Mr. Lu Was Devastated After I Left - Chapter 9

After the audition, Xu Zhuoyang successfully landed the lead role, while Mu Yuan was cast as the second male lead. Others involved in the process also secured smaller roles.

As Xu Zhuoyang walked outside, Xiang Liang slapped him hard on the back before affectionately throwing an arm around his neck. “Come on, let me treat you to a meal to celebrate!”

Xiang Liang and Xu Zhuoyang had worked together on a historical drama. They found they were kindred spirits and had been hanging out constantly ever since. Xiang Liang possessed a gentle, delicate appearance, like a nobleman who had stepped out of a painting. The idiom “a jade like gentleman, peerless in the world” fit him perfectly.

Xu Zhuoyang patted his shoulder, saying boldly, “Do not be sad about not getting the part. I know several other directors, and I can get you a good script later!”

This was no lie. Having reached his position, he had plenty of resources and never worried about scripts. Besides, Xiang Liang was a genuinely talented actor.

Xiang Liang waved a hand dismissively. “If I did not get picked, I did not get picked. Maybe my ethereal beauty is just not suited for this type of role. Besides, the time I saved can be used to go have some fun with a handsome guy!”

As the youngest son of the Xiang family, he had no interest in inheriting the family business. He had nothing better to do than act. Because he refused to rely on his family’s connections and the patriarch of his family even suppressed his career from time to time, reaching his current level of fame—though he was only a third tier artist—was quite an achievement.

Seeing that he was genuinely not upset, Xu Zhuoyang let the matter drop. He told his assistant to go home without waiting for him and headed toward a street side food stall with Xiang Liang.

If they were trying to impress someone, they might have gone to a five star hotel or a Western restaurant to eat steak, drink red wine, and discuss poetry and distant dreams. But Xiang Liang was a bit of a goof; he preferred whatever was most satisfying. Today, if he did not eat until the iron skewers were sparking, he would not be Xu Zhuoyang.

As soon as they entered, Xiang Liang shouted generously, “Boss, give us twenty pork kidney skewers!”

Xu Zhuoyang gave him a complicated look.

He must be feeling pretty weak to need those.

They wore disguises in the car, though even without them, few people would have recognized them. After all, the place was filled with middle aged men shirtless and drinking beer; no one was looking at them.

They ordered plenty and drank beer bottle after bottle, feet propped up on the crates.

Xiang Liang’s eyes were bloodshot, and his tongue felt heavy. “I tell you, you cannot spoil a man! Two days ago, I said I had a boyfriend, and that guy actually had the nerve to cheat on me!” He tapped the beer bottle with immense resentment.

Xu Zhuoyang was also feeling dizzy, his mouth moving as if beyond his control, spilling everything. “The dog man in my house has been acting strange lately, too! He stays out all night and claims there is an emergency at the company! I feel like he is lying to me. Every time we argue, he acts like nothing happened. It is like punching cotton. I do not even dare to dig deeper for fear of making him angry. Damn it!”

Hearing this, Xiang Liang leaned his large face in, asking blearily, “You have a boyfriend too?”

Xu Zhuoyang raised his head proudly. “Of course! We have been together for five years!”

“Wow, that is so devoted!” Xiang Liang sighed with envy.

Xu Zhuoyang immediately got excited. He mumbled about how sweet his life had been over the past five years and how much Lu Beiye used to love him.

Drinking and chatting like this, their table was soon piled high with empty bottles. They sat there hiccuping and laughing like idiots.

Xu Zhuoyang leaned in conspiratorially, whispering in his ear, “I will tell you a secret, but you cannot tell anyone else. In three months, it will be that dog man’s birthday. I have secretly ordered a ring, and I am going to propose to him on his birthday! I will make him cry tears of joy!”

Xiang Liang moved his mouth. “Good.” His gaze was drifting. “Good.”

Xu Zhuoyang leaned closer. “Good what?”

“Good. Bleh!” Xiang Liang suddenly bent over in pain.

Xu Zhuoyang jumped back instantly but was not spared. He stared with a face as dark as a pot at the vomit on his shoes. Once Xiang Liang finished, he slumped onto the table and fell asleep, looking absurdly peaceful.

Xu Zhuoyang, who had been feeling dizzy, suddenly sobered up. He checked his phone and saw it was late; there was even a missed call.

A chill ran down his spine, and his scalp tingled.

At this hour, Lu Beiye must be home already.

He hurriedly apologized to the owner, settled the bill, and called a designated driver. He tried to wake Xiang Liang, but the man was out cold. Since he did not know where Xiang Liang lived, he had no choice but to bring him home.

He dragged the one hundred and sixty pound man into the apartment with great effort.

The house was pitch black. Just as he was reveling in the joy that Lu Beiye might not be home, the entrance light clicked on. A tall figure loomed over him.

Xu Zhuoyang lost his grip. Xiang Liang, sleeping peacefully, crashed to the floor with a loud thud.

Xu Zhuoyang frantically waved his hands. “Brother, brother, you. Listen to me explain!”