When Cheng Ping returned from the hospital, the wound on his face had already scabbed over. Whether it would leave a scar would only be known after the scab fell off.

He couldn’t shoot any scenes for the next few days but didn’t plan to leave. The travel and change of environment would not be good for his skin’s recovery. So, he decided to stay in the hotel with the crew to rest.

An actor injuring their face is a serious matter, and Cheng Ping immediately became the focus of everyone’s concern. Led by the director, a group of people came to visit him.

The director was anxious to see Cheng Ping’s injury for himself, concerned about the unshot scenes. The assistant director and other staff who were present during the incident also followed. Since everyone was going, the young actor couldn’t avoid it either.

In fact, the person most furious about Cheng Ping’s injury was the young actor himself.

The original headline, “Young actor Injured on the Face,” had its subject switched. After betting his multimillion-dollar face on this scheme, not only did he gain nothing, but he might even lose more.

“The footage we have is definitely unusable,” the young actor’s PR team concluded after evaluating the video. “Even if we release it, public opinion is more likely to sympathize with him rather than praise your dedication. It would be making wedding clothes for someone else.”

“If we don’t release it, will they? Will they buy articles to attack me?” the young actor asked.

“They didn’t record any videos; even if they wanted to attack you, they have no evidence. Plus, you can make some preparations in advance.”

When the injury inspection team knocked on Cheng Ping’s door, it was his assistant who answered. While they were talking, a person dressed as a hotel staff member peeked around the corner of the corridor.

The staff member stealthily approached the group, found an angle, and raised his phone to record.

Just as he started recording, he felt a heavy slap on his back. The staff member, guilty as a thief, turned around to see a tall, androgynous figure with narrow, charming eyes. But looking down at him with such an intense gaze, the eyes were terrifying.

The staff member immediately put away his phone but was grabbed by the other person.

“Oh my, someone is secretly filming here, did you know?” the person said in a theatrical tone.

The staff member: “…”

The staff member was naturally hired by the young actor.

The hotel was currently booked by the crew, so outsiders couldn’t get in. They had to hire someone from the inside to play the role of the spy, planning to release the footage later as a “bystander.”

Regardless of the attitude of Cheng Ping’s team towards the young actor, the footage could be useful. If they showed hostility, it would ruin Cheng Ping’s image as a perfect victim. Accidents happen in filming; why blame the co-actor? If they were friendly, it would clear the young actor of any wrongdoing.

But…

The young actor watched as Li Baixi grabbed the staff member and said, “How scary! If this video gets out, people will think you hired someone to shoot it, and they will mock you for staging the injury inspection. How sinister! Good thing I caught you.”

“…”

A few people who understood the situation glanced at the young actor.

The director sneered.

The young actor didn’t know what expression to make.

Cheng Ping’s assistant acted as if they hadn’t noticed the interruption, calmly saying, “The boss can’t talk today; it might pull the wound.”

“No worries, we’ll just take a look and leave,” the director said, entering first and seeing Cheng Ping with gauze on his face, sitting silently.

The director patted Cheng Ping’s shoulder, offered some comfort, and then asked about his return to work.

The assistant replied, “In a few days, just a few days.”

Cheng Ping nodded.

The director: “No rush, just asking. Health first.”

“Brother Cheng is very dedicated; he won’t keep everyone waiting long,” the young actor said with a smile.

Cheng Ping glanced at the young actor, and the assistant nervously placed a hand on his shoulder.

Cheng Ping could speak; it was the team that forbade it, fearing he might lash out at the young actor.

After the visit, Li Baixi didn’t enter but stood by the window at the end of the corridor, smoking.

After a moment, another person walked out alone.

The junior had his hands in his pockets, planning to sneak away. Seeing Li Baixi, he stopped, “Why didn’t you go in?”

Li Baixi: “No need, I accompanied him to the hospital.”

The junior: “So considerate? Have you taken a liking to him?”

Li Baixi looked at the junior, smiling mysteriously.

He had worked hard to such an extent that if anyone still doubted his sexual orientation, it would be this junior who knew his true self.

Over the years, since his rise to fame, the junior had repeatedly tried to catch him off guard.

It was a test and a threat: you better not slip up in front of me because I will seize it.

Li Baixi: “A living person gets hurt; shouldn’t we help him? Dear junior, you seem determined to play the villain lately.”

Li Baixi’s words sounded like a joke, but both were cunning, and the junior read the underlying message from his eyes.

The junior shrugged: “The actor sent me to serve his lover. I have to do well; I want a long-term contract with him. Nowadays, the employer’s status determines the makeup artist’s value, you know. But today’s incident has nothing to do with me; I’m just a makeup artist.”

Li Baixi: “I used to believe that; now, I’m not so sure. Junior, you’ve taken a wrong turn in life.”

“Oh? You’re saying this?”

“Am I not qualified?”

“You certainly aren’t,” the junior replied politely. “You’re a fraud.”

Li Baixi: “?”

“Your personality is fake, your persona is fake, even your clothes are fake,” the junior’s expression cracked like a mask. “Back then, I kindly advised you to find a personal style to make a name in the industry. So many years have passed, your style is still a mess, but you’re clever, parading around in a dress.”

Li Baixi: “You’re just jealous.”

The junior: “…”

The junior sneered: “A makeup artist with a dress as their trademark, in a way, I admire you. But, senior, focusing on self-promotion, be careful it doesn’t backfire.”

Li Baixi: “You make a good point, but you still can’t beat me. How frustrating.”

The junior: “…”

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting Li Baixi in silhouette, unflinching and smoking.

The junior squinted, unable to see his expression, and decided to retreat, unable to gain an advantage.

As the junior turned to leave, Li Baixi casually said, “Personal style, huh? Makeup on others while leaving your mark? Are you marking territory like a dog? Makeup is a service industry; the spotlight isn’t for you.”

Li Baixi spoke leisurely, but the junior laughed.

These lines didn’t need to be spoken. Li Baixi speaking them meant he was flustered.

The junior laughed: “Yes, your perspective is limited. Remember the competition at graduation?”

Li Baixi: “…”

The silhouette didn’t move.

The junior understood: “You’re just a worker, no matter how skilled. I can gain what I lack through practice, but you? You’ve reached your limit. In a few decades, I’ll be the one remembered.”

The junior left.

Li Baixi stood silently in the corridor until everyone had left.

Li Baixi knocked and entered Cheng Ping’s room: “How’s it going?”

Assistant: “He did well, didn’t speak the whole time.”

Li Baixi looked at Cheng Ping, who was playing on his phone.

Li Baixi sat by the bed, silent for a long time.

Eventually, Cheng Ping threw his phone aside, removed the gauze, and said, “It’s okay, I never liked this job much anyway. The healing will be up to fate; even if I can’t act, I can…”

But seeing Li Baixi’s eyes, he fell silent.

After a moment, Cheng Ping asked softly, “Did I help you beat your junior today?”

Li Baixi nodded.

Cheng Ping tried to smile with one side of his mouth.

That night, Li Baixi kept his promise and went to drink with the director.

Li Baixi: “How’s my mom?”

Director: “Good, she recently went to Tianshan to see snow lotuses.”

Li Baixi: “?”

Director: “After your call, she suddenly said, ‘Come to think of it, I’ve never seen snow lotuses in Tianshan,’ and flew off with her luggage that night.”

Li Baixi: “…”

Director: “She’s impulsive, even at her age, hahaha.”

Li Baixi: “…”

Director: “What’s your dad up to?”

Li Baixi: “Apparently painting glaciers in the Arctic.”

Director: “Really in the Arctic? Not renting a place in Beiji County, Yichun City, Heilongjiang, and then bringing a stack of white paintings to New York for a ‘Human Purity’ exhibition?”

Li Baixi: “There’s no Beiji County in Yichun City, Heilongjiang. But other than that, I think your prediction is quite accurate.”

Director snorted: “Old fraud.”

Li Baixi: “…”

Director: “Tell me about your young friend. You haven’t brought an actor to me in years. What’s

 the story this time?”

Li Baixi: “He used to be an esports player. I was his fan during school.”

The director sipped his erguotou, squinting at Li Baixi in the light: “Does he remind you of the old days?”

Li Baixi said nothing.

“Our dear Xi Xi is nostalgic.”

“Please don’t call me that.”

“Life was happier without pretense back then?”

Li Baixi shook his head: “It’s all the same. Life is unhappy; I understood that early on.”

The director laughed heartily: “Do you envy your past self?”

“Not at all. I’d just be anxious for him.”

Before leaving, Li Baixi remembered something: “By the way, I need a favor.”

A few days later.

Cheng Ping’s face was healing well. From the scab that had fallen off, it looked like there wouldn’t be a scar.

But before the scab completely fell off, he called Li Baixi to the hotel: “Please help me with makeup to cover the wound.”

“Why?”

“My agent wants me to record a video for the fans to reassure them.”

Cheng Ping had unexpectedly trended on social media yesterday—a video of his injury was released. Strangely, it wasn’t shot by the young actor’s team and was edited, leaving out the young actor’s potential scheme and Cheng Ping’s swearing at the end.

As a result, Cheng Ping’s reputation rebounded. Even casual viewers praised him for his heroic act, and fans, heartbroken, bombarded every team member’s account, urging them to update on Cheng Ping’s recovery.

Li Baixi: “So?”

Cheng Ping: “So I need to cover the wound to reassure them.”

Li Baixi: “…”

Cheng Ping: “?”

Li Baixi reluctantly covered the wound.

Cheng Ping examined himself in the mirror: “I still think it’s noticeable. You didn’t try your best, did you?”

Li Baixi didn’t respond.

In the mirror, Cheng Ping saw Li Baixi exchange a glance with his agent.

Cheng Ping wasn’t stupid; he immediately understood why his agent wanted him to appear before fully healed.

“You want me to play the sympathy card?” Cheng Ping asked unhappily.

Agent: “Don’t say that. We’re just being truthful…”

Cheng Ping: “You released the video?”

Agent helplessly: “Yes.”

“Where did you get the video? It looks like it was shot from an official angle.”

“I got it.” Li Baixi said, “I… bribed the director.”

Cheng Ping: “???”

“Yes, we want you to play the sympathy card.” Li Baixi said, “Originally, I wanted to make your injury look worse.”

Agent: “…”

The agent poked Li Baixi.

Li Baixi remained unmoved: “The young actor’s stunt was premeditated. They had someone filming. We didn’t release the incriminating parts, not to save face, but as leverage. They won’t release their version because of this.”

“Their version?”

“The part after you got up. Since your face was already injured and you acted heroically, you should’ve been more gracious. Why glare and swear, giving them an opening… Now if it escalates, they’ll have grounds.”

Cheng Ping frowned deeply.

Li Baixi sighed: “How can you cover the wound? If it’s invisible, they’ll say the injury was fake…”

“Mr. Li,” Cheng Ping interrupted, “do you really think I don’t understand this?”

Cheng Ping understood. In his career, he’d seen enough to know how things worked.

But he believed in immediate retribution. If he could retaliate today, he wouldn’t wait until tomorrow. Youthful exuberance meant seeking justice swiftly.

Hearing Li Baixi’s condescending advice, he felt both stung and saddened.

“We’re not the same,” he finally said.

Li Baixi was furious.

The director’s question echoed in Li Baixi’s mind: “Do you envy your past self?”

Not at all, only anxious for him!

“Cheng Ping, you’ve survived on luck,” Li Baixi said. “Dropping out for esports, luckily you had skill. Pushed out and turned to acting, luckily you had looks. Fate has never taught you a lesson. The adult world has rules!”

The agent was shocked.

Li Baixi voiced the words he had thought a thousand times but never dared to say.

Li Baixi’s frustration, from the junior’s provocations, erupted: “You think esports is pure? Why did you leave? Because your former captain embraced the rules, and you didn’t…”