The No. 1 Vase in the Entertainment Industry - Chapter 6

The light of the low-rent house was dim and shrouded, with a kind of pale color devoid of any sense of beauty. Ke Yu stood in his pajamas under such a light, looking clearly stunned at first.  Then, his expression noticeably changed and he turned around suddenly——

But Shang Lu caught him.

He grabbed his arm and said condescendingly, “Why are you running?”

His fingers around the stack of paper clenched and then loosened. Ke Yu said coldly, “Let go.”

Shang Lu looked at his faintly angry face with interest. He didn’t know why, but the person in front of him seemed to be very nervous, so much so that his whole body was unnaturally tense, and he didn’t even dare to breathe hard.

This scene was like something out of a bad ancient puppet show. Shang Lu laughed, let go of his hand, and said jokingly, “Mr. Ke, you’re taking my manuscript away.”

Ke Yu was embarrassed and lowered his eyes. “Who wants your manuscript…?” He paused.

This was a… “Movie storyboard?”

Shang Lu took it from him.

“Are you studying film?”

Shang Lu’s words were half true and half false. “Not really, I just enjoy it.”

“Show them to me.”

Lifting his eyes from the storyboard, Shang Lu looked at Ke Yu in surprise. “Can you understand them?”

Ke Yu lied without blinking. “I can’t, but I’m interested.”

He quickly scanned the pictures from beginning to end one by one. Then, he returned to the first page, and this time, he looked through them much slower, spending two minutes on the first few shots alone. Shang Lu drew with a pen, and his strokes were bold and informal. Nevertheless, he rarely made corrections, seeming to be confident in himself from the moment he started drawing.

Shang Lu coughed. “It’s just a draft.”

Focusing on a long-distance composition, Ke Yu recognized this as the three-way intersection in the village in the city, and said calmly, “The camera position is beautiful.”

Shang Lu retrieved his phone from the messy bed. “I have the official version here. Do you want to see it?”

Only then did Ke Yu notice. “You sleep on a mattress?”

Looking up at the bedroom, he saw a large latex mattress on the floor. There was a desk and chair next to the window’s light source, and the desk lamp he bought casually sat on it. Several sets of clothes were hung on simple hangers. It dawned on him that Shang Lu, like himself, wasn’t going to stay here for long.

“I recognize my bed.” Shang Lu replied. “So when I move, I take the mattress with me.”

When he was in France, he often went to the countryside to sketch and collect experiences, staying there for several months. His mattress followed him around the world, and sometimes even across the ocean.

One time, in a secluded country manor, the tour guide was late to pick him up. In the end, he found a huge bed amidst the straw pile, and then saw Shang Lu lying on his back with his legs crossed, basking in the sun. As the tour guide’s plush microphone was fixed in the air, wind blew by, so Shang Lu hushed to the tour guide and said in French, “Just a moment. Please wait until this breeze is gone.”

Ke Yu smiled and found that Shang Lu always answered all of his questions. He was surprisingly well-behaved, despite being unruly.

…A bit cute.

He looked at the tall young man in front of him who moved around with a mattress and said, “So willful.”

“I don’t like to settle for less.” Shang Lu said, opening his phone’s gallery. “Take a look.”

In the picture, the ink lines turned into full and intense colors. The strokes were still bold and reckless, and the dramatic movement gave the picture an indescribable impact.

Ke Yu forgot to breathe for a moment.

Unlike the draft just now, these pictures didn’t require his imagination. It was as if reality had been interpreted directly before his eyes.

“Can I see a few more?”

“Please.”

He swiped right, and a harbor appeared on the screen. In the clear sky after the rain, light pierced the clouds, the gray sea water rippled with the wind, and the blue fishing boats rose and fell. Tourists carrying luggage poured out of the gate. Facing the camera was a woman holding a baby as the cold wind ruffled her long scarf and the blanket she held.

“She’s just arrived in Hong Kong. Although she’s penniless and her future is bleak, even she has a longing for the world outside the camera.” Ke Yu said, “It’s like the beginning of a story.”

“How do you know it’s Hong Kong?”

“I guessed.”

Shang Lu took the phone back and asked, “Then do you think the world outside the camera is worthy of her yearning?”

Ke Yu pondered the color of his scene. The sky was gloomy, but the places where the light hit were bright and reflective. The streets and port looked bleak under the weather. Only the long blanket the woman held onto made for a strong visual centerpiece.

Seeing his eyes darken, Shang Lu knew that he understood. He silently raised the corners of his lips, leaned over, and picked up something from the desk.

“Teacher Ke……”

Ke Yu woke up from his thoughts and saw Shang Lu put on his glasses with one hand. He said with a smile, “I’m sorry, this time I really can see it clearly.”

Ke Yu: “…”

D*mn. He was tricked.

“I don’t know why you keep wearing a mask, but you look good.”

His voice was low, and his tone was nonchalant, as if he just said it casually. Despite that, it somehow made people feel that he was sincere.

Ke Yu’s ears always hurt when he heard the compliments and flattery in the entertainment industry, whether they were truthful or fake. He’d heard every kind of exaggerated, beautified and crazy words, but with Shang Lu’s simple words, Ke Yu’s face burned inexplicably.

When Shang Lu showed up at the store the next day, Ke Yu heard the auntie behind the counter whisper in Cantonese, “What a handsome boy.”

He was about to get off work when he heard the voice and looked up, coincidentally seeing Shang Lu standing under the dark green rain eaves. “Two cans of Coke, thank you.”

Ke Yu had no choice but to open the cold drink cabinet door for him. “Six yuan.”

“So expensive.” Shang Lu said with a smile. He took the two cans of coke thrown over by Ke Yu. After scanning the QR code to pay, he threw one of them back. “Please.”

Ke Yu wasn’t polite to him. He opened the can, and the sound of bubbles unique to carbonated drinks came out. He raised his head and took a sip before saying, “Thanks.”

Seeing that he was about to pull up his mask again, Shang Lu stopped him. “Teacher Ke…… When you’re with me, can you not wear a mask?”

“Why?” But although Ke Yu asked that, his movements stopped in the end. His face was exposed to the sunset’s light, illuminated by the street lamps, stared at by Shang Lu, and scanned by passers-by. It made him feel uncomfortable, as if he was naked.

But it didn’t feel bad.

“Otherwise, I’ll wonder if you’re actually a celebrity.” Shang Lu said casually.

Ke Yu’s heart stopped for a moment, but he pretended to be calm and said, “I’m flattered.”

Shang Lu’s gaze rested on his eyes, meeting his sight.

Ke Yu’s eyes were strictly trained not to blink under any flashing lights. This time, however, he turned his eyes away hastily after two seconds, hearing Shang Lu say in his ear, “But with no awards.”

After drinking half of the coke can and throwing it into a trash can, Ke Yu lit up a cigarette and went out, turning left and walking forward. His pace was calm, as if he wasn’t purposefully waiting for Shang Lu, but if the other party did intend on following him, he seemed to say it was fine.

Shang Lu looked at his back. Gradually figuring out his meaning, his eyes became playful.

“Teacher Ke.” He slowly followed him, holding the Coke can in a cynical manner. “Do all your customers eat this up?”

Ke Yu took the cigarette from his mouth and said, “Eat what?”

“Playing hard to get.”

Ke Yu laughed. “Am I playing hard to get with you?” He narrowed his eyes again. “What kind of customers are we talking about?”

“Guests like the one from that night.”

“Ying……” Ke Yu paused and changed his words. “Miss Ying?”

Shang Lu nodded.

The kind that should be hidden. A sex customer.

Ke Yu: “…”

He held his forehead and was speechless for two seconds, then gave up again when the words reached his lips. He picked up his steps again and said, “Yes.”

“So, have you thought clearly about the question you asked me last night?”

What did he ask last night…? Oh. How to choose between being bought out and paid hourly.

This gigolo is here to exchange business tips!

Ke Yu stopped again, holding the cigarette with his arms crossed. “I thought about it clearly. I think…” He said jokingly, “Both being bought out and accepting customers aren’t good.”

The people who happened to pass by turned around in shock. D*mn, this world keeps getting worse. It’s not dark even yet, but two male prostitutes were discussing business here.

Shang Lu waited earnestly for his next words.

“How long can a man serving sex last?” Ke Yu dusted off the soot skillfully. “If they have the chance, anyone should want to change their ways, right?”

Change… their ways?

Shang Lu felt inexplicably relieved. Sure enough, this Teacher Ke wasn’t hopeless. A thought flashed vaguely that finally, he was living up to his appearance.

“Just like you.” Ke Yu patted him on the shoulder and threw the cigarette butt away. “Although you’re being kept, you’re still working hard to study movies. Anyone who has a dream is amazing.”

“…” Before Shang Lu got to feel relieved, he began to doubt life. “?? Being kept?”

“I saw it.” Ke Yu lazily leaned against the wall. “Your girlfriend drives a Porsche.”

“Holy sh*t, that’s my——” The word “sister” was swallowed hard. Shang Lu endured the humiliation and said, “So you saw it.”

Ke Yu said, “Quite beautiful.”

Shang Lu had no choice but to say, “Yours is beautiful too.”

“I meant the Porsche 911.” Ke Yu raised an eyebrow.

Shang Lu reciprocated, “And I was talking about the Land Rover.”

Ke Yu finally couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, okay. You have talent. If you keep at it, you’ll succeed.”

After the conversation ended, Shang Lu got straight to the point. “I’m short of an actor.”

“No.” Ke Yu refused without comment. He raised his eyes and glanced at the two girls in school uniforms across the alley.

Shang Lu followed his sight and looked around, only to feel that the two girls seemed to be pointing excitedly.

“Why…” Before he could finish his words, his hand was grabbed involuntarily. Looking back, he saw Ke Yu’s expression change as he quickly pulled up his mask.

“Run.”

The wind surged in his ears, blurring the distant words, “…Is that Ke…”

Ke Yu ran very fast. Shang Lu was led by him, running through the evening market, the wholesale market, and the stream of electric cars. The street scene receded from his sight in a disorderly manner. The wind mixed with the salty smell of the sea and the sweet fragrances of a bakery. Shang Lu’s heart beat faster and faster, and as he gasped for breath, a thought flashed through his mind.

Ke Yu’s palms were sweating.

The tightly clasped palms were moist.

“Why are we running?” They stopped after who knows how many hundred meters. Shang Lu held onto the wall and cursed, breathing heavily.

“An enemy.”

“…F*ck, why did you take me along when running from your enemy?”

Ke Yu laughed while panting violently, and raised his eyes to look at him. “It’s very dangerous, Brother.” His eyes hidden behind his bangs were reddish from sweat.

As soon as he finished speaking, even louder breathing came from the alley. “Did he run this way? Why is he gone? Is it really Xiao Dao?”

“F*ck…..” The second girl was trembling and crying while cursing. “It has to be him! If it’s not him, why would he run away?! To the right!”

…Did God send two marathon champions after him as a prank?!

In the narrow alleyway painted by the twilight, the shadows of two school uniforms were lengthened by the newly lit street lamps. In a flash, Ke Yu grabbed Shang Lu’s collar with one hand and hugged his waist with the other, pulling Shang Lu closer to him.

“What the…”

“Kiss me.”