Chapter 25

Gao Shu: "Young Master, it's not..."

"I'm not filming. Are you paying my breach-of-contract fee?" Ye Zexi's voice was icy as he picked up the phone from beside his bed.

Gao Shu instantly shut up.

Where would he get that kind of money? He had elderly parents and young children to support.

Seeing Ye Zexi lower his head and open Weibo, Gao Shu could not help asking again, "Young Master, what are you...?"

"Editing my Weibo post!" Ye Zexi shot him an indignant glare. "How else do you expect me to explain this to the netizens?"

Gao Shu cleared his throat and said nothing more.

At the same time, countless Watermelon Leaves received special-follow notifications informing them that Ye Zexi had been online a minute ago.

The fans reacted quickly, immediately opening Ye Zexi's Weibo homepage.

The post containing Ye Zexi's statement about leaving the industry now bore the words "edited." Looking at the original statement again, they found that it had changed as well.

@Ye Zexi: "Era Idol" was a starting point for me, but not the end. I wish everyone well.

The difference before and after was so enormous that even fans who did not want to scrutinize it could see it clearly.

"? My special-follow notification said Ye Zexi came online. Where is he?"

"Wuwuwuwuwu, oh my god! Ye Zexi edited his Weibo post!"

"I knew it! He changed it, he changed it!"

"I actually stopped breathing for a second. Is Ye Zexi not planning to leave the industry anymore?"

"He changed the post! Why would he still leave?"

"Ah! I was worried for nothing!"

"That scared me to death! It's good that Ye Zexi changed his mind!"

"I was genuinely afraid that Gege would just breach his contract and refuse to film, then say he was going home to inherit the family business."

"Thank goodness, thank goodness. He really scared me half to death!"

Ye Zexi Studio posted on Weibo soon afterward as well.

@Ye Zexi Studio: We've received everyone's DMs. Fans, please rest assured—Boss just posted the wrong Weibo update. #doge#

Seeing the studio's post, the fans finally relaxed completely.

"The studio finally spoke! Please comfort Ye Zexi properly and don't let him be affected by the online comments. We fans will always be here!"

"It's enough as long as baby isn't leaving the industry!"

"Tonight, I experienced all the ups and downs of life to the fullest! Wuwuwu, I don't even want to say anything now. I'm looking forward to Best Actor He and Xixi's new collaboration!"

"That doge emoji is really something!"

"I don't think so. I refuse to believe Ye Zexi posted the wrong thing. More likely, Ye Zexi had already forgotten about the collaboration, right?"

"Maybe he was just too eager to go home and inherit the family business. #doge#"

"I think the person above has hit the truth, but no matter what, Ye Zexi cannot leave the industry! Mom won't allow it!"

The fans wanted nothing else.

As long as Ye Zexi did not leave the industry, anything was fine.

The comments section grew rapidly. Under Gao Shu's urging, Ye Zexi reluctantly followed He Jinyun back and reposted He Jinyun's Weibo post.

@Ye Zexi: Didn't forget, Teacher He (^__^).

The smiling emoticon looked forced, and He Jinyun seemed able to see Ye Zexi's reluctance right through it.

He Jinyun could not help it; the corners of his lips curled up again.

Unfortunately, the contract had already been signed. Even if Ye Zexi regretted it now, he could not back out.

He had asked around thoroughly. Ye Jianbin still had not unfrozen Ye Zexi's card.

Pay the breach-of-contract fee?

Ye Zexi truly could not afford it.

That was why He Jinyun was so fearless.

But they still had a collaboration ahead of them. The kid was already so unhappy, and He could not provoke him at a time like this.

He Jinyun quickly replied, "Then I'll look forward to our collaboration."

Their Weibo interaction was seen by netizens and fans alike.

In response, Ye Zexi's fans were remarkably united in tone: every comment was "hahahahaha."

"I'd really like to interview Ye Zexi. What does it feel like to fail at leaving the industry halfway through?"

"Now I can tell that Ye Zexi really did want to leave the industry before!"

"Ye Zexi, you exposed yourself! And your studio even tried to cover for you!"

Ye Zexi simply pretended not to see any of it.

By comparison, He Jinyun's fans were not nearly as optimistic.

"Has Ye Zexi acted before?"

"Although Ye Zexi is handsome, he's acting opposite my idol. I'm still a little worried."

"Worried +1."

"Could it be the new movie my idol is preparing? Is it "The Famous General"?"

"Damn! If it's "The Famous General," I'm really going to start looking forward to it!"

"Let's trust my idol's eye for casting. Since my idol chose him, there definitely won't be a problem!"

Some people were optimistic, while others were pessimistic.

But the most eye-catching comment was still the one pushed to the top of the hot comments—

"I counted. In two months, my idol posted a total of three Weibo updates. One was a repost of the promotional post for 'Era Idol.' The other two were both related to Ye Zexi! He even posted twice in one day today. I've never seen my idol post twice in a row for one person. Just how satisfied is he with Ye Zexi?!"

Other fans:

"Looks like he's extremely satisfied!"

He Jinyun put down his phone, smiling with his eyes. More than extremely satisfied.

The first time he saw Ye Zexi on stage, he had known that this role had practically been tailor-made for Ye Zexi.

No one else would do.

Lakeside Villa.

Gao Shu went over a few matters with Ye Zexi, left behind the final script for "The Famous General," and then got up to leave.

Ye Zexi was no longer sleepy by then. Lying on the soft bed and looking at the script Gao Shu had left beside him, he hesitated for a long time between throwing it away and throwing it away before deciding to pick it up and read it to pass the time.

After all, the contract had been signed. Even if he did not read it now, he would have to read it later.

Although He Jinyun had indeed tricked him, at least the pay was enough to satisfy Ye Zexi.