After I Started Dating the Scum Gong Substitute, the White Moonlight Returned - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Cheng Jianyu’s studio opened over the weekend. The weather was clear with a gentle breeze. Chen Kai successfully jumped ship from Bei Xinhong’s studio to become the security captain and part-time general manager’s assistant at Mingjian Studio.

Including An’an, who was about to join, the studio had a pitiful total of three people. The opening celebration was simple and brisk; An’an and Chen Kai bought a row of flower baskets to create an atmosphere, and the three of them shared a steaming hot pot meal nearby.

While adding vegetables to the pot, Chen Kai said, “Why call it Mingjian Studio? Calling it something like ‘Money Comes,’ ‘Make a Fortune,’ or ‘Soaring Dragon’ would be much more auspicious.”

“How tacky are you!” The cola in An’an’s mouth almost sprayed out. She wiped her mouth, her liberal-arts-student soul enraged. “‘The heart is as still as water, reflecting constant clarity; seeing through all the emotions of the world’ have you heard that before?”

“What kind of stuff is that?”

“A poem by Liu Yuxi,” An’an explained seriously. “This line means that if your heart is as calm as the surface of water, you can see clearly the various states of the world and the warmth or coldness of human relationships. That’s what Brother Yu’s WeChat name means, right?”

Cheng Jianyu was composed, eating with elegant and good-looking manners. He smiled slightly, “Mm, you can understand it that way too.”

Chen Kai had a sudden realization and asked intentionally, “Why not call it ‘Xinru’ (Heart-as) or ‘Jianchang’ (Reflecting-constant)?”

“Then why are you called Chen Kai and not Ye Kai?” An’an shot back.

The two were unyielding with their tongues, each more eloquent than the other, while simultaneously ignoring that subtle word “also.”

When the three returned to the company, a strange, shiny red sports coupe was parked in the downstairs lot, looking grand and flashy. When the elevator doors opened, two strange men were sitting on the waiting sofa at the studio entrance.

One older man wore a suit and tie, looking like an elite professional. The other boy looked no more than twenty, dressed in trendy and novel clothes, his hair dyed a currently popular smoke blue; he was holding his phone with both hands, focused intently on playing a game.

From Cheng Jianyu’s perspective, the boy’s skin was very white, with a kind of youthful, active handsomeness. Seemingly sensing a gaze, the boy looked up and gave him a flirtatious wink. Along with the movement, his hair shifted, revealing a row of rebellious silver earrings on one side.

“Hello, are you Teacher Cheng? Director Liang recommended me to come here.” The man in the suit stood up, took a business card from his pocket, scanned the three of them, and handed it unerriedly to Cheng Jianyu with great respect. “I am Guo Jian, the Marketing Director of Xitang Entertainment. This is our company’s artist, Lin Zhao.”

Cheng Jianyu took the card and asked lightheartedly, “What are you looking for me for?”

Xitang Entertainment was the first in China to “eat the crab” (take a risk). The founder had a sharp business sense; when internet pan-entertainment rose, they were the first to establish a trainee model. Their signed artists would be trainees for several years before being launched through various talent shows. Relying on this unique business model, they had soared in recent years, leading trends and holding countless resources, though their reputation in the industry was mixed.

Guo Jian didn’t expect him to be so cold and direct. He coughed, “Our company wants to custom-build a TV script for Lin Zhao that fits his personal image and temperament for a private commission. Teacher Cheng, can this be done?”

Cheng Jianyu glanced slightly at Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao moved his gaze away from his mobile game and sized him up at the same time. Cheng Jianyu withdrew his gaze and pushed open the office door. “Yes. Come in and sit.”

It was a success. Guo Jian breathed a sigh of relief.

The meeting room was not large, but it had good lighting. An’an brought a small teapot and poured tea. The brand-new glass guest cups were transparent and bright. Lin Zhao picked up a cup, looked at it, and frowned. “I want to drink Starbucks.”

“I’ll order it for you.” Guo Jian hurriedly and diligently pulled out his phone. “Come, choose for yourself.”

Lin Zhao swiped his phone and became briefly quiet. Guo Jian looked toward Cheng Jianyu and gave an embarrassed smile. “Teacher Cheng, please don’t mind him.”

Cheng Jianyu gave an “Mm,” sat in his chair, opened his thin laptop, and said in a low voice, “No need to call me Teacher Cheng. What genre do you want?”

“Our company hopes for… Mr. Cheng’s most skilled area, crime suspense…” Just as Guo Jian finished saying this, with a “clack,” Lin Zhao slapped down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Cheng Jianyu with a half-smile. “Can you write ‘youth pain’ stories?”

His voice was even younger than he looked. Cheng Jianyu didn’t even raise his eyelids; while tapping on his laptop keyboard, he asked nonchalantly, “Youth pain or crime suspense—who has the final say?”

Guo Jian hesitated to speak. Lin Zhao laughed and tapped on the conference table. “I have the final say. A youth pain romance drama.”

“That’s not popular anymore.” Cheng Jianyu didn’t look at him, remaining cold and indifferent.

“What is popular?”

The sunlight shone through the window onto Cheng Jianyu’s unsympathetic face. As usual, he was sparing with words: “Historical idols, workplace, inspirational.”

Lin Zhao gave a long, intentional “Oh,” pushed off the ground with his feet, and used force to slide the chair backward. “Then let’s film a romance drama. I’ve already thought of the plot.”

Guo Jian looked embarrassed and nudged him with his elbow. Lin Zhao remained unmoved.

Cheng Jianyu stared at him for a second, then withdrew his gaze to look at the computer screen, looking straight ahead. “What is the plot like?”

“I’ll play a poor kid, and the female lead is arranged as a ‘white, rich, and beautiful’ socialite.” Lin Zhao glanced at him.

Cheng Jianyu typed a line on the keyboard with one hand. “And then?”

Lin Zhao said with a beaming smile, “And then I win a boat ticket in a card game, board a luxury cruise ship, and meet a socialite who is already engaged but doesn’t love her fiancé. We fall in love at first sight, and later the ship hits the ice…”

In Cheng Jianyu’s view, this was purely a waste of time and nonsense. He gave an expressionless “Mm” and interrupted him, “We are about to get off work. We won’t keep the two of you.”

To encounter someone crashing the place on the first day of opening it seemed his luck was really not good.

It was just after starting work in the afternoon, but clearly Cheng Jianyu did not want to say another word to them. Guo Jian gave a dry laugh, pulled Lin Zhao’s collar, and whispered a few words. Lin Zhao gave some perfunctory “uh-huhs.” Guo Jian looked at Cheng Jianyu sincerely. “Mr. Cheng… I should still call you Teacher Cheng. We have no intention of mocking you. We sincerely want to cooperate with you; Xiao Lin was just joking with you.”

Lin Zhao cooperated by nodding, stood up, propped both hands on the table, and looked straight at Cheng Jianyu. “Can you give me your WeChat?”

This was the first time Cheng Jianyu had been asked for his WeChat.

Although his spirit was clear, his bones refined, and his appearance beautiful, his temperament in speech and behavior was icy, like a ten-thousand-mile snow mountain frozen all year round. Ordinary mortals would be daunted and retreat; few people had the courage to strike up a conversation with him.

Lin Zhao was the first one with such large courage.

He successfully captured Cheng Jianyu’s attention. Cheng Jianyu’s gaze rested quietly on his face, scrutinizing him without saying a word. Others submerged in those eyes that emitted a cold air would want to flee in panic. Lin Zhao, with bones of steel, smiled brightly at him. “I offended you just now. Let me add your WeChat and treat you to coffee as an apology, how about it?”

“Thank you, no need.” Cheng Jianyu was not interested; things like “peach blossom luck” (romantic luck) had nothing to do with someone like him.

Lin Zhao met with a rebuff but didn’t change his expression. “You look so good, you should smile more.”

Guo Jian coughed several times forcefully, pulling the topic back to the right track. “Teacher Cheng, I’m really sorry, he’s just playing around. Regarding the script, you have the final say in everything; we will definitely not interfere. The deposit will be paid after seeing the story synopsis. What do you think?”

Cheng Jianyu didn’t answer the question but instead tilted his head, looking at the two of them, very curious. “Why did Xitang choose me?”

Guo Jian knew he had agreed and felt joyful in his heart. “Because our boss believes that the day of your comeback is just around the corner.”

Cheng Jianyu was momentarily stunned, his breathing hitching. After a long while, he said softly, “Thank my boss on my behalf. I will complete this commission.”

A plucked phoenix is worse than a chicken. In the entertainment circle, the stars shift and things change every day; no matter how glorious the past was, it’s all in the past. People who constantly talk about the past have no ability and no future.

And he was neither. Admitting defeat is not scary; admitting one’s fate is what’s scary.

Principles and bottom lines are never the stumbling blocks to fame and fortune; what truly causes one to lose both fame and fortune is having no bottom line or principles.

Just as the two people from Xitang Entertainment left, An’an poked her little head in excitedly, her “gossip soul” burning. “Brother Yu, that ‘rotten peach blossom’ just now got into that red sports coupe downstairs. The driver was an older woman. Could he be a kept man?”

An artist personally brought to the door by the Marketing Director of Xitang Entertainment, who was treated with such care and obedience that the artist could even decide the TV genre himself—the level of importance was evident.

“Don’t you have work to do?” Cheng Jianyu was amused by her and asked neither lightly nor heavily.

An’an stuck out her tongue and obediently closed the door. Cheng Jianyu never cared about clients’ gossip; it was as if he had no curiosity at all and never participated in discussions.

In the afternoon, Cheng Jianyu sent a WeChat message in advance, informing Jiang Yan that he was going to take away his suitcase. Jiang Yan replied with two lukewarm words: “Come then.”

As he expected, given Jiang Yan’s personality, terminating this relationship would be simple and neat.

Human genes are very strange. Although they were relatives with similar facial features, Jiang Yan and Wen Yueming’s personalities were poles apart. On the contrary, the former was like a spear, sharp and deep-seated, while the latter was like jade, a modest gentleman.

Cheng Jianyu timed it for the agreed-upon hour. The white lights were on in the living room. The keys had already been returned to their original owner, so he politely pressed the doorbell.

After several full minutes, Jiang Yan finally opened the door. He had one hand shoved in his pocket and was wearing a simple grey T-shirt with a white contrasting ring on the crew neck, looking cold and handsome. He glanced at Cheng Jianyu’s empty hands, seemingly a bit unhappy, and turned to enter the living room.

Druid came running over with a huff, biting a slipper he had snatched from the entryway, looking at him eagerly. The little guy seemed to know what was happening in this house.

While changing his shoes, Cheng Jianyu freed a hand to pat its furry head. “Don’t be naughty.”

Druid lay quietly at his feet, watching him obediently. Cheng Jianyu sighed in his heart; the only thing he couldn’t bear to leave was Druid.

The suitcase was filled with clothes; it wasn’t exactly heavy, but it wasn’t light either. Cheng Jianyu dragged it down the stairs with one hand, finding it slightly strenuous. Jiang Yan leaned against the wall, watching him nonchalantly, feeling a bit amused in his heart. Cheng Jianyu was acting this out so thoroughly had he not considered what to do if he didn’t try to coax him back?

When the time came, wouldn’t Cheng Jianyu lose face and come back to cling to him obediently?

He moved his long legs, taking a few large strides up the steps, snatched the suitcase from Cheng Jianyu’s hand, and carried it down to the flat ground of the living room without any effort. Cheng Jianyu stood on the stairs, watching him calmly, and walked down slowly. “Thank you.”

These two words didn’t sound right no matter how one heard them. Jiang Yan’s brow furrowed briefly, and he asked stiffly, “Why did you knock just now?”

“To get my luggage.” Cheng Jianyu’s voice was devoid of emotion. His hand gripped the suitcase handle, but before he could take a step, his arm was grabbed forcefully. Jiang Yan gave him no time to react, yanking him and slamming him hard against the wall.

Cheng Jianyu’s back was against the cold wall. He frowned and looked up. Jiang Yan suddenly leaned in and gave him a rare, gentle peck on the lips. His voice was low and hoarse, and his dark eyes looked at him. “I’m not close with Zhou Jueqing. I had no idea that day was his birthday. It was a pure misunderstanding. You are not allowed to be angry anymore.”

“…”

Cheng Jianyu was silent for a few seconds. His breath was filled with the faint scent of tobacco. He closed his eyes. “It has nothing to do with that.”

It was really hard to explain clearly.

Cool lips touched the tip of his ear. Jiang Yan kissed the skin behind his ear on and off. Cheng Jianyu turned his face away and gave him a forceful push, but in terms of brute force, the two were not in the same weight class. Jiang Yan pinned him down with his arm across him and panted lightly. “Nothing to do with it? Humph. This time, no matter how much you throw a tantrum, it’s fine, but you are not allowed to jump off a building again, you hear me?”

Speaking of which, it was an old matter from three years ago. He had taken Cheng Jianyu to a private music party in the circle. They encountered a power outage, and the whole place was pitch black. Everyone lost interest. He drove everyone home. Cheng Jianyu was very clingy that night, pestering him softly, both acting spoiled and acting cute, refusing to let him leave no matter what. He didn’t buy into it and left the party bar ruthlessly.

By the time he returned, Cheng Jianyu’s face was pale, his eyes downcast, sitting lonely under a streetlamp. Because he had jumped from a second-floor window, he had fractured his fibula and stayed in the hospital for half a month.

Jiang Yan didn’t expect his temper to be so stubborn and was worried about his psychological state for a long time. However, in these few years, it has only happened once.