Chapter 8: Part 1 - Arch Enemies

After Ye Hengyang was settled, next was the pair “Madam Qiao and the Demonic Disciple.”

This pair is actually the main couple in <<Into the Devil>>. Their scenes are hefty throughout the entire story. “The Saint Big Brother and Evil Younger Brother” was only the 1 st , introductory act; “The Ascetic Monk Lil’ Wanwan” was the next act.

Due to this, both the disciple and Madam were both important roles, and one had to select only the best actors.

If the first season of the show was a success, then there will definitely be a second season and third season to produce. Although this pair only served as supporting roles in the first season, the second and third seasons will be their time to shine.

The first season is like the preparation of the wedding for the couple; it’s the opening scene, doing things like for preparing the wedding dress before the bride wears it, therefore not very important.

However, Jin Yanliu was still willing to make this wedding dress, in fact, making it the best wedding dress ever.

Shi Niang* Lu Fanglin, this is the main character of the first season, and Jin Yanliu already had a candidate in mind.

*TL note: 师娘- Master’s wife. However, I’m not sure what this means since Lu Fanglin is male.

“Take a look at him.” He showed Liu Qichang a photo.

The young man in the photo was young, not more than twenty in age. His appearance wasn’t exquisite, but it was very memorable. He exuded a scholarly aura, and his rosy lips gave his plain features color and a hint of wildness.

Liu Qichang’s eyes widened. “Isn’t this…”

Lu Yao, the famous Lu Yao.

Yu Yao was famous not only because he was a big star, but also because he was Jin Yanliu’s arch enemy within the entertainment industry.

Rumor has it that Yu Yao and Jin Yanliu had known each other since they were young, When they were born, they were both face geniuses and had vied for the position of the school flower during elementary school. When they grew up and entered the entertainment industry, they still remained rivals, and their fandoms were like fire and water.

The only thing was that in the entertainment industry, it took fate to determine whether one will be popular and how long they’ll be popular for. The two had entered the industry together, but while Jin Yanliu became even more popular year after year, with his position at the peak being unshakable, Lu Yao’s popularity had died down after several months.

From the very start, Jin Yanliu did not like Lu Yao. He didn’t understand why that rascal always stood against him.

Perhaps it was in middle school when, inexplicably, the two had begun bumping heads.

At first, Jin Yanliu didn’t pay much attention to Lu Yao; it was only because of Zhou Beiyang that they had become arch enemies.

Remember that scar on Zhou Beiyang’s brow? It was Lu Yao and his gang who had caused it.

And since Zhou Beiyang was the treasure of Jin Yanliu’s heart, their feud became irreconcilable.

Once the two entered the entertainment industry, they had attacked each other countless times*; neither of their hands was clean.

*TL note: The original phrase is this: 没少互黑, and the literal translation would be that they blackened each other numerous times.

However, all of this was in the past, and if Jin Yanliu saw this person now, he would only feel an inexplicable amiability.

He had no idea that Lu Yao would become so pitiful!

In <<Taking Turns to Dote on>>, Lu Yao would only continue to exist as “Jin Yanliu’s Arch Enemy.” The author did not arrange for him to fall dramatically in love with the main character, rather, he was assigned to become cannon fodder, repeatedly being defeated. Whenever there was nothing better to do, the cannon fodder villain would lurk into the story to be face slapped. And Lu Yao, just like the cockroach that never dies, would never surrender, always looking to be face slapped.

This characteristic was in line with Lu Yao’s personality; he would never bow to anyone, not even to himself.

Adhering to the principle of “the enemy of an enemy is a friend,” Jin Yanliu felt empathy and good-will towards the undying cockroach, Lu Yao.

He needed to train the cockroach, increasing its strength and potential as a villain.

Liu Qichang had kept it in for half a day and finally burst out, “… How should I say this… You guys have always seemed a bit incompatible. Could the rumors be fake?”

“No, they’re true,” Jin Yanliu replied lightly. “The two of us loathe each other.”

Liu Qichang. “…”

It turned out his male goddess truly wasn’t just your regular Joe! This mindset! This ungrudging heart!

The reason he chose Lu Yao was definitely that he felt Lu Yao was suitable for this role. In order to ensure the success of the show, he even gave up his personal grievances!

He was about to let out some rainbow farts** when he heard Jin Yanliu say, “That’s why I’ll call him over to be a supporting character; to anger him to death.”

**TL note: Man, the Chinese language is so cute. 彩虹屁, rainbow farts- in this context, should mean (nonsensical) praise.

Liu Qichang replied, “… But Lu Fanglin plays a major role in the second season and is not just a supporting character.”

“Hmm, now that you say it… I’m still a bit annoyed.” Jin Yanliu continued, “How about this? When he comes to audition later, sing ‘red face,’ and I’ll sing ‘white face,’ properly angering him.***”

***TL note: I don’t understand, but my inference is that white face and red face are used to maliciously describe Lu Yao since in Chinese slang, ‘white face’ is generally to describe wimpy, pretty boys.

Liu Qichang glanced at Jin Yanliu. Jin Yanliu’s voice was soft, and the corners of his mouth were lifted, rendering one unable to tell whether he was joking or not.