Sobbing, Jian Wei pushed me away. Our bodies immediately distanced, but our eyes met once again. She said to me, “Zhaoyang, I don’t need your embrace, let alone your sympathy, because it’s that city I love, not the you of today!”
After my shock, I gradually regained clarity. If I myself had grown to despise this current version of me, how could I presumptuously assume the posture of a romantic hero to comfort Jian Wei’s heart wounds? In fact, ever since I destroyed that city, I had been walking off course.
Jian Wei continued, “Zhaoyang, when Ruiran approached me initially, I didn’t know he would release those photos in this way, thus dragging Leyao into it. I’m very sorry… I want to make amends. If you can get in touch with her, tell her that if she’s willing to return to the entertainment industry, I will find the best PR team to repackage her image. Once she makes her comeback, I’ll try my best to get her roles in at least two of the most commercially promising TV dramas or films this year.”
I didn’t doubt Jian Wei’s sincerity. Because the advertising and entertainment industries are closely connected, with Jian Boyu’s standing in the advertising industry, repackaging an artist wouldn’t be difficult. I knew for a fact that Jian Boyu’s advertising company had the agency rights for 60 percent of the cinema advertisements in the entire Jiangsu and Shanghai areas. Without sufficient influence in the film and television industry, it would be impossible to secure such a large share of cinema advertising in key regions. With such abundant cinema resources in his hands, which director or film investor would dare not give him some face?
After a period of silence, I finally said to Jian Wei, “I’ll convey your message to Leyao. But why did Ruiran know you had those photos and approached you first?”
“I haven’t looked into it, nor do I care. If you want to know the answer, go ask Ruiran himself.”
I nodded and said, “I didn’t come to seek explanations or to blame anyone. I just want to live more clearly. I’ve been confused for far too long!”
The tears on Jian Wei’s face had already dried in the wind. She smiled and said, “Perhaps I was wrong in this matter, but I really want to see how your story with Mi Cai ends. I also want to know whether this world truly has that Sky City you’ve imagined. If it does, then I was never worthy of you. If it doesn’t, then it’s you who deceived me…”
With that final sentence, Jian Wei turned and disappeared against the wind into the night. I leaned against the railing, lit a cigarette for myself, and suddenly all the streetlights went out. My world was reduced to the glowing tip of my cigarette, flickering between light and darkness. I laughed, as if in that moment I had seen through the illusions of love and death, and glimpsed countless transformative doors in this world. Behind one of those doors was locked that Sky City, but I had already lost all my sharpness and could no longer find that Sky City through these doors…
…
Along this extended moat, I ran all the way back to my place, completely exhausted, and collapsed onto my bed. When my world was condensed into this small room, I felt as if I had stopped growing. I no longer knew where to go or what to do. It seemed that all my current sufferings were self-inflicted. Without the causes I had sown in the past, there wouldn’t be these consequences today. Suddenly, I felt so superfluous, as if my very existence was wasting oxygen. Yet I still had to keep living, carried forward by inertia.
After taking a cold shower, I gradually calmed down and finally took out my phone and dialed Leyao’s number. This misfortune had happened to her because of me, and now there was an opportunity to make amends, so I naturally wanted to make it up to her. In fact, I was really worried about how long she could survive in Singapore without any income, especially with a little girl to care for.
Soon after, Leyao answered the call. She coldly asked, “Calling me so late, what’s up?”
Only then did I remember our failed conversation a few days ago. I forced a smile and said to her, “Just wanted to chat with you.”
“Hmph, did you find out there’s no one else to talk to, so you remember me, your backup option? Let me tell you, Zhaoyang, I’ve seen through your true face in this life and won’t ever have any expectations or thoughts about you again.”
“If I disappoint you in this life, maybe I’ll still mess up in the next one…”
“Please, go die somewhere else! Narcissist!”
During our banter, the tension I had carried all day finally eased a bit. I said to her, “I have something serious to talk about.”
“What serious thing could you possibly have to say? Want me to take you back? Let me tell you, some people, once missed, are gone forever. There’s no second chance!”
Leyao seemed to enjoy the joke, so I quickly interrupted, “This time it’s really something serious. I want to ask you, are you still planning to make a comeback in the entertainment industry?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean returning to the entertainment industry!”
Leyao hesitated for a moment before asking, “…Is it that some film company asked you to be their messenger? After all, our scandal was once so sensational. Those profit-driven people must think our relationship was something special!”
As we reached this point in the conversation, I recalled what Jian Wei had told me that night, and my mood sank again. I told her, “There’s something I need to tell you first. In the previous incident, you were quite innocent… The photos that were leaked were… were given to Ruiran by Jian Wei, and then Ruiran passed them to the media… However, Jian Wei didn’t know that Ruiran would leak those photos in this way. She truly didn’t expect it to affect your career, so she wants to make amends. If you’re willing to return to the entertainment industry, she can find the best PR team to repackage you, help you land the best roles… She has the ability to do all of this!”
Leyao remained silent for a long time before finally saying with a cold laugh, “Who does she think she is, a savior? If I want to return to the entertainment industry, I will naturally do so on my own terms. Who needs to rely on her resources?”
“What’s the point of saying that? Jian Wei realized her mistake and sincerely wants to make amends. If you really plan to return to the entertainment industry, this is the best opportunity!”
“Hmph, not interested… Zhaoyang, listen clearly. If one day I decide to return to the entertainment industry, it will be with greater success than before. Do you understand? I don’t need her help. Who does she think she is anyway?”
Suddenly, I was at a loss for words…
Leyao asked again, “Do you have anything else to say? If not, I’m hanging up…”
“Wait!”
“What now?”
“How are you managing in Singapore without any income?”
“Zhaoyang, I understand what you’re implying. Do you really want me to return to the entertainment industry?”
“I just don’t want you to be a victim of this incident. You were innocent.”
“Innocent? Didn’t we hang out in bars together? Didn’t you sleep with me? Didn’t I love you? All of these are facts. I accept the consequences of them being exposed!”
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