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Chapter 18

There were still some scenes left to shoot, so Du Han’s sudden departure seemed strange. Du Han was a very professional actor and usually wouldn’t leave like this. Yan Hongyun and Shi Zhifeng were watching the monitors and discussing the previous scene.

The single-take scene performed by the two skilled actors was powerful and smooth, especially Yu Shiqing’s emotional control. From beginning to end, the shifts in his emotions were rich and full, making both directors enjoy it so much they couldn’t take their eyes off it.

After hearing the news of Du Han leaving, they exchanged a glance, both confused. But since he was already gone, they couldn’t say much.

Suddenly, Shi Zhifeng remembered something and laughed. “Stealing such a good actor from me—what a deal for you.”

Yan Hongyun asked in confusion, “Stole? Who?”

“Yu Shiqing, of course,” Shi Zhifeng said. “If he hadn’t taken your Doomsday Rescue first, he would’ve had time to act in my Dawn.”

Yan Hongyun looked even more confused. “Schedule? Don’t blame me for that! I tried inviting Yu Shiqing through Huaze for half a year, but they only agreed to let him go less than a month before we started filming. He only signed the contract on the first day of shooting.”

“What? Really?” Shi Zhifeng frowned.

Yan Hongyun grew curious. “So Yu Shiqing turned down your role? Which part did you offer him?”

“Du Han’s role,” Shi Zhifeng replied.

Du Han’s role? That was the lead. Yan Hongyun was shocked. He knew the scripts well. One was a main role in a blockbuster, the other a minor flat villain. Anyone with sense would know which one to pick.

They weren’t fools, so they quickly realized the deeper meaning. But since they were still on set with many people around, they didn’t continue talking.

Still, the mess under Huaze Media’s name made them think deeply.

Yan Hongyun looked at Yu Shiqing not far away and sighed, “If that’s the case, it’s such a pity.”

Everyone thought this star had dimmed because of bad luck, but it turned out it was human interference.

Shi Zhifeng frowned even more. He had invited Yu Shiqing twice in the past few years, but was turned down both times. Before, he only felt regret. Now, he felt a bitter kind of anger.

Huaze signing Yu Shiqing should’ve been a powerful collaboration. Who would’ve thought Yu Shiqing would be treated so unfairly?

“What are you thinking, Lao Shi?” Yan Hongyun noticed his expression and was startled.

Shi Zhifeng shook his head. “I just don’t feel good. Back when we worked on A Sunny Day, I really thought Yu Shiqing had potential.”

Yan Hongyun sighed and tried to comfort him. “Forget it. Let’s just focus on filming.”

“Filming.” Shi Zhifeng repeated the word, his eyes deep in thought.

Not long after, the set was ready again.

After finishing some detail shots for Yu Shiqing’s scenes, Du Han returned. He wore a polite smile, like his usual gentlemanly self. “I’m really sorry, something urgent came up earlier.”

Everyone acted like they didn’t notice anything.

Once all the scenes were finished, they had lunch together with Shi Zhifeng and Du Han.

Before they left, Du Han pulled Yu Shiqing aside. Ren Bai quickly followed.

“I admit your acting is better than mine,” Du Han said with a forced smile, “but so what? As long as you’re with Huaze, you won’t get to act. You were lucky this time, but the lead role belongs to Jiang Yu, not you! Competing with Jiang Yu in acting? With Director Shi on my side, next year’s Best Actor is mine!”

Yu Shiqing hadn’t replied yet when Ren Bai burst out laughing.

Du Han scowled. “What are you laughing at?!”

Ren Bai cleared his throat and said, “I’m just wondering—are you sure you’re saying all this to Yu Shiqing?”

Du Han coldly asked, “What do you mean?!”

“The Best Actor award you want? Yu Shiqing already won it—five times, actually.”

He clicked his tongue. “Same old Du Han. Never won once, but full of crap.”

“You—!” Du Han’s face turned red. He took a few deep breaths to calm down. “I don’t care what you say. Things are different now, Yu Shiqing. Just wait and see!”

Yu Shiqing just smiled. “I’ll be watching.”

What Du Han hated most was Yu Shiqing’s calmness, as if he still had the upper hand. But since there were still others around, Du Han could only swallow his anger and leave with Shi Zhifeng.

After this episode, the set returned to normal.

But not long after, rumors spread that Shi Zhifeng was quitting Dawn.

If he left, his entire team would follow. Investors who blindly followed famous directors would back out too. Altogether, it was a huge blow.

Huaze tried everything to keep him but failed. It even became a hot topic online.

In the end, Shi Zhifeng posted, “Heaven is watching,” and Huaze quietly removed the trending topic.

When Ren Bai found out, he thought about calling Du Han to congratulate him.

Du Han had hoped to rise to fame with Shi Zhifeng’s help, but ended up with nothing. He gave up a film role and worked unpaid just to steal Yu Shiqing’s chance. In the end, he wasted three months and got nothing—truly a double loss.

Ren Bai could already imagine the dark look on Du Han’s face—and that made him feel great.

Yu Shiqing hadn’t expected it either. Dawn, once highly anticipated, faced multiple setbacks before even starting, eventually falling apart.

But none of that mattered to him anymore.

Later, the film officially wrapped.

After the wrap-up dinner, Yan Hongyun left overnight. The actors were done, but the director still had work to finish.

Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu took the same car back to the hotel.

After going upstairs and entering the room, they both stopped in the living room.

Jiang Yu casually tossed his coat over the sofa and took two steps forward before turning back to Yu Shiqing.

He asked, “What time are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Not decided yet,” Yu Shiqing replied. “You?”

Jiang Yu pressed his lips together. “My flight is at 1 PM.”

“Got plans?”

Jiang Yu nodded. “Yeah. Going to finalize the stage design for the concert.”

Yu Shiqing smiled. “Are tickets hard to get? Ren Bai and I can come support you.”

“I’ll give you some,” Jiang Yu said. Seeing Yu Shiqing’s smile, his tense face finally softened a little. “No rush though. It’s after the New Year.”

The New Year was less than half a month away, so it wasn’t far.

Yu Shiqing simply said, “Okay.”

The living room fell quiet again.

Yu Shiqing looked around. He realized he’d lived there for over three months. During that time, he had stayed with Jiang Yu, gotten used to going in and out together.

Thinking about how they’d part ways tomorrow, a strange feeling passed through his heart.

“You’ve had a long day. Rest early,” Yu Shiqing said, looking at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu slowly clenched his fingers and, after a pause, replied, “You too.”

Yu Shiqing was about to turn away but looked back and asked, “You leave at 11, right?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Let’s have a meal together—my treat.”

Jiang Yu’s eyes flickered. “Alright.”

The next day.
At the hotel restaurant.

Ren Bai returned from checking out just as the food was served. Seeing the two already eating, he blinked. “Just the three of us? Not waiting for Tan Yanfei?”

He thought for a moment. “Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen him lately. Has he been busy?”

Jiang Yu said, “Very.”

After the results of the last investigation, Jiang Yu hired professionals to look into his studio’s finances and found something wrong.

Tan Yanfei had secretly used his money more than once. Though always careful, this year he got bolder and took more. Thankfully, it was caught in time and didn’t cause big losses.

Jiang Yu was still gathering evidence. He couldn’t stand seeing Tan Yanfei anymore, so he had sent him away to handle concert matters.

Ren Bai didn’t know the full details or that Tan Yanfei was the one who set Jiang Yu up. Yu Shiqing also didn’t tell him, out of respect for Jiang Yu’s privacy.

But Ren Bai didn’t care much about Tan Yanfei. After hearing this, he didn’t ask more and sat down.

After yesterday’s wrap, most actors had schedules to attend and left early. Yu Rong was among them.

The three chose a quiet corner to avoid being disturbed.

It was still early, so Jiang Yu didn’t have much appetite. Yu Shiqing also put down his chopsticks early.

“What are your plans next? Any good stage play scripts?” Jiang Yu suddenly asked.

“Not yet. I’ll look after the New Year,” Yu Shiqing replied.

“Another year’s almost over,” Ren Bai sighed. “Good thing Yu Shiqing finished filming in time. Otherwise, I couldn’t go home for New Year.”

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. “You’re not spending New Year together?”

“Huh?” Ren Bai glanced at Yu Shiqing, then scratched his nose. “Can’t be helped. This is the only time I can reunite with my family…”

Jiang Yu’s hand tightened on his glass.

After living together so long, he knew Yu Shiqing had few close friends—only Ren Bai.

Which meant Yu Shiqing spent every New Year alone.

Jiang Yu looked at him. Yu Shiqing’s eyes still held a calm smile, hiding his true feelings behind a gentle mask.

Wasn’t he lonely?

“Lonely?” Jiang Yu asked out loud, only realizing it after he spoke.

Yu Shiqing smiled. “You get used to it.”

You get used to it.

Hearing that, Jiang Yu felt his heart skip a beat. It hurt—but the feeling disappeared quickly, leaving no trace.

Ren Bai also felt a little uncomfortable. He knew Yu Shiqing’s family situation well and didn’t want him to dwell on it.

“So hey, we’re heading the same way. How about I go with Yu Shiqing to see you off?” he quickly suggested, stuffing down the rest of his food and drinking water to change the subject.

Jiang Yu asked, “Same direction?”

Ren Bai said, “Yeah, Yu Shiqing’s place is near the airport.”

Yu Shiqing added, “You also left some clothes there.”

That settled it.

At Yu Shiqing’s home, he motioned for Jiang Yu to sit while he went to get the cleaned clothes.

In the living room, Jiang Yu looked at the mirrors on the wall and asked casually, “Why do you have these mirrors?”

Ren Bai replied, “He’s an actor. He needs to manage facial expressions. These mirrors help him record his emotions anytime.”

Jiang Yu looked at him.

“That’s what Yu Shiqing said,” Ren Bai laughed awkwardly. “I don’t really get it either. But they’re nice to have. Back then, after that incident, I got so angry I wanted to go crazy. Looking at myself in the mirror helped me laugh instead of doing something stupid—like hitting Du Han. Otherwise, I might’ve ended up in jail.”

Jiang Yu thought about that.

Soon, Yu Shiqing came out with the clothes. Jiang Yu took them, looked down, and said, “No need to see me off. You’ve had a tough few months, same as Director Yan. Take care and get some rest.”

Yu Shiqing was surprised but replied quickly, “You too. Take care.”

Ren Bai stood beside them, looking awkward.

He looked at one, then the other.

“Why do you two sound like you’re parting forever?” he asked with a complicated expression. “Aren’t you meeting again in a few days?”

They both turned to him.

Jiang Yu frowned. “In a few days?”

Ren Bai said, “Yeah, didn’t Tan Yanfei tell you? After wrapping up, you guys are recording a few variety shows to promote the movie. One of them starts filming in a few days.”

athena
Author: athena

Accidentally Marked the Top Alpha

Accidentally Marked the Top Alpha

Status: Completed Author:
It spread online that the washed-up film emperor, Yu Shiqing, was seen entering and leaving the same hotel as the popular idol Jiang Yu. The media, eager for gossip, rushed to get an interview. As usual, Yu Shiqing refused: “Don’t disturb me while filming.” Jiang Yu, known for being strong-willed, said, “You guys should know your limits when making things up. How could two Alphas have a scandal?” Even the fans came out to clarify professionally: “They’re filming together. Please don’t misunderstand!” That night. Inside the hotel. For some reason, Yu Shiqing pinned the wrong Jiang Yu against the door and bit his gland. With a strange Alpha’s pheromones invading his body, Jiang Yu felt both pain and pleasure. His face turned dark with anger. “Hey, bastard, you bit the wrong person!” Yu Shiqing looked up and, oh— it really was the wrong person. So he simply apologized: “Sorry. Let’s pretend tonight never happened.” Jiang Yu: “…” Scumbag! If I don’t turn this around, I’ve lost!

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