Chapter 87: Warning! Crossdressing Ahead!

Chapter 87: Warning! Crossdressing Ahead!

When the host and everyone else turned to look, Chen Yibai was staring at his fake buddy who couldn't remember his name, eye to eye.

The buddy had also heard the host's voice, his eyes widened in surprise before he tried to cover it up with a smile. He quickly pushed Chen Yibai, urging him to go up and receive his award.

Chen Yibai went on stage to collect his prize.

Surrounded by darkness, the spotlight chased him onto the red carpeted stage.

When he stood still, the host handed over the golden trophy.

It was a simple trophy with smooth lines, its edges reflecting the overhead light, shimmering slightly.

Receiving an award for no apparent reason, he reached out to take it, thanking the host with a smile while his mind raced.

The moment he took the trophy, thunderous applause erupted from the audience like waves, undulating continuously.

His agent and friends sat together below, clapping twice before they couldn't help but chuckle.

His friends continued to clap while glancing at him.

A good agent didn't say much, covering her mouth with her hand and simply saying, "You're quite the storyteller."

On stage, Chen Yibai smoothly delivered his acceptance speech, engaged in brief interaction with the host, and then walked off the stage under the constant tracking of the front row cameras. Amidst the applause, he returned to his seat with the trophy.

The crew members were seated together, applauding again when he returned, all wearing smiles.

Halfway through the awards ceremony, they had already won five awards, making it hard for anyone not to grin.

Qian Jin stood up, pressing him down as he reached out, curious. "Let me feel the trophy, see what it's like."

He was trying to divert attention from the previous topic and create an atmosphere of forgiveness, but Chen Yibai didn't fall into this mood. He immediately performed a chokehold, using the trophy as his tool. His buddy might not know what the trophy felt like, but he clearly knew what it felt like now.

After calling out Chen Bai several times, he was finally released by Chen Yibai and got to touch the trophy as he wished.

Feeling around the trophy left and right, he examined it like a treasure appraiser, turning his head to say, "You said you wouldn't win, yet you still prepared a speech."

Chen Yibai casually snapped a photo of the trophy and sent it to the small family group of five people he had formed with Ms. Jiang during the New Year, saying, "I didn't prepare anything."

"Hmm," Qian Jin looked up. "Hmm?"

Lowering his voice, he asked, "Then what did you read just now?"

It flowed so smoothly; he thought the person must have secretly rehearsed the script several times in private.

Instant messages popped up in the group chat. Ms. Jiang and Mr. Xu trendily set off little fireworks, sending congratulatory sounds. Chen Bai smiled and said, "I made it up on the spot."

Qian Jin: "Impressive."

The award ceremony's major award announcements were updated online in real time. Following Chu Mingyuan's reacquisition of the Best Actor title, the trending search terms changed once more, adding a new entry related to Chen Bai's win.

But there was something slightly different about this term, called #ChenYibaiLosesBestSupportingActor.

Chen Yibai lost the Best Supporting Actor award, but Chen Bai won one.

"HAHAHA damn, my heart almost stopped when I saw this trending topic. You guys are so mean!"

"Congratulations to Chen Bai for winning the award. Don't be sad, Chen Yibai, please keep striving (forced sincerity)."

"What does Chen Bai winning have to do with Chen Yibai? Why must you drag him into it [serious cat face].jpg"

"HAHAHA I just wanted to sincerely congratulate him, but you guys are laughing instead."

"They've both won awards, why don't they collaborate on a movie to celebrate (I'm just kidding, don't hit me)."

"Speaking of which, could there really be marketing accounts that saw the trending topic and thought Yibai didn't win (no way)."

News of the award appeared in less than half an hour, and the prepared marketing account posts were published.

Among the numerous marketing accounts playing with trending topics, there were indeed a couple of accounts that took the news seriously. Their generic posts were quickly forwarded, spreading the inaccurate reporting far and wide.

On an ordinary evening, Chen Yibai received his first major award as an actor.

He didn't usually post work-related content on his social media, only food and scenery, and he didn't post about winning the award either. However, most of the contacts in his list knew about it and sent their congratulations as soon as possible. From the evening until the next day, his phone kept buzzing with messages.

Having won the award the previous night, he still needed to work the next day. During breaks, he replied to each message individually.

Following the awards ceremony was the press conference for the TV series "Crime Appraiser." This time, he was the lead character, so he had more responsibilities than before. On the day of the press conference, he was busy from morning till night.

The production side was also busy, but they were happy about it, especially since the previous night's awards ceremony had brought in a wave of free traffic. The live broadcast reservations for the press conference experienced another surge, saving them millions in promotional fees.

During the press conference that night, Chen Yibai held the microphone without putting it down.

A month after the press conference, "Crime Appraiser" premiered online.

On the day of the premiere, after a month of hard work, Master Chen finally had a brief period of rest.

With his work temporarily on hold, his small team dropped him back at his apartment complex. After the assistant put away his things and left, the agent stayed behind.

Over the past month, she had selected a few film scripts, not imposing any requirements, allowing him to choose freely.

As the sky outside grew dark, he poured two glasses of water and placed them on the table. Chen Yibai picked up the scripts and sat down on the sofa.

Taking off his hat at home, his messy hair remained uniquely disheveled, swaying with his movements as he lowered his head.

Watching him read the scripts, the agent reached for the glass of water on the table and took a sip, saying, "These are the scripts you received after winning the award. The roles are significantly better than before."

Chen Yibai acknowledged her words, lowering his head to flip through the script. After glancing at it for a moment, his eyes narrowed.

He now understood just how much better the agent had said things were.

He hadn't had time to read the previous script, but he could roughly guess that it wouldn't be a role as important as the male lead in a big-budget film, one that screamed blockbuster from every pore.

The agent said, "There was also a male lead in the scripts that were submitted, but the scripts weren't good enough, so I filtered them out. It's not too late to take on a good script when we find one."

Chen Yibai didn't intend to follow up his Best Supporting Actor award with a Best Actor one. Hearing this, he nodded and put aside the script he had been reading, considering it as a backup option.

In the end, he chose a spy thriller. There was no particular reason; simply because he hadn't acted in one before and wanted to give it a try, plus the pay was good.

This time, the role was confirmed upon acceptance, with no need for an audition. He would join the production team in two months.

As the agent packed away the other scripts, she glanced at his lowered brows and eyes, asking, "By the way, how long has it been since you've seen your friend?"

A sudden question pierced through Chen Bai's heart like a sharp arrow, causing him to shed tears in an instant. He looked up at a forty-five-degree angle towards the ceiling, wiping his tears in a childlike manner, and said, "One and a half months."

In the new year, with new work, his good neighbor was starring in a movie again after a year. He had left for work over a month ago.

Remembering the time clearly, his friend seemed to be running low on energy, almost on the verge of breaking.

The agent gave him a few more looks, her fingers subconsciously tapping the sofa as she said, "There's a cameo in a movie, playing a villain. The role isn't too extensive, and it can be filmed within a month and a half. Are you interested?"

Having never played a villain before, Chen Yibai found it intriguing.

Thus, the agent took out a script from her bag that she hadn't planned to show him, saying, "The actor originally cast for this role got caught up in a scandal and was urgently replaced. Filming has already started, so the schedule is quite tight."

News of the scandal had spread all over the internet, but someone who didn't go online often wouldn't know about it.

If he agreed, he would have to join the production team within half a month. Once he joined, due to the need to catch up on the schedule, the workload would undoubtedly be intense. After finishing here, he would immediately join another movie set, with a short break in between that wouldn't provide any real rest. That's why she had chosen not to tell him about this opportunity earlier.

Chen Yibai took the script, reading it while asking, "Why did you suddenly think of showing me this?"

"Because it's the movie your friend is starring in."

The agent closed and opened her eyes, not bothering to look at his expression, saying, "I figured if you don't see your friend soon, you'll look like you're about to die."

In an instant, the person leaning on the couch sat up straight, his attitude suddenly serious. Then, he realized something was off and asked, "Why didn't Comrade Old Xu tell me about this?"

Instead of answering, the agent chose to pat his thick-skulled head.

The reason was obvious, no need to think about it. It must have been the same concern about rest time that she had.

This person might subjectively feel capable, but objectively, his body might not be able to handle it. Even if it was a good opportunity, he needed a good body to take advantage of it.

Struck unexpectedly once again, Chen Yibai was already used to it. He chose to carefully read the script, paying more attention than before. His hand supported his cheek as his light gray pupils scanned line after line of text.

Before he even finished reading the script, the agent could already tell that he was determined to take on this role. She lowered her head, using the time while he read the script to roughly arrange the schedule for the next few months.

In a remote town, someone went missing from a residential building. Local police made several visits but came up empty-handed. The protagonist, a retired cop, moved into the building and encountered a landlord who never appeared at night, a tenant studying for postgraduate exams, a couple without stable jobs, and a 35-year-old laid-off salaryman temporarily working in a factory. These seemingly unrelated individuals continued to live in the building even after the disappearance, choosing not to move out.

The ban on animals in the residential building remained peaceful until the protagonist's friend, unaware of the rules, brought their dog there. The dog barked wildly at the walls, which had been renovated due to their age.

The script was thin, yet contained a vast universe. The further Chen Yibai read, the more spirited he became. His eye corners twitched repeatedly as he read from beginning to end. Then, he tentatively spoke up, saying, "I understand the logic, but why does this person... why does he wear a dress?"

His voice rose, filled with disbelief and awe.

He was playing the low-quality girlfriend in the young couple – or rather, a boy dressed as a girl, so technically, the boyfriend.

He gestured with his hands: "This person has a boyfriend, he's the radical 'he'... boyfriend, he..."

The impact of these few lines was greater than that of the several thick scripts he had read earlier.

Villains indeed needed character, but he hadn't expected them to be this unique. With his language system in disarray, he struggled to express his current feelings with words.

The script wasn't complete, and there must be a reason for the long hair and dress. The couple might not be a real couple. Based on the information given, everything exceeded his understanding from every perspective.

The agent asked him, "Are you taking it?"

Chen Yibai was concise: "Yes."

His pupils shook, his cognition refreshed, but he accepted it.

As expected, the agent nodded, "Alright."

She glanced at the schedule on her phone, saying, "I'll move up your future work so it's done within these next two weeks. When the full script comes down, you should read it thoroughly yourself."

Then, she added specifically, "Don't stay up late. You'll be working for several months, so it's best if you go back to your aunt's place to rest up for the next two days."

Chen Yibai might not necessarily do it, but he nodded.

Looking at the script still in his hands, the agent patted his shoulder, saying, "At least you'll look good in a dress."

It was a cheap win for his good friend.

"?"

It felt like a compliment, but Chen Bai couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

After discussing work, the agent finished her praise and left, finishing her water and taking her belongings with her.

---

Half a month later, after replacing the disgraced actor who had caused trouble, the production company finally showed some signs of activity. Wardrobe and props were being re-prepared for the role-related costumes and necessary items, and the production coordinator began arranging new suites in the hotel.

Through a series of actions, although they still didn't know who the new actor was, the others could roughly guess that someone was about to join the production team.

On an ordinary morning, after most of the crew had already started their filming tasks, a black vehicle quietly arrived at the hotel.

Someone got out of the car and met with the staff waiting at the entrance. The two parties merged and walked into the hotel together.

In the heart of the crowd, Chen Yibai slightly lifted his cap brim, half-opening his eyes—exhausted from staying up late—to take an extra glance at the hotel. The entire place had been booked by the production team, and everyone coming and going was part of it.

His agent, carrying a bag, glanced back at him and said, "You wouldn't still be hoping to see your friend here, would you?"

"Teacher Xu has already gone to shoot."

The moment he mentioned a friend, the staff knew exactly who he meant, guiding them onto the elevator with a barely suppressed smile. "He'll probably be back around eight tonight."

The elevator stopped at one of the hotel's floors, and all those who had crammed into it stepped out. They walked down the corridor and stopped in front of a large door. The staff member handed over the room card they had just received from the hotel, casting a glance at the neighboring room. "This is Teacher Xu's room."

She now understood why the new actor's room had been arranged next to this one when the accommodations were being set up. Initially, she thought it odd that among so many empty rooms, this particular one was chosen, but seeing the person in question, she realized the management indeed knew how to handle things.

As the door opened, the assistant entered to unpack the luggage. Several staff members, well-versed in protocol, stood by the entrance without entering, saying, "The producer, along with the stylist and makeup artist, are on their way. They should be here in about half an hour."

After informing them of the location of their dedicated makeup room, conveniently located downstairs and within easy reach even for someone stumbling out of bed in the morning, they made sure to convey all necessary information before excusing themselves. They had other tasks to attend to and departed promptly.

Half an hour was enough time for a simple unpacking. The room was a one-bedroom suite, clearly intended for a single occupant. The agent and assistant would stay elsewhere, downstairs, on the same floor as the makeup room, making daily commutes convenient.

Tomorrow marked the official start of work, with today's task being to familiarize oneself with the environment and try on costumes. Any issues could be discussed and adjusted on the spot, aiming to finalize the makeup look today so that they could apply it directly tomorrow morning and begin shooting.

Half an hour later, Chen Yibai met with his makeup artist and stylist in the makeup room, engaging in a friendly exchange with the producer as well.

What was bound to happen eventually came sooner than expected. But he hadn't anticipated it happening so quickly.

Following a brief and amicable conversation, the stylist's assistant promptly pulled out a dress from a specially brought bag. Her face flushed with excitement, showing no signs of fatigue from working long hours. She seemed inexplicably rejuvenated.

Agent and assistant Little Meng simultaneously raised their hands to cover their mouths, feigning nonchalance, while the makeup artist managed to maintain a semblance of professionalism by controlling her smile.

Chen Yibai hesitated slightly, attempting to buy time. "Now?"

The agent nodded. "Now."

Driven by an actor's self-discipline, Chen Yibai took the dress.

The makeup room was essentially an empty suite, also a one-bedroom layout. The living room had been converted into a space for applying makeup, while the bedroom served as a dressing room.

With his attempt to delay unsuccessful, Chen Yibai went to the opposite extreme, swiftly stripping and changing clothes in record time.

In the cool weather of April or May, the temperature wasn't particularly high. Transitioning from a hoodie to bare arms left his back feeling chilly. When he gripped the doorknob to open the door, he was unexpectedly startled by the icy touch.

Inside the room stood the agent, assistant, producer, as well as the makeup artist, stylist, and their respective assistants—a sizable group, yet they maintained a respectful silence. The subtle sound of the door handle turning was clearly audible.

First to emerge from behind the door was the long black skirt, reaching down to the calves. Beneath it, slender pale ankles were visible. The black fabric swayed with each movement, rising and falling as the person walking increased their pace.

The stylist's eyes widened slowly, while the assistant discreetly rubbed her reddened ear.

It was Chen Yibai's first time wearing such an outfit, and his discomfort was evident. He looked down at the dress, asking, "Is this how it's worn?"

The stylist vigorously nodded, confirming it was correct, and gave a thumbs-up while covering her mouth.

Assuming this was praise for managing to wear the dress correctly on his first try, Chen Yibai smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Watching from the side, the agent turned to assistant Little Meng and whispered, "Do you think his friend can handle this?"

Little Meng touched her itchy nose, replying, "Hard to say."

At least she herself was finding it difficult to handle.

The stylist and makeup artist struggled to maintain composure, beginning their work once he sat down. The makeup artist started styling the long hair, while the stylist bent down to help tie the accompanying narrow, finger-width black ribbon around the slender neck. After wrapping it several times, she tied a knot at the back, allowing the remaining length of the ribbon to dangle down, brushing against the pale back.

It fit perfectly, and it suited him well.

The makeup artist worked wonders with her hands, transforming short hair into long locks that cascaded down the shoulders, some strands falling to the front, creating a striking contrast against the fair skin.

Chen Yibai sat passively, allowing himself to be fussed over.

The makeup artist seemed to have grasped the essence of her job, able to work happily with a smile on her face throughout the process.

Silence prevailed for only a short while, roughly the duration it took to apply makeup. The chatterbox, unable to keep quiet, had already surveyed the room and, feeling bored, lowered his gaze, casually grabbing handfuls of the skirt. Feeling the fabric gather and then release in his hand, he recalled something and said, "I didn't expect to escape it in high school, only to not escape it now."

He was referring to the matter of wearing a skirt.

It was merely a casual remark, but when he glanced sideways, he met several pairs of bright, eager eyes suddenly focused on him.

"?"

His grip on the skirt paused as he pondered for a moment, his thoughts connecting the dots. Tentatively, he asked, "Do you want to hear about it?"

The large eyes nodded without hesitation.

Their heads bobbed rapidly, their intentions and desires plain on their faces.

It seemed he had no choice but to share the story now. It had been a long time since the events occurred, and Chen Yibai needed to recall them as he spoke.

The last time something similar almost happened was during high school. In the second year, there was a New Year's Eve party, with each class performing. His class chose to perform Cinderella.

He didn't mind what role he played; he had planned to take advantage of the opportunity to play basketball and avoid participating. However, when the votes were cast to select the lead roles, he overheard someone suggesting that he should play Cinderella, driven by a rather mischievous sense of humor.

He couldn't play the role, so he asked his friends to help suppress the votes in his favor. At the time, he had many friends in his class, and it should have been no problem to sway the results.

—So to this day, he felt that there must have been something wrong with that vote. Someone who didn't like him must have been manipulating things behind the scenes. Despite his friends' efforts to suppress the votes, he ended up winning by a landslide.

As the makeup artist worked, she asked, "And then what happened?"

Nothing came of it. Two leads were selected: him and a friend. The costumes were borrowed, but the grade-level administration rejected their class's proposal, stating that it did not align with the psychological health guidelines for high school students.

Thanks to the Guidelines for the Psychological Health Development of High School Students, Chen Yibai's mental health had indeed improved significantly.

It was undeniably odd seeing two guys in love, and it seemed his friend shared this sentiment. He said, "Cinderella turning into Wu Song fighting tigers made my friend cry with joy all night long that evening."

Or perhaps he cried from being beaten, as on that day, he played the tiger and accidentally killed Wu Song instead.

Agent: "…"

Others: "…"

Though they weren't present, they felt that the crying wasn't out of sheer happiness.

The agent couldn't help but gently pat Chen Moubai on the shoulder, suggesting delicately, "If possible, you should be more cautious when interacting with your friends."

Caution was warranted from every angle.

In reality, there was no interaction to speak of, and Chen Yibai didn't understand why he needed to be cautious with his friends, but he nodded nonetheless, albeit perplexed.