At that moment, the others gathered around the bar, whispering among themselves about something. Gu Cheng sat on a high stool, fishing his phone out and tapping on it.
Xi Ning was still lost in thought when Wen Chu pulled her outside, the door closing behind them. The moon hung full and bright in the sky. Xi Ning crossed her arms and stared at Wen Chu.
“What are you afraid of? It’s not like you’ve never hung out with them before.”
Wen Chu looked at the moon, her voice gentle.
“We did hang out. Do you remember Qi Yuan’s birthday two years ago? At first, we blended in, but later you and I sat in the corner drinking. There were just a few tables between us…”
Xi Ning recalled it for a moment.
“Like two different worlds.”
“Exactly, like two different worlds. That’s what you always say.”
It was the first time Xi Ning saw Wen Chu so dejected. She tapped her nose and said, “But didn’t you say before that he treats you well…?”
Wen Chu smiled softly. She remembered Gu Cheng still looked at her with tenderness, but some things couldn’t be changed. She turned to Xi Ning.
“Did you see the banner on the stage?”
“I did.”
Xi Ning sneered.
“It’s like the whole world has to celebrate every little thing she does, revolving around her. A scumbag like Fang Yi? She chose him herself, so she has to deal with the consequences.”
Wen Chu grabbed Xi Ning’s arm and headed toward the moonlight.
“Actually, we all guessed it—Qi Yuan’s anxiety comes from Teacher Fang. It was okay a few years ago, but recently it’s gotten worse. You probably haven’t seen her somatization.”
“A glamorous actress tormented by anxiety behind the scenes—I’ve seen it on set a few times. Even though Shu Mei shields her well, we still caught glimpses.”
Xi Ning had seen some photos, but they were all company secrets that had to be kept safe.
“That’s no excuse for her to bully you.”
Wen Chu sighed.
“I know, but if Qi Yuan’s anxiety could get better, that would be good for me, too. Maybe that’s what others hope for as well.”
“Including the one at your place?”
Xi Ning asked.
Wen Chu paused, gazing at the moon.
“Including him. He really hopes she can get better soon so that I can feel better too.”
Xi Ning looked at Wen Chu.
“Then why did you sneak out? You’re already inside. Just sit down. What are you worried about?”
“No, no.”
Wen Chu shook her head and looked at Xi Ning.
“I just see her, and in this gathering, she’s half the star. I feel like we’d be too out of place—just like her birthday before. So let’s not go. Let’s go somewhere else to drink.”
Xi Ning felt a pang of sadness for Wen Chu.
She knew it wasn’t Wen Chu’s fault, but also understood that these social classes couldn’t be changed. No matter how comfortably you tried to live, there was still a distance.
Just like her own boss—after years of struggling, she still had to bow her head now and then.
After all, in Jing City, there is always someone better.
“Fine, let’s go somewhere else.”
Xi Ning nodded.
The two closed their eyes, pointed randomly, and picked a quiet bar on the corner. They headed there.
Wen Chu had just sat down when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Gu Cheng.
Gu Cheng: Awake?
It’s almost ten.
Gu Cheng: Send me a message when you’re up.
The message was from ten minutes ago—the moment Wen Chu left through the bar’s back door. She hesitated a moment, then typed: Awake. Xi Ning and I stepped out.
Gu Cheng quickly replied: Where to?
Wen Chu: Just walking around.
Gu Cheng: Not coming to Mingshan?
Wen Chu: No, you all enjoy the party.
Gu Cheng: My cousin said he hasn’t seen you in a while.
Wen Chu: Xi Ning and I have already walked quite far.
Gu Cheng: Okay.
Wen Chu put down her phone. Xi Ning poured her a drink and glanced at the screen.
“He texted you?”
“Yeah.”
Xi Ning shrugged.
There were plenty of quiet bars around here, mostly music bars. Wen Chu usually didn’t drink much but sometimes had a few drinks with Gu Cheng or Xi Ning. Her tolerance was average.
After sleeping a lot during the day, feeling more alert, she decided to drink a little more.
Xi Ning lit a slim cigarette, smoking as she sipped her drink.
She was calculating her debts, wondering how much longer until she could get back on her feet.
Wen Chu listened to the music, thinking of her unknown eight years in Jing City. Unconsciously, she had drunk too much.
Xi Ning put down her phone and glanced over. Wen Chu was resting her head on the table, her skin flushed pale pink, quietly listening to the song.
Xi Ning touched her hair—she worried about money, but Wen Chu’s frustration was with her career.
Wen Chu’s phone vibrated on the table.
Xi Ning picked it up. The caller was her man. She raised an eyebrow and answered. A pleasant male voice came through.
“Where are you? Auntie said you didn’t come home. I’m here to pick you up.”
Xi Ning tapped the table.
“Hello, Gu Shao. She’s drunk. We’re at the Ueno Bar.”
Gu Cheng recognized the voice wasn’t Wen Chu’s—it was Xi Ning’s. Though not familiar, he knew it wasn’t new either. The voice taking notes most often was hers.
“I’m coming now,” he said immediately.
“Great.”
Xi Ning hung up.
Mingshan was close to Ueno. Soon, the door to Ueno was pushed open and a tall man appeared, casting a shadow. He stubbed out his cigarette and pressed it into the stone ashtray at the entrance.
Xi Ning saw the gesture and tapped her fingers on the table. This man must have another side.
She remembered Wen Chu saying he didn’t smoke much.
Lost in thought.
Gu Cheng came over, frowning slightly as he glanced at the half-finished drinks on the table.
“How much did she drink?”
Xi Ning leaned back in her chair, tapping the table.
“All the cups are here. Half mine, half hers.”
Gu Cheng lowered his eyes toward the woman resting her head on the table. She scratched a strand of hair near her nose; her brows were soft.
He took her hand and bent down to lift her up.
After picking her up, he looked at Xi Ning.
“I was at Mingshan just now. Since you’re at Ueno, why didn’t you come over?”
Xi Ning looked up and smiled.
“Why? Wen Chu’s in your circle. When has she ever been comfortable?”
Gu Cheng’s eyes narrowed.
Xi Ning shrugged.
Gu Cheng said no more. Holding the woman in his arms, he headed out. A few seconds later, his voice carried back from afar.
“I know Editor Xi’s writing skills are excellent, her education high. She understands social strata and talks a lot about class, but you can’t judge everything by the surface.”
“Is that so? Don’t you think I see clearly enough? Like with Queen Qi’s acting.”
Xi Ning scoffed in response.
Gu Cheng didn’t reply. He stepped out into the night, where the moon was even fuller.
Wen Chu rubbed against his collar, catching a faint, familiar scent of agarwood mixed with tobacco. Groggy, she looked up and asked, “You smoked?”
Gu Cheng stopped, looking down at her.
“I did.”
The light and shadow played across his face. Wen Chu recalled how he looked standing by the bar talking to Qi Yuan—somewhat noble. There was a side of him she probably hadn’t seen before.
She touched his face lightly.
“I want you to carry me.”
“Alright.”
Gu Cheng saw by her expression that she was drunk—slowly intoxicated. He put her down and squatted in front of her. Wen Chu rested on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Gu Cheng stood up. Wen Chu covered his head with both hands, heavy with drunkenness.
“Gu Cheng, it’s raining.”
“I’ll shield you from the rain.”
She tilted her head and said softly.
Gu Cheng chuckled.
“Hmm, you should shield yourself first.”
“No, you first.”
She stubbornly said, her hands crossing and unfolding seriously on his head.
Gu Cheng carried her toward a car not far away, his heart soft.
***
The next day
Scriptwriter Fang and actress Mu Xuan’s Wei Bo buzz gradually cooled and fell.
Though Fang was a top-tier scriptwriter, his fanbase paled in comparison to Qi Yuan’s smallest finger. As for the young actress Mu Xuan, she lingered around the fifth to eighth-tier level, and most just thought she was trying to ride Fang Yi’s coattails to fame.
Qi Yuan’s company naturally suppressed Mu Xuan in secret. Qi Yuan’s Wei Bo post from yesterday had more likes than Mu Xuan and Fang Yi combined.
Early in the morning, Wen Chu received news to start work. From five in the afternoon until after midnight, another long night shoot awaited.
After dinner, Gu Cheng was still at the company.
Chen Shu, the driver, dropped Wen Chu off at Dongcheng Film City. As she got out, she saw Qi Yuan in costume leaning against the corridor, scrolling on her phone and smoking.
Heavy makeup couldn’t conceal the dark circles under her eyes. Qi Yuan glanced at Wen Chu once, then lowered her head to continue scrolling. Wen Chu didn’t greet her and headed straight to the makeup room.
The makeup artist grabbed her and started applying makeup.
She touched Wen Chu’s face, sighing.
“Your skin is so good… Just now, they were talking about Qi Yuan. They said her makeup is hard to do—that it’s because of a heartbreak.”
Wen Chu opened her eyes, staring at herself in the mirror.
Eight years together, eight years of turmoil, and now a breakup—it was truly exhausting.
The makeup artist sighed, “How many eight-year stretches does one have in life?”
Wen Chu replied softly, “Exactly.”
“Stop mumbling, hurry up and finish.”
Qi Yuan’s assistant called from outside.
The makeup artist’s hand trembled, hastening her work.
From the mirror, Wen Chu saw Qi Yuan and the assistant walk away confidently. The makeup artist whispered, “Qi Yuan’s assistant has the same temper as Agent Shu.”
Wen Chu shook her head.
“No.”
Qi Yuan’s assistants were all weak but acted arrogant and domineering outwardly.
The makeup artist dared not speak more. In a few strokes, she fixed Wen Chu’s headpiece. Wen Chu adjusted her sleeves, lifted her skirt, and stepped out. The studio lights were already on.
From the setup, it was clear that wire stunts were inevitable tonight.
The director stood next to Qi Yuan, giving instructions. Qi Yuan flipped through the script without stopping, seemingly not listening.
Wen Chu was immediately pulled by the stagehands for positioning. The weather was still hot, and after running in front of several cameras, she was sweating profusely.
The makeup artist touched up her makeup and wiped her sweat.
Qi Yuan looked up.
“What are you doing? There’s still one more camera.”
Wen Chu wiped half the sweat and ran back, standing in front of that camera.
Qi Yuan saw her flushed face and recalled the pimples on her own forehead, narrowing her eyes.
Soon, the scene began. Qi Yuan handled the dialogue scenes herself, while Wen Chu did the wire stunts. The two sets were separate.
At that moment, a middle-aged man in traditional Tang attire walked in. Jiang Ran, fanning himself, turned and saw him. His agent hurriedly nudged him.
“Director Tang, hurry up.”
Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow. This was the famed Director of Tangren Studios, Tang Director.
He put down his fan and smiled, greeting Jiang Ran.
“Director Tang, what brings you to the set tonight? Here to check on someone?”
Tang Director smiled, clasping his hands.
“You’re Jiang Ran? Playing Rong Ye in Qingping Chronicle?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Ran replied warmly.
Tang Director nodded and walked in.
Qi Yuan had just finished her scene when Shu Mei came out of the lounge, pulling her along. Qi Yuan looked up, immediately smiling nervously when she saw Tang Director.
Shu Mei and Qi Yuan blocked his path.
“Director Tang, weren’t you going to the Li City Film Festival? How come you’re here?”
Tang Director clasped his hands behind his back and smiled at Qi Yuan.
“I came to take a look. Film festivals can be attended anytime.”
Shu Mei relaxed. Thinking he was here to visit, she immediately had her assistant bring over chairs.
“The set’s a bit messy, but there’s coffee in Qi Yuan’s dressing room. Director Tang, would you like some?”
“That would be a trouble.”
Tang Director replied.
Shu Mei smiled.
“No trouble at all, Director Tang. Please sit.”
“No need to sit, standing’s fine.”
Tang Director looked toward the crew still filming. Shu Mei smiled and turned to make coffee herself.
Before leaving, she patted Qi Yuan’s arm.
Qi Yuan nodded, taking a fan and handing it to Tang Director.
“Director Tang, there’s no air conditioning here, it’s a bit hot. Please use this to fan yourself.”
Tang Director took it.
“Thank you.”
“If you have a scene, go shoot. I’ll just watch.”
He smiled at Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan didn’t like this old man, especially after their last encounter, but she knew his clout was huge, and Tangren’s backing deep. She smiled. “I’ll have the agent come out to keep you company.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.