Scumbag Actor Screwup System

Chapter 10 - The end of the party

Thank you to the wonderful   turqu0ise01 on Twitter for this beautiful masterpiece based on chapter 7!

So here he was, virgin otaku Shen Yuan, kissed by an actual famous actor in fucking public in front of workmates and some man he'd never seen had come to his rescue. But god, this newcomer looked pissed. Was he from Xiaosi's agency? Maybe a producer?

Shen Yuan couldn't ask any of the questions; the older guy grabbed Xiaosi and dragged him off. He stared and expected to see people whispering or at least watching them but nobody was paying attention. Nobody else seemed to give a shit.

He didn't follow, he didn't want to know. Halfway upstairs a thought occurred to him.

What if he was Xiaosi's girlfriend's father? But no, it couldn't be, he looked too young to have a kid who's 18. Maybe an older brother. A buff older brother who would beat up Xiaosi. Shit.

He sat down in a corner in the VIP section and took the first glass he could find, white spirits in a lipstick stained glass, who gave a fuck. He popped a mini quiche into his mouth, System be damned.

How did this happen? How would he go through another whole season of acting with that kid? He didn't know how he felt and didn't want to know. One more drink and it wouldn't matter. He flagged a waiter and took a cup of champagne from him.

Zheng Fa came to sit down by his side.

"You look troubled."

Shen Yuan looked up.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite Shidi. I'm okay, only worried about the bills," he said, waving his thoughts away. Acting once more.

"I know a good financial advisor if you need one. Sometimes outside help is best."

Shen Yuan nodded absently.

"Say... Have you ever had a romance with another actor?" he asked.

Zheng Fa seemed taken aback. Bad question.

"I'm sorry, it was a bold question," said Shen Yuan lowering his head, "I just wanted advice... for a friend. How troublesome is it really?"

"Well, tell your friend that if both people involved are discreet and mature, relationships between actors can actually work," the man replied, and cocked his head sideways a bit, finger on his chin. He opened his mouth as if about to ask something but didn't.

"I suppose you're right. Not everyone goes around flaunting their business... it doesn't have to be that way."

"It doesn't," agreed Fa Zheng.

Shen Yuan took another sip of his sparkly wine and was about to change the subject to something inane but on the speakers someone asked for the public's attention.

Downstairs a stage lit up and a male voice, one of the producers, spoke.

"Welcome everyone, are you enjoying yourselves?"

Everyone but Shen Yuan cheered.

"Thank you for your hard work this season. The second one has been confirmed as you very well know, and we will start shooting in 4 month's time. We do, however, have some big announcements to make."

Now he got up from his seat, a bit light headed from the booze but firm enough, and went to the balcony where the stage could be better seen. There were a few figures on stage, all very familiar.

"First of all, let us welcome our Mo Bei Jun, Zakharov Jianjun."

The crowd clapped delightedly. The man was politely quiet, no smiles. In character already it seemed.

"As for the other announcement, I'll leave it to our young stars," he handed the microphone to Xu Xiaosi.

"Thank you, Mr. Producer. Everyone, it has been a delight to work with you so far," some cheers at that, "I have loved every moment on set with you. However, I am sad to say, our time has come to an end."

Collective gasps and murmurs were heard, he paused only a brief moment and continued.

"I have been cast as a co-protagonist in the upcoming movie based on the book 'Kissed on heaven and earth' and thus will no longer be available to continue my role as Luo Binghe. But don't panic, please!" he laughed a bit, breezy, as if everything were fine, "I leave you in the talented hands of my cousin, Xu Tengfei who will be playing post-abyss Luo Binghe."

The man from before stepped forward and in the light he looked a bit younger than what Shen Yuan had thought. Maybe he was 26? How big would the time gap be? He really did look quite similar to Xiaosi, the family resemblance was there.

"Please treat him as well as you've treated me. He's a great actor, has plenty of experience in theater and musicals. You'll see he's amazing. I'll still be around to act out some flashbacks, so it isn't the last time you'll see me! So please, look forward to our next encounter. And once more, thank you."

Many cheers although shock was apparent in the faces of the crowd. Xiaosi surely knew this was going to happen. Hell, he'd set it up and hadn't breathed a word of it.

Shen Yuan's inner turmoil turned to anger at the insensitive brat who was leaving and putting a stranger in his place. He turned around and dizzy as he was, he rushed down the stairs.

This was the moment where the hero would come and try to take his hand and explain. He'd give him some bland excuse about why he'd lied and the sucker secondary character Shen Yuan would forgive him. But no, this wouldn't happen. It couldn't.

Both Binghes were on stage, and no amount of explaining would work on him. This wasn't some sappy drama, this was real life, where romance was a lie, where parents left and never returned and his dreams shattered over and over again, leaving grit on the floor.

He was Shen Qingqiu. He didn't get to live a fair life. He was destined to be doomed from the beginning.

Shen Yuan went home by bus. When he opened the door to his apartment he threw up. Slowly, painfully he cleaned up his own puke, numb still after the awful night. Afterwards he dragged himself to bed. Just another nightmare of real life. Maybe someday he could just choke on a bun and die already.

Next chapter: Chapter 11 - Intermezzo