The staff didn't dare intervene in something like this.
They hurriedly called for backup.
When the director heard, he rushed over in his slippers without even taking the time to change his shoes.
When he arrived, Jiang Mingle stood there crying, his eyes red, while Song Lan leaned against the doorframe in irritation.
The director let out a cry. Oh, heavens above!
He put on a smile. "Teacher Song, Lele, what's going on?"
Jiang Mingle bit his lip, looking aggrieved and saying nothing.
His face held an air of proud, innocent defiance.
Impatience seeped into Song Lan's voice. "Could you ask him to stop coming over to chat with me all the time? I don't want to build a personal relationship with him."
The director felt his heart shatter.
This, this... how...
During the day, he'd thought Song Lan wasn't as difficult to get along with as the rumors said.
After all, he'd even urged him to deliver medicine to another artist in the cast.
How had he become so, so difficult again once night fell?
The director glanced at Jiang Mingle.
Before his gaze even landed on Jiang Mingle's face, Song Lan spoke again. "Splicing together a video and buying trending searches before the show aired, then hiring trolls to smear another artist in the cast after it started. I don't understand why I should have any reason to bond with him."
Song Lan left absolutely no room for maneuver.
The director was too shocked to speak.
Jiang Mingle swayed, his heart instantly pounding like thunder, but he flatly denied it. "I didn't. Don't falsely accuse me, Teacher Song. That spliced video of you and Jiang Mingxi had nothing to do with me."
"I can call the marketing account that took the job right now. Would you like me to?" Song Lan asked mockingly.
Jiang Mingle looked as though he'd been struck by lightning.
The director was on the verge of tears.
What other director had it as bad as he did?
On the first day of the show, the livestream had been shut down.
On the second day, one guest had exposed another guest's ugly true colors.
The crucial thing was...
One was Song Lan, whom he couldn't afford to offend, and the other was the younger brother of his financial backer, whom he also couldn't afford to offend.
This was so damn frustrating!
Were they trying to kill him?
Argh!
Roaring inwardly, the director forced himself to keep smiling.
Not daring to engage with Song Lan, he could only turn to Jiang Mingle. "Well, it's getting late. Let's all get some rest. We still have filming tomorrow."
The director forcibly offered him a way out.
And cast a spell with his mind: Don't throw my kindness back in my face. Just leave already!
Fortunately...
Jiang Mingle seemed to have been frightened by Song Lan and left his courtyard looking ashen.
The moment he stepped out, Song Lan slammed the courtyard gate shut.
Standing beside the gate, he drew a stifled breath.
He hadn't lost his temper like that in years.
But today, for some inexplicable reason, he hadn't been able to hold it in.
Especially when Jiang Mingle had asked him whether he knew how many bad things Jiang Mingxi had done. His anger had flared instantly.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Song Lan went back inside.
He'd expected the one inside to come charging out like a gust of wind and throw himself straight into his arms again.
Yet even by the time Song Lan returned to the room, Jiang Mingxi still hadn't come out.
When he entered the inner room, the guy was still on the bed.
Song Lan actually laughed in exasperation. "You certainly know how to sit tight!"
Jiang Mingxi flashed his teeth at Song Lan, a little giddy with the cockiness of someone who'd been indulged and protected. "I feel like I'm the beauty Teacher Song is hiding in his golden house."
Song Lan sat down in a chair and leaned back with his legs spread, neither acknowledging nor looking at him.
With a rustle, Jiang Mingxi put on his shoes, got out of bed, and sidled up to Song Lan.
His knees were injured, but he didn't care.
He crouched in front of Song Lan's legs and boldly folded his arms across Song Lan's lap.
Looking up into Song Lan's eyes, he said shamelessly, "Just now, I wanted to kiss you, Teacher Song."
Song Lan's brow actually twitched.
He looked at him in vexation. "I've only known you for two days!"
Jiang Mingxi braced his arms on Song Lan's legs. Since Song Lan hadn't pushed him away or forbidden him from doing so, that indulgent, tacit permission emboldened him further, and he shuffled a little closer.
That position was simply impossible to look at...
Jiang Mingxi's cheeks were flushed, his eyes brimming with intense ardor. "But I like you, Teacher Song. Even if I'd only known you for a day, I'd still want to kiss you. I like you in the way that makes me want to kiss you."
Song Lan: ...
This conversation was simply impossible to continue.
"You..."
The very instant Song Lan started speaking...
Jiang Mingxi spoke first.
"Give me a chance, Teacher Song. Let me court you." Jiang Mingxi suddenly lunged forward.
From resting his folded arms on Song Lan's legs, he surged forward to crouch between them and wrap his arms around Song Lan's waist.
Song Lan felt his heart jolt at the impact.
Frowning, he pushed him away. "Get up."
Jiang Mingxi refused, whining, "Say yes, Teacher Song. Give me a chance. You've got nothing to lose. I'll court you, buy you flowers, and treat you well."
Exasperated by his pestering, Song Lan said, "Didn't you just put medicine on your knees? Don't they hurt anymore?"
Jiang Mingxi hugged his waist and swayed gently. "Give me a chance."
He tilted his head back, meeting Song Lan's eyes.
With a downward glance, Song Lan could see, faintly visible inside the collar he'd shaken askew...
"I'll count to three. If you don't say anything, Teacher Song, I'll take that as a yes?" A sly glint shone in Jiang Mingxi's eyes.
Resting his hand on the table, Song Lan rubbed his fingers together very lightly.
He said nothing.
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
With his heart practically leaping into his throat, Jiang Mingxi rushed through the count of three.
Then...
Catching Song Lan off guard, he suddenly sprang upward. "Then I'll take out an advance!"
Straight toward Song Lan's lips-
Smack.
He planted a kiss on them.
Then fled like the wind.
Hahaha!
Heeheehee!
Kekeke!
I got a kiss!
I got a kiss!
Even Fan Jin passing the imperial examination hadn't been as ecstatic as he was now!
Hehehe~
Sure enough!
As long as you're bold enough!
Jiang Mingxi touched his lips all the way back to his courtyard. As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Dabao standing outside his gate.
"Dabao?" Jiang Mingxi called.
Dabao had his head lowered, kicking a stone back and forth underfoot. At the sound, he turned to look. Seeing it was him, he took two steps forward. "Jiang Mingxi, there's something I need to tell you."
Jiang Mingxi pushed open the courtyard gate and led him inside.
"What is it?" he asked as they walked.
Dabao lowered his voice, his tone grave and anxious. "Third Brother just came to my house looking for me."
Jiang Mingxi paused, then pushed open the door and switched on the light. "Third Brother?"
Dabao followed him inside and closed the door behind him.
His youthful face was full of anxiety. "The one you met at the auto repair shop today. That blond guy."
Jiang Mingxi remembered, but still didn't understand. He pointed to a chair for Dabao to sit down.
Dabao was far too anxious to sit. He followed behind Jiang Mingxi. "He asked me where you were staying."
Jiang Mingxi raised an eyebrow.
"I told him I didn't know, and he said someone in this village had to know. He's not a good person. You-you should tell the production team and get a few staff members to sleep here with you tonight.
"In case he comes looking for you."
Jiang Mingxi was so good-looking.
Dabao was so anxious that his heart was pounding away with a duang, duang.
Jiang Mingxi understood what he meant.
He carefully recalled the original novel's plot. The original owner hadn't known this blond guy before.
Just from that brief encounter at the auto repair shop today, this guy had tracked him all the way here?