Chapter 26

Yan Zhao held a notebook and checked the homework he assigned to Lu Yinnan.

Lu Yinnan anxiously waited on the side, observing Yan Zhao’s demeanor. When Yan Zhao raised his eyebrows, her heart tightened.

Whether she could perform as Huo Panpan was still unknown, but she was sure she could play the terrifying class teacher that made all students tremble when they saw her. After all, the scariest teacher was sitting right in front of her…

“Okay,” Yan Zhao closed the notebook and handed it to her. “We’ll perform the 203^rd scene later, the confession. No problem, right?”

Lu Yinnan didn’t dare to say there was a problem and replied, standing at attention, “No problem!”

Yan Zhao glanced at her with a strange look. “You seem odd.”

Lu Yunnan: “…” It’s because you scared me!

The director led someone into the studio and said, “Today is the assessment. Yinnan, do your best.”

“I will!” Lu Yinnan replied.

“Assessment?” A clear voice sounded, Yan Zhao raised his head, and the temperature in his black eyes gradually dropped, as if frost had formed.

Ning Yunfan exclaimed, “So, Yan Ge is really teaching Teacher Lu how to act?”

The director chuckled, “Yes, Yan Zhao has saved us a teaching fee.”

“Oh?” Ning Yunfan smiled meaningfully, “Can I stay and watch too?”

The director said unconsciously, “Of course, watching the plot helps in writing better songs.”

“Writing songs?” Yan Zhao asked, his voice calm, revealing no emotions.

The director explained, “The Carmen Studio responsible for the ending song breached the contract, so we are looking for a new singer. Teacher Ning volunteered to give it a try, so we invited him here to get a feel! I think you guys are in the same group, so you should be happy about it…”

As he spoke, the director’s volume gradually lowered. Yan Zhao’s expression remained neutral, but Zhong Ling and Xiao Dou’s faces were not very friendly.

So they don’t have a good relationship?

…

The director invited Ning Yunfan into the studio and sent a message to Yan Zhao on WeChat: [We didn’t plan to invite Teacher Ning, but since everyone else is here, let him stay a bit longer.]

Yan Zhao said: [Ning Yunfan and I have a simple working relationship. Director Wang doesn’t need to worry too much. If he’s suitable, you can choose him.]

Director: [Alright.] Turned around and sent another message to another friend: [Are you free lately? Want to come and write songs?]

After the camera was ready, the clapperboard snapped, and the director exclaimed, “Action!”

Ning Yunfan sat in his seat, sitting upright with a slight smile on his lips.

From childhood to adulthood, Yan Zhao always overshadowed him. He took it as a childish temper and always tolerated it. However, when he entered the entertainment industry, Yan Zhao stuck to him like an unshakable plaster!

Whether it was regular work or being an idol star, being down-to-earth was the right path. Yet, he always played some tricks, pretending to be crazy and selling his foolish character. One day, there’s a scandal, and the next day he’s buying hot searches. His fan count is mostly inflated, foolish and unaware. Now, he’s even trying to teach acting using the identity of a teacher. How amusing!

Despite feeling contempt in his heart, Ning Yunfan remained focused, and watched the performer.

In this drama, the male lead, Guan Ying, is an ignorant second-generation wealthy individual. In his interactions with Huo Panpan, he learns that the female lead experienced campus violence during junior and senior high school, turning her into the subdued person she is now. However, he also perceives her ambitious nature and guides her to participate in a speech competition to build confidence. Unexpectedly, in a chaotic situation, Huo Panpan slaps her malicious roommate in front of the judges and faculty.

In the midst of chaos, Guan Ying takes the female lead away. In the heat of the moment, she blurts out, “I don’t want to be Huo Panpan anymore!”

Yan Zhao looked at her, his tone impatient, but his eyes contained a little tenderness and pity, “Are you silly? What’s good about being someone else?”

Lu Yinnan, with tears in her eyes, responds, “Is it not good to be someone else? They make mistakes, and someone tells them it’s okay. When they’re sad, someone comforts them. Maybe it’s fewer, but there are people who will like them. But I…”

Yan Zhao sighs, looked up at the sky, and put his hands in his pockets, and said helplessly, “Well, you’re irritable, thin-skinned, competitive, and always pretend to be a carefree fairy. It’s indeed hypocritical, and not many people will like you.”

Lu Yinnan sniffles, and tears roll down her cheeks, but she notices Yan Zhao’s gaze slowly shifting from the sky to her, as if she is the center of the world.

“But strangely, I find you quite cute when you get angry. Damn, I’m also an idiot,” Yan Zhao frustratingly runs his hand through his hair, and kicked away a small stone beneath his foot.

Lu Yinnan stammers, “W-what did you say?”

The smile at the corner of Yan Zhao’s mouth gradually disappears, and his easygoing and unruly aura converges. He looks serious as he speaks each word with complete sincerity, “Although not many people like you, I alone can outweigh ten thousand. So, just be yourself, being Huo Panpan is enough.”

Lu Yinnan’s face was filled with tears, her vision blurred as she asked, “Why?”

Yan Zhao knew that what she asked was, “Why do you like me?” He wiped away her tears but didn’t directly answer the question. Instead, he said, “One day, you will find your true self. At that time, you won’t be bound by others’ judgments because you will know that you are stronger than all of them.”

Huo Panpan couldn’t help but break into a smile through her tears. She understood the bittersweet farewell in Yan Zhao’s words. When you can stand on your own and no longer need me, it’s time for me to leave.

Lu Yinnan almost blurted out “liar” with tears in her eyes, but she was interrupted by the director’s “cut.” It was then that she realized she wasn’t Huo Panpan, and Yan Zhao wasn’t Guan Ying.

No, in that moment, every time he stood in the center of the camera, he became that character. However, he never lingered too long on any role. As soon as the scene ended, he would come out, leaving behind his Guan Ying and contine to perform on the stage.

Lu Yinnan needed to detach herself from Huo Panpan’s emotions, while Yan Zhao had already returned to his seat, crossed his legs and chatting away.

Yan Zhao: [Why didn’t you come to visit the set?]

Shen Yuanting: [?]

Yan Zhao: [Everyone else has someone visiting the set! I want someone too!]

Shen Yuanting: [Let’s do it another day, there will be a chance later.]

Yan Zhao: [Sticker Wang Zai rolling around]

Yan Zhao: [Sticker Wang Zai: Dad! Where are you!]

Shen Yuanting: [Be good.]

“Cut.” Yan Zhao lifted the lemon tea and took a sip, noticing a familiar figure sitting beside him. “Why are you still here? I thought you left.”

Ning Yunfan: “…”

Ning Yunfan gritted his teeth, trying to stay calm. “I want to watch a bit more.”

Yan Zhao rested his hand on the armrest, acting like a boss. “Oh, suit yourself.”

Seeing Yan Zhao’s “I don’t care about you” attitude, Ning Yunfan felt like he was about to suffocate.

How could Yan Zhao’s acting be so good?! He was originally playing with his phone while watching, but somehow, he got mesmerized! Clearly, Yan Zhao didn’t have any special movements or expressions, so why could he stir the audience’s emotions?

Ning Yunfan’s thoughts were in chaos. This shouldn’t be happening. According to the trajectory of his past life, Yan Zhao should have divorced Shen Yuanting long ago and hit rock bottom…

Ning Yunfan suddenly widened his eyes, and stared at Yan Zhao in disbelief. Could it be that he was also reborn?

After Mr. Yan, who travelled through time, rested, he went back on stage again. The more Ning Yunfan watched, the more disheartened he felt. Even with guidance from Ying Hongyu on acting, he couldn’t surpass Yan Zhao. Did God give him a second chance not to fulfill regrets but to be oppressed by others?

Why?!

Ning Yunfan suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the cement floor, making a harsh noise. Everyone in the studio turned to look at him.

“Sorry.” Ning Yunfan took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “Apologies for disturbing you. Continue with your work, I’ll go buy everyone a bottle of water.”

The director, caught up in the filming, didn’t have time to care about his emotions. “Oh, thanks, Teacher Ning.”

By the time Ning Yunfan came back after letting off steam, today’s scenes were almost done.

Ning Yunfan’s assistant distributed the purchased water and snacks to everyone. Lu Yinnan looked at the boxes of French chocolates and remarked, “These must be expensive; I usually don’t dare to buy them.”

Ning Yunfan laughed, “It’s okay. I have a sweet tooth, and they say these chocolates don’t make you gain weight easily, so I always buy this brand. Yan Ge, give it a try; they’re not too sweet, you might like them.”

Yan Zhao thought, “Yeah right, I like sweet things.”

Xiao Dou took a call and ran out of the studio for some reason. Ten minutes later, a truck slowly drove into the campus and stopped by the studio.

Xiao Dou came out from the passenger seat, carrying three large boxes from the cargo hold. His muscles were bulging, and the crew rushed to help.

The director opened the boxes and found rows of tea drinks inside. He picked up a bottle and checked the packaging, “Sugar-free Oolong tea? We didn’t order this.”

Xiao Dou, carrying three boxes alone, walked over briskly, “Yan Ge ordered this.”

Yan Zhao: “???”

—How come I don’t know? Did I order it in my dream?

Xiao Dou said sincerely, “Yan Ge covered the catering expenses for the crew and wanted to give everyone a surprise, so he didn’t mention it.”

With nearly a hundred people in the crew, filming for three months, even simple boxed meals could cost a considerable amount, reaching a six-figure sum. The director exclaimed, “Hey, I was wondering why the spokesperson for this tea is you, Zhao Zhao. You’re really too generous; how can I accept this?”

Yan Zhao replied, “It’s nothing, just a small contribution to the crew.”

In addition to the tea drinks, there were snacks of various flavors. Lu Yinnan looked at a box of pastries, “Isn’t this from GoldenMon? Their desserts usually require reservations!”

Yan Zhao glanced at her, “Seems like you know everything. Did you have a good life before?”

Lu Yinnan immediately stayed silent, not daring to make a sound.

Yan Zhao picked up a mint green macaron, “Would Teacher Ning like to try? Oh, you’re probably worried about gaining weight, right?”

Ning Yunfan forced a smile, “Well, I won’t eat.”

Yan Zhao sat in his seat, took a bite of the macaron, and called Xiao Dou over, “What’s going on?”

Xiao Dou whispered, “These were gifts from Brother’s fans, and the words I said earlier were his instructions.”

Yan Zhao slowly savored the macaron, the sweet taste spreading on his tongue, “Alright, I understand.”

So, the fan’s last name is Shen?

“And this.” Xiao Dou handed him a beautifully packaged box of macarons, “This is specifically for Brother, as he requested.”

Yan Zhao took the box, opened it, and each macaron was individually wrapped with words printed on them:

“Citrus flavor representing longing.”

Lu Yinnan was enjoying her tea when a question related to the plot suddenly popped up in her mind. She was so frightened that she quickly swallowed the dessert with her tea and grabbed her notebook to ask Yan Zhao.

At this moment, it was evening, and the rose-golden glow spread like flowing honey.

On a nearby seat, a handsome young man with a half-covered face, his dark eyes were shining, and his ears were red under his black hair.

He is clearly beyond the age of a teenager, yet like every boy who receives a love letter, he showed a shy and proud smile.

Lu Yinnan stopped in her tracks, then sat back in her original seat.

‘If I disturb him now, he might just kick me out of the crew for eternity.’

The shy boy was calculating in his mind: How can I quickly win over Shen Yuanting?