Chapter 0664: A Hint

While Guan Haishan was on the phone with his daughter, Zhao Fusheng was leaving the detention center with Tan Kaixuan.

“What did you talk about with the deputy director?” Tan Kaixuan asked Zhao Fusheng curiously.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. “Nothing much. I just asked him to see if there was a way to keep Old Wang from serving his sentence in prison.”

“Holy shit!”

Tan Kaixuan nearly jumped, staring at Zhao Fusheng in surprise. “You’re not joking, are you?”

Seeing his strong reaction, Zhao Fusheng sighed helplessly. “Do you have to be so shocked? Isn’t this a good thing?”

“It’s a good thing, sure, but is it possible?” Tan Kaixuan frowned deeply.

He knew a bit about the law and understood that for someone like Wang Zhen, staying in the detention center for long wasn’t easy.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled. “No matter how difficult something is, there’s always room to maneuver. The key is whether we can find the right approach.”

Tan Kaixuan fell silent.

In the year since they’d started doing business, he had grown a lot. For one thing, the naive ideas that used to fill his head were long gone.

In Tan Kaixuan’s view, people always used pious appearances and actions to hide their devilish hearts. The word ‘hypocrisy’ fit everyone without exception.

It was like those bad guys who loved to exploit legal loopholes. Sometimes he wished he could cut them into a thousand pieces, but other times he had no choice but to cooperate with them.

Seeing Tan Kaixuan stay quiet, Zhao Fusheng’s lips curled into a faint smile, and he said nothing more.

The story of reincarnation is edited; we always see the same plot points in others that have happened to us, and so those lights and shadows overlap with our own trajectories—white clouds shift into gray dogs, time flows like water.

When they got back to the dormitory, Tan Kaixuan suddenly said to Zhao Fusheng, “In the future, let’s use methods like this sparingly.”

He didn’t know what method Zhao Fusheng planned to use, but he understood that Zhao Fusheng was walking a very dangerous path.

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then heard Tan Kaixuan continue, “And if we really have to go through with it, let me handle the specifics. You don’t know anything.”

A warmth filled his heart. Zhao Fusheng looked at Tan Kaixuan and nodded gently. “I’ll remember that.”

He understood Tan Kaixuan’s simple meaning: even if they had to do something illegal, Tan Kaixuan would do it himself, sparing Zhao Fusheng.

At that moment, Zhao Fusheng recalled something Tan Kaixuan had said to him in his past life: “We don’t have a rich daddy, so we can’t do whatever we want. Individuality is a luxury for us. Since someone’s hands have to get dirty, let it be me. You just stay a law-abiding citizen. At least, if I ever get executed, you can collect my body.”

Little did he know, many years later, the one who collected his body really was Zhao Fusheng.

Even Zhao Fusheng had to admit that fate was truly fascinating.

The delicacies of a prosperous time can’t compare to a bowl of beef noodles in poverty. This truth is only understood by those who have experienced it.

……

……

In the evening, Zhao Fusheng received a call from Guan Haishan.

“Xiao Zhao, I didn’t expect you to be such a talent.” Guan Haishan’s voice was hearty, as if he hadn’t been shaken by the morning’s events, or as if he didn’t remember what Zhao Fusheng had said to him.

“Uncle Guan, you flatter me.”

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, his tone relaxed, as if he hadn’t caught the meaning behind Guan Haishan’s words.

“The waves behind drive on those before, and the front waves wash up on the shore. You young people really make us old-timers sit up and take notice.” Guan Haishan sighed with emotion. To be honest, he hadn’t expected Zhao Fusheng wasn’t just blowing smoke—he had actually made a movie.

“Oh, come on, Uncle Guan. Your precious daughter is a rising star too.” Zhao Fusheng chuckled.

“That depends on her own fate. Guan Yue has always been stubborn, insisting on studying film performance. Who knows how she’ll develop?” Though Guan Haishan’s words sounded reproachful, they couldn’t hide a note of pride.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged. He naturally understood what Guan Haishan meant. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I have some friends in Beijing at the Beijing Film Academy. I’ll ask around and see if there’s a chance to help Xiaoyue.”

“That would be great, but I heard they can’t go out to act until their junior year.” Guan Haishan hesitated.

Clearly, he had done his homework.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. “No problem. I’m on good terms with Yu Feihong. She’s a teacher at BFA, so it should be fine.”

In fact, although BFA and the Central Academy of Drama had rules prohibiting first- and second-year students from taking outside roles, it depended on who was asking.

For example, if some unknown director came to BFA or the Central Academy to pick actors, the school would certainly block it. After all, letting students go out to shoot for some obscure project with little pay and no reputation was pointless.

But conversely, if Zhang Yimou or Spielberg came to pick actors, even freshmen would be released immediately, let alone juniors or seniors.

Because they knew that participating in a film by either of those directors was a rare learning opportunity for any student.

“Alright then, thank you very much.” Guan Haishan nodded.

“You’re too kind. We’re both from Ninghai; helping each other is only right.” Zhao Fusheng said modestly.

“Yes, yes. I’m glad you think that way. I have things to do, so I won’t keep you from your studies.” Guan Haishan said.

“Uncle Guan, you work so hard, still working overtime this late.” Zhao Fusheng asked as if casually.

Guan Haishan smiled faintly. “Don’t mention it. There’s a prisoner sentenced to ten years who appealed because he wasn’t satisfied with the verdict. It’s been dragging on for years. I thought since he was getting old, I’d arrange an easy job for him in the detention center, but the guy went and injured himself. It’s infuriating.”

“Oh, I see. Well, you get back to work. Let’s have a meal together another day.” Zhao Fusheng said with a smile, then hung up.

Putting down the phone, Zhao Fusheng let out a long breath and looked at Tan Kaixuan. “Old Tan, looks like you’re going to be busy for a while.”

Tan Kaixuan was startled, then connected it to the phone call Zhao Fusheng had just made. A look of surprise appeared on his face. “It’s done?”

Zhao Fusheng nodded. “It’s done.”

The two exchanged a glance and laughed together.