“I already no longer know how to act.”
As Ming Yi appeared on the screen, the scrolling comments surged instantly.
“I am here to see the real young master!”
“Wait, did Ming Yi get plastic surgery? Did he always look like this?”
“Ming Yi asked a good question. I think I can understand why he hates Yan An. Who would like someone who stole their family and identity?”
“Stop with the real master vs. fake master talk. It is annoying. Can we just watch the show?”
“Yan An fans are coming. Thief! Your idol is a thief!”
Arguments broke out in the comments. On the screen, after Ming Yi dropped the bombshell about their true identities, the next shot was cleverly directed at Yan An.
“People say that your relationship with Ming Yi is not very good. Are the rumors true?”
“Of course not,” Yan An shook his head firmly on camera, smiling innocently. “We are family. Having small conflicts is normal. My Second Brother he just has a bit of a temper, but he is a good person.”
The production team seemed to be causing trouble on purpose. They edited Yan An’s interview right after Ming Yi’s blunt statements. Yan An’s words sounded like those of a devoted brother, but placed after Ming Yi’s directness, they felt a bit subtle.
“Family? Yan An, are you sure you belong?”
“He just naturally considers himself a member of the Yan family.”
“Why does he feel a bit like a Green Tea type? You do not know why your second brother has a bad temper?”
Yan An’s fans were furious and began arguing with the critics. When the guests gathered, the fans finally found an opportunity to mock him back.
“Ming Yi still dares to go on a variety show? Last time he bullied all the guests. Has he not been scolded enough?”
“This show requires practical skills. What can he do? With that arrogant attitude, whoever teams up with him is unlucky!”
However, the scene shifted. Ming Yi’s three person team headed up the mountain. Unlike his previous appearances where he remained detached, Ming Yi efficiently dug up bamboo shoots and filled the baskets. Despite his thin frame, he appeared surprisingly reliable.
In a short time, Ming Yi pulled ahead of the other group by himself. In contrast, Yan An acted as if he had oil on his feet. He kept slipping, dragging down his team’s progress. This forced Zhu Yu to stay behind and accompany him. The most ridiculous part was that while those two stayed behind, the one digging shoots was Ji Zhanyun, whose back was injured.
“Is Ji Zhanyun’s back not hurting? How could they let him dig shoots? Zhu Yu could have done it while the actor stayed with Yan An!”
“Zhu Yu must be blinded by love. She has worked with Ji Zhanyun for so many episodes. Can she not remember something so important?”
“I was wondering why Yan An’s feet were so slippery. I zoomed in on his shoes and found the answer.”
Following a sharp eyed viewer’s comment, more people noticed Yan An’s shoes. They were from a famous trendy brand: high on fashion, but low on grip.
A price expert posted in the comments: “Official price is 6,388.”
This dazzled the viewers. Looking at the mud stained, ruined shoes, the audience felt a sense of bitterness.
“The fake young master wears such expensive things. Look at the real one?”
Someone looked up Ming Yi’s shoes. They were a budget brand costing only about three hundred yuan. Seeing this, the audience became indignant.
“Where the money is, the love is. Love and neglect are very obvious here.”
“I am done. In the Yan family, the biological son cannot even compare to the fake one? How can Yan An stay in the Yan house with a clear conscience? He should go back to his biological parents!”
“Ming Yi is so skilled at manual labor. He must have lived through many hard days. Yan An enjoyed being a young master while the victim was scolded by fans. How ridiculous.”
On camera, Ming Yi revealed part of his past to Ji Nian. He spoke of those hardships lightly, as if they were just ordinary moments in his life. But the audience, like Ji Nian and Shen Pan on the show, felt an aching heart. Ming Yi should never have endured those things. He was the second young master of the Yan family and should have grown up in luxury with his parents’ love. It was a complete disaster.
“This is so dramatic. They say art comes from reality.”
“Exactly. Do not tell me Yan An is innocent. Those were fourteen years of hardship. Was Ming Yi not innocent? While he stood on a chair to cook for the family and cut grass for pigs, Yan An was a little prince. Is that right?”
“I am so angry. Who is going to pay Ming Yi back for his life?”
This time, even Yan An’s fans did not dare to speak up.
Before the day’s broadcast even ended, a topic about the shoes began to trend. A blogger highlighted the shoes of both Yan An and Ming Yi, joked a bit, and then compared their debut methods, resources, and reputations. The conclusion was that since his debut, Ming Yi had always been a foil for Yan An.
Ming Yi took the endorsements Yan An did not want. Ming Yi filled the roles Yan An rejected. In variety shows, Ming Yi was always the negative contrast. The result was that Ming Yi was always scolded, while Yan An gained sympathy and a good reputation.
The blogger concluded: “Perhaps all along I have been wrong. Ming Yi might not have been a copycat on purpose. He imitated and chased Yan An perhaps because he had no choice. Otherwise, it is impossible to explain why Ming Yi, with the Yan family’s backing, never received suitable resources.”
The post sparked a heated discussion.
“Do not overanalyze. Just look at who benefits. Ming Yi is a stepping stone.”
“Ming Yi is indeed pitiful, but his acting is bad. If he had performed well in even one role, he could have turned things around. He did not use the opportunities given to him.”
“The bad acting part is undeniable. It was a total wreck.”
“Just asking, Yan An is just a fake son. Do these wealthy families not care about bloodlines? Why not kick him out?”
“They raised him for fourteen years. You develop feelings even for a dog, let alone a person. The Yan family can afford to feed him. It is not strange to keep both.”
Online discussions were unknown to Ji Nian’s mother. After watching the show, she sighed. “Ming Yi has had a hard time.”
Ji Nian also sighed. “He does not talk much, but he is a good person. He seems a bit depressed. I told him to visit my aunt, but I do not know if he went.”
He looked at his father, Ji Hong, who was frowning at the television as if deep in thought. “What do you think?” Ji Nian asked.
Ji Hong snapped out of it, said “I will think about it,” and went into his study. This time, he did not look at other actors’ files. Instead, he pulled up the replays of On the Road.
He saw the boy with rolled up sleeves and muddy hands sitting by a roadside stall. People passed him by, but no one stopped for him. He saw the boy smile while petting a puppy and saw him weeping silently with blood on his clothes. Ji Hong’s heart beat faster. An idea flashed in his mind.
If his acting was bad, then so be it. He could teach him on set.
On the Road split each episode into two parts, aired on consecutive nights. On the night the second part aired, Ming Yi received a call from his new manager.
Since signing with Xie Yunxie’s company, Ming Yi had not spoken much with the manager, Sister Xu. He had no new work after the show, so this was the first time she called him proactively.
“Ming Yi, are you home?” Sister Xu’s voice was full of joy.
“I am home. What is it?” Ming Yi asked.
“Wait for me. I am coming over right now to tell you in person! It is wonderful news!”
The call ended. Ming Yi scratched his messy hair and looked at Little Pine Bear, who was chewing on the carpet. Soon, he learned what the wonderful news was.
“An audition?” Ming Yi was stunned. “For me?”
The whole industry knew his acting was poor. Why would a director want him?
“Yes!” Sister Xu said excitedly. “It is Director Ji’s new movie! So many people are desperate for a role in his films!”
Ming Yi had heard of Director Ji. He was a famous director who had made many stars and won international awards. Director Ji never lacked actors. Why would he choose the notorious Ming Yi?
Sister Xu noticed Ming Yi was not as happy as she expected. He looked troubled. She stopped smiling and asked, “What is wrong, Ming Yi? Tell me your concerns.”
“I” Ming Yi started, his throat dry. “I cannot act well.”
Sister Xu was speechless. “How is that possible?”
Ming Yi held the thin script, feeling as though it were burning his hands. He returned it to his manager with a bitter smile. “It is common knowledge that my acting is bad. Even if I go, I will not succeed. I would just be a laughingstock.”
Sister Xu had never seen such an insecure star. No matter how much she persuaded him, he could not find his confidence. It was as if the fire in his life had burned out, leaving only cold ash.
Sister Xu realized things were bad. As the manager specifically assigned by the boss, she did not want Ming Yi to miss this chance. After leaving the Xie villa, she called the boss. She explained the situation and suggested he encourage his artist. She hoped the boss would help persuade him.
In the evening, Xie Yunxie returned home late after a meeting. The living room lights were off, and only the television was on. Ming Yi was holding Little Pine Bear, bathed in the dim light. His profile was wooden and expressionless.
The screen showed a scene with Yellow Peach. At this time, the dog was still alive. Little Pine Bear was running around her, and she allowed him to play while wagging her tail at the guests. Ming Yi stared at the screen, lost in thought.
Xie Yunxie took off his jacket, loosened his tie, and walked over to pause the television. “Stop watching.”
Ming Yi did not react. After a long silence, he spoke softly. “When Yellow Peach died, I kept thinking that it would have been better if I had not played with Little Pine Bear.”
“If I had not played with him, he would not have followed me. Yellow Peach would not have followed me to the mountain path and fallen into the trap.”
“If I had remained indifferent and not cooked such good food, Yellow Peach would not have been attracted to me. Maybe she would still be alive.”
Ming Yi’s thin shoulders began to tremble, and his voice broke. “If if I had not taken this different path her fate might not have been changed by me.”
In the original plot, Ming Yi’s group would not have met the dogs. Because they did not meet, the tragedy would not have happened. It was his refusal to accept fate and his desire to change things that caused this chain reaction. Did he kill Yellow Peach?
Since her death, Ming Yi could not stop thinking about these questions. He had no answers, so he focused all his attention on Little Pine Bear to fill the void inside him.
Xie Yunxie did not speak for a moment. He sat down next to Ming Yi and sighed softly. “Ming Yi, there are no ‘ifs.’ The unknown nature of fate cannot be predicted.”
“In a destiny without your intervention, Yellow Peach and Little Pine Bear might have starved to death in the mountains together,” Xie Yunxie pointed out another possibility. “The trap was always there. How do you know they would not have fallen into it anyway?”
Ming Yi covered his face with his hands, breathing shakily.
“Do not blame yourself for things that did not happen, Ming Yi,” Xie Yunxie said, watching the boy. He hesitated, then placed a hand on his shoulder. “You have done enough. Look, at least you saved Little Pine Bear.”
Ming Yi raised his red eyes and saw the puppy’s wet eyes.
“Do not be afraid to challenge fate. Once you fear fighting it, it will be ruthless,” Xie Yunxie increased the pressure on Ming Yi’s shoulder. “You have already felt what it is like to be crushed by fate. Are you going to give up now?”
Ming Yi moved his lips and looked at him. Finally, he spoke in a trembling voice. “No. I do not want to give up.”
Xie Yunxie softened his tone. “Then why do you not want to go to the audition?”
“Because I cannot do it,” Ming Yi said blankly. “I cannot do it.”
“It is Director Ji. How could I pass his audition?” Ming Yi bared his heart to Xie Yunxie. “My acting is so bad. Everyone will laugh at me! I am afraid to go! I cannot do it!”
“I already no longer know how to act.”
Ming Yi had been forced to redo scenes dozens of times. It had become his deepest nightmare. He was afraid of failing again and could not regain his love for acting. He wanted to hide in his shell to avoid being hurt.
As the old nightmare returned, Ming Yi lost his composure. He did not push Xie Yunxie away when the man hugged him tightly. He needed this embrace. Ming Yi cried on Xie Yunxie’s shoulder until his tears finally stopped.
“How could you not do it?” Xie Yunxie wiped the tears from Ming Yi’s cheeks. “You can do it.”
“If you could not, why would Director Ji send you an invitation? Do you not trust a great director’s eyes?” Xie Yunxie said softly. “This is the first opportunity you earned for yourself. Do you not want to try? Not as a double or a foil, but just as yourself.”
“Myself?” Ming Yi asked.
“Yes, yourself.”
“Even if you fail, it is a film by Director Ji. Many people fail. There is nothing to be laughed at. We are all in the same boat.”
“If you get lucky and pass, you win big, right?”
The smooth talk successfully comforted Ming Yi. He sniffed and realized it was true. Seeing him recover, Xie Yunxie continued his exaggerated praise. “And maybe you are perfect for the role. You might amaze Director Ji and become the next big star.”
The talk became more and more ridiculous. Ming Yi glared at him, but thanks to Xie Yunxie’s nonsense, his logic returned. He realized he had just broken down in Xie Yunxie’s arms and soaked his shirt with tears. He felt embarrassed and rubbed his face.
Xie Yunxie did not tease him and changed the subject. “Now, do you want to go to the audition?”
Ming Yi bit his lip. “I will try. My reputation cannot get any worse anyway.”
“No one will laugh at you,” Xie Yunxie said seriously. “If they do, tell me. I will punch anyone who is disrespectful.”
Ming Yi felt much more secure after hearing that. Since things were already bad, they could not get much worse. He picked up the script again. “I will look at the script then?”
“Go ahead. Good luck!”
Watching Ming Yi walk into the room with the puppy, Xie Yunxie sighed. He touched his neck and realized his scent glands were warm. He felt relieved that Ming Yi had stopped crying. Hearing him cry so helplessly had made his glands heat up, and he had released comforting pheromones.
It was confusing because an Alpha usually only did that for an Omega he liked. Ming Yi was his favorite fictional character, not his actual wife. He told his glands to stay calm, but he could not help remembering the feeling of holding Ming Yi. He felt so soft and small.
Xie Yunxie snapped out of it and pinched himself. He could not think like that. Ming Yi was his comrade and his brother. He rushed to the kitchen, got some ice, and applied it to his neck to remind his body who was in charge.
The system noticed and asked, “Host, your glands are heating up. Are you alright?”
“I am fine. My glands are just acting up. It is normal,” Xie Yunxie said calmly. It was not because he had fallen for someone.
That night, many people watched the new episode of On the Road. In a messy room, a man stared at the screen with greedy eyes. Trash and cigarette butts covered the floor. A small table was cluttered with leftover food that smelled sour.
The man on the sofa did not notice. He took his phone and searched for the names of the two brothers. The trending topic about the shoes appeared.
“Six thousand yuan shoes!” Ming Yaozong shouted in disbelief, his eyes filled with greed.
Just then, angry shouting came from outside. “That girl has grown wings! She dared to hang up on me! I will beat her when she comes back!”
Another shrill voice followed. “We should not have paid for her school. She left and never came back! She is so old and not married yet, just fooling around. She has disgraced me!”
Ming Yaozong ignored them and kept scrolling through the comments. A plan formed in his head. He stood up, opened the door, and shouted, “Mom! Dad! Let us go ask my third brother for some money!”
The middle aged couple outside stopped shouting and looked at him in confusion.
“Your third brother?” The man snorted. “That ungrateful wolf? His real parents paid us to take him back. He has not sent a single message in a year. How can we get money from him? We raised someone else’s son for nothing!”
“Dad, I am not talking about the fake one,” Ming Yaozong smiled greedily. “I am talking about the real one!”
The woman’s eyes flashed. “You mean An An?”
Ming Yaozong showed them the pictures on his phone. “Look, our An An is a big star now. He can afford six thousand yuan shoes. Asking him for a little money for our family is nothing to him, right?”
The woman was tempted by the price, but she hesitated. “But that family gave us two million yuan back then. They took Ming Yi and told us not to contact An An again.”
When Ming Yi was taken back, the family lost a worker, and their own son was kept by the Yan family. The Ming family had protested and received two million yuan on the condition that they stay away from both boys. With that money, they rebuilt their house and saved for Ming Yaozong’s future marriage. But Ming Yaozong had wasted most of it on gambling and women.
The Ming family was desperate. Their son needed money to get a wife. They had even tried to take money from their eldest daughter, but she ignored them. Now, hearing Ming Yaozong’s plan, the couple was tempted. An An was their son, after all. He was successful now. If they asked for a little money, surely, he would not refuse?
The woman was still a bit afraid of wealthy people. After the Yan family’s warning, they had not dared to contact An An. “But if the Yan family finds out”
“Ayah, what are you afraid of? We will just find An An secretly,” Ming Yaozong said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Besides, An An is a big star. So many people are watching him. If the Yan family moves against us, we will tell the media! An An is your biological son. No one can stop parents from seeing their child, right?”
The father’s eyes brightened. He scolded his wife’s hesitation. “What is wrong with parents asking their child for money? If we had not given birth to him, he would not be a star!”
“We will take money from An An and also from that ungrateful wolf! Two million was not enough. I raised someone else’s son for fourteen years!”
Ming Yaozong sneered. He thought Ming Yi, who wore three-hundred-yuan shoes, was a loser. He was the real young master but was not loved at home and was hated as a star. That loser deserved to be a worker in their house.
The family discussed it all night and decided to go to the city as soon as possible to demand money while the topic was still hot.