TF01 15

That day, when Shi Yi casually named Ying Ming’s song Tomorrow, Ying Ming stayed silent for a long while.

In the end, he did not say much. He simply agreed that the name was not bad. Later, he was dragged out drinking by his bandmates, and the call ended there.

Shi Yi later asked Ying Ming about the band.

Ying Ming told him that he had only joined for fun. His guitar skills were nothing special, but the other band members were his friends. They often pulled him onstage, and since he was not in the spotlight much, he did not mind.

“The vocalist, Haozi, was the friend who acted with me in Hooligan Youth. Did you recognize him?”

“No.”

Shi Yi only vaguely remembered a baby-faced guy. Other than that, he had no impression.

Ying Ming had expected this. He smiled knowingly and let it go.

The call only gave him a rough idea of the extra scenes he needed to film. It was not until he arrived on set that he learned the director only needed him as a background figure for a walk-on scene.

The focus was on Liu Li and Dong Xiao’s scene.

The gossip that had been spreading wildly seemed to be dying down. When Ying Ming arrived on set, Teacher Zhao was there as well. He greeted him, “How have you been? I heard you were away for a while.”

“Even Teacher Zhao knows? I guess I don’t walk around quietly.” Ying Ming smiled and lit a cigarette for the veteran actor.

Teacher Zhao chuckled, accepted the cigarette, took two puffs, and looked at him. “It’s not that you’re making a scene, it’s just that Wang Yiqi has been stealing the spotlight. I heard about it the moment I got here.”

That was how gossip spread in the industry. You did not need to seek it out. There was always someone talking.

Ying Ming had always been indifferent to such things. Even when teased, he would only shrug it off. The two of them stood side by side, smoking for a while, until the assistant director called for everyone to be in place in ten minutes. Only then did Ying Ming check the time.

“Ying Ming, I know a director who has a pretty good script. Are you interested?”

The question was sudden.

Ying Ming turned his head. “What kind of script?”

“I can’t say too much for now. When we wrap up today, come find me, and we’ll talk.”

As the cigarette burned to the end, Teacher Zhao patted Ying Ming on the shoulder. “Work hard, kid. There are plenty of opportunities in this industry.”

This was an unexpected stroke of luck.

Ying Ming absolutely did not expect to hear something like that during the reshoot. He had to admit he was a little surprised. It was not his first time working with Teacher Zhao, but they were far from close. At best, their relationship was passable, but they were on completely different levels. He could not reach Zhao’s level, not even if he tried.

Regardless of the reason, since the other party had spoken up, there was no way Ying Ming would not go.

After finishing his scene as a mere background prop, he stayed on set, waiting for Teacher Zhao to wrap up his scenes.

Dong Xiao noticed he had not left and could not help but sneer. “What, feeling reluctant to leave? Hoping to get more screen time?”

Ying Ming glanced at him, cigarette still between his lips. “Do you ever get tired of being so snide all the time?”

“How old are you?”

“I’m not letting go of what happened before,” Dong Xiao said, frowning. His tone carried the grudge of someone who never let things slide.

The man across from him chuckled and nodded. “That suits your style.”

Since Ying Ming had dared to fall out with him that day, he was not afraid of whatever trouble Dong Xiao might stir up afterward. He might not be thriving in this industry, but he was not so low that just anyone could walk all over him. Whether he was a top star was another matter, but he had his own connections.

Dong Xiao could do nothing about him. After giving him a glare, he turned and left. Liu Li, who had been watching the whole time, chuckled. “Never thought you had such a temper.”

“There are a lot of things you don’t see.”

Ying Ming replied offhandedly, exhaling a puff of smoke and closing his eyes. A faint, unreadable smile lingered on his lips.

Maybe it was because of what Teacher Zhao had said earlier, but his mood was unusually good.

He felt like indulging himself a little.

Liu Li was not offended by his remark. She simply smiled and leaned in closer. “Are you still mad about the gossip?”

“Mad?” Ying Ming laughed. “What’s there to be mad about? I didn’t lose anything.”

“Easy to say now, but back then, your expression was awful, like I was setting you up.”

“I am at least friends with Shi Yi. Since you are his lover, playing along with this publicity stunt feels wrong to me. If you want to cooperate with the director and producers to sell this act, that is your business, but I have no obligation to do the same.”

Now that things had come to this point, there was no need to mince words. “In this industry, the difference between men and women is that when a man refuses to play along, he is called independent, but when a woman refuses, she is labeled difficult. You have your considerations, but do not drag me into them.”

Liu Li had not gotten this far in the industry without struggle.

Every result came with a price. Some were willing to pay it and moved ahead faster, while others refused and had to either find another path or be eliminated.

The entertainment industry was not the only place with rules, but it was probably the fastest to show results. Outsiders often thought it was a world of decadence and illusion, where success and failure were never real. Only those within it understood that, in the end, it was just a harsher version of the survival game—survival of the fittest, an eternal truth.

Liu Li listened to Ying Ming’s words, the corner of her lips curving slightly. “How did you and Shi Yi meet?”

“By accident.”

“That is some coincidence. The two of you are nothing alike.”

Ying Ming smiled and nodded. “We definitely are not.” He then looked up at Liu Li. “For example, I would never get involved with a woman like you.”

He was blunt.

Liu Li still wore a smile. The makeup artist called her over to touch up her makeup, and she answered absentmindedly before turning back to Ying Ming. “You are right. A woman like me would never fall for a man like you either.”

The two exchanged smiles, both understanding each other perfectly.

What they wanted in life was too different, their pursuits worlds apart. Strictly speaking, even Shi Yi probably could not give Liu Li what she truly wanted.

Ying Ming lowered his gaze, quietly smoking. He did not have much faith in the relationship between Shi Yi and Liu Li.

Some kings were simply not meant to have queens.

Especially when that queen had no intention of being just a decorative title.

By the time Zhao Laoshi finished filming his scenes, it was already past three in the afternoon. Ying Ming had stayed the entire time, chatting with him for a while before Zhao Laoshi made a call and arranged to meet someone at a teahouse.

That afternoon, Ying Ming met quite a few people.

There were directors and screenwriters, and as more people joined, the group grew to nine. The teahouse became too crowded, so they moved to the director’s home instead.

The film intrigued Ying Ming.

Just from reading the plot summary, he could tell it was going to be a challenge.

The director was straightforward. “I don’t think you’re the best candidate for this role, but I believe we can give it a shot.”

He was a new-wave director—somewhat unconventional, to put it bluntly. Ying Ming had seen one of his previous films and had been deeply impressed. It was neither purely commercial nor entirely arthouse. Instead, it straddled both, carrying a certain darkness that never felt oppressive or despairing. The director had a talent for making stories that seemed wild on the surface feel entirely logical.

The screenwriter was his longtime collaborator.

Their unique narrative structures could only be fully interpreted when the two worked together.

Right in front of Zhao Laoshi, the director asked Ying Ming directly, “Do you think you can handle it?”

Ying Ming smiled. “I’m more confident about this than you are.”

He had even acted in full-frontal Category III films before. What was this in comparison?

“Good. I’ve already locked in the other lead, and it happens to be someone you know.”

That made Ying Ming frown slightly, but he did not ask. He knew the director would say it sooner or later. Sure enough, in the next moment, the director continued, “It’s Wang Yiqi.”

Fuck…

Cursing silently, Ying Ming suddenly felt like lighting a cigarette.

This film aimed to depict a love story steeped in despair. Not because of status, background, or any external obstacles, but simply because all the main characters were men.

It was a gay-themed film.

Which meant he had to play lovers with Wang Yiqi.

This was probably the worst-case scenario Ying Ming could imagine.

Later, when the director called Wang Yiqi right in front of him, Ying Ming’s expression stiffened.

Fortunately, Wang Yiqi was busy at the time and could not come over. But judging by his tone, he had clearly known about the script long before Ying Ming did. It sounded like he had already accepted the role without hesitation.

“This film still needs some preparation. If everything goes smoothly, we’ll start shooting in two months. Sort out your schedule. We’ll sign the contract next month.”

“Alright.”

For now, that was that. Ying Ming had a great conversation with the director and screenwriter, and by the time he got home, it was nearly ten o’clock.

As soon as he stepped inside, his phone rang. It was Kou Jing.

“Mingzi, is your movie wrapped up?”

“Yeah, pretty much. There might be some post-production dubbing, but they probably won’t need me anytime soon.”

Ying Ming leaned against the couch and cracked open a beer. Today’s events called for a celebration. Too bad he was alone.

“Then do me a favor. I’ve got a job for you.”

Kou Jing worked in event planning at a fairly large film and television company. He met Ying Ming through work, and since their personalities and temperaments matched well, they became close like brothers. A good portion of Ying Ming’s commercial gigs came from Kou Jing, some were genuinely good, while others were a bit of a stretch.

But between friends, there was no need to keep strict accounts. As long as he had time, Ying Ming usually had no issues helping out.

“What’s the job?”

“Saiwei is organizing a celebrity off-road rally, but a lot of people are tied up with filming and can’t make it. You just wrapped up, so come help out.”

Kou Jing had already contacted a bunch of people this afternoon when he couldn’t reach Ying Ming, but it still wasn’t enough.

“I’ve never done off-roading before.”

“That’s fine, it’s just for brand promotion. You’re just there for the atmosphere, winning or losing doesn’t matter. Besides, it’s a team event, you won’t be on your own.”

The budget for this event was quite generous, making it a decent gig.

Ying Ming thought about it. “How long will it take?”

“A week at most. Don’t worry, it won’t interfere with your work.”

“Alright then…” After considering his empty schedule, Ying Ming agreed. “But you better help me prepare. This is my first time.”

“There’ll be someone helping you.”

“Huh?”

“Shi Yi is participating as a guest too.”

A celebrity rally didn’t mean all participants had to be celebrities. Industry figures like Shi Yi were exactly the kind of people Kou Jing wanted to bring in.

What surprised Ying Ming was that Shi Yi actually agreed. “How did you convince him to join?”

“I told him you’d be on his team.”

“Are you kidding me?!”