Chapter 2 – A Black Umbrella

(04)

However in the end the insider knowledge he received was only empty air. Thus Bai Li fell into a huge debt. When the underground money lender furiously pursued him to repay the money, the entire Bai family was placed under violent threats of danger. The Bai Lang who had no house or assets could only open his mouth to ask the entertainment company for more money in order to help his brother repay his debts and bypass the storm.

From that day on, the Bai Lang who on the screen was bright and dazzling, began to take on the dark and terrible burden of repaying debts.

Because it wasn't just Bai Li's debt itself, but more because Bai Lang had been contracted to endorse several products, however when the news of Bai Li's debts ruined Bai Lang's image, he had repay a much larger damage of defaulting on his contracts. {T/N: Because his contract stipulates that he cannot have any image damaging incidents, or be forced to pay damages.}

And these two incidents of great rises and great falls became like a vicious cycle. And Bai Li continued to ask Bai Lang to help him repay various debts. Thus Bai Lang's debts became more and more, to the extent that even if he wanted to buy a car, he had to consider things carefully.

However Bai Lang's debtee, from the beginning to the end, had always been Chou Qian.

It was Chou Qian who helped Bai Lang settle his damages for breaking his contracts, it was him that accepted all of Bai Lang's responsibilities. And the reason seemed to be just so he could at irregular intervals call Bai Lang on the phone, to discuss with him his debts and his choices in life, and ask him to reconsider his proposal which was still valid: to be his kept lover.

After seeing the gentle but stubborn Bai Lang refuse him time after time, it seemed that Chou Qian was able to get some joy out of these interactions. He loved to bring up this proposal each time Bai Lang was at his lowest, to test Bai Lang's perseverance.

This kind of mocking and playful attitude provided an explanation for some things. The people beside Bai Lang, whether it be his stylist, manager, or make up artist, were all people of skill and talent. However each time he faced a crucial trial, they would not receive much assistance. It was as though a cold blanket always covered Bai Lang and so his road as an actor was always difficult and shallow.

It was not until the final time that Bai Lang really broke his heart.

He would rather that these ugly and poisonous slanders were tricks that Chou Qian had created, rather than Kang Jian. That was why he had run over here to accuse Chou Qian. And the answer he had received was the one that until now he had been too afraid to face: Kang Jian's betrayal.

It was probably good that he had died at that moment. Bai Lang always thought this.

Facing the rejection of both his family and his lover, he really didn't know what else he had to live for.

But he had never thought that Chou Qian, whom Bai Lang had always seen as a knife held to his throat, would be so unexpectedly sorrowful over him.

Even if there must have been some element of guilt in there, Bai Lang had never blamed Chou Qian. He only remembered Chou Qian's holding the black umbrella, and his anguished profile. That image was like a stamp, from the moment it appeared, it remained stubbornly fixed in Bai Lang's mind….

[Di-lin-lin-di-lin-lin–]

In the darkness the piercing sound of the mobile phone rang, breaking Bai Lang's reverie.

He picked up his phone and took a look. It was his older brother Bai Li calling.

Bai Lang's heart felt extremely complicated. Because judging by the time, he knew that his older brother was calling to beg for his help.

After "Partners for Life" broadcasted for two months, Bai Lang had only just signed a few important endorsement contracts. However it was at this time that Bai Li became indebted to the underground lender for the sum of two million borrowed money plus three million interest, a total sum of five million. He had received his final notice. If he didn't pay within one week, then there would be consequences.