Ten minutes later, holding a cup of coffee, Zhou Yining looked up at Ji Dongyang. A woman tells him she’s tired, and what does he do? He just buys her coffee.

Truly, he doesn’t understand romance.

Ji Dongyang genuinely didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t be tired next time, and besides, he knew she liked coffee.

Seeing Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining holding the same coffee, Yu Yuanhang couldn’t help teasing, “Dong-ge only treats our female lead to coffee? Don’t we get any?”

Ji Dongyang smiled. “You do.”

A Ming quickly added, “Dong-ge is treating everyone to a midnight snack. It’s already ordered and will be delivered later.”

A Ming had a loud voice, so everyone heard and instantly cheered. “Great!”

After the late-night snack, they resumed work. Zhou Yining felt much more refreshed. Filming didn’t end until past 4 AM, and her eyes were a bit red from fatigue. That night, she used the excuse of being too tired to go home and booked a room directly at the hotel.

Once the hallway quieted down, she secretly slipped into Ji Dongyang’s room.

As soon as Ji Dongyang opened the door, she drilled inside.

A Ming was right about one thing: with a girl like Zhou Yining, once she succeeded the first time, there would be a second and a third.

Zhou Yining took off her jacket; underneath was a nightgown hiked up to her waist, tucked into jeans. She took off the jeans too, her pale, soft body burrowing into his arms, hugging him with her arms and legs. She suddenly looked up and smiled at him. “I can sleep with you again. Hey, doesn’t this feel like we’re having an illicit affair?”

Ji Dongyang frowned, disagreeing with that phrasing. “It doesn’t.”

“Sneaking around… doesn’t it? I think it feels very much like it.”

“Do you want to go public?” he suddenly asked.

“No, not at all.”

For her, this was better. Feelings were a matter between two people; she didn’t want to be pointed at and discussed. Moreover, if Zhou JiaHui knew she was with Ji Dongyang, she would probably be very unconvinced. But they were both public figures, so hiding it from the public would be difficult. Hide it as long as we can.

Ji Dongyang rubbed her head, wanting to say something more, but looking down, he saw she had already closed her eyes and seemed to be asleep.

Zhou Yining wasn’t a well-behaved sleeper. She liked to drape her leg over him, sometimes pressing right on that spot. After rubbing against him, having been up all night, Ji Dongyang was tired too, but she managed to rub a surge of impulse out of him. It took a lot of effort for him to suppress it.

Filming had reached the midpoint, so the schedule was naturally tight.

After only four or five hours of sleep, they had to get up and go to the set. Zhou Yining once again sneaked out of Ji Dongyang’s room.

On the 23rd, Zhou Yining returned to B City to shoot the Z-Family Skincare commercial.

Taiping Dynasty was almost finished airing. Zhou Yining’s Consort Ning had become so evil that people left comments and private messages cursing her on Weibo every day. Yesterday, “Consort Ning” even trended once. Today, her private messages doubled again. Of course, some praised her acting skills, saying she portrayed Consort Ning’s ruthlessness perfectly.

Zhou Yining’s Weibo had always been managed by Wan Wei; she rarely touched it. She had her own private account. Aside from the posts Wan Wei asked her to make, she rarely posted on her verified account to interact with fans. After all, she only had a hundred thousand or so followers, and probably more than half were zombie followers bought by Wan Wei.

Dragging her luggage out of the airport, Zhou Yining saw Wan Wei waiting outside and walked quickly toward her.

Wan Wei walked toward her. “Walk slower. There are paparazzi.”

Zhou Yining paused, turned her head to look, then calmly turned back. “Let’s go.”

Wan Wei nodded, reminding her, “Since they’re taking photos, walk slower so they don’t take ugly ones.”

Zhou Yining: “…Can I get a small spot in the entertainment section?”

Wan Wei: “Probably just a small spot. But The Heart Knot will wrap up in a month; you’ll make headlines eventually. What female stars fear most are ugly photos, that becomes dark history. However, your outfit today is nice.”

Zhou Yining always had good taste in clothes. Wan Wei was already considering whether to arrange a few airport fashion shoots for her.

Zhou Yining didn’t think too much about it. Actually, she wasn’t quite used to her private life being exposed too much. If she could be followed and photographed wherever she went, that wasn’t something she liked.

On the way, Wan Wei finally said, “Today is just a photoshoot. Shen Qing is here too. Last time you two fought for the female lead, Shen Qing didn’t get it, so she must be a little unconvinced. You’re a newcomer. If she makes things difficult for you later, just bear it a little, but don’t bear too much.”

The other spokesperson for Z-Family was Shen Qing. Zhou Yining not only fought for the female lead but also got the same endorsement. Shen Qing was probably scratching her heart out in frustration. Wan Wei continued, “The main thing is, she likes Ji Dongyang.”

Zhou Yining’s expression had been indifferent, but hearing this, she suddenly sat up straight and looked at her. “Shen Qing likes Ji Dongyang?”

“When they filmed Black and White, they played the male and female leads, and there were indeed rumors. But later, Ji Dongyang went abroad for nearly a year due to negative news. Both were in the rising phase of their careers. You can tell how big the impact of that news was on Ji Dongyang by his year of silence abroad. Shen Qing avoided questions related to Ji Dongyang during that time. As for the specifics, probably only the two of them know. You’ll have to ask Ji Dongyang about that.”

Zhou Yining bit her lip. Wan Wei meant that when Ji Dongyang’s negative news came out, Shen Qing was afraid of being implicated, so she got out early. Perhaps something had happened between them, but it couldn’t withstand reality. Was Wan Wei giving her another warning?

Zhou Yining looked out the window and smiled. “There’s nothing to ask. Shen Qing doesn’t deserve Ji Dongyang.”

Some things, once missed, are missed.

If Shen Qing regretted it and wanted to steal him back, that was impossible.

Wan Wei was stunned. “You see it clearly.”

Zhou Yining looked down and smiled, saying nothing.

She knew what was important. Ji Dongyang was Ji Dongyang. What did it matter what his parents were like? So what if there was negative news? She didn’t care about that.

…

When the two arrived, Shen Qing already had her makeup done and was taking photos. Seeing Zhou Yining arrive, the stylist quickly said, “Yining, come with me to pick out clothes first.”

It was arranged that she would start after Shen Qing finished.

Zhou Yining changed clothes, and the makeup artist, Ken, did her makeup, pinching her cheek and praising, “Such good skin. I love young girls like this the most; so tender water could come out.”

Behind them came Shen Qing’s teasing voice: “Is Ken saying I’m old and my skin is bad?”

Ken’s face stiffened, and he quickly joked back, “Not at all. You are the goddess in everyone’s heart, full of goddess style.”

Shen Qing smiled and looked at Zhou Yining. “But, I really can’t compare to a young girl anymore.”

Zhou Yining immediately understood she was talking about the female lead of The Heart Knot. Her expression didn’t change as she smiled at her. “I’m still a newcomer. Qing-jie has played so many female leads; how can I compare?”

Shen Qing’s expression changed slightly. She said, “When I first debuted, I wasn’t as lucky as you. But, I guess I made it through.”

Zhou Yining pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Shen Qing finished shooting one outfit and turned into another dressing room to let another makeup artist change her look.

Zhou Yining smiled at Ken. Ken shrugged and spread his hands, looking indifferent.

By the time Shen Qing finished shooting, it was already afternoon.

Zhou Yining started shooting after lunch and didn’t finish until 7 or 8 PM, missing dinner.

After having dinner with Wan Wei, Zhou Yining was afraid of being followed, so she didn’t go home but stayed at the Qin house for a night.

On the third day, the commercial shoot ended, and she returned to S City in the afternoon.

Arriving at the set, she saw both Lu Xiao and Shen Yanjun were there. Zhou Yining looked at Shen Yanjun. Last time he said he had something to tell her, but days had passed without them meeting or talking on the phone. Zhou JiaHui had already told Shen Yanjun about her illness.

Zhou Yining remembered his sudden hug that day and the inexplicable “I’m sorry.” She hadn’t understood it then, but now, she did.

Shen Yanjun looked at her, smiled slightly, and walked towards her. “Free now?”

Zhou Yining nodded. “Half an hour.”

Shen Yanjun smiled. “Shall we chat?”

Zhou Yining pointed to a relatively quiet corridor. “Let’s go over there.”

Shen Yanjun nodded. “Okay.”

Once there, Zhou Yining spoke first. “You don’t need to feel guilty or blame yourself. This is my own business. My illness wasn’t caused by you, so you don’t need to apologize to me.”

Shen Yanjun hadn’t expected her to be so direct. He froze for a moment before saying, “Back then, I was the person closest to you. Even I didn’t notice, so no one else did. I know about what happened in the UK too. The main thing is…”

He paused, smiling self-deprecatingly. “I liked you, but it seems I never gave you the care you truly wanted.”

If he had discovered her illness earlier, perhaps their ending would have been different.

“It’s not just guilt and self-blame, you know.”

It was mostly annoyance and regret.

Zhou Yining looked at him. “That’s not necessary either. The me you see now is fine. I am very well.”

…

Ji Dongyang finished a scene. Lu Xiao looked at him, jutting his chin toward Zhou Yining’s direction. Look over there.

Ji Dongyang followed his gaze. Zhou Yining and Shen Yanjun were standing with their backs to him in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, one petite, one tall. She was looking up at Shen Yanjun. The scene was somewhat grating to the eyes.

Lu Xiao leaned in, tutting softly. “If not me, there’s someone else. Your foundation seems a bit unstable.”

Ji Dongyang leaned his elbow on the bar counter. “You’re overthinking it.”

Lu Xiao: “I’m not overthinking it. The way Shen Yanjun looks at Zhou Yining, that’s a man looking at a woman. Don’t tell me you can’t see it.”

Ji Dongyang corrected him. “I said the foundation is very stable. You’re overthinking it.”

Lu Xiao: “…”

Ji Dongyang was usually low-key and steady, but when he got arrogant, he really needed a beating.

“Fine. As long as she can’t be poached.”

Ji Dongyang took the water A Ming handed him, his voice low and indifferent. “How is my dad?”

Lu Xiao spread his hands. “How else could he be? Clamoring to get out. As soon as he speaks, he curses. He’s cursed you up and down. Don’t let him out. If he gets out, he’ll definitely hold a grudge. If he loses his rationality, who knows what he’ll do? One day you’ll be pitted to death by them. I really suspect if you’re their biological son.”

Ji Dongyang curled his lips in a self-deprecating smile and didn’t speak.

Lu Xiao didn’t want to talk more about this mess. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle this for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t. If anyone should say thanks, I should thank your ancestors ten thousand times.”

“…”

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