The warmth on top of his head vanished in an instant. Before Jing Li could savor it, Ji Yunzhang had already withdrawn his hand and turned his gaze toward the guests crowding around once more, offering them polite yet distant greetings.
Ji Yunzhang didn’t introduce Jing Li to them because there was no need. When promoting someone, he was deliberate about the method and the resources provided. He had a clear vision, knowing precisely the path that would make Jing Li’s career smooth and dazzling. The people before him offered no benefit to Jing Li’s development.
Jing Li held a glass of champagne as he passed dozens of guests without drinking even half. Trailing behind Ji Yunzhang, he observed his interactions with others and finally understood what Ji Yunzhang had meant earlier when he said others generally viewed him as aloof.
He spoke very little, gliding effortlessly through flattery and praise. No matter how glamorous the men and women standing before him, his replies were merely “Mm,” “Hello,” or “Thank you”—gentlemanly yet casual, tinged with lazy indifference.
The smile on his face was shallow, not the one Jing Li was accustomed to, but a businesslike, courteous sort—a perfunctory gesture of etiquette.
Jing Li watched in wide-eyed astonishment.
He couldn’t help comparing this version of Ji Yunzhang to the one he usually spent time with. They were like two entirely different people.
Finally extricating themselves from the crowd, Jing Li pulled Ji Yunzhang over to the buffet table. He set down his half-finished champagne, picked up a plate, loaded it with a few pastries, and handed it to Ji Yunzhang with a wink. “One bite each—no need to worry about your image.”
It was the first time Ji Yunzhang had been fed food at a banquet. He held the plate, momentarily stunned, before the indifference in his eyes melted away and the corners of his lips curved upward naturally. “What about you?”
“Of course I’m eating too.” With that, Jing Li grabbed a fresh plate and selected his favorite items.
As he chose, he said earnestly, “Meals need to be eaten on time, or you’ll get stomachaches easily. And having something in your stomach before drinking keeps you from getting drunk so fast.”
Ji Yunzhang watched him, amusement lacing his voice. “Got it.”
Here, Ji Yunzhang was more than just an actor. He was also an investor—and he represented the Ji Family standing behind him.
His presence was magnetic. Even simply standing there, he drew eyes from every direction, remaining the undisputed center of conversation.
So everyone noticed Ji Yunzhang and Jing Li leaning against the buffet table, chatting and laughing as they ate.
There was nothing wrong with eating—everyone got hungry—but the expression on his face left the guests who’d just greeted him and experienced his cool demeanor utterly shocked.
Their gazes turned in unison toward Jing Li.
Sensing the probing stares converging on him, Jing Li swallowed his bite of cake, tugged at Ji Yunzhang’s sleeve to beckon him down, and whispered in his ear, “Teacher Ji, your presence is overwhelmingly strong.”
Ji Yunzhang tilted his head, his gaze tracing the refined lines of Jing Li’s features before he let out a soft chuckle. “You’re a shining star yourself.”
That was true enough.
After all, he was exceptionally handsome.
Jing Li gave his head a little shake, basking in a few seconds of self-admiration before flashing Ji Yunzhang a brilliant smile. He then picked up two crystal dumplings for him, sharing them happily. “These aren’t half-baked—delicious. Give them a try.”
“Alright.” Laughter filled the depths of his eyes.
Oblivious to those around them, they ate until they were half-full when Jing Li spotted someone approaching and gave Ji Yunzhang a heads-up.
At his words, the relaxed look on Ji Yunzhang’s face tightened, his demeanor shifting back to cool indifference. He turned toward the newcomer, who looked vaguely familiar—someone he’d probably met before, though the details escaped him.
Wen Nanzhi stopped three paces away, his lips curved in a smile as he took the initiative to greet him and introduce himself. “I’m Wen Nanzhi.”
Ah, one of the Wen Family.
Ji Yunzhang nodded politely.
When Wen Nanzhi raised his glass, Ji Yunzhang clinked it against his own and took a shallow sip.
Without shifting his gaze from Ji Yunzhang, Wen Nanzhi said, “Do you have time tomorrow? I just got back to the country a couple of days ago. Haven’t been home in two years, and A City’s changed so much—I don’t even recognize half the places. Could you show me around?”
Jing Li fell silent. That pickup line was straight out of a cliché playbook.
Still, he kept quiet, ears perked attentively.
Ji Yunzhang’s eyes remained impassive, his tone equally flat. “If you need a guide, I can recommend someone.”
Wen Nanzhi’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly composed himself. He was strikingly handsome, with delicate features, and now he offered a helpless little laugh. “Brother Yunzhang, you really don’t remember me?”
That affectionate “Brother Yunzhang” made Jing Li’s eyes widen. Whoa—was this the legendary childhood friend dropping from the sky?
Ji Yunzhang felt only puzzlement. “Have we met?”
“You really forgot,” Wen Nanzhi said, lowering his gaze, the disappointment plain on his face. “When we were kids, I used to go looking for you all the time, always trailing after you like a little shadow.”
Hearing the description jogged Ji Yunzhang’s memory, though his impression of the kid back then wasn’t a good one—just noisy and annoying. “That was you.”
“Yeah, it was.” Seeing the recognition dawn, Wen Nanzhi smiled again. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen Uncle and Aunt. Mind if I drop by to visit?”
Ji Yunzhang’s tone stayed flat and polite. “If you want to, you can get in touch with them.”
Wen Nanzhi: “…”
The smile slipped from his face. He went quiet for a few seconds before murmuring, “Okay.”
Ji Yunzhang gave a slight nod. “Excuse me.”
With that, he turned and beckoned Jing Li to follow.
Jing Li had been happily eavesdropping, his expression still lit up with mischief, when Ji Yunzhang’s gaze suddenly pinned him. He coughed awkwardly and flashed an instantly obedient smile.
Ji Yunzhang sighed helplessly. “Don’t be naughty.”
Jing Li chuckled. As he passed Wen Nanzhi—who was watching him—he tilted his head and nodded in greeting. Then he hurried to catch up with Ji Yunzhang, falling into step beside him. “Where to?”
“To find Zhou Suye and the others.”
~~~
As the gala’s host, Zhou Suye had spent the evening circulating among the board members and VIP guests. Now that dancing had begun and the crowd had thinned out, he finally had a moment to join his friends.
He glanced around. “Where’s Yunzhang?”
Xie Jun took a sip from his whiskey glass. “Saw him earlier at the buffet table, grabbing food with some kid.” He added offhandedly, “Kid’s pretty cute.”
It was just an observation, nothing more.
“That kid’s Jing Li,” Zhou Suye said, shooting him a look. “Yunzhang’s partner.”
Ding Yixiang’s head snapped up from his phone. He shot to his feet in shock. “Partner? Did Ji Yunzhang’s iron tree finally bloom?”
Xie Jun and Gu Yulin hadn’t been around last time, so they’d missed both Jing Li and Ji Yunzhang’s bombshell announcement to Zhou Suye, Xu He, and Yu Bohai. Now they leaned in, eyes locked on Zhou Suye.
“Oh, it bloomed,” Zhou Suye confirmed. “And not just a little—he leaped straight into marriage territory.” He paused, then nailed Ji Yunzhang’s deadpan tone from the moment perfectly.
“Holy shit,” Ding Yixiang blurted. “That’s some real deal love.”
“Then it’s down to us,” he said, pausing to jut his chin at Zhou Suye. “Hang on—you’re not single either, are you?”
A certain figure flickered through Zhou Suye’s mind. He smiled faintly. “It’s in the works.”
“Holy shit,” Ding Yixiang said again. The next instant, he flopped back onto the sofa. “Guess it’s just me enjoying the single life, then.”
“Single? What about Wen Qiang?” Gu Yulin asked.
Ding Yixiang crossed his legs. “Friends with benefits. Win-win.”
Jing Li walked up just in time to catch that line, and it hit him like the juiciest piece of gossip. So Ding Yixiang and Wen Qiang weren’t actually together!
Ji Yunzhang couldn’t hold back a laugh at the way Jing Li’s eyes went wide, utterly hooked. He patted Jing Li’s shoulder, nudging him to dial it back.
Busted again, Jing Li’s cheeks burned red. He clapped his hands over his face. After a beat, he peeked through his fingers. “Teacher Ji, if I swear I’m not gossipy at all, you gonna buy it?”
Ji Yunzhang arched a brow. “You think?”
“Okay, fine.” Jing Li dropped his hands and owned up. “I like gossip.”
He added quickly, in his own defense, “It’s human nature.”
Ji Yunzhang chuckled. “Sure is.”
Xie Jun spotted them first. Once their murmured exchange wrapped up, he spoke up. “Hey, you two made it.”
That drew all five pairs of eyes their way. Jing Li met their curious, intrigued stares with an easy smile.
Standing at Jing Li’s side, Ji Yunzhang turned to his friends and made the introduction. “Jing Li—my future partner, and the new talent I just signed.”
“Director Xie, Director Ding, Teacher Xu, Teacher Gu, President Zhou, Mr. Yu,” Jing Li chimed in smoothly, greeting them one by one.
They all nodded back with smiles.
Ding Yixiang rubbed his chin, eyeing Jing Li thoughtfully for a moment. Then he spoke up with an offer. “Want to cameo in one of my projects?”
