Yan Ningke knew nothing about the tea ceremony. He sat in front of the tea tray and made a show of fumbling around until Shao Ke shooed him off to cook.
He chuckled and drew his hands back. "Uncle Zhong, try my cooking in a bit."
Uncle Zhong took over the mess he had made and nodded with a smile. "All right, I'll take it easy today and enjoy a meal someone else made."
Yan Ningke scampered off to the kitchen, ready to show off his skills.
The tea from before was no longer usable. Uncle Zhong brewed a fresh pot, his fluid, practiced movements a pleasure to watch.
Uncle Zhong glanced up at the man absorbed in his documents and said gently, "You seem to be doing very well, young master."
Without waiting for a reaction, he went on, "It seems young Mr. Yan has been taking very good care of you."
Shao Ke snorted. "I'd be thankful if he just stopped annoying me."
Really?
Uncle Zhong did not think so. If he truly disliked Yan Ningke, why would he let him waste tea leaves worth tens of thousands per fifty grams, without a care, as though it were perfectly ordinary?
It could only mean that their relationship was rapidly growing closer.
With a guest over today, Yan Ningke went all out and cooked a tableful of dishes. Only while chatting over dinner did he learn that Uncle Zhong was Shao Ke's father's assistant.
He had also personally looked after Shao Ke for a few years at first, and had since been helping him manage some of his work.
Realization dawned on Yan Ningke. No wonder Shao Ke treated him so courteously-he was a trusted aide to the emperor.
They ate early. It was only seven when they finished, and it was still light outside.
Uncle Zhong helped Yan Ningke clean up the kitchen before leaving. Yan Ningke went outside to see him into the car and off.
The air after the rain was refreshing. He stood at the entrance, gazing down the mountain in thought for a while, then turned and ran back into the villa.
Three minutes later.
Yan Ningke appeared outside the gates with a leash in one hand, pushing a stony-faced Shao Ke with the other.
"Go, go, go! Off we go!"
When they reached their usual spot, Yan Ningke unclipped the leash and let Lars run free, while he pushed Shao Ke leisurely along the mountain road.
"Oh, come on, don't be upset. I'm doing this for your own good. Staying in your room every day will drive you stir-crazy."
Shao Ke ignored him. Sometimes he could hardly tell who was the boss anymore. Yan Ningke completely disregarded his wishes and dragged him out on a whim. He had been spoiled into forgetting his place!
Yan Ningke leaned forward to sneak a look at him. "Cheer up. Look at this air, this sunset, this beautiful scenery. It would be such a shame to miss it."
Shao Ke suddenly gave a cold laugh. "So I should thank you?"
Yan Ningke had little patience. When all his coaxing got him nowhere, he simply washed his hands of it and ran off to play with Lars.
Watching him play so carefree with the dog, Shao Ke did not know whether to be angry or laugh. In a rare show of exasperation, he rubbed his temples.
A dog knew who his owner was, after all. Even though Yan Ningke wore himself out playing with Lars for ages, Lars turned around and ran straight to his owner to act cute.
Panting, Yan Ningke sat on the ground with his hands braced behind him, gazing at the backs of the man and dog ahead.
The sun sank in the west, its evening glow shining over all living things.
Lars settled obediently beside the wheelchair, quietly accompanying his owner as he gazed at the mountain scenery.
Life, peaceful and beautiful.
Those words appeared in Yan Ningke's mind.
He suddenly wondered what Shao Ke would have been like if the accident had never happened.
Would he have been a spirited, distinguished young gentleman, or a handsome, aloof, domineering CEO?
Either would have been far better than he was now, adrift from the world with one foot on the edge of hell.
Yan Ningke took his phone out of his pocket, focused the camera, and captured the beauty before him in a single instant.
On the way back, something seemed to occur to Lars, and he started bouncing around Yan Ningke's feet again.
Petty as Yan Ningke was, he refused to give in, and the two chased each other all the way home.
He had just finished showering when Director Zheng De called to tell him he would be filming the day after tomorrow.
Since this shoot was in Neighboring City, a drive of over three hours, they had left him a day to travel.
Yan Ningke told Shao Ke about it over breakfast the next morning.
He had thought he could catch a ride again, but to his surprise, Shao Ke merely acknowledged it and said nothing more.
Disappointed, Yan Ningke was also delighted at the prospect of a few carefree days of freedom. The very next second, however, he heard his dreams shatter.
"Remember your pay. A ten-ninety split."
Great. Another day of being cleaned out.
Since he would be gone for three days, Yan Ningke packed two changes of clothes and set off with a black backpack.
He had booked his ticket online in advance, and the driver dropped him off at the high-speed railway station.
He reached Neighboring City without a hitch and took a taxi straight to the Film and Television City.
Once there, he called the director. The man must have been busy; he said he would send someone to meet him, then hung up.
As luck would have it, it was the same girl who had received him last time-Lili.
Only this time did Yan Ningke learn that, young as Lili looked, she was an executive director specifically in charge of the actors.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lili led him onto the set.
Filming was proceeding in an orderly fashion inside. Lili made a hand gesture, signaling for Yan Ningke to stay quiet.
Following behind her, Yan Ningke took the opportunity to glance around. This looked like a big-budget production; the people filming now were all well-known actors.
Zheng De was staring intently at the monitor. Yan Ningke sat obediently on a small stool, not daring to make a sound.
"All right, that'll do."
People handling various arrangements and actors instantly crowded into the tent, leaving Yan Ningke no chance to speak. When a gap finally opened, Lili seized the opportunity to step forward. "Director, Yan Ningke is here."
Zheng De finally had a moment to glance back. Yan Ningke hurried to his feet and greeted him. "Director Zheng."
Without saying much else, Zheng De handed him several sheets of paper. "Here's the script. Find somewhere to read it carefully. Come ask me if there's anything you don't understand. Filming officially starts tomorrow."
Yan Ningke accepted it with both hands and agreed.
Zheng De was about to return to work when he turned back again. After looking Yan Ningke up and down, he told Lili, "His hair is too long. Have someone cut it shorter. His features need to be fully visible."
Lili acknowledged the instruction and immediately whisked Yan Ningke off to the makeup room.
Once she relayed the director's requirements, a dazed Yan Ningke was pressed into a chair.
Perhaps noticing how out of it he looked, the young male hairstylist patted his shoulder. "Don't be nervous. I'm not going to shave your head."
It was impossible not to be nervous. He was a young man, after all, and understood that a hairstyle made all the difference.
But since he had already agreed, there was no backing out.
Wasn't their choosing him an affirmation of him, too?
I just have to stick my neck out and take the blade.
Yan Ningke closed his eyes with a resolute expression. "Do it!"
He did not dare open his eyes the entire time, until the hairstylist said, "All done. Have a look. Happy with it?"
Yan Ningke tentatively opened his eyes a crack. The next second, they flew wide open.
The young man in the mirror had lost his former boyishness. His neat, short hair made him look fresh and coolly handsome.
How was this any different from getting a whole new head?!
Before you continue