Chapter 41: Outrageous News
“Brother Hai, you’ve worked hard. My scenes are done, but you probably still have a long way to go tonight,” Jiang Yu said, glancing at Zhao Chen grinding his teeth on the sidelines. That guy was so obsessed with Kou Dehai that even a hug could make him fume like this.
“Yeah, probably until midnight. I’d almost rather play your fifth male lead. Fewer scenes, likable character—after airing, your role will be remembered just as well as mine, the second male lead.”
“Brother Hai could play my fifth male lead, but I don’t have your acting skill to play a second male lead. The capable do more work—Brother Hai, don’t worry about my small role. You rest, I’ll head back to the hotel.”
“Leaving already? Wait a moment—I’ll go back to the hotel too. I left tonight’s script there. My car is broken, so I’ve been riding with Wang Huan all day. Can I trouble your car to take me back? I’ll use Wang Huan’s car after work tonight and won’t bother you again.”
“Of course, it’s not far. If you ever need a ride, just tell me. I’m the least busy anyway.”
“Then wait for me—I’ll let the director know.”
Kou Dehai returned quickly. It was dinner break, and he even brought back three boxed meals for Jiang Yu and Wang Huan: “Tonight’s food is pretty good. Take it with you so you don’t have to go out.”
“Braised pork, four-joy meatballs, big chicken drumsticks—the director really hit the jackpot,” Jiang Yu said, opening the box to find four dishes, three with meat—very sumptuous.
“That little brat Zhao Chen ordered it. If it goes uneaten, it’s a waste,” Kou Dehai said, gnawing fiercely on a drumstick as he glanced out the window.
Following his gaze, Jiang Yu saw Zhao Chen glaring as viciously as Kou Dehai. Jiang Yu opened the car window, waved the drumstick at him, and enjoyed seeing Zhao Chen’s face darken three shades before closing the window with satisfaction.
“You don’t need to offend him so much. He’s petty—be careful he doesn’t act behind your back,” Kou Dehai advised.
“I don’t care. After this movie, I might leave the entertainment industry altogether.”
“Leave the industry?” Kou Dehai asked in surprise.
“Yes, I’ve wanted to leave for a long time, but my boss wouldn’t let me. Now my boss has let me go—after this film, I’m out.”
Kou Dehai was silent for a moment, then nodded: “That’s good. Once you’ve earned enough, it’s time to live freely. Many people, like Zhao Chen, can’t see beyond money and treat themselves like commodities. Since your boss let you go, leaving is the right choice.”
“What about you, Brother Hai? You’ve been working so hard—how much longer will you continue?”
“I don’t lack money—I just want one result. Once I win Best Actor, I’ll retire.”
“And Zhao Chen? What will you do about him?”
“Ha. I have my ways.”
Jiang Yu and Kou Dehai got along reasonably well. At the hotel, they took the elevator to the same floor and parted ways at their rooms.
On set, Zhao Chen saw Kou Dehai get into Jiang Yu’s car, with Jiang Yu holding the drumstick from the boxed meal, deliberately opening the door to show off.
Zhao Chen was furious, ready to storm over and drag Jiang Yu out for a beating.
“Jiang Yu is cozying up to Kou Dehai again?” Ji Xu said slowly, walking up beside Zhao Chen, seemingly talking to himself.
“He’s dreaming. Look at him—does he think he’s worthy of Brother Hai? That played-out brat? Isn’t he afraid his sponsor will find out and kick him? He wants to play both sides, but does he even have the ability? Brother Xu, do you know who Jiang Yu’s sponsor is?” Zhao Chen hissed, criticizing Jiang Yu viciously.
“But I heard Jiang Yu already broke up with his sponsor. Complaining to him won’t work. His sponsor is influential and hot-tempered. Better not bother him; he’s done with Jiang Yu,” Ji Xu advised.
“Done with Jiang Yu? Ha! Then it’s easy,” Zhao Chen said slyly. Without a powerful backer, a small star like him is fair game. Zhao Chen knew exactly how to handle these situations.
Ji Xu saw Zhao Chen scheming and couldn’t help but smile in approval.
Jiang Yu had just slept. The next morning, Wang Huan looked utterly distraught. Jiang Yu checked the trending searches: good grief, he and Kou Dehai had just acted in a scene together and returned to the hotel, yet the public acted as if they were really together.
[Jiang Yu and Kou Dehai Meet at Hotel at Night]
The trending headline captured the gist perfectly—people saw it and immediately wanted to click.
The article included lots of photos, even videos.
Kou Dehai, trying to avoid Zhao Chen, had sat at a table alone with Jiang Yu to discuss the script and go over lines. Somehow, this was twisted into a story about them secretly dating, enjoying a private couple’s world.
After filming, Jiang Yu sat in his wheelchair, and Kou Dehai gave him a polite hug. After a morning of Zhao Chen’s torment, Jiang Yu remembered that hug.
But in the misaligned photos, it looked as if Kou Dehai had bent down to kiss him.
That night, Kou Dehai drove back to the hotel. The two of them had been looking at the boxed dinner Zhao Chen bought, and when Wang Huan turned on the car light, videos from outside could clearly see inside.
Two heads bent over a meal—people found the right angle and snapped photos, making it look like the two were passionately kissing in the car.
Some even followed them to the hotel. Footage showed them getting out of the car together, walking into the hotel, going up the stairs together, even down the hallway on the same floor.
Yet there were no photos or videos of them parting ways at Jiang Yu’s room.
Wang Huan hadn’t followed because he needed to take Kou Dehai back to the set. This was spun as “proof” that the two were avoiding assistants to be alone.
Jiang Yu didn’t have many fans. The comments were mostly curious onlookers speculating: Who is Jiang Yu? Is Kou Dehai really gay?
But most were Kou Dehai’s fans, furious. With neither party responding, they couldn’t clarify anything. So they cursed Jiang Yu as unworthy of Kou Dehai, throwing every insult imaginable at him.
Jiang Yu had been through being attacked online before—last time it was because of Meng Yi behind the scenes. This time, who had he angered?
In the past few days, the only person he might have offended was Zhao Chen. He didn’t rule out Ji Xu either. After all, pulling off a scandal this big required some ability.
While browsing gossip, Jiang Yu got a voice message on WeChat from Kou Dehai. Jiang Yu answered, and Kou Dehai said:
“Jiang Yu, don’t worry. I’ll handle this. You just post a clarification on Weibo about our relationship.”
“Thanks, Brother Hai,” Jiang Yu said. He couldn’t help but feel Kou Dehai wasn’t ordinary. Now that he was separated from Han Cheng, with no one else to rely on, he had no choice but to trust Kou Dehai.
“Don’t mention it. After all, I dragged you into this. Zhao Chen caused this mess. Wait and see—anyone who dares scheme against me, I won’t let them off,” Kou Dehai said through gritted teeth before hanging up. This time, he was clearly furious.
