"Finished writing?" Lu Zhou asked.

"Soon," Xiao Yi replied.

"Never mind," Lu Zhou noted. "I'll call Director Du tomorrow. No need to write. I doubt you can come up with anything good. If you're out of inspiration, just forget about it."

Xiao Yi mentioned, "I'll go to the company tomorrow to get the music score and come back. I can make changes on the set."

"Fine," Lu Zhou said. "I can see you've been pulling all-nighters."

After a short walk, they reached Lu Zhou's home. The terrain was elevated, and they could still walk through the tunnel. Lu Zhou kicked through the water, and Xiao Yi carried his shoes, walking barefoot.

"Why so quiet?" Lu Zhou sensed something unusual about Xiao Yi today, finding it very strange.

Xiao Yi uttered, "Do I talk a lot usually?"

Lu Zhou's mouth twitched. He said, "You're just useless. It's okay. Don't be so down."

Xiao Yi internally complained about what being useless had to do with anything. Suddenly, he remembered the song writing matter. Oh, I see, Lu Zhou must be worried that I can't write a good song, hence the gloominess.

Xiao Yi spoke. " No," I just... write songs casually. Don't expect too much."

Lu Zhou remained silent.

"I'm just taking care of your emotions," Lu Zhou retorted angrily. "You're really writing casually! You don't study professionally, you're not serious about anything. Do you even want to continue?"

Lu Zhou was really furious, about to scold Xiao Yi right there in the tunnel. The entire tunnel echoed with his roaring. Xiao Yi hurriedly said, "I promise, I'll write it well, with great effort!"

"I'm giving you face," Lu Zhou answered. "You wrote some messy stuff, going out to play in the middle of the night. It's up to you."

After saying that, Lu Zhou turned and walked away. Xiao Yi rushed forward, trying to stop him, exclaiming, "No! Boss, don't leave me behind! Ahhh!"

Lu Zhou, "..."

"Do you think I'm joking with you?" Lu Zhou grabbed Xiao Yi's collar and said bluntly, "Look at yourself. You disappoint me. Can acting cute feed you? Always making jokes and trying to get through everything, that's why you fail!"

Looking into Lu Zhou's eyes, filled with blame, anger, and anxiety, Xiao Yi felt embarrassed but strangely happy being looked at like that.

Am I an 'M' (NT: masochist)? Do I enjoy being scolded so much? Xiao Yi thought, unable to figure it out. Lu Zhou, on the other hand, was still angry, turning around. Xiao Yi caught up and said, " Zhou ge!"

"Don't want to talk to you!" Lu Zhou uttered. "After finishing these two movies, get lost!"

It wasn't the first time Xiao Yi was told to get lost, so he knew Lu Zhou was just angry. He didn't mind and replied, "How do you know my writing is messy? How do you know I went out in the middle of the night?"

Lu Zhou remained silent.

Xiao Yi leaned over to sneak a peek at Lu Zhou's face. Lu Zhou had a gloomy expression. As they exited the tunnel, Lu Zhou opened his umbrella. Xiao Yi hurriedly caught up, walking home with Lu Zhou.

*

Back home, Lu Zhou was soaked. He went straight to the bathroom for a shower. Xiao Yi finally felt like he was back home. He had already considered Lu Zhou's place as his own. He cooked some late-night snacks and placed them on the table for Lu Zhou. Then, he went to take a shower.

After Lu Zhou came out, it seemed like he had forgotten about the argument. He didn't mention anything, ate the snacks, and was about to go upstairs to sleep. After climbing a few steps, the sound of a guitar suddenly filled the air.

Xiao Yi sat in the living room, pulled up a high stool from the bar, facing Lu Zhou on the stairs. He strummed the guitar strings.

The lightning outside shone through the floor-to-ceiling curtains. After a few seconds, distant thunder rolled.

The guitar, like the light strings in a rainy night, penetrated the entire dim world.

"Just like we agreed, neither of us should say it out loud...

Just like we agreed, neither of us should turn back first...

Love teaches you, teaches me...

The day I let go of your hand, each drop of longing accumulates, forming a sand dune separating you and me...

They told me, if I don't speak up, I can only watch you leave me...

They told me, if I don't turn back, we'll be separated by millions of miles, unable to meet again..."

Xiao Yi played the guitar, smiling as he began singing the chorus:

"There are too many people, they love your beautiful face, how can I tell you...

How can I tell you...

I miss you, miss the rainy days when we were together!

So many memories are just the dust blown up by time...

I miss you, miss the streets when you came home, with the lights just beginning to shine."

Love is hard to express, all written in the silent verses for you..."

Xiao Yi played the guitar and whistled, creating an unexpected duet. He had a smile on his face as he looked at Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou felt uncomfortable and averted his gaze until Xiao Yi finished singing, and the room returned to silence.

"The melody is good," Lu Zhou said, "but the lyrics need some changes. Your lyrics are ruining the song. Is this a confession from a fan?”

Xiao Yi laughed, "Haha, yeah, I'm not cultured."

Lu Zhou asked, "What's the name of the song?"

"Solitary Singing Paradise," Xiao Yi answered. He put the guitar aside and said, "I thought about it. Kou Bin's feelings might be like this—love is hard to express, afraid to say it, and unwilling to hope. It's a kind of humble and helpless love, ordinary without any shining points."

"Okay," Lu Zhou commented casually and asked, "What about the other song?"

"I forgot," Xiao Yi said helplessly.

Lu Zhou said, "How did you forget about eating!"

Xiao Yi, "..."

*

As the heavy rain passed, the weather gradually became warmer. Xiao Yi was busy with various tasks, accompanying Lu Zhou to events every day. When they returned home, he was completely exhausted. Fortunately, the busy time passed quickly. Lu Zhou's two film projects were the first to wrap up, allowing him to escape and endure Guo Tang's -style torture. In the meantime, he even found time to shoot a magazine cover.

After Guo Tang's film project also wrapped up, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Zhou slept for three days straight at home, while Xiao Yi still had to wearily communicate with the music studio, deliver songs, and make lyric changes.

During post-production by the editing team, everyone gathered at the film company for a meeting. Xiao Yi demonstrated the piano version and played the mixed version for the first time, apart from Lu Zhou.

At first, Xiao Yi thought it sounded good, but the more he modified it, the less confident he became. By the time of the preview, he almost wanted to escape. In the end, Lu Zhou kicked him into the audition room.

"It's great," the boss of JuHua exclaimed. "What's your name?"

"I'm Xiao Yi," he replied. "I'm Lu Zhou's assistant."

The boss of JuHua thought for a moment and said, "This song might become popular. It's quite interesting, down-to-earth, and can touch people's hearts. Let's find a top-tier singer to perform it."

Lu Zhou said, "Let Xiao Yi sing it himself."

Xiao Yi was startled and uttered, "No, no."

Lu Zhou's expression darkened as he looked at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi was about to kneel and kowtow to Lu Zhou. He thought, Big Brother, you don't know the situation. It's been so many years since I've recorded a song. My voice has become hoarse. If you make me record, I'll have to die for you to see.

The boss of JuHua understood that Lu Zhou wanted to promote Xiao Yi but was unwilling to agree on the spot. He looked at Du Mei, she glanced at Lu Zhou and declared, "How about we go back and discuss it again?"

Lu Zhou didn't make a definitive statement, just made a sound of agreement. When everyone left the company, Du Mei smiled and underlined, "You want to promote Xiao Yi while also making him your assistant. What are you trying to do?"

"I'm willing," Lu Zhou answered.

Xiao Yi hurriedly said, " Zhou ge, why don't you sing it instead?"

Lu Zhou said, "I won't sing. Your lousy song is too cheap. I'd rather sing 'Love's Patronage.'"

Xiao Yi thought that Lu Zhou might find the song too bitter, expressing the melancholy of an older man, so he didn't want to invest too much emotion. Unexpectedly, Lu Zhou looked at Xiao Yi cunningly and insisted, "This song is even more fitting for you. I'm a male god, rich and not defeated. Let's skip it."

Xiao Yi: "..."

Lu Zhou put on sunglasses and walked out of the building in the bright spring scenery. Xiao Yi approached to drive him away.

*

As May arrived, Beijing suddenly started to heat up. Xiao Yi remembered that Lu Zhou's birthday was in July. He set numerous reminders to ensure he wouldn't forget. Du Mei wanted Lu Zhou to take on more projects, but he directly refused.

"I just finished two film projects!" Lu Zhou said. "Give me a break!"

Du Mei insisted, "Aren't you resting now? I'm not asking you to take on a new project right away."

Lu Zhou replied, "I've only rested for less than a week. I haven't recovered yet. I haven't even attended my fitness class. I need some time to adjust. I won't take on any projects in the first half of the year; I need to find my rhythm."

"How do you plan to adjust?" Du Mei asked. "Like this? Take on some light activities? Shoot a family drama while resting, how about that?"

Lu Zhou waved his hand, saying, "No, Director Du, I really need a break. If I keep shooting like this, I'll get sick. It's not like before when I could handle three projects simultaneously in my twenties. I'm over thirty now."

Du Mei sighed, apparently not giving up on persuading Lu Zhou. She asked, "Where do you want to go on vacation?"

On the side, Xiao Yi started imagining where Lu Zhou might take him to play. Would it be Hawaii or the Maldives with sunny beaches and waves? Or the magnificent Roman Holiday with its dazzling fountains? Or the shaded streets of Kanagawa, Japan?

Lu Zhou said, "No vacation. I'll just rest at home."

Xiao Yi's beautiful vision instantly collapsed with a crash.

Du Mei said, "How about letting Xiao Yi help at the company? I was just thinking of having him mentor some new actors..."

Xiao Yi almost knelt down for Du Mei, thinking, ‘Lu Zhou, please don't hand me over to her!’

Without hesitation, Lu Zhou answered, "No way!"

Seeing Xiao Yi alternately laughing and pulling a serious face, Du Mei couldn't handle these two, so she complained, "You know about my annual plan, Lu Zhou. How can it go on like this? Am I supposed to rely on Wu Henggu? Are you upset because I signed with Wu Henggu without telling you beforehand?"

Lu Zhou shook his head and said, "Look at what you're saying. What do I care about who you sign with? Am I going to stop acting just because you signed with someone? I just need a break, attend some fitness classes, and take care of myself for a while."

"For how many months?" Du Mei asked.

"Three months," Lu Zhou replied. "It will be hot until August. I don't want to film in the summer. If I take on a project now, I'll be shooting for two months straight in forty-degree heat in Hengdian."

Du Mei acknowledged, "Two months. Come back after your birthday; it can't be any longer."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhou agreed, "Fine."

Du Mei continued, "The license for 'Iron Horse Glacier couldn't be obtained, so we have to do it this way for now. We can't premiere it on the internet either. Web dramas will be strictly scrutinized this year."

Lu Zhou said, "Oh."

"What?!" When Xiao Yi heard this news, he was more excited than Lu Zhou and Du Mei combined. He asked, "Can't it be aired?"

"It's hard to say," Du Mei replied.

Xiao Yi asked, "Why?"

"Ethnic issues," Du Mei explained. "Historical dramas, especially those involving emperors and generals, need significant approvals. I don't know what problem has caused a delay; it's not uncommon."

"What do we do?" Xiao Yi wondered.

Xiao Yi thought, ‘Oh no, what if my first time on screen ends up ruining the entire drama?’

"Others spent over 80 million on this drama," Lu Zhou said impatiently. "It's the production company that's in a hurry; why are you in a rush?"

"It's already sold," Du Mei said. "Now it's the TV stations that are in a hurry."

Xiao Yi suddenly found it amusing and asked, "Can it still be aired?"

"Give money." Du Mei said, "Establish connections, edit the footage, reschedule the airing. The scrutiny this year is much stricter, and even today is risky."

"Really?" Lu Zhou asked, "Did Director Guo's film also get blocked?"

Du Mei helplessly replied, "It indeed comes down to the character you played."

Xiao Yi asked, "Why? Is it accused of whitewashing a traitor?"

Lu Zhou angrily retorted, "Where did you see me playing a traitor?!"

Du Mei flipped through a script in her hand and mentioned, "This is the information given by the producer. He said that during the time undercover, the character Xu Fengyan did a lot of bad things to our camp."

Xiao Yi argued, "But he did it for the greater good, to go undercover as a traitor, right?"

"True," Du Mei agreed, "This value is controversial; it can't be said to be right or wrong and needs further resolution. Let Guo Dao handle the editing. Cut and edit it so everyone is clear and transparent, turn it into a model drama, and everyone will be happy. Nowadays, romantic and Mary Sue dramas are the safest, avoiding taboo, and are both melodramatic and high in viewership."

"So," Du Mei looked at Lu Zhou with a helpless expression, "your only drama that can be aired this year, understand?"

Lu Zhou said, "Whatever, let it be. If it gets blocked, so be it."

Du Mei had nothing more to add. Lu Zhou didn't mind this much. Du Mei had around ten artists under her, but there was a difference in intimacy and hierarchy. Every time Xiao Yi came, he could directly enter Du Mei's office. Even if Du Mei was occasionally in a meeting, he could wait for her to finish without having to wait for her summons like other newcomers and their agents.

Lu Zhou, not filming for two or three months, had already exceeded his task quota. Taking a vacation was only natural. Lu Zhou went to the next office to find the fitness class teacher. Xiao Yi, holding Lu Zhou's coat, was about to leave when Du Mei said, "Come here, I have something to ask you, and you must answer honestly."

Xiao Yi, "?"

Du Mei asked, "Has Lu Zhou been in a relationship recently?"

Xiao Yi was puzzled and said, "??? No, I don't think so."

Du Mei said, "Tell the truth, I won't tell Lu Zhou."

"Really, no." Xiao Yi said, "Why do you suddenly ask this?"

Du Mei answered, "He actually requested a three-month vacation and doesn't plan to leave Beijing. Don't you find his recent behavior strange? His tone has become gentler."

"Still alright... Is it really strange?" Xiao Yi asked.

Du Mei continued, "Does he go out at night?"

Xiao Yi shook his head. Du Mei asked again, "Has he met someone new? Does he often make calls?"

Xiao Yi replied, "He used to talk on the phone frequently with Zheng Xiaocong and others, but not much now. After finishing filming, we've hardly made any calls these past few days."

Du Mei asked, "What do you guys do at home?"

Xiao Yi answered, "Exercise during the day, play video games, then go out to buy groceries together. After returning home, we cook together, eat, and then each goes online or watches a movie."

Du Mei nodded. Lu Zhou knocked on the door and came in, asking, "What's going on?"

Du Mei said, "Nothing, I'm asking about some music composition matters."

Lu Zhou suspiciously glanced at Xiao Yi, didn't say much, and took him away.

On the way home, Xiao Yi's car got stuck in traffic again. Lu Zhou asked, "What did Du Mei say?"

"Didn't say much," Xiao Yi replied, "Just asked about music composition."

Lu Zhou took off his sunglasses, tapped his fingers on the car, thought about scolding Xiao Yi, but changed his mind. He gently said, "Tell me the truth; I won't scold you or tell Du Mei."

Xiao Yi admitted, "Alright, she asked about your dating life."

Lu Zhou instantly roared in anger, "Don't you know who your boss is? Huh?! Do you want to get fired? Always running to Du Mei to report on me! Do you want to die?!"

Xiao Yi's face was full of fear. Lu Zhou yelled at him, pressed him against the car window. Xiao Yi thought, ‘You said you wouldn't scold me!’

"I said you don't have any!" Xiao Yi hurriedly said, "When she asked me, I just told her I didn't know anything. I was afraid of making you angry."

"I'm definitely angry!" Lu Zhou roared, "Before the age of thirty, I wasn't allowed to do anything. Now, I'm urged to find a girlfriend quickly. It's like they're trying to play me to death!"

"What?" Xiao Yi asked, "Why? Isn't it better for stars to marry later?"

Lu Zhou impatiently said, "Marrying later is one thing. Not having a girlfriend, and the fans saying you're gay, is another. Understand?"

Xiao Yi noted, "Oh, just let them say what they want. Isn't being gay even better? Cute. In our department, there were a bunch of gays before, and it's not surprising anymore. Life, old age, illness, and death, as well as homosexuality, are all natural phenomena. It will rain, the mother will remarry, and the son will stir up the foundation. You can't force it."

Lu Zhou, "..."

 

Translator : DarNan