Someone let out a startled cry, setting off a commotion.
Ji Hanchuan and Zhang Zixiang walked in together.
The refined, distinguished man instantly drew everyone's attention.
A black tracksuit encased his tall, solid frame, its zipper still pulled all the way up. His head was slightly lowered as he listened to Zhang Zixiang, his long, thick lashes veiling those cold, deep eyes.
"Holy shit! It's actually Ji Hanchuan!"
"How come there wasn't any news of him coming back to the country? So he's playing the male lead?"
"Boohoo, I'm calling my mom and dad right now! I'm going to work with Ji Hanchuan!"
"Director Zhang really has some pull, getting Ji Hanchuan to make a comeback!"
"We hit the jackpot! We seriously hit the jackpot!" Ma Xianbei nudged Shi Wei with his elbow. "Ji Hanchuan guarantees quality and box office returns! Shi Wei, you absolutely have to go say hello to him later, understand? Make sure you get a photo together. Even better if you can get a few pointers from him."
After rambling on without getting any response, Ma Xianbei turned and found Shi Wei staring blankly at Ji Hanchuan.
"Stunned, huh? He's a best actor award winner, after all." Ma Xianbei laughed. "I really hope people will look up to you like that someday."
Shi Wei was utterly dumbfounded.
Why was he here?!
Why hadn't anyone told him Ji Hanchuan was playing the male lead?
They lived together, yet neither had told the other about filming.
What a fake marriage this was!
Hearing the noisy chatter, Ji Hanchuan looked over and, sure enough, spotted Shi Wei's beautiful, striking face in the crowd.
It was covered in question marks and displeasure.
Ji Hanchuan scoffed inwardly. Done pretending?
Noticing Ji Hanchuan looking at him, Shi Wei immediately gave him a sweet smile.
Their eyes met across the crowd.
-Hehe, you bastard, why do you keep staring at my face? Missing my little banana?
Ji Hanchuan: ...
"What's wrong?" Noticing Ji Hanchuan stiffen, Zhang Zixiang couldn't resist teasing him. "You've been away from film sets so long you're nervous, aren't you?"
"No." Ji Hanchuan sounded somewhat helpless.
Zhang Zixiang said, "Come meet the cast first."
Ji Hanchuan nodded. "All right."
"Brother Hanchuan!"
A figure suddenly rushed out of the changing room and stopped in front of Ji Hanchuan. His blue-green scholar's robes made him look like green bamboo, particularly handsome and delicate.
Xu Xirui already had his makeup on, his hair tied in a topknot with two fine strands hanging beside his cheeks. He looked surprised and delighted. "Brother Hanchuan, is it really you? Do you still remember me?"
Of course Ji Hanchuan remembered this childhood friend.
He had gone through a dark period as a child.
Rage, silence, anxiety, pain... He had fallen into an endless hell, while those around him could only watch helplessly, until Xu Xirui appeared and saved him.
Xu Xirui had always been the purest, most sacred presence in his heart.
A gentle smile appeared on Ji Hanchuan's usually stern face. "I remember."
Inexplicably, his heart began racing, faster and faster, beyond his control...
It really was beyond his control!
Ji Hanchuan: What was going on?!
Suddenly, someone crashed into his arms, knocking those runaway emotions straight off course like a cannonball.
Ji Hanchuan instinctively steadied him.
He lowered his eyes, and the person in his arms lifted his pretty face too.
Shi Wei laughed awkwardly. "Hu..."
Ji Hanchuan's eyes turned cold, carrying a dangerous warning.
Shi Wei's brain short-circuited. "H-hubby?"
Ji Hanchuan: ...
Dancing on a grave: from beginner to giving up.
Ji Hanchuan let go of him outright.
Shi Wei swayed before finding his footing. He turned to look, only to find that the culprit, Ma Xianbei, had already hidden himself somewhere.
Brother Bei!!
Just moments earlier-
"Brother Bei, I need the bathroom." Shi Wei adamantly refused to go greet Ji Hanchuan.
Ma Xianbei kept pushing him. "Go afterward! Don't you see Ji Hanchuan coming over?!"
"But it's urgent."
"Hold it, damn it!" Ma Xianbei was nearly furious enough to die. That was Great God Ji! Everyone else was dying to latch onto him, yet this guy had no fucking self-awareness.
Seizing his moment, he discreetly lifted his foot and kicked Shi Wei over.
He nearly sent Shi Wei to the afterlife.
"Shi Wei, have you gone silly? Why are you calling him boss?" Zhang Zixiang laughed. "Want to join Hanchuan's studio?"
Shi Wei shook his head frantically. "I wouldn't dare dream of it."
Thank goodness, everyone around them had misheard.
"You weren't this timid before." Smiling, Zhang Zixiang introduced them. "Here, you know Great God Ji, right? During your audition, he..."
Ji Hanchuan interrupted just in time, extending a hand to Shi Wei. "Hello."
Shi Wei didn't dare act up. "Hello, my name is Shi Wei."
Their hands touched and quickly parted, then both turned away, as though the scenery elsewhere was prettier.
Zhang Zixiang looked from Ji Hanchuan to Shi Wei, his eyes gleaming as he keenly picked up on something amiss.
"So you like Brother Hanchuan too, Shi Wei."
Xu Xirui's voice came somewhat abruptly.
The other three: ...
Oh, right. Xu Xirui was still here.
Shi Wei shook his head frantically again, determined not to step into Xu Xirui's trap. "All I feel for Mr. Ji is endless respect and admiration. I'm leaving."
Why did this respect and admiration look more like fleeing in panic?
"Brother Hanchuan."
Ji Hanchuan turned back to Xu Xirui and realized the affection and excitement that had suddenly welled up earlier had vanished.
Xu Xirui's eyes shone. "Shall we have dinner together sometime? Catch up a little, pretty please?"
His voice was soft, entirely different from Shi Wei's affected manner, and was particularly pleasant to hear, like basking in a spring breeze.
Yet Ji Hanchuan found that his heartbeat was no longer out of control as it had been earlier.
He said politely, "Sorry, I need to get ready for filming."
Not seeing the excitement he had expected on Ji Hanchuan's face, Xu Xirui was a little disappointed, but his smile remained sweet and innocent. "Mm, I understand. Make sure you come find me when you're free, Brother Hanchuan."
"Mm."
Ji Hanchuan walked straight past him to greet the veteran actor beside them.
Xu Xirui: ???
He was somewhat taken aback, not quite understanding why Ji Hanchuan was so cold toward him. Normally, whenever he smiled at someone, they would cling to him and take the initiative to treat him well.
Still standing there, Xu Xirui caught sight of Shi Wei hiding in a corner out of the corner of his eye, and a trace of hatred flashed through his gaze.
He had almost forgotten about that bitch.
He had deliberately fallen into Ji Hanchuan's arms just now, hadn't he? How scheming. He must have deliberately interrupted his conversation with Ji Hanchuan.
Xu Xirui smiled and walked toward him.
"Can't Brother Bei admit he was wrong? Who knew you'd fall right into Ji Hanchuan's arms? Thank goodness he didn't hold it against you." Ma Xianbei was still shaken.
Shi Wei wholeheartedly agreed.
"Weiwei." Smiling faintly, Xu Xirui approached them with little steps.
Hearing his silvery laughter, the people around them turned, smiles spreading across their faces too.
Shi Wei turned to Ma Xianbei with utter disdain. "Ugh... Brother Bei, this guy's so rude. He calls people 'hey, hey.'"
Ma Xianbei: ...
Xu Xirui: ...
The onlookers: ...