The Entire Entertainment Industry Knows the Best Actor Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 3

After hanging up the phone, Bai Chao stood there in utter disbelief.

“Wait, brother second lead! Second lead! It’s the second lead!!! Do you have any idea what kind of bloody storm this is going to trigger online? Do you want Sister Hui to kill me?!”

Bai Chao’s eyes were wide with shock. He was filled with deep, soul-crushing regret. Why did his hand have to be so itchy? Why did he have to press “answer”?

Pei Yuan merely raised an eyebrow. He picked up the laptop that had just chimed with a notification, settled it onto his lap, and began casually tapping away at the keys.

His tone was calm, and he didn’t even look up. “Did I say I was going to act in it?”

Bai Chao froze, answering honestly, “Well, no…”

“Then there you go. Is it a crime to just look at the script?”

Bai Chao: “…”

He scratched his head awkwardly; he had indeed been a bit too agitated. “It’s just that Sister Hui gave strict orders. If you make decisions without notifying her first, my bonus gets used to clean up after you”

“And then my lovely wife won’t have any new clothes to wear!”

Apparently, in his heart, his “wife” having no clothes was more terrifying than walking backward for the rest of his life.

Pei Yuan let out a speechless laugh, finally looking up from the screen at the naive, fresh-out-of-college assistant.

“Pray tell, who exactly is your ‘wife’?” Before the other could speak, a look of sudden realization dawned on Pei Yuan’s face. “Is it that female game character you mentioned last time? Did you pay the licensing fees before calling her your wife?”

“And I suggest you give up. Your ‘wife’ isn’t going to be with you.”

Bai Chao’s mental defenses crumbled instantly. “I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! Love knows no dimensional boundaries!”

“Who said it was because of the dimension?”

“Then what is it because of?” Bai Chao asked instinctively, though he regretted it the next second.

The man returned his gaze to the screen, dropping a casual remark. “Because you’re a ‘noob’ (cài). Only the strong are worthy of having a wife.”

Bai Chao burst into tears… he curled up on the sofa, sobbing uncontrollably. Even so, he still managed to sniffle and blubber out a warning: “Don’t hic don’t take this drama.”

Pei Yuan gave a non-committal “mm-hmm” in response, but his fingers were already hitting the keys to send a message.

[I like it very much. I’ll take the part.]

Qiao Zhiyu never expected to receive a reply so quickly. Looking at the words on the screen, he couldn’t help but collapse onto the sofa in a daze.

He agreed, Qiao Zhiyu truly thought he would be rejected. After all, Gu Jiao was right this production was technically beneath someone of Pei Yuan’s stature.

But Qiao Zhiyu believed in this project. Even in his previous life, despite failing to cast a suitable second lead, the drama eventually became a massive hit. The love, hate, and complex emotions in the script were simply too “ship-worthy.”

As Qiao Zhiyu had told Pei Yuan, the male leads shared many scenes. Their tension and bond were the highlights of the entire show. In his last life, he, Song Yuanjia, and many others in the cast had skyrocketed to fame because of this drama.

Looking back, he realized he had probably never truly “left” the character back then, allowing the role’s emotions to dictate his reality. By the time he finally shook off the character’s influence, he had already accepted the relationship as his default reality.

Now he wondered: aside from the eventual heartbreak, were those fourteen years actually happy?

The answer was “no.”

They were sweet at the very beginning, but it was a decision made on impulse. Once the initial passion faded, what was left? Qiao Zhiyu was willing to compromise and keep giving for the sake of the relationship, but that didn’t mean the other person felt the same.

In fourteen years, aside from that first cat, he had never received another gift.

When he was young, beautiful, and had resources to share, he was wanted. But who would love a “boring old man” who was aging, resource-less, and had retreated behind the scenes?

Suddenly, a voice in his mind whispered: [Someone would. Pei Yuan would…]

Qiao Zhiyu scrambled off the sofa, his movement so sudden he nearly tumbled to the floor. He clutched his racing heart, suppressing the wild thoughts in his brain.

How can someone who can’t even say “I love you” give him a response? Besides, that was all in the previous life… he doesn’t like me now…

Qiao Zhiyu dismissed the thought, but the conclusion left him feeling dejected. His long hair veiled his eyes as he slumped against the arm of the sofa. It wasn’t until his phone buzzed again that he realized he hadn’t replied to the email.

How incredibly rude of me to leave him hanging for so long…

[I’m so sorry for the late reply, Teacher Pei. I was so happy to receive your response that I lost track of time.] [When are you free? I will pick you up for the audition.]

After hitting send, Qiao Zhiyu felt a bit uneasy. Would a Best Actor get offended at being asked to “audition” for a small-budget drama?

But his heart soon settled back into his chest.

[Tomorrow. Send me the address; I’ll pick you up.]

Qiao Zhiyu’s face heated up. he quickly replied, then slammed his phone face-down onto the coffee table. The screen hit the glass with a loud clack, but he was too distracted to care. He buried his face deep into a throw pillow, leaving only his crimson ears visible.

Because he had been too busy being embarrassed to ask for a specific time, Qiao Zhiyu dragged himself out of bed at 7:00 AM the next morning. He didn’t dare sleep in for even a second.

Breakfast: One boiled egg, half a cob of corn, three strawberries, and half a glass of milk.

It wasn’t a large portion, but it was nutritionally balanced. He didn’t want to end up like his past self—so sick that walking was a struggle. Every small step counted, starting with a healthy breakfast.

After eating, Qiao Zhiyu dressed and sat patiently on the sofa. He didn’t send another email to ask about the time, fearing he would come across as pushy. He scrolled through social media (WB) and unexpectedly stumbled upon a post about himself.

The user was [MeowMeowCatHair].

It was the female clerk from the pet shop. Since his popularity was currently on the rise, fans had already swarmed the comments to “claim” him and help promote his work.

This is nice. The fans who liked him were still there, and his friends hadn’t left him yet. Rebirth really was a blessing.

At 10:00 AM, a call notification popped up. Recognizing the number, Qiao Zhiyu answered immediately.

“Good morning, Teacher Pei. Have you arrived?”

There was a brief pause before a voice came through. “Mmm. Come downstairs.”

Outside the complex, a conspicuous black Bentley was parked at the entrance. Through the window, he could make out a faint silhouette. As he approached, he heard the sound of the car doors unlocking.

“Teacher Pei, thank you for making the trip.”

The man radiated a powerful “do-not-disturb” aura. His face looked as though it were carved by a master, with sharp eyebrows and starlit eyes. He wore a black turtleneck that emphasized his broad shoulders, one hand resting lightly on the steering wheel.

His hair was styled into a sleek, “Hong Kong style” slick-back, with a few stray strands falling naturally. He smelled faintly of a refreshing fragrance.

Pei Yuan’s expression was neutral, his reactions steady and cool. “It’s no trouble. It was on the way.”

Qiao Zhiyu smiled politely in response, thinking to himself: He really is quite distant.

He pulled out his phone to set up the navigation, explaining the day’s schedule as they drove. He had already contacted the director to say he was bringing someone for an audition. Since the second lead hadn’t been cast yet, the auditions were still ongoing, waiting for the “destined” actor.

Qiao Zhiyu was speaking earnestly, completely unaware of the slight, unnatural tension in the man sitting beside him.