After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH90

Chapter 90

After returning last night, Yan Zhiheng tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. For years, he’d kept a strict routine—insomnia was rare, and late nights almost unheard of.

When he finally gave up on sleep, he got up, poured himself a glass of red wine, and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought.

After leaving the spotlight and moving abroad years ago, he’d led a quiet, reclusive life, paying little attention to news from home. Everyone assumed he was simply enjoying life, but he knew it was more that he didn’t want to face any regrets.

He had, in fact, lived comfortably. Vacations on private islands, exclusive luxury yachts with entire crews at his service, or spontaneous midnight flights to the Arctic for an aurora dinner—he’d done it all. He’d tasted cuisines from around the world and tried diving, skiing, golf…anything he wanted was always within reach.

This life was enjoyable, but afterward, he often felt a strange sense of emptiness.

That is, until yesterday, when Gu Xingshi invited him for a cameo role. While acting, he had felt a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment.

He suddenly remembered the argument he’d had with Gu Jinyu all those years ago, right before he left the industry. Gu had been unable to convince him to stay, eventually giving him a cold smile. “You’re just trying to avoid boredom. Just wait—you’ll regret it one day.”

That moment had been seared into Yan’s memory, down to Gu’s expression. Even now, he couldn’t forget it.

Abruptly, Yan set down his glass, muttering to himself, “I’m not regretting anything. I just don’t want those people to ruin my image…yes, that’s it!”

After reassuring himself, he started ordering his things to be packed up.

The villa bustled with activity all night long.

Yan called his personal makeup artist and stylist to fly out the next day to meet him in China. Meanwhile, he took some of his belongings and hitched a ride on Wen Yue’s private jet.

Despite the sleepless night, Yan was still in high spirits, chatting with Gu Xingshi about the current state of the domestic entertainment industry.

The two of them were having a lively conversation, while Wen Yue sat in stony silence, his icy demeanor intimidating the flight attendants into silence.

When they finally arrived in Beijing, Wen Yue was just about to arrange a ride to send Yan Zhiheng off.

But Yan was already stepping off the plane with Gu, not forgetting to remind him, “I’ll go check out the company with Xingshi. You handle the luggage, would you?”

Wen Yue: “…”

Tang Ling, Wen Yue’s assistant, had just gotten out of the car to greet them when he saw his boss looking thoroughly displeased, as if he’d just been dealt a major loss.

Tang paused, bewildered.

He knew that Wen Yue’s trip abroad was mainly to see Gu Xingshi. As a thoughtful assistant, he’d even arranged a lavish dinner and a luxury hotel for afterward.

But…where was Mr. Gu?

Not only was Mr. Gu nowhere to be seen, but there were also two strangers behind Wen Yue, each pushing towering stacks of luggage.

Wen Yue merely cast Tang a chilly glance and instructed him to take care of the luggage.

Tang made the call as he followed Wen into the car, feeling the tension more than ever. Though Tang had no idea what had happened, it was clear Wen Yue was in a foul mood, so he kept his reporting brief and didn’t say an unnecessary word.

In contrast, Gu Xingshi and Yan Zhiheng’s car had a much lighter atmosphere.

The vehicle made its way to the underground parking garage.

Meanwhile, not far off, two paparazzi were waiting in their car, cameras ready.

Paparazzo A grumbled, “Where’s this big scoop we were promised? We’ve been here for days without a thing!”

Paparazzo B replied, “Be patient! It’s not like big stories just fall into our laps. We worked hard to get in here; you need a little more patience.”

A sighed. “What’s there to scoop at a company anyway? We should be tracking down stars at their private residences…”

Before he could finish, B clamped a hand over his mouth. “Shh! Stop talking—look, isn’t that Mr. Gu getting out of the car?”

Paparazzo A mumbled through B’s hand, “So what? Mr. Gu’s the boss of LeShi—it’s normal for him to be here.”

B rolled his eyes. “I’m talking about the guy next to him!”

A’s eyes widened instantly.

They whipped out their cameras, snapping away as fast as they could until Gu Xingshi and Yan Zhiheng entered the elevator. Finally, they lowered their cameras and examined the shots.

A gasped. “Wow, this guy’s super handsome! Is he a new artist Gu just signed? Wait…he looks kinda familiar.”

Realizing B hadn’t said anything, he turned to see his colleague frozen in shock.

“What’s wrong?”

B, voice trembling, pointed to the man beside Gu in the photos. “Didn’t you recognize him?”

“Huh?”

“It’s…Yan Zhiheng!”

A was stunned. They exchanged glances, both seeing the same thought reflected in each other’s eyes: Huge news!

When the elevator stopped on LeShi’s floor, the doors opened to reveal a few staff members. Upon seeing Gu Xingshi, they immediately greeted him enthusiastically, “President Gu!”

Gu nodded and was just about to lead Yan out when the employees suddenly froze.

“Y-Yan Zhiheng!!”

“Oh my god! I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“Idol!!!”

Despite the ten-hour flight, Yan still looked flawless. He greeted them with a charming smile, exuding elegance.

The staff at LeShi had all worked with top-tier stars before, but Gu Xingshi had never seen them this flustered.

As they made their way into the company, the excitement only intensified. Even Lin Xiayu, usually known for her cool, aloof attitude and ruthless efficiency, softened her tone to an almost gentle murmur when she shook hands with Yan Zhiheng. The change was so out of character that it left everyone slightly disoriented.

Zhou Chengyan, on the other hand, was practically rubbing his hands in excitement. “Mr. Gu, does this mean Yan Idol is joining our company? Do we need a PR strategy? I can start drafting seventeen or eighteen proposals for him right away!”

Even the reclusive scriptwriters, usually shy and averse to socializing, had mustered up the courage to bring their notebooks over to ask for Yan’s autograph.

At last, Gu Xingshi fully understood what it meant to be a true “superstar.” The so-called top idols of today didn’t even come close.

LeShi was filled with the contagious joy of fans finally meeting their idol. The only people who managed to keep calm were Gu Xingshi himself, his assistant, and Cheng Xin.

Cheng Xin, unable to resist, whispered to Gu, “Mr. Gu, I have a question…”

Gu raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Cheng Xin lowered his voice even more. “So… does Yan Zhiheng also have the bad luck?”

Gu sighed, exasperated. “Keep that to yourself.”

*

Meanwhile, the paparazzi photos had caused an online sensation.

[OMG, is that really Yan Zhiheng?!]

[Yan Zhiheng and President Gu? This is a combination I never imagined!]

[Could this be photoshopped?]

In the comments, some tech-savvy users analyzed the images, concluding that they showed no signs of editing—meaning it was likely real.

The paparazzi who posted the photos confirmed that they were indeed taken in the LeShi parking garage. The news sent hashtags like #YanZhihengReturns and #YanZhihengGuXingshi rocketing up the trending lists.

Weibo nearly crashed.

Programmers shed tears as they worked overtime to keep the site running.

Whether it’s Yan Zhiheng or President Gu, they are my lifelong nemeses!

The internet had gone into a frenzy.

[OMG, it’s really Yan Zhiheng!! Is this truly 2024?!]

[I can’t work or study! My idol is back!!]

[I fell for him right when he left the industry. I thought I’d never see him in real life. Can anyone understand how I feel right now?]

[No idea how President Gu convinced him, but I owe him big time!]

Some fans, more rational, began analyzing the implications.

[Did Yan Zhiheng return to China? Is he making a comeback?]

[So Yan started his career at LeShi? President Gu’s got great resources in film; maybe Yan is coming back to act?]

[Yan Zhiheng was a triple-threat in acting, singing, and variety shows. Maybe he’ll even hold a concert!]

Others were simply there to admire his looks.

[That face, that waist, those long legs! You’ve got that rugged charm, man! drool emoji ]

[Our idol is over forty?! How does he look the same as he did at twenty?]

[No wonder people say the entertainment industry’s standards have dropped. I get it now—our moms had it so good back then!]

And, naturally, there was a small group of CP (couple) fans who couldn’t resist.

[So, no one’s shipping President Gu and our idol?]

[Ahem, insider info—our idol, Yan Idol, is actually the uncle of Wen’s CEO, President Wen, who, rumor has it, is dating President Gu…]

[Why am I getting flashbacks to that one novel, ‘Marrying My Boyfriend’s Uncle’? I’m sorry!]

[You all lack imagination! What’s wrong with an uncle-nephew dynamic? A love triangle is way spicier!]

[Whoa, spicy indeed! Sister, you’re bold—how many forbidden apples are you eating at once?]

*

Reading through the online comments, Wen Yue’s expression darkened even more.

Tang Ling, who had heard from the flight crew about everything that happened, couldn’t help but feel sympathy for his boss. Few uncles would have the audacity to put their nephews in such difficult situations.

Sympathy aside, Tang Ling still had to ask cautiously, “President Wen, perhaps we should change the restaurant reservation for tonight…”

He had initially booked a romantic, intimate venue. But now, with Yan Zhiheng joining them, it would be more appropriate to select a traditional restaurant.

To his surprise, Wen Yue replied, “No need to change it.”

Tang Ling was taken aback. “Uh?”

Wen Yue rose to his feet. “Take me to LeShi.”

LeShi Entertainment was already swarming with reporters, all eager for a chance to interview Gu Xingshi and Yan Zhiheng. After all, if Yan was truly returning to the entertainment industry, it could very well reshape the entire landscape.

Wen Yue stepped into the elevator with a cold expression, only to run into Yan Zhiheng and Gu Xingshi on their way down.

When Yan saw Wen, he looked a bit puzzled. “What are you doing here?”

Wen Yue: “…”

His irritating uncle.

He responded coolly, “I’m here to take Xingshi out to dinner.”

“Not tonight.” Yan dismissed him without hesitation. “Some of my old friends called and want to meet up. I’m bringing Xingshi along to introduce him to everyone.”

Yan’s “old friends” were the top brass of the current entertainment world, a rare opportunity that Wen Yue didn’t want to deny Gu Xingshi. He swallowed his frustration. “In that case, I’ll take you there myself.”

“No need, no need.” Yan turned him down again. “My driver’s on his way. Aren’t you busy? You don’t have to linger here.”

Wen Yue: “…”

With that, the group returned to the elevator as they’d come.

Yan’s driver arrived shortly after, and he motioned for Gu Xingshi to get in.

But Gu hesitated, glancing in Wen Yue’s direction. Though he had climbed into the car, he hadn’t left just yet.

Gu had noticed Wen Yue’s mood on the plane, and he felt a bit regretful. He thought about how Wen had always been the one to approach him, to take the first step.

Today, perhaps, it was his turn to take that step.

He turned to Yan Zhiheng. “Brother Yan, give me a minute.”

Then he walked over to Wen Yue.

Wen Yue, who had been watching from the car, was taken aback as Gu approached. He quickly lowered the window. “What’s up?”

Gu Xingshi bent down. “Come a little closer. I have something to tell you.”

Without suspicion, Wen Yue leaned toward him.

Gu tilted his head down.

And then, Wen Yue felt a soft touch on his lips.

For a moment, his mind went completely blank.