After everyone had settled in, Director Sheng Yunlan organized a script reading session for the entire cast. 

It was during this session that Luo Yu met the other actors in the film. 

Yan Jun, who played the role of the police captain, had a stern and rugged face. After only reading just a few lines of dialogue, he fully embodied the experienced and decisive nature of a police captain. However, once he put down the script, his entire demeanor changed, becoming gentle and kind. He had just become a father, with a six-month-old daughter, and was a doting father through and through. Whenever the script was not being discussed, he would be showing off videos of his daughter to the people on either side of him.

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“Look at my daughter! Isn’t she cute? Isn’t she beautiful? Look at her big eyes, don’t they look like mine?”

“Yes, yes, she looks like you. All the beautiful parts resemble you,” Luo Yu could already guess what he was going to say next.

“Well, not everything looks like me. Her little chin looks like my wife’s, and her double eyelids too. Most of her good looks come from my wife. My wife is really beautiful.”

“Yes, sister-in-law is a rare beauty,” Luo Yu agreed.

Sitting across from Luo Yu was Nie Yangchen, who played the role of a personal assistant to a collector. Speaking of Nie Yangchen, he was the man who had “abandoned” Jiang Yinchuan. Nie Yangchen had graduated from drama school and had formal acting training. He had gained some fame after playing the younger version of the lead character in a popular political drama.

As Luo Yu held his script, he observed Nie Yangchen. 

Tsk, just as expected, Jiang Yinchuan’s taste wasn’t bad. A man—no, an actor—who could make Ou Juntao and Jiang Yinchuan fight for his attention had to be top-tier in both looks and acting skills.

Nie Yangchen had slanted, sharp eyebrows, but his eyes, gently contoured, softened the coldness brought by his strong brow bone. The height of his nose added a touch of elegance to his features, while his well-defined jawline promised a sharper, more masculine look with age.

Yes, a timeless appearance that wouldn’t easily go out of style.

Nie Yangchen noticed Luo Yu looking at him and smiled graciously, “Brother Luo, you’re staring at me like that—it’s making me shy.”

“What’s there to be shy about when you look this handsome?” Luo Yu replied with a smile.

“I’m no match for you, Brother Luo. Even Chairman Ou said you’ve got a model-perfect face,” Nie Yangchen said.

Luo Yu shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare to accept such praise, especially with Teacher Gu sitting right here.”

After saying this, Luo Yu realized that Gu Xiaowei hadn’t spoken at all during the entire session. He turned his head and saw Gu Xiaowei staring down at the script, his long lashes casting shadows like dark raven wings.

Luo Yu immediately stopped talking and pretended to focus on his script, though he hadn’t really taken in a single word.

“Your script is upside down,” Gu Xiaowei suddenly said.

Luo Yu instinctively thought Gu Xiaowei was joking with him—after all, cry wolf too many times and people stop believing you. But when he looked down, he awkwardly realized that his script really was upside down.

He quickly flipped it right side up.

After introducing the key actors to one another, Director Sheng Yunlan discussed some specific details with the cast.

When the reading session ended, Luo Yu went to the bathroom and happened to run into Nie Yangchen. 

The two stood side by side washing their hands, and Luo Yu noticed that Nie Yangchen was about the same height as him, with a similarly broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, long-legged build.

“A lot of people praise your acting, Brother Luo,” Nie Yangchen said with a smile. “Before I joined the crew, my agent told me that many people auditioned for Wen Yuchi’s role, but you were the only one who could really stand toe-to-toe with Teacher Gu.”

“Is that the reason you declined Jiang Yinchuan’s offer?” Luo Yu asked while washing his hands.

“Oh?” Nie Yangchen looked at Luo Yu with interest.

“Because you don’t want to be second best. You want to be the best,” Luo Yu said as he dried his hands and walked out of the bathroom.

“You’re quite confident, Brother Luo,” Nie Yangchen replied with a smile.

“I’m not confident; I just understand Ou Juntao’s tactics all too well,” Luo Yu said as he walked away.

Nie Yangchen paused for a moment after hearing Luo Yu’s words.

“Brother Luo, you never agreed to Chairman Ou’s offer. How can you be so sure his promises aren’t real?” Nie Yangchen asked coldly.

Luo Yu stopped but didn’t turn back. “I know the pressure of rejecting him, and I can imagine the price of following him—you’d have to satisfy his absolute need for control.”

With that, Luo Yu left, leaving Nie Yangchen to ponder his words.

Despite Luo Yu’s impressive looks and acting skills, he had been overshadowed by He Mu for five years and unable to produce a standout work. It seemed that this was all due to Ou Juntao’s influence. Even under such constraints, Luo Yu still managed to carve out a path for himself and even establish a connection with Jiang Yinchuan. He was no ordinary person.

Thinking of this, Nie Yangchen clenched his fist as he watched Luo Yu’s retreating figure. What would the cost be for him, having chosen to follow Ou Juntao?

When Luo Yu reached the bathroom exit, he found Gu Xiaowei standing outside, leaning against the wall and looking at his phone. It was unclear how long he had been waiting.

“Let’s go,” Gu Xiaowei said, tilting his chin slightly.

Luo Yu suddenly felt like he was back in school, when a close friend would wait for him outside the bathroom, and they would walk back to the dormitory together.

“I was thinking of taking a walk around the resort. Once filming starts, I probably won’t have the chance,” Luo Yu said.

“I’ll join you,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“You’ll come with me?”

“Otherwise, by tomorrow morning, you’d still be wandering around, lost,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“My sense of direction isn’t that bad!”

“Do people who end up in other crews’ sets, becoming their son-in-law, really have the right to say they have a good sense of direction?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

Luo Yu rubbed the tip of his nose and resigned himself to following behind Gu Xiaowei. He was probably the only one in the entire crew who had the privilege of Gu Xiaowei accompanying him on a walk around the resort.

The resort was large, and after leaving the villa where the director’s team was staying, they walked down the road.

Gu Xiaowei wasn’t wrong about Luo Yu’s sense of direction, as Luo Yu had no idea where they were headed.

“Where are you taking me?” Luo Yu asked.

Gu Xiaowei led them further into more remote parts of the resort, where some areas hadn’t yet been developed. Since their film crew was the only people staying here, certain parts of the resort didn’t even have streetlights on.

Gu Xiaowei continued walking ahead without answering.

“Did I do something to annoy you, Teacher Gu?” Luo Yu quickly caught up and leaned closer to see his expression.

“You didn’t annoy me,” Gu Xiaowei said, continuing to walk.

This straight-faced attitude was supposed to mean he wasn’t annoyed?

Luo Yu laughed and, without warning, bent down to pick Gu Xiaowei up, planning to hoist him over his shoulder and question him about his grievances. But before he could, Gu Xiaowei wrapped his arm around Luo Yu’s shoulders and pressed his head against his chest.

“Now you’ve really annoyed me,” Gu Xiaowei said, turning his head slightly.

Luo Yu couldn’t understand how this guy could be so strong. He pushed against him, but his head remained firmly pressed into Gu Xiaowei’s chest, and he was starting to suffocate.

Luo Yu tried to pinch Gu Xiaowei’s waist, but the latter simply tensed his muscles, and Luo Yu couldn’t get a grip.

“Did Nie Yangchen’s praise of your ‘model face’ make you happy?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice resonated through his chest like distant thunder, both far away and right next to Luo Yu’s ear.

“We don’t make a living as actors based on our looks alone!” Luo Yu finally realized why Gu Xiaowei was upset—it was because of the mutual compliments he and Nie Yangchen had exchanged.

Luo Yu understood the cause of Gu Xiaowei’s annoyance, but he still didn’t understand why Gu Xiaowei was so upset.

“Complimenting me with words someone else used—you’re really half-hearted, Senior Brother.”

Those last two words were spoken very close to Luo Yu’s ear, and it made him feel unbearably ticklish.

Oh, so it was because Nie Yangchen complimented his ‘model face,’ and Luo Yu responded by saying he wasn’t worthy because Gu Xiaowei was there, which Gu Xiaowei took as using someone else’s praise to compliment him?

“You’re upset about that? You’re trying to suffocate me over that? Are you serious?” Luo Yu exclaimed.

Gu Xiaowei lowered his gaze, watching the crown of Luo Yu’s head.

Luo Yu hadn’t cut his hair for a while to match Wen Yuchi’s image. As he struggled, his hair stirred slightly, and the ends brushed against Gu Xiaowei’s lips.

“I suggest you find a new way to flatter me,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“You… you… your face is carved into my heart!” Luo Yu suddenly recalled some lines from a variety show and used them, “You’re literally the lover in my dreams!”

To catch his breath, he’d already abandoned his dignity.

Anyway, Gu Xiaowei was as childish as an elementary school kid, so neither of them was more mature than the other.

“Oh, so how many dream lovers does Senior Brother have?” Gu Xiaowei drawled, his drawn-out tone like a hook.

Luo Yu was going crazy. The general public thought Gu Xiaowei was too uptight, but where was the seriousness in this guy? He was clearly a master at flirting. Who could handle this scoundrel whispering nonsense in such a serious tone?

“Just one! Only one!”

“Which one?” Gu Xiaowei asked casually, but Luo Yu was already sweating.

“You! You’re one of a kind! Absolutely exclusive! It’s you in reality, it’s you in dreams, it’s you, you, all you!” Luo Yu anxiously patted Gu Xiaowei.

What was he waiting for? Let me breathe!

Gu Xiaowei finally let go. Luo Yu stumbled backward, almost falling to the ground. His cheeks were flushed, and a strand of hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead.

“Are you trying to suffocate me? I’m setting rules with you—no more dangerous stunts like that! Do you even know how strong you are? If I don’t die from suffocation, you’ll strangle me to death.”

Gu Xiaowei silently stared at Luo Yu. The sky had completely darkened, and the distant red glow had disappeared into the night.

The cold light from the streetlamps fell on the rose trellises lining the path. The once bright red flowers drooped, as though about to bleed black.

Gu Xiaowei’s face was expressionless. He glanced at the wilting roses in the shadows and quietly asked, “Have you ever thought, maybe Lu Pingfeng also wanted to strangle Wen Yuchi countless times, to the point where death became the ultimate form of possession—that dying in his arms meant owning him?”

Luo Yu stood there, suddenly struck by the illusion that the roses, like black flames, were gloomily burning in Gu Xiaowei’s blood and bones.

Maybe it wasn’t just that he was too deep into character and couldn’t escape the role of Lu Pingfeng. Perhaps, deep down, Gu Xiaowei’s soul harbored the same obsession and madness as Lu Pingfeng.

Luo Yu’s heart pounded wildly, but he kept his face calm as he walked over and cupped Gu Xiaowei’s head.

Gu Xiaowei’s lips curved into a subtle smile, the shadow of the roses falling on the corners of his mouth. No one could imagine how beguiling he was at that moment.

“Senior Brother, do you want to take revenge on me?”

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

“I just want to discuss why Lu Pingfeng never really tried to kill Wen Yuchi.”

After saying that, Gu Xiaowei gave up resisting, even displaying an obedient docility. Luo Yu pressed his head against his chest.

“Can you hear it? Just like how I enjoyed hearing the sound of your heart earlier, maybe Lu Pingfeng felt the same.”

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Back in the car, Luo Yu waved goodbye through the window, and the girls, as if prearranged, called out in unison to say goodbye.

“Jiang Chenyun—good luck—”

“Li Jingshan—good luck—”

…

“Bai Ying—good luck—”

“Huo Haoyan—good luck—”

“Wen Yuchi—good luck—”

Hearing their cheers, Luo Yu’s eyes welled up.

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

Jiang Chenyun was the senior brother he played in ‘Plum Blossom Rain’, and Li Jingshan was the countryside student he portrayed in another drama.

These roles, which he thought no one cared about, were still remembered by so many people.

He would keep walking down this path.

Please believe that the best version of me is yet to come.

Sitting in the van, Luo Yu opened their letters and slowly read them, sometimes smiling and sometimes feeling emotional.

It wasn’t long before photos of Luo Yu giving flowers to his fans surfaced online. The girls who were there in person all remarked how gentle, elegant, and genuine he was.

Luo Yu’s van drove for over two hours before finally arriving at the movie’s filming location—Rose Manor Resort.

It was a resort scheduled to open to the public in about six months, said to be landscaped with various types of rose family plants. The resort featured villas and cottages, nestled against a famous mountain shrouded in mist, with a crystal-clear lake at its base, where you could see your reflection even while boating.

Ye Shengyi leaned out of the window, admiring the bright red rose trellises in the distance, exclaiming, “Wow, I’ve never seen such a fancy resort!”

“Because the word ‘rose’ is in the movie’s title, and Director Sheng likes to use colors and symbolism. Plus, famous painter Lu Pingfeng’s home is a villa, so they chose this as the filming location.” Luo Yu patted Ye Shengyi on the head.

His purple hair was surprisingly soft.

“Do we get to stay here, too?” Ye Shengyi asked.

“Yes, for part of the time. The resort is sponsoring the film, so once it’s released, a lot of people will probably come here for vacation. The production team has already sent out the accommodation arrangements. Let’s drop off our luggage first; the official shoot starts the day after tomorrow.”

Luo Yu replied.

“I can’t even imagine what it’s like to stay here—feels like becoming a millionaire!”

“Thousand feet large mansions, but at night, all you need is three feet of bed space. After two days, you might even find the villa too big, inconvenient to walk around in.” Luo Yu chuckled.

Typically, movie shoots wouldn’t have such luxurious accommodations, but this was a special case due to the unique filming location and the resort’s sponsorship from the resort.

Master Jiang drove the van to the villa arranged by the production team for accommodation.

Ye Shengyi looked up and said, “This villa has three floors… are just the three of us staying here?”

“Of course not. That would be too luxurious.”

Luo Yu walked around to the back of the car and had just moved one suitcase when the villa door opened.

Gu Xiaowei and Brother Yan walked out.

“You finally arrived! If you hadn’t come, we would have been too embarrassed to pick rooms!” Brother Yan carried two suitcases by himself.

Ye Shengyi was stunned: “So… are we living with Brother Gu?”

Gu Xiaowei took the suitcase from Luo Yu’s hand, said “Yes” and went inside.

With more people, things were more efficient. Master Jiang hadn’t been at the door for even a minute, and all the luggage was already inside.

This villa was quite large. The first floor was the living area with a living room, dining room, and kitchen, plus a small garden in the back.

The second floor had three rooms, and the third floor had two rooms plus a large terrace.

“I think this arrangement is quite good,” Brother Yan said. “Brother Gu and Luo Yu will live upstairs, and the second floor will be for the rest of us. Xiao Qin is a girl, so she needs a separate room. The remaining two rooms…”

“I’ll share a room with you. We’re both makeup artists, so our habits are quite similar,” Ye Shengyi said.

“Then I’ll share a room with Brother Gu’s driver. We know each other anyway,” Master Jiang said.

The rooms were quickly assigned, and everyone started to unpack.

The two rooms upstairs were connected rooms, sharing a bathroom and a walk-in closet, one room larger and one smaller.

This arrangement was probably meant for families with children, making it easier for parents to look after them.

“I’ll take the smaller room! The view from that room overlooks the rose garden. It’s so beautiful,” Luo Yu said.

“Alright.” Gu Xiaowei didn’t refuse.

Luo Yu opened his suitcase, took out the clothes that suited Wen Yuchi’s character, and put them in the room’s wardrobe, while less used clothes went into the walk-in closet.

When he walked in, he saw Gu Xiaowei hanging clothes as well. Gu Xiaowei still liked to organize things himself.

Luo Yu smiled. “I didn’t expect the crew to arrange for us to stay together.”

Gu Xiaowei came over, took Luo Yu’s suitcase, and hung up his clothes neatly. “It was my request.”

“Huh?”

“Since you and I are the streamlined type of team, we’ll definitely be grouped with others. Rather than that, it’s better to live together so we can practice lines together—our scenes together are quite a few.” Gu Xiaowei said. “And this is also Director Sheng’s wish.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Your request is both reasonable and convenient.”

Gu Xiaowei lowered his head to adjust the collar of Luo Yu’s windbreaker. His fingers were slender, and as they bent, Luo Yu suddenly had an illusion—that he wasn’t adjusting the collar but caressing his neck.

His throat tightened, and just as he was about to take a small step back, Gu Xiaowei reached out his hand again. “The next piece.”

“Oh… this one.”

Gu Xiaowei tilted his head as if thinking about something. “The clothes you brought this time don’t quite match your personal taste.”

Luo Yu felt a bit awkward. “I know my taste is quite simple—always casual clothes and sweatpants. These were chosen by Boss Jiang for me.”

“Our body types are similar; you can wear mine too,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Soon, the clothes were sorted out, and they started arranging toiletries.

Luo Yu then remembered the bouquet of flowers and hurriedly thanked him. “Thank you for ordering those flowers. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to thank the fans when I saw them.”

“Once you have more experience, you’ll be prepared in advance,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu found a decorative vase in the room and put the white roses Gu Xiaowei had given him inside.

“Thank you for the flower.”

“Giving you the flower was to apologize,” Gu Xiaowei said, leaning against Luo Yu’s room door.

“Apologize? What are you apologizing for? I have more to thank you for,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

“I really want to interact with you more, to practice lines with you… and I want you to look at me. Maybe when I become Lu Pingfeng, you might be frightened,” Gu Xiaowei said seriously.

Luo Yu was taken aback. He hadn’t forgotten how deeply Gu Xiaowei immersed himself in this role.

“Lu Pingfeng isn’t a scary person. You won’t scare me,” Luo Yu lightly tapped Gu Xiaowei’s chest with his fist.

Before his hand could pull back, Gu Xiaowei grabbed it.

Gu Xiaowei’s fingers gripped his wrist with more force than Luo Yu had imagined. Luo Yu could feel the warmth of his palm.

It seemed like a gentle warmth but had an underlying scalding heat.

Luo Yu tried to pull back a bit, but Gu Xiaowei remained unmoved. He just looked at Luo Yu, his gaze seemingly gentle, but the longer they locked eyes, the more Luo Yu felt that Gu Xiaowei’s eyes were like a reversed abyss, enveloping everything.

He was using this method to claim Luo Yu’s pulse.

“Maybe what’s frightening isn’t Lu Pingfeng, but me.”

A sense of dangerous premonition surged in Luo Yu’s heart, yet he felt like a puppet on strings, gently drawn step by step closer.

Footsteps were heard on the stairs.

“Brother Gu, I brought your box up! It’s all painting supplies, right? Will it fit in the room?” Brother Yan asked.

Gu Xiaowei finally let go, a gentle smile on his lips, and turned to walk towards Brother Yan. “The room is big enough. Place it by the bay window.”

After Gu Xiaowei left, Luo Yu let out a breath.

His heart felt like it was gripped in the other’s hand, with breathing and heartbeat being controlled at that moment.

This kind of aggression was something Gu Xiaowei hadn’t shown before.

Was this a trait of Lu Pingfeng?

Luo Yu closed his eyes, recalling the script. It didn’t seem like Lu Pingfeng from the script, because Lu Pingfeng had a detached aloofness.

He watched the battlefield surrounding his paintings with an indifferent attitude, observing each person’s destruction. Even when attracted to Wen Yuchi, he appeared as an observer, without showing the kind of heart-stopping possessiveness that had just been displayed.

“Brother Gu, is it okay to just place the easel here?” Brother Yan’s voice sounded.

“Sure, thank you.”

“Brother Gu, who is the painting of?”

“You’ll know who it is once I finish the painting,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Gu Xiaowei didn’t close the door, which allowed Luo Yu to hear their conversation clearly.

Gu Xiaowei seemed very normal talking with Brother Yan. Was his behavior earlier intentional?

Luo Yu knew that Gu Xiaowei had learned to paint specifically for playing Lu Pingfeng. So what were his paintings like?

Curious, Luo Yu went to Gu Xiaowei’s door and lightly knocked. “Did you bring a lot of painting supplies? I can help you organize them.”

Gu Xiaowei turned towards him, the curtains were drawn back, and the bright light fell on his face, giving it an almost ascetic flawlessness. When he looked at Luo Yu, the smile on his lips was like the soft boundary where the starry night meets dawn, making it hard for Luo Yu to connect him to the person who had just held his wrist.

“You just want to see what I’ve painted but pretend to offer help.”

Luo Yu didn’t feel embarrassed at being called out and walked directly to his side. “Well—if I were good at tidying up, the housework industry would disappear.”

On the bay window seat were Gu Xiaowei’s painting supplies: paints, palettes, several drawing boards, pencil holders, and so on.

Seeing Luo Yu come in, Brother Yan said, “I’ll go check on how Xiao Yezi is doing,” and left.

Luo Yu also saw a sketchbook. He lifted his chin. “Can I take a look?”

“Go ahead. If you don’t, you won’t be at ease,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“I’m not uneasy about anything.” Luo Yu opened the sketchbook. The drawings were quite ordinary: a mother pulling a child with a backpack to school, a dog clinging to its owner’s calf, students riding bikes.

Gu Xiaowei’s drawing skills were much better than Luo Yu had imagined. The lines were clean and decisive, capturing the characteristics of each image with a unique charm.

“Your drawings are really good.” Luo Yu looked down, as if he were seeing not just the sketches but the mental state of Gu Xiaowei.

“Are you reassured now?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

His eyes revealed understanding, as if he already knew all of Luo Yu’s thoughts.

With a slight sigh, Luo Yu said honestly, “Alright, I was a bit worried about you. I thought that with all the preparation you’ve done for the role of Lu Pingfeng, from painting to mindset, I wondered if I would see dead nightingales, scarred withered roses, broken-winged butterflies—after all, Lu Pingfeng is best at depicting death. He sees every person and every beautiful thing as their end.”

Gu Xiaowei stood up, lowered his gaze, as if trying to discern Luo Yu’s expression at that moment. “But Wen Yuchi is the starting point for Lu Pingfeng, the beginning, and also a rebirth. So, I have never understood what kind of feeling this is.”

His gaze was typical of Gu Xiaowei—reserved and flat, yet imbued with an elusive extremity and persistence.

Luo Yu knew that Gu Xiaowei was adjusting himself. Once he found the right entry point, he would infinitely approach Lu Pingfeng—who had no reverence for life, immersed in a fascination with death—but Wen Yuchi existed outside Lu Pingfeng’s comprehension of life and death.

Therefore, Luo Yu could not retreat. If he stepped back, he would lose the essence of Wen Yuchi. Only by truly becoming Wen Yuchi could he pull Gu Xiaowei out of the paradox of life and death.

Luo Yu’s fingers gently traced the lines Gu Xiaowei had left on the paper, as if sensing the force with which he had drawn.

Gu Xiaowei came to Luo Yu’s side and gazed at his profile. “Lu Pingfeng observes everyone around him like a bystander—his students, his agent, the collectors of his paintings, even the police investigating him. Only with Wen Yuchi, Lu Pingfeng is no longer a bystander; he wants to become a part of Wen Yuchi’s life.”

Luo Yu looked up into Gu Xiaowei’s eyes, neither retreating due to the other’s proximity nor fearing the immeasurable darkness in his gaze.

Gu Xiaowei moved a bit closer. “So why is that? Is Wen Yuchi Lu Pingfeng’s savior?”

“No.”

Gu Xiaowei asked again, “Then why Wen Yuchi, when there are so many bright and strong people in the world?”

Luo Yu leaned back, the back of his head hitting the wall. Only then did he realize that he was cornered by Gu Xiaowei.

Despite the other’s hands being casually stuffed in his pockets, with paths of retreat on either side, Luo Yu felt there was no choice but to face him.

As a wisp of cloud passed across the sky, the sunlight was obscured, and the room suddenly darkened.

Gu Xiaowei’s features fell into the shadow of the backlight, all gentility and restraint seemingly retreating like a tide, and his cold face was touched by a layer of hidden desire. Luo Yu suddenly felt a sense of precariousness, as if he were suspended in mid-air.

“See, this is the unequal obsession between Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi.”

Gu Xiaowei suddenly stepped back.

Fresh air rushed in, and Luo Yu’s fingers clenched and then relaxed.

Sunlight streamed back in, falling on Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder, and reality and illusion peeled away into alluring hues.

Luo Yu realized that he was trying too hard to maintain his rationality. If he couldn’t immerse himself as deeply as Gu Xiaowei, he wouldn’t grasp his essence.

Unequal obsession.

So, what exactly is Lu Pingfeng’s obsession with Wen Yuchi?

Luo Yu had always arrogantly thought that he understood Wen Yuchi well enough, but when facing Gu Xiaowei, he realized he was too aloof, always thinking about saving Gu Xiaowei, being both arrogant and self-satisfied, without truly immersing himself.

“Don’t worry, the closer you get to Lu Pingfeng, the more I will become Wen Yuchi.”

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

Neither of them could abandon the other to independently understand their roles.

When he looked back, Luo Yu saw the unfinished oil painting on Gu Xiaowei’s easel—boldly colored in large areas, bright and vivid, but upon closer inspection, it revealed the outline of a person, though still indistinct.

This might be how Lu Pingfeng sees Wen Yuchi—not a concrete image, but a passionate, unrestrained emotion.

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This feeling was confirmed when Luo Yu completed the black card task while doing a one-handed handstand.

As Luo Yu did the one-handed handstand, one side of his T-shirt slid down, revealing his waistline and abs. He looked strong, but not so exaggerated as to be off-putting. After landing, he even cued Mick, giving him some screen time too.

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

Previously, fans had hyped up He Mu’s one-handed handstand as unmatched. But in this episode, not only did Luo Yu succeed, Mick did it too, causing He Mu to lose a key marketing point.

He Mu was even more displeased to realize that his presence on the checker board was less noticeable than Jiang Muxing, who was just rolling dice.

Before, when Jiang Muxing was teamed with him, He Mu’s fans had criticized him as “useless” and “weak.” But in this episode, he became a “lucky charm,” and people even made memes of his rolling the dice with the caption, “Xingxing blesses you with this roll.” These memes quickly spread online.

When the show aired the part where He Mu drank the “hell drink,” he thought he’d win sympathy from fans by enduring pain for the show, maybe even boosting his dedicated image by wrecking his stomach for the sake of entertainment.

But to his dismay, all the audience comments were things like: “Finally, no more He Mu’s invincible halo,” “If He Mu keeps winning, I’m quitting this show,” “This is the biggest highlight of the episode, other than Luo Yu,” and “Whenever He Mu appears, I want to skip ahead, but this part? I’m savoring every second!”

What? What do these viewers mean?

Isn’t he the one who’s been carrying half the show’s ratings?

He Mu was gnashing his teeth in anger, while the show’s directors felt like they had found the secret to boosting viewership.

They were watching the online discussions and drinking beer while munching on duck necks.

Xu Mu sighed, “I realize the audience has become resistant to He Mu being unbeatable in the games. How about we bring in new guests next time, to keep beating He Mu and continue this face-slapping trend!”

The assistant director shook his head. “Where are you going to find a guest more handsome than Luo Yu? That vault jump, that princess carry, that one-handed handstand—it’s too cool. No one else could pull that off.”

The head of the photography team suggested, “Why not tell the higher-ups to sign Luo Yu as a regular guest for the next quarter? Every time he appears, it’s a trending topic. Just wait for the horseback riding segment later; people are already dying to see him in riding gear!”

“Why?”

“Because they want to strip…”

“Stop, stop, we’re a serious show!”

Xu Mu sighed again. “The higher-ups wanted to sign him too after seeing the footage, but his agent politely declined. According to Cui Zhuxin, Luo Yu prefers acting, and acting requires focus. Once he’s on set, there’s no way he can step out to film variety shows. If he can’t give something his all, he’d rather not do it at all.”

“What a shame. He probably only came this time to promote ‘Counterattack’. Hopefully, when ‘Storm’ airs, we can invite him back.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic. I heard the network is considering casting Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei in the fencing champion unit. If that deal goes through, we might be able to get both of them on the show together!”

At this point, the show reached its final segment, the horseback riding competition.

Luo Yu rode around the track, once again becoming the focus, especially when he reined in the horse, the hooves kicking up dirt. The scene was shot in full view, and the replay zoomed in, making it even more imposing.

In an instant, He Mu’s “graceful” horseback scene didn’t seem so special anymore.

During the flag-snatching competition, Luo Yu grabbed everyone’s flags and sped to the finish line, leaving the audience in a frenzy.

[This is absolute domination!]

[Those flags he grabbed? He was grabbing our hearts!]

[Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing completely trusted Luo Yu! I’m so moved!]

[Hahaha, Mick and Old Liu teaming up to surround Xingxing is hilarious! Xingxing didn’t have a flag at all!]

Sitting on the couch, holding her phone while watching the show, Xiao Qin stomped her feet in excitement. “So cool! So cool! Brother Luo is the best!”

Unable to contain her excitement, she ran over to Gu Xiaowei. “Brother Gu! Brother Gu, did you see Brother Luo riding the horse? Brother Gu…”

At that moment, Gu Xiaowei was sitting on the sofa, holding a sketchbook in his hands. As soon as Xiao Qin approached, he closed it.

“What’s up?” Gu Xiaowei’s hand rested on the sketchbook as he looked at Xiao Qin.

Xiao Qin handed her phone over. “Brother Luo looked so cool riding that horse! Look at how he snatched He Mu’s flag!”

“I know. I was there.” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Come on, look again… The editing made him look even cooler! Now I just want to wait for Brother Luo’s solo cut!”

Gu Xiaowei gave a faint smile. “I can’t look at him right now.”

“Why?”

Gu Xiaowei didn’t answer. Xiao Qin, disappointed, turned and left.

After a long pause, Gu Xiaowei exhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

Because seeing Luo Yu stirred his heart, how could he immerse himself fully into the character of Lu Pingfeng?

The attention brought to Luo Yu by this show lasted well into the night.

Suddenly, many cut videos of Luo Yu appeared on video platforms, not just from “Burn, Little Cosmos”, but from “Plum Blossom Rain” as well. Although the old footage had a nostalgic vibe compared to today’s high-quality visuals, some people edited Luo Yu’s cuts with stylish filters, instantly creating the right atmosphere.

In just one night, Luo Yu’s cut videos dominated the homepage of a certain website.

At first, He Mu’s fans flocked to these videos to defend his title as “national school heartthrob,” but they were quickly overwhelmed by a wave of newly converted fans.

[I’m part of the nation too, so why don’t I think He Mu is the heartthrob?]

[Luo Yu was the school heartthrob years before He Mu!]

[Fine, fine, He Mu is the heartthrob, and Luo Yu is the male god. Let’s just agree not to cross paths, okay?]

…

Not only that, but the same ink art sneakers Luo Yu wore on the show sold out overnight on Pinnacle Sports’ website. Although the number sold didn’t compare to top influencers’ live-stream sales, Luo Yu never once mentioned the brand of his shoes. Fans dug it up themselves.

Luo Yu’s one-handed handstand and princess carry while wearing those sneakers left a lasting impression. Some people even analyzed his whole outfit, concluding that all the brands Luo Yu wore were pretty down-to-earth. Yet, with his good looks and great physique, everything looked amazing on him. He was a natural clothes hanger.

It wasn’t until right before bed that Luo Yu noticed two missed calls from Sister Cui. Thinking it must be work-related, he quickly called her back.

“Sister Cui, I saw you called twice. My phone was on silent, so I missed them.”

“You’ve gone viral on ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’! Your Weibo followers have passed four million!”

“Huh? Really? But ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’ is just an outdoor variety show, and most people are watching it for He Mu, right?”

“He Mu’s influence on the ratings has been declining for a while. You should thank those three who recorded the VCRs for you. Especially Gu Xiaowei—even though recording a VCR doesn’t count as participating in the variety show, just the fact that he agreed to record it made a lot of people curious about what he’d say. Now fans are saying you’re a saint in the entertainment industry. You’ve helped fulfill Xie Chang’s dream, carried Gu Xiaowei into film school, and made Cheng Fei admit he was wrong. You’re basically a living Buddha!”

Hearing that, Luo Yu covered his eyes. “I’m more like a clay Buddha. I could barely help myself, let alone cross a river. But now, it’s everyone who is willing to build a bridge for me to cross the road.”

“I’ve got more good news. Do you know Han Yang? After watching this episode, he was blown away by your vaulting and flag-snatching skills on horseback. He said he’s got a double-lead series and wants you to play one of the leads!”

“Han Yang? I remember he was at the filming that day. Isn’t that double-lead drama…” Luo Yu recalled that the network had intended to push two newcomers in that drama, but one of them got involved in a messy fan scandal, and the show was never aired.

As for the script itself, Luo Yu had no idea.

“Han Yang said he wasn’t satisfied with the script and is still refining it. He told you to focus on filming ‘Beast and Rose’ for now, and he’ll show you the script once it’s ready.”

“Alright.”

“Also, there’s Producer Liang from M Channel. He said if you’ve confirmed your schedule to play Xiang Chao, the two weeks of special training will be taught by Xiang Chao himself!”

Luo Yu froze for a full three seconds, doubting his ears, “Who did you say? Who will teach me?”

“Xiang Chao! Olympic champion Xiang Chao!”

“Yes, yes, yes! I’ll do it!”

Sister Cui laughed heartily. If Xiang Chao were to teach Luo Yu fencing, Luo Yu probably wouldn’t even ask for payment.

“Xiang Chao approved of you after watching the trailers for ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’ and ‘Counterattack’!”

“Hopefully, after ‘Counterattack’ airs, he’ll appreciate me even more.”

“The day after tomorrow, you’re joining the crew. Tomorrow, you better pack everything up. Luckily, Xiao Yezi is joining the crew with you, and your scene partner is still Teacher Gu. He can take care of you a bit.”

Luo Yu found that a bit odd. “Gu Xiaowei is younger than me. How are you sure he’ll be taking care of me and not the other way around?”

“He just seems more mature than you.”

“Then you don’t know about his competitiveness.” Luo Yu smiled.

Thankfully, there were no romantic scenes in this movie. If Gu Xiaowei challenged him in acting depth, Luo Yu wouldn’t be able to handle it.

The filming duration was quite long, so Luo Yu prepared three suitcases, packing his clothes and daily necessities.

Ye Shengyi was also in the studio, packing clothes that suited the movie’s plot. When he arrived at Luo Yu’s apartment to meet him, the moment the door opened, Luo Yu noticed his purple hair.

“You… dyed it back?”

“Yes, I did.” Ye Shengyi nodded. “It’s your first movie, Brother Luo, so my hairstyle has to be auspicious to match.”

“There’s really no need… for it to be this purple…”

This was so purple it was almost red, brother!

“There are a lot of people on set, so with this color, you’ll spot me in one glance—high recognition, convenient.”

“Well, that does seem like a valid reason.” Luo Yu laughed.

Once all the luggage was loaded into the van, Ye Shengyi exhaled with his hands on his hips. “Brother Luo, good thing you bought this van, or with your little Polo, we’d have to stuff the luggage under the seats, and the two of us would be squeezed into the trunk.”

Luo Yu rubbed his nose. “That’s true…”

Suddenly, Ye Shengyi’s phone flashed with a call from an unknown number. “Hello! No, I’m not buying a house! No loans! No—what? Oh, oh, okay, I’ll be right there!”

“What’s up?”

“Brother Luo, just wait for me here, I’ll be right back!”

Ye Shengyi’s expression hinted at something mysterious, and then he ran off.

“What is that kid up to?”

Luo Yu sat in the van, playing on his phone while waiting for him. The driver was Master Jiang, the same person who had driven Luo Yu back from the film base before, so they were somewhat acquainted, and chatting with him didn’t feel awkward at all.

A few minutes later, Ye Shengyi came running back with a large bouquet of flowers, excitedly throwing it into Luo Yu’s arms as soon as he opened the door.

“For you!”

“For me? You ordered flowers for me? This many?” Luo Yu looked down and noticed that each rose in the huge bouquet was individually wrapped, with one white rose standing out among the many red ones.

“There are too many people outside waiting for you.” Ye Shengyi grinned.

“Ah? Waiting for me? Who?”

“You can ask Brother Gu. He ordered these for you but had them delivered under my name so you wouldn’t have trouble accepting them.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Yu immediately called Gu Xiaowei.

“Hey, why did you suddenly send me so many flowers?”

As Master Jiang drove out of the neighborhood, they saw two or three dozen girls standing on the side, some holding posters of Bai Ying, some holding signs with his character from “Plum Blossom Rain”, and some waving envelopes and bouquets.

“Do you see them?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice came from the other end of the line, snapping Luo Yu back to reality.

“Yes… I see them. How did you know?”

“When I passed by your neighborhood on my way to the set, I saw them. So I quickly ordered flowers for these girls, but the white one is for you—congratulating us on being in the same crew again.”

Gu Xiaowei’s voice had a unique magnetism, as if it traveled along Luo Yu’s auditory nerves deep into his subconscious, making it hard to grasp and even harder to hold onto.

“Thanks. See you later.”

“En, see you later.”

After hanging up, Luo Yu asked Master Jiang to stop the van on the side of the road. He opened the door and stepped out.

“Hello, everyone.” Luo Yu, holding the large bouquet, approached the girls.

They instantly became excited.

“Luo Yu! It’s Luo Yu!” one girl exclaimed, shoving a large bundle of teddy bear dolls into Luo Yu’s arms.

Luo Yu accepted the teddy bears with a smile, “Thank you.” Then he handed her a rose, saying, “Wishing you all the best and more beauty.”

“I watched your ‘Plum Blossom Rain’, and you were just so handsome in ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’!”

“Aside from being handsome, don’t I have any other virtues?” Luo Yu joked lightly.

“You’re especially gentlemanly, very gentle, a total heartthrob!”

Luo Yu laughed and distributed the roses to everyone.

“Valuable gifts I can’t accept, but letters are fine!”

One of the girls suddenly pulled out a box of letters. “These are from the girls in my chat group! We loved you in ‘Plum Blossom Rain’, and now that you’re getting even more recognition, we’re all so happy!”

Luo Yu accepted the letters. He had been in a career slump for so long that receiving so many letters before even airing his new roles made him realize he wasn’t as alone as he thought. No matter how cold his heart felt, there was still a flame burning.

“I have to join the crew soon, so I can’t take photos with everyone individually. How about we take a group photo?” Luo Yu asked with a smile.

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“Yes!” the girls answered in unison.

Ye Shengyi got out of the car to help. He was about to take the gifts from Luo Yu, but Luo Yu insisted on holding them for the group photo.

“Don’t worry, everyone is in the frame! One, two, three—” Ye Shengyi made an OK gesture.

Luo Yu expected them to say “cheese,” but instead, they shouted, “Luo Yu—good luck—!”

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…

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.  

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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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