Chapter 87 – Women’s Clothes Alert
When the host and everyone else looked over, Chen Bai was staring wide-eyed at his friend, who couldn’t even remember his name.
Qian Jin had also heard the host’s announcement and was stunned. Trying to cover up his mistake with a smile, he quickly pushed Chen Bai forward, urging him to go accept the award.
Chen Bai went on stage to accept the award.
The room was dark, and the spotlight followed him as he walked up the red-carpeted stage.
When he reached his place, the host handed him the golden trophy.
The trophy had a simple design, with smooth lines, reflecting the overhead lights, giving it a slight sparkle.
Somehow, he had won an award. As he accepted it with a smile and expressed his thanks, his mind raced.
As he took the trophy, the applause from the audience was thunderous, like waves rising and falling.
His manager, sitting with familiar friends, clapped a few times but couldn’t help chuckling.
Her friend, sitting next to her, glanced at her while clapping.
The good manager didn’t say much, raising her hand to cover her smile, simply remarking, “Quite the storyteller.”
On stage, Chen Bai smoothly delivered his acceptance speech. After a brief interaction with the host, he walked off the stage under the constant focus of the cameras, holding the trophy amidst the applause and returning to his seat.
The film crew sat together, and when he returned, they applauded again, all smiling.
Halfway through the awards ceremony, they had already won five awards, and it was hard for anyone not to smile.
Qian Jin stood up, pressing Chen Bai down into his seat as he stretched out his hand, curious, saying, “Let me feel the trophy. I want to know what it feels like.”
He was clearly trying to steer the conversation away from the earlier topic and create a light-hearted, forgive-and-forget atmosphere. Chen Bai didn’t fall for it and instead jokingly went for a chokehold. The trophy became his weapon, and while Qian Jin didn’t know what the trophy felt like, he got a clear sense of what it felt like to be manhandled with it.
After calling out “Chen Bai” several times, Chen Bai finally let him go, and Qian Jin got his wish of touching the trophy.
He examined it carefully, as if he were an appraiser, then turned his head and said, “You said you wouldn’t win an award, but you still prepared a speech.”
Chen Bai casually took a photo of the trophy and sent it to a small five-person family group chat he had created with Mrs. Jiang and a few others over the New Year, saying, “I didn’t prepare anything.”
“Hmm,” Qian Jin looked up. “Hmm?”
He lowered his voice and asked, “Then what were you just saying up there?”
It sounded so smooth that he had assumed Chen Bai had secretly practiced the speech many times.
Messages instantly popped up in the group chat, with Mrs. Jiang and Mr. Xu celebrating with trendy little fireworks emojis and offering congratulations. Chen Bai smiled and said, “I made it up on the spot.”
Qian Jin: “Impressive.”
The awards ceremony was being updated live online. After Chu Mingyuan won Best Actor again, the real-time trending searches shifted, and a new entry appeared about Chen Bai’s win.
However, the trending topic had a slightly peculiar twist, titled: “Chen Yi Bai narrowly misses Best Supporting Actor.”
Chen Yi Bai may have lost Best Supporting Actor, but Chen Bai won an award.
[LOL, my heart nearly stopped when I saw that trending topic! You people are too much!]
[Congratulations to Chen Bai for winning! Don’t be sad, Chen Yi Bai, keep going (totally sincere).]
[What does Chen Bai’s win have to do with Chen Yi Bai? Why drag him down? [serious cat head emoji]]
[LOL, I just wanted to offer sincere congratulations, but you all… HAHA]
[Now that you’ve won, shouldn’t you work with Comrade Xu on a film to celebrate? (Just kidding, don’t hit me.)]
[No way some marketing accounts will really think Chen Yi Bai didn’t win because of the trending topic, right? (They wouldn’t, right?)]
Less than half an hour after the news broke, pre-written articles by marketing accounts were already out.
Among the many accounts playing with the trending topic, there were indeed one or two that took it seriously, posting their drafts and having them quickly spread, which led to widespread sharing of inaccurate reports.
On an otherwise uneventful evening, Chen Bai won the first major award of his acting career.
He rarely posted work-related content on his social media—it was mostly pictures of food and scenery. He didn’t even post about the award, but most of his contacts knew about it, sending their congratulations from that night into the next day. His phone buzzed nonstop.
The night after winning, he still had to work the next day. During breaks, he responded to the messages one by one.
After the awards ceremony, the next event was the press conference for the TV drama ‘The Forensic Interpreter’. This time, he was the lead, so there was much more to do than before. On the day of the press conference, he was busy from morning until night.
The producers were busy too, but they were happy about it, especially since the awards ceremony had brought in a wave of free publicity. The number of live stream reservations for the press conference surged again, saving millions in promotion costs.
On the night of the press conference, Chen Bai held the microphone and didn’t put it down once.
A month after the press conference, *The Forensic Interpreter* premiered online.
On the day of the premiere, after a month of hard work, Chen Bai finally had a brief moment of rest.
With the work temporarily done, his small team dropped him off at his apartment. The assistant left after putting away his things, but the manager stayed behind.
Over the past month, she had carefully selected a few movie scripts. She didn’t impose any demands, letting him choose for himself.
As the sky darkened outside, she poured two cups of water and placed them on the table. Chen Bai took the scripts and sat down on the sofa.
Once home, he took off his hat, and his messy hair still had its unique flair, swaying as he lowered his head.
Watching him go through the scripts, the manager took a sip of water from her cup and said, “These are the scripts that came in after you won the award. The roles are a lot better than before.”
Chen Bai acknowledged her with a hum and continued flipping through the scripts. After glancing at a couple, his eyebrow raised slightly.
Now he understood what his manager meant by “a lot better.”
He hadn’t had time to look at the last batch of scripts, but he could guess they probably weren’t as high-profile as these, which were clearly major productions featuring roles just as important as the male lead.
The manager added, “There were a few leading roles too, but the scripts weren’t good, so I filtered them out. It’s better to wait for a good one later.”
Chen Bai wasn’t aiming to chase after a Best Actor award right after winning Best Supporting Actor, so he nodded in agreement and set aside the scripts he had looked through, considering them as backup options.
In the end, he chose a spy movie, with no particular reason other than the fact that he had never acted in one before and wanted to give it a try. Plus, it came with a decent paycheck.
This role was confirmed as soon as he accepted it—no need for an audition. He would join the production two months later.
The manager put away the remaining scripts, glanced at his lowered eyes, and asked, “By the way, how long has it been since you last saw your friend?”
A single question pierced straight to his heart. The tough guy’s tears flowed in an instant. Chen Bai tilted his head at a 45-degree angle, wiping his tears in a childlike manner, and said, “A month and a half.”
With the new year came new work. After a year, his good neighbor was starring in a film again and had been away for more than a month.
He even remembered the exact time, showing just how depleted he felt. He seemed close to breaking down.
The manager looked at him a few more times, tapping her fingers lightly on the sofa, and asked, “There’s a cameo role in a movie—a villain with not too many scenes. It could be filmed in just over a month. Interested?”
Chen Yi Bai had never played a villain before, so he was a bit intrigued.
The manager pulled out a script from her bag that she hadn’t originally planned to show him. “The actor who was supposed to play this role had a scandal and was replaced at the last minute. The movie’s already started filming, so the schedule is tight.”
The actor’s scandal had been all over the internet, but someone like Chen Bai, who rarely went online, hadn’t heard a thing about it.
If he agreed, he’d have to join the production within half a month. Because they were rushing to stay on schedule, the workload would undoubtedly be intense. After finishing this movie, he would move on to the next one, leaving little to no time to rest between projects. That’s why she had chosen not to mention it earlier.
Chen Bai took the script and, while flipping through it, asked, “Why did you suddenly decide to show me this one?”
“Because it’s your friend’s movie.”
The manager closed her eyes and then opened them again, not looking at his expression. “I figured that if you didn’t see your friend soon, you’d look like you were about to die.”
Chen Bai, who had been lounging on the sofa, immediately sat up straight, but then he paused and asked, “Why didn’t Comrade Xu tell me about this?”
The manager responded by giving him a playful smack on the head.
The reason was obvious, and there was no need to think about it. Just like her, Xu Sinian was probably concerned about the lack of rest.
Chen Bai thought he could handle it, but physically, he might not. Even with a good opportunity, you still need good health to take advantage of it.
Chen Bai had grown used to the occasional smack, so he chose to focus on the script, reading it more seriously than before. He rested his hand against his face, his light gray eyes scanning over the lines.
He hadn’t even finished the script yet, but the manager could already tell that he had made up his mind to take the role. She lowered her head and started making rough plans for the next few months.
In a remote town, someone went missing in an apartment building. The local police made several visits but found no leads. The protagonist, a former police officer, moved into the building and encountered a landlord who never appeared at night, a tenant studying all day for their graduate exams, a couple without steady jobs, and a 35-year-old former office worker temporarily working at a factory. Despite the disappearance, none of them chose to move out, continuing to live in the building.
The peace of the apartment building, where no animals were allowed, was shattered when the protagonist’s friend brought their dog. The dog started barking madly at a section of wall that had been refurbished due to its age.
As Chen Bai continued reading, his eyebrows twitched more and more. After finishing, he cautiously asked, “I get the general idea, but why is this guy… why is he wearing a dress?”
His voice rose in disbelief, filled with astonishment.
He was playing the part of the “girlfriend” in the couple—specifically, the male partner who dressed as a woman, so he was technically the “boyfriend.”
He gestured with his hand, saying, “This person has a boyfriend, and he… he’s a guy… and…”
The few lines of the script had a greater impact than all the thick scripts he had just read.
Villains should have personality, but he hadn’t expected one with ‘this’ much personality. His thoughts were jumbled, and he found it difficult to articulate his current feelings.
The script wasn’t complete, so the long hair and dress must have some deeper reason behind it. The couple might not even be a real couple. But based on what was presented so far, everything was far beyond his understanding.
The manager asked him, “Are you taking it?”
Chen Bai responded concisely, “Yes.”
His pupils shook, his understanding of things was refreshed, but he accepted.
As expected, the manager nodded, “Alright.”
She glanced at the schedule on her phone and said, “I’ll move your upcoming work ahead and get it done within the next half month. By then, you’ll have the full script, so make sure to study it.”
She also added, “Try not to stay up too late. Once you start, you’ll be working for several months straight. It’s best to visit your aunt in the next couple of days and rest up.”
Chen Bai didn’t necessarily plan to follow her advice, but he nodded.
Glancing at the script still in his hand, the manager patted him on the shoulder and said, “At least you’ll probably look good in a skirt.”
Lucky for his good friend.
Chen Bai “?”
It seemed like a compliment, but Chen Bai felt something was off.
With their business settled and the compliment delivered, the manager finished her water, gathered her things, and left.
—
Half a month later, since the scandalous actor had been replaced, there had been no further updates from the production team. However, they finally showed some movement, preparing costumes and props related to the new character, while the logistics team arranged a new suite at the hotel.
A series of actions followed, and though no one knew who the new actor was, others could guess that someone would be joining the crew soon.
One ordinary morning, after most of the crew had already begun filming, a black car quietly arrived at the hotel.
Someone got out and met with the staff already waiting at the door. After greeting each other, they all entered the hotel together.
Walking in the center of the group, Chen Bai slightly lifted the brim of his hat, his half-closed eyes showing signs of a sleepless night as he took a good look at the hotel. The crew had booked the entire place, and everyone coming and going was part of the production.
His manager, carrying her bag, turned to look at him and said, “You’re not expecting to see your friend here, are you?”
“Mr. Xu is already on set.”
At the mention of his friend, the staff immediately knew who she meant. They led them to the elevator and, with a smile, added, “He’ll probably be back around 8 PM tonight.”
The elevator stopped at a hotel floor, and as it filled to the brim with people, they all stepped out. After walking down a corridor, they stopped in front of a large door. The staff handed over the room key they had just received from the hotel and, while glancing at the room next door, said, “That’s Mr. Xu’s room over there.”
Now it made sense why the management had placed the new actor’s room next to this one, despite all the available rooms. Seeing Chen Yi Bai now, she realized the decision was quite thoughtful.
The door opened, and the assistant went inside to unpack his luggage. The other staff members, well aware of proper etiquette, stood outside and didn’t enter. They informed him that the producer, stylist, and makeup artist were on their way and would arrive in about half an hour.
They also pointed out where the makeup room was located—just downstairs, very close. Even if he was half asleep in the morning, he could float his way there.
After delivering all the necessary information, they left, not wanting to disturb him further as they had other tasks to attend to.
The half-hour was enough to unpack the basics. The room was a one-bedroom suite, clearly meant for one person. The manager and assistant were staying elsewhere, downstairs on the same floor as the makeup room, making it convenient for regular comings and goings.
The official start of filming was the next day, and today’s tasks were to familiarize themselves with the environment and do a makeup test. If there were any issues, they could discuss adjustments, aiming to finalize the look today and start filming directly the next morning.
Half an hour later, Chen Yi Bai met his makeup artist and stylist in the makeup room and had a friendly chat with the producer.
What had to come would come, but he hadn’t expected it to come so soon.
After the brief exchange, the stylist’s assistant immediately pulled out a dress from the specially prepared bag. Beaming with excitement, the assistant showed no signs of the fatigue she had earlier, suddenly appearing full of energy.
As described in the script, it was a long black dress with a sheer, gauzy texture.
Both the manager and the assistant, Xiao Meng, casually raised their hands to cover their smirks, while the makeup artist, standing to the side, barely held back a grin, managing to keep a professional appearance.
Chen Yi Bai hesitated briefly, trying to buy some time, “Do I have to change now?”
The manager nodded, “Now.”
Driven by that tiny bit of actor’s self-discipline, Chen Yi Bai took the dress.
The makeup room was simply a vacant room, also a one-bedroom suite. The living room had been converted into a space for applying makeup, while the bedroom served as a changing room.
Since the attempt to delay failed, he stopped stalling altogether. In one swift motion, he changed into the dress at lightning speed.
It was still only April or May, so the temperature wasn’t particularly high. Transitioning from a hoodie to bare arms, he felt a chill on his back. As he gripped the door handle to open the door, the cold metal gave him an unexpected jolt.
Inside the room stood the manager, the assistant, the producer, the makeup artist, the stylist, and their respective assistants—a total of quite a few people, all maintaining silence. The faint sound of the door handle turning could be clearly heard.
The first thing to appear from behind the door was the hem of the long black dress, reaching down to his calves. Below the hem were his pale, slender ankles, the black fabric swaying with his movements, rising and falling as he walked.
The stylist’s eyes widened, and the assistant discreetly rubbed her flushed ears.
It was his first time wearing something like this, and Chen Bai was visibly uncomfortable. He glanced down at the dress a couple of times and asked, “Is this how it’s supposed to be worn?”
The stylist nodded vigorously and gave him a thumbs-up, covering her mouth.
Thinking she was complimenting him for getting it right on his first try, Chen Bai smiled, his eyes curving into crescent shapes.
The manager, standing nearby, quietly said to Xiao Meng, “Do you think his friend will be able to handle this?”
Xiao Meng scratched her itchy nose and replied, “Unlikely.”
Even she was finding it hard to handle.
The stylist and makeup artist struggled to keep their composure as they began working. The makeup artist busied herself with his long hair, while the stylist tied a thin black ribbon, about an inch wide, around his slender neck. The ribbon wrapped around several times, ending in a knot at the back of his neck, with the long ends trailing down, brushing against his pale back.
It fits very well, really appropriate.
The makeup artist’s hands worked miracles, transforming short hair into long hair. Black strands fell over his shoulders, with some resting on his chest, starkly contrasting with his pale skin.
Chen Bai sat quietly, letting them work on him.
The makeup artist seemed to have grasped the essence of the job, smiling throughout the entire process, clearly enjoying herself.
They stayed silent for a while, just during the time it took to apply makeup. However, one chatty genius, bored after scanning the room for the hundredth time, lowered his gaze, and casually grabbed at the skirt fabric a couple of times, feeling the material gather in his hand and then fall away. This reminded him of something, and he said, “I didn’t expect to escape it in high school, but I couldn’t dodge it now.”
He was obviously talking about wearing a dress.
It was just a casual comment, but when he glanced to the side, he found himself met with several pairs of large, eager eyes all staring at him intently.
Chen Bai “?”
His hand froze mid-grab. He thought for a moment, his brain catching up, and tentatively asked, “Do you all want to hear about it?”
Those large eyes didn’t hesitate to nod vigorously.
They nodded so fast, every thought and desire written clearly on their faces.
Given the current situation, it seemed like he had no choice but to tell the story. The incident had happened a long time ago, so Chen Bai had to recall it carefully as he began.
The last time something like this almost happened was back in high school. During his sophomore year, there was a New Year’s Eve party, and each class had to put on a performance. His class chose to perform ‘Cinderella’.
He was fine with whatever they chose. His original plan was to use this as an opportunity to sneak away and play basketball instead of participating. But during the voting for the lead roles, he happened to overhear someone saying they wanted to vote for him to play Cinderella—clearly, it was just for laughs.
There was no way he was going to play that role, so he asked his friends to help suppress the votes. He had quite a few friends in the class at the time, so he figured it wouldn’t be a problem.
—Which is why he still believes something shady happened during that vote. Someone who didn’t like him must have manipulated it behind the scenes. Despite his friends’ efforts to suppress the votes, he ended up being elected with the highest number of votes.
The makeup artist, while working, asked, “And then?”
Then, the performance never happened. They had cast the two leads, him and one of his friends, and had even borrowed costumes, but the school rejected their class’s plan, saying it wasn’t in line with the psychological development guidelines for high school students.
Thanks to those guidelines, his mental health remained intact.
Two boys playing out a love story was obviously a bit odd, and his friend seemed to think the same. He said, ‘Cinderella’ turned into ‘Wu Song Fights the Tiger’ that night. My friend cried tears of joy all night long.”
Or maybe he cried because he got beaten up. That night, I played the tiger and accidentally fought back a little too hard.
The manager: “…”
Everyone else: “…”
Even though they weren’t there, they all felt like his friend wasn’t crying tears of joy.
The manager couldn’t help but pat Chen Bai on the shoulder and tactfully said, “If possible, you should probably be a little more careful around your friends.”
In every way possible, really.
In fact, he hardly kept in touch with them anymore and didn’t quite understand why he needed to be careful, but he nodded anyway.
—
