Chapter 93 – Scoundrel

The consequence of his stubborn defiance was Shen Fubai being pressed onto the sofa by Jiang Heng, weeping.

After crying, Shen Fubai was a mess. Sweat clung to his body, his hair was disheveled, and the color on his face was even more vivid, with a vicious undertone: “Jiang, you’re good. Since you love the sofa so much, you can sleep on it tonight!” Then he picked up his clothes, stumbled into the bedroom, shut the door, and locked it from the inside.

Jiang Heng watched the youth’s unsteady steps and chuckled lowly to himself.

…It was clear that he had been quite cooperative just moments ago.

Jiang Heng loved Shen Fubai’s bashful awkwardness after being so unrestrained during their intimate moments—it was incredibly adorable.

Jiang Heng stood up and walked to the bedroom door, knocking gently. “Little rabbit, open the door.”

At first, there was no response. After a moment, the sound of water could faintly be heard from the bathroom.

Shen Fubai was taking a shower.

It seemed he wasn’t planning on letting him in anytime soon.

Jiang Heng shook his head helplessly and turned around to tidy up the somewhat messy sofa, casually grabbing the remote control to turn on the TV in the living room.

After all that had happened, tonight’s episode of “Pear Blossoms” had already started.

Tonight’s plot was still heart-wrenching. Yu Tang shot the lackey who switched the poisoned wine, but failed to clear up the misunderstanding. Chu Yu was busy setting up plans to rescue the Chu family members, while Yu Tang waited outside the Chu residence with his sickly body for an entire day, trembling in the cold wind, almost coughing up blood, without being able to meet Chu Yu.

In that cold winter, Yu Tang fell ill. He had internal injuries and became sick due to depression.

Shen Fubai’s acting was spot on. The sight of the youth swaying in the wind was pitiful indeed, and his pale, emaciated appearance on the sickbed was even more endearing.

When Yu Tang touched his haggard face in front of the mirror, muttering, “Am I not pretty anymore? That’s why Young Master doesn’t even want to see me…” the pain in Jiang Heng’s heart intensified.

Yu Tang then displayed a smile uglier than tears: “Tongli, I’m so sad.”

Jiang Heng couldn’t resist the urge to jump into the TV drama, hug him, wipe away his tears, smooth out his frown, and tell him:

“Don’t be sad, how could I bear it?”

Shen Fubai acted so convincingly that it made people feel as if they were right there in the scene. Even knowing it was just acting, he couldn’t help but be drawn into it. Jiang Heng thought that after tonight’s two episodes aired, he would surely be berated online, being called a pig’s trotter wouldn’t be enough to satisfy their anger.

It wasn’t just netizens; looking at himself, he felt he was too harsh. Fortunately, it was just acting. In reality, he would never let Fubai feel upset for even a moment, nor would he ignore explanations and cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Jiang Heng knew the ending, that the ending of “Pear Blossoms” was a tragedy. Unable to bear seeing Yu Tang’s sorrow, he simply took out his phone to browse Weibo to divert his attention.

He leaned against the sofa, which was now clean after changing the slipcovers, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about the scorching temperature from before, and the scene of the youth, frail yet ravishing, nestled in his arms.

A slight smile crept across his face involuntarily.

Regret in the play, fulfillment in real life, wasn’t that true?

Online, topics related to “Pear Blossoms” were updated in real time. Before tonight’s two episodes even finished airing, discussions had already surged online—

Tang is so handsome! The intensity with which he shot that lackey blew me away!

Seeing Tang cough up blood also made me want to spit blood! Chu dog, why won’t you see Tang? AAAHHHHH!

Today, my heart aches for Tang. QAQ

Hurting your wife might be temporarily satisfying, but chasing her will be like entering a crematorium. I’m too lazy to even scold you, Chu dog. Daily question, did Shen Nian die today?

Wah wah wah, I cried so loudly when I saw Tang ask blankly if Young Master didn’t like him anymore. My tears just came pouring out. He didn’t cry, but I cried for him.

Damn Chu Yu, how could you let Tang wait in the cold wind for you all day! He had just endured torture and was so sick he couldn’t get out of bed. Laozi wants to grab a knife and kill someone!

…

Jiang Heng estimated the time and figured that Fubai should have finished his shower by now, so he sent him a WeChat message.

Jiang Heng: Are you cooled down yet? Can you open the door and let me in?

The reply came instantly.

Shen Fubai: No way. I’ve just been tortured, am languishing in bed, and can’t get up to open the door.

Jiang Heng: “…”

He suspected that Fubai was not only watching the show but also saw the same comment as he did.

Jiang Heng replied with a message.

Jiang Heng: Baby, you can’t call what happened torture. You clearly enjoyed it too.

In the bedroom, Shen Fubai gritted his molars, still feeling the lingering pain, making him want to curse at this damn man.

Love was probably like this. At the beginning, everything was shrouded in a halo of filters, every action was cautious, wanting to present the most perfect side to the other person. But once they got familiar with each other…

They would completely let go and enter the old married couple mode, saying anything and doing anything. What was image? What was persona? They were long gone.

If one needed to act in front of their lover, then the love wasn’t genuine.

Shen Fubai shed his obedient and cute facade and was just a boy who loved video games, broke his leg playing pranks, and swore like a sailor. Jiang Heng, removing his façade of a refined and elegant god, was disgustingly dirty-minded—of course, this was only directed at Shen Fubai. Neither of them was perfect, but it didn’t matter.

They loved each other’s facade and each other’s truth.

From mutual fans, to loving each other—

Shen Fubai didn’t want to deal with this shameless Jiang Heng anymore. He wanted to give him the silent treatment for ten minutes.

Well, who should he play with?

Shen Fubai didn’t know many people online. After some thought, he decided to go find his good sister to chat about the show.

Relationships need frequent contact—

On Jiang Heng’s side, he didn’t receive a reply from Shen Fubai, but another person sent him a bunch of WeChat messages.

Jiang Yuan: [Picture][Picture][Picture][Picture]…

Jiang Heng clicked to view them, and they were all intimate scenes between him and Fubai in the drama, clearly taken with a phone from the TV.

Jiang Heng: …Are you a pervert?

Jiang Yuan: Bro, you moved fast. Using the drama to take advantage, clever.

Jiang Yuan knew that Jiang Heng was a fan of Shen Fubai, infatuated since high school. How could he not know? Even Jiang Heng initially entered the entertainment industry to be closer to Shen Fubai.

He thought his little brother would be shy, but it turned out he was quite experienced, even filming kissing scenes. The progress was commendable.

As his older brother, he was rather pleased.

Jiang Heng: No need to use the drama as an excuse, he’s my boyfriend now.

There was a moment of silence on the other side, followed by an expression of admiration.

Jiang Yuan: Why so sudden, not even telling the family?

Jiang Heng: And didn’t you also not tell Mom and Dad about getting back together with Yang Yingying?

Jiang Yuan: You didn’t even tell me! That’s not cool.

Jiang Heng: So what? Do I have to tell you how long I last in bed?

Jiang Yuan: That’s not necessary, anyway, I last longer than you.

Jiang Heng: Idiot.

Jiang Yuan: You’re just a little brother.

Jiang Heng: The company hasn’t been transferred to you yet, it’s too early to put on airs.

Jiang Yuan: Brother, I was wrong. I have been working hard to secure benefits for our company. The Shanghai Shenjiu branch is planning to shoot a wedding ring advertisement recently, and I recommended Yang Yingying, as well as your Shen Fubai.

Jiang Heng: …

Jiang Heng: The other party is requesting a voice call.

As soon as Jiang Yuan answered the call, he heard a roar from the similar voice on the other end: “Jiang Yuan, you’re an absolute moron!”

Making Shen Fubai and Yang Yingying shoot a wedding ring ad? What was Jiang Yuan thinking, so eager to make things green for himself?

Jiang Yuan: “Let me explain!”

Under Jiang Yuan’s explanation, the situation finally became clear—

Xie Chenchu planned to have Shen Fubai and Yang Yingying shoot a wedding ring ad, but Jiang Yuan firmly said, “Absolutely not!”

Xie Chenchu: “Hmm?”

Jiang Yuan, thinking quickly, continued: “I have a better idea. Didn’t the country pass the same-sex marriage bill a few years ago? We must keep up with current events and respond to national calls. How can a wedding ring ad feature just a heterosexual couple? In my opinion, there should be three pairs. Male-male, heterosexual, female-female, all the same, all equal. This ad could appeal to the LGBT community, encouraging them to buy Only Love rings.”

The LGBT community was definitely a large group. Although usually low-key, they couldn’t be ignored. These were potential customers.

Xie Chenchu nodded: “What you said makes a lot of sense. But that means we’ll have to hire more people.”

The man with the mole under his eye, adding a touch of charm, slightly lifted his chin: “Shen Fubai is someone I’ve set my sights on. As for the other two, Yang Yingying is one, and the other, Mr. Jiang can decide.”

Thus, Jiang Yuan naturally recommended his younger brother Jiang Heng.

Now, the three pairs were decided as follows: the BL group would feature Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai together, the romance group would star Yang Yingying and Bai Shaohua, the actor who played Chu Mu in “Pear Blossoms.” As for the yuri group, they would invite another pair of lesbian actresses who had already come out of the closet in the circle.

Jiang Heng was surprised: “Why aren’t you personally shooting with Yang Yingying?” Jiang Yuan could actually tolerate Yang Yingying shooting a wedding ring ad with another man.

“I wish I could,” Jiang Yuan lamented, “But I look exactly like you. Shooting a wedding ring ad together, doesn’t it give off a scoundrel vibe, like I’m stepping on two boats? Anyway, it’s just an ad. I know it’s fake. The person who will truly put the wedding ring on her finger will only be me.”

Imagine two men with identical faces, one proposing to a girl and putting the ring on her finger, a ring that represents a lifetime of love, only to turn around and put that ring on another man’s hand…

That would ruin the brand.

Moreover, Jiang Yuan’s main career was as a domineering CEO, while Yang Yingying’s primary profession was acting. Actors inevitably have physical contact with their co-stars when filming movies, TV shows, or advertisements. He couldn’t interfere with all aspects of Yang Yingying’s career development.

Love wasn’t about control.

Yang Yingying, a free-spirited person who lived life on her own terms, wouldn’t like being controlled either—

Jiang Heng was deeply moved: “I didn’t expect you to be so self-sacrificing, giving the chance of marriage to me and Fubai, allowing your woman to marry another man. Sorry, I misunderstood you.”

Jiang Yuan: “…”

Jiang Yuan: Could you please not be so annoying? If you really feel sorry, be nicer to me.

The brothers rarely hung up without hurting each other, perhaps Jiang Yuan’s self-sacrifice had awakened a sliver of conscience in Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng ended the call, but Shen Fubai hadn’t replied yet. He sighed. Clearly, they were under the same roof, less than twenty meters apart, yet they had to converse through a cold communication tool like a phone. The distance between people was becoming increasingly distant.

…So it was better to be negative.

Jiang Heng’s mind wandered aimlessly, but his actions were cowardly, only daring to open his phone and scroll through Weibo.

He always used a small account for browsing Weibo, for no other reason than that his main account had too much information.

With fewer contacts on his small account, he easily saw the new message from Wine.

Was Wine Turned Over Today: Sister, have you watched “Pear Blossoms”?

Amber: Yes.

Was Wine Turned Over Today: Chu Yu is such a scoundrel! He only knows how to bully Yu Tang. Come on, let’s scold him together!

Shen Fubai, bullied by Jiang Heng in real life and harboring pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent, couldn’t bear to scold the real person, so he could only find his good sister to fiercely criticize the character in the drama to vent his anger.

Amber: …

Amber: Scoundrel, scoundrel?

Was Wine Turned Over Today: Yes! Exactly!

Jiang Heng was lost in confusion.

Yes, that’s how it was, but why did he want him to scold himself?