The faster Shi Wei ran, the darker Ji Hanchuan's expression grew.
Li Xiaochen didn't dare look. He meekly set the late-night food on the table.
Ji Hanchuan sighed silently. "Don't misunderstand. There's nothing between him and me."
"Of course I know." Li Xiaochen knew who Shi Wei was. He smiled and said, "Even if I don't trust Shi Wei, how could I not trust you, Brother Hanchuan? I was just startled."
Startled by Shi Wei's death-defying behavior!
He actually dared to hug Ji Hanchuan like that. Wasn't he afraid of getting thrown over his shoulder?
Li Xiaochen arranged the food on the table in front of Ji Hanchuan. "Brother Hanchuan, have something to eat."
"Thanks." Ji Hanchuan picked up his phone and started scrolling. "Go get some rest."
"Okay." Li Xiaochen tidied up a little, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. I ran into Xu Xirui just now. He asked whether you'd had a late-night snack, Brother Hanchuan, and said he could bring one up."
Ji Hanchuan asked, "You didn't accept, did you?"
"Of course not. Brother, don't I know better?" Li Xiaochen proudly puffed out his little chest. It wasn't that he was cautious; there were simply too many people who used late-night food deliveries to seduce Ji Hanchuan.
Some drugged the food, for example, while others showed up to deliver it stark naked... It was downright dangerous.
"Good. Don't accept any in the future either," Ji Hanchuan instructed.
He had to eliminate every opportunity for Shi Wei to manufacture a grievance and shift the blame onto him!
"Got it, Brother." Li Xiaochen was about to leave when he caught sight of the snacks Shi Wei had tossed on the bed. He hurried over to clear them away, but Ji Hanchuan told him to just pile them on the desk.
"Huh? You're not throwing them out?" Li Xiaochen was astonished, even more so than when he'd seen Shi Wei hugging Ji Hanchuan.
"No need."
Ji Hanchuan could already imagine it. If Shi Wei discovered that the snacks he'd brought had been thrown away, he would definitely manufacture another grievance and demand a divorce.
Li Xiaochen left the luxury suite in bewilderment.
Brother Hanchuan seemed to treat this Shi Wei a little differently from everyone else.
Li Xiaochen found an excuse for that strange sense that something was off.
Maybe store-bought snacks were harder to drug.
On set the next day, Shi Wei trailed beside Ji Hanchuan like a little lackey.
"Teacher Ji, have some tea."
"Teacher Ji, let me hold your clothes."
"Teacher Ji, would you like me to massage your legs?"
Ji Hanchuan: ...
"Stand properly."
Shi Wei withdrew the hand that had nearly reached Ji Hanchuan's thigh. Pouting, he stood beside Li Xiaochen and folded his arms across his chest.
Shi Wei couldn't help muttering to him, "Is being Teacher Ji's lackey really hard?"
Li Xiaochen couldn't help saying, "You look more like a bodyguard."
"Because I'm so mighty and imposing?"
Li Xiaochen no longer wanted to talk.
"Brother Hanchuan." Xu Xirui walked over carrying a small sky-blue box, the bow tied around it bobbing with his movements.
Ji Hanchuan greeted him politely. Xu Xirui smiled sweetly. "Here, I made these cookies. Try them, Brother Hanchuan."
"Thank you." Ji Hanchuan was about to take it when Shi Wei reached out with both hands and intercepted the box. "I'll hold it for Teacher Ji."
Xu Xirui's smile faltered. "Sorry, Xiao Wei. I forgot to make any for you. But these are for Brother Hanchuan. How about I make you some tomorrow?"
"It's fine. I can test them for poison for Teacher Ji first. I'm his bodyguard."
Ji Hanchuan: ...
Xu Xirui: ...
Shi Wei untied the bow, picked up a cookie, and took a bite. As he ate, he said with exaggerated sweetness, "Wow, these are really delicious. They must be so hard to make."
Xu Xirui forced a smile. "Not at all. They're very simple."
"They're so simple, but you only made one batch? Not even Director Zhang gets any? Sigh, good thing it's you. If it were anyone else, everyone would definitely think they were deliberately currying favor with Teacher Ji."
It would have been fine if Shi Wei hadn't said anything, but once he did, the onlookers who had been secretly watching began to feel something was off.
That did seem to be the case. He'd only made them for Ji Hanchuan, with none for anyone else.
It wasn't that they wanted the cookies. They just didn't want to be treated differently.
At a loss, Xu Xirui looked toward Ji Hanchuan for help. "Brother Hanchuan..."
"Handsome." Ji Hanchuan raised his eyes to Shi Wei.
"Yes!"
"Shut up."
"You got it, Teacher Ji."
Shi Wei sneered inwardly. See? That bastard really does care about Xu Xirui.
Seeing Ji Hanchuan scold Shi Wei, Xu Xirui secretly rejoiced.
"What's everyone talking about?" A beautiful woman walked over, smiling charmingly at Ji Hanchuan. "Teacher Ji, my two juniors haven't been bothering you, have they?"
Ji Hanchuan was distant but polite. "Hello."
"Sister Jun'er." Xu Xirui gave her a sweet, obedient smile.
Wang Jun'er stepped forward and linked her arm through Xu Xirui's, casting a cool glance at Shi Wei. "Ruirui, you're just too honest. You worked so hard making cookies, and someone still criticized you."
"I'm fine, Sister Jun'er." Xu Xirui shook his head, looking calm and magnanimous.
Shi Wei ate cookies while admiring the scenery.
According to the memories the original owner had left him, Wang Jun'er seemed to have always disliked him. The two of them had apparently even shared an agent before...
Noticing that Shi Wei was ignoring her, Wang Jun'er thought he must be scared. After all, her status was higher than his.
"Teacher Ji, could I run through this scene with you?" Wang Jun'er asked gently. "It's my first time playing a married couple with you. I'm honestly a little nervous."
When it came to work, Ji Hanchuan rarely refused. Suppressing her wild delight, Wang Jun'er said, "Ruirui, Shi Wei, why don't you two take a walk outside? You don't know what this scene is about anyway."
Trying to ditch me already? Xu Xirui resisted the urge to roll his eyes and shook his head. "It's fine. I wanted to watch you and Brother Hanchuan rehearse anyway, Sister Jun'er. I really need to learn from you both."
Wang Jun'er smiled too. "It's only a rehearsal. Wouldn't it be better to watch when we actually film it?"
Xu Xirui's smile grew even prettier. "I don't have much experience. This is the perfect chance to learn."
Brilliant!
Shi Wei only regretted not having a handful of sunflower seeds nearby.
Seeing Shi Wei looking like a melon-munching badger frantically enjoying the drama, Ji Hanchuan frowned. "If you don't want to rehearse, please all leave."
Shi Wei stared at him with wide eyes.
What a straightforward guy. Can you really not tell they're fighting over you?
Li Xiaochen seemed accustomed to this sort of battlefield. As steady as a mountain, he smoothed things over. "Sorry, Teacher Ji is tired. If there's nothing else, he needs some peace and quiet to rest."
In other words, they were too noisy and needed to leave.
"I just remembered I need to go for a makeup test," Wang Jun'er said with a smile. "I'll come see you another time, Teacher Ji."
Xu Xirui smiled innocently. "Then I won't bother you, Brother Hanchuan. Make sure you get plenty of rest."
Ji Hanchuan nodded coolly.
A flash of disbelief crossed Xu Xirui's eyes, and he silently followed Wang Jun'er away.
Why was Ji Hanchuan so cold toward him?
Clearly, all he had to do was smile, and everyone would believe him and treat him well.
Xu Xirui looked back and saw Shi Wei still standing beside Ji Hanchuan. The malice in his eyes grew increasingly obvious.
Could it be because of him?
He hurried to catch up with Wang Jun'er in the deserted hallway. "Sister Jun'er..."