The Scummy Top Desperately Tries to Win Back His Ex After the Breakup - Chapter 2

On the other side, Jiang Zui was still clutching a trash can, vomiting until he was dizzy and disoriented. His manager, Xu Yan, however, let out a roar that shook the room like an earthquake, her voice filled with sheer disbelief. “Huh?”

“Pei Youting? Your first love?!”

Her voice was so loud that Jiang Zui’s ears throbbed. With blurred eyes, he looked up and glanced at her.

Ultimately, he let the matter drop gently. Limp and drained of strength from the alcohol, Jiang Zui slumped on the ground and said, “That was a long time ago.”

Back when they were rehearsing a play, Pei Youting had praised him once. He had been so excited he did not know what to do with himself; on an impulse, he poured his heart out, telling Pei Youting, “My dream is to become an actor.”

In truth, Jiang Zui had only ever mentioned this to his mother once. The moment the words left his mouth, she had unleashed a torrent of abuse. “Dreams? Can dreams put food on the table? Look at your father; is he not in this state precisely because of some bullshit dream?”

From then on, Jiang Zui never mentioned it again.

But Pei Youting had said, “Then do you want to apply to the drama academy in the future? Acting requires technique and guidance. Well, then would you not have to go to intensive training? Good luck.”

Many years later, Jiang Zui could still remember the scene when Pei Youting said those words.

The pouring sunlight flowed like water over the handsome youth, soft and beautiful like an oil painting. Jiang Zui watched him, his heart beating uncontrollably.

Pei Youting would never know the weight those casual words held in Jiang Zui’s heart. At least in Jiang Zui’s eyes, it was the first time someone had taken his dream seriously.

Xu Yan patted his back. “So? What happened after?”

Jiang Zui squinted his eyes and smiled. “After, there was no ‘after’.”

At that time, Pei Youting’s uncle had been transferred there as the local official, which was why Pei Youting had moved to Jiang Zui’s school. His uncle’s political career was smooth, and it was not long before he was promoted again, and Pei Youting moved away with him. Later, Jiang Zui was not quite sure where he went; it seemed he had gone abroad.

He was still cowardly, never daring to voice his feelings before the person he liked left. That unsettled, youthful love remained buried in his gut, hidden away for many, many years.

Actually, when Jiang Zui thought back on it later, he would feel regret. If his past self had been a bit braver, perhaps they could have had a romance to speak of.

Because eyes do not lie. Jiang Zui had once seen desire for himself in Pei Youting’s amber-colored eyes.

Xu Yan stomped her high heels and scoffed, interrupting his memories. “Alright, stop babbling to me about your spring-time chronicles. Let us go back. Director Zhou’s third male lead role fell through again.”

It was quite dramatic. The role had already been settled for Jiang Zui, with only the final step of signing the contract remaining. Suddenly, some little bitch came out of nowhere, snatched the role, and had the gall to gloat shamelessly in front of Jiang Zui.

The thought of it made her blood boil, leading her to say in frustration, “You have entered a place like the entertainment industry; can you not be a bit more tactful?”

“This place is a giant dyeing vat. Do not just stick to one path until you hit a dead end.”

Xu Yan looked at Jiang Zui earnestly. He had acting skills, talent, and a good face. He was certainly attractive, but Jiang Zui was just too stubborn.

“Everyone has to make some sacrifices.”

Jiang Zui looked up and glanced at her. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, his gaze appeared deep. Then, he gave a noncommittal smile, lowered his head, and his fingertips incessantly rubbed the protruding bone of his wrist, as if he had suddenly developed a great curiosity toward it.

Xu Yan sighed and reached out to stop his movement. “Fine.”

“I hope you can make it through,” she said.

In a place like the entertainment industry, how could it ever be clean?

Xu Yan had said these things to Jiang Zui many times, but he was simply stubborn; he just would not believe it.

To be honest, Jiang Zui was not suited for this circle. He seemed to think everything was too clean. Sometimes, when Xu Yan’s temper flared, she would mock him for being an idealistic idiot who did not understand the ways of the world.

At the root of it, he was too much of an idealist. He did not want to rely on those dirty connections; he wanted to rely on his work, thinking that one day someone would appreciate his talent. But in reality?

He would be lucky to get a “Male Character N” role; he did not even have anything to film.

This kid did not even know how to put on a smiling face when refusing someone, keeping his face cold and tense, giving the other person no way to save face.

Xu Yan knew he was already on the blacklist of several directors and small-time producers. Fortunately, he had not offended any big shots yet; otherwise, being “frozen” would be his only dead end.

When that time came, Jiang Zui could stop thinking about filming any bullshit movies and just go home to find a regular job.

It was already midnight, and the party was nearing its end. The bar, which had been crowded with people not long ago, had become empty. Pei Youting was truly frustrated by the heat; he opened a bottle of chilled champagne and downed it, finally calming down a bit.

There were private rooms upstairs. Exiting the elevator, he tugged at his slightly tight tie and swiped his card to open the suite door.

A boy was already waiting. His body, still in its growth phase, was slender and tall, his skin translucent. Sprawled on the bed like a piece of fine mutton-fat jade, he was a sight to behold.

After Pei Youting finished his shower and sat by the bed, the youth approached with a bashful expression, holding a towel to dry his still-dripping hair.

Pei Youting lifted his eyelids, scanned him lazily for a moment, and said without much warmth, “You know what to do, right?”

The boy nodded, put down the towel, and knelt down.

Although he was a virgin, it was clear he had been coached. However, as Pei Youting looked at the youth’s face, he felt a lack of interest.

Something was missing, he thought. It should not be this soft; it should be resilient and slender, even taller. The face should not be this submissive; it should be sharper, with a hint of stubbornness in the eyes.

Pei Youting thought of Jiang Zui, thought of his squinted eyes from the alcohol, and his moist, slightly parted, bright red lips.

A surge of wicked fire, unreleased since his youth, began to race through his body. Pei Youting grabbed the boy’s hair and pulled him aside.

“Enough.” He pressed his temples. “Put your clothes on and get out.”

The boy was confused, but he knew Pei Youting was not in the mood today. He could only put on his clothes in disappointment and walk out of the suite.

Pei Youting lit a cigarette, grabbed his phone from the bedside, and made a call.

“Check someone for me,” Pei Youting said. “Name is Jiang Zui.”

“Jiang as in ginger, Zui as in best.”

Pei Youting had always been quite interested in Jiang Zui.

This interest could probably be summarized in four words: lust at first sight.

It was just that at sixteen, he had not had the chance to enjoy him before going abroad, which had kept him brooding for many years.

Pei Corporation Building, General Manager’s Office.

The light on the top floor was excellent; the floor-to-ceiling window design made the entire room spacious and bright. Pei Youting sat in his office chair, while a long-limbed man lay sprawled on the leather sofa.

That guy was Pei Youting’s childhood friend, Yan Wenhe. His family had started in the entertainment industry, and he had many connections in the circle.

Pei Youting twirled a thin sheet of paper between his fingertips, scanned it briefly, and looked at the man, his brow slightly raised. “That is it?”

The file covered all the works Jiang Zui had filmed, even micro-dramas and commercials. But Pei Youting could not find even one role of any substance among those bit parts. He could not help but think.

Jiang Zui was doing even worse than he had imagined.

Yan Wenhe sat up, pushed his sunglasses up to his forehead to reveal a handsome face, and yawned perfunctorily. “Anyway, that is all I could find.”

“What is this guy’s deal? The moment I mentioned his name, the tone on the other end changed. They all said this kid really knows how to put on airs.” He tapped the desk with his index finger. “I have seen the photo.”

“Looks good,” Yan Wenhe said. “Interested?”

Pei Youting did not respond but did not deny it either, which was a silent admission.

Having been brothers with Pei Youting for years, Yan Wenhe immediately understood and began to dish the dirt. “There was a director who took a liking to him at a banquet before. He bluntly said that if Jiang Zui spent a night with him, he would give him the male lead in his new script. In the end, the kid just patted his ass and walked out right then and there, acting like he was not going to be in this circle the next day. He did not give him any face at all.”

“You have finally met a tough bone to pick; it will take at least a month or so to gnaw through.”

Yan Wenhe looked at Pei Youting teasingly. “I say, there are plenty of good-looking ones out there. What is the point of staring at this one? This is not your style, Youting.”

Pei Youting thought to himself that Jiang Zui’s stubborn temper had not changed a bit. Dealing with him indeed required more than just brute force.

He did not much like the “step-by-step” approach; he had always followed the principle of “easy come, easy go.” But seeing Jiang Zui again, a desire to tease him arose. He became uncharacteristically patient. “No rush on this one.”

Yan Wenhe’s expression changed, scanning him up and down as if he did not recognize him.

A knock sounded at the office door. Pei Youting said, “Enter.”

A tall female secretary carrying a stack of documents walked in on high heels. “Manager Pei, the person from the C Group is waiting for you in the guest room next door.”

“I will be over in a moment. Have him wait,” Pei Youting replied.

The secretary nodded but did not leave, standing at the door. Pei Youting looked at her and frowned. “Is there something else?”

“That… Mr. Lin said he wants to see you.”

“No.” Pei Youting’s face darkened. “I told him the rules from the start. If he does not know what is good for him, tell him to get lost.”

“Tidy up the documents on the desk,” Pei Youting instructed the secretary. After a moment of thought, he added, “Contact Manager Wang of New Star Entertainment at five o’clock.”

Pei Youting walked out, and the office door closed with a click. He did not see his efficient, sharp secretary turn into a devastated, resentful woman the moment he stepped out.

“Tsk tsk.” Yan Wenhe looked at her with pity. “That young Mr. Lin is quite difficult, is he not?”

“Yes,” the secretary said with a long face. “The boss makes it sound easy, but every time I turn him down, Mr. Lin cries and makes a scene.”

Yan Wenhe sighed, stood up, and stretched. “Well, that is his own lack of clarity. A transaction of money and sex is just that; the biggest taboo is talking about feelings.”

“Besides,” Yan Wenhe mused, “with Pei Youting’s parents as an example, things like love are simply monsters to be avoided at all costs for him.”

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