[FLOTG] Chapter 16: Retirement Commotion

In a large private room, twenty or so handsome men and lovely ladies mingled. The food on the table had already turned cold, and there were empty drink bottles strewn all around the floor. Only the hotpot was still bubbling, emitting hot steam, slowly evaporating away under the dazzling lights of the chandelier.

A handsome man sat quietly in a corner of the noisy room. He was looking down at his handphone, his long eyelashes clearly defined under the light.

On the screen of his phone was a photo. A man lounged lazily in a chair with an ankle crossed over his knee, a birthday hat perched crookedly on his head, and a pink birthday cake brimming with girlish charm before him. He had clean and soft facial features, and when he smiled, his eyes scrunched up until they were no longer visible, a mirror image of the cute little fox decorating his cake.

Shen Huai's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He found it unspeakably adorable for Song Xue-Yang to appear in the same photo as this little fox.

His fingers brushed repetitively over the photo, as casually as if he were wiping off some smudges on his screen. He swiped down. The netizens and big names of the esports circles were all offering up their birthday wishes.

[ Happy birthday, Captain Song! ]

[ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Husband! AAAAAAAH!  Is it really alright for a group of big boys like you to order such a sweet baby pink cake?! Top marks for the fox on the cake!! ]

[ I'm relieved to see my husband still looking so handsome today! Happy Birthday! ]

Reading the lively comments from netizens of a spectrum of personalities, Shen Huai felt rather comforted. The majority of comments under his Weibo were either about his acting skills or his father. Every time he saw those snide remarks, he would feel that his career was hollow and meaningless.

Liu Yue-Ran emerged from the laughing crowd, walking over to wave a hand before Shen Huai's eyes.

"Superstar, why don't you go have another drink or two?"

Shen Huai's relaxed a little when he saw that it was Liu Yue-Ran. "I've already had four glasses."

"That's not much!"

"White liquor."

"... They've really got it out for you."

Liu Yue-Ran sat down beside him and saw that Shen Huai was browsing Weibo. She recalled how almost every major participant in the movie "End of the Road" had won awards a while back, with the exception of Shen Huai, who had received nothing other than his pay for filming.

Just thinking of the venomous comments flying around the internet back then made Liu Yue-Ran's heart ache for her friend. She really could not understand how Shen Nuo could harden his heart enough to stand back and let his son be ridiculed that much. There should have been plenty of people who would want to curry favour with Shen Huai due to his background and status, but because Shen Nuo was so cold and indifferent towards Shen Huai, those people took out their frustrations on Shen Huai instead when they found they could gain nothing from him.

"Don't take those words on the internet to heart. Your starting point is just too high, so the audience has high expectations of you. You're 21 years old, you know how many actors at your age get so nervous in front of the camera that they can't even speak clearly? The road is long. In a couple of years, you definitely won't still be where you are right now."

As Liu Yue-Ran spoke, even she started to feel a little envious. In the entertainment industry, youth was capital. Shen Huai had debuted in the industry much earlier than all of them here. His years of accumulated experience were a priceless asset which others could only covet.

"I won't be acting anymore."

Shen Huai's voice, low and deep, reached her ears.

Liu Yue-Ran froze for a beat or two before slowly turning her head to look at him.

Shen Huai met her gaze frankly. He had been acting with his father from a young age and was more used to interacting with the older actors on set, rarely speaking with his peers. Liu Yue-Ran could be said to be his only friend of the same age, and he wasn't planning to hide his decision anyway.

Liu Yue-Ran understood Shen Huai well. This man was usually quiet and reticent, and that was precisely why he was unlikely to waste words on making a joke like this.

"My mother passed away early, so my father's always been the one raising me. Going back as far as my earliest memories, I grew up on the set. Watching him act, then acting with him... he has never asked me whether I liked or wanted it."

Shen Huai's gaze was distant as he looked out at the party. The crowd of youths were mingling in groups, drinking and singing, but the hype and enthusiasm just seemed noisy and unreal.

Liu Yue-Ran suddenly felt that Shen Huai really wasn't meant for this place. His personality, mentality — it was as if every inch of skin on his body was not meant to fit into this world.

"I'm already 21 years old. I don't want to waste any more time on meaningless things," said Shen Huai softly.

Liu Yue-Ran smiled in understanding. Yes, who said that someone who has acted from young must love acting? Who said that you must act well just because you have an international movie star for a father?

Everyone's goals in life were different. How many people had lost themselves indulging in empty glory and prosperity? Long having forgotten their dreams and ideals in the pursuit of fame, money, and personal gain.

She admired Shen Huai for his courage and determination, and she also envied that he had the strength and backing to take this step.

Liu Yue-Ran did not ask Shen Huai any questions, just patting him on the shoulder. "Come, let's go back for another drink!"

Shen Huai did not refuse, returning with her to the table to drink.

It wasn't clear who was the first at the table to peek at their phone, but gradually, those around the table began to look at Shen Huai differently, their gazes touched with probing curiosity. They began to whisper among each other in groups of two or three.

Shen Huai had always been a controversial figure within the class; there were many who viewed him with contempt. He had long gotten used it, so he paid no attention to the petty actions of these people.

However, Liu Yue-Ran, who was buzzing from the alcohol, would not stand for it. "By fate, we've all been classmates for 4 years. Is there anything we can't just say to each other's faces? It hasn't even been a year since we graduated — are we going to pretend not to know each other even on the same set just after another few years?"

Liu Yue-Ran was well-respected in the class, so her comments elicited an imediate response.

"That's not it, Ran," he mumbled, as he took out his phone, " It's just that Shen Enterprises just issued an official statement saying that Shen Huai has already terminated his contract with the company, and also... that Shen Huai is leaving the entertainment industry."

The previously noisy private room instantly quieted down, every pair of eyes trained closely on the man in question.

Unperturbed, Shen Huai opened Weibo under the eyes of the crowd. An hour ago, Promise Corporation had officially announced that Shen Huai would be terminating his contract with the company due to personal reasons, while also subtly implying his intent to quit acting.

The company Shen Huai was signed with was owned by his father, so he didn't have to personally handle the procedures of terminating his contract. Still, he had not expected the termination process to be settled so quickly, or that the announcement would be made at such an inopportune time.

Professor Xu was surprised. "Shen Huai, what's going on here?"

Shen Huai stood up and bowed solemnly to Professor Xu. "Professor Xu, acting has never been my dream. Thank you for all your teachings and guidance, I will visit you again another day."

He collected his jacket and as he turned, his gaze swept over his classmates sitting around the drinking table. "I wish you all a bright future."

These words, uttered so softly, hit the hearts of everyone there like a heavy rock.

They envied Shen Huai's resources, envied that he had an internationally acclaimed movie star for a father, envied that he was already standing at a height beyond their reach from the very moment of his debut... luckily, to their glee, Shen Huai was like a puddle of mud which could not even be propped up by a wall.

So what if he had the best resources or the greatest background? Wasn't he still being flamed by netizens every day? They may even be trodding over him in the near future... That would feel even better than schmoozing up to him.

However, they had never imagined that Shen Huai would quit the entertainment industry so early. Everything they envied turned out to be things he did not value.

Shen Huai donned his jacket and left the restaurant. Right now, he needed to hide as soon as possible to avoid being found by the reporters. However, as soon as he stepped foot out of the door, a mob rushed out of the darkness.

"Shen Huai! Did you quit the entertainment industry because of the overwhelming stress from being criticised by netizens online?"

"Shen Huai, are you really going to stop acting from now on? Aren't you afraid that you'll disappoint your father?"

The barrage of questions were accompanied with bright flashes from cameras. Shen Huai pressed his lips tightly together, not saying a single word as his eyes scanned the street rapidly trying to find a route of escape.

Right then, the headlights of a van idling near the entrance lit up, and a flash of the streetlights illuminated Song Xue-Yang's face for a brief instant.

Without thinking, Shen Huai ran over to pull open the car door, dashing inside to slam the door shut behind him.

His stomach was tossing and turning, so he had no mind to spare any thought for the shocked passengers in the car. He urged, "If you don't start driving, I'm going to puke."

"No, don't! I just washed the car!" The man in the driver's seat slammed his foot down on the accelerator, and the car instantly shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Even after driving for quite a distance, Shen Huai was still gripping tightly onto the door handles, as if afraid that the reporters would be able to chase up to them.

Shen Huai's head felt jumbled and heavy. He had drunk quite a lot of alcohol even before he had been chased by the reporters out in the cold night air, and now, rattling around in the car, he was barely holding onto his consciousness.

The driver asked, "Superstar, where are you headed?"

Shen Huai did not reply. He was so uncomfortable that he did not feel like saying a word.

What's more, with Song Xue-Yang around, what was there for him to worry about?

Song Xue-Yang would definitely have been able to handle those reporters easily.

At that thought, Shen Huai let go of the door handle in relief.

Seeing that Shen Huai was unresponsive, Song Xue-Yang patted him lightly on the shoulder. "Shen Huai? Where would you..."

Before he could even finish speaking, the man before him slumped, falling over in his direction. Song Xue-Yang quickly reached out and abruptly found himself with his arms full.

A slightly cool head thumped onto his chest, the fluffy hair on it almost blending with the black of his down jacket. The passing street lamps drew streaks of light and shadow across the face of the person in his arms; Shen Huai looked like a sleeping sprite one just could not bear to disturb.

Song Xue-Yang's heart softened like it had taken a deep blow. He observed the white puffs of air coming from Shen Huai's nostrils and said in low voice, "Kun, turn up the heat a little."

"Ok." The manager glanced at them through the rear-view mirror. "Where should we go?"

"Back to the club."

He turned his head to find three heads lined up side-by-side along the back of his seat, their eyes bright as they stared at the person in his arms.

Amused, Song Xue-Yang gave them each a knock on the head. "What are you all looking at? All sober now?"

Only then did the three pull back to recline into their seats,

Song Xue-Yang looked down. Shen Huai's fluffy head was so close; his smooth hair looked extremely soft. Song Xue-Yang resisted the urge to touch it, adjusting Shen Huai into a more comfortable position.

Shen Huai slept deeply, as if having complete trust in Song Xue-Yang. All his muscles were loose and relaxed — he was like a completely different person from the one who had been gripping onto the door handle for dear life in fear of the reporters.

Song Xue-Yang had learned a lot of psychology from a young age. He knew that every subconscious reaction of a person was meaningful. The fact that Shen Huai was able to sleep so restfully proved that he not only believed Song Xue-Yang would never harm him, he also believed that Song Xue-Yang would be able to handle those tenacious reporters on their tail.

The corners of Song Xue-Yang's lips curved up. Being trusted by a complete stranger felt rather interesting.

Of course, if he couldn't shake off a couple of reporters, he wouldn't be such a headache for all the professional teams.

The van stopped in front of the club dormitory building, and the team manager helped the three brothers in the back out of the car before coming over to help Song Xue-Yang drag the deeply asleep Shen Huai out of the car.

It was unclear whether it was because he felt himself being touched or if the air outside was too cold, but Shen Huai suddenly startled awake.

He saw a stranger holding onto his arm and his sleepy eyes instantly sprang open into wide saucers as he pushed the other away. This push left him a little unsteady but he was quickly supported by another person from his other side. He quickly turned his head and grabbed hold of the person's arm, his grip so strong that it was like he was about to grapple with the other.

But when he recognised that it was Song Xue-Yang, like a switch being flipped, he gently let go.

The team manager who had just been shoved aside: Do ugly people have no rights?

Song Xue-Yang was somewhat surprised as well. He saw Shen Huai slowly closing his eyes, even reaching out his arm on his own for Song Xue-Yang to support him and lead him along. He looked very meek and obedient, even a little submissive.

He helped the others get back to their respective rooms and then led Shen Huai with him to his own room in the dorms.

The team manager was a liitle uneasy. "What are you planning to do with him?"

Song Xue-Yang propped up Shen Huai's body to stop it from falling to the ground. "Let him sleep a night here and then we can deal with the rest tomorrow."

The manager nodded. Song Xue-Yang was even shrewder than adults in their 30s; it would be fine to leave Shen Huai in his hands.

"Kun, it's late, you should go rest."

"Ok, contact me if you need anything."

The conditions of the Maple Moon dormitories were pretty good. Each dormitory housed 2 people, with a layout of two rooms connected to a shared living room.

Song Xue-Yang's dormmate had just retired this year, so the other room in his dorm was still empty. However, the room hadn't been cleaned and the bedding had been thrown away. He couldn't very well let his guest sleep on a bare bed base.

He put Shen Huai on the sofa in the living room and went to his bedroom to take a shower.

The manager had picked them up tonight in the vehicle reserved for the pro team, so even though they had managed to shake off the reporters, their vehicle could be traced back to Maple Moon with just a little effort. Entertainment reporters were not as easily fooled as esports reporters — Song Xue-Yang had a strong hunch that he would be on the news tomorrow morning.

There was a sudden urgent patter of footsteps coming from outside and the bathroom door was abruptly pushed open. Shen Huai pounced on the toilet bowl and began vomiting.

The utterly naked Song Xue-Yang: ......

Looks like it was a little too early for now to be thinking about tomorrow.

ryuxenji: Hehe, so now we know the story from Shen Huai's side. Shen Huai is such a sweetheart. :3

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Next: Chapter 17: Change in Opinion

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