The little gift bag

Underground parking garage-

"I'm heading back."

Wu Jiangyuan unfastened his seat belt and was about to open the door.

Pei Jinghe suddenly stopped him. "Do you want to act in movies?"

Wu Jiangyuan's hand paused. He turned to look at him. "If I remember right, you aren't involved in the film and television business, are you?"

"I wasn't before," Pei Jinghe said. "But I recently discussed a collaboration with Liang Changju."

At this point, even an idiot would have understood what he meant.

He recalled what Aji had said not long ago.

"I heard from Aji that Director Liang is preparing a new movie."

Though reluctant to admit it, he still asked, "You invested in it?"

"Yes," Pei Jinghe said.

Then he added, "But don't worry. Liang Changju doesn't know about our relationship."

Wu Jiangyuan breathed a sigh of relief at that. "Good. Remember what you promised me. Don't let anyone find out about our relationship."

This time, Pei Jinghe showed no emotional reaction to those words. "Liang Changju has a good impression of you."

Wu Jiangyuan: "?"

He tilted his head in confusion. "Are you sure? You haven't seen how harsh he is with me."

"He takes his work seriously," Pei Jinghe said.

Wu Jiangyuan believed he took his work seriously, but he didn't believe Liang Changju had a good impression of him.

"You haven't secretly used your position as an investor to pressure him, have you?"

Pei Jinghe gave it serious thought. "If you want to go, I could consider that approach."

Wu Jiangyuan: "..."

"So you didn't pressure him or put in a good word for me?"

"No."

Huh. That's strange, then.

Pei Jinghe didn't look like he was lying, either.

Liang Changju really had a good impression of him?

Wu Jiangyuan still felt it wasn't appropriate. "There are so many talented actors in the industry. If I buy my way into the cast, I'll get even more hate."

"I'm not asking you to buy your way in," Pei Jinghe said. "I'm asking you to compete for it."

"If you really want to act in movies."

Wu Jiangyuan didn't reply. Of course he wanted to act in movies.

Who wouldn't want to shine on the big screen?

It wasn't as though he had nothing better to do and had joined the entertainment industry just to get insulted.

But did he really have the ability to compete with those people?

Pei Jinghe saw his concerns. "Wu Jiangyuan, this is the first time I've seen you afraid."

Wu Jiangyuan clicked his tongue softly. "It's called knowing my limits."

But then something occurred to him. He suddenly looked at Pei Jinghe, leaned forward, and grabbed the front of his clothes.

"You invested in his movie just to give me a chance to compete for a role?"

Pei Jinghe wasn't annoyed at being grabbed and readily admitted it. "Yes."

"I could also directly ask him to put you in the cast."

He covered Wu Jiangyuan's hand with his own and said, each word distinct, "Just say the word, and I'll make you the lead in Liang Changju's movie."

The warmth of Pei Jinghe's palm made Wu Jiangyuan's hand tremble slightly. His words caught him off guard, yet instantly lit a spark inside him.

He tried to withdraw his hand, but Pei Jinghe held it tight.

"Talk to me, Tangtang." Pei Jinghe leaned a little closer. "What do you want me to do?"

He wanted Wu Jiangyuan to say it himself.

Hearing him call him Tangtang made Wu Jiangyuan's ears burn. He frowned and forced himself to look calm. "Let go. Don't call me that."

They had clearly agreed that he would use his resources to make him famous, yet when it actually happened, he felt inexplicably embarrassed.

Mostly, the way this guy expressed himself wasn't like him at all. It was rather different from what Wu Jiangyuan had imagined.

He had imagined their relationship would be purely collaborative, so what was with this strange, faintly suggestive atmosphere?

He also knew that if they really did what Pei Jinghe suggested, wouldn't that blatantly announce that something was going on between them?

"I get it," Wu Jiangyuan said, biting the bullet. "I'll consider what you said."

Then he couldn't help stressing, "Next time, could you discuss something like this with me first?"

Pei Jinghe lowered his eyes. He had gone to watch every day during filming, and Wu Jiangyuan's performance had been impeccable.

He had also seen Wu Jiangyuan's passion for becoming an actor.

Since that was what he wanted, Pei Jinghe would pave the way for him.

Liang Changju's influence spoke for itself. Since he was going to pave the way, he would give Wu Jiangyuan the best.

He hadn't chosen to use his financial clout to put him straight into the cast.

Wu Jiangyuan was proud. That approach would put him at the center of controversy, and even if he landed the lead, no one would genuinely believe in him.

That was why Pei Jinghe wanted Wu Jiangyuan to compete for it himself, because in his eyes, Wu Jiangyuan absolutely had the ability.

It was just that the person concerned seemed to have backed down at the crucial moment.

"The decision is yours. I'm only making a suggestion."

Pei Jinghe didn't push too hard. He reassured him, "Even without you, I'd still invest in him. Don't feel pressured."

Wu Jiangyuan secretly gritted his teeth. That was easy to say.

But the fact that this guy had spent money investing for his sake had taken root in his mind, already weighing on him like the Five Elements Mountain.

Suddenly, Pei Jinghe placed something in his palm.

Wu Jiangyuan looked closely. It was the little gift bag he had been keeping hidden all day.

"What's this?"

Pei Jinghe didn't say outright. His expression softened, and he released his hand. "Open it when you get home."

Wu Jiangyuan's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. He resisted the urge to open it right there. "Fine. As long as it's not some prank toy, I'll thank you."

"After tomorrow, you really ought to change your impression of me," Pei Jinghe said.

Wu Jiangyuan looked down at the little gift bag. It was only palm-sized, neither particularly heavy nor light, so he couldn't tell what it was.

He peeked inside. It held a small box.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow," Pei Jinghe said.

His gaze still on the gift bag, Wu Jiangyuan nodded. "Okay."

"Do you need me to find someone to help you pack tomorrow?" Pei Jinghe asked.

Wu Jiangyuan nodded.

"..." Then the words registered, and his head shot up. "What did you say? I wasn't listening just now."

So Pei Jinghe repeated himself. "Should I find someone to help you pack tomorrow? Or is that unnecessary, and we should just get new things ready for you?"

Pack?

Wu Jiangyuan finally shifted his attention. He was supposed to move after they registered their marriage.

He asked tentatively, "Am I moving right after we get the marriage certificate?"

Pei Jinghe tilted his head slightly. "When would you like to?"

Wu Jiangyuan quickly ran through his thoughts before compromising. "I don't need your help. I don't have much stuff. I can do it myself."

"All right," Pei Jinghe said. "I have an important meeting tomorrow, so I might not go back with you after we get the certificate. I'll send you the door code."

"...Okay," Wu Jiangyuan said.

The air inside the car began to feel stuffy and hot. Wu Jiangyuan opened the door and got out.

"I'm heading back."

Pei Jinghe didn't stop him again. Instead, he watched his retreating figure, his expression a little tense.

Wu Jiangyuan took the elevator home.

The first thing he did when he got home was open the little gift bag, standing right by the door.

It was a small square box.

He opened it and looked inside-

A ring lay within.