Chapter 159: I’ve Come At A Bad Time
The moment the cabin door opened, the morning light and clamor of early summer in Beijing surged in. Yu Wei took a deep breath, his face showing some fatigue from the long flight.
He had originally wanted to decline, but the other team members insisted he take the lead. Besides Yu Wei, anyone else leading would have trouble convincing the crowd.
Forgive me, Rui Ma, your young commander is back.
Yu Wei was the first to step off the airplane, with the team members sensibly following behind. He was the true backbone of this Film Festival, and he should rightfully enjoy the most flowers and applause.
Even others felt that their absence wouldn’t make much difference. From winning awards to showcasing strength, it was basically Yu Wei’s solo smooth ride.
In the delegation, aside from Qi Luo An as the assistant and translator Zhang Yang as the megaphone, the others were somewhat superfluous…
They could finally understand how the chickens felt when standing out from the crowd.
The airport pickup hall was already impassable, with many on-site fans being Yu Wei’s loyal supporters. Several in the front row even held banners printed with words welcoming him home.
Does it have to be this formal?
The last time Yu Wei saw a banner was at university graduation when he made one for his roommate: Congratulations on four years single.
The fans’ enthusiasm was not without order; organizers among them worked hard to maintain it, but their joy was overflowing.
This point actually satisfied Yu Wei quite a bit. Writing entertainment novels daily complaining about star fans causing airport pickup congestion—if he became one of them, it would be too tragic.
Fortunately, his fans and readers were all very rational. This was just a fair and equal respect, not fanatical pursuit.
Yu Wei thought to himself, he didn’t deserve everyone’s worship anyway. This kind of relationship was just right—everyone was good comrades!
The media’s long guns and short cannons were already poised, with flashbulbs flickering like gusts of wind and sudden rain, capturing every team member’s expression without restraint.
Yu Wei had never seen such a spectacle. The foreign media frenzy when he played piano that day was intense, but comparatively restrained.
Their flashbulbs were almost blinding. With this setup, Shining Diga wouldn’t even need everyone to turn into light…
Reporters eagerly extended microphones, vying for the first chance to ask a question.
“Yu Wei, how do you feel about winning the Luwen Award this time?” “What feedback did the judges give on the core idea your short film wanted to express?” “Can you talk about your next creation plan?”
Questions came like a barrage of cannon fire. Yu Wei nodded, then silently pulled Lu Zhou from behind to take the bullets.
What flowers and applause—this was running upfront to take damage. These media reporters were each more tricky than the last; better let someone with a desire to express handle it.
Lu Zhou had just gotten a Luwen Award nomination and was at the peak of his fame. In interviews, his belly full of Versailles remarks finally had an outlet, and he even enjoyed it somewhat.
“Isn’t it just an international nomination? If someone else partnered with Yu Wei, they could get it too. I was just lucky.”
“Lucky, all lucky. Coming all this way to the Film Festival, we couldn’t return empty-handed.”
“Partnering with Yu Wei, success was too easy. I’m just the first director to eat the crab…”
“Contribution? That’s just what we should do. Other filmmakers definitely want to make this contribution too; I just did it first this time.”
Yu Wei listened from the side and found it harder and harder to keep a straight face. This was a true pro at showing off—using the most humble tone to boast the biggest. The reporters were almost laughing in exasperation.
If you talked about strength, fine, but one “luck” after another—other directors would be furious hearing this. How much does this luck cost per pound?
Qi Luo An listening from the side had a different feeling. Who said partnering with Yu Wei guaranteed success? The King of Bad Movies was still waiting.
If he could even carry Old Qi to fly, then this person’s ability would truly be superhuman…
Just as Yu Wei thought he had escaped, they bypassed the media, only to find the Film Association people ahead—the real main force.
At the airport VIP passage entrance, another small-scale but extremely grand official welcome ceremony awaited them.
Several leaders and staff from the Film Association were already waiting here, dressed in formal attire, smiling, showing the industry’s respect and care for outstanding film talents.
The association vice chairman stepped forward first, shaking hands and taking photos cordially with Yu Wei and every team member, expressing warm congratulations.
Being selected for the Luwen Film Festival was an unprecedented feat domestically, let alone winning. Its impact on the domestic film and TV industry was immeasurable.
Yu Wei had single-handedly opened a new track. With this successful experience, future short film entries would face less and less resistance.
This contribution would endure for thousands of autumns!
Although the vice chairman praised extravagantly, Yu Wei just took it as noise. He wasn’t the positive energy protagonist of an entertainment novel; he wouldn’t blindly believe in officialdom.
He had his own judgment; some words were just for listening.
As expected, after the welcome, he had to give a brief and enthusiastic speech. The leader’s “say a few casual words”—everyone knew what that meant…
“The association is always the solid backbone for film workers. We look forward to you creating more high-quality masterpieces in the future, contributing strength to the prosperity and development of the film industry.”
These powerful words drew waves of applause from the on-site media and fans. Half an hour later, Yu Wei finally left the airport and settled into the hotel temporarily arranged by the company.
He planned to rest in Beijing for a day before going home; back-to-back flights were a bit too much.
“Why stay in a hotel? Come to my house as a guest—that’d be much better.”
Qi Luo An was deeply dissatisfied with Yu Wei’s lodging choice. He was in Beijing now; wasn’t it normal for her to play the host?
Then directly toss Qi Yuan’s bedding and sleep in his room!
“It’s not the agreed time yet.”
Yu Wei had lost the bet and had to go once, but not now. Going early would mean going again later; visiting someone’s home empty-handed wasn’t right, and back-and-forth would be such a hassle…
Taking advantage of the rest time, he briefly explained the plot of “The Devotion of Suspect X” to Qi Luo An, to help her arrange the plot.
This book swept the annual champion of Sakura’s three major mystery rankings, while also winning both the Naoki Prize and the Honkaku Mystery Award from opposing schools.
An unprecedented five-time champion, its gold content beyond doubt.
In one sentence, it was a story of committing a crime for love and sacrificing for love; the “devotion” came from this.
Ultimate rationality finally overturned by emotion, and devotion itself was the ultimate proposition logic couldn’t solve.
“Wait, what does this X mean?”
After hearing the book title, Qi Luo An raised her question. Since the protagonist studied math, was it using a math concept?
“Besides echoing the protagonist’s identity, X also means unknown suspect—a placeholder.”
Very good, very spirited. Someone who likes asking questions was suited to writing. Whether important or not, ask first.
After briefly introducing the plot, Yu Wei sent out chapters four and five of “Malice” that he had updated on the airplane.
At this point, the novel was over half done. Yu Wei planned to push hard to finish “Malice” soon; otherwise, readers finishing this one and waiting for the next would get confused.
In the first three chapters’ plot, Yenoyaguchi Shu guided everyone to discover so-called evidence that he ghostwrote for Higa, causing an uproar. Public opinion began sympathizing with the killer and vilifying the victim.
It had to be said that Keigo Higashino’s exploration of human nature was very prescient. A 1996 book, still perfectly applicable today.
The internet’s wall-toppling crowd-pushing, the repeated god-making and god-destroying behind it—what was that if not a kind of malice.
In the first two chapters’ chapter reviews, he really saw quite a few comments denouncing Higa. Though the plot would definitely reverse, this person wasn’t entirely innocent.
Could only say first impressions and stereotypes were too strong…
Chapters four and five were the key reversal in “Malice.” The detective discovered contradictions in Yenoyaguchi Shu’s statement through details like cigarette butts and red wine, doubted his stated motive, and began tracing their student-era relationship.
The result was shocking once investigated: Yenoyaguchi Shu had been a campus bullying victim, later becoming an accomplice perpetrator for self-preservation.
While Higa always resisted bullying, forming a stark contrast in their characters.
From here, Yenoyaguchi’s ugly deeds could no longer be hidden. The later plot was all about revealing the truth and the ending underscoring malice.
Yu Wei was explaining the plot to Qi Luo An when he suddenly received over ten new messages in a row. A group of people somehow knew he was back and started fervently congratulating him.
“Probably the airport pickup video went viral.”
Qi Luo An instinctively pulled out her mobile phone to gossip, but as soon as she opened the app homepage, a video of Yu Wei singing popped up.
Damn big data…
Before Yu Wei could react, she tapped into the trending search list. Sure enough, the related trending search was at number six.
#FirstChapterBackHome
“Who came up with this trending search term?”
Wasn’t this the classic trope from domineering CEO novels? Short dramas used it a lot too—how could it apply to him now?
Yu Wei greatly approved of the netizens’ creativity. Clicking in, it was all videos and mashups of him getting off the plane.
There was even a creative one using the AI version of “Youth.” Yu Wei waving as he disembarked matched “I’m still that boy from before, without the slightest change”—the rhythm was spot on.
Qi Luo An silently tapped collection. Yu Wei pretended not to see; who knew what she wanted with watching so many of his videos…
The comment section netizens were very excited about his return. Yu Wei, the biggest connections in the web novel circle, entertainment industry, and international piano world!
“Finally back, my proudest faith.”
“Give him a day off today; tomorrow we start whipping him madly!”
“This scene is too handsome, glory return in high spirits—feels like it could be one of Yu Wei’s life-defining moments.”
“Tearing up, a child traveling far brings a mother’s worry.”
Actually, Yu Wei had only been abroad for seven days, but netizens felt it had been ages—not quite “one day apart like three autumns.” Everyone liked him a lot, but not that exaggerated.
Mainly because Yu Wei usually had high activity density and strong sense of presence; it felt like he had new things every day, and everyone was almost used to it.
Recently abroad, his activity frequency dropped obviously, so the gap felt pronounced…
“Bye bye, going home for dinner.”
Dusk was falling; Qi Luo An didn’t dare delay further. Out and about she could be bolder, but under parents’ eyes, she didn’t want to be too unrestrained.
She was fine—used to nagging since childhood. Mainly, she couldn’t trouble Yu Wei; if family gave him pressure because of her, Qi Luo An would be the first to object.
“Close the door properly when you leave.”
Yu Wei remained unmoved, still browsing the readers’ latest comments.
Qi Luo An glared at him indignantly, left a “Watch the program alone tonight” and left in frustration.
Program, what program?
Yu Wei instantly snapped back. He had been abroad for exactly one week, just in time for the latest episode of Music Blind Box to air.
Tonight’s episode—wasn’t it the one with him and Qi Yuan?
He casually searched; netizens’ expectations for this episode were maxed out.
Now everyone knew Chen Ping’s song lost to Yu Wei’s, but knew nothing about the details. Tonight’s program would inevitably draw countless viewers.
Whose song was better, was Yu Wei’s win convincing, hard hype or well-deserved—one listen tonight and it’d be clear!
Yu Wei had gone abroad partly to avoid the spotlight, but now coming back, he ran right into the muzzle.
I came at a bad time…
