Anchor Effect - Chapter 23.2: Brother’s double standard

"I don't want to draw attention to myself, and I value my privacy," Yu Xiu shared. "I also don't like hearing people say they watched me grow up."

"Huh?" Ye Yuchen released the yogurt straw, a drop of yogurt lingering on his lips. "But didn't I just tell you that when I first saw you?"

"Yes," Yu Xiu admitted, gazing at Ye Yuchen's lips. "If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't even bother talking to you."

Ye Yuchen hadn't expected Yu Xiu to be so specific. He found it amusing and felt somewhat fortunate.

He continued to ask, "So

, why a screenwriter?"

"As a screenwriter, you don't have to be in front of the camera," Yu Xiu explained. "As long as my mother is around, I'll likely remain in the film and television industry. But as a director, you still interact with the media during promotional events, so it's better to be a screenwriter. After all, movies begin with scripts, and those who can craft stories are truly remarkable."

"That makes sense," Ye Yuchen pondered. "As a screenwriter, you can stay behind the scenes."

"But it's still tough to write a script by yourself," Yu Xiu admitted. He swiped his laptop's touchpad and opened the assignment he was working on. "Even the directing department has a scriptwriting course, and it entails creating a short play."

"I know. Gong Hao often complains that writing scripts is a real challenge," Ye Yuchen acknowledged. He leaned toward Yu Xiu's computer screen and asked, "How many have you written?"

"I've just begun," Yu Xiu replied. "I'm having trouble coming up with the plot."

"What kind of story do you want to write?" Ye Yuchen inquired.

"I was thinking of imitating a Hitchcock-style suspense story," Yu Xiu began. "A thief disguised as a natural gas company employee comes to inspect a house, but he's really there to scout it out beforehand. The homeowner receives him, but as the thief converses with the homeowner, he realizes that the homeowner is already dead, and the person before him is a murderer."

"Wow, that sounds intriguing," Ye Yuchen remarked. He glanced at Yu Xiu's document, which contained only a few lines. "You should keep writing."

"The specific dialogues and plot are a bit challenging to imagine," Yu Xiu admitted.

"How about we act it out?" Ye Yuchen suggested. "I'll play the murderer, and you can be the thief, and we can improvise."

Yu Xiu's eyes lit up. "Sure."

Ye Yuchen opened a new document, and his fingers danced across the keyboard. "Hold on, let me set the scene first."

Yu Xiu said, "I'll write too."

Just as they were getting immersed in their writing, a girl suddenly approached Ye Yuchen. She patted his shoulder, handed him a small note, and then retreated to her seat.

Yu Xiu glanced at the small note in Ye Yuchen's hand and asked, "What's that?"

Ye Yuchen was already accustomed to such occurrences and opened it calmly. "It's a love letter."

"Hello, Mr. Ye! I really don’t want to disturb you, but this is the library. Could you please keep your voice down? In addition, Yu Xiu is really handsome. Could you please help me convey it? Thank you!"

Someone at the neighboring table chuckled softly at the note, and Ye Yuchen felt his face flush.

While the library wasn't completely silent, there were others conversing quietly, but Ye Yuchen admitted that they had been rather engrossed in their discussion and should've been more mindful of others.

Considering that the rehearsal room would likely be empty that weekend, Ye Yuchen pocketed the note and suggested, "How about we perform it in Glass House 404? It's a great opportunity."

Yu Xiu suppressed a smile and agreed, "Alright."

The two packed up their belongings and left the library. As they reached the steps outside, Yu Xiu grinned and commented, "A love letter?"

"You little rascal," Ye Yuchen teased, jumping up and draping his arm around Yu Xiu's neck. "I've received too many love letters. That was just a small misunderstanding."

Clearly, pinching someone's head was just child's play, and Ye Yuchen could do it, but Yu Xiu couldn't.

It was a classic case of double standards on Brother's part.

"I don't tease others," Yu Xiu defended himself. He adjusted his baseball cap and added, "Especially in public."

"You're a star, after all, so you need to watch your image," Ye Yuchen advised, speaking in a hushed tone. "Haven't you noticed the crowd of people looking at you?"

"Oh," Yu Xiu thought, planning to play around a bit more when they went to the rehearsal room later.