A Peacock's Spectacular Crash

[Peacock-like, universally disliked actor × aloof, scheming tattoo artist]

You Jianian, the former face of top-tier star boy band “Miracle,” has more antis than fans and practically no public goodwill. The one thing he does better than anyone else is love himself.

On a whim, he decides to get a peacock tattoo on his lower back and slips into the tattoo shop at the end of an alley, wearing sunglasses and a mask.

The moment he pushes the door open, the cold-faced, tattooed hunk behind the workbench stares at him so intensely his scalp goes numb.

You Jianian instinctively puts up his guard and pushes down his sunglasses with a fingertip. “Just so we're clear, no photos together and no autographs.”

The hunk doesn't even look up as he wipes down his tools. “And who are you?”

You Jianian: ...Fine.

Through a twist of fate, You Jianian ends up as an apprentice at the tattoo shop owned by the cool guy, Shao Zuo. By day, he learns the trade at the shop. At night, he freeloads on food, drinks, and a bed at Shao Zuo's place. Every day, he shows off at the shop, only for Shao Zuo's cool remarks to shoot him down with perfect precision, leaving him riled up with nowhere to vent.

You Jianian: “I'm only staying for two months. The moment they're up, I'm out!”

When the two months are up, You Jianian shows up right on time for an audition and, as expected, gets the role. To join the production, he moves out of Shao Zuo's place with a suitcase in hand.

He spends nearly half a year on set. The moment filming wraps, he rushes to Shao Zuo's door with two suitcases. “Boss Shao, you'd be lonely living all by yourself in such a huge villa. I'll come keep you company, free of charge.”

He comes and goes as he pleases: one suitcase when he leaves, two when he returns, and he packs himself up and delivers himself right back, too.

Later, the hashtag #YouJianianUsesHisPositionToSeduceHisJuniorSchoolmate shoots to the top of the trending list.

You Jianian posts a hand-holding photo and responds openly, “Oh, I'm gay.”

Sharp-eyed netizens dig up the identity of the owner of the other hand: the famously hard-to-book master tattoo artist.

Haters: ??? This isn't how the script is supposed to go.

You Jianian: Thanks for asking. I didn't leave the industry, and I got myself a boyfriend. He's ridiculously handsome.

[The author isn't a celebrity fan. Everything about the entertainment industry is made up.]

Theme: Self-confidence