Chapter 0598: An Unexpected Reunion

What Zhao Fusheng enjoyed most about being with Jiang Wen was constantly provoking him with words, watching him get furious and speechless yet completely helpless.

They say one true friend in life is enough. Zhao Fusheng and Jiang Wen weren't quite soulmates, but they had become very good friends.

"I'll let you off today. Bring your girlfriend out for a meal sometime," Jiang Wen said after a moment's thought.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "Better not. She doesn't know I write scripts; she still thinks I'm just a commercial director."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Jiang Wen was taken aback: "Aren't you two childhood sweethearts?"

He had occasionally heard from Zhao Fusheng about him and Fan Baobao; he knew they had grown up together.

But now Zhao Fusheng was telling him his girlfriend didn't know who he really was—that was strange.

Zhao Fusheng gave an awkward smile: "Well, for my first ad design, I specifically asked her to star in it. I was afraid she'd be upset, so I didn't tell her I was the designer. As for later..."

He didn't finish, but Jiang Wen, worldly-wise, understood.

At this behavior, he could only roll his eyes at Zhao Fusheng, unable to find words to describe it.

"Kid, I'm in awe of you," Jiang Wen said with a laugh.

Zhao Fusheng ignored his teasing: "Listen, she's studying at the Central Academy of Drama now, your alma mater. Look out for her in the future."

Jiang Wen chuckled, too lazy to call him out on his excuses.

Regardless, given their relationship, Jiang Wen would naturally take care of Fan Baobao.

"By the way, what's your girlfriend's name?" Jiang Wen asked.

"Fan Baobao."

"Ah, the 'Qingzui Girl.'" Jiang Wen recalled Zhao Fusheng's first ad; Wang Zhonglei had told him that ad had made Runshengyuan Qingzui throat lozenges a nationwide topic.

"Yeah, when our Baobao graduates, don't hesitate to give her good roles," Zhao Fusheng said with a grin.

Then he added, "Oh, and no kissing or nude scenes."

Jiang Wen looked at him speechlessly: "You sure have a lot of demands."

Zhao Fusheng blinked: "That's not my demand; it's her own rule."

"Hmph..." Jiang Wen gave a cold laugh, as if to say he didn't want to bother with him.

Zhao Fusheng could only shrug: believe it or not.

It was getting late, and Zhao Fusheng had no interest in sitting in a teahouse with a recently divorced middle-aged man, so he suggested they leave.

Jiang Wen nodded. They paid and left the teahouse. Just as they stepped out, they saw two people emerge from a nearby restaurant.

Huh?

Seeing those two, Zhao Fusheng froze, never expecting to run into them here.

The reason was simple: one of them was director Zhang Li, and the other was the girl he and Jiang Wen had rescued that day.

The girl who had been taken home by Yu Feihong and then left without a word.

Back then, because of her, Zhao Fusheng and Jiang Wen had nearly come to blows with Zhang Li in the bar. And now the two were walking together, looking quite intimate.

They clearly didn't see Zhao Fusheng and Jiang Wen, got into a car, and drove off.

"See? Eye-opening, isn't it?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng standing there silent, Jiang Wen gave a bitter smile and said helplessly.

Zhao Fusheng said nothing, just sighed, his feelings no less conflicted than Jiang Wen's.

Traps always seem sweet. When you encounter bad people, either fight them or stay away. If you keep falling into their honeyed words, thinking there's a middle ground, sooner or later society's cruelty will make you pay for your naivety.

In his past life, Zhao Fusheng had heard of such things: directors plying girls with alcohol under the guise of casting, trying to kiss them in the restroom, or even drugging their drinks—all while the girls kept in touch for a chance at a role.

Honestly, Zhao Fusheng felt anxious for their innocence.

He thought that if he were there, he'd slap that bastard director hard and tell him: Screw your chance.

But then again, even if he stepped in to solve the problem for them, what then?

The scene before him left Zhao Fusheng without even the mood to blame others.

The path one walks ultimately depends on one's own choices. Clearly, he and Jiang Wen had been meddling.

Or rather, after going back, the girl had chosen a path she thought was right.

"The entertainment industry really is a cesspool," Zhao Fusheng finally said after a long silence.

Jiang Wen remained silent. He knew what Zhao Fusheng meant and wanted to argue but couldn't, because no matter how many reasons he had, he couldn't convince Zhao Fusheng.

The reason was simple: the facts were right in front of them.

He didn't know that at that moment, Zhao Fusheng wasn't thinking about the entertainment industry but about himself.

They say character determines fate. Zhao Fusheng's character had been set in his past life—a man in his forties mentally, even after rebirth, he hadn't changed much and would still live by his old ways.

So Zhao Fusheng loved chasing wealth and occasionally indulged in middle-aged sentiments.

But now, a sense of crisis arose in his heart.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want Fan Baobao to face the same choice as that girl, nor did he want to be powerless in the face of such a situation.

This mood lingered until he met Fan Baobao. Seeing her boyfriend's serious expression, she asked softly, "What's wrong? Problems with the company?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then shook his head: "No, it's not the company."

"Oh." Fan Baobao nodded and didn't press further.

She knew that when Zhao Fusheng didn't want to talk, no amount of asking would help.

"Don't worry, it's nothing serious," Zhao Fusheng said, pinching her cheek, earning a playful glare.

Fan Baobao shot him a look and decided to ignore him for the whole day!

Well, twenty-four hours was too long; she'd cut off the zero.

"I'll ignore him for four hours!" Fan Baobao thought to herself.