Chapter 7: Meeting at the Elevator

ZhouXiang came to the company very early.

CaiWei is now the administrative vice president of the company, the left and right hand man of the big boss. He manages everything. The big boss is not in Beijing all year round so he basically took care of the company’s affairs. In these few years, whether it is network connections or his status in the entertainment circle, it can’t be compared to two years ago. So, it’s easy for him to arrange a job for ZhouXiang.

Two years ago…. no…for ZhouXiang, it was only last month that he was also an employee of this company. In the past, the jobs that CaiWei introduced to him had the lowest commission fee. CaiWei treated him very well; he worked at the company for a long time. He got along with people and has a good relationship with the company’s employees. So he liked this company very much. To be able to work here again, he felt that it is a good start.

ZhouXiang ran into several former colleagues in the office building. He excitedly resisted the urge to greet them. In their eyes, he is a complete stranger.

CaiWei took ZhouXiang to his office and warmly asked him to have a sit. Then he answered a phone call. After the phone call, he picked up his keys and told him, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the filming studio for a tour. Our President Wang has invested more than ¥10 million in this studio and it is currently the biggest in Beijing. Now, the company can get a lot of work every day. You can start there to do some miscellaneous work first. Don’t be afraid to hard work. There are a lot of activities in this place. If possible, you might even get a chance to shoot an ad.”

ZhouXiang smiled, “Wei Ge. Right now I just need job. Anything else, I don’t want to think about.”

CaiWei looked at him with admiration, “That’s good. At your age, you’re not impulsive. It’s very rare. Do it well. When there is a chance, Wei Ge will definitely help you. I know that it’s not easy for you and your mother. Because of your health, she must’ve spent a lot of money. Take it easy. You still have to live your life. It will get better in the future.”

ZhouXiang is touched. Although in outsiders’ eyes, CaiWei is strict and harsh, his entire person tinged with deceit and ruthless shrewdness, ZhouXiang knew that this is his façade in order to establish a firm foothold in this industry that is full of all kinds of good and bad people. CaiWei is actually a person that is very affectionate to his friends.

CaiWei drove toward the TongZhou district and took him to the newly built studio on the Liuhuan border. Their boss reserved the first to the fourth floor of this building, the entire area totaled to more than 1,000 square meters. The interior was converted into a large-scale filming base. Each floor is divided into two areas. The themes for each area are different and can be changed at any time.

Once he entered the building, he saw several tall models walking around in stylish clothing with their faces covered in heavy makeup. They were not surprised, and went straight to the second floor.

They passed by a group of people who is filming a family sitcom and then went to the other side of the functional area dedicated to shooting special effects movies. Those people are shooting a sci-fi ad. The male model’s healthy and beautiful figure is in white silverish tights, flying around dangled on a wire.

“Ah Liu,” CaiWei greeted a fat young man.

The man named Ah Liu quickly ran over and warmly called, “Wei Ge.”

ZhouXiang didn’t know this person. He may be new to the company.

(CaiWei speaking to Ah Liu) “Let me introduce. He is a younger brother (ZhouXiang) from my hometown. Arrange some work for him here. He was just discharged from the hospital not long ago so don’t work him too hard. Try to let him learn all the things in the studio. I’ll let you make the arrangements.”

“Okay, no problem. Wei Ge, don’t worry. ”

CaiWei said to ZhouXiang, “Ah Liu is 24 this year, two years younger than you. You can call him Ah Liu. He is a part of the support crew here in charge of various things. Follow him around and learn. In the future, there will be opportunities for independent planning and various stage management tasks.”

“Ah Liu.” ZhouXiang smiled and greeted Ah Liu. Then quickly nodded to CaiWei, “Thank you Wei Ge.”

When he graduated, he was working in filming studios and various kinds of sets. These things are all familiar to him; his acquired experience is more ample than anyone else. Returning to his old line of business, although it may be hard work, at least he’s capable. He is very grateful to CaiWei for taking care of him.

“I still have business to attend to later this afternoon so I won’t be able to have lunch with you. I’m going to leave first.”

“Wei Ge you, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll take care of myself.”

Ah Liu said laughing, “Wei Ge take care!”

Ah Liu is a natural socializer who smiles at everyone. After CaiWei left, Ah Liu took ZhouXiang to the studio and briefly introduced him, “This is our new employee, and a handsome guy. You all don’t need to be envious. Work hard.”

Several busy people mockingly laughed a little bit.

ZhouXiang swept a glance at everyone. Unexpectedly, he didn’t even know one person. The high turnover in the circle is a fact, but in just two years, he can’t see even one familiar face. ZhouXiang can’t help but feel depressed.

ZhouXiang smiled courteously, “I’m ZhouXiang. Pease look after me. Thank you.”

“ZhouXiang?”

A person who was adjusting the lights with his back facing him suddenly turned to face him and looked at him silently.

ZhouXiang was shocked. He finally found someone he knew. This is their company’s previous lighting brother, also named Zhou, everyone called him Lao^(T/N) Zhou.

T/N: Lao means old; however, when put in front of someone’s name, it’s a sign of respect to call someone older than you. This is more of an informal form, usually used with someone in a friendship.

Lao Zhou stood up and looked at ZhouXiang, seeming to be thinking of the ZhouXiang from before. He sighed, “Greetings.”

The relationship between him and Lao Zhou was good before. At this time, they are facing each other but could not acknowledge one another. ZhouXiang didn’t know how many times he will have to experience such a sad and awkward situation in the future.

Ah Liu said to ZhouXiang, “It’s almost noon, I’ll take you to familiarize with the work after lunch. You go can walk around and take a look right now. It’s fun. Just don’t mess with those filming equipment. It’s very expensive.”

ZhouXiang nodded and began to wander around to get acquainted with his work environment.

From childhood to adult, ZhouXiang got along well with people. He is a person that is generous but with a principled nature; in him, people sees a man that is open-minded and full of aspirations but they also would not dare to casually offend him. He is a man of righteousness, honest and upright, and never used his seniority in the entertainment circle to bully newcomers. He’s humorous and can chat with anyone. When those around him have hardships, they always love to discuss it with him or ask for his help. The young girls and young men whom he had come in contact with all basically liked him. If he wasn’t a GAY, he would’ve already married a good wife.

For such a very charismatic man, he only needed to spend one lunch time and had already become familiar with his colleagues. After starting work in the afternoon, he first helped Lao Zhou set the lighting and then went to help the prop engineer. For the next few hours, he was busy. Although he was a little tired but everyone praised him for his fast learning. ZhouXiang just pretended by acting stupid so he wouldn’t leave any traces of doubts.

After the commercial was completed filming, it was almost 8pm. The director was too hard to please, taking a day of filming before he was finally satisfied. Everyone was hungry so they quickly packed up to go eat.

When ZhouXiang helped Lao Zhou packed up the things, Lao Zhou looked at him and sighed. “You’re called ZhouXiang…”

ZhouXiang pretended not to know anything, “What’s wrong?”

“I used to have a little buddy also named ZhouXiang.”

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“Oh, I heard Wei Ge mentioned that too.”

Lao Zhou responded, “I don’t know if it’s because the both of you have the same name, but why do I feel that you’re very similar to him? The way you talk, your mannerisms and how you are with other people…maybe it’s just in my head. He’s actually been gone for two years. I also don’t remember so clearly.”

ZhouXiang forcefully smiled, not knowing what to say.

At this time, Ah Liu answered his phone and yelled, “Right now? Fuck, it’s already 8pm. I’m dying of hunger.”

Someone joked, “Liu Ge, did your girlfriend asked you to buy dog food or what?”

“Hahaha.”

Ah Liu hung up the phone in frustration and glared at that boy, “You only talk nonsense You still laughed. I’ll see if you can still laugh.”

“How can I not laugh?”

Ah Liu revealed a distorted expression. “Everyone…don’t pack up yet. We haven’t finished with today’s work. A big star is coming to shoot an ad.”

“Ahhhhh–”

Everyone grumbled. Although it is not uncommon for them to work overtime often to accommodate certain stars’ schedules, it is Saturday today. Their working hours are not fixed. It’s rare to have a day off tomorrow. After a busy day, everyone wants to hurry up and go home to rest. They didn’t expect to have more work at this time and not even knowing how long they will have to work. The most heartbreaking is that if they didn’t do well, they might have to work overtime tomorrow.

“Who is it? Who is it? ”

“Young Master Yan. He’s already downstairs. They must shoot today.”

One of the newly recruited female assistants suddenly screamed, shocking everyone. She was so excited that she’s jumping around, “YanMingXiu! YanMingXiu! I want to see YanMingXiu!”

The blood on ZhouXiang’s face drained instantly. His hand that was picking up things was shaking so much that he could hardly control it. Lao Zhou resentfully spit out a curse word. He looked down and sees ZhouXiang’s daunting expression and asked, “Xiao Zhou? You okay? Hungry?”

ZhouXiang vaguely responded, “Ah, um, yes, a little.”

YanMingXiu? How could this be? It’s not that he didn’t think that he would run into YanMingXiu in this career path. He thought it would have been fine if he didn’t get involved in any jobs that YanMingXiu participated in but he never expected that he would be forced to meet him on his first day of work. He was not prepared to meet him at all. He suddenly felt stupid for a moment.

Ah Liu also glanced toward ZhouXiang, “ZhouXiang? Are you all right? Why is your expression so bad?”

ZhouXiang stood up and awkwardly responded, “Ah Liu, I just got out of the hospital. Maybe I can’t adapt yet. Can I leave for today?” Without looking down, he already felt resentful eyes on him. As a man, using illness to escape from working overtime especially when he’s a new employee; inevitably he’ll be criticized by others. If it wasn’t for this being his last resort, he also wouldn’t make this kind of request.

Although Ah Liu was not willing to let him go, knowing that others will definitely be bittered, but ZhouXiang was brought here personally by CaiWei. From the start, CaiWei had said that ZhouXiang’s health is not very good. He also couldn’t make things difficult for ZhouXiang so he nodded, and then asked the person with the most seniority, Lao Zhou, “Zhou Ge, what do you think? Wei Ge told me that he just got out of the hospital. Maybe he’s really not feeling well.”

Old Zhou nodded, “Let him go home. Look at his face. He’s so paled.”

Others glanced at ZhouXiang and realized that he didn’t look right. His body looks like its on the verge of collapse. He was fine working all afternoon but once hearing that they have to work overtime, he didn’t feel well. This is really not very convincing.

Ah Liu said, “Go out and take a taxi. I’m too busy or I’ll give you a ride personally.”

ZhouXiang waved his hand. “No need. I can go by myself. I’m sorry everyone. Next time I will work more to make up for today. Very sorry.” He repeatedly apologized and then packed up his stuff and fled to the elevator.

Just as he got to the elevator, the second floor elevator ‘ding’ and the elevator door slowly opened right in front of him and he couldn’t leave.

ZhouXiang’s heart trembled. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. His heart gradually calmed down.

YanMingXiu does not know him, so what if they come face to face?

The elevator door opened completely. The man standing in front of him is the man on the LED commercial that day. He is only 23 years old and is already well known to half of the world. He is the mighty movie star that no one dared to approach, YanMingXiu.

YanMingXiu grew a bit older.

ZhouXiang’s memory of him is still a person that is in the teenager phase, one who likes to wear sportswear and jeans. His entire person exuded youthfulness and flamboyant aura. The YanMingXiu of today is wearing a casual suit, looking calm and restrained. His expression seems to have solidified on his face but looking extremely cold. ZhouXiang had been in the entertainment industry for nearly ten years. He had seen all kind of beauties but no matter whether it was three years ago or now, he always felt that YanMingXiu’s appearance is most perfect. He doesn’t know how God crafted him out so finely and superbly that it’s not a surprise that millions of spectators would be in awe of him.

Even he, who believes that he had encountered many beautiful people, is also fascinated by YanMingXiu.

In his mind, there was no way he could suppress the memories between him and YanMingXiu. From the time when he and YanMingXiu met to the last phone call they had, it was merely a years’ time from beginning to end. However, to him, those memories were too recent. This feeling is very strange. It was like he only saw the person last week and he was still a teenager but this week, he had become a man. To him, the two years in between were completely blank. The two years had changed everyone and changed many things. Except for him, he not only lost two years of time but he was forced to accept the changes that occurred in the past two years.

ZhouXiang is standing directly in line with the elevator. When YanMingXiu was crowded out of the elevator by a bunch of people, his first glance is on him.

Originally, he (ZhouXiang) is a stranger that he (YanMingXiu) would definitely never give more than a glance; however, when he saw ZhouXiang’s deeply complex and incomprehensible expression, his body seemed to be absorbed into it.  He felt his heart beating erratically.

Why is this expression so familiar!

YanMingXiu bent over slightly and couldn’t stop the frantic incitement from his heart. He didn’t understand what is wrong with him. Why is it that a stranger can give him such a shock?

The two people directly faced each other with only a few meters apart; the distance between them is so close, yet so far away.

ZhouXiang felt so helpless. In front of YanMingXiu, he still can’t be himself. He forced himself to stable his mind. Lowering his head, he intended to take the stairs.

When he passed by YanMingXiu, YanMingXiu suddenly took a big step forward and grabbed ZhouXiang’s arm in front of everyone’s horrified gazes. His strength was so strong that ZhouXiang furrowed his brows.

ZhouXiang suddenly turned to look at him. YanMingXiu’s tall stature of 1.9 meter (6’2”) height gave him a lot of pressure. He only saw the radiance in YanMingXiu’s eyes, with his lips slightly trembling, his chilling aurora…he (YanMingXiu) couldn’t help but blurted out a stupid question, “Who are you?”