Ou Juntao remained in his place, his phone still against his ear. Besides Luo Yu, probably no one else would hang up his call so straightforwardly.

After ten minutes, Sister Cui sighed deeply and said to Luo Yu, “Great news, the hot searches about you have all been removed! I was really afraid he would suppress you harshly since you didn’t answer his calls and were so rude to him on the phone.”

Luo Yu smiled and lowered his eyes, “He had that ability before. Now… as long as we dare to go all out, we can still take a pound of flesh from him.”

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

At this moment, Jiang Yinchuan’s call came in. After Luo Yu answered, he said with a smile, “President Jiang, I was just about to look for you.”

Jiang Yinchuan said coolly, “Enough, if you wanted to contact me, you wouldn’t have waited until all the black hot searches were gone and still not made a move. Looks like I had to call you personally.”

“Sorry about that. I thought, since we’ll be cooperating in the future, I didn’t want to come to you covered in dirt, so I wanted to handle it myself.”

Jiang Yinchuan became interested. “Oh, have you handled it?”

“Yes, I handled it. I even borrowed old Mr. Jiang’s name to help.”

With that, Jiang Yinchuan probably understood what Luo Yu had said to Ou Juntao.

“So what’s next? The hot searches are down, but the damage to your reputation is real. Many people only like to see others fail and never believe in clarifications.”

Luo Yu smiled with his eyes curved. “President Jiang, even as an adult, you still care so much about winning and losing. Why… do you have any good suggestions?”

“Sign the contract with me quickly. Not only in the industry but even some passersby know I have issues with Jiang Yunxie. If you sign with me, it will slap those who say you’re involved with Jiang Yunxie in the face.” Jiang Yinchuan said in a pleasant tone.

Luo Yu almost couldn’t hold back his laughter. “President Jiang, I hope you don’t regret signing me. I always seem to find myself in the midst of storms.”

Perhaps because they weren’t face-to-face, Jiang Yinchuan grimaced and rolled his eyes. “Coincidentally, I’ve been dealing with storms all my life as well.”

“And I was thinking of going to the gym just now.”

“You’re still young, and there’s plenty of time for that. First, sign the contract so I can quickly manage the online public opinion, okay?”

“Then please, treat me to a good meal at noon.”

The implication was clear: I’m coming to sign the contract, and you need to treat me to a nice meal.

Jiang Yinchuan said helplessly, “Look at you and your ‘lofty’ ambitions.”

After the call ended, Luo Yu turned to see Sister Cui still diligently contacting industry people to buy articles for clarification.

“It’s really such unwarranted dogblood; you have to clean it up yourself and still spend money,” Sister Cui sighed.

“Alright, let me see if Sister Cui looks good today?”

“What for? Are you taking me on a blind date?” Sister Cui looked at Luo Yu.

“Going to sign a contract. You no longer need to worry about me lacking a strong backing.”

“Which one?” Sister Cui’s eyes lit up instantly. “Xinghan Films? Honghe Film and Television ? If you choose Dijun Media, I’ll fight you…”

“The company newly established by Jiang Yinchuan gave me 5% of the equity.”

Sister Cui’s jaw almost dropped. “There can still be such a good thing?”

“Yeah.”

“So… can I still be your agent?” Sister Cui asked in a daze.

“What, Sister Cui, are you looking to retire early?” Luo Yu joked, handing over the contract Jiang Yinchuan left behind. “Take a good look. A friend helped me find a reliable lawyer to review it, and they said there’s no problem. Just see if you think any terms need to be added.”

Sister Cui took the contract and slapped it on Luo Yu’s forehead. “You brat, your flight feathers have grown! You got such an important contract and didn’t even tell me! You made me worry so much my hair is almost falling out!”

Luo Yu looked at his watch. “Oh, as if seeing this contract would stop your hair from falling out.”

“You…” Sister Cui waved her hand. “Go get dressed properly! I’ll review this contract!”

Luo Yu went back to his bedroom, opened the closet, and suddenly missed Gu Xiaowei a bit. The last time, the other picked out some pretty good clothes for him.

He casually took out a sweater, went to the bathroom to tidy his hair, put on his coat, and said to Sister Cui, “He’s meeting at a private clubhouse, and it’ll probably take an hour to drive there. Shall we leave now?”

Sister Cui glanced at Luo Yu and blinked. “So soon? I’ve only read three pages of this contract. Don’t you want to tidy up a bit more?”

“I’m meeting Jiang Yinchuan, not going on a date, walking the red carpet, or cutting a ribbon,” Luo Yu replied.

Sister Cui nodded. “But you look good in anything now. Maybe even if you wore a garbage bag, you’d still look like you’re wearing big brand names.”

“If I dared to wear a garbage bag to meet Jiang Yinchuan, he’d probably shove us both into a garbage bag and sink us in the river.”

They went out, and because Sister Cui was worried about drinking at the lunch meeting, and Luo Yu wasn’t good with alcohol, and she also wanted to review the contract, they took a cab.

On the way, Sister Cui reviewed the contract three times, and she couldn’t find anything unfair.

“Are there really such… conscientious bosses in this world?”

“He doesn’t want to be my boss; he needs a comrade,” Luo Yu said, looking out the window. Winter hadn’t passed yet, and the barren branches were adorned with sporadic sunlight.

In his previous life, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and there was a lot of online criticism. The actors who were also nominated for Best Supporting Actor all showed off their skills, especially the young actors who saw it as an opportunity to shine.

Luo Yu felt as if he had returned to the days when Dijun Media suppressed him years ago. He just wanted to act well and didn’t want to get involved in controversies.

He faced criticism and rumors on all platforms, and negative news was everywhere.

When he wanted to withdraw from the Best Supporting Actor nomination, it was Jiang Yinchuan who came to him personally.

Jiang Yinchuan said, “You don’t know how envious I am of you.”

Luo Yu smiled helplessly. “Envious that I don’t have a strong background like your family? Envious that I’m auditioning everywhere while paying off a mortgage? Or envious that I’m struggling to remove the label of being the dupe of someone else?”

Jiang Yinchuan answered, “While I am cautious about every step as if walking on thin ice, you’re like a hot iron plunged into this stagnant, murky water.”

That day, Luo Yu saw Jiang Yinchuan’s determined eyes. “Even I can’t help but be stirred by you.”

To ensure that Luo Yu could fairly participate in the Best Supporting Actor evaluation, Jiang Yinchuan strongly suppressed various online rumors.

But Luo Yu still had a car accident on the way to the awards ceremony.

He didn’t know whether Jiang Yinchuan would be disappointed, distressed, or… lonely when he received the news.

Fortunately, in this life, they met ahead of time.

Jiang Yinchuan treated him sincerely, and he was willing to fight alongside Jiang Yinchuan to carve out their own world.

But when he met Jiang Yinchuan in the private clubhouse’s room, Jiang Yinchuan was clearly very displeased.

He leaned on the table with one hand, squinting at Luo Yu. “I say, Luo Yu—you’re here to sign with me and you’re still wearing the clothes from that dinner meeting last time!”

Luo Yu was stunned for a moment, looked at himself, and said, “Really? I don’t remember.”

“I remember! It’s this sweater. You deliberately poured red wine into the sleeve while toasting. Let me ask you, did you clean the red wine out?” Jiang Yinchuan said.

“I’ve been busy filming recently, so I haven’t had time to buy new clothes,” Luo Yu answered.

“What about before filming ‘Counterattack’? As far as I know, you had no filming at that time, so you couldn’t find time to buy clothes?” Jiang Yinchuan asked again.

“No filming means no money to buy clothes,” Luo Yu answered.

Sister Cui, watching their back-and-forth exchange, broke out in a cold sweat, afraid Jiang Yinchuan would directly get up and leave.

She had reviewed the contract thoroughly in the cab and asked so many lawyers; it would be a disaster if the deal fell through!

“President Jiang, please don’t misunderstand. Luo Yu is someone who doesn’t have much of a sense of fashion. His previous team was dissolved by Zhuque Media, so he doesn’t have a stylist. The clothes he chose to meet you today are the most… formal ones he has,” Sister Cui meant to say “the most expensive.”

But if Jiang Yinchuan asked how expensive, that would be awkward.

“No sense of fashion? You didn’t know that after Gu Xiaowei took those nine-square grid photos of him, several fashion magazines wanted to feature him?” Jiang Yinchuan smiled, though it was unclear if it was a cold smile or a joking one. “He is very aware of his own visual advantages. He just doesn’t care.”

Sister Cui was puzzled. Was this… admiration?

Luo Yu smiled. “When will the food be served? I’m a bit hungry.”

Jiang Yinchuan said irritably, “It’s coming soon. Also, how’s the contract? If it needs to be amended, do it quickly. Once signed, I can issue a press release and clear up the rumors about you clinging to Jiang Yunxie’s coattails, so it doesn’t affect your audition.”

Sister Cui’s heart, which was hanging in suspense, finally relaxed. It seemed Jiang Yinchuan was just complaining about Luo Yu not changing his clothes and was still going to sign the contract.

“No rush, no rush. Let’s eat first,” Luo Yu said, lowering his eyes and pouring himself a cup of tea.

“You’re not in a hurry? Right now, it’s just clinging to coattails. In another hour, it might turn into taking off pants,” Jiang Yinchuan said with his elbow resting on the armrest, supporting his chin and smiling.

He found Luo Yu quite interesting.

“Let those who hope I’m clinging to Jiang Yunxie’s coattails be happy a bit longer. They should enjoy their lunch—because soon, they might be so angry they can’t sleep at night.”

Sister Cui was relieved she hadn’t drunk tea; she suspected she might have spat it out.

“Aha! I like it!” Jiang Yinchuan clapped his hands.

So, when the food was served, Luo Yu and Jiang Yinchuan really didn’t discuss the contract anymore. Instead, they talked about tea tasting, sea fishing, and even fund stocks.

Jiang Yinchuan even complained about Luo Yu’s house being in the wrong location, suggesting he could have chosen a better environment for the same price.

At first, Sister Cui was cautious, but later she realized Luo Yu and Jiang Yinchuan chatted like friends.

Most importantly, Jiang Yinchuan didn’t have the bad habit of drinking too much alcohol at the table; he only drank tea.

After the meal, Jiang Yinchuan’s lawyer arrived, making Sister Cui regret not bringing a lawyer as well.

Luo Yu and Jiang Yinchuan both signed the contract generously.

Half an hour later, #LuoYuSignsContract# trended on social media.

The internet exploded because the press release about Luo Yu’s signing was issued by Yinchuan Film and Culture Co., Ltd.

It was filled with praise for Luo Yu, mentioning his acting skills, appearance, temperament, and professionalism, and thanking him for joining and developing together with the company.

Luo Yu also shared the Weibo post, expressing his willingness to break new ground with Yinchuan Film and Culture.

Within less than thirty seconds of posting, the number of views surged to hundreds of thousands, thanks to Gu Xiaowei’s share with the comment: [Wishing Senior Brother a bright future and looking forward to more collaborations.]

Cheng Fei, who was a very loyal friend, immediately shared as well with the comment: [Bro, soar high! Yinchuan Culture has found a treasure!]

Xie Chang also shared with a few big smiley faces.

Even Li Shengyu, who had previously clashed with Luo Yu and had even caused a stir with an acting battle, also reposted: [A true gem shines wherever it is!]

Of course, there were also Director Lin Yue, Screenwriter Hua Xingyun, Coordinator Chen, and many crew members who had worked with Luo Yu.

Even Director Xu Han, who was still filming, made a rare appearance: [The young man has signed with a new company. Work hard!]

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This was like a bombshell, blowing the criticism from online trolls who had accused Luo Yu of clinging to Jiang Yunxie’s coattails into the air.

Some passersby who didn’t follow the entertainment industry were curious: Who is Luo Yu?

It should be noted that Luo Yu’s trending topics have never been bought; they always rise because of people’s reposts.

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Jiang Yinchuan, with his hands in his coat pockets, gave a cold, disdainful smile. “I’ve heard that this President Bo has a strong desire for attention, but I didn’t expect it to be this strong.”

With that, Jiang Yinchuan entered the elevator.

Luo Yu narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to Gu Xiaowei. “If you want Jiang Yinchuan to help me get an audition, I can understand that you really want to act opposite me. But why did you have to tell him about Bo Wenyan’s situation?”

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

“To see how well he handles public opinion,” Gu Xiaowei paused, then continued, “Actually, you’ve already decided in your heart to work with Jiang Yinchuan.”

Luo Yu was momentarily stunned; he didn’t know how Gu Xiaowei had guessed that.

But no matter what, since Xinghan Films would extend a contract offer to him, Gu Xiaowei must have put in a lot of effort.

Since he had decided to go with Yinchuan Culture, he needed to have an honest discussion with Gu Xiaowei.

“I know that Xinghan Films wants to sign me, likely due to your and Director Lin’s recommendations. I just feel… that something might be missing if I go there.”

Gu Xiaowei poured himself another cup of Pu’er tea and said slowly, “Deep down, you don’t actually want to seek an easy path. With your current popularity, joining Xinghan Films will inevitably mean starting as a supporting role. And that supporting role may not even be to your liking. If the main role in the same film has enough ability, like someone who can create sparks with your role, that would be fine; you’d rise faster. But if not, you’ll be a supporting role for a very long time, from the shade of the tree to the branches, dressing others in your clothes for many years. By the time you’re allowed to play a lead role, many opportunities will have already passed.”

Indeed, Gu Xiaowei understood what he was thinking.

Luo Yu half-jokingly said, “Does this count as preferring to be a head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix?”

Gu Xiaowei frowned, clearly displeased with that analogy.

“But for me…” Luo Yu looked up, as if looking to a more distant place through the ceiling, “First, I need to get out of the chicken coop. The sky is so big, and I’m not afraid of not finding a place to fly.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu’s profile and suddenly realized that Luo Yu’s vision was much broader than he had imagined.

What he wanted wasn’t to become a phoenix, but the entire sky.

“I was originally going to suggest a night run together, but now it’s already this late after the meeting with Jiang Yinchuan,” Luo Yu glanced at the wall clock, which showed it was 10:30pm.

“Then I’ll head back first,” Gu Xiaowei said, standing up and grabbing his coat from the sofa. He suddenly spoke again, “Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

At first, when Gu Xiaowei called him that, Luo Yu felt flattered. But now, every time he heard “Senior Brother,” it made him inexplicably soft-hearted.

“I don’t care who you sign with; I just want to act opposite you.”

That simple remark stirred all of Luo Yu’s ambition.

After Gu Xiaowei left, Luo Yu instinctively walked to the window and watched as his car disappeared into the distance.

It wasn’t long before the film “Beast and Rose” began sending out audition invitations.

Since this film had nothing to do with romance, the only prominent female role was Ai Lin, the agent of the famous painter Lu Pingfeng. The male lead, Lu Pingfeng, was specifically cast by the director and producers for Gu Xiaowei, so the most competitive role in the audition was the forensic assistant Wen Yuchi.

He Mu, who had been quiet for almost three months, immediately called his agent upon hearing this news.

“I want to play Wen Yuchi! Don’t you think this role suits me perfectly?”

The agent hesitated and said, “Our cooperation with Honghe Film and Television fell through. If you want this role, you’ll have to audition.”

“Then I’ll go audition!”

The agent took a deep breath. He wanted to shake He Mu’s head vigorously and ask where his confidence came from to stand out in the audition!

For a movie directed by Sheng Yunlan, the audition would definitely be fierce! Besides, Sheng Yunlan often went off-script, so even if a script was issued, he might suddenly come up with an unconventional performance task, leaving the auditionees at a loss.

The high-risk audition was something the agent truly didn’t want He Mu to attend.

If you don’t have the skill, don’t take on a challenging job!

If it were based solely on the script, it would be like last time with Bai Ying’s role, where a skilled teacher could be hired for training. Even if it was a last-minute practice, it would still show results.

But if it turned out to be an Olympiad-level additional task, the agent could already imagine He Mu flustered and being at a loss.

“Alright, if you insist on being this brave warrior, I can’t stop you.”

On Sunday morning, Luo Yu made himself some eggs and toasted bread, and was about to head to the gym when Sister Cui arrived.

“Luo Yu! I feel like ever since you left Zhuque Media, your luck has turned around!”

Luo Yu smiled, “Sister Cui, your beaming expression makes me think you’ve found a new love.”

“Stop joking. Look at this, the audition script for “Beast and Rose”! It’s a movie! Big screen! And it’s a famous director’s work! Most importantly, apart from the role of Lu Pingfeng, the forensic assistant Wen Yuchi has the most scenes! It’s considered the male second lead, but it’s almost like a dual male lead!” Sister Cui said with uncontainable joy. “It was rumored before that this role would go to He Mu, but I didn’t expect there to be auditions!”

Luo Yu prepared a sandwich and took a bite. “Aren’t you worried that us being called to audition is just to be a formality?”

In the past, Sister Cui would have been extremely worried, but over the past few months, she had matured and was no longer so easily swayed.

“Are you trying to trick me? If Director Sheng didn’t really want auditions, why make things difficult? When He Mu competed with you for Bai Ying’s role, he lost. If he was already chosen, they wouldn’t send you an audition invitation.”

Luo Yu laughed, “Sister Cui, you’re becoming more and more astute.”

After finishing breakfast, Luo Yu was packing up to leave when he noticed Sister Cui’s expression change while she was on the phone.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the audition?”

“It’s not about the audition. It’s that you’ve made the hot search for having dinner with Hu Wei and Jiang Yunxie! Now, many people online are speculating that you went to the dinner to cling to Jiang Yunxie’s leg! They’re saying all sorts of terrible things…”

Sister Cui’s face darkened. She knew she had to quickly get the hot search removed.

The public easily gets swayed by trends, and rational comments are drowned out by ridicule and malicious speculation.

If this continued, even if a clarification was issued immediately, it would become material for future cyber attacks against him.

Sister Cui immediately called to get the hot search removed, but as soon as it was taken down, another hot search popped up.

“Don’t remove it; it’s useless. It’s probably to target Wen Yuchi. Someone sees me as a necessary competitor to eliminate.”

With such unfavorable black material, the producers and director might be reluctant to cast him.

This hot search superficially put Luo Yu’s name in the headlines, but it also reminded the public of the scandal from Honghe Film and Television that had just calmed down.

Luo Yu smiled faintly, easily guessing who was behind it.

Even after all these years, they’re still playing these old tricks. It’s just Ou Juntao; barefoot people aren’t afraid of those wearing shoes.

“Sister Cui, do you have Ou Juntao’s phone number from Dijun Media?”

“I only have his office number; he might not answer himself,” Sister Cui straightened up, “Why… I thought Ou Juntao had stopped.”

“Stopped?” Luo Yu’s smile turned sarcastic, “He just wants to make the past five years difficult for me, then give me a few months to breathe, hoping I’ll be grateful and feel constrained by him. But I don’t have Stockholm syndrome. They’ve used too many rotten tricks; they’d better watch out for their own downfall.”

Seeing that Luo Yu had a plan, Sister Cui immediately gave him the number.

When Luo Yu dialed, it was indeed Ou Juntao’s secretary who answered, and the secretary was rather impolite upon hearing it was Luo Yu.

“Sorry, Chairman Ou is busy. Please…”

“Fine, let him be busy. He gives me hot searches; I’ll give him a hot search of his own and let him retire early.” Luo Yu said calmly.

The secretary paused for a moment and then replied, “Your hot search is not our responsibility.”

“Alright then, I’ll call Shareholder Lin. He should be interested.”

Shareholder Lin was Ou Juntao’s rival at Dijun Media. Their fight for the chairman’s position was enough to write a business war novel.

With that, Luo Yu hung up.

“Just as I thought, his secretary won’t let you speak to him,” Sister Cui said.

Luo Yu wasn’t worried at all and instead started a countdown.

“Ten, nine, eight…”

When he was counting down to the third second, Luo Yu’s phone vibrated with a call from an unknown number, but Luo Yu knew it was from Ou Juntao.

On the other end, Ou Juntao was frowning deeply. It was rare for him to actively call someone who did not answer immediately. He knew Luo Yu’s claim about making him a hot search was mostly bluster, but he felt an inexplicable joy upon realizing Luo Yu was looking for him. However, this joy was mixed with anger—Luo Yu had called his secretary, indicating he had never saved Ou Juntao’s number.

This thought made him grind his teeth with hatred.

After the first call went unanswered, Ou Juntao slammed his phone on the table but couldn’t help but glance at the screen. Unfortunately, five minutes passed, and Luo Yu still did not return his call.

Ou Juntao checked the trending searches. The rumors claimed that Luo Yu had seduced Jiang Yunxie, with the stories being well-crafted and the number of haters increasing. The more Ou Juntao read, the angrier he became.

“That piece of trash Jiang Yunxie… has designs on Luo Yu?”

Ou Juntao summoned his secretary. “Tell Luo Yu that I am available now, and he can call me back!”

The secretary, startled, realized that not allowing Luo Yu to speak with Ou Juntao might have caused trouble.

Thirty seconds later, the secretary came back, saying, “Luo… Luo Yu said he is going to the gym and does not have time to… haggle!”

Ou Juntao felt as if he had been hit by a landslide, nearly choking on his next breath.

“What did he say? He said I am haggling? What does he mean by that?”

The secretary took a step back in fear.

Ou Juntao was indeed strict in business but never lost his temper unless absolutely necessary. Losing his temper was a sign of incompetence in Ou Juntao’s book.

“Leave.”

In less than a second, Ou Juntao had composed himself.

If it had been the old Luo Yu, he would have been submissive, and Ou Juntao might not have called him. But the current Luo Yu was much more determined. Ou Juntao had a premonition that Luo Yu was not just making threats but speaking the truth.

Taking a deep breath, Ou Juntao dialed Luo Yu’s number again. This time, he connected on the sixth ring.

“Is this the courier? Please leave it at the delivery locker at the neighborhood entrance.”

That nonchalant tone was like a slap in Ou Juntao’s face.

Although Ou Juntao wanted to hang up immediately and let this presumptuous kid be blacklisted forever, his dangerous intuition alerted him.

“I am Ou Juntao.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Luo Yu’s voice came through, with a tone of relaxed amusement and no trace of humility or false courtesy.

“So it’s Chairman Ou. I was just contacting the media to prepare a big reveal,” Luo Yu said as he sat back on the sofa.

“Really? I heard from the secretary that this big reveal is related to me?” Ou Juntao asked calmly.

The two seemed calm, but in reality, they were testing who would lose their composure first.

“I have a recording of that night’s dinner with Jiang Yunxie. Just releasing it with any number could cause Honghe Film and Television’s stock price to plummet again.”

Ou Juntao laughed. “Isn’t that perfect? The worse Honghe Film and Television performs, the more opportunities we have at Dijun Media.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Luo Yu’s voice drawled, especially the “is that so” made Ou Juntao’s heart itch. He took a big sip of coffee, instantly bitter to the root of his tongue.

“Think about it. When Jiang Yunxie first had trouble, I didn’t release the phone recording to gain public sympathy and online popularity, which means I was wary of Honghe Film and Televison and didn’t want to have a complete fallout with them. Until my black search terms were spread online, I had no choice but to release the recording. What would old Mr. Jiang think? Would he simply come after me, a powerless little actor? Or would he think that the person who forced me to release the recording is targeting either me or aiming to take down Honghe Film and Televsion?”

Hearing this, Ou Juntao’s eyebrows knitted together.

“Old Mr. Jiang is far-sighted. With his ability, he might already be looking into Dijun Media’s contract and tax issues. Also, before I release the big reveal, shouldn’t I at least notify Honghe Film and Televsion? After all, I am not like Chairman Ou, who is unscrupulous.”

Ou Juntao’s heart sank. He knew old Mr. Jiang’s style. No matter how unreliable Jiang Yunxie was, he was still old Mr. Jiang’s grandson. Even if he was destined to be put in the incinerator, old Mr. Jiang wouldn’t want him to be burned too long.

If Luo Yu was truly forced to release the recording, he would only need to tell old Mr. Jiang that, to reduce the damage to Honghe Film and Televsion and Jiang Yunxie, old Mr. Jiang would have to personally handle the situation.

Then, old Mr. Jiang would find out that Dijun Media bought the hot searches and would certainly suspect Ou Juntao of forcing Luo Yu to release the recording. By then, it would be hard to settle the grudge between them.

“You’ve grown skillful, learning to threaten me,” Ou Juntao said with a smile.

“How can this be called a threat? Isn’t it about appealing to emotions and reasoning?”

Ou Juntao closed his eyes. From Luo Yu’s voice and attitude, he could tell that these hot searches had not affected Luo Yu’s mood or decisions.

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

Luo Yu… had indeed changed from before.

“To avoid old Mr. Jiang misunderstanding, I will help you remove those hot searches. But that’s all I can do. As for the future… rumors are something everyone in this circle has to endure.” Ou Juntao spoke cautiously, as he wasn’t sure if Luo Yu was recording the conversation.

“Those, Chairman Ou, don’t need to worry about.”

After saying this, Luo Yu hung up the phone.

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Even if you have a competitive streak, choosing someone like Bo Wenyuan as your rival seems pretty unambitious.

“Alright, let’s go out for a run…”

At that moment, the doorbell rang again.

Luo Yu was a bit annoyed.

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

Wasn’t that trash Bo Wenyuan already kicked out? How dare he come back?

Did he leave something behind?

Suppressing his irritation, Luo Yu opened the door, ready to sidestep in case Bo Wenyuan made another dramatic entrance, but it turned out to be Jiang Yinchuan!

“Jiang… Yinchuan, what are you doing here?”

Jiang Yinchuan was also taken aback because he could sense that Luo Yu’s mood wasn’t great when the door opened.

“I came to discuss a collaboration with you,” Jiang Yinchuan said, holding up a file folder.

Luo Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He had thought he would need to rebuild his friendship, but seeing Jiang Yinchuan come personally to discuss cooperation, Luo Yu was even more convinced that no matter how many times they started over, they would always appreciate each other.

“I have a friend over. If you don’t mind, come in and have seat,” Luo Yu said.

Jiang Yinchuan showed a playful expression. “A friend?”

“Yes, a trusted friend.”

“Then… I’ll come in.”

Luo Yu opened the shoe cabinet. Since guests were rare at his place, Gu Xiaowei had taken the only pair of men’s slippers. The remaining pair was a pink one left by Sister Cui.

“Let’s skip changing shoes,” Luo Yu said.

“Alright. Besides, your living room isn’t large, and my shoes aren’t dirty,” Jiang Yinchuan agreed readily.

As he entered and saw Gu Xiaowei sitting on the sofa in the living room, he was first surprised, then seemed to understand.

“Teacher Gu, it’s surprising yet not surprising to see you here.” Jiang Yinchuan smiled and sat down next to Gu Xiaowei.

“What do you mean by surprising and not surprising?” Gu Xiaowei asked in return.

“Remember the dinner Gao He arranged, wanting you and Director Lin to help out He Mu?”

“Yes,” Gu Xiaowei nodded.

“At that time, you defended Luo Yu. I guessed you must have known each other for a long time. I was surprised because it’s rare to see Gu Xiaowei visiting someone’s home. But not surprised because naturally, someone you defended would be a friend,” Jiang Yinchuan said with a smile.

Gu Xiaowei’s expression softened slightly. “President Jiang has a good memory.”

Luo Yu looked at Jiang Yinchuan and then at Gu Xiaowei. Since they seemed to have no grudges, he felt reassured and went to the kitchen to make tea.

“Please wait a moment while I brew some tea. President Jiang, I don’t have Longjing tea, only Pu’er. Is that alright?” Luo Yu’s voice came from the kitchen.

Jiang Yinchuan called out, “Since that dinner, I’ve stopped drinking Longjing and switched to Pu’er.”

Luo Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright then.”

Jiang Yinchuan took off his gray coat and placed it on the sofa. Glancing at Gu Xiaowei, who was wearing a simple sweater rolled up at the sleeves, it seemed he might have been washing dishes earlier.

“Teacher Gu and Luo Yu seem to have a good relationship. The last person to wash dishes at his place was me.”

“Washing dishes?” Gu Xiaowei frowned.

For some reason, seeing the actor known for turning down Honghe Film and Television frown made Jiang Yinchuan feel a sense of accomplishment.

“Yes, we had hotpot. Luo Yu drank two cans of beer and got drunk, so I ended up cleaning up the pots and pans.”

“Is that so,” Gu Xiaowei’s voice lowered several degrees.

Luo Yu peeked out of the kitchen to see the two of them. Jiang Yinchuan was smiling, and Gu Xiaowei’s voice was calm and polite. It seemed that even if they weren’t having a pleasant conversation, they were at least treating each other with respect.

But somehow, despite the harmonious atmosphere, it felt like there was an undercurrent of tension.

Gu Xiaowei looked directly into Jiang Yinchuan’s eyes. “President Jiang, you came here to try to sign Luo Yu to your new company, right?”

Jiang Yinchuan knew that Gu Xiaowei’s company, Xinghan Films, had also extended an olive branch to Luo Yu. With Gu Xiaowei being at Luo Yu’s home, it was hard to say whether or not Gu Xiaowei had persuaded Luo Yu to join Xinghan.

But Jiang Yinchuan preferred straightforwardness. Luo Yu had his own opinions, and the fact that he hadn’t signed with Xinghan Films yet indicated that he didn’t find it suitable.

“Yes. Compared to Xinghan Films, I think my advantages are quite significant,” Jiang Yinchuan said directly.

Luo Yu came out, put down the teapot and cups, and sat down with a smile. “Oh, President Jiang’s company has just been established, yet you boldly think your advantages surpass those of Xinghan Films?”

Jiang Yinchuan, with a graceful demeanor, handed a file folder to Luo Yu and said, “This is the contract drafted by me and my lawyer. You can review the terms with Sister Cui. I originally intended to have dinner with you and Sister Cui to discuss it in detail, but I feared someone might get ahead, so I rushed over with the contract. Of course, if Teacher Gu helps you review it, I don’t mind him knowing the favorable terms I’m offering.”

In other words, Xinghan Films can’t compare.

Luo Yu was taken aback. Was Jiang Yinchuan treating Gu Xiaowei as a competitor? He really didn’t know how to explain this misunderstanding.

Although Jiang Yinchuan said, “Let Teacher Gu help you review,” contracts are confidential. Gu Xiaowei still stood up and said, “You have an important contract to discuss today, so I’ll head back first.”

Rationality and professionalism told Luo Yu he should see Gu Xiaowei off, but in that instant, Luo Yu grabbed his wrist.

“It’s okay.”

“What’s okay?” Gu Xiaowei looked into Luo Yu’s eyes.

“You’re one of the few people I trust. Even if Sister Cui and I discuss the contract with President Jiang alone, I’ll still need someone to consult on the contract terms. Lawyers can provide legal and compliance opinions, but only insiders understand how the terms affect artists. In the end, I can only turn to you.”

Gu Xiaowei nodded and sat back down, “President Jiang, are you sure you don’t mind?”

Jiang Yinchuan replied, “Of course I don’t mind. I plan to work with Teacher Gu in the future, so letting you understand my sincerity will facilitate our cooperation.”

As Luo Yu opened the file folder, he half-jokingly asked, “So, President Jiang, what are your advantages?”

Jiang Yinchuan chuckled, “I suddenly feel like I’m in an interview, and with two interviewers.”

Gu Xiaowei, getting into the spirit, lifted his chin and said, “President Jiang, tell us about your advantages.”

Jiang Yinchuan, being a CEO, wasn’t any less imposing than Gu Xiaowei. He leaned back, immediately assuming a domineering posture.

“First, although my company is newly established, we have substantial capital. While we may not be as glamorous as Honghe Film and Television on the surface, we have the capability to independently manage large IPs.”

Luo Yu already knew this from his previous life.

“Second, my company hasn’t signed any highly popular or experienced actors. If I wanted to compete, I could easily bring Xie Chang out of Honghe Film and Television, but I chose Luo Yu first. Because I appreciate and believe in him, I’ll strive to provide him with the best opportunities. If Luo Yu signs with us, he will be the face of the company. As for the specific terms, Luo Yu can review the contract. This is something that Teacher Gu won’t be able to secure for Luo Yu at Xinghan Films.”

Luo Yu nodded and carefully examined the contract.

“So what’s the third point?” Gu Xiaowei asked, looking into Jiang Yinchuan’s eyes.

“Third, if he agrees to sign, then Luo Yu will be a valuable ally of Yinchuan Film and Culture. I promise to give him five percent of the shares. This way, he won’t have to worry about me being ungrateful like Bo Wenyuan.” Jiang Yinchuan shrugged.

Luo Yu was surprised. Jiang Yinchuan was offering him equity?

“It seems President Jiang is determined to sign Luo Yu,” Gu Xiaowei’s expression softened significantly.

“So, Teacher Gu, what do you think? Are my terms better or Xinghan Film’s?” Jiang Yinchuan asked with a smile.

Luo Yu read through the contract from start to finish. The five percent equity was genuine, and many terms were quite flexible. Given Luo Yu’s current situation, with “Counterattack” and “Storm” yet to air and the industry still observing his future development, the terms offered by Jiang Yinchuan were the best and most sincere.

“President Jiang missed one point,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

“What point?”

“I trust your integrity.”

Jiang Yinchuan was taken aback, then laughed while covering his forehead, “Among everyone in the entertainment industry, you’re the only one who says my integrity is trustworthy.”

“Indeed, better than Bo Wenyuan,” Gu Xiaowei nodded.

Jiang Yinchuan waved his hand, “Stop, stop. No comparisons with Bo Wenyuan.”

“Yes, comparing him to a dog is unfair to dogs,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu and Jiang Yinchuan were stunned, staring at Gu Xiaowei. Was this really the cultured Teacher Gu speaking?

“President Jiang, you know Director Sheng Yunlan is preparing ‘Beast and Rose,’ right?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Of course, I know. Director Sheng is with Honghe Film and Television, and we have a good relationship.”

“Will your company be involved in the investment?” Gu Xiaowei asked again.

“Yes, and overseas distribution is my strong suit. If they don’t turn to me, who will they turn to?” Jiang Yinchuan paused and smiled meaningfully, “It seems Luo Yu is interested in a role in this movie.”

“President Jiang, would you like to guess which role? It’ll help see if you and Luo Yu have any mutual understanding,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu scratched his cheek, suddenly feeling like Gu Xiaowei was a father evaluating a potential son-in-law.

“With Luo Yu’s abilities, he could handle the role of the Painter of Death Lu Pingfeng. But I think…” Jiang Yinchuan lightly tapped his chin, looking at Luo Yu with meaning, “You’re more suited for the forensic assistant Wen Yuchi. This role seems straightforward—the image of a redeemer. But the more straightforward the role, the more you can uncover aspects others might miss.”

Gu Xiaowei’s eyebrows lifted slightly, “Then please, President Jiang, show your sincerity.”

“You want me to help Luo Yu secure that role?” Jiang Yinchuan asked.

For Jiang Yinchuan, it wasn’t impossible to put on a show of power to secure the role, but since Sheng Yunlan had decided on auditions, insisting on this would show disrespect to Sheng Yunlan.

“No, just secure an audition, for fair competition,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Jiang Yinchuan’s furrowed brows relaxed, “That suits me. If Luo Yu secures the role through auditions, it will be more favorable for his industry reputation.”

With that, Jiang Yinchuan extended his hand to Luo Yu, “If I secure you an audition, you’ll have to help me build a reputation in this industry.”

“Once I make a promise, I can’t go back on it,” Luo Yu replied with a smile.

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Jiang Yinchuan didn’t linger, finishing his tea and leaving.

Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei saw him to the door. As Jiang Yinchuan waited for the elevator, Gu Xiaowei said, “I forgot to mention, Bo Wenyuan came today and made quite a scene.”

Luo Yu opened his mouth in surprise. Why did Gu Xiaowei tell Jiang Yinchuan everything?

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While speaking, Bo Wenyan placed his hands on Luo Yu’s shoulders, tears streaming down his face like a suddenly opened sluice gate.

Luo Yu turned his face away, frowning to avoid the scent coming from Bo Wenyan. He grabbed Bo Wenyan’s shoulders and pushed him back onto the sofa.

“Bo Wenyan, you’re drunk. I’ll call your secretary now and have him take you home.”

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After saying this, Luo Yu took out his phone, looking for Bo Wenyan’s secretary’s phone number.

“Shi Xiaosong? This is Luo Yu. Your Boss Bo got drunk and came over to my place. Could you possibly…”

Could you please come and clean up this mess?

“Sorry, I’ve already resigned.” Shi Xiaosong’s voice was polite but distant.

“Do you know his new secretary’s phone number?” Luo Yu asked again.

“He probably hasn’t hired a new secretary yet. I resigned today. I suggest you call a ride-hailing service to take him home.”

After saying this, Shi Xiaosong hung up the phone.

Call a ride-hailing service? Is dealing with this trash going to cost money?

Luo Yu sighed. In front of him, Bo Wenyan staggered to his feet, arms raised and walking towards Luo Yu like a zombie. Just as Luo Yu was about to push him back down, Bo Wenyan suddenly “thudded” to his knees in front of him and hugged Luo Yu’s legs.

What the hell? What’s this drama about?

Luo Yu looked down and tried to pull his leg away, but Bo Wenyan had a strong grip and wouldn’t let go. Luo Yu lost his balance and ended up sitting on the coffee table.

“Please… come back… come back…”

Luo Yu frowned, wondering if he should play a song like “The Clouds of My Hometown” for him.

“I was blinded by lard… afraid of Dijun Media… terrified of Ou Juntao… I won’t do it again! As long as you come back… I will definitely treat you as a pillar… I will fight anyone who bullies you… What is Ou Juntao! What is Dijun Media… Pah!”

Luo Yu furrowed his brows, found the right angle, and kicked Bo Wenyan away.

He quickly moved to the other side of the coffee table, watching as Bo Wenyan fell backward, crashing into the sofa.

Bo Wenyan looked dazed, seemingly surprised that Luo Yu had kicked him.

“Mr. Bo, did you think that since I’ve taken on two dramas from famous directors but Ou Juntao hasn’t tried to sabotage me, I might have a chance to be popular again?” Luo Yu said with no sympathy on his face, calmly looking at this treacherous bastard. “And you’re in a dead end because all of Hu Wei’s roles are gone, and those brands even want compensation for the endorsement contracts he broke.”

“I was blind… I treated him so well, and he did all sorts of despicable things just to please Jiang Yunxie… Now the whole company is dragged down by him!”

Luo Yu answered coldly, “This is what you deserve.”

If it weren’t for you being an unscrupulous boss setting a bad example, how could he have learned so fast?

Bo Wenyan’s voice was choked with despair, just like when he had knelt in front of Luo Yu five years ago.

“The others can only get small roles and barely make any money… My projects with Ou Juntao are ruined… They just withdrew their investment, and I owe the bank a huge loan…”

So, just because you’re weak, it’s all right?

Luo Yu kept his eyes lowered, his voice steady, “The world is full of hustle and bustle all for profit. Ou Juntao hasn’t been ruthless to you—at least he hasn’t demanded compensation.”

Bo Wenyan looked up, seeing the young man in front of him. He was strikingly handsome and vastly different from the exhausted appearance from half a year ago. There was an unspoken, captivating aura about him.

Like green bamboo growing in the mud, with a touch of wildness piercing through the elegant demeanor.

Bo Wenyan was stunned… Is this what Luo Yu looks like now? If he had looked like this before, how could he have been foolish enough to support Hu Wei?

Luo Yu’s face showed no trace of anger, only indifference.

As if he and Bo Wenyan were strangers, observing Bo Wenyan’s failures from an outsider’s perspective.

Bo Wenyan remembered that Luo Yu had always been thin-skinned and unable to refuse others’ pleas.

How did someone change so quickly in half a year?

He had always been nostalgic and soft-hearted; how could he be so heartless?

Bo Wenyan felt a pang of panic.

Today, he had been drinking with several heads of small entertainment companies. Bo Wenyan wished he could crush Hu Wei into dust. He had always supported Hu Wei, investing a lot of money in him, and yet Hu Wei ran off to cling to Jiang Yunxie!

Not only did Hu Wei cling to Jiang Yunxie, but he also dared to do all sorts of unacceptable things! It made one wonder if his brain had been struck by lightning!

Hu Wei not only ruined himself but also damaged the company’s reputation. Many in the industry avoided Zhuque Media upon hearing its name now.

Bo Wenyan’s funds were all tied up in projects that couldn’t be started because of Hu Wei. If this drags on, he would go bankrupt.

He had almost gone bankrupt five years ago; how would he get through this calamity now?

A media person patted Bo Wenyan’s shoulder and said, “Bro, sometimes I don’t understand what’s going on in your head. Luo Yu has acted in two major directors’ dramas. Although they’re supporting roles, they’re not minor roles with just a few lines. He’s no worse than Hu Wei! You’re Luo Yu’s former boss; if you sign him back, let him take Hu Wei’s lost roles, the producers will definitely be happy! From the videos and photos of ‘Counterattack’ and ‘Storm’… Luo Yu’s looks and temperament are born for acting.”

Hearing this, Bo Wenyan suddenly understood. Considering that since Luo Yu terminated his contract with Zhuque Media, Dijun Media hadn’t made things difficult for him, he sensed something different.

Previously, Bo Wenyan thought Dijun Media held a grudge against Luo Yu for rejecting them, but now he realized it was actually digging the wall (poaching talent)!

Bo Wenyan had drunk half a bottle of white wine, feeling dizzy, and decided he would die in front of Luo Yu if necessary.

He looked at Luo Yu with tears and despair in his eyes, pleading bitterly, “Only you can help me keep those roles Hu Wei had… I heard Ou Juntao actually admires you. With you, we can continue to work with Dijun Media! I will give you the best treatment and the best resources! I won’t even take your share! Luo Yu! Are you really going to watch me die?”

Luo Yu gave a faint smile, “Five years ago, you were also kneeling in front of me. It’s a pity I didn’t buy any beer today, so there are no empty beer bottles for you to smash your head with. You exploited the little popularity and value I had from acting in ‘Plum Blossom Rain,’ and when you had drained me, you put me on ice and even had your secretary tell me about the contract termination. Now, I don’t have any impressive roles or a huge fan base, so I really don’t understand what you’re hoping to gain by kneeling here. My lack of popularity? My haters?”

Bo Wenyan saw the indifference on Luo Yu’s face and realized that kneeling and begging wouldn’t work on Luo Yu anymore.

But he was about to lose everything and could afford to go all out.

“Luo Yu! Do you think the industry views our relationship like this? They all say…”

“That I signed with Zhuque Media because I was desperate for your attention,” Luo Yu said with a resigned shake of his head and a touch of mockery at the corner of his mouth. “Bo Wenyan, Bo Wenyan, do you even have the capital to attract people? As for money and power, since you said Ou Juntao admires me, wouldn’t it be more useful for me to cling to Ou Juntao than to cling to you?”

Bo Wenyan was left speechless. What did Luo Yu just say?

“In terms of looks, those with functioning eyes would probably think I’m more handsome than you. Since that’s the case, I’ll just love myself. Why would I need to seek you out?”

Embarrassment and anger surged in Bo Wenyan’s heart. His fists clenched, but he lacked the courage to strike.

“As for physique and strength—you can’t even beat me, and this paper-thin frame of yours would be too threadbare to be of any use as a blanket either.”

Luo Yu’s tone remained calm and unhurried, as if watching the final act of a clown’s performance.

Bo Wenyan was instantly enraged.

“Luo… Luo Yu! I won’t let you go! Even if I die, I’ll drag you down with me! I’ll make sure you trend tonight! Why did Lin Yue and Xu Han choose you! You’re just relying on your looks to get ahead!” Bo Wenyan’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice cracking with anger.

“Then go ahead.” Luo Yu took out his phone, tapped the screen to play the recording.

Bo Wenyan’s threats were played back word for word.

“You… you…” Bo Wenyan never expected Luo Yu would record the conversation.

Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind Bo Wenyuan. “Since Mr. Bo can make threats, he must not be too drunk. Should be able to take a cab home by himself, right?”

The voice was both familiar and unfamiliar. Bo Wenyuan turned his neck stiffly and saw Gu Xiaowei leaning against the kitchen door with his arms crossed, as if he had been watching for a long time.

“Gu… Gu Xiaowei… How did you get here!”

Not only had his words been recorded, but Gu Xiaowei had also heard them?

Bo Wenyuan looked at Gu Xiaowei, then at Luo Yu, and suddenly understood.

“Could it be that Luo Yu has already signed with Xinghan Films?”

Luo Yu smiled without answering, just gesturing towards the door.

Bo Wenyuan turned around stiffly to face Gu Xiaowei’s cold gaze, feeling as if he was being flayed alive in the cold wind. Ignoring everything else, he fled in a panic.

As he quickly reached the door, he heard Gu Xiaowei’s voice again.

“Mr. Bo, if Luo Yu needs a man, he might as well choose me.”

“Huh?”

“After all, I have looks, money, influence, and resources.”

Luo Yu stood there, his jaw nearly dropping.

“Mr. Bo’s acting skills are superb, and the melodrama is so naturally done. Why put yourself through the strain of running a company? You might as well throw yourself at me. I guarantee I’ll get you a debut in the C-position.”

Every word Gu Xiaowei said was clear but not forceful, yet it felt like a mountain collapsing on Bo Wenyuan’s heart.

The implication was that if Bo Wenyuan dared to buy trending searches to harm Luo Yu, Gu Xiaowei had the means and connections to make Bo Wenyuan fly into infamy with Jiang Yunxie, side by side with the sun.

Bo Wenyuan’s eyelids twitched, and he quickly shut the door.

Once he was sure Bo Wenyuan had left, Luo Yu stepped in front of Gu Xiaowei, examining his expression closely.

“Teacher Gu, you’re quite something! Actually self-recommending? Aren’t you afraid of giving Bo Wenyuan new ideas? What if he starts buying trending searches to say I’m throwing myself at you?”

Gu Xiaowei remained unfazed and replied, “Then I’ll post on Weibo saying it’s not one-sided, but mutual sponsorship.”

“I can’t see it. People say you never market yourself, but it seems you’re actually a master at traffic marketing.”

Luo Yu thought to himself that being friends with Gu Xiaowei really requires a strong heart.

“Wait… I was drunk and you carried me back to my room, and we even went shopping together… If it gets exposed, mutual sponsorship will become true!”

“What are you worried about? If one day we get caught filming a kiss scene, then worry about it.”

Gu Xiaowei’s completely nonchalant expression left Luo Yu confused. “Why did you say all that to Bo Wenyuan just now?”

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“Where did Bo Wenyuan get the confidence to think you would throw yourself at him? Do I look like a dead man?”

Luo Yu was taken aback, unable to suppress a smile. “So, Gu Xiaowei also has a competitive streak.”

“Yes.”

Gu Xiaowei answered straightforwardly, leaving Luo Yu at a loss for words.

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Luo Yu went to the living room with his phone, “What’s up, Sister Cui?”

“Who was that person talking to you just now? Was it Gu Xiaowei?”

“Yeah.”

“It really is him! Gu Xiaowei went to the supermarket and it’s trending. They said someone went shopping with him, but no matter how the paparazzi tried, they couldn’t capture the friend’s face! When I saw that down jacket, I knew it was you! I didn’t expect it to be you!”

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Luo Yu shook his head with a smile, realizing that Sister Cui wasn’t calling for work but purely for gossip.

“Sorry, Sister Cui. To disappoint you, the person shopping with Gu Xiaowei is a man.”

“I knew it! If it’s a man, why be so secretive? It made it seem like you two were in a relationship!”

“I don’t want to ride this wave of hype. Please don’t use this to create publicity.”

“Of course not. Since Gu Xiaowei is protecting you, it would be a shame to expose it online and waste his effort.”

Hearing this, Luo Yu felt relieved.

After hanging up, he checked the trending topics and found the hashtag #GuXiaoWeiGoesToTheSupermarket# amusing.

In the future, will there be trending topics like “Gu Xiaowei Eats a Late-Night Snack,” “Gu Xiaowei Sleeps,” or “Gu Xiaowei Takes a Walk”?

Luo Yu clicked to see why it was trending—a photo showed him handing a jar of doubanjiang to Gu Xiaowei, who lowered his eyes and turned his face to sniff it.

His expression was gentle, and everything around him blurred, making him appear calm and elegant amidst the bustling supermarket. It seemed as if he was about to kiss the jar of bean paste.

However, the netizens’ brain circuits were different from Luo Yu’s.

[Oh, I want to be that little finger!]

[Brother Gu doesn’t look like he’s smelling bean paste; it’s like he’s about to kiss the hand of the handsome guy next to him!]

[Who is Brother Gu’s friend? The fingers and wrist look so nice! This scene is so beautiful!]

[Top-tier bean paste advertisement!]

Luo Yu’s fingertips felt slightly warm. He looked at his hand and couldn’t resist touching the knuckle of his index finger, which seemed to be the place where Gu Xiaowei’s nose had touched.

In the photo, Luo Yu’s side was more prominent, and with his mask on and hairstyle changed, only his ear was visible. It was hard to distinguish him.

Other photos clearly showed Gu Xiaowei shielding Luo Yu.

Fans were praising Gu Xiaowei for being a gentleman and guessing that his friend was an ordinary person. They assumed that Gu Xiaowei was shielding his friend to avoid media disturbance.

Gu Xiaowei’s fans also voluntarily agreed to respect his wish for privacy and not investigate further.

Luo Yu put his phone back into his pocket and returned to the kitchen to find Gu Xiaowei diligently monitoring the stew pot.

“Haha, you’re so serious. It’s like we’re cooking phoenix flesh from the sky or dragon meat from the sea.”

“Did you talk to your agent?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Yeah, Sister Cui has sharp eyes and immediately recognized me from the supermarket outing. Also, I just posted the nine-grid photos you took of me, so it won’t be long before people realize it was me shopping with you.”

“Guessing is fine. It’s just a trip to the supermarket.”

“Yeah, going to the supermarket isn’t like going to a hotel.”

Luo Yu swore he said this casually, but suddenly Gu Xiaowei coughed, his ears even turning red.

“No way? You’re actually shy? You were so confident before, saying things like beating drums and gongs and marriage…”

“Heh.” Gu Xiaowei let out a rare vold sneer, “That’s still nothing compared to you, flirting around despite having no interest.”

Luo Yu furrowed his brow, unable to recall when he had flirted with anyone, “I haven’t! I’m not! You’re talking nonsense!”

“Heh. You dare to do it but not take responsibility, scumbag.”

As Luo Yu placed the dishes on the table, he said, “Gu Xiaowei, if you ‘heh’ again, our friendship will come to an end!”

“Then let it end quickly. I want to see what lies beyond the end.”

Luo Yu sat down helplessly, not understanding how he ended up in such a childish conversation.

Gu Xiaowei served some rice, tried a piece of rib, and said, “It’s quite good.”

“Of course. Ribs cooked with my special sauce can’t be bad, can they?”

Luo Yu thought for a moment and then asked, “Are you really sure you want to play Lu Pingfeng?”

“What’s wrong?” Gu Xiaowei raised his eyes.

“Lu Pingfeng is definitely not within the scope of normal people. In my understanding, what an artist wants to express is often something they admire or want to showcase. Lu Pingfeng depicts death; according to the script, the death he portrays is gloomy yet splendid, decadent yet attractive. In other words, for Lu Pingfeng, death is a beautiful thing. A person who pursues the beauty of death… how should his opponent compete with him? If the forensic assistant Wen Yuchi can’t interpret death, who will lead you out of the scene? Then you’ll be trapped in Lu Pingfeng’s shell.”

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei seriously.

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, stunned for three seconds, and then seriously pondered Luo Yu’s gaze. He said slowly, “Everyone says I’m the most suitable person to play Lu Pingfeng, only you worry about whether I can come out of the role.”

Luo Yu lowered his head and took a bite of the potato, “Sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about this while eating, affecting your appetite…”

“No, I’m glad you’re discussing this with me. Except for Director Lin, almost no one talks to me about this.” Gu Xiaowei’s voice carried a trace of imperceptible softness, “And you? How do you think Lu Pingfeng should free himself from his pursuit of the beauty of death?”

Luo Yu turned his face, thinking for a moment. This question was something he had pondered for a long time, perhaps because Gu Xiaowei’s portrayal of Lu Pingfeng was so captivating that Luo Yu couldn’t bear to see him sink into despair.

“I think… for Lu Pingfeng, true redemption isn’t about proving those people weren’t killed by him, nor about believing he wouldn’t kill for art. What he needs isn’t the trust from Wen Yuchi in the script that he won’t kill. Because believing Lu Pingfeng won’t kill doesn’t fundamentally change him.”

Gu Xiaowei’s eyes lit up with a smile, and he picked up a rib for Luo Yu, “You’re the only one who shares this idea with me. Even Director Lin and Screenwriter Xia Tan, who read the script, feel there’s a lack between Wen Yuchi and Lu Pingfeng’s relationship. I believe Wen Yuchi is just proving and believing that the murderer isn’t Lu Pingfeng. But this doesn’t save him or change him, nor does it enlighten him.”

Luo Yu’s fingers lightly tapped on the table, “Exactly! I think Lu Pingfeng’s desire for death is because—his last memory of seeing his mother was her dying beside him. At that time, he was still young, in the formative period of his worldview, and his mother’s death became the ultimate form of love he understood. So Lu Pingfeng doesn’t have an antisocial personality; it’s just that his understanding of love is different from others.”

Gu Xiaowei’s eyes brightened, “So… Wen Yuchi needs to prove not whether Lu Pingfeng killed someone, but to respect his understanding of love and help Lu Pingfeng understand other forms of love.”

“Exactly.” Luo Yu smiled.

As long as Gu Xiaowei could understand this, no matter who eventually played the forensic assistant Wen Yuchi, even if their acting was poor, it would at least give Gu Xiaowei a reason to detach from the role.

“So, if I were Lu Pingfeng, only you are suitable to be Wen Yuchi.” Gu Xiaowei said.

This person would never flatter an opponent he didn’t agree with.

His simple statement filled Luo Yu with inexplicable ambition, making him suddenly want to break through the barriers of the world, and reignite the passion that had long cooled with time.

“I really want to play Wen Yuchi.” Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei and said firmly, word by word.

He wasn’t asking Gu Xiaowei to fight for an opportunity for him; he just wanted him to know his determination.

“I believe in you.” Gu Xiaowei lowered his eyes, the corners of his mouth subtly curling upwards.

“Let’s finish this beef stew with potatoes first!” Luo Yu’s appetite was open, eating half a bowl more than usual.

After finishing the meal, Luo Yu lay back and rubbed his belly, “I need to go for a run tonight.”

“Do you want to join me?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

Luo Yu turned to look at him, “That’s fine. If you appear running in my neighborhood, even the neighbors who see you at night won’t believe you’re Gu Xiaowei.”

Gu Xiaowei stood up, putting the used dishes in the kitchen sink, and soon the sound of washing dishes came.

There’s no reason for guests to help clean up, so Luo Yu quickly got up, “I’ll do the washing!”

“It’s fine. I’ll wash, and you can dry.”

While tidying up, the two chatted casually.

Gu Xiaowei said, “Hu Wei’s incident has had a big impact on Zhuque Media. Several roles Bo Wenyuan had taken on for him have fallen through, and he doesn’t have any other notable artists at hand.”

“Yeah.” Luo Yu nodded. Now, hearing Bo Wenyuan’s name, he felt much calmer inside, “Bo Wenyuan was always trying to hold on to the big tree of Dijun Media. But once Hu Wei’s incident happened, public opinion of Zhuque Media dropped to rock bottom. Dijun Media is probably trying to find ways to shake off Bo Wenyuan now.”

“I thought you’d be happy to hear about Bo Wenyuan’s misfortune.” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Happy? What’s there to be happy about? I didn’t like the roles Hu Wei took on, and wouldn’t have asked for them. I’m just relieved that I left Zhuque Media before Hu Wei’s incident. Otherwise, I’d be sinking with that broken ship.”

Luo Yu smiled faintly.

“Then you’d better be prepared.” Gu Xiaowei said with a hint of implication.

“Prepared for what?” Luo Yu frowned, wondering what was the point of speaking so ambiguously.

At that moment, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“Ding-dong—ding-dong ding-dong—”

“What time is it? Why would someone come to find me?” Luo Yu glanced at the time on his phone.

“Go answer the door. I’ll put the dried dishes into the cabinet.”

“Oh, thanks.”

The doorbell rang more urgently, “Ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong—”

“I’m coming.”

Luo Yu quickly walked out of the kitchen and stood at the door, looking through the peephole.

He was shocked to see who was at the door—Bo Wenyuan was standing outside!

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

Bo Wenyuan’s face was flushed and he was slightly swaying, with his eyes closed as if about to fall asleep on his feet. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and seemed ready to frantically press the doorbell again. Luo Yu, fearing he might disturb the neighbors, quickly opened the door.

“Mr. Bo? Why are you…”

Before Luo Yu could finish his sentence, Bo Wenyuan collapsed onto him, the heavy smell of alcohol making Luo Yu hold his breath.

“Ah Yu… it’s my fault… I’m sorry… When Ou Juntao was targeting you… I was too weak, didn’t support you…”

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This should have happened after the wrap party last night. 

Since the wrap party was only attended by people from the crew, Luo Yu believed that they wouldn’t leak the video online. The most likely scenario is that the video was taken by someone else while Gu Xiaowei was on his way back to his room.

The gossip among netizens is relentless—who is the person being held in Gu Xiaowei’s arms? Many people zoomed in on the video to try to guess the person’s identity from the exposed shoes, but unfortunately, they clearly weren’t even high heels.

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

Some speculated that it might be a leaked film shot, but this was quickly disproved due to the background in the video. Others guessed it might be the female lead from the show, but observant sleuths noted that on that day, Xie Chang was wearing high-heeled boots.

Gu Xiaowei’s fans were extremely excited because it was the first time they saw Gu Xiaowei’s princess carry. Luo Yu swallowed nervously, looking at the shoes in the video and then at his own, getting a bad premonition.

He looked over at Gu Xiaowei and asked, “Um… can you tell me… how did I end up in your room after getting drunk yesterday?”

“I carried you back.”

Gu Xiaowei happened to turn a corner, and Luo Yu saw a faint smile on his lips, but it disappeared once the car hit the straight road.

“You could have carried me on your back or shouldered me; why did you choose to carry me in your arms?”

“It’s easier for you to vomit if I shoulder you, and carrying you on my back might result in you vomiting on my shoulder unexpectedly. So, carrying you with my arms is the safest.”

“Heh, your reasoning is so logical, I can’t refute it.”

Luo Yu thought to himself that if someone ever exposed him hiding behind the black umbrella… it’s him, it’s really him!

…But it wouldn’t be such a big deal.

Thinking this way, Luo Yu felt a bit more relieved.

“Can’t tell you’re quite strong. Despite me being a tall, broad-shouldered guy, you managed to make it seem like a feather-light experience when you were carrying me?”

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu, who was squinting and enjoying the breeze with a relaxed smile, obviously not taking the princess carry seriously.

“Heartless.”

Gu Xiaowei said this lightly, but with a hint of gritted teeth.

They drove into the city, and Luo Yu put on a mask and sunglasses, pulling down the brim of his hat so he couldn’t be recognized. On the other hand, Gu Xiaowei was nonchalant, not even bothering with glasses, and went straight through the fast lane tollbooth.

Lu Yu gently poked Gu Xiaowei on the waist, “I say, aren’t you afraid of paparazzi tailing you with your face exposed like this?”

Gu Xiaowei replied calmly, “I’m not ugly, so why worry about paparazzi?”

“Alright, you win.” Luo Yu continued to wrap himself up.

“Senior Brother, where do you usually buy groceries?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“At the nearby Good Bowl Supermarket. The items there are cheap and practical, and it’s quite large. If you want, you can drop me off at the supermarket entrance, and I’ll buy groceries while you wait at my place,” Luo Yu said.

“Let’s go together.”

“Together?” Lu Yu laughed, “Are you trying to destroy my beloved Good Bowl Supermarket? If you go, whether it’s passersby or fans, they’ll all be after you, and you still think of buying groceries? Oh, are you trying to emulate those ancient beauties who ride around in empty carriages, returning home with a full load of fresh fruits and vegetables?”

“I… haven’t been to a supermarket in a long time,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu was moved by this.

“If that’s the case… you definitely won’t be able to go to the supermarket like this,” Luo Yu thought for a moment, “Park the car in the corner of the supermarket’s underground garage, and I’ll see if I can mitigate your overly noticeable traits.”

“Okay.”

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei again, thinking… why is this guy so obedient?

Fortunately, it wasn’t the weekend, and the supermarket wasn’t crowded when they arrived, and there were plenty of empty spaces in the underground garage.

Gu Xiaowei parked the car in the corner, and Luo Yu pulled out his backpack, first finding a mask and handing it to him, “Put this on quickly.”

“Alright.”

Luo Yu then pulled out a pair of non-prescription glasses and put them on Gu Xiaowei’s nose.

Gu Xiaowei gently closed his eyes, his eyelashes like black feathers. Even in the dimly lit garage, Luo Yu couldn’t help but admire how good-looking Gu Xiaowei was, as if heaven had blessed him with good looks.

“You still stand out quite a bit like this,” Luo Yu sighed, feeling it was hopeless to salvage the situation, “Unless you wrap yourself up like a mummy, there’s no way to cover it up.”

“Or you can just wait in the car,” Luo Yu suggested.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei raised his hand, hooked his fingers upward, removed Luo Yu’s hat, and accidentally lifted a few strands of his hair in the process.

Luo Yu instinctively leaned back, feeling Gu Xiaowei’s knuckles brush against his forehead.

Gu Xiaowei put the hat on his own head, lowered the brim, and said, “This should make me less conspicuous.”

After saying this, he reached out to smooth down Luo Yu’s disheveled hair, then, before Luo Yu could speak, he opened the car door, stepped out with long legs, and walked away.

This guy must have been cooped up for too long; going to the supermarket felt like a vacation.

Luo Yu was stunned for a second, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply. At this point, he could only go along with it.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, watching Gu Xiaowei’s back, sighing that even if Gu Xiaowei covered himself from head to toe, his figure was still striking—just the back view was enough to impress.

They entered the supermarket, Gu Xiaowei pushing a cart, with Luo Yu walking in front, one hand gripping the edge of the cart. Gu Xiaowei followed Luo Yu’s lead, pushing the cart in the direction of his strength, and they moved in sync.

Luo Yu silently rejoiced that the supermarket wasn’t crowded.

They first went to the vegetable aisle, Luo Yu picked out lettuce and arugula, and then turned to Gu Xiaowei, “What about you? Is there anything you want to eat?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

“Then let’s pick out some meat and fresh produce; we’ve already got enough vegetables.”

“Mm, okay.”

Luo Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a vague gaze on him, but when he looked around, he couldn’t find the source.

They arrived at the refrigerated section, where Gu Xiaowei was examining beef rolls, lamb rolls, and other hotpot ingredients. Even though they weren’t having hotpot tonight, Gu Xiaowei was very curious, picking up each item, inspecting the ingredients and expiration dates, then putting them back.

His entire face was hidden, only his eyes visible. Luo Yu hadn’t realized how the brim of the hat obscured his brow bone and the mask covered his mouth and nose. With only his eyes visible, Gu Xiaowei didn’t seem distant at all; instead, his eyes and the depth of his eye sockets conveyed a deep, affectionate vibe.

“I’m planning to make braised spare ribs tonight, and I like to add some bean paste for flavor. How about you? Are you used to this taste?”

Luo Yu brought a jar of bean paste to Gu Xiaowei, holding it up to his nose, indicating he should smell it.

Gu Xiaowei rested one hand on the cart and adjusted his mask slightly to expose his nose, turning his face slightly to smell the jar of bean paste.

“I think this flavor is quite good,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

When he straightened up, his nose seemed to lightly brush against Luo Yu’s fingertips. It was very light and a bit ticklish.

“Then let’s go with that,” Luo Yu said as he put the doubanjiang (bean paste) into the cart. Looking up, he saw that Gu Xiaowei hadn’t pulled up his mask but was instead examining the packaging date on a box of frozen red shrimp.

“Please cover up that face,” Luo Yu said, lifting Gu Xiaowei’s mask up and pinching it on his nose bridge.

“So what if they see it?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Oh, are you being cocky because there aren’t many people in the supermarket?” Luo Yu laughed. “If you’re seen, then let’s marry you off with drums and gongs.”

“Then hurry up and buy some drums and gongs.”

“Huh?”

“Since you’ve seen my face, you need to come marry me to the sound of drums and gongs,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu was momentarily speechless and gave a thumbs-up, “Wow, you’re really something.”

He couldn’t even imagine how Gu Xiaowei would behave when he first fell in love, his flirtatiousness coming so naturally and effortlessly.

“Am I really something?” Gu Xiaowei asked, resting an arm on Luo Yu’s shoulder and giving him a slight push away from the freezer. “Aren’t we supposed to be buying ribs? Let’s go buy some.”

“Okay.”

At the rib section, Luo Yu bent his head to choose packaged ribs. He noticed that Gu Xiaowei’s arm wrapped around his shoulder, and a hand was blocking his profile.

“What’s wrong?” Luo Yu’s first reaction was that they were being photographed.

“Nothing. Have you chosen the ribs?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Yeah, if we’re being photographed, let’s go back.”

“How about we buy some potatoes and beef as well?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

His tone was calm, showing no annoyance at being followed by paparazzi. Their attention didn’t affect his interest in shopping.

“Sure. Do you prefer curry flavor or braised?”

“Braised,” Gu Xiaowei said, taking off his hat and placing it on Luo Yu’s head, also adjusting the brim downwards.

“Hey, if you’re not afraid of being photographed, I’m not afraid either.”

“I don’t want that,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“Don’t want what?”

Gu Xiaowei didn’t answer but instead took the packaged beef and put it into the cart, heading towards the checkout.

Luo Yu watched Gu Xiaowei, whose air of keeping people at bay was growing stronger. He suddenly understood why Gu Xiaowei didn’t care about being followed—those who were following him didn’t dare to show themselves or get close. Since they couldn’t take any unflattering photos, Gu Xiaowei simply ignored them.

The checkout was self-service. Luo Yu scanned items one by one while Gu Xiaowei stood beside him, occasionally raising his hand to block from the side.

This meant he knew who was following and from which direction.

Luo Yu was a bit curious, and as he peeked in that direction, he was gently pushed back.

“What’s so curious? Once ‘Counterattack’ airs, you’ll get to enjoy this ‘treatment’ too.”

Luo Yu packed the items, and Gu Xiaowei said, “Let’s take the elevator down.”

In such a small elevator, if the paparazzi dared to come in, it would be a trap. Luo Yu guessed they wouldn’t be that bold.

As expected, only the two of them entered the elevator, and they returned to the car safely, not feeling any following presence, and arrived back at Luo Yu’s neighborhood.

This was Gu Xiaowei’s first visit to Luo Yu’s home. Fortunately, the living room was tidy. Luo Yu took a pair of slippers out of the shoe cabinet.

“My humble abode, don’t mind it, Teacher Gu.”

Gu Xiaowei looked around, “It’s quite nice.”

“Then make yourself comfortable and watch some TV. I’ll cook.”

“I’ll help you,” Gu Xiaowei said, taking off his jacket and rolling up the sleeves of his sweater to reveal his well-defined forearms.

Luo Yu didn’t hesitate and smiled, “Great, then could you please help with washing the vegetables?”

“Sure.”

Gu Xiaowei took the apron that Luo Yu handed him and put it on without any disdain, skillfully washing the lettuce and arugula in no time.

Luo Yu had already started cooking the ribs, while Gu Xiaowei was cutting potatoes next to him.

Just as Luo Yu put the beef and chopped potatoes into the stew pot, his phone rang.

“Sister Cui, what’s up?” Luo Yu asked while flipping the ribs.

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

“Be honest with me. Did you go to the supermarket today?” Sister Cui’s voice had a hint of excitement.

“Yes, I bought some groceries. I’m cooking dinner tonight.”

“Who are you cooking with?” Sister Cui asked again.

“With…”

Before Luo Yu could finish his sentence, Gu Xiaowei took over the spatula, “You go to the living room. I’ll keep an eye on the fire.”

“Oh, okay, thanks.”

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