Chapter 45

Lu Wen was woken up by the ringing of his phone. He dug it out from between the sofa cushions, slid to answer. His throat was burning from the alcohol, and a ball of morning crankiness was stuck in his chest, so he just grunted through his nose.

It was Sun Xiaojian. "It's me. Drank too much?"

"I'm fine." Lu Wen said in a hoarse voice, "If you have something to say, say it quick."

Sun Xiaojian said, "Isn't there one scene left to film? The production team sent a notice."

Lu Wen said, "Then just send it directly. Calling in the middle of the night, what kind of manners is that."

"Big brother, are you dreaming?" Sun Xiaojian shouted, "It's almost ten!"

The phone went to a busy signal. Lu Wen rubbed the inner corners of his eyes and opened them. The suite's living room was brightly lit. The hands on the wall clock had just frozen for a moment, it was exactly ten o'clock.

Lu Wen sat up. The drunkenness had faded, but his temples felt a bit stuffy. The coffee table was covered in wine bottles, most of them empty. No one drank lightly last night.

Lu Wen threw off the blanket and went to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. A splash of cold water woke him up completely. Just as he applied shaving foam, Su Wang pushed the door open, half-asleep, and made a beeline for the toilet.

The sound of trickling water started. Lu Wen said, "Must have been holding it in for a while."

"Don't talk nonsense," Su Wang said. "A man can be broken anywhere, but not there."

Just as he spoke, Gu Zhuoyan and Lian Yiming also came in. Last night they were all dressed to the nines, but now they were squeezed into one bathroom, fighting for space. Lu Wen was extremely annoyed. "Don't you guys understand first come, first served?"

Lian Yiming had actually stripped naked and gotten into the shower. "I understand. The three of us came into this world before you did, so shut the hell up."

Lu Wen had the latest birthday, so he always lost out when it came to age. Su Wang pressed the flush button and offered a crooked suggestion, "Wen'er, find a wife with a younger brother, then you can experience what it's like to be an older brother."

"Yeah, a younger brother is good," Gu Zhuoyan said sincerely with a toothbrush in his mouth. "Whatever you do, don't find one with a younger sister. It'll shorten your life."

Lian Yiming poked his head out. "Future big brother-in-law, who the hell are you cursing?"

Ignoring the bickering around him, Lu Wen silently shaved his stubble. Ruan Feng's voice inexplicably echoed in his ears, smilingly calling him brother. In a moment of distraction, the sharp blade left a small cut on his chin.

Lu Wen rinsed off the foam, tilted his face up to the mirror. The bead of blood oozing from the cut was diluted by the water, turning into a pale, watery red. Gu Zhuoyan, rinsing his mouth, looked up. They both looked in the mirror. He asked, "Is it serious?"

"It's nothing." Lu Wen patted on some aftershave.

Gu Zhuoyan said, "You didn't do that on purpose, did you?"

"Huh?" Lu Wen bared a few teeth. "Why would I cut myself on purpose? Am I a masochist?"

Gu Zhuoyan pressed a towel to his face. "Yesterday you had someone hold your chin to look at your nose. Today you can have them hold your chin to look at a cut. Tomorrow, maybe you'll have them hold your chin to look at a canker sore."

The memory surfaced. Lu Wen remembered what Gu Zhuoyan had said when he was drunk. Normally, he would have cursed the other for talking nonsense or making a fuss, but perhaps because of the throbbing pain in his temples, he stopped what he was doing and had nothing to say.

Gu Zhuoyan had no interest in having a heart-to-heart in the bathroom either. He urged, "Are you done yet? Make some space."

Lu Wen moved out of the way. A wave of panic came over him from out of nowhere, and he said loudly, "Let's have brunch. My treat."

They ate at the hotel restaurant. The four of them were starving, so they wolfed down their food without much conversation. After eating their fill, they went their separate ways. Su Wang's route was different, and Lian Yiming had a meeting to attend, so Lu Wen hitched a ride with Gu Zhuoyan back to South Bay.

The weather was nice, so clear it didn't feel like the dead of winter. Lu Wen put down the sun visor and made small talk. "It's the end of the year. Where are you spending Chinese New Year?"

Gu Zhuoyan's "wife" had returned to his studies and was doing advanced training in the United States. During holidays, it was always a matter of one of them traveling to see the other. He said, "Here. Fanxin is coming back for the New Year."

Lu Wen had a flight of fancy. "Do you think I'll ever get to be on the Spring Festival Gala in my lifetime?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "What's so great about the Spring Festival Gala? It's much better to stay home and eat dumplings with Uncle Lu. By the way, are you done shooting this drama?"

"It's about to wrap up." Lu Wen sighed. "My first leading role. I'm kind of reluctant to see it end."

Gu Zhuoyan corrected him, "Your first leading role was in Sleepless Tonight."

That brainless thriller was released at the beginning of last year. Its screen time and attendance rates were leagues below other films from the same period. It ended up being pulled from theaters early and was sealed away in the depths of Lu Wen's memory.

On the first day of its release, Lian Yiming gave movie tickets to all the employees at Sofitel, Su Wang booked an entire theater, and Gu Zhuoyan invited his younger sister's entire department to watch it.

That night, the four of them went to see it together. When they entered the theater, their bond was stronger than gold; when they left, their friendship was almost severed. For the sake of that crappy film, Lu Wen had to spend half a month sweet-talking in their group chat just to salvage their relationship.

Recalling it now, Gu Zhuoyan still felt a lingering fear. "This drama is reliable, right?"

"Of course." Lu Wen felt that wasn't forceful enough and added, "Obviously."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "That's good. Just don't let it be another cringey mess."

Lu Wen kicked out in the cramped car, knocking the floor mat crooked, and retorted, "You're the cringey one! This drama is Teacher Qu's work, his true debut piece!"

"I'm just a handsome man." Gu Zhuoyan wasn't angry or annoyed; instead, he started to laugh. "You're not talking about how well you acted or how well the director filmed, you're just getting all red in the face defending that Teacher Qu."

Lu Wen: "So what?"

Gu Zhuoyan: "Tsk tsk."

"Tsk my ass." Lu Wen punched him and changed the subject. "Let's hang out again after I wrap up filming."

As they neared the South Bay complex, Gu Zhuoyan slowed down and stopped in front of the outer gate without immediately unlocking the doors. Their group of friends didn't need to worry about being bullied, but everyone has moments of unclear judgment, especially in the temptation-filled entertainment industry.

"Don't be impulsive," Gu Zhuoyan advised. "Anyway, it doesn't hurt to be a little more cautious, right, bro?"

Lu Wen unbuckled his seatbelt. "I know. Don't worry."

Gu Zhuoyan unlocked the car doors. "Let me know anytime if something comes up."

Lu Wen found him naggy and went straight for the jugular, "You're so busy, I'll just talk to Fanxin."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "Get the hell out."

Lu Wen returned home reeking of alcohol, overwhelming Sister Lingling. He took a bath, changed his clothes, and once he was clean, he holed up in his room, brewing a pot of Malva Nut tea and memorizing his script.

Sun Xiaojian sent the shooting notice. The shoot was the day after tomorrow in the morning, at a residential complex in the suburbs.

He had already memorized the script inside and out. Following Qu Yanting's instructions, Lu Wen broke down each line, identified the key intonations, set the speed and rhythm, ensuring that every single second of his performance would be genuine.

His phone rang a few times with texts and WeChat messages, but Lu Wen ignored them all. Sister Lingling brought in some fruit and commented that he was working harder than he did when cramming for his final year of high school.

After finishing the pot of tea, Lu Wen took a ten-minute break. He opened WeChat, replied to his unread messages, and then scrolled through his Moments.

The newest post was from Ren Shu. It was a picture of the set, where the props team was preparing for the day-after-tomorrow's scene. The caption had a very rugged, manly flavor: Fight the last battle well!

Colleagues from the production team enthusiastically liked it, and the comments section was very long. Qu Yanting was among them, leaving a simple "Thanks for your hard work." Ren Shu didn't reply to anyone else, singling out Qu Yanting to respond: Come hang out the day after tomorrow.

Lu Wen couldn't resist and left a sincere 'like'.

He refreshed it several times, but Qu Yanting never responded.

The middle of the bed dipped slightly. Qu Yanting was lying on his back. He'd had no appetite for breakfast or lunch and had absentmindedly finished the book on traditional folk crafts.

He had agreed to consider putting his name on that screenplay, but in reality, he knew full well there was no room for discussion.

After being master and apprentice for over ten years, this was the first time Wang Mingyu had brought up the "debt of gratitude" between them. At this point, Qu Yanting couldn't possibly refuse. He owed so much of his success today to Wang Mingyu's help.

Feeling utterly distressed, Qu Yanting had been lying there like a corpse until now, occasionally picking up his phone to read the news, leave a comment, or delete useless photos from his album. The deadline for his reply was drawing nearer, but he still hadn't called Wang Mingyu.

Suddenly, his WeChat chimed.

Annoyed, Qu Yanting rolled over, then pushed himself up to a sitting position. He unlocked his phone and stared blankly at the red circle on the WeChat icon. He didn't tap it, guessing it was Wang Mingyu asking if he had made up his mind.

A sense of powerlessness seized Qu Yanting. It wasn't unfamiliar. He had been overwhelmed by this same feeling back when he had no food to cook, when classmates snuck glances at him for owing tuition fees, and the first time he went to the villa in Zishan, feeling lost, helpless, and fidgety.

But the hardest days were behind him. Qu Yanting could feel hurt and annoyed, but he wouldn't be so easily defeated. After sitting against the headboard for a while, he opened his contacts and dialed Wang Mingyu's number.

She answered quickly, as if she had been waiting for him. "Yanting?"

"Master." Qu Yanting skipped the pointless pleasantries and false civilities. "That script, I've thought it over."

Wang Mingyu asked, "And?"

Qu Yanting clutched a corner of the blanket and replied calmly, "I agree to have my name on it."

It was the answer Wang Mingyu had expected. It wasn't a surprise, but more of a settled sense of relief. She said with satisfaction, "Yanting, that's right. You don't need to treat this matter so seriously. No industry is completely by the book."

Qu Yanting said, "I don't agree, but it's only because you are more important than my principles."

"Master knows you're sensible." Wang Mingyu had no intention of arguing. "Have you thought about the price? Don't hold back, Master won't treat you unfairly."

"You can decide, Master," Qu Yanting said. "But I have one condition."

Wang Mingyu asked, "What is it?"

Qu Yanting chose to compromise, but that didn't mean he would accept everything wholesale. "Since the script will have my name on it, I will state in the contract that I have full rights to revise the content."

There were two seconds of silence on the phone before Wang Mingyu tried to persuade him, "Yanting, why must you do this? It's not worth spending your time on this script."

Qu Yanting said, "I'm doing it for my own reputation."

"...Alright, then." Wang Mingyu agreed. "We'll do as you say."

Qu Yanting let go of the blanket, gently wiped his face, and said resolutely, "Master, there won't be a next time."

Qu Yanting didn't wait for Wang Mingyu's reaction. He felt both defiant and cowardly, but in any case, he hung up as soon as he finished speaking. With this matter settled, his original work schedule would be affected, so he notified Yu Nan as well.

The glamour one presents to the world truly is the most unreliable thing. Everyone has their own helpless difficulties behind the scenes.

After handling everything, Qu Yanting finally opened the WeChat message he'd been ignoring for half the day. The unread message was at the top of his list, but it wasn't from Wang Mingyu. It was from Lu Wen.

Idiot: Teacher Qu, I'm wrapping up my filming the day after tomorrow. Are you free?