What Are You?

Wen Chengze had not expected a single promotional photo to cause such a huge uproar. At the moment, he was at home reading through a script.

Warm yellow light fell over him as he lounged against the bed, holding the script in one hand. It was densely filled with notes.

A knock at the door interrupted Wen Chengze's thoughts.

"Come in."

Wen Chenglin entered carrying an exquisite small bowl. "Auntie made soup. Have some before bed—it'll warm your stomach."

Wen Chengze sat up from the blanket. The two brothers sat on the sofa, and Wen Chengze set the script on the small table before taking small sips of the soup.

Wen Chenglin glanced at the script and raised a brow in surprise. His little brother was being a little too serious.

He casually picked up the script. "Working this hard?"

"Just making notes."

Wen Chenglin looked at his brother, then at the script. "Do you like acting?"

His younger brother was good at everything. He had exceptional talent for academics and had studied business in college. Wen Chenglin had originally planned for him to join the company, but who would have thought the kid would hide abroad for two years without the slightest intention of coming into the company?

Over all these years, Wen Chenglin had never seen him interested in anything.

Could it be that, by some twist of fate, entering the entertainment industry this time had helped him find something he liked?

Wen Chengze finished the last sip of soup and shook his head. "I wouldn't say I like it that much. It's just that Cheng Liang has been running around handling everything, and the other kids in the group are all taking this seriously. I don't want to hold them back."

To him, this show was merely a stepping stone, so he could afford to be casual about it. But for those newcomers who had yet to debut, this was their first appearance, something that would determine their future paths. He could not treat it carelessly.

He might not be able to empathize, but he would not trample on other people's efforts.

Wen Chenglin tried to hold back, but in the end, he could not help reaching out to ruffle his brother's hair. "Still so responsible."

"Brother, stop ruffling my hair all the time."

Knowing his little brother's temperament, Wen Chenglin only smiled. "Fine, I won't touch it. But Xiao Ze, have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"

Wen Chengze was rarely taken aback. He truly had never considered that question.

He had been carefully raised since childhood, and his studies had always gone smoothly. After graduation, he had considered joining the company to help out, but for some reason, he simply could not muster any interest. It seemed he could not find anything that genuinely interested him.

"You haven't?"

"No." Wen Chengze answered honestly.

His younger brother possessed outstanding talent, yet he was indifferent toward everything. As his older brother, Wen Chenglin was anxious too. Having no interest in anything meant that his brother was still affected by what had happened back then. He seemed calm and detached on the surface, but he had still trapped himself inside his own shell, unwilling to emerge or communicate with the world.

Looking at the faint expression on his little brother's face, Wen Chenglin was overcome by a sense of helplessness. The hurt caused back then was something neither he nor their parents had been able to smooth over, no matter how hard they had tried all these years.

"Why not try acting? Since you're going to stay in the entertainment industry for a while, give it a try and see whether you like it. If you do, you'll have something to do in the future and won't be so bored."

"But I don't plan to stay for long."

"That's something for the future, isn't it? Since you're considering it now, why not give it a try?"

Seeing the earnest look on his older brother's face, Wen Chengze opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Though he had not agreed, he had not refuted him either. Wen Chenglin considered that progress.

"How is the team I assigned you? If you're unhappy with them, tell your brother, and I'll make new arrangements." Wen Chenglin said it seriously.

He had entered the business world early and was already a leading figure among the younger generation. He was not merely saying it to placate his brother—he truly could arrange it.

Wen Chengze shook his head. "No need. The people Cheng Liang arranged are all very good."

Zhuo Wenyu was an exceptionally competent manager. Later, he had even arranged three assistants for him. Wen Chengze felt that this sort of arrangement already counted as top-tier.

"That's good. Xiao Ze, you don't need to be too nervous. Just treat entering the entertainment industry this time as having fun. As for the business matters, even without you, Dad and I will handle them."

"Mm. I trust you and Dad, but things will always be a little easier with me around, right?"

"Thank you, Xiao Ze."

The brothers chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, Wen Chenglin thoughtfully left, giving his brother plenty of time to sleep.

Only after Wen Chenglin left did Wen Chengze head into the bathroom.

Hot water poured from the showerhead. Wen Chengze closed his eyes, replaying their conversation in his mind.

If not for this sudden incident, he would never have entered the entertainment industry. But now that he already had one foot in it, and his brother wanted him to experience it properly, an extraordinarily handsome face suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wen Chengze pressed his lips together. Maybe I really should take this more seriously? If someone like Zhong Mohan can make a name for himself in the entertainment industry, there's no reason I can't.

Still, Wen Chengze had no intention of changing his plans. Acting was indeed something he could try, but he would not delay his plan to establish a public image and lull outsiders into complacency.

After all, wouldn't someone arrogant and domineering, who cared only about acting, put them more at ease?

The next day, Wen Chengze did not drive himself. Zhuo Wenyu came to pick him up.

Wen Chengze sat in the back seat while his three assistants remained quiet.

Seeing that Wen Chengze seemed tired, Zhuo Wenyu raised a brow. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

"I'm fine." For some reason, all sorts of images had mingled in his mind last night, leaving him a little sleepless. When he woke up that morning, he still felt somewhat weighed down.

"Then take a nap while you can. It'll still be a while before we reach the production crew."

This production had everything except a shortage of money. After much consideration, the director had simply chosen a filming location in the suburbs and rented nearby villas, with one group living in each villa.

There were five people in Wen Chengze's group, including him. By the time he arrived, the others were already there.

They had spent quite some time practicing together recently, but because of Wen Chengze's status and that aloof, untouchable face of his, the other four were somewhat intimidated by him.

When they saw Wen Chengze arrive, the four youths lined up and greeted him respectfully. "Hello, Brother Wen. We saved the master bedroom on the second floor for you. You'll see it when you go upstairs."

Wen Chengze gave a lazy yawn and nodded.

He had told the four youths before that they did not need to be so polite, but it did not seem to have worked.

It was not as though he ate people. Why were they so afraid of him?

Only after Wen Chengze unhurriedly went upstairs did the four people in the living room finally let out breaths of relief. They exchanged glances, then all laughed.

"Brother Wen really isn't scary, so why are we all so afraid of him?"

"Don't you think Brother Wen is exactly like that young master in the script? He could kill people with a look."

"Yes, yes, yes, yes! I've felt that way all along. When we rehearsed, I had to act like I didn't dare meet the young master's eyes because of our characters' statuses, but offstage, I don't dare either!" The baby-faced youth looked like he was about to cry.

"So we all feel the same way."

"But do you think we'll make Brother Wen feel like we're excluding him?"

Although they had not become close with Brother Wen, they knew this script was excellent. The company might have chosen them to serve as Wen Chengze's supporting cast, but not just anyone could be given such a role. At least as far as they knew, they had never seen the company put this much effort into helping anyone else.

They had benefited from Brother Wen's presence, so they ought to show some appreciation.

"Does Brother Wen's expressionless face look like he's expressing dissatisfaction at being excluded?"

After thinking about it, the others realized it really did not.

"Then let's just let things happen naturally. We'll be living together for a while, so there'll be chances."

Unlike Wen Chengze, who had been directly assigned three assistants, they did not even have individual managers yet, much less assistants. They had to handle many things personally.

The production crew had already informed them that the refrigerator would be regularly restocked with ingredients, and they would have to solve their own meal problems. Only then did they truly feel like they were participating in a show.

After Wen Chengze had his assistant put down the luggage upstairs, he told them to leave.

He did not particularly like other people touching his personal belongings.

He spent the day organizing everything in his bedroom. That evening, the official filming began. During that time, Wen Chengze was surprised to discover that the baby-faced youth who played a chef in the drama was actually an excellent cook.

It seemed he would not have to worry about meals for the foreseeable future.

When they arrived at the recording venue, only a few groups were there. The five of them calmly got their makeup done.

They did not use the production crew's makeup artists, instead directly using Wen Chengze's team.

Everyone participating in the show was a complete newcomer who had yet to debut. Seeing such an entourage, they nearly thought some A-list star had arrived. Looking more closely, however, they realized it was a contestant just like them.

Wen Chengze paid no attention to the varied looks around him and quietly let the makeup artist work on his face.

An hour later, the recording officially began.

Wen Chengze waited backstage, listening as the host introduced the eight judges.

To be honest, Wen Chengze did not know any of them. The only one he vaguely recognized was the popular celebrity, Zhong Sirui.

But when Wen Chengze remembered that Zhong Mohan had helped push this show forward behind the scenes, it was no surprise that Zhong Sirui was involved.

After all, she was Zhong Mohan's cousin. Why let benefits go to outsiders?

The other four members of the group were not as calm as Wen Chengze and were more or less nervous. After thinking about it, Wen Chengze had his assistant give each of them a small chocolate candy.

"It's small, so it won't make you gain weight. It'll help ease your nerves."

The way the four looked at Wen Chengze immediately changed. They had thought he was an aloof, untouchable beauty, but he was actually such a warm and caring older brother?!

But when it was their turn to go onstage, the four realized they had been overthinking things.

Against the lavish physical set built at enormous expense by Phoenix Dynasty, Wen Chengze looked as though he had stepped into his own backyard, utterly at ease.

The study set was somewhat dim. Wen Chengze gently swirled the wineglass in his hand and looked at the servant kneeling before him. His eyes gleamed coldly, while a mocking smile rested on his lips. "What the hell are you?"

Meanwhile, Lu Wen, observing from the shadows, found his breathing subtly quickening.

He immediately sent the short clip he had just recorded to Zhong Mohan.

And Zhong Mohan, on the other side of the ocean where it was night, reacted the instant he saw the video.