CH 1

Chapter 001: Accident

….. “On the morning of the 17th local time, a Boeing passenger plane crashed in an accident shortly after takeoff, killing all 137 passengers and eight crew members from 22 countries…… There were seven Chinese passengers on board, including the well-known Chinese actor Yin Dong……”

….. “When the airplane crashed was reported, refusing to believe the famous actor died, fans of Yin Dong gathered at the airport collectively crying in grief…..”

….. “It is reported that they were on their way to a movie set in Kenya. While the rest of the film crew had taken a different flight to their destination, Yin Dong and his assistant departed from Shanghai on the 16th and took a connecting flight in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.……”

***

….. “Oh my God! Did Yin Dong really die in a plane crash?”

….. “It’s a pity. I recently saw him star in the film, Thirty Years of the River. I never would have thought it was the last film he would be in!”

….. “It’s not April Fool’s day, is it? Yin Dong is my favorite movie star!”

***

At the airport, numerous people were holding their phones looking at the shocking news report. As the large flat screen TV that was broadcasting the latest news feeds came closer, a tall young man stopped outside the store and glanced at it. Like many others, he appeared to be shocked. Now confused and anxious, he continued along the concourse.

Upon arrival at the international customs desk, the youth took off his baseball cap and handed the man his passport. The security staff stared at him for a few seconds in question because, while they seemed to be able to tell who is was, the passport clearly had an unknown name on it.

Nearing the exit, the young man felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. When he answered, an urgent and loud voice was coming from the speaker: “Yin Chang, where are you? …The situation is a bit of an emergency. I don’t know who leaked your information back home. Now, numerous reporters are outside the airport and we are trying to arrange for a security escort….”

Since the signal came and went intermittently inside the airport building, Yin Chang didn’t hear much. He had stepped outside of the airport already.

Someone shouted, ‘there he is’, and with numerous flashing camera lights, the crowed rushed towards him, blocking his way.

“You are Yin Chang right?”

“Yin Dong’s plane has crashed. What are you feeling now?”

“Yin Dong has never disclosed your mother’s identity to the public. Are you his illegitimate son?”

“Did you come home overnight to settle his affairs? Did Yin Dong inform you of his properties and assets?”

“What do you think of your father’s sudden death at the height of his career? Will your quality of life decline in the future? Are you taking his place in his business and entering the entertainment industry?”  

***

The young man being questioned was the only son of the movie star who just died in the plane crash, Yin Chang.

On the way home, almost everyone was talking about the news of the plane crash in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Despite the different languages, one aspect was clearly repeated in his ear. The fact that his father, Yin Dong, was dead.

At this moment, facing the wolf-like reporter, Yin Chang didn’t know what he was feeling. They asked him things unceremoniously and without any reservation just to make a rise out of him: Indifference is heartless. Excessive anger is unacceptable. Grief is emotional collapse.

Since his response weren’t explosive enough, the reporters pressed him further and asked even more personal questions. Like a hungry locust swarm ravenously devouring all, the reporters were enjoying the feeding frenzy brought about by the death of Yin Dong.

Soon, Yin Cheng was surrounded by the flashing camera lights, not only by the reporters and their crew, but by regular people walking nearby. They also raised their phones to take part in the action and shoot photos.

Several female reporters stuck closely to him. Instinctively, Yin Chang wanted to protect himself from the crowd. When he was about to reach out to block them, a group of airport security came from behind and surrounded him all the while shouting at the reporters: “Back! Stand back! “

“Mr. Yin, there’s no way out from here. Please come with us…”

The chaos lasted for more than twenty minutes before the security guards were able to take Yin Chang away from the airport exit and bring him to an exclusive lounge inside.

Moments later, a man and a woman came in. Wiping sweat from his brow, the man bowed and apologized: “I’m really sorry. We didn’t know what the situation was like at the airport. The arrangements weren’t made properly in advanced. You must be shocked and frightened!”

Indeed, Yin Chang was shocked. He had been out with his father in the past, but due to his father’s protection, he never had the experience of being besieged after being recognized by fans.

From near the doorway, the other woman stared at Yin Chang unabashedly. At the urging of the man, she pulled out a mask and sunglasses from a bag. Blushing, she handed them to him and said: “We can leave the airport out of the special exit in a few minutes. There might be a few reporters in the underground parking lot. To be safe, try not to get photographed.”

Yin Chang answered with a muddleheaded reply: “I know.”

In order to arm yourself against a paparazzi, Yin Chang had long been accustomed to this type of disguise. However, he did not expect that one day, he would become the main character.

***

Half an hour later, in the general manager’s office of Nova Entertainment, Yao Manhuai received an intercom call from the public relations department.

“Chief Yao, open social media and look at the news feed!”

Yao Manhuai refreshed the entertainment section and saw several articles related to Yin Chang in the hot topics.

….. “Yin Dong was killed and his son Yin Chang returned home overnight”

….. “Yin Chang shows up at the Airport”

…..  “News Flash: Who is Yin Chang? Nine photos to show you: he is the only son of the famous movie actor.”

***

As it turned out, the turmoil that Yin Chang experienced at the airport was uploaded to major news platforms by those journalists at the scene.

Ms. Yao furrowed her brow and frowned. She was well aware of the type of public pressure in the entertainment industry. Not wanting him to experience unnecessary additional trauma from the reporters, she specially arranged help for Yin Chang to get safely and secretively away from the airport.

But, how long did it take from the moment he got off the plane to appear on social media? ‘Yin Chang at the airport’ was on the hot topic search list!

Yao Manhuai immediately contacted the airport crew to inquire about the status quo and learned he was safe. She pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled. Picking up her phone, she dialed the number for the public relations department not only to inform them of the events today, but to tell them to keep a close eye on public opinion from social media.

After hanging up, she looked at a recent photo taken of Yin Chang from airport that was displayed on the computer screen. As Yin Dong’s business partner and agent for many years, Yao Manhuai had certainly met Yin Chang.

When she first met Yin Chang, he was only four years old. Under Yin Dong’s guidance, he obediently called her Aunt Yao. No one could resist his soft voice and sweet smile. He was simply loved.

A year later, when Yin Dong became famous, in order to create a comfortable learning environment for his son, he sent him away to study abroad.

Any time Yin Dong was out of the country for work, he would try to make time to see Yin Chang. As his agent, Yao Manhuai was also present. Once she jokingly asked Yin Dong whether or not he was interested in getting Yin Chang involved in the entertainment industry. She had absolute confidence that Yin Chang would become more famous than him. Yin Dong only smiled at her and said, since he’s too young, he would let Yin Chang choose when he grows up.

Later, Ms. Yao set up her own agency. As they became busier with their respective jobs, the time spent together was less. The last time she saw Yin Chang on the news was three years ago when his trip with his father was exposed by the entertainment circle.

That year, Yin Dong took Yin Chang to Norway for a holiday. In the image, the fifteen-year-old was wearing a tight ski suit that emphasized his maturing athletic body and good looks. The images taken in the past were far less clear than the airport photos from today, but even so, they caused a brief uproar online. Yin Dong had spoken with Yao Manhuai and requested the public relations department remove the photos from the internet to protect his son’s privacy.

Now three years later, in the photo, Yin Chang hadn’t changed much. While his face was remarkably unchanged, his overall presence had significantly improved. He was seen carrying a black shoulder bag and was wearing a Versace printed T-shirt with fitted jeans and ecco casual shoes. With one hand in his pocket, he was facing the camera in a slight scowl with formidable eyes.

Although Yin Chang hasn’t formally been a part of the entertainment world, he had the same aura and charisma as any other movie star.

Looking at the photo in deep thought, she heard a knock on her office door. “Please come in,” she said while turning her attention to the entrance.

“Chief Yao, Yin Chang is here……” The people who picked him up at the airport reported to Yao Manhuai.  Knowing that things went wrong at the airport, standing side-by-side the man and woman were quite self-conscious.

Yao Manhuai didn’t talk and instead, stared at Yin Chang dumbfounded. The photo only portrayed a fraction of Yin Chang natural beauty. The real person standing in front of her was exceptionally striking.

The eighteen-year-old Yin Chang wasn’t a little boy anymore. His Broad physique and tall height exuded sexiness. In close observation, his facial features were perfect and his skin was flawless. It was like the perfect work of art completed by the hand of God.

In fact, Yin Dong appearance wasn’t nearly as remarkable as his son. While Yin Dong wasn’t bad looking, his fame was due to his superb acting skills and good luck and not because of his looks.

A long time ago, Yao Manhuai remembered when Yin Dong began to live with his son, she asked him who his mother was. While he never answered her, she suspected, based on Yin Chang’s own features, the mother must have been an exceptional beauty.

Moreover, she hadn’t noticed it before, but at some angles, Yin Chang eyes looked dark-gray-blue. With his alabaster skin and chiseled features, one look from him and a person’s soul could easily be swept away….

He didn’t even do anything at the airport. With just this one occurrence, already there were countless fans. “Chief Yao?” The man interrupted Yao Manhuai’s thoughts.

Relaxing her expression, she collected her thoughts. While the timing was inappropriate, she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about Yin Chang transition to stardom.

She rose slowly and gestured to the two of them: “You may leave.”

If Yin Chang was destined to follow the path of his father, then tonight’s airport storm wasn’t a bad thing. In today’s era of social media, the person who generates the most traffic was king. All exposure on various media have a role to pay in their fame as movie stars. Yin Chang happenstance at the airport wasn’t negative and the resulting traffic that the net discussion generated for a newcomer was unheard of.

Having known him for several years, she addressed Yin Chang informally: “Chang, how many years has it been since I’ve seen you?” Yao Manhuai eyes softened and she addressed him with affection as a mother would: “I sill remember when I first met you. You were so little, but now look at you, you are so tall!”   

Although they hadn’t seen each other for many years, Yao Manhuai didn’t show her age and looked exactly like Yin Chang remembered.

Yao Manhuai sighed: “I am as deeply sorry for your father’s accident, but it has already happened and I can only give you my condolences.”

It wasn’t until this moment, when his hoarse voice called, Auntie Yao, that his emotions welled up suddenly. The loss of his father was truly heartbreaking.