Back in the private room, Shao Dong glanced at him: “Why does your face look so terrible? Did things not get resolved out there?”
As he spoke, he looked over Liang Han’s shoulder, asking curiously: “Where’s that boy? Why didn’t he come back with you?”
Liang Han’s heart stirred slightly. He didn’t answer Shao Dong’s question directly, but instead raised an eyebrow and asked, “You went over there too?”
“Yeah,” Shao Dong gave a dry laugh, remembering how Liang Han had specifically told him not to follow when he left. “I just wasn’t worried about you, was I!”
Liang Han sat down, his expression cold: “You saw everything?”
Shao Dong quickly explained: “I originally didn’t plan to go over and join the excitement, but I was worried that if you and Shen Yu had a fallout here and it got leaked by Shen Yu’s camp, the public relations would be hard to manage.”
His tone turned a bit more serious: “Even though you’re mostly stable working behind the scenes now, you’re the male lead in the next drama. I have to consider the big picture, right? Your reputation and prestige will affect the entire production crew.”
Furthermore, the last time Liang Han came here and nearly called the police, the club manager had called Shao Dong to clean up the mess an incident that still left him with lingering fears. So, after some thought, he had steeled himself to follow.
“But don’t overthink it. I just went over for a quick look and came right back. Whatever you and that boy did exactly, I wouldn’t know.”
After confirming there were no major issues, he had returned to the room quickly to avoid running into Shen Yu. He hadn’t continued following Liang Han, so he didn’t know how Liang Han and the young boy eventually went their separate ways.
Liang Han shot him a glance: “Be serious.”
He made it sound as if he and that boy were involved in something improper.
Shao Dong twitched his eyebrows: “…”
Clearly, you’re the one wearing a guilty expression, as if you’ve done something shameful.
Shao Dong didn’t drop the subject this time; instead, he focused his attention on the boy: “Fine, being serious then what was the deal with that boy? What did Shen Yu do to him just now that actually prompted you to go rescue him?”
“Nothing much,” Liang Han said nonchalantly. “Shen Yu wanted him to keep him company, and he was unwilling.”
“That’s it?” Shao Dong’s tone became teasing. “I thought it was some dire situation that made you rush off to find trouble with Shen Yu so urgently. Turns out you were just playing the hero saving the beauty.”
Liang Han looked sideways, catching Shao Dong’s mocking expression, and frowned: “Don’t talk nonsense. What ‘hero saving beauty’? It was just a casual favor. If the person were willing, I wouldn’t say anything, but since he was unwilling, I couldn’t just stand by and watch someone be led astray right in front of me.”
Shao Dong smiled: “Fine, you’re the Light of Justice. You simply went to be a Good Samaritan, okay?”
He clicked his tongue, his words carrying an underlying meaning: “Incredible! Earlier I said you weren’t gentle enough, and now you’ve developed a sense of pity. The iron tree is finally blooming!”
Liang Han looked perfectly composed: “If it hadn’t happened before my eyes, forget it, but since I encountered it, I was bound to help. What’s there to be surprised about?”
“Fine, I’m the one being surprised. But doesn’t everyone who comes here aim to find a sugar daddy to fish for money? How are you so sure that boy wasn’t willing to accompany Shen Yu?”
Shao Dong felt Liang Han was making excuses for the boy.
Liang Han looked at him: “When I came out of the restroom earlier, he begged me for help, saying he wanted to be a waiter and was unwilling to do ‘that.’ He said it so earnestly, and even in front of Shen Yu, he showed great resistance. Naturally, he was unwilling.”
Shao Dong went “Oh”: “So, he said he was unwilling and you actually believed him? You didn’t suspect a thing? Weren’t you afraid he was faking it or worried he’d cling to you?”
Liang Han picked up his glass to drink water: “To me, he didn’t seem to be faking. And he didn’t cling to me.”
Shao Dong paused, tilting his head to look at Liang Han: “Didn’t seem like a fake? How can you be so sure?”
Liang Han’s reply was simple: “I just feel it wasn’t a fake.”
Shao Dong didn’t believe him, but he had his own line of reasoning: “I get it. He specifically asked you for help because he obviously took a liking to you! Since he’s set his sights on you, it’s easy to understand why he wouldn’t want to go with Shen Yu.”
Liang Han lowered his eyes, denying it calmly: “He probably hasn’t taken a liking to me.”
Although the boy seemed to have designs on him, as soon as Liang Han advised him against it, he gave up. Presumably, he hadn’t truly taken a liking to him.
Shao Dong glanced at him and frowned: “How do you know he hasn’t? Did he say he doesn’t like you? That could also be a lie.”
Liang Han didn’t speak, but he remembered the boy saying he was a fan earlier. He likely did like him.
Cen Ping looked up. Having finished reading most of the script and hearing them discuss this topic, he added: “If he really took a liking to Liang Han, he would have found every possible way to follow him here. Since he didn’t come, then he truly hasn’t taken a liking to him.”
Liang Han: “…”
Liang Han fell strangely silent, his expression unreadable.
Cen Ping’s words were correct, but they were somehow unpleasant to hear.
Shao Dong shook his head: “Director Cen, that’s not necessarily true!”
Liang Han turned his head to look.
Cen Ping also put down the script in his hand and asked curiously: “How so?”
Shao Dong wagged a finger and laughed: “Maybe the person is highly skilled and is playing hard to get?”
Cen Ping paused: “…Oh?”
Shao Dong continued: “The scene Liang Han caused at this club before the people here definitely know about it. If someone wants to get close to our President Liang now, they certainly can’t use those low-level tactics anymore, right?”
He patted Liang Han’s shoulder: “And look at our President Liang’s aura he clearly looks like the cold, aloof type. If someone showed their intentions too obviously right away, they’d scare him off! For someone with sophisticated means, taking a roundabout way to pursue him is the superior strategy!”
“Look, the guy first showed weakness to seek help, then stood out by not following you directly doesn’t that just lower President Liang’s guard and make him relax his vigilance? I think this person is quite clever; he’ll definitely find a way to stick to you again later.”
Cen Ping laughed, not quite believing it: “By your logic, there should be plenty of clever people; others should have done the same. How is it that President Liang is still single?”
Shao Dong shook his head and sighed, his tone full of pity: “That’s because our President Liang hasn’t ‘awakened’ yet! He doesn’t like anyone who pursues him! When he finally meets someone he likes, he’ll be off the market for sure!”
Shao Dong looked at Liang Han: “President Liang, wouldn’t you say?”
Liang Han put his glass down, ignored him, and pushed his hand away. He just looked at Cen Ping, changing the subject: “How is the script, Director Cen? Any thoughts?”
Seeing he wasn’t willing to chat about it, Cen Ping also became serious: “I’ve finished the main plot points. It’s very good and fits my vision for a novel adaptation. It’s just that currently, there are many details regarding the difficulty of actual filming that need consideration; some revisions might be necessary.”
Liang Han gave an “Mhm.” Hearing that he was satisfied with the script, he felt relieved: “That’s fine. When you get back, write down your thoughts. We’ll organize the script details and have the screenwriter refine it.”
Cen Ping put the script down: “Alright. Then… is the matter of me being the lead director settled?”
Liang Han nodded: “I’ll send the contract to you as soon as I get back.”
“Good, then I’ll go home and wait.”
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. You’ve been looking at the script all night and haven’t eaten properly. There’s nothing else today; go back after you’ve eaten your fill.”
Cen Ping had been looking at the script the whole time; he had barely touched the dishes that were served earlier. Most of it had been eaten by Liang Han and Shao Dong, and it was cold now. Shao Dong simply pressed the bell and called the waiter to bring out new dishes.
The manager came back in again, forehead dripping with sweat. He glanced around the private room as if looking for someone, but seeing that the situation wasn’t what he expected, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.
Shao Dong glanced at him: “What is it? Is there a problem with our room?”
The manager gave a dry laugh and steeled himself to explain: “Oh, no, it’s just that a waiter made a bit of a mistake just now. I was worried he might have run in here and disturbed your meal.”
Tonight, there were only two private rooms on the top floor. Liang Han’s side didn’t need service, so the manager had been taking care of Shen Yu’s room.
He hadn’t expected that after Shen Yu took someone out, he would return alone with a particularly hideous expression.
At that moment, the manager’s heart skipped a beat. No one in the room dared to ask where the other person went.
Shen Yu had proactively explained, saying the person was unwell and went to rest.
The guests didn’t believe it, and the manager naturally believed it even less.
He was the one who arranged for the person to go there; how could the guy have left without a word to him? Something must have happened.
But he also couldn’t understand having caught Shen Yu’s eye, why would this person run away?
Chang Yu sensed something was wrong. Not wanting a perfectly good treat to turn into a dinner of resentment, he asked the manager to investigate.
The manager asked around but didn’t see Song Yuanxi. Only one waiter said they seemed to have seen Song Yuanxi talking to Liang Han.
He thought to himself: This is bad. Don’t tell me it’s another incident like last time. He had already offended Shen Yu, and now he might have offended Liang Han as well.
Seeing that there was no one extra on Liang Han’s side, he felt relieved that one less person to offend is always better.
Shao Dong glanced at Liang Han and asked with a smile: “Oh, what mistake? Did a waiter run away?”
“…”
The manager hadn’t expected him to hit the nail on the head. His smile became even more strained; of course, he couldn’t admit it: “You must be joking. What is there here that would make someone run away? It’s just a newcomer who hasn’t been trained well and couldn’t take good care of the guests.”
“Oh, so that’s how it is.”
Shao Dong didn’t believe him and wanted to ask more: “Which guest did he offend?”
“None, none. You must be joking.”
The manager wasn’t in the mood to stay. He still planned to look for Song Yuanxi, so he apologized and left the room.
Shao Dong didn’t stop him. Once the man was gone, he looked at Liang Han with a smile and teased: “Look at the mess you’ve caused. Since you snatched the person away, Shen Yu must be very unhappy right now. He even mobilized the manager to come and scout the situation. You really should have brought the person in earlier; I bet the manager’s expression would have been quite a sight.”
Shao Dong was clearly stirring the pot.
Liang Han rolled his eyes at him.
Cen Ping finally realized: “The person Chang Yu was treating to dinner tonight is Shen Yu?”
Shao Dong nodded: “Exactly. I only found out when President Liang ran into him outside just now. Hey, Director Cen, how’s your relationship with Shen Yu?”
Cen Ping smiled: “Me? What relationship could I have with him? During the years he became famous, I haven’t been filming; people like that wouldn’t contact me.”
“True. You used to work with our President Liang a lot, and Shen Yu can’t stand him. It’s normal that he doesn’t look for you.”
Shao Dong’s words startled Cen Ping. He looked at Liang Han: “What do you mean? Shen Yu can’t stand President Liang? Surely not? You’re a senior to him.”
Shao Dong sighed, shaking his head: “Why ‘surely not’? Over the years, he’s been manipulating public opinion behind your back using your name. But since people gave you face and not him, he naturally developed a grudge! The feud was settled long ago; it’s not something from just a day or two. What ‘senior’? In his eyes, our President Liang is an enemy who suppresses him.”
Only then did Cen Ping learn that Liang Han and Shen Yu were at odds: “Then if you had an unpleasant encounter with him tonight, will he look for trouble behind your back?”
Shao Dong paused, his attention shifting as he looked at Liang Han: “That’s right. I’m afraid this incident will inevitably be used as fodder for an article.”
Liang Han gave a light scoff, clearly not taking Shen Yu seriously: “He only knows those small backhanded tricks. Not worth mentioning.”
Shao Dong said as if understanding: “True, there’s no need to worry. At most, he’ll post a short essay or find marketing accounts to spread rumors. He wouldn’t dare do anything real. He’s already covered in filth himself; if a real fuss starts, he’ll be the one to suffer.”
Cen Ping smiled: “True. President Liang’s character is upright enough. This kind of rumor-mongering will probably just increase your popularity. Nowadays, those small stars in the circle even proactively create this kind of black material.”
But in an instant, another thought occurred to Shao Dong: “That young boy from just now… he wasn’t specifically arranged by Shen Yu to intentionally put on an act and set a trap for you, was he?”
Liang Han glanced at him, his denial firm: “Impossible.”
The young boy’s performance didn’t look fake. He truly disliked Shen Yu, and he clearly had a favorable impression of him.