He first told his agent about his comeback. Ling Zeyu's studio had recently recruited quite a few new talents. They were currently promoting a young actor, and when Ling Zeyu saw him, he felt he looked familiar. Looking at the man's clothes and appearance, wasn't this Bai Yanfei from before?
Bai Yanfei was dressed like this when she married him, Ling Zeyu shook his head.
The Bai Yanfei of that time wasn't himself. He could sense that Bai Yanfei was deliberately imitating Bai Yifei, which explained why he didn't realize he liked Bai Yanfei back then. If Bai Yanfei could have been himself sooner, maybe...
Ling Zeyu closed his eyes and exhaled, banishing these thoughts from his mind. There were no "what ifs." If he had known Bai Yanfei was the person he loved, he wouldn't have treated Bai Yanfei that way in the first place. If he could turn back time, seeing himself treat Bai Yanfei that way, he would definitely kill himself first.
Good morning, Actor Ling.
The young boy wasn't intimidated by Ling Zeyu, but Ling Zeyu saw through his act immediately. He nodded and walked towards the office, not even bothering to know the boy's name.
A person who lives in the shadow of others is not worthy of his interest.
There were several documents in the office. The first one was about the boy from earlier, named Yu Yao. He was an all-around entertainer who knew quite a lot and was also a top student. No wonder he was so popular.
"Boss, are you really planning to make a comeback? That's fantastic news for the entertainment industry! I'll go arrange for PR to start the marketing campaign right away."
"No need for marketing anymore, I might be past my prime anyway. I'll only take on one drama a year from now on, and the rest of my time is still my own, so don't fill my schedule too much. Oh, by the way, I've already picked out the script, this one."
Ling Zeyu took out the printed script and placed it on the table. His agent could tell which script it was just by looking at the name on it.
"Isn't this that monster script? Boss, when did you become interested in this kind of script? You should have said so earlier."
"This is it. We don't need to look at any other scripts." Ling Zeyu sat in his long-unused office chair. Bai Yanfei was in charge of the costumes, makeup, and props for this drama. The biggest investor wasn't the Lu family, and with his popularity, no director would be foolish enough to refuse him. Directors these days are all quite temperamental. If all else fails, he could join the investment himself. In short, Bai Yanfei was definitely going to be involved.
He'd read the script; it was pretty good. The actors were all veterans he'd worked with before, and they were all easygoing, so getting along wouldn't be difficult. He could just bring Bai Yanfei along and have them put in a good word for him. Bai Yanfei was shy and wouldn't refuse to give him face.
Ling Zeyu had planned everything out. Lu Qianyi had secretly assigned Bai Yanfei to be in charge of this part, but Lu Qianyi hadn't expected just how capable Ling Zeyu really was.
He still holds a position in the entertainment industry, and if he wants to know something, it's a piece of cake.
"Oh, by the way, don't tell anyone about these things yet. I have my own plans."
"Alright, my mouth is sealed tight. But boss, weren't you planning to come back in a few years? Why are you back so soon..."
"What's it to you?" Ling Zeyu glanced at his long-unseen manager, Meng Chang, who was his subordinate. Meng Chang was a bit eccentric, but Ling Zeyu kept him around because he liked him and Meng Chang occasionally brought him joy.
"You just miss your wife, right? Just like in those melodramatic soap operas, prepare roses, kneel down on one knee, and have a grand proposal. Maybe your wife will forgive you then." Meng Chang said enthusiastically. Seeing Ling Zeyu's expression, he felt that Ling Zeyu wasn't angry yet, so he continued.
"Besides, since Madam likes Boss so much, it'll be easy to win her back..." Meng Chang saw Ling Zeyu's face suddenly darken, so he picked up a pile of documents and quickly backed away. "I'm leaving now, Boss. I suddenly remembered I have a lot of things to do. I'm off!"
Ling Zeyu is most annoyed by people saying how much Bai Yanfei used to like him and how he didn't cherish her back then. Now, every time someone mentions it, he feels like an idiot who didn't know how to cherish anything, and in the end, his wife ran off with someone else.
Ling Zeyu grew angrier the more he thought about it, but he could only be angry with himself now, because he had brought all this upon himself.
Bai Yanfei hasn't spoken to him all day. Ling Zeyu opened his phone, and Bai Yanfei was pinned to the top of his chat list. He had sent her more than a dozen messages, but Bai Yanfei still wasn't responding.
Should we leave him alone for a few days?
Ling Zeyu's finger slid across the screen.
Anyway, he can use another account to chat with Bai Yanfei. He sends Bai Yanfei messages every day, and if he suddenly stops sending them one day, Bai Yanfei might remember him.
Ling Zeyu felt that his idea made a lot of sense. He decided to ignore Bai Yanfei for a week and then send him a message after a week. He was sure that Bai Yanfei would reply to him.
But even if he doesn't send messages, he still wants to make his presence felt; he posts on his WeChat Moments, the kind that only Bai Yanfei can see.
Flipping through his photo album, Ling Zeyu realized he hadn't taken any photos in a long time. He dug out some old photos that he hadn't posted before and planned to post different photos every day, reminding Bai Yanfei on his WeChat Moments.
One week later—
Ling Zeyu thought that it had been a week, and Bai Yanfei should have remembered by now, but he decided to try using Mu Bai's account first.
He hadn't expected Bai Yanfei to chat with Mu Bai first.
Bai Yanfei: There used to be someone who messaged me every day, but he hasn't messaged me for a week. I'm so happy.
Chapter 105 He is my ex-husband
After Ling Zeyu read this line of text, he felt like the sky had fallen. He refrained from sending Bai Yanfei any messages for a week, but in Bai Yanfei's eyes, it was just like he had lost someone who bothered him every day.
But at this crucial moment, Bai Yanfei, oblivious to his own mortality, continued sending messages that were meant to infuriate Ling Zeyu.
Bai Yanfei: I didn't know how to reply to what he posted before. If I didn't reply, he would keep posting and even call me. Isn't that strange?
Ling Zeyu's fingers hesitated on the keyboard, not typing a single word. He looked at Bai Yanfei's complaints and was so angry that his teeth itched.
Mu Bai: Who is he to you?
Mu Bai: You hate him that much?
Bai Yanfei: It's not that I hate him, it's just... a bit annoying. I don't know how to face him, so I feel like he's affecting my life.
Mu Bai: Impact?
Bai Yanfei: He is my ex-husband.
Mu Bai: Do you still have feelings for him?
After typing those words, Ling Zeyu's heart trembled. He knew Bai Yanfei's answer very well, but he still wanted to deceive himself. He wanted to know if Bai Yanfei had said the same thing to outsiders.
Bai Yanfei: No, but he's quite good-looking.
Mu Bai: Is that all? If he's not good-looking, you'd call the police and have him arrested?
Bai Yanfei: No, that's not true. I can appreciate good looks, but he's only good for admiring from afar. So don't just look at appearances when looking for a partner; I'm a prime example of what not to do.
Ling Zeyu opened his WeChat Moments. His posts from the past seven days were all visible only to Bai Yanfei, and they were all photos of himself. He wasn't sure if Bai Yanfei had seen them.
Mu Bai: So you succumbed to his good looks?
Bai Yanfei: Of course not. I've blocked his WeChat Moments and stuff, so I basically can't see him, unless... never mind, you wouldn't understand the whole fan stuff.
As for the whole idol-chasing thing... Ling Zeyu had been thinking about it all day. When he makes his comeback, his advertisements will be everywhere. It will be hard for Bai Yanfei not to see him then.
It seems that being good-looking really has many advantages. If he were an ugly monster, Bai Yanfei might have already called the police to arrest him and accuse him of harassment.
Ling Zeyu touched his face. He had been working for the past two years and hadn't taken care of himself properly, but he was naturally handsome and still looked just as good.
Ling Zeyu chatted with Bai Yanfei for another half hour. He could tell from Bai Yanfei's words how happy Bai Yanfei was, and he felt very uncomfortable.
It seems that seduction is necessary; being attracted to his face can also make one's heart flutter.
Bai Yanfei: What kind of person do you want to be your partner?
Ling Zeyu remained silent for a while. Why did Bai Yanfei suddenly ask this question? He hadn't figured out how to answer it yet. His ideal type was someone like Bai Yanfei, but if he said it now, his malicious intentions would be too obvious.
Mu Bai: You'll know when you meet him.
Bai Yanfei: It's obvious you don't have anyone you like. If you did, you would describe him to me.
Ling Zeyu thought to himself, "Of course not. I can't just describe him like that. Otherwise, even ghosts would know I like him."
Bai Yanfei has been staying up late a lot lately, and Ling Zeyu urged him to rest. Bai Yanfei probably considers Mu Bai a good friend because he sent the design drawings to Mu Bai.
So, Ling Zeyu started getting jealous again. He called to ask, but Bai Yanfei wouldn't even show him the design. Bai Yanfei was just a nobody online, someone he considered a close friend. Although the design was blurry, Ling Zeyu could still tell that it was roughly modified according to Bai Yanfei's instructions.
"A little bit of tsundere." Ling Zeyu zoomed in on the picture. If he weren't afraid Bai Yanfei would suspect him, he would have liked to see the high-resolution version. At the same time, he was increasingly afraid that his identity would be exposed and what Bai Yanfei would think of him. But he didn't dare to be honest with Bai Yanfei, so he could only continue to lie.
Bai Yanfei never imagined that one day he would be in charge of jewelry design for the film crew. He had read the script for the film and thought it was pretty good, so he tacitly approved of Lu Qianyi's arrangement.
He spent his days discussing things with several stylists, and his days were very fulfilling.
During lunch, Bai Yanfei received a phone call from a number he hadn't seen in a long time.
Ling Zeyu had finally ignored him for a week, and now two more troublemakers had appeared.
He had originally blocked Ling Zeyu's WeChat Moments, but he accidentally clicked on it that day and found that Ling Zeyu had posted several pictures. After several days of this, Bai Yanfei understood Ling Zeyu's little scheme.
These little tricks don't work on him anymore. He's grown up; he's no longer the little fan who'd be fooled by a few pretty pictures. Besides, what hasn't he seen of Ling Zeyu? A few nice photos—how could they possibly tempt him?
"Hello, is this Xiaoyan?"
After not hearing that voice for two years, Bai Yanfei realized that he hadn't forgotten it either.
"What's up?"
“Your father is in the hospital. We can’t get in touch with Xiaofei. Please come and see him.” Zhang Rongrong said between sobs, “I know you don’t want to come, but he’s still your father.”
"That's not what you said when you cut ties with me." Bai Yanfei calmed down. Bai Zhenrong hadn't treated him well either, and he was mostly just feeling uneasy. Calling him now probably meant he had no good intentions.
The Bai family has been acquired by Ling Zeyu, and their property has been sealed off. He only recently learned that Zhang Rongrong and Bai Zhenrong have nowhere to live.
They dared to deceive Ling Zeyu like this; once Ling Zeyu realizes he no longer loves Bai Yifei, he will definitely settle accounts. Lu Qianyi said that Ling Zeyu only spared them from being completely annihilated because of him.
"He's your biological father! If you don't come to see him, who will? He's almost dead! Would you have survived this long without him?" Zhang Rongrong cried and shouted when she saw that Bai Yanfei had no intention of coming over. There were already quite a few people at the hospital visiting him.
Zhang Rongrong no longer cared. She had fallen to this point, and if she still had any sense of shame, she would starve to death.
Where?
When pressed, Bai Yanfei eventually gave in.
Zhang Rongrong was right about one thing: although they were all unkind to him, without Bai Zhenrong, he would have had a problem even surviving.
After taking leave in the afternoon, Bai Yanfei rushed to the hospital, where Zhang Rongrong was waiting for him outside.
He had never seen Zhang Rongrong so disheveled. She wasn't wearing makeup, and her hair had turned quite a bit whiter. Her unkempt face was weathered and worn, and the hands that held his looked particularly aged.
"Go and see him; he's not doing well right now."
Bai Yanfei silently withdrew his hand and followed Zhang Rongrong into the ward. The man on the hospital bed had lost a lot of weight; the oversized hospital gown made him look even thinner.
"Xiao Yan... why are you here?" Bai Zhenrong's voice was still a little weak. Bai Yanfei stood silently in place. When Bai Zhenrong saw Zhang Rongrong, he understood. "Rongrong sent you, didn't she?"
"How are you feeling right now?" Bai Yanfei really didn't know what to say. Seeing his parents living such a miserable life, he felt a lot of guilt.
"That's how it is, it's an old problem, it's normal as you get older."
Zhang Rongrong lay on the bed and said something to Bai Zhenrong, who coughed several times in anger.
"Hurry up and tell me," Zhang Rongrong urged Bai Zhenrong.
"What did you say? Are you asking me for money? How much?" Bai Yanfei knew what Zhang Rongrong was thinking just by looking at her mercenary expression.
"I haven't asked you for money, and I have enough to live on. How have you been lately? Has Ling Zeyu been giving you any trouble?"
Bai Yanfei gave a cold laugh: "Do you think you can help us by causing us trouble?"
"What kind of talk is that? If it weren't for us, would you have been able to marry Ling Zeyu and enjoy a life of luxury?"
"You just realized Bai Yifei was gone, and you didn't dare offend Ling Zeyu, so you decided to make me your substitute at the last minute. You believe Bai Yifei's story, think that Ling Zeyu loves Bai Yifei enough, and think that Ling Zeyu will treat me well, but you have no idea what kind of life I'm living." Bai Yanfei stated the facts calmly.
"But it's true that you love Ling Zeyu. Isn't it enough that I let you stay by your idol's side? Isn't that what you fans want? What did I do wrong?!" Zhang Rongrong continued to shout and make a scene, disregarding that they were in a hospital.
Knock knock knock—