Behind The Red Curtain | YiZhan ✓

13-Values And Virtues

It was five years ago when they met. At the time Yibo had not debuted just yet, and Cheng was an obedient little kid. He was not a kid of course, but immature to some extend. He was new to the industry, haven't made a name for himself just yet. He was known as "director Duyi's little brother", which had made it hard for him to earn everyone's respect.

"Oh he must've had it easy in the industry!" or some would say things like "What an undeserving little kid! Probably had to rely on his brother his whole life. How shameless!"

There were even people who said much more cruel things, but they were more vague in his mind for being "bad" stuff.

It was his first movie as an actor and had landed a good role thanks to his brother's' marketing capabilities. And that was how he had met Zhan. He was also starring in the movie, but as the main lead. He was liked by many for his efforts and talents, to which Cheng was the complete opposite of.

And Zhan saw the discrimination he was facing, and decided to speak to him a word or two to help him clear his mind from all the hate. "I think your acting was rather good. Even a capable man such as the director wouldn't be able to land such an opportunity." But now when he thought back on it, he would never tell someone such horrid words, only to downgrade someone for the sake of making the other feel better.

But, even he used to be young at some point in life. He had done mistakes and was a sinner just like the rest of humanity that strived to be better, to be "good" in nature. He called them all hypocrites and moved on, deciding that life was much much more than simply being good or bad. There was at least one thing his father was right about, and he took it to the heart.

"But i got this role through my brother. There was no way anyone could've given me such an important role in a drama, considering that i am still a rookie." But being a rookie mattered less to the latter, and spoke with confidence that he should use this opportunity to become better, and prove those who thought so little of him, wrong.

And he did so. Cheng happened to be smart enough to get what he wanted. He did not have to work hard to achieve what he strived for, simply because he had talent. But that had also made him dangerous without anyone realizing it.

When Zhan thought back on it, it wasn't long before his obsession had taken a turn for the worse. After their first and last role together, they had never even met once, aside from wok dinners and company gatherings. Which made him think, if, his attachment towards him had been so simple as to get a liking to him from a simple talk. What he had told him couldn't even be considered as advice, since it had been disrespectful towards Duyi. Maybe his grudge towards his brother had been so big, that he took Zhan's words to the heart. As bothersome as it was now, he didn't care enough for it.

His mind was already preoccupied with Yibo's words from the other day at the studio, that he couldn't really have the motivation to bother with him at all.

But he knew that he didn't want Yibo's words to be true, so he still strived to do things right, somewhere deep in his heart. But for now, he focused on the problem ahead.

"Sorry. I might've spoken bad about you a couple years back." His voice was soft and calm, yet the Zhou Duyi in front of him could not be bothered by it as he chomped on his food. "That's fine, everyone has. In fact, i could name your every single person who has spoken behind my back. Well, i did set someone up to spy, so that's on me."

Zhan looked around, a little lost. The restaurant was empty aside from him and the sushi chef behind the counter. He was a rich man after all. "Didn't... my manager and Mr. Zeng also get called here?"