CH 9

Chapter 9: A Leaf in the Way

After Jin Yanliu finished bathing, he stepped out and discovered Zhou Beiyang washing his underwear.

“Auntie usually takes care of that,” Jin Yanliu remarked.

“During the months I was away, did you have Auntie Sun wash them for you?” Zhou Beiyang inquired.

It was somewhat amusing to think about it. Before Zhou Beiyang went off to participate in a closed recording, he had purchased a drawer full of disposable underwear for Jin Yanliu.

When celebrities are away from home, especially when filming on set, it can be inconvenient to wash their undergarments. Many of them opt for disposable underwear, as it is convenient and hygienic.

However, Jin Yanliu didn’t like using them; he preferred the comfort of his regular underwear.

“I noticed last time when I came back that you hardly used the disposable underwear I prepared for you,” Zhou Beiyang pointed out.

Jin Yanliu was extremely fastidious, changing his clothes daily. Since he had been raised in a pampered environment, he couldn’t possibly wash them himself. It was evident that he had Auntie Sun take care of it for him.

“You’re so particular. Auntie Sun is over fifty years old; she’s seen it all,” Zhou Beiyang responded. Auntie Sun was not a stranger; she had been working there for nearly four years.

Zhou Beiyang remained silent, diligently scrubbing the underwear.

The two of them had essentially grown up together. Zhou Beiyang’s biological father was a person of influence, so whether it was before he joined the Jin family or during his time with the Zhou family, their living conditions were never lacking. However, for some unknown reason, Zhou Beiyang had always enjoyed doing chores since he was young.

He took pleasure in washing his own clothes, tidying up his room, and eventually, he took charge of all the household chores on his side as well.

According to Zhou Beiyang, he found satisfaction in doing these tasks, and it brought him peace of mind.

He embodied the qualities of a virtuous individual—a perfect wife, albeit in male form.

Who knows which fortunate girl will be blessed with him in the future?

“Have you lost weight recently?” Jin Yanliu grasped Zhou Beiyang’s chin and examined him.

Zhou Beiyang didn’t evade the question and nonchalantly replied, “You’ve seen me several times before you noticed.”

Jin Yanliu smiled and playfully poked his stomach, saying, “It feels solid. You’ve slimmed down but also gained muscle.”

“I heard from Fatty that you also attended the fan meeting?”

Jin Yanliu uttered a confirming sound.

“And you didn’t even tell me.”

Jin Yanliu chuckled and explained, “I was afraid you’d get nervous if you knew. I’ve almost lost my voice from all the shouting.”

Zhou Beiyang chuckled upon hearing those words, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at him with evident delight.

Observing his reaction, Jin Yanliu smiled and then retreated to his own room to indulge in gaming.

Aunt Sun arrived, indicating that they were in for a grand meal today.

“Thank goodness you’re back,” Aunt Sun said while serving soup during the meal. “With such a large house, it feels so empty seeing Xiao Liu living all alone.”

“I initially didn’t want him to enter the entertainment industry, but he insisted,” Jin Yanliu explained. “Once we both become busy, this house will be devoid of any occupants.”

In truth, Zhou Beiyang never truly understood why he pursued a career in the entertainment industry.

From a young age, Zhou Beiyang had been an exceptional student. His maternal grandfather’s family, the Zhous, were renowned in the field of law. Prior to entering the entertainment industry, Zhou Beiyang either accompanied his grandfather to meet influential figures or learned about business from his father, Jin Weinan.

Upon graduating, Zhou Beiyang decided to venture into the entertainment industry.

He joined the entertainment industry because, besides relying on his looks, he didn’t possess any other notable talents.

“Just a couple more years,” Zhou Beiyang remarked. “By then, we’ll have more freedom. When you’re not shooting, I’ll have plenty of spare time.”

Aunt Sun burst into laughter at his comment and said, “Young man, it’s not as simple as that. In another two years, both of you will likely have settled down and started your own families. Can the two brothers stay together forever?”

Those words seemed to strike a chord within Jin Yanliu’s heart.

There was no such thing as “two years”; it was merely a little over a hundred days.

Upon returning to his bedroom, he tore off a calendar page.

At twenty-four years old, he had heard that once someone surpassed twenty-five, time would suddenly appear to fly by, and days would slip away unnoticed. He had never experienced such a sensation before, regardless of the harshness of winter or the languidness of summer.

Now, however, he realized just how quickly time was passing. He wondered what emotions and appearance he would possess when he tore off the final calendar page.

He firmly believed that he would portray the character of Mu Huaying with great skill, perhaps even surpassing Mu Huaying’s own madness.

Time was running out. Upon his return, he brought along the script for “Entering the Demonic Path” and immediately immersed himself in studying it. As he delved into the script, Zhou Beiyang knocked on the door and entered, bearing a plate of watermelon, sliced into bite-sized pieces and skewered with bamboo sticks.

Jin Yanliu savored a piece and remarked, “You don’t need to take care of me. Go back and get some rest.”

Zhou Beiyang inquired, “Is that the script for your new drama?”

Jin Yanliu nodded in affirmation.

Zhou Beiyang leaned in to take a look.

The two of them were sitting closely, their arms emanating warmth and mingling with each other. Jin Yanliu’s script was filled with numerous annotations. After reading for a while, Zhou Beiyang asked, “Is it a male-oriented drama?”

After scanning through it for a while, he couldn’t find the female lead.

“It’s about brotherly love,” Jin Yanliu said.

The story of “Brothers of the Immortal and the Evil” may be considered complicated by some, but based on the original novel and the adapted script, it can be seen as a portrayal of complex brotherly affection.

The intertwining love and hate within the story are intricate, with grudges spanning generations. In essence, it depicts a power struggle between a scoundrel male lead and a deranged female lead, which ends up affecting a multitude of people.

In the era of cultivating immortality, there was a handsome young man named Ye Qingduo, also known as Ye Sanlang. Despite coming from a prestigious family of immortals, he had a promiscuous nature and enjoyed flirting and engaging in casual relationships, causing a string of heartbroken women to follow him.

Mu Wushuang was one of them.

However, Mu Wushuang possessed a strong and fiery temperament. She believed that with her beauty and cunning, she could make the wayward Ye Qingduo turn over a new leaf.

This shows that the desire to “save a fallen hero” is not exclusive to men; women can also experience it.

However, when a womanizer encounters a situation where he suddenly becomes devoted and affectionate, such occurrences are usually reserved for the heroines of romantic novels. Unfortunately, Mu Wushuang was not fortunate enough to have such luck.

One day, Ye Qingduo came to meet her secretly but unexpectedly encountered her best friend, a young lady named A Ruan.

Ye Qingduo, known for his promiscuity, was captivated by A Ruan’s beauty. Unable to change his philandering ways, he followed her home and sneaked into her room on a stormy night, seducing and violating her.

The subsequent events followed a somewhat clichéd path. Ye Qingduo, who had always been fond of pleasure without emotional attachment, unexpectedly developed a deep affection for the best friend’s pf his lover. From that point onward, he strived to better himself and became a faithful and loving man.

In contrast to the bold and fierce Mu Wushuang, A Ruan was a refined and gentle young lady. Unaware that the seducer was her best friend’s man, coupled with her sheltered upbringing, she fell for Ye Qingduo’s exceptional beauty and sweet words. As a result, an unexpected bond was formed.

Mu Wushuang was not one to be taken lightly. Upon discovering the betrayal of her best friend and the man she loved, she experienced a mix of jealousy and pain. Coincidentally, she also discovered that she was pregnant.

She sought out Ye Qingduo, hoping to win back his heart.

However, Ye Qingduo had found a new love and no longer paid her any attention. He even attempted to kill her.

And so, Mu Wushuang became a woman seeking revenge.

Mu Wushuang and her best friend gave birth to sons almost simultaneously. At that time, Ye Qingduo went to participate in a grand cultivation conference. Mu Wushuang killed her best friend and then swapped their babies.

Her biological son was left in the care of the Ye family and given the name Ye Hengyang, growing up in a life of luxury and privilege. Meanwhile, she took her best friend’s son and named him Mu Huaying.

By this point, Mu Wushuang’s mind had become completely distorted. She not only subjected Mu Huaying to various forms of abuse but also instilled in him a deep hatred, teaching him dark cultivation techniques and grooming him to become the instrument of revenge, urging him to grow up and kill the scoundrel Ye Qingduo.

To have a son kill his own father.

In her twisted logic, she wanted the child born of Ye Qingduo and her best friend to personally carry out the murder of Ye Qingduo.

One son would be killed by her own hand, while the other would kill his own father. This way, the scoundrel Ye Qingduo, her best friend, and the child of Ye Qingduo and her best friend would all suffer the most cruel and tragic punishment.

However, as fate would have it, when Mu Huaying grew up and attempted to assassinate Ye Qingduo, he was wounded by Ye Qingduo due to his insufficient cultivation level.

The most dangerous place can often be the safest. During the city-wide manhunt, Mu Huaying infiltrated the Ye household and hid behind the curtains in Ye Hengyang’s room.

Thus, the stage was set for a tale of love and enmity between two brothers who had never met but were destined to become bitter adversaries.

“Isn’t it quite melodramatic?” Jin Yanliu turned her head and asked.

Zhou Beiyang cleared his throat and replied, “It’s tolerable.”

“I thought you would object to me making this film,” Jin Yanliu said, “since it’s based on a BL novel.”

Zhou Beiyang paused for a moment and asked, “Aren’t they actual brothers? Is there any romantic aspect to the story?”

“…No, there isn’t,” Jin Yanliu said. “It’s more about a complex brotherly relationship.”

Zhou Beiyang visibly relaxed and said, “You can make whatever you want. I’ve told you before, whether you choose to be an actor or pursue something else, you have the freedom to follow your heart in this lifetime.”

His words were gentle and considerate, and Jin Yanliu raised an eyebrow and smiled.

However, at that moment, his phone suddenly emitted a “ding” sound. He picked it up and glanced at it, freezing on the spot.

Sitting beside him, Zhou Beiyang also noticed.

The screen displayed a text message that read, “Hello, I’m already at the door.”

Jin Yanliu was taken aback. He opened the message and realized it was the one he had sent earlier. It confirmed that the message was from Yan Huihua.

He noticed that the previous message was still visible, but now it seemed somewhat glaring. Jin Yanliu suddenly became aware that Zhou Beiyang was still next to him, so he quickly clenched the phone in his hand, looking somewhat guilty and apprehensive.

He glanced at Zhou Beiyang, who had his brows furrowed and seemed to be engrossed in reading the script.

It seemed like he hadn’t noticed.

“If you want this role, meet me tonight at 10 p.m. in Room 3203 of Kaihua Hotel,” the text message he sent now made him resemble the antagonist, Zhao Sili.

But wasn’t Yan Huihua supposed to despise the practice of trading favors? Why did he agree?

Jin Yanliu stood up and said, “I suddenly have something to take care of. I need to go out.”

“At this late hour?” Zhou Beiyang asked calmly. “Do you want me to accompany you?”

“No, no need,” Jin Yanliu replied. “I’ll be back soon.”

Without offering any further explanation, he quickly went to the coatroom to put on his clothes and hastily left the room.

As soon as he got into the car, he immediately summoned Xiao Ai.

“But isn’t Yan Huihua supposed to be the most upright and virtuous man? How could he accept my favor exchange?” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, it’s strange,” Xiao Ai responded.

Jin Yanliu sighed. “Can’t you be more reliable? Maybe my time-traveling action disrupted the original plot, causing a butterfly effect.”

“In theory, the plot might be disrupted, but the characters’ personalities shouldn’t change. Otherwise, it would be out of character. Don’t worry too much for now. Yan Huihua truly is the most virtuous and abstinent man in this world. With his looks, if he wanted to use favoritism to climb up the ranks, he wouldn’t have made it only this far. There are plenty of big shots who want to take advantage of him,” Xiao Ai gently explained. “By the way, how did you come up with the idea of a favor exchange in the first place? It’s a dubious strategy.”

Jin Yanliu furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“Well, if everyone who engaged in favor exchanges were as youthful and attractive as you, I believe most people would eagerly accept,” Xiao Ai said.

“You’re quite good at flattery.”

“Xiao Ai is just speaking the truth based on facts.”

Jin Yanliu pondered for a moment and found some truth in Xiao Ai’s words.

He wasn’t the kind of person who was oblivious to his own attractiveness. After all, he relied on his looks for his career. He had encountered those few industry bosses who liked to engage in favor exchanges. They were mostly greasy, middle-aged men with questionable intentions. As a wealthy and attractive young idol, he often became the target of such exchanges.

The car slowly drove away from the villa on the hillside. He instinctively turned his head and glanced in the direction of the second-floor bedroom, catching a blurry glimpse of a figure.

Zhou Beiyang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his face emanating a dark aura.

“If you want this role, meet me tonight at 10 p.m. in Room 3203 of Kaihua Hotel.”

Author’s note: Zhou Beiyang: I’ve been patient for so long, are they intentionally driving me crazy, huh?!