Anchor Effect - Chapter 24.3: You chase me

It was apparent that brainstorming with Yu Xiu, while simultaneously developing the plot and acting it out, was much more enjoyable than other forms of entertainment.

"Of course, let's continue," Yu Xiu agreed. After delivering his lines, he immersed himself back into character and headed toward the imaginary bathroom. "Is the bathroom over here?"

"Yes," Ye Yuchen stood behind Yu Xiu, his expression darkening, and said, "Take your time."

At that moment, Yu Xiu suddenly glanced down at his feet and apologetically remarked, "Oops, I dropped the pen."

He bent down to retrieve it, took a step forward, and inadvertently kicked the pen under a nearby drawer.

Upon seeing the bloodstains beneath the cabinet, Yu Xiu's expression shifted, displaying emotions like surprise and confusion.

Holding the pen delicately between his index finger and thumb, he raised his other fingers to avoid contact with any blood on the pen barrel and asked, "What's this...?"

"Don't you want to go to the bathroom?" Ye Yuchen smiled benignly, leaned against the bathroom door, and cracked it open slightly. "Go on in."

What awaited Yu Xiu was a bathroom with a corpse inside. Technically, the script could have ended at this point, allowing the audience to experience the horror on their own.

However, neither of them had fully enjoyed their performance. Yu Xiu sensed that something was amiss, and as he retreated towards the door, he anxiously declared, "No, no, I won't go in."

"Don't go!" Ye Yuchen retrieved a hammer from the cabinet, pretending to aim it at Yu Xiu's head. "Heaven has a way, you won't take it; hell has no door, yet you rush right in!"

Naturally, the subsequent content was not part of the script, so both of them improvised.

Yu Xiu embraced Ye Yuchen around the waist and pushed him back, stating, "Don't underestimate a thief!"

"I'm a murderer; should I be afraid of a thief?" The two began quarreling in the rehearsal room, chasing each other around, running from one end to the other, and then back again, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

However, at that moment, there was a sudden "click" at the door.

Yu Xiu immediately dropped his smile, his expression turning cold as he gazed towards the door.

Initially oblivious, Ye Yuchen eventually noticed something amiss, but it was only when he saw a camera lens retracting from the door that he became incensed. He stormed out after the intruder.

As expected, there was a man outside with a professional camera. When he saw Ye Yuchen chasing him, he attempted to flee, but Ye Yuchen, being younger and faster, managed to grab hold of the camera strap from behind.

"Delete the photo!" Ye Yuchen demanded, reaching for the camera.

"I'm warning you; this is private property!" The man clutched the camera tightly to his chest. "If you break it, you won't be able to afford to replace it even if I sell it!"

"I can afford to buy ten of those if I smash them!" Ye Yuchen increased the pressure on the strap, but it was securely fastened around the man's neck, making it difficult to detach.

At this point, Yu Xiu approached and remained calm as he told the man, "Delete the photo."

"I get it; I get it!" The man reluctantly pulled the camera back, casually deleted a couple of shots, and said, "Deleted."

"Show it to me and let me check," Ye Yuchen insisted, his brow furrowing.

"I told you I deleted it." The man waved the camera dismissively in front of Ye Yuchen.

Unconvinced, Ye Yuchen took out the memory card and broke it in two, tossing the pieces in the man's face. "Take it and leave!"

"You!" The man exclaimed.

Ye Yuchen retrieved his phone and dialed the security office's number. "Aren't paparazzi prohibited on campus? Hurry up and come over to remove them!"

Seeing that Ye Yuchen was indeed calling security, the man grumbled, "You wait for me," and quickly retreated.

Once he hung up the phone, Ye Yuchen was still seething. "He was even secretly filming inside the school."

"Don't let it get to you," Yu Xiu comforted him. "Paparazzi can be like that—very annoying."

"Can't I be angry?" Ye Yuchen retorted. "He's invading people's privacy."

"You'll encounter such situations when you debut," Yu Xiu cautioned. "Paparazzi are not easy to deal with, and they'll even fabricate stories."

Ye Yuchen became even more infuriated. "He dares to write nonsense!"

Other students in nearby rehearsal rooms were paying attention to the commotion. Not wanting to be the subject of gossip, Ye Yuchen returned to rehearsal room 404 with Yu Xiu.

"It's a good thing I didn't beat him up," Ye Yuchen closed the door of the rehearsal room, took a sip of water, and said, "And he said I can't afford to pay for his crappy camera?"

At first, Yu Xiu was going to say a few more words, but now he just laughed and didn't speak.

"No, why are you laughing?" Ye Yuchen asked, "Are you enjoying the show?"

"No, I just think," Yu Xiu paused and said, "You still have the demeanor of an older brother."

Ye Yuchen was momentarily taken aback, then playfully wrestled with Yu Xiu again, saying, "You little rascal, why wouldn't I look like an older brother? Hurry up and call me 'brother'!"