Chapter 95: The End (Main Story)
After leaving Chen Yi’s therapy room, Xie Shibai received a call from the screenwriter; there was a small problem with the revised script. They originally wanted to communicate over the phone, but Xie Shibai’s phone battery was nearing the critical limit, so he decided to meet at the studio in person.
By the time Xie Shibai arrived at the studio, the screenwriting team had been waiting in the conference room for a while. The lead screenwriter, wearing black round-rimmed glasses, got straight to the point and marked the areas where the script’s dialogue had issues and needed revision.
Xie Shibai placed his dead phone aside and took the laptop to start reading from the marked points. His gaze paused for a few seconds on the first word.
A mother with bipolar disorder.
The lead screenwriter said, “After all, the script was written over a decade ago. Some of the plot elements are actually very bold for today’s standards and carry the risk of crossing the line. It might also have a significant impact on our subsequent submission for review, especially since the rules have been tightening over the past two years. But after our screenwriting team discussed it, we all want to keep this story.”
Xie Shibai looked at the script silently. A mother with bipolar disorder and a suppressed family—the only difference from the Xie family was that there was no child. The child was not expected and shouldn’t have been born; in the script, they were wiped clean.
As the author, Ming Yu didn’t want the character who served as her emotional carrier to have a child. The script was written when Ming Yu suffered from bipolar disorder. In Xie Shibai’s memory, she originally wanted to film it, and Ming Yu had even said she wanted the young Xie Shibai to play a role. But afterward, it came to nothing. Xie Shibai didn’t know the reason, but it was likely the Xie family’s obstruction.
Ming Yu, who should have been happy after marriage, had written such a suppressed work. Once it was exposed that she had bipolar, it would have been a bomb for the rising Xie family.
The lead screenwriter pushed her glasses up. Under the imploring gazes of the other team members, she weighed her tone and said, “And this story provides a contrast to the previous one. It actually has a lot of hype potential. So after we discussed it, we want to appropriately modify the parts that might cross the line and keep this story. Below is our revised version; I wonder what you think, Xie-laoshi?”
Xie Shibai quickly read through the suppressed story and the revised version, a complex emotion in his heart. The screenwriting team’s hearts were in their throats. They really wanted to keep the story, but for investors, things with risks cannot be kept. After all, the movies they invested large sums in might be suppressed indefinitely because of a small part that couldn’t pass review. By the time it was released, it wouldn’t make much of a splash.
The internet spread information too quickly. Tropes or things everyone accepted before might undergo earth-shattering changes in a month or even a day. The screenwriting team couldn’t bear this loss and could only do their best to revise. Moreover, the biggest investor and the final decision-maker for this story was Xie Shibai. As long as he agreed, the story could be saved.
The lead screenwriter was having a bit of a headache but still wanted to try once. She whispered, “Xie-laoshi?”
Xie Shibai asked, “On which page is the story of the control group?”
The lead screenwriter hurriedly found the story and laughed. “This story is quite a coincidence. The name of the supporting character is very similar to Xie-laoshi’s name.”
The supporting character’s name was Xiao Shi.
Xie Shibai was stunned for a few seconds upon seeing the name. He carefully read the story of the control group. Unlike the other heavy, intense tragedy, this story was as beautiful as a utopia. The six-year-old character named Xiao Shi lived very happily in a story otherwise filled with dark tones, becoming an existence favored by the author.
Chen Feng asked, “Your name is Xiao Shi; why is your nickname Zhao Zhao?”
“Mama says Xiao Shi should have his wishes come true (Zhao Zhao Ru Yuan) and be safe and sound every year (Sui Sui Ping An).”
Xie Shibai’s eyelashes lowered slightly, obscuring the light, as if staining his pupils with a thick, complex emotion.
Seeing Xie Shibai looking so focused, the lead screenwriter took a gamble and spoke her suspicion. “Actually, it’s obvious the author gave all her love to Xiao Shi. We were all wondering if Xiao Shi was the author’s own son; after all, even the protagonist doesn’t get this treatment.”
The others in the team hurriedly agreed. Those of them in creative writing were more sensitive to this kind of emotion. A great script doesn’t have useless people, and Xiao Shi clearly felt like he received all of the author’s love. He didn’t need to bear the responsibility of the plot; he only needed to have a happy life in the script. He should be happy and carefree.
This was the only six-year-old child in the entire script. For whom he was prepared was obvious. The character carrying Ming Yu’s emotional burden collapsed in the mire, while the six-year-old Xiao Shi had a more beautiful utopia in the script.
Xie Shibai heard his own voice, very light. “Keep all of it.”
The lead screenwriter instantly breathed a sigh of relief, and the others in the team cheered.
After the team left, Xie Shibai brewed a cup of coffee for himself. Ming Yu’s original script was spread on his desk. The sun was shining brightly outside the window, and his mood was quiet, leisurely, and relaxed. The aroma of roasted coffee beans spread through the air.
Xie Shibai took a sip. …Tasted bad. He somewhat missed good-tasting coffee.
Xie Shibai set the cup down, massaged his slightly sore neck, and took his car keys, preparing to go home. The studio’s main door was suddenly pushed open with a kuang-dang sound. Hurried footsteps came from outside his breakroom.
The breakroom door suddenly opened. A breathless Lu Ciheng stood outside, his hair messy and wet with sweat.
Xie Shibai stood in the middle of the room looking at him, his brow arched. “Is it raining outside? You look so wretched.”
Lu Ciheng’s breathing was ragged. Without a word, he strode forward and hugged Xie Shibai tightly, his tensed arms trembling slightly.
Xie Shibai was confused by the hug. He reached out and stroked Lu Ciheng’s back. His face felt a bit warm from the heat radiating from the man. “Your body is so hot.”
Lu Ciheng buried himself in the crook of Xie Shibai’s neck. His eyes were red, and he held him with enough force to seemingly rub Xie Shibai into his own body. His voice was low and husky as he said over and over, “I love you.”
Xie Shibai’s movements suddenly stopped, his fingertips curling slightly. “I know.”
“I love you.”
“Mm, I know.”
“I love you.”
“Alright, let me go.”
“I love you so, so much.”
“…Roll.”
Lu Ciheng cupped Xie Shibai’s face, his tone pitiful like a puppy wet from the rain. “Xie-laoshi…”
Xie Shibai looked away and said softly, “Love you too.”
Lu Ciheng gave Xie Shibai a heavy kiss on the face. Before it could develop into another kind of kiss, Xie Shibai quickly stopped him. “How did you get so sweaty?”
Lu Ciheng pinched Xie Shibai’s hand. “It’s a long story. Xie-laoshi, why was your phone off?”
Xie Shibai remembered his long-forgotten phone. He shook it and said, “Out of battery.”
After seeing that Xie Shibai was safe and sound, Lu Ciheng realized he had been led astray by Zhong Mingxiu. He was silent for a few seconds, deciding not to mention such an embarrassing thing.
Xie Shibai glanced at him suspiciously. The two left the studio. When they went to the elevator bank, Xie Shibai saw a sign saying it was under maintenance. On rest days, the elevators were maintained, leaving only one or two as backups. Today, unfortunately, both elevators were occupied.
Seeing someone coming, a staff member said apologetically, “Sorry for the inconvenience; we’ll be done soon.”
Xie Shibai looked at the staff moving things and asked, “How long have you been moving?”
The staff member recalled, “Over an hour.” He looked at Lu Ciheng. “Sorry, sir; we’ve kept you from using the elevator.”
Xie Shibai’s gaze rested on Lu Ciheng, his beautiful eyes staring at him without expression, as if asking what he was hiding.
Lu Ciheng: “…”
There was no need to reveal that he had climbed the stairs. Xie Shibai’s studio was on the 36th floor of the building. Given Lu Ciheng’s stamina, he must have run up. Knowing that Lu Ciheng asked why his phone was off, he couldn’t wait for the elevator and ran up 36 floors to find him. After finding him, his emotions were also off, his hands even trembling.
Strangely, as if they had a psychic connection, an answer appeared in Xie Shibai’s mind. “You thought I was going to commit suicide.”
Lu Ciheng immediately denied it. “How is that possible? I just wanted to exercise.”
Xie Shibai stared at him and sneered. “Lu Ciheng, you really thought that?”
What did he take him for? A melancholic porcelain doll after solving all the major issues? Thinking he’d die because he had no goals? For that pile of trash in the Xie family? “You actually thought I’d commit suicide for that trash in the Xie family.” Xie Shibai’s gaze was cold. “Go run the stairs yourself.”
Lu Ciheng hurriedly squeezed into the elevator. “I didn’t, really! It was all Zhong Mingxiu misleading me; it’s all his fault. Xie-laoshi, you have to believe me.”
“Heh.”
The elevator doors closed. As the transparent glass elevator descended, the outdoor scenery was fully visible. The brilliant sunlight combined with the lush greenery made one feel joyful. Under the soothing music, there was the sound of one rogue apology after another.
Sunlight poured into the cracks, shining on the hedgehog cat with its spines raised. The little Beagle forcefully pried open the gap and held the hedgehog cat in its arms, burying its head in the soft abdomen to nuzzle again and again.
Year after year, the seasons change, but love and freedom remain. Always passionate.
[End of Main Story]
Translator’s Note:
Thank you for following along with Xie-laoshi and his “puppy” Lu-gou. I hope you enjoyed this sweet, touch-starved romance. Stay tuned for any extra chapters (side stories)! I love this novel~ I hope to see you guys in other novels. Ba-bye! I will try to upload the side stories….
~Lili, your translator, hehe~
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