ABSML Chapter 14: Warning

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Back at home, Chen Zhan felt weighed down, unable to understand how things had taken such a turn.

【System Notification: According to records, this phrase ranks second in the 'Top Ten Things Scumbags Say When Repenting.'】

Chen Zhan fell silent. He turned on his computer, hoping that writing would help clear his mind. But just as he was about to start, Wang Cheng’s call came through.

"Have you made a decision?"

It wasn’t surprising that Wang Cheng was eager. Chen Zhan was a trending figure right now. Several web dramas were interested in casting him in minor roles to boost publicity.

Chen Zhan’s gaze remained fixed on the computer screen as he considered it. "Where will the filming take place?"

"Your scenes are few, so the shoot will be in a nearby city," Wang Cheng explained. "But keep in mind, while it's only a third-tier character, it has complex emotions and requires solid acting."

Thinking of the old man’s will, Chen Zhan massaged his temples. "No problem. I’ll just play myself."

"..."

Wang Cheng, though known for his questionable private life, was at least reliable in his work. Seeing potential in Chen Zhan, he had already chosen a quality web drama instead of a cheap cash-grab.

After discovering Chen Zhan’s connection to Yin Ronglan, Wang Cheng was even more convinced that he had made the right choice.

Chen Zhan thought for a moment before finalizing the deal. The filming period was short, the pay was fair—there was no reason to refuse.

"Shooting starts next month," Wang Cheng reminded him. "Until then, you should prepare, organize your thoughts, or stockpile some updates. Don’t let filming interrupt your writing."

Chen Zhan’s popularity stemmed almost entirely from Confession, so he couldn’t afford to let the hype die before the web drama aired.

"I’ve got it covered."

With the deal settled, Chen Zhan ended the call.

As if summoned by fate, just as he was reflecting on all his past misunderstandings about Yin Ronglan, the man himself unexpectedly showed up at his door.

When Chen Zhan saw him, his expression was… complicated.

Yin Ronglan: "Your expression looks a little strange."

Chen Zhan: "Because I'm reflecting."

Yin Ronglan closed the door and smiled. "Reflecting on what?"

Chen Zhan poured a small dish of sunflower seeds for his guest. "I examine myself three times a day. No specific theme required."

Looking at the plump sunflower seeds, Yin Ronglan fell silent for a moment. In the past, Chen Zhan would only serve a glass of plain water at most. This time, there was an extra offering.

Chen Zhan glanced at him. His gaze was unfocused, and he made a perfunctory excuse. "I've had a bit more money on hand lately—just got a new job."

Yin Ronglan: "High-paying?"

"Acting. Supporting role, male lead number three."

There was a popular saying online: Chen Zhan had a great hand of cards but played them terribly—only to somehow pull out a game-changing move from a losing hand.

Whether one liked it or not, the fact remained—he was climbing from poverty toward a modest living.

Yin Ronglan: "You don’t have a car, which is inconvenient. I'll drive you to the filming location on the first day."

Chen Zhan slowly cracked open a sunflower seed, his expression calm, though he felt a bit guilty inside. After seeing that embroidered piece of a weasel paying respects to a hen, Yin Ronglan must have known about his suspicions. Yet, he remained kind and considerate.

In a way, it was a form of repaying resentment with virtue.

[System: With such an easygoing and forgiving personality, you're bound to be cheated on one day.]

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan's brows barely furrowed before quickly relaxing. To use an inappropriate analogy, that will left him feeling like the mistress who had squeezed out the rightful heir.

"Thanks for the trouble," he acknowledged the kindness. "If I ever make it big, I won’t forget you."

Yin Ronglan studied the shifts in his expression and chuckled. "I’ll be watching."

Once Chen Zhan was ready to start writing, Yin Ronglan, not wanting to disturb him further, was about to leave to visit the old man next door.

Chen Zhan stopped him. "It's pouring outside. You can wait for the rain to stop before heading out."

Yin Ronglan stared at him for a long moment, pondering what guilty conscience could have prompted this sudden hospitality.

The rain drizzled steadily. Chen Zhan played some soothing instrumental music and got to work.

His pale fingers tapped the keyboard gracefully, as if engaged in a sacred ritual.

Yin Ronglan appreciated hardworking young people, but his serene smile gradually froze as his gaze landed on a particular passage on the screen—

..........

Based on half a month of observations, she and the Lin Corporation’s CEO were still in a cold war.

Excitement kept me awake all night.

That day, the sky was clear, just like my heart.

She wore a wig and thick-rimmed glasses, but I recognized her instantly.

My good mood lasted until another figure appeared.

That obnoxious rich kid showed up holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers.

I was too far away to hear their conversation, but judging by his expression, he was clearly trying to reconcile.

She knocked the flowers out of his hands and stepped away, as if ready to leave.

My heart fluttered like fallen petals, graceful and poetic.

The Lin Corporation CEO shut his eyes briefly, a hint of sorrow surfacing in his features.

Just as they were about to brush past each other, she suddenly gasped, her foot twisted, and she tumbled to the side.

The man, who was nearly her ex-boyfriend, immediately caught her in a tight embrace.

I felt a stabbing pain in my chest.

The park’s pavement was all anti-slip tiles. She was near the river, where the ground was smooth concrete—there was no way she could have tripped!

No, I refuse to believe it. She was clearly feigning weakness, finding an excuse to fall back into his arms.

Why? Why did she trip on level ground?

The rippling waves on the distant river shimmered. At that moment, a thought struck me—

Yes, that must be it. She has flat feet!

..........

A soft cough interrupted Chen Zhan’s train of thought. He paused and passed over a tissue.

Yin Ronglan, having just choked on his drink, was still coughing.

"You alright?" Chen Zhan asked, concerned. "How can a grown man still choke on water?"

Yin Ronglan waved a hand, signaling he was fine. "I just got distracted for a moment."

Chen Zhan patted his back to help him catch his breath before returning to his work.

He sat straight and proper. Watching his back, Yin Ronglan mused that, compared to Chen Zhan's deduction about Jiang Ying, his own experience of being mistaken for a scam artist paled in comparison.

In another city.

Modern films received plenty of criticism for various reasons. To ensure authentic scenery, the director and cast were practically living in the remote mountains of a neighboring city.

Of course, safety was a top priority. They had hired a large security team in advance and drove several kilometers to a guesthouse every night.

Yan Chengze had high ambitions for the film, aiming for meticulous perfection in every detail.

He clapped his hands. The others, knowing it was time to start, quickly took their positions.

The upcoming scene featured Jiang Ying being kidnapped by a psychotic killer, using her wit and courage to escape. This was a crucial climactic moment, highlighting the female lead’s intelligence and bravery.

Yan Chengze called, "Action."

Jiang Ying sat tied to a chair, looking disheveled but determined.

A man sat on the floor, gripping a knife. Despite having the upper hand, his gaze was vacant and deranged.

In the film, the young man played a leg fetishist who used his gentle demeanor to deceive women before brutally murdering them and turning them into specimens.

"Such beautiful legs," he murmured, entranced, before abruptly lashing out, kicking Jiang Ying a few times. His expression twisted into madness. "Just like that filthy woman—always using those legs to seduce people!"

His fingers traced the veins down her calf. Then, as his eyes landed on her feet, his crazed expression suddenly shifted into amusement.

"Cut!" Yan Chengze stepped forward. "Everything was fine—what happened at the end?"

"I..." The young actor started to apologize but then burst out laughing.

Jiang Ying’s feet were indeed beautiful, but ever since reading Confessions, the phrase flat feet had embedded itself in his mind. Every time he tried to look fascinated, those two words would suddenly pop up—bam—right in his brain.

By chance, the cameraman caught a glimpse of someone and noticed that their shoulders were shaking as well.

Yan Chengze gave a couple of instructions, telling them to adjust their state and start over.

The second take ended in failure again, this time due to laughter.

Jiang Ying looked puzzled. This popular young actor had excellent acting skills and had never made such mistakes before.

Yan Chengze sneered and warned, "If you keep being stubborn, I'll have the screenwriter change the script and turn your character from a leg enthusiast into a full-blown foot fetishist."

Heartless! The onlooking cameraman screamed internally.

The young actor was utterly shocked. "Director Yan, give me one more chance!"

Unless someone was a true film emperor, no one who had read the novel could successfully play a foot fetishist in front of Jiang Ying.

A sudden thought made the young actor’s heart skip a beat… Why did the director use a foot fetish as a threat? Could it be that he had just read the latest update too?

If that was the case, how had he managed to hold back?

The answer became clear the moment Yan Chengze turned around. The young actor saw his hands clenched behind his back, with his nails almost digging into his flesh.

— He was suppressing it with sheer willpower.

As the author, Chen Zhan was serious and meticulous when writing his novel. He didn’t find anything funny about it.

However, whenever Jiang Ying trended online before, there was always just the word “hot” next to her name. This time, the word was highlighted in red as “boiling.”

The sound of the rain transitioned from a boiling downpour to a calm drizzle. Chen Zhan stood by the window to get some fresh air and saw a reader’s comment: You should be grateful the goddess isn’t in your city, or she’d smash you to death with her high heels.

Chen Zhan actually took a moment to seriously assess how likely that was.

The sky cleared up, and Yin Ronglan was preparing to leave. Checking the time, he turned back and said, “Want to grab a meal together?”

Still carrying a slight sense of guilt, Chen Zhan picked up his coat. “My treat.”

They returned to the beef noodle restaurant they had visited before. While eating, Yin Ronglan asked about Chen Zhan’s future plans.

Chen Zhan was very goal-oriented. He first built a following by writing, then transitioned into live streaming, and now was stepping into the entertainment industry. To Yin Ronglan, it seemed unlikely that he would confine himself to the entertainment world alone.

“I…”

"It’s all because of this rain." A girl who had just stepped through the door complained to her friend, “I had to wait forever for a ride.”

Her voice was a bit loud, drowning out whatever Chen Zhan had been about to say.

"Don't be mad. At least you got your hands on it." Her companion pulled a magazine from her bag. "This is the latest issue of E."

"Hurry up and open it!" the girl urged. "There’s a special feature on Goddess Jiang and some beach photos."

They placed the magazine between them, eagerly leaning in.

“…”

The companion muttered, “Damn Chen Zhan… The goddess is so beautiful, but thanks to him, I instinctively looked at her feet before her face.”

The girl agreed, “Same here!”

Just a few tables away, Chen Zhan deliberately kept his head down and spoke in a quiet voice, “From now on, when we're in public, you should pretend you don’t know me.”

Yin Ronglan: “Why?”

Chen Zhan: “I’m afraid you’ll get beaten to death.”

_____

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