…

Cheng Fei took a deep breath and said seriously, “The first time I worked with Luo Yu was in ‘Storm’. The first time I saw him, I didn’t have a good impression—because from what I remembered, this guy had passed up at least three really great roles. If he had taken just one of those roles, he wouldn’t have been stuck in obscurity for so long. And this guy is sneaky. My assistant mentioned him, I grumbled about him, and he pretended not to be Luo Yu, sitting there with his back to me pretending to read the script, eavesdropping! He even spread the rumor that I love singing ‘Nunchucks’! Do I look like the type to sing ‘Nunchucks’? The only song I don’t mess up is ‘Unity is Strength’!”

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Cheng Fei’s fans, knowing his personality all too well, chimed in:

[Right, the only song you don’t mess up is indeed ‘Unity is Strength’!]

[As expected, Brother Cheng’s close friends are either cowards or cunning foxes!]

[Brother Cheng, have you ever badmouthed your buddies without them overhearing?] 

…  

“In my life, I’ve always fought villains with a strong sense of righteousness, but this is the first time I’ve encountered a villain like Luo Yu—soft on the outside but sharp on the inside, effortless in his execution, with every line and glance perfectly on point. Before acting with him, I arrogantly claimed I could get it done in one take, but this guy’s lines and expressions were so flawless that when he glanced at me, I forgot my lines! The slap to the face came too fast—it still feels thrilling when I think about it! Everyone! Please support his brilliant performance in… in ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’! And don’t forget to support our drama ‘Storm’!”

[Brother Cheng loves getting slapped in the face and that won’t change for a hundred years!]  

[Back in the day, you made fun of Teacher Gu for relying on his looks, and then got slapped in the face big time!]  

[History really repeats itself—your face is always just as red!]  

…  

A bunch of Cheng Fei’s fans rushed to Luo Yu’s page, and you could easily spot them from the tone of their comments. They all asked Luo Yu the same question, “Do you admit Brother Cheng is your buddy or not?”

Sister Cui, who manages Luo Yu’s Weibo, was overwhelmed by the fans’ enthusiasm for the first time, and she quickly set the response to: [Buddy 666].

If those two VCRs had already attracted some viewers, what really skyrocketed the show’s ratings was the appearance of Gu Xiaowei in the VCR!  

The difficulty of getting Gu Xiaowei to accept a variety show invitation? It’s harder than reaching the heavens—practically zero chance!  

When Gu Xiaowei appeared, sitting on a sofa with his legs crossed and his hands resting on his knees, the audience collectively wondered if the program had accidentally edited the wrong footage.

But when Gu Xiaowei raised his eyes to the camera, it was like a magnetic force pulling everyone’s gaze to the screen. Especially when his lips curled into a smile, and it seemed like warm starlight shimmered in his eyes, the words “senior brother” softly leaving his lips made everyone’s hearts melt.

Xu Mu kept the back and forth between Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei, showcasing a side of Gu Xiaowei that people had never seen before.

“Hello everyone, I’m Gu Xiaowei. Today I was invited by my senior brother, Luo Yu, to record a VCR for his variety show debut, ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’. But now, he’s hiding behind the camera, peeking at me. I don’t even know what to say—should I start by revealing some of his embarrassing moments from filming ‘Counterattack’?”

Many people had seen Gu Xiaowei’s interviews before, and he always presented a gentle yet highly distant persona—professional, reserved, maintaining an invisible boundary that even interviewers struggled to cross.

But in this self-introduction, Gu Xiaowei let down all his guards, and the boundary between actor and audience vanished. It was as if he descended from the clouds, stepping into the everyday world.

Their bantering was playful, with Gu Xiaowei exposing Luo Yu’s terrible sense of direction on set.

Fans were going wild over Gu Xiaowei’s smile.

[Who is this smiling? Is this really Gu Xiaowei!] 

[Gu Xiaowei, who doesn’t even get cold jokes, is joking around with Luo Yu? Is he teasing Luo Yu?]  

[Doesn’t anyone feel like Gu Xiaowei’s smile and voice are filled with affection? Is this a VCR or sweet romance literature?]  

…  

“The first question—what was the first work of mine you watched?”  

In the VCR, Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu talked about the role of the campus heartthrob in ‘Plum Blossom Rain’, and Gu Xiaowei answered, “Oh… I wanted to be gentle, tolerant, and humorous, all while keeping my composure, but now it seems like being a little dangerous is better.”

When he said, “Being a little dangerous is better,” fans’ excitement levels skyrocketed.

[Gu Xiaowei, what kind of danger do you plan to show Luo Yu!] 

[Let go of the senior brother and take me instead!]  

[Is Gu Xiaowei being both gentle and dangerous to promote the movie? Isn’t Luo Yu starring with him in it?]  

[Really? My anticipation is off the charts! When is it coming out!]  

[It hasn’t even started filming yet! They just announced the leads!]  

The audience’s comments were growing more excited and off-track.  

“Please give me feedback on my performance in ‘Plum Blossom Rain’?”  

“You embodied the heartthrob I imagined, gathering all the beauty of youth in one person. But unlike some idol dramas where characters are overly crafted to please the audience, your portrayal was so real it felt like you were right in front of us. Luo Yu, never lose that talent that moves people’s hearts. Always be my rival, and no matter what happens, never back down.”  

Gu Xiaowei was clearly looking at Luo Yu behind the camera, but everyone watching felt as if they were being treated with the utmost tenderness.

In the end, Gu Xiaowei explained the origin of calling Luo Yu “senior brother,” touching the audience deeply. It turns out that Gu Xiaowei’s “favoritism” and every time he called Luo Yu “senior brother” had a special meaning.

“That day, there was a heavy downpour, and the entrance to the film academy was flooded. My parents, teachers, and friends almost all opposed me taking the film academy exam. They thought with my grades, I should seriously pursue academia, become a professor, scholar, or top executive—an actor was never among the options. When I saw a father carrying his daughter across the water, I felt an unprecedented sense of loneliness. I wasn’t as determined as people thought—at least not at that moment, as I watched the pouring rain, I felt like it was the universe telling me… to give up.”

The calmer Gu Xiaowei’s voice and expression became, the more heartbroken the audience felt.

This was a side of Gu Xiaowei they had never known—the lonely, uncertain Gu Xiaowei, who needed validation.

“Suddenly, someone asked me, ‘Hey, are you heading to the arts exam? I’ll carry you across.’ That person wasn’t putting on airs, but really stepped into the water… That was the only time I felt supported in what I wanted to do. I decided to be a little selfish, and climbed on his back… He said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll carry you across.’ When he put me down, I asked him, ‘What’s your name?’”

Luo Yu’s trembling voice sounded, “My name is Luo Yu. You must get in, and when you see me next time, remember to call me ‘senior brother.’”

That response was like a full-circle moment in life.

Many viewers broke into tears at that moment.

[So this is why Gu Xiaowei always respectfully calls Luo Yu “senior brother”!]  

[“Senior brother” was a promise between them!]  

[From now on, I’ll guard our senior brother the way I guard Gu Xiaowei!]  

[I get it now. Gu Xiaowei can have many schoolmates, but Luo Yu is the only one who can be his “senior brother”!]  

…  

The program didn’t need to buy any trending topics—#SeniorBrother# soared to the top spot.

At this moment, He Mu was watching the show on his phone. He wanted to confirm whether Xu Mu had kept his promise of not cutting his scenes. If not, he’d definitely have his agent give some clapback.

After seeing those three VCRs at the beginning, He Mu felt an overwhelming sense of losing before the race even started—having friends like Xie Chang, Cheng Fei, and Gu Xiaowei in his personal VCRs was too powerful a lineup, hyping the audience’s anticipation for Luo Yu to the max.

Luo Yu had realized Xie Chang’s initial dream, and carried Gu Xiaowei into the film academy. This held special meaning—any attempt to defame Luo Yu would now be met with strong resistance from Xie Chang and Gu Xiaowei’s loyal fans, unless there was solid proof.

As for Cheng Fei, both the industry and the audience knew him as straightforward. His compliments were never empty flattery; only those he genuinely admired would earn his praise.

Meanwhile, He Mu thought back to his first time as a guest on the variety show. To avoid being overshadowed, he had invited idols less famous than himself, who were grateful for the chance to appear on a popular show.

“Forget it, I’m much more famous than Luo Yu. VCRs won’t do me any good in terms of publicity! Could Luo Yu find someone less famous than him anyway?” He Mu reassured himself.

But these three VCRs had rekindled the interest of viewers who had long lost excitement for the show. Now, after the theme song, they eagerly awaited the full episode, curious about how Luo Yu would perform in this outdoor variety show.

Luo Yu’s fanbase was skyrocketing, while he himself was focused on practicing suturing, the forceps and thread weaving through the tissue as he tied knots in an orderly fashion.

Sister Cui excitedly called him several times, but he didn’t hear it because his phone was on silent.

For him, nothing was more important than playing the role of Wen Yuchi; his top priority now was to become a forensic doctor.

Although Luo Yu appeared much less on screen than He Mu in the same time period, after the show aired, some viewers edited it and found that in an hour-and-a-half-long program, excluding the VCRs, Luo Yu only had a total of twelve minutes of screen time, but not a single second was wasted.

The clip of Luo Yu soaring over the pool in the first game made many fans rewatch it repeatedly.

That moment was so fast, in the blink of an eye, he flew past the audience, causing their hearts to skip a beat. They leaned closer to the screen to get a better look, but Luo Yu had already reached the other side.

Fortunately, Xu Mu added a slow-motion replay and conveniently threw in an ad for a certain phone’s 4K HD capability. As the slow-motion played, Luo Yu’s fluid movements, his broad shoulders, and narrow waist were on full display.

That physique, that sense of power—the bullet screen was filled with fans gasping in awe.

Some witty netizens even turned this moment into a meme, with humorous captions like, “[Gege flying ahead, love always follows]” and “[Requesting all boyfriends should step up to this standard].”

Luo Yu’s ability to distinguish between real and fake rocks also intrigued the audience, as it was the first time someone had exposed a trap set by the show’s production team.

As a result, when physical “black hole” Jiang Muxing safely completed the game, his fans were particularly grateful to Luo Yu.

“[This is the first time our Xingxing has completed a game task! Thank you, Brother Luo! Thank you, Sheng Yu!]”

“[Xingxing was so happy this episode! His smile was so much brighter!]”

“[It feels like after Luo Yu came, both Jiang Muxing and Li Shengyu started to shine! Before, I just thought of them as background characters!]”

“[The team atmosphere in Luo Yu’s group is just so good!]”

When Luo Yu passed the rock-climbing section, that final moment where he pushed himself up on top of the rock wall was full of explosive power. Even though his figure appeared tall, elegant, and without exaggerated muscles, that moment overflowed with testosterone, nearly making the audience scream in excitement.

By the time of the checker board competition, viewers were even more interested in Luo Yu. Every time a black card task was drawn, they were eager to see how Luo Yu would handle it.

For instance, the task where he had to do ten squats while holding Ding Dang. When He Mu finished, his fans went wild, praising things like, “As expected of the dance lead, strong core strength,” “Boyfriend material overflowing,” and “I wish I were the female host lying in his arms…”

But in the next round, Luo Yu effortlessly lifted Ding Dang up from offstage. The sense of power was simply on a different level from He Mu.

The key was that Luo Yu’s physique wasn’t overly muscular but lean and attractive. Yet, when he did squats with Ding Dang, he did it with ease, exuding a sense of security.

The comments section exploded with messages like, “If He Mu is boyfriend material, Luo Yu is god-level material!” and “In Luo Yu’s arms, Ding Dang is the true princess!”

He Mu couldn’t help but use a side account to comment: “Did the production team speed up Luo Yu’s part?”

Immediately, someone responded, “Look at your idol’s face turning red! Luo Yu, on the other hand, looked relaxed the whole time,” “Is it so hard to admit someone else is outstanding?” “Luo Yu didn’t just provide security, he gave Ding Dang respect!”

After the first black card task ended, the production team inserted short interviews with each participant.

Jiang Muxing was no longer the shy, reserved image from earlier episodes; he was now cheerful and talkative, repeatedly thanking Luo Yu and Li Shengyu. “This was the happiest I’ve ever been! I didn’t hold anyone back, and I completed my part. Every time I turned around, I could see Brother Luo and Sheng Yu, and I felt so motivated to do anything!”

In her interview, Ding Dang also covered her face, her ears slightly red as she mentioned Luo Yu. “I really thought I was heavy, especially after bulking up for strength training for a dance routine recently. When I was sitting on the other guests’ shoulders to pick apples, I was so, so embarrassed. But when Luo Yu lifted me onto the checker board, I felt like I was flying! I really felt like a feather in his arms! I was worried he’d hurt his back when he was squatting with me, but he was so steady that I couldn’t even feel any shaking or trembling in his arms… And then he told me I wasn’t heavy at all, that a normal guy who exercises regularly could handle it, and he encouraged me to maintain my healthy state.”

Seeing this, fans were heartbroken for Ding Dang. “Girl, don’t let your weight define you!” “Luo Yu said a normal fit guy could lift you, so believe him!” “We trust Luo Yu! He could do fifty more squats with you, no problem!”

This black card task won Luo Yu the full affection of the female audience.

[Luo Yu is the real gentleman, showing his chivalry with strength!]

[Don’t let a girl’s weight define her beauty. I love Luo Yu for this!]

[Luo Yu is so kind. Not every guy who exercises can be like him!]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

[Fans of a certain top idol should stop with the ‘boyfriend material’ comments. It’s getting awkward to watch!]

This segment even reminded fans of an earlier moment when Gu Xiaowei held Luo Yu while doing squats, nearly driving fans crazy with excitement.

He Mu suddenly had a bad feeling—the more screen time he got, the more he would end up as a negative comparison to Luo Yu.

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No, no, no, impossible. Gu Xiaowei’s personal makeup artist is Brother Yan. Ye Shengyi said he’s the only makeup artist for the person he’s following, so he’s not following Gu Xiaowei, but Luo Yu?

Sister Lan let out a sigh of relief, glad it wasn’t Gu Xiaowei.  

But then she felt a tinge of envy. Luo Yu had the support of Yinchuan Culture and already had two TV dramas waiting to air. This morning, the production team of “Beast and Rose” officially announced that Wen Yuchi had been cast as the second male lead, and the official character photos would be released soon.  

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

At that time, Ye Shengyi would likely be the one responsible for Wen Yuchi’s makeup.  

Sister Lan wondered if she’d ever get the chance to do makeup for a film character in her lifetime.  

As they got into the car, Ye Shengyi leaned back lazily. Brother Yan was playing rock music, and Xiao Qin excitedly talked about the upcoming party, while Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu sat side by side behind him.  

They were all here for him.  

“This is absolutely the highlight of my life—” Ye Shengyi closed his eyes and spread his arms as if he were about to soar inside the car.  

“You seem to have quite a few highlights in life,” Luo Yu said, amused.  

As the car drove forward, everyone was enjoying the features and comfort of the nanny van, and Ye Shengyi was overjoyed.  

“When I followed Ai Cheng, I rarely had the chance to ride in the same nanny van with her… I usually had to take another car! Brother Luo, this time, I finally feel vindicated!”  

Hearing this, Luo Yu felt even more that Gu Xiaowei was right—having the nanny van pick up Xiao Ye made him more confident and gave him a greater sense of belonging.  

Their car stopped at the crosswalk of Yingguang Plaza, waiting for the traffic light. The LED billboard above the city’s busiest subway exit was playing a high-definition trailer for “Counterattack”.  

Pedestrians and passengers, who had long grown numb to the LED content, were surprisingly drawn to the trailer.  

Ye Shengyi, with his sharp eyes, excitedly tapped on the window, shouting, “Look! It’s the ‘Counterattack’ trailer! It’s been scheduled! It’s been scheduled!”  

Luo Yu looked at him like he was a child, while Gu Xiaowei remained calm, saying, “Yes, about the time you join ‘Beast and Rose’ crew, the show will start airing.”  

Ye Shengyi pleaded, “Please, let me finish watching the trailer!”  

Luo Yu patted his head and coaxed, “You can watch it on your phone.”  

“It’s not the same! Watching here, I get to share your brilliance with the whole world! How amazing is that?”  

“I also want to see Brother Gu and Brother Luo on the big screen!” Xiao Qin chimed in, pouting.  

“Then pull over and let them watch,” Gu Xiaowei said, nodding toward Brother Yan.  

Brother Yan’s face lit up with a smile. “What can I do? We have to spoil our own! Besides, I want to watch too!”  

When the main character, Yan Ye, appeared on screen in a black shirt with an open collar, biting a cigarette while leaning against the alley with a teasing smile, his roguish look carried an underlying menace. In a quick cut, he was shown fiercely fighting, blood splattering in his eyes, all to get closer to Bai Ying. Then came a flash of scenes where he lifted Bai Ying out of the water with great effort. The music’s rhythm was intense, every frame gripping the viewer’s heart.  

“I don’t know if there’s an end to this endless darkness. I once had faith in justice, but now I must don a different shell and fight like a wolf to survive—”  

Until Yan Ye suddenly turned his head, covered in blood, coldly growling, “Who—”  

Several girls watching couldn’t help but praise, “Is that Gu Xiaowei? So wild!”  

“He’s completely different from how he acts in interviews and his previous roles!”  

The next shot showed a man with slightly long hair looking up with a subtle smile. His cold, elegant eyes on the massive LED screen seemed particularly icy, and when his eyelids lifted, a barely noticeable smile tugged at his lips, as if he were opening the gates to hell.  

He watched coldly as those around him fought like trapped animals for profit. His expression was indifferent as he watched his betrayed subordinate drown. He stubbed a cigarette out on the lapel of Uncle He, his father’s trusted aide. Arrogant and reckless, but when he smiled, it was as though the world was tinted with decaying yet vivid colors.  

But after killing Uncle He, he nonchalantly told Yan Ye, “Next time, make it cleaner.” The fight with assassin Ah Bao was so sharp and swift, like a dagger stabbing straight into the audience’s heart. He would then look up at the sky with a wistful expression, as if longing for someone to tear it apart, so he could glimpse the color beyond.  

Scene after scene flashed by quickly, each one making the audience want to grasp onto his image, trying to get a clearer look at him.  

“I am Bai Ying. My fate was sealed from the day I was born. So, Yan Ye, as long as you win in the end, we won’t count as losing!”  

“Who’s this actor? So intense!”  

“I know! It’s Luo Yu! You can find his audition video for Bai Ying online! It’s really amazing!”  

“Luo Yu? He’s completely transformed!”  

The trailer was short, but the screen time given to Bai Ying rivaled that of the male and female leads. His character had a powerful and multifaceted presence.  

Just this brief trailer was enough to make passersby stop and watch every time it played.  

Ye Shengyi leaned against the car window, watching it five times before he was willing to leave. If Luo Yu hadn’t reminded him that their reserved private room would soon be given away, the kid probably would have kept watching forever.  

That day, #CounterattackScheduled# trended on social media. Gu Xiaowei’s #YanYe# trended high, and even #BaiYing# made it into the top ten.  

At dinner, Ye Shengyi was so excited about the trending topic that he almost choked on a chicken bone.  

“Did Sister Cui buy this trending spot?” Luo Yu scratched his chin, thinking about telling Sister Cui not to waste money on such things.  

But Gu Xiaowei calmly replied, “It wasn’t Sister Cui. She knows your personality and wouldn’t buy a trending spot.”  

“Then was it Boss Jiang?” Luo Yu opened Jiang Yinchuan’s WeChat, about to ask him.  

Gu Xiaowei, still with certainty in his voice, said, “It wasn’t Jiang Yinchuan either—if he did it, he’d have bought you the top spot.”  

Luo Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly deleted everything in the chat window, afraid that if he sent the message, Jiang Yinchuan might really do it.  

“Brother Luo! Just believe this trending topic is real! So many people are already collecting wallpapers of Bai Ying’s smile! Look, I’ve set Bai Ying as my phone background!” Ye Shengyi turned his phone around for Luo Yu to see.  

Luo Yu blinked, not expecting such a positive reception to that moment. Lin Yue’s dramas didn’t use filters, so that was his most authentic appearance in the show.  

“You didn’t see it—so many people are asking for Bai Ying wallpapers!” Ye Shengyi was thrilled.  

Brother Yan and Xiao Qin immediately chimed in.  

“Let me find a Yan Ye wallpaper!”  

“Yes! I want to set Yan Ye as mine too!”  

Gu Xiaowei tapped his fingers on Ye Shengyi’s table. “Add me on WeChat.”  

“Huh?” Ye Shengyi froze, wondering if he had misheard. Was Gu Xiaowei actually asking to add him on WeChat?  

“Send me the Bai Ying wallpaper,” Gu Xiaowei said.  

“Oh, oh! Sure! Right away!” Ye Shengyi jumped up to scan Gu Xiaowei’s QR code.  

“Why do you want a Bai Ying wallpaper?” Luo Yu asked, curious.  

“As my phone background.”  

“What? Why would you set my character as your background? You should…”  

You should set your own character as your background!  

Gu Xiaowei turned his phone around to show Luo Yu. “This one’s perfect.”  

Luo Yu took a closer look and, fortunately, it was a shot of Yan Ye and Bai Ying side by side, smoking after crawling out of the water.  

Tired, indolent, yet mutually dependent.  

“I like that one too. I’ll set it as my background as well.” Luo Yu nudged Gu Xiaowei with his elbow. “Send it to me too.”  

That night, “Counterattack” shot to the top of the “Most Anticipated Upcoming Dramas” list. According to the rankings based on audience interest, Gu Xiaowei took first place, with Luo Yu in third, trailing the female lead by just over three thousand votes. 

Some content creators have edited Bai Ying’s scenes separately, pairing them with various styles of music—some with strong rhythms, some with an alluring vibe, and some with a sharp and crisp feel. These videos have garnered an extremely high number of views, with the comment sections flooded by messages like “Ahhh, I’m swooning” filling the screen.

Industry insiders, after watching the trailer, are generally optimistic about the ratings, and Bai Ying is receiving a lot of buzz. 

He Mu watched it on his phone. Even he couldn’t help but watch it three or four times. The more he watched, the more he understood that Bai Ying’s exceptional qualities were not just about his facial features, but also his expressions, movements, and even the subtle emotions in his speech. These elements, rich with charm, came together to form the Bai Ying seen in the trailer.

And yet, he himself completely lacked the ability to present such a Bai Ying. It was also the first time he gained a direct understanding of Luo Yu’s acting skills.

At that moment, He Mu suddenly felt like a luxurious ocean liner—everything seemed joyful and carefree onboard, but it was hollow inside. A large wave would be enough to sink him into the sea.

Luo Yu was that wave.

He looked at the trending topics, thinking Luo Yu would buy his way into the top three with #BaiYing#, but to his surprise, the ranking remained low.

He had initially wanted to mock Luo Yu for being stingy with his money, but after clicking on the shares and comments, He Mu suddenly realized that it wasn’t that Luo Yu didn’t want to spend money—it was that he hadn’t even considered marketing at all.

Because all of these fans were real, there was no fake engagement. Their discussions and recommendations were genuine.

He Mu felt envious of Luo Yu, but there was no way to attack him.

The frustration in his heart was overwhelming.

Even Ou Juntao, when his car passed by an LED advertisement, signaled the driver to stop. He leaned against the window, waiting for Bai Ying to appear—this character actually bore a deep resemblance to Luo Yu deep down, full of charm and stirring up a desire to conquer and possess in others.

However, in reality, Luo Yu had already broken free from his shackles and was soaring into the sky, so much so that he didn’t even spare him another glance. Ou Juntao smiled bitterly and rubbed his eyes. He realized that he could have been someone like Jiang Yinchuan, a pillar of support for Luo Yu. But he had squandered his good hand at the very start.

Ai Cheng, too, was glued to her phone, constantly replaying the trailer, one moment gushing over “Gu Xiaowei is so cool,” and the next professing “Bai Ying is my favorite” or “Bai Ying’s smile pierces my heart.” She even used an alternate account to join Bai Ying’s fan club, repeatedly slamming her head on the metaphorical wall for not maintaining good relations with Ye Shengyi.

Her agent was growing worried, afraid her alternate account would be exposed. Ai Cheng sent a picture of her Bai Ying wallpaper to her agent, successfully pulling her into the ranks of Bai Ying’s fanbase.

Makeup artist Sister Lan also silently watched the trailer several times. Based on her experience, Luo Yu’s portrayal of Bai Ying was likely to become wildly popular across the entertainment industry, and she knew they would see a lot more of Luo Yu at various events. By then, Ye Shengyi would stand proudly by his side…

That same evening, President Wang of Pinnacle Sports called Cui Zhuxin to confirm that they were firmly choosing Luo Yu as their spokesperson.

Producer Liang from M Channel, after watching the fight scenes in the trailer, became even more optimistic about Luo Yu. He contacted Sister Cui to confirm when filming for “Beast and Rose” would end, asking if Luo Yu could undergo a period of fencing training. He also mentioned that Xiang Chao himself had seen the trailer for “Counterattack” and thought Luo Yu was incredibly handsome, praising the intensity of his performance and expressing satisfaction with his acting skills. Sister Cui also placed great importance on the drama from M Channel, promising that once filming was done, Luo Yu would immediately begin fencing lessons.

As soon as Producer Liang’s call ended, Producer Han scheduled a dinner meeting. All of a sudden, Sister Cui was so busy her phone was practically on fire.

Several fashion magazines sent invitations for photoshoots, and variety shows were also clamoring for his participation.

After the welcome party with Xiao Yezi, it was time for the two-week pre-filming training period.

Gu Xiaowei continued learning to paint oil paintings in the studio, while Luo Yu followed the teachers hired by the crew to study forensic knowledge and dissection techniques.

That weekend, just before they finished their training, “Burn, Little Cosmos” aired.

At 8 p.m. that evening, Luo Yu was wearing a mask, holding a scalpel, simulating a Y-incision on a dummy, when the first trending topic shot to the top—#ThanksBigBrother#.

At first, netizens didn’t know what it meant, but when they clicked in, they saw that it was a VCR recorded by Xie Chang for Luo Yu.

In the video, Xie Chang wore a white dress and had styled her bangs in a student-like fashion. As soon as she appeared, viewers were transported back to their school days.

“I recorded this VCR because I wanted to thank a big brother. Without this big brother, I might not be where I am today,” Xie Chang’s voice was shy yet sweet.

She told the audience the story of how she almost missed out on her first role in life.

The audience was touched by Xie Chang’s sincerity, imagining a helpless and dejected young lady.

“Thank you, Big Brother. He fought for an opportunity for me with the crew, helped me with my makeup, braided my hair, and encouraged me to be brave and optimistic, teaching me to conquer the audience with a smile. That role was the start of my acting career!”

Xie Chang smiled brightly like a sunflower, with a hint of tears in her eyes. Her heartfelt gratitude moved all who saw it.

Everyone started guessing who this big brother was, wondering if he was someone in the industry.

It wasn’t until the end of the VCR that Xie Chang smiled and said, “This big brother of mine may not have been well-known before, but I believe his performances in ‘Counterattack’ and ‘Storm’ will blow everyone away! More people will recognize his talent and see his light! I’m Xie Chang, and I’m here to cheer for Luo Yu!”

[So Chang Chang’s big brother is Luo Yu!]

[Thank you, Luo Yu, for protecting our Chang Chang’s dream of becoming an actress!]

[From now on, Rainbow Feathers will protect Chang Chang’s big brother too!] (TN: fan name derived from Xie Chang’s name which comes from ní cháng, meaning rainbow colored clothes worn by the Eight Immortals)

…

Many people even pulled out “Plum Blossom Rain” for a rewatch, and the moment Luo Yu appeared, his gentle and radiant aura made it impossible to find anyone else quite like him.

The program’s producer and director, Xu Mu, watched the online discussions and rising ratings and remarked, “After struggling with low ratings for so long, we can finally hold our heads high again.”

Xie Chang’s VCR was just the warm-up. When Cheng Fei appeared in the VCR, the audience was in for another surprise.

[Cheng Fei actually recorded a VCR for Luo Yu? What’s he going to say?]

[Looking forward to some straight-talking, no-nonsense compliments from Brother Cheng!]

[Brother Cheng, take it easy—don’t ruin Luo Yu’s chances on all future variety shows with your words!]

…

On screen, Cheng Fei’s ears were indeed a little red. He coughed once, then sat up straight in front of the camera.

“Hello everyone, I’m actor Cheng Fei. I recorded this VCR because my good brother Luo Yu is going to participate in an outdoor variety show called… ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’! As his buddy, I have to give him my full support!”

Many viewers familiar with Cheng Fei couldn’t help but laugh.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

It wasn’t uncommon for Cheng Fei to think of someone as his buddy, only to be treated merely as a colleague because of his blunt way of speaking. Even though he claimed to be Gu Xiaowei’s close friend, he had never received an official acknowledgment.

[Does Luo Yu know he’s your buddy?]

[Brother Cheng, you don’t even remember the name of the variety show, do you? Blink if you’ve been kidnapped!]

[Brother Cheng, just remember, you’re supposed to support him, not tear him down!]

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“Well… I’ll leave the makeup for Wen Yuchi’s character to you in a few days,” Luo Yu said.

Ye Shengyi froze, his brain working overtime before he suddenly understood, his eyes lighting up. “Is Wen Yuchi… the character from the movie ‘Beast and Rose’?”

“En.” Luo Yu nodded.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“You… you landed the role? You’re going to act in a movie?” Ye Shengyi leaned closer to Luo Yu, his hands on the table.

Luo Yu smiled. “Yeah.”

“And you’re letting me follow you into the production team?”

“That’s right.”

“Am I dreaming? I’m going to join you on a movie set? How many makeup artists do you have? What number am I?” Ye Shengyi asked excitedly.

“You’re currently my only makeup artist, number one.”

“Ah! Is this the moment when my luck turns around?” Ye Shengyi was so excited that he hugged Luo Yu.

“I don’t know if your luck is turning around, but with me, I can’t promise you the highest salary or benefits. But if you want to dye your hair the colors of a rainbow, go ahead. If you want to decorate yourself like a Christmas tree, do it. Just be yourself.” Luo Yu gently patted Ye Shengyi on the back.

After finishing their late-night snack, Luo Yu drove the still-excited Ye Shengyi back to the entrance of his apartment complex.

Before driving home, Luo Yu sent a selfie of him and Ye Shengyi eating fried rice at a food stall to Gu Xiaowei: [Teacher Gu, here’s a picture of me and my makeup artist.]

Gu Xiaowei’s reply was faster than Luo Yu expected: [Nice job prying the corner of someone else’s wall.]

Luo Yu laughed: [How do you know it was a nice job?]

Gu Xiaowei: [Brother Yan showed me your audition photos for Huo Haoyan.]

Luo Yu hadn’t expected him to be so interested in his progress.

It was getting late, and Luo Yu realized he needed to go to bed.

Jiang Yinchuan was very invested in Luo Yu landing the role of Wen Yuchi, even assigning a specialized lawyer to help Sister Cui negotiate the contract and ordering a customized nanny van for him.

The next morning, Luo Yu looked up the price of a nanny van online and was shocked.

“Yin Chuan, I need to discuss something with you. The van you ordered for me is too expensive! I won’t be able to earn back the cost from just one movie! And if it gets scratched or dented, I’ll be distressed. Maybe we should cancel it?” Luo Yu said in a gentle tone.

“Do you know there was a bidding meeting for TV dramas last weekend?” Jiang Yinchuan, on the other end of the phone, casually sipped Pu’er tea as he spoke.

“I… didn’t know.”

“I ran into Ou Juntao at the meeting, and during dinner that evening, he said the benefits I provide to my artists aren’t nearly as good as when I was with Honghe Film and Television. He asked if I was having cash flow issues.” Jiang Yinchuan’s voice was a little frosty.

“R-really?”

“He even said I wasn’t doing as well as Jiang Yunxie. He provides his artists with two nanny vans, a driver, assistants, makeup artists, and sometimes three or four bodyguards. And you? You don’t have any of that.”

“But you gave me shares in the company! Plus, we have a priceless friendship!” Luo Yu said, amused.

“That’s between you and me! I have to let Ou Juntao see your status! It’s not just about money, it’s about pride!”

Ah, the male ego!

“Why do you care what he thinks? I’m signed with you. Just that alone means you’ll always win against him. Let him see that the relationship between us has nothing to do with material conditions.” Luo Yu was genuinely concerned that Jiang Yinchuan might outfit him like He Mu was, which would be too flashy and inconvenient.

After a moment, Luo Yu laughed again. “Did Ou Juntao poach one of your prospects? Were you trying to sign an artist? Or was it a project?”

Jiang Yinchuan hesitated briefly, then awkwardly admitted, “A young actor. At first, he hadn’t decided which company to sign with. I met with him and thought I had a good chance. I even helped recommend some roles for him.”

Luo Yu made a bold guess and continued, “But with Dijun Media offering more appealing roles, the actor felt your offers couldn’t compare to their promises of instant fame.”

“Yeah, that happens in this industry. It also shows that our values didn’t align.” Although a bit annoyed, Jiang Yinchuan quickly moved on.

“Oh, I forgot to mention, I’ve got a makeup artist now. I’ll take my time choosing the rest of the team.”

“Then you’ll have to pick up your makeup artist in that nanny van, won’t you? Are you going to make your makeup artist take taxis? Or squeeze their makeup kit into your little POLO?”

With that, Luo Yu realized he needed to overcome his apprehension about the nanny van.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Yu thought, picking up the nanny van was a big deal—he had to bring someone along for moral support. Teacher Gu, let’s go!

Thus, at the dealership, Luo Yu sat in the seat, repeatedly clicking and unclipping the seatbelt buckle, over and over, even deliberately trapping his clothes in it to see if it would still open.

Brother Yan, sitting in the front row, leaned over the back of his seat and asked in confusion, “Do you have a grudge against the seatbelt?”

Xiao Qin, also curious, mimicked Luo Yu, clicking and unclipping her seatbelt repeatedly.

The VIP service representative at the door wore an awkward but polite smile. “This car not only has plenty of space, but its seatbelts are also very safe.”

Luo Yu chuckled. “I just want to know, if the seatbelt ever gets stuck on clothing, can I still open it safely? After all, it would be pretty embarrassing to be trapped in the seat during an event, right?”

“Brother Luo, you really focus on the strangest things,” Xiao Qin remarked with awe.

Suddenly, Gu Xiaowei, sitting beside Luo Yu, reached over and covered the seatbelt buckle, putting an end to his antics.

“I… I saw this TV show when I was a kid, where the protagonist, an actor, was on the way to an awards ceremony when their car plunged into a river. Then…” Luo Yu felt a bit sheepish about his seatbelt anxiety. “Then the seatbelt got stuck, and they drowned.”

“Oh… so that’s how it is…” Xiao Qin nodded in understanding.  

“Seems like you still remember the TV plot from when you were a kid. Must’ve been a real childhood trauma.” Brother Yan was curious about which TV show it was.  

Gu Xiaowei looked toward the service representative at the door. “Is it okay to gift him a few multi-function safety hammers?”  

“No problem, of course! We’re even giving away car fire extinguishers!”  

With that, the service representative came over carrying a pile of safety equipment.  

Gu Xiaowei picked up the multi-function safety hammer, pressed a button on it, and with a “swish,” a blade popped out. He very seriously told Luo Yu, “Watch carefully, if you’re ever stuck by your seatbelt again, use this to cut it.”  

Luo Yu looked at the shiny blade and nodded.  

“If the car flips into the water, you can also use this hammer to break the glass.”  

“Understood.”  

“All the necessary safety precautions are in place now, better than testing the seatbelt a thousand times.”  

After speaking, Gu Xiaowei stored the multi-function safety hammer and placed it beside Luo Yu’s seat.  

For some reason, the shadow that had troubled him for so long suddenly cleared the moment Gu Xiaowei picked up that hammer.  

“Let’s go, take the new car and pick up your makeup artist,” Gu Xiaowei said.  

So, the group accompanied Luo Yu to finish the car pickup procedures. Brother Yan drove, Xiao Qin sat in the front passenger seat, while Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei sat in the back, heading to Ai Cheng’s studio to pick up Ye Shengyi.  

Ai Cheng’s team was bustling with people. Aside from the assistant and makeup artist who had been with her for years, she felt nothing special about anyone else leaving, especially since Ye Shengyi hadn’t made any standout contributions and they didn’t have a deep relationship.  

Sister Lan was a little surprised to receive Ye Shengyi’s resignation letter. After all, she could tell that Ye Shengyi cared about the job. He was always paying close attention to every detail about Ai Cheng, including her skin, temperament, and condition. The more meticulous he was, the more Sister Lan felt a sense of threat.  

One day, Ai Cheng would notice Ye Shengyi’s strengths, and then Sister Lan’s standing in Ai Cheng’s eyes would diminish.  

So Ye Shengyi deciding to leave now was a good thing for both sides.  

Sister Lan pulled Ye Shengyi into a small side room and asked, “Have you found your next job?”  

With a hint of pride in his eyes, Ye Shengyi nodded and said, “Yes, with an actor I’ve always admired.”  

“An actor, huh? Are you joining their team?”  

“Yes.” Ye Shengyi nodded firmly.  

Sister Lan looked at Ye Shengyi’s expression, full of energy and determination, just like when he first joined Ai Cheng’s team.  

For some reason, Sister Lan felt a bit envious.  

“They probably don’t have just one makeup artist, right? Whether it’s here with Ai Cheng or elsewhere, you’ll have to start from the basics. Have you really thought it through?”  

“I’ve thought it through. I’ll be the only makeup artist for this actor.”  

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Shengyi’s phone rang. He gave Sister Lan an apologetic look before answering the call. “Hello, Brother Luo… You’re here? I’ll quickly pack my things and be right down. Huh? No need for you to come up, I don’t have much stuff! Okay, I’ll say goodbye to my colleagues and come down!”  

“Your new boss came to pick you up? Seems like they really value you,” Sister Lan remarked.  

“Yes, not only do they value me, but they also trust me.” Ye Shengyi’s face was filled with confidence. “Well, Sister Lan, this is goodbye. I wish you all the best in everything!”  

With that, Ye Shengyi walked out. He didn’t have much to pack—just a neck pillow, a blanket for the air conditioning, and a plastic water bottle, all stuffed into a large plastic bag. After saying goodbye to the two assistants, he left.  

Ai Cheng was getting her hair done when suddenly a staff member at the window called out, “Isn’t that Gu Xiaowei in that van?”  

“What?”  

In an instant, everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered by the window.  

Ai Cheng, who had been playing on her phone, chuckled, “You guys must be seeing things. Why would Gu Xiaowei come here?”  

At that moment, the van door opened. A pair of long legs stepped out, dressed in casual pants, followed by a figure bending down and stepping out of the vehicle, which sent the people at the window into a chorus of excitement.  

“It’s Gu Xiaowei! It’s really Gu Xiaowei! He looks just as good as on TV!”  

“Who’s the guy next to Gu Xiaowei? He’s so handsome, kind of familiar… but… is that Luo Yu?”  

Suddenly, Ai Cheng lifted her head, rushed to the window with her half-done curls, and shouted, “Move aside! Let me see!”  

Everyone quickly made way. Ai Cheng tried to stick her head out of the window, but the curlers in her hair nearly got her stuck.  

“Wow, it really is Luo Yu! He looks so handsome when he smiles! He’s so different from Bai Ying!” Ai Cheng exclaimed.  

Sister Lan helplessly shook her head at the others. Of course, women would gather to gossip about male celebrities in the industry.  

Ai Cheng, well, she had a serious addiction to male beauty, and she often fell for one after another.  

She had liked He Mu because his delicate face inspired endless fantasies, especially when he performed passionate dances, which was incredibly seductive. But that kind of refinement lost to Gu Xiaowei when they were compared.  

Gu Xiaowei, from his eyelashes to his hair, was perfect enough to make Ai Cheng’s heart race. Especially after she saw him up close at an event once and felt his aloof yet elegant aura, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, calling him a top-tier alpha.  

Then a few months ago, Ai Cheng came across a video of Luo Yu as Bai Ying, and she went crazy over him, saying he was the epitome of a “human masterpiece,” with a melancholic elegance and a sense of wild, broken intensity. Later, when Huo Haoyan’s character look was revealed, she went wild again, saying that the seemingly gentleman yet scheming type of man was her absolute favorite.  

In short, Luo Yu was currently her number one favorite among all the men she had fallen for.  

At this moment, Ai Cheng watched from the window as Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu, one holding Ye Shengyi’s blanket and the other his neck pillow, and she felt a sudden wave of envy.  

“I really wish I could be Ye Shengyi, receiving double the affection from Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu!”  

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Now Ai Cheng regretted not adding Ye Shengyi on WeChat earlier—if she had, she could have asked him for Luo Yu’s autograph, maybe even get a chance to visit the set.  

“Is it too late to add Ye Shengyi as a friend now?”  

Standing by the window, Sister Lan was surprised. Did Ye Shengyi join Gu Xiaowei’s team?

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TN: About the chapter title “prying at the corner of a wall”, in colloquial usage, it means to steal someone else’s partner, poach someone else’s romantic interest, or undermine someone’s relationship. It can also refer to attempting to take someone else’s business opportunities or employees.

At that moment, a WeChat notification popped up on his phone. It was from Ye Shengyi: [Brother Luo, I’m really sorry. I finished work too late today, my eyes can barely stay open. How about we reschedule? QAQ]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Luo Yu frowned slightly. He remembered that last time Sister Cui had dropped Ye Shengyi off at home, and the neighborhood wasn’t far from him.

Luo Yu put on his jacket, grabbed his car keys, and headed out. He drove to the opposite side of the entrance to Ye Shengyi’s complex.

Just as he was about to call Ye Shengyi, a taxi pulled up at the entrance, and a boy with a backpack stepped out.

The streetlights cast a cold glow over him. He was so thin that he looked like a piece of paper figurine, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

Luo Yu squinted his eyes, trying to make out the figure. That back definitely belonged to Ye Shengyi. But wait, did this kid cut his hair? Where had all that purple luck gone?

Luo Yu began to wonder if he had the wrong person.

He opened the car door and quickly walked over, following behind the boy.

The boy seemed completely unaware of his presence, lost in his own emotions—particularly sad ones.

Sure enough, just as he was about to enter the complex, the boy raised his hand to wipe his eyes.

Luo Yu sighed and softly called out the boy’s name, “Ye Shengyi.”

The boy stopped, took a deep breath, and turned around. The eyes that had once been so full of energy now brimmed with sadness and grievance as they met Luo Yu’s.

“Brother Luo—you… you…”

Luo Yu raised his hand, gently pressing the boy’s head onto his shoulder. “Alright, go ahead and cry.”

At first, Ye Shengyi was confused, but two seconds later, he burst into tears.

Even the security guard, who had been dozing off in the gatehouse, was startled awake by the loud wailing. He opened the window and stuck his head out to see what was happening.

Luo Yu gave the guard an apologetic wave, signaling him to just ignore it.

The guard thought for a moment—this kind of crying at such a late hour probably meant a breakup.

—The midnight darkness gave this kid a reason to express his upset unabashedly.

After imagining a dramatic breakup scene for about ten minutes, Luo Yu patted Ye Shengyi’s shoulder and said softly, “Let’s go, hop in the car. Let’s get some late-night snacks.”

Ye Shengyi sniffled and nodded hard. “Okay.”

Once in Luo Yu’s car, and after buckling his seatbelt, Ye Shengyi asked, “Brother Luo, why did you come? I clearly sent you a message saying… we weren’t meeting today.”

Luo Yu smiled slightly. “When I asked you, you seemed so eager to see me. Knowing that I waited until almost eleven, you still suddenly canceled, but with your personality I knew you wouldn’t just send a single text message. Normally, you’d at least send a voice message or give me a call. So, why didn’t you? Because you were afraid I’d hear the sadness in your voice. Since I guessed that you were upset, I had to come and check on you—especially since you haven’t posted on your social media in a while.”

Hearing this, a small smile finally appeared on Ye Shengyi’s face.

“So Brother Luo, you really do care about me.”

“This doesn’t count as caring. If I truly cared enough, I would’ve noticed your sadness earlier.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to a street stall, have some fried rice, and maybe some skewers. How does that sound?” Luo Yu asked.

“Brother Luo, you’re famous now! Going to a street stall, aren’t you afraid of being recognized?”

“The best way to hide is in plain sight. As long as you don’t treat me like Luo Yu, no one else will either.”

Luo Yu drove to the old town section and parked the car. Then, he led Ye Shengyi for a few minutes before they arrived at a street stall.

Under the red canopy were about a dozen small square tables, but only five or six were still occupied.

The shirtless chef, with a towel draped over his shoulder, was energetically flipping his wok. The smell of stir-fry and barbecue filled the air, making Ye Shengyi’s stomach growl uncontrollably.

Luo Yu, wearing black-framed glasses, pulled out a chair and motioned for Ye Shengyi to sit down.

Ye Shengyi glanced around. The other diners seemed to be men in their thirties or forties, so the chances of anyone recognizing Luo Yu were indeed slim.

“But your disguise is still too simple,” Ye Shengyi muttered under his breath.

“It won’t be simple for long.” Luo Yu raised his hand and called out, “Order up—”

The lady boss hurried over. “Coming! What’ll it be?”

“What do you want? The fried rice here is top-notch, and the small meat skewers, beef skewers, and grilled gluten are all amazing.”

Ye Shengyi, having smelled the food for a while, was already drooling. “I don’t know what’s good. Whatever you order, I’ll eat.”

“Alright. We’ll have what I just mentioned, and two bottles of cola,” Luo Yu said.

“Brother Luo, you know me so well—I really need some ‘happiness water’ right now!”

Once the lady boss brought over the colas, Ye Shengyi gulped down several mouthfuls, letting out a few loud burps before exhaling deeply.

“Before the food arrives, why don’t you pour out what’s been bothering you? Otherwise, there won’t be any room left for the delicious food.” Luo Yu looked at Ye Shengyi.

His gaze was gentle, without any sense of coercion, and instead, it felt very accepting.  

This made Ye Shengyi suddenly feel a surge of desire to confide.  

“Actually, when Brother Yan first introduced me to work as an assistant makeup artist for Ai Cheng, I was really happy. Because Ai Cheng is also my idol. Before I went, I studied a lot of her makeup looks from various events—some were very fashionable, some were pure, and some had a natural, no-makeup look. I seriously researched how to enhance her features in each style.” Ye Shengyi took a deep breath and then smiled wryly.  

“And then?” Luo Yu broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks, smoothed off the splinters, and handed them to him.  

“Then, like any industry, seniority matters. Look at my face. Doesn’t it scream ‘young, inexperienced, and unreliable’?”  

“Young, yes. Inexperienced and unreliable, I don’t see that,” Luo Yu chuckled, having a rough idea of what Ye Shengyi had encountered.  

“So, after I became Ai Cheng’s assistant makeup artist, the thing I did the most was handing over brushes. I didn’t even get the chance to apply her foundation. Then, a few days ago, she attended a music festival, and the makeup artist gave her a smoky eye look. It looked quite trendy up close, but it really didn’t suit Ai Cheng. She has big, round eyes, and she’s petite, so her look ended up resembling…”  

“The Corpse Bride?” Luo Yu asked.  

“How… did you know?”  

“Before picking you up, I did some browsing. When I saw that look, I knew it couldn’t have been your work,” Luo Yu smiled as he lowered his head.  

“Exactly. I know cyberpunk is really popular among singers lately, but it just doesn’t suit Ai Cheng. I spoke up at the time, but Ai Cheng was quite unhappy, and her makeup artist told me to go help the assistant take care of her leather jacket. I barely had any chance to do makeup during this period and was basically stuck running errands.”  

“And today? What happened at the jewelry launch?” Luo Yu asked softly.  

When his gentle gaze fell upon Ye Shengyi, he suddenly felt like a child, and the strong front he had been forcing himself to maintain softened in an instant.  

“Today was a jewelry launch, and Ai Cheng was wearing a long dress, looking elegant and intellectual. But the makeup artist, Sister Lan, because the brand was from the West, decided to give Ai Cheng a Western-style makeup look—deep-set eyes, prominent brow bones, and high cheekbones.”  

“Ai Cheng is better suited for a princess style, and makeup that emphasizes her facial contours too much would overshadow the jewelry itself,” Luo Yu imagined Ai Cheng’s makeup in his mind.  

“Exactly. I made a suggestion at the time, too. When Ai Cheng stands next to other women with similar Western makeup, she loses her distinctiveness. But Ai Cheng and Sister Lan believed that highlighting her facial structure was more high-class, and since the organizers had no objections, I had no right to say anything…”  

Luo Yu smiled knowingly, seemingly understanding Ai Cheng’s desire to follow the mainstream aesthetic. “So, how did the organizers react after seeing the result?”  

“I wasn’t at the scene, but apparently the official photographer barely spent any time on Ai Cheng. Her makeup made her seem…”  

“Quite ordinary.”  

“Yes. For the evening banquet, she had to change into another dress. That outfit is really ethereal, so I wanted to suggest a more romantic, colorful makeup look. But Ai Cheng and Sister Lan still disagreed and decided to stick with the pure style.”  

“Because that style, while not outstanding, is at least safe.”  

Ye Shengyi shrugged helplessly, “Exactly. I guess my repeated suggestions annoyed Ai Cheng and Sister Lan. I ended up being asked to move things around and return the dresses. After the evening banquet, Sister Lan even had a talk with me. She made it clear: I don’t have much experience, but I have too many ideas. Sometimes, I should observe more instead of rushing to speak. Most importantly, she knows Ai Cheng best and understands what Ai Cheng wants, so there’s no need for me to disrupt their rhythm.”  

“Giving Ai Cheng what she wants— from that perspective, Sister Lan isn’t wrong. But…”  

Just then, the fried rice and skewers arrived, golden and fragrant. The young man serving them gave Luo Yu a glance.  

Luo Yu stood out among the crowd at the food stall, with his broad shoulders and upright posture.  

But when the young man tried to get a clearer look at Luo Yu’s face, he noticed that Luo Yu had placed a napkin under the nose pads of his glasses to keep them from slipping. This obscured his features, but even through the lenses, the young man could tell Luo Yu had beautiful eyes.  

Once the young man left, Ye Shengyi gave Luo Yu a thumbs-up. “As expected, even if Brother Gu showed up, he might not recognize you like this.”  

“Teacher Gu has sharp eyes,” Luo Yu laughed, pushing the fried rice towards Ye Shengyi. “Eat up. I’ve already had dinner, so I’ll skip the main dish.”  

“By the way, you were saying ‘but’ earlier. But what?” Ye Shengyi asked.  

“But Ai Cheng and Sister Lan have their rapport. Ai Cheng trusts Sister Lan, and Sister Lan knows how to meet her needs. They’ve reached a balance, and your arrival might have unintentionally disrupted that balance, so…”  

“So I’ve been excluded by them?”  

Luo Yu smiled slightly, knowing that Ye Shengyi understood his point.  

There were also more practical and self-serving reasons: Sister Lan had spent years building trust with Ai Cheng and didn’t want Ye Shengyi to take that away.  

Ye Shengyi picked up his spoon and started eating the fried rice in big bites.  

Luo Yu thought that after realizing the harsh reality, this kid might lose his appetite, but surprisingly, he ate with great relish.  

Before long, the fried rice was gone, and Ye Shengyi grabbed a skewer, devouring it in a few bites, leaving streaks of chili oil on both sides of his mouth.  

“Previously, to stay in Ai Cheng’s team, I kept compromising and changing myself! Ai Cheng didn’t like my purple hair, so I dyed it black! She didn’t like my accessories, saying they might get caught in her hair, so I took them all off! She didn’t think much of my makeup skills, so I ran errands instead! I even learned how to apply fake nails just to earn her approval! But so what? We don’t get along, and staying there won’t get me anywhere!”  

Ye Shengyi pressed the skewer stick onto the table and gulped down several swigs of cola, quite boldly.  

“So, what’s your plan?” Luo Yu asked with a smile, resting his chin on his hand.  

“What else? She doesn’t appreciate my skills, my hair, or my Christmas tree-like fashion sense, but I wasn’t dressing up for her in the first place! Tomorrow, I’m going to tell her I’m done, I’m quitting. I feel bad for wasting Brother Yan’s favor in getting me this job, but if this road is a dead end, I can’t stay stuck forever!”  

Luo Yu lowered his eyes and smiled, reminded of his former self.  

Ye Shengyi was braver than he had been.  

“So, have you found your next job? Most people don’t quit without securing something else first,” Luo Yu asked with a grin.  

“I have!” Ye Shengyi said confidently.  

Seeing that look, Luo Yu felt an inexplicable unease—could it be he had a new competitor?  

“Where?”

“You! I want to be your exclusive makeup artist!” Ye Shengyi looked into Luo Yu’s eyes, speaking boldly and earnestly.

“My makeup artist?” Luo Yu was momentarily stunned. He had thought he’d have to persuade Ye Shengyi, but unexpectedly, Ye Shengyi had beaten him to it!

“The moment I saw you, I just knew… that saying—‘A golden fish cannot stay in a pond; when the time comes, it will transform into a dragon!’”

Luo Yu almost spat out his soda. “Th-thanks…”

“I believe that once ‘Counterattack’ airs, your Bai Ying will become iconic! And once ‘Storm’ airs, your Huo Haoyan will also become the ultimate supporting character! I’ll use my skills to make your roles shine! If you have other candidates for a makeup artist, I’m willing to compete for the position! But I can guarantee you won’t find anyone with a better value for money than me!” Ye Shengyi patted his chest in confidence.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

For some reason, Luo Yu felt warmth in his heart.

This Ye Shengyi, someone who actively fought for their chance, someone who unwaveringly believed in him, gave Luo Yu a sense of responsibility he’d never felt before.

He knew he had to choose his future roles carefully, walk the right path, and not let down those who were willing to walk alongside him.

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