TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 53

Chapter 51: Danger Strikes Again

Zhuo Huaimo stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window at Yu Fengran’s home, staring blankly at the drizzling rain outside.

Since that video was exposed, his career had plummeted.

The internet was flooded with abuse and ridicule, former fans turned against him, and even “Early Spring,” a project to which he had dedicated all his efforts, was completely shut down.

Yu Fengran barely let him leave the house, fearing he would encounter crazed fans or paparazzi.

Every day felt like a bird trapped in a cage, suffocating and oppressive.

“Old Zhuo, time to eat.”

Yu Fengran’s voice came from behind, laced with exhaustion.

Zhuo Huaimo turned around and saw Yu Fengran holding hot food, the fatigue on his face was obvious.

During this time, Yu Fengran had to cope with the pressure from the company’s shareholders and fight against Qi Yanwang, so he was busy every day.

Sometimes, he didn’t even come home for two or three days.

“Sorry for causing you trouble!”

Zhuo Huaimo said softly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Yu Fengran forced a relaxed smile, “You say that as if you haven’t caused me trouble before. Which of your previous scandals wasn’t handled by me?”

Zhuo Huaimo smiled wryly and stopped talking.

Yu Fengran took his hand and said softly, “Don’t worry! I’m here!”

Because Yu Fengran had dated girlfriends before, Zhuo Huaimo never suspected anything about his sexuality all these years, so naturally he wouldn’t think that way.

He patted his hand and laughed, “Thanks!”

When they were eating, Yu Fengran deliberately avoided talking about the recent situation in the company and that person’s situation.

In fact, that person was easy to deal with except for targeting Yu Fengran. Indeed, like he said, he never wanted Xingyue Media.

Qi Yanwang’s only requirement was that the shares must be firmly in his own hands, which he would return to Zhuo Huaimo. As for other daily management, he didn’t participate at all. Sometimes, Yu Fengran deliberately made things difficult for him.

As long as it wasn’t too much, as long as it was good for Xingyue Media, he could endure it.

The videos on the internet had all been taken down, but the fermentation of public opinion was much more severe than expected.

Having been in this industry for so many years, he was indifferent to these negative news and fans turning against him.

He knew that as time passed, new hot topics would always dilute the current situation.

However, he knew he wasn’t strong enough to remain unmoved when he saw the overwhelming abuse, so he chose his usual approach – not to look at any of it.

Even so, he clearly knew that he was completely finished in this industry.

After Yu Fengran left, Zhuo Huaimo curled up on the leather sofa, staring at the swaying chandelier on the ceiling.

Raindrops meandered down the glass windows, like countless pairs of prying eyes.

The phone suddenly vibrated, the screen displaying a number from the United States.

Even without a name saved, this number was still so familiar to him.

He hesitated for a moment, but still answered it.

“Huaimo?”

A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, “It’s me, Shao Fan.”

Although he had been mentally prepared, his heart still trembled slightly.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

Zhuo Huaimo wasn’t from a formal performing arts background. After achieving some success in his career, he took a break to study acting abroad for a while.

Five years ago, on a summer night in Los Angeles, they met in the rehearsal room of the performing arts department at the University of Southern California.

Shao Fan leaned against a Steadicam rig, adjusting the camera, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, the lines of his forearms vaguely visible with the adjusting movements.

At the time, he was rehearsing “The Seagull,” Shao Fan said his Nina had a sense of fragility that was torn apart by fate.

“I saw the news.”

Shao Fan’s voice shattered the memories, “Are you… okay now?”

Zhuo Huaimo’s fingertips unconsciously picked at the sofa seams, unconsciously gripping the phone.

Those deliberately forgotten scenes suddenly became vivid –

Shao Fan was talented and exuded a captivating charm in every move he made.

They had discussed scripts late into the night on benches in Central Park and shared the same sandwich backstage on Broadway.

Two outstanding people were destined to attract each other, and gradually, the feelings between them quietly heated up.

That was the only time Zhuo Huaimo had opened his heart to someone. On the day Shao Fan confessed his love to him, he hesitated and told him about the curse without reservation.

He still remembered that the boy stood in the sunlight, smiling brightly, gently holding him in his arms, “Baby, you should know that love can overcome all difficulties.”

But when Shao Fan followed him back to China, Zhuo Huaimo took him to that row of tombstones, he was stunned.

After returning to the United States again, Shao Fan reduced their contact with each other.

The world of adults, usually the end is so tacit understanding.

The Shao Fan Zhuo Huaimo knew had always been calm, rational, and liked to keep everything within a controllable range. He wasn’t surprised by this ending and understood it.

However, the sense of loss in his heart was like a thorn, deeply rooted in his heart, unable to be pulled out.

Maybe that’s why he never mentioned the curse to anyone again.

No one should take their lives to take risks with you, and that’s not what he wanted.

Moreover, without expectations, there would be no disappointment!

“Mo, are you listening?”

“Oh, I am!”

Zhuo Huaimo laughed softly, trying to hide the fatigue in his voice.

He hoped that what remained in Shao Fan’s impression would always be the high-spirited him!

He smiled bitterly, “Looks like I’m still very popular across the ocean!”

Shao Fan said on the other end, “You’ve always been excellent!”

He paused, without asking about Zhuo Huaimo’s situation in China in detail, and directly extended an invitation, “Huaimo, I’d like to invite you to the United States to relax.”

Shao Fan’s voice sounded again, with a hint of expectation and sincerity, “I know you’re in a difficult situation in China right now, why not leave for a while, change the environment, maybe it will be better.”

Zhuo Huaimo was stunned for a moment, his heart somewhat wavering.

He did need to leave here, to leave the suffocating pressure and strife.

Shao Fan seemed to hear his hesitation and continued, “Huaimo, I’ve always felt sorry about what happened back then. I… was too young then, I didn’t have the courage to face those things. Thinking about it now, I really regret it.”

Zhuo Huaimo smiled, “Facts have proved, Peter, your choice was correct! Otherwise, we wouldn’t even be able to be friends now!”

“Do you really still consider me a friend?”

In Shao Fan’s voice, there was undisguised surprise.

“Of course!”

Zhuo Huaimo laughed, “I’m very grateful that you can still contact me at this time!”

This sentence was from the bottom of his heart!

Shao Fan said, “Huaimo, if you really consider me a friend, give me a chance to accompany you through this period and make up for the mistakes of the past!”

Zhuo Huaimo was silent for a long time. The repression in the country and Qi Yanwang’s constant harassment made him feel physically and mentally exhausted. He wanted to escape this place.

Maybe, when he got to the United States, there would be a new world!

He finally sighed softly, “Okay, I promise you.”

“Okay, I’ll buy you a plane ticket right away, I remember your ID number!”

After finishing the call with Shao Fan, Zhuo Huaimo lay back on the sofa.

This damn everything, it’s time to end it!

Going to the United States, at least he could have some peace, at least he could walk on the street openly, instead of being forced to become like a rat crossing the street, a former Top-Tier (Idol).

Qi Yanwang, that man of all things, he should never have provoked him in the first place, it was all his own fault!

Once he goes to America, all of this will end, and he’ll never see that man again!

He suddenly felt a blockage in his chest and reached out to touch the cigarette pack on the table, only to find that it was empty.

Zhuo Huaimo was annoyed and wanted to go out to buy a pack of cigarettes, but he remembered Yu Fengran’s instructions, worried about encountering paparazzi or extreme fans.

He thought about it, the convenience store was just at the entrance, it should be fine to buy a pack of cigarettes.

So, he grabbed a jacket and went out.

The convenience store was only a few hundred meters away from Yu Fengran’s villa. Zhuo Huaimo was wearing a mask and was about to cross the road when he suddenly felt someone approaching him from behind.

Before he could turn around, a sharp pain shot through the back of his neck, and everything went black as he lost consciousness.

Yu Fengran sat in his office, feeling restless.

He had called Zhuo Huaimo seven times in a row, but there was no answer.

“What’s going on?”

Yu Fengran frowned, a bad feeling rising in his heart. He grabbed his coat and prepared to rush back!

Just as he got up, the office door was pushed open.

Qi Yanwang stormed in, angrily, “Yu Fengran, what the hell do you mean? You’re sending me to shoot in the desert, and it’s for half a year?”

Yu Fengran raised his head and looked at him coldly, “This is the company’s decision, you better obey the arrangement.”

Qi Yanwang sneered, “The company’s decision? Or your personal decision? You think you can get a chance if you try to get me out of the way?”

Yu Fengran didn’t want to argue with him too much and tried to push him away directly, “I have something to do now, I don’t want to argue with you!”

“Don’t go!!”

Qi Yanwang grabbed him, “I’m telling you, I’m not going to the desert, I’m staying here, I’m not going anywhere!”

“You better get out of my way!”

Yu Fengran’s face was ugly. He dialed Zhuo Huaimo’s number again, still no answer. He pushed Qi Yanwang away directly.

In that instant, Qi Yanwang clearly saw that the phone call was to Zhuo Huaimo. For a moment, he was still delighted, thinking he could hear this person’s voice.

Seeing Yu Fengran’s expression, he immediately felt bad and frowned, “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Yu Fengran roared at him, “You get out of my way, Zhuo Huaimo’s phone keeps going unanswered, I have to go back right now!”

Qi Yanwang’s face turned pale instantly. He grabbed him, “What did you say? What’s wrong with him?”

Yu Fengran shook him off directly, “I don’t know, I’ve been calling him just now, but no one answers. He’s not usually like this. I have to go back right away!”

Qi Yanwang’s heartbeat quickened, “I’ll go with you!”

The two hurried back to the villa. The moment they pushed open the door, the room was silent, only the sound of the wind blowing gently outside the window.

Yu Fengran walked quickly into the living room and found that Zhuo Huaimo’s coat was gone, and the cigarette pack on the table was also empty.

“He went out?” Yu Fengran frowned, the uneasy feeling in his heart growing stronger.

Qi Yanwang looked around, his eyes filled with anxiety, “Where did he go? Why isn’t he answering the phone?”

Yu Fengran picked up his phone and dialed Zhuo Huaimo’s number again, still no answer.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, “Let’s go out and look for him, he shouldn’t have gone too far.”

The two walked out of the villa and searched along the small road in the neighborhood.

The streets were wet after the rain, and the air was filled with the smell of soil.

Qi Yanwang dialed his phone while his whole body was ice cold, and the hand holding the phone couldn’t stop shaking.

Then, he heard Zhuo Huaimo’s usual ringtone from the nearby bushes.

The two quickly walked over and picked up the phone, their hearts sinking to the bottom!

It’s not difficult to judge the current situation:

Kidnapping!!

But who is the other party? A fan? Or an acquaintance?

Qi Yanwang felt his eyes go dark in an instant, his brain blank.

Zhuo Huaimo… Zhuo Huaimo…

His only prayer, the other party must not have an accident!

At this time, Qi Yanwang’s phone rang, and he received a video:

Zhuo Huaimo was stripped naked, lying on a big bed, his hands and feet were fixed with rubber bands!