ASFSODS 29

Wen Chi didn’t notice he was being secretly photographed. He was still listening to Qiao Congnan gossip about whatever local drama he had picked up in town.

Huo Yinshi looked baffled. “We all work full-time jobs, but how come it feels like you’re always slacking off?”

Qiao Congnan protested, “Nonsense! I’m just keeping myself entertained between tasks.”

Both Qiao Congnan and Huo Yinshi worked at companies in the city and didn’t come home often, but compared to Wen Chi, they were practically locals.

Huo Yinshi didn’t want to keep bickering, so he turned to Wen Chi. “How long are you staying?”

“Three days,” Wen Chi replied.

“Oh, then you’re heading back to film the show after?”

Wen Chi nodded, then shook his head. “That was the plan, but my agent called me tonight. Apparently, some sponsor wants me to be the face of their product.”

Qiao Congnan sighed enviously. “Damn, don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous.”

“Get out of here,” Wen Chi snorted.

Qiao Congnan just chuckled.

At the table next to them, one of the girls had her head buried in her phone. Her friend put a skewer of grilled sausage on her plate. “Aren’t we here for late-night snacks? Why aren’t you eating anything?”

“I’m on Weibo,” the girl said, watching her likes and comments soar. A wave of vanity and satisfaction bloomed inside her.

“What? Is there gossip?” her friend leaned over curiously. The girl quickly shielded her screen.

“Nothing juicy. Just scrolling on Weibo,” she replied, pushing her friend’s face away.

Her friend tsked, then nudged her with an elbow and gestured subtly. “Have you seen the guys at the table next to us? My god, one’s hotter than the next.”

The girl: Of course I’ve seen them already.

“They’re all so hot. I wonder if they’re taken,” her friend whispered, sneaking another glance. “Wait, that one in the cap… his profile looks kinda familiar…”

Wen Chi suddenly felt like someone was staring. He glanced over but didn’t catch anyone looking.

“Alright, fed and watered. Tomorrow we suffer at work again,” Qiao Congnan sighed like a true corporate drone.

Huo Yinshi replied calmly, “I’m off tomorrow and the day after.”

“…Oh.”

Huo Yinshi went to pay the bill. Wen Chi yawned just as Qiao Congnan asked, “Hey, Xiao Chi, has anyone been bullying you on that show?”

“Huh?” Wen Chi looked confused. “Why do you ask?”

“Well,” Qiao Congnan said, “some of my coworkers said that on those variety shows, the lesser-known celebrities often get pushed around by the big names.”

Wen Chi fell silent.

I mean… to say it never happens wouldn’t be totally honest.

“What? You were bullied?” Qiao Congan’s expression shifted.

“No, no,” Wen Chi quickly said. “Everyone’s been pretty nice.”

“Except for that jackass Tong Xian’en, right?” Qiao Congnan gave him a don’t-lie-to-me look. “I watched the early livestreams.”

Wen Chi thought about it. “It wasn’t that bad. He did target me a bit at first, but after spending more time together, he turned out okay.”

Qiao Congnan clicked his tongue and ruffled Wen Chi’s hair. Before Wen Chi could bite back, he pulled his hand away and muttered, “Why is it fine when that man touches your head? We’ve known you for over ten years, and the moment we try, you get all mad.”

Qiao Congnan was just teasing but then he noticed Wen Chi go quiet, staring blankly, like deep in thought.

“Wen Chi, you—”

Before he could finish, Huo Yinshi came back. “Let’s go.”

Qiao Congnan swallowed the question and nodded.

Huo Yinshi drove himself back to the company dorms, so he wasn’t going the same way.

Wen Chi got on the electric scooter again. Qiao Congnan glanced in the mirror and saw Wen Chi’s expression looked normal, but just as he was about to turn his eyes away, Wen Chi stared straight into the mirror.

He slammed the brakes out of reflex. Luckily, they were just off a small side road, and it was late enough that no one else was around.

Wen Chi lurched forward, smacking on Qiao Congnan’s back. Their helmets clacked as both of them shouted, “What the hell!”

“Er Qiao, what was that for?!”

“You gave me a damn fright, looking at me like that!” Qiao Congnan replied, still startled.

Wen Chi didn’t say anything, just patted him on the shoulder. “Go, go, go.”

He had no choice but to do as the young master said.

He dropped Wen Chi off under his apartment. Before leaving, Qiao Congnan tried to plan lunch the next day, but Wen Chi waved him off. “We’ll see. You’re the only one working tomorrow, go get some sleep.”

He grumbled and rode off.

Not wanting to wake his parents, Wen Chi crept into the house like a thief. He reeked of barbecue, smoke, and beer. Just as he was about to shower, his phone chimed with a WeChat message.

Wen Chi glanced at the screen on his nightstand. He hesitated for a second, then sniffed himself.

Nope. Not one more second with this stink on me.

Whatever it was could wait till after his shower.

—

In a large office elsewhere, Jiang Siheng sat with Director Xu and another man, staring at a big TV screen.

Director Xu watched the audition footage with a blank face. He was about to explode from frustration and was just about to ask Jiang Siheng to keep an eye on things while he stepped out for a smoke when he turned and realized that Jiang Siheng wasn’t watching at all.

Director Xu’s eye twitched. “Jiang Siheng, you’ve been zoning out all morning. What are you staring at that’s so important? Stop looking at your phone and help me pick someone for Zhou Mian.”

Jiang Siheng turned off his phone, raised his eyes lazily, glanced at the TV, and said, “Forget it. If I have to act opposite anyone in that group, I might just quit.”

“…”

The assistant director chuckled awkwardly, “Well, a few were okay… but yeah, compared to you, they’re really lacking.”

Director Xu didn’t reply. The truth was, he agreed with Jiang Siheng. They had gone through more than ten young actors that morning, and none of them were up to standard.

No one answered, and the assistant director laughed uncomfortably.

Soon after, someone knocked on the office door.

Three people came in, clearly familiar with Director Xu, as they took seats without waiting to be invited.

“So, how’s it going?” asked the balding man.

“Not great,” Director Xu replied.

The woman in the group said, “Actually, I do have someone in mind for Zhou Mian but I think we should still have him come audition so you can see for yourself.”

“Who?” Director Xu asked.

“Xu Zhouwei.”

Jiang Siheng’s eyes lifted.

“Who’s that?” Director Xu frowned. He had never heard of the name.

The balding man said, “Isn’t he that recently popular idol? Can he even act?”

Director Xu’s frown deepened.

Seeing this, the woman quickly explained, “I just think his image fits the role. We can try him out. If it doesn’t work, we’ll find someone else.”

The third man, quiet until now, shook his head. “Even if he looks the part, he hasn’t had proper acting training. He won’t bring the role to life.”

Then he turned to Director Xu and added, “I’m worried you’ll need heart meds just to get through filming.”

“…”

The woman was clearly offended. “How do you know he can’t do it if you don’t give him a chance? I hate people who dismiss others just because of their profession.”

The bald guy fired back, “Then you show me a single idol who can sing, dance, and act well.”

She clenched her fists, breathing deeply to stop herself from punching him.

The assistant director cleared his throat. “Do you have a photo?”

She nodded and handed over her phone. “This is him.”

Zhou Mian played a crucial supporting role in Director Xu’s new film. Most of the cast had been finalized, only Zhou Mian remained.

Director Xu glanced at the photo. The woman was right. Xu Zhouwei’s appearance did match the role more than any of the candidates they’d seen today.

He turned to Jiang. “Ah-Heng, what do you think?”

Before the woman could pass her phone to Jiang Siheng, he stood up, not even sparing her a glance. “Do what you want. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

He walked out.

Director Xu sighed, watching him go.

The bald guy asked, “What’s his deal?”

The man with the thinning hair said, “Who knows? He’s a big movie star, moods come with the territory.”

Director Xu frowned at the sarcasm. “Fine. Minzhi, tell Xu Zhouwei’s side to prepare. We’ll see him next week.”

“Okay.”

—

Jiang Siheng took the elevator to the parking garage. Xiao Pang was in the driver’s seat playing on his phone. Hearing familiar footsteps, he looked up and unlocked the car.

He got into the back seat.

“Should I head straight home, Jiang Ge?” Xiao Pang asked.

Jiang Siheng nodded.

As they drove out of the lot, he suddenly said, “Pang Ge, can I ask you something?”

Xiao Pang jolted. Whenever Jiang Siheng called him “Pang Ge,” it was never a good sign. “W-what’s up?”

“If you send someone a message, and you know they’re not busy, but they still don’t reply for a long time… what would you do?”

Jiang Siheng stared at his screen. The last message he sent to Wen Chi was from the night before.

【Jiang Siheng: Are you still awake?】

Xiao Pang: … He knew it was about Wen Chi.

As a half-CP-fan of Hengwen, he straightened up. “Well, Jiang Ge, if he hasn’t replied… have you tried sending a second message?”

“No.”

“Then I think you should. Maybe he thought he replied but forgot to hit send.”

“You sure he’s not just ignoring me?” Jiang Siheng mused.

The light turned red. Xiao Pang stopped the car and said solemnly, “Some people might, like Yu Ge, but Teacher Wen? Never.”