Returning to Taiwan in 2000 as a patriotic artist

"Hello, Sister Yang."

Back at the hotel, Gu Bei saw several missed calls, so he called them back.

"Finished filming?" Yang Wanqing's slightly languid voice came through.

He looked like he had just woken up, but also like he hadn't slept at all.

"Yeah, I just finished filming and went back to the hotel to take a shower." Gu Bei sat on the edge of the bed, drying his hair with a towel.

He caught a glimpse of Vivian Chow sleeping soundly out of the corner of his eye, and not wanting to disturb her, he carefully walked to the balcony.

"Sister Yang, you didn't sleep all night?"

"I tried to sleep for a while, but I couldn't fall back asleep." Yang Wanqing turned over in bed.

Suddenly, the shoulder straps of her pajamas slipped down, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin.

And... the white tiger tattoo on his back.

"How's the music video shoot going?"

"It went very smoothly, and the results were better than expected." Gu Bei's lips curled up.

He could already imagine what would happen to those who attacked him after seeing the music video.

It's going to be really exciting, right?

A bunch of truly ungrateful bastards!

"What's wrong?" Gu Bei suddenly realized that Sister Yang seemed to have something to say.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been unable to sleep and made several phone calls throughout the night.

Yang Wanqing paused, her tone becoming very calm: "Photos of you boarding the ship have been taken, and they're being broadcast on all the major television stations."

Beneath her calm voice, however, lay a terrifying rage.

"They're saying you ran away and couldn't make it in Taiwan anymore."

"I am angry!"

"Ha!" Gu Bei laughed. "I haven't even released a song yet, and I'm already struggling to make a living?"

"They're really exaggerating."

"And there's something even more outrageous." Yang Wanqing clenched her fist. "A variety show invited guests to discuss whether you have JD (Junior High School Diploma)."

"I'm even considering using special methods to ruin you."

"I wish I could, so I could get a mainland ID card." Gu Bei was amused by those things.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then......

Yang Wanqing suddenly burst out laughing. "Just how much do you want a mainland Chinese ID card?"

After laughing, his tone turned low, "But seriously, everyone in Taiwan knows you now."

"It's just that a lot of people are criticizing you."

"Let them criticize," Gu Bei said indifferently. "Being infamous is still being famous, it's better than nobody knowing."

Compared to "You're So Beautiful," what he's going through now is much easier.

After all, "Brother" has had a very difficult journey.

As for where the stumbling blocks on the road come from, that's none of your business.

Yang Wanqing fell silent again.

She thought Gu Bei was really strong, with a mentality even better than that of a seasoned veteran in his fifties or sixties.

"Xiao Bei, I have something to tell you."

"Um?"

"I have...three deadly weapons in my hands," Yang Wanqing said, deliberately lowering her voice.

Gu Bei frowned, feeling that he was about to witness the true darkness of the entertainment industry.

"Yang Yuying, you know her, right?" Yang Wanqing said to herself without waiting for his reply, "She has a 'three-year contract marriage' with the young master of the Lai family, and I have a copy of the evidence."

Gu Bei's fingers tightened slightly.

He recalled that the incident was only exposed in 2002, which caused Yang Yuying's innocent image to completely collapse.

As early as 2000, or even earlier, some bigwigs in the entertainment industry had already obtained evidence...

"And Zhang Yu," Yang Wanqing continued, "I also have her videotapes with dozens of directors...

"The third one..."

The sound of files being flipped through came from the other end of the phone.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Bei heard an even more shocking piece of news: "I also know about Andy Lau's secret marriage."

What the hell!

Gu Bei almost cursed.

"Sister Yang..." His voice trembled slightly, "What do you want to do?"

"Shift the firepower," Yang Wanqing said casually.

"If you release any one of these three things, the media won't have time to attack you."

"Sister Yang, calm down." Gu Bei gasped. "Yang Yuying and Zhang Yu, one a singer and the other an actress, can indeed divert attention."

"But Andy Lau..."

He secretly glanced at Zhou Huimin on the bed from the balcony.

I was relieved to find that I hadn't woken her up because I was too loud. "Andy Lau represents the youth of several generations and is a flag bearer of the Chinese entertainment industry."

Gu Bei's voice was very serious, "You're using his secret marriage to protect me. If his fans find out in the future, they'll hate me for the rest of their lives."

"Besides..." he rubbed his temples, "I'll be going back soon, there's no need to go to such extremes as sacrificing Andy Lau."

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.

"Are you sure?" Yang Wanqing was still hesitant. "The public opinion right now is really fierce. I'm afraid that after you come back..."

"I'm sure," Gu Bei interrupted her. "Sister Yang, trust me."

There was a few more seconds of silence.

Gu Bei then brought up another matter: "Sister Yang, have Jie Lun take you to find Hu Zhaoyu..."

"I have a medical report with him..."

The phone hangs up.

After quickly washing up, Yang Wanqing called Zhou Jielun.

The two agreed to meet at the hospital.

"Hey, Jeremy, have you arrived yet?"

Yang Wanqing walked into the inpatient department in high heels, followed by Xiaoyun carrying a fruit basket.

She wore a navy blue dress and sunglasses today, and her white tiger tattoo on her back was always left unhidden.

That aura emanating from his very bones was so powerful that even passing nurses would take a second look.

"Sister Yang... I've arrived. I'm in the corridor on the 7th floor."

On the other end of the phone, Jay Chou's voice sounded nervous, unclear, and even a little stuttering.

I see you.

Yang Wanqing hung up the phone just as the elevator doors opened.

She went in first.

In the corridor, Jay Chou was wearing a baseball cap, a loose black T-shirt and cargo pants, and carrying a basket of fruit.

I saw Yang Wanqing come out.

He froze for a moment, instinctively pulling his hat brim down. "Hello... Sister Yang..."

"Um, which ward is Hu Zhaoyu in?" Yang Wanqing nodded.

"708, VIP ward." Zhou Jielun quickly stepped forward to lead the way. "Gu Bei arranged this before he left, saying that Brother Yu should stay in a nicer place."

"He's quite thoughtful." Yang Wanqing's lips curled up slightly.

The three walked along the corridor, their footsteps particularly clear in the quiet stairwell.

"Jie Lun," Yang Wanqing suddenly spoke up, "has Gu Bei said anything to you recently?"

"Regarding physical health..."

Jay Chou paused for a moment, then realized, "No... Gu Bei, isn't he in good health?"

"I see him working out every day, his muscles are that big..."

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, as if he felt that Sister Yang's question was a bit strange.

Yang Wanqing did not speak again.

The three of them walked to the door of ward 708, which was half-open.

Through the crack in the door, you could see Hu Zhaoyu leaning against the hospital bed, holding a magazine in his hand, with a bouquet of flowers and several boxes of fruit on the bedside table.

"Brother Yu." Jay Chou pushed open the door and went in.

"Jerlen? What brings you here?" Hu Zhaoyu put down the magazine, his face showing surprise.

"Sister Yang is here too?" He saw the person following behind and quickly sat up straight. "Why did you come in person?"

"I came to see you on Gu Bei's behalf." Yang Wanqing walked to the bedside, pulled up a chair and sat down. "He's been too busy lately and can't find the time to come."

Xiaoyun placed the fruit basket she had brought on the bedside table, then stepped back to the doorway and stood quietly.

"How has he been lately?" Hu Zhaoyu asked with some concern.

Recently, Gu Bei's incident has become a well-known story throughout Taiwan.

He was also afraid that Gu Bei wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure.

"He's fine, don't worry."

"But what about you? How are you?"

Yang Wanqing glanced at Hu Zhaoyu, but couldn't see anything wrong with him.

"Me? I have arrhythmia and need to be hospitalized for observation for a few days." Hu Zhaoyu sighed. "If Gu Beifei hadn't dragged me here for a checkup, I wouldn't have known."

"That kid has a sharp eye."

"Oh, right." Hu Zhaoyu suddenly remembered something, reached out and opened the bedside table drawer, and took out a brown paper envelope.

"These are Gu Bei's previous physical examination report and medical records."

Yang Wanqing took it and opened it, and the first line of text that caught her eye stunned her.

[Diagnosis: Paranoia]

[Recommendation: Seek regular psychological counseling, avoid prolonged periods of high-pressure environments, and consider medication if necessary.]

[Prognosis: Early intervention was effective, and the patient currently has no significant impact on social functioning.]

"Paranoia?" She couldn't help but laugh.

Looking back on my time with Gu Bei, I understand many things now.

Including... today's medical examination report.

Jay Chou glanced at it secretly, and his expression instantly turned blank.

He recalled how Gu Bei had worked so hard to build up his muscles...

It turns out he wasn't a big fan of sports.

It's an illness.

The ward was silent for two seconds.

Then all three of them laughed at the same time.

Hu Zhaoyu laughed until tears streamed down his face, clutching his chest and crying out, "Oh no, my heart can't take it!"

"Jerlen, here's yours too." He took another envelope from the drawer.

"Oh, oh." Jay Chou took the envelope, his fingers trembling slightly.

He already knew without even looking.

I found out last year during my military service physical exam.

[Diagnosis: Ankylosing spondylitis]

[Recommendation: Immediate and standardized treatment, regular follow-up examinations, and avoid strenuous exercise and maintaining the same posture for extended periods.]

[Prognosis: Early intervention can effectively control disease progression and does not affect normal life and work.]

"It's ankylosing spondylitis..."

"What a pity..." Hu Zhaoyu shook his head regretfully, "Neither of you will get to experience life as a soldier..."