Shang Xianwang folded the thin blanket that Shang Xueyan had tossed aside and said, “In a few days, he won’t be able to send you these messages anymore.”
Having been reunited with Shang Xueyan for a week now, he had learned of the various misdeeds Lu Han had committed against him, even more outrageous than what Shang Xueyan had voluntarily confessed.
Shang Xianwang had broad palms and long, slender fingers. In just a moment, the soft light-gray blanket was folded into a neat square in his hands. He set the blanket aside and said, “Let’s go, Ayan.”
Two more days passed, and Shang Xueyan had fully mastered driving. He even enthusiastically picked Shang Xianwang up from work for two days in a row. One afternoon, while watching TV at home, his phone rang it was Wang Xiantao calling.
“Shang Xueyan, are you free tomorrow?” Wang Xiantao sounded cheerful.
“Yeah, I am. What’s up?” Shang Xueyan paused the drama he was watching.
“Remember how I got into that costume drama crew a few days ago to play a fairly important role?”
Shang Xueyan knew about this. When Wang Xiantao had landed the role, he’d excitedly called to share the good news. His schedule had been packed these past few days, so the two hadn’t been in much contact.
Wang Xiantao’s voice was lively. “So here’s the thing, our crew needs someone for a role: the emperor. Today I showed the director your video, and he’s decided to use you. How about it? Got time? It should take about four or five days.”
“The emperor? I’m free.” Shang Xueyan was brimming with enthusiasm. Over the past four months, he’d acted in several productions but had never played an emperor.
Meanwhile, in a low-key upscale private club.
Shang Xianwang sat on a soft leather sofa, the lines of his dark-gray suit trousers crisp, the toes of his leather shoes gleaming with a cold sheen.
His expression, however, was gentle as his fingertip moved lightly across his phone keyboard: 【Probably about another hour before I’m home】
Ayan: 【Auntie Wang is stewing lamb tonight. I can already smell it, it smells amazing!】
Shang Xianwang: 【Already hungry?】
Ayan: 【Craving it】
Shang Xianwang: 【You can eat first】
Ayan: 【Not that hungry yet. I’ll wait for you to come back】
Ayan: 【Big dog holding a bone in the wind JPG】
Shang Xianwang let out a silent chuckle. Just then, two light knocks came at the door of the private room. The smile on Shang Xianwang’s face vanished. He put away his phone and looked toward the door.
Wang Song pushed the door open. “President Shang, General Manager Lu of Tianli Entertainment has arrived.”
As the president of an entertainment company, Lu Han couldn’t exactly be called ugly, only that his appearance was hard on the eyes. Shang Xianwang’s gaze landed on him, and he said in a measured tone, “Have a seat, President Lu.”
Lu Han hastily took a seat in the chair beside Shang Xianwang. “President Shang, I heard you’re planning to invest in Tianli Entertainment?”
Lu Han was beaming. Tianli Entertainment originally wouldn’t have fallen to him, but when his elder brother whom his father had regarded as the successor suddenly died of illness, and his father himself was bedridden with a serious condition, the company had been handed to Lu Han.
However, the old man was often dissatisfied with his work and his efforts, constantly comparing him to a dead man.
What was so good about that dead man anyway? Had he managed to attract Fengyuan’s attention and get them to inject capital?
The old man kept saying that if he continued like this, he’d ruin Tianli Entertainment. Clearly, his father was just biased.
Shang Xianwang said, “Indeed, I do have that intention.”
Lu Han’s face instantly lit up with joy.
Shang Xianwang’s slender fingers pressed lightly on the document on the round table. With a subtle movement of his fair, well-proportioned hand, the black-covered file slid across to Lu Han.
Shang Xianwang raised an eyebrow slightly. “President Lu, take a look at this first.”
Lu Han assumed it was some investment proposal or business plan. He beamed and responded with a cheerful “Alright,” then opened the document. As his gaze slid over the contents of the first page, the smile on Lu Han’s face froze completely, and his mind went blank. He flipped through quickly, and every subsequent page left him utterly horrified.
“President Shang, you…” Lu Han’s face turned deathly pale.
Shang Xianwang gave him a faint smile. “President Lu, Shang Xueyan is my younger brother.”
Shang Xueyan? When Lu Han heard the name, it felt unfamiliar at first, who was this person?
Then, the moment he realized who it referred to, his breath seemed to stop for an instant. He stammered in disbelief, “Th-This… how is this possible? Shang Rong, isn’t he… isn’t he an orphan? President Shang, are you sure you’re not mistaken about something?”
Shang Xianwang stared at him with an expressionless face.
Lu Han’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.
He prided himself on being thorough in his dealings, he had investigated carefully and knew that Shang Rong was an orphan with no power or connections, which was why he had relentlessly suppressed him. But how could he possibly be Shang Xianwang’s younger brother?
Besides, his suppression of Shang Rong had started over a year ago. Why hadn’t Shang Xianwang stepped in for Shang Rong back then?
Wait, Shang Rong used to be an orphan!
Lu Han’s Adam’s apple rolled nervously a few times. His knees went weak, and he nearly slid off his chair. “President Shang, I, I truly didn’t know that Shang Rong no, Shang Xueyan was your younger brother.”
“But honestly, I didn’t really do much to him, did I? He was the one who didn’t want to act in the company’s productions. Didn’t he want to terminate his contract? I’ll sign the release papers for him right away, and I’ll give him a generous penalty payment! From now on, with Tianli’s productions, he can film whatever he wants!! Would that be acceptable to you?”
Shang Xianwang fixed his gaze on him, his tone sounding deceptively calm. “President Lu, what do you think would happen if I submitted these materials to the authorities? How many years would you spend eating prison food?”
Lu Han slid completely off his chair, weeping and wailing. “President Shang, it really is my fault. Please be magnanimous and let bygones be bygones. Spare me, I beg you.”
A dozen or so minutes later, Shang Xianwang ignored the man trembling in the corner, leisurely rolled up his sleeves, and strode out of the private room.
Wang Song followed behind Shang Xianwang, who said, “Submit the materials and call the police.”
“Understood, President Shang,” Wang Song replied.
Half an hour or so later, Shang Xianwang drove back to Fengyun Bay. The moment the front door opened, Shang Xueyan’s face appeared before him, looking extremely excited. “Big brother, you’re back!”
Shang Xianwang changed into his house slippers, pulled out a disinfectant wipe to clean his hands, and said, “So happy? What’s the good news?”
“Guess first,” Shang Xueyan said.
“It shouldn’t be that Auntie Wang’s lamb soup is especially delicious, right?” Shang Xianwang looked at him.
“Guess again.”
“Tell me, Ayan.”
Shang Xueyan let out a chuckle. “I’m going to film tomorrow! I’m going to play an emperor!”
“Where are you filming?” Shang Xianwang’s brow furrowed rapidly.
“Just at Chengjiang Hengdian near the capital. It’ll take about five days, but I can come home every night.”
Shang Xianwang gave a hum of acknowledgment, then handed him the document in his hand. “Ayan, here this is for you.”
“What is it?” Shang Xueyan took it, and after flipping it open, he exclaimed in surprise, “The contract termination agreement with Tianli!”
“Big brother, you handled this so quickly.”
Shang Xianwang gave a faint smile. “Maybe my lawyer is just more efficient.”
After a pause, he asked, “Ayan, do you still plan to act in the future?”
“Yeah, I don’t really know what else I’d do anyway, and acting is pretty fun.” Shang Xueyan said after thinking for a moment. At first, he wanted to act so more people would notice him, and honestly, he still had that wish now, who knew maybe his parents had transmigrated over too? Just not in the same city as him, even though he knew the odds were low.
But beyond that, he thought about it and acting really was quite enjoyable playing different roles, experiencing different lives.
“As long as you enjoy it, that’s what matters,” Shang Xianwang said.
Over the past few months, Shang Xueyan had gone to many shoots, always biking to the subway station, taking the train to the set, and if the set was still a bit far from the station, he’d keep riding a bicycle for short distances, an e-bike for longer ones.
This was the first time he’d gone to a shoot without riding. There was a film studio near the capital, about ten kilometers farther from his eldest brother’s place than the old rundown apartment he used to rent. From the old place to Chengjiang Film Studio used to take two and a half hours, but now it only took a little over an hour because he drove there.
His brother had several cars in the garage, and this morning he’d taken the coolest-looking one to Chengjiang Film Studio, parked it in the lot nearby, and walked to the crew’s hotel.
“Shang Xueyan.” Just as he reached the hotel entrance, he heard Wang Xiantao’s voice. “Over here.”
“Damn, why are you dressed so sharp today? Almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Is it really that dramatic?”
The crew’s makeup room was on the second floor of this somewhat aged hotel. As the two walked into the lobby, Shang Xueyan said, “I don’t need to see the director first? Straight to makeup?”
“No need. The director said to head straight to the set after makeup.” As Wang Xiantao finished speaking, his gaze caught the white mesh sneakers on Shang Xueyan’s feet, and he exclaimed, “Holy shit, Shang Xueyan!”
Shang Xueyan was startled by him.
Wang Xiantao bent down and rolled up the hem of his black casual pants. He thought Shang Xueyan looked especially good today, but he wasn’t too familiar with clothing brands except a few well-known luxury labels though he was a sneakerhead. After circling around those white sneakers for a look, he stood up, excited. “KL limited-edition sneakers! Where’d you buy the knockoffs? They’re almost indistinguishable from the real thing.”
“A friend of mine bought a pair of fakes a few days ago for five grand, and they’re not even as good as your knockoffs.” Wang Xiantao was buzzing with excitement.
Shang Xueyan looked down and glanced at the unremarkable white sneakers on his feet. He’d just grabbed a random pair from the shoe rack his brother had set up for him before heading out something that matched his clean, simple, sharp look today.
Shang Xueyan: “How much do the real ones cost?”
Wang Xiantao walked with him toward the stairwell. “Forty-six thousand, I think.”
Forty-six thousand! Shang Xueyan swallowed hard.
“How much did yours cost?”
Forty-six thousand, Shang Xueyan said inwardly.
“Someone gave them to me.”
“Then they must’ve cost at least a few grand.” Wang Xiantao lowered his head, studied the shoes carefully, and confirmed, “They really are identical to the real thing!”
Because they were the real thing.
Shang Xueyan’s current film crew was quite good this time. Although the male and female leads weren’t famous, according to Wang Xiantao, the investment was substantial, and the costumes, props, and makeup were especially exquisite. To capture the grandeur of the royal court, they had gone through considerable trouble to secure a private garden owned by some big shot for the afternoon scenes at the royal garden. It was said to be full of ancient architecture. The director and producer had not only spent a lot of money but also called in many favors.
Shang Xueyan also thought this crew was decent.
It was evident from the costumes and props he played an emperor, and his robes were ornate, with lifelike dragon patterns. Just getting dressed took him twenty minutes.
The wig went without saying smooth, glossy black, and silky to the touch.
After the costume designer helped him into his outfit, Shang Xueyan glanced at himself in the mirror, then suddenly pulled out his phone, snapped a photo, and sent it first to his eldest brother, then to Shen Mengkun.
Shen Mengkun: [Just a bit less handsome than me]
Shang Xueyan: [Pinky finger jpg]
Eldest Brother: [Very handsome]
Shang Xueyan: [I think I look pretty cool too]
Shang Xueyan: [Proud puppy jpg]
The three morning scenes were shot in the Golden Dragon Hall at Hengdian. In the afternoon, Shang Xueyan boarded the crew’s tour bus, heading to a private garden supposedly owned by some big shot for filming.
Still in costume, Shang Xueyan chatted with Wang Xiantao as they got off the bus, only then noticing something was off.
The private estate’s gates were tightly shut, with camera cranes and other equipment piled up at the entrance. The director’s face was ashen, and the logistics team leader looked helpless.
“What’s going on?” Wang Xiantao, who was close with a prop department worker, leaned in to ask.
Shang Xueyan quietly perked up his ears.
It wasn’t a secret. The prop guy lowered his voice: “Didn’t our crew agree with the estate’s owner to rent the place for five days of filming? We already paid, but when we got here today, we found out the previous manager of this estate was fired a few days ago for misusing public resources. The new manager of this garden sympathizes with us being scammed, but he won’t agree to lend the estate for filming.”
“The director is trying to pull strings now. Seems like one of the investors knows the estate’s owner and is trying to make a connection, hoping to get the garden lent out for a few days.”
The prop guy was also into gossip. He saw the director answer a call, speak politely for a few moments, then his expression grow increasingly grim.
“I’m guessing it didn’t work out. Makes sense someone who owns an ancient garden like this wouldn’t care about a few days’ rental fee. The original manager was secretly renting it out behind the owner’s back,” the prop guy remarked.
Shang Xueyan, meanwhile, stood before the antique lacquered copper-red gate, studying its surroundings carefully.
“Old Wang, forget it. Let’s just shoot these scenes at Hengdian,” the assistant director urged after seeing Wang Qirui’s friend come up empty-handed.
Wang Qirui stared at the assistant director, unwilling to give up. “Call Hu Guang again. We’ll triple the rental fee.”
The assistant director knew their director had an artisan’s spirit especially for this project, which he’d always wanted to make a high-quality production with strict demands on costumes, props, and makeup. After failing to talk him out of it, he reluctantly made another call.
A few minutes passed, and the call auto-disconnected. The other party never picked up.
The assistant director turned around and only then noticed a wave of actors had already arrived. Seeing the crowd of onlookers growing, Director Li’s temple twitched. “Everyone, get back on the bus. We’re not filming this afternoon.”
The actors seemed to sense something was off, murmuring among themselves as they boarded the tour bus. Wang Xiantao tried to call Shang Xueyan over to get on the bus, but Shang Xueyan walked a few steps forward instead, approaching the assistant director, who was still relatively composed. “Director Li, are we heading back now? We’re not filming anymore?”
Director Li had taken a liking to Shang Xueyan, he’d performed well in those two scenes that morning, and he was handsome and clean-cut. The director said dejectedly, “Film what? This place is gone.”
Shang Xueyan glanced at the estate’s walls and the surrounding area, then said, “Give me a moment. Let me make a call, I think I know the owner of this estate.”