Perfect Divorce [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 39

Yuan Xingzhou had just finished speaking when the elevator reached the B1 level.

The doors opened, and a young man in his twenties carrying a guitar bag stepped in—likely an artist from Bass Records. As Yuan Xingzhou and Ye Huai walked out, the man’s eyes were filled with unmistakable shock.

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

Yuan Xingzhou felt that the man looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t recall where they had met. He couldn’t help but look back once more.

Ye Huai had been walking forward in a brooding silence. It wasn’t until he reached the car that he stopped with a stiff face to wait for him.

“Is he handsome?” Ye Huai asked expressionlessly as he opened the car door.

Yuan Xingzhou felt a sudden urge to laugh and teased him on purpose: “Handsome!”

“Finding a new love that quickly?” Ye Huai gave him a scrutinizing look. “How come I never noticed this side of you before?”

“I must have hidden it well.” Yuan Xingzhou leaned against the other side of the car. After finishing their banter, he asked curiously, “Brother Huai, what did you think I was like before?”

Ye Huai: “…”

From the time they met until they eventually parted, they had worked together for exactly two years. However, in Yuan Xingzhou’s memory, aside from a few rare interactions and close-range encounters, Ye Huai was mostly seen standing in the center of the stage, under the spotlights, admired by thousands.

And he himself was just the lowliest member among the many backdrops. If it weren’t for their “tied” relationship, he even doubted if Ye Huai would recognize him.

Yuan Xingzhou had been too embarrassed to ask before, but today he finally blurted it out. To his surprise, Ye Huai shut his mouth and refused to answer.

Yuan Xingzhou: “…” Although he had guessed that Ye Huai probably had a faint or poor impression of him, at this moment, Yuan Xingzhou still felt a critical hit to his self-esteem.

“Then what was the scoop the paparazzi wanted to leak back then? I only remember them saying it was a boy band member…” Yuan Xingzhou couldn’t help but ask again. “Actually, I’ve been curious all these years. I don’t know whose scapegoat I was.”

“It’s better not knowing.” This time Ye Huai spoke, but his tone was somewhat stern. “Just mind your own business.”

Yuan Xingzhou was a bit surprised and turned his face to look at him seriously.

After leaving Bass Records, they found a place to have afternoon tea. The spot was chosen by Ye Huai—a sky garden on the top floor of a shopping mall. The environment was quiet and elegant, and Ye Huai had reserved the outdoor area, meaning there was no one around. It was also close to the place where Tan Yanke had arranged to meet.

“How many years do you have left on your contract?” Ye Huai checked the time, added two sugar cubes to his coffee, and looked at him thoughtfully.

Yuan Xingzhou replied honestly, “It expires next year.”

Ye Huai was somewhat surprised.

“I signed two years earlier than you guys.” Yuan Xingzhou saw his surprise and explained with a smile, “I signed at twenty, and this is the seventh year already. The contract ends next year.”

A while ago, he had proactively asked about renewing his contract, but Li Yu said there was no rush and that they would have a proper talk about future plans when they found the time. However, after Ye Huai’s sudden return, they were caught up in the CP drama. Li Yu was likely too frustrated by the mess to mention anything about future plans.

“Do you think he’ll renew with you?” Ye Huai asked.

“I don’t know,” Yuan Xingzhou admitted. “He doesn’t really like me. There are many newcomers the company wants to sign through him, many with their own connections—uncles, aunts, cousins. Compared to them, I don’t have much of an advantage besides the bit of popularity I’ve accumulated.”

“Popularity is the biggest advantage. Why are you so insecure?” Ye Huai countered. “But it’s truly hard to say. I heard from Wen Ting… just a rumor, don’t go asking Li Yu, okay?”

Yuan Xingzhou nodded hurriedly: “I understand!”

“Li Yu wants to hand you over to Gao Mei. Then he’ll manage a newcomer under Gao Mei.” Ye Huai frowned. “Do you have a grudge against Gao Mei?”

Yuan Xingzhou’s expression changed slightly. He shook his head, then nodded.

Ye Huai: “?”

“I won’t agree to it. At worst, I’ll find a rookie manager or find one myself.” Yuan Xingzhou paused. Seeing Ye Huai’s inquisitive look, he hesitated before explaining, “Gao Mei always wanted to introduce me to President Zeng… I refused a few times and made her angry.”

Ye Huai froze for a moment. “She tried to ‘introduce’ you before?”

“Mm.” Yuan Xingzhou nodded, but suddenly felt Ye Huai’s words were a bit strange. It was as if Ye Huai already knew about this?

Before Yuan Xingzhou could figure it out, Ye Huai’s face darkened as he warned, “Stay away from her.”

“You’re so hot right now; the company definitely won’t let you go easily. If they haven’t talked to you about renewal yet, they’re either banking on you renewing anyway or they want to negotiate terms,” Ye Huai said. “It’s a good thing Bass Records has entered the picture. Don’t rush; let the two sides fight over you.”

Yuan Xingzhou was a bit worried: “Will Bass Records really be willing to sign me?”

Ye Huai gave him a strange look: “Do you know how much it costs for a record company to promote a newcomer? Even after waves of marketing, there’s barely any exposure. They aren’t even qualified to negotiate terms with platforms when releasing digital albums. So many people start livestreams or join Douyin just for heat, or beg stars to record recommendation videos… A ‘traffic’ star like you who comes with built-in heat is essentially a lead magnet for them. They’d love to have you, okay?”

“But my style is a bit outdated,” Yuan Xingzhou said. “What if no one…”

“Don’t worry about ‘what ifs.’ There are always people who like a style and people who don’t,” Ye Huai interrupted him, speechless. “Were you raised with ‘discouragement education’ (insult-based parenting)? Or did you suffer verbal abuse?”

Yuan Xingzhou realized his old habit was flaring up again—habitual insecurity masking itself as competence, always trying to please others and make them satisfied first.

His teammates used to mock him for having a “people-pleasing personality.” They weren’t entirely wrong, though it was very mild back then. It had just worsened unknowingly over the past few years.

“Do I look very hypocritical?” Yuan Xingzhou said with annoyance. “I know I do, but… I don’t know how to change it.”

“What’s so hard about that?” Ye Huai opened his mouth as if he were about to offer guidance.

Yuan Xingzhou immediately perked up, looking ready to listen intently.

“Your life needs a bit of stimulation.” Ye Huai laughed in the end and said, “You should bravely pursue your love. Once you’ve caught the person you like, you’ll have confidence. Once you’re confident, you won’t overthink things like this.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “…”

“How about it?” Ye Huai tilted his chin at him teasingly.

This man was just a step away from slapping the words “Confess to me” across Yuan Xingzhou’s face.

Yuan Xingzhou felt utterly depressed. Ye Huai’s flirting had escalated to outright teasing, yet he couldn’t distinguish how much of it was a joke.

—In his view, the probability of Ye Huai being serious wasn’t even one in ten. Nothing had ever happened between them. They had only lived together for a short time. Why would Ye Huai suddenly be interested in him?

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible!

“Ah—” Yuan Xingzhou let out a wail, cradled his head, and thumped it against the coffee table. “Can you be a bit more serious and stop messing with me…”

Voices of strangers came from the garden entrance. Although they were far away, the two immediately went on high alert.

Yuan Xingzhou turned around to look and saw a staff member explaining to someone that they couldn’t enter the garden. Only then did he turn back and continue munching on his biscuit gloomily.

Fortunately, Ye Huai let him off the hook and stopped talking after a quick murmur.

The afternoon sun shone warmly, making one so comfortable they just wanted to squint. The garden was decorated with large patches of “Wedding Road” white flowers and blue hydrangeas, occasionally accented with pots of wild flowers. The colors were fresh and romantic.

Yuan Xingzhou rested for a while, looked over the contract, and then felt a whim to sit on the swing for a bit. He looked at the heavy traffic in the distance, then at the blooming flowers around him.

He remembered that during an interview, he had once fabricated the scene of Ye Huai’s proposal to the media—in a garden in England, surrounded by white “Wedding Road” flowers.

Perhaps in his subconscious, he felt his actions toward this “Male God” were a form of desecration, so he felt that only white would suit the other party.

Back then, he hadn’t expected the two of them to actually be drinking coffee and eating dessert in such a setting, chatting about this and that.

At 6:00 PM, Tan Yanke arrived at the restaurant on time. Yuan Xingzhou and Ye Huai had finished watching the sunset and headed downstairs to the meeting point. After the three entered the private room and ordered, Tan Yanke dropped a bombshell right at the start.

“I know what the situation is between you two.” Tan Yanke had cut his hair short, making his thick eyebrows and large eyes stand out even more. His handsomeness carried a hint of silliness.

He gave Ye Huai a friendly smile, then looked at Yuan Xingzhou very tenderly: “The main reason I invited Brother Huai here today is because I’m afraid of making things difficult for you. It’s better if I say this myself.”

Yuan Xingzhou found this bizarre and had to ask, “Say what?”

“To keep a long story short, I want to pursue you.” Tan Yanke looked at him with burning eyes and slapped the table. “The first time I saw you that day, I knew it was over! I was struck by love!”

Yuan Xingzhou: “?”

“…I know you two are in a contract marriage. Yuan Cheng told me, and later I had my father look into it for me.” Tan Yanke grinned, showing a row of bright white teeth. “So Xingzhou, I want to formally pursue you! Of course, I know about your contract. For now, we can interact as friends. If you find me suitable after a trial period, we can take the next step once your contract ends.”

Yuan Xingzhou: “??”

“Wait… wait a second,” Yuan Xingzhou was utterly dazed. He said between laughter and tears, “What next step? I don’t understand what you’re saying at all… I have no intention of putting you on a ‘trial period,’ I…”

He paused here and couldn’t help but turn his head to glare at Ye Huai.

Ye Huai, however, seemed to have anticipated this situation. He was currently sitting lazily to the side, propping his head with one hand, looking at him sideways. Meanwhile, his right hand was cupping the back of Yuan Xingzhou’s head, his thumb incessantly rubbing and caressing.

Yuan Xingzhou felt awkward being kneaded like that and had to interrupt his own speech.

“Are you hunting for treasure?” Yuan Xingzhou muttered, trying to pull away.

“Your head is really small.” Ye Huai, acting as if they were the only two people there, curled his lips. “When are you going to get a haircut?”

Yuan Xingzhou’s hair grew fast. Now, when he parted it, the bangs often poked his eyes. But he didn’t know what his look would be for the new drama, so he didn’t dare cut it short on his own.

Tan Yanke sat up straight seriously, waiting for the rest of Yuan Xingzhou’s sentence.

Yuan Xingzhou could only give him an apologetic smile and first asked Ye Huai, “Why a haircut?”

“It feels good to the touch,” Ye Huai said.

Tan Yanke knew their relationship was average and was about to interject that he also thought short hair looked good, when he heard the man opposite him add extremely tenderly:

“That way, when we’re ‘doing it,’ it feels especially good.”

Tan Yanke: “???”