Chapter 35: Guan Yaoming
On Friday morning, after waking in his own villa, Guan Yaoming deliberately drove out to buy an anniversary gift for Zhao Mian.
The first shop he stepped into was a boutique’s tie section.
Sales clerk: “Sir, which style caught your eye? I can take it out for you to try.”
Guan Yaoming: “No need, thank you.”
At seven that evening, carrying a small gift box, Guan arrived at the home he and Zhao had made together.
“Yaoming, you are here,” Zhao said. “Come in, dinner is ready.” He was all smiles, especially cheerful tonight. “Right, help me pick a wine for tonight?”
“A gift for you. Happy anniversary.” Guan handed the present to Zhao and even pulled him in for a hug.
“Thank you, Yaoming,” Zhao said with pleasant surprise. “I did not expect you to buy me a gift.” He opened the box in front of him. Inside was a wallet. “It looks great. I really like it.”
“Do you really?” He watched Zhao Mian quietly, as if unable to feel anything real. After stepping into this place, his mood became like stagnant water, without any vitality.
“Of course. I have always liked this brand,” Zhao said, putting the gift away. He pulled Guan to help choose a wine. “Today matters so much. I was honestly afraid you would leave me…”
“I will not,” Guan said. “I am here.” Yet leaving the whirlpool of that little fresh meat had not made him feel lighter.
In a blink, it was August, time for Li Dong to join the film crew.
Counting on his fingers, he realized it had already been a week since he and Guan had any contact.
After Li Dong drove the big boss away that day, he had not blocked Guan on WeChat or by phone, but both sides tacitly cut things off.
The only thing that made Li Dong suspect Guan might be only pretending to be mad was that the bodyguards Guan assigned to him were still following him.
Whether he was heading to work or running downstairs for a late snack, two strapping bodyguards took turns at his side.
Maybe Guan had told them to keep protecting Li Dong. Maybe big shots forgot things easily and he had simply forgotten about the whole arrangement.
So on the day he entered the crew, Li Dong showed up with two assistants and two bodyguards. The formation was as grand as a top star’s.
Anyone with eyes could tell this little fresh meat had shouldered aside Star Emperor’s number-one, Best Actor Zhao, and parachuted into a major production as a total newcomer. There had to be a sponsor behind him.
Given Guan’s age, he could not very well be the fresh meat’s “sugar daddy” father figure. At best he was an older boyfriend.
“Ha, Director Yang, this Lin Mo kid is really a beauty.” So young and already climbing over someone else’s wall. Ptui! Looks like a smiling fox with a belly full of schemes.
Poor Best Actor Zhao. Past his prime, petals falling. The industry would soon see a vicious battle.
Director Yang: “Gao Qing, you are a seasoned actress. Look after the kid. Do not let a great script get ruined.”
Gao Qing was an established actress and on good terms with Zhao Mian. In Peerless Patriot, she played the female lead, the protagonist’s wife.
As a middle-aged woman whose husband had been stolen by a rising starlet, Gao Qing hated all homewreckers, including male ones.
“Director Yang, if you are afraid of ruining the script, why not choose a more stable actor?” Gao said. “I thought I would be working with Best Actor Zhao this time, especially since President Guan invested.” Everyone in the circle knew those two were a pair. This cheating was awfully high-profile.
Director Yang: “Our lead is a teenager. Zhao’s acting is excellent, but he is a bit old for the part.”
Gao let out a sigh. “Right. Getting older is an original sin.”
Seeing her whole aura dim, Director Yang shook his head. “I will go see how Lin Mo’s styling turned out.”
Peerless Patriot’s youth Qin Kong loved wearing bright red. On snowy days he would swipe his master’s hidden wine, climb into the plum tree, and drink himself silly.
Qin Kong didn’t drink because he was troubled, he drank because he was happy.
His brows were always flying with abandon, his lips always carrying a childish smile.
But the rumors said that the world’s most beautiful man, no one surpassed Qin Kong.
What did this clever, handsome demon Qin look like? Li Dong looked at his costume photos. Mm, pretty much like this guy here.
Bright eyes and white teeth, sword brows and starry gaze, natural and pure.
Li Dong believed there are two phases of true purity in a person: childhood, and the later years after weathering life’s storms.
At the start of the film, young Qin Kong had childhood innocence. As for the actor Li Dong, it was the purity of someone who had seen wind and rain.
“Qin Kong?” Director Yang said. “Excellent. This part suits you perfectly…” Seeing the styling, he did not regret choosing Li Dong at all.
He was even grateful to Guan for saying Li Dong was right for the role. He really was.
He could also understand why Guan would sneak a bite outside. Faced with such a stunning youth, losing control was normal.
“Thank you, Director,” Li Dong said. He studied the mirror. “But is this look a bit too flamboyant?”
“No, not flamboyant,” Director Yang said. “It is bright and lively. It suits the character’s early temperament.” It was a brightness untouched by hardship, the kind that makes you happy to look at.
Then Director Yang started to worry again. With a kid this straightforward, could he pull off the protagonist’s ruthless steeliness in the latter half?
With nerves a little tight up and down the crew, they completed the opening ceremony and released the styling promo.
Everyone knew seniority ruled in this industry, down to who stood where in a photo.
Li Dong was a newcomer and did not know a thing. Wherever the director told him to stand, he stood.
When the press release came out, he was right in the middle, impossible to miss.
The drama’s official Weibo posted the styling stills, and Li Dong’s photos were first, most numerous, and most eye-catching.
Netizens: “!!!!”
“Beautiful boy!!!”
“Nosebleed. OMG!”
“This kind of stunner was hiding in showbiz and I did not know?”
“Damn it, these are just styling stills, not final footage [laugh-cry]. Why did I click this?”
“Is this enchanting costume boy the same Lin Mo who guested on XX ‘Pretty Boys Night’?”
A wave of people rushed to find that variety episode, turned the internet upside down, and finally dug it up.
“Sisters, thank me later! I found Lin Mo’s XX fruit juice ad on XX Video. Beach theme. Go watch. The body is insane. Super good.”
Just to watch the ads, people opened video after video, watched the pre-roll, then left.
There are a thousand ways to get famous in showbiz. A candid photo with milk tea. A casual short clip.
Getting popular off a set of styling stills made Li Dong the first of his kind.
Li Dong himself had no idea. While the name “Lin Mo” was exploding online, he was on set suffering through lines and learning fight choreography.
Soon he would have a fight scene with Gao Qing, the master’s wife who took over teaching her disciple after her husband’s death.
They practiced the sequence set by the action director.
“Jie, Qing-jie, do you not like me?” After a round, Li Dong asked Gao right in front of the action director.
“I…” Gao said. “It is not that I do not like you.” Her face went red. Inside she wanted to tear him in half. Who talked like that?
“Oh, then I am relieved,” Li Dong said. “Come on, let us keep practicing.”
Late at night in Director Yang’s room.
With reading glasses on, he sat on the bed and typed on his phone, word by word: “President Guan, the kid you recommended is really straightforward. Today on set he asked Gao Qing if she did not like him. Nearly made her lose face, haha…”
Guan read it and tossed his phone aside. He propped his head and sat there thinking in silence. Lin Mo, Lin Mo, Lin Mo…
More than anyone, he knew he had run into someone genuine and direct, clear and precious as a diamond.
Two weeks apart, he missed the passion. He missed the kid’s smile.
In his mind, a devilishly handsome face flashed, then a big childlike grin. Both were him. All him.
Crash. Everything on his desk flew and clattered to the floor.
“Yaoming, are you free for dinner tonight?” Zhao said over the phone. He had the sense that Guan and Lin Mo had cut things off, which was good news.
“I am a bit busy. Next time,” Guan answered. He now subconsciously held back his temper with Zhao and did not snap like he used to.
“You and Lin Mo… did you two cut things off recently?” Zhao asked.
The word “cut” made Guan’s heart tremble. “…”
“Alright,” Zhao said after a long silence. It seemed the other man did not want to talk. “Then I will not ask. I trust you to handle it.”
“Mm.” Guan looked at the mess on the floor and gave a self-mocking smile.
Not seeing Lin Mo was, in his mind, the correct way to handle things. Yet reality seemed to be drifting the other direction.
On Weibo.
Actor Lin Mo V: Hello everyone, I finally got a Weibo. If you have anything you want to say to me, leave a comment~
Anonymous: Miss you very much.
Confessions poured in by the second. Li Dong’s post was just pleasantries. He did not read the comments one by one.
The obvious reason was that set life was too busy. As a newbie, any spare minute went to acting practice and memorizing lines.
Two months later, the film wrapped.
Director Yang called Guan: “President Guan, why not come celebrate our wrap?”
It was now December. On the day of the wrap party, light snow was falling.
“Goodness, it is cold,” Li Dong yelped as he stepped out of the car, dressed in a puffer jacket, looking up at the drifting flakes.
“Mo-ge, let us head in. It will be warmer,” assistant A said.
“Alright, alright,” Li Dong replied. “When we eat, make sure to loosen your belts.”
Assistants and bodyguards: “Hahaha.” In their hearts, the boss was really easygoing.
He was young, but for some reason he made people feel very at ease.
“Our leading man is here,” Director Yang called. “Come on, Lin Mo, sit over here by President Guan.”
Li Dong froze for a second. Anyone could see he looked surprised. “Oh. President Guan.” He pasted on a smile, walked over, and shook Guan’s hand. “Long time no see.”
“Mm. It has been a while,” Guan said. He held Li Dong’s hand for two seconds before Li Dong pulled away.
“Then I will sit beside you,” Li Dong said breezily. “What are we having? Is there my favorite fish, Director?”
“There is, there is,” Director Yang said. “Only you care about eating. Tell me how much weight you gained these three months in the crew.”
“Not much at all,” Li Dong said. “Hardly any. Hurry and bring the food. I am starving.”
People from the crew started teasing. “Xiao Mo-ge is a food goblin. He is always begging for midnight snacks.”
Li Dong pointed around the table. “And you did not eat the snacks I bought?”
Clearly Li Dong was very popular in the crew. Of course, he was so generous, often treating everyone to good food, and his personality was so humorous and easygoing. It was hard to dislike him.
Gao Qing had hated him at first. Now…
“Xiao Mo, come drink with jie. Tonight we do not go home sober,” Gao said. “I wish you Best Actor for your first film. How about it? Dare you?”
“Why not?” Li Dong raised his glass. “What’s there not to dare? What’s Best Actor? If you’ve got guts, win Best Actor consecutively.” He clinked glasses with Gao Qing and drank with a grin.
In this moment it was not peerless patriot, but peerless beauty.
Everyone’s hearts stirred. They felt this statement was definitely challenging Zhao Mian. Too bold.
They glanced at President Guan. He pretended not to know the kid well and the two did not exchange a single word the entire time.
Tsk, Li Dong thought. If you find me so distasteful, why come to the wrap party? I don’t want to see your stupid face either.
In reality…
“President Guan,” Li Dong said with a smile. “A toast to you.” One had to say the right things. Harmony brings wealth.
“Not necessary,” Guan said, yet he still raised his glass and drained it in one go to give Li Dong face.
“Great capacity. Then one more,” Li Dong said. He kept accompanying Guan Yaoming glass after glass.
At this moment, nothing needed to be said. The spicy taste represented everything.
“Lin Mo, that is enough,” Director Yang cut in. “Are you trying to drink President Guan under the table?” He had lived long enough to see through a lover’s spat. “Less wine, more food. Lin Mo, here is your favorite fish. The belly is yours.”
“Thank you, Director,” Li Dong said, putting down his glass and eating quietly.
“Director spoils Xiao Mo,” Gao Qing teased. “But he is indeed lovable. If I were twenty years younger, I would chase him.”
“Jie, you can chase me now. I will consider it seriously,” Li Dong said.
Everyone at the table except President Guan: “Hahahaha.” They all knew Li Dong dared to say anything.
After the banquet, Guan was the first to stand and leave. As the big boss, no one tried to stop him.
Li Dong left later. He opened his car door and saw Guan sitting inside. “…” He shut it at once, walked to the front, and checked the plate. No mistake. It was his car.
“Get in,” Guan said, opening the door with a stiff face.
“President Guan, why are you in my car?” Li Dong asked. “At this hour you should be with your beloved, should you not?” Which dog had said he would never come find him again?
“Get in,” Guan repeated.
“Alright, alright, I am getting in,” Li Dong said. “Please do not look at me like I owe you money…” Then he thought about it. He had taken quite a bit, actually.
“Two or three months without coming to me. You are stubborn,” Guan said. “If I had not come today, were you planning to never come again?” He started the car and headed for the nearest hotel.
“Did we not break up?” Li Dong said. “Your words are ridiculous.”
“So that is how you see it,” Guan said.
Obviously just muddying the waters. Li Dong couldn’t be bothered with him.
At the hotel, Guan took a room. Li Dong hesitated at the door. Since they had broken up, was it appropriate to sleep together again?
Then he figured it was just a hookup. He had not actually done that before, but so what?
Inside, Guan pounced on him and kissed him breathless.
The little wolfdog, starved for months, happily clamped down on the meat delivered to the door. Not fatty meat, but the lean cut kind.
Li Dong soon realized that tonight President Guan was very generous in his “devotion,” the most he had ever tried in his life. There was even a hint of trying to please.
“You do not have to…” Li Dong stopped him from attempting moves he clearly was not skilled at. Be careful not to choke.
“You do not like it?” Guan asked. “Then what do you like?” If it was not too much, he felt he could do it.
“What I like, you cannot give,” Li Dong said. That did not stop him from giving the scummy male lead a thorough ride for showing up at his door. “Stop talking and enjoy. What I can give you is also limited. You might not taste it again.”
“What nonsense are you saying…,” Guan said.
After a stormy hour, Li Dong lit a cigarette and began getting dressed.
“Hey,” Guan said. “You are smoking again?” The kid was always saying he would quit and never did.
“None of your f*cking business,” Li Dong said, blowing rings. “That is it. See you around.” He stood to leave.
“F*ck…” Guan swore, scrambling up to grab Li Dong by the waist and drag him back to the bed. “What the f*ck do you mean?”
He had thought Li Dong was only dressing to go to the bathroom, but the kid was actually leaving?
Li Dong sprawled back. “What do I mean? We are done. I am leaving. Is that not obvious?” They were not a couple. Why would they cuddle afterward?
Guan froze, then let out a ridiculous laugh. “You think I came to you just for a hookup?”
“If not, then what?” Li Dong asked lazily. “Talk feelings? Do you even have the right?”
“You came to me first,” Guan snapped, hand tightening.
Li Dong’s eyes widened and flushed. “And now you are the one who came to me. Guan Yaoming, if I do not take advantage, I am a fool…”
“Shut up.”
“Get lost.”
Li Dong kicked Guan off him. Guan lunged back, fisted his collar, and raised a fist.
“I will beat you to death,” he snarled.
“Do it,” Li Dong shot back. “Right here. Use the ashtray and smash my head in.” He tapped his own skull, voice no softer than Guan’s.
He had meant to scare Guan, but Guan actually swung.
“F*ck!” The pain was blinding.
Two grown men tumbled and fought across the bed like enraged lions, clawing at each other to vent.
Li Dong did not actually want a fight. “Stop,” he barked. He knew the line about not being a fool had set Guan off. “I apologize, alright?”
Guan gritted his teeth and kept swinging, his hardest punches landing on Li Dong’s body.
Li Dong truly did not want to fight back. He suddenly curled in on himself, arms covering his head, and let the blows land.
After a long moment, Guan realized Li Dong had gone still.
Panting, shoulders slumped, he rasped, “Lin Mo…” He pried at Li Dong’s arms and saw Li Dong’s eyes squeezed shut in pain.
“Get out,” Li Dong growled. He slapped Guan’s hand away, got up, and straightened his clothes and the marks on his face.
Once he had caught his breath, he picked up the stubbed-out cigarette, relit it, and clenched it between his teeth.
Blood from his split lip stained the filter. The smoke tasted of iron.
“Guan Yaoming,” Li Dong said hoarsely. “If you are done being willful, go back.”
Guan watched him walk out and did not dare say a word to stop him.
Strangely, after beating each other up, Guan actually felt steadier inside. He collapsed back onto the bed and wordlessly covered his face.
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