Chapter 43 Part 2

Wang Mingyu said: "Yanting, how about putting your name on this script?"

Whether it was to promote someone or to attract investment, Qu Yanting didn't care about the various reasons. He cared about his own principles and reputation. "Master," he said, still tactful, "I'm not good with idol dramas."

But Wang Mingyu was direct: "You name the price."

Qu Yanting picked up the wooden tray and served the steaming tea. The bleak trees outside the window made him feel cold even in the well-heated room. After a long moment, he said definitively: "Master, I don't want to do this."

"Yanting," Wang Mingyu tried to persuade him, "There's no need for you to resist."

In Qu Yanting's heart, loving what you do was a difficult thing. Many people go their whole lives without finding a job they truly like. He had been forced into changing careers back then, but after so many years as a screenwriter, it wasn't as if he had no feelings for it.

"Master," he said, "The industry environment isn't that great. I can't control what others do, but I don't want to participate in this kind of practice."

Wang Mingyu put down her chopsticks, took a napkin to wipe her mouth, and advised: "You're taking this too seriously. Which famous screenwriter hasn't lent their name to a few scripts? The market environment drives market behavior. Going with the flow might go against your conscience, but swimming against the current can easily get you drowned."

Qu Yanting silently poured the tea.

"Besides," Wang Mingyu said, "one must know how to repay kindness."

Qu Yanting's expression was calm, but the tea pouring from the spout trembled for an instant. After pouring, he set the pot down and withdrew his hand. His fingernails, which had turned white from the force of his grip, gradually regained their color.

He compromised: "I'll think about it and give you an answer tomorrow, Master."

"Good. You've always been sensible." Wang Mingyu picked up her tea. "Among all the students your teacher and I have sponsored, you are the most successful."

Dusk was chased away by nightfall. When Qu Yanting came out of the villa, the sky was already dark. He got into the driver's seat and sat quietly by himself in the enclosed space for a while before starting the engine.

He drove straight, turned left, and found number 3-19, which Lu Wen had mentioned. Qu Yanting turned off the engine and got out. The garden gate was unlocked. A row of spotlights on the lawn path inside brightly illuminated the white villa.

Qu Yanting vaguely felt that it looked familiar, but before he could remember why, Lu Wen was waving at him from the wide-open front door.

An unoccupied house is particularly cold and cheerless. Lu Wen turned on all the lights and took out a pair of slippers that Sister Lingling had prepared. Qu Yanting put them on. They were a bit big, making a "pat-pat" sound on the marble tiles.

Qu Yanting asked: "Should we check the cars first?"

"It's fine." Lu Wen was completely unconcerned. "I'll have the driver take it to the repair shop tomorrow."

Qu Yanting said: "Whatever the repair cost is, I'll transfer it to you when it's done."

As he spoke, he walked into the living room. The overall color scheme was cool-toned, decorated according to Lu Zhanqing's taste. Lu Wen showed Qu Yanting around the house, unable to resist gossiping at the same time: "Teacher Qu, did you see Director Zeng just now?"

"No, he wasn't home."

"What a pity."

Qu Yanting couldn't relate. Afraid Lu Wen would continue on this topic, he changed the subject: "I'm thirsty. Is there anything to drink?"

Lu Wen led him into the large kitchen, which was several tens of square meters. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the back garden. He took a cup from the sterilizing drawer and said, "Perfect time to try out this coffee machine."

Qu Yanting said: "Don't go to so much trouble. Mineral water is fine."

Lu Wen had to give up the idea. He opened the beverage fridge, took out a bottle of mineral water, loosened the cap, and handed it to Qu Yanting. It was the same as last time by the pool. Qu Yanting commented casually, "Did you get used to opening bottles for girls?"

His heartthrob persona had already crumbled at Jiangbei Airport. Lu Wen answered truthfully: "Don't talk nonsense. I learned this in etiquette class as a child."

Qu Yanting asked with interest: "What else did you learn?"

Lu Wen didn't know much proper knowledge, but he was well-versed in miscellaneous things: "Take socializing, for example. You can act annoyed, but don't show fear."

Feeling like he was being alluded to, Qu Yanting guiltily took a sip of water.

Lu Wen said: "At a banquet, it's better to sit still than to fiddle with your watch or accessories, which lets people see your suffering."

Qu Yanting felt even more guilty.

"If someone says something nasty," Lu Wen continued, "pretend you didn't hear it. If they say it a second time, it only makes them look shameless."

Qu Yanting's flimsy mask slipped off accidentally, revealing a hint of helplessness. As if confiding and asking for advice at the same time, he asked: "If someone is forcing me to do something I don't want to do, what should I do?"

Lu Wen had no theory for dealing with that, only a sudden impulse that arose in an instant: "What happened?"

His reason returned. Qu Yanting shook his head. He avoided Lu Wen's gaze and turned to leave the kitchen island. There was a glass staircase by the wall. He feigned curiosity and said, "Can I go upstairs for a tour?"

Lu Wen replied, stifling his frustration: "No one would stop you even if you climbed onto the roof."

The second floor was mainly bedrooms. Lu Wen's master bedroom had a balcony and a vanity table against the wall, a necessity for a male celebrity. A set of unopened skincare products was on the table. Sister Lingling hadn't been bragging; indeed, nothing was missing.

Lu Wen said critically, "The bed is a bit hard."

Qu Yanting spoke from experience: "If it's too soft, your back will hurt after sleeping on it for a long time."

The two of them sat side by side on the edge of the bed and bounced a little. Qu Yanting reached out and turned on the bedside lamp. The halo of light was a gentle, pale yellow.

The bedside table was new, and the matching key was still in the drawer's keyhole. Lu Wen thought it looked ugly sticking out and said, "Teacher Qu, you're closer. Help me pull it out and throw it in the drawer."

Qu Yanting did as he was told, pulling out the key and opening the drawer.

They both assumed the drawer was empty, but unexpectedly, inside were a neatly arranged remote control, an alarm clock, spare batteries, a notepad, and right in the middle, two boxes of Okamoto condoms.

Lu Wen was dumbfounded. Sister Lingling's words echoed in his ears: 'bought everything you could possibly need'.

He: "I..."

Qu Yanting put the key away, closed the drawer, and said, "A lot of celebrities live in Zishan, and paparazzi love to follow them. Be careful if you bring people home."

Lu Wen felt deeply wronged: "Who would I bring home? You're the only one I've brought here!"

"What are you getting so worked up about," Qu Yanting said. "It's perfectly normal for a single man in his late twenties to occasionally bring someone home."

Lu Wen half-turned, brushing against Qu Yanting's leg, and retorted in kind, "Then you're in your early thirties. Do you often bring people home?"

Qu Yanting said: "None of your business."

Lu Wen asked again: "Then do you have a girlfriend?"

Qu Yanting still said: "None of your business."

Lu Wen said rebelliously: "You crashed into me, can't I ask a few questions?"

"You're not allowed to ask about private matters." Qu Yanting always had a retort. "You buy condoms but ask others about their girlfriends. Why didn't you take a logic class when you were a child?"

Lu Wen couldn't win the argument and was breathing heavily with anger. His nasal passages felt hot, as if he was about to get another nosebleed. He whipped his head around and noticed the mineral water bottle that Qu Yanting had been clutching the whole time.

There were marks on the glass bottle, just like on the wine glass at the wrap party—it was sweat from his palm.

Lu Wen confirmed that Qu Yanting had something on his mind. Connecting it to their unfinished conversation downstairs, he mulled it over for a moment, then dropped the trivial banter: "See if this logic is correct."

"What?"

"If someone bullies you, tell me."

Qu Yanting didn't know where to look. He mumbled, "Why?"

'I'll protect you.'

"Because the last time I said those words, I pissed you off," Lu Wen answered in a low voice. "So I don't dare say them."