Chapter 4
1714 Words
Lu Jue recalled his actions, could it be that he just wanted Yun Yu to call him "big bro"?
Before, he had often heard Yun Yu call his older brother Lu Qianning "big bro." Why did he get scolded for the same thing?
After a moment's thought, Lu Jue called his assistant and inquired about the new movie.
He had been abroad recently, and the movie was being prepared domestically, fully managed by the studio. Apart from the script, he hadn't been involved in anything else.
From Yun Yu's words, it seemed like he knew something inside.
Shortly after the call, Lu Jue leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest, but he didn't fall asleep.
Soon, he heard light footsteps.
They slowly approached him, then something was placed on the coffee table with a thud, as if deliberately trying to wake him up.
Lu Jue held back a laugh, keeping his eyes closed. The footsteps soon left.
When the sound faded, Lu Jue opened his eyes and glanced toward the stairs.
No one was there.
On the coffee table, a first-aid kit had appeared.
Lu Jue raised an eyebrow, reaching out to touch the thigh Yun Yu had kicked.
It wasn't particularly painful, just a strong sensation.
---
The next morning, when Yun Yu woke up, no one was downstairs. The smell of medicinal liquor lingered in the air. He wondered how fragile Lu Jue was, needing so much medicinal liquor for a single kick.
The phone he had used to hit the intruder last night was now neatly placed on the coffee table, alongside a brand-new phone.
The old phone wouldn't turn on. Without hesitation, Yun Yu took out the SIM card and inserted it into the new phone. After transferring the data, several new messages popped up.
Most were from Gu Lin.
Gu Lin had taken another artist under his wing to record a variety show out of town. Worried that Yun Yu might be upset about losing his role, he sent a message advising him to take some time to rest. He promised to find a new script for him.
Finding a suitable script for Yun Yu was difficult.
Yun Yu's acting skills were subpar. If he had someone backing him, his looks alone would be enough to land leading roles. There were plenty of pretty faces in the entertainment industry, but without any backing, he could only play minor roles with little screen time, roles that wouldn't affect the overall feel of the show.
Sitting on the sofa, Yun Yu sipped the coffee he made, adding two more sugar cubes. He typed a slow reply to Gu Lin: [Thanks, Brother Gu.]
Gu Lin, despite being busy, replied quickly, sending a voice message: "How are you resting? I'll be back in a few days. What do you want to eat today? I'll order takeout for you."
Yun Yu had never experienced such care before. Many artists were sensitive and fragile. Though Yun Yu usually kept quiet, with his good looks and delicate skin, Gu Lin always worried he might not handle setbacks well.
If it weren't for the circumstances, Gu Lin would have even considered taking Yun Yu along to the variety show.
"Thanks, Brother Gu. I want to eat at the same place as yesterday," Yun Yu said with a smile. "There were a few dishes I didn't try. I saw they also offer delivery. For the delivery fee..."
Gu Lin: "..." Hearing the joke, Gu Lin relaxed, sensing Yun Yu was in a good mood. Just as he was about to speak, Yun Yu asked, "Brother Gu, has anyone from the production team contacted you?"
Gu Lin's relief vanished. He knew Yun Yu, young and proud, wouldn't take this lying down!
Gu Lin chose his words carefully, "They probably dealt directly with the company. You know, the contract is with the company..."
"Isn't it usual to inform the actor in such cases?" Yun Yu lowered his eyes, placing the coffee back on the table.
It was still too bitter. He remembered buying instant milk tea before joining the set, but now he couldn't find it.
He had never experienced this before, so asking was natural.
Gu Lin hesitated, then said, "They usually inform the actor. They might have forgotten this time."
In reality, the production team had specific staff for such matters. Even the termination contract had been sent to the company. It was unlikely they forgot; someone must have instructed them.
And that someone was likely Su Chen.
But Gu Lin thought, Yun Yu and Su Chen had barely met, and there was no competition between them. Su Chen shouldn't target Yun Yu.
He didn't dare tell Yun Yu this, fearing it would make him more upset. If there was a conflict with Su Chen, Yun Yu's slender arms couldn't match Su Chen's robust build.
Fortunately, Yun Yu seemed to believe him, "I see. Thanks, Brother Gu."
Such a well-behaved kid, Gu Lin sighed inwardly, "Don't worry too much. I'm already looking for a new script for you. By the way, you mentioned Lu Jue was back in the country. Turns out you were right. He's back, and someone spotted him entering and leaving the villa district. Not sure if it's his house or somewhere else. It's the first time people have seen him there."
Yun Yu: "?"
Yun Yu sat up straight, forgetting to ask more about the production. He hurriedly told Gu Lin he had something to do and hung up.
As Gu Lin said, Lu Jue's name was trending.
Lu Jue was famous but low-key. Having been abroad for a long time, his return without notice naturally drew attention. Photos of his car passing through the villa district gates were blurry, taken at night.
The area was large, with few residents. From the photo, it was unclear if Lu Jue lived there or was just passing through.
Staring at the photo, Yun Yu started tapping on his phone.
No immediate reply.
Instead, a message from Feng Yi popped up: [Damn, sweetheart, I saw online that your role was replaced. What happened? Did Lu Jue die and not care?]
Feng Yi, Yun Yu's childhood friend, was one of the few who knew about their secret marriage.
Yun Yu: [Online?]
Yun Yu ignored the part about Lu Jue.
He didn't want to mention him yet.
Feng Yi sent several links.
All were from marketing accounts, discussing the replacement of Yun Yu's role with Su Chen. The content was similar, but due to their lack of popularity, there was little buzz. Most comments praised Su Chen, with many high-quality photos of him.
It looked like Su Chen's team had bought the coverage.
Yun Yu glanced at the links, then closed them.
Feng Yi sent more photos of Su Chen, [Was your character disfigured? Or did they need a different look? Can't use your perfect face anymore?]
Su Chen wasn't ugly, but compared to Yun Yu, he fell short, especially in high-quality photos.
Anyone could see who should have been chosen, unless the role required a drastic change.
Even in the low-buzz articles, some questioned the director's casting, but those comments quickly disappeared.
Yun Yu had few fans, and they were laid-back, rarely engaging in online activities. Yun Yu himself rarely posted on Weibo, not even a selfie.
Feng Yi called it a waste of resources.
[Should I ask my brother to help you get the role back?]
Yun Yu declined.
[Why? My brother is your boss. He should take care of you!]
Feng Yi's brother was the boss of Yun Yu's company, also Su Chen's boss. Yun Yu had never used his connections, let alone asked the boss to intervene.
Su Chen had backers, and causing trouble would harm the company's interests.
Besides, Yun Yu had a plan.
Yun Yu laughed, sending a voice message, "I don't want what others take. I never pick up trash."
His voice was cold, revealing his upbringing.
Feng Yi: [So, you're not going to do anything?]
"I will. They'll pay a price for taking what's mine," Yun Yu said, not overly concerned.
He aimed to address both Su Chen and the production team.
Confirming the production's stance with Gu Lin was part of his plan.
As for Su Chen's role in Lu Jue's movie, Lu Jue would face criticism for his poor judgment. That was his problem.
Yun Yu's expression darkened. His phone screen lit up, showing a video call request from Lu Jue.
Yun Yu raised his eyebrows, a hint of displeasure in his eyes, but he answered the call.
Lu Jue's face appeared on the screen. He was in the studio, books scattered around. He sat on the sofa, smiling, raising an eyebrow, "What's got Young Master Yun so angry this early morning?"
"When did I get angry?" Seeing Lu Jue's face, Yun Yu's calm broke. He switched the camera view, shrinking Lu Jue's face to a corner, making it hard to see his expression.
Yun Yu had a bit of astigmatism, blocking Lu Jue's face completely.
Lu Jue chuckled, "You mean to say that message, 'Lu Jue, explain why you were photographed leaving the villa,' with all those exclamation marks, wasn't anger, just excitement?"
Lu Jue's tone was annoying. So what if he was angry? Yun Yu frowned, "You know very well. I told you not to be photographed leaving the house. How am I supposed to go out now? There must be paparazzi around the villa!"
When Yun Yu entered the industry, they agreed to keep their marriage a secret. Yun Yu wanted to focus on acting, uninterested in fame. But Lu Jue's fame would disrupt his peaceful life.
Though they rarely met, Yun Yu was genuinely upset. His face, usually indifferent, was even sterner now, though still not intimidating.
Lu Jue watched Yun Yu, knowing he was in the wrong. "I admit, I was careless."
He left early in the morning, unaware of the paparazzi. Once the photos went viral, removing them would only draw more attention.
He didn't expect Yun Yu to confront him so quickly.
"You shouldn't come back." Meeting outside was safer.
Yun Yu enjoyed the villa and didn't want paparazzi ruining it.
Lu Jue's eyelids flickered, and he smiled abruptly.
- Writer
