Perfect Divorce [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 31

Early the next morning, Yuan Xingzhou got out of bed in an awkward state. He had to replace the bedsheets and pillowcases and secretly take them to be washed before Ye Huai could find out.

In truth, as an adult, having a nocturnal emission isn’t a particularly disgraceful thing—especially since Yuan Xingzhou had finally taken a break recently, his body had suddenly relaxed, and he hadn’t had a chance to relieve himself. Releasing it occasionally like this was normal.

It was just that the protagonist of the dream was embarrassing. Yuan Xingzhou could no longer remember the contents of the dream, but Ye Huai’s scent and the sensations were deeply imprinted in his mind.

Although it had been satisfying at the time, thinking about it now while conscious made him feel somewhat wretched…

Yuan Xingzhou sheepishly put the changed clothes into the washing machine and took another shower. When he stepped out, Ye Huai hadn’t woken up yet. He stood at Ye Huai’s door and offered a sincere silent repentance for several seconds, then sprayed some perfume and headed straight to the company.

It was the weekend, so there weren’t many people at the company. Li Yu arrived half an hour late and was momentarily stunned upon seeing Yuan Xingzhou.

“Do you have a date today?” Li Yu asked. “Why are you wearing perfume?”

Yuan Xingzhou was very meticulous about his image management in front of the camera. Li Yu had seen him apply makeup, add beauty marks, brush blush onto his joints, and even practice facial expressions in the mirror to avoid uncomplimentary photos when laughing—but he rarely saw Yuan Xingzhou wear perfume.

“If you’re in a relationship, it’s best to tell the company,” Li Yu said. “The company won’t interfere, but there are restrictive clauses in the contract… By the way, who is the other person? Someone outside the circle?”

“I’m not in a relationship,” Yuan Xingzhou said, caught between laughter and tears. “I just saw the perfume bottle today and was afraid it would expire, so I used it on a whim.”

Li Yu looked at him searchingly. “It certainly doesn’t look like it.”

“Really,” Yuan Xingzhou had to say. “I know what’s important. My ‘Huai-Zhou’ CP hasn’t been de-coupled yet. If I were to date now, wouldn’t that be like two-timing?”

The “Huai-Zhou” CP was currently Li Yu’s sore spot; mentioning it made him angry. Yet, the momentum of this CP was incredibly strong. After the show aired last night, the topic gained over a hundred thousand followers overnight—it was terrifying.

“As long as you know. I’m at my wits’ end.” Li Yu got worked up at the mere mention of the CP and finally stopped dwelling on the perfume. Instead, he pulled a stack of documents from his desk and tossed them to Yuan Xingzhou.

The new script was an urban romance drama disguised as a workplace drama. The female lead was a manager who started in PR, and the male lead was an artist under her—a wealthy second-generation celebrity and a famous idol.

The female lead’s persona was inspirational and proactive, very grounded. The male lead was responsible for the romance and the “face-slapping” (triumphing over rivals), but his persona was so exaggerated it seemed to float off the ground. However, upon closer inspection, he seemed a bit like Ye Huai.

Yuan Xingzhou imagined Ye Huai as the male lead and realized the character didn’t seem that unrealistic after all…

“This script wasn’t easy to negotiate. Right now, urban dramas make up more than half of the first-run dramas on satellite channels. This one has key points like family, career, youth, and fan culture, so it’s easy to generate high discussion. As long as the first run is stable and the second and third runs follow, you won’t have to worry about exposure for the coming year,” Li Yu said. “The production team’s previous choice was Yuan Cheng. That side was in frequent contact, so the negotiations in the middle took a long time.”

Hearing this, Yuan Xingzhou realized why Li Yu hadn’t given him any news lately—it had probably almost fallen through. Yuan Cheng was currently one of the top “traffic” stars with a massive fan base. If the production team had originally set their sights on him, Yuan Xingzhou’s chances should have been very slim. He didn’t know why they eventually chose him.

Could it be that the production team wasn’t good? Or was Yuan Cheng’s fee too high?

Yuan Xingzhou’s head was full of question marks, but when he flipped open the materials, he almost fell to his knees—the director of this drama was actually Director Lin.

Director Lin was a legendary figure—not because of how well he filmed, but because he was exceptionally good at selling his shows. Since starting his career, not a single one of his dramas had won an award, but not a single one had failed to sell either.

Yuan Xingzhou had heard people talk about him when he first started acting. They said this director was extremely sensitive and followed every requirement of the SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television). When restrictions were loose, he filmed historical dramas; when they were tight, he filmed modern workplace dramas; and when the direction was unclear, he filmed inspirational melodramas about women… somehow, he always hit the mark.

In the past, people looked down on him, but then others’ dramas were frequently blocked by censors while his aired without a hitch. Over time, he became a celebrity in his own right.

“Is this actually real? Why was I chosen in the end?” Yuan Xingzhou asked in amazement.

“Because you’ve actually acted before, of course,” Li Yu said. “What can Yuan Cheng do? Go to the set and sing? Or give the director a ‘muah-muah’ kiss to show warmth?”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…” He hadn’t expected Li Yu to be so savage in his roasting.

Does this man just have a grudge against male idols? Yuan Xingzhou stole a glance at Li Yu but kept quiet.

Li Yu then remembered something else and asked, “What’s the deal with that original song of yours?”

Yuan Xingzhou explained the whole situation from beginning to end.

“As soon as he got on the show, he said it was his inspiration from before he debuted. To be honest, if we really started a public feud, people might not know which side to take,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “But after I performed that day, he definitely got nervous. Now he wants to spend money to buy peace of mind. I don’t plan on agreeing to this. He can either use it and live in fear of the day I settle the score, or he can change it and delete my melody from it.”

“Changing it is impossible; the cost is too high, and they’re releasing it tomorrow.” Li Yu looked thoughtful and asked, “Settle the score? When?”

Yuan Xingzhou looked up at him, silent for a moment, before saying, “The day I have enough strength.”

Li Yu gave a casual “oh.”

“Since my transition to acting, I’ve had good luck and been in a few good dramas, accumulating a bit of goodwill from the audience. But that goodwill wasn’t easy to get, and there’s too little of it—I don’t want to take risks,” Yuan Xingzhou paused and said, “But I mind it deeply in my heart. So I can only wait—wait until I am strong enough and capable enough to strike back.”

These were thoughts Yuan Xingzhou had always held in his heart. In reality, he was quite sensitive; he remembered everyone who had been unkind to him, thinking that once he became capable, he would slap them back in the face.

However, sometimes a person’s expectations don’t become reality—just like how he used to hallucinate about returning to school in glory after becoming famous and hosting a grand banquet for his lovely classmates. It all seemed like a small matter, a given, but who knew the world was so fickle? By the time they met again, many years had passed.

Yuan Xingzhou was somewhat nervous about the dinner tonight.

After he was added to the group yesterday, he was too embarrassed to participate in the chat. But everyone still noticed him; the moment they woke up this morning, they started @-ing him repeatedly, asking him to pop up and say hello.

Yuan Xingzhou could only post an emoji and greet everyone. Despite being happy in his heart, the greetings he sent appeared quite formal.

He wasn’t quite sure what the appropriate way to express himself was.

Fortunately, Zhu Yueming came to the rescue—one moment asking if Yuan Xingzhou was free tonight and if he had plans, and the next asking the others where they wanted to eat and what they wanted.

Perhaps because Yuan Xingzhou’s earlier behavior seemed a bit distant, everyone started saying anything was fine, their tone also becoming formal.

Zhu Yueming then said, “Little Flower has always been shy. When have you guys not been the ones to pick the place? Don’t make things hard for the kid.”

Yuan Xingzhou also replied: “I never expected ‘Little Flower’ would be what I’m called…”

That sentence instantly triggered everyone’s memories of the old days. The group became active again. After several rounds of discussion, some called for hotpot, some for a buffet, and others for lamb spine stew.

In the end, they settled on a popular roasted whole lamb restaurant that usually required a week’s advance reservation. Fortunately, Zhu Yueming knew the owner and called to secure the best Mongolian yurt-style private room, prompting a collective cheer from the group.

Before noon, everyone started discussing what time to depart in the afternoon, whether to ditch work early, and if they needed to go home to change clothes.

Caught up in the collective excitement, Yuan Xingzhou couldn’t help but look forward to it. Then he looked at himself—the clothes he was wearing had been worn too many times; they weren’t formal enough and were too cheap.

He had lunch nearby and, after much thought, steeled his heart and drove straight to the mall to buy himself a new outfit.

A full set of Alexander McQueen: a crew-neck T-shirt that just revealed his collarbones, topped with a vest and suit set styled by the clerk. It was low-key and elegant without being overly formal.

“You’re so handsome in person.” The male clerk couldn’t stop glancing at him. While swiping his card, he finally couldn’t help but say, “We were just discussing you yesterday. I didn’t expect to run into you today. You look much better in person than on TV.”

“Discussing what?” Yuan Xingzhou asked with a smile. “That I can eat a lot?” In yesterday’s variety show, the production team highlighted his appetite; there didn’t seem to be other points for discussion.

The clerk shook his head. “No. We were talking about this.”

He shyly took out his phone and unlocked it. On the screen was a still of Yuan Xingzhou in a military uniform from one of his dramas.

“Your skin is so good.” The clerk looked at him closely, his face turning red. “I feel like you’re literally glowing.”

“Thank you.” Yuan Xingzhou thought, Am I a firefly? How can I glow? Seeing that the young man was itching to ask something but was too embarrassed, he took the initiative. “Do you want a photo?”

“Ahhhhh! Yes, yes, yes!” The clerk immediately rushed out from behind the counter, holding his phone.

They took one formal standing photo and one with peace signs. Finally, unable to control himself, the young man puffed out his cheeks and tilted his face, posing as if to kiss him, and quickly snapped a photo.

Yuan Xingzhou was stunned, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, but he didn’t make him delete it.

By the time he left the store, it was nearly 4:00 PM.

Fearing traffic, the people in the group chat were one after another preparing to find excuses to sneak away from their companies early. Yuan Xingzhou also drove straight to the roasted lamb restaurant.

He was only halfway there when Ye Huai called.

“Aren’t you going to the party?” Ye Huai asked in confusion on the other end. “Why aren’t you back yet to get ready?”

“I’ve already set out!” Yuan Xingzhou was stunned. “I was afraid of traffic later, so I went early to wait there.”

Ye Huai was surprised. “You’ve already set out?”

Yuan Xingzhou: “Yeah. Do you need something?”

“Do I need something? You set out and didn’t even tell me!” Ye Huai said angrily.

“I… it’s a class reunion…” Yuan Xingzhou was startled by the shouting and said, bewildered, “A class reunion…”

“I know it’s a damn class reunion!” Ye Huai said crossly. “Didn’t you say people were bringing kids? If they’re all bringing kids, why aren’t you bringing a family member!”

“Ah?” Yuan Xingzhou was dazed. He looked around and simply found an intersection to park the car.

“I knew it!” Ye Huai was already agitated. “You’re lying to me! Did you go on a date with your ‘male god’? You even wore perfume early this morning! I knew it wasn’t that simple!”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

“It really isn’t. There are so many of us.” Yuan Xingzhou looked at the group chat and saw someone saying they were bringing their wife. He could only say, “How about… you come over now?”

“Do you take me for a dog? I come the moment I’m called!” Ye Huai snapped.

“No, no, no, how would I dare,” Yuan Xingzhou laughed. “I’m the dog, okay? I am very ‘doggedly’ requesting that you come over and have dinner with us. How about it?”

Ye Huai: “…”

“It’s roasted whole lamb,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “I’ll send you a location. How will you come? Take a taxi to find me, and I’ll drive you there together.”

Ye Huai gave a huffy snort and finally hung up.

Yuan Xingzhou waited in the parking lot of a nearby office building. Ten minutes later, Ye Huai pulled up beside him in his Bentley, looking at him with a look of displeasure. Seeing his “puffed-up fur” (agitated) look, Yuan Xingzhou felt both annoyed and amused. He had to leave his own car there, then opened the door and climbed into the Bentley.

Ye Huai turned his head to look at him.

Yuan Xingzhou realized that facing this face, he couldn’t quite bring himself to say anything teasing.

“I haven’t seen my classmates for many years, and I don’t know what they’re like now,” Yuan Xingzhou could only settle for the next best thing. After a thought, he instructed, “If they say or do something inappropriate, don’t take it to heart.”

Ye Huai was dressed very freshly today: a cream-colored suit-style notched lapel shirt, loose casual trousers, and a pair of “dirty” sneakers. He looked exceptionally handsome and full of vitality.

“Is my temper that bad?” Ye Huai asked. “Do you think I’m the kind of person who would lose my temper in public?”

Yuan Xingzhou’s lip twitched. He couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you?”

Ye Huai didn’t speak but threw him a threatening glance.

Yuan Xingzhou immediately surrendered: “No.”

Ye Huai: “…”

The car soon reached the destination. The others in the group were also arriving one after another; the timing was perfect. Outside several Mongolian yurts, people were chatting around a campfire. After Ye Huai parked the car and walked around the front, he saw Yuan Xingzhou looking at him and smiling.

“What are you laughing at?” Ye Huai asked with a strange expression.

“Nothing. Why did you suddenly think of calling me this afternoon?” Yuan Xingzhou turned his face, asking curiously. “Why wasn’t it at noon? I didn’t say the dinner was in the evening, did I?”

Ye Huai said, “I had a dream.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “Ah?”

With a guilty conscience, Yuan Xingzhou’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t help but wonder—had Ye Huai noticed something? He had clearly sprayed perfume in the bedroom…

“I dreamed my forehead was turning green (being cheated on),” Ye Huai added, catching his breath. “And when I woke up, I had turned into a turtle (cuckold).”