After the program aired, the internet exploded. Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining were bundled together on the trending topics. Before the Taiping Dynasty even aired, Zhou Yining used the variety show to gain recognition from a wider audience. Discussion raged on Weibo. Some praised her, but of course, more people criticized her.

“Calling my Dong-ge a walking cold front? Clearly, she has strong backing and the guts to say anything.”

“This woman is too arrogant! How dare she say that about Dong-ge in front of so many people? Doesn’t she worry about making it in the industry?”

“I think you guys shouldn’t criticize. Have you ever seen Dong-ge bicker with anyone else? Strangely… it feels quite sweet!”

“I also think Zhou Yining is quite straightforward. She’s probably the only one who dares to talk about Dong-ge like that, right? And Dong-ge didn’t even mind. Have you ever seen him like that? ‘Walking cold front’ totally suits Dong-ge. She wasn’t wrong at all…”

…

Zhou Yining had just returned home when she received a call from Wan Wei. “Have you watched the show?”

She tossed her keys onto the table. “I saw the trailer.”

Wan Wei laughed. “As expected, it’s trending. It’s not a bad thing, though. I noticed that your Weibo follower count has gone up quite a bit. You can ignore the hateful comments. Who in the entertainment industry doesn’t have anti-fans?”

Zhou Yining took out a cigarette, put it in her mouth, and fumbled for her lighter while saying, “I know. Those insults won’t affect me, don’t worry.”

Wan Wei: “That’s good. A very small number of fans have started shipping you two, but it’s a minority. I originally wanted to take the opportunity to start a relationship rumor with Ji Dongyang, but that jerk Yang Xun refused vehemently.”

Start a relationship rumor? Zhou Yining found her lighter and was silent for a moment before saying, “Ji Dongyang and I are dating right now.”

“…What did you say?!”

“Ji Dongyang and I are dating.”

…

The call lasted for over half an hour. Zhou Yining somewhat regretted telling Wan Wei. The good news was that Wan Wei also agreed that it was not the right time to go public, as Zhou Yining’s starting point was already very high. If she relied on buzz before her work even came out, it would be detrimental.

Having a secret relationship with a Film Emperor. Quite exciting.

She put down her phone, struck the lighter, then suddenly remembered him saying, “Told you not to smoke.” She bit down on the cigarette end and threw the unlit stick into the trash.

Just then, her phone rang again.

Zhou Yining looked down and smiled, happily answering the call. “Oh, you’re calling me again.”

Ji Dongyang was worried that seeing the online comments would affect her mood. Now, hearing her voice, he could tell she was completely fine. He curved his lips slightly. “Is it so rare for me to call you?”

“Mm, it’s rare.”

He chuckled softly.

She got up and went back to the bedroom, opening her closet to pick out a nightgown. She held it up against herself in the mirror, giggling. “Ji Dongyang, come visit me.”

Ji Dongyang lowered his gaze to the book in his hand; he had already reached the final page. “Not tonight.”

Running out like that would definitely not work. The entire cast and crew were staying at the same hotel, and paparazzi were staked out outside every day.

“Oh.” She was a little disappointed. She put the selected nightgown back and sat back down on the bed.

He closed the book and said very lightly, “Next time.”

Zhou Yining’s mood brightened again. She rolled over, lying on her stomach on the bed, her feet kicking up. “I’ll tell you a secret.”

“Hm?”

“My house key is hidden outside the door. If you come and I’m not home yet, you can let yourself in and wait for me.”

Her voice was small, her tone cautious, genuinely sounding like she was sharing a small secret from the bottom of her heart. Ji Dongyang was suddenly reminded of the last time, the night she was suddenly obedient. The next day, she was crouching at the door, nervously searching for the key, the panic in her eyes when he stumbled upon her, and the way she slowly lowered her guard.

She trusted him.

Thinking of that scene, he felt a strange, momentary bitterness.

Hanging up the phone, Ji Dongyang called Lu Xiao. “Do you have any used cars on hand? Get me two.”

Lu Xiao laughed. “What for?”

Ji Dongyang didn’t tell him. “Just get them for me.”

Lu Xiao was efficient. Within two days, he delivered the car keys. The cars were parked in the hotel’s underground garage. He arrived in the afternoon while Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining were filming an intense scene.

Lu Xiao watched Zhou Yining, genuinely finding the girl more captivating the more he looked at her. But Ji Dongyang had said she was already taken. By whom? What ridiculously good luck.

When the scene ended, Ji Dongyang walked up to Lu Xiao. Lu Xiao handed him the car keys, but his gaze remained fixed on Zhou Yining. She was wearing a revealing outfit for the scene; her legs were straight and fair, and her waist was incredibly slender. She looked so soft. He had never seen a girl with such a thin, pliable waist.

Ji Dongyang spoke flatly. “What are you looking at?”

Lu Xiao smiled. “She’s pretty. Even if she’s taken, what’s wrong with looking a few extra times?”

Unlike Ji Dongyang, Lu Xiao was straightforward and a bit rakish. “Her waist is f**king thin.”

Ji Dongyang glanced at him and didn’t reply.

Her waist is very thin. And very soft.

Zhou Yining put on her jacket and returned to the restroom. She leaned back in her chair, felt the eye mask in her pocket, and put it on.

She was probably influenced by Ji Dongyang. Now she was also in the habit of wearing an eye mask to rest on set.

There was a major scene to film tonight, a scene that had made her afraid, even wanting to avoid it, since the day she first read the script.

But ultimately, it had to be filmed.

The crew moved the cameras and equipment to the 18th-floor rooftop, even setting up harnesses. Zhou Yining leaned against the wall, her legs beginning to feel weak.

Ji Dongyang stood beside her. The city lights allowed him to see her deathly pale face. He paused, then asked, “Afraid of heights?”

Zhou Yining rubbed the sweat from her palms, didn’t speak, and stiffly nodded.

Ji Dongyang frowned, glancing at the staff testing the equipment up ahead, as if trying to find a solution, but there was none. This scene had to be shot. He pursed his lips. “Can you manage?”

She nodded stiffly again.

Ji Dongyang took advantage of the lack of attention, raised his hand, and gently rubbed her soft hair. His voice was low. “Don’t be afraid. Nothing will happen. Don’t look down later. Look into my eyes when we’re acting.”

Zhou Yining looked up. She finally spoke. “Okay…”

Wei Zhong saw that the preparations were nearly done and walked over to them. “Dongyang, Zhou Yining, come here for a moment.”

The two walked over. The closer they got to the edge, the stiffer Zhou Yining’s steps became. The wind was strong tonight, whistling loudly in her ears. The fear intensified. Her legs became weaker. She accidentally tripped on a cable on the ground, instantly pitching forward. Ji Dongyang swiftly grabbed her hand, the other clamping around her waist, pulling her back.

Zhou Yining gasped for breath, even paler than before, tightly clutching his clothes, refusing to let go.

Wei Zhong saw this and understood immediately. He frowned at Zhou Yining. “You’re afraid of heights?”

She didn’t speak. Ji Dongyang answered for her. “Yes.”

A fear of heights complicated things. This scene was crucial. How could Zhou Yining control her expressions, movements, and dialogue tone in this state?

Ji Dongyang looked down at the girl clinging to his shirt. “Feeling better?”

Zhou Yining swallowed. Her voice trembled slightly. “Mm…”

A few seconds of silence fell over the set. Zhou Yining licked her lips. “Director, give me half an hour. I’ll adjust.”

Wei Zhong glanced at Ji Dongyang and nodded. “Alright.”

Zhou Yining turned around and walked back slowly. She paused at the doorway and looked back at Ji Dongyang.

After a moment, Ji Dongyang said, “I need to step out for a minute.”

The crew had rented half a floor of the office building. The staff were all up on the roof, leaving only one person on the 12th floor to watch the area. Without people, the office area was empty and silent. The man sitting at the front desk saw her and was surprised. “Miss Zhou, why are you back?”

Zhou Yining picked up the pack of cigarettes from the desk. “I haven’t adjusted yet. I’m going to rest for a bit before going back up.”

Since there was no one downstairs, the lights were off in the rooms. Only the front desk light was on.

She took the cigarette and headed toward the end of the hallway. Her steps were so light that the motion-sensor lights didn’t even turn on. Leaning against the wall, she struck the lighter. The hallway instantly brightened. Ji Dongyang walked to the corner and saw her light a cigarette. His lips pressed into a thin line. He walked over.

The man’s steady footsteps approached step by step. The motion-sensor lights came on.

Zhou Yining turned her head, saw his face, and the next moment, she turned back to stare straight ahead, blowing out a smoke ring.

Ji Dongyang walked up to her. She voluntarily extinguished the cigarette, looked up at him.

Neither of them spoke. After a while, the lights dimmed.

The next second, Zhou Yining wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and urgently kissed his lips. She closed her eyes proactively, refusing to look at him. Quickly, he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her and pressing her against the wall. He fiercely forced her lips open, his tongue slipping inside.

Her arms hooked around his neck. Her top was short, revealing a strip of fair waist. Ji Dongyang’s hands grasped her slender, soft waist. Her skin was soft and delicate. His hands lingered there for a long time, beginning to gently stroke her waist. He held her sides reluctantly; his fingers were long, and her waist was so thin, he felt like he could grasp more than half of it with one hand.

The rough texture of the man’s palm rubbing against her tender skin caused a slight itch, and she let out a small, cat-like sound.

Ji Dongyang, who was holding her lips, paused. His hands unconsciously squeezed her waist, deepening the kiss.

His kisses could always make her feel utterly intoxicated. After who knows how long, a sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind them. Zhou Yining instantly snapped back to awareness, her heart pounding with nervousness. She immediately lowered her head and buried it in his chest, afraid to even breathe.

The motion-sensor lights came on in response. Either the person passing by didn’t notice the couple tightly embracing at the end of the hallway, or they saw them and chose to remain silent.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

After a long period of silence, the lights went out.

No one spoke for a long time.

Zhou Yining lifted her head from his embrace, asking in a nervous whisper, “Did someone see us?”

That person’s footsteps had clearly paused. Ji Dongyang frowned, comforting her. “It’s fine.”

Zhou Yining was still worried. “You go back first. I’ll come up in a moment.”

Ji Dongyang looked at her, gave a low “Mm,” turned, and left.

As soon as he left, the motion-sensor lights came on again. Zhou Yining stared at his tall, long figure, feeling inexplicably safe.

When she returned to the rooftop, Ji Dongyang was talking to Director Wei. She took a deep breath. The nervousness and fear had been calmed by their earlier kiss.

She walked over and told Wei Zhong, “I’m ready.”