Everyone is Crazy - Chapter 1

At four in the afternoon, the makeup room was quiet, with only the occasional rustle of turning pages slicing through the stifling air. The cool breeze from the air conditioner seeped out into the hallway, accompanied by the steady stream of footsteps echoing outside.

“Where’s the last extra? Ten! I said ten! Are you an idiot? If you can’t find someone, you’ll be the one lying on set!”

“Where’s the makeup artist? What kind of makeup did you put on her? Are we filming The Ring?”

“What are you standing around for? Get the actors changed!”

The gruff voice pierced through the earpiece as the corridor buzzed with noise and movement. Inside the makeup room, separated by just a door, Tan Muxi turned another page. She heard the previously roaring voice soften as the director, clutching the script, asked someone nearby, “Has Teacher Meng still not arrived?”

Tan Muxi looked up.

She was seated in front of the mirror, legs crossed, the storyboard for the upcoming scene resting on her knee. A pair of stiletto heels dangled from her toes, and as she swayed them leisurely, a flash of vibrant red peeked out from her toenails.

With a lazy, casual posture, Tan Muxi asked the person beside her, “Has Meng Xingci still not shown up?”

Shan Yingfeng glanced at her watch and replied, “Director He’s assistant said she’s stuck in traffic.”

Tan Muxi gave a faint, insincere smile. “Stuck in traffic?”

She turned to her assistant. “Didn’t she use that excuse last time?”

Shan Yingfeng forced a dry laugh. “She should be here soon. It won’t delay today’s filming.”

Tan Muxi lowered her head to read the script again, tossing out just two words indifferently: “Is that so?”

Shan Yingfeng fell silent, thinking to herself how strange it was. Since Meng Xingci had entered the industry, she had never been rude to a crew or fellow actors. Besides, this wasn’t their first collaboration. Five years ago, when they first worked together, Meng Xingci had been quite friendly toward Tan Muxi.

But this time, for some reason, whenever there was a scene with Tan Muxi, Meng Xingci was either late or suddenly unavailable. After a few instances, rumors began to circulate within the crew.

Some said Meng Xingci disliked Tan Muxi because she was gay.

Others claimed Meng Xingci was homophobic.

In a film crew, even a single glance could spark gossip, let alone when Tan Muxi was involved, a veritable rumor mill. By the end of a project, she’d have at least eight to ten labels attached to her. In just three projects with her, Shan Yingfeng had already heard countless rumors, but “homophobic” was a first for Meng Xingci.

After all, Tan Muxi’s girlfriend was the CEO of Era Media.

Even if you didn’t respect the person, you had to respect their connections.

No one was particularly eager to cross Era Media.

Clearly, Meng Xingci wasn’t buying into that.

In fact, Meng Xingci’s return to the set had taken everyone by surprise. Five years ago, after filming the period drama Broken Willow with Tan Muxi, she had no further acting projects. Rumor had it she had shifted to investing, with a keen eye for success; her company had grown steadily. She had faded from the entertainment industry, and it was only after the director pleaded repeatedly that she agreed to make a cameo appearance as a special guest.

Originally, the reunion of Meng Xingci and Tan Muxi on set after five years should have been a heartwarming story. Tan Muxi’s PR team had even drafted headlines for it. Who would have guessed Meng Xingci was homophobic?

And so blatantly so.

Now, forget a heartwarming story. They’d be lucky if the rumors didn’t leak beyond the set.

Tan Muxi had heard that the PR department had been working overtime, holding meetings every day, terrified that a bombshell story might break at any moment. Even Shan Yingfeng was on edge. Every time Tan Muxi and Meng Xingci filmed together, Shan Yingfeng kept her eyes and ears wide open, afraid that the slightest slip would lead to leaked gossip.

The more nervous Shan Yingfeng became, the more nonchalant Tan Muxi appeared. Over the years of filming, Tan Muxi had encountered plenty of homophobic celebrities. Some who even insisted on clinging to her despite their prejudices. At least Meng Xingci was honest.

She just wasn’t punctual.

Tan Muxi leaned against the armrest of her chair, fingertips pressed to her temple, unconsciously tracing small circles as she asked, “What time is it?”

Shan Yingfeng’s voice wavered slightly. “Four o’clock.”

After a pause, she glanced at Tan Muxi. “I’ll go grab a coffee.”

Tan Muxi kept her head lowered, skimming through the script without a word, as if silently agreeing.

Shan Yingfeng tiptoed out of the dressing room. The moment the door opened, a wave of noise from the hallway flooded in; muffled and indistinct sounds that had been blocked by the door now rushed in clearly, striking her eardrums.

Tan Muxi pinched her earlobe.

She faintly overheard her own name.

“Why isn’t this dressing room being used? It’s so crowded over there you can’t even see!”

“Are you crazy? This is Tan Muxi’s dressing room.”

The door closed, cutting off the noise. Tan Muxi focused on the lines in the storyboard script, the words filtering through her mind, forming images that were quickly replaced by the next scene. Her foot swayed unconsciously, her body slanted against the chair, her expression growing colder.

Her phone on the table buzzed insistently. Tan Muxi reached for it. In the mirror, her slender wrist was adorned with a red string. A prop that now stood out starkly against her fair skin, like a splash of crimson against snow.

She had always liked red.

Her gaze shifted from her wrist to the phone. Qi Yu had sent a barrage of messages, the last one arriving just half a second ago: 【I went to buy a drink earlier, and everyone was talking about your new project.】

New project? Gossip about her personal life would have been more believable.

Tan Muxi tapped the screen leisurely and replied: 【What are they saying?】

Qi Yu: 【What else? It’s all about you working with Teacher Meng after five years apart. Everyone’s dying of curiosity.】

Tan Muxi poked the screen again.

Qi Yu added: 【Is she late again today?】

Tan Muxi replied ambiguously: 【What do you think?】

Qi Yu took a deep breath upon reading the message.

Having a celebrity friend had its perks, fresh gossip every day. The downside? When that gossip involved your own idol, it was disillusioning. The image she had once admired was slowly crumbling, piece by piece, reshaping into something entirely different.

Over the years, Qi Yu had witnessed too many idols fall from grace. She had always believed that her favorite would remain untarnished. After all, Meng Xingci had been out of the industry for five years, and despite fans’ pleas, it seemed unlikely she would return. Nestled in the memory of that once-glorious image felt safe.

Who could have predicted that this particular idol would collapse so unexpectedly?

Meng Xingci, who publicly championed sexual orientation freedom, turned out to be homophobic. The “professionalism” label she had worn since her debut was now tarnished by repeated tardiness. The Meng Xingci of today had shattered every last bit of Qi Yu’s idealized impression, utterly and completely.

She couldn’t help but sigh again: 【Didn’t you used to say she was great?】

Used to?

Tan Muxi glanced at Qi Yu’s WeChat profile picture, which featured an anime character. Meng Xingci had used the same avatar five years ago. Back then, Meng Xingci had a habit of arriving early for filming, and the only time she was ever late was during a night shoot when she ran into a fan event. Worried about the fans’ safety returning home late, she stayed at the entrance to watch her assistant escort them one by one. When she returned, she brought Tan Muxi a cup of coffee and said sincerely, “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

At that time, they could still joke around with each other.

Now, after this long-awaited reunion, not only were media reporters curious, but even friends in the industry sent messages to probe: “How does it feel to collaborate with Teacher Meng again?”

How did it feel?

Not great.

Unpunctual and impolite.

That was her impression of working with Meng Xingci for the second time.

Tan Muxi fiddled with her phone and sent a message: “I was blind and foolish back then.”

Qi Yu: “…”

Qi Yu: “No need to curse yourself like that. If you ask me, she just hid it too well. I never realized she was that kind of person before.”

Tan Muxi raised an eyebrow, her double-lidded phoenix eyes widening slightly. With her makeup accentuating her features, a single sweep of her brow exuded charm. At this moment, her eyes brimmed with laughter as her fingers danced across the screen: “Isn’t she your idol?”

Qi Yu typed furiously, the “typing” indicator flashing for a few seconds before her message came through: “New flames are precious, old flames are priceless, but for Shuishui, I’d abandon them both!”

Qi Yu: “Remember this as my epitaph!”

A faint smile tugged at Tan Muxi’s lips, her cool features resembling a rose blooming atop winter snow, suddenly infused with warmth. When she smiled, even her reflection in the mirror brightened. This Qi Yu, if she wasn’t being cheeky, she was taking it to the extreme.

She still remembered the night Qi Yu found out Meng Xingci was homophobic. Qi Yu had cried her eyes out, sobbing while clutching her phone. When they video-called, Qi Yu was opening her eighth bottle of beer. Seeing Tan Muxi, she wailed tearfully, “How could she be homophobic? How could she! I’m still deep in the fandom, still shipping you two. How could she be homophobic, wuuu…”

Tan Muxi found it amusing. “You didn’t cry this hard when I was in a relationship.”

“That’s different!” Qi Yu hugged her beer bottle, her face flushed and reeking of alcohol. “You dating someone means there’s still a chance you might break up, but if she’s homophobic, there’s no chance at all!”

Tan Muxi: “…”

Should she say thank you?

She wondered how her actual girlfriend, Liu Shuyun, would feel hearing that.

Speak of the devil.

A new message popped up on Tan Muxi’s phone from Liu Shuyun’s secretary: “Miss Tan, will you be done by 4:30?”

She glanced at the time in the upper right corner of her phone, 4:20.

Tan Muxi: “OK.”

Secretary: “Then I’ll wait for you at the entrance at 4:30.”

A knock sounded at the door, and her assistant pushed it open and walked in. Tan Muxi turned to see her assistant carrying a coffee, placing it on the table. The cup was beaded with cold condensation, a straw sticking out of it. Tan Muxi took a sip—icy, bitter, and astringent.

It was the familiar taste.

Shan Yingfeng smiled and said, “Teacher Tan, Director He just mentioned that Teacher Meng will be here soon.”

Tan Muxi stirred the straw and replied, “Let Director He know I have something to attend to later and won’t be able to continue filming.”

Shan Yingfeng’s smile froze abruptly, stiffening on her face in a somewhat comical manner. Her mouth fell open: “Huh?”

“What ‘ah’?” Tan Muxi looked up, somewhat absentmindedly. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“I-I did,” Shan Yingfeng stammered nervously. “I’ll go right now.”

With that, she slipped away like greased lightning.

Tan Muxi sipped her coffee while watching Qi Yu’s messages pour in like a machine gun: 【But I still find it hard to believe she’s homophobic.】

She set down her coffee, picked up a makeup remover wipe, and pressed it against her eyes. After rubbing for a moment, she opened her eyes to find the screen still lit, with Qi Yu continuing: 【Do you think there might be another reason?】

【I was browsing forums yesterday—do you know how many fans burst into tears when they heard you two were collaborating? If they found out Teacher Meng is homophobic, they’d cry even harder than I did.】

That would indeed be quite a sight.

Tan Muxi remembered Qi Yu hadn’t even cried that miserably during her breakup.

Rubbing her eyes, she replied: 【Are you planning to leak this?】

Qi Yu: 【Of course not! What kind of person do you take me for!】

Her phone vibrated twice as an assistant message from Shan Yingfeng popped up: 【Teacher Tan, I’ve spoken with Director He.】

Simultaneously, Qi Yu’s message flashed across the top of the screen: 【I’m just feeling a bit sad.】

Squinting, Tan Muxi tapped into the chat and comforted her: 【Actually, there’s no need to be sad. Don’t you think the current her and I are even more compatible?】

The other end immediately sent back two words: 【Compatible?】

Tan Muxi: 【She’s always late, I always leave early—a match made in heaven, don’t you think?】

After sending this, her gaze fell upon the familiar chat avatar and the unfamiliar conversation interface. Her eyes paused briefly, then flicked upward to the contact name displayed at the top of the screen: 【Meng Xingci】