Yi Chen noticed Yu Xi’s expression.
His brows furrowed slightly, his face filled with indignation, like someone unwillingly dragged into overtime on a rest day.
Very cute.
Yi Chen tried hard to pull his gaze away from Yu Xi.
He smiled at Wang Hui and told the truth. “I knew you were staying here, so I deliberately arranged to be in the same room. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be too conspicuous?”
It wasn’t easy to find a setting where all three of them could be present without drawing the attention of those with ulterior motives.
Ruan Yan Shan’s nose for targeting people was sharper than a dog’s.
Back then, Yi Chen had only hinted at his interest, and Ruan Yan Shan had immediately sent someone over. If Ruan Yan Shan found out that Yi Chen had decided to invest, who knew what kind of tantrum he would throw.
But it was quite a coincidence.
Wang Hui happened to be hospitalized, and Yu Xi happened to need to stay overnight for observation. Otherwise, Yi Chen would have had to arrange another meeting.
As he spoke, Yi Chen sliced the remaining half apple into a rabbit shape.
His hands were extremely nimble. With a flip, a peel, and a twist, a crisp and sweet rabbit took shape.
Yu Xi watched Yi Chen’s movements quietly.
It was actually quite interesting.
When he had first entered the room and seen Wang Hui, Yi Chen had acted like a junior actor, speaking with respect toward a senior director. But now, as they discussed work and business, a sharp edge that commanded respect without anger gradually emerged on his always-smiling face.
“I want to invest in this drama in my personal capacity,” Yi Chen said. “I’ll cover the investment funds you need.”
Wang Hui: “!”
Yi Chen’s words were too direct, cutting straight to the point so quickly that Wang Hui was stunned for a moment.
“You must have conditions, right?” Wang Hui asked. “You can’t just invest out of nowhere.”
“I do.” Yi Chen didn’t deny it. “I have two requests.”
“First, the male lead is me.”
“Second, the other male lead is Yu Xi.”
Wang Hui: “?”
Wang Hui: “That’s it?”
Yi Chen shrugged. “That’s it.”
“Just these?” Wang Hui found it hard to believe.
“Yeah.” Yi Chen nodded.
Wang Hui: “No script changes? No other actors inserted? No ads? No editing demands? No highlight scenes?”
Yi Chen: “I haven’t thought about any of that.”
Wang Hui still couldn’t believe it. “You’re sure these are your conditions?”
Having two top stars like Yu Xi and Yi Chen as leads felt like he had picked up a bargain for free.
After days of rejections, smears, targeting, and hitting walls while seeking investment, Yi Chen suddenly offered such a huge gift—not just funding, but locking in two leads he might not have been able to afford before. Wang Hui felt a bit lost instead. “Why?”
“Because I’m pur—”
Yi Chen had only gotten halfway through his sentence when Yu Xi locked his arm around Yi Chen’s throat, pressing the capitalist’s head into the crook of his elbow.
Yi Chen struggled to lift his head and met Yu Xi’s seemingly kind eyes.
Yu Xi smiled politely at Wang Hui, then smiled at the throttled Yi Chen. “Don’t say random things.”
He released his hand, and Yi Chen cleared his throat before continuing, “Because I’m reminiscing about the past.”
He looked at Yu Xi, his eyes curving slightly at the corners. “This story is a bit like ours back then, isn’t it?”
Yu Xi didn’t answer.
The two characters in the script did indeed reflect shadows of himself.
The moment he saw the script summary, he had wanted to join the cast himself, but before he could say anything, Yi Chen had already stated his two requests.
“Alright.” Wang Hui still didn’t fully understand. “So what’s the real reason? I need something convincing.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to accept Yi Chen’s investment and collaboration.
He had never dealt with Yi Chen in his investor role before. For capital, every sum had to yield multiple returns. Yi Chen arranging this secret meeting meant investing in The Boundless would bring him benefits—at least greater than the funds he put in.
So, what did Yi Chen want from him?
What was he after?
What was his true aim?
Without a clear reason, Wang Hui couldn’t agree to the deal.
“Because the script is great, I want to act in it, you happen to lack investment, and I happen to be able to afford it,” Yi Chen said. “That’s one reason.”
“And the others?” Wang Hui asked.
Yi Chen looked at Yu Xi, the sharpness in his tone fading. “I want a chance to act with Teacher Yu Xi. I’ve never collaborated with him on a TV drama before. No one would pass up working with an excellent actor.”
“That makes sense.” Wang Hui thought for a moment and felt Yi Chen wasn’t saying everything. “But there’s more, right?”
Yi Chen’s eyes curved slightly as his gaze fixed on Wang Hui. “I need some leverage to hit back at Ruan Yan Shan.”
His eyes gradually darkened, a undisguised disgust surging in their black depths.
That bastard actually dared to target Yu Xi.
Wang Hui was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed, his laughter filling the room.
Reasonable.
Yi Chen’s reasons were perfectly reasonable.
The foundation of collaboration could be interests, friendship, or shared enemies.
Communication between adults was always straightforward. Seeing Wang Hui’s attitude, Yi Chen knew their partnership was sealed.
He turned his gaze back to Yu Xi and extended his hand, palm up, in a very gentlemanly invitation. “Teacher Yu Xi, would you collaborate with me?”
Yu Xi bit into the apple rabbit. “Which kind of collaboration do you mean?”
Yi Chen smiled sincerely. “Both.”
Targeting Ruan Yan Shan and acting in the same drama with Yu Xi—both.
He needed Yu Xi.
For both reasons.
Yu Xi wasn’t swayed by Yi Chen’s tone or gaze, adopting a strictly business attitude. “You’re talking to me now as a capitalist. If you want to collaborate, fine—but it depends on your terms.”
Yi Chen’s terms were exceptionally generous. “Any profits I get from The Boundless go to you.”
“I don’t lack money.” Yu Xi remained unmoved.
Yi Chen earnestly added, “You’ll be the absolute male lead.”
Yu Xi calmly replied, “It’s a dual male lead drama. No matter how the scenes are cut, it’ll be about even, right?”
Wang Hui stayed silent on the side.
He quietly watched the exchange between Yu Xi and Yi Chen.
He couldn’t quite describe it, but the atmosphere between them was fascinating—a natural opposition, yet when they faced each other up close, there was an indescribable ambiguity.
Few people could create that vibe together.
CP chemistry? Or… tension?
Yu Xi and Yi Chen were indeed perfect as the male leads for The Boundless.
From the start of creating The Boundless, Wang Hui had wanted to cast Yu Xi and Yi Chen.
But too many setbacks had forced him to shelve the idea.
Unexpectedly, against all odds, Yi Chen had orchestrated this chance to gather all three in the same hospital room.
His long-held wish had come true.
Now, only Yu Xi’s agreement was needed.
Wang Hui was eager to see what reason Yi Chen would use to convince Yu Xi, how far their terms would escalate, and how long their back-and-forth would last.
Wang Hui picked up his water cup and watched them with a grin.
Yi Chen thought for a moment. “Then I’ll cross-dress as a woman.”
Wang Hui: “?”
“Deal. Happy collaboration.” Yu Xi agreed as if afraid Yi Chen would back out, his response lightning-fast. “When do we sign the contract?”
Wang Hui: “???”
He nearly spat out his water.
“Director Wang?” Yu Xi, unaware of what had happened to Wang Hui, handed him a tissue with concern. “Are you okay?”
“It’s nothing.” Wang Hui took the tissue, still choking, and coughed twice more. “I just think your way of negotiating is quite unique.”
Wang Hui wiped the water from the back of his hand. From the current situation, their three-way collaboration was basically settled, but he still had a question. He had planned not to ask too soon, but after holding back for a while, he couldn’t resist.
“You said you want to target Ruan Yan Shan. How do you plan to do it?”
The investment Yi Chen had mentioned was in his personal capacity—which meant Yi Chen wasn’t relying on the Yi Corporation’s power.
So how could he, as an individual, shake the colossal Ruan Corporation?
What leverage was he borrowing?
With the collaboration already set, Yi Chen had no need to hide it. “Ruan Yan Shan isn’t clean.”
Not just physically.
But the businesses Ruan Yan Shan was involved in weren’t clean.
Ruan Yan Shan protected himself too well. Even though many knew the inside story, without evidence, no one could touch a hair on his head.
“I need a small fulcrum.”
“What kind of fulcrum?” Wang Hui asked.
Ruan Yan Shan.
Fulcrum.
Yu Xi zoned out a bit.
He thought of Ji Ruiou.
Those dark words online resurfaced in his mind.
Ji Ruiou was jealous, spreading rumors, consumed by envy, lurking in the shadows to observe his every move, twisted and dark.
He was like a puppet, torn apart, shredded, exposing blackened stuffing, then pieced back together bit by bit into his truest form.
The Ji Ruiou he had never truly known now stood beside Ruan Yan Shan.
—Fulcrum.
Yu Xi lowered his eyes, took a deep breath, then lifted his head. He looked gravely at the two men before him, his voice low, suppressing a profound sadness.
“I have a way.”
Night had deepened, and the room fell silent.
The curtain was drawn, dividing the two beds back into separate spaces.
The clouds that had loomed in Wang Hui’s mind for days finally dispersed, leaving him with unprecedented relief.
As long as the collaboration intent was confirmed, the rest could be handled by the staff.
With the pressure gone, exhaustion hit his body all at once. Drowsiness surged, and Wang Hui closed his eyes, planning to rest well.
Just as his eyelids met, he suddenly opened them again.
Wait, wait…
Wang Hui suddenly remembered what Yi Chen had just said.
“This story is a bit like ours back then, isn’t it?”
—Yi Chen had said that, right?
What did that mean?
The full The Boundless script was a dual male lead story with confirmed romance and intimate scenes, wasn’t it?
A bit like back then? Like?!
Huh?!
Like… they had dated?
Wang Hui’s pupils trembled at the thought that popped into his head.
Had he uncovered a secret…?
