Chapter 48

"Turn around, go back."

Driver Old Jin glanced at Ye Lan in the rearview mirror, not daring to ask more, and turned at the next intersection to head back.

Ye Lan took off his sunglasses, his tone calm. "Call the crew for me. Just say I'm not feeling well and will be back in two days."

Cen Wen looked at Ye Lan's expression with trepidation and obediently took out her phone to ask for leave for him.

Ye Lan said to An Ya on the phone, "Keep talking."

"Jiang Chi's company is up to something. They hired a marketing company that happens to have some overlap with our PR contacts. We wouldn't have known otherwise." An Ya had just received the news and was still in shock. She stammered, "I... I misunderstood Jiang Chi. He didn't get his position through the casting couch. This information has to be correct. Before the role of Pei Ran was decided, Jiang Chi had contacted the crew, saying that if he passed the audition, he wouldn't take a single cent in salary."

Ye Lan's eyes narrowed sharply.

"He..."

"This is too illogical. It's not some mainstream patriotic film, nor can it be called a charity performance for a good cause. For a commercial idol artist like him to free up more than half a year, not take any money, and risk shooting this kind of movie..." An Ya said in disbelief, "And... if his company forced him to take it for the sake of his career transformation, that would be one thing. But they also found out that Jiang Chi acted first and reported later. His company only found out just before he joined the crew. At the time, they almost filed a lawsuit. It seems Jiang Chi found a way to suppress it himself and paid a huge sum in breach of contract fees. That's why it never got out."

An Ya lamented, "I really couldn't tell. He's quite resolute. He contacted the crew privately, and only after finalizing the contract did he figure out how to placate his company. He kept it a secret from start to finish. If his company wasn't up to something now, we probably would have never found out. What on earth is he... after?"

Ye Lan squeezed the frame of his sunglasses until it creaked. His lips moved, but he didn't say the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

'Is Jiang Chi... doing this for me?'

Film Emperor Ye, who was accustomed to being narcissistic, suddenly became cautious.

It was as if a single careless word from his heart would scare Jiang Chi away.

If it really was for him.

Ye Lan's heart sped up. That meant, from a long time ago, at least before the movie started filming, Jiang Chi already felt... towards him...

"Let's not worry about that for now. Don't you like him? It's good to know he didn't use the casting couch. That's not important anymore." An Ya interrupted Ye Lan's train of thought. "Although we don't know what Jiang Chi's company is up to, they've been making small moves these past few days. I suspect they might not want to let Jiang Chi go. We don't know the specifics yet, but in short... we might need to prepare in advance."

"What's there to suspect? It's obvious they don't want Jiang Chi to terminate his contract." Ye Lan temporarily suppressed his personal feelings to deal with business matters. "Notify everyone at the studio, and add in the people we can use from Starlight's side... Have them all investigate. Find out what his company is trying to do and prepare a response in advance. My fault. I was too careless."

An Ya hesitated, "I... I have a worst-case scenario in mind. If they resort to malicious hype, should we protect ourselves, or..."

Ye Lan said coldly, "Jiang Chi is already a prospective artist of Starlight. Do you think we should protect him or not?"

"The 'they' I'm talking about isn't just Jiang Chi's company." An Ya spoke pragmatically, laying out an even worse situation. "You saw what he did with the zero-pay role. Jiang Chi isn't completely naive. What if he's using you..."

"I've said it before, I accept it," Ye Lan said, trying his best to suppress his anger. "Is there anything else?"

An Ya paused, then sighed, "No, I'll go make the arrangements right away."

"Do it immediately. No matter what tricks they want to play, we must suppress it." Ye Lan held back his rage. "Otherwise, he and I will really..."

Ye Lan didn't know how much he had already missed about Jiang Chi. Now, he didn't want to retreat a single step, nor would he allow Jiang Chi to retreat even an inch.

An Ya heard the unspoken words in Ye Lan's tone and nodded. "I'll do my best."

She hung up after speaking.

Ye Lan looked at his phone, hesitated for a moment, then called Jiang Chi.

Jiang Chi's phone was off.

"Damn it..."

Ye Lan threw his phone in frustration, an indescribable anxiety churning in his chest.

On the way to the company, Jiang Chi received several calls.

Geng Tian kept contacting him, updating him on the situation at the company and repeatedly making Jiang Chi promise not to sell him out and reveal that he was the one who had tipped him off.

Geng Tian wasn't that malicious at heart. After learning about the company's meticulously sinister plan, his conscience wouldn't let him keep it from Jiang Chi. But after telling him, he became conflicted again, worrying that his future at the company would be difficult, that he would be blamed, that the higher-ups would make things difficult for him. He rambled on and on, until Jiang Chi's phone ran out of battery.

Jiang Chi put the dead phone in his pocket and got out of the car.

The midday sun was blinding. Jiang Chi squinted. Without sunglasses or a mask, he strode into the company, entered the dedicated elevator, and went straight to the top floor.

...

"I called his crew's director. The director said he hasn't returned to the set. I had people go to his house, but there was no one there. Then I sent people to his company, but the people there just shook their heads when they heard his name. His phone is always off!"

In the evening, Ye Lan was as irritable as a lion. He threw his phone and roared, "Where else could he have gone?! You tell me, where could he have gone?"

Cen Wen complained endlessly, "I've been trying to contact his manager too. The line was busy at first, and now his phone is off too. You... going out to look for him yourself is the same as our people looking for him."

"He..."

Ye Lan sat down on the sofa, thinking of that person, wishing he could grab him on the spot and bite him to death.

The big TV in the living room was broadcasting the day's entertainment headlines. Ye Lan watched for a few moments, feeling agitated. He grabbed the remote and kept changing the channel, growing more and more impatient.

A celebrity talk show was re-airing, and it happened to be an interview with Jiang Chi.

The show's main theme was tear-jerking and inspirational. The host chatted with Jiang Chi over tea, trying to get him to pour his heart out. But Jiang Chi was very reserved. When occasionally asked an inconvenient question, he would just lower his head and smile. Even the usually fierce host softened, laughing helplessly, "You have such a good temper... I can't even bear to ask you more, for fear of making you unhappy."

The host was asking about Jiang Chi's family situation, which Jiang Chi had gently deflected.

Ye Lan ground his teeth as he watched the person on the screen.

'Good temper? The person I could summon with a single phone call is now...'

Ye Lan suddenly stood up again. Cen Wen watched him with trepidation, afraid that in the next second, Ye Lan would head to the garage, get into his big SUV, and drive it straight into Century Entertainment's headquarters lobby to demand the person back.

"Sister An Ya said she's already smoothed things over. Even if something happens, it can probably be suppressed. Nothing will be exposed, so don't worry." Cen Wen carefully tried to calm Ye Lan down. "An Ya won't harm you, and she wouldn't dare to harm Jiang Chi. Just be patient..."

Just as Cen Wen was frantically trying to hold Ye Lan back, Ye Lan's phone rang.

Cen Wen quickly said, "It's Sister An Ya's call! There must be news!"

Ye Lan answered the phone, his voice almost spitting sparks, "Hello?"

"I found out..." An Ya's tone was unsteady. "S-Sorry... it might be too late."

This time, An Ya was truly panicked. No matter how capable she was, she couldn't keep up with Jiang Chi, who was in the thick of it with countless internal informants. Ye Lan's studio was one step behind at every turn, and only now had they figured out the whole story.

Ye Lan closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Speak... As long as he's okay, nothing is too late for me."

An Ya composed herself and briefly explained Century Entertainment's plan to Ye Lan.

When An Ya had first gotten the news, she too had been trembling with anger. Even though she had been in the industry for many years and was used to seeing all sorts of schemes, it was the first time she had seen an entertainment company use such despicable methods.

Afraid that Ye Lan would go mad with anger, she quickly continued, "But their wishful thinking has already failed! Jiang Chi... had a complete falling out with them. They're scared now. Even without our pressure, they wouldn't dare to pull any more stunts."

"It seems Jiang Chi heard something. He went to the company and found the higher-ups, laying his cards on the table: the second the company uses you for hype, he'll hold a press conference the next second to talk about... talk about how he's been subjected to the casting couch by all the bosses, big and small, in their company over the years."

"Of course, it's all fake! No one has ever done that to him. I know their company's big boss. He's an old man who is particularly disgusted by homosexuals. It's impossible."

"But if Jiang Chi was willing to risk everything and say it, their company's reputation would be completely ruined."

"Jiang Chi has been well-behaved ever since his debut. He has a good public image and high credibility. If he really dares to say it, people will really dare to believe it."

"Jiang Chi is... staking his own future to go against the company, because he's unwilling to... have a falling out with you."

As An Ya spoke, her own voice grew hoarse. "I'm sorry, I misunderstood him. He... his abilities are indeed limited, but he's truly using all his strength to protect you. His company offered him such a good renewal contract, but it couldn't move him. What other reason could there be? I take back what I said before. He must... just like you."

"He likes you."

"He's probably liked you for a very long time."

On the TV, the host of the celebrity talk show was smiling as she asked Jiang Chi, "Then you must have had a secret crush on someone, right?"

Jiang Chi nodded. "Yes."

Ye Lan whipped his head around to look at the TV.

The host laughed, "As expected. People who have secret crushes are all very gentle... How long was the crush back then?"

Jiang Chi smiled. "A long time. I've forgotten how long."

"I really didn't expect that..." the host said, surprised. "Is it worth it to spend so much time having a secret crush on someone?"

Jiang Chi pressed his lips together and nodded seriously. "I think it's worth it."

The host joked with a smile, and Jiang Chi blushed slightly.

The host continued to ask, "Then why was it a secret crush and not an open one?"

Jiang Chi smiled. "A secret crush is a secret crush because there are definitely reasons that can't be spoken."

"Hahaha, that was a good comeback. So I shouldn't press further? But I still don't understand. Why would a guy as excellent as you have a secret crush?" The host complimented Jiang Chi and smiled. "Don't you think it's a pity? It's all wasted effort."

"Actually... the feeling of having a secret crush on someone isn't that bad." Jiang Chi thought for a moment and said slowly, "It wasn't just an outlet for superficial desire, but also... my own faith."

"To work hard for him, to become better for him."

"When I was stumbling forward and falling, this person in my heart was the motivation for me to get back up a thousand times after falling a thousand times."

The host remembered the topic of his mother's early death that they had just discussed, which Jiang Chi had quickly brushed aside with a single sentence, and was somewhat moved.

Jiang Chi himself was very optimistic. "Although we haven't been together all these years and there has been no trace of me in his life, he has, unknowingly, accompanied me through countless important moments in the first half of my life."

"So many times, so many things, when I couldn't hold on by myself, it was my faith in loving him that got me through."

"The gains and losses, the bitterness and joy. The myriad of flavors are like drinking water, only I know if it's cold or warm."

"I know its bitterness."

"And I find my own joy in it."

Each sentence, edited for broadcast, was like a knife, stabbing into Ye Lan's heart one by one.

Every stab drew blood.

Ye Lan's eyes trembled as he stared intently at the person on the TV screen.

"I'm your fan. I've... always liked you very much."

"But this is the first time I've been able to have a meal with you alone."

"I came to visit you on set."

Ye Lan unconsciously clenched his fists, his chest heaving. Countless fragments of memories surged in his mind, gathering together to mock him for how cold and slow he had been.

An Ya didn't know why Ye Lan had suddenly gone quiet. After calling his name twice, she said, "Let's... let's not get hung up on this for now. Jiang Chi has managed to intimidate Century Entertainment. He's at the point where he doesn't care about fame or fortune and will just fight. But his company doesn't want to take such a big fall for him. Century Entertainment has already shelved their original plan. However... Jiang Chi's move this time was one that killed one thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of his own."

"Century Entertainment has offended almost every other company on his behalf. Now, no one will sign him. I... had no choice today but to ask people from Starlight to help with the investigation. This can't be hidden, so the people at Starlight know too."

"I know he did it all for you, but honestly... no one wants to sign an artist with such a fierce personality. On the surface, the people at Starlight didn't say much, and even said a few words of admiration, but they're definitely wary of Jiang Chi in their hearts. Their words implied they don't want to get involved in this trouble... Jiang Chi went too far today. He's offended everyone..."

Ye Lan finally found his voice, filled with hostility. "What did you say?"

An Ya said awkwardly, "Don't be anxious. I'll go find President Ye right away. With his word, the higher-ups at Starlight probably won't dare to say anything."

"They don't want to sign him?" A volcano had already built up in Ye Lan's chest and he needed a place to vent. Someone had conveniently walked into the line of fire. "Don't want to sign? They can sign him or not, I don't care! Fuck them! Am I begging them?!"

An Ya said urgently, "Don't be like this! Jiang Chi has completely broken with Century. Sooner or later, he'll have to go to Starlight. If you act like this, you'll make things difficult for him in the future."

"Who says he'll have to go to Starlight?!" Sparks flew from Ye Lan's every word. "Go... now. Have the legal department draw up a contract for me. I don't need Starlight anymore! I'll sign him myself!"

An Ya was stunned. "You, what do you mean?"

"Don't I have my own studio?! For my own person, do I need to use someone else's company?" Ye Lan's eyes were red. He scanned the living room, grabbed his car keys, and said quickly as he walked out, "Have the PR department start drafting a press release now. Jiang Chi will be the first artist signed by Ye Lan's Studio, besides the boss. I don't need anyone else. I'll sign him myself, I'll promote him myself."

Ye Lan threw open the door, smelling of gunpowder. "Get the press release out for me immediately. Century Entertainment, right? Send them a copy first. Tell them loud and clear, I'm poaching their person! Let them come find me. If I don't utterly destroy this company, I'll take their surname! I..."

Ye Lan, holding his phone and car keys, looked at the person not far outside his door and suddenly forgot what he was going to say.

About ten meters away, Jiang Chi, who had been missing and couldn't be found by anyone, had messy hair and disheveled clothes.

He was carrying two large suitcases, as if fleeing a disaster, huffing and puffing as he dragged them toward Ye Lan's gate.

The dust-covered Jiang Chi looked up and saw Ye Lan. A trace of color instantly returned to his pale face. He gripped the handle of his suitcase awkwardly. His lips moved, but he didn't speak.