After Being Scummed – Chapter 9

Love Is Inherently Selfish.

After receiving Zuo Jingyou’s call, He Zhiwen immediately packed his bags and flew back to Haicheng from the capital. Before leaving, He Zhiwen also called Lin Xiao, telling him that he was only going to see Zuo Jingyou because of Tongtong and matters related to her.

Lin Xiao, deeply embroiled in the scandal of interfering in their marriage, was currently filming on a closed set with his production team. When he received He Zhiwen’s call, he had just finished a scene and was sitting on a chair in a corner of the film set, wrapped in a shawl, drinking water.

            

The late April sunlight was bright, but it felt somewhat cool shining on this northern desert land. Lin Xiao hid in a spot sheltered from the cold wind, holding a thermos cup and drinking water. Listening to He Zhiwen’s voice coming through the phone, his heart felt warm and fuzzy.

However, before he could act cute​¹ with the other man for a few more sentences, he heard that He Zhiwen was going to see Zuo Jingyou. His hand holding the water cup couldn’t help but tighten uncontrollably.

But Lin Xiao ultimately suppressed the jealousy in his heart, asking He Zhiwen in a worried tone, “Then how badly is Tongtong hurt? Is she okay?”

            

He Zhiwen sounded urgent, clearly very worried: “She probably took a bad fall, otherwise Jingyou wouldn’t have contacted me. Tongtong has been afraid of pain since she was little, I don’t know how much she must be crying right now.”

Lin Xiao swallowed the lump in his throat, saying somewhat unnaturally, “Mm… kids do tend to cry easily. Remember to buy her some things she likes to eat, some gifts, comfort her properly.”

“Also, don’t rush too much. Contact your assistant in Haicheng to pick you up from the airport and take you to the hospital. Don’t drive yourself, don’t get too tired. Haven’t you been very busy filming recently? Spend these few days properly with Tongtong, and take the chance to rest a bit too.”

            

Lin Xiao was a man; of course, he understood a man’s mentality. He couldn’t appear too jealous, but he also couldn’t appear too magnanimous. In this precarious relationship, even though He Zhiwen currently loved him intensely​², he still wasn’t confident he could compare to Zuo Jingyou.

Moreover, Zuo Jingyou and He Zhiwen shared a child. This connection was something he naturally couldn’t overcome.

But at the same time, he knew the fickleness of men. In the face of true love and desire, even the bond of a child didn’t amount to much.

            

So he could only strive to make He Zhiwen love him a little bit more, and then gradually, become unable to leave him.

Sure enough, hearing Lin Xiao’s gentle and considerate words, He Zhiwen unconsciously felt guilty. He Zhiwen paused, then softly said to Lin Xiao, “Sorry, Xiao Ye​³, don’t overthink it. Jingyou and I divorced at the beginning of the year, so this time I’m really just going to see the child, there’s no other meaning. You mustn’t be jealous, okay?”

On the other end of the line, Lin Xiao let out a soft laugh. He lowered his gaze, holding the water cup, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with the thermos lid. He said softly, “Of course I’ll be jealous. You’re going to see your ex-wife, how could I possibly not care?”

            

“But I know you’re actually doing it for Tongtong. That’s your daughter, you can’t possibly not go see her. A lifetime is so long, I’ll have to get used to it eventually.”

Lin Xiao paused, then said pointedly, “Besides, Jingyou-jie isn’t the kind of vulgar woman who would use her child to try and win back her husband. So, I’m very reassured about you two.”

“Remember to take care of yourself, understand?”

            

He Zhiwen immediately relaxed, muttering softly, “You’ve been wronged during this time. Don’t worry, the clarification post will be released soon. Just give me a bit more time, and I will make you my lover, openly and honorably.”

Lin Xiao smiled and told him, “Don’t say such cheesy​⁴ things. I love you, knowing that is enough for me.”

The two exchanged some more cheesy, flirtatious words until it was time for Lin Xiao’s scene, and they finally hung up.

            

Lin Xiao put down his phone and looked up at an empty space not far away. Where wind and sand swept through, everything was hazy gray, as if nothing could be seen clearly. Only a ray of sunlight filtering down from the sky brought a faint brightness.

In that spot, the assistant director was filming a scene with a group of extras​⁵. Lin Xiao couldn’t help but think that many years ago, he too was one of these extras. It was He Zhiwen who had discovered him among the crowd, giving him a chance to make his mark​⁶.

During that cold winter, in those days when he was drifting alone with no support, it was He Zhiwen who had extended a helping hand, allowing him to sustain his life.

            

He Zhiwen was like the sunlight shining into this hazy gray film set, warming the few remaining things in his life.

Even though He Zhiwen was already married back then, he still strove, step by step, to climb higher, until he stood before He Zhiwen, becoming his male lead.

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment, then picked up his phone again, opened Weibo​⁷, and saw the homepage filled with damaging rumors​⁸ about him and He Zhiwen.

            

Lin Xiao scrolled deeply through the screen, watching Zuo Jingyou’s fans and his fans arguing, their words extremely fierce, and smiled, hooking his lip.

Homewrecker?​⁹ He didn’t care about this label at all.

Love, ah, is inherently selfish. Isn’t it right for everyone to rely on their own abilities to fight for the person they love? Life is so short, yet so cold and lonely. Only when two souls intersect can they obtain a fleeting, brilliant spark and light. Why not indulge in this moment?

            

Lin Xiao switched to his messages and sent a text to an anonymous number: Release the news about He Zhiwen and Zuo Jingyou’s divorce tonight.

Anyway, they really were already divorced, weren’t they? He Zhiwen and Zuo Jingyou actually had no ties anymore; from now on, he belonged to him.

After receiving a definite reply, Lin Xiao added the number to his blacklist, stood up, walked towards the director, and continued filming his scenes.

            

When He Zhiwen flew back to Haicheng and arrived at the hospital, it was already the morning of the next day.

Ever since half a year ago, when He Zhiwen confessed to Zuo Jingyou that he had fallen in love with someone else, the two had begun handling their divorce matters. Besides the complicated division of assets, the matter of Tongtong’s custody was also a major issue.

He Zhiwen had cheated​¹⁰ first and knew he was in the wrong, so he didn’t dare fight Zuo Jingyou for custody of Tongtong. Thus, Tongtong was naturally placed under Zuo Jingyou’s care.

            

From that time on, Zuo Jingyou had intentionally or unintentionally reduced the time the father and daughter spent together. Until half a month ago, when Zuo Jingyou and He Zhiwen officially completed the divorce procedures, she took Tongtong and left the home they had always lived in, temporarily placing Tongtong in her maternal grandmother’s care.

The child was still young and probably didn’t quite understand the meaning of divorce. Neither Zuo Jingyou nor He Zhiwen planned to tell her right now. Instead, they would wait a while, until Tongtong got used to He Zhiwen not coming home, before explaining the situation clearly to her.

Therefore, during this period, Tongtong always thought He Zhiwen had gone far away to film and couldn’t come back to see her often.

            

So, being able to see her dad today made Tongtong very happy.

Even though the anesthesia had worn off and her wound was starting to hurt, seeing her dad first thing in the morning, Tongtong still clung to him, wanting to play Ludo​¹¹ together.

Having this rare chance to meet, He Zhiwen played with Tongtong all morning. After finally coaxing the child into a happy mood, He Zhiwen glanced at Zuo Jingyou, who was sitting opposite them watching the father and daughter. He cleared his throat and said to Tongtong, “Tongtong ah, Daddy still has things to attend to, so I can’t stay with you much longer, okay?”

            

He Zhiwen raised his hand, ruffled Tongtong’s hair, and coaxed her with a smile, “Tongtong needs to be strong. Next time Daddy comes to see you, I’ll take you out to play, how about that?”

Tongtong’s little face immediately fell, her eyes filled with disappointment: “Daddy is so busy, are you leaving already? Can’t you stay with Tongtong a little longer? Tongtong misses you a lot too!”

He Zhiwen nodded, lying calmly without batting an eye​¹²: “Yes, lots of uncles and aunties are waiting for Daddy to go back to work. Even though Daddy misses Tongtong very much too, I’m really too busy.”

            

Tongtong was an understanding child. Hearing this, no matter how reluctant she was, she just looked at He Zhiwen with teary eyes and said, “Then next time Daddy comes back, you have to stay with Tongtong longer, okay?”

He Zhiwen nodded, gently ruffled Tongtong’s messy hair again, and comforted her, “I will. Next time I come back, how about Daddy takes you to the amusement park?”

“Okay!” Tongtong nodded, extending her pinky finger towards He Zhiwen, smiling sweetly, “Then Daddy, it’s a promise. Pinky swear.”

            

He Zhiwen smiled slightly, reaching out to hook his daughter’s pinky finger: “Okay.”

“It’s settled then. Pinky swear, hang if you lie, can’t change for a hundred years.”​¹³

Tongtong swung their fingers, sealing the contract with her dad, and said with a giggle, “Daddy promised Tongtong, you definitely can’t break your promise​¹⁴!”

            

He Zhiwen laughed heartily, reassuring his daughter, “Of course not. Daddy would never lie to Tongtong. I’ll definitely do what I say.”

After finally comforting his daughter, He Zhiwen looked up at Zuo Jingyou, who had been sitting opposite the hospital bed, watching them with a constant smile. He awkwardly licked his lips and said somewhat sheepishly, “Jingyou, I have to go back. Could you… could you walk me out?”

All morning he had been wanting to speak but stopping short, seemingly having something to say to Zuo Jingyou. Zuo Jingyou knew what he was thinking, sighed, and nodded. She stood up, patted her daughter on the bed, and soothed her softly, “Mommy will walk Daddy downstairs, I’ll be back soon to have lunch with Tongtong. Tongtong be good here and wait for the nurse.”

            

Tongtong nodded and obediently answered okay.

Zuo Jingyou sighed again, stroked her daughter’s head once more, then turned to He Zhiwen and said, “Let’s go, I’ll walk you downstairs.”

He Zhiwen’s eyes curved into a smile: “Okay.”

            

The two walked out of the hospital room one after the other. Just as they stepped out, He Zhiwen eagerly called out to Zuo Jingyou, “Jingyou… Jingyou… How about we find a quiet place to eat lunch, and then have a proper talk?”

He Zhiwen’s voice exploded beside Zuo Jingyou’s ear. Zuo Jingyou stopped, thinking, Here it comes. She sighed, turned to face He Zhiwen, her tone calm: “No need to go elsewhere. Asking you to come back this time was mainly to visit Tongtong.”

“As for other matters, haven’t we already discussed them clearly? What else needs to be discussed?”

            

All the conversations between them had been exhausted when he confessed to his affair and wanted a divorce. Zuo Jingyou didn’t feel there was anything left for them to talk about.

This hospital room, located on the second-highest floor, mostly housed patients of high status, so the environment was very quiet. It was noon, and the medical staff were taking breaks for lunch. The corridor was empty, without a single person.

Zuo Jingyou stood in the deep, quiet corridor, arms crossed, silently looking at the man before her, her eyes like deep pools.

            

Seeing her expression, He Zhiwen felt somewhat flustered, scratching his head and licking his lips as he said to her, “It’s just… after the news about Lin Xiao and me broke out two days ago, it implicated you… so I was thinking… shouldn’t your side also issue an appropriate public statement?”

“And last night, the news of our divorce also spread everywhere. At a time like this, your studio​¹⁵ needs to give a response, right?”

Zuo Jingyou didn’t speak, just watched him quietly.

            

Under her calm gaze, He Zhiwen felt immense pressure. He thought for a moment, then decided to just throw caution to the wind​¹⁶, saying, “I know it’s wrong for me to come to you about this now, but Jingyou, for the sake of our many years of marriage, can you help me out?”

“Anyway, we’re already divorced. Just do me one more favor. Explain that we had emotional disagreements last year and were already divorced, how about that?”

In short, don’t let others think Lin Xiao was a third party who interfered in someone else’s marriage.

            

Zuo Jingyou understood his implied meaning. She crossed her arms, let out a light laugh, and said, her heart chilling, “What do you want me to say? That we were already divorced last year? That Lin Xiao wasn’t the third party who interfered in our marriage? You want me, after the divorce, to still protect the reputation of the man who destroyed my marriage?”

“He Zhiwen, you really are quite the devoted lover​¹⁷.”

“But why should I? Why should I help him? Just because you love him? Because he caused me to lose my husband, caused my child to lose her father?”

            

Zuo Jingyou’s voice was kept very low, her face carrying a faint mockery she had never shown before: “Why should I be so magnanimous as to fulfill your love story?”

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The author has something to say:

He Zhiwen is the type who thinks, “Male or female, as long as I like them, it’s fine.”

            

Also, in this story, I won’t pass judgment on anyone’s actions, so how you evaluate them is up to you, my reader friends.

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LP: Re-translated on April 25, 2025

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