It was good that Chen Ming Xu was angry. If he were angry, he wouldnât have the spare time to ponder over unnecessary things and might even blurt out the truth during a spurt of anger.
Tang Feng had read through some of the diary entries the past Tang Feng left behind. There hadnât been any mentions of Chen Ming Xuâs name in the entries heâd read. From Chen Ming Xuâs expression however, Tang Feng knew that the TV host had some connections to the past Tang Feng.
âYouâre asking me why? Tang Feng, Iâd thought you turned over a new leaf and became a better person, but now I see that youâre the same heartless and ungrateful b.a.s.t.a.r.d as before. Since you donât remember what happened, let me tell you. Donât think that Iâm the one bullying you here. You were the one who begged me to let you appear on my show.â Chen Ming Xuâs chest heaved up and down with the effort of suppressing his anger.
Tang Feng nodded and said with a smile, âBut now I donât need to appear on your show anymore. What do you want from me? A word of thanks? Then I thank you for always letting me have some screen time on your show.â
Tang Fengâs reply was obviously one of ridicule. Even if Chen Ming Xu was befuddled with anger, heâd still be able to hear the mockery in those words. He knitted his brows and looked at Tang Feng as if he were looking at a heartless monster.
âYouâre more eloquent than before.â
âYou arenât the first one to have mentioned it.â Tang Feng had no plans of explaining anything. Once he started, heâd have to stand there and explain his whole life away. That was too tiring for him.
Tang Fengâs calm and cool-headedness seemed to have affected Chen Ming Xu as he wasnât as agitated and short for breath anymore. The TV host merely stared at Tang Feng, looking him over. After calming down, Chen Ming Xu started viciously attacking Tang Feng again. âI heard you flew to the United States a few days earlier along with Lu Tian Chen, right? Should I be congratulating you? You finally got into Lu Tian Chenâs good graces after hounding him like a dog for years.â
If Tang Feng got angry over a few vicious remarks he wouldnât be Tang Feng anymore. He merely smiled and said, âRight now Iâm very curious to know if we have some leftover conflicts that weâve never resolved. Otherwise, youâd never speak to me like this. I personally donât think you hate me though, after all, you still let me appear on your show.â
The best way to deal with someone irritating in the entertainment industry was to cut down on their exposure to the public. Dragging them into a talk show was not the proper way of doing things. Even if they were just getting picked on in the show, it still counted as exposure to the public.
If a small-time celebrity didnât keep up a constant level of exposure, their career would certainly sputter and die.
âThis isnât fairâŠâ Chen Ming Xu took a deep breath and sat down with a huff on the balcony bench. His eyelashes quivered, appearing as if he was on the verge of tears.
âThis isnât fair at all. Why did you have to be the one to forget everything? Why is your life becoming better and better? Youâre obviously a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, the tras.h.i.+est guy Iâve ever met.â Chen Ming Xu started cursing at Tang Feng again.
Tang Feng placed his cup of coffee down and walked over to Chen Ming Xu. Standing in front of the other, he asked, âMay I sit down?â
âYou werenât polite like this either.â Chen Ming Xu raised his head and glared at Tang Feng. Unfortunately, his glare didnât have any force in it and only made him look all the more pitiful.
âIf you want to cry, go ahead and cry. Donât hold it back. It wonât be good for your health.â Tang Feng sat down beside Chen Ming Xu. He found it hard to deal with the brash anger of youngsters like Chen Ming Xu. As Tang Feng had already gone through that youthful age, he knew young people were especially indecisive and uncertain about their life during that time. They might seem strong on the outside, might seem spiky and abrasive like a porcupine, but those were all s.h.i.+elds for hiding their own weaknesses.
Often, the showiest people were the most fragile on the inside. They wanted to give people the allusion that they were strong, so they fabricated a mask that deluded everyone into thinking they were mighty and powerful. It was for self-protection, but also for self-encouragement.
âIâm not crying!â Chen Ming Xu yelled with his head lowered. He clenched his hands and rested them on his legs.
âAll right, all right. I know you arenât crying.â Out of concern for a junior and guilt for not knowing what the past Tang Feng had done to Chen Ming Xu, Tang Feng turned sideways and pulled the latter into a hug. To have someone hug you while you were deeply hurt was always comforting.
At first, Chen Ming Xu resisted against the hug. Quickly though, he unclenched his fists and wrapped his arms around Tang Feng.
Tang Feng soon heard sounds of sobbing coming from his shoulder.
âBas⊠b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Sc.u.m of the earth! Utter trash that gave up too early! A son of a b.i.t.c.h who doesnât know any shame!â Chen Ming Xu leaned against Tang Fengâs shoulder, his fingers digging deeply into the actorâs back. âI hate you! You stupid fool! IdiotâŠâ
Tang Feng endured the abuse silently. He figured that Chen Ming Xu probably used up all the curses heâd been storing for twenty years on him today.