Reckless

Ye Qing sized up the men at the door. Each was big and burly. He had no idea how strong they were, but as a member of the Ye Family, he had trained in self-defense, both to guard against trouble and for other reasons.

He should be able to handle them. It would just take some time.

On the other side of the room, Producer Wang clutched his face where he had been hit. He glared at Ye Qing and roared at the men, "Hurry up and pin him down!"

"I refuse to believe I can't deal with you today."

The men shut the door and slowly closed in. Ye Qing rolled his wrists. "Come on, all of you at once. It's been a while since I got to stretch my legs."

"Kid, aren't you getting a little cocky?"

"Sorry, but with people like you..." Ye Qing glanced at them, then said disdainfully, "People who help a bully do his dirty work? I'm usually pretty cocky."

The room erupted in a clatter of fighting, but the private room was so well soundproofed that no one outside could hear. That was why they had dared to attack him.

In another private room not far away, Gu Ze was talking with several people.

"President Gu, the entire cast for this production has been finalized. Take a look."

Gu Ze took the list. A faint smile crossed his face when he spotted a certain name, and he handed it back.

"Of course I trust the actors you chose yourself."

At that, the man grew animated. "I watched the audition video. This actor named Ye Qing is excellent, but how come I'd never heard of him before?"

"Then again, there are plenty of people like that in the entertainment industry."

"I think his acting is good too."

"Right? Right? I thought..."

Damn it. If I'd known, I would've brought something to defend myself with.

Gu Ze paused. That voice...

Four against one, and they're still pulling sneak attacks. Shameless, every last one of them.

Realizing from those words what Ye Qing was facing, Gu Ze shot to his feet, startling the person beside him.

"Gu Ze? What is it?"

"Sorry, something's come up. I'll cover the bill today."

With that, he hurried out.

Watching him rush off, someone behind him muttered, "Anyone who didn't know better would think he was hurrying to see his wife."

Once outside, Gu Ze searched the private rooms one by one. Ye Qing's thoughts came and went, so he could only judge the distance by the voice when it surfaced.

Fuck, that hurts!

Anxiety flashed across Gu Ze's face, and he quickened his pace.

After locating the room, Gu Ze knocked. For a moment, the sounds of fighting inside stopped.

Then the fighting resumed as if no one cared. Hearing the knock, Ye Qing fought even harder and gradually worked his way toward the door, hoping to open it and let whoever was outside in.

It didn't matter who was out there. Once the door was open, the situation would be easier to handle.

Gu Ze had thought someone would come to the door when he knocked. Apparently, things inside were worse than he had hoped.

He had rushed over without contacting the manager. He could afford to wait, but he was afraid Ye Qing could not.

With that thought, Gu Ze kicked the door. It was too sturdy, though. Even after several kicks, it did not budge.

He had overestimated himself and underestimated the door.

Gu Ze's foot was a little numb.

Fortunately, a server saw what he was doing and, startled, hurried to tell the manager.

The manager's face changed when he saw who it was. "President Gu!"

"Open the door."

Seeing Gu Ze's expression, the manager hastily unlocked it.

The scene inside sprang into view. The small private room was a wreck, with wine spilled everywhere and broken bowls scattered across the floor. Four men lay nearby, all bruised and swollen, looking almost comical.

Ye Qing was straddling one of them, muttering under his breath.

"You dared try to force me into a casting couch deal? Do you even know who I am?"

"Everyone in the entertainment industry hates people like you. Who knows how many people you've hurt?"

The man beneath him begged for mercy over and over.

The moment he heard the door open, he called out to the newcomers, "Save me! This man—this man's going to kill me!"

Ye Qing took offense. He picked up a broken wine bottle beside him and held it under the man's chin. "What are you talking about? Aren't we just having a friendly spar?"

The people who had come in silently turned their heads away. You call that sparring? He's so beaten up you can barely recognize him.

Gu Ze looked at them and said in a low voice, "Ye Qing, come here."

"Oh." Ye Qing obediently got up and went over. He had not expected the person outside to be Gu Ze; he had thought it was just a server.

The look on Gu Ze's face made him feel guilty for some reason.

But then he thought, What do I have to feel guilty about? It's not my fault.

By the time Ye Qing reached him, Gu Ze had sent everyone else away.

Ye Qing stepped closer and dutifully called him Brother Gu, then immediately began to complain. "Brother Gu, these people bullied me."

Ye Qing pointed at one of the men. "Him, the one whose face you can't make out. He said if I didn't please him, he wouldn't give me the role."

"I refused, so he sent people to beat me up."

"They were so good at fighting. I was terrified." Ye Qing poured out his grievances, sounding so aggrieved that anyone who had not seen the scene and did not know what had happened would have thought he had suffered terribly.

The men on the floor nearly coughed up blood from sheer indignation.

You were terrified? You were terrified and still beat us like this? We're the ones lying on the floor!

Who beat up whom here?!

Gu Ze looked at the young man speaking so plaintively. His once-neat hair was a mess, and his forehead was slightly damp with sweat from the fight. His clear, bright eyes drooped at the corners. He really did look aggrieved.

Most noticeable were the two red, swollen spots on his cheeks. Of course he had been hurt—he had fought so many people on his own.

Gu Ze reached out and smoothed his disheveled hair a little, then gently patted his head. "It's all right. Don't be afraid."

The men on the floor: Okay, but we're the ones who are afraid now.

You can't pat a man on the head. Oh well. Since Brother Gu came to save me, I'll be generous and let it go.

Gu Ze's step faltered. For someone who claimed to be so frightened, Ye Qing's thoughts were remarkably lively.

Gu Ze turned to the man on the floor and crouched down. "I hear you're the one who decides all the casting for Gu Corporation. I had no idea things had come to this."

Gu Ze's voice was perfectly calm, but that calm only frightened Producer Wang more. He grabbed Gu Ze's trouser leg and begged desperately. "President Gu! President Gu, I was wrong. I really was wrong!"

Producer Wang was overwhelmed with regret. If he had known Ye Qing knew Gu Ze, he would never have tried anything. He was usually so careful, but this time he had picked the wrong person to cross.

His job at Gu Corporation was as good as gone. What scared him most, though, was the possibility that Gu Ze would have him blacklisted from the industry altogether.

Gu Ze wanted to give him a few kicks himself, but Ye Qing had beaten him so badly that there was hardly anywhere left to kick. Besides, his foot was still a little numb.

He had been a bit too reckless just now.