SM Chapter 64

Chapter 64 Actually, on the day I signed the divorce agreement, I still…

Regret, nothing but regret.

Sheng Mingqian tasted the bitter fruit he had planted. He stared eagerly at Ye Lai’s completed manuscript, his brain working rapidly, trying to find a way to persuade Ye Lai.

“Although the work afterwards has stopped, I’ve also been preparing a new script. When I finish writing it, can we exchange them and take a look? I want you to be my first reader,” Sheng Mingqian asked expectantly.

Ye Lai tidied up the table, unmoved: “We’ll see when the time comes.”

Sheng Mingqian could only temporarily change the subject: “Did you read the scripts I gave to Zhang Yihao?”

“I did.”

“Are there any characters you like?”

“I like all those characters quite a bit.”

Hearing Ye Lai say this, Sheng Mingqian’s previously low mood lifted slightly, and he tentatively asked, “Which character do you want? I’ll talk to the Director.”

“Although I like them all, I don’t really want to film anything. I want to focus on writing something.”

The words Sheng Mingqian wanted to say next got stuck in his throat. If Ye Lai didn’t want to film, then he wouldn’t. As long as Ye Lai was happy, he could do whatever he wanted.

Li Xun finished her work during the day, bought a lot of things for children in the afternoon, and said she was going to visit the children at the orphanage, Ye Lai took her with him.

Sheng Mingqian drove, insisting on taking them.

Ye Lai and Li Xun sat in the back row, chatting the whole time. Li Xun complained about her terrible lunch meeting in the morning, then chatted with him about the children at the orphanage, and finally talked about Ye Lai’s new book.

Li Xun told Ye Lai that the editor at the publishing house had been asking her since the year before last when “Bamboo Sign” was planning to write a new book.

Ye Lai said he was writing it and would show it to them when he finished.

Sheng Mingqian pricked up his ears, listening to the two people in the back row chatting enthusiastically. When he heard Ye Lai say that he would show it to them when he finished writing, his heart itched again. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, the breath he was holding stuck in his chest, neither up nor down.

The only thing that could give him some self-comfort was that Ye Lai’s pen name was still Bamboo Sign.

Li Xun asked: “Are you going to change your pen name?”

The self-comfort in Sheng Mingqian’s heart hadn’t completely circulated through his body. It stopped halfway. He held his breath and listened to Ye Lai’s answer.

Ye Lai looked at the street scene retreating behind him, his tone lazy, as if he didn’t care much: “I’ll see when the time comes.”

–

–

Chen Yu Chuan also came to the orphanage, arriving earlier than them. He was handing out books and small toys to the children. Several large boxes of new clothes for the children’s seasonal change were also placed in the courtyard.

“Brother Chuan, you have time to come over today.” Ye Lai carried things out of the car, walked over to greet Chen Yu Chuan, Sheng Mingqian followed closely beside him.

“Ye Lai, you came too. I came to deliver some spring clothes. They can wear them in a few days when it warms up.”

Chen Yu Chuan put down what he was holding and clapped his hands, “That’s right, wait for me. I’ll get something from the car.”

Ye Lai responded with a “okay,” and Sun Ayi came out to invite them in. Li Xun carried things inside first.

Chen Yu Chuan took a red invitation from the car and waved it at Ye Lai from afar, running over to hand it to him: “I originally wanted to make a special trip to your place. Well, I’m preparing to hold a wedding reception. I don’t know if you’re busy or not, but if you have time, come and attend.”

Ye Lai opened the invitation. The wedding location was on an island: “This island is very beautiful. I’ve always wanted to go there for a vacation. Brother Chuan, I’ll definitely go.”

“Okay, it’s settled then. Don’t worry, the people who are going are all proper friends. They won’t take pictures randomly,” Chen Yu Chuan said.

Ye Lai smiled: “It’s okay. It’s okay even if they take pictures.”

The two of them exchanged a few words, Sheng Mingqian kept glancing at the red invitation in Ye Lai’s hand, unable to take his eyes off it.

Chen Yu Chuan also recognized Sheng Mingqian. Sensing his gaze, and seeing that he had come with Ye Lai, he casually asked, “Director Sheng, right? I’ve seen you on the news. You’re always trending with Ye Lai. If you have time, will you come with Ye Lai?”

Chen Yu Chuan was just being polite, but Sheng Mingqian readily accepted, nodding: “If I have time, I’ll definitely be there. Congratulations, President Chen.”

“I didn’t say I’d take you,” Ye Lai glanced at Sheng Mingqian after Chen Yu Chuan left, “Don’t you have several movie promotion events?”

“I can make time,” Sheng Mingqian said.

Ye Lai wanted to say something else, but Xiao Yu ran out and pounced on them, grabbing one of their arms and pulling them inside: “Brother Lai, Uncle Shèng, Uncle Chen and the pretty sister brought us a lot of things. Sun Ayi said we’re going to make a few more dishes tonight. You guys eat with us.”

Ye Lai didn’t know Li Xun’s later plans, so he asked her first. After confirming that she was free tonight, he said they would stay for dinner.

Sun Ayi usually didn’t go online and didn’t know about the rumors between Ye Lai and Sheng Mingqian. She only treated them as friends. At the dinner table, she mentioned the director with some sadness, and also spoke of the director’s greatest concern in the past, which was Ye Lai’s marriage.

Sun Ayi asked Ye Lai about his plans: “Ye Lai, how is that blind date going? I haven’t heard anything. If it’s not suitable, Sun Ayi will introduce you to another one, okay?”

Li Xun glanced at Sheng Mingqian and Ye Lai, a look of drama on her face. Several of the older children didn’t even eat, craning their necks, wanting to hear about Ye Lai’s significant other.

Before Ye Lai could open his mouth to answer, Sheng Mingqian put down his chopsticks first, standing up abruptly. Because the movement of getting up was too big, the chair behind him scraped against the ground with a rustling sound. He turned his head to steady the chair.

“Sun Ayi, there’s no need to introduce Ye Lai to anyone. I’m currently pursuing him.”

Sun Ayi let out an “ah” sound, not expecting this situation. She subconsciously asked, “Is that true? Aren’t you friends?”

Ye Lai kicked Sheng Mingqian’s ankle under the table. Their seats were next to each other, and Sheng Mingqian’s hand, which was hanging by his side, directly grabbed Ye Lai’s wrist. Ye Lai struggled a couple of times, but Sheng Mingqian increased his strength. After all, they were at the dinner table, and Ye Lai didn’t dare make too much noise, so he simply stopped struggling, allowing Sheng Mingqian to hold him.

With his right hand held by Sheng Mingqian, it was not easy to switch to his left hand to use chopsticks. It took him a while to pick up a mouthful of food and stuff it into his mouth, chewing slowly.

“Sun Ayi, what I said is true,” Sheng Mingqian’s fingers slid from Ye Lai’s wrist to the palm of his hand, his thumb stroking the new scar in his palm, “We’re more than just friends.”

–

–

Returning from the orphanage, Sheng Mingqian opened the wedding invitation Ye Lai received. Only Ye Lai’s name was written in the guest invitation column. Sheng Mingqian looked at it over and over again, studying every detail.

Sheng Mingqian remembered the day he and Ye Lai got their marriage certificate. It was snowing, especially cold, the sky gloomy and black, the wind blowing with sharp edges.

Besides the basic documents needed to get married, they didn’t bring anything else. Even the double photo with a red background needed for the marriage registration was taken on the spot.

The lighting stand was there, the photographer holding the camera. He and Ye Lai sat on a long chair. The photographer asked Ye Lai to lean closer to his side. He felt Ye Lai leaning closer to him. Ye Lai’s arm was trembling, as if he was very nervous. Ye Lai’s breathing was amplified and spread in his ears.

The photographer reminded him several times, wanting him to smile.

Ye Lai smiled, but he didn’t.

The process of getting the certificate was very rushed. Even though he had nothing to do that day, why didn’t he want to stop and take a better look back then?

He and Ye Lai didn’t have a wedding, and even their relationship needed to be hidden underground.

Thinking of those cruel five years, Ye Lai actually endured until the end.

Ye Lai had been in pain. Now it was his turn.

But now, he wanted to announce it to the world, but he no longer had the most suitable identity.

By the time he reacted, the white snow that he hadn’t had time to feel had already fallen into his bones.

Ye Lai came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, and Sheng Mingqian put the invitation away on the side.

“You haven’t left yet?” Ye Lai wiped his hair, not looking at Sheng Mingqian much, opened the quilt and got into bed.

“I’m not leaving.”

Ye Lai yawned and casually raised a hand: “You can sleep on the sofa.”

Sheng Mingqian moved to the bedside and sat on the edge of the bed: “Is there any place you particularly like?”

“Why are you suddenly asking me this?” Ye Lai turned his back to Sheng Mingqian, his voice mumbled, not very clear.

“I just wanted to ask.”

“I like the sea. The island where Brother Chuan is holding the wedding, I’ve always wanted to go there for a vacation, but I just never had the time.”

“Then this time we’ll go. We can take the opportunity to play for a few more days.”

Ye Lai closed his eyes and started to get sleepy soon after, yawning and not responding to Sheng Mingqian’s words.

There was a small accident during the promotion event for the film in B City, and Sheng Mingqian had to go and resolve it, unable to attend the wedding with Ye Lai. He hurriedly flew to B City.

Before attending the wedding, Ye Lai wanted to book his own plane ticket, but Chen Yu Chuan insisted on helping them book it, and also told them in advance that the wedding would not accept any money, just for the sake of a lively celebration, to be a witness for them.

Before going, Chen Yu Chuan pulled all these friends into a large group, and any news was shared in the group.

Some people knew that Ye Lai was also in the group and joked with him, saying they wanted the big star’s autograph, one for each person, with their own pens and paper.

Chen Yu Chuan’s friends were mostly carefree. After chatting in the WeChat group for a few days, Ye Lai got along with them quite well.

A few days before departure, Chen Yu Chuan asked them in the group to help take care of a special friend on the way. Although that friend was about the same age as them, his intelligence was like that of a seven-year-old child, and he asked them to take care of him on the way.

At the airport, Ye Lai met Chen Yu Chuan’s special friend. Guang Haobo was very thin and fair-skinned, indeed like a child, his eyes full of confusion and purity. He didn’t talk much and was relatively shy.

The other people traveling with them weren’t very restrained, and when they spoke, they teased people. Although there was no malice, they were still very sarcastic.

Guang Haobo was the last to arrive. The others always liked to tease Guang Haobo. Guang Haobo couldn’t fully understand the meaning of their words, and couldn’t understand the jokes they made, always blushing after they explained.

After being teased by them, Guang Haobo always liked to lean towards Ye Lai. Ye Lai spoke up to defend him, not letting Guang Haobo suffer any loss.

More or less, because of Ye Lai’s identity as an actor, and the trending topics of the previous period, the others were more curious about him.

But Guang Haobo never paid attention to entertainment news. He didn’t know his name was Ye Lai, didn’t know he was an actor, and didn’t know he had been on messy trending topics. He only treated him as an ordinary friend, and because he spoke up to defend him, he regarded him as the best person among his peers.

The two of them became familiar in a few minutes, and they even switched seats after boarding the plane, sitting next to Ye Lai.

–

–

After boarding the plane, Ye Lai received a push notification on his phone.

It was a behind-the-scenes video of Sheng Mingqian’s new movie promotion event. Another accident had occurred at the event site in B City. Some audience members threw things at the members of the main creative team on stage, and someone was injured at the scene.

The video was chaotic, with police and security personnel trying to maintain order. Ye Lai tried to find Sheng Mingqian’s figure in the chaotic video, and finally saw Sheng Mingqian at the end of the video.

Although there was only a very small side profile, and Sheng Mingqian’s face wasn’t even filmed, Ye Lai could recognize him from the slightly curved neck. That person was Sheng Mingqian.

Sheng Mingqian lowered his head, his arm supporting Lin Han next to him as they hurriedly left the stage. Lin Han’s hand was still holding his forehead, his expression painful, and blood was flowing down from between his fingers. It looked like he was injured.

The comments below said all sorts of things. Some said it was a hype stunt by the movie team for the release, and some were concerned about the injuries of the team members. More of them were condemning the perpetrators at the scene.

Before Ye Lai finished watching the video, he received a message from Sheng Mingqian, three in a row.

“Did you get on the plane?”

“Have fun.”

“Safe travels.”

He had already boarded the plane and was preparing to fly.

Ye Lai typed a few words on the screen, but deleted them after typing them. He typed them twice and deleted them twice. In the end, he couldn’t help but ask: “I just saw the video of the event site online. Are you okay?”

As soon as Ye Lai’s message was successfully sent, Sheng Mingqian’s phone call came over. The vibration of the phone made Ye Lai’s palm tingle. His Adam’s apple rolled, and his thumb slid across the answer button.

“Not flying yet?” As soon as the call connected, Sheng Mingqian’s slightly panting voice came over, “Did you see the video? I’m fine. Lin Han blocked it for me. He has a slight injury on his forehead. He just had a checkup at the hospital. Fortunately, it’s just a skin wound.”

Ye Lai listened to the messy footsteps and noisy conversations on the other end of the phone. Sheng Mingqian was talking to him on the phone while answering other people’s questions, his mouth never stopping. Ye Lai couldn’t get a word in, so he just held the phone and listened, his half-drooping eyelashes casting a small shadow on his face, blocking the equally chaotic emotions in his eyes.

“Are you going to attend a friend’s wedding?”

Sheng Mingqian was asking this question knowing the answer. He had seen the invitation and the plane ticket information. Of course, he knew that Ye Lai was going to attend a friend’s wedding.

The flight attendant walked to Ye Lai’s side, reminding him that the plane was about to take off and he needed to turn off his phone.

Ye Lai nodded and said okay. Sheng Mingqian also heard the flight attendant’s urging and quickened his pace.

“You should be flying soon, right? I shouldn’t be telling you this now, but I thought of your friend’s red invitation, so I couldn’t hold it back. More than five years ago, when we got our certificate, it was a snowy day, the weather was bad, and it wasn’t a good day. I even had a bitter face in the certificate photo. Looking at your friend’s red invitation, I imagined in my heart before, imagined that our names could appear together in the new couple column of the invitation. Actually, on the day I signed the divorce agreement, I still…”

Sheng Mingqian didn’t finish his words. The flight attendant urged him twice more. Ye Lai’s hand trembled and he accidentally hung up the phone.

Ye Lai didn’t hear what Sheng Mingqian’s “I still” was followed by…