Chapter 4 - Meeting at the Elevator

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.”

“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?”