Chapter Thirteen: Shock Me with This

When others made such remarks, it would seem frivolous, but when he said them, no one could blame him. He was well aware that Fang Zhiyin was already married, and he also knew that her relationship with her husband was not particularly good.

“Always joking around again,” Fang Zhiyin replied, unfazed. “Do you want something to eat?”

“I’ve already eaten.” Suddenly, Chen Chen grew serious. “Zhiyin, I received an invitation to a show a few days ago, and I’d like you to join me.”

The news came so abruptly that, just as Fang Zhiyin scooped up a shrimp ball with her spoon, her hand trembled and it fell to the floor.

The others were equally stunned, but mostly wore expressions of excited curiosity. “Really? What kind of show is it, Chen Chen? Are you going to be on TV? Are you about to become famous?”

Fang Zhiyin tilted her head and regarded Chen Chen thoughtfully. With his looks and his family’s wealth, he could easily try his hand at the entertainment industry, even if he didn’t write or pursue other careers.

Chen Chen looked only at Fang Zhiyin and said, “It’s an outdoor travel program. Participants pair up in teams of two, some are celebrities and some are ordinary people. I’m not sure why the producers thought to invite me, but I met with them once and it seemed promising.”

“Why do you want me to go with you?” Fang Zhiyin asked, puzzled.

“My thinking is, if we participate together, we’ll generate buzz! That could also bring some heat to our company!”

Heat…? Fang Zhiyin was a little bewildered.

“Think about it. Aren’t there more and more regular office workers going on TV shows these days? Afterward, they gain popularity and fans, and suddenly have many new ways to increase their income!”

But… Fang Zhiyin glanced at the others, thinking, Chen Chen, neither you nor I are short of money.

“I hope that by joining this program, we can attract more people to our company, recruit new writers, and open up more avenues for growth!” Chen Chen’s eyes shone brightly, and his words were full of sincerity.

Fang Zhiyin, look at what he’s saying—maybe your own vision is too narrow.

“Think it over!” Chen Chen gave her a magnetic smile. “If you’re willing, you can come with me.”

“Where to?” All her life, Fang Zhiyin had never imagined herself on a television show.

“To meet with the show’s director.”

“Alright. I’ll think about it.” When Fang Zhiyin said she would consider something, she meant it seriously.

But lately, she really had a lot on her plate…

“Please reply soon!” Chen Chen said, and then threw her a wink.

After finishing dinner at Haidilao, Fang Zhiyin returned home; it was already evening. Ouyang Junyan, twenty-eight years old, had been waiting for her there.

He came out as soon as he saw her return.

“You were waiting for me?” Fang Zhiyin asked in surprise. In a year of marriage, she’d never seen Ouyang Junyan wait for her at home.

“I heard that while I wasn’t in my own body…” Even saying it himself, the words sounded strange, but Ouyang Junyan forced himself to continue, “There was a car chase, someone was splashed with excrement, and then a thief broke into the house?” He’d only learned of these events after returning to his body, and seeing the car wash receipt had left him quite frustrated!

“Yes, you know about it all?” One event followed another, and Fang Zhiyin hadn’t had a chance to tell the real Ouyang Junyan about what had happened recently. “Are you waiting for me because you’ve found something out?”

Fang Zhiyin never doubted Ouyang Junyan’s ability to get things done. He knew plenty of people; with a little money and effort, it was easy to obtain reliable information.

“I just received some photos. Take a look.” Ouyang Junyan looked troubled as he spoke.

He sent her the photos via WeChat. When she opened them, she saw… images of “Ouyang Junyan” on a solo date with that UI girl?!

Instantly, Fang Zhiyin was unsettled.

“Do you know the girl sitting across from ‘me’?” Ouyang Junyan observed her expression, sensing she knew something.

“She’s a newly debuted starlet, and one of your personalities is quite fond of her.” Fang Zhiyin answered honestly.

“What?!” Ouyang Junyan reacted as if he’d heard a fantastical joke. “One of my personalities is a fan?”

A man usually so composed could hardly believe he had a side that idolized celebrities.

“So, you think the recent incidents are connected to this starlet?” Fang Zhiyin didn’t care whether Ouyang Junyan was a fan or not; if the twenty-five-year-old version of him had gotten involved with this UI girl without her knowledge, or offended her or her people, could that be the cause of everything that had happened? If so, she really needed to teach him a lesson!

She’d have to wait until the twenty-five-year-old Ouyang Junyan appeared again to ask him.

“Yes, that’s probably it.” Ouyang Junyan looked pained. “Let me catch my breath first.”

“You have a headache? Are you sick?” Fang Zhiyin asked, worried.

“It’s not the kind of headache from illness.”

“Oh…” Fang Zhiyin thought Ouyang Junyan must be troubled by the reckless messes his other selves had caused, and unsure how to clean up after them.

Suddenly, neither of them had anything to say.

The house was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

Ouyang Junyan sat on the sofa, his head resting against the back. He closed his eyes and thought…

After a while, Fang Zhiyin quietly walked behind him, placing her hands on his temples and gently massaging his head.

“What are you doing?” Ouyang Junyan was startled, opening his eyes wide.

“Giving you a massage—is that such a big deal?” Seeing his exhausted and anxious expression, Fang Zhiyin felt both tenderness and awkwardness; by the time she realized, she was already massaging him.

Sometimes, when you love someone deeply, you instinctively do whatever you can for them.

“You don’t blame me?” Ouyang Junyan asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve turned your life upside down.” This was what troubled Ouyang Junyan the most. He knew Fang Zhiyin had feelings for him, and wouldn’t leave or divorce him anytime soon, but he still felt guilty. He didn’t know when—or if—his dissociative disorder would ever be cured…

Everything was an unknown.

“It’s not something you can control!” Though every time she thought of the thirty-five-year-old Ouyang Junyan tormenting her, Fang Zhiyin felt furious, yet seeing the twenty-eight-year-old so remorseful, she couldn’t help feeling sympathy.

Suddenly, Ouyang Junyan pulled out something unfamiliar.

“What’s that?”

“A stun baton. I ordered it last night, and it arrived this afternoon.” Ouyang Junyan was a little embarrassed; he rarely shopped online, and never imagined his first purchase would be something to defend himself from… himself.

Fang Zhiyin couldn’t help but laugh.

“If something uncontrollable ever happens to me… just use this to knock me out.”