Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 44

Tang Xiaoyu, seeing the expressions of the two, knew this wasn’t news to them. He sighed. “I don’t know who’s behind this, but it’s really disgusting what they did.”

Ran Lin lowered his eyes, hiding his emotions.

Lu Yiyao quietly refilled his cup with tea before saying to Tang Xiaoyu, “It’s just two photos, not hard to deal with.”

“Public relations isn’t difficult, but it needs to be quick. Otherwise, as the rumors spread, they’ll leave a lasting impression, and it’ll be too late for any clarification.”

“This afternoon, a stern statement was already released,” Lu Yiyao said, addressing Tang Xiaoyu but actually for Ran Lin’s benefit. “The issue shouldn’t be a big problem.”

In the statement, Zhang Beichen’s team explained that the photos were just innocent fun with a close friend from their school days, and they pointed out that this incident was a deliberate smear campaign, vowing to pursue legal actions.

Whether or not they would actually take legal steps was uncertain, but at least it showed the public their stance.

“Releasing a statement is just the first step. Whether they can quickly control the spread of the topic and mitigate the negative reactions is what’s most important,” Tang Xiaoyu said, then took out his phone to check Weibo again. After a while, he shook his head. “The situation has been blown out of proportion. It’ll be difficult to calm down in a short time.”

That was the purpose of the initiator.

If they could ruin Zhang Beichen’s career, that would be ideal, but even if they couldn’t, tarnishing his reputation or casting a lifelong shadow of suspicion would be enough.

The same notification sound from WeChat rang out twice in unison.

Tang Xiaoyu thought he was hearing things.

Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao simultaneously picked up their phones and opened WeChat. Gu Jie had popped up in the Chen Sheng Wu Guang group—

[@Zhang Beichen, are you okay?]

Zhang Beichen responded quickly—[I’m fine, thanks.]

Gu Jie—[Don’t overthink. The truth will prevail.]

Ran Lin looked at Gu Jie’s message with mixed feelings.

He had wanted to message Zhang Beichen at noon but recalled what Wang Xi said about avoiding trouble during sensitive times.

Ran Lin admitted, he was afraid.

Zhang Beichen, caught in the whirlwind of public opinion, might be him one day.

Compared to him, Gu Jie was much more straightforward.

“I agree with Gu Jie, don’t overthink. Focus on filming and let your work speak for itself.” Ran Lin recorded this voice message, wanting to let Zhang Beichen know he had friends who cared about him.

Lu Yiyao’s response was more concise—[+1]

Ran Lin glanced at him, and Lu Yiyao justified confidently, “You guys said everything already. I could only add.”

Tang Xiaoyu felt a bit surprised and somewhat ashamed.

He wasn’t close to Zhang Beichen, not inclined to kick him while he was down, nor to offer help. He just wanted to casually chat about a fellow artist’s news, not expecting that they were good enough friends to be in the same WeChat group.

True friends in the industry are rare, especially among artists of the same age and level, often competing for the same resources. Many who seem to have strong bonds on the surface actually wish for each other’s downfall in secret.

The friendship between Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin was indeed rare.

But then again, watching these two on their phones, replying to messages, exchanging glances, why did he always feel like he was photoshopped into this private room?

……

Zhang Beichen’s Room, a certain hotel.

Wu Xuefeng was already at his wit’s end, watching his artist lying there, playing with his phone, sending WeChat messages. He was almost spitting blood, his words nearly squeezed out through clenched teeth. “You seem pretty relaxed…”

Zhang Beichen lay on the bed, propped up by two pillows, legs crossed in an unappealing manner. “Didn’t we already issue a statement? What else do you want me to do? Hold a press conference to denounce the rumormonger?”

“What’s the use of issuing a statement? People only like spreading rumors, not clarifying them!” Wu Xuefeng was getting worked up again. “Did your brain get squashed by a door? How could you take such photos?”

Having heard this countless times since the incident, Zhang Beichen was tired of it. He sat up abruptly. “What did I take? Did I strip or go to bed with someone? Just those two lousy photos, what can they prove!”

“Are you sure there’s nothing more? What if new photos come out in a few days?”

“Brother, I was just in high school then…”

“What about after entering the industry?” Wu Xuefeng raised an eyebrow at him, sarcasm behind his glasses. “Are you sure you’ve been clean?”

“I’m not stupid. What era are we in, still taking keepsake photos?” Zhang Beichen, uninterested, lowered his head to play with his phone again.

Wu Xuefeng slowly felt reassured.

He didn’t believe in Zhang Beichen’s purity, but he absolutely trusted his artist’s intelligence. If Zhang Beichen were hopelessly foolish, they wouldn’t have worked together until now.

The statement was out; the immediate priority was to calm public opinion as soon as possible.

As for the person behind the scenes, there was no rush; they could always be found out.

The public is forgetful. As soon as new gossip arises, who will remember a rumor that has been debunked and lacks any solid evidence or follow-up?

However, the entertainment industry has been too quiet recently, which is why the perpetrator chose this moment to leak the information.

Wu Xuefeng tiredly took off his glasses, pulled out a lens cloth, and started wiping them intently…

“I agree with Gu Jie, don’t overthink. Focus on filming and let your work speak for itself.”

[+1]

Listening to Ran Lin’s voice and seeing Lu Yiyao’s digit, Zhang Beichen’s lips, which were tightly pressed, unconsciously relaxed and curved into a slight smile.

“Who’s that?” Wu Xuefeng stopped wiping his glasses, curiously asking.

He recognized the voice from the speaker as somewhat familiar, but for Wu Xuefeng, it wasn’t familiar enough to recognize immediately.

“Chen Sheng Wu Guang.” As Zhang Beichen uttered these words, a hint of warmth crossed his heart.

Wu Xuefeng knew it was the guest group from the reality show “Drifting Story”, but he didn’t expect that long after the recording, there was still interaction in the group, especially at this time. “They all came to console you?”

Zhang Beichen showed a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Except for Xia Xinran.”

“That’s the problem with being in the same company, knowing each other too well,” Wu Xuefeng said as he put his glasses back on and reached out his hand towards Zhang Beichen.

Zhang Beichen was puzzled.

Wu Xuefeng rolled his eyes and gestured with his fingers, motioning upward. “Let me also appreciate your revolutionary friendship.”

Zhang Beichen shrugged indifferently and handed his phone to his agent.

With just a few words, Wu Xuefeng had almost seen enough. He laughed. “A few polite words and you’re this moved?”

Zhang Beichen coldly curled his lips. “Not everyone will say polite words to you. Since this happened, only those three have messaged me.”

Wu Xuefeng chuckled. “Does Lu Yiyao’s message count? It looks more like a casual agreement.”

Zhang Beichen was clear-headed. “He’s close with Ran Lin, and I’m not bad with Ran Lin, so as long as Ran Lin is there, we’ll always be friends.”

Wu Xuefeng had never quite understood. “What exactly did Ran Lin do to win Lu Yiyao’s undying loyalty?” As far as he knew, Lu Yiyao’s team was quite upset when they were initially bundled together for hype.

Zhang Beichen was about to say that rapport can’t really be explained, but then he remembered what he had noticed during their late-night snack and swallowed his words, saying ambiguously with a teasing smile, “Maybe they developed real feelings during the reality show…”

Wu Xuefeng raised an eyebrow at this but remained noncommittal, looking back at the nearly simultaneous messages in the chat group thoughtfully.

……

Finally finding his moment on the way back to the hotel, Tang Xiaoyu’s girlfriend called him.

Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin watched him step a few meters away to take the call, smiling.

The night was deep, and the streets were quiet. Even a few meters apart, they could hear Tang Xiaoyu’s “Okay, okay,” “Don’t move, I’m coming to pick you up,” “Yes, yes, a kiss, mwah.”

The two men exchanged a knowing smile.

Tang Xiaoyu, having ended the call, came back. “You guys go ahead to the hotel. I need to pick up a friend.”

Ran Lin asked softly, “Has she arrived?”

Tang Xiaoyu, forgetting his defenses for a moment, replied naturally: “Yeah, she just got here and can’t find the hotel, so I have to go pick her up.”

Lu Yiyao immediately responded considerately, “Then hurry up. Don’t let your girlfriend wait too long. It’s late and not safe.”

“Yes, exactly.” Tang Xiaoyu seemed to find a confidant. “I told her. Coming a day later is fine. No need to rush here at midnight…”

He stopped midway, realizing his slip.

Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin didn’t say anything, but their faces were already beaming with amusement.

“…Sneaky!” Tang Xiaoyu managed to say after a long pause.

Ran Lin struggled to suppress his laughter, taking a couple of deep breaths before patting his friend on the shoulder. “Remember, try not to take live interviews in the future.”

Tang Xiaoyu took the loss graciously. Fortunately, he hadn’t let slip his girlfriend’s name, and he didn’t think these two were gossips, so he didn’t dwell on it, saying simply, “Then I’m off to see her. You guys head back to the hotel.”

Knowing how much Tang Xiaoyu wanted to keep his true love hidden, they didn’t press for gossip. After a simple reminder to watch out for safety and paparazzi, they went their separate ways.

Back at the hotel, Ran Lin pondered over Zhang Beichen’s situation for a long time. One moment he was worried about Zhang Beichen, and the next he imagined himself in a similar scenario. His mind was a mess of thoughts, and he couldn’t focus on reading the script for the next day. He didn’t even realize when he fell asleep.

Ran Lin set his phone alarm for 4:55, 5:00, and 5:15 a.m. every day. Usually, fifteen minutes was enough for washing up, and he’d be downstairs by 5:30 AM to catch the crew’s car. After arriving at the set, there was still makeup and styling to do before the 8:00 a.m. start.

But today, the sound came unusually early.

Ran Lin even felt like he hadn’t slept much.

And it wasn’t the phone alarm, but someone… knocking?

Ran Lin instantly woke up with a start and sat up swiftly, his first reaction being that something had gone wrong, his heart pounding with fear.

“Ran Ge…” Through the door, Liu Wanwan’s voice sounded uncertain.

Ran Lin let out a sigh of relief and gradually calmed down, finding it funny to himself. He must have had some nightmare that he forgot upon waking, still in a state of tension.

Getting out of bed, Ran Lin, dressed in a tank top and shorts, opened the door. “What’s up?”

“What do you mean what’s up? It’s time to head to the set…” Liu Wanwan, looking puzzled, then realized that Ran Lin seemed like he had just woken up, uncertainly said, “Ran Ge, you haven’t washed your face or brushed your teeth yet?”

Ran Lin frowned, yawning sleepily. “What time is it? My alarm hasn’t gone off yet.”

Liu Wanwan stared at him intently and said seriously, “Brother, it’s 5:25.”

Ran Lin was stunned, his mouth still open mid-yawn, frozen in place.

Liu Wanwan guessed, “Did you forget to charge your phone?”

Ignoring his assistant, Ran Lin rushed back into the room and picked up his phone from the bedside table. Indeed, it was dead, completely powered off.

“Give me five minutes!” Dropping this phrase, Ran Lin dashed into the bathroom.

Liu Wanwan sighed, thinking this wasn’t Ran Lin’s style; he was always meticulous, so how could he have forgotten to charge his phone.

Ran Lin, brushing his teeth, looked at his dark circles in the mirror, sighing with mixed feelings.

Despite rushing, Ran Lin was still five minutes late. He immediately apologized to the driver.

After a month and a half of working together, the driver was familiar with him and waved it off indifferently. “Five minutes is nothing. I’ve waited for five hours before.”

With that, he pressed the gas pedal and headed straight for the set.

While getting his makeup done, the makeup artist teased Ran Lin, “Did you go out stealing last night? Look at those dark circles. You could rival a panda.”

Tang Xiaoyu, also getting makeup done nearby, was baffled, thinking that it was he who had had a passionate night, while Ran Lin looked utterly drained.

But after the makeup, the dark circles were no longer visible.

Today, in Group A’s drama scenes, Ran Lin was still acting with the female lead, but there were a few scenes where Xu Chongfei had to be in the background, so Tang Xiaoyu was also present, ready to enter the frame at any time. Lu Yiyao was filming with Group B at another location for scenes in the Bodhi Temple with Abbot Hai Kong. According to the schedule, Ran Lin wouldn’t see Lu Yiyao for the entire day.

Previously, when filming in separate groups from Lu Yiyao, Ran Lin would always unconsciously think about the scenes Lu Yiyao was filming and how he was acting. It was unintentional, like someone who’s always around suddenly isn’t there one day, making you feel that something’s off and compelling you to keep thinking about that absent partner.

But today, not having Lu Yiyao in Group A oddly gave Ran Lin some peace of mind.

Otherwise, seeing him would remind Ran Lin of his hopeless and risky unrequited love, which would indeed distract him during acting.

Murphy’s Law says, if you worry about something happening, it’s more likely to occur.

When Liu Wanwan handed over the phone saying, “Xi Jie is looking for you. It’s urgent,” Ran Lin thought of this law.

In fact, since the alarm didn’t go off this morning and Liu Wanwan knocked on his door, waking him up with a start, it seemed to foreshadow that something was going to happen today.

“Just focus on filming on set. Don’t say a word. Don’t take any interview calls. Leave everything to me. These kinds of baseless rumors without solid evidence aren’t hard to deal with, but…” Wang Xi’s voice lowered, almost warningly, “Privately, you can’t have any contact with Lu Yiyao, at least for this period. We can’t give people another chance to speculate, understand?”

“Yeah.” Ran Lin didn’t know what else to say.

Many times, things happen without warning, and then, under the instigation of those with ulterior motives and the public’s eagerness for gossip, they spread like wildfire, engulfing him. He could only watch helplessly as the flames soared high into the sky.

Liu Wanwan had already received the news during Ran Lin’s filming and saw the updates. She felt especially sorry for Ran Lin, softly advising, “Xi Jie said it’s fine, so it’s fine. Besides, Lu Yiyao’s team is there too. These kinds of frivolous news are common, just sensational headlines; no one takes them seriously.”

Ran Lin moved his lips as if trying to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. His eyes fixated on the phone screen, where his and Lu Yiyao’s names had once again landed on the hot search, but this time with an additional keyword—Lu Yiyao, Ran Lin, hotel room.

……

During lunch break on the set of Group B’s drama scenes.

Everyone was eating boxed lunches when Lu Yiyao was pulled aside by Li Tong to take a call from his agent.

Yao Hong was calling Lu Yiyao’s phone, while his assistant considerately handed over his own phone to Lu Yiyao, displaying the news that had been spreading like wildfire on Weibo all morning—

[Shocking Same-Sex Love in the Entertainment Industry, Photos of Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin Entering a Hotel Room Exposed!]

“What exactly did you do last night?” Yao Hong, in Lu Yiyao’s studio in Beijing, was overwhelmed by this news, as the entire PR team was in a frenzy.

“We just had dinner, and Tang Xiaoyu was with us.” Lu Yiyao, looking at the two photos on Weibo, didn’t think the situation was too serious but was more angry than anything else.

The photos were taken on the evening of that dinner, capturing the moment he and Ran Lin entered the side door of a hotel. They seemed to be continuous shots, with the only difference being their distance from the hotel’s side door.

In the photos, he and Ran Lin weren’t doing anything inappropriate; they were just walking side by side into the hotel while chatting, a completely normal interaction between friends.

But with the marketing accounts’ spin of “late-night secret meetings,” “hotel room rendezvous,” “tender words exchanged,” “oblivious to others,” the story took on a life of its own, thrilling the gossipy public.

In just one morning, the news about “Lu Yiyao spending the night with a male star in a hotel” swept through Weibo like a hurricane.

“Tang Xiaoyu was there? Why isn’t he in the photos? Were they edited out?” Yao Hong’s immediate concern was to ascertain the truth. Only by understanding the whole situation could she develop an effective response.

Lu Yiyao pondered for two seconds before replying, “He had something else to do after dinner and didn’t return to the hotel with us.”

“Do you think he might come forward to explain for you?” Yao Hong was genuinely asking, needing to explore all possible solutions.

Lu Yiyao fell silent.

He thought Tang Xiaoyu might help if it didn’t endanger his girlfriend, but now he couldn’t be sure, as everyone had their own concerns.

“Which hotel did you have dinner at?” Yao Hong changed the subject.

Lu Yiyao, having chosen the restaurant, knew the details well and provided the name, address, and the exact time they had dinner.

Yao Hong noted everything down, then said, “Just focus on your filming. Leave everything else to me. Don’t answer any calls… Actually, don’t answer any calls at all. I’ll coordinate with Wang Xi. We’ll synchronize our statements and try to debunk this rumor as fast as possible, reversing the public opinion.”

Lu Yiyao narrowed his eyes. He was angry, but not at the rumor itself; Yao Hong’s serious approach made him realize the situation might be more complicated. “Ran Lin and I are filming together and staying in the same hotel. How could anyone believe such a nonsensical story?”

There was a moment of silence on the phone before Yao Hong said, “There’s someone behind this.”

Lu Yiyao’s expression slowly turned cold.

Since his debut, he had been subjected to slander and rumors, usually out of jealousy or frustration at losing good opportunities to him. But this time, involving Ran Lin, was especially intolerable for him.

And in the comments, some were accusing Ran Lin of fabricating the story.

Using a scandal that could ruin an acting career for publicity was absurd.

Yao Hong, clearly seeing through the situation, knew both he and Ran Lin were victims, hence her suggestion to coordinate with Wang Xi.

“Can we find out who’s behind it?” Lu Yiyao asked about the instigator.

“For now, we don’t have time for that. Debunking the rumor is the priority,” Yao Hong said calmly. “It’s not a big deal. Just focus on your filming.”

Lu Yiyao looked up at the intricately carved eaves overhead, lost in thought.

“Don’t have any more private contact with Ran Lin for the time being,” Yao Hong added.

Lu Yiyao’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, a hint of displeasure in his voice. “This has nothing to do with him.”

“It does,” Yao Hong replied steadily. “Everyone is watching you two now. Any little thing could be exaggerated and misconstrued. Do you know if there are paparazzi on the set? Do you know which of your words or actions could be taken out of context?”

“I’ll be careful,” Lu Yiyao said.

Yao Hong sighed. “If you could be absolutely discreet, today’s incident wouldn’t have happened.”

Lu Yiyao fell silent, no longer speaking.

Yao Hong knew he had taken her words to heart. She understood that while others saw Lu Yiyao as a gentleman with a mild temperament, he was actually someone who could endure and restrain himself. Deep down, he was fiercely indignant, ready to challenge any injustice.

Feeling more empathetic towards him, Yao Hong reassured him softly, “Don’t worry, I’m here. Just do well in this film, and when you rise high enough, these things won’t matter anymore.”

It was a beautiful day, with clear skies and a gentle breeze.

But as Lu Yiyao looked up, all he could see was the red, flaking paint on the eaves.

“Lu Ge?” Li Tong, seeing Lu Yiyao standing still after hanging up the phone, asked worriedly.

“It’s nothing.” Lu Yiyao smiled at his assistant. “I’d like some coffee.”

They were on a film set with only tea available. Wanting coffee meant going out to buy it, and there was no telling how far he’d have to go. But seeing his boss, entangled in a scandal, looking so forlorn, Li Tong didn’t hesitate. “Just a moment, Lu Ge. I’ll get your coffee right away!”

As Li Tong dashed off, Lu Yiyao’s smile faded. By the time he made another call, his expression had turned icy.

Everyone in Group B knew about the scandal involving their leading man. Since it was lunch break, no one wanted to intrude; they all kept their distance, giving Lu Yiyao space under the corner eaves.

“Is five people enough? Mom also saw the news and is really angry. She said not just five people, but fifty could be sent over on a chartered flight for you.”

His sister’s words, spoken in just a few sentences, dispelled much of the anger clouding his heart. Lu Yiyao’s icy demeanor thawed somewhat. “No need. Five is enough. Too many would attract attention, and there are only three of them over there.”

Lu Yimeng was still uneasy. “Are you sure?”

“Sure,” Lu Yiyao said. “They’ve been watching me since I joined the crew. It’s always the same three people, and two of them are old friends who have been with me since the year before last, even longer than my assistant.”

Lu Yimeng frowned. “They really are devoted to you. You’re quite patient.”

“Every profession is tough. We all need to eat. It’s okay as long as there’s a limit,” Lu Yiyao said, pausing. When he looked up again, his eyes had turned cold again. “But this time, they crossed the line.”

……

Though they were both in Hengdian Film and Television Studios, the filming area of Zhang Beichen’s crew and that of <Sword of Fallen Flowers> were far apart, in two completely different scenic areas within the studio. The crew of <Sword of Fallen Flowers> was already resting at noon, while Zhang Beichen’s crew was still busy.

Due to the second female lead, the progress of the crew had been severely slowed down. She was someone the investors had forcefully inserted, and everyone in the crew, though angry, dared not speak out. They could only use their rest time to extend working hours to make up for the lost progress.

Zhang Beichen had hardly had a moment to breathe all morning.

Finally, during a group scene, with more time needed for props and extra coordination, he managed to find a moment to sit on a lounge chair to rest and check his phone, wanting to see if his scandal was still fermenting or if there had been any turnaround.

His face changed as soon as he saw it.

He quickly stood up and moved to a secluded corner, dialing his agent’s phone number at the hotel. As soon as the other side picked up, he didn’t wait for them to speak and asked aggressively, “Was it you who did it?”

Wu Xuefeng seemed prepared and replied naturally, “Yeah, it’s quite effective, isn’t it? See, how many people are still talking about those two lousy photos of yours?”

Zhang Beichen, trying hard to contain his urge to roar, asked, “Why didn’t you tell me before you did it!”

“If I had told you, would it have been done?” Wu Xuefeng asked lightly in return.

Zhang Beichen almost squeezed the words out of his teeth. “They, are, my, friends.”

“I knew you would react this way, so I acted first and reported later,” Wu Xuefeng said calmly, his tone getting lighter, indicating his confidence. “Can friends be eaten as food? What did they do when you were in trouble? Oh right, they sent two insipid condolences and then disappeared. Remember, at any time, the only ones who can help you are yourself and me.”

Zhang Beichen’s chest heaved violently, but he couldn’t find words to refute.

Wu Xuefeng knew his artist well. He could speak harshly, and the harsher and more straightforward he was, the quicker Zhang Beichen understood. But after being harsh, he always offered some comfort. “Don’t worry too much. Such rumors won’t last long with Yao Hong and Wang Xi around. A stir and a denial, and it will soon pass.”

Before Zhang Beichen could respond, Wu Xuefeng brought up another matter. “We found the person who leaked your photos, Li Zimo.”

Zhang Beichen frowned. “Who is that?”

Wu Xuefeng explained, “The one previously with Mr. Qin, who knows he was replaced by you, wasn’t content.”

“He’s crazy.” Zhang Beichen suddenly felt it was an undeserved disaster. “Mr. Qin has a revolving door of people around him. He wasn’t the first, and I won’t be the last. What’s the use of troubling me?”

“He thought he would be the last,” Wu Xuefeng said, surprisingly empathetic.

“Hah.” Zhang Beichen suddenly wanted to meet this foolish person. “Really funny.”

Wu Xuefeng also found it amusing, but only for now. In the future, he always had to find a way to let this little-known but uncooperative young actor continue to fade into obscurity until he couldn’t stay in the entertainment industry anymore.

But for now, it was more important to completely awaken his own artist—

“In this matter, you should also see that Mr. Qin can give you resources, but he can’t help you with troubles. If you become more famous, he’s willing to play with you for a while longer. If you’re like Li Zimo, who can’t be helped, he’ll discard you quickly. So…” Wu Xuefeng’s voice deepened, somewhat earnest. “The only ones who truly want you to succeed and spare no effort to help you are me and yourself.”

Wu Xuefeng listened to the silence on the other end of the phone, slowly sipping tea from a hotel tea bag, which tasted alright.

“Don’t dwell on it. If they really considered you a friend, they wouldn’t suspect you. Even if they did suspect, they wouldn’t find any evidence. Don’t be foolish enough to confess. There’s never been any leniency for honesty in this circle.”

“That’s why you can’t make real friends.” There seemed to be a laugh on the phone, laced with sarcasm, though it was unclear who was being mocked.

The call ended.

Zhang Beichen opened WeChat and found the chat group Chen Sheng Wu Guang. Just a few irrelevant words, he could almost recite them by heart. But he still wanted to see them again.

After an unknown amount of time.

Zhang Beichen exited WeChat and flipped through his contacts to find Ran Lin’s number. Several times, his finger almost touched the call button.

But in the end, when the assistant came to remind him that it was time to start the next scene, he still hadn’t made the call.

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