After Writing a Story for My Husband and Brother

In the dressing room, conversations about the "Nangang University voyeurism incident" were also discussed among the staff. 

Contrary to the public persona, Zhong Shao was known in the circle for being aloof yet notorious for meddling. Unable to contain his curiosity, makeup artist Kim couldn't help but inquire, "Shao, with the situation at Nangang Uni escalating, what if that boy is actually sick?" The unspoken part of Kim's statement was well understood. As a public figure, it was highly discouraged to interfere excessively, especially when public opinion could turn specifically against them. While they had seen the Weibo account advocating for the son, they were unaware of the response from the Student Union of the CHA at Nangang University.

As the makeup mirror reflected a smile on Zhong Shao's lips, he chuckled silently and pointed at Yu Cheng, saying to Kim, "Why don't you ask Yu Cheng if he's afraid?" 

The staff, now attentive, realised that yesterday's turmoil also involved Yu Cheng and discreetly glanced towards him. 

Yu Cheng looked back at the mirror, his smile deepening as he replied, "Why should I be afraid?" 

This was both an answer and a rhetorical question.

Whether in the realm of actors or the vast entertainment industry, even a decade ago when Yu Cheng had just debuted, the role of social media was different from today. At that time, social platforms were merely for socialising, without the frenzy of fans' adoration and public rankings, the strategic management of celebrities, or the constant monitoring of trends. No one was too noble to speak their mind; everyone was just an ordinary person sharing the ups and downs of life, free to express without fear of being forced to disable comments for saying too much or too little.

The staff paused for a moment, as if jolted back to reality. Immersed in this entertainment business for so long, both on and off the stage, they feared most the rapid spread of public opinion and the pressure it brought, fueled by the internet. But why should they fear? They hadn't thought about it, or maybe they had but dared not dwell further on it.

Zhong Shao raised an eyebrow and listened as Yu Cheng continued, "Mental illness, as a psychological disorder, results from external factors such as family and society, as well as internal factors like genetic and neurobiochemical elements, leading to abnormal personal behaviour, neurological dysfunction, and social impairment. Assuming that the young man does indeed suffer from a relevant psychological disorder and was in a state of onset during the voyeuristic behaviour, why then was the Weibo post this morning displaying a diagnosis from several years ago instead of a recent medical report from after the onset of the illness? Did he never actually seek medical help, or is it possible that the severity of his recent abnormal psychological activity has not met medical standards yet? In either case, he is still able to maintain some social functioning, indicating he is an intermittent psychiatric patient rather than a completely incapacitated one. Therefore, if he engaged in the activities while in a sound mental state, he should bear civil liability [1]. Surveillance footage is the most direct evidence, and the repeated attempts by the school to prevent the girls from viewing the footage raise suspicions. Regardless of the reasons behind the voyeuristic behaviour, harm was inflicted upon the girls, so who should bear the responsibility for their psychological trauma?"

The staff present were left stunned by the string of words.

Another makeup artist, Alex, puzzled, asked, "Yu Cheng, are you truly just an actor?"

"I used to be a singer, but I studied acting and performing," Yu Cheng casually joked, "I consulted a lawyer friend this morning."

After a night of meticulous adjustments, Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng's makeup and styling for each character closely matched the descriptions of Yu Yue and Ji Chen in the novel, their exceptional on-screen chemistry leaving Amber thrilled.

During their costume fitting session, the scepticism surrounding the content of the account "Speaking for My Son" online, similar to the scepticism from the CHA Student Union of Nangang Uni, flooded the comment section, highlighting the discrepancies and doubts pointed out by Yu Cheng.

Faced with inquiries, the account made no response, failing to provide further evidence, vanishing as quietly as it appeared.

Following a prior incident involving Ei Ge on campus, and with the increasing attention the incident garnered, the district police department became involved. Subsequently, the university issued a comprehensive report online regarding the handling of the male student's voyeuristic behaviour.

Nangang University Official V: Official Statement

Regarding the incident where student Chen was caught using a mobile phone to secretly film female classmates in the teaching area, the university has taken the following actions: 

On May 14, 2022, a student reported Chen's inappropriate behaviour to the security office, prompting the university to review surveillance footage. On May 23, Chen was placed on disciplinary probation by the university. The university cooperated with law enforcement to further investigate the matter. It was found that Chen had a history of mental illness but was in a sound state of mind during the incident, thus bearing criminal responsibility. On May 27, Chen was detained for three days by the police. Based on the evidence, Chen voluntarily withdrew from the university.

Nangang University is committed to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of our students and will intensify campus security measures and legal education. Any confirmed violations will not be tolerated. The university expresses sincere gratitude to all departments for their oversight and to the community for their care and support.

Nangang University

25/05/2022

The incident unfolded over a period of more than ten days and finally reached a resolution amidst a wave of online public opinion. 

Is the official statement clear? Yes. 

Is it ambiguous? Yes. 

In a nutshell, the individual who deserved punishment received it, but there is no mention of the student taken away for artistic creation, or whether the student union members who issued the "Eight Questions to the School" faced consequences from the university. The problem seems to be addressed superficially without a real resolution. The central issue of the incident was raised in the "Eight Questions to the School," but the university's statement merely glossed over it with a thank-you note to the various departments. Is this the appropriate attitude for handling such incidents at modern universities? It appears to be, yet at the same time, it does not. While reputation can be mended, the remedy for the harm caused is far more complex. Nevertheless, the students of the CHA express their dissatisfaction with the university's somewhat evasive handling of the matter.

Upon receiving this notification during lunchtime, Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng, who had been reading the script together to enhance their rapport, shared a meal. 

Furrowing his brows, Yu Cheng inquired, "Shao, do you think this matter has been resolved?" 

"Partly yes, partly no," Zhong Shao replied. "For the school, it may have barely weathered this storm, but it has left a lingering knot in the minds of those students." 

Before Yu Cheng could elaborate on his furrowed brow, Zhong Shao understood. He searched the victimized girl's Weibo and handed it to Yu Cheng. In her latest post, it simply and sincerely read: "Thank you all." Below were two images, one showing the student union's unanswered "Eight Questions for the School," and the other a highly praised anonymous response from Zhihu, Chinese Quora, to a post asking why male and female students of CHA at the Nangang University are so united. 

In the comments section of this Weibo post, netizens discussed broader issues related to women, particularly endorsing a statement: "No matter what harassment a woman faces, it is not a trivial matter." In our society, female empowerment still comes at a high cost, as they not only risk exposing personal information but also challenge societal stereotypes against women. Is our society improving? Yes, because there are always individuals tirelessly advocating for you; is our society deteriorating? Yes, as in the era of big data, the invisible hands of the keyboard can easily push people into darker depths.

The furrowed brows of praise relaxed slightly as he suddenly recalled two works by Zhong Shao, "Shao, you played a teenage boy rescuing his companion in 'Spring' at the age of seventeen, and then portrayed an abusive husband and bullying teacher in 'No Bystanders' at twenty-seven. I always feel that these two roles of yours somewhat resemble this incident." 

Zhong Shao pondered for a moment, "Yes, there is some resemblance." Then, he asked an unrelated question, "Yu Cheng, why do you want to become an actor?" 

Yu Cheng paused for a moment before responding, "When Pro. Wang accepted me as his disciple, he also asked me this question. At that time, I said that each time I portray someone else's role, it adds a new life experience. Now, I may need to modify my answer. I want to be an actor to embody roles as my own and experience the joys and sorrows of this world." Making others' roles his own is a long and romantic endeavour that requires constant dedication. 

"Shao, why do you want to become an actor?" Yu Cheng countered. 

Zhong Shao chuckled with lowered eyes, "I don't know. I used to think I wanted to be an actor because I loved acting, but later I realized it wasn't the case. Perhaps my path was too smooth, and I received undeserved honours and applause at an age when I should have been honing my craft. Honestly, I don't think I can act. After becoming an actor, I discovered that this profession separates people from society. You move from one set to another, taking on role after role, but the characters on screen are as hollow as dust." 

Yu Cheng was speechless; he had never imagined that Zhong Shao would admit he couldn't act in the presence of those prestigious awards. 

Zhong Shao continued, "When an actor gains influence, they need to be closer to society." "How can one get closer to society?" Yu Cheng inquired. 

Undeniably, observing and experiencing life will always be one of the best methods for an actor to portray a role convincingly. 

Zhong Shao raised an eyebrow, "Once the acting is over, I'll take you to experience it firsthand."