Chapter 18

The sudden invitation caught Jing Li off guard. “Ah?”

Ding Yixiang had already walked right up to him, leaning in closer than social norms allowed, only to be blocked and pushed back by Ji Yunzhang’s hand.

With a sidelong glance at Ji Yunzhang, Ding Yixiang belatedly realized his occupational habit had crossed a line. He took a few steps back.

“Sorry,” he explained. “I’m nearsighted and forgot my glasses today. I just wanted a closer look at your features. I need a beauty who’s flawless and perfect down to the last detail.”

Ding Yixiang’s gaze was so earnest that Jing Li didn’t feel offended at all. He shook his head to show it was no big deal, then told him, “I haven’t even put on makeup.”

He couldn’t resist asking one more question. “Why did you invite me, Director Ding?”

“I already told you—I need a beauty, and you’re gorgeous enough,” Ding Yixiang said bluntly.

What straightforward honesty!

Jing Li loved hearing words like that.

“Are you interested?” Ding Yixiang asked again.

Seeing that Jing Li hadn’t quite decided yet, Ji Yunzhang pulled him over to an empty seat and sat down. He looked up, all traces of the aloof courtesy he showed outsiders gone. He was utterly relaxed. “Follow procedure and pass the script to An Jiaming first. Even if you’re my friend, I won’t let my little one jump into a role without seeing the script.”

This was the second time that evening Ji Yunzhang had referred to him as “my little one.” Unlike the icy warning from before, this time it carried affection, indulgence, and a subtle note of pride. Jing Li’s ears tingled at the words, and he couldn’t help glancing over at him.

This must be how they usually interacted—easygoing and carefree. Ding Yixiang rolled his eyes. “The way you put it, you think I’d screw him over or something?”

He patted his chest. “Me, Ding Yixiang, the acclaimed director. We’ve been friends for a decade, and you don’t trust my integrity?” He dabbed at the corner of his eye, where no tears existed, hamming it up for full dramatic effect. “I’m heartbroken.”

Gu Yulin: “Yue.”

Zhou Suye: “Urp.”

Xie Jun: “Your fame outshines mine?”

Xu He: “…”

Yu Bohai: “…”

“Hey, hey, hey, what do you all mean by that?” Ding Yixiang bristled.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing.”

…

The group chimed in one after another with straight faces, clearly just teasing him. Ding Yixiang hopped around in mock outrage, but it was obvious he wasn’t actually mad. This was probably their usual brand of horseplay.

Jing Li couldn’t help laughing. The vibe among them was fantastic.

“You guys have such a great friendship,” he said, turning to Ji Yunzhang.

Ji Yunzhang hummed in agreement. “We’ve known each other a long time, and we click.”

Jing Li nodded. He knew Ji Yunzhang had grown up with Zhou Suye and Yu Bohai, their families even doing business together. Xie Jun, Ding Yixiang, and Gu Yulin were friends from working on set, going back nine or ten years. As for Xu He, Yu Bohai had brought him into the fold at first, but they’d all bonded over shared values and interests, becoming fast friends.

A moment later, Ji Yunzhang asked him gently, “Made up your mind? Want to do the cameo?”

Jing Li had already decided. “I do.”

Getting to cameo in one of Ding Yixiang’s films felt like a prime learning opportunity.

Ding Yixiang might not have Xie Jun’s track record of instant classics, but he was still the most acclaimed and talented among young directors. Even his weakest film was solidly above average—merely lackluster compared to his own stellar body of work.

Yunzhang nodded. “Then go for it.”

By then, Ding Yixiang and the others had finished their antics and settled back into their seats.

Ding Yixiang sprawled lazily across the sofa without a care for appearances. Ji Yunzhang eyed him. “Tell us about the role.”

At that, Ding Yixiang straightened up, shedding his slouch. “Sure thing.”

“The character is the top courtesan in the human world. The heroine loses her memory and ends up in his pleasure house, where he saves her. He dies protecting her, becoming her eternal regret. In a secret realm later, she’s nearly killed by a fox spirit illusion disguised as him. Finally, she learns from the male lead that he’s been reborn into a good family and will live happily ever after, which lets her let go and ascend in cultivation.”

“The role demands drop-dead gorgeous looks—nation-toppling beauty. I never found the right fit… until you showed up.”

He grabbed his juice, sipping it leisurely through the straw as he turned to Jing Li. “So, what do you say? In?”

To Jing Li’s surprise, this wasn’t just a vase role with no substance. It advanced the plot and required differentiating between the human character and the fox spirit illusion—actual acting chops were needed.

He’d already mentioned to Ji Yunzhang that he wanted to act, and now that he’d heard the details, he was even more keen.

Jing Li nodded, accepting the cameo.

Ding Yixiang grinned in satisfaction and extended a hand. “Welcome to the team.”

Jing Li reached out and shook his hand.

Once they’d finished discussing business, Zhou Suye leaned in. “So, how do you two know each other?”

He jerked his chin toward Ji Yunzhang, grinning at Jing Li. “We’ve always figured this guy was hopeless when it came to romance—no one would ever make him open up.”

The other five were just as curious, their eyes fixed on the pair.

“We met two years ago at A University’s school festival,” Jing Li said, following the script. He turned to meet Ji Yunzhang’s gaze. His delicate features lit up with a smile, the sweetness impossible to conceal as dimples formed at the corners of his mouth. When he spoke again, it carried the genuine thrill of a longtime fan: “Teacher Ji is my idol. I’ve always admired him.”

Ji Yunzhang held his hand, his gaze gentle and indulgent as it lingered on him.

The two stared into each other’s eyes, oblivious to everyone around them, as if an invisible line had been drawn around their private world. The others could only watch from the outside, unable to intrude.

“…I can’t take it anymore,” Ding Yixiang said first. “You two are just here to flaunt your relationship!”

Ji Yunzhang’s lips curved. “If you’re jealous, go find one yourself.”

Ding Yixiang freely admitted his playboy ways. “Nah, I haven’t had my fill of fun yet.”

They fired off a few more curious questions, and Jing Li answered each one according to the script. His expressions and emotions were perfectly on point—no one suspected they were just putting on a show.

The banquet was hosted by Xingxiu Entertainment, and Zhou Suye, as one of the hosts, couldn’t stay away from his duties for long. After chatting for about half an hour, he stood and went off to greet more guests.

Xie Jun and Ding Yixiang, both directors in need of investor connections, followed him to mingle.

Gu Yulin had nothing pressing, but ever since falling in love, he’d turned into a hopeless romantic, his mind constantly on his girlfriend. He slipped away to chat with her on the phone.

That left Xu He and Yu Bohai. Xu He loved his liquor but couldn’t hold it well. He’d overindulged a bit earlier and was feeling tipsy, leaning on Yu Bohai’s shoulder with his eyes closed, waiting for the buzz to pass.

Ji Yunzhang glanced at them, then stood, pulling Jing Li up with him. “We’ll head out first.”

Yu Bohai tore his gaze away from Xu He and gave them a smile. “Let’s hang out again sometime.”

~~~

After dropping Jing Li off at home, Ji Yunzhang called out to him as he stepped out of the car. “You free tomorrow?”

Jing Li turned back. “Yeah.”

This year’s Spring Festival had come earlier than usual, and with only a few days left until the new year, Zhao Yunjing’s family was already on break. She planned to fly with them to H Province for a vacation, so his pre-new-year acting classes had wrapped up that day.

“I’ll pick you up at nine in the morning, then.”

Jing Li blinked, his expression puzzled.

Ji Yunzhang chuckled softly. “To keep you company while you drive.”

~~~

The next day, Jing Li woke to bright sunlight streaming in. Clutching his quilt, he groggily grabbed his phone and glanced at the time. He bolted upright in an instant.

Damn—he was going to be late!

He rushed through washing up and getting dressed, fixed breakfast for Custard Bun, gave its fluffy, soft head a quick ruffle, snatched his keys, and dashed out the door.

By the time he reached the downstairs lobby, Ji Yunzhang was already waiting.

“Sorry, I overslept,” Jing Li said. He’d stayed up late the night before, finishing the script Ding Yixiang had sent. Ding Yixiang hadn’t sent it until after the banquet ended, and by then it was nearly eleven.

Ji Yunzhang stepped out of the car, his tone mild. “I just got here myself.”

The corners of his mouth lifted as his gaze settled on Jing Li’s head. The black hair, untouched by any styling, fell mostly smooth and soft to the touch—he knew from personal experience.

But one stubborn tuft refused to cooperate, sticking straight up and bobbing along with Jing Li’s movements.

In his haste, Jing Li hadn’t noticed. Seeing Ji Yunzhang staring at his hair, he tilted his head in confusion. “Teacher Ji?”

Ji Yunzhang smiled. “You’ve got a cowlick.”

Without missing a beat, he reached out. His fingertip pressed gently against the unruly strand, smoothing it down with slow, careful strokes until it lay flat.

The gesture brought them close. Jing Li found himself wrapped in the faint scent of Ji Yunzhang’s cologne—a subtle woody note that wasn’t overpowering at all. Very pleasant. He inhaled instinctively.

Realizing what he was doing, heat flooded his cheeks. He ducked his head, staring at the floor and silently counting to distract himself.

“There.”

He’d just reached ten when Ji Yunzhang pulled his hand back and stepped away. The sudden loss of that scent left Jing Li with an odd sense of emptiness. He looked up at Ji Yunzhang.

Ji Yunzhang’s eyes were lowered, his gentle gaze resting quietly on him.

The flush that had started to fade from Jing Li’s face returned in full force. He whipped his head away and shoved at Ji Yunzhang with both hands. “Get in the car already—you’re too famous to be seen like this.”

It was like a child sulking, urging the grown-up to hurry up.

Pushed along, Ji Yunzhang climbed into the car. He glanced back to see Jing Li scurrying around to the passenger side like a startled rabbit. The smile tugging at his lips deepened.