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"Because I want to help people."

Help those who were talented but oppressed.

Help those who lacked the strength to fight back.

Help those who couldn't tell the truth.

It was a simple answer. Ye Qing offered no explanation, but Gu Ze seemed to understand.

"Everyone has different reasons for entering the entertainment industry, but deep down, they all want to be famous."

Gu Ze left the rest unsaid. Ye Qing really was unlike anyone else he knew.

Ye Qing felt a little embarrassed after saying it. He lowered his head. "Does that sound stupid? It's such a childish idea."

"No." Gu Ze's eyes held a smile. "I think it's brave. Some people might call it naive or say you're making grand claims, but to me, it's brave."

Once, when he had first entered the entertainment industry, Gu Ze seemed to have felt the same way. But after seeing certain things, he had stopped getting involved.

Perhaps he had decided some people weren't worth helping.

The sun was warm, the breeze gentle. Warmth spread through him, and his long-numb heart seemed to beat again.

"It's brave. A very brave idea," Gu Ze told Ye Qing once more.

Ye Qing looked up at him, stunned. He had never told anyone his reason before. This time, Gu Ze had asked, and somehow he had simply answered.

He had expected to be laughed at. No, that wasn't right. Gu Ze would never do that.

Still, the response had taken him by surprise.

Seeing Ye Qing's eyes widen, Gu Ze couldn't resist reaching over to stroke his hair.

Ye Qing had thick hair that looked dark and silky. Mm, it feels as good as it looks, Gu Ze thought.

Once the matter with Screenwriter Bai was settled, the production returned to its usual routine.

They filmed every day. The story had reached the point where Lu Yan's relentless pestering had finally made him and Mo Hua good friends.

But Mo Hua didn't know their friendship had been a lie from the start.

Ye Qing had just finished filming a scene when he saw a woman holding a boy of about seven, peering in through the entrance to the set.

Before long, Xie Quan's agent led her inside.

She went in too quickly, and Ye Qing was too far away to make out the details.

But he saw enough.

How could parents like that exist? They're disgusting.

Gu Ze, who had just finished filming, stopped in his tracks. He changed course and walked over to Ye Qing, knowing Ye Qing might have learned something again.

Everyone was curious, and he was no exception.

But Ye Qing said nothing more after that, so Gu Ze heard no further gossip.

When Ye Qing saw Gu Ze approach, he thought of how close they had become and asked, "Does Xie Quan do charity work?"

"Yes. Why?"

"No reason. Just asking."

With that confirmed, Ye Qing thought he would never understand human nature.

After filming, Xie Quan went into the dressing room. Ye Qing didn't know what he said in there, but the woman looked delighted when she came out.

After asking around, Ye Qing finally learned of one place where Xie Quan did charity work: a Welfare Home.

Gu Ze didn't know exactly what Ye Qing had seen, but he was certain it had something to do with Xie Quan.

He couldn't just stand by when something happened to his friend. And he knew Ye Qing must have something planned; he just didn't know how to get Ye Qing to take him along.

But Ye Qing solved the problem he was worried about.

The production had plenty of funding and wasn't pressed for time. Unlike other crews that rushed from scene to scene, theirs occasionally had a day or two off.

“Brother Gu, do you have anything to do during our break over the next couple of days?”

Gu Ze thought, Of course not.

After hearing Gu Ze's answer, Ye Qing asked, “Then could you come somewhere with me, Brother Gu?”

"Sure. Where?"

“Mm, a Welfare Home.”

This was Ye Qing's first time visiting a Welfare Home. His family was also involved in charity, but that was done in the name of the Ye Group. So this was the first time Ye Qing had truly come into contact with a Welfare Home himself.

Since the visit was last-minute, Ye Qing didn't have any detailed information about the Welfare Home and had no idea how many children lived there, so he bought everything he could.

The Welfare Home wasn't very large and was located in a fairly remote area. Looking at the faded lettering above the entrance, Ye Qing felt puzzled. Surely the Welfare Home shouldn't be this run-down?

Because Ye Qing and Gu Ze were carrying so many things, they attracted plenty of attention the moment they appeared at the entrance.

Before long, the director of the Welfare Home hurriedly opened the gate and jogged out.

The director was a man who looked to be in his forties. His heavy build made running particularly awkward.

Though he didn't recognize Ye Qing or Gu Ze, he knew the things must be a donation to the Welfare Home, so he bowed to thank them.

Since Gu Ze was wearing a mask, even though the director thought he looked somewhat familiar, he didn't give it much thought.

When the two asked to look around the Welfare Home, the director didn't refuse. It was a perfectly reasonable request.

As soon as Ye Qing stepped inside, a bleak feeling washed over him. The Welfare Home was small enough to take in at a glance. In the yard, there were only a few trees, their branches sparse and thin.

Ahead were the cafeteria and classrooms, and nothing else. The staff offices and dormitories were probably at the back.

The classroom held only a few battered desks and chairs. Three or four drawings by the children hung on the walls.

The children watched them with curious eyes but didn't come closer.

Looking around the Welfare Home, Ye Qing couldn't help asking, “Director, is the Welfare Home short of money?”

The director sighed deeply. “As you can see, this Welfare Home is in a remote location. Besides government subsidies, we also receive donations from kindhearted people, but many people don't know about this Welfare Home, so we receive fewer donations than other orphanages.”

"We don't have many children, but some need medical treatment, and that costs money. Once that's paid for, there isn't much left."

The director looked a little embarrassed. "To be honest, the supplies you brought came at just the right time."

"You've worked hard for the children, Director."

"Oh, it's for the children. What's a little hard work?"

Ye Qing said no more, only that he wanted to spend some time playing with the children. The director had other matters to attend to, so he left.

The children huddled together off to one side, watching Ye Qing and Gu Ze without making a move.

Only when Ye Qing smiled and beckoned did they trot over.

They crowded around the two men, calling "Big brother!" over and over.

Perhaps because food was scarce, every one of them looked thin.

Ye Qing was good with children. He kept them entertained with games. Compared with the lively group around him, things were much quieter on Gu Ze's side.

Once he had gotten to know the children and tired himself out playing, Ye Qing sat down on the grass.

He took out a photograph. "Do you know the person in this picture?"