Chapter 164. Reunion

---

Arc 9: Real World.

---

---

Chen You felt that making public service advertisements to do good deeds was definitely fine, but the problem was that he couldn’t handle LGBTQ+ themes.

Such subject matter is restricted and generally won’t pass censorship. It won’t be broadcast on television but will instead be available online, which would be even more terrifying, as it would be impossible to avoid being spread and discussed.

His old father dances in the small square every day, where all the gossips in the neighborhood gather.

If public opinion emerges like, “Ai ai ai, my daughter told me that so-and-so’s son is filming that kind of advertisement with a man, and they even want to educate people about homosexuality, how shameless!”

That’s terrible.

His old father, prioritizing his dignity, would first ask that old lady about the situation. Once he confirmed the truth, he might even climb up to the school even if he has to crawl and hack him to pieces.

Thinking of this, Chen You felt a chill on his neck. He reached out and touched it, then walked outside without looking back.

The bespectacled man calmly replied, “Classmate, you’re also part of that community.”

Chen You paused in his steps.

Four-eyed handsome guy, you have good eyesight! Here’s a rocket for you, go have some fun in the sky.

“Since you’re one of them, I think you should have some understanding.” The bespectacled man tapped the table with his finger, “Nowadays, our community is labeled with words like dirty, chaotic, and disgusting. Outsiders think we all lead immoral lives and have AIDS.”

He shrugged, “That’s incredibly ignorant, isn’t it?”

We? Chen You clung to this word, letting it linger on his tongue before swallowing it. He didn’t want to continue the discussion with this person. The other person had suddenly appeared and mentioned advertising. He hadn’t quite caught up yet and didn’t want to expose his stupidity by saying too much and fall into a trap.

Seeing that the boy remained unmoved, the bespectacled man leaned back and crossed his legs, saying, “Don’t you want to dispel the discrimination your family and friends have against homosexuality?”

He sighed, “You must be terrified to find out that your sexual orientation is different from your friends’.”

Chen You rolled his eyes. That’s pretty impressive, the sense of immersion is quite strong.

“Every day, you carefully hide your feelings, not daring to show your affection for someone, for fear of being discovered by those around you, being ridiculed, ostracized, or even insulted or beaten.”

The bespectacled man paused, a glint of light flashing behind his lenses, his persuasive skills were top-notch.

“People are just afraid of the unknown. Once those people have a better understanding of this community and realize that it’s nothing special, they won’t be so resistant anymore, and they might even be able to accept it.”

Without interrupting, Chen You listened patiently to the end, then said, “My family won’t agree.”

“You should be an adult now and able to make your own decisions.”

As if he had anticipated the boy’s response, the bespectacled man calmly said, “Whether you get the part after the audition is still uncertain. In any case, enriching your life experience will be beneficial for you.”

He sized up the tall, slender young man in front of him, who was over 180 cm tall. He was youthful, sunny, and spirited, with a touch of mischief. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a hint of melancholy in his clear black and white eyes. The advertisement in his hand seemed tailor-made for him.

“However, given your qualifications, barring any major mistakes, you will be the choice for the male lead.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t agree.”

Chen You took two more steps, turned his head and grinned, “Mr. Hu, my personal suggestion is that you don’t cross your legs when you’re outside, it makes your legs look even shorter.”

The bespectacled man, “…”

He was about to speak when his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was his childhood friend, “Hey, Fuxing, why are you calling me at this hour?”

It was Lin Fuxing’s voice, visibly shaken, on the other end of the line, “Li Ge bought a puppy yesterday, and it had diarrhea this morning. He called, and I jumped out of bed, rushed over without even brushing my teeth or washing my face. Guess what happened? The little mongrel was fine, it was just scared.”

“Let alone dogs, even a person would be scared out of their wits if Li Ge stared at them.”

Hu Wei couldn’t understand, “I saw the photo, isn’t that just a mongrel? There are plenty of those in the countryside. If it were me, I wouldn’t even take it for free.”

“Who knows? Li Ge is a germaphobe, and he’s not the kind of person who has the heart or time to raise cats and dogs.” Lin Fuxing sighed, “Luckily, the puppy started eating again later, otherwise my veterinary hospital would have had to close down.”

Hu Wei said, “Take care of yourself.”

“I just hope that Li Ge bought the puppy for fun, keeps it for a couple of days, and then forgets about it. Otherwise, my enthusiasm for the pet clinic will be worn down by him sooner or later.”

Lin Fuxing suddenly brought up a matter, “Old Hu, I remember you once said that you met a friend abroad who had made considerable achievements in psychology. Do you still keep in touch?”

Hu Wei’s expression changed slightly. Li Yan was no different from an ordinary person during the day, but at night he would enter a state of madness, becoming furious and bloodthirsty. He needed sedatives to calm down, and the next day he would be fine. This situation repeated day after day. Only he and Fuxing knew about this, and it would never be revealed to anyone.

Li Yan’s moods were unpredictable, even when he was with Fuxing, he would remain vigilant and cautious.

“My friend emailed me last month saying she’s getting married this year, so let’s not let her take the risk.”

Hu Wei said half-jokingly, “After all these years, neither you nor I know where Li Ge’s sore spot is. What if my friend goes back to China to see Li Ge for treatment and something unpleasant happens during the process, and happens to touch Li Ge’s sore spot, turning her happy event into a tragedy? Then I would be in big trouble.”

Upon hearing this, a bloody scene involuntarily surfaced in Lin Fuxing’s mind. It happened many years ago when he, Hu Wei, and Li Yan were still teenagers, dressed as rich kids, and were targeted by thugs.

At that time, Lin Fuxing was skinny and didn’t dare to fight back in that situation. He handed over all the cash he had on him, afraid of being beaten. Hu Wei was a bit stronger than him. He swung his fists and feet a few times and was knocked down.

When the thugs saw that Li Yan was not cooperating, they went up to threaten and coerce him.

It’s unclear whether one of the thugs said or did something inadvertently that offended Li Yan, but he suddenly went berserk, snatched the steel pipe from one of the thugs, and swung it at him with all his might.

After beating those people until they were covered in blood, Li Yan threw away the steel pipe and turned around. His face was stained with blood, his eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light, and his lips were curled up in a smile. He was laughing, which was extremely eerie.

A chill ran down Lin Fuxing’s spine, and he couldn’t find the right words for a moment.

Even now, he still can’t understand what that thug did to offend Li Yan back then.

Some say Li Yan wields terrifying power, while others say he possesses all three, and which aspect carries more weight depends on his mood.

Lin Fuxing’s temple throbbed as he thought of his reckless Meimei who still wanted to become Mrs. Li. Is she courting death?

After a brief silence, Hu Wei changed the subject, “I just met a rare talent. He’s excellent in every way, and he’s more suitable than Jiang Shaonan for that advertisement.”

Lin Fuxing knew his childhood friend didn’t want to continue, so he didn’t want to cause trouble, “Really? When is the audition? Bring him over so I can see him.”

Hu Wei said, “He didn’t agree.”

Lin Fuxing was surprised, “There are still people who don’t buy you, Gold Medalist Hu?”

Although he is the young master of xx company, he has no interest in entertainment. His lifelong ambition is to become a veterinarian. Only this year did he open a hospital at home. As for the company, he can rest assured with his trustworthy and capable childhood friend.

“That child is still in school and has a strong sense of self-protection.” Hu Wei said, “It’s a pity, let’s wait and see.”

Lin Fuxing ended his call with Hu Wei, came out of the bathroom, and bumped into the yellow puppy in the hallway. He immediately flashed a friendly smile, waved, and said, “Hi, little guy, how are you?”

The yellow puppy took a few steps back and then ran off in a flash.

Lin Fuxing’s face twitched. Women are easier to please than puppies. If he smiled like that in front of any woman, she would have already gone limp in his arms.

The living room was bright and spacious. The man sat deep in the sofa, frowning silently at the yellow puppy huddled in the corner, lost in thought.

When Lin Fuxing arrived, this was the scene he saw. He looked at the trembling yellow puppy, then at the expressionless man, and it all seemed very strange.

The house was too big, and the butler and servants appeared and disappeared unpredictably, making it seem extremely eerie.

Lin Fuxing wasn’t here for the first time, but he still couldn’t get used to the atmosphere. He coughed twice, cleared his throat, and asked, “Li Ge, have you named the puppy yet?”

Without answering this, Li Yan said after a long pause, “It’s very afraid of me.”

Lin Fuxing thought to himself, isn’t this obvious? Even ghosts are afraid of you. He said, “It’s normal. Dogs are similar to people. When they go to an unfamiliar environment, they will inevitably feel nervous and uneasy. They’ll get used to it.”

Li Yan put down his crossed legs, stood up from the sofa, and walked towards the yellow puppy.

The yellow puppy had its tail tucked behind its buttocks, its legs and body were trembling, and it was making soft whimpering noises.

Lin Fuxing couldn’t stand it anymore, “Li Ge, this puppy is only a month old. It’s very timid and easily frightened.”

Without a word, Li Yan bent down and reached out to hug the yellow puppy.

Sensing danger, the yellow puppy instinctively opened its mouth to bite, but was immediately swung away. Its small size meant it was sent flying against the wall.

Lin Fuxing sighed and asked, “Li Ge, can I ask you why you bought a puppy?” He really doesn’t seem to like small pets at all.

Li Yan’s brows furrowed, and a dark glint flashed in the depths of his narrow eyes.

Yesterday, as the car passed a pet store, Li Yan, who was in the back seat, happened to see someone carrying a puppy out. At that moment, an inexplicable impulse took over his mind, prompting him to get out of the car and go into the store.

There were many puppies, but the moment Li Yan’s gaze inadvertently fell upon the yellow puppy, his eyes froze.

He sat in the car, his eyes constantly lingering on the yellow puppy, a mixture of disgust, resistance, and, most of all, confusion.

Lin Fuxing waited for a while, but didn’t get a response. He scratched one eyebrow and said, “Li Ge, I can take the puppy to the hospital. There’s a place for it.”

Li Yan turned his head.

A chill ran down his spine. Lin Fuxing’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he chuckled dryly, “Such a small puppy is delicate and requires a lot of time to care for. It’s troublesome to raise. What I mean is, I’ll bring it to you once it’s healthy enough.”

Li Yan straightened up, glanced at the terrified yellow puppy, his pupils contracted slightly in an instant, and said, “Leave it.”

Before long, a servant appeared out of nowhere, cleaned up the light yellow water stains on the floor, and then quietly floated away.

Lin Fuxing couldn’t help but start to speculate. Could this be related to an old story? If they follow this line of reasoning, the little mongrel was actually a substitute dog. A certain woman owned a similar one, and Li Yan was seeing the dog and thinking of her.

That’s not right. He’s known Li Yan for years, but he’s never even heard of his romantic history, let alone met the other person. So, like everyone else, he thinks Li Yan has some hidden illness or some psychological trauma that prevents him from having a normal life, which is why he lives a life of asceticism.

When the hospital called, Lin Fuxing didn’t linger. He changed his shoes in the entryway and, as if possessed, looked back, catching a horrifying sight.

Li Yan’s stern gaze locked onto the yellow puppy, yet a hint of tenderness flickered within it.

That’s terrifying.

Lin Fuxing drove away, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The role of pets was immeasurable, they could cure loneliness and dispel negative emotions. He wished that the puppy could become a special presence in Li Yan’s life.

If there is even one exception, Li Yan will slowly become more like a human being, instead of a perfect walking corpse, a blood-soaked, terrifying madman.

A thunderstorm extinguished the heat from the ground and swept away some of the sweltering heat, allowing people to quickly catch their breath.

Chen You and his friends returned to school, only to be caught in a downpour as soon as they entered the school gate. They ran wildly through the rain, and by the time they reached the dormitory building, their underwear was soaked.

The dorm was on the seventh floor, and there was no elevator, so they had to walk up and down.

Pang Yilong pulled off his soaking wet t-shirt and twisted it into a pretzel shape. Water dripped down, leaving a trail of water on the stairs. He was shirtless, and as he wrung out his t-shirt, his muscle lines were clearly defined.

Loves sports, has a great figure, and can take his clothes off easily.

Zheng Shuai, Wang Yao, and Chen You are all the same type. They are the type who would rather lie down than sit, and rather sit than stand. They have muscles, but they are not suitable for casually taking clothes off.

Other boys from the class would occasionally brush past them, greet them, and go downstairs.

The stairwell was stuffy and damp, with a musty smell mixed with the stench of garbage. Every floor was piled with garbage bags, clearly indicating a life of emptiness and loneliness, waiting for the building manager’s “kind greetings”.

The four of them returned to their dormitory and took turns showering.

Chen You had taken off all but his underwear. He squatted on the chair, turned on his computer, and planned to search for that company, “Chang Qin, I want some water.”

Unconsciously blurting out the words, Chen You’s eye twitched. Fearing someone would hear, he immediately corrected himself and said loudly, “Old Wang, get me a glass of water.”

Wang Yao was admiring his belly fat in the mirror, lamenting that yet another layer had appeared, making it impossible to leave his stomach, “Old Pang, pour Youzi a glass of water.”

Pang Yilong rummaged through the clothes, stuffing them all into a plastic bucket, intending to take them to the washing machine and wash them all at once, “Old Shuai, get Youzi a glass of water.”

Zheng Shuai’s voice came from the bathroom, “I’m taking a shower, do you want some bathwater?”

“……”

Pang Yilong put down what he was doing, went to the water dispenser to fill half a cup with hot water and half a cup with cold water, mixed them up, and gave them to Chen You, “What are you looking at?”

Chen You was scrolling through the mouse again, saying that so-and-so was also an artist of xx company, how awesome.

Pang Yilong leaned halfway down Chen You’s chair, craning his neck to look from behind, “It’s pretty impressive. It seems like the dancer you like is also signed with this company.”

He asked curiously, “Youzi, why are you suddenly interested in entertainment companies?”

Chen You didn’t hide anything and said, “When I was at Starbucks, I left for a short time. I ran into an agent from xx company who wanted me to audition for an advertisement.”

Pang Yilong hummed in agreement, “And then?”

Chen You pursed his lips, “It’s a gay-themed.”

Wang Yao, looking in the mirror, interjected, “Comrade theme? Veteran soldiers?”

(同志 (tóngzhì): While originally meaning “comrade” or “people with shared ideals” (especially in a political context), this term has been widely adopted in modern Chinese slang, particularly in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as an in-group term for “LGBTQ+ individuals,” “gay,” or “queer”. So Wang Yao misunderstood)

Chen You and Pang Yilong, “…”

Wang Yao hadn’t even figured out that this “people with shared ideals” was not the same as that “people with shared ideal,” but he excitedly said, “Many celebrities are just out on the street, doing something casual, when they are spotted by talent scouts or agents, shoot an advertisement, and enter the entertainment industry. Even if they can’t become superstars, they can still be artists and appear on TV.”

He got more and more excited as he spoke, “Youzi, listen to me, you can sing and dance, you’ll definitely be fine, you should become famous as early as possible.”

Chen You had a headache, so he put on some clothes and went out without taking a shower. Pang Yilong followed behind him, and the two of them didn’t go far before going up to the rooftop, which was a large and quiet place.

Pang Yilong said, “That subject matter is quite special, very few people can accept it, and many people are disgusted by it.”

“I know.”

Chen You said, “I didn’t want to accept it, I’ve already refused.”

Pang Yilong stared at Chen You and said, “I’m curious, what did that agent think about you that fit the gay community that led them to ask you to shoot the ad? I don’t think you have any gay vibes.”

You’re blind, really. I’m gay from head to toe. Chen You said, “Because I’m handsome.”

“Is being handsome enough?” Pang Yilong said shamelessly, “Then why not come to me?”

The day after he made that joke, he was cornered on a tree-lined path by a man who claimed to be an agent surnamed Hu.

The bespectacled man’s gaze swept up and down. Pang Yilong rubbed the goosebumps off his arms and said frantically, “Laozi can’t take it anymore, leaving first.”

He ran away without any loyalty, abandoning Chen You, Zheng, Shuai, and Wang Yao.

Hu Wei felt a little regretful. That tough-looking young man was quite suitable for another protagonist, but the other party was straight. Judging from his appearance, he was from a wealthy family and didn’t lack money. He also had a fiery personality and was difficult to tame, so he decided to pass.

“Hey classmate, we met again.”

Chen You turned around and left.

Hu Wei chased after him with a grin, “I came to your school to try my luck, I didn’t expect to see you again, what a coincidence…”

Zheng Shuai and Wang Yao stood there dumbfounded.

“What advertisement was that guy with glasses talking about with Old Pang? How come I didn’t know?”

“It should be the one Youzi mentioned yesterday, comrade-themed, you know what I mean.”

“Pfft, hahahahahaha—” Zheng Shuai burst into laughter, squatting down from laughing so hard he was out of breath, “Old Wang, you shouldn’t stay in the tourism management department. Go perform in a skit. You have the potential to make people laugh to death.”

Some classmates glanced at him, and Wang Yao kicked his friend who was laughing hysterically, and said, “Are you out of your mind?”

“Hold on a while.”

Zheng Shuai continued to laugh. When he had laughed enough, he wiped away his tears and said, “Ai, I’m almost twenty years old, and I’ve never heard such a funny joke before.”

“So-called comrade-themed content is just homosexuality, understand? Comrade Old Wang.”

Wang Yao’s face turned purple with embarrassment, “…Damn it!”

On the other side, Chen You walked to the playground, still with a tail behind him. Although he was not an easily angered person, he still had a temper. Playing like this was no fun.

“Mr. Hu, I have said everything I needed to say.”

“I see.”

Hu Wei kept walking.

Chen You turned around and said, “What do you understand?”

Hu Wei not only didn’t mind, but was also very excited, “Okay, that’s the feeling. Remember this feeling when you audition, and you’ll definitely be fine.”

Chen You didn’t want to talk anymore. Damn it, someone come quick and drag this lunatic away!

“Classment, first of all, I apologize for checking your information without your consent.”

Hu Wei pushed his glasses up a bit, “You’re a repeat student. Before your first college entrance exam, you applied to the xx Film Academy. Because of your outstanding appearance, you passed the preliminary exam smoothly. However, you were eliminated in the second round because of a crying scene. You didn’t even get to the third round.”

He continued, “You signed up voluntarily, what does that mean?”

Chen You chuckled, it means I’m out of my mind.

Hu Wei narrowed his eyes, “This means that a seed has been planted in your heart without you even realizing it. You like acting, you want to be a star, and you are willing and eager to enter the entertainment industry.”

Chen You laughed, “Mr. Hu, are you the same person you were three years ago as you are now?”

Hu Wei was stumped by the boy’s question. Everyone is different at a certain stage. He was silent for a moment, then said, “To be honest, I came all this way just for you. Classment, while you’re young, if you don’t try something new, you’ll regret it when you’re my age.”

The inspirational story is already in the pot, simmering.

Hu Wei talked a lot, but it was nothing more than how many opportunities he missed when he was young, so now he can only work for others. He also said that he had an income during his school years, which could ease the burden on his family. As for public opinion, he wondered how many artists had to pay money to have it.

As he listened, Chen You suddenly paused. If he accepted the advertisement, the level of discussion and popularity he would receive would be directly proportional, since black and red are always inseparable.

That man might be able to see him.

Even if he forgot it, he should still feel familiar, right?

Hu Wei noticed that the boy’s demeanor had changed, he seemed to be immersed in some kind of emotion. He didn’t disturb him and just waited for a reply.

Good prospects deserve his time and effort.

Hu Wei was 80% sure the boy would agree, and nearly ten minutes later, his guess was confirmed.

Two days later, Chen You went to the location Hu Wei had mentioned. He stood at the foot of the company building, dressed in a white t-shirt, jeans, and basketball shoes, looking very refreshed. His hair was soaked with sweat, and the hot air stung his eyes.

Hu Wei led Chen You to the photography studio and said to a young man, “Take him to change his clothes first.”

The young man responded and led Chen You into changing room number 3.

Chen You was worried about what kind of tight pants to wear, or if they would add lace or cutouts, but it turned out to be a school uniform, only not the kind of casual sportswear they wore at school. It was a dark blue suit with a white shirt.

Hu Wei was chatting with the director when he saw the boy come out. His eyes lit up and he was very satisfied.

Next came the audition.

The director chose one of the shots, the scene was in a dormitory, a set similar to a regular university dormitory. According to the script, Chen You was going to portray coming out, the side of being abandoned by the whole world, in short, it was very complicated.

Hu Wei, along with the director and producer, sat in front of the monitor, watching the boy on the screen.

At this moment, facing multiple cameras, Chen You was in a real bind. Damn it, how am I supposed to portray the heartache of being closeted? I don’t know how.

Hu Wei grabbed the back of his left hand with right hand, start, classmate Chen, stop daydreaming.

A few dozen seconds later, the boy moved. He raised one hand and unbuttoned his school uniform shirt one button at a time, took it off and draped it over the back of the chair. Then he unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, rolled them up, and went to get a basin and towel to wash his face at the sink.

The boy lowered his head, his back bent slightly, revealing a youthful and supple curve, like a green bamboo stalk.

The next moment, a loud bang startled Hu Wei and the others in front of the machine.

They went to look at it at the same time and saw the basin being thrown out, shaking a few times in the pool. The boy’s two hands were gripping the countertop, his fingers clenched, his knuckles protruding. He was panting, suppressing something.

The camera zooms in, giving a close-up of the boy’s profile. They can see his flaring nostrils, tightly pursed lips, and reddened eyes. A tear slides down his beauty mark. Despair, pain, and anger intertwine and surge onto that childlike face, spreading slowly and silently.

The director and producer exchanged glances and reached a consensus, “He’s the one.”

Upon hearing a “cut,” Chen You wiped his face, put his head under the tap, and rinsed himself with cold water for a while before he sobered up. He didn’t know what to feel. Old 4, did you see that? I’m an actor now.

Ai, I don’t want to think about it anymore. Old 4 is wicked. He doesn’t want to run into that person again, because if he does, it means his man is going to get into trouble.

Hu Wei stepped forward and tossed Chen You a towel, and said, “Wipe your face and come with me to see the director and producer.”

Chen You pulled the towel off his head and wiped his face haphazardly. He was young, so his skin was great, he didn’t even need makeup.

Having met the director and the others, Chen You was a well-behaved child throughout, answering every question thoroughly and accurately. He kept the mentally challenged Chen You under control, preventing him from being released, otherwise he would have surely terrified these big shots.

Chen You passed the audition and was told to come back next Wednesday to officially join the filming crew. Everything went smoothly.

Hu Wei said he wanted to celebrate with Chen You, but Chen You politely declined. He said he was too emotionally invested during the audition and needed to go back and watch an action movie to clear his mind.

Chen You went back to school and was caught by Pang Yilong and his friends. When they found out that he had succeeded, they dragged him to treat them to a meal.

The four of them devoured several pounds of crayfish and a dozen beers. Because of their youthful arrogance, they went wild and fearless.

Chen You had drunk too much. He was slumped on the table, playing with a beer bottle and muttering something under his breath.

Zheng Shuai hiccuped, “Youzi, are you sure you can handle it? If not, let Old Wang carry you.”

Wang Yao was only slightly better off than Chen You. He could walk, but he was unsteady. He didn’t dare to carry him on his back, afraid that he would fall and knock out his front teeth along with Chen You. Heaven knows how obsessed he was with his front teeth, thinking that they were the best-looking part of his body.

“Let, let Old Pang do it.”

Wang Yao slurred, his eyes suddenly widening, “Holy crap, Old Shuai, quick, stop Youzi, he’s about to pee!”

Zheng Shuai looked over at the sound, and what he saw shocked him. His friend had already pulled his pants down a bit, revealing his V-line, which caused the girls to scream. This pervert was really something.

Pang Yilong went to the restroom, and when he came back, he saw his three buddies on the table in complete chaos. One of them was pulling on his belt, about to pee in public, while the other two were trying to stop him. The three of them were shouting and yelling, and everyone around them was just watching the show, laughing like idiots.

“What are you looking at?”

With a roar, Pang Yilong grabbed Zheng Shuai and Wang Yao, pulling them apart and carrying the drunken Chen You towards the door, “Damn it, this is so embarrassing! Old Shuai and Old Wang, hurry up and catch up, stop dawdling!”

It’s windless tonight, and hot and humid.

Four teenagers lay on the grass by the lake. Three of them quietly released the smell of alcohol into the night sky, while the other kept humming 《Nunchucks》.

Zheng Shuai, “Why does Youzi like 《Nunchucks》 so much?”

Wang Yao, “I want to know too.”

Pang Yilong, “Same.”

The three of them listened to their buddy humming and hawing, and to be honest, their heads were really starting to hurt. They’d been listening to him since their freshman and sophomore years, and there was no doubt that he’d be doing it again in their junior and senior years. The horrible sound was hard to shake off.

The singing faded, replaced by a boy’s choked sobs, “Old 4, why hasn’t my man come yet…”

Pang Yilong, who was closest, heard it immediately. He turned his head in bewilderment and nudged the person next to him, “Youzi, what are you talking about? Who’s Old 4? And who’s your man?”

This shout also drew the attention of Zheng Shuai and Wang Yao.

No matter how the three asked, the young man didn’t give an answer. To be precise, he didn’t pay any attention at all. He was playing a role from beginning to end that no one else could stop or get involved in.

Chen You slept until noon the next day. He stared at the ceiling with his eyes open, his mind blank, as if a storm had swept through him sometime ago. He felt like he had forgotten something, but he couldn’t remember it. He only remembered a pair of phoenix eyes and a face with a mole and indistinct features. Who was that? He couldn’t remember.

Probably seen it on TV or at school.

Chen You rolled over, face down, his nose filled with the smell of his own sweat mixed with the scent of the bamboo mat. There were still a few arena matches to play, and he also had to play the 3-3 match. His score hadn’t gone up yet, which was troublesome.

Let’s just play all night this Friday and Saturday and arrange a time with the other guys.

Chen You thought this way, then inexplicably dismissed the idea, and a thought popped into his head, staying up all night for several consecutive nights could lead to sudden death.

He scoffed, it can’t be that bad. I stayed up all night at an internet cafe for several days in a row last time, and nothing happened to me. I’m still perfectly fine.

The knocking came suddenly, jolting something out of Chen You’s head. He muttered, “Who is it?”

The dormitory manager is at the entrance, checking the rooms.

Chen You cursed, jumped out of bed in a hurry, stuffed the electric heater on the balcony into the closet, and hid the electric rice cooker on the table.

The dormitory manager came in to take a look, found nothing prohibited, and left.

Chen You tugged at his vest, breaking out in a cold sweat. They’d bought dozens of electric kettles and at least five pots for their dorm this semester, vowing not to get caught again this year.

As a result, they didn’t pack it carefully before going to class, they didn’t learn his lesson.

Chen You went to wash his face, because he felt terrible after getting drunk.

To what extent? It’s so bad that even taking a breath of air makes him feel nauseous, not to mention feeling weak in his limbs and dizzy.

Chen You was lying dead on the top bunk when he remembered that he had an English class in the morning, and they always attended. He hoped that Sanbao could cover for him.

The key turned, the dormitory door opened, and Wang Yao returned alone, bringing with him bad news, “During roll call this morning, Old Shuai covered for you, but Teacher Huahua called on you to answer a question later.”

Chen You, “…”

“Where are Old Pang and Old Shuai?”

“Get up and eat.” Wang Yao placed the packed food on Chen You’s table, “Old Pang has a meeting, and Old Shuai’s club also has something to do.”

Chen You grabbed the bed railing and climbed down, asking, “Where’s my braised pork with preserved mustard greens?”

Wang Yao gagged, “Don’t even mention it! When I was waiting at the window, I saw someone order braised pork with preserved mustard greens, and there was a huge turd fly in it! Hey, Youzi, where are you going to throw up? The toilet’s in there!”

Chen You vomited at the door. After he finished vomiting, he went to clean up. When he rested, he didn’t even want to drink water and lay back on the bed half-dead.

Chen You felt a little better in the evening and called his father to chat.

Chen Weidong reminded him over the phone, “Remember to take your medicine on time and try to keep a positive attitude.”

After hanging up the phone, Chen You was stunned for a few moments before realizing what kind of medicine his father was talking about. He had depression, but why? What was the reason?

Before the age of twenty, do you get Alzheimer?

Chen You scratched his head, forget it, if I can’t remember, I won’t think about it anymore. I’ll take it slow. It’s like looking for something. He often finds something right in his hand when he’s exhausted from looking for it.

On Wednesday, Chen You checked the class schedule and thought, thank goodness, I can skip class.

After greeting Pang Yilong and the others, Chen You went to find Hu Wei. This time it was for real, and he was a little nervous, knowing there would be many people filming and scenes to rehearse.

The other lead actor has already been chosen, he’s a member of an idol group. He accepted the advertisement purely because he was tricked by his own manager, and he’s extremely unhappy about it.

The investors’ funding has all gone into that idol, there’s no other way, someone has to drive the fan effect.

Hu Wei led Chen You over, saying, “This is Xiao Chen.”

Jiang Shaonan was scrolling through his phone and didn’t even glance at him, only making a sound from his nose as a response, as if he were sulking.

Chen You was adept at flattery and a sycophant, but he was selective about who he approached. He didn’t want to acknowledge this man, who was about his age, and simply watched him act arrogantly.

After playing on his phone for a while, Jiang Shaonan stretched and turned his eyes to the boy not far away. He was a fan of back views, and the boy’s back view could stir up the dormant blood in his veins.

With a silent laugh, Jiang Shaonan discovered a new toy. He walked over to the boy and asked, “Are you gay?”

Chen You ignored him.

Jiang Shaonan gave a signal with his eyes, and his assistant quickly carried a chair over and placed it for him. He sat down, told the assistant to move away, and asked the young man, “Is it innate?”

Chen You still ignored him.

Jiang Shaonan breathed into his ear, “Is this your first time? Want Ge to teach you some tips? If Ge is in a better mood later, might give you an autograph.”

Chen You pushed the man’s head away, ignoring the autograph automatically, and said, “Nan Ge, I’m not gay.”

He left after saying that.

Jiang Shaonan’s tongue was pressed against his teeth. Not gay? Who are you kidding? He could smell it with his nose.

In the lounge, Chen You listened to Hu Wei’s words, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, “Holy crap, there’s even a kissing scene? Isn’t the purpose of an advertisement to popularize knowledge about homosexuality? Who can accept something this big?”

Hu Wei said, “It was just added, and it might not be used even if we shoot.”

Chen You glared at him, “Then why shoot?”

Hu Wei remained calm, saying that since he wasn’t the one directing, “The investors want to see the results.”

Chen You plopped down on the stool, shaking his leg, looking like he had no room for negotiation, “I’m not shooting.”

Hu Wei had seen this kind of situation many times and handled it with ease, “You have to get used to it. There will be many more of these kinds of things in the future. No one can avoid it in the entertainment industry.”

Chen You glanced sideways and said, “When did I say I wanted to enter the entertainment industry?”

Hu Wei calmed the jumping cat, “Don’t be nervous, that scene is coming later. You film the rest first. By the time the day comes, the investors might have a new idea and think the kissing scene is vulgar, so they’ll cut it.”

Chen You was speechless, it seems being an actor isn’t easy either.

Hu Wei said in an elderly tone, “You need to adapt as soon as possible.”

He crossed his arms and said, “I think once you step into this circle, you’ll never leave. I have a good eye for people.”

Good eye my foot, Chen You snorted.

The first shot was Jiang Shaonan and Chen You exchanging a smile, and it was done in one take. There were blind people in the studio who said they had great chemistry.

Hu Wei selected a picture and sent it to Lin Fuxing, also making a phone call to remind him to look at it and offer his suggestions.

Lin Fuxing looked at the pictures on the screen. The two boys were about the same height, one gentle and the other handsome. Both of them exuded youthful energy, making people sigh that youth is wonderful, allowing one to be brave, fearless, wild, and to cry and laugh heartily.

“Who is he?”

The voice behind him came suddenly, and Lin Fuxing realized that Li Yan had come over. He said, “Which one are you asking about?”

A hand reached out and took the phone from Lin Fuxing’s hand.

Li Yan stared at the photo, his gaze falling on the handsome young man. When his eyes swept over the beauty mark at the corner of the young man’s eye, his breathing became noticeably different, “This one, where is he now?”

Lin Fuxing glanced at him and said, “That kid’s name is Chen You. He’s a sophomore and he’s in the photography studio right now.”

Li Yan turned and left, taking large strides, his back showing a hint of inexplicable anxiety.

Lin Fuxing’s lips twitched. What was going on? Ever since that yellow puppy appeared, he had become even more unable to figure out Li Yan’s thoughts, and he had the illusion that his IQ had dropped.

The photography studio was noisy.

Hu Wei received a call from Lin Fuxing in advance, so he grabbed Chen You and made him wait at the door. He also told Chen You that two people would be coming later, and who they were and what their names were.

Chen You nodded absentmindedly, his mind filled with that dog show and the way Jiang Shaonan looked at him. In short, he wanted to mess with him.

Two sets of footsteps approached from afar.

Chen You’s arm was tugged by Hu Wei, and he was startled. He looked up and saw two men walking down the corridor. One was dressed casually, handsome and elegant, while the other was wearing a black shirt and black trousers, with his hair combed back. His phoenix eyes were sharp and fierce, making people afraid to look directly at him.

Hu Wei went up to greet him and called out Li Ge, then called the young man to introduce.

Chen You’s eyes widened, his vision filled only with the strange man’s phoenix eyes and the beautiful mole on his face. His head throbbed slightly, and he blurted out, “Have I seen you somewhere before?”

The atmosphere became subtle, just like Hu Wei’s face. How could he not know that the young man liked Li Yan, this eccentric and crazy type?

Lin Fuxing laughed heartily, “Kid, your way of flirting is so old-fashioned, Li Ge, you…”

His words abruptly stopped, and he could no longer laugh. In sync with Hu Wei, he was so shocked that his mouth dropped open.

Under the gaze of both eyes, Li Yan strode closer, grabbed the boy’s face with one hand, and lifted it up slightly. His jawline was taut, his face was expressionless, and there was something in his eyes.

The distance shortens, draws them closer, and becomes ambiguous.

There were whispers in the corridor, and everyone fell silent as soon as they recognized the man.

This scene was truly bizarre.

Lin Fuxing looked at Hu Wei questioningly, but Hu Wei shook his head, indicating that he was also completely confused.

Li Yan’s unusual behavior was related to this young man, but they didn’t know why.

Chen You’s face was pinched out of shape, and he made a muffled sound, “What are you doing?”

Li Yan remained in the same posture, his face unchanged, as if he had become a sculpture, or as if he was trapped in some indescribable situation and could not get out.

Chen You’s face hurt a lot. He shook his head, but couldn’t break free from the man’s grip, so he reached out to grab the hand on his face.

The next moment, he was pushed away.

Caught off guard, Chen You fell backward, his head about to hit the wall, but just before the pain hit, a large hand caught his waist.

---

---

---

---