Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Welcome home, My ha...
At 1:30 a.m., Chen Zhuo sat in front of his computer, waiting for the live broadcast of the Venice closing ceremony and awards ceremony. The studio group chat was buzzing with messages, and several young women expressed their nervousness, wondering if Si Yu and Jiang Rui would win the prize.
It was too late, and Shen Zhuo urged them to go to bed, but no one listened. They chatted about other things and ignored her urging. Everyone was nervous and excited, so Shen Zhuo smiled and didn't bother to care.
The awards were presented in ascending order, with Best New Actor and Best Screenplay already handed out, and next up was Best Actress. Shen Zhuo was a little nervous. She'd already seen the finished film of "Fog Lights" and was impressed by Jiang Rui's control of the performance. Furthermore, "Fog Lights" had been receiving positive reviews since its premiere, but it had been years since a Chinese actress had won Best Actress. Her heart was in her throat.
When the host read out "Chris Jiang", the director's camera cut to Jiang Rui. Shen Zhuo looked at the screen and his mind went blank for several seconds before he reacted.
It’s really Jiang Rui!
The phone on the table suddenly started vibrating wildly. The group chat was already buzzing, and some colleagues sent her congratulatory messages.
Jiang Rui went on stage to present the award, thanked her partner Guan Siyu, producer Li Yaqi, director Mai Xu, and the entire crew.
"Finally, I want to express my special thanks to my agent. Without her, I would still be an unknown actor. It is her kindness that has allowed me to stand here. Thank you, Chen Zhuo."
Jiang Rui faced the camera and pronounced Chen Zhuo's name in a clear and loud voice.
There was applause from the audience, and the camera cut to the "Fog Lights" crew, with everyone having a sincere smile on their face.
However, "Fog Lights" only won the Best Actress award and was only nominated for Best Picture. Because the film revolves around the heroine's experience and self-rescue, Guan Siyu was not even nominated for Best Actor. But everyone was already very satisfied with this result.
Chen Zhuo never thought that her name would one day appear at the Venice Film Festival awards ceremony. She had long been accustomed to being the person behind the scenes.
Shen Zhuo felt guilty about Jiang Rui's gratitude. She had merely discovered and recommended her for an audition, but that was her job as an agent. After that, she simply went about her business finding suitable projects for Jiang Rui, not devoting any extra attention to her. Therefore, this thank you made her feel a little guilty.
When she went to visit Shao Chengzhang that day, she told him about this incident.
Shao Chengzhang disagreed. "You know, there are many good horses, but there are few good horse trainers. Jiang Rui didn't become an actress until she took on 'Fog Lights.' There are so many agents in China, and you were the only one who discovered and recommended her at this critical juncture. Without you, she wouldn't have gotten this project, nor would she have achieved what she has today. It was you who saw her; you are her good horse trainer."
"Is that so?" Shen Zhuo remained noncommittal.
Shao Chengzhang said with a smile, "Wife, don't underestimate yourself." He patted the bed and said, "Would you like to come up and rest for a while?"
Chen Zhuo brought lunch with him at noon, and after a quick meal with him, she sat at the small table, working on her work. Just one morning later, "Fog Lights," after receiving an award, had already broken into the top three trending searches on Weibo. Chen Zhuo had received several offers for Jiang Rui to appear in projects, and she was also flooded with offers for variety shows, business deals, and interviews. The sound of Chen Zhuo replying to work messages and the clacking of his keyboard echoed incessantly.
Shao Chengzhang watched her silently for as long as she worked. His eyes fell on her slightly furrowed brows, her focused profile, and her rapidly moving fingers. Thinking of what he had promised Ms. Chi, his chest felt like it was being pricked by needles.
Chen Zhuo pounded her lower back and yawned, then stood up, took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. She hugged Shao Chengzhang and closed her eyes to pretend to sleep.
"Are you tired?" Shao Chengzhang lowered his eyes and looked at the person in his arms with heartache, putting his palm on her back and patting her gently.
"A little bit." Chen Zhuo answered with his eyes closed, "But it's better to be busy."
"Do you like work so much?"
"Didn't we agree that I would make money to support you?"
Shao Chengzhang's eyes were moistened, and he forced a smile and said, "If you are tired, just take a nap."
Chen Zhuo nodded. "Then I'll take a nap for twenty minutes. Call me later." Her voice gradually lowered.
"Um."
Shao Chengzhang looked at Shen Zhuo's slightly tired sleeping face and couldn't bring himself to say goodbye. If her condition was unstable, Shen Zhuo would be even more tired if he was with her. She had already worked too hard this month.
He didn't want to burden her.
Give him a few more days, Shao Chengzhang thought, let him indulge in this moment of tenderness a little longer.
*
The next day, Jiang Rui and Guan Siyu returned home, and the entire studio was overjoyed. Nadia, in particular, announced a celebration for Jiang Rui that evening. Chen Zhuo, who had to go to the hospital, excused herself from going, saying she'd cover the dinner, allowing everyone to enjoy the feast. Before leaving the office, Xiaoyun stopped her and said Guan Siyu wanted to participate in a variety show.
Shen Zhuo paused: "What variety show?"
"'Action!' is the one you told me not to tell Si Yu and just pushed for him."
When Xiaoyun said this, Chen Zhuo remembered that this was the variety show that Chufan had wanted Guan Siyu to participate in, and the list circulated online also included Mai Xu.
"Why did he know about this variety show?"
Xiaoyun said, "I met Teacher Bu Fan at the film festival this time. She and Brother Si Yu brought it up."
Chen Zhuo frowned and went back to the office, "Call Si Yu over."
Soon, there was a knock on the door and Guan Siyu pushed it open and walked in.
"I heard that you wanted to participate in the variety show "Almighty Team". The casting contacted me before, but my schedule is not suitable, so I have already turned it down for you." Shen Zhuo got straight to the point, explained to him, and tried to dispel the idea of wanting him to participate in this variety show.
"Sister Chen Zhuo, but I want to participate." Guan Siyu sat on the sofa and looked up at her.
"Si Yu, don't be willful. The next schedule has already been set."
"But I asked Xiaoyun about the upcoming announcements. She only has one movie coming up before the New Year, so she's definitely in time."
Chen Zhuo folded his arms across his chest, leaning against his desk. "Do you remember you told me before that you would only film movies and not take on any variety shows?"
Guan Siyu said with a smile: "I just think this variety show is quite interesting. It is the first of its kind in China where actors, screenwriters and directors compete in acting. It also has a lot of big names, so it should be very popular and interesting. Maybe I can become popular again after participating."
Shen Zhuo couldn't laugh. She asked with a straight face, "Do you think this variety show can bring you traffic or is it because of something else?"
Guan Siyu didn't answer but asked, "What's wrong, Sister Chen Zhuo? Why are you so serious? Isn't it good for me to participate in more variety shows to gain more fans?"
"Don't avoid my questions."
Guan Siyu rarely saw Chen Zhuo so serious. Before he could say anything, Chen Zhuo asked directly, "Is it because of Mai Xu?"
Guan Siyu was stunned.
"Is it, or is it not?" Shen Zhuo raised his eyebrows and stared at him with a very firm tone.
Guan Siyu pursed his lips and stood there stiffly.
"What did you promise me when we were on the set of Fog Lights? I said I didn't object to you dating, but you had to tell me in advance so I could be prepared. What happened? What did you do?"
"I'm not in a relationship."
Chen Zhuo truly hated being kept in the dark, especially when she'd emphasized it over and over again. Her blood surged to her head, making her solar plexus hum. She walked behind her desk, pulled out an envelope from the drawer, and, clutching a few photos, slammed it onto the small coffee table in front of Guan Siyu.
"How dare you hide this from me!" Shen Zhuo was furious and raised his voice, "Do you really think I don't know what your relationship with Mai Xu is?!"
Her colleagues, who were bustling with activity outside, were startled by her outburst. Almost no one had ever seen Shen Zhuo so angry. Her office door was tightly shut, so they could only hear the clatter, but not the content. Everyone exchanged glances, then shook their heads, indicating they had no idea what was going on.
Guan Siyu lowered his eyes and looked at the photos. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'm sorry, I drank that night."
Chen Zhuo realized his own gaffe, took a deep breath, and suppressed his anger, saying, "Do you know that these photos were almost posted online? If the relationship between Mai Xu and the Guan family was exposed by netizens, have you ever thought about the kind of criticism and abuse you would suffer?"
Guan Siyu suddenly looked up, his pupils shrank, and he was speechless in shock. He thought she just mistakenly thought they were in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship...
"Mai Xu is the child that Grandpa Guan adopted from the orphanage, and he's also your nominal sister, Guan Xin. Am I right?" Shen Zhuo said each word clearly. She paused, "Si Yu, not only will you and Mai Xu be subjected to online violence, but your studio will also suffer."
After all, the two grew up together, and such an incestuous relationship can be regarded as a scandal. At that time, Party A will demand to stop cooperation and pay liquidated damages. Chen Zhuo cannot allow such a thing to happen.
Guan Siyu remained silent.
Chen Zhuo sighed and said, "I'll give you two options. First, focus on filming. Second, we can stop working together. You can set up your own studio and participate in variety shows. No matter what happens to you in the future, it will have nothing to do with me or the studio. Think about it carefully and give me an answer as soon as possible."
Chen Zhuo was about to leave, and just as he grasped the handle, he heard Guan Siyu's voice coming from behind: "Sister Chen Zhuo, I participated in the variety show just to give myself a thought."
The next day, the company somehow got word that Guan Siyu was terminating his contract. Nadia went to see Chen Zhuo, but unexpectedly, they ended up arguing. This was the first time they had such a big disagreement in all their years of working together.
Nadia, unaware of Guan Siyu and Mai Xu's relationship, strongly supports Guan Siyu's participation in "Almighty Team." She's convinced the variety show will be a hit, and the relationship between Bu Fan, Jiang Rui, and Guan Siyu alone is enough to spark a lot of discussion. Chen Zhuo refuses to listen, insisting he can't participate without explaining why, leaving Nadia furious and slamming the door.
Shen Zhuo looked at the time. She was going to pick up Shao Chengzhang. Today was the day he was discharged from the hospital.
This was a happy thing. Before entering the ward, Chen Zhuo took a few deep breaths to adjust her mood. She didn't want the bad things at work to affect her good mood.
He walked home with a smile on his face and humming a song. Chen Zhuo walked in before him and turned to him and gave him a knight's salute, "Welcome home, my handsome husband."
Shao Chengzhang couldn't help but smile. He took her hand and walked towards the living room. After a month away, he felt a little strange being back home. He walked straight to the vivarium and squatted down. Shao Chengzhang stretched out his finger and tapped the glass. Perhaps because he hadn't seen his owner in a while, Ares came over and pressed his belly and limbs against the glass.
"Ares, you miss your father too, don't you?" Shen Zhuo sat down cross-legged beside him.
Shao Chengzhang opened the ecological tank, took it out and put it on his body. Maybe it was still stained with the smell of the hospital. Ares felt unfamiliar and climbed down in disgust and went straight to Chen Zhuo.
"Don't you recognize your father? Then come to your mother." Shen Zhuo stretched out his finger and tapped the floor, happily leading Ares to his side.
Shao Chengzhang stared at the scene in amazement. Shen Zhuo spoke of "Mom and Dad" so naturally. At that moment, his chest felt like it was blocked by something, warm and heavy.
He should have been enjoying this long-lost sense of belonging, but his heart was filled with bitterness because he would soon shatter it all with his own hands.
She was still smiling, her eyes sparkling. Shao Chengzhang, however, lowered his head, his fingertips slowly stroking his knees. His throat seemed to be stuck, and he couldn't say what he wanted to say.
"What's wrong? You seem down as soon as you came out of the hospital?" Chen Zhuo frowned, "You are not—"
Shao Chengzhang pursed his lips and smiled, "Don't worry, I'm already healed, don't worry."
"Let's go out for dinner later. I haven't let Aunt Chen come over for a month because I'm afraid she'll ask me." Shen Zhuo said.
Shao Chengzhang nodded and said "OK".
"No, what's wrong with you?" Shen Zhuo didn't know why he felt that Shao Chengzhang was not in the right mood. "If you feel uncomfortable, we can go back to the hospital. Don't force yourself."
"I'm really fine." Shao Chengzhang smiled reluctantly.
"Shao Chengzhang, I can sense it. If you have any questions, just tell me. You'll only make people worry."
Shao Chengzhang pursed his lips, and after a long while, he slowly said: "Chen Zhuo, let's get a divorce."
Shen Zhuo was stunned. He never expected that he would say this.
"I've thought about it for a long time, and actually, we're not suitable." He paused, looking away to avoid her gaze. "I have PTSD, and if it's serious, it can cause depression and anxiety, and I could relapse at any time."
His fingers pressed against his kneecaps, his knuckles turning white from the effort. "I don't want to... burden you anymore." His voice trailed off. "So, while I'm still lucid enough to say this... let's get a divorce."
Shen Zhuo asked, "My mother is looking for you, right?"
Shao Chengzhang remained silent to show his agreement.
"Okay, if you want a divorce, then go ahead." Shen Zhuo laughed in anger. She didn't expect that she could say so calmly that she agreed to a divorce.
She and Ms. Chi argued that they didn't want to separate. She didn't expect Shao Chengzhang to give up their relationship so easily. His words "for your own good" were just excuses. He never asked her if she wanted to or if she could accept it!
She was surprisingly calm now.
"Sign the divorce agreement tomorrow and I'll move out. Isn't there a one-month cooling-off period for divorces? Let's meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau in a month. Shao Chengzhang, starting tomorrow, no, starting now, I don't care whether you have PTSD or depression or anxiety, whether you live or die. If we accidentally meet in the future, we'll just be strangers, okay?" Shen Zhuo stood up and looked down at him, "If you say yes, then let's do it."
Shao Chengzhang lowered his head and said nothing.
The two people were deadlocked and fell into silence for a while.
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