Chapter 62: Selfishness

In the private hospital room, the doctor finished reviewing a stack of test results. “You dodged it very promptly, avoiding the main body of the steel frame. You were only hit on the back by something fixed to it, which can be said to be a great fortune in the midst of misfortune. From the test results, the suspected spinal cord and internal organ damage, as well as rib fractures, have not appeared for the time being. However, we must still be vigilant about the possibility of hidden internal bleeding. It would be best to stay in the hospital for observation for another two days. If you experience any radiating or severe pain, you must inform the doctor immediately.”

Shen Xici nodded. “Okay, I’ll pay attention. Thank you for your trouble.”

The doctor gave a few more instructions and walked out. Sheng Shaoyan, who had been waiting by the side, straightened up and followed him out.

The door to the hospital room opened and closed again. The two bodyguards in black standing guard at the door could be vaguely seen. Shen Xici was a little on edge, always unable to resist looking at the doorway.

On what was perhaps the umpteenth time he looked, he happened to meet the eyes of Sheng Shaoyan, who was just coming in.

When Sheng Shaoyan had arrived at the film set, he was still in a black suit. Now, the jacket had been taken off and was draped over a nearby chair. His sleeves were rolled up, and his shirt was more wrinkled. When he wasn’t speaking, he appeared distant and unapproachable.

Quickly retracting his gaze, Shen Xici couldn’t help but steal a second glance after a while.

Two days ago, he was the one who had run off, leaving only a note. Although Sheng Shaoyan hadn’t mentioned a single word about it since they met, Shen Xici still felt exceptionally guilty.

Sheng Shaoyan walked to the side of the hospital bed, his tone cold. “What are you looking at me for?”

Caught red-handed in his little act of peeking, Shen Xici’s mind raced, and he jumped to another topic. “Why did you come to the film set?”

Staring at Shen Xici for a few seconds, Sheng Shaoyan lifted the corners of his mouth, but there was no smile in it. “To find you.”

Shen Xici: “…”

The feeling of guilt intensified.

Moreover, that half-smiling expression, no matter how you looked at it, meant he was angry!

Coincidentally, his phone buzzed several times in a row. Shen Xici tactically lowered his head to look at his messages. Lu Jiming had sent a long string of questions: how were the test results, what did the doctor say, was it serious, how did he feel now, was the hospital environment good, was it comfortable to stay in.

For the first time, Shen Xici discovered that being long-winded was also a virtue. It was perfect for him to type more to stall for time. As he replied carefully, he pricked up his ears, paying attention to Sheng Shaoyan’s movements.

After answering all the questions, Lu Jiming sent another sentence: [Have you and your former manager made up?]

Shen Xici’s fingers paused for a moment, and he replied: [Not yet.]

Not only had they not made up, but he also seemed to have made Sheng Shaoyan even angrier.

Lu Jiming: [Not yet? I thought you two had made up long ago. When he saw you injured and lying on the ground, that expression of tension, worry, and regretful fear was especially layered and powerful! If it were filmed in a movie, it would definitely be a classic scene!]

Shen Xici couldn’t help but read that sentence twice.

In his impression, Sheng Shaoyan was not someone who showed his emotions outwardly. Both Yu Zhou and Lin Yueshu around him had complained that trying to guess Sheng Shaoyan’s thoughts and feelings was like trying to guess lottery numbers—utterly impossible.

A new message appeared in the chat box: [Do you two have a misunderstanding or an unresolved issue? I can tell he really cares about you. And he had his bodyguards keep the surrounding staff away, and then gave one order after another—how to send you to the hospital, how to handle the scene, how to arrange for people to investigate whether it was an accident or intentional. It was so meticulous and thorough. But his face was also really grim. I kept feeling like his next sentence was going to be, ‘The weather’s getting cold, a pathetic film crew like this, just disband it on the spot!’]

Looking at the sentences constantly popping up on the screen, Shen Xici recalled the scene at that time. The moment he confirmed that it was really Sheng Shaoyan who had arrived, the confusion in his heart was blown away like mist in the wind.

Sheng Shaoyan just standing in front of him was like a dike, capable of holding back all torrents and frightening waves.

What followed was a sense of grievance that he had never felt before.

Shen Xici didn’t know how to answer, so he just vaguely replied with an “okay.”

Lu Jiming: [Make up quickly. After you make up, help me ask him if he’s really not interested in entering the entertainment industry to act? Compared to the first time we met, his aura is much stronger now. If he puts on a black dragon robe and sits there, he’d be the perfect emperor of the ages! If he’s willing, I can write a script for him right now!]

Quietly stealing a glance with his peripheral vision, the “emperor of the ages” had stood by the hospital bed for a while, then sat down in a chair. He indeed had the air of making the hospital chair look like a throne. Distracted, Shen Xici typed: [You have that much free time? Are you done editing your film?]

Lu Jiming replied in a second: [No no no, how could I possibly be free, I’m super busy! I was just talking big and making empty promises, how could I have time to write a script? I’m going back to work! Your upcoming scenes are all being moved to Ningcheng to be filmed. You just rest well!]

After replying to the messages from Lan Xiaoshan and Ge Lanjing one by one, reporting that he was safe, Shen Xici ran out of excuses to escape. He didn’t expect that as soon as he looked up, he would meet Sheng Shaoyan’s gaze.

Had he been watching him all this time?

Shen Xici spoke somewhat uncomfortably. “This time… thank you.”

Sheng Shaoyan sat steadily by his side and gave a noncommittal “hmm.” “Is there nothing else you want to say?”

Something else?

Shen Xici pressed his lips together. “My injury isn’t serious, and it was treated very promptly. I’ll be fine after resting for two days. I’ve delayed you for so long. If you’re busy with work, do you want to go back to Ningcheng first?”

“Shen Xici, is that what you want to say?”

Shen Xici had just nodded when his pupils suddenly constricted—

The man sitting by the hospital bed suddenly stood up, bent down, and pressed closer.

His chin was pinched by the other’s fingers.

His face was lifted upwards. The two were very close, their gazes crossing. Sheng Shaoyan said in a low voice, “Don’t say things you don’t mean. Do you really want me to go?”

In that instant, Shen Xici had the feeling that he had been completely seen through. The fingers on his skin were light, but their presence was undeniable. He held his breath, then slowly averted his gaze and replied in a low voice, “Yes, you should go back to Ningcheng first.”

The hand hidden by his side clenched the bedsheet, crumpling the fabric.

Go quickly.

If you don’t go, I really don’t know what to do.

Go quickly, A’Shao.

Sheng Shaoyan released the fingers pinching Shen Xici’s chin and took half a step back.

Before this, during that long period when they hadn’t seen each other, he had already tested a wrong path—he absolutely could not wait for Shen Xici to come to him.

Once the initiative was handed to Shen Xici, Shen Xici would only choose to move away, farther and farther, until the lines of their fates no longer intersected, and they became strangers.

After a few seconds of silence, he looked at Shen Xici’s pale profile. “I’ll ask one last time. Is this what you want to say?”

Shen Xici did not refute it.

He didn’t dare to meet Sheng Shaoyan’s eyes, only staring at the words and patterns printed on the bedspread in front of him. He heard the rustle of Sheng Shaoyan picking up the suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, saw the leather shoes turn at an angle, about to walk out.

Suddenly, a sense of panic gripped his heart. His heartbeat quickened, thudding against his ribs again and again. Even breathing became difficult. Shen Xici felt like a fish that had been taken out of water, parched and dying.

This is the last time, isn’t it?

A person like Sheng Shaoyan was like a king. Those around him never defied him, only willingly offering flowers and jewels. How could he possibly turn back and make concessions for one person, again and again?

An impulse born from somewhere made all of Shen Xici’s reason and emotions be put on pause. Completely following his instincts, he reached out and grabbed Sheng Shaoyan’s sleeve.

His fingers tightened bit by bit, turning white and trembling.

I’m going to lose this person again, he thought.

In his life, everything he held in his palm would be like quicksand, slipping through the cracks of his fingers.

He repeatedly told himself it was okay, told himself not to care, not to be reluctant.

He was the one who had actively retreated, the one who had actively pushed Sheng Shaoyan away step by step.

But, when he couldn’t see him, he could write that note and flee in a wretched and hasty manner.

However, now, Sheng Shaoyan was right in front of him.

Right within his reach.

How could he possibly just watch this person leave?

But, even if he held him back, made him stay, what then?

A person is considered long-lived at a hundred, which is actually just a few short decades. And his life would only be shorter, more fleeting.

He couldn’t be so selfish.

Sheng Shaoyan rightly deserved to have a perfect life. What would happen if he really made him stay? He would only become a shadow in the other’s life.

His whole body felt as if it had lost all its strength. A sense of fatigue spread from his limbs.

He released his fingers.

But the second his fingers loosened, his hand was forcefully grabbed back by Sheng Shaoyan.

“Since you want me to stay, why don’t you say it?”

Forgetting to struggle, Shen Xici suddenly raised his head, his lips trembling. “…I don’t. I didn’t think that.”

What standing, what confidence did he have to ask Sheng Shaoyan to stay?

He just… couldn’t control himself.

Sheng Shaoyan looked at him. After a long while, he suddenly said, “Shen Xici, you can be a little more selfish.”

The sound of running water came from the washbasin. Shen Xici looked at the side profile of the other person visible around the corner, his mind repeating what Sheng Shaoyan had just said.

Did Sheng Shaoyan know something? Since arriving at the film set, Sheng Shaoyan really hadn’t asked him if it hurt or how he was feeling.

No, impossible. Shen Xici denied this guess again. He had kept this secret very well. In this world, besides him and Grandpa He, there had never been a third person who knew.

His train of thought was interrupted by footsteps. Sheng Shaoyan returned after washing his hands. “Let me see your injury.”

Shen Xici obediently lifted the covers and lay prone on the bed.

Because of the filming, Shen Xici was thinner than before, his waistline more defined. Sheng Shaoyan lifted his clothes. Almost his entire back was covered in red and purple bruises and scrapes. A cut had been made on the right side of his lower back, already wrapped in gauze, which was particularly glaring.

He touched the injury on Shen Xici’s back. Knowing he couldn’t feel pain, Sheng Shaoyan still lightened his touch.

He hardly dared to recall the situation at that time. He had even thought he would lose Shen Xici.

With his face buried in the pillow, Shen Xici couldn’t see Sheng Shaoyan’s expression. He asked, “How’s the injury?”

“It’s very serious.”

Shen Xici’s lips curved, his tone light. “It just looks scary. As long as the spinal nerves and internal organs aren’t hurt, it’s fine. The muscle contusion isn’t severe.”

As he spoke, his back and shoulder blades rose and fell gently with his breathing, like a butterfly resting on the tip of a leaf, gently flapping its wings, fragile and pitiful.

Sheng Shaoyan’s gaze fell there, his hand slowly moving up. As if treating porcelain, he lightly touched and traced the lines and shadows of the bones.

The touch on his shoulder blade was a bit ticklish. Shen Xici trembled slightly and turned his face to ask, “Is there an injury there too?”

Sheng Shaoyan’s voice was a bit hoarse. “No.”

Both of them fell silent.

One didn’t explain why he had touched, and the other didn’t ask why he had touched a place with no injury.

It was not until there was a knock on the hospital room door that a certain peculiar atmosphere was broken.

The attending doctor had returned, bringing with him all sorts of medical equipment. Shen Xici was stunned. Fortunately, the VIP room was spacious, otherwise, there would have been too many instruments to even squeeze in. Realizing what Sheng Shaoyan had been doing when he followed the doctor out earlier, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But what followed was a wave of complex, sour feelings.

As the sunlight gradually slanted, Sheng Shaoyan borrowed the desk in the hospital room to handle work. Shen Xici lay on his side on the hospital bed. He had been looking at the script for a long time, but was still stuck on the first page.

Lan Xiaoshan sent a screenshot of a trending topic: [Brother Shen, Brother Shen, are you bored? Look at this! A streamer I follow, after finishing his live stream at noon, went to the cinema to watch “Mountain Range Line.” As soon as he got home, he went live and started doing this haha!]

Shen Xici clicked on it. The trending topic title was #SpicyLittleChiliPlasterFace#. In the video sent, the streamer pulled up a mask made from a cardboard box, lowered his head, and ruthlessly smeared plaster on his own face.

After covering his face completely, he took off the cardboard mask. With a grayish-white plaster face, he said to the camera, “What is this? This is me, after going to the cinema and finding that not only was my face slapped swollen, but it was also fractured. So I might as well put some plaster on to recover.”

The bullet comments were all “hahaha” and teasing remarks like “you absolutely can’t watch this late at night.”

The streamer faced the camera and even carefully smoothed the plaster, saying, “I said in my live stream at noon that my tears were heavier than the rain on the day Yiping went to ask her dad for money. There was indeed an element of exaggeration for showmanship, but no one told me! In the cinema, the tears and snot really would flow like a waterfall! I didn’t even bring any tissues!!

“Seriously though, folks, the character of the mute boy is very divine and has a tragic color. I kept thinking in the middle that it would be a happy ending, that his mom and sister would come back, and he would help the main characters bring the bad guys to justice.

“But Wan Shan was ruthless enough to go the BE aesthetic route. That leap off the cliff, it directly became one of my best shots of the year! I heard Shen Xici is playing an unhinged emperor in Zhong Yue’s new movie, I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll do a giveaway for everyone then—”

The streamer sat in front of the camera, his face covered in plaster, muttering away. Suddenly, the screen went black, and the live stream was forcibly taken down.

At the end of the video, a line of text appeared: The reason Brother Thorn was taken down by the platform was because the system determined it was supernatural horror and creating a terrifying atmosphere. Let’s all laugh at his plaster face hahaha!

“Spicy Little Chili” had a huge number of fans. For something as great as plastering one’s face, the fans would definitely be there to watch. Plus, the platform forcibly cutting the stream for reasons of supernatural horror was a stroke of genius that maxed out the effect of this live stream.

The streamer knew how to put on a show, and the fans were also talented. All kinds of memes, short comics, and video dubs made the most of the live stream material. Netizens who were just there for the drama circulated on various platforms to watch the fun. Two or three hours later, on the trending list, besides two trending topics about Spicy Little Chili, “Mountain Range line” and Shen Xici became the biggest beneficiaries. This level of popularity was basically free. It was already foreseeable that the box office of “Mountain Range Line,” which had just dropped after the end of the National Day holiday, would definitely rise again tomorrow.

Seeing Ge Lanjing’s name on the caller ID, before Shen Xici had a chance to ask what was wrong, Ge Lanjing spoke quickly and urged, “You rest well in the hospital room for the next two days. Don’t tell anyone where you are!”

Shen Xici had heard similar words in his past life. He asked, “I’m on the trending list, and it’s not a good one, right?”

“Right.” Ge Lanjing first asked, “The incident with the steel frame collapsing on set, have they found out the results of the investigation?”

“They have. No one was nearby when the accident happened. It was indeed an accident, not intentional.” The investigation results came out in the afternoon. Sheng Shaoyan had found a professional technical team, which determined that the steel frame collapsed because the metal buckle fixing it had naturally rusted and aged, thus causing the accident. There were no signs of human sabotage.

Ge Lanjing asked again, “In your current film crew, is there an old actor named Wu Cisheng?”

“Yes, Teacher Wu is a very good actor. He plays the role of the chamber of commerce president. Is the trending topic related to him?”

Ge Lanjing: “Someone released a video, saying they really couldn’t stand seeing someone with low moral character not only gain traffic and popularity but also be praised by countless people. In that video, both of you are holding scripts, and it looks like Wu Cisheng came to you to discuss the script or rehearse lines. After a couple of lines, you suddenly changed your expression and scolded Wu Cisheng, ‘You can’t even memorize a few lines, do you even know how to act? If you can’t act, say so early and save money on the lunch box!’ Then, Wu Cisheng had a submissive and humble look, lowering his head as if apologizing to you.”

Listening to the description, Shen Xici almost thought he had amnesia. He had no impression of what Ge Lanjing was describing. He simply logged into Weibo himself and watched the video Ge Lanjing mentioned.

After watching for less than half a minute, Shen Xici frowned and said, “Sister Lanjing, this video is edited.”

Ge Lanjing was not surprised at all. “What was the original situation?”

“Everyone in the crew knows that Teacher Wu has a habit of going over the script with his co-stars before each shoot. He came to me to rehearse lines. After we finished, we chatted for a bit, talking about Director Lu. He said Director Lu is a very interesting young man and imitated how Director Lu would slap his thigh in pain and suck in a cold breath through his teeth when calculating how much money the crew had spent again. Then he asked me to imitate Director Lu’s reaction when someone in the crew didn’t take memorizing their lines seriously, which was the part about saving lunch money you just mentioned.”

“And Wu Cisheng bowing his head to apologize was him imitating the actor being scolded by Director Lu?”

“Yes. He couldn’t even finish acting before he broke into laughter himself, and then we were both laughing. But the video cut off the beginning and the end, so none of that is there,” Shen Xici recalled the scene. “It was my negligence. I didn’t expect it would be recorded and then edited and spliced together.”

“How can you guard against a thief a thousand days in a row? The other party clearly came prepared. If they didn’t succeed this time, there would be a next time. They specifically edited the material and were just waiting for the moment your popularity was at its peak to throw dirt on you. Coincidentally, the plaster face incident happened, and the video was thrown out,” Ge Lanjing asked. “Do you have any grudges with him?”

Shen Xici thought about it carefully. His interactions with Wu Cisheng were all on set. They would rehearse lines, discuss their approaches to their characters, or chat for a bit during downtime like waiting for the set to be built. He was certain. “No, we’re all professional. We have no private interactions at all.”

“Then there’s someone behind it. With this kind of setup, the person behind it is clearly trying to take you down in one go so you can never recover. This video is just the beginning; there will definitely be follow-up moves,” Ge Lanjing joked. “This also shows that you’ve been too popular recently and have gotten in too many people’s way. See, as soon as the video came out, who knows how many of your peers are going to pull an all-nighter tonight, trying to blacken your name more than the night outside.”

Shen Xici also laughed. “Then I really feel bad for making them work overtime all night.”

Confirming that Shen Xici’s mentality was not greatly affected, Ge Lanjing felt a little relieved. “In any case, I’ll first contact Wu Cisheng’s manager to communicate. It would be best if Wu Cisheng himself could respond and explain this matter, but you need to be mentally prepared. The possibility of them not cooperating is very high.”

Shen Xici nodded. “I know. The most likely scenario is that he deliberately designed it to make me say that sentence.”

Just as they had guessed, Wu Cisheng’s side initially did not reply to their messages. Later, after Ge Lanjing insisted on contacting them several times, the other side made the excuse that Wu Cisheng was already asleep. As someone in his fifties or sixties, his sleep was very poor. If he was woken up after falling asleep, he would suffer from insomnia all night. They told Ge Lanjing to contact them again tomorrow.

At the same time, on the trending topics list, since October 1st, Shen Xici had at least one topic on it almost every day. After the new topic #ShenXiciDirectsActing# appeared, its popularity rose very quickly, soon surpassing #ShenXiciBEAesthetic# and rushing into the top three.

Under the topic, the public opinion was also one-sided.

“—Seeing the title, I thought Shen Xici was participating in some variety show as a mentor. Clicked in to see, he’s directing a veteran actor’s acting?? Is he worthy??”

“—Teacher Wu Cisheng started acting when you, Shen Xici, weren’t even born, right? What right do you have to ask Teacher Wu Cisheng if he knows how to act? And even said you wouldn’t give him lunch, I’m really going to die of anger! With such rotten character, you should consciously leave the industry. Otherwise, I’ll curse you every time I see you!”

“—After being recommended by Brother Thorn, I rushed to the cinema to watch ‘Mountain Range Line.’ As soon as I came out, I saw this video. No way, I just became a fan of Shen Xici a few minutes ago, and my idol’s image has already collapsed?”

“—Look closely, that’s a senior veteran! You, a newcomer from a non-acting background, are yelling and scolding a senior veteran with a dark face? You got a little popular and now you’re arrogant?? This is bullying! Wu Cisheng is so pitiful, at his age, he’s being pointed at and scolded by a junior. His back is almost bent to the ground [crying]”

The popularity grew higher and higher. Just after eleven o’clock at night, a celebrity reposted this Weibo post.

“@Li Yunzhou: I grew up watching Teacher Wu Cisheng’s plays on TV. The reason I walked the path of an actor was also because of Teacher Wu Cisheng’s influence. A senior veteran should not be treated like this. I #OpposeBullyingInFilmCrews#!”