Tears Behind Bars Was a Single Tailor-Made for You

The set was deathly silent.

Shen Huai clutched the wire harness rope tightly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. That shout of "No!" had completely exposed him beneath everyone's spotlight.

Director Li was an old hand. The moment he saw the situation, his expression darkened. With a wave of his hand, he called over the head of the props team. "Old Zhang! Get up there and inspect that wire harness! Now! Immediately!"

Shen Huai wanted to stop him, but Gu Yan shoved him aside.

Gu Yan might have been afraid of Huo Si, but he had no respect for an "actor" like Shen Huai. Besides, he had nearly taken Jian Ning's place up there just now!

Old Zhang climbed up onto the rigging. After only one glance, his face changed.

"D-Director! Someone tampered with the safety buckle up here! The screws are loose, and the steel cable has been worn halfway through! The moment it bears weight, it'll snap!"

Boom—

The entire set erupted.

This wasn't an accident. This was attempted murder!

Jian Ning stood to one side, still holding that cup of milk tea. He took a sip with a loud slurp.

Tut, tut, tut. An ex really is the most vicious.

Falling from three meters up, with nothing but fake rocks beneath me... Was he trying to cripple me for life?

Shen Huai, you weren't trying to save the scene. You were trying to send me on a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven.

After hearing Old Zhang's words, Gu Yan froze in place for a full three seconds.

Then he exploded.

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. If Shen Huai hadn't stopped him just now, the one turned into a pile of meat would have been Young Master Gu!

"Shen Huai! Fuck your ancestors!!"

With an angry roar, Gu Yan charged forward like an enraged wild boar and viciously kicked Shen Huai in the stomach.

"Ugh!" Caught off guard, Shen Huai was kicked two meters away. He curled up on the ground in agony, clutching his stomach.

Still not satisfied, Gu Yan rushed over, straddled Shen Huai, and began raining down wild punches.

"Were you trying to kill me?! Trying to make me fall to my death?! I treated you like an idol, and you treated me like a scapegoat?! I'll beat you to death, you bastard!"

The set descended into chaos. The staff wanted to break it up but didn't dare. One was an investor in a towering rage, while the other was a murder suspect.

Standing outside the safety perimeter, Jian Ning watched the dog-eat-dog spectacle and cheered Gu Yan on in his head.

Left hook! Right hook! Good! Hit him harder! Kick him in the balls!

Young Master Gu may not have much of a brain, but his stamina's pretty decent.

System, did you record this? Whenever I'm in a bad mood, I can pull it out and enjoy it again.

Shen Huai was beaten black and blue. Covering his head, he cried out miserably, "No! I wasn't trying to hurt you! I was trying to hurt... I wanted to teach Jian Ning a lesson! I didn't know you were going up there!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the air went quiet.

Even Gu Yan stopped punching.

Only then did Shen Huai realize what he had said. His face instantly turned as white as paper.

It was over.

He had confessed without being forced to.

Director Li was so furious that his hands trembled. "Good! What a fine national Best Actor! Attempted murder on my set? Call the police! Call them right now!"

Shen Huai panicked. He scrambled up and tried to grab Director Li's pant leg. "Director! Listen to my explanation! It really was just an accident! I only wanted him to suffer some superficial injuries so he couldn't film. I never wanted to kill him! Really!"

"An accident?"

Jian Ning, who had been watching the show all this time, finally walked over.

He looked down at Shen Huai, disheveled as a stray dog, his gaze cool and clear.

"Best Actor Shen, since you say it was an accident, who was it that brought bolt cutters and sneaked into the props room while everyone was having lunch? And who loosened the screws one by one?"

Shen Huai's pupils contracted sharply. "You... How do you know? That spot was clearly a surveillance blind spot!"

A mysterious smile curled Jian Ning's lips.

A surveillance blind spot?

Sorry, but before his system, the entire world was a 360-degree high-definition livestream without a single blind spot.

"If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place." Jian Ning took out his phone and tapped the screen lightly. "By coincidence, I happened to capture some 'interesting footage.'"

In truth, this was footage the system had just generated using the Time Reversal function, then cast from Jian Ning's phone onto the large monitor on set.

The screen lit up.

The footage was crystal clear.

Shen Huai snuck furtively into the props room, his face twisted with malice as he used tools to sabotage the wire harness. Under his breath, he viciously muttered, "Jian Ning... You dared to compete with me... I'll make you fall to your death..."

The evidence was irrefutable.

Shen Huai collapsed completely to the ground like a lump of mud.

The staff and fan photographers around him, who had still held a trace of goodwill toward him, now all wore expressions of disgust and fear.

"Oh my God, that's terrifying..."

"He always seemed so refined, but he's actually a murderer behind the scenes?"

"Jian Ning is so miserable. His ex actually plotted against him like this."

At just the right moment, Jian Ning put on an expression of lingering fear and heartbreak. He tipped his head back slightly—really to keep himself from laughing—and his voice choked up.

"Shen Huai, three years ago, you abandoned me for fame and profit. I didn't blame you. But how could you... how could you want my life?"

That was good! This green-tea offensive is straight-up legendary!

Hurry up, Officer! Take him away already! I still need to get off work and eat dinner!

Ten minutes later, police sirens once again rang through the film studio.

The police had come twice in a single day.

The first time, they took President Wang away. The second time, they took away Best Actor Shen Huai.

Before Azure Cloud Legend had even begun filming, it had already become a viral sensation online under the label of "Lawbreaker Celebrity Concentration Camp."

Watching Shen Huai be handcuffed and escorted into the police car, Jian Ning finally felt the weight in his heart lift.

All the grievances, betrayals, and humiliations the original owner had suffered were finally repaid in full, with interest.

Gu Yan had already tidied up his messy hair. Although Shen Huai's nosebleed still stained his hands, the way he looked at Jian Ning had changed from fear to worship.

"Brother Jian!" Gu Yan hurried over, his face full of lingering fear. "You really are my lucky star! If you hadn't stopped me just now, I'd have been done for today! From now on, you're my real big brother! Whoever dares touch you is touching the savior of my life, Gu Yan!"

Jian Ning couldn't help laughing at the sight of this once-arrogant rich second-generation heir acting so fawning.

"All right, Young Master Gu. Stop causing trouble on set from now on, and do more actual work."

"Absolutely, absolutely! I'll have someone add more investment right away! I'll also replace the crew's equipment with the best wire harness gear available!"

By evening, the sun was setting.

After a day of gossip-watching and face-slapping, Jian Ning left the set with a slightly tired body.

At the entrance to the studio, that familiar black Rolls-Royce remained parked in the most conspicuous spot.

Like a silent yet steadfast guardian.

Huo Si wasn't sitting in the car. Instead, he leaned against the door, an unlit cigarette between his fingers. The setting sun bathed his tall figure in a gentle golden glow.

When he saw Jian Ning emerge, Huo Si snapped the cigarette in his hand and strode toward him.

He did not ask what had happened—after all, the system had already broadcast everything to him in real time. He simply took off his coat, still warm from his body, and draped it over Jian Ning's slightly thin shoulders.

"Is it handled?" Huo Si's voice was low, carrying a reassuring strength.

Grasping the collar of the coat, Jian Ning greedily inhaled its faint scent of tobacco and agarwood, then nodded.

"Yeah, they've all been sent in. They probably won't be getting out for the rest of their lives."

Huo Si raised a hand and gently ruffled his hair.

"Well done."

Jian Ning looked up into Huo Si's deep eyes and suddenly felt that today's sunset was especially beautiful.

His money-grubbing instincts rose again, though this time they were mixed with a trace of reliance even he did not notice.

Mr. Huo, since I performed so well, not only solving the problem but also conveniently bringing that young master of your archenemy, the Gu family, into line...

Shouldn't there be some reward tonight? Like... another French meal? Or... raising the limit on my supplementary card?

Hearing his inner thoughts, helpless amusement flickered in Huo Si's eyes.

He opened the car door and shielded Jian Ning as he got inside, then sat beside him and raised the divider.

"French food is too rich. We'll eat at home tonight."

Huo Si turned toward Jian Ning and fastened his seat belt for him, his movements natural and intimate.

"As for your reward..."

He leaned close to Jian Ning's ear, warm breath brushing against the sensitive curve of his ear.

"The supplementary card already has no limit. Your reward now is... you may exercise a boyfriend's rights."

Jian Ning blinked. "What rights?"

Huo Si chuckled softly, took Jian Ning's hand, and placed it on the collar of his own shirt, the implication unmistakable.

"For example... checking in on me? Or... inspecting the goods?"

The moment Jian Ning's fingers touched the firm muscles of Huo Si's chest, his face flushed bright red.

I-inspecting the goods?!

Holy shit! Is this old man seducing me?

Am I that shallow of a person? I... I...

The system mercilessly added, "Host, your heart rate has already soared to 140. My recommendation: inspect!"

Jian Ning swallowed and tremblingly undid the first button of Huo Si's collar.

"Then... then I won't hold back?"