relaxing. Lu Wen and Sun Xiaojian held onto each other's backpack straps and followed the crowd down to the riverbank.

Not far away was the Qiansimen Bridge. When Lu Wen came to Chongqing as a child, he had taken a photo with the bridge in the background.

The river water rippled, and a few fishing boats were docked by the shore. He started to sing, "...The setting sun dyes the secluded grass, how many times has the crimson flown, swaying the distant sails on the river..."

"There he goes again," Sun Xiaojian suggested, "Want me to take a picture of you?"

Lu Wen shook his head. What was the point of having his manager take his picture? The surrounding tourists were bustling about. Why didn't anyone recognize him?

The world was so vast, where were all his fans? Couldn't they come out and show themselves?

Sun Xiaojian saw through him. "It's because you're wearing a hat. People can't see your face clearly."

Lu Wen said nothing. A few seconds later, he took off his hat and said, in a poor attempt to cover it up, "The nights in Chongqing are quite hot."

He turned around, leaning against the railing to face the passing crowd. There were students, couples, and sunset tour groups. People walked back and forth, but not a single one had a discerning eye.

Just as Lu Wen was feeling disappointed, a woman in her thirties walked toward him, holding a camera. Joy sparked in his heart. Facing an older sister fan, he felt a bit shy.

The person approached. "Hello, could you take a picture?"

Lu Wen asked, "You want a photo together?"

The person replied, "Yes, please."

Just as Lu Wen was about to run a hand through his hair, he felt a weight in his hand. The person had placed the camera in it.

He looked utterly bewildered as his "sister fan" stepped back a few paces and linked arms with another man, who was holding their son. The family of three smiled and looked at him.

Alright then.

Lu Wen raised the camera. "Please say cheese."

The moment the shutter clicked, the child twisted in his father's arms, leaning over to kiss his mother on the cheek. The captured image was a bit out of focus, but Lu Wen couldn't bring himself to press delete.

He took another one. The family was very satisfied and thanked him.

Lu Wen put his baseball cap back on and leaned against the railing in silence. The time he came to Hongya Cave as a child, it was also his dad who had brought him. Sun Xiaojian, seeing things with perfect clarity, said, "You're homesick, aren't you? Have you contacted uncle recently?"

"No." Lu Wen was not in high spirits. "Why would I contact him? To listen to him lecture me?"

Sun Xiaojian said, "Blood is thicker than water between father and son. Your dad must be worried about you. If he knew you'd been wronged, he might just wave his hand and invest in a movie for you."

Lu Wen said, "If I wasn't afraid of him finding out, I would've left a long time ago."

Taking out his phone, he pretended to casually scroll through his contacts, quickly finding "Lu Zhanqing." After a beating in elementary school, he had changed "Dad" to Lu Zhanqing's full name and had sworn at the time to never set it as an emergency contact.

His thumb hovered over the call button. Just as Lu Wen was hesitating, Sun Xiaojian deliberately bumped him. Hanging up would make him seem like a coward, so he pressed the phone to his ear and said nonchalantly, "I have nothing to talk to him about."

Unexpectedly, Lu Zhanqing's voice came through. "Hello?"

Lu Wen hadn't expected the call to go through so quickly. In a foreign city at night, suddenly hearing Lu Zhanqing's voice, he was momentarily lost in a daze.

"Dad, it's me." He managed to squeeze out, "Have you eaten?"

Lu Zhanqing replied, "I have."

Lu Wen's deep voice was inherited from Lu Zhanqing, but in comparison, his sounded a bit immature. After a few seconds of silence, he really didn't know what to say. "I'm filming in Chongqing."

Lu Zhanqing: "Mm."

This conversation was going nowhere. Lu Wen wanted to hang up. He looked down and saw the line for the sightseeing boat. The family of three was queuing up, talking and laughing. He found it very heartwarming, though how heartwarming it was, neither he nor Lu Zhanqing had ever experienced.

Lu Wen's heart softened a little. "Dad, I miss you."

A silence filled only with the sound of breathing ensued. It was a long time before Lu Zhanqing responded, "What trouble did you get into?"

Lu Wen's blood pressure soared again. "Can't you ever wish me well!"

Lu Zhanqing said, "It's best if there's none."

Lu Wen said, "I'd have to be a fucking idiot to miss you!"

Lu Zhanqing let out a chuckle. "Got it. Go find Old Zheng."

Old Zheng was Lu Zhanqing's assistant. Since Lu Wen came of age, if the dividends from the assets under his name were not enough, Old Zheng was responsible for giving him a large sum. Lu Zhanqing wouldn't trouble himself with it personally.

After hanging up, Lu Wen was in no mood to continue sightseeing, nor did he have an appetite for dinner. He headed back to the hotel from Hongya Cave.

By the time he got to the hotel, it was getting late. The 62nd floor was still as quiet as ever.

Walking to his door, Lu Wen glanced at room 6206. He thought that having one unbearable man like Lu Zhanqing in his life was enough, but now he had run into a Qu Yanting.

Maybe in a past life, he first stole Qu Yanting's wife, then became Lu Zhanqing's father.

The first day of work had left him mentally and physically exhausted. Lu Wen returned to his room, soaked in a hot bath to relieve his fatigue, and then did his skincare routine in front of the mirror.

After applying his products, he turned on the faucet to rinse his fingertips. Water droplets splashed onto the marble countertop, refracting the light from the wall lamps.

He suddenly remembered. The image of Ye Shan endlessly scrubbing his hands was very similar to that night at the start-of-filming banquet, when Qu Yanting had washed his hands incessantly in the dressing room.

Could it be...

"Fuck," Lu Wen muttered. "He's given me a psychological complex."

He turned off the faucet and decided that if he thought about Qu Yanting again, he was a dog.

Lu Wen climbed into bed with the script and recited his lines twice. Before long, he fell asleep with the script clutched to his chest.

The minute hand went around twice. Just after midnight, he turned over in his sleep. His stomach rumbled, waking him up from sheer hunger.

After enduring it for a while, Lu Wen gave in and got up. Ordering late-night snacks would be too slow, so he wanted to get some snacks from Sun Xiaojian. Without turning on the lights, he groped in the dark for a jacket and pulled the key card from the slot at the entryway.

As he looked up, he saw a dark figure flash past the peephole.

Puzzled, Lu Wen pressed his eye to it and his eyes widened abruptly. Across the hall, a fully bundled-up man was stopped outside room 6206.

The clothes looked somewhat familiar... It was Ruan Feng!

Ruan Feng was wearing a hat and a mask. He didn't ring the bell, but knocked softly on the door.

Soon, the door opened. Qu Yanting, hair wet and wearing a bathrobe, appeared in the doorway, clearly having just showered. He seemed displeased from waiting for a long time and reached out to flick the brim of Ruan Feng's hat.

Just like during the day, Ruan Feng squeezed in anxiously and quickly shut the door.

Lu Wen stared, stunned, from behind the peephole. He forgot his hunger, forgot about finding food, and pushed all of the day's emotions to the back of his mind.

He was completely awake, even a little excited.

Damn, this film crew is really something else.