One week later, the crew of Youth in Spring Clothes officially wrapped up shooting. Director Mai was unusually beaming with joy and decided to host the wrap party at a luxurious clubhouse.
Qiu Mian had not originally planned to attend. He had never been interested in team-building activities of this sort, especially ones crowded with people where failing to recognize faces would only cause trouble.
However, right after he replied with “Not going,” Director Mai tracked him down in person.
Director Mai’s full name was Mai Xundao. He was forty-five years old and had directed quite a few television dramas in his earlier years. While none had exploded into massive sensations, several of his works frequently landed on lists titled “Classic Childhood Memories.” His “intimidating” reputation was well-known throughout the industry, referring to his strict severity.
He led Qiu Mian to a secluded ventilation area, lit a cigarette, and said angrily, “What is the meaning of this? Are you giving me attitude?”
Mai Xundao had an impatient and fiery temperament. He frequently scolded actors who performed poorly, treating everyone equally regardless of their billing status. Perhaps after running into enough stubborn walls as he grew older, he had reined it in quite a bit, though he remained a difficult director to talk to and had chewed out plenty of people during filming.
If it were any other junior actor, even harboring grievances would not stop them from putting on a polite face at the wrap party. Qiu Mian, however, held no grievances at all, yet was left utterly baffled by the questioning.
He touched his face. “I’m not?”
“Then why aren’t you coming to dinner?”
Qiu Mian answered candidly, “I hate crowds.”
“We’ll be sitting in a private room, just a few people.”
“I hate socializing.”
“Just put your head down and eat your food; no one is going to push the conversation onto you.”
Seeing that Qiu Mian remained entirely unmoved, Mai Xundao clicked his tongue. “Just spit out whatever else you hate!”
Qiu Mian paused slightly. “I hate the flavor profile. I want spicy food.”
“Fine, that place can cook food from all eight major cuisines, and I’ll specifically order strong-flavored dishes for you.” Director Mai rolled his eyes fiercely, exhaling a plume of smoke. “It’s a deal, then!”
Things had already reached this point, and there seemed to be no reason to refuse further. Qiu Mian waved his hand to signal he was leaving, but Mai Xundao grabbed him by the arm. “What’s the rush? Seriously, I swear, one second you act like a worldly schemer, and the next you’re a complete fool.”
“Is there something else?”
“Of course there is.” Mai Xundao stubbed out his cigarette and gave a low cough to organize his thoughts. “Wen Yi recommended you to me. She said you were a great fit for the role of Ye Yinian and hoped I could help polish your acting skills. Now that I’ve seen your work, you really are suited for it, and your performance has mostly been commendable. I’ll be sure to tell Wen Yi that. So, could you perhaps put in a good word for me with her?”
“Sure,” Qiu Mian agreed readily.
Seeing how promptly he replied, Director Mai felt awkward instead. He fumbled with his pants seams and rubbed his nose, taking quite a while before saying, “Alright then. When I get a suitable script in the future, I’ll come looking for you again, remember to put in that good word!”
Qiu Mian nodded with quiet confidence.
“Putting in a good word just means saying nice things, right?”
Qiu Mian never dragged his feet when doing things. After parting ways with Director Mai, he immediately opened WeChat and messaged his boss, Wen Yi. After thinking for a moment, he sent her: [Mai Xundao is a good person.]
Qiu Mian’s profile picture was a popular meme at the time, a pink plush rabbit speaking human words, accompanied by a caption reading “Making the sound of xx.” The “xx” usually represented Qiu Mian’s current state. Since he was feeling quite leisurely lately, the caption read “Making the sound of pleasant amusement.”
The text inside the chat bubble looked precisely as though it had been spoken by that rabbit.
After ten seconds or so, Wen Yi replied with confusion: [Why are you suddenly saying that?]
[He asked me to praise him.]
[…]
Wen Yi neatly ignored the message and steered the conversation elsewhere: [Tao Tao and I each picked out a script for you. We both think they’d suit you well. Come discuss them with me once you’re done at Director Mai’s end, no rush.]
Qiu Mian replied with a simple “Okay,” figuring he had successfully completed his mission of putting in a good word.
Since he had promised Director Mai, he couldn’t miss the celebration banquet. However, the clubhouse was located in a remote suburb, which meant over an hour’s drive to get there.
Wei Pu was not around, so Qiu Mian chose to drive himself. Having rarely gotten behind the steering wheel in recent years, he was unfamiliar with the road conditions and got led astray by a faulty GPS navigation system. By the time he arrived at the gathering venue, the event had already been underway for a long time.
“How much longer are you going to be?!”
“Right away.” While perfunctorily brushing off Director Mai’s life-or-death phone call, Qiu Mian waited for the security guard to verify his identity. Security here was tight, and admission codes were issued only for advance reservations; otherwise, vehicles couldn’t even enter the parking lot.
“This is your twelfth ‘right away’!”
“It’s the ghost of a place you picked,” Qiu Mian stated bluntly. “Built up on a mountain bend with terrible roads. Who comes out here normally?”
“This is the most private clubhouse under the Peiying Group in this area! It took me an enormous amount of effort to book it, what do you know?!”
After finishing his scolding, Mai Xundao abruptly lowered his voice as if someone was walking past him. After exchanging polite, obsequious greetings, he hurriedly dropped a final sentence: “Anyway, hurry up. The private room is called Pure Land of Peace, don’t go into the wrong one. There are a lot of big shots in the other rooms…”
Before he could finish, Qiu Mian hung up first.
After parking his car and getting guided by the security guard who verified his identity, he happened to cross paths with two people walking out. One of them was a short man with his head drooped low, while the other person beside him chattered endlessly: “Didn’t I remind you multiple times? You need to address him as President Chi! Don’t try to cozy up to him for no reason when you don’t even know him in real life!”
“Why wouldn’t he know me? Weren’t we dream-traveling together…” The short man still wanted to say something, but shut his mouth upon noticing someone approaching. Still, he couldn’t help glancing back at Qiu Mian several times, continuing to look back even after they passed each other.
As the revolving doors spun, Qiu Mian completely ignored the pair’s clandestine conversation.
He was led to the private room number mentioned by Mai Xundao. Pushing the door open, the room instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at him, but Qiu Mian showed zero awkwardness, walking straight toward the single empty seat.
He sat down, spun the lazy Susan, picked up some food, and started eating in one smooth, unbroken motion.
Only then did Mai Xundao’s voice ring out with a tremor: “This is Qiu Mian, the actor who played the third male lead, Ye Yinian. Xiao Qiu, you’re late. You probably don’t know this person yet, let me introduce you…”
Qiu Mian frowned slightly. “Didn’t you say I just needed to focus on eating?”
Director Mai felt the world go dark before his eyes, and he grit his teeth to hiss in a low voice, “Can you look at the occasion? This is an investor!”
“Hahaha, it’s fine! I just happened to be here discussing business and decided to drop by on a whim.”
The investor was seated right to Qiu Mian’s left, leaning sideways to stare at him with an overly familiar tone: “Little Qiu, is it? Look how handsome you are, you’ve got a very bright future! Director Mai has been endlessly praising your acting skills, and even said he wants to use you in his new film! I’m investing in that new film too! Are there any roles that catch your interest? Let’s chat about it when you have time!”
Unfazed, Qiu Mian replied, “Contact my manager if you have any offers.”
The investor wasn’t annoyed either, remaining cheerful as ever: “Alright! Which company is Little Qiu’s management contract signed with? Any interest in trying out for our Huimao? We’ve stockpiled a lot of copyright IPs, there’s definitely something suitable for you!”
“President Shao is showing favoritism! I’m interested in Director Mai’s new film too!” the male lead chimed in playfully.
President Shao chuckled at him: “You’re not young anymore, if you keep acting in idol dramas all the time, the audience is going to experience a backlash.”
The female lead gave a dry laugh. “Why isn’t President Shao keeping up Mi Chun anymore? He’s the genuine artist under your Huimao, right? He just left right after President Shao walked in, and nobody knows where he went now.”
“He’s an adult, no need to mind him.”
After tossing out those casual words, President Shao casually poured Qiu Mian a small cup of liquor and bantered, “Little Qiu, you were late. As the saying goes, latecomers should penalize themselves with three drinks. Let me toast you three cups today, how about that?”
Qiu Mian swallowed a mouthful of Mapo tofu and said flatly, “I don’t drink.”
Alcohol paralyzed the nervous system of the brain, making a person sluggish and dull while preventing them from maintaining rational thought, which in turn made dream-traveling difficult. Therefore, he had never attempted drinking alcohol.
“Hey, you didn’t drink before, just try it today! What, are you not willing to give me this face?”
Yet Qiu Mian acted as though he hadn’t heard a thing, calmly continuing to pick up food and eat, leaving the investor holding the wine glass stranded right beside him.
The private room was dead silent; no one dared to make a sound.
Being treated so blatantly as air, even when feigning obsequiousness, was deeply humiliating. President Shao’s mouth twitched, and he was about to blow his top when Director Mai hurriedly smoothed things over. “This wine is way too strong, Xiao Qiu probably can’t handle it. Let’s switch to a different bottle.”
“No, this is the exact wine, and he’s going to drink it for me!”
The investor slammed down his wine glass, raising his volume and getting ready to flare up, only to see Qiu Mian slowly put down his chopsticks and turn his head to reveal his full, unmasked face. His bright, star-like eyes swept past the wine glass and landed on him, instantly extinguishing the ball of fire in his chest.
“Just three cups?” Qiu Mian’s voice was crisp and clear.
President Shao softened his tone. “Just three cups, do me this favor!” He reached out to pat Qiu Mian’s shoulder, unable to resist leaning in a bit closer.
Anyway, since he wouldn’t be dream-traveling anytime soon, Wei Pu wouldn’t be able to keep tabs on him.
More than being persuaded, Qiu Mian’s curiosity about the taste of the liquor was the deciding factor. He downed the cup of white liquor in one gulp, though he suddenly froze the moment it slid down his throat.
Pungent… hmm… spicy? Wasn’t this just the spicy beverage he had been looking for all this time?
Knowing full well this investor’s habits and disposition, Mai Xundao wanted to take the opportunity to wedge himself between the two and create some distance. However, Qiu Mian had already poured himself a second cup unprompted.
After drinking three cups, Qiu Mian finished with a look that suggested he wanted more.
President Shao was overjoyed, hurriedly topping it up for him while changing his tune: “Good! What a straight shooter! Then Little Qiu, since today is the first time we’re meeting, we’ve got to have another cup!”
“I don’t know you.” Having drunk to his heart’s content, Qiu Mian didn’t forget to be factual, turning to ask Director Mai, “Who is this?”
“Drink slower! That’s 53-proof baijiu, it has a heavy delayed kick!”
Mai Xundao pulled a series of exaggerated facial expressions, trying to hint to Qiu Mian to raise his guard. “President Shao, Shao Zhonghui, founder of Huimao Film and Television, the very same Huimao that signed Liao Bin and Mi Chun.”
Of course, Mi Chun wouldn’t rank among Huimao’s representative artists, but coupled with Liao Bin, the implication was crystal clear: the relationships between the men within the company weren’t exactly pure.
And the root of it all stemmed right from their big boss. Shao Zhonghui’s penchant for keeping young male artists as kept lovers wasn’t just common knowledge within the industry; due to Liao Bin’s male third-wheel scandal the year before last, it had even blown up outside the industry.
Because of this, even Qiu Mian, who habitually ignored gossip, had a slight impression of him. Still, without overcomplicating things with any extra twists of thought, he simply and cleanly downed the fourth cup of alcohol.
Shao Zhonghui wanted to toast with him again, but was ignored by Qiu Mian once more, leaving him with no choice but to down his own drink in a single breath. The alcohol vapors surged, making his blood boil, but before he could even think of his next persuasive pitch, Qiu Mian had already polished off his fifth cup.
“Hm?”
Qiu Mian tilted his empty cup, signaling with a nasal hum. Shao Zhonghui hurried to keep up. Just as the fiery burn slid past his throat, Qiu Mian was already sipping his sixth cup.
“Hahaha, Little Qiu has an extraordinary talent…”
The two of them traded drink for drink, and a bottle of baijiu was already bottomed out. Even with Shao Zhonghui’s seasoned experience in socializing, drinking at such a rapid pace left his stomach feeling slightly uncomfortable. He glanced at Qiu Mian, whose cheeks had only a faint blush yet maintained a calm and indifferent expression, and hardened his heart, signaling the waiter to bring four more bottles at once.
How is he not drunk even after half a jin… No, people who don’t show alcohol on their face are even easier to make muddled; he’ll be ready to be poured into bed any second now!
Shao Zhonghui convinced himself, nearly failing to suppress his glee.
The food here isn’t bad at all; the Mapo tofu is so spicy my face is burning, Qiu Mian muttered inwardly, continuing to drink to wash away the spice.