Professional Body Double - Chap 48

Chap 48
– ZhouXiang Is Not Dead!!

YanMingXiu took him to a members only restaurant that he had previously gone with LanXiRong. The patrons who come and go from here are all from the entertainment industry so they are protected from being harassed by the public.

It seems that fame has brought a lot of disturbances to YanMingXiu’s life. It is hard to imagine that a person like YanMingXiu, who is so self-centered and so indifferent toward strangers, would put himself in the entertainment circle where there is a complete lack of privacy. Even though gossip relating to him is very rare, but coming and going will require him to conceal his face. Just thinking about this kind of life already made ZhouXiang thinks that it difficult to bear, not to mention for YanMingXiu, who has a very bad temper.

The waiter took them to a secluded area and politely offered them the menu, “Mr. Yan, please.”

YanMingXiu seems to come here often as he familiarly selected a few dishes.

After taking the order, the waiter went away. The two sat directly across from each other, both not knowing what to say. The atmosphere is very awkward.

ZhouXiang unintentionally looked at YanMingXiu and was stunned by the depressive expression in his eyes.

YanMingXiu’s facial features did not change from before but the temperament of his entire person has changed completely; from this bright and brave looking, arrogant and unyielding youngster to this introverted, coldly detached, and unsmiling young man.

Only one person can make him change to such extent.

Even though many things have changed with the passage of time, the two of them is actually sitting together again. But YanMingXiu could no longer recognize who he is. This scene seemed to change instantly and the dark and exquisite restaurant became ZhouXiang’s old family home with the both of them sitting face to face at the table tasting the dishes that ZhouXiang cooked.

At that time, YanMingXiu’s smiles and his smiles…both of their smiles came from within their hearts.

Looking at YanMingXiu, seeing this person who is now so unfamiliar to him, who he could no longer guess what is on his mind, and then thinking of his already ‘dead’ self, he can only look at life through someone else’s body. With this person (YanMingXiu) whom he had once been intimate with, now they are looking directly face to face, but no longer know each other. His inner pain and sorrow are like the torrents of the river’s raging water, furiously flooding his heart.

This moment is so painful that it is indescribable.

People who have not experienced this can never understand how much sadness, regret and helplessness is in his heart.

He desperately appeased himself in order to forcefully maintain calmness on the surface, even though his heart has already felt like it had been twisted with a knife.

YanMingXiu’s slender fingers tapped on the wooden table and said in a low voice, “Your name is ZhouXiang, is it also the Xiang from “fei xiangT/N”?

T/N: 飛翔 – fei xiang means to soar in the air, spreading wings and fly

ZhouXiang took a deep breath with his lips shuddering a bit as he nodded, “Yeah.” Does he (YanMingXiu) still remember himself (ZhouXiang)?

YanMingXiu stared at him for a while, and then turned away, his half-lidded eyes concealing his emotions.

(Yan’s thoughts) Does he look like him? Not alike? Even the back is a little similar. Why is he only interested in this person? When he is with him, he always has this odd feeling. It is as if something is pulling at his heart, making him follow this person closely. Why is that? Besides having the same exact name as ZhouXiang, what else is there? Why is he hoping for this bit of pathetic consolation?

YanMingXiu’s heart tightened.

He is nowhere… nobody can be him.

ZhouXiang asked cautiously, “President Yan, why did you want to invite me to dinner? I’m a little embarrassed.”

YanMingXiu didn’t respond to his question. He didn’t know how to respond. He just felt that there is something that he needed from this person but he didn’t know what it is. He couldn’t even explain this weird feeling to himself, how can he explain it to someone else?

He thought of a question that he had wanted to ask all along, “What is your relationship with CaiWei?” When Xiao Jiang told him that CaiWei refused his request, he was very astonished. Originally, the coincidence of ZhouXiang working with CaiWei is enough to make him wonder. Now CaiWei’s attitude is making him even more suspicious.

“Wei… I am Wei Ge’s employee. Wei Ge takes great care of me.”

“Why would he do that?”

ZhouXiang lowly muttered, “Maybe because I have the same name as his buddy who has died.”

YanMingXiu slammed his fork on the china plate, his neck stiffly moving, and his serenely deepened eyes probing him, “You know about his (older ZhouXiang) matters?”

ZhouXiang carefully pondered over every word he is going to say next, “Wei Ge told me a bit.”

“CaiWei…what did he tell you?”

“Only said that he was filming in the mountains and had an accident and died…”

“He’s not dead!!” YanMingXiu suddenly shouted lowly, shocking ZhouXiang.

YanMingXiu’s eyes suddenly became bloodshot as he glared at ZhouXiang, “Who told you that he died?”

ZhouXiang is so shocked that he sweated profusely. What does YanMingXiu really know?

YanMingXiu’s attitude made him even more afraid to speak. He hesitated, “The specifics… I don’t know. It’s what Wei Ge said.”

YanMingXiu seems to be aware that he has lost self-control. He used a napkin to gracefully wipe his lips and tried to suppress his emotions, “He’s not dead. Go back and tell CaiWei not to speak utter nonsense.”

These words were not only a warning to CaiWei but also a warning for him. ZhouXiang could certainly understand its meaning. He wanted to ask YanMingXiu why he is so certain that he’s not dead. He’s so obviously and thoroughly dead… so thoroughly dead that his soul has taken on someone else’s body. In this world, is there anyone else who can have more say with regards to his life and death than himself?

But to say that he’s not dead is indeed right. His soul is still alive.

But how can YanMingXiu be so sure?

He pondered over and over again but still did not ask. He was afraid of making YanMingXiu suspicious.

YanMingXiu said faintly, “ZhouXiang is not dead. He will come back one day. You should be glad that you’ve touched his light. Otherwise, why would CaiWei take special care of you?”

That is also the truth. CaiWei is one that upholds the code of brotherhood but is not a fully compassionate Holy Mother. The only reason why CaiWei would help him for the most part is because CaiWei wanted to make himself feel better. Even though he never blamed CaiWei, CaiWei still felt guilty for his death.

ZhouXiang glumly responded, “President Yan is right.”

Eating this meal is bland and flavorless. No matter how delicious the food is, ZhouXiang can’t taste it because his heart is suffering from unspeakable torment.

Fortunately, YanMingXiu did not continue on with this topic. It seems that he was treating him as though he was transparent. YanMingXiu finished eating his own food and didn’t utter another word.

Remembering the countless meals they had eaten together, ZhouXiang never thought that one day they would have such a strangely bizarre meal together.

ZhouXiang realized that his psychological defense is not strong enough. All these happy and sad memories still penetrated through these small cracks right into his heart, piercing him and riddling him with holes.

It would be nice if he was really given more than two years’ time, even if he was just lying in bed, it is enough for him to get rid of these huge, negative emotions. Unfortunately, although the world’s clock has ticked passed two years, in his consciousness, he was still sleeping with this person in front of him just three months ago. He will get up early to prepare breakfast and then happily pull YanMingXiu out of bed to eat.

Drastic change. In such a short time, he had experienced a drastic change.

If time is a cure for everything, then the dose he took is obviously not enough.

After the meal, YanMingXiu didn’t appear to have the intention to take him home. ZhouXiang was even more eager to leave separately. The two of them left the restaurant and parted ways.

ZhouXiang took out his cell phone and called CaiWei.

He thought it was necessary to tell CaiWei about this (regarding the ad), but he had been so busy the entire day that he didn’t even have the time to check his phone.

CaiWei really didn’t know anything about him going to film this ad with YanMingXiu. In President Wang’s eyes, this is nothing that is worth informing CaiWei. When ZhouXiang told CaiWei about it, CaiWei was utterly astounded.

ZhouXiang asked, “Wei Ge, why didn’t you want me to come?”

CaiWei didn’t want ZhouXiang to misunderstand so he explained, “It’s not that I don’t want you to get more work, I just don’t want you to get too close to YanMingXiu.”

ZhouXiang quickly voiced, “Wei Ge, you must have your reasons for doing what you did. I have no other meaning, I’m just curious.”

CaiWei deeply heaved a sigh, “With my buddy’s accident, this surname Yan person needs to bear a huge part of the responsibility. I don’t want to say more. In short, stay far away from him. He’s nothing good.”

ZhouXiang sighed, “Wei Ge, don’t worry. I’ll remember.” Clearly, CaiWei has grudges toward YanMingXiu because of him. The reason why he was in an accident, indeed, is in part due to YanMingXiu.

To say that he does not hate YanMingXiu is impossible. But since he has been reborn, there are many things that are more important than holding grudges. Not to mention that he didn’t want to have any connection with YanMingXiu. Hate or not hate, what can be done?

ZhouXiang didn’t tell CaiWei about YanMingXiu inviting him out to eat. Naturally, he didn’t mention YanMingXiu’s warning (about him speaking nonsense with regards to ZhouXiang’s death). CaiWei is not a blabbermouth. What’s more, what YanMingXiu said is really baffling.

However, since YanMingXiu is so determined that he is still alive, then the things in his home most likely have not been changed. And naturally, YanMingXiu will not initiate in getting his death certificate issued. He has no relatives in Beijing. If his death certificate is not issued, the Public Security Bureau can only treat this as a disappearance. He’s afraid that his relatives who have the legal rights to manage his assets will never know that he had passed.

Then the cash and bank cards left at home are likely still in the same place. YanMingXiu simply would not be interested in these things. He must go back as soon as possible.

ZhouXiang looked up Assistant Jiang’s cell phone number. He planned to start with this assistant and get close to him to find out about YanMingXiu’s recent itinerary. And then pick a time when YanMingXiu is away to go back home and take a look.

End of the Chapter

Chapter – 49 Sneaking Into His Own Home

When Assistant Jiang received the call from ZhouXiang, he wasn’t surprised. There are many people who wanted to get in contact with him. However, he dared not treat ZhouXiang like any others in randomly dismissing him. His big boss personally invited ZhouXiang for a meal. He has worked for YanMingXiu for over a year and has never seen him pay so much attention to one person. Who knows what his boss is thinking. He only knows that he can’t offend ZhouXiang.

The two of them chatted politely for a while. ZhouXiang used the excuse of wanting Assistant Jiang to introduce him to others as they continually chatted. In the end, he was able to successfully get YanMingXiu’s itinerary.

ZhouXiang got a more precise time. YanMingXiu will be flying to Chongqing next Thursday. But it wasn’t work relating to the entertainment circle but dealings with his own business.

Most of the people in the entertainment circle called YanMingXiu “President Yan” because YanMingXiu is unlike most performing artists who are constantly called to participate in various types of programs or to participate in public activities. YanMingXiu has his own company. It fact, it was doing quite well.

Besides filming or advertising, YanMingXiu literally does not participate in any social activities. He didn’t seem to care about his exposure rate just as long as he has works from time to time to ensure that the public will not forget him.

According to Assistant Jiang, YanMingXiu would not be able to return till at least Sunday with this meeting in Chongqing.

ZhouXiang decided not to hesitate any further. He will take action on Thursday night.

After dinner on Thursday night, ZhouXiang watched TV with ChenYing as usual. Shortly after 10pm, he used the excuse that he was meeting a friend to go out. He had initially planned on going out in the middle of the night and not tell ChenYing but he came to realize that ChenYing is a very light sleeper. It would be much more troublesome if she found out.

He prepared a series of things: a hat, sunglasses, mask, flashlights, pliers, etc. With all this tools, definitely no one would think that he’s actually going back to “his own home” but instead would think of him intending to steal.

ZhouXiang also felt pitiful and ridiculous. He had to go back to his own home to get his hard-earned money. But in order to do so, he needed to “steal” it. There is no other way. If he was caught looking like this, he certainly would be considered a thief.

He got to the corridor of his own neighborhood and waited for a while to give himself the courage. After confirming no one was around, he quickly pulled out the spare key from the fire box and shuddered while using it to open the door’s lock.

He looked for a long time standing outside the door. There was not a bit of light within. There shouldn’t be anyone but he was still so nervous that he was trembling all over.

The security door to his condo was the same as before. It is not so easy to open. Even after the key is inserted, he needed to hold the door handle up to make the key fit perfectly with the keyhole. The sound of the gear rotation is especially loud in the middle of the night, gently pounding at ZhouXiang’s heart.

The door opened!

ZhouXiang looked around again. He quickly turned the door handle to the wooden door inside and walked into the condo, quietly closing the door.

The condo was filled with a muggy dusty smell. ZhouXiang immediately come to realize that no one had come to this condo for some time. In this season, if the windows are not opened for several days, there will be this kind of stifling smell. It seems that YanMingXiu does not live here.

ZhouXiang didn’t dare to turn on the light. Instead, he turned on his flashlight and scanned the room. The light of the flashlight and the glimmering moon enabled him to see his home once again.

Everything looked exactly as it did from his memory. There is not a bit of change. It seems like the passage of two years is all an illusion. He had only left for three months and has returned. His home, this place that has been with him from birth has been kept just as it was, waiting for him to return.

In this condo, his memories are everywhere. He and his parents, him and YanMingXiu, his 30 years of life stories have all but concentrated in this old condo, so much that that every old wall is sprinkle with the taste of memories.

ZhouXiang felt pain. He had an urge of wanting to cry.

How much he hoped to be able to just appear here for the mere reason of ‘coming home’ as he had done countless times in the past instead of only temporarily staying like a thief?

ZhouXiang sniffed his nose and didn’t dare to think more. Although YanMingXiu is in another city, he still didn’t dare to stay here for too long. This is likely what’s called a person’s guilty conscience.

He wrapped the plastic bag on his shoes and gently walked in. The flashlight flashed through the dust on the shoe cabinet. It wasn’t thick, just a thin layer of dust, which proves that there are people who came to clean from time to time. Maybe YanMingXiu still felt a bit of their former affections toward him so would occasionally have people come to clean it. That way the condo is not abandoned.

He walked through the familiar small porch straight into his bedroom where he put his cash.

He had a habit of putting spare cash in the bedside table. It wasn’t much, just four to five thousand yuan which was still better than his monthly salary. He was ready to take the cash and go back to the living room to get his bank card.

When he got into the bedroom, it looked just the same as before… even the bedding was the one he bought with YanMingXiu. ZhouXiang couldn’t help but walked over and touched the neatly folded silk blanket, that soft and smooth feel. ZhouXiang could even remember that comfortable feeling on his bare skin, especially when YanMingXiu turned over and wrapped the both of them with the blanket.

ZhouXiang smiled bitterly as he gently put the corners of the blanket back in place. He quickly opened the bedside table. Sure enough, the money that he casually threw in there was still there.

ZhouXiang had a pretty good life before. Four to five thousand was not a lot of money to him. At that time, he was able to flauntingly casually drive his car, take a boy that he had just met for a meal and gift him little presents. There was hardly any worries in his life until he met YanMingXiu.

But now, even if it is ¥4 to ¥5, he will save it. In order to save the bus fare money, ChenYing will walk half an hour home in the blazing hot sun holding a bunch of groceries. ZhouXiang is also forced to change his habit of buying things without looking at prices. Instead, he’d diligently tried to save all the money he could.

This ¥4,000 to ¥5,000 is already a pleasant surprise for ZhouXiang.

He quickly put the money into his pocket and then returned to the living room. But what he didn’t expect was that the flashlight would malfunction. The light flashed a few times and then stopped working. ZhouXiang was angrily annoyed. He could only use the light on his cell phone to get his bank card from the closet. The cell phone’s light would always turn dark after a short while so it was frustrating hard for ZhouXiang.

When he went to GuangXi, he only brought a card for emergency use. In fact, following the crew, they were responsible for providing the meals. Adding on, there was no place to spend money in the mountains so he actually brought too much. He couldn’t remember how much was on the card, it certainly wasn’t much. The card with more money is place in the drawer. There were pile of his bills in the drawer, including documents and passbooks, etc. even his parents’ marriage certificate were in there.

Just as he turned around, he sensitively heard the security door’s lock turning.

All the fine hairs on ZhouXiang’s body stood upright.

Is there someone? YanMingXiu? That’s impossible! Isn’t he in Chongqing! How could he be so unlucky as to be openly caught like this!

If YanMingXiu sees him here, how would he be able to explain this? Even with ten heads, he didn’t know how to explain it!

In his moment of desperation, ZhouXiang was at complete loss on what to. He grabbed a few things like his bank card and stuffed into his pocket. Then, he quickly closed the drawer. Panicking, he planned on sneaking into the study room to hide but didn’t expect to have a little mishap as he was rushing. His tripped over the small stool near his foot and fell onto the ground with a loud thump.

The front door was opened and the shadow of a tall figure appeared at the door, yelling, “Whose there?!”

End of the chapter