Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 38

“That’s really inconsiderate. If I hadn’t seen the news, were you two planning to collaborate in secret like this!”

Xia Xinran’s voice, even through the headphones, sounded as if he was standing right in front of you, overwhelming and full of momentum.

Ran Lin glanced at Wang Xi subconsciously. The travel fatigue made her too lazy to care about who her artist was messaging. After politely thanking the drama crew’s driver who came to pick them up, she spent most of the journey resting with her eyes closed.

However, Liu Wanwan kept glancing over curiously, quickly retracting her gaze when noticed.

Ran Lin smiled slightly, about to type in the group chat, but Gu Jie beat her to it—[The two of them are legitimately filming, so why does it sound like they’re eloping when you mention it? 🙄]

Xia Xinran: “Why are you everywhere? I’m talking to Ran Lin!”

Gu Jie: [Then message privately. Posting in the group is obviously for everyone to see. 🤷]

Gu Jie: [By the way, why haven’t we seen Lu Yiyao?]

Zhang Beichen: [Then let me show up first. I’ll be stationed in Hengdian next week. 😏]

The Chen Sheng and Wu Guang group hadn’t been this lively in a long time. Now, except for Lu Yiyao, everyone was present.

Except for Xia Xinran, everyone was typing. Ran Lin replied with a light smile, explaining—[He should be on the plane, arriving a bit later than me.]

Immediately, Xia Xinran’s attention was diverted to the new topic, no longer entangling with Gu Jie. He asked directly: [Have you arrived at the hotel?]

Ran Lin smiled and typed: [Still on the way, almost there. Why have you also switched to typing?]

Xia Xinran: [Everyone’s so quiet, I can’t break the formation. 😮‍💨]

Gu Jie: [@Zhang Beichen Are you going to Hengdian too?]

Zhang Beichen: [A new drama, I’ll be there for three months.]

Gu Jie: [Wait, I just saw, is the third male lead in Fallen Flowers is Tang Xiaoyu?]

Ran Lin: [Yes.]

Gu Jie: [Alright, then I and someone must visit the set. We have to get the Drifting Group together at least once. 😎]

Xia Xinran: [Someone, who?]

Zhang Beichen: [Hahaha.]

Ran Lin: [😏]

The chat ended there, and Ran Lin felt that the fatigue of the journey was alleviated a lot by the joking among friends.

Although Xia Xinran was still his usual self, hardly interacting directly with Zhang Beichen, Zhang Beichen had apparently gotten used to it and mingled effortlessly with everyone else, bypassing Xia Xinran almost imperceptibly. Gu Jie and Lu Yiyao, the more straightforward ones, had never noticed this subtle friction.

Sometimes, being a bit oblivious isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Noticing the friction between two people and being unable to do anything about it only adds to one’s worries.

Hengdian, originally a small town in Zhejiang, started its unique path of discovery with the construction of a film and television city in the 1990s. Today, it is the largest film and television shooting base in Asia. With the rise of the film and television industry, tourism has also developed, now serving as a multifaceted economic zone combining film, leisure, and tourism.

The drama crew had arranged for the actors to stay in a star-rated hotel outside the film city, just a seven to eight-minute drive away. During the shooting period, there were daily shuttles to and from the set. The director and the rest of the crew stayed in a business hotel closer to the film city, which was comfortable but more cost-effective and convenient for shooting locations.

When they arrived at the hotel, it was already dark. The hotel was brightly lit, surrounded by bustling activity.

Many people were walking on the streets. It was easy to tell who were film industry professionals and who were tourists—the former wore tired expressions, while the latter looked excited and curious.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance, and the driver asked Wang Xi and Ran Lin to stay inside while he made a phone call.

Through the glass, Ran Lin saw some young girls in the hotel lobby, excitedly chatting and looking around while waiting to check in.

After a brief phone call, a middle-aged man in his forties hurried out. He moved quickly but had a welcoming smile.

Wang Xi immediately got out of the car to greet him. “Hello—”

“Hello,” the man shook hands with Wang Xi, introducing himself. “I’m the life producer for our group. My name is Feng, and everyone respectfully calls me Feng Ge.”

The life producer is responsible for the entire crew’s logistics, from hotel and flight arrangements to meals and snacks.

Wang Xi smiled warmly and politely. “I’m Ran Lin’s agent. We’ll be relying on Feng Ge for these next few months.”

“No, no, we all work hard together,” Feng Ge replied earnestly and swiftly pulled out two room cards. “This is Ran Lin’s room, and this is for you and the assistant. The contact list I sent you earlier has all the phone numbers. If you have any problems, feel free to contact me!”

“With Feng Ge arranging, everything will be perfect.” Wang Xi was more than willing to say a few extra kind words.

Feng Ge, pleased with the smooth interaction and relieved to not deal with difficult stars, offered an additional service. “Let me take you through the side entrance. There are a lot of fans waiting in the lobby.”

Wang Xi quickly understood. ‘Lu Yiyao’s fans?’

Brother Feng nodded. ‘Nowadays, star schedules are hardly secret. Some fans know the shooting schedule for every day. We can only try to avoid it as much as possible.’

With the agent handling external affairs, Ran Lin was happy to relax. After getting out of the car with Liu Wanwan, they followed Feng Ge through the side entrance into the hotel.

Feng Ge was chatty, revealing on the way to the elevator that the rooms for the actors were distributed on the top three floors. The male lead and future female lead had rooms on the top floor, other important actors on the floor below, and the floor below that housed the actors’ personal teams.

After this chat, they reached the elevator. Feng Ge didn’t enter, instead waving them off, saying he needed to welcome other actors.

Wang Xi exchanged more polite words before taking Ran Lin and Liu Wanwan into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, Wang Xi’s smile faded, returning to her usual sharp and efficient demeanor. “Let’s put our luggage in our rooms, then go say hello to the director.”

……

Tomorrow was the start of shooting, and theoretically, the actors should arrive tonight to rest well.

However, knowing where the director was and not going to greet him, especially for a lesser-known actor like Ran Lin, would seem impolite.

Forty minutes later.

Ran Lin and Wang Xi arrived at the hotel where the director was staying. Wang Xi called the director.

It seemed the director wasn’t too welcoming of their uninvited visit, but when Wang Xi mentioned they were already in the hotel lobby, he softened and gave them his room number.

During the brief phone call, Ran Lin was asked for autographs by seven or eight girls, and one even requested a photo with him.

Finally, after much persuasion, they managed to enter the elevator.

Knock knock.

Wang Xi gently knocked on the door.

Having been forewarned, the door opened without a question from inside.

Wang Xi was surprised, and so was Ran Lin—the person who opened the door was Song Mang.

It was still early September, so Hengdian was at the tail end of summer. Song Mang was dressed in a white T-shirt and large floral shorts, giving off a Hawaiian vibe.

“Screenwriter Song, you’re here too.” Wang Xi quickly recovered and smiled.

Ran Lin, standing behind her, also politely greeted. “Mr. Song.”

“You were told to rest well by the director, yet you still had to come here,” Song Mang mentioned the director casually, not with the respect of a screenwriter for a director but more like friends.

Ran Lin followed Wang Xi into the room, and Director Chen stood up from the table and nodded at them.

The table was covered with scripts, and there was another chair, indicating they were discussing the plot.

It seemed Song Mang would be their on-set writer, which surprised Ran Lin.

It’s rare for a screenwriter to follow a production once the script is finished. Usually, directors bring their own familiar writers to adjust the script as needed during shooting.

It appeared that Chen Qizheng and Song Mang were indeed as close as an interview Ran Lin had read suggested, bonded over their love for martial arts and becoming close friends despite the age difference.

Director Chen gestured for Ran Lin to sit on another empty chair, while Song Mang pulled up another chair to sit beside him. Wang Xi tactfully retreated to a corner, not participating or interrupting.

“How do you feel about starting shooting tomorrow?” Director Chen asked casually.

Ran Lin answered honestly, “Quite looking forward to it—a bit excited and a bit nervous.”

Director Chen silently observed him for a while, then suddenly said, “If you can always maintain the state you were in when drinking that day, I’d really be reassured.”

Ran Lin was bewildered, unsure if the director was serious or mocking.

Song Mang passed a cigarette to Ran Lin, who quickly shook his head. “I don’t smoke.”

Song Mang offered the cigarette to Wang Xi instead, asking apologetically, “Miss, do you mind?”

Wang Xi initially wanted to accept the cigarette but realized they thought she’d mind, so she just smiled. “It’s okay.”

Ran Lin suppressed a laugh, knowing Wang Xi must be internally complaining—why didn’t you offer me one too!

“Actually,” Song Mang took a couple of puffs, finally finding his stride in the conversation, “Both Director Chen and I thought you didn’t quite resemble Fang Xian, but we both agreed you had potential that could be explored. Your explosive performance during the audition left a deep impression. Fang Xian is a character with significant conflict between his earlier and later phases, and we were both quite optimistic about you…”

Ran Lin involuntarily swallowed, sensing the word “were” was not a good sign.

Director Chen, usually reticent, now had Song Mang as his spokesperson, happy to let him do the talking.

Song Mang flicked the ash lightly, continuing, “But recently, I watched some of your past performances, and now my feelings and Director Chen’s are the same—you have too soft a gaze. It’s not effeminate, just too good-natured. This may be related to your personality, but this softness is very ‘un-Fang Xian’…”

“Fang Xian is arrogant and haughty, thinking he’s the best, loves whoever he wants.” Song Mang got excited, sitting up straight, focusing intently on Ran Lin. “You need to be more arrogant, understand? You need to have the vibe of a superstar!”

Ran Lin resisted the urge to wipe off the saliva sprayed on his face, nodding seriously. “I’ll try my best!”

Director Chen had become used to Song Mang’s sudden passion, but what Song Mang said was also what he wanted to convey. He couldn’t be sure if Ran Lin had found the essence of Fang Xian yet. It was a gamble—betting on their judgment and Ran Lin’s perceptiveness. Winning the bet would bring extraordinary results; losing would make future investment harder.

Since they had come just to greet and the director and screenwriter still had work to discuss, Ran Lin didn’t stay long and soon got up to leave.

As he was leaving, reminded by Wang Xi’s glance, Ran Lin realized he hadn’t yet thanked the two who had strongly recommended him for Fang Xian, so he quickly expressed his gratitude.

Song Mang said, “No need to be polite. It’s all for the sake of the show.”

Director Chen said, “Just focus all your thoughts on the character. That’s enough.”

With an impassioned screenwriter and a reticent director, Ran Lin suddenly felt this golden pairing was quite complementary.

Back at the hotel, Wang Xi and Liu Wanwan got off the elevator first and went straight to their rooms, leaving Ran Lin to go up one more floor. As he stepped out of the elevator, he recognized a familiar figure in the corridor and couldn’t help but call out, “Tang Xiaoyu?”

The person called turned around and, seeing Ran Lin, was also surprised. “You just arrived?”

“No.” Ran Lin didn’t want to elaborate. “I just went out for a walk.”

The two had only met once on a variety show, and after chatting briefly, they ran out of things to say, standing at opposite ends of the corridor, awkwardly staring at each other.

Especially for Ran Lin, who felt more conflicted.

Objectively, Tang Xiaoyu was a bit more popular than him, usually playing significant secondary roles, like the heavy male second lead in a drama with Lu Yiyao. Now he was the third male lead, ranked behind someone like Ran Lin. Ran Lin wasn’t sure if Tang Xiaoyu was as unconcerned as he appeared.

“It’ll get even colder if we just stand here staring at each other.” Tang Xiaoyu broke the silence with a teasing tone.

The awkward atmosphere disappeared, and the air started flowing again.

Ran Lin went with the flow. “Should we find some common topics, then?”

Unexpectedly, this seemed exactly what Tang Xiaoyu wanted, as he immediately came over, beaming. “You said it. Come into my room. We need to have a good chat.”

Ran Lin narrowed his eyes in feigned caution.

Tang Xiaoyu stood tall and proud. “Don’t worry. I’m a good guy.”

“That assurance makes you even more suspicious…” Ran Lin teased as he swiped his card to open the door.

Tang Xiaoyu turned out to be quite easygoing, a bit overly familiar, but still respectful of boundaries. As soon as they entered the room, he got straight to the point. “Actually, I want to talk to you about Xu Chongfei.”

Ran Lin thought he came to confront him, but seeing Tang Xiaoyu’s serious demeanor, it didn’t seem like that. Instead, it seemed like a sincere discussion.

Tang Xiaoyu acknowledged Ran Lin’s apprehension and said directly, “Don’t overthink it. I sincerely want to ask for your advice. I auditioned for Xu Chongfei too, but my agent told me I didn’t get the part, and it went to you. And…”

Ran Lin raised an eyebrow, wondering why Tang Xiaoyu suddenly stopped speaking.

Tang Xiaoyu hesitated, contemplating whether to be this candid. Eventually, he decided to be straightforward since they were in private. “And… from what I know, you didn’t use any underhanded methods, so the director and screenwriter choosing you must be based on your audition performance. Now that I have Xu Chongfei, I naturally have to consult a senior like you.”

Ran Lin was caught off guard by Tang Xiaoyu’s frankness, blinking in amusement. “If you keep calling me a senior, I’ll burn all my scripts.”

Tang Xiaoyu grimaced, immediately straightening up and patting Ran Lin on the shoulder. “Brother, give me some real tips.”

During their time on the reality show, Ran Lin hadn’t noticed Tang Xiaoyu being this funny, only thinking he was a nice guy. Now, in private, Tang Xiaoyu’s personality revealed many endearing qualities.

Ran Lin took out his phone, showing his WeChat QR code. “Scan me.”

Tang Xiaoyu understood this was to add him as a friend. Although he didn’t grasp the sudden shift in the conversation, he scanned the code.

Right after adding him, Ran Lin sent over a document.

Tang Xiaoyu, puzzled, opened it to see the first seven words at the top of the document—Xu Chongfei’s Character Biography.

The script included character biographies, which Tang Xiaoyu knew by heart, so he instantly noticed that Ran Lin’s version was different. The most apparent difference was that the script’s character biographies were written in third person, while Ran Lin’s was in first person, resembling Xu Chongfei’s monologue more than a biography.

Tang Xiaoyu briefly read a few lines, and it felt like he could envision the young man in moonlight white clothes sitting by the window under the moonlight, writing down this monologue amidst occasional crackling of the lamp.

“You wrote this?” Tang Xiaoyu guessed but couldn’t quite believe it.

Ran Lin said, “Xu Chongfei wrote it.”

Tang Xiaoyu considered himself a dedicated actor, known for making extensive notes in his scripts, including his interpretation of each line and planned expressions and gestures. However, he had never done this—engaging in dialogue with a character in the script using written words.

“No wonder you beat me.” Tang Xiaoyu saved the document, thoroughly convinced.

The word “beat” could be sensitive, but Tang Xiaoyu said it comfortably and naturally, making Ran Lin glad to have such a partner.

“Ah.” Tang Xiaoyu suddenly sighed with a sense of longing. “I have to be Lu Yiyao’s sidekick again. Last time in a drama, I was always revolving around him!”

Ran Lin laughed, reassuring his partner. “We’ll be sidekicks together.”

Tang Xiaoyu checked the time on his phone, muttering, “When is he arriving, anyway?”

Before he finished, Ran Lin’s phone buzzed with a short WeChat notification sound.

Tang Xiaoyu was puzzled, glancing at him.

Ran Lin casually opened it, revealing a new message.

Tang Xiaoyu, curious, couldn’t help but ask, “Who is it?”

The more Ran Lin tried to hide, the more suspicious it would seem. Since it wasn’t anything private, he showed his future partner the message: “Cao Cao¹.”

[Lu Yiyao: I’m on the highway now.]

Talk about Cao Cao, and he shall appear¹.

¹Idiom referring to the other party appearing unexpectedly when they’re speaking about them (AKA Speak of the devil and he shall appear).

……

That night, the second and third male leads ended up not waiting for the lead actor—there was a car accident on the highway, causing a huge traffic jam.

Ran Lin, seeing the words “car accident”, lost his composure and immediately called.

Lu Yiyao picked up quickly but was confused about the sudden switch from WeChat to a phone call. “Hello?”

“Are you okay?” Ran Lin skipped the pleasantries, getting straight to the point.

Lu Yiyao was taken aback, finally understanding his friend’s concern, and quickly explained, “I’m fine. I got stuck in traffic a kilometer away.”

Ran Lin breathed a sigh of relief, his anxiety finally easing.

On the other end, Lu Yiyao felt a warm sensation but teased, “Is Fang Xian worried about Tang Jingyu, or is the diehard fan worried about Teacher Lu?”

Ran Lin rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “It’s the class monitor worried about the student who’s always late.”

Lu Yiyao protested, “I admit to being late, but I never leave early. You guys will be wrapping up, and I’ll still have to shoot the last few scenes.”

Ran Lin: “Okay, okay, we know you’re the lead.”

Lu Yiyao, satisfied, cooed, “Be good¹.”

Ran Lin froze on the other end.

Lu Yiyao also paused in his car, realizing something was amiss¹.

¹Clarity: The word he’s using is (乖) which means “be good/obedient”. It’s often used to address children, pets, or close relationships. In an adult conversation, it takes on a different connotation, often as a tender and endearing way to compliment or acknowledge someone’s cooperation, compliance, or agreeableness. In this context, the reason why they both react this way is that this is a term used for very close relationships (including couples), so when Lu Yiyao is telling him “be good”, it takes on a bit of a romantic teasing undertone.

As the traffic finally started moving, the driver accelerated too quickly, causing the vehicle to jolt.

Lu Yiyao was shaken back to reality and hurriedly said, “I should go. You need to rest. See you early tomorrow.”

“Okay, sure.” The voice on the other end quickly hung up, a bit too hastily.

The screen went dark, and Lu Yiyao realized Ran Lin hadn’t said goodnight.

At some point, their nightly conversations usually ended with a goodnight, and while it felt normal when said, its absence felt like the conversation was incomplete.

“Ran Lin?” Yao Hong could now tell just by his expressions who Lu Yiyao was talking to—not just on the phone but also on WeChat. Normally, he was natural with acquaintances, but when it came to friends like Huo Yuntao and Ran Lin, he was all smiles, eager to share his joy.

“Yeah.” Lu Yiyao never hid anything from Yao Hong, and his relationship with Ran Lin was almost like an open secret with the latter’s manager.

Yao Hong nodded, recalling what she had just heard, and suddenly asked, “What’s this ‘be good’ about?”

Lu Yiyao looked blankly at his manager. “What ‘be good’?”

Yao Hong frowned. “Didn’t you just say, ‘be good’ to him?”

Lu Yiyao looked innocently at her. “Did I?”

Her artist was too justified in his actions, causing Yao Hong to become unsure. “Didn’t you say it?”

Lu Yiyao swiftly turned towards Li Tong, attempting to find an ally.

Li Tong, who was originally enjoying the show, instantly turned his head towards the window and seamlessly transitioned into singing, “My voice is laughing~~ Tears are flying~~ Do you know who’s on the other end of the phone~~~”

Lu Yiyao helplessly turned back, innocently looking at the agent again. “I really didn’t say it.”

Yao Hong gave up, considering it a trivial matter. “If you didn’t say it, then you didn’t. There’s no need to keep emphasizing it. Stop clinging to your phone. We have to get up early tomorrow. Sleep as much as you can now.”

“Okay.” Lu Yiyao breathed a sigh of relief, put his phone back in his pocket, and closed his eyes to rest.

He hadn’t said anything. The strange atmosphere of the conversation just now must have been an illusion caused by the traffic jam.

……

After taking a bath, Ran Lin went to bed, his face still hot enough to fry an egg.

The gentle Lu Yiyao was too much to handle. A single word from him could keep Ran Lin immersed for a year.

For the first time, Ran Lin realized how weak he was.

But within what seemed like rational self-reflection, a hint of doubt quietly resurfaced—is Lu Yiyao really straight?

Assuming and then overturning, overturning and then assuming again, Ran Lin tossed and turned until after 2 a.m. before finally falling into a drowsy sleep.

He woke up at 6 a.m. to the alarm.

This would be the latest he could get up in the coming months, as today was the start of filming. The morning was mainly for the opening ceremony and makeup tests, with actual shooting beginning in the afternoon. Once they started full-day filming, he would have to get up at 5 a.m.

After a quick wash, Wang Xi came to knock on the door, accompanied by Liu Wanwan.

The trio met and took the elevator down to the hotel lobby. The lobby was almost empty in the early morning, except for Feng Ge talking on the phone near the entrance, sounding very anxious.

Seeing them come down, Feng Ge immediately hung up and came over with an apologetic face. “Sorry, sorry, please wait a moment. The car will be here soon.”

Making the artists wait for a car on the first day of filming was clearly troubling Feng Ge. He was relieved that the lead actress hadn’t joined yet, as she was notoriously difficult to please. If she had encountered today’s situation, he probably wouldn’t be able to stay in the crew.

Wang Xi’s eyes flashed with displeasure, but she spoke kindly. “It’s okay, we’ll wait on the sofa over there.”

Ran Lin was fine with waiting. He had experienced it before while rushing to events, and it was only because he was playing the second male lead this time that he was getting such attention.

Just as they sat on the sofa, Tang Xiaoyu came down, followed by three people, an agent and two assistants.

Feng Ge, who was about to make a call at the entrance, welcomed them again, his expression almost despondent.

Tang Xiaoyu’s agent was also unhappy, but seeing Ran Lin there, Tang Xiaoyu immediately came over, and the agent didn’t complain much to Feng Ge, following his artist instead.

“I didn’t sleep much last night. I was reading the character biography. It was amazing. It made me cry, really.” Tang Xiaoyu couldn’t wait to share his feelings, even before reaching the sofa.

Wang Xi didn’t expect Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu to know each other and was pleasantly surprised, especially seeing the latter’s enthusiasm. She moved to the adjacent sofa to let the two artists interact closely.

Building a good relationship with fellow artists was beneficial for Ran Lin.

Tang Xiaoyu thanked Wang Xi and sat down next to Ran Lin, sharing his insights from pondering all night.

“I think you’re right about Xu Chongfei…”

Those who love acting actually have a sense of communion, so Ran Lin could completely feel Tang Xiaoyu’s excitement and was willing to interact with him. But at that moment, he couldn’t concentrate; no matter how hard he tried, his gaze kept drifting away—

Lu Yiyao had arrived.

Since the reality show, Ran Lin hadn’t seen Lu Yiyao. Even though chatting had become a daily routine, neither of them had mentioned, for example, meeting up?

Months had passed, and Lu Yiyao hadn’t changed much since the reality show. But today, he was obviously well-groomed: black trousers, a white shirt, simple and neat in color, fitting perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and long legs, and his bangs were all swept back, exposing his forehead, which reduced his sunny youthfulness but accentuated his handsome features. As he stepped out of the elevator without a smile, he exuded a forbidding and austere temperament, appearing even more imposing.

Ran Lin watched him stand behind Yao Hong, quietly listening to Feng Ge explain why even the lead actor’s car hadn’t arrived. He watched him look this way, watched him… see him.

Almost at the moment of eye contact, Lu Yiyao’s slightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and he walked over with long strides—

“Long time no see.”

The usually aloof Lu Yiyao smiled like that, his gaze locked on his friend, forgetting all about being forbidding and austere, and even with his domineering CEO hairstyle, he was still a model young man.

Ran Lin stood up, watching Lu Yiyao approach, his nervousness suddenly vanishing. “Teacher Lu, if you weren’t so eloquent, I would feel even better.”

Tang Xiaoyu also stood up and took a few steps forward, extending a hand of friendship to an old friend. “Long time no see. We’re working together again.”

Lu Yiyao responded with a tease. “Hopefully the audience won’t get confused.”

Tang Xiaoyu subtly raised an eyebrow, remembering Lu Yiyao as not being so familiar and joking. Even in the reality show where he was more relaxed than when acting with Tang Xiaoyu, he was different from now.

While he was surprised, he didn’t express it too much.

After releasing the handshake, Tang Xiaoyu turned to return to his seat, only to find that the lead actor had already crossed him and sat in his original spot—next to Ran Lin.

The naturalness of his expression forced Tang Xiaoyu to wonder if the sofa cushion had a sign saying “Lu Yiyao’s seat.”

Ran Lin was also a bit embarrassed. Lu Yiyao moved too fast, like a shadow, and before he could speak, Lu Yiyao had already sat down, showing no awareness of taking someone else’s seat.

Helpless, Ran Lin gave Tang Xiaoyu an apologetic look.

Tang Xiaoyu shook his head indifferently and sat opposite the two.

For others, he might have thought more, but for Lu Yiyao, he believed it was just the latter’s carelessness.

Yao Hong wasn’t surprised by this; she would have been more surprised if Lu Yiyao hadn’t stuck close to Ran Lin.

She glanced at Wang Xi sitting on the adjacent sofa, who was smiling innocently but clearly pleased—having a popular star as a friend opens many doors in the industry and attracts fans outside it.

Yao Hong sighed and sat down opposite Wang Xi.

Li Tong, following Yao Hong, also made his way there but felt the atmosphere around the two agent sisters was a bit tense. He glanced around and saw a girl sitting behind Tang Xiaoyu, immediately cheerfully taking a seat opposite her.

“Hello, I am Lu Ge’s assistant, Li Tong.” Assistant Li noticed the girl’s bewildered face and quickly offered a friendly gesture.

Liu Wanwan, startled by the sudden company, cautiously reciprocated after a moment. “Hello, I am Ran Ge’s assistant, Liu Wanwan.”

Liu Wanwan’s hand was a bit cold, which took Li Tong by surprise, and he blurted out without thinking, “You’re very fair-skinned.”

Liu Wanwan, annoyed, withdrew her hand, looked out the window, and ignored Li Tong, who she thought was crazy.

Li Tong realized his mistake but couldn’t entirely blame himself; Liu Wanwan’s skin was indeed very fair, not the artificial kind, but naturally beautiful and slightly fragile, dazzling in the sunlight. She looked more like a fresh graduate, new to the industry, rather than a seasoned colleague.

Tang Xiaoyu, overhearing this, chuckled to himself, thinking about the kind of assistant Lu Yiyao had hired who started flirting right away.

But before he could finish his amusement, he heard Lu Yiyao speak from across—

“You seem to have gotten fairer?”

Tang Xiaoyu looked up in disbelief, retracting his previous doubts—like master, like man*.

*If you’re not from the same family, they do not enter the same door. (不是一家人，不进一家门) It’s a proverb that refers to people of similar personalities or habits tend to be found in the same group or environment.

Ran Lin, the subject of the question, was completely baffled.

Lu Yiyao thought he hadn’t understood and quickly added, “I remember after the reality show, you were quite tanned, not exactly like mangosteen skin, but somewhat like an oxidized apple…”

Ran Lin calmed down, his heartbeat returning to a regular pace—no, even stronger than before, pounding with enough force to strike Lu Yiyao.

“Thanks. I haven’t been out much these past few months, just to get a bit fairer.”

Lu Yiyao keenly sensed that Ran Lin wasn’t very happy.

He also strangely found himself enjoying the sight of his agitated partner.

Feeling guilty but pleased, he unexpectedly complimented, “The effort shows.”

Ran Lin was now certain that this person was no longer the upright and kind young man from the reality show.

In a few months, Teacher Lu had changed, treating him without any formalities, completely like a close friend. So now, he really wanted to… whip him with a small leather whip!

Lu Yiyao, seeing the narrowing eyes of Ran Lin, received a warning signal.

Before, such signals only came from Huo Yuntao’s eyes. Now, seeing it in someone else was both fresh and interesting to Lu Yiyao.

At the same time, he realized his changed attitude towards Ran Lin. This change had already begun in their WeChat chats, but it became crystal clear face-to-face—he couldn’t maintain the polite, distant demeanor with Ran Lin. That was the Lu Yiyao of the entertainment industry, but not the real Lu Yiyao. The real Lu Yiyao, although still not fond of imperatives, liked to occasionally bring his friends a bowl of midnight love-filled rice noodles. Previously, only Huo Yuntao knew this side of him, and now, Ran Lin did too.

Lu Yiyao enjoyed being his true self, no, he loved himself, and thus was thoroughly enjoying the current situation, almost beaming as he extended his hand. “Pleasure working together.”

Ran Lin reciprocated the handshake firmly, deciding to start correcting his skewed views on romance from now on. “Please, teach, me, more.”

Tang Xiaoyu really regretted overhearing such an “intimate” exchange.

What to do. He hadn’t even started playing Xu Chongfei, and he already felt the pressure, as if foreseeing a Shura field*!

*(修罗场) A term originating from the Buddhist term referring to the realm of “Asura”, it refers to a situation that’s extremely chaotic, turbulent, or full of conflict, like a battlefield. Nowadays, it’s an internet buzzword more commonly used to describe romantic or workplace relationships.

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