【Watching myself get roasted】
Ye Shanshan is quite curious about things he hasn’t tried before. So, after hanging up the phone, he directly opened WeChat to see how he got roasted. After all, he hadn’t experienced it before and felt a bit excited about the sneak peek.
It’s time to learn something new!
In WeChat, he received a long string of links, followed by a summary of eight hundred words. It seems that Zheng Dong wanted to give Shanshan a preventive injection.
In it, he roughly described his current popularity, the current situation of multi-party roasting, and gave an example, saying that Xu Luoyang had been roasted over eighteen hundred times and is still doing well. So, it’s just a drizzle, nothing to worry about.
It seems that Zheng Dong is worried that Shanshan is too well-protected by Gong Yue, and suddenly facing those malicious comments might be a bit overwhelming.
However, Shanshan’s focus is never on the same channel as his.
After reading that pile of text, Shanshan was a bit surprised and asked Gong Yue, “Brother, Zheng Dong said I now have six million fans. Why so many? I remember it was only a few hundred thousand before, right?”
Did Gong Yue spend money to buy followers for him to prevent him from being upset? After all, for a domineering CEO like him, any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.
“After the movie was released, your attention showed a booming trend.”
Shanshan quickly caught the key point, “Eh, how do you know so clearly, brother?”
Gong Yue pursed his lips and then revealed the name of his subordinate, “Yi Si Te reported to me.”
—
Always trusting Gong Yue, Ye Shanshan nodded and casually clicked on a link. It led to a forum thread with a conspicuous and straightforward title: “Why not go serve your ‘hero’? Just a PG seller!”
The subsequent discussions focused on Ye Shanshan’s alleged plastic surgery and the claim that he relied on a sugar daddy for support, looking down on others and being arrogant. Thousands of comments followed, with netizens and online warriors contributing to various directions of mockery and death wishes. Every melodramatic scenario was tagged with Ye Shanshan’s name.
Ye Shanshan found it entertaining, appreciating the vivid imagination of the public and the high level of insults without explicit profanity. The insults even involved literary references, and the creative ways of cursing truly broadened his horizons.
Suddenly, he felt a strong reaction from the signal receiver in his brain named “Great Demon King’s Emotion Weather Vane.” Ye Shanshan sensitively noticed that Gong Yue’s emotion was rapidly changing from “clear sky” to a trend of “stormy weather,” and there might even be hail.
Turning his head, he saw Gong Yue standing next to him, looking at the phone screen with an icy expression.
Oh no, why is the Great Demon King watching with me? That gaze…
It feels like it’s about to enter the stormy phase!
Realizing what was happening, Ye Shanshan promptly closed his phone, tugged at Gong Yue’s sleeve, and said, “Brother, let’s stop watching. It’s not interesting. I’ll play a tune for you instead.”
While Gong Yue attended to work matters, Ye Shanshan planned to sneakily resume watching after he left. Perfect!
Feeling a slight tug on his sleeve, Gong Yue suppressed his rising anger and nodded. “Alright.”
They both spent more than half an hour in the flower room, each absorbed in their thoughts. Gong Yue then headed to the study, while Ye Shanshan returned to the bedroom.
Closing the door and hiding under the covers for double protection, Ye Shanshan quickly went through all the links sent by Zheng Dong. He gained a general understanding of the situation.
It started with someone claiming that a certain actor in the “Hero’s Legend” crew, Ye Shanshan, was arrogant and disrespectful to everyone, faking her lively persona on the show. The discussion escalated to her plastic surgery and finding a “sugar daddy” for support.
As Ye Shanshan delved into the threads, he concluded, “So this is how people criticize others.” He noted that the accusations were low-level but effective.
From the second trailer release in June, only two months had passed. Although Ye Shanshan played the male fourth role in a movie and appeared on one TV show, the lack of stable exposure, intensive promotion, and a defined character label made his fan base less secure.
As the blacklisting unfolded, disappointed fans unfollowed, and some turned into attackers after changing their allegiance. In the entertainment industry, the focus often remained on “hype,” with less concern for the truth. Therefore, Ye Shanshan, who had suddenly risen to fame, was quickly smeared.
After finishing reading, Ye Shanshan concluded, “So, this is how people criticize others.”
Just as he was about to search for more information to observe, Zheng Dong called again.
“Did you finish reading?”
“Yeah, I’ve read all the links you sent.”
Zheng Dong, somewhat relieved, adopted a calm tone, “Are you okay after reading it? If you have any thoughts, feel free to share with me.”
In a pseudo-psychotherapist role, Zheng Dong was concerned about the psychological impact on the young master.
After expressing his thousand-word reflections, Ye Shanshan concluded, “The person who is targeting me is likely from the crew, aware of the helicopter incident but uncertain about the specifics. It’s probably not the lead actors, as we don’t have direct conflicts of interest. Director Ning might be unhappy with me, but he wouldn’t risk attacking me. So, it’s most likely the previous male fourth or the current male third.”
Zheng Dong couldn’t help but ask, “How are you so sure it’s the male third and not the previous male fourth?”
Lying on the bed, Ye Shanshan looked at the ceiling, raising his hand with fingers spread and then slowly clenched into a fist in a very dramatic manner. “The heavens gave me a sign!”
“…,” Zheng Dong was silent for a moment. He was tempted to shake Ye Shanshan’s shoulder to see what was going on in his head.
After a pause, Zheng Dong asked again, “What are you planning to do? Have you told Mr. Gong? Is he willing to help you?”
Ye Shanshan, still unaware of Zheng Dong’s thoughts, replied, “While I was reading the posts, Gong Yue was beside me. You didn’t see it, but he nearly turned into an iceberg just from reading the title. So, I didn’t show him the rest.”
Thinking for a moment, Ye Shanshan added, “Actually, what they said about me is somewhat accurate. I do have a powerful supporter – my brother Gong, who is mighty and magnificent.”
Hearing this, Zheng Dong felt a pang of pain. He couldn’t maintain his composure and said, “Are you still saying that? You do have a powerful supporter, someone others can only dream of, but have you used it? Huh?”
Growing angrier as he spoke, Zheng Dong continued, “Others who cling to a wealthy backer have taken on multiple movies, endorsements one after another, blinding exposure. And you? I ask you, what’s the use of having a wealthy backer!?”
Thinking of his grand dream to dominate the entertainment industry, thwarted by the likes of Ye Shanshan, Zheng Dong could only lament, feeling his heartache.
Shrinking his neck, Ye Shanshan felt guilty and lowered his voice, “Then, what should I do? Just tell me, and I’ll cooperate.”
Two days later, Ye Shanshan, unintentionally exposed, accompanied Zheng Dong into the television station.
※※※
[Me and the Sugar Daddy watched a movie]
Sitting in the passenger seat, Zheng Dong was discussing a variety show with Xu Luoyang when he suddenly felt a cold hand reaching from behind, placed on his neck. It startled him, and he nearly threw his phone.
“What’s wrong with my young master?” Once he said this, he heard Xu Luoyang’s arrogant laughter from the other end of the phone, akin to a demonic sound piercing through the brain. Afraid of a sudden heart attack, Zheng Dong directly hung up the call.
He didn’t know how many times he had wondered why he was so unlucky to encounter these two troublesome artists. It felt like he had used up a lifetime of bad luck.
Ye Shanshan wrapped in a thin blanket with a black and white cow pattern, was slouching in the back seat, looking like he hadn’t fully woken up.
After tapping Zheng Dong on the shoulder, he slowly withdrew his hand into the blanket, resembling a little snail.
“Gong Yue sent me a message, reminding me to eat the breakfast I brought.” Ye Shanshan’s eyes were unfocused, and his voice was dreamy, clearly showing signs of staying up all night.
Pulling the blanket around him, he slowly extended his somewhat cold hand, “Breakfast.”
Zheng Dong was secretly amazed. Was this sponsor really in love? No, even love wouldn’t be this attentive; it takes a fatherly figure.
Handing over the packed breakfast, “Did you not sleep well last night?”
Ye Shanshan took the thermos box and held it in his arms. After sitting quietly for a while, he opened it slowly. All his movements were sluggish.
Zheng Dong, looking at him, felt a pang in his chest. Suddenly, he thought that his artists were so good-looking and cute; maybe he wasn’t so unlucky after all.
After devouring a warm Xiaolongbao, Ye Shanshan was slightly more awake. He rubbed his eyes that were sticking together, looking at Zheng Dong in a daze, “If I fall asleep during the recording, will you terminate the contract with me?”
Zheng Dong felt the frequency of the pain in his chest increasing. Was this considered a work-related injury? But he had to say what needed to be said. He was really afraid that once Ye Shanshan went on stage, he would happily close his eyes and sleep, leaving him nowhere to cry.
“For this interview, Yan Yingdi is the main focus. You just need to sit upright and smile. As for falling asleep, it’s okay, but you must keep your eyes open.”
Then Zheng Dong heard Ye Shanshan say in a somewhat joyful tone, “Ah, I have mastered this skill! Sleeping with my eyes open, very proficient!”
“…” Feeling like he needed to apply for compensation for work-related injuries, but how did you manage to become proficient in this skill?
Seeing Ye Shanshan finally fully opening her eyes, Zheng Dong glanced at the time and found it was still early. “Come on, take out your phone and take a selfie to post on Weibo. If you don’t post, your fans will come under my Weibo to protest, making my life difficult.”
As if he could really make it better.
As a seasoned manager who had been in the industry for more than ten years, Zheng Dong understood the rules of the industry well. It evolves rapidly, and no matter how popular you once were, if you disappear from the public eye for six months, you’ll be forgotten.
Without hype, no scandals, and no exposure, you’ll be forced offline in no time.
Ye Shanshan thought that he hadn’t posted anything for a couple of days and felt a bit guilty. He quickly took out his phone, wrapped in a blanket with a cow pattern, took a selfie, and uploaded it without waiting for Zheng Dong to say anything.
Zheng Dong covered his eyes, unable to face this irrational and face-oriented world. Ye Shanshan took down seven Xiaolongbao in a row. Suddenly, he thought that, besides studying, Gong Yue was actually very considerate of him.
Hmm, Ye Shanshan took another bite of Xiaolongbao, deciding to be even better to Gong Yue in the future. For example, with Xiaolongbao, they could share half of it.
When Ye Shanshan really sat in the studio, he felt like Zheng Dong had deceived him again. He said he only needed to sit up straight and smile, and it was okay to doze off with his eyes open. What was happening now?
Whether the script was changed at the last minute or not, every time the female host asked a question to Yan Ke, she immediately turned to Ye Shanshan and asked, “What does the host think?”
Ye Shanshan, not very sensitive to the title of “host,” was mostly three seconds behind in his reaction. Also, due to not fully waking up, his bewildered expression was captured in close-ups by the cameramen, causing the audience to exclaim:
“So cute!” “So beautiful!” “Why is the host so cute!”
Ye Shanshan could hear those small voices clearly. Expressionless, he thought, “Hmm, if I had slept a few more hours, I would look even better.”
“Host, many people on the internet are saying that you’ve had plastic surgery. Do you have anything to say about this?”
Before Ye Shanshan could think of how to answer, Yan Ke immediately cut in, his voice gentle, “Personally, I believe that no plastic surgeon would dare claim that they can create facial features nearly flawless like Ye Shanshan’s. When I first met him, I was also surprised that someone could be this good-looking. I guarantee, based on my many years of observation, that he is definitely natural and untainted.”
After making a few jokes, the sensitive topic was smoothly diverted.
After recording, when they came out of the studio, Zheng Dong took Ye Shanshan to thank Yan Ke.
Yan Ke said it was just a small favor, and before leaving, he said, “Ye Shanshan helped me before, consider it a return.”
After everyone left, Zheng Dong pulled Ye Shanshan aside. “What does Yan Ke mean you helped him? What happened?”
Ye Shanshan was also puzzled. He pulled out all the memories related to Yan Ke from her mind and searched earnestly. Until they walked to the underground parking lot, he remembered,
“I helped him with math problems.”
“Huh?” What kind of story was this?
“One day, I was playing with my phone, and Yan Ke’s assistant was chatting with Lin Xiaotian. They said that the math problems for elementary school students were difficult nowadays. I was bored and curious, so the assistant showed me. I quickly solved them. After dinner, Yan Ke came to find me and asked for help.”
“Help with math problems?”
Ye Shanshan nodded, “Yes, about twenty or thirty elementary school math problems, but they were all straightforward. So I quickly finished them, wrote detailed steps and problem-solving ideas. Yan Ke said thank you at that time and left.”
He thought that this matter was over, but he didn’t expect Yan Ke to remember it all along.
It was the first time Zheng Dong had encountered such a magical character as Ye Shanshan, who had established a good relationship with a movie emperor by solving elementary school math problems.
However—elementary school?
Could it be true, the rumors in the industry, that the movie emperor really had a child in elementary school?
Just as he was about to continue gossiping, Zheng Dong saw Ye Shanshan’s expression suddenly brighten, and then he raised her arm to wave in a certain direction.
He instinctively turned his head and saw a Maybach slowly approaching, finally stopping a few steps away. The car door opened, and Gong Yue, dressed in a handmade suit, sat upright in the back seat, nodding towards Zheng Dong
, “Thank you for your hard work.”
Zheng Dong instinctively stiffened, feeling his back tense up, and his face unfolded into a sincere smile, “Mr. Gong, long time no see. It’s our duty; no hard work at all.”
While he spoke, he felt the man’s gaze circle around him, giving him the feeling of being scrutinized sharply. His hair was standing on end.
He watched Ye Shanshan, oblivious to Zheng Dong’s tension, walking a few steps to the car door, lowering his head and smiling like a flower, “Brother, are you here to pick me up?” The dimples seemed to have touched honey.
“Yeah, on the way.”
Sensing that sharp gaze shifting away from him, Zheng Dong finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling his palms were full of cold sweat.
He looked at Ye Shanshan, who naturally coquetted and acted cute towards Gong Yue, finally squeezing him inside. He sat in the seat where Gong Yue had sat before, and Zheng Dong suddenly felt a deep respect for Ye Shanshan.
The car headed towards the direction of the small estate, and Ye Shanshan chattered with Gong Yue about today’s experience, including the questions the host asked and how he answered them, explaining in great detail.
As he spoke, he suddenly had an idea, “Brother, let’s go watch a movie!”
Gong Yue put the report that he hadn’t even looked at aside, “A movie?”
“Yes!” Ye Shanshan suddenly realized that Gong Yue’s entertainment life was quite barren. Every day, besides work, it was more work, and he also had to manage his studies.
Thinking about it, Ye Shanshan felt a bit distressed. He enthusiastically encouraged, “Let’s watch, let’s watch! How about watching ‘Knight’s Legend’? I haven’t seen the full movie yet.”
What Gong Yue didn’t say was that he had already watched this movie several times, especially the scenes with Ye Shanshan. He had even directly cut them out and looped them countless times.
But at this moment, he maintained a calm expression and said, “Sure, I haven’t seen it yet.”
Originally, Gong Yue wanted to book the entire screening hall, partly for safety reasons and partly because he didn’t like overly noisy atmospheres. However, when Ye Shanshan mentioned that there were very few people in the cinema in the afternoon, and whether it was booked or not made little difference, Gong Yue agreed.
After finding masks and black-framed glasses, Ye Shanshan, now fully equipped, looked at himself in the rearview mirror and found his disguise quite successful.
Turning his head to look at Gong Yue, Ye Shanshan directly took off the other’s suit jacket, loosened the tie, and left only a white shirt with two unbuttoned buttons. “Well, this looks more like watching a movie.”
Gong Yue didn’t stop him at all and let him undress him.
Ye Shanshan’s estimation was correct. They casually chose a large cinema in a commercial area, and because it was a weekday afternoon, there were very few people.
After obtaining the tickets from the self-service machine, the two headed towards the screening hall.
Feeling a bit nervous, Ye Shanshan asked, “Brother, do you think I’ll act terribly?”
“You’ll do great.”
“Brother, you haven’t seen it, how do you know it’s good? You’re biased!”
“Hmm.” It was unclear whether he was responding to “knowing it’s good without seeing it” or to “being biased.”
As they entered the screening hall on time, they found that there were indeed very few people. The hall was dimly lit, and Ye Shanshan, worried that Gong Yue might not see the way clearly, considerately held his wrist, leading him to their seats.
Gong Yue allowed Ye Shanshan to lead him, feeling a warmth spreading from his wrist to his heart, like a fire had been lit.
“Shanshan, do whatever you want, I’m here.”
“Hmm.”
After another moment of silence, Ye Shanshan suddenly sat up straight, grabbed Gong Yue’s hand, and said, “Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“Can you ask the driver to pull over? I saw a roadside stall selling mixed sauce noodles, and I’m hungry!” He even swallowed saliva as he spoke.
“…”
The previously warm and soft atmosphere took a sharp turn, but Gong Yue found himself accustomed to such plot developments. He naturally instructed the driver to stop.
Ye Shanshan put on a black skull-patterned mask, a duckbill cap, and somehow found oversized sunglasses to hang on his nose. Looking at himself in the mirror, he thought that with this appearance, even the butler wouldn’t recognize him, then got off the car.
Xu Luoyang had told him that as a celebrity, professional etiquette meant dressing up in a way that even one’s mother wouldn’t recognize when going out.
The owner of the noodle stall was a man in his sixties, wearing a black apron. He didn’t greet Ye Shanshan when he approached.
Ye Shanshan didn’t mind and conscientiously examined the menu sign standing on the ground. After hesitating between meat sauce mixed noodles and pea sauce mixed noodles for a few minutes, he finally made a choice.
Just as he was about to order, he noticed that the stall owner was staring at him intently.
Touching his nose, Ye Shanshan felt a bit uneasy. What kind of rhythm was this? Even with this disguise, besides Gong Yue, there shouldn’t be anyone else who could recognize him.
Could this old man have a special skill to see through disguises?
At this moment, the stall owner spoke, “Old man, I made 360 yuan today.”
“?” Ye Shanshan was utterly bewildered, his face full of confusion. Why is he telling me how much money he made? I’m so flustered!
Then he heard the next sentence, “Don’t rob me. I don’t have much money. If you want to rob, try the one across the street!”
Ye Shanshan followed the direction the owner pointed and saw a sign across the street, adorned with a few glowing characters:
“The People’s Bank of Hua Country.”
1TL: YSIAD “ Hello! Pls let me know if there are issues about my translations like the names, places, etc. so that I can correct them immediately. For those who will be asking, chapters 1-24 is already available on NU (https://www.novelupdates.com/series/my-old-gong-has-amnesia/), it was translated by another group i guess? so i will not translate it anymore. Enjoy reading !
You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ❤️”
