Perfect Divorce [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 34

“You’re such a rogue.” Yuan Xingzhou shot Ye Huai a helpless look, having no choice but to slip his slippers back on and head into the kitchen to cook.

Ye Huai lay comfortably on the sofa waiting to be fed, while also picking up his game console. As Yuan Xingzhou cooked in the kitchen, Ye Huai “cooked” in the game—making food to sell for money and completing a quest along the way.

By the time the side quest was finished, Yuan Xingzhou happened to emerge carrying two bowls of noodles. They were simple boiled noodles with a few stalks of baby bok choy and slices of braised beef on top. The slices were uneven in thickness, but it was clear he had put heart into it.

“Such a feast…” Ye Huai went over to eat. “Actually, instant noodles would have been enough.”

“Instant noodles are too oily and unhealthy.” Yuan Xingzhou sat down opposite him, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite. He looked a bit embarrassed. “It seems a little bland.”

Ye Huai didn’t say anything, instead bowing his head and devouring the food. He polished off the noodles and the meat entirely, and finally even gulped down the broth. Only then did he lean back contentedly, narrowing his eyes and letting out a soft grunt.

Yuan Xingzhou watched in daze. “How did you get so hungry?”

“Haven’t eaten all day.” Ye Huai waved a hand. “Is there more?”

Yuan Xingzhou pushed his own bowl over.

“Forget it,” Ye Huai said. “Let me treat you to lunch. What do you want to eat?”

“Anything is fine.” Yuan Xingzhou smiled, but then, remembering the contract, he grew hesitant.

Ye Huai looked at him in confusion.

“There’s something…” Yuan Xingzhou said. “I might need to discuss it with you. Let me treat you instead.”

At noon, Yuan Xingzhou drove Ye Huai to a restaurant tucked away in a traditional alleyway.

The location was chosen by Li Yu—a Chinese restaurant converted from a traditional courtyard house (Siheyuan). The storefront was small, but inside was a different world. Each group of diners enjoyed their own private courtyard. Beside their table was a cluster of green bamboo; the environment was tranquil, ensuring total privacy.

Wen Ting actually showed up as well, sitting there discussing business with Li Yu. When the two of them entered, Wen Ting happened to look up and waved at Yuan Xingzhou.

Yuan Xingzhou had already explained the contract requirements to Ye Huai. Once the four of them were seated and had ordered, they moved on to official business.

“Morality clauses are very common abroad. Although stars in China are often reluctant to be restricted, many people are advocating for it. I personally don’t think it’s a big deal,” Wen Ting spoke first, taking the initiative. “It’s just that the matter between you two is somewhat of a hidden risk.”

Yuan Xingzhou hadn’t expected him to bring this up immediately and with such a clear stance. He gave a grateful nod.

Ye Huai didn’t say much either, simply taking the contract out to read it through.

“Who is the female lead?” Ye Huai asked. “Is this clause specifically for him, or does everyone have it?”

“The female lead is Cheng Cheng. I’ve asked around—everyone has it, but Xingzhou’s restrictions are stricter,” Li Yu said.

Ye Huai was surprised. “Why are his stricter?”

A server came by to serve the dishes, so Li Yu paused briefly. Once they were gone, he continued, “Currently, many people are spreading rumors that you two had a fake marriage to cover up a scandal. There are all sorts of rumors. The producer is worried the scandal belongs to one of you, so they took extra caution. The cast choices were shifting constantly; if the contract hadn’t been signed on the spot that day, someone else likely would have replaced him.”

“Of course, the fact that the advertiser backed you strongly is one of the reasons it was signed smoothly,” Li Yu said to Yuan Xingzhou. “That Tan Yanke… find time to thank him. He might know something.”

Yuan Xingzhou froze, realizing that Tan Yanke’s sudden appearance that day was likely because he’d heard some rumors and followed him to the company. He wondered if the dinner invitation later was meant to discuss this.

Ye Huai looked suspiciously between him and Li Yu, his gaze clearly showing displeasure at the mention of this guy surnamed Tan meddling in.

Yuan Xingzhou could only give him a reassuring look, signaling they would talk about it when they got back.

“I understand,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “But both Ye Huai and I are just ‘taking the fall’ (scapegoats). These rumors…”

“Nine parts truth, one part lie. I don’t know if the person leaking the info did it on purpose or if they simply didn’t know the whole picture,” Li Yu pinched the bridge of his nose and then asked, “When you two got married back then, what exactly were you trying to cover up?”

Yuan Xingzhou and Ye Huai exchanged a look.

Yuan Xingzhou was a bit lost. “I… don’t know.” At that time, he was a “soft persimmon” to be squeezed at will. Since the company wanted to hide something, the fewer people who knew, the better.

Yuan Xingzhou had simply used the marriage to exchange for certain conditions.

Li Yu had asked before, but he hadn’t quite believed Yuan Xingzhou’s answer, so he asked again today. Seeing Yuan Xingzhou give the same response, he realized the man truly was in the dark.

Ye Huai, however, fell silent.

“In any case, it wasn’t either of us.” Ye Huai frowned slightly, his expression unexpectedly solemn. “This matter is of great importance. Those who know won’t reveal it voluntarily.”

Li Yu: “Not even convenient to reveal it to me?”

Ye Huai nodded. “Better if you don’t know.”

The group fell into silence.

“Then I’ll state my view. Since Xingzhou signed the morality clause, although he’s under more restriction, it’s also equivalent to proving his innocence. He has no bad history anyway; the only risk is your relationship,” Li Yu said. “My Option One is for you two to find an excuse and divorce as soon as possible before the shoot starts.”

Hearing this, both Yuan Xingzhou and Ye Huai were stunned.

Wen Ting had clearly heard this plan before and nodded at them.

“Divorce?” Ye Huai said in disbelief. “Our variety show only finished airing tonight, and we’re already preparing to divorce? That’s a bit far-fetched!”

“The tentative start date for the shoot is December 1st. There’s enough time to lay the groundwork. I’ll arrange interviews for Xingzhou gradually. The reason will be set as him being insecure in love, frequently jealous, leading to constant arguments between you two,” Li Yu said. “Or, if you have other good ideas, you can suggest them. As long as it doesn’t damage anyone’s image, we’re willing to cooperate.”

Resolving the risk before the contract is fulfilled was indeed a more thorough approach.

Yuan Xingzhou had never considered this path. Hearing Li Yu explain it, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

By then, they would already be divorced, the shoot wouldn’t have started yet, and the contract wouldn’t have gone into effect. If the crew was unsatisfied, they could change the actor. If they didn’t, then he would have no more worries.

“I also think it’s worth considering,” Wen Ting looked at Ye Huai and said. “Based on your fan demographics, returning to single status might actually make it easier to gain followers.”

Most of Ye Huai’s fans were “solo fans” (only like him). With his excellent looks and broad appeal, a divorce would actually be a boon for his fans.

Yuan Xingzhou, on the other hand, relied more on CP fans. There would definitely be some fluctuations, but since he had already transitioned to acting, as long as he appropriately played the “pitiful” card and created an image of an affectionate fool who was insecure in love, he could stabilize a portion of them.

“This plan is too impulsive,” Ye Huai said without a second thought, refusing. “I don’t agree. What’s Option Two?”

Li Yu frowned slightly and wanted to say something, but Wen Ting raised a hand to stop him.

“Option Two is for you and Xingzhou to maintain a stable marriage until the contract restriction period ends,” Wen Ting said. “This plan is easier. The benefit is that a ‘loving couple’ persona is great for variety shows, and advertisers prefer artists with stable marriages. The downside is the long time span and numerous potential risks. If either of you starts a real relationship, it’ll definitely be trouble.”

Ye Huai turned to Yuan Xingzhou. “What’s your stance?”

Yuan Xingzhou also hesitated. These were simply a choice between a short pain and a long pain.

“I’m fine with either,” Yuan Xingzhou said.

Ye Huai frowned. “I didn’t ask you to pick ‘either’.”

Yuan Xingzhou paused, then said, “I… have no plans to start a relationship with anyone else.”

“Neither do I.” Ye Huai breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s go with Two then—maintain the status quo.”

“But if we choose Two…” Yuan Xingzhou suddenly asked, “Can I share my thoughts?”

The others were all taken aback.

“Go ahead,” Wen Ting nodded at him.

Yuan Xingzhou glanced at Ye Huai and said, “If Ye Huai maintains this relationship for my sake, I wish to give him 50% of my acting fee as compensation. Otherwise, I would prefer Option One.”

Li Yu: “…”

Wen Ting: “…”

“Are you sick?” Ye Huai froze for a moment and said, bewildered, “What does your acting have to do with me? Am I lacking those few bucks of yours?”

“It’s different. If you don’t cooperate, I either won’t be qualified to perform, or I might face a lawsuit and have to pay someone back.” Yuan Xingzhou looked up and met his eyes earnestly. “I can only feel at ease if you take this money.”

Ye Huai’s expression changed. His hand on the table clenched into a fist, clearly quite angered, as he glared at Yuan Xingzhou.

“Brother Huai,” Yuan Xingzhou couldn’t help but take a deep breath, then placed his hand over Ye Huai’s fist. “Brother Huai, I really… I really want to play this lead role. I’m so afraid of missing this opportunity…”

After all, this whole mess started because of him. If he hadn’t proactively mentioned Ye Huai and hyped up the “Huai-Zhou” CP, their relationship wouldn’t have such high public attention.

They could have divorced at any time. Since they had lived in different places for years, it was inevitable for feelings to fade, and the public wouldn’t have cared at all.

Ye Huai’s face flickered through several expressions as he stared at Yuan Xingzhou for a while.

Yuan Xingzhou’s expression was sincere, looking at him expectantly. Ye Huai silently pulled his hand back.

Li Yu then asked, “Should we draft a contract?”

“No need!” Yuan Xingzhou said immediately.

“Then we’ll head out first.” Wen Ting looked between the two, patted Li Yu, and said to Yuan Xingzhou, “You two enjoy your meal slowly. Oh, and Xingzhou—call me when it’s convenient; I’ll take you to a good place.”

Having said that, he stood up, pulled Li Yu up, and practically dragged him out of the room.

Only the two of them remained in the courtyard. Yuan Xingzhou was just building up the words to thank him when he saw Ye Huai speak expressionlessly, “Ooh, they’re lining up, aren’t they—first the advertiser, now the manager…”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

Ye Huai was terrifying when he was silent; this kind of sarcastic talk was actually somewhat reassuring.

“I ran into Tan Yanke at the company the day I signed the contract. He wanted to eat, but I didn’t agree,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “As for Brother Wen, that was the day you were drunk; he called you about the rental and mentioned eating together when free.”

“I was drunk?” Ye Huai frowned. “When was I drunk?”

Yuan Xingzhou: “The day of my class reunion!”

“A joke. That tiny bit of wine could get me drunk?” Ye Huai looked at him in disbelief. “Have you never drunk with me before?”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

They had certainly drunk together, but no matter how high the alcohol concentration in a bar was, it was always diluted and sipped slowly. How could that compare to the heavy drinking at a reunion?

Yuan Xingzhou didn’t even have the heart to mention how they were chased off by the security guard. He guessed Ye Huai likely didn’t remember it, which was why he could be so righteous now.

“Not drunk,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “You weren’t drunk that day, but you fell asleep. Is that okay?”

Ye Huai said irritably, “Whatever you say. You’re the ‘Sugar Daddy’.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

The two of them had finished eating. Yuan Xingzhou pressed the bell to call someone for the bill.

“What are the ‘Sugar Daddy’s’ plans for the afternoon?” Ye Huai asked again when he didn’t respond. “Going home to read some reports? Or heading to the gym? A round of golf? Horse racing? Oh, I forgot—Daddy’s schedule is so busy, he has to see an advertiser tonight…”

“I won’t see him, okay…” Yuan Xingzhou’s face was flushed red from the teasing. He said helplessly, “Don’t call me that! This acting fee is double my last one; sharing it with you isn’t a loss for me at all…”

“So that’s why they say Daddy is generous! Spending millions to buy a year of my time.” Ye Huai tsk-ed. “You’re the boss; you can see whoever you want. I’ll just be the ‘minor’ (subordinate) one; it’s all the same.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

While they were talking, a handsome server came over to settle the bill, his eyes sweeping over the two in shock.

Ye Huai put on his sunglasses and acted high and cold, temporarily shutting his mouth.

Yuan Xingzhou also pulled out his sunglasses and bit the bullet to pay the bill. The two headed home. Once Ye Huai got in the car, he asked teasingly again, “Sugar Daddy has worked hard. Want some ‘after-show’ entertainment?”

Yuan Xingzhou was practically being roasted to death by him, but he felt even worse if Ye Huai didn’t take the money. After thinking about it, he could only bite the bullet and accept the title.

After all, Ye Huai was just upset; he’d likely find it boring after nagging for a while.

“What kind of entertainment?” Yuan Xingzhou followed along. “Go for… some tea? Coffee?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been kept by anyone before.” Ye Huai squinted at him. “Is this Daddy’s first time too?”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

“I…” Yuan Xingzhou took a deep breath, squeezed out a smile, and reached out his hand. “It is indeed my first time. Please guide me well.”

“What a coincidence—two ‘virgins’ (beginners).” Ye Huai extended his hand and gave a meaningful smile. “Please guide me well.”