Are you made of taffy?

Hu Kailan steadied Shen Lian and frowned at Wei Fanchen. "What are you doing?"

As it happened, Wei Fanchen was an artist under Chang'an Media, which competed with Xingkai.

Wei Fanchen had never imagined that one day, Shen Lian would actually turn the tables on him.

"He's faking it! I didn't do anything!"

"I'm not faking it. The sight of you just makes me sick." Shen Lian had recovered enough to speak, and he didn't mince words.

Sensing that something was wrong, Wei Fanchen's three assistants gathered around as well.

"Let's go, Kailan." Shen Lian couldn't be bothered to waste his breath. He knew what sort of person this bastard was now.

Unlike the original owner's self-sacrificing love, no matter how much Wei Fanchen liked Zhou Tangsi, he wouldn't dare gamble his own future on him. But he couldn't give up either, so he had used the original owner to target Zheng Ge time and again. He was an expert at getting someone else to do his dirty work.

But that was the extent of his abilities. If Shen Lian let him use him even once, he might as well have lived both his lives for nothing.

Shen Lian swept a dark look over him, and the protests Wei Fanchen had been about to shout caught in his throat.

By the time he finished hesitating, Shen Lian and the others were already far away.

Once in the car, Shen Lian rubbed between his brows.

He had a vague theory about the images that had suddenly flashed through his mind.

"You're all right now, aren't you? The production team just messaged me. They've confirmed you for Li Kuan," Hu Kailan said.

Shen Lian was surprised. "That fast?"

It hadn't even been ten minutes since he'd left the audition hall.

Hu Kailan couldn't help giving Shen Lian several more looks. "Ahem. Your acting is pretty good."

"It's all right," Shen Lian said modestly.

No! You're the best!! Jiang You screamed inwardly.

He'd thought it would take ages to work through the audition preparation, and Hu Kailan had even found him a teacher. Who knew Shen Lian would stun everyone right out of the gate, leaving Dai Tong nodding repeatedly at his performance?

"I'm heading to the company. What about you? Going home?"

Shen Lian said, "Yeah, home. Go take care of your work, Kailan. You can just have You drive me."

Hu Kailan said, "Stay safe on the road."

Aunt Fen was trimming the plants when Shen Lian walked in. She looked surprised. "You're back so early, Shen."

"Mm." Shen Lian kept having a gut feeling that he'd forgotten something important. The stabbing pain in his temples gradually became a dull ache spreading through half his head. Weariness showed on his face. "Aunt Fen, I'm going upstairs to sleep for a while."

Aunt Fen hurried a few steps after him. "Are you sick?"

Shen Lian said, "I'll be fine after some sleep."

Perhaps something would come to him in a dream.

As it turned out, Shen Lian had been overthinking it. The memories stirred up by Wei Fanchen were as fleeting as a flower that bloomed for a single night. He slept groggily, dimly sensing someone touching his forehead.

The slightly cool touch startled Shen Lian awake.

When he saw Chu Yilan standing beside the bed, Shen Lian thought he was still dreaming.

It took him a few seconds to register that Chu Yilan really was home.

Shen Lian glanced at the clock on the wall. Four in the afternoon.

"Why are you home so early today?"

Instead of answering, Chu Yilan asked, "Not feeling well?"

"No, it's just..." Shen Lian stopped halfway through, then looked at Chu Yilan with a grin. "Did Aunt Fen call you? Were you worried about me, Master Chu?"

Chu Yilan frowned. "Just answer the question."

Shen Lian sat up and patted the spot beside him.

Chu Yilan sat down.

"I'm not feeling unwell. If I had to explain it, I just ran into someone I hate."

Chu Yilan asked, "Who?"

"Wei Fanchen. You must have met him."

Chu Yilan shook his head. He never remembered the faces of people who had nothing to do with him.

"Did he bully you?"

"As if he could. It's just..." Thinking of those fragmented images, Shen Lian didn't know how to explain. "It's hard to say. I'll tell you when I've figured something out, Master Chu."

Chu Yilan raised a brow. What kind of answer was that?

But Shen Lian leaned sideways toward him, settling naturally against his chest before wrapping his arms around his waist.

"I'm going to be busy earning money. I won't be able to keep you company like this."

Chu Yilan gave a short laugh. "I'm not a child."

Stubborn, Shen Lian thought.

"Passed the audition?"

"Yep. Blew everyone away."

Chu Yilan hadn't seen it, so he assumed Shen Lian was bragging.

Chu Yilan had never told anyone that he'd privately "appreciated" some of the dramas Shen Lian had appeared in. How could he put it? His bearing was completely different from what it was now. Even when he played an overbearing CEO, there was something petty and small-minded about him. Despite the identical face, Chu Yilan had only lasted three minutes before closing the video.

Objectively speaking, "Shen Lian's" acting was truly awful.

Since they didn't have much time left together, Shen Lian started making his presence felt at every opportunity.

He had that knack: he could slip seamlessly into your life without ever making you feel annoyed or exhausted. On the contrary, his face always wore a warm, exuberant smile.

Shen Lian learned a whole array of dishes from Aunt Fen, then made them for Chu Yilan.

They tasted slightly different, but they were delicious.

In the blink of an eye, the day came for Shen Lian to join the production.

In the meantime, Hu Kailan had kept a close eye on Shen Lian, worried something would go wrong. He checked in by text or phone almost every day.

Early that morning, Shen Lian came downstairs with his suitcase and was surprised to find Chu Yilan still there.

"Not going to work?"

"I am." Chu Yilan put down his financial magazine. "Eat first. I'll drive you over afterward."

Shen Lian grinned. "But my assistant's already here with the van."

"Have her follow us."

When Jiang You received Shen Lian's call, she understood what to do. Through the window, she saw Chu Yilan stride into the Maybach. She couldn't make out his face, but his presence was intimidatingly powerful. Shen Lian followed behind him, with the driver wheeling his suitcase.

When the Maybach pulled away, Jiang You followed cautiously behind.

In the car, Shen Lian simply wouldn't behave.

Although Chu Yilan hadn't said anything, personally driving him to the set already showed that he cared.

Shen Lian basked smugly in that knowledge for a few minutes, then started rubbing against Chu Yilan.

Chu Yilan lowered his eyes to him. "Are you made of taffy?"

"Yep." Shen Lian smiled. "I have to squeeze in all the clinging I can. Director Dai is strict. He won't let us leave until filming's finished."

As he spoke, Shen Lian tipped his head up and nuzzled Chu Yilan's chin.

The man didn't pull away.

The driver tactfully raised the partition between the front and back seats.

Shen Lian straddled Chu Yilan's lap, facing him, and rested his hands on the man's shoulders as he kissed him in earnest.

Even if he was keeping a pretty little pet, there was nothing wrong with kissing him.

Chu Yilan wrapped his arms around Shen Lian's waist, gently rubbing it with his broad hands. Suddenly, he drew back a little and reminded Shen Lian, "Eat on time when you're on set."

"Mm." Still caught up in the moment, Shen Lian promised hastily, "I won't let my blood sugar drop."

With that, he went back to nibbling Chu Yilan's lips.

Chu Yilan couldn't hold back a low chuckle.

He really was very pleased with the Shen Lian he knew now.

The two kissed the whole way there...

Until the car stopped and the driver tapped lightly on the partition. "Master Chu, we're here."

At the sound, Shen Lian pulled away. Chu Yilan instinctively frowned, a little displeased.

Shen Lian never let anything interfere with work, so he soothed Chu Yilan. "Video call me if you miss me."

Chu Yilan said, "Keep dreaming."

Shen Lian gave a couple of little hums, then leaned in to press a quick kiss to the scar on his face. "Wait for me to come home," he said huskily.

As he got out, Shen Lian thought he heard a quiet, "Mm."

Chu Yilan only took Shen Lian as far as the entrance. The driver helped unload his suitcase, and Jiang You hurried over to take it.

The car window never rolled down. It lingered for only a few seconds before driving away.