Chapter 56

This question didn’t even need asking—the answer was obvious.

He was a math major, after all. A simple calculation like this was child’s play; he could do it in his head. After deducting his own taxes and the twenty percent commission, then adding Ji Yunzhang’s after-tax fee, it came out exactly to that figure.

His phone tumbled onto the sofa as Jing Li knelt beside Ji Yunzhang, gazing at him earnestly. “Why’d you give it all to me?”

Ji Yunzhang closed the book he’d been reading and set it aside, a faint smile curving his lips. “Can’t have you coming out on the short end.”

Jing Li was far too sharp not to grasp his meaning.

“You gave me a check.”

“Mm. But you haven’t cashed it.”

“That’s fine. It can sit.”

Jing Li tilted his face up slightly, the light in his eyes glimmering like scattered stars. “I told you that day—I gained something far more important.”

Ji Yunzhang’s smile deepened as he gently stroked Jing Li’s cheek. “That doesn’t change the fact that the money was yours by rights. It’s baked into our contract. This just puts a proper full stop on the whole agreement.”

He leaned in and kissed Jing Li. “From here on out, that contract ceases to exist.”

He lingered, sucking lightly on his lips, then let out a low chuckle. “And if we’re compromising even further, wouldn’t it be nice if it earned you interest every year?”

The word “interest” rang a bell. Jing Li cocked his head, pondering, until it clicked—one of the reasons he’d given Le Xiaoxiao for holding off on buying a place.

His arms slid around Ji Yunzhang’s waist. They’d both showered, clad only in thin sleepwear. Holding him close, Jing Li marveled at the firm, powerful feel of his body, and his thoughts veered off course. Quietly, he inched his right hand forward onto Ji Yunzhang’s abdomen, fingers tracing the taut ridges of muscle.

Ji Yunzhang spotted the sneaky move, of course.

He glanced down, watching Jing Li grope with such rapt focus, eyes alight. A helpless, wry smile tugged at his lips—this was one hell of a test. Before desire could fully stir, he caught Jing Li’s hand.

“Jing Li.” His voice came out low and even.

Jing Li’s wandering mind snapped back. He realized what he’d been up to, flushed for a beat, then puffed up with righteous confidence. “We’re partners. The legally married kind.”

Ji Yunzhang felt no exasperation, only an overwhelming fondness.

If he didn’t act now, Jing Li might actually start doubting his manhood.

For all his bold talk and dirty daydreams, Jing Li folded the second things got real. Satisfied with his teasing, he tried to bolt—only for Ji Yunzhang to scoop him up by the waist and deposit him on his lap. A fierce, possessive kiss crashed down, utterly domineering.

Ji Yunzhang kissed like a man possessed, brooking no resistance, leaving Jing Li no choice but to yield passively, mouth opening to the onslaught as his partner claimed every inch.

A searing palm pressed flush against his bare waist, sending a shiver through Jing Li. The raw intimacy of skin on skin yanked him from the haze of the kiss—but he was pinned tight, kissed breathless. That hand drifting lower only stoked the flames, kindling a wildfire in his chest that swept him right back into the heated rush.

…

Ji Yunzhang grabbed a few tissues and wiped his hand clean before peering down at Jing Li, who remained buried in his chest, head down. He gently coaxed his face into view.

Jing Li’s face was beet red… if not his entire body.

Cupped in those hands, he couldn’t duck his head, so his eyes drifted lower. He felt too awkward to meet Ji Yunzhang’s gaze just yet. Yeah, he needed a minute.

This time, Ji Yunzhang didn’t intervene. The unmistakable evidence of his arousal came into full view.

Jing Li whipped his gaze away—then couldn’t resist sneaking another peek.

Seconds later, he looked up, cheeks and ears aflame. “…Want me to help?”

Ji Yunzhang’s thumb traced his cheek. “No need.”

He reined in his breathing, composure intact on the surface, though the shadow in his eyes gave him away. “If you touch me, I might not hold back.”

“…”

Jing Li went quiet.

Ji Yunzhang exhaled deeply and patted his back. “I’ll take another shower. You head to your room first.”

Jing Li murmured “oh” and slid obediently off his lap, settling beside him with perfect posture. He picked up his glass of water and sipped, the picture of compliance.

Once Ji Yunzhang headed upstairs, Jing Li lingered downstairs a while longer before trudging up at a leisurely pace.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he crawled into bed and hugged the covers, rolling once. The abruptly cut-off conversation sprang to mind, along with the unresolved contract. He bolted upright, dashed back to his old guest room, and fished out the document.

He’d meant to sort it after the trip, but they’d arrived too late that night, overslept the next day, watched the preview trailer that afternoon, unpacked upon returning to the Ji Residence—and somehow, it had dragged on until now.

By the time Ji Yunzhang emerged, Jing Li was poring over the contract anew.

Seeing those specific clauses stipulating that even touching him required prior permission, Jing Li still felt deeply touched. He could sense Ji Yunzhang’s gentlemanly respect and politeness.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up from the contract and hurried over to Ji Yunzhang with it in hand, unable to hide his eagerness. “Teacher Ji, what about your copy?”

Ji Yunzhang remembered then and opened the cabinet to retrieve it for him.

“There’s a shredder at home.”

“In the study?”

“Yes.” Ji Yunzhang took his hand. “Let’s go.”

They fed both contracts into the shredder, reducing them to scraps of waste paper for good.

After bagging up the shreds to toss out tomorrow, Jing Li turned to Ji Yunzhang, his eyes curving into a smile. “Come on, Teacher Ji. Time for bed—we’ve got to buy groceries tomorrow.”

Ji Yunzhang smiled too. “All right.”

~~~

May arrived, and Jing Li was set to join the cast.

Joys of the Human World was filming in X City. The day before departure, Jing Li felt reluctant to go. He couldn’t sleep in the middle of the night and nestled in Ji Yunzhang’s arms, begging him to tell a story.

Ji Yunzhang switched the bedroom light back on and asked warmly, “What would you like to hear?”

Jing Li glanced at the books on the bedside table—all dense tomes on finance and economics. Not interested, he thought for a moment. “Flipped. Do you have it?”

Ji Yunzhang chuckled. “I do, but it’s the original English edition.”

Jing Li huffed playfully. “I can understand it.”

“My English is that good,” he added, his voice lifting proudly at the end.

Ji Yunzhang recalled how fluently Jing Li had conversed abroad, his accent pure and natural—indeed impressive. He patted the hand Jing Li had wrapped around his waist, signaling him to let go. “I’ll fetch it from the study.”

Jing Li released him and settled properly on his side of the bed, his eyes bright with anticipation as he watched. Ji Yunzhang couldn’t help but laugh. He caressed Jing Li’s cheek before getting out of bed to retrieve the book.

When he returned, Ji Yunzhang leaned against the headboard, opened the book, and began reading the original text aloud. His low, melodious voice filled the quiet night, growing all the gentler for it.

It wasn’t long before Jing Li, clutching one of Ji Yunzhang’s hands, drifted off to sleep. He must have been having sweet dreams, for the corners of his mouth curved upward.

Gazing at him tenderly, Ji Yunzhang set the book aside, leaned down, and pressed a featherlight kiss to his cheek.

“Goodnight, baby.”

~~~

They touched down in X City just before noon. Jing Li and Le Xiaoxiao headed straight to the hotel, checked into their rooms, and grabbed lunch together before setting off for the set that afternoon.

Joys of the Human World had begun filming half a month earlier, starting with scenes featuring the two leads. Today, they were shooting in a narrow alley in the old district. By the time Jing Li arrived, the actors were in the midst of a chaotic group fight scene.

He watched quietly from the sidelines until Xie Jun called it a wrap. Only then did he approach with Le Xiaoxiao in tow.

“Director Xie,” he greeted politely.

Xie Jun had a cigarette dangling from his lips, on the verge of lighting it, but he tucked it behind his ear and stood at the sight of Jing Li. “You’re here—perfect timing. Shen Chenshu, your scene partner, just arrived too. Let me introduce you properly.”

He turned and instructed his assistant to fetch Shen Chenshu.

It wasn’t long before Shen Chenshu appeared.

A senior at the drama academy graduating in June, he had only appeared in two stage plays before this. The Human Comedy was one of them, but Joys of the Human World marked his screen debut.

Shen Chenshu stood a touch taller than Jing Li. With his silver-framed glasses and handsome, scholarly features, he perfectly embodied the straight-A student from the script. He and Jing Li had already crossed paths during the online script read-through.

He greeted Jing Li cautiously. “Teacher Jing Li, hello.”

Sensing the young man’s nervousness, Jing Li smiled warmly. “Hello.”

Xie Jun chimed in. “You two should chat more, get to know each other, build some chemistry and rapport.”

Turning to Shen Chenshu, he added, “Relax—he’s easy to get along with.”

After a pause, he cracked a joke. “Don’t worry, Ji Yunzhang isn’t here. No vinegar sea to drown you in.”

Shen Chenshu: “…”

“…”

Jing Li coughed lightly, grinning. “Director Xie, I’m telling Teacher Ji on you.”

Xie Jun burst out laughing. “Go ahead. If he shows up, I get a free cameo. That’s a win for me.”

Jing Li: “…”

Having had his fun, Xie Jun addressed them again. “No scenes for you two today, so no need to hang around. My assistant will take you to shoot your makeup stills in a bit. Head back to the hotel after, and we’ll all have dinner together tonight.”

“Sounds good,” Jing Li replied.

Shen Chenshu nodded.

The next scene was about to start. Xie Jun gave his assistant a few instructions, waved to Jing Li, lit his cigarette, and settled back in front of the monitors.

The assistant led them to the prepared photography studio.

Jing Li’s makeup room was private. The stylist—a young woman—had been turned onto him that very morning by a friend. She’d binged the first episode of Romantic Journey and found it so sweet that she’d polished off two extra bowls of rice at lunch. Now, as she gazed at Jing Li, her face lit up with an irrepressible, doting smile.

~~~

Before this, Jing Li had already run into plenty of people with the same starry-eyed look as his own. Le Xiaoxiao had given him the rundown, so he offered her a polite nod.

The girl smiled even more brightly.

Her technique was incredibly deft—the makeup was exquisite yet done with impressive speed. In no time, Jing Li’s face was fully made up. She admired her work for a moment and sighed. “You’re just too gorgeous. You hardly need any makeup at all.”

Jing Li smiled. “Thank you.”

“You do fantastic work,” he praised her in return.

The girl packed away her makeup kit. She stole several glances at him through the mirror before finally giving in and whispering, “Did Teacher Ji end up making you that ginger mother duck afterward?”

After the first episode of Romantic Journey aired, this question had nearly been blown up by the Yunjing CP fans into a full-blown trending topic. An Jiaming had quashed it just in time. It was a testament to how desperately curious everyone was.

Jing Li paused in surprise, then broke into laughter. The sweetness in his smile was impossible to hide. “He did.”

He added, “It was delicious.”

The girl looked utterly content, her face radiating pure shipper bliss.

The fixed makeup photos wrapped up quickly, done before five o’clock.

Jing Li changed out of the high school uniform and wiped off the makeup. Spotting Shen Chenshu slinging his bag over his shoulder and heading out alone, he called after him. “You heading back to the hotel too? Walk with me?”

Shen Chenshu hesitated for a beat. “Sure.”

The studio had provided Jing Li with a van, which had arrived the day before. The interior was spacious and comfy. Once inside, Jing Li pulled out a bag of low-cal snacks and offered one to Shen Chenshu. “Want some?”

“Thanks.” He took it.

“No need to stand on ceremony.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Back at the hotel, Shen Chenshu thanked Jing Li once more and headed off with his bag.

Jing Li: “…”

He turned to Le Xiaoxiao. “Am I that intimidating? He acts like he’s terrified of me.”

Le Xiaoxiao gave him a once-over, patted his shoulder, and declared with conviction, “Relax, you’re not scary in the slightest. You’re too damn good-looking.”

“As for Shen Chenshu,” he mused for a second, “he’s probably just shy around people.”

Jing Li was confident enough in his looks to buy that explanation.