Chapter 42: Shadows of the Past

Three years ago, the matter of having a big fight with Shen Chao over Fu Mu — it seemed Shen Chao really minded.

Su Xuan let out a long, soft sigh in his heart.

Shen Chao and Fu Mu had never gotten along. For some reason no one could pinpoint, it was probably just a clash of temperaments. From the very first time they met, they had rubbed each other the wrong way.

Shen Chao responded with a cold face, while Fu Mu’s temper flared. Caught between them, Su Xuan felt deeply that handling the relationship between a friend and a crush was the second most complicated thing in the world, right after the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamic.

Especially Fu Mu. His hostility toward Shen Chao was as intense as if Shen Chao had murdered his father. Ever since Fu Mu learned that Shen Chao had rejected Su Xuan’s confession, he acted as if he himself had been insulted, with an attitude of, “Who does Shen Chao think he is to reject you and give you attitude?!” He repeatedly suggested that Su Xuan ambush Shen Chao, tie him up, and drag him into the women’s restroom for a beating.

This left Su Xuan with a headache, and he said, “He didn’t reject you, he rejected me! Why are you so indignant about it?”

Fu Mu bared his teeth fiercely. “Even though you really don’t seem like much, and if you confessed to me I’d reject you too, I still don’t like that he rejected you.”

Su Xuan: “…”

I feel like you’re insulting me, but I have no proof.

Later, when Shen Chao became famous with *Horse Hoof Dust*, the company’s resources and capital operations all tilted toward him. Yezi Media wasn’t a big company to begin with, so the resources for the others were naturally squeezed. Su Xuan was also affected to some extent.

Ning Xinyang and others who hadn’t made it into the [New Star] group could barely get a sip of soup. Only Fu Mu was in a relatively better situation, but his hostility toward Shen Chao only grew stronger.

The enmity between Fu Mu and Shen Chao escalated, but basically they just passed each other in the hallway without exchanging glances or greetings — out of sight, out of mind. They never had direct conflicts.

This superficially peaceful situation lasted until Shen Chao, after skyrocketing to fame, chose to immediately leave Yezi Media.

Shen Chao privately came to talk to Su Xuan, asking to take Su Xuan with him.

Fu Mu found out about this.

That night, Fu Mu went and fought Shen Chao. When Su Xuan discovered it, he rushed over, furious to the point his liver ached, and had a big argument with both of them.

As a result, Su Xuan and Shen Chao completely broke off relations. For three years, they had no contact. Su Xuan refused Shen Chao’s invitation to join Xing Culture and resolutely stayed at Yezi Media.

Yezi Media had very strict rules: artists under contract were absolutely forbidden from fighting with other company employees. If discovered, they would not only face contract termination but also have to pay a large sum of money.

The fight between Shen Chao and Fu Mu was well covered up by Su Xuan’s quick reaction, so almost only the three of them knew about it. But after Shen Chao left, the matter was somehow leaked to the company’s higher-ups by some unknown person.

Fu Mu faced the risk of being fired and had to pay a considerable amount of money.

At that time, Shen Chao had already successfully terminated his contract and gone to Xing Culture. Fu Mu thought Su Xuan couldn’t possibly sell him out, so he insisted it was Shen Chao who did it. But Su Xuan felt Shen Chao would never do such a thing, leading to a dispute with Fu Mu.

Fu Mu cursed Su Xuan for being so cheap as to throw himself at someone who never looked him in the eye, who never liked him, and who was long gone, yet Su Xuan was still polishing Shen Chao’s image. Fu Mu said Shen Chao was no good — he dangled himself when he needed you, and acted superior when he didn’t just a scumbag who got famous and left, and he didn’t know what Su Xuan even saw in him…

Su Xuan slapped Fu Mu. With red eyes and a cold voice, he scolded Fu Mu, telling him not to slander someone out of jealousy, and that his feelings for Shen Chao had nothing to do with Fu Mu.

Fu Mu used his tongue to prod the cheek Su Xuan had hit, then lowered his eyes and sneered coldly a couple of times. Suddenly, choking with anger, he said, “I want to be famous. Don’t you want to be famous too, Su Xuan?! Don’t you hate Shen Chao, who has everything and still comes to torment both you and me?”

“Shen Chao left cleanly and neatly. Look at the mess he left behind. He’s flying high now, but what about you and me?”

With reddened eyes, Fu Mu stared straight at Su Xuan and asked him word by word, “You see how famous Shen Chao is, how fast he’s rising, leaving you behind, far behind. Have you never been jealous?”

Su Xuan couldn’t speak.

Being so far from the person he liked and had a crush on — like clouds and mud, like water and fish — how could Su Xuan not have wanted to be famous? He had thought that one day he might become a bright star standing beside Shen Chao, on equal footing, and calmly say, “I still like you,” not because of a role, not because of acting, but simply because he had fallen for him.

But… what use was thinking? Shen Chao was already gone.

The last words Fu Mu said to Su Xuan during this argument were, “Su Xuan, when Shen Chao asked if you would go with him, didn’t you have even a hint of intention? Weren’t you tempted to go with him?”

Su Xuan said, “I was.”

Fu Mu sneered coldly.

Fu Mu just stared straight ahead, fierce for a long, long time. Su Xuan stood calmly with his hands down, head bowed, unable to say a word.

Finally, Fu Mu sneered twice, his face still red from the slap, turned around, and slammed the door as he left.

The next time Su Xuan saw Fu Mu, he had changed.

Fu Mu had undergone plastic surgery. Not only did he avoid terminating his contract with the company, but with the support of the [New Star] project team, he also terminated his contract with Liu Pangpang. He was forcibly boosted all the way to become the “Little Shen Chao.”

Meanwhile, Su Xuan was kicked out of the [New Star] project team. Most of Liu Pangpang’s resources were swallowed by the project team and given to Fu Mu. Fu Mu got what he wanted: after Shen Chao left, he became the top male star propping up Yezi Media.

But from then on, when Su Xuan and Fu Mu met at the company, they acted as if they hadn’t seen each other — just like the relationship between Fu Mu and Shen Chao back then. It wasn’t exactly “at daggers drawn,” but they were strangers.

If Su Xuan hadn’t become famous again recently and touched upon some core matters, he might have never known what that bastard Fu Mu had done behind his back.

Su Xuan had never suspected that Fu Mu would harm him. Even after their fight, even after having his resources stolen, his principle was to trust without doubt — just as he had believed Shen Chao wouldn’t betray him and Fu Mu, he also believed Fu Mu wouldn’t easily hurt him.

His philosophy was like what he had told Wang Shou before: even people who truly care for each other will quarrel and hurt each other, but ultimately, that doesn’t damage Su Xuan’s liking for Shen Chao.

Similarly, it doesn’t damage Su Xuan’s trust in Fu Mu.

Fu Mu had a bad temper, but his heart wasn’t bad. He just tended to go down rabbit holes. Su Xuan had thought the guy was just sulking with him, not realizing the problem might lie with the [New Star] project team.

Behind this project team were people from UK.

Thinking of this, Su Xuan looked at Shen Chao hesitantly and began, “Shen Chao, I actually wanted to ask, about you and Fu Mu fighting back then — he’s always like that. Why did you end up fighting with him too…”

Shen Chao’s face instantly hardened, and he said coldly, “He said even if you could only find a dog to be with, it would be better than being with me.”

Su Xuan’s expression was complicated: “…”

Was Fu Mu insulting Shen Chao or him? Why did it sound so off to him…?

Shen Chao’s tone grew even icier: “He also said that only a fool like you, who has never even been with a man, would fall for a guy like me.”

That’s clearly aimed at me, dammit!

Su Xuan’s face turned red — dammit, dammit, dammit! When he was filming the bed scene in *Four-Courtyard House*, he had put on that facade of a worldly, experienced playboy in front of Shen Chao. He hadn’t expected Fu Mu to sell him out to Shen Chao.

Su Xuan was so embarrassed he wished he could crawl under the car seat.

Shen Chao continued, “He said only someone with a brain smaller than a walnut kernel would chase after a green tea like me and still fail…”

Su Xuan, furious and ashamed, interrupted Shen Chao: “… Okay, stop. Now I’m getting mad too.”

I’ll break that bastard Fu Mu’s legs as soon as I get back!!

Su Xuan took a couple of breaths to calm down, then asked again, “Shen Chao, actually, I wanted to ask, about the problems with the [New Star] project team — do you know something?”

Shen Chao’s gaze shifted slightly toward the driver in front, and he warned Su Xuan with some seriousness, “Stay away from these things.”

Su Xuan frowned, about to speak, but Shen Chao interrupted in a calm tone: “Don’t probe into anything related to the New Star project team anymore, Su Xuan.”

Su Xuan wanted to press further, but he noticed the driver in front kept glancing at the rearview mirror. He also knew Shen Chao’s mouth wasn’t easy to pry open, so he had to drop it.

Backstage of *Online and Offline.

Su Xuan was getting his makeup done. Besides him, the guests for this variety show recording included Hua Na and a few supporting actors from the crew. Hua Na, unusually well-groomed, exuded an infectious cheerfulness, clearly proud of the recent explosive success of The Nine-Tiered.

Before applying makeup, the makeup artist kept asking Su Xuan if he had any preferred brands or allergies. After confirming, she even went backstage to get a new set of cosmetics for Su Xuan, which made him nervously decline, saying it wasn’t necessary.

As soon as the makeup artist left, Hua Na started teasing Su Xuan: “You’re not used to it yet? You’re so famous now. Shouldn’t you get this treatment everywhere?”

Su Xuan scratched his cheek. “It’s okay.”

That’s how the industry worked. When Su Xuan wasn’t famous, no one cared if he had allergies. They used the cheapest lipsticks from Taobao, a few dollars each, and foundation that cost a few dozen yuan per bottle, shared by the whole crew. Su Xuan hadn’t thought much of it.

But now, just for his makeup, they had to open a new set of cosmetics worth thousands of yuan.

Su Xuan, still feeling poor at heart, said honestly, “I think it’s a bit wasteful.”

Hua Na chuckled. “But only the famous have the right to be wasteful. Those who aren’t famous don’t even deserve to use it.”

Su Xuan also laughed. “That’s why my agent always says I’m like a mountain boar that doesn’t appreciate fine chaff.”

Hua Na laughed even louder. “So your agent is a pig farmer? Oh dear, this is the first time I’ve heard an agent say that about an artist. Hilarious.”

Su Xuan: “…”

Director, your sense of humor is really weird.

Su Xuan looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then pulled his chair closer to Hua Na and lowered his voice to ask, “Director Hua, let me ask you something. Do you know about UK?”

Hua Na’s expression shifted. He also leaned in to look around, then whispered seriously, “Why are you asking about UK? Are you planning to switch companies? Did UK try to poach you? Let me tell you, that’s not a good place.”

Su Xuan lowered his voice and asked back, “Not a good place?”

Hua Na’s voice got even lower, and his head moved closer to Su Xuan’s. As he spoke, he kept an eye on the people around them, cupping his mouth to whisper gossip: “You know about Shen Chao’s bet? A 1.5 billion bet. At the time, almost no one thought Shen Chao would win. If he lost, he would have been locked into Xing Culture. Do you know why Xing Culture was forced into that bet? It was UK’s doing.”

Hua Na’s expression turned indignant as he continued, “The current big boss of Xing Culture, Liu Man, is the ex-wife of UK shareholder Du Long. Five years ago, when she divorced Du Long, she took a group of people and hollowed out UK’s founding team. Liu Man established Xing Culture, but UK has been suppressing it. Under pressure, to save Xing Culture, Liu Man made a bet with some large capital companies.”

Su Xuan said, “I know that part.”

Hua Na said, “Let me tell you something you don’t know. My father told me. If the bet was won, and the big capital companies saw Xing Culture’s investment potential and invested, they would protect Xing Culture. Then UK wouldn’t have an easy time making a move. But UK also knew this.”

Hua Na took a deep breath. “UK came up with a very vicious plan. I don’t know the exact details of how it was executed, but in the end, the bet amount for Xing Culture was raised from the initial 500 million to 1.5 billion under UK’s intervention. Doubled.”

Hua Na sighed. “Those big capital companies demanded that Xing Culture produce an artist who could earn 1 billion in profit within three years. That was almost an impossible demand. Those companies were clearly just messing with Liu Man. Who does that to an artist? But Liu Man had no other choice. In the following year, she frantically poached talent at any cost.”

“Among the people she poached, none were willing to participate in this bet, because it was bound to fail. If an artist lost such a huge bet, they wouldn’t just be shelved by the company; they would also have to pay extra costs.”

Hua Na said worriedly, “This situation continued until Liu Man found Shen Chao. Shen Chao agreed to take on the bet and joined Xing Culture. He won the bet in an unimaginable way, allowing Xing Culture to finally catch its breath.”

“The fact that Shen Chao ended up with such a large share of the company’s stock is no exaggeration—he’s practically a savior to Xing Culture.”

Hua Na shook his head regretfully. “But just because Xing Culture won doesn’t mean UK lost. Although Xing Culture, with Shen Chao’s strong support, won the bet and now seems able to barely counter UK, it’s still… how should I put it? UK isn’t a company that plays by the rules. If it can’t beat you, it’ll resort to underhanded tactics.”

Su Xuan felt a chill running through his limbs, his mind going blank.

If the bet had been lost back then, what would have happened to Shen Chao?

Su Xuan asked unconsciously.

Hua Na was silent for a long time, then he told a story: “Su Xuan, do you know who the most famous artist is among those Du Long, the major shareholder of UK, won through gambling?”

Su Xuan shook his head. Hua Na stared at him. “Du Mu’s mother, Yun Jieying.”

“Du Long and Yun Jieying bet on the box office of a movie starring Yun Jieying. Du Long told her that if the box office exceeded 100 million, he would give her 10 million yuan. If not, Yun Jieying would marry him. Yun Jieying lost. The movie was pulled from theaters midway, ending with a box office of only 29 million. Soon after losing, she married into the Du family. For a long time, it was a much-told tale in the circle.”

Hua Na paused here, then added, “But it’s no longer a beautiful tale, because Yun Jieying committed suicide.”

Su Xuan’s heart clenched.

Hua Na continued to persuade him relentlessly, “Su Xuan, you really must not go to that company. They have money, sure, but many of their artists end up badly. Quite a few die young or suffer from depression. I’m risking a lot by telling you this. Su Xuan, I’ve watched you grow as an artist. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

He let out a long sigh. “UK is like a shark. Any artist in this circle who can make money, they want to take a bite. Either the artist gets bitten to death, or they get swallowed whole.”

As Su Xuan went on stage, Hua Na’s words echoed in his mind: “UK is like a shark. Any artist in this circle who can make money, they want to take a bite. Either the artist gets bitten to death, or they get swallowed whole.”

Su Xuan looked at Shen Chao standing beside him, microphone in hand. Under the spotlight, Shen Chao’s profile was incredibly handsome, almost otherworldly. He turned his head slightly to look at Su Xuan, his dark eyes like a mirror, reflecting Su Xuan’s dazed face with complete focus yet calm detachment.

Su Xuan thought dazedly of what Hua Na had said.

Hua Na said the only artist who got bitten but didn’t die, and even stood on equal footing with UK, was Shen Chao.

But why did Shen Chao have to take that bite?

From the very beginning, Su Xuan couldn’t understand why Shen Chao had to leave Yezi Media and agree to join Xing Culture’s bet.

Shen Chao had originally signed with Yezi Media only because Su Xuan had jokingly urged him to. While filming *Four-Courtyard House*, Su Xuan was already signed with Yezi Media, but Shen Chao was brought in temporarily without a company. Su Xuan teased Shen Chao, saying, “Everyone has a dream of being a star. Do you want to be a star, Shen Chao? Want to sign with a company? Become a big star with me!”

Shen Chao didn’t answer. Su Xuan didn’t think much of it. After learning Shen Chao’s college entrance exam scores, Su Xuan felt it was even less likely Shen Chao would enter the industry.

With such a bright future and infinite possibilities, there was no need for him to sink or swim with Su Xuan in this entertainment industry cesspool. Shen Chao’s interest in the industry was clearly limited. Su Xuan had felt sorry at the time, thinking the person he liked would only briefly hold him close in a drama and then they would go their separate ways.

So when Su Xuan learned that Shen Chao had signed with Yezi Media, he was stunned for a long time. He ran to ask Shen Chao why he had suddenly signed up.

Shen Chao looked at Su Xuan calmly and said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to be a star with me?”

Su Xuan’s face flushed under Shen Chao’s gaze. He couldn’t even look at him directly. Turning his face away, his heart pounding, he said jokingly, “Whatever I say, you do? If I say sign a contract, you sign? Don’t you consider your own ambitions?”

Shen Chao shifted his gaze away and said quietly, “I think I should prioritize the ambitions Teacher Su sets for me.”

To this day, Su Xuan can’t forget the moment when his heart went out of control.

Fu Mu always mocked Shen Chao for signing with the company behind Su Xuan’s back, calling him a green tea b*tch who climbs up behind people’s backs — just like when he signed back then, and later when he silently joined Xing Culture.

But Su Xuan knew it wasn’t like that.

To put it subjectively, Su Xuan felt Shen Chao wasn’t that kind of person. Objectively speaking, Shen Chao’s family background must have been quite good. Su Xuan could tell Shen Chao had no attachment to fame, popularity, attention, or profit. He was always calm and indifferent. Shen Chao’s mother was also very elegant and dignified.

Shen Chao treated acting like a serious job, not something he was particularly passionate about.

Su Xuan thought that after a few months of experiencing the entertainment industry, Shen Chao would terminate his contract and return to his normal life.

But it seemed Shen Chao, who had been moving smoothly along a straight line, hit some point that disrupted everything, making a sharp 90-degree turn toward a completely different direction. He became a star that Su Xuan couldn’t avoid seeing, the one and only exception in the entertainment circle that everyone Su Xuan met talked about.

Su Xuan had always known that Shen Chao didn’t fit the entertainment industry. He never understood why Shen Chao, because of a casual remark he had made, chose to enter a place unsuited for him.

But what made Shen Chao remarkable was that he could always live so calmly in an unsuitable place, yet leave an unforgettable impression.

Just like back then, when Su Xuan spotted Shen Chao, who stood out from the bustling crowd at the school gate, at first sight.

Why Shen Chao at the age of 19 chose to join Xing Culture for such a high-risk gamble had always been beyond Su Xuan’s comprehension. He thought it was because he was too ordinary, too stupid, too insignificant—like a speck of dust—to understand the thoughts of someone born to shine like Shen Chao.

But as he gradually walked to Shen Chao’s side, standing completely in the shadow of Shen Chao’s light, Su Xuan felt as though Shen Chao blocked out all the light falling on him. Yet at the same time, the rumors and malicious scheming didn’t land on him either.

Su Xuan was wrapped up and protected by Shen Chao, who was four years younger than him, in a silent, understated way, keeping a polite distance while forcefully keeping him safe from harm.

Su Xuan wanted to ask Shen Chao why he had left Yezi Media back then. But the moment he met Shen Chao’s gaze as he turned his head, suddenly he couldn’t ask anything.

He heard Shen Chao, with rare warmth in his eyes, look at him seriously and say softly, “Teacher Su, does this mean we’ve now both become big stars?”

Tears welled up in Su Xuan’s eyes instantly. “Yes, Shen Chao, yes.”

The crowd around them roared with excitement at their intimacy on stage. They probably thought it was just a fake act for publicity, but for Shen Chao, it was the perfect fulfillment of a casual promise he had made to Su Xuan four years ago.

So it turned out that Shen Chao remembered all of Su Xuan’s promises, whether intentional or not, and no matter how long it took, he would give him an answer.

When Su Xuan flew back, it was midnight again. He went home and found Dobby, burying his face in the cat’s belly for a vigorous rub.

Dobby meowed and meowed, curling up but not scratching Su Xuan, just putting up a fuss. As Liu Pangpang had said, once the cat got familiar, she was very good.

Liu Pangpang said Dobby was quite affectionate, just timid. Once she got used to someone, she was almost docile.

Su Xuan lay limp on the sofa, motionless, from cat-cuddling. Tomorrow he had to go to *Jewel Thief* for the final reshoots, and then he would be done.

Then he would have to start rushing through promotional events with Shen Chao like crazy.

Just thinking about the schedule Liu Pangpang had sent him a few days ago made Su Xuan want to suffocate. The only comfort was that Shen Chao would be with him.

Su Xuan opened a can for Dobby. She rubbed against his leg, then lowered her head and ate with a purr.

Seeing her happy, Su Xuan went to take a shower. After showering, he flopped onto the bed, not even wanting to dry his hair, and was about to fall asleep when his phone buzzed him awake.

Su Xuan looked at the caller ID: Liu Pangpang. Resigned, he answered, begging, “Can I at least get some sleep first before the sky falls?”

“No.” Liu Pangpang’s voice was more serious than ever. “People from UK have come to Yezi Media. It’s about to hit the fan.”

Su Xuan’s eyes flew open.

He quickly pulled a jacket over his arms while running downstairs, startling Dobby, who was eating, into fluffing up her fur.

Su Xuan wildly waved down a taxi. As he told the driver to go to Yezi Media, he held his phone between his ear and shoulder. “What’s happening?!”

Liu Pangpang sighed heavily. “Bad news. It seems Chairman Wang contacted UK before, saying he wanted to sell the company. Now UK’s people are here, auditing and negotiating. Fu Mu is protesting strongly.”

Su Xuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait, now that Yezi Media has a cash cow like me, Chairman Wang still wants to sell?”

“Sometimes I’m speechless at your narcissism, but you’re right—you are indeed Yezi Media’s cash cow now.” Liu Pangpang hit the nail on the head. “But it depends on how much money you can bring in. You’re 27 this year…”

Su Xuan interrupted him sternly, “I’m not yet.”

Liu Pangpang took a deep breath. “Fine, you’re 26 now. How much longer can you be Yezi Media’s cash cow? How much can you earn? Is it more than what UK is offering Yezi Media? Yezi Media had cooperated with UK before. I only found out tonight that Chairman Wang had already wanted to sell shares to UK back then, but something went wrong.”

Su Xuan’s heart tightened. In a flash, it seemed like everything clicked into place. He even lost his grip on his phone, just muttering dazedly, “…What went wrong?”

Liu Pangpang said, “Back then, Yezi Media’s biggest cash cow was Shen Chao. But Shen Chao ran away. Without that cash cow, Yezi Media had no successor and didn’t develop. UK gave up on the acquisition and withdrew their project team. Otherwise, Yezi Media would have become a subsidiary of UK back then.”

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