What is the connection between these two?
[If it's not suitable for screening, you should find something suitable! What's the point of sitting in complete darkness with the screen off...?]
Do you think I believe you?
He seems to be treating us like idiots, trying to fool us. [Smile]
[Actually, it makes sense... well, you get emotional, and since you can't resolve it, the only thing you can do is sit quietly and let it calm down slowly, right?]
[If that's how you put it, then there's nothing I can do.]
[I looked with a magnifying glass, my wife's lips are definitely swollen... and you still think you can explain that away!]
It's just a slight swelling; it's probably from biting it yourself. [Nods]
[Yes, that's right. (Presses the cabinet door forcefully)]
After leaving the movie room, Chi Li went straight to the restroom.
After cooling his face, he took out his phone from his pocket, intending to check the online trends.
As soon as he unlocked the app, he was bombarded with messages from Li Ming.
Li Ming: What are you doing?!
Li Ming: What are you doing?!
Li Ming: You have no shortage of jobs now, what's the point of selling such a huge amount?!
Li Ming: Whether he's in the entertainment industry or not doesn't matter, but what about you?
Li Ming: Do you even want to stay in this business?
Chi Li held her phone with both hands and slowly typed a reply: Don't rush.
He switched to another app and quickly browsed the community page.
After discovering that the screen was completely black and nothing was being recorded, he felt relieved and switched back to replying to Li Ming.
Chi Li: There's something I haven't told you yet.
Chi Li: I'm in a relationship with Shen Xunye.
He didn't intend to hide his relationship.
But -- I also don't plan to make it public.
In other words, he allows the relationship to be tacitly acknowledged, but he won't bring it into the open.
Once something is brought into the open, the audience's focus shifts from the person's work performance to their emotional life.
They would magnify every move the two made, meticulously searching for any trace of 'affection' or 'breakup'.
If it must be made public, it will only be after his identity as a singer or actor has been recognized, or after the relationship between the two has progressed further.
I need to explain this plan and reasoning to Shen Xunye later, so he doesn't... overthink it again.
Upon receiving the message, Li Ming immediately made a phone call.
Chi Li answered the phone, and the first thing she heard was, "Are you crazy?! Weren't you supposed to be a bromance partner? How did you end up selling yourself out?!"
"I'm just explaining the situation," Chi Li said, not intending to answer Li Ming's question, "So you won't be surprised later."
Li Ming was completely choked up. "..."
He paused for two seconds, then decided to offer some advice. "You... you can't just decide to date based on looks or the short time you've spent together, you know? You also need to consider... consider his family."
Generally speaking, one should only consider family background when the discussion turns to marriage.
But the Shen family that Shen Xunye belongs to is really a bit different...
After all, being a daughter-in-law in a wealthy family isn't easy.
He certainly didn't want his child to get involved in any power struggles within wealthy families.
But this child is too opinionated... I don't know if he can understand his hints.
"Family...?" Chi Li was also taken aback by Li Ming's 'foresight'. "You're already thinking about things so far ahead?"
"Of course!" Seeing Chi Li Ming hesitate, Chi Li immediately perked up. "You should be able to tell from the fact that his brother is Shen Qiang that his family is extraordinary, right?"
Chi Li placed her free hand on the sink. "Hmm, I can tell your family is quite wealthy."
"Being rich is..." Li Ming stopped talking, deciding not to go into anything too complicated, and only to mention the most easily associated thing. "Think about it yourself, wealthy families are generally quite... well, you can't grasp that."
Chi Li didn't think being rich was anything noble, because—"I'll be rich someday too."
Shen Xunye is so wealthy that even if she leaves her family, she can still maintain her original standard of living.
He has that confidence.
Li Ming: "..."
He was unable to refute it.
"I'll ask him about it later." Chi Li was certain he would have money, but that didn't mean he would ignore the other person's family. "His family has problems, and I'll try to solve them. If I can't, I'll find a way to cut ties."
"... You've really thought of everything."
Li Ming was completely speechless.
It must be said that although Chi Li is young, his way of thinking is sometimes more mature than his.
"Of course." Chi Li looked up at himself in the mirror. "As long as it's not him, the other problems aren't problems."
Li Ming gritted his teeth. "I wish you a long and happy marriage."
Chi Li: "Thank you."
Just as Chi Li hung up the phone and was about to put away her phone and turn to leave, a new message popped up on her screen.
It was sent by Shen Xunye: There's something I need to discuss with you.
Chi Li:?
If there's anything you need to say, say it now.
Shen Xunye: An elder in my family has a birthday coming up in a few days, and I would like to invite you to his birthday party.
Chi Li: "..."
What? I just discussed family issues with Li Ming, and now these problems are immediately presented to me?
An elder's birthday party... I estimate there will be quite a few attendees, which will give me a pretty good idea of Shen Xunye's entire family structure.
... That saves trouble.
Shen Xunye: They insisted that I ask you.
Shen Xunye: It's fine if you don't want to participate, I'll just refuse.
Chi Li: Which day specifically?
It wasn't that he didn't want to participate, but he felt the timing was a bit too early.
But there's nothing we can do about it... Birthdays are on a fixed date, and we can't ask people to celebrate them later.
Shen Xunye: Five days left.
Shen Xunye: Actually, I had already declined before, and I didn't plan to participate anyway.
Shen Xunye: But my sister said that if I don't invite you, she will come here and invite you personally.
Chi Li: Hmm.
Okay, another older sister has appeared.
Chi Li: Later, let's pick out a gift together.
Shen Xunye: Okay~
Shen Xunye: Don't feel pressured, just treat it as a trip for fun.
Shen Xunye: You don't need to answer their questions; just leave them all to me.
Chi Li chuckled: Do I look like I need that much protection?
Hmm... Although it wasn't necessary, Shen Xunye's protective gesture still softened his heart.
Shen Xunye: [Pouting]
Shen Xunye: Come out here.
Chi Li turned off her phone, put it back in her pocket, washed her hands again, and then opened the bathroom door.
Outside the door, Shen Xunye, who had been waiting for some time, rushed over and pulled him into her arms as soon as she saw him.
"Ugh, so annoying..." Shen Xunye buried her face in Chi Li's neck, feeling a little aggrieved. "I don't want to be in front of the cameras, and I don't want to deal with those people. I just want to have a nice date with you..."
Even though they're in a relationship, they still have to hide their desire to kiss in a room where it's just the two of them.
Chi Li gently patted his back. "There's plenty of time in the future, no need to rush these few days."
"Oh..." Shen Xunye buried his head and rubbed against her, "Then... let me hold you for a while."