After dealing with matters at the company and at home, while still in the car, Xu Linshen called Zhong Yu.
The phone rang for almost a minute before someone picked it up. The first sound from the receiver was the sound of water flowing, followed by a brief silence before a voice emerged.
The voice carried a slightly hoarse tone, “Yeah, I’m at home.”
Actually, the pause when he answered the call was very brief, but Xu Linshen still sensed that something was off. However, the feeling was faint, like ink diffusing and diluting, and he quickly dismissed it.
Afterward, Xu Linshen asked Zhong Yu if he had eaten, and Zhong Yu replied that he hadn’t and was waiting for Xu Linshen to return to eat together.
Hearing these words, a gentle and affectionate expression unconsciously appeared in Xu Linshen’s eyes. It was as if he had gone back to the initial days when they would try to find time every day, despite their busy schedules, to share a simple and heartwarming dinner.
When Xu Linshen returned to Zhong Yu’s apartment, it was already 7 in the evening. As the assistant brought two cooked dishes to be heated in the kitchen, he found Zhong Yu in the kitchen as well.
Zhong Yu was wearing a thin wool sweater and light gray loungewear. He was standing in front of the sink, washing a bunch of vegetables, while a pot of broth was simmering on a low flame on the gas stove next to him.
The assistant stared at him for a few seconds before realizing what he was doing. He placed the thermal container on the marble countertop and then spoke, “Mr. Xu is in the living room. Let me handle this.”
Hearing the sound, Zhong Yu turned around and glanced, and from that angle, his legs appeared even more straight and slender, his body’s contours exuding an indescribable graceful and slim beauty.
“Oh, I’m washing the vegetable hearts, just one dish,” Zhong Yu said as he looked back.
The assistant’s gaze briefly lowered, and he noticed a fair amount of broken porcelain in the trash can, along with a pile of unsuccessful attempts.
“This famous celebrity is cooking a soup for his boss,” the assistant chuckled to himself. He decided not to intrude and greeted his boss before preparing to leave for the day.
However, as soon as the assistant left, there was a crisp crash from the kitchen. It was the sound of bowls and dishes shattering on the floor.
Xu Linshen’s face changed, and he set down the documents in his hands. Pushing his wheelchair, he headed to the kitchen while asking, “What happened?”
As he entered the kitchen, he saw the shattered porcelain scattered on the floor, and the soup that had spilled was still emitting steam. There stood Chu Yan, seeming a bit dazed.
Examining him from head to toe, Xu Linshen guided him to step aside from the broken porcelain, asking, “Are you hurt?”
Chu Yan appeared somewhat absent-minded. When Xu Linshen asked, he seemed slow to react at first, then lifted his gaze and shook his head, saying, “No…”
After a moment, he explained, “I spilled some soup while pouring just now.”
Seeing that there were no soup stains on him, Xu Linshen felt relieved. But in the next second, Chu Yan did something that completely froze him in place.
Chu Yan turned around and, without wearing gloves or using a towel, directly reached out to lift the pot of freshly boiled soup!
——
Upon leaving, Xiao Meng was immediately called back to clean up the kitchen. He also reheated the dishes ordered from a hotel. He couldn’t help but think that it would have been easier if he had just done the cooking himself. This way seemed more troublesome.
“Give me your other hand…”
One command and one action. Chu Yan retracted the hand that had been treated with ointment and extended his other hand.
Xu Linshen still had lingering fears. His heart was pounding so intensely that the blood flowed too rapidly, causing a sensation akin to drowning. His fingers were still slightly trembling.
Fortunately, Chu Yan seemed to have a high pain tolerance and wasn’t afraid of getting burned. Otherwise, he might have accidentally flung the pot…
The palm was red and swollen, with a few blisters forming on the fingertips. Even though he didn’t make a sound when applying the ointment, he instinctively pulled his hand away when his own touch grazed the injury.
Xu Linshen carefully finished applying the ointment, his brow furrowed. He had suppressed his irritation for so long, but it seemed to burst out regardless. His tone inadvertently took on a stern edge, “What were you thinking at that moment?”
However, Chu Yan kept his eyes lowered. His expression appeared particularly somber in the cool light, with his eyelashes trembling slightly, and his lips pressed together in silence.
Seeing him like this, Xu Linshen couldn’t help but sigh helplessly, “You’re definitely not going to sleep tonight because of the pain. Let me ask you, when you were holding the pot, you didn’t feel any pain?”
Chu Yan turned his head to glance at him, not saying a word and only shaking his head.
His expression was genuinely innocent. Xu Linshen sighed with distress and advised, “Don’t let it touch water. Go to the hospital tomorrow to get an anti-inflammatory injection.”
So, when Fang Dingyao came over to remind him about work, Chu Yan found yet another excuse to laze around for a few more days.
[Host, you’re really something else, daring to grab an iron pot with your bare hands just to avoid work.］
[But I’m still in a state of deep sorrow; isn’t this kind of condition quite normal?］
2333 can’t see any trace of him being heartbroken and desolate. It’s just that one feels he’s not only harsh on others but even harsher on himself.
However, after all, it’s just a minor burn. He rested at home for two or three days, and Chu Yan still had to go to work.
Seeing him become increasingly haggard during his rest, Fang Dingyao felt like this break was wasted. It’s the peak of the “Thunderstruck” airing, and various variety shows and advertising endorsements are flying in like snowflakes. It seems that the only one in the entire cast who can rest is Zhong Yu.
However, what surprised her the most was that Zhong Yu’s performance in “Thunderstruck” was unexpectedly excellent. The impact of this drama on him personally was undoubtedly astonishing. Not only did it remove the labels of “flower vase” and “resource marketing celebrity” from him, but his popularity and recognition among the public also significantly increased. Previously, when drawing portraits for Zhong Yu’s fan group, the age group was mainly concentrated below 25 years old, with the majority being female fans. However, after the drama aired, his fan base noticeably expanded.
For actors, the larger the middle-aged and elderly fan base, the more their works can command viewership, and their national recognition also tends to be higher.
With this development, she now has a wider range of scripts to choose from and more options.
She had always known that people like Zhong Yu, who seemed to be favored by the heavens, were destined to become popular. His natural charisma could turn anything into a hit. If it were another artist employing the same tactics, it would probably have led to self-destruction long ago…
Moreover, during this recent period, it was quite evident to Fang Dingyao that Chu Yan not only made significant progress in his acting skills, but also showed remarkable improvement in his behavior on talk shows.
In the past, he used to act arrogantly, looking down on others, and he managed to offend quite a few people in the entertainment industry. Now, he had become much more restrained… Such a dramatic change, she wondered what could have triggered it…
However, before she could be astonished by Chu Yan’s rocket-like growth, another unexpected opportunity, like a golden olive branch she never even dreamed of, came her way.
…
The interior design of the Chinese restaurant exudes an upscale and elegant style. Warm yellow lights cascade from the ornate suspended ceiling, and the wooden tables and chairs are intricately carved with lifelike depictions of various flora and fauna. The delicate lattice windows, carved with floral patterns, create a subdued and hushed ambiance, visually cultivating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere.
Director Li took a sip of tea and leaned back comfortably in the intricately carved sandalwood chair behind him, remarking contentedly, “It’s you young people who truly know how to enjoy life. You’ve chosen such a great place.”
“It’s not that remarkable of a place, but it’s quiet,” Xu Linshen replied.
The two continued their conversation for a while, having nearly finished a pot of tea. Just at that moment, a commotion could be heard near the entrance.
“Over here.”
Accompanying the voice of the female server was a steady and distinct sound of footsteps, rhythmically landing on the wooden floor.
Director Li raised his eyes towards the entrance and saw a tall and slender young man walking steadily in their direction.
Dressed in a well-made, tailored slim-fit shirt, he stood tall and thin, with excellent proportions. His whole demeanor exuded a refreshing and neat quality that was hard to describe.
When the person approached, Director Li finally recognized who it was. Wasn’t this the former lover of Xu Linsen? Judging solely by his figure, Director Li even thought it was Xu Linsen’s newly acknowledged younger brother.
A person’s appearance, when it reached the level of someone like Zhong Yu, was something that could easily leave a lasting impression on others after just one encounter.
Director Li had only seen Zhong Yu twice, and although they hadn’t really exchanged any words, he still had a deep impression of him.
“I’m sorry, I got caught in heavy traffic on the way here,” Chu Yan apologized.
Xu Linsen poured a cup of tea for him, saying, “It’s not too late, the dishes haven’t been served yet.”
Director Li also smiled, “Having a meal with an acquaintance doesn’t need to be too formal, feel free to order whatever you like.”
He thought Xu Linsen had invited him over to discuss the role for his newly acknowledged younger brother, but he didn’t expect it to be about an old flame.
Initially, if it were about Ye Jingyun, he wouldn’t have had too many concerns. After all, Ye Jingyun had received two well-known domestic film awards. But for Zhong Yu…
Even though he had watched a few episodes of the recent hit drama “Thunderstruck” and
truly appreciated Zhong Yu’s performance in it, “Thunderstruck” was still a television drama. Some actors might excel in TV dramas but struggle to shine on the big screen.
Moreover, he had heard some rumors about Zhong Yu’s reputation in the entertainment circle before. It was said that he had a bad temper and liked to act high and mighty. If they really let him join the project because of Xu Linshen’s relationship, Director Li feared that he wouldn’t be able to say a word when the time came, which would truly be a headache. However, no matter what, the audition spot was definitely going to be secured. If his performance turned out to be really terrible, then they could find a reason to back out.
Not long after, the dishes started to arrive one by one.
During the process, Director Li discussed some matters related to the script and the film. He found that some of the things Chu Yan said surprisingly matched his preferences. Originally, this meal was arranged by Xu Linshen to introduce them to each other, so the three of them had a pleasant time throughout the dinner.
After having a couple of extra drinks, Director Li was slightly tipsy. He laughed and said, “Mr. Xu, I won’t hide it from you. I don’t think the younger brother resembles you much, but he does look quite similar to Little Zhong. When he walked in just now, I almost mistook him for the other.”
Xu Linshen’s movement paused slightly, and he instinctively glanced at the side where Chu Yan was sitting. He noticed that Chu Yan’s expression was subdued, but when their gazes met, Chu Yan offered a reassuring smile.
“Maybe it’s because of the similar build, and people have always said that in the past,” Chu Yan chuckled lightly, speaking casually.
“Well, in my opinion, handsome young men tend to share certain similarities in their looks, while the not-so-handsome ones each have their own unique ‘ugliness’,” Director Li laughed heartily.
—
After leaving the restaurant, Director Li had become a bit tipsy from the drinks. Xu Linshen arranged for his staff to accompany him back and then got into the car himself.
The rear window of the car was slightly open. A bit of alcohol wasn’t much for him, as he was used to socializing. However, for someone like Chu Yan who rarely drank, he was feeling a bit light-headed.
He rolled down the car window and let the wind blow in for a while, which quickly helped him feel more awake.
“What’s the matter? Aren’t you happy?” Xu Linshen could clearly sense his low spirits, and the initial joy of securing the role for him had diminished somewhat.
After a while, Chu Yan responded softly, as if in slow motion, “Happy.”
Even though he said that, there was no trace of joy on his face.
“Is it because of what Director Li said?” Xu Linshen rubbed his ear, which had turned red from the alcohol, and asked in a hushed tone.
In the past, if he had done something like this, Chu Yan would definitely have gotten angry. But today, he seemed unusually obedient, appearing somewhat listless and downcast.
“Yeah,” Chu Yan replied vaguely, his gaze lowered. “Some people say we look alike, do we really?”
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