Chapter 72 - Extra 2

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“Started a mountain retreat with someone. It’s not finished yet. Check it out when you have the time?” Old Tu asked.

The girl tugged Old Tu’s arm off Yuan Ye’s shoulders. She scolded, “Be more careful. If someone takes a picture of this, my Yuan Ye ge won’t be able to explain. Having an arm around someone’s shoulders is enough for the media to consider it cheating.” 0wUdT8

Yuan Ye chuckled while shaking his head. “It’s not that bad. Cheating depends on appearance too. Why the hell would I cheat with this old man? Your Yuan Ye ge has a heavenly immortal at home.”

Old Tu laughed and cussed at him. “Weirdo.”

It had been quite a long time since Yuan Ye had come to Old Tu’s place. This was because he hadn’t been home previously. This time, he was coming to Old Tu’s restaurant to eat meat and drink alcohol. Since Fang Shaoyi had hurt his lungs, he hadn’t attended any events with alcohol. Yuan Ye also hadn’t needed to attend any socialization events. Recently, they had been living a really healthy lifestyle. Today, Fang Shaoyi had gone to the company. Yuan Ye hadn’t; he went looking for a place to be carefree instead.

Old Tu’s restaurant had pretty good business. It was very popular. These days, it had become an Internet-famous restaurant. The girl asked, “A private room?” K ztdq

Yuan Ye said, “No need. Let whoever wants to take pictures take pictures. There’s no atmosphere when you eat meat inside a private room.”

There truly wasn’t an atmosphere. He was here for that smoky, fiery, noisy atmosphere. Old Tu led Yuan Ye over to a section of the shop that was slightly less populated. The two of them sat on the small chairs. Old Tu threw Yuan Ye a pack of cigarettes.

Yuan Ye picked it up and threw it back. “No thanks. I quit.”

“Again?” Old Tu snorted and asked. A7zqdU

Yuan Ye made a noise of acknowledgment as he nodded. “For lung health.”

In the past, when he had occasionally smoked, Fang Shaoyi would try to limit his cigarette intake. When he had felt annoyed or stressed, or when he had gotten stuck while writing, he would habitually want to smoke a cigarette. Now, he didn’t need anyone to keep an eye on him at all. If anyone else smoked around Fang Shaoyi, Yuan Ye felt pissed. It was even more impossible for he himself to smoke.

Old Tu questioned again, “Have you quit drinking alcohol?”

Yuan Ye replied with a smile, “No. Why would I quit drinking alcohol?” HGrTSM

Yuan Ye got a free meal at Old Tu’s place. When he was completely sated and full, Fang Shaoyi came to pick him up. He waited outside for a bit. Yuan Ye scurried into the car as soon as he left the restaurant. He took his jacket off when he got into the car. “I smell.”

Fang Shaoyi said, “It’s fine.”

Yuan Ye had drunk some alcohol. He had a big smile on his face as he scooted his head close to Fang Shaoyi and wobbled it. “Smell.”

Fang Shaoyi kind of wanted to laugh. He kissed the other on the top of his head. “What would I be smelling? Everyone else gets the smell stuck to their hair. Do you have hair? Might as well let me smell your bear instead.” 2EqiMy

Yuan Ye laughed while cussing. He sat up straight and put on his seatbelt. “Why are you so annoying?”

Yuan Ye had truly had a lot of alcohol, but he wasn’t drunk. He was straddling the line of being not drunk but still very excited. When he got home, he took off all the clothes on him that smelled and took a shower so that his body would carry the faint fragrance of their body wash instead. While showering, little movies had already started playing in his brain. He didn’t bother saying anything extra after he got out of the shower. Whatever had been going on in his brain just now needed to be immediately put into practice.

Please support our translators at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Fang Shaoyi momentarily couldn’t handle him because he had suddenly gone crazy. Sometimes, he shifted over here. Others, he shifted over there. There was no order to his actions. Eventually, Fang Shaoyi forcefully held his arms down and asked, voice hoarse, “Can you behave yourself for a bit? What are you actually trying to do?”

Yuan Ye lifted his chin and said, “I can’t.” Mph2G4

He just needed to be taught a lesson. Every part of him. Fang Shaoyi cocked an eyebrow. These days, this monkey had gotten too spoiled. Fang Shaoyi casually grabbed a tie. If the other’s hands weren’t obedient, then it would be better to tie them up so they wouldn’t be able to move around anymore.

When he was teaching the monkey a lesson, Fang Shaoyi was domineering, cold, and very intimidating. When he wasn’t teaching the monkey a lesson, he was still Fang Eight Years who was obedient and liked to act pitiful.

Fang Shaoyi’s marriage livestream got talked about online for a long time. He didn’t mind because he didn’t need to go see anyone these days. He refused to attend any events or film festivals: he had completely shut himself off from the rest of the world and gone on vacation. Even when he won awards, the directors helped him accept them. He only told the general public that he had yet to fully recover, so was healing in peace.

In autumn, Director Wei Hua helped him accept a trophy. Jiang Linchuan helped him accept another one. During the award ceremony, they made a live call to Fang Shaoyi. Fang Shaoyi expressed his gratitude through a video. Both directors teased him a lot when they accepted the awards for him. Everyone present laughed too. Fang Shaoyi didn’t need any awards. In the movie industry, he was still considered quite young. Fang Shaoyi had also never cared too much about these things. There was still a long way to go. KzWVb2

After ending the video call, there was a smile remaining on Director Wei’s face. His gaze landed on Fang Han, who was sitting in the front row. Director Wei lowered his head and fell silent for a moment. Slowly, he said, “Shaoyi……Everyone knows that I was the one who helped him debut in the beginning. At that time, Mr. Fang Han gave me a call and told me that I didn’t need to care whose son Fang Shaoyi was. If I needed to lecture him, I could do as I wished. There was no need to worry.”

Director Wei Hua softly chuckled. A faraway look appeared in his eyes. He was a gentle and reliable person; he had always been such a person. No matter the situation, he always spoke patiently and calmly. “Back then, I was actually under quite a lot of pressure. You weren’t teaching your own son, but wanted me to lecture him?”

The camera panned over to Fang Han, who was in the audience. Fang Han was roaring with laughter. He pointed at Wei Hua through the camera lens.

Wei Hua said, “Thinking back now, all of that happened twenty years ago. I watched Little Fang get to where he is today, step by step. In the past, I actually asked Shaoyi once, ‘How did your dad teach you?’ Shaoyi said, ‘My dad didn’t teach me. He just gave me four words and told me to figure them out myself.’” nEJB6j

“He said, ‘Dependable, calm, inquisitive, hardworking.’” Here, Wei Hua held up a thumbs up to the audience. He continued, “Looking back now, he truly accomplished these. He has the qualities of a ‘cinephile’. He also has the qualities of a ‘good man.’ I don’t know what Elder Fang thinks, but everyone says Fang Shaoyi is half my son too. I know that I, at least, am satisfied.”

Mjcu Ljc kjr ralii bcis rwlilcu. Mjlca kglcxifr jqqfjgfv lc atf mbgcfgr bo tlr fsfr. Lf vlvc’a rjs jcsatlcu.

Pc atf fcv, Qfl Lej rajafv, “Zbnlfr jgf uibglber. Ktf kbgivr lc atfw jgf ieragber jcv vjhhilcu, yea jirb fzjuufgjafv. Ycis nfgs ofk qfbqif xcbk tbk tjgv la ageis lr ab gfwjlc lc atlr lcverags. Pa tjr j iba bo euis jcv vlrwji jgfjr atja wjcs qfbqif vbc’a xcbk jybea. Coafg wjxlcu wbnlfr obg abb ibcu, jrlvf ogbw atf jmaeji jga bo wjxlcu atfw, fnfgsatlcu firf yfmbwfr cewy jcv jeabwjalm. Lbkfnfg, la lr bcis yfmjerf atfgf jgf ralii rbwf qfbqif ktb glrx atflg fcalgf ilnfr ab qgbafma atlr jga atja cb wjaafg ktja, atf wbnlf lcverags mbcalcefr ab vfnfibq.”

“Thank you to those cinephiles.” Wei Hua paused. He glanced down at the trophy in his hand that belonged to Fang Shaoyi. Right now, his gentle voice was filled with strength. “Times are changing. Newer generations are replacing older generations. Film has repeatedly experienced bitter winters——but film remains alive.” oWyb98

The applause from the audience lasted for a long time. They were clapping for the people he was talking about, but also for Wei Hua. He himself was also one of the outstanding cinephiles who had spent more than half of his life protecting movies. He too was one of the best guides in this industry, bringing domestic films to an international stage. He had spent his entire life stumbling and falling, doing his best to allow international audiences to see more Chinese movies.

He was someone who absolutely deserved to be respected. Those people trudging forward silently, using all their strength, all deserved to be respected.

This outstanding cinephile was wearing a suit and standing on a certain company’s ad photoshoot set. After he finished giving his thank you speech, he ended the call and took off his suit. While walking out, he said, “I’m leaving for a few days. Call me if anything happens.”

Ji Xiaotao was holding a change of casual clothes for Fang Shaoyi. He walked into the changing room with the other. “Ge, take me!” 2buMK8

While changing, Fang Shaoyi didn’t even look back at him. “I can take you, no problem. Just ask your Geng ge if he’s going to let me take you on vacation with me.”

“I refuse!” Ji Xiaotao walked in circles next to him. “All he knows is to exploit me! I’m that peanut who had oil pressed out of it! Or sunflower seed! Or soybean! Ge! Take me!”

Please support our translators at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Fang Shaoyi put on his pants and said, “Even if I took you with me, your Geng ge would still call me and ask for you back.”

“You wouldn’t answer!” Ji Xiaotao grabbed the suit that Fang Shaoyi had just changed out of. He needed to neatly put it away later, thus didn’t dare to fold or wrinkle it. “Ge, I want to go on vacation too!” 23UATf

Fang Shaoyi found him annoying. He offered, “Then go ask your Yuan Ye ge. See if he’ll let me take you.”

Ji Xiaotao’s face twisted together in misery. He whispered, “All your conditions are driving me into a dead end……Geng ge and Ye ge – neither are kind people!”

Actually, Yuan Ye had originally been the most soft hearted out of all of them. He was usually the most lenient regarding these matters. Fang Shaoyi still needed to worry about Geng ge, who was working hard at the company. Only Yuan Ye didn’t need to listen to Geng ge. However, ever since Ji Xiaotao had directly driven the car to the Ministry of Civil Affairs while Yuan Ye had been asleep and had also started a stupid livestream without telling Yuan Ye, Yuan Ye had never spoken up for him again. Yuan Ye had one-sidedly ended their relationship.

Ji Xiaotao could only keep pestering Fang Shaoyi. Fang Shaoyi truly was the most lenient, but he wasn’t the one in charge. He himself wasn’t even working. How could he dare to steal away one of Geng Jinwei’s trusted subordinates who was also easy to order around? With Yuan Ye, he was also a pitiful little cutie everyday. Did he have any authority? fFy4lm

Later on, Fang Shaoyi heartlessly left without caring about their brotherly relationship at all.

Old Tu’s mountain retreat had been finished. Yuan Ye was going to go stay there for a few days with Fang Shaoyi. Either way, neither of them really needed to do anything right now. A few of Yuan Ye’s friends were tagging along too. Feng Leizi was one of them. Yuan Ye owed him a favor from last time regarding the matter with the film crew. However, considering their relationship, they didn’t take favors too seriously. All these years, Yuan Ye had helped him edit scripts for free. Their relationship was rock solid.

Old Tu was waiting for them by the entrance to the freeway. As soon as their car arrived, Old Tu opened the door and slid into the car. Fang Shaoyi greeted him. After getting remarried to Yuan Ye, Fang Shaoyi often saw Old Tu. They were already familiar with each other.

Old Tu said, “A few friends of Xuan’er are here too, on the other side. Don’t mind them. I know all of them. They’re all open people. It’ll be fine. They won’t randomly take any pictures or say anything.” KrjCOH

Yuan Ye chuckled. He looked back and glanced at Old Tu. “Have you been infected by your girl? There’s no need to be so nervous.”

Old Tu laughed while cussing at him. Then, he said, “Drive carefully. Before I headed out, Little Mei really did remind me multiple times about being careful. She said that you guys are both celebrities, meaning I shouldn’t let anyone else take pictures of you two. Now I’m all on edge too.”

Fang Shaoyi chuckled as well. “It’s not that bad.”

Yuan Ye said, “Don’t. I’m not a celebrity. At most, I’m a celebrity’s family member.” RzrWlg

Someone like Yuan Ye, who had grown up so close to nature, needed to live in a down-to-earth manner. If you forced him to be so secretive and cautious all the time, that would be too painful. It was impossible.

It was quite a large mountain retreat, probably encompassing about half the mountain peak. Old Tu gave them directions from the back seat. Yuan Ye followed his instructions and drove up the path. Old Tu said, “They’ll be eating on their side later. Should we go too? I might have to show my face. They’re all people I’m familiar with.”

Yuan Ye didn’t care about these things. He replied, “You don’t need to worry about us. I’ll go take a peek later. Don’t make a simple vacation seem like some high-class excursion where we have to be quarantined away. That’s awkward.”

Fang Shaoyi was a public figure, after all. Yuan Ye himself didn’t care about such matters, but he couldn’t not care about Fang Shaoyi. It was true that many people had a sense of curiosity regarding public figures. When they saw celebrities, they would incessantly ask all sorts of questions. This was very annoying. Yuan Ye definitely needed to first see what kind of people the other guests were, especially because Fang Shaoyi wasn’t an ordinary little celebrity. He was of rather high status. Yuan Ye was usually very careful about these matters. 40nLdw

Old Tu said, “Un

Yuan Ye reached a hand out to scratch the back of Fang Shaoyi’s hand with his fingers. He exchanged glances with the other, then softly asked, “Are you tired? I’ll take you back so you can rest?”

“No need.” Fang Shaoyi shook his head. “Focus on your conversations.”

Among these people, the first person Yuan Ye added on WeChat was Xiao Ke. During the meal, the two of them headed outside to get some fresh air. They also scanned each other’s QR codes.

Yuan Ye said, “When you have the time, let’s hang out.” GVxMLK

Xiao Ke smiled. “Of course.”

When the two of them got back, the meal was mostly over. It was already the middle of the night. Fang Shaoyi very rarely attended such gatherings. He basically didn’t have any friends outside of the entertainment industry. The ones in the industry were few and far in between too. He always gave off a cold and distant feeling to others.

Please visit chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Yuan Ye was his opposite. He had lots of friends and frequently attended these gatherings. Occasionally, Fang Shaoyi would tag along to one of his meetings too. This would feel very interesting and new. It was quite a terrifying thought to think that some lovers couldn’t fit in with each other’s social circles.

Fang Shaoyi finished showering first. Yuan Ye showered after him. When he got out of the shower, he saw a tiny metal ring next to the sink. He cocked an eyebrow. RIT6Lw

“What does this mean?” Yuan Ye closed his hand around the item and walked out to question Fang Shaoyi.

Fang Shaoyi looked at him. “What are you talking about?”

“Keep acting,” Yuan Ye chuckled. He jumped on the bed and sprawled out, then opened up his fist. Fang Shaoyi’s ring was peacefully resting on his palm.

Fang Shaoyi was shocked. He glanced down at his own hand, then, as if just remembering something, said, “I took it off during my shower, but then I forgot about it.” aW3Skw

Yuan Ye raised an eyebrow and side-eyed him. Slightly laughing, he said, “Your acting is a bit too exaggerated, Teacher Fang.”

Fang Shaoyi calmly replied, “I always feel like taking it off because I was the one who put it on. And then I forget to put it back on after I take it off. Maybe I’ll accidentally lose it someday.”

Yuan Ye buried his head into the pillow and forcefully rubbed his face against it. What was he supposed to do now that his lover was acting so petulant all the time? After rubbing his face, Yuan Ye laid there laughing for a long time. Then, he grabbed Fang Shaoyi’s hand and slid the ring onto the other’s ring finger. He even lowered his head and pressed a kiss onto Fang Shaoyi’s finger.

“Okay.” Yuan Ye rolled over and laid down on his back. “Is it okay now?” ri1AgT

“I don’t know.” Fang Shaoyi turned off the lights. “Either way, if you weren’t sincere, it’s going to fall off again.”

Yuan Ye hurriedly said, “I was sincere! Quit messing around, please. Don’t let it fall off. If you take it off too many times and actually lose it, where are you going to go find it again?”

Fang Shaoyi didn’t answer. Yuan Ye scooted close and kissed him. Only now did Fang Shaoyi feel satisfied. He quieted and went to sleep.

Outside, the lights faintly lit up the night, warming up half of the window. Subdued silence and peace always followed each large commotion. 0RxPMt

After listening to the story, it was time to sleep.

——The night was almost over, but there was still a lot of time left before the end of this existence.