Chapter 24: Four-Person Battlefield After Changing Sides
The reason why so many media friends could come this time, apart from relying on the popularity of Jin Yanliu and Zhou Beiyang, is also because Jin Yanliu announced that he would accept media interviews.
Since Jin Yanliu took on “Into The Abyss,” a bunch of entertainment reporters wanted to interview him. This is the first time he has accepted a media interview since the official announcement, so almost all the nationally recognized media outlets have come. Just as Jin Yanliu finished the interview, it was already trending.
With the combination of two top stars, it’s hard not to trend. Cheng Fei sat in the private room and said to Jin Yanliu, “How about that? I didn’t say anything wrong, did I? If you two are willing to join forces, there won’t be any opponents in the entertainment industry.”
Jin Yanliu glanced and saw that his and Zhou Beiyang’s names had already risen to sixth place on the trending list. “Did we buy it?”
“Don’t underestimate your own strength. If we wanted to buy trending, we would always be in the top three.”
Jin Yanliu looked at the comments above, all filled with flattery, and the positive reviews were occupied by the fans on both sides.
In addition to the two of them, “Into The Abyss” was also trending, but at a lower position. It should be a natural trend, and when he clicked on it, it was all fan comments.
Having more fans has its drawbacks, as it becomes difficult to find genuine feedback.
A knock on the door came from outside, and Zhong Qianqian poked her head in, somewhat shy and excited, and asked, “Yanliu ge, we’re playing a game, do you want to join us?”
Jin Yanliu gave his phone to Cheng Fei. “Then I’ll go and play for a while.”
Cheng Fei accompanied him for the interview, and now that the interview was over, his mission was considered complete. “I’ll leave now. Let’s meet tomorrow on set. Have fun. The shooting schedule is so tight that once you step onto the set, you probably won’t have time to play anymore.”
Jin Yanliu followed Zhong Qianqian to the adjacent private room, where it was lively and everyone was cheering. He took a look and saw that Lu Yao was drinking with someone, probably a bit tipsy, acting boisterous. One hand on his waist, the other holding a beer bottle, pouring it straight into his mouth. Everyone was cheering along. Jin Yanliu smiled and walked through the crowd, sitting next to Zhou Beiyang.
Zhou Beiyang asked, “Why did the interview take so long?”
“Those reporters asked too many questions,” Jin Yanliu said, then picked up Zhou Beiyang’s glass and drank it all in one gulp.
“Is it juice?” Zhou Beiyang was stunned for a moment.
“You told me not to drink alcohol,” Jin Yanliu replied.
“Well, you better not smoke either.”
He glanced towards the corner and saw Yan Huihua sitting alone, playing with his phone. There was a little girl sitting next to him, chatting with him happily, but he seemed to be ignoring her.
“Yanliu ge is here, let him join us in playing,” Zhong Qianqian shouted.
Everyone turned to look at Jin Yanliu when they heard his words. He stood up and gave Zhou Beiyang a tug, saying, “Let’s go together.”
He then called out to Yan Huihua, “Yan Huihua!”
Yan Huihua looked up, smiled, and stood up.
“What are you all playing? I can’t drink,” he said.
“I can’t drink either,” Yan Huihua added.
“In that case, let’s play something else,” Zhong Qianqian suggested. “How about a game of Truth or Dare?”
“Are we playing it for real?” Lu Yao, clearly caught up in the moment, wiped his mouth and said, “But I’m in.”
He smiled brilliantly, his sharp eyebrows and eyes carrying a hint of mischief. Jin Yanliu asked, “How do we play this?”
“Spin the bottle,” Lu Yao said. “The mouth of the bottle will point to whoever it’s meant for.”
Jin Yanliu raised an eyebrow and said, “Sounds good.”
Everyone sat around the round table. Lu Yao reached out, gathered all the bottles on the table, and placed one in the center. “Who’s going to spin?”
“You go ahead,” Jin Yanliu said.
Lu Yao rolled up his sleeves, grabbed the bottle, and gave it a spin. It was clear that he had some skills, as the bottle spun in the center of the table, amid everyone’s cheers, and pointed towards Jin Yanliu.
“Truth or Dare?” Lu Yao asked.
Jin Yanliu sniffed playfully. “I’ve never been afraid of dares. Playing Truth is more exciting.”
He had a feeling that Lu Yao was going to challenge him.
Sure enough, Lu Yao came up with a tough question, one of the most popular ones in Truth or Dare… a question about love and relationships.
“Do you currently have someone you like? I mean, genuinely, in a romantic way, no cheating.”
Zhou Beiyang, sitting next to Jin Yanliu, immediately became serious upon hearing the question. Yan Huihua, with his gentle expression, also straightened his posture.
But Zhong Qianqian and the others were all excited. Celebrity gossip about relationships, who wouldn’t want to hear it!
“No, I don’t,” Jin Yanliu said.
Everyone let out disappointed sighs upon hearing his response. Zhong Qianqian directly shouted, “You have to be truthful, no lying!”
“I’m telling the truth. There isn’t anyone,” Jin Yanliu said with a smile.
When he said that, Yan Huihua and Zhou Beiyang felt complex emotions.
Yan Huihua’s heart skipped a beat and almost turned cold.
Because he always thought that Jin Yanliu liked him.
Jin Yanliu had been so good to him before. Even before coming to the bar this time, he had arranged for his stylist for him. It made Yan Huihua feel sweet inside and he had indulged in many unrealistic fantasies. Now, all those dreams shattered in an instant.
Could it be true, as Zhou Beiyang said, that he was just a man called over in the middle of the night to sleep with Jin Yanliu?
He pursed his lips, held onto the glass in his hand, took a sip of beer, and felt the bitterness.
Zhou Beiyang’s emotions were more complicated. No one understood Jin Yanliu better than he did. Jin Yanliu didn’t bother to lie, and there was no need to lie. If he said he didn’t have anyone he liked, then it was true. It meant that he didn’t have any feelings for Yan Huihua either.
But it also meant that Jin Yanliu only saw him as a brother.
He didn’t know whether to feel happy or disappointed.
“It’s my turn,” Jin Yanliu said.
He reached out and pressed the bottle, giving it a strong spin. When he made his move, everyone realized that he was also skilled at it. The bottle spun for a while before slowly coming to a stop, finally pointing towards Lu Yao.
Lu Yao licked his lips, smiled, and before Jin Yanliu could ask, he said, “Truth.”
“Do you have someone you like?” Jin Yanliu asked.
Lu Yao’s throat moved, and he said, “Yes.”
His gaze passed over Zhou Beiyang’s face and finally landed on Jin Yanliu.
Jin Yanliu was finally certain now.
Next was Lu Yao’s turn. Just as he was about to press the bottle, Zhou Beiyang suddenly spoke up, saying, “If you two are going to continue playing like this, we don’t have to participate.”
Lu Yao looked up at him, smiled, and then gave the bottle a strong spin.
Everyone was waiting for the bottle to point towards Jin Yanliu, but unexpectedly, when it finally stopped, it slightly deviated from Jin Yanliu and pointed towards Zhou Beiyang.
Jin Yanliu was a bit excited and, driven by his curiosity, he put his arm around Zhou Beiyang’s shoulder.
“Truth or Dare?” Lu Yao pursed his lips and looked at Zhou Beiyang, asking.
Zhou Beiyang said, “Truth.”
He had played this kind of game before and knew that the most common punishment in Truth or Dare was to confess your feelings or kiss someone. He had a germophobia and couldn’t do such things, plus these games were just for fun and the questions always had boundaries.
Lu Yao asked a question that had troubled him for many years: “Do you have someone you like?”
He wanted to know so badly if he was just overthinking things between the two of them.
Zhong Qianqian said from the side, “Lu Ge, can you come up with a more interesting question?”
Lu Yao smiled, but his eyes were fixed on Zhou Beiyang.
When this question was asked to Jin Yanliu, everyone felt it was a hidden battle between the rumored enemies. But when it was asked to Zhou Beiyang, it was obviously a soft approach.
Only Jin Yanliu, who was aware of the situation, felt a touch of emotion at that moment.
This guy was usually quite annoying, but who would have thought he would be so innocent and infatuated when it came to love.
While Jin Yanliu was pondering, Zhou Beiyang said, “Yes.”
Jin Yanliu immediately turned his head to look at him.
Yan Huihua, who was next to them, took another sip of beer upon hearing this.
Lu Yao’s heart suddenly turned cold, completely cold.
So it was like this, unrequited love. The person he liked the most, the person he despised the most, it was really miserable for him.
Lu Yao, who was quite cheerful before, suddenly became gloomy. He didn’t really participate in the rest of the game, just sat there drinking alone.
After the game ended, Jin Yanliu went to lie on the couch. He had been practicing fight scenes during the day and was actually tired. Zhou Beiyang came over shortly after and asked him, “Are you cold?”
The temperature in the private room was a bit low.
Jin Yanliu said, “It’s okay.”
“If you’re tired, you can go back and rest,” Zhou Beiyang said.
“I’ll stay a little longer,” Jin Yanliu yawned and glanced in the distance. Seeing Lu Yao still sitting there drinking, he smiled and said, “What did you do to him just now? He looks so down.”
“Who?”
“Lu Yao.”
Zhou Beiyang glanced at Lu Yao and said, “When did I do anything to him?”
“Why did you lie to him about having someone you like?” Jin Yanliu asked. “Were you intentionally trying to upset him? Did you already know that he likes you?”
Since Lu Yao and I have a strained relationship, it’s understandable that Zhou Beiyang, as his younger brother, would be hostile towards me.
“He likes me?” Zhou Beiyang furrowed his eyebrows slightly. “Where did you come up with that idea?”
“It’s obvious, didn’t you see it?” Jin Yanliu asked. “Then why did you lie?”
Zhou Beiyang remained silent.
Jin Yanliu immediately sat up. “Do you really have someone you like? Who is it? Do I know them? When did this happen?”
Zhou Beiyang said, “It’s not someone important. You can see it in others, but you can’t see it in the people around you? I won’t say anything, just wait until you figure it out yourself.”
He stood up and said, “Let’s go, let’s go back together. I’m tired too.”
Jin Yanliu stood up and grabbed his arm. “Is it true? Are you really in love?”
Zhou Beiyang walked out directly, and Jin Yanliu followed. After a few steps, he turned back and said to Yan Huihua and the others, “I have something to attend to, you guys continue playing. Don’t get too drunk, especially you, Lu Yao. You have to film the promotional video tomorrow.”
He quickly caught up with Zhou Beiyang, who had already reached the corridor. “Wait for me.”
Zhou Beiyang said, “Don’t ask me, even if you do, I won’t tell you.”
Jin Yanliu smiled and said, “You’ve grown up, you’ve grown up.”
Zhou Beiyang’s expression darkened. “I grew up a long time ago.”
Jin Yanliu felt a mix of happiness and sadness, not knowing why he felt that way. He reached out and put his hand on Zhou Beiyang’s shoulder, hugging his neck. As they walked, their bodies brushed against each other. Jin Yanliu said, “I hope I also like her.”
“You will like her,” Zhou Beiyang said calmly. “No one can resist liking him.”
“That’s great,” Jin Yanliu laughed.
Zhou Beiyang responded with a soft “Mmm” and said, “To me, he’s the best person in the world.”
For a moment, he wanted to confess his feelings to Jin Yanliu.
Jin Yanliu released him and said, “That’s good. I hope you find the person you love soon, preferably get married quickly.”
He believed in his brother’s character. If Zhou Beiyang were to get married, he would definitely be a responsible and good husband. When that fake person comes along and tries to seduce him, no matter how hard they try, they won’t succeed.
Upon hearing his words, Zhou Beiyang seemed a bit unhappy, but he didn’t say anything. He just put his hands in his pockets and let out a sigh.
Jin Yanliu, such a clever person, seemed to be clueless about this matter. Was it because Zhou Beiyang disguised himself too well, or was it because Jin Yanliu’s brotherly feelings were too pure?
It was so difficult for him to become his lover.
“Do you want me to give you a massage today?” Zhou Beiyang asked him on their way back.
“No need, you should rest early too.”
Zhou Beiyang had also worked hard today, accompanying him in practicing action scenes.
After returning to the hotel, Jin Yanliu first went to the director’s room to check tomorrow’s work schedule. He then went back to his own room, took a shower, and got ready to sleep. Just as he lay down on the bed, he heard his phone ring. He glanced at it and saw that it was a message from Yan Huihua asking, “Are you asleep?”
“Not yet,” Jin Yanliu replied.
Receiving a “Are you asleep?” text in the middle of the night always carried an indescribable ambiguity. However, Jin Yanliu was too exhausted today and had no interest in flirting with men, so he directly asked, “Is there something you need?”
As soon as he sent the message, he heard a knock on the door.
Jin Yanliu got off the bed and went to open the door. He saw that Yan Huihua was still wearing the same clothes from the bar, with his shirt slightly stained with red wine and a bit wrinkled. He had a faint smell of alcohol, but he remained calm and handsome as ever.
“Come in,” he said.
Yan Huihua entered, and Jin Yanliu asked, “Did you drink?”
Yan Huihua nodded but didn’t say anything. Jin Yanliu wasn’t good at taking care of others and didn’t think of offering him a glass of water. Instead, Yan Huihua spoke up, “I’m a bit thirsty, do you have any water?”
Only then did Jin Yanliu hand him a bottle of mineral water. Yan Huihua unscrewed the cap and gulped down a few big mouthfuls, as if he were extremely thirsty.
“Has everyone returned?” Jin Yanliu asked.
“No, I came back first,” Yan Huihua screwed the cap back on and asked, “Is your body sore? Do you want me to give you a massage? Last time I said I would, but you were busy and it didn’t happen.”
Jin Yanliu was momentarily stunned.
He looked at Yan Huihua and noticed that his face had a slight blush. This person was too honest, wearing his intentions on his face. It was quite touching for an honest person to gather the courage to flirt. Jin Yanliu raised his hand and gently touched his own cheek, saying, “Sure.”
When an opportunity presents itself, one must seize it. It was already late at night, and Zhou Beiyang was probably already asleep. As long as the two of them didn’t say anything, no one would know.
It felt like a secret rendezvous, quite exciting.
However, it was his first time experiencing something like this, so he was a bit nervous. “Thank you for your trouble.”
Yan Huihua seemed even more nervous and shook his head, saying, “It’s no trouble.”
Suddenly, Jin Yanliu remembered the counterfeit goods and Yan Huihua’s car.
Despite Yan Huihua appearing honest, he drove quite aggressively. He didn’t have many tricks, but his car had plenty of power. Today was a good opportunity to test it out.
