Chapter 096 – This Tragic Movie Emperor – “It has a bit of a smell” (01/08)
Outside the window, torrential rain poured down, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Xie Chenyang sat on the windowsill, with a cigarette still clamped between his fingers and a transparent crystal ashtray at his feet.
He frowned and stubbed out the cigarette. Though he had taken over the original body, he had no intention of finishing it.
Xie Chenyang felt a chill run through his entire body. Glancing at his thin clothing, he silently burrowed deeper into the blankets.
[Dad, I’m ready.]
You Huang: “Get up and turn on the air conditioner’s heating.”
[Okay, done.]
You Huang: “Good. I’ve sent you the plot outline.”
Before the heating could kick in, Xie Chenyang pulled the covers over his head, curled into a ball, and closed his eyes to quietly digest the plot.
The original body belonged to Shen Yangfan, originally named Shen Fan. After entering the entertainment industry, he changed his name to Shen Yangfan, signifying his desire to set sail on his stardom journey, charging forward without hesitation.
He had loved sports since childhood, boasting an excellent physique and strikingly handsome features. Right after entering the industry, under his agent’s guidance, he attracted a large following of fans drawn to his looks.
Though not formally trained, he approached his craft with intense dedication. His acting talent seemed innate—his strong empathy allowed him to effortlessly grasp character nuances, delivering performances brimming with genuine emotion.
Within just three years, he clinched the Best Actor award, becoming a leading star.
His popularity soared overnight, with offers flooding in. At this critical juncture, he should have focused solely on his career, avoiding romance.
But on his new set, he encountered a scumbag–Ke Ming. Though Ke Ming was only playing a minor supporting role, he approached it with remarkable dedication and passion.
His love for acting was immediately apparent.
Shen Yangfan first met Ke Ming after wrapping a scene, when he was looking for a place to rest and stumbled upon Ke Ming quietly practicing his craft.
An uncredited supporting actor with minimal lines, yet Ke Ming practiced repeatedly, swiftly identifying his shortcomings each time and making constant adjustments to improve.
At that moment, Shen Yangfan’s first thought was, ‘This is a gifted actor with innate talent.’
Ke Ming set his phone aside to record himself. After each take, he’d rush over to review his performance, endlessly refining it, completely unaware that Shen Yangfan was watching him nearby.
Ke Ming seemed to treat the place as his training ground.
Whenever Shen Yangfan happened to pass by during his downtime, he’d spot him there. Once, he even caught Ke Ming rehearsing his own scenes.
Then, he stumbled upon a scene where Ke Ming was being bullied and mocked by an unknown newbie, who was putting on airs, daring to dream of being the lead… and so on. Some even tried to lay hands on Ke Ming.
Unsurprisingly, Shen Yangfan intervened to save him.
Xie Chenyang skipped over the various coincidences and sparks that flew during their encounter.
With his god’s-eye view, he knew all of this was merely Ke Ming’s deliberate disguise and approach. Ke Ming had secretly studied Shen Yangfan for a long time, knowing how dedicated and hardworking he was since entering the industry, and how seriously he took acting.
So, after deciding to approach Shen Yangfan with the persona of a passionate, pure-hearted actor, he took action, going to great lengths to infiltrate Shen Yangfan’s new production team.
Ke Ming and Shen Yangfan had entered the industry the same year. But while one became a Best Actor, the other remained a completely unknown, third-rate actor.
Ke Ming wasn’t unattractive, but he wasn’t outstanding either. His acting was solid, yet opportunities remained elusive. Compared to his stagnant career, his agent prioritized other talents under management, occasionally securing him minor roles that failed to make a splash.
Watching Shen Yangfan sail smoothly through the entertainment industry—unblemished by setbacks, ascending effortlessly to the top—stirred both envy and infatuation within him.
Ke Ming was gay, and Shen Yangfan happened to be his type.
He wanted to possess him, and he wanted to destroy him.
Unsurprisingly, Ke Ming crafted a persona he thought Shen Yangfan might like, slowly drawing closer, inch by inch. He constantly adjusted this persona based on Shen Yangfan’s reactions, “evolving” along the way.
Leveraging Shen Yangfan’s admiration to gain resources, he cast and reeled in his net like a spider, ultimately capturing Shen Yangfan’s heart.
Shen Yangfan wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
When he realized he’d fallen for Ke Ming, he treated him even better. He skipped the secret crush routine, openly declaring his feelings and stating plainly that if Ke Ming couldn’t accept them, he’d maintain distance.
Ke Ming, of course, chose to accept.
But Shen Yangfan’s career was at its peak, and Ke Ming was steadily rising. They wisely avoided impulsive public declarations, keeping their relationship under wraps. Shen Yangfan’s agent was the only one who knew about it.
Ke Ming’s acting was truly flawless; otherwise, an Academy Award-winning actor like Shen Yangfan wouldn’t have missed it. The Ke Ming he knew had approached him wearing a mask from the very beginning.
With resources provided by Shen Yangfan, Ke Ming quickly made a name for himself in the entertainment industry.
Ke Ming worked relentlessly, telling Shen Yangfan he wanted to catch up to him as soon as possible, unwilling to fall too far behind. In less than a year, he starred in three films one after another without pause.
Without Shen Yangfan, Ke Ming would never have had the chance to appear in them, one of which even featured him as the second male lead.
Ke Ming didn’t disappoint Shen Yangfan’s investment in him. Though the directors of the three films were initially unfriendly, after witnessing his acting, they all praised him highly, leaving a deep impression and expressing a desire for future collaborations.
After the three films, Ke Ming finally agreed to take a break, making time to accompany Shen Yangfan.
This companionship, however, led to problems. They began to argue over dominance in bed.
Shen Yangfan wanted to be on top, and so did Ke Ming.
Shen Yangfan had always been accommodating toward Ke Ming, but on this matter, he insisted it was only natural—he should be on top.
Ke Ming felt as if he was seeing Shen Yangfan towering above him as the Academy Award-winning actor, while he himself was reduced to a forgotten, third-rate extra.
Jealousy and resentment surged within Ke Ming once more. He feigned shyness and pretended to concede. When Shen Yangfan was ready, he even acted coy, saying he felt a little scared and wanted to drink first to build his courage.
He got Shen Yangfan drunk and forced himself on him. When Shen Yangfan woke up, he was furious and vowed to make Ke Ming pay.
Ke Ming took him seriously.
He believed he’d already established a solid foundation—those three major directors clearly admired him, and after the film’s release, he’d gained a large, loyal fanbase. His future in stardom seemed assured.
In truth, he regretted it soon after. His impulsive act had shattered the carefully crafted persona he’d built.
The persona Ke Ming had cultivated in front of Shen Yangfan clearly didn’t include getting someone drunk and forcing himself on them.
Now that Shen Yangfan was this furious, once he came to his senses and grew suspicious, realizing he’d been played… Ke Ming considered the consequences and decided to strike first.
Shen Yangfan’s anger came quickly and faded just as fast.
He was furious that Ke Ming had disregarded his wishes. But putting himself in Ke Ming’s shoes—they were both men. Was it wrong for a man to desire his lover?
Thinking he’d scared Ke Ming to retreat, he began plotting how to coax him back.
But before he could start smoothing things over, Ke Ming had already framed Shen Yangfan, exposing him as if he himself were the victim.
Shen Yangfan was stunned by the fabricated charges Ke Ming had leveled against him.
Ke Ming was Shen Yangfan’s first love, and Shen Yangfan had cherished him deeply. In his heart, Ke Ming had always been a person of virtue.
But witnessing Ke Ming’s true face now filled him with disgust.
According to Ke Ming’s statements and evidence, when Ke Ming faced bullying on set, his idol Shen Yangfan had come to his aid. Shen Yangfan had praised his acting talent and frequently offered guidance. Ke Ming claimed he was overjoyed.
Later, Shen Yangfan provided him with resources and opportunities, which thrilled him. To live up to this trust, he threw himself into acting, desperate not to disappoint his idol. But he never imagined that after filming wrapped, Shen Yangfan would invite him to his home, shed his facade, and subject him to unspeakable acts.
Ke Ming included a photo showing bite marks and hickeys on his torso, along with a picture of Shen Yangfan sleeping contentedly, which he snapped as he hurriedly “escaped.”
He posted numerous chat logs between Shen Yangfan and himself. In these records, Shen Yangfan consistently encouraged and affirmed him.
[I thought he genuinely believed in my acting skills.]
Then he shared the chat where Shen Yangfan invited him to his home. The agent demanded Shen Yangfan produce evidence of their relationship. Only then did Shen Yangfan realize he couldn’t.
Ke Ming explained he wasn’t famous and feared damaging Shen Yangfan’s career. So before he could grow and become his equal, they had to be cautious—that kind of “romantic” evidence simply couldn’t be kept.
Shen Yangfan couldn’t produce evidence, but Ke Ming presented the smoking gun.
He’d even disregarded his own reputation, taking those humiliating photos.
[I love acting. I idolized Shen Yangfan. But I never imagined he’d be this kind of person. Maybe after today, I’ll be attacked so badly I can’t survive in the entertainment industry. But I have no regrets. Yes, I’m no longer pure. If I’d known Shen Yangfan was directing me, looking out for me, recommending resources… all just to get with me, then I’d rather have stayed an unknown nobody forever than go through this. Shen Yangfan, I’m done being your fan.]
Ke Ming was indeed attacked.
Shen Yangfan’s brainless fans all cursed him for being ungrateful after getting what he wanted, for turning his back on the person who helped him, for wanting to have his cake and eat it too…
But Shen Yangfan was cursed even more viciously. Those who liked him felt deceived. His haters seized the chance to bash him relentlessly, dragging him into every scandal they could find. Even bystanders expressed disdain for his actions.
[If you’d been upfront with him instead of bestowing favors only to demand repayment later, I’d still respect you as a person]
[This is genuinely disgusting🤢]
[Is this for real? And he’s an Academy Award winner?]
[Only someone with warped values would do something like this]
In short, this marked the first time Shen Yangfan had been targeted since his debut four years ago—and the most vicious backlash he’d ever faced.
Meanwhile, Ke Ming’s three consecutive film releases showcased his acting prowess. Each role presented a distinct persona, yet he embodied them all with remarkable authenticity, earning him a massive surge in fans.
His fanbase grew substantially throughout this year. Under the guidance of dedicated supporters, they not only saw no fault in Ke Ming but also felt profound sympathy for him.
Their idol was wholly dedicated to acting, possessed sound values, and was straightforward. Even knowing the truth would subject him to judgmental scrutiny, he refused to sweep things under the rug, choosing to maintain his integrity rather than compromise.
Shen Yangfan’s smooth rise had long made some envious. Ultimately, orchestrated by those with ulterior motives, he found himself nearly engulfed in a wave of online backlash.
Shen Yangfan didn’t care much about the backlash. What truly troubled him was realizing his own blindness for falling for someone like that. The more he thought about it, the more he withdrew into himself.
He left the entertainment industry.
Ke Ming’s self-disclosure brought him immense attention. Despite facing bullying, his passion for acting only grew stronger. He threw himself into his craft with renewed intensity, step by step, ultimately ascending to the position of Best Actor.
As mentioned earlier, Shen Yangfan was Ke Ming’s type. He envied Shen Yangfan, yet he also desired him.
Once he had firmly established himself in the entertainment industry, Ke Ming thought of Shen Yangfan again and quietly sought him out.
By then, Shen Yangfan was largely forgotten. He ran a bar in a state of self-destruction, occasionally taking the stage to play, living each day in a drunken haze.
That was when Ke Ming appeared.
He confessed his past mistakes, telling Shen Yangfan he’d never forgotten him. He’d been young back then, terrified by Shen Yangfan’s threat that he wouldn’t let him go, which had driven him to impulsively strike first.
He was willing to be the submissive one. As long as Shen Yangfan forgave him, he’d do anything.
Shen Yangfan, with a cigarette dangling from his lips and a beer in hand, was already tipsy. He slurred out, “Fine. Then let me have you right here.”
He was certain Ke Ming would refuse. They were inside Shen Yangfan’s bar. Seated in a booth, the dim, noisy establishment with its deafening music meant no one noticed their corner. But if they actually did anything, anyone passing by would definitely see.
And Ke Ming was now a top-tier movie star.
Alright, as long as you’re willing to forgive me, anything is fine.
Ke Ming lay back on the booth, his expression deeply devoted and unwavering. Shen Yangfan didn’t do it, of course. He told him to get lost.
From that day on, Ke Ming visited his bar every single day. Slowly, Shen Yangfan found himself genuinely moved by him.
Xie Chenyang crawled out from under the covers, adjusted the air conditioner to lower the heat slightly, touched the cold sweat on his forehead, and looked utterly perplexed. “Why? Why would Shen Yangfan forgive him? Why would he be moved?”
It didn’t make sense!
You Huang analyzed calmly, “Don’t be fooled by Shen Yangfan’s hedonistic lifestyle. Precisely because of that, it proves he hasn’t let go of Ke Ming. Ke Ming was the first person he ever loved, and also the first to hurt him. He can’t forget. Ke Ming was even willing to let him have his way in the bar without worrying about being caught—he’s practically willing to sacrifice his pride to win him back…”
“Bullshit,” Xie Chenyang spat with disgust. “Ke Ming clearly calculated that Shen Yangfan couldn’t possibly do anything to him in that situation.”
“True, but Shen Yangfan didn’t see it that way.”
Xie Chenyang pulled out a cigarette and lit it with irritation. “Fuck! Why do people like this exist?”
This wasn’t love at all.
You Huang murmured, “Shen Yangfan forgiving him might not be about love either.”
Xie Chenyang retorted, “So what? Would you pick up your own shit and eat it? Don’t you find that disgusting?”
You Huang: “…You’re revolting.”
Xie Chenyang’s face darkened. He hadn’t thought much of it before, but You Huang’s words suddenly made it feel all too real.
You Huang: “I can’t help you in this world. Fabricating evidence out of thin air to fight back is impossible. What’s your plan?”
Xie Chenyang: [Let me think.]
You Huang: “Also, you can’t use those soul techniques… That mental power I taught you is against the rules. The inspection team has already notified the oversight group to keep an eye on us.”
[No problem, I’ve got this!]
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
