As long as the severance package is right, I don't mind leaving

"Whoever wants to shoot this shitty show can have it!" Jian Li flung up his arm. "I'm done!"

He turned to leave, only for someone beside him to catch his hand.

Jian Li stiffened and glanced down, meeting Best Actor Huo's faintly teasing smile. "Are you resisting so hard because you can't stand me?"

His eyes shone like polished black gemstones, their gaze threatening to swallow someone whole, drawing them in with effortless ease.

And so, the words I can't stand you inexplicably died on Jian Li's lips. "That's not it. I just don't like this genre."

Not wanting to meet Huo Xiao's gaze any longer, Jian Li pulled his hand free and plopped back into his chair.

Once he calmed down a little, he realized that walking out was easy, but Li Lu would be the one left cleaning up the mess.

Jian Li looked at him reproachfully. "Didn't I tell you to get me war movies? The kind with real guns and bullets? What's with all this lovey-dovey stuff? Where's the greater good of the nation?"

"Exactly!" Wang Sisi slapped the table with one hand in agreement. "That's exactly what I thought! That's why we specifically chose a war drama for our two male leads!"

Jian Li: "?"

"It's my favorite setup," Wang Sisi said, visibly excited. "Sentinels and guides!"

Jian Li: "..."

He looked to Li Lu for help. What the hell is that?!

Li Lu hurriedly picked up his teacup. Don't look at me. I don't understand it either!

"Wait." Jian Li frowned. "Can this thing seriously pass censorship?!"

"Yes, yes!" Wang Sisi bobbed her head like a chick pecking at grain. "We're releasing it overseas!"

Refusing to give up, Jian Li turned to Huo Xiao. "You really want to do this?"

"Yes." Huo Xiao nodded slightly. "I think the subject is interesting and challenging. I'd like to give it a try."

Jian Li: "..."

What exactly is interesting about it?!

Huo Xiao: "..."

I think you're interesting.

In the end, Jian Li stopped fighting it and drowned his frustration in drinks as the rounds went back and forth.

He could hold his liquor well, mixing spirits and beer without a care.

Once Director Wang Sisi got tipsy, she grabbed Li Lu and began rambling. "Do you know why I wanted to become a director?!"

"No?" Li Lu shook his head, his eyes glazed over.

"Because I'm a fangirl who loves boys' love!" Wang Sisi's eyes shone like lightbulbs as she pointed at Huo Xiao and Jian Li. "I went to all that trouble to get into film school and burned the midnight oil making high-quality movies, all so that once I made a name for myself..."

"I could film the pairing I wanted to ship!"

"Oh my, that beautiful, pure love I've dreamed of, slowly unfolding with the actors I chose..."

"Exactly!" Wang Sisi stood with her glass raised. "I want to do something for fangirls like me!"

Watching this unfold, Jian Li was so startled that he couldn't swallow the liquor in his mouth. "..."

Are all boys' love fangirls this terrifying?!

Two hours later, a group of drunks emerged from the quiet private club.

They propped one another up, howling and shouting.

"Jian Li, I have high hopes for you!" Wang Sisi swayed, pointing at his nose. "You'll be the strongest... bottom in China's history."

Feeling as though his head was about to explode, Jian Li told the director's assistant, "Hurry up and take her home."

Any more drinking and she'll start having delusions!

And another thing...

What fucking good is being the strongest if you're still the bottom?!

"Jian Li, I'm not seeing you home. I drank a bit too much. Urgh, blegh-" Li Lu braced himself against the wall, on the verge of throwing up.

Jian Li waved him off. "You go too. Get moving!"

Covering his mouth, Li Lu turned and headed out of the alley.

He staggered with every step.

Unable to watch any longer, Jian Li took out his phone. "Wait. I'll call you a ride."

His fingertip had barely touched the screen when a hand covered his. "No need. My driver is waiting outside. He can take him."

Jian Li stared at the hand that had appeared, then lifted his eyes. "You've been taking quite a few liberties with me tonight, haven't you?!"

"Does it bother you that much?" Huo Xiao's lips curved as he casually withdrew his arm. "I thought guys didn't need to be so particular around each other."

"I didn't realize you were reading so much into it."

"Who's reading into anything?!" Catching the insinuation, Jian Li immediately protested.

Huo Xiao merely smiled, taking out his phone to call his driver. "Take a friend home for me..."

Once Li Lu was taken care of, Jian Li slipped one hand into his pocket. "Thanks. See you."

With that, he headed toward the mouth of the alley.

He had only taken two steps when he noticed Huo Xiao catching up to walk beside him.

Jian Li glanced sideways. "What are you doing?"

"Walking with you." Huo Xiao looked ahead, perfectly at ease. "We'll be filming soon, so we need to get to know each other better. Once the contracts are signed and the scripts arrive, we'll need to rehearse our scenes together too."

Jian Li: "..."

Why does this sound more and more like he's planning to latch onto me?!

In the hospital corridor.

The sound of sobbing drifted through the crack in a door.

A passing patient peered over curiously and muttered, "Who's that? Must be terminal, right? Crying that hard?"

"You haven't heard?" Another patient feigned surprise. "Lu Yuanhang is in that room. He just got transferred out of the ICU!"

"Him? The celebrity who bragged on a livestream that his family owned the courts?!" The patient's eyes widened. "He really got beaten that badly!"

"He has panda blood. The blood bank is almost out, and they're searching the whole city now. Hurry up and get tested to see if you're a match. They're paying quite a lot!"

"Pah! Even if I were, I wouldn't donate blood to him. A scumbag like him should just die!"

"Shh-keep your voice down. If the Lu family hears you, you'll be in serious trouble."

"Look, someone's coming."

The two patients immediately stopped talking and stared at the ceiling as though nothing had happened.

A man approached at an unhurried pace. After passing them, he stepped back. "Don't worry. I'm not part of the Lu family."

"I'm just an employee."

The two patients: "..."

Seeing the man enter, Lu Siqi, whose arm was in a sling, frowned irritably. "Well? Have you found matching blood?"

"No." The man set an insulated lunchbox on the table.

Lying in bed, Lu Yuanhang looked over resentfully. "Secretary Chen, you're getting worse and worse at your job. Are you trying to get fired?!"

"Sure." Secretary Chen turned with a polite smile. "As long as the severance package is right, I don't mind leaving."

"N plus three months' salary will do." He paused before adding that.

Lu Yuanhang grew even more annoyed. "Brother, look at the kind of people you've hired!"

"Enough!"

Lu Siqi snarled impatiently, "Are you ever going to stop?!"

He turned to Lu Yuanhang. "I haven't even asked you yet. What exactly is going on with that microloan company?! Didn't I already tell you to get out of its operations?! Why are reports still coming out that you ordered violent debt collection?!"

"Brother, I-" As though overwhelmed by agitation, Lu Yuanhang rolled his eyes back and passed out.

Watching this, Secretary Chen curled his lip. "What a fucking act."

Lu Yuanhang: "..." I'll fire you sooner or later!