Break Up Right After Same-sex Marriage Is Legalized - Chapter 2

It was just a sudden thought, not a feeling of sadness.

In fact, Mr. Wei used to visit the set in the past.

Although our connection began with a signed contract, from any perspective, Mr. Wei is truly an excellent benefactor.

He holds a high position and immense power, usually maintaining a serious and exceptionally mature demeanor. Although his mind is entirely on work, he still meticulously helped me handle family matters. He gave me the most generous conditions, had no peculiar fetishes, was very considerate in daily life, visited the set occasionally, and would remember to bring gifts for the crew.

I’ve never heard of him having other lovers.

He rescued me from the quagmire, gave me opportunities without stinginess, and restored my dignity. I am grateful, so I put my heart and soul into maintaining the sugar baby relationship between us—being considerate enough, but never crossing the line.

Don’t say what shouldn’t be said, don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked. Both intimacy and distance must be handled with discretion, mastering the perfect balance so as not to cause him annoyance.

I think I’ve done quite well. This is likely the reason why he hasn’t grown cold toward me even after two years.

Though, one couldn’t call it passionate, either.

“Cut—”

Director Chen called a stop.

I didn’t pull my emotions back immediately.

“Not bad, that’s exactly the effect I wanted. This take is a pass!” Director Chen shouted, “He Zhi, go back to where you started. Let’s do it one more time, we’ll change the camera position for a close-up!”

So I retreated, following the previous emotional state, and walked the path once more.

After filming a few more takes, Director Chen looked them over and finally flashed a satisfied smile: “Cut! Wrap it up!”

At the same time, the screenwriter and other staff members breathed a sigh of relief, clapping and congratulating each other with smiles: “It’s a wrap! Happy wrap-up!”

I stood in place, allowing myself to space out, my thoughts light and fleeting.

At this moment, Hu Zeliang approached holding a bouquet. It was obvious he had specifically fixed his hair just now. He handed the flowers to me: “He Zhi, happy wrap-up.”

I took the flowers: “Thank you.”

Then I bowed one by one to thank the director and other crew members.

According to the plan, the entire crew would then take a bus back to the Film and Television City to attend the wrap-up banquet that evening. After the banquet, my duties would be over, and I could leave the crew at any time.

On the way back, Hu Zeliang invited me to ride with him, but I declined using the excuse that I was still immersed in my character.

In the nanny van, my assistant Xiao Dai, sitting in the passenger seat, handed over a bouquet of vibrant roses. The petals were still wet with crystal droplets, and a rich fragrance quietly permeated the car.

Xiao Dai is twenty-two, a college graduate of only half a year, youthful, innocent, and silly-happy all day long. She says she’s my fan and that her dream is to be a successful screenwriter and have me act in her plays. It was with this enthusiasm that she entered the entertainment industry.

At the beginning of the year, she interned at my management company, “Yi Yu,” and unexpectedly, she was later assigned to be my assistant.

She said with a giggle: “Sent by President Wei’s special assistant, Lyu Cheng. He said President Wei remembered today was your wrap-up day. President Wei is really so considerate!”

This silly child has always thought Mr. Wei and I were in a romantic relationship.

I smiled and took the bouquet. Sure enough, there was a card among the flowers that read, “Happy wrap-up, may everything go your way — Wei Shengli.”

It was his usual style: thoughtful yet distant.

Every time I finish filming a movie or TV show, I receive a card from him, and it always says the exact same thing.

I opened my phone and entered the chat with Mr. Wei. In the WeChat interface were the routine morning and evening greetings: Good morning, good night, what are you eating, what are you doing. I was a bit weary, but I still sent words of thanks to Mr. Wei, praising how beautiful the flowers were.

After sending the message, I tucked the card away, placed the flowers on the seat beside me, and said to Xiao Dai: “I’m a bit tired, I’ll rest for a while.”

Xiao Dai: “Then you sleep first, Brother Zhi Zhi, I’ll call you when we arrive!”

According to Xiao Dai, “Zhi Zhi” is a nickname fans use for me, so she always calls me “Brother Zhi Zhi.” I never stop her from using these cute nicknames or ideas that pop out of her young mind from time to time.

It’s actually a very good thing.

I said: “Okay.”

Then I closed my eyes.

Although I haven’t slept well these past few days, due to a habit formed since childhood, I’ve always been a light sleeper who needs very little rest. Not to mention being in a moving vehicle, even when lying at home, any small noise makes it hard to fall asleep. Therefore, while I said I was resting and sleeping, I was actually just clearing my thoughts with my eyes closed.

Fortunately, emptying one’s mind does indeed feel soothing.

An hour later, the nanny van stopped.

I didn’t wait for Xiao Dai to wake me up. I opened my eyes on my own.

Xiao Dai immediately laughed: “Oh, Brother Zhi Zhi, I was just about to wake you up and you woke up yourself! That’s so great, I can never wake up on my own when I sleep. I have to set several alarms, and even then, I used to be late for class…”

Holding the bouquet in my arms, listening to Xiao Dai’s incessant chatter and chatting with her for a few words, I didn’t feel bored on the walk back to the hotel.

Back in the room, Xiao Dai helped me pack my luggage so I could head home tomorrow morning.

At that moment, my phone rang.

I picked up the phone, but the ringing stopped before I could answer. Immediately after, I received a message from my manager, Yue Jian.

The man everyone calls “Brother Jian” is nearly forty years old. He has produced several famous names and is the ace manager of Yi Yu. I had already signed with Yi Yu Media before I started following Mr. Wei, but I had always been under other managers. When Mr. Wei and I first met, he had just acquired Yi Yu and gained actual control of the company, so I was naturally reassigned to the best manager.

That was Yue Jian.

From then on, Brother Jian formulated a series of study and work plans for me.

In order to not let down Mr. Wei’s help, and to ensure the money and time the company invested in me didn’t go to waste, I studied acting and delved into lines diligently, filming every scene seriously, striving to earn more for the company.

I am a person who is used to doing things to the extreme.

Since I chose acting, no matter what the initial reason was, I won’t half-heartedly fake it. Unwilling to let the company’s investment go down the drain, I hone my skills and strive for perfection, enduring any hardship and pushing myself to meet any requirement, accepting all the company’s arrangements.

I have been constantly improving my commercial value to make the company feel that I am worth the investment.

When Xiao Dai first became my assistant, she said I was evaluated by the outside world as a “Model Worker.” The fans were happy but also worried about my health.

Mr. Wei had repeatedly told me to rest more and that there was no need to join film crews one after another without a break. There were other people in the company earning money, so it wouldn’t collapse for the time being. He even dragged me to go on vacation with him to let me temporarily relax my body and mind.

I was grateful to him, but I couldn’t let my guard down.

If I enjoyed the best resources wantonly but achieved nothing, I would find it hard to be at peace.

Therefore, after accompanying Mr. Wei on vacation, I would immediately dive into the next job. To complete my plans, I was even busier than before.

As time went on, Mr. Wei stopped dragging me on vacations.

Realizing this, I immediately changed my plan to balance Mr. Wei’s feelings while ensuring I didn’t cause his company to lose money. Every time I finished a job, I would leave a week or so of empty time, arranging no work, and either stayed at home with him or went out to travel.

He was very happy.

Originally, it was supposed to be the same this time, but Mr. Wei suddenly said he had something to do and wouldn’t return to the residence where we lived together for a while. Following that, the timing of the wrap-up scene was modified, so in these last two weeks with the crew, I only went to film one commercial.

Regardless, after more than two years, looking at the economic benefits I’ve brought to the company, I can confidently say the company’s investment was correct.

That way, if I have to leave in the future, we will be even.

Yue Jian has always been vigorous, resolute, and businesslike, never saying redundant words; this time should also be about work.

To my surprise, after clicking on the message, he had indeed sent over new scripts to choose from, but besides that, he added an extra sentence. He said—

“You are a person with potential. In the future, even if you are no longer following President Wei, I will still manage you well. Rest assured.”

The high-level executives at Yi Yu all know about my relationship with Mr. Wei, and Yue Jian naturally knows as well.

I still remember when he first started managing me, perhaps looking down on someone like me who used an improper relationship to rise to the top, he was initially very disdainful. This feeling of disdain was well-hidden, but the person involved can never ignore it.

And I was that person.

I didn’t feel particularly embarrassed. After all, it is a fact that I am being kept. I cannot control the attitudes of others, I can only do my duty.

In our later interactions and business dealings, his attitude gradually changed, and he began to speak to me from the heart. Recently, when I contacted him, he had repeatedly hesitated to speak. I had been guessing the reason, and seeing the message he sent today, I finally understood what he was worried about.

He probably saw that the contact between Mr. Wei and me had decreased this month, or perhaps as a veteran of the company he knew other secrets, and guessed that Mr. Wei and I were about to separate.

Sure enough, a few seconds later he sent another message, writing: “President Wei is a man of honor and affection toward you. Even if you separate in the future, he should still lean resources toward you. You’ve already won the Best Actor in a TV Series award. With your talent for acting, the Film Best Actor trophy will be in your hands sooner or later. I look forward to that day.”

I smiled to myself.

In the past, as my benefactor, although Mr. Wei’s chats on social media were very concise and he spoke very little face-to-face, the two of us met very frequently. This is why just over a month of distance allowed even my manager, Brother Jian, to feel the coming storm.

However, a guess is just a guess. Perhaps Mr. Wei is truly just busy?

No one can say for sure what the future holds. Thinking of this, I messaged to soothe my manager: “I know, don’t worry. I also look forward to the day I get that trophy. Until then, I’ll have to trouble Brother Jian to assist me with all your might.”

I thought about it and added a smiling emoji.

Soon, Yue Jian also sent a happy emoji.

Putting down my phone, I continued packing with Xiao Dai.

Xiao Dai seemed to have been silent for a while. I was too focused on folding clothes to notice. It wasn’t until we were almost finished that Xiao Dai asked me cautiously: “Brother Zhi Zhi, what did Brother Jian say? Is it about work? How come… how come I feel like your expression looks a bit sad?”

I was stunned.

After a moment, I adjusted my emotions, smiled at her, and denied it: “It’s nothing.”

How could I be sad? It was just a bit of melancholy.

For the past, and for the future.