ABSML Chapter 19: The Journey Back

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By the time they were nearing the hotel, Yin Ronglan still hadn’t asked Chen Zhan about his new money-making venture.

Since they were staying on the same floor, they took the elevator together. As the doors closed, Yin Ronglan spoke up, “We have quite a few scenes to shoot tomorrow. Want to run lines in advance?”

Both of them had strong memorization skills, but Yin Ronglan’s character in the script frequently addressed his role as "Big Brother" in a way that sent shivers down one's spine.

Chen Zhan figured it would be best to get used to such an address, so he nodded.

Once inside the room, they wasted no time with small talk and got straight to rehearsing.

After hearing the same lines several times, the initial novelty wore off, and Chen Zhan gradually adapted to the strange dialogue.

Closing the script, he tilted his head side to side, stretching his neck with a relieved sigh. “It’s getting late. Let’s stop here for today.”

Yin Ronglan nodded but soon noticed Chen Zhan rummaging through his suitcase and pulling out a sewing kit.

Slightly taken aback, Yin Ronglan watched as he threaded a needle with practiced ease. His gaze flickered with an unreadable emotion. “Mending clothes?”

Chen Zhan shook his head. “I’m making a sample. Later, I’ll find a factory to mass-produce it.”

He quickly sketched a cute chibi-style design, an unmistakable miniature version of himself.

Watching him seriously embroider, Yin Ronglan was reminded of the cross-stitch piece that had been hanging outside the old man’s door not long ago. He fell into silence.

Chen Zhan had brought plenty of materials on this trip. With nimble fingers, he stitched and stuffed the figure with cotton, and just like that, a rather unsettling doll was born.

Strangely enough, despite its crooked features, the doll still bore a vague resemblance to Chen Zhan.

A peculiar little loop was sewn onto the top of its head. Yin Ronglan observed it for a moment before commenting, “That’s quite a unique keychain.”

Chen Zhan corrected him, “It’s a talisman.”

Yin Ronglan stared at it for a few seconds—one eye higher than the other, a nose nearly sliding off to the side of the mouth. From an artistic perspective, this was nothing short of a broken doll.

Chen Zhan explained, “There have been a lot of rumors online lately claiming that I was once cursed with black magic.”

He had only recently discovered that the excuse he casually gave to Lin Chiang back then had already become a talking point among netizens.

“I originally planned to create a doll set: a cursed doll, a puppet doll, and a substitute doll,” Chen Zhan said calmly. “But considering the negative influence, especially on younger audiences, I decided to change it to a talisman instead.”

“I even thought of a slogan.” Holding the doll in his palm, he changed his tone to mimic an advertisement: “Essential for good luck and warding off bad vibes. When you receive the product, you’ll find it’s actually super cute.”

“…”

After a moment of deep thought, Yin Ronglan began to reconsider Chen Zhan’s previous statement about avoiding certain topics in public to prevent getting beaten up.

What he had once taken as a joke was now starting to feel like a profound truth.

After a brief hesitation, he asked, “Do you think anyone will buy this?”

Chen Zhan shrugged. “You asked the same question when I started selling drinks.”

For him, the issue was never demand—only supply.

“This is just the first prototype,” Chen Zhan said in an indifferent tone. “Once filming wraps up, I’ll find a factory for mass production.”

Yin Ronglan offered, “If you’re interested, I can introduce you to a friend—fair prices, fast production.”

“Having connections really makes things easier,” Chen Zhan chuckled. “I’m a little envious.”

“It’s probably due to my line of work,” Yin Ronglan replied with a faint smile. “I’ve met quite a lot of people.”

He had now fully accepted the "alcohol scammer" label with remarkable composure.

As they were chatting, Chen Zhan’s phone suddenly rang. The caller ID was an unfamiliar number. He searched his memory but found no recollection of it.

“Who is this?”

“Is this Mr. Chen Zhan? I’m a reporter from Hi Daily, and I’d like to conduct an exclusive interview with you regarding the harmful additives found in the Lin brand sausages.”

“You’ve got the wrong number.” Chen Zhan hung up expressionlessly and put his phone on silent.

The news had spread too quickly. Because the revelation of this scandal had been so dramatic, journalists were eager to get statements from anyone involved.

“Some reporters are relentless,” Yin Ronglan frowned slightly. “Looks like you’re in for a busy few days.”

Chen Zhan, however, remained unfazed. “Digging up stories is their job. Besides, I’m somewhat popular now—even if I avoid the reporters, I won’t escape the content creators.”

By the next morning, his phone had accumulated dozens of missed calls. Fortunately, he had the foresight to set it to silent, ensuring a good night’s sleep.

As he pulled back the curtains, before he could even take in the morning light, he spotted a familiar figure downstairs.

Yin Ronglan had just returned from his morning run, carrying breakfast in hand.

Perhaps sensing the intensity of Chen Zhan’s gaze, Yin Ronglan happened to look up at that exact moment. Their eyes met, and after a moment of silent acknowledgment, Yin Ronglan lifted the bag slightly, signaling for Chen Zhan to join him for breakfast later.

The hotel wasn’t very tall, and Chen Zhan’s eyesight was excellent—he could clearly make out the contents of the bag: soy milk and a flatbread wrap.

The wrap wasn’t puffed up at all, looking rather thin and lacking in fillings.

Such an ordinary and down-to-earth breakfast completely shattered any lingering suspicions that Yin Ronglan was secretly wealthy.

When he had spare cash, even Chen Zhan would opt for a deluxe version of a simple hand-grab pancake. Compared to that, Yin Ronglan’s lifestyle was downright frugal.

After washing up and changing clothes, he stepped out just in time to see the elevator doors open. Yin Ronglan stood there, carrying the food.

“Dining in the restaurant or in the room?”

“Restaurant,” Chen Zhan replied.

It was still early, so the restaurant wouldn’t be too crowded, plus there were free side dishes available.

As luck would have it, on the way down, the elevator stopped on another floor, and the person who stepped in was none other than the lead actress—who never got along with Chen Zhan.

Today, however, she was in an unusually good mood. Her hair had been carefully curled, and she smiled pleasantly. “We’ll be traveling to a new filming location this afternoon.”

Packing up was a hassle, and Chen Zhan couldn’t see why that was something to be excited about.

“What a shame,” the actress sighed with a sly smile. “By the time the reporters arrive, the crew will have already left. Otherwise, you could’ve milked the food safety scandal for more publicity.”

Without a word, Chen Zhan pulled out his phone and scrolled through the long list of missed calls from the previous night. Then, with a calm expression, he simply said, “Only if I want to.”

The actress froze for a moment before realizing those were likely calls from the media. Her face darkened instantly.

When the elevator doors opened, they each went their separate ways.

Chen Zhan chose a well-lit spot in the restaurant and brought over a bowl of porridge.

He glanced at the flatbread wrap that had been torn in half—its sparse potato shreds were easy to count. Without hesitation, he remarked, “If you’re struggling financially, you can always borrow money from me.”

His tone was perfectly straightforward, without a hint of mockery.

Yin Ronglan chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

During the meal, Chen Zhan took out the doll he had sewn the night before. “Consider this a token of appreciation for all the trouble I’ve caused you lately.”

Yin Ronglan held the eerie-looking doll in his hands. The stitched mouth was curved into a sinister grin. Without a word, he tucked it away before asking, “Once the factory is set up, how do you plan to promote the talisman? Through live streaming again?”

Chen Zhan shook his head. “I’ve been discussing it with my editor—I plan to hold a small reader meet-and-greet. The dolls will be part of the event’s giveaway.”

The event had already been more or less finalized. Since it wasn’t a book signing, the editor had no objections. They only asked that it not be promoted under the publisher’s official name—just a casual gathering organized by the author to give back to his fans, with a focus on positivity.

Preliminary preparations are divided into two parts: one is a Q&A session, and the rest of the time will be dedicated to an emotional reading.

Yin Ronglan recalled the passages he had seen in Chen Zhan's previous updates and couldn't imagine the impact such a heartfelt reading would have on the audience. He hinted tactfully, "Should we consider adding some more entertaining segments?"

Chen Zhan responded calmly, "A face-to-face reading of Confessions is already entertaining enough."

After speaking, he took a small bite of his rolled pancake and, unfazed, added, "The novel isn't even a hundred thousand words yet. If it weren't for building up anticipation for the protective charm, I wouldn't be holding a fan meeting this early."

Yin Ronglan handed him a napkin and pointed to the corner of his mouth. As Chen Zhan wiped away the oil, he remarked, "No wonder you're avoiding reporters."

After repeatedly dodging them, the media would surely swarm the fan meeting once it was announced, turning it into free publicity.

After drinking half a bowl of porridge, the warmth spread through his stomach. Chen Zhan looked at Yin Ronglan and said, "I'll save you a VIP seat—make sure to come and show your support."

Yin Ronglan listened quietly to his goodwill. He hadn't yet figured out how to politely decline and avoid the impending torment when Chen Zhan firmly added, "After all, you're one of my few friends."

Reevaluating his stance, Yin Ronglan replied gently, "Alright."

The web series had only ten episodes, and whether a second season would be filmed depended on the audience's reception. Chen Zhan's role was limited, and since the production team planned to leverage his popularity for promotion before the release, the director prioritized filming his scenes with the third male lead first.

After nearly a month of intense work, as the weather turned colder, Chen Zhan's scenes officially wrapped up.

The director had a good impression of him—at the very least, he had cooperated throughout the process without causing trouble. "Keep your phone on. We might need you for a few reshoots in post-production."

While packing his belongings, Chen Zhan heard a knock at the door. When he saw Yin Ronglan, he raised an eyebrow. "Here to see me off?"

Yin Ronglan replied, "I'm heading back with you."

Chen Zhan's expression turned slightly odd. "You… wrapped up filming too?"

Yin Ronglan answered solemnly, "When the elder brother dies, the younger brother has no reason to live."

"…"

That was some airtight logic. Chen Zhan couldn't refute it and chuckled. "Martyrdom?"

Yin Ronglan corrected, "Devotion."

"…"

Caught off guard by the retort, Chen Zhan blinked, momentarily stunned.

Yin Ronglan smiled and changed the subject. "Let's set off early. Don't you still have a fan meeting to prepare for?"

Chen Zhan nodded and didn't delay any further.

 

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