Chapter 94

A cavity?

Ji Wei was stunned for a moment, already silently pondering which dental hospital in Yancheng was good.

However, he didn’t have to think for long before the salesperson handed over the wrapped matryoshka dolls.

A single doll was half a meter tall, making it difficult for one person to carry. He and Lu Shenxing each carried one.

As for Ying Guanxiao…………

He had bought so many things that Huang Bo had to help him carry four large bags. He couldn’t manage the rest, so in the end, they had to use a shopping cart from the mall to transport everything to the car.

It was already afternoon when they arrived in Yancheng. Having eaten lunch on the plane, Ji Wei wasn’t very hungry.

But Huang Bo was always worried they hadn’t eaten enough. As soon as they reached Hua Ting, he started making afternoon tea desserts: old-fashioned handmade egg rolls.

Ji Wei tried one. The outer egg roll was sprinkled with sesame seeds and baked to a crispy, slightly sweet perfection. The filling in the middle wasn’t the usual cream but ice cream. One bite revealed a crispy exterior and a soft, cool interior.

Lu Shenxing had never been very interested in Chinese pastries. He ate one and went back to his room to rest. Ji Wei, however, found them delicious and couldn’t resist eating another.

After finishing the third egg roll, he was a bit full.

He walked to the refrigerator, planning to drink a carton of yogurt to aid digestion.

There was plenty of yogurt in the fridge, but he couldn’t find a straw. He didn’t want to bother Huang Bo, so he simply tore a small slit in the yogurt carton, tilted his head back, and drank it down with a gurgle.

It was just a small carton of yogurt, and he finished it just as he reached his room.

Lu Shenxing was already asleep.

He gently closed the door. He had intended to throw the yogurt carton into the trash can next to his work desk, but on a whim—

He licked the remaining yogurt off the lid.

For some reason, it seemed to taste better than the yogurt in the carton.

But it was very childish.

After realizing this, just as he was about to throw the carton into the trash, he suddenly heard the man on the bed speak. “Weiwei, are you trying to seduce me?”

His voice was still tinged with sleepiness.

Ji Wei was startled and subconsciously wanted to nod, but then he thought, I just licked a yogurt lid, how does that count as seduction?

It must just be sleep-talking…

He threw away the carton, changed into his pajamas, and got into bed. He relaxed and lay down, and then the next second—

The man’s unhurried voice sounded by his ear, “I’m a sucker for that.”

A passionate kiss followed.

Just like how he had licked the yogurt lid, not a single spot was missed.

Exceptionally thorough.

***

Meng Hao thought for a whole night.

At nine o’clock, he still went to Yancheng East Station.

The train station was crowded, with people carrying large and small bags of luggage everywhere.

After being a bureau chief for half his life, he still didn’t have the money to buy himself a plane ticket.

He shook his head.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

He answered it casually. A voice said, “I’m sorry.”

His expression changed instantly.

Then, terrified screams came from the phone.

“Quick, call an ambulance.”

“Where is he?”

“Someone, help!”

He hung up the phone and looked back.

It wasn’t an ambulance that arrived, but a police car.

The person who had been talking to him just yesterday was being carried onto a stretcher, covered with a white cloth.

He didn’t walk over, but watched with unusual calmness.

Like a strange bystander, only his suddenly clenched fist betrayed his emotions.

It was a good thing he didn’t walk over.

***

While eating breakfast, Ji Wei saw a piece of news.

—Former Yancheng Public Security Bureau Chief Fang Miao Attacked and Killed

“They say the suspect was personally arrested by this bureau chief. He was locked up for ten years and was just released not long ago.” Huang Bo was simmering chicken broth for lunch to enhance the flavor. “I don’t know what he was thinking. A seventy-year-old man doesn’t have many days left. Now he’ll be locked up for life.”

If it was for revenge, the motive made sense.

But what Ji Wei found strange was that Bureau Chief Fang was taking a train to Yu City, yet none of his family knew he was going there. They all thought he was visiting friends in the neighboring province.

This bureau chief’s career path was also very broad, from Beijing to Shanghai and then to Yancheng. It was unclear whether it was a promotion in name but a demotion in reality, or if he had actively sought the transfers.

He sighed and was about to turn off his phone.

Suddenly, he saw the news that Lu Shenxing’s Sun Eater had been scheduled for release.

Ji Wei’s hand couldn’t help but pause.

Although it was just a small-budget art film, and it was predictable that it wouldn’t get many screenings, being able to pass censorship and get released was already a pleasant surprise. He had thought this film would never be shown.

So, for the first time in many days, he opened Weibo.

He logged into his fan side account.

He had expected the Super Topic to be a scene of jubilation, but to his surprise, the mood was distinctly gloomy.

[Xingzhi] It passed censorship… I bet they cut more than half the scenes.

[Ling Hua] Is the production company that poor? The font on the poster is so ugly. Is that worthy of Brother Lu’s face? Could you please pay a little more attention to the details? @SunEaterProductionTeam

[Got My Lu Wei Fix] To be honest, the font is really ugly. They would have been better off using a standard typeface. I don’t want to say anything more, I’m just tired.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

His fandom had always been very chill. While other fandoms were constantly being pushed to boost numbers, his relied on self-motivation. Even when Sun Eater was suddenly pulled from release right before it was due to premiere, the Super Topic was business as usual. He had never seen them so angry.

He scrolled down a few posts, and his whole body froze.

[Xingzhi] The awards ceremony, sigh [sobbing]

[Film Critic Su Cheng] Lu Shenxing was absent from the awards ceremony at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. He was later photographed vacationing with his partner in Russia, leading Western media to question his arrogance. I’ve never been a fan of his, but I have to say, well done. I had predicted he would win the Silver Bear this year. Considering the jury’s taste, it might have been the old veteran. But why Lawrence? Because his film was politically correct enough? It swept four major awards.

[Berlin Allergy] Although all the nominees are Film Emperors, their skills are not on the same level. An upset is one thing, but not this kind of upset.

[Lu Wei is Real] Let me explain, although Old Lu can be quite proud sometimes, he went to Russia to be with Weiwei and help him relax. It really wasn’t arrogance. Sigh, you can only submit to one of the three major festivals, which means he got nothing from them this year. He’ll just have to try again next year.

He had missed out on Berlin, yet Lu Shenxing had said nothing.

Not a single word.

Instead, he had gently extended a hand to him in the darkness.

And so, the light broke through—

Clutching his drawing board in a daze, he had followed the light and walked out.

Ji Wei’s eyes grew moist, and he suddenly felt the urge to cry. He lowered his head and asked Huang Bo in a hoarse voice, “Where’s big brother?”

Huang Bo understood he was asking about Lu Shenxing. He turned the heat down on the chicken soup in the clay pot to a slow simmer. “He went to Ying Guanxiao’s place.”

Ji Wei let out a soft “oh.”

His emotions calmed down a bit. Seeing that everyone in the Super Topic was venting their frustration on the font of the Sun Eater poster, he went to the study and took out some Xuan paper from the cabinet.

***

Sun Eater was a very poor production. Yao Song had even sold a house for it. Because it couldn’t pass censorship for a long time, he couldn’t recoup his costs and could only release it overseas, where the box office wasn’t high.

Even now that it had passed censorship, various pirated versions were already available online, so the domestic box office would probably be even lower.

Even though Sun Eater won the Best Screenplay award at Berlin, besides fame, it didn’t bring in any actual funds.

Even so, he decided to respond to the fans’ calls and change the font for the poster. The day before yesterday, he had found a well-known font designer in the industry. They had agreed on a deadline of yesterday, but he hadn’t received a response.

He made a phone call. “Hello, I’m the director of Sun Eater. I commissioned you for a project the day before yesterday. It’s quite urgent. Do you think you could—”

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

“When we started working together the day before yesterday, I told you I had a lot of projects recently. Rushing me is useless. Innocence 2 also commissioned me, and they’re a major commercial blockbuster, but even they aren’t in a hurry. What are you so anxious about?”

Lan Ting had stayed up all night working and had just woken up from a nap. He was a bit impatient hearing a call rushing him for a draft and hung up directly.

If it weren’t for the fact that the star of Sun Eater was Film Emperor Lu, and thinking of the high exposure, he would never have accepted Yao Song’s commission in the first place.

A “beep, beep, beep” sound came from the phone. Yao Song sighed.

As an independent designer, Lan Ting had a bit of a temper, but he was truly skilled. The line of people commissioning him was endless, so he could only endure it.

He logged into the official Weibo account, planning to first inform everyone that the poster would be delayed.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he logged in, he received a private message.

[Brother Lu’s Little Fanboy] Is this lettering okay?

It was the words “Sun Eater.”

The moment Yao Song clicked on the image, he was stunned.

The characters sent by this fan were in a running-cursive script. The brushstrokes were unrestrained and free-spirited, yet possessed an inner strength. The fluctuations in the strokes seemed to carry a flowing energy. It was an extremely wild and unrestrained style that perfectly matched the spirit of the words “Sun Eater.” It couldn’t be more suitable.

He quickly replied.

[Sun Eater Production Team] Thank you! This is more than okay! May I ask how much it would cost for commercial use?

He wasn’t sure if it was just him, but he felt it was even better than Lan Ting’s work. The price must be considerable, and he didn’t know if he could afford it.

When he saw the other party’s reply, his eyes filled with disbelief.

[Brother Lu’s Little Fanboy] No need for money. I wish you great box office success.

Yao Song was stunned for a long while before slowly sending a reply.

He didn’t refuse the other party’s kindness; he didn’t have the confidence to refuse.

[Sun Eater Production Team] Thank you.

He silently followed this account. If the movie really did sell well, he had to invite this fan to the celebration party.

He sent a message to Lan Ting, cautiously asking if he could cancel the commission. Lan Ting agreed irritably. While eating, he complained to a friend.

“That Yao Song is really something. He called me this morning to rush the draft. I was thinking of being nice and doing it for him tonight, but he just called to cancel the commission. I don’t know who he found instead. What major director does things like that?”

His friend tried to console him. “Hey, forget it. It’s not easy for him either. He sold his house to make a movie, who knows if he’ll even make his money back. He probably just wanted to find someone cheaper.”

“You get what you pay for,” Lan Ting said simply.

He didn’t chat much longer, hung up, and went back to work.

***

After confirming the script with Director Zhang, Ying Guanxiao drove Lu Shenxing back. “We’ve already found out who leaked the flight information. It was a new assistant who’s only been with me for a short time. He’s already been fired.”

Lu Shenxing sat in the back seat and gave a faint “mhm.”

Ying Guanxiao had thought the assistant had only tipped off reporters, so he hadn’t taken the stalking matter to heart. After all, such things were all too common in the entertainment industry.

He saw Lu Shenxing’s usual calm expression in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but speak. “Actually, if you had gone to Berlin last time, that award might have been yours—”

After all, the jury president had hinted at inviting him more than once, but Lu Shenxing had gone to the airport only to turn back.

The impression he gave was undoubtedly one of extreme arrogance.

Although the internet was saying this year’s Best Actor was an upset, he had seen all those films. To be honest, all the nominees had the strength to win Best Actor. It wouldn’t have been a problem no matter who got it; it all came down to the jury’s taste and preference.

“There’s only one reason. My skill wasn’t enough.”

Before he could finish, Lu Shenxing interrupted him.

Ying Guanxiao thought to himself, then there aren’t many people in the country with enough skill. Just as he was about to offer some comfort, he heard Lu Shenxing say calmly, “I’ll get it next year.”

An incredibly certain statement.

He automatically retracted his words of comfort. The only person who could talk about winning one of the three major European film festivals so casually was Lu Shenxing.

People unfamiliar with Lu Shenxing would only think he was polite and courteous, but only those who knew him well knew just how proud he was.

When Lu Shenxing got home, Ji Wei was painting in the study. When he heard the door open, he felt a strange nervousness. The hand holding the brush paused, and then—

The study door creaked open.

He immediately stood up.

“Am I disturbing you?”

Lu Shenxing asked.

Ji Wei hurriedly shook his head and walked to Lu Shenxing’s side.

He clenched his hands into fists, took a deep breath, and mustered up the courage to say, “It’s okay that you didn’t win in Berlin. In my heart, you’re the best.”

The young man’s skin was exceptionally fair from not having been in the sun for a long time. As he spoke the last words, he grew a little shy, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks. But he still held his head high, stubbornly looking at him, as if that would add to the persuasiveness of his words.

Lu Shenxing suddenly let out a light laugh and asked, “The best? Then is there a trophy?”

Ji Wei was at a loss for words. He really didn’t have one.

But after thinking for a moment, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a piece of candy.

Lychee-flavored.

He held it out to Lu Shenxing and asked shyly, “Do you want it?”

The man’s gaze rested on his face for a moment, then he lowered his eyes and said, “I do.”

He raised his hand a little higher.

But the next moment, Lu Shenxing grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace by the waist.

The man was half a head taller than him, and a deep shadow was instantly cast over his face, making it impossible for him to see Lu Shenxing’s expression clearly.

His hand was still blankly holding the piece of candy.

The man bent down slightly, resting his chin in the crook of Ji Wei’s neck. A low voice came from beside Ji Wei’s ear, brushing past like a feather. “I’ve got it.”

And then…

He kissed his little trophy.