After Our Divorce, I Still Wore Your Jacket Chapter 54

Chapter 54

After a month in theaters,《Wind Wanderer》totaled seven hundred million in ticket sales. Not bad, and slightly better than expected. This was also because there wasn’t fierce compet.i.tion in the film industry recently. There were no foreign superhero films or moneymaking comedies. The movie investors hadn’t paid anybody an extravagant salary. There were a lot of rookies in this movie, so most of the money had been spent on setting up the film set and props. All in all, they had profited in the end. Filming something they personally enjoyed while not losing money for the investors: this was considered a success for the film crew.

Fang Shaoyi received a lot of good critiques regarding this movie. There was nothing to complain about. Some movie critics said that he was too introverted in his acting – he wasn’t expressive enough. There was no need to argue against these. Different people had different tastes, after all. You like him, but he doesn’t like him. We just need to agree to disagree.

The filming for this movie had been free from worry. Basically no drama had occurred on set. Aside from filming, all they did was more filming. Yet, the conditions of the film set had honestly been difficult. A true test of character.

After the movie stopped showing, Director Xin scheduled a celebratory banquet. He invited all the main cast members of the movie and a few other important actors. None of them were in the same city. If this were an ordinary celebratory banquet, Fang Shaoyi might not have gone. However, given his relations.h.i.+p with Director Xin, he definitely needed to attend. Even more coincidentally, Yuan Ye’s new book had just been released. He was scheduled for book signings in several major cities. The two of them happened to be heading to the same city.

Yuan Ye very proactively booked two tickets for them. It was time to express his pa.s.sion. Ji Xiaotao asked if he needed to tag along. Yuan Ye said, “No need. Do what you need to do, Teacher Tao.”

Before Ji Xiaotao could respond, Fang Shaoyi told him, “Yes, tag along.”

Yuan Ye looked at Fang Shaoyi. He thought Fang Shaoyi was doing this on purpose. Perhaps he was being tsundere again. But it was fine whether or not Ji Xiaotao tagged along. Yuan Ye didn’t have any opinions about this. Thus, in the end, the three of them left together. Ji Xiaotao bought his own ticket.

Actually, Fang Shaoyi mainly wanted Ji Xiaotao to follow Yuan Ye around. Yuan Ye always did everything alone. Though the publis.h.i.+ng company would definitely arrange for someone to take care of him for the book signing, Fang Shaoyi still didn’t feel even the slightest bit more relaxed.

Yuan Ye didn’t really like book signings and other events like these. But this had been part of the contract that he had already signed while publis.h.i.+ng the book. All these years, he had continuously worked with the same publisher. Their collaboration was pretty satisfactory, too. He was technically returning a favor this time, so agreed to a few book signings.

Ji Xiaotao was both an a.s.sistant and bodyguard. His old nanny’s heart couldn’t catch a break. After the event, Yuan Ye went to eat dinner with his collaborators. Fang Shaoyi called Ji Xiaotao and asked, “Done yet?”

Ji Xiaotao whispered, “Yeah. He’s eating right now.”

Fang Shaoyi inquired, “You’re following him?”

Ji Xiaotao lowered his head and made a noise of acknowledgment. He responded, “Yes.”

“Then tell him not to drink too much. If he gets drunk, call me,” Fang Shaoyi said.

“Alrighty. Got it!” Ji Xiaotao replied. After hanging up, Ji Xiaotao thought to himself, can’t you directly call him yourself? What kind of bad habit is this, always making me play messenger?

It was impossible for Fang Shaoyi not to drink any alcohol while eating with Director Xin and them. Who could avoid drinking at such a celebratory banquet? The director and Fang Shaoyi were uncle and nephew in private. There was even less reason for worry. How could Fang Shaoyi avoid drinking too much? Prior to arriving, he had come up with a good plan. He would find a reason to say he wasn’t going to drink anything at all. In the end, though, he still failed in doing so.

The outcome was: Yuan Ye didn’t even drink a single drop of alcohol, but Fang Shaoyi got drunk. After Yuan Ye’s meal ended, Ji Xiaotao called Fang Shaoyi, asking if he needed to be picked up or not. Fang Shaoyi said, “No. You guys head back and rest first.”

His voice sounded a bit rough. When Ji Xiaotao hung up, he turned around and told Yuan Ye, “It’s over. He’s drunk.”

Yuan Ye thought about it and said, “You head back and take a break. I’ll go.”

Ji Xiaotao very conscientiously left. Yuan Ye took a taxi to the hotel. When he arrived at the private room, the atmosphere was still festive. Yuan Ye didn’t go inside. He waited outside the door. If he walked in, he would have to drink too. How were they going to get back if they were both drunk? It would be better if he hid outside.

As everyone was leaving, Yuan Ye acted like he had just arrived. The director saw him. Yuan Ye hurriedly greeted, big smile on his face, “You guys are already done? I’m late?”

The director asked with a smile, “Little Yuan’s here? How about we go for another round of drinks?”

“There’s no need.” Yuan Ye shook his head. “I’m here to pick up my ge.”

Director Xin turned around to glance at Fang Shaoyi. He pressed down on Yuan Ye’s shoulder and didn’t leave until saying a few things to him. The rest of the film crew walked in front of them. Yuan Ye scooted close to Fang Shaoyi and whispered, “How much did you drink?”

Fang Shaoyi’s gaze was already dazed. He had honestly drank quite a lot. However, there was nothing obviously different about how he was walking or acting. He didn’t answer, only shaking his head.

Yuan Ye secretly held onto his hand, then walked alongside Fang Shaoyi. They exited, shoulder to shoulder. All the leaders had people picking them up. Those who didn’t had hotel chauffeurs responsible for sending them back. Thus, Yuan Ye thankfully didn’t need to worry about them. Celebrities weren’t in the habit of conversing in public. They had already said all that needed to be said at the dinner table. After exiting the door, they simply bade each other farewell. There was nothing else to be said.

The two of them didn’t take the hotel’s car. Yuan Ye casually flagged down a taxi, then slipped inside and gave the driver the address. The driver was a middle-aged man who didn’t recognize the two of them. The entire trip pa.s.sed in relative silence.

Out of the public eye, Fang Shaoyi could finally relax. He leaned against the back seat, breathing heavy. With the smell of alcohol surrounding him, he really looked like a drunkard.

Eventually, the driver glanced back a few times before carefully telling Yuan Ye, “Please don’t let him vomit in the car……”

Yuan Ye said, “He won’t. Don’t worry.”

It had been a long time since Fang Shaoyi had drunk so much alcohol; at least, it had been a long time since Yuan Ye had seen him so drunk. When Fang Shaoyi became drunk, he was normally quite quiet. He wasn’t annoying and was likely to directly fall asleep after returning home. Fang Shaoyi reached a hand over, eyes closed. Yuan Ye very naturally placed his hand in the other’s hand so that he could hold it. Thus, Fang Shaoyi slept the entire way back while squeezing his hand. During the trip, Yuan Ye glanced down at their clasped hands and Fang Shaoyi’s peaceful face a few times. He thought to himself, how well behaved.

After returning to their room, Fang Shaoyi finally regained some clarity. He undressed and obediently took a shower. This entire time, he didn’t cause any trouble. He did whatever Yuan Ye told him to do. When Yuan Ye finally got Fang Shaoyi settled down, he took a shower himself. Fang Shaoyi was quietly sleeping in bed, blankets wrapped around him, when Yuan Ye got out of the shower.

Yuan Ye placed a bottle of water on the bed because he worried that Fang Shaoyi’s mouth would feel dry after waking up. Fang Shaoyi abruptly opened his mouth and muttered, “Are you sleeping or not……”

“Coming.” Yuan Ye glanced at him and answered, “Coming, coming.”

Fang Shaoyi hadn’t actually fallen into deep sleep. After returning to the room, he was no longer so sleepy. Yuan Ye was being slow and taking forever to get in bed to sleep. Thus, Fang Shaoyi had started rus.h.i.+ng him.

Under the influence of alcohol, his usual cold demeanor had disappeared too. He could no longer hide his true att.i.tude like he had been doing before. The person next to him was someone he didn’t need to be guarded against in the slightest. All his walls had come down.

Yuan Ye held onto Fang Shaoyi and patted his back. As if coaxing a child, he whispered, “Sleep, baobei’er.”

Fang Shaoyi furrowed his brows. At this time, he suddenly randomly blurted out, “How could your heart be so cruel?”

Yuan Ye first froze for a moment. Then, he burst into laughter. He lowly asked, “Where did that come from……”

Fang Shaoyi’s eyebrows were still furrowed. He scolded, “Shut up.”

Yuan Ye blinked silently. Then, he reached a hand out and tapped the spot between Fang Shaoyi’s eyebrows. His laugh was very soft. He said, “You’re the cruel one.”

Fang Shaoyi leaned back to avoid his hand. He replied, “You deserved it.”

“Yes, I did.” Yuan Ye patted him again. “I really deserved it. Don’t furrow your eyebrows.”

Fang Shaoyi quieted down and stopped speaking. Yuan Ye spoke up first instead. He touched the other’s chin and asked him, “Why don’t you want to film anymore?”

Fang Shaoyi didn’t reply. Thus, Yuan Ye asked again, “Do you not believe that I can sort myself out?”

“I do.” Fang Shaoyi scooted forward a bit. He buried his face against Yuan Ye’s neck and kissed the other on the collarbone. His voice was m.u.f.fled, “……I do, which is why I’m unwilling.”

Yuan Ye’s heart felt sore. He tugged at Fang Shaoyi’s hair a few times before turning off the lights. He kept gently tugging at Fang Shaoyi’s hair. This type of scalp ma.s.sage was really comfortable. Fang Shaoyi fell asleep very quickly.

After the book signing at this location, there were several other destinations Yuan Ye still needed to go to. Ji Xiaotao followed Yuan Ye around for the subsequent few days. He had done this before in the past, too. The celebrity a.s.sistant occasionally worked part-time as the author’s a.s.sistant as well. When Yuan Ye finally finished dealing with all these matters, it was already December. In about a dozen or so days, it was going to be Christmas.

In his free time between flying around, Yuan Ye still needed to edit the script for Feng Leizi and them. He had already turned in his third draft. Yuan Ye’s biggest fear was that they would tell him, “Come over when you have time. Let’s talk face to face.”

Nothing good could come out of talking face to face. Each conversation would last at least a whole evening. Last time, they had directly conversed for over ten hours. Yuan Ye had honestly been too tired to continue, but the director’s eyes had still been extremely bright. He had told Yuan Ye to drink a few more cups of coffee.

This movie was called《Utterance》. It was a melodrama set in the background of the past. The male lead was mute; his younger brother was also half-mute. The younger brother got quite a lot of screen time as well. He was a character that was very pure and animated. When discussing him, Feng Leizi offhandedly mentioned a few actors. The director didn’t express his opinions about them. Yuan Ye had an epiphany. Then, he said, “I happen to have an actor to recommend. He suits the role quite well.”

Actually, Yuan Ye had more than one actor to recommend. He recommended two people: one was Yang Siran, the other was Cheng Xun. Yang Siran’s previous movie had been filmed alongside Fang Shaoyi. Yuan Ye had watched him act before. He was very talented. Cheng Xun’s image was very similar to that of the character’s. However, Yuan Ye had no idea if his acting skills were on par. In all honesty, Yuan Ye hadn’t actually watched him act before. Yuan Ye just happened to like Cheng Xun and Chi Xing a lot. Recommending Cheng Xun was technically a bit selfish.

A recommendation didn’t really count for much. Whether or not they would get used depended on the director. They still needed to send their materials to the director so he could make the final decision. At the time, Yuan Ye had actually only offhandedly mentioned their names. He hadn’t been too serious about this. After all, this character was rather important. Casting needed to be performed extremely diligently. However, Yuan Ye still mentioned this to Cheng Xun later on. He told the other to organize his materials and send a copy of them to the director when he had the time. Chi Xing happened to be next to Cheng Xun. He complained that Ye ge was too biased.

Yuan Ye laughed while saying through the phone, “You look too cheery. You don’t have that melancholic aura around you.”

It had been a long time since Yuan Ye had seen Yang Siran. Because of this, Yuan Ye asked about him. When he did so, Ji Xiaotao stated, very exasperated, “I think it’s almost over for him.”

“What’s wrong?” Yuan Ye c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. “Wasn’t the company keen on promoting him?”

“Don’t know what’s going on in his head. Couldn’t tell that he was so stubborn back then when we were on set,” Ji Xiaotao said. “He can’t get along with his manager. His att.i.tude and temper are fine, but he simply won’t do anything he’s told to do.”

“There’s such a situation?” At the time, Yang Siran had been a pretty good kid on set. Quite well-behaved. Though he had ended up on the headlines with Fang Shaoyi, from their interactions, he wasn’t the super cunning type of youth. Back then, he had silently helped Fang Shaoyi get back at the other actor. Yuan Ye actually hoped that his future development would go smoothly.

Ji Xiaotao sighed and said, “Geng ge never dotes on anyone. Aside from my ge, there isn’t any other actor in this company who’s so uncooperative. It’s been several months already. My bet is Geng ge’s going to toss him.”

Yuan Ye replied, “There’s a role that he’s quite suited for in a script that I’m currently working on. Tell the company to send his materials over and try. We just signed him. If we toss him, his future’s over. There’s no need to be so resolute.”

“Tough luck,” Ji Xiaotao said. “Geng ge isn’t even mentioning him at the company anymore. Doesn’t talk about him during meetings at all. He probably won’t promote him from now on.”