BIAC CH 44

Chapter 44: So this was what they called crocodile tears.

At this time of year, Dream Advertising was usually at its busiest. With the long holiday season approaching, many clients demanded their ads to be aired before the festive break. This pre–New Year golden period was normally so hectic that the entire company would be in utter chaos, scrambling around like headless chickens.

But this year was different. Ever since that press conference, one client after another terminated their contracts. Even with Dream Advertising lowering prices in an attempt to retain them, negotiations fell apart. Compared to the boiling pot of last year’s busy season, this year was eerily quiet.

In recent days, with hardly any work left, Zhao Tiancheng simply granted his employees an early New Year’s holiday. Most had already gone home. If one wanted to look on the bright side, at least everyone could finally spend a proper holiday with their families this year. The only light still on in the building was in Zhao Tiancheng’s office, where he sat at his desk, head in hand, weighed down by worries.

Since Du Jianyou’s departure, many contracts needed to be renegotiated. In truth, Dream Advertising wasn’t relying solely on him—he wasn’t the only director they had. Not to mention, back in school, Zhao Tiancheng himself had studied the craft with solid skills and decent grades. It was just that Du Jianyou’s passion for directing surpassed his own, so the two had divided their roles: one focusing on directing ads, the other managing the company. Later, as the company grew larger and Du Jianyou couldn’t handle all the projects on his own, they recruited more directors.

Now that Jianyou was gone, those directors, along with Zhao himself, could still take on the workload. The real problem, however, was that many clients had chosen Dream Advertising specifically for their star director. With him “dismissed,” all those contracts had to be renegotiated. Some clients were willing to let other directors take over—though Zhao had to bow his head, cut prices, and show gratitude for their “generosity.”

The troublesome ones were those who outright demanded contract termination. Since Dream Advertising had technically breached the agreement first, if the clients insisted, Zhao had no choice but to comply—and on top of that, pay hefty penalty fees.

He held his head in his hands, staring at yet another terminated contract. This client had been with them for years; Zhao thought they might stand by him in such a critical time. Instead, they turned their backs faster than flipping a page. After all, this whole mess was their company’s fault. Zhao could only swallow his bitterness like eating huanglian^[1]—too sour to speak out.

A company of this size had many mouths to feed, many families relying on it. Now, with business plummeting and penalty payments draining their funds, how long could the company survive if things continued like this?

Just as Zhao was sighing in frustration, someone slipped in through the doorway.

A person that made Zhao Tiancheng feel like he must’ve had eight lifetimes of bad luck just to know him.

“What are you doing here?” Zhao Tiancheng snapped the moment he saw him.

“I came to see Jianyou.” Tang He didn’t beat around the bush.

“Du Jianyou has nothing to do with our First Dream Advertising Agency anymore. I’ve already fired him. If you want to deal with him, then debts should be settled by the right person. Don’t drag us into it.” Zhao Tiancheng bluntly stated his position.

“Me, deal with him? How could I? I’m here to take him home…”

“Then hurry up and go! Why are you standing here?” Zhao Tiancheng rolled his eyes, shooing him off.

“I don’t know where he is. Zhao Tiancheng, you must know, right? Uncle Ke said he was with you.”

“I don’t know.” His tone left no room for negotiation.

“I know I was reckless before. I’ll explain everything to Jianyou properly.”

“I said I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. He’s been gone for so long, and now you suddenly think to come find him? Isn’t it a little late? What, your company’s all settled now? Earned a few hundred billion? Do you even know during the time you ignored him, if he were dead, he’d already be buried, and grass would’ve grown over the grave. If he’d flown away, he could’ve circled the earth several times by now. How would I know if he’s buried or gone flying somewhere?”

“You mean he went abroad?” Tang He’s heart sank, glossing over the ominous metaphors from Zhao Tiancheng’s unrestrained mouth.

“I. Don’t. Know.” Still those four words.

“Zhao Tiancheng, I know you’re all angry with me right now, and you don’t understand. But this is between me and him. Let me at least explain to him—”

“Exactly. That’s between you and him, and has nothing to do with me. I don’t know anything, and I don’t want to know. Can’t you just leave me alone? Because of this mess, Dream Advertising lost a star director and became the laughingstock of not only the entire advertising industry, but the entire society. And now I’m the only one left cleaning up this disaster. Unlike you, President Tang, who’s rich and powerful—when something happens, you’ve got lawyers to step in, scapegoats to take the blame. You have money, you have leisure, you can wash your hands clean of everything. But I can’t. Us ordinary folks still have to live. My employees still have families to take care of. I’m begging you, can you stop dragging us into this?” Zhao Tiancheng’s eyes turned red with anger. He pinned all of their current hardships onto the man before him. And Tang He had no way to refute it.

“Du Jianyou took a photo of you that nearly ‘got you in trouble.’ Now he’s paid for it with flesh and bone. He’s already proven your so-called ‘innocence,’ and he owes you nothing anymore. Just let him go!” Zhao Tiancheng paused for a moment, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Pointing a finger right at Tang He’s nose, he cursed, “I told you from the start, Little Du is a kind person, and you’d better treat him well. What did you promise me? And how did you actually treat him? And you still dare to stand here saying you’ll take him home? He’s already destroyed—what home is there left?” Zhao Tiancheng’s scolding poured out in an unstoppable flood.

“I…I really do love him…” Tang He’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. As if besides saying he loved him, he couldn’t come up with anything else.

“You love him?” Zhao Tiancheng let out a disbelieving laugh. “So this is what they call crocodile tears^[2]. You know, before crocodiles eat their prey, they squeeze out a few fake tears like they’re full of pity. I’ve got to say—anyone loved by you is truly damned unlucky. Can I beg you—please don’t love him anymore? Let him have a way out!” Zhao Tiancheng pleaded harshly.

“No, I already know everything now. My people investigated. It was Yan Qiao who leaked the photo. The secret filming was arranged by her too. I won’t let any of those people off. Right now, I just want to see Jianyou. Let me explain to him in person, apologize to him. You don’t have the right to stop me from meeting him…” Tang He’s tone had already started to harden.

“You only found out just now it wasn’t him? You actually needed an investigation to figure that out?” Zhao Tiancheng sneered. “And does it even matter who did it? In your mind, Du Jianyou was the type of person who’d do something so filthy. You shoved such a huge hat onto him, and now with one word of ‘I know,’ you just want to wipe the slate clean? You say you love him, but what exactly do you love about him? In your eyes, he was shameless and lowly. So tell me—can’t you see his sincerity? Can’t you see his kindness, his understanding? What is it that you actually love him for? For someone like that, what are you even after?” Tang He was choked silent by Zhao Tiancheng’s words.

“You think Du Jianyou’s easy to bully, is that it? Because he looks delicate, you treat him like some fragile woman? Acting all manly on the surface—sending him food, drinks, flowers, using a few cheap dating tricks—and you think that counts as treating him well? Have you ever thought that he’s a man, just like you, equal to you?” Zhao Tiancheng shouted and cursed, unable to stop.

“….” Tang He opened his mouth to refute, but not a single word came out.

“When trouble came your way, he bravely stood up and shouldered it for you. At the press conference, when the entire crowd mocked and ridiculed him, where were you? When he knelt in front of his mother in the hospital, getting slapped while begging forgiveness, where were you? When he was forced to hide and waste away in the dark for your sake, where were you? And you dare call him spoiled? Fragile? Which of you is even close to his worth? He’s the real man here. The rest of you are just stinking cowards!” Zhao Tiancheng roared, his fury overflowing.

Coward! Tang He shut his eyes, silently accepting Zhao Tiancheng’s accusations in his heart.

“A man who once lived so happily, so proudly, so confidently—he’s gone now. Nowhere to be found. You’re right, I don’t have the right to stop you from seeing him. But just the same, I don’t have the ability to let you see him either. I told you—I don’t know where he is.” Zhao Tiancheng still refused to give in.

“Impossible. You must have hidden him. You like him, that’s why you won’t let me see him. You want to break us apart…” Tang He’s long-suppressed frustration and anger finally boiled over. He tore straight through Zhao Tiancheng’s mask.

Zhao Tiancheng was stunned at having his feelings for Du Jianyou laid bare like that. It was a love he had never admitted, always avoided. He had never wanted to possess him—he only ever wished for Jianyou’s happiness. But now, being exposed so directly by Tang He, he suddenly found the courage to face it head-on.

Back when Jianyou looked happy being with that bastard, Zhao Tiancheng had truly been happy for him, sincerely wishing him well. But after witnessing Jianyou’s self-destruction with his own eyes, that long-suppressed emotion burst forth uncontrollably. His heart ached unbearably.

If only he had been braver back then—would none of this have happened? If he had been the one by Jianyou’s side, he would never have allowed him to suffer even the tiniest bit of harm.

Compared to his earlier outburst, Zhao Tiancheng calmed down. “Yes. I do like him. But it wasn’t me who broke you two apart. It was you.” He didn’t deny his love. Compared to Tang He, he felt he was more worthy of it.

Zhao Tiancheng stepped closer, word by word, with grave determination: “Go back. Du Jianyou cannot withstand your kind of love. You…are not worthy of him.” He caught the whiff of a familiar stench from Tang He’s body. Damn it—that disgusting cigar smell that had reeked up his guest room before. Zhao Tiancheng glared at him fiercely.

Tang He collapsed in despair onto Zhao Tiancheng’s sofa, clutching his head and tugging at his hair. What to do? Zhao Tiancheng was furious now, dead set on not revealing anything. Where could his Bunny be? He racked his memory, but the more he tried, the more defeated he felt. He didn’t really know him.

Aside from Zhao Tiancheng, he didn’t know a single one of Jianyou’s friends. He had always been so selfish, keeping Jianyou tied to his side, yet giving so little in return. He always thought of him, wanted to stick close to him—but all of those were for his own happiness. Had he ever done anything purely for Jianyou’s joy, without also pleasing himself? Just one thing, even? Hurry, think of one…

His heart kept sinking. He couldn’t recall a single one.

Had he ever asked Jianyou what he wanted from their relationship? Jianyou only asked for two things: trust and honesty. The absolute basics of human interaction. Yet he hadn’t even managed that.

Fear suddenly gripped Tang He. For the first time, real fear.

After this incident, would Jianyou finally realize how worthless Tang He truly was? Would he grow to despise him and leave him?

His breath hitched, unable to fully enter his chest. He felt like he was suffocating.

No, he couldn’t give up yet.

Just as Tang He was about to plead further with Zhao Tiancheng, his phone rang, cutting in untimely. He snatched it up impatiently—it was Lin Yan calling. “What is it? I’m busy right now… What did you say? Where? I’ll be right there…”

Tang He ended the call in a rush, eyes widening in horror as he looked at Zhao Tiancheng. “Jianyou’s hurt—he’s unconscious. He’s in the hospital.”

“What?” Zhao Tiancheng 

(To be continued…)