Chapter 18: A Reminder

“Okay, that’s it.”

“Not bad, Teacher Jiang. One more.”

Inside the studio, the clicking of the shutter was nonstop.

Lin Qinghe’s solo character stills were already done. Once Jiang Nian finished his own shoot, they needed to do a joint session.

“Teacher Jiang is very easygoing, a gentleman who doesn’t put on star airs.” Xi Nian, bored, commented while watching the activity over there. After saying that, as if recalling something, her tone turned disdainful. “But as for Xi Yan, forget it.”

Lin Qinghe heard the last part, tilted his head, and after a moment’s thought, said, “You share Teacher Xi’s surname; there must be some connection.”

Xi Nian didn’t hide it. She wouldn’t reveal it to others, but Lin Qinghe wasn’t just anyone, and since he brought it up, he’d probably guessed something. She blinked and explained, “We’re actually cousins.”

“You’re cousins?” Xi Yan had made a name early; Chen Dong had said he was the type of star who combined talent and background. For Starlight Entertainment to reach its current scale of artists, Xi Yan deserved a quarter of the credit. Lin Qinghe felt that Xi Nian working as his assistant was a waste of her potential. He smiled in surprise. “Why did you end up as an assistant?”

“It’s a long story. It all started when my parents urged me to go on blind dates.” The word ‘blind dates’ annoyed Xi Nian. She quickly shook her head. “Ah, let’s change the subject.”

“Xi Yan is a real bastard. When we were little, we lived in adjacent courtyards and played together all the time. He loved teasing me—today he’d give me a caterpillar, tomorrow an earthworm. I was timid and would always be scared to tears. Eventually I couldn’t stand it anymore and ran to tell his mother. He got a good beating with a feather duster and never dared to tease me like that again.”

An amusing pair of siblings.

In consideration of him helping her find a job, Xi Nian decided to make up for Xi Yan’s image. “But you’ll see once you meet him. Though he’s a bit roguish and proud with a sharp tongue, he knows right from wrong and won’t randomly make things difficult for others.”

For a moment, Lin Qinghe couldn’t tell if Xi Nian was smearing her brother or speaking up for him.

“Teacher Lin.” Just then, the photographer called out, “We can take the group shots now.”

“Coming.”

Jiang Nian was indeed as gentlemanly and courteous as Xi Nian had described, taking care of Lin Qinghe throughout the shoot. For the last shot, the photographer asked them to get closer to create a certain atmosphere for the two male leads.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Jiang Nian asked.

With over twenty centimeters between them, Lin Qinghe tilted his head slightly upward. The angle was a bit unfamiliar, but it was all for work; he wasn’t nervous. “I’m fine,” he replied.

Jiang Nian advised, “Mm, if you feel uncomfortable, just say so and we’ll take a break before continuing.”

“A little closer. Yes, Teacher Lin, tilt your head up. Fan ready. Both of you, keep your hands natural, relaxed, not stiff. Good, one more.”

In the frame, Lin Qinghe’s right hand was extended in midair, fingertips slightly curved, nearly touching Jiang Nian’s left hand but a few inches apart. The wind lifted their hair, and the two seemed suspended, gazing at each other with a fated feeling that transcended eras.

“OK, done.”

At the photographer’s gesture, Jiang Nian unhurriedly stepped back.

Lin Qinghe had held the pose for a while and felt some soreness. He rubbed his forearm, easing the discomfort a little.

“Junior Disciple, it was a pleasure working with you.”

Lin Qinghe looked at Jiang Nian, who smiled at him, a gesture of goodwill.

He would definitely share many scenes with Jiang Nian later, so having a harmonious relationship was for the best.

He smiled gently. “Likewise.”

After removing makeup, Li Ran browsed through the stills for a while and had a brief chat with the two before saying goodbye.

Stars of different statuses got different levels of service vehicles; someone like Jiang Nian, a Best Actor, went without saying. But Jiang Nian seemed to travel without an assistant, and the car was clearly private. A black Rolls-Royce was parked under a large tree, and its owner gave a short honk.

Jiang Nian’s lips curled up, and the atmosphere around him shifted a bit. He said, “Someone’s waiting. Junior Disciple, Xi Nian, I’ll be off first.”

Lin Qinghe understood. “Goodbye.”

“Bye, Brother Jiang Nian.” Xi Nian responded promptly.

During the wait, Lin Qinghe took out his phone to check the delivery status. Thanks to Aunt Su’s step-by-step guidance, he had ordered a guzheng online. Playing the pipa all the time lacked novelty; he originally wanted to surprise his fans. But he was joining the crew next week, so unless something unexpected happened, this would be his last livestream.

It showed it was already near the Western Capital and would likely arrive at Xiangtan tomorrow.

“Xi Nian, the old master wants you to go back this weekend to have dinner with him.” A lazy voice suddenly sounded. The car window rolled down, and the speaker, a young man wearing sunglasses leaning against the door, looked like a pampered young master.

“Got it, Big Brother.” Xi Nian waved at him perfunctorily. “I’ll go back on the weekend. You go ahead; I’ll wait with Brother Qinghe for his car.”

When Brother Qinghe was mentioned, Lin Qinghe sensed a gaze on him. He looked up and met the other’s eyes.

“Junior Disciple.” Xi Yan wasn’t so casual with everyone. If unfamiliar, he’d only give a distant greeting; if he looked down on someone, he’d skip even that and ignore them outright. But Lin Qinghe was a bit different—after all, his brother’s friend had brought him into Starlight Entertainment.

Lin Qinghe was confused until Xi Nian chimed in, “Xi Yan, my cousin.”

He caught on. “So it’s Teacher Xi.”

“Mm.” Xi Yan seemed to just be here to say hello. He put his hand on the steering wheel. “Alright, be safe on the road. I’m off.”

The car drove past Lin Qinghe, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Xi Yan take Jiang Nian’s hand, holding it tightly. Jiang Nian looked resigned and said something soothing that made Xi Yan chuckle softly.

Xiangtan hadn’t been this lively in a long time. A grill was set up on the garden lawn, drinks were piled on cloth-covered tables, snacks and desserts were exquisite and delicious, and laughter and cheerful voices were continual.

Aunt Su was carrying prepared vegetables through the living room when she ran into Lin Qinghe returning.

“Ah, Little He.”

“Aunt Su.” Lin Qinghe heard the laughter outside and slowly asked, “Are there guests to entertain?”

“Mr. Cen’s younger sister, Ye Yu, is staying for a few days. She landed this morning and invited a few friends to have fun in the garden.”

Ye Yu was a relative on Cen Han’s mother’s side. She had gone to university in the Western Capital years ago and returned to her hometown after graduation. With friends scattered, she chose a free time each year to gather.

Su Rong warmly invited, “Little He, why don’t you join? You’re close in age, and I’ve prepared lots of good food.”

Since they were Cen Han’s family, it was like being half the host; if he suddenly joined, it might ruin the mood. Besides, he was naturally quiet and conversation might not flow. Better not. Lin Qinghe said, “Aunt Su, I’m a bit tired. I’m afraid I’d dampen the spirits later.”

Hearing that he was tired, Aunt Su didn’t press further, her tone full of concern. “Then go rest quickly in your room. I’ve made some soup—by the time you wake up, it should be just right. Have some to replenish yourself.”

Just then.

“Aunt Su, we’re out of tissues. Where are they? I’ll go get some.”

“Aunt Su~”

Ye Yu walked into the hall, casually looking around but not finding what she wanted. She was about to call out again when she unexpectedly spotted Aunt Su and Lin Qinghe standing nearby.

“Eh?”

Ye Yu didn’t pay much attention to the entertainment industry, nor to Seven Notes or Weibo, so she didn’t know who Lin Qinghe was. The Ye family was a scholarly one; Ye Yu was slender and graceful, quite talented, making her hard to ignore. She looked puzzled. “Who’s this?”

“Mr. Cen’s guest.” Aunt Su had been busy and with all of Ye Yu’s friends around, it wasn’t convenient to elaborate. She chose an appropriate description. Saying he was an artist from Cen Han’s company might cause misunderstandings, while calling him an employee would be disrespectful. It was too complicated, so a simple summary was better.

Ye Yu found the words vague but understood boundaries. She wouldn’t pry in front of Lin Qinghe. “Oh, I see. Would you like to join our party? We roasted a whole lamb and grilled some steaks. The sun is so nice—you could enjoy the breeze and leisure time in the garden.”

Lin Qinghe smiled elegantly. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I’m a bit weary. Please excuse me. Have a great time.”

“Little He worked all day and just got back.” Aunt Su explained to Ye Yu, then added, “Didn’t you need tissues? I’ll take you.”

The words “just got back” caught Ye Yu’s attention. Her eyes flickered slightly as she replied, “Okay, Aunt Su.”

As she turned to leave, she glanced back, and Lin Qinghe’s refined figure fell into her sight. The direction was clearly towards the ground-floor guest room, indicating he had been living here for some time.

It was strange. Given her brother’s style, keeping a lover was absolutely impossible. But if not that, there was no need for him to stay at the house.

With the film shoot starting next week and time tight, Li Ran gave Lin Qinghe a paper script and told him to study the role of Celine further. He had already grasped some of Celine’s personality; what he lacked was how to portray it.

Lin Qinghe stayed in his room, carefully pondering. From time to time, he imagined the scenes described in the novel, putting himself into them, figuring out the expressions, movements, and tone his character should have.

It wasn’t until sunset that he let his mind go blank, leaning back and closing his eyes to rest.

As the party was about to end, Cen Han, the master of the villa, finally appeared before the group.

He walked to the garden pavilion, and Ye Yu’s friends all stood to greet him, their demeanor turning reserved.

“Hello, Brother Cen Han.”

“Hello, Brother Cen Han. We were just chatting about funny stories from our university days.”

……

Those who could be friends with Ye Yu were either from elite circles or exceptionally capable. But all their brilliance was completely subdued before Cen Han. Even though Cen Han wasn’t arrogant or fierce—on the contrary, he was handsome—everyone still dared not act too freely.

Cen Han gave a slight nod; he’d only come to say hello. “If you need anything, tell Ye Yu. Don’t stand on ceremony.”

More responses followed.

“Okay.”

“Ye Yu takes good care of us.”

“Thank you, Brother Cen Han.”

Having no desire to linger, Cen Han had no common topics with the younger crowd and expected they’d be uncomfortable. So he said to Ye Yu, “Take good care of your friends,” and made to leave.

Once his figure vanished, everyone’s hearts relaxed.

“After how many times? Seeing Brother Cen Han still gives me the same feeling as seeing my grandpa. If I were walking, I’d probably be tripping over my own feet.”

Ye Yu laughed. “You’re all so uninhibited around me, but in front of my brother, it’s like you’re possessed. You act like he’s going to eat you.”

“Hahaha, he wouldn’t eat people. It’s just that your brother’s presence is overwhelming.”

“Speaking of which, Ye Yu, you’ve been away from the Western Capital, so you don’t know. There’s been a rumor going around in our circles.” The person’s voice dropped. “Your brother… is promoting an actor.”

The term ‘actor’ carried a derogatory tinge. The more noble one’s status and the deeper a family’s heritage, the less such crude wording would be used. It might have started as a jest, but Western Capital’s circle was large and full of gossip. Someone might have twisted the words slightly, and the meaning changed completely. Cen Han had had no scandals for years; once a spark appeared, it naturally burned fast and fiercely.

Ye Yu understood her friend was kindly warning her, but she didn’t take it seriously. Whether the rumor was true or not, first, her brother had the capability—whom he wanted to promote and how was nobody else’s business. Second, he would surely know how to handle it; she didn’t need to overstep.

But since the news was fresh, she suddenly recalled the interlude in the hall and smiled faintly. “Is that so? Just hearsay. And even if it’s true, would I play the villain and interfere?”

The aroma of Aunt Su’s lotus root and pork rib soup filled the air. The porcelain bowl was full, topped with vibrant green scallion pieces, looking extremely appetizing.

“Try it.”

Lin Qinghe took a spoonful and tasted it; the flavor was delicious. He told Aunt Su, “It looks, smells, and tastes perfect.”

“That’s good.” Su Rong’s joy was unrestrained. “I’ll take a few bowls to Ye Yu and the others.”

Once Aunt Su left, only Lin Qinghe and Cen Han remained in the hall. For a while, there was only the sound of newspaper pages turning and the light clinking of a porcelain spoon. The scene was unexpectedly harmonious, not awkward at all.

After finishing the soup, Lin Qinghe took the initiative to report on his work progress. “Mr. Cen, I’m joining the production to start filming next week.”

Cen Han’s gaze shifted from the newspaper. “Mm. Will you be staying at a hotel?”

“Not for now. I want to wait and see.” The filming location wasn’t too far from Xiangtan; the commute time was manageable, and he didn’t really want to stay in a hotel.

Lin Qinghe had never experienced any hardship at the Cen residence; his food and clothing were all top-quality. Making him stay in a hotel would be a step down. That was trivial. What Cen Han was more concerned about was whether Lin Qinghe, who had no experience living outside and had a striking appearance, could smoothly get through filming without incident.

After all, the livestream incident was still fresh. If such things happened in real life, there were many underhanded methods, not necessarily obvious. Lin Qinghe couldn’t detect them, which meant he was defenseless.

But he had to face it eventually. Cen Han reminded, “When you stay at a hotel in the future, don’t open the door for people you don’t know, and don’t accept drinks or food from strangers. At night, it’s best to stay in your room. When going out, you can call Zhong Yu or Jiang Nian; they’re both in the crew.”

Lin Qinghe had already realized that, although he was male, his appearance made him not entirely safe in this world.

Cen Han had helped him many times and was a responsible superior. It made sense that people trusted him.

In truth, he was somewhat mistaken. For Cen Han to deliver such a lengthy string of cautions and advice to anyone was sheer fantasy; he was the only exception.

Sometimes Lin Qinghe felt Cen Han was like a friend, sometimes like an older brother. He asked, “What about social drinking occasions?”

Socializing was unavoidable on some occasions. Unless one was famous enough or unafraid of offending people, one had to learn to bend and stretch—especially fearing those who would embarrass someone to their face.

Cen Han looked into Lin Qinghe’s eyes, bright as stars, and after a moment, spoke unhurriedly. “If you don’t want to, just say I won’t allow it.”