最佳契合 (Perfect Match) – 十九瑶
Chapter 66
He An soon found an answer to his question.
Shortly after that, he heard Xie Yan’s name while people were talking around the fire.
Girls from all over the world were raving about the new fantasy drama “Immortals in the Mirror,” which had just finished filming in the film and television city. A few of them liked Qin Yun, who played the role of an omega in the drama, but most of them liked Gao Qishen, who played the alpha. Xie Yan, one of the major supporting actors, was brought up several times.
Zheng Feiluan kept coughing and talking about other things to keep He An’s attention off of what was going on.
He An nearly burst into laughter.
Was Zheng Feiluan concerned that Xie Yan would approach and harass him? But they weren’t together anymore, and Xie Yan was married to someone else. The two sides had nothing in common, so why would he cause trouble for no reason and continue to think about him, an ordinary omega?
He An thought it was funny, so he pretended to be sad just to tease Zheng Feiluan, leaving him to worry.
But it turned out that Zheng Feiluan was not worrying for nothing this time.
A few days later, He An went to buy daily essentials from a small store in the market. Just as he was making his way back through the alley next to the inn, carrying the shopping bags, he was unexpectedly stopped by someone.
He An appeared calm and stood at the end of the alley, staring at the other person.
Based on his aura, he was also an omega. However, the disguise he wore—a bright yellow hooded windbreaker, riveted pencil pants, a mask, and a pair of exaggerated-sized sunglasses covering most of his face—made it difficult to tell whether he failed to be too low-key or succeeded in being too high-profile.
He An sincerely wanted to remind him that clothing is far more effective than masks at hiding in Luotan Town.
The other person walked around He An in a serious manner, holding the frame of his glasses and carefully assessing him from head to toe, as if he were watching some rare animal. He then removed his sunglasses and mask, showing his face, and raised his chin to ask He An, “Do you recognize me?”
It’s actually Xie Yan.
He An had no idea why he had come, so he answered honestly, “I recognize you.”
Xie Yan asked once more, “Do you think I’m attractive?”
He An nodded, “Yes, I do.”
An omega who can become a star shouldn’t have a bad appearance.
Xie Yan asked again, “So if we were together, which of us would people like more? Me or you?”
“You.”
Xie Yan sneered.
He thought he was some influential figure who could make Zheng Feiluan so compliant, but it turned out he was just a boring bumpkin who couldn’t even catch him mocking him and could only say words one at a time.
Xie Yan has been nervous since Zheng Feiluan gave him the cold shoulder a few days ago, afraid that Zheng Feiluan’s new lover comes from a prestigious family in Yuanjiang. Regardless of how famous these omegas are in the entertainment world, they are still considered low-class performers by traditional wealthy families. How can they be compared to the children of elite households?
If Zheng Feiluan truly fell in love with someone with the same social status, Xie Yan would be powerless to stop him.
But now, what was there to be concerned about? He was fighting a timid and cowardly little lamb, not a tiger or a wolf.
Have you seen what he is wearing?
The dull linen short-sleeved shirt had a round neck and ragged hems, with a circle of vintage blue printed fabric sewed around the cuffs and a flower embroidered on the waist. The canvas shoes were an outdated style from who knows how many years ago, and the color had nearly gone after being washed. His hair was curly and fluffy, swaying lazily in the breeze, giving him the appearance of not having woken up yet. The poor choice of clothing even ruined his otherwise appealing looks.
He An still held a worn-out, eco-friendly fabric bag in his hand. Xie Yan took a closer look and saw that it contains soap, plastic wrap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic clothespins, and a lint roller, all of which were cheap everyday necessities.
How hopeless.
The suburban attitude is so obvious.
What’s more crazy is that the professional detective he hired informed him last night that this omega named He An had given birth to a child.
Xie Yan laughed so hard that he was unable to straighten his back.
He finally understood. The way he said, “I don’t like the ex bothering the current one” and “I just don’t want to make things hard for him,” seemed genuine. In reality, Zheng Feiluan was bored of the authentic beauties in Yuanjiang and decided to spend his vacation trying some regular food and side dishes in the countryside, and he chose a sweetheart who came with a burden.
It’s so messy—too messy that he’s embarrassed to show it to others.
How could Xie Yan not have understood Zheng Feiluan? If Zheng Feiluan decided to marry such a subpar omega and live with him twenty-four hours a day, he wouldn’t be able to escape in time.
Xie Yan was in a great mood. He gave He An a sympathetic look and asked sarcastically, “Tell me, if you and I both like the same alpha, who would the alpha choose?”
The answer was both obvious and upsetting. Xie Yan was ready to take pleasure in the other person’s ashamed expression, but this omega had no idea what to do. He An really thought about it carefully for a while before responding with three words, “I’ve no idea.”
No idea?!
Xie Yan was enraged, his tattooed brows raised, “What do you mean? Are you mocking me?”
“No,” He An replied, shaking his head. “There are hundreds of millions of alphas in the world, and everyone has his or her own preferences; I’m not a parasite in their bodies, so how would I know—”
“Stop acting dumb. Don’t you know who I’m referring to?” Xie Yan bitterly asked. “You’re so arrogant; do you think Zheng Feiluan won’t leave just because you’re pretty?”
“……”
He An sighed helplessly, secretly docking one point from Zheng Feiluan in his thoughts.
Why didn’t you tell me sooner that your ex-boyfriend was so paranoid?
Xie Yan probably realized that his reaction was too strong and that he seemed inferior to others, so he suppressed his rage and said with a fake smile, “You came from a remote region, and you just wander around in this small piece of land; you’ve never been to Yuanjiang, so you may not know the power that Zheng Feiluan holds there, so you don’t know your own place. Let me tell you, in Yuanjiang—”
“In Luotan Town, he’s just the owner of the Cranberry Pastry House.” He An continued, “Thank you, but I couldn’t care less about his business in Yuanjiang.”
This was the first time Xie Yan had come across such an unpleasant person. He found it baffling, and the anger he had just held back resurfaced, “Will he run a pastry shop here forever? Is there a problem with your head?”
Seeing that He An did not respond, Xie Yan went on, almost out of breath, “Zheng Feiluan is on vacation! The reason he’s here with you is because those exquisite omegas are not around! Open your eyes and have a look. Who do you think you are? You’re just a bag of snack that he devours to kill the time. Do you really think he loves you and can’t live without you, and will take you home and treat you well?”
He An didn’t immediately deny it.
He An stayed there, waiting for Xie Yan to calm down, before saying, “When the vacation is over, he’ll return to Yuanjiang, and I’ll stay in Luotan Town.”
Xie Yan stared at him for a moment, struggling to figure it out, “W-what do you mean? You don’t care if he’s sincere about you or not, and you don’t want to marry him?”
What gives you the confidence to tell me that you don’t want what I’ve always wanted?
He An lowered his head and smiled, “Xie Yan, I don’t get it. Whether Zheng Feiluan is serious about me or not, whether he marries me or not, what does it have to do with you? I remembered seeing in the news that you got married last year.”
This sentence struck a deep chord with Xie Yan.
He was irritated and furiously said, “What’s the big deal if I’m married? He and I are 85% a match. I like him and I can file for divorce for him. He’s not old-fashioned and won’t hold anything against me. But you said it so calmly, saying you can stay in Luotan Town and it doesn’t matter whether you get married or not. Besides, you knew already that you can’t get married with a burden that takes money, right?”
He An frowned and clenched his grip on the eco-friendly bag.
With his limited imagination, he couldn’t understand how an actor recognized for his noble innocence and grace in front of the camera could be so harsh in private, as if he were taking part in a historical drama about his own life.
But he didn’t want to get caught up in such a delusional drama.
He An took two steps forward, stood in front of Xie Yan, and said, “If you like Zheng Feiluan, go pursue him. This is something between you and him, and I won’t get involved…”
Of course, he won’t have to kneel again if you manage to snag him away.
“…But at the same time, I would find it bothersome if you came and asked me to leave. Do you get what I mean?”
Xie Yan clutched his sunglasses tightly, his fingers shaking, and his gorgeous face grew pale with hatred.
This omega… was absolutely opposite of what he imagined. He was far from being timid and simple!
This is a tough man who grew up in a small community. He appears to be humble and innocent, yet he is a cunning individual who shouldn’t be underestimated. Given his bold demeanor, he may have used his charisma to entice Zheng Feiluan into taking the child with him.
“Please excuse me, I need to go home.” He An murmured softly.
Xie Yan gritted his teeth and refused to move.
He An shrugged his shoulders, carried the eco-friendly bag, and walked around.
“Hey!”
When they arrived at the alley entrance, Xie Yan suddenly yelled out to him from behind, “You know, your distant and cold attitude is exactly the same as mine back then. I didn’t think that after five years, Zheng Feiluan’s preference didn’t change at all!”
He An couldn’t stop laughing.
Zheng Feiluan, that’s another negative point for you.
Because you had such awful taste in your lovers back then.
He An walked quietly, turned around the corner, and left the irritating voice in the alley.
⋮
Late at night, on the seventeenth floor of the Wanlang Hotel in Luotan City, there is a mountain view balcony.
Xie Yan sat in a cozy chair in his bathrobe, smoking a cigarette in one hand and a script in the other, turning through the pages carelessly. Twenty kilometers off in the horizon was Luotan Mountain, with a small town at its feet and lights twinkling among the tree shadows like stars.
He had an earbud in his right ear and was talking with his alpha in Yuanjiang. He An had frustrated him in the afternoon, leaving him quite upset. He had nowhere to vent his irritation, so as he spoke, he became increasingly agitated, as did the character name marked with a highlighter on the screenplay.
Xie Yan became frustrated, snatched the script, and banged it on the coffee table.
First supporting role?
Screw that. Who cares about this perfect-but-boring first supporting role?
He was originally cast as the main lead, who is sharp-tongued but honest, clever in everything, and confused about love. He knew this character was going to be a major break just by reading the script, and he was acting alongside the influential alpha actor Gao Qishen. His popularity had dropped in the last two years, and he was relying on “Immortals in the Mirror” to make an outstanding comeback.
However, on the day of the contract signing, someone stole a large chunk of meat from his plate.
Qin Yun, a not widely known rookie, had only recently made his debut on a talent program and had gained some followers, but he was ambitious enough to become close to the Qin family in Yuanjiang and was vicious about gaining financial backing. What was even more disgusting was that, despite being a whore, he tried to appear to be a decent person, counting on the fact that he also had the surname Qin, and telling everyone that he recognized the fourth young master of the Qin family as his brother, and that it was a pure brotherhood.
Xie Yan had been waiting for an amazing chance for two years, but it went away shortly after it arrived.
His face was contorted with jealousy.
If he hadn’t been so aloof and scared of being associated with Zheng Feiluan and being labeled as a kept man1An unemployed man who receives financial support and housing from a partner whom he has a sexual relationship with., he would have ended the relationship and dated the bodyguard instead. Who would dare touch the person Zheng Feiluan had set his sights on?
For the last two years, he has been regretting it every day.
Because he lacks sponsorship, he struggles in the entertainment world, where people trample on each other. His funds have been significantly reduced, and he is now demoted to either second or third place in the work that he is given. Even in variety shows, he can no longer stand comfortably in its center. Several new artists even dare to push him aside and blatantly steal his roles.
With his fame slipping and falling fast, his team was at a loss about what to do.
If it had been any other musician, they would have publicized the bad news, but not Xie Yan. He has kept his virtuous, self-disciplined, and compassionate attitude since his debut, so how could he let it deteriorate?
To avoid being forgotten, Xie Yan made the terrible decision to drink poison to quench his thirst.
Make a marriage announcement.
This did give him a brief time of popularity, but what followed was an even more terrifying loss in fame—being “married” shattered the alphas’ fantasy of possessing him, as well as the omegas’ ambition to be like him.
It was only at that point that Xie Yan realized he could give up everything but Zheng Feiluan.
Only Zheng Feiluan can provide an endless spotlight, and only the spotlight can provide a steady supply of popularity and riches. Even his pure and innocent image, which he values the most, can be perfectly depicted as part of his personality.
How could he have been so dumb as to trade Zheng Feiluan’s favor for his own reputation?
He regrets it.
He wants to go back to Zheng Feiluan.
But Xie Yan knew he had to overcome two obstacles first.
One was He An, Zheng Feiluan’s current omega, and the other was Jiang Bai, his alpha husband; however, he couldn’t approach Zheng Feiluan while married. The problematic part is that he has been broadcasting his love for Jiang Bai for the past two to three years, and abruptly announcing a “poor marriage resulting in a divorce” will certainly harm his public image.
It’s quite a headache.
Jiang Bai was still talking cheerfully and offering comfort over the phone.
He was once a quiet alpha who had long served as Xie Yan’s personal bodyguard. He was always discrete and focused on chauffeuring him, and Xie Yan enjoyed his silence. But, for some reason, after tying the knot, Jiang Bai became progressively annoying, asking about everything and worrying about anything, as if he treated Xie Yan like a child who would never mature.
Does he really need this cheap affection?
No.
He simply needs resources—resources that can help him achieve popularity.
Jiang Bai continued to talk softly on the phone, dismissing Xie Yan’s uncaring mood. He mentioned how much he missed him and that he wanted to get a plane ticket so that he could visit his wife in Luotan Town.
Xie Yan frowned instantly.
What exactly are you here for?
Can you help me reclaim the lead role from others?
You’ve been with me in the entertainment world for many years, but you can only do one job: a bodyguard, and you know nothing else. In this situation, just keep quiet and stay in Yuanjiang to help me with running the online store and restaurant, and stop constantly showing up in front of me!
Xie Yan was ready to yell back when his fingers trembled with eagerness and a cluster of hot cigarette ash dropped onto the coffee table, burning a hole in the script. He reached out to turn it quickly, affecting three or four pages in a row.
He looked at the dark patch, and an outrageous thought soon came to him.
“Okay, come if you miss me. I’m so lonely staying on the set alone, especially at night, that I can’t even sleep.” Xie Yan’s mood changed, and he began to act provocative toward Jiang Bai, “When you come, you have to please me well, and it would be great if you could come up with a small surprise.”
He spoke excitedly, yet his expression was as cold as ice, without the slightest hint of a smile.
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Translated and edited by janemoyu (05/29/24)
