Although Qin Zhou was definitely capable of settling it, she still felt very guilty about this matter.

Hua Jin said, “Maybe this matter isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Since Tang Yu is ambitious to the extent that he dares to do such a thing, he must be prepared to accept the consequences. He’s committing career suicide, causing trouble for Huanyu like this.”

He paused, then started again, “But you can’t blame him. Artistes don’t have much autonomy at all. Besides, they are just commodities, from the company’s perspective.”

“Commodities?”

“That’s right, there’s no dignity to speak of.” Perhaps feeling somewhat emotional, he let out a long sigh and picked up his beer from the coffee table. “Want some?” he asked.

Liang Yin glanced at it. In the past, she would have refused. She didn’t like to drink, and couldn’t hold alcohol. A few glasses of beer could get her drunk.

She watched as the actor leaned back on the sofa with a tired but cynical look on his face. He picked up his beer can and took one sip after another. For some reason, he gave her a sense of immense loneliness.

For the first time, Liang Yin nodded. “Sure. But I’m not a good drinker.”

“There isn’t much beer around here anyway, even if you wanted more.” He went to the small cooler and pulled out the bottles.

Liang Yin glanced over, and was startled by the spectacle. “That much? Will we be able to finish all that?”

“Just because you can’t hold your liquor doesn’t mean I can’t.”

Liang Yin sat down beside Hua Jin, took a can of beer and sipped. She drank more delicately, one mouthful after another.

The actor, however, had already gulped down his beer. His gaze was empty as he stared aimlessly at the ceiling. “Do you know how I got into the entertainment industry?” he asked coolly.

“It must have been your dream to be an actor?” She continued, “Besides, you’re so delicate-looking. Did the talent scout pick you out from the crowd?”

“I was sold into the entertainment industry by my father.” The actor smiled serenely, his lips curving in what might have been mockery, but was also a reflection of the resentment in his eyes. He sipped his beer and took another swig. His expression clouded over. “My very own father…”

When Liang Yin heard this, she suddenly realized! No wonder he hadn’t reacted in disbelief or consoled her after she’d expressed her hatred for her parents’ heartlessness. “Because irresponsible parents like that do exist,” he had said coldly.

So… was his father also a selfish, irresponsible man? He sold him into the entertainment industry?

“My father used to drink, gamble, and take drugs. He hated me because my mother’s blood ran in my veins. They say when you love someone, you will love everything associated with her. But it’s the same with hating someone. He hated me, so when he was being hunted by loansharks, he sold his own son almost without hesitation.” Somehow the actor suddenly brought up his past.

These were things he hardly ever mentioned to anyone apart from Yun Shishi. In the first place, he shouldn’t have mentioned this to Liang Yin. But for some reason, he told her these things quite naturally.

Except, Liang Yin could not figure out what the word “sold” meant here.

“Sold?”

Instead, he said, “Didn’t you say back then that I got to the top through performing sexual favors too? Well, you’re not wrong.”