At six in the evening, the topic #WenCiGaoChenDivorce suddenly shot to the top of the trending list, sparking a massive online discussion. The topic’s overwhelming popularity nearly crashed the platform’s servers.
The conversation began with Gao Chen posting a heartfelt reflection on his personal social media account about his divorce from Wen Ci. In a short four-to-five-hundred-word post, he calmly and slightly despondently revealed that he and Wen Ci had amicably divorced. He attributed the divorce mainly to his own shortcomings, expressing that he had failed to meet his partner’s expectations.
Although they no longer loved each other, he vowed to always respect Wen Ci.
Gao Chen’s social media account typically only posted about new songs or the theme songs he wrote for films and TV shows. Rarely did he share anything so deeply personal. His online presence had always been distant, much like the cold, aloof image he had cultivated. The last time he shared something so intimate was the day before his wedding to Wen Ci, when he wrote a long post about his hopes for marriage and his determination to protect it. At that time, the entire internet had eaten up this display of affection, and many of Gao Chen’s fans lamented that their idol had ruined his image of celibacy.
In just three short years, the once-talented and coldly aloof music star, who had descended to the mortal world for love, now filled his post with a sense of exhaustion and helplessness over his divorce. The post that had once been envied by everyone had long since been deleted. The once-celebrated love story that was described by netizens as pure as the snow on the mountain and bright as the moon in the clouds had come to such an end, leaving people sighing in regret.
This event garnered far more attention than the recent scandal involving Xia Qing. That situation had turned into a confusing mess—there was no more pursuit from the accuser, and Xia Qing’s side remained silent. The online community was left scratching their heads, unsure of what to make of it. But the divorce between Wen Ci and Gao Chen, two of the entertainment and music industries’ top stars, along with the involvement of powerful tycoon Han Shao Zhou in their love drama, captivated everyone. While the past three years had been shrouded in mystery, the beginning and end of their story had unfolded under the public’s watchful eyes.
Half an hour after Gao Chen’s post, Wen Ci retweeted it without adding any words, only attaching a small [Handshake] emoji. This officially marked the end of their once-sensational love story, both within and outside the entertainment world.
The entire internet exploded. Even those who didn’t usually pay attention to celebrity news flocked to the scene, filled with curiosity and speculation…
【What does Gao Chen’s essay mean? He says he let Wen Ci down. Did he cheat on him?】
【It’s obvious Gao Chen did something wrong. Otherwise, why would he be so humble? I support Wen Ci exposing him.】
【Do the top comments have any proof? Didn’t they say it was an amicable divorce? Gao Chen is so amazing; even if a mermaid seduced him, he wouldn’t cheat.】
【Honestly, reading what Gao Chen wrote makes me feel so sad. He used to be so cold and distant, but marriage really does take a toll on people.】
【Come on, Gao Chen’s career plummeted after getting married. Who deserves sympathy? Wen Ci sacrificed his career for that marriage. He’s the one who should be pitied.】
【Some people are really funny. Back then, it was Wen Ci who pursued Gao Chen. He brought down the great music legend and then abandoned him when his career slumped. Sorry, but I can’t see how Wen Ci deserves pity.】
【You must be a Gao Chen fan, right? It’s hilarious that you still see your idol as a god. I think the biggest mistake Wen Ci ever made was rejecting Little Han’s pursuit and choosing Gao Chen. If he had chosen Little Han, he’d be living in Champagne Mountain by now as an aristocrat.】
【Um, is this just Wen Ci and Gao Chen’s fans fighting? Am I the only one wondering if Wen Ci’s newfound single status means he and Little Han might have a chance to finally be together?】…
At around 1 p.m., Mo Ming drove to Dashang Theatre Group.
Originally, he had planned to return to the theatre group after filming the variety show. But now that the recording had been delayed, Mo Ming decided to discuss his return to the theatre with his teacher first.
His future work and life would be much simpler.
When Mo Ming arrived at Zhou Yixiang’s office area, he was told by Zhou Yixiang’s assistant that he had gone out for lunch with some old friends and had not yet returned.
Instead of waiting in Zhou Yixiang’s office, Mo Ming decided to check in on Qi Yue and Xia Xiaotang’s rehearsal.
To get from the office area to the rehearsal hall, he had to walk down a long corridor. At this time, the theatre group was preparing for the evening performance, and the corridor was almost empty, which made the figure sitting on the bench particularly noticeable.
The man was sitting sideways on a bench by the railing, a black mask resting just below his lips. His face was incredibly handsome, but his expression was extremely indifferent.
Mo Ming instinctively stopped and stared at the man, momentarily lost in thought. To be precise, he was staring at the guitar in the man’s hands.
He recognized that guitar… It had always been kept in Zhou Yixiang’s care.
Two cleaning ladies walked past Mo Ming, mops and buckets in hand, quietly gossiping about the man holding the guitar.
“He looks familiar.”
“Don’t you know? That’s Gao Chen, a really famous singer.”
“I don’t know any singers. He just looks like the guy in the poster on my daughter’s wall. How do you know him?”
“If you spent more time online, you’d know everything. Right now, the internet is full of news about Gao Chen’s divorce…”
The voices of the cleaning ladies grew fainter and fainter as they walked away.
The heavy clouds cast a dull greenish light over Gao Chen, making him appear even colder.
Even sitting down, it was clear that he had a great physique. He wore a black casual jacket with a white shirt buttoned up neatly to the collar. Perhaps it was his restrained aura, but his sharp features gave him a cold and aloof presence.
Noticing that Mo Ming had been standing there for a while, Gao Chen glanced up at him. His dark eyes showed little emotion. Mo Ming quickly averted his gaze from the guitar and gave Gao Chen a polite smile.
Gao Chen frowned slightly but only gave a perfunctory nod before returning to tuning his guitar. He soon began to play half a song effortlessly.
Two minutes later, when Gao Chen looked up again, he found that the young man was still there, staring at the guitar as if lost in memories, his eyes slightly unfocused.
“Is there something you need?” Gao Chen asked, his tone polite but distant.
“That was beautiful.” Mo Ming said softly.
Gao Chen paused, the corner of his mouth twitching in what seemed like self-mockery. “Thanks.”
“May I borrow the guitar for a moment?” Mo Ming asked gently.
Gao Chen remained silent, staring at Mo Ming’s face.
“Just for a little while.” Mo Ming added softly.
Gao Chen wasn’t inclined to let a stranger use his guitar so casually, but there was something about Mo Ming’s face—a strange familiarity that made him curious and, unconsciously, lowered his guard.
After a moment of silence, Gao Chen handed over the guitar, his expression serious. “Be careful. This guitar belonged to my best friend, and it’s very precious to me.”
Mo Ming smiled warmly, accepting the guitar. He sat on a bench across the corridor. Instead of playing right away, his long, fair fingers gently caressed the guitar strings, and his dark eyes seemed to fill with a soft mist, like rain on a peaceful day.
The guitar was custom-made, with a natural-looking “Z” shape in the wood grain on the top panel.
“Did Mr. Zhou give you this guitar?” Mo Ming asked quietly without looking up.
Gao Chen responded with a soft “Mm.” He was surprised to see that Mo Ming handled the guitar with perfect technique, and the gentle look in Mo Ming’s eyes seemed as if he was gazing at something very dear to him.
“You know this guitar?” Gao Chen asked. “Were you a fan of Zhou Ge back in the day?”
Mo Ming smiled slightly, which could be taken as a yes. “May I play a song on it?”
Gao Chen leaned back against the pillar at the end of the bench, calmly watching Mo Ming. “I just tuned it. Give it a try.”
He guessed that the young man was likely part of this theatre group. Gao Chen’s former bandmate had been Zhou Yixiang’s adopted son, so he had visited the theatre a few times in the past. Although he hadn’t returned in three years, he still recognized some of the actors from back then, or at least felt a vague sense of familiarity.
The heavy clouds scattered, and the afternoon sunlight finally broke through, casting a warm glow over one side of Mo Ming’s body. He held the guitar close, his elbows resting on the resonating panel, and his gaze fell on the strings. His thick eyelashes cast long shadows on his cheeks, and his expression was calm and focused, like a peaceful painting.
Mo Ming played one of That Piece of Sky’s most famous songs, On the Little Road. He hummed softly as he played, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, and the warm sunlight seemed to be reflected in his eyes.
Gao Chen watched as Mo Ming, lost in the music, lightly swayed along with the bright melody. After a few seconds, Gao Chen turned his gaze to the lawn outside the corridor.
He rarely sang or listened to the songs he had created in the past. The more famous the piece, the more he instinctively avoided it. The past praises and current criticisms seemed to have cruelly severed him from his former self.
When Mo Ming finished playing, he looked up at Gao Chen, frowning. “Did I make a mistake?”
“No, you played it perfectly. Not a single note was wrong.” Gao Chen said, his eyes on the ground. “I just… remembered some things from the past. It’s my own problem.”
Mo Ming stood up and handed the guitar back to Gao Chen. He looked into Gao Chen’s cold, gloomy eyes and, after some thought, softly said, “If you’re comparing your current self to your past glory, you don’t have to…”
Gao Chen looked up at him, startled.
“Maybe you could think back to how you felt when you created those songs…” Mo Ming’s voice was calm. “Zhou Ge told me that many of your most famous songs were written on a whim, like On the Little Road. If that’s the case, then the biggest factor affecting the quality of your work has always been your mood. Your talent is still there—it’s just that your mood has changed. Anything could be influencing your current performance, but it’s definitely not because you’ve run out of inspiration.”
Gao Chen stared at Mo Ming in a daze, momentarily forgetting to respond.
Mo Ming’s gaze lingered on the guitar, and he added gently, “As Zhou Ge’s best friend, that guitar can only reach its full potential in your hands. I look forward to hearing the works you create with it.”
Mo Ming nodded politely to Gao Chen before turning to leave.
Gao Chen set the guitar down on the bench and stood up, watching Mo Ming’s retreating figure.
“Wait a moment.” Gao Chen called out.
Mo Ming stopped and turned back to look at him.
“May I ask… are you an actor here at the theatre?”
“I will be soon.” Mo Ming replied.
“Have we met before?” Gao Chen frowned slightly. It didn’t feel like they had met here, but somewhere else.
“Maybe.”
His tone remained friendly, but the brief reply clearly indicated he didn’t want to have a deep conversation. Gao Chen didn’t press further and simply said, “Thank you for what you said earlier.”
Mo Ming smiled. “You’re welcome.”
As Mo Ming walked away, Gao Chen realized he didn’t even know the young man’s name. Having just returned to the country that day, this was the first piece of advice he had received, and it wasn’t the kind of clichéd encouragement or sympathy he had expected…
When Mo Ming’s figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor, Gao Chen finally looked away. His phone started ringing in his pocket.
It was his agent calling.
Gao Chen had recently re-signed with his former company, Huayue Records. As one of Huayue’s former pillars of success, the company had high hopes for his return and had prepared an efficient promotional strategy.
“I’ve already told you—the company is not allowed to use my personal life, especially my previous marriage, as a marketing gimmick.” Gao Chen said.
There was a moment of silence on the other end before the agent spoke, sounding conflicted. “You know, Gao Chen, Wen Ci has signed with Xingci. I’m well aware of how good Xi Nan is at handling public relations and marketing. If you don’t address the rumors spreading online, the situation will turn even more unfavorable for you.”
“Truth will prevail.” Gao Chen replied, closing his eyes heavily. His face showed a hint of exhaustion, but his voice remained cold. “I don’t want to make any more statements about my previous relationship. From now on, the only thing I’ll show the public is my work.”
At lunch, Zhou Yixiang had been in high spirits while catching up with some old friends, so he didn’t return to the theatre until nearly two o’clock. He hadn’t expected Gao Chen to wait for him. Zhou had given the guitar to his assistant that morning with instructions to hand it over as soon as Gao Chen arrived.
The connection between Gao Chen and Zhou Yixiang came from Zhou Xiu, a former bandmate of Gao Chen’s who was also Zhou Yixiang’s adopted son. Although few people knew this, Zhou Xiu’s status as an adopted son was no secret within the industry.
As a seasoned actor with a straightforward and kind nature, Zhou Yixiang had always been patient with the younger generation in the entertainment industry, never passing up an opportunity to help his actors. Many actors had started in his theatre troupe before moving on to the entertainment industry. Although Gao Chen was a singer, he had been close to Zhou Xiu, so even though he and Zhou Yixiang rarely kept in touch, their meetings still felt familiar and friendly.
That guitar, which had belonged to Zhou Xiu, was something Zhou Yixiang had offered to give to Gao Chen. Keeping it around only brought back painful memories, but giving it away felt too difficult. After much deliberation, he had decided to entrust it to Gao Chen, who had returned to the country.
Gao Chen and Zhou Yixiang chatted in the office for a while until the assistant reminded them that Mo Ming had been waiting for Zhou Yixiang earlier that day. Mo Ming had gone to watch the rehearsals in the meantime, but the assistant wondered if they should call him back.
“Tell him to come over. I have something to ask him.” Zhou Yixiang said to his assistant.
Gao Chen, aware that Zhou Yixiang had another guest, didn’t stay long. After exchanging a few more words, he got up to leave.
Gao Chen didn’t let Zhou Yixiang walk him out. After leaving the office, he put on a black mask and slung the guitar over one shoulder, heading down the corridor.
Ahead of him, someone approached. From the simple, casual outfit, Gao Chen immediately recognized the young man he had met earlier in the corridor.
Mo Ming also recognized Gao Chen, but he didn’t stop. He merely nodded slightly at Gao Chen, and a fleeting smile passed over his eyes before he calmly walked past him.
Gao Chen stopped and turned, watching the familiar figure until he saw Mo Ming enter Zhou Yixiang’s office. Frowning slightly, Gao Chen guessed that this must be the “Mo Ming” that the assistant had mentioned earlier.
“Mo Ming, huh?”
What a strange name…
Inside Zhou Yixiang’s office, before Mo Ming could bring up his plans to return to the theatre group, Zhou Yixiang asked, “I had lunch with Director Liu Hekun today. He told me you turned down his offer to play the second male lead?”
Mo Ming lowered his voice. “Teacher, I want to return to the theatre sooner…”
Zhou Yixiang sighed softly, speaking earnestly, “You can come back to the theatre anytime. Even as an actor, you can return to perform a play or two whenever you want. But Director Liu’s movie isn’t something just anyone can get into. When he told me about this during lunch, I was furious with you.”
Mo Ming sat with his hands resting on his lap, his head lowered in silent acknowledgment of his mistake, but this quiet defiance only made Zhou Yixiang feel more helpless.
This seemingly gentle and harmless young man was, in fact, the most stubborn and determined of all his students.
Most of the actors in his theatre troupe were eager to break into the entertainment industry, and Zhou Yixiang had used his connections to find opportunities for them. But Mo Ming, despite his exceptional talent, seemed uninterested in pursuing the bright future that lay ahead of him in showbiz. Instead, he remained fixated on returning to the theatre.
Looking at Mo Ming’s dejected expression, Zhou Yixiang found himself unable to continue scolding him.
Whether to act in films or perform in plays was ultimately Mo Ming’s personal choice.
“I heard from Xiaotang that you’re dating someone.” Zhou Yixiang suddenly asked with a light tone, taking a sip of tea. “You even brought him to one of the theatre’s performances. Why didn’t you introduce him to me?”
“It’s not like that.” Mo Ming looked up and responded seriously. “He’s just a friend. Xiaotang misunderstood.”
Zhou Yixiang paused, frowning slightly, unsure of whom to believe.
He didn’t keep up with online gossip, but he had overheard some of the younger staff members talking about Mo Ming being involved with a wealthy second-generation heir. They mentioned there was even a video of the two being intimate. He hadn’t watched the video, but if they were saying it was intimate, the relationship couldn’t have been as simple as Mo Ming claimed.
“Online, people are saying…”
“It’s all just rumors.” Mo Ming cut in. “Teacher, you know that anyone in the entertainment industry who has a bit of buzz is bound to get caught up in some kind of tabloid news.”
Looking at Mo Ming’s serious expression, Zhou Yixiang eventually nodded, realizing he believed him.
As they discussed Mo Ming’s return to the theatre, Mo Ming agreed to follow Zhou Yixiang’s advice and wait until after the variety show filming to finalize his plans. A new script would be ready by the end of the month, so he could use that opportunity to reconnect with the theatre and start rehearsing.
Before leaving, Mo Ming mentioned the dinner plan for tomorrow night, Sunday. He had promised Xiaotang that he would treat her, Qi Yue, and their teacher to a hotpot after the performance. Xiaotang had eagerly reminded him of this earlier during rehearsals, practically drooling at the thought.
“I’ve been dealing with some heat-related issues lately, so I can’t eat hotpot. But you all go ahead.” Zhou Yixiang said.
“That’s fine, Teacher. We can change the venue to a restaurant instead.”
Thinking that it had been a while since he had had dinner with a few of his students, Zhou Yixiang nodded, “Alright then. If nothing comes up, I’ll join you. But if I’m busy, you all just go without me. There will be plenty of other opportunities to get together.”
As Mo Ming was about to leave, Zhou Yixiang said with a warm but complicated expression, “Mo Ming, if you’re really in a relationship, bring the person over and introduce them to me.”
Mo Ming turned back and smiled, nodding in agreement.
“It’s been a few years. What’s in the past is in the past. People need to look forward to it, don’t they?” When he had believed that Mo Ming was in a relationship, he felt relieved. But now that Mo Ming had denied it, it was as if nothing had changed at all.
Mo Ming’s gaze slowly lowered to the floor, and after a moment, he softly murmured, “Mm.”
Mo Ming stayed at the theatre until after 4 p.m. During a break in Xiaotang’s rehearsal, he pulled her aside to clarify that he wasn’t in a relationship with Han Shao Zhou.
“Did you two break up?” Xiaotang asked, shocked. A couple of seconds later, she seemed to have an epiphany and, with a complicated expression, whispered, “Is it because that Wen Ci came back?”
Realizing he couldn’t keep up with Xiaotang’s ever-shifting narrative, Mo Ming relented and nodded. “Yes, we broke up. For a lot of reasons.”
Xiaotang’s face was a mixture of shock, anger, sadness, and sympathy. In the end, she patted Mo Ming’s shoulder and said bitterly, “I knew it. That Han guy isn’t a good person. The internet says he’s devoted, but I say he’s just using other people’s feelings to prove his love for someone else. He’s nothing but scum.”
“…Actually, he’s pretty decent.”
When their relationship began, Han Shao Zhou had clearly set boundaries and rules for their interaction. In this arrangement over the past three years, Han Shao Zhou had been nothing short of a considerate lover. Even when the time came for them to part ways, it would be on good terms.
The sky, which had been clear for half a day, returned to stormy weather by nightfall.
After finishing his shower, Mo Ming curled up on the sofa to watch a movie. Earlier, Han Shao Zhou had texted him, saying that after finishing his business engagement, he would come over early, so Mo Ming waited for him at the apartment.
At around 10 p.m., after the movie ended, Mo Ming drifted off to sleep on the couch. He was eventually roused by kisses, slowly waking up in a daze. He sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked at the person in front of him.
“Shao Zhou ge…” Mo Ming murmured sleepily.
Han Shao Zhou had just returned from his business engagement. Though still dressed in his suit, his face showed signs of weariness and a slight intoxication. Upon entering the apartment, he saw his beautiful little lover lying asleep on the couch, waiting for him. The sight instantly lifted his mood, and he couldn’t resist waking him with kisses.
Mo Ming, still half-asleep, reached out to wrap his arms around Han Shao Zhou’s neck, rubbing his cheek against him and sleepily mumbling, “You’ve worked hard.”
But then he caught a whiff of smoke on Han Shao Zhou’s clothes and quickly pulled away, turning his head in disgust. “Smells awful…”
Han Shao Zhou couldn’t help but laugh. Instantly feeling less tired, he kissed him a couple more times and then scooped him up into his arms, grinning as he said, “Come keep me company in the bath.”
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![Sorry, I Licked the Wrong Person [BL]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/不好意思，舔错人了.jpeg "Sorry, I Licked the Wrong Person [BL]")
