A Slacker at the Movies

Chapter Eleven

A few hours earlier, Yang Xuan handed Jiang Hansheng a folder.

He did not quite understand why Jiang Hansheng wanted him to investigate an obscure, eighteenth-tier little celebrity, and wanted it done as quickly as possible. At first, he thought Jiang Hansheng wanted to recruit someone for his studio, but after briefly reviewing the information he had found, his head began to ache.

"Li Wenchuan, twenty-five years old, debuted six years ago, and shot to fame with the role of Mu Yuan in Lighting the Lantern. He really is pretty good." His looks were pretty good too. Yang Xuan pointed at the rest of the file. "But look at all this. What kind of mess is this? Stepping on female artists to boost himself, slandering his co-stars, losing his temper at his own fans for no reason."

After digging into it all, he had found nothing but scandals—every kind of dirt imaginable.

Jiang Hansheng lightly tapped his fingers against the tabletop. After looking at a certain spot in the file, he raised his head. The gold-rimmed glasses made his skin look especially pale as he said thoughtfully, "I actually worked with him before..."

Yang Xuan glanced at where he was pointing and secretly rolled his eyes. "He was just an extra running around the set back then. Does that even count as working together?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the man across from him fixed his gaze on him without moving. Yang Xuan pinched the hem of his clothes and explained, "That's not what I meant. He really was too inconspicuous back then. He didn't even have a company. He came to the set himself to apply as an extra."

It was through that very production that the strikingly handsome Li Wenchuan caught the eye of a talent scout and, without another word, signed a contract and entered the murky waters of the entertainment industry.

Seeing that Jiang Hansheng said nothing, Yang Xuan continued on his own, "Even if he performed well on the show, that doesn't prove anything. If he could have become famous, he would have done so long ago. Newcomers keep popping up one after another these days. Why would it ever be his turn?"

After saying that, Yang Xuan remembered something else and changed the subject. "This Is Life wants to invite you to record the next episode, but the director said they might invite Li Wenchuan too."

Who didn't know Jiang Hansheng's popularity was a feast worth sharing? That Weibo post last time had looked perfectly steady on the surface, but anyone sharp-eyed could tell there was something going on underneath.

"Why did you post that Weibo for no reason?" Yang Xuan muttered.

"An earnest invitation for programmers to work overtime," the man replied flatly.

"..."

"Anyway, I don't have any filming work for a while. Make the arrangements."

"What's going on? You're really going?" Yang Xuan asked in surprise.

Jiang Hansheng made his living off talent, but he simply was not diligent. After filming one production, he would rest for a while, and during that time, people would likely see him appearing on all kinds of variety shows. Just like You and Me Back Then, where he sat there as a guest to boost the ratings.

His fans were dumbfounded by this string of moves, but he himself was thoroughly enjoying it.

What could he, as the man's manager, say about an artist with such habits? His career was flourishing and money was pouring in, but still... "Aren't you afraid..."

Jiang Hansheng tilted his head in confusion. "Hm?"

"What if Li Wenchuan rides your coattails? He's done that sort of thing plenty of times." The file spelled it out clearly. Over the years, that artist had ridden who knew how many people's popularity, digging up huge numbers of antis in other people's fanbases.

"It's fine. Don't be afraid." He was more worried that the other man would refuse to do it.

"..."

Jiang Hansheng was heaven. Jiang Hansheng was the boss. Jiang Hansheng paid him.

After silently repeating that to himself several times, Yang Xuan agreed to the harmless request.

After he left, Jiang Hansheng leaned back in his chair and quietly looked at the color portrait on the page. Even his memories began to blur.

This person called Li Wenchuan had his own life, his own family. He was young and innocent, impulsive and simple, charging recklessly ahead without regard for the consequences and making a complete mess of his life.

He was not that person...

But that day, behind the curtain, Jiang Hansheng had heard that voice and felt as though he had been pulled back a thousand years. The young man in red on the screen was fierce and flamboyant, carrying the pride of someone who held great power in his hands, just like that person from long ago.

That was why he had deliberately proposed the challenge and deliberately set that question, clinging to the faintest sliver of hope for an answer that could not possibly exist.

But time was too distant. Too many things had begun to blur in his memories. Even the faces of those people from back then had gradually faded beneath the merciless erosion of the years.

Only when he had died back then, feeling his life slowly ebb away and the scenery before his eyes turning hazy, had the aged old man on the bed returned to the youth in his memories and walked through those vermilion doors.

A man in bright yellow robes sat before the imperial desk. He set down his brush and smiled faintly. "Cheng Yu, you're here."

"Cheng Yu, you're here."

"Cheng Yu..."

The corner of Jiang Hansheng's mouth pulled into a stiff curve. He covered his eyes with one hand. He was a vile person, harboring feelings he should not have had, yet still daring to appear before others.

From dusk until deep into the night, people gradually left. Jiang Hansheng let out a long sigh, packed his things, and left the studio.

He actually quite liked being an actor, living out the lives of different people and hiding his true self deep beneath layers of curtains. What everyone chased was Jiang Hansheng, not Cheng Yu.

Lost in wild thoughts, he unknowingly arrived at Li Wenchuan's current address.

He saw that familiar figure leave wearing a mask. His pace was leisurely, seemingly slow but actually steady, making him look entirely out of place among the weary crowds passing by.

So Jiang Hansheng followed him. After watching him buy a ticket, he used his phone to buy another ticket beside him.

Then he bought a cup of Coke and casually called out, "Li Wenchuan."

Just like now, he handed the other man a cup of Sprite. Everything seemed like a coincidence as he said with deliberate casualness, "My treat."

Li Wenchuan silently accepted it without saying anything.

"Do you eat popcorn?" the overly familiar man asked again.

"No." He did not like it.

Jiang Hansheng nodded and seemingly casually asked, "Is it because it's too sweet?"

Then he heard the other man give a muffled affirmative sound.

With different thoughts in their minds, the two entered the theater carrying their drinks under the staff's guidance. The holiday was nearly over, and since it was nighttime, there were not many people. Only the seats in the middle were mostly filled.

As the familiar dragon totem appeared at the beginning, the film slowly began.

When a flying sword came hurtling toward him, Li Wenchuan instinctively dodged and pressed his hand against the armrest. Faint blue veins could be seen in the dim light.

Even though he had adapted fairly well to this era, too many things still challenged his worldview more than being a ghost ever had. Like this 3D movie. If Jiang Hansheng beside him had not suddenly coughed, he would have forgotten it was all fake.

After readjusting his posture, he looked to his left in confusion. Jiang Hansheng covered his mouth and gave a few soft coughs. "Sorry, I choked on my Coke."

Yet from the corner of his eye, he silently watched the hand Li Wenchuan had just pressed against the armrest. His gaze was deep and thoughtful.

The story told of a powerful minister who had remained unshaken through three reigns, controlling the court and raising young emperors. Yet he was deeply dissatisfied with the newly enthroned child emperor and had nearly stripped him of the authority that belonged to an emperor. Until the young emperor came of age and died of illness, another child emperor ascended the throne.

This emperor won his heart. He spent his whole life raising and teaching him, only to receive the confiscation of his household and the opening of his coffin in return.

Some said he was a treacherous minister who despised imperial authority. Everyone had the right to execute a man with such disloyal intentions, and condemnations rang out throughout the court and beyond.

But among the common people, some wept and secretly set up longevity tablets for this minister and built shrines in his honor.

They wore mourning clothes for this stranger. Some said that during the snow disaster years ago, the county magistrate had treated human lives as worthless and concealed the severity of the disaster. It was this lord who arrived through the snow with the treasured sword bestowed by the late emperor, beheaded the corrupt official, and saved the people.

There were also the corrupt officials in Yangzhou, the bandits on the canal, the pirates by the sea...

"I don't care what they say my lord was like. In our hearts, my lord was a good official. Without him, none of us would have survived until now."

"The people of Suizhou City will never forget my lord's great kindness."