Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

At Dream High.

"That's it then. We need to focus more on the niche genres," Yating said as he led the meeting. "Dream High and our writers will surely soar if we strategically handle its marketing. We need to make the niche as our USP."

"Yes, Sir," the heads of the department nodded.

The meeting ended and everybody left except for Yating. He shut his laptop and simply rested on the chair. He looked at the time and in normal circumstances, he would have gone to the other set for shooting the ad commercial. But now he had nothing to do. Not after how things ended with Chyou.

A call flashed on his phone and he clicked his tongue.

Who is it now…

It was Gu Rong, who had been continuously trying to reach him since he was in his meeting.

Ah shit I forgot.

"Yes, Dad-"

"I have been trying to call you since ages and you don't even bother to pick my calls!"

"I was in a meeting, Dad."

"Then I would like to remind you that I never ignored my son in the past despite my back to back meetings. But you blatantly do."

Yating exhaled a sigh. "I am sorry, Dad. Next time, I won't."

"Don't you use sarcasm on me!"

He was dumbfounded.

I am being genuine!

"I am sincere, Dad. I won't ignore your calls next time."

"...Th-That's good."

Yating slightly felt some oddity in his voice and he asked, "Is everything fine, Dad? You sound a little low."

"Yes! I mean everything is fine, yes…" he cleared his throat. "Anyway, I didn't call you so that you could take an update on my health."

His brow twitched.

If I don't ask, you would still get angry. Damn it you do, damn if you don't.

"I got to know that you stepped back from the commercial. What happened? I think Mr. Zhu and I were pretty clear about how important this project is for us. Then why?"

Yating stiffened. He has nothing to answer. Or precisely, he didn't know how to answer.

"...I am sorry Dad, but I won't be able to continue with it."

"Why not?"

Yating felt a dull headache coming. "...I have many commitments in my work, Dad. There are lots of things going on in Dream High. I really cannot make the time-"

"Don't give me that nonsense! As if Dream High would collapse without its Chief Editor for some time. It's not like you have completely given up on your work either. And how long would some commercials take anyway? You are not filming for a movie."

Dad…

He couldn't say about the distance between him and Chyou, else he knew that Gu Rong would personally throw him off a cliff.

"Everybody is waiting for you at the set. Does it feel right to make Chyou wait like that?"

"What?" Yating sat straight in his seat. "Chyou is there?"

"..."

"Have you eaten something weird? Of course she will be there! Aren't you two doing this together?" He scolded.

Yating was at a loss.

How…?

Wait, what? How come Chyou is still coming on the set? Didn't she back off?

Tons of questions battled against each other in his mind but nothing came out as the answer.

"Are you perhaps thinking that things would come to a halt because of the scandal?"

"It does make things awkward and difficult…"

Gu Rong asked after a pause with a pointed tone, "Why? I think you were pretty clear about your stance so why does it look like you are wavering? You would only give the haters a chance to jump at you again if you withdrew. You won't be hiding from anybody. There would be no awkwardness if there is no truth to it."

Yating pressed his lips.

"Or is there…"

"No," he immediately answered. "There is no truth to anything, Dad."

There wasn't a response for a second and then he said, "So then get moving and don't be anymore late. Only Chyou and you will be the brand faces of our cooperation project. Bye."

He hung up, leaving Yating in a state of even more questions.

What is going on?

—

Yating rushed as soon as he could and he found everybody working towards the arrangements just like usual. The only difference was the slightly furtive but also inquisitive gazes of people.

After the leak of pictures and the scandal of the 'date,' everybody was curious if this project would be abandoned.

Would Chyou and Yating still show their faces for this project and continue as if nothing happened?

The director came forward in relief. "Ah there you are, Gu Yating. Quickly head inside and get ready. Your makeup artists are all in place."

The director was unfazed by the odd atmosphere.

Yating walked closer to his side and asked, "Chyou is here too?"

"Yes," he narrowed his eyes. "You had any doubt?"

He coughed. "No. Not at all. I will go and get ready."

"Cool."

Still perplexed, Yating made his way towards his vanity. At the far end of the same corridor, there was Chyou's room too. He paused and contemplated and then turned his way towards her room.

Yating felt his heart racing with every step that he reached closer. His hand slightly trembled but eventually, he gave a light knock on the door. He waited, holding his breath.

A moment later, the door opened and Chyou peeked outside. Her eyes slightly widened and she came outside.

"Hey."

"Hey…"

Then the conversation already died and neither of them knew what to speak next.

Yating went ahead and said, "I thought the commercial…"

Chyou nodded. "I had thought the same. I spoke to Dad about it. But he was firm about us not withdrawing from this project. If we do then…it would only fan the flames higher. If we abruptly end the project, people would assume that there was truth in the pictures.

We would look guilty. The stand you took and…Y-Yin did, everything would be for nothing."

It was similar to the conversation he had with Gu Rong.

"Dad is of the same opinion," Yating said.

Chyou weakly smiled.

Yating stared at her expression and asked before he knew it, "Is everything going fine with Cheng Yin?"