Torrential Rain [Showbiz]

[Realistic entertainment-industry setting | Older male lead | Adult romance] 1/ The first time Yun Xi came to Shanghai on a work trip for the film festival, she slept with the male lead everyone on the production was afraid to cross, the award-winning actor He Zhihua. Whenever anyone in the industry mentioned his name, they did so with guarded discretion, as though his difficult nature were tangled up in some kind of Game of Thrones. Sitting on top of him, Yun Xi asked, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose you?” He Zhihua traced her brows with his thumb. “By all means. The sooner, the better.” 2/ When Yun Xi first entered the industry, she worked in artist publicity, handling a popular male star who had debuted through an idol competition. The star had finally managed to make the transition, becoming an actor in the idol scene, and had even landed a lucky cameo in a big-budget film. A torrential downpour suddenly began during an event. Yun Xi sat in the passenger seat as the traffic grew worse, and the estimated arrival time on the navigation kept getting later. They were about to be late and miss the red carpet. No one would wait for an insignificant supporting actor like him. Yun Xi ran frantically through the rain toward the venue, but, strangely enough, the cast, who should have already been on the red carpet, were still there. He Zhihua, the male lead who never waited for anyone, stood with one hand in his pocket. Watching the girl soaked through, he clenched his fist, holding himself back. “Why are you crying? We made it, didn’t we?” 3/ At the premiere, Zhou Changshen knew he wasn’t really one of the leads, so he modestly took the spot at the very edge. He watched his publicist make several gestures from the crowd, but he couldn’t figure out what she meant. Yun Xi sighed, thinking that she and her own artist had absolutely no chemistry. So she hurried over and rose onto her toes to straighten Zhou Changshen’s tie, complaining under her breath as she did: “Your tie’s crooked. I’ve been gesturing forever. How can you still not get it?” Zhou Changshen didn’t answer. He turned his head. From the center of the group, He Zhihua shot him a dark, brooding glance, as if a storm cloud had appeared overhead. That night, Yun Xi pushed at his shoulders, resisting him again and again. “Stop acting crazy, He Zhihua. That’s just my job!” 4/ Yun Xi, you were the torrential rain that fell that night. I wasn’t ready, and you drenched me through. You washed every disguise clean away. Better to wear nothing than to try to hide; you saw right through me at a glance. All I had left was myself, with nowhere to hide. Notes: *This story is not based on real people. Real brands, events, and cities appear only to create atmosphere and are not meant to point to anyone. Please don’t read real people into it. *Comments mentioning real-life celebrities will be deleted. Please respect the boundary between fiction and reality. *Both leads have had relationships before, but this story involves no romantic history with anyone else and remains one-on-one throughout. Theme: Follow your feelings; long live true love.