Outside, the sky had darkened. No lights were on inside, only the glow from the building opposite refracting in, barely illuminating their faces.

Ji Dongyang’s hand still hung stiffly in the air, having grabbed at nothing. After a long moment, he silently withdrew it and pressed it to his forehead, propping up one leg as he glanced down at Zhou Yining, who sat dumbly on the carpet.

The turn of events was too abrupt. Zhou Yining was still a bit dazed, looking up at Ji Dongyang.

Had he… just thrown her off the sofa? Because she kissed him?

That kiss had been pure instinct. Staring into his eyes, an impulse had inexplicably seized her. Her first kiss. The first time she’d actively kissed a man. Her racing heart was still suspended mid-air when he’d suddenly pushed her off the sofa. Even if he had seemed to try to catch her afterward, in her heart, she was already convinced he’d done it on purpose.

Even if he didn’t like her, did he have to embarrass her like this?

What a terrible, awful man. She didn’t want to talk to him for the next few days.

Ji Dongyang watched her lower her head, not speaking, her expression wounded.

Slightly irritated, he ran a hand through his hair, stood up from the sofa, and bent down, offering her his hand. “Get up.”

Zhou Yining glanced at that slender hand, turned her head away as if she hadn’t seen it, and began shuffling on her bottom, searching for her phone.

Where was her phone?

Where had she put it after that call?

She stared at the man’s slender calves blocking her way, reached out and swatted his leg. *Move, you’re in my way. I need to find my phone.*

Ji Dongyang took a step back, watching her scrabble around near his feet like a kitten, searching for who-knows-what. In this pitch black, she’d never find it.

He switched on the floor lamp beside them. Warm, orange light instantly flooded the space.

Zhou Yining knelt on the carpet, her dark hair cascading over her chest, her porcelain skin bathed in a soft glow.

“Zhou Yining.”

Ji Dongyang called her name.

No response.

He realized that once this girl sank into her own world, she basically ignored everyone. It was like this when she was sad, and like this when she was angry.

Zhou Yining seemed not to hear him. She flipped over the cushions that had fallen onto the carpet—the same ones she’d tossed off earlier. She hadn’t expected to be thrown down herself.

She grabbed the cushions, one, two, three…

And threw them all back onto the sofa.

Ah, she saw her phone! It was under the fourth cushion.

Just as she reached for it, her hand was caught. An arm tightened around her waist, and she was hauled upright.

Zhou Yining looked up and glared at him.

Ji Dongyang was about to speak when the front door suddenly swung open. They heard Aming’s hushed voice say, “Don’t know if Dong-ge is awake…”

Aming’s words died in his throat. He and Yang Xun, standing beside him in the doorway, stared dumbfounded at Ji Dongyang and the hand resting on the little she-devil’s waist—an intimate posture.

Aming looked at Yang Xun in shock. *Dong-ge initiating physical contact with the little she-devil outside of a scene? What’s going on? Is he delirious from the fever?*

Yang Xun was even more astonished. What was Zhou Yining doing here?

He’d only been away for over a week. Had their relationship developed this rapidly?

Zhou Yining and Ji Dongyang turned to look at them simultaneously. Ji Dongyang frowned, slowly releasing his hold. The next second, the girl before him shoved him away forcefully. His frown deepened as he watched her kick aside a blue cushion on the carpet, snatch up her phone, and turn to leave without a backward glance.

After the door slammed shut, Aming and Yang Xun finally snapped out of it.

Ji Dongyang pressed his lips together, his tall frame leaning back against the sofa. He rubbed his temples. *What a mess.*

Aming had gone to the hospital to get the medicine and happened to get a call from Yang Xun. He’d mentioned Ji Dongyang’s fever. Yang Xun, having just returned to City B with something to discuss with Ji Dongyang, came along. Neither expected Zhou Yining to be back here. Not daring to admit he’d given her the password, Aming held up the congee he’d brought. “Um, I’ll go heat this up.”

Yang Xun walked over to the sofa, looking at Ji Dongyang. He planted his hands on his hips, somewhat exasperated. “Since when did you and that little she-devil get so close? Unless my eyes deceived me, you were the one holding her just now?”

Ji Dongyang leaned his head back against the sofa, eyes closed, his voice faint and hoarse. “Yeah.”

Yang Xun: “…”

Yang Xun took a few seconds to compose himself. It wasn’t that he objected to Ji Dongyang dating; the man was 33, after all. He wouldn’t even mind if he said he was getting married. But the object being Zhou Yining was a bit hard to believe. Given Zhou Yining’s background and personality, major scandals were inevitable. She was destined to be a topic of conversation.

Ji Dongyang was low-key and steady, sometimes so aloof he seemed unfeeling. He and Zhou Yining just didn’t seem compatible at first glance. And that girl didn’t seem to be 23 yet—a ten-year age gap. With Ji Dongyang’s personality, could he really tolerate a young girl’s temper?

Yang Xun had always thought a mature, steady woman would suit Ji Dongyang best, preferably someone outside the industry.

If this blew up into a huge deal, it would absolutely not be good for Ji Dongyang.

Ji Dongyang opened his eyes and looked at Yang Xun, offering a brief explanation. “It’s not what you think. I was just helping her up.”

Yang Xun looked at him, unconvinced. “Did helping her up require getting that close?”

A moment ago, one had been looking up, the other looking down. Any closer and it would have looked like they were about to kiss.

Ji Dongyang stood up, turning his back to him. “That’s the truth.”

He didn’t mention the kiss. It concerned the girl’s reputation.

He really had been a bit excessive earlier.

Yang Xun followed Ji Dongyang into the kitchen, watching him pour a glass of water and drain it.

Aming had finished heating the congee and set it on the table with some side dishes. He looked at Ji Dongyang, who had downed three glasses of water. “Dong-ge, come eat something. You’ve barely eaten all day.”

Ji Dongyang grunted in acknowledgment, put down the glass, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Aming stood to the side, hesitating and struggling for a long time before finally confessing. “Dong-ge, I was the one who gave Miss Zhou the password. She called me saying she’d rung your doorbell but no one answered, worried you’d died in here… I was worried too…”

Ji Dongyang’s chopsticks stilled. He *had* heard the doorbell. The only person who would ring his doorbell incessantly like that was her. He’d been feverish and didn’t have the energy to deal with her, so he’d pretended not to hear.

*Worried he’d died in here?* What nonsense. Ji Dongyang frowned.

Yang Xun smacked Aming on the back of the head. “You idiot! Can you just give a woman Ji Dongyang’s door code like that?”

Aming dodged, defending himself. “I was worried about Dong-ge too!”

Ji Dongyang finished eating, put down his chopsticks, and said mildly, “Forget it. Just change the password later.”

That was it? Aming could hardly believe it. He’d thought his salary would be docked for sure!

Before leaving, Yang Xun had a talk with Ji Dongyang. “Sent to rehab. The situation is temporarily resolved for now. The paparazzi can’t get anything at the moment.”

Ji Dongyang stood with his hands in his pockets, his tall figure silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling window. The cold wind whistled outside, but it was no match for the indifference on his face. His tone was cool and detached. “Oh? You’ve worked hard, hiding it all these years. I told you long ago, something that was bound to come out eventually—why force it?”

It was just a fall from the heights to the depths. He’d long since made his peace with it.

Yang Xun wiped his nose. He knew about the pride deep in Ji Dongyang’s bones. But for an artist to reach his current status wasn’t easy. Eighteen years.

He might be willing to let it go, but Yang Xun wasn’t.

November 28th. City B welcomed its first snow.

Zhou Yining stepped out her door wearing a long black down coat, ankle boots, a fluffy white ear muff headband, and a backpack.

She closed the door, turned, and caught sight of Ji Dongyang emerging from across the hall. He was also wearing a down coat that reached his knees, looking casual and lazy.

They looked at each other in silence for two seconds before averting their eyes. Zhou Yining walked past him.

Ji Dongyang watched the soft, fluffy pom-poms on her ears bounce with her steps, then slowly followed.

Aming watched the two step out of the elevator, his eyes following Zhou Yining. He muttered to Ji Dongyang, “Miss Zhou’s getup today is kinda cute. But she hasn’t really looked you in the eye for days, Dong-ge. Did you two have a fight?”

Ji Dongyang didn’t answer, glancing sideways at those soft, fluffy balls. They were kinda cute.

Aming didn’t dare ask more. Their relationship was unpredictable, this subtle tension.

In the car, Aming remembered something. “Dong-ge, you changed the password, right?”

Ji Dongyang leaned back in his seat to rest, saying nothing.

These past few days, Zhou Yining turned and walked the other way whenever she saw him, avoiding him like the plague. He didn’t need to worry about her breaking into his place.

Today’s filming had changed locations to a temporarily built set wall—the scene of the male and female leads’ reunion, and also their first kiss scene.

The leads’ relationship was getting better and better. The Consort Ning that Zhou Yining played was practically on her way to the cold palace.

Thinking about her recent relationship with Ji Dongyang, it wasn’t much different from the cold palace.

Zhou Yining, wrapped in her down coat, sat to the side waiting for her scene, watching the straight-backed Ji Dongyang and the delicate Zhou Wei on set.

The few young women beside her had stars in their eyes. They were so excited that they wanted to clap.

Director Xu called, “Cut!”

Two young women whispered to each other, “If only I could film a kiss scene with Dong-ge… my life would be complete.”

“Right? If I could, I’d definitely NG ten or eight times!”

“Shh, careful, Director Xu may hear you.”

Zhou Yining snorted disdainfully. Just thinking about that last incident made her depressed.

If Ji Dongyang were to kiss her, she’d definitely bite his lip until it bled!

Aming and Zhou Wei’s assistant immediately stepped forward, draping down coats over their respective artists. Ji Dongyang and Zhou Wei walked over together. Both were very professional actors and wouldn’t feel awkward, especially Zhou Wei. Facing Ji Dongyang’s instantly aloof expression the second he was out of character, feeling awkward would be strange.

They followed Director Xu back to the rest area to discuss the next scene.

After a short break, Director Xu left.

The assistant handed a magazine to Zhou Wei. “Wei-jie, the magazine you asked me to buy before.”

Zhou Wei nodded and took it. The cover featured Lu Ling. She glanced at it, casually flipped it open, and soon spotted a familiar face—a magazine photo Zhou Yining had taken earlier.

Zhou Yining wore a white, chunky-knit cropped sweater with long sleeves, leaning against a wall. The shot showed off her enticing waistline, her curvy hips further down, and a pair of long, straight legs. Her gaze was as lazy as a cat’s.

She smiled. “She’s got style.”

Zhou Wei tossed the magazine onto the table and called out, “Dong-ge, take a look.”

Ji Dongyang glanced over. Zhou Wei turned the page. Zhou Yining had changed outfits, wearing a fluffy ear muff headband, the same one she’d worn that morning.

Zhou Wei raised an eyebrow. “Pretty, right? The more you look at this girl, the prettier she gets. She has a certain charm.”

Ji Dongyang withdrew his gaze and grunted noncommittally.

Zhou Wei smiled, trying to read something on his face, but found nothing.

In the evening, after changing, Ji Dongyang returned to the rest area to find Aming engrossed in a magazine. Aming grinned. “Hey, Dong-ge, I heard from the crew that Miss Zhou did a photoshoot for a magazine, so I bought a copy.”

Ji Dongyang glanced at it. “Let’s go.”

Aming sheepishly put the magazine away, gathered his things, and followed Ji Dongyang. On the way, they ran into a crew colleague who smiled and reminded him, “Aming, your shoelace is untied.”

Aming looked down and shoved the magazine into Ji Dongyang’s arms. “Dong-ge, hold this for me.”

Ji Dongyang took it and turned to go ahead.

Zhou Yining walked over from the other direction, bumping into him. She suddenly caught sight of the familiar magazine in his hand. She gave him a strange look, followed behind him, and couldn’t help asking, “Did you buy that magazine?”