Author: 反舌鸟 / Mockingbird

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

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Chapter 35

Jiang Yu was watching the news.

Though it was called news, it was actually over a year old and had nothing to do with him, which puzzled Lu Zheming.

“Xingyu, you’ve been watching it for ages,” Lu Zheming said. “What are you looking for?”

Jiang Yu replied, “Watching how this idiot died.”

The tone sounded unfriendly, but it wasn’t his fault. Anyone who accidentally found out how they died wouldn’t want to revisit their stupid mistakes. It’s like if someone fell into a mud pit, they would hurry to clean up rather than repeatedly recall the embarrassing moment they fell. That was probably the mistake he made.

“Some witnesses said he ran a red light, but that’s just what the media reported,” Jiang Yu said while scrolling down. “The initial police report didn’t mention what exactly happened to Jiang Yu. Actually, it’s normal—the driver was fatigued and speeding. Regardless of what the pedestrian did, the driver is responsible.”

Lu Zheming was taken aback by his sudden outburst and paused before saying, “You don’t like him, do you?”

Jiang Yu didn’t know how to answer that. He could only say, “I didn’t like him before, but now it’s better.”

He couldn’t exactly say he liked Jiang Yu—that would be too strange.

“I used to think he was useless.” Jiang Yu couldn’t help but criticize himself.

“How could you think that?” Lu Zheming was even more surprised.

Jiang Yu said, “He acted in so many movies but never won an award, always the runner-up.”

“But he was only in his thirties, still young,” Lu Zheming said. “It’s normal not to have won Best Actor yet.”

“Yu Ruoyun won an international award at sixteen,” Jiang Yu retorted, using Yu Ruoyun as the example, of course.

“That’s extreme.” Lu Zheming laughed, thinking Long Xingyu was still young. “If not being as good as Yu Ruoyun means you’re useless, then most people might as well give up. Jiang Yu transitioned from TV to movies, starting a few years late, and still has many good works. He even won Best Supporting Actor—how can you say he has no awards? He’s just too impatient and competitive, so people focus on his reactions.”

Jiang Yu was stunned by Lu Zheming’s thorough analysis and asked, “Did you like him?”

“Yeah,” Lu Zheming admitted frankly. “I’ve watched his movies more than once. I even cried and posted on Weibo when he died in the car accident last year. Don’t you remember?”

Jiang Yu wouldn’t casually browse through Lu Zheming’s Weibo. If not for the accident, he wouldn’t have known this minor celebrity at all.

But from this minor celebrity’s words, he seemed to learn something new about himself.

“I told you, my perspective has changed.” Jiang Yu relaxed. “You’re right. Being in his thirties, he’s still young. Except for not surpassing Yu Ruoyun, he’s already far ahead of his peers. It’s his own dissatisfaction.”

No one told the relentlessly pursuing Jiang Yu that he was already impressive, but Yu Ruoyun was a combination of genius and luck. Not keeping up with him was normal. Jiang Yu once thought he could separate his emotions from his career, being both intimately involved with Yu Ruoyun and competing for resources. He wanted to push Yu Ruoyun aside to bask in the spotlight alone.

Upon rebirth, he realized his mistake—overestimating himself and pushing himself to emotional breakdown.

It seemed wrong. He wanted that spotlight because Yu Ruoyun was in it. In truth, he just wanted to walk side by side with Yu Ruoyun.

Of course, there were other values in his life. For example, being mentioned occasionally by others as a good actor. Whether for Yu Ruoyun or for vanity, Jiang Yu had truly lived once.

“I was just thinking…” Jiang Yu returned to his thoughts. “Did he really run the red light?”

“Is that important?” Lu Zheming didn’t understand.

This seemingly trivial question to others constantly circled Jiang Yu’s mind, all because of Yu Ruoyun.

Yu Ruoyun had asked him first.

“Didn’t the media say so?” he had told Yu Ruoyun, just as dawn broke, still sleepy, resting his head on Yu Ruoyun’s shoulder, sliding down slowly.

Yu Ruoyun held him up with one hand, not letting him fall. “Idiot.”

“What?” Even in his dreams, Jiang Yu heard the scolding.

“Believing everything the media says, accepting it all,” Yu Ruoyun said. “Always making yourself the villain. Idiot.”

But did he really? Jiang Yu’s head hurt from thinking. He even wanted to blame Yu Ruoyun for asking.

Enough. Jiang Yu stood up and walked out of the dressing room. The performance was about to begin.

He needed to walk towards the stage, towards a new life.

……

“It’s not me,” Yu Ruoyun said. “I don’t need a psychologist.”

Xu Ye decided to drop the topic, “Fine, fine. Who needs one then?”

“A friend,” Yu Ruoyun answered dismissively. “He might have some psychological issues. I don’t understand these things, so I wanted to consult a professional.”

“Who?” Xu Ye asked again. “What psychological issues?”

Yu Ruoyun pretended not to hear the first question. “He always feels everything is his fault.”

This was something Yu Ruoyun slowly realized.

Despite both lacking communication, Jiang Yu always thought it was his problem. Every conflict with the media, Jiang Yu had a bad temper, but the media also deliberately provoked him. Even unresolved issues made Jiang Yu believe it was his fault for running the red light after reading the news.

“I want to help him,” Yu Ruoyun said.

Yu Ruoyun didn’t notice the tenderness in his eyes, but Xu Ye did.

“What a Duan Zhengchun*,” Xu Ye thought. “Expressing deep feelings for an ex and then immediately wanting to heal a new love with such dedication. Why didn’t I let him take more roles as a scumbag in love dramas? Such a waste!”

*Referencing the fictional character in the wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by Jin Yong. He’s known for his many romantic escapades and numerous affairs with various women.

It was understandable to find a new love, but in Xu Ye’s timeline, she had only known a few months ago that Yu Ruoyun and Jiang Yu had been together. Shortly after, the situation changed, and Long Xingyu quickly gained Yu Ruoyun’s favor.

Unaware of his scumbag behavior, Yu Ruoyun was studying the menu.

This restaurant was quite private, he thought. Xu Ye, who often hosted, had great experience. Next time, he could bring Jiang Yu here.

He asked the waiter for a business card and, seeing Xu Ye staring at him, explained, “I’ll bring Long Xingyu next time.”

“Oh,” Xu Ye replied without much reaction.

Scumbag. She raged internally.

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The author has something to say:

Jiang Yu wouldn’t casually browse through Lu Zheming’s Weibo—but he would look through Yu Ruoyun’s. The details of the traffic accident might not be accurate or realistic; don’t take them seriously.

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