After Being Reborn, I Became Explosively Popular Across the Entire Internet CHAPTER 117
Chapter 117 YanYan’s Jealousy Turns Sour
“Brother Duan, I heard some gossip. The director chose Lin Qing… An Qingyan for the role of Shen Tinghan. He said the role was perfect for An Qingyan.”
Duan Ci was applying makeup in his private dressing room when his assistant spoke. He instantly scowled, grabbing a perfume bottle from the vanity and smashing it on the floor.
The fragile glass shattered, the strong scent of perfume filling the room, but it couldn’t mask Duan Ci’s shock and anger. He’d been practically guaranteed the role.
“An Qingyan… how is that even possible!”
The makeup artist beside him was stunned, stiff and silent.
The assistant was used to his boss’s temper. He gave the makeup artist a look, then pointed towards the door. The makeup artist, relieved, quickly left and closed the door.
“Brother Duan, please don’t get angry. The role isn’t confirmed yet. The director’s authority doesn’t outweigh the producer’s. He hasn’t even asked Director Yang for his opinion yet.”
The assistant said with a smile, “With your relationship with Director Yang, do you think he’ll agree?”
Duan Ci’s expression softened slightly, but he still looked gloomy. He had a famously short temper. Arms crossed, he sneered, “Is Wu Weiguang blind? He can cast just anyone as the lead.”
Wu Weiguang was the director of Nine Continents.
“Exactly,” the assistant agreed, fawning. “When it comes to acting skills, Brother Duan is definitely number one. How can a rookie from a talent show compare? That Wu guy probably just fell for his face.”
Duan Ci’s face darkened further.
The words backfired, hitting a sore spot.
Duan Ci gritted his teeth, grabbing the foundation from the vanity and throwing it at his assistant, coldly questioning, “Are you saying I’m not as handsome as he is?”
The assistant quickly denied it. “No, no… I’m just not thinking straight, Brother Duan. Please don’t mind me.” He sincerely praised, “That rookie can’t compare to you. He’s just a pretty boy. Your looks are considered the best in the industry! Really!”
Although, he secretly thought An Qingyan was even more handsome, he dared not risk another misstep.
Duan Ci snorted again, his mood unchanged.
His dislike for An Qingyan stemmed from the other man’s face.
Duan Ci frequently surfed the internet.
Since Tomorrow’s Stars aired, Lin Qingyan’s name had been everywhere online, especially on Weibo’s hot searches. The top spots were almost entirely occupied by him.
He couldn’t even buy his way onto the top of the trending list, damn it!
That wasn’t the reason for his dislike, though.
Some antis posted comments under his hot searches, mocking him for spending money on buying trending topics, only to be outdone by An Qingyan. They even suggested he save his money for plastic surgery, suggesting he could become like An Qingyan to gain popularity.
Once, he even wore the same outfit as An Qingyan—the same T-shirt and blue jeans. Marketing accounts rushed to post comparison photos of them both, with comments overwhelmingly favoring An Qingyan.
People commented that he was getting old and couldn’t compare to a teenager. Damn it! He was only twenty-five years and two months old, how could these blind netizens see crow’s feet around his eyes?!
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!
So, from that point on, he secretly resented An Qingyan.
Now that Wu Weiguang had actually chosen An Qingyan, it infuriated Duan Ci even more. He had openly boasted in front of An Qingyan, making this a blatant slap in the face.
What kind of acting could a singer and dancer do?
He didn’t know what tricks An Qingyan had used to get Wu Weiguang to give him the role.
Duan Ci became angrier and angrier, immediately calling Director Yang, the producer of Nine Continents. As soon as the call connected, the other party complained, “Brother Wu, didn’t you say the role of Shen Tinghan was mine? Why did the director choose someone else?!”
Whatever Director Yang said on the other end, Duan Ci’s expression gradually improved, eventually ending the call with a laugh and a sneer.
An Qingyan… you want to compete with me? Think about your own capabilities first!
—
December in Nancheng had already entered winter, with a light drizzle falling, making the temperature even lower.
Around 5:30 pm.
Outside the cafe.
An Qingyan wore a hooded sweatshirt under a black baseball jacket, a mask, and his hoodie pulled low, completely concealing his face except for his clear, peach blossom eyes.
This should prevent anyone from recognizing him, right?
He spent a moment outside the cafe preparing himself mentally before casually pushing open the door and entering.
The cafe, located near Gu Corporation, was luxuriously decorated and quiet. A couple sat in a corner booth.
They sat facing each other. The man wore a gray suit under a black wool overcoat, simple yet elegant. His face was even more handsome and mature than a movie star, giving off a sophisticated and attractive aura.
Opposite him sat a young woman, delicate, sweet, and with a gentle, refined air, clearly from a well-off family. She had a faint smile on her face.
An Qingyan only glanced at them from a distance, catching a glimpse of the man’s back, and immediately recognized Gu Fei.
He felt a pang of discomfort. Gu Fei was actually meeting Miss Su. He had spent the previous night meticulously appeasing him, only to have Gu Fei take advantage of him and then go on a blind date.
The masked and hooded boy silently clenched his fists, finding a seat in the back corner where he could see Gu Fei’s profile and Miss Su’s face.
Unless Gu Fei deliberately looked over, he wouldn’t notice him.
From the moment he sat down, An Qingyan kept his gaze fixed on the couple in the corner. Because of the distance, he couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he saw the smile on Miss Su’s face deepen.
Gu Fei, as always, had a cool expression.
What are they talking about? Why is she so happy?
An Qingyan frowned slightly, a sour feeling rising in his chest. Although he knew Gu Fei couldn’t possibly be with someone else, he couldn’t help feeling jealous, like a sour orange.
“Sir, may I take your order?”
A young waitress approached, handing An Qingyan a menu, a hint of confusion in her eyes; why was this person covering themselves up so much?
An Qingyan: “A mango juice, please.”
“Okay, please wait a moment.”
The waitress left, more confused than before. The young man’s voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.
An Qingyan took out his phone, opened the camera, aimed it at the couple, zoomed in, and pulled closer, to see their interactions more clearly.
“Mr. Gu, I’m curious how someone as outstanding as you would come to a blind date.” Su Qianqian smiled warmly, admiring the man across from her.
Clearly, she was very pleased with her blind date.
Although her family constantly urged her to find a partner, she had no interest in doing so. She only came today because her mother had arranged it.
While she had agreed to the date, Su Qianqian’s expectations were zero. She was quickly proven wrong. Who would have thought such a handsome, mature, and excellent man would be on a blind date?
Someone like this is still single?
That’s unbelievable!
Gu Fei didn’t come here to meet someone, because he already had a partner. Even if the person sitting across from him was a celestial being, it wouldn’t shake his heart, which belonged to An Qingyan.
“I apologize, Miss Su.” The man’s expression was his usual calm; he nodded slightly to express his apology. “Mr. Gu already has a partner.”
Su Qianqian: “…” Why did she hear a hint of pride in that sentence?
“But my mother doesn’t know. She arranged this.” Gu Fei said politely, “So I came here to apologize in person for wasting your time.”
… Sure enough, such an excellent man couldn’t be single. Su Qianqian couldn’t pretend she wasn’t disappointed, but since he had personally come to apologize instead of making excuses, she couldn’t be angry.
“It’s okay, I was also forced into this blind date by my mother. I understand.” Expressing her understanding, Su Qianqian politely complimented, “Mr. Gu’s partner must be a very outstanding person.”
Then she noticed the man, who had maintained a cool expression, slightly turned up the corners of his lips, nodding reservedly in agreement. “Yes, indeed. He’s quite excellent.”
Su Qianqian: “…”
If she heard correctly, she definitely detected a hint of pride in his tone.
Why! Why did she have to eat the dog food of her blind date and his partner on her blind date!!
Mr. Gu, are you being polite? Are you being polite?!
Did you steal all the panda’s food!!
Su Qianqian inwardly raged, but outwardly maintained her refined demeanor, forcing a smile. “Mr. Gu, I wish you and your partner happiness.”
Gu Fei readily accepted. “Thank you.” He paused, adding sincerely, “I also wish Miss Su finds her ideal partner soon.”
Su Qianqian, inexplicably stabbed by his words: “…”
Thank you very much!!
An Qingyan was in a very foul mood. He’d just seen from his phone that Gu Fei had actually smiled at Miss Su, albeit a small, subtle smile, and the image wasn’t very clear, but he had smiled!
Gu Fei rarely smiled at others.
But he actually smiled at a blind date he’d known for less than ten minutes!!
An Qingyan clenched his fists, his jealousy evolving from a sour orange to a sour lemon.
