Chapter 17#
【Chapter 17】#
The elevator stopped at level B1.
Yu Xiuzhu held the elevator’s open button, still worried as he pressed further, “Xiao Jing, are you sure you don’t need me to see you back?”
“Brother Yu, I’m not a three-year-old kid anymore.”
Jing Shun looked at Yu Xiuzhu, who had insisted on accompanying him downstairs, and advised helplessly, “You should just take the elevator back up. Isn’t Producer Yu waiting for you to go eat together? No need to see me off.”
His gaze searched outward, “Chi Gui’s already here to pick me up.”
“……”
Yu Xiuzhu remained expressionless, though a flicker of consideration crossed his mind.
The B1 parking lot was exclusive to Sea City TV Station. To prevent fans and other groups from sneaking in and causing disturbances, one had to have a pass matching the corresponding license plate to enter.
He had no idea how Chi Gui managed it—just came right in.
Jing Shun exited the elevator first, “Brother Yu, I’ll head off then?”
Yu Xiuzhu responded, “Alright, you rest well tomorrow. I’ll pick you up the day after for the recording?”
“Mm.”
With a brief farewell, Jing Shun headed toward Zone B following the signs. Not long after, a familiar voice came from behind.
“Jing Shun?”
“……”
Jing Shun had no choice but to turn his wheelchair around. He recognized the masked Fu Changting, “Brother Ting.”
The other had already changed out of his performance outfit, accompanied by three staff members. It seemed he was also wrapping up and preparing to leave.
Fu Changting signaled his assistants to head to the parking spot first, then quickly took off his mask and walked over to Jing Shun’s side, “Why are you alone? Where’s your manager?”
Jing Shun didn’t reveal the family relationship between Yu Xiuzhu and Yu Yinhe, simply saying, “Brother Yu went up to get something.”
Fu Changting didn’t suspect anything and instead praised, “You did really well in today’s recording! I was worried at first that you might be too nervous and not talk much.”
Thinking back to the recent show taping, a hint of understanding flashed in Jing Shun’s eyes, “Brother Ting, were you afraid I wouldn’t get much screen time? You kept steering the conversation toward me several times.”
Fu Changting didn’t deny it, “Was it that obvious? I thought I was being subtle.”
The entertainment industry was a place that heavily emphasized “popularity,” “track record,” and “status.” Although Jing Shun had managed to get a spot on the show, it didn’t mean he’d get a lot of screen time later.
Fu Changting understood the unwritten rules of the industry and was using his own way to help him along.
Jing Shun felt grateful, “Thank you, Brother Ting.”
“You’re welcome.”
Fu Changting took out his phone and seized the opportunity to suggest, “I didn’t have time to ask in the makeup room before filming started. If it’s convenient, how about adding me on WeChat? Your WeChat.”
Hearing the emphasis on those four words, Jing Shun gave a slight smile, “Mm.”
Swish.
The WeChat ID was successfully added.
Fu Changting asked again, “Where are you staying now? Want me to give you a ride back in my car?”
No sooner had the invitation left his mouth than his manager walked up from behind, “Changting, there are still quite a few fans waiting outside. They’ve been standing in the cold wind for a while.”
“Once you leave the parking lot, you’ll need to roll down the window and say hi.”
He quickly sized up Jing Shun, offering a tactful reminder as much as possible, “If someone happens to catch the two of you in the same car, it might not look great.”
After Fu Changting terminated his contract with his former company, he had signed a management agreement with his current manager, Chen Jiang.
Chen Jiang knew nothing about the past interactions between the two. He was merely assessing the situation from a manager’s standpoint, giving practical advice—
The entertainment industry nowadays was much more open than before.
Even if two men were just walking together, it could stir up rumors of a same-sex romance. Besides, who knew if Jing Shun had any ulterior motives? What if he tried to use this as a chance to hype himself up?
“……”
Fu Changting was about to argue, but Jing Shun spoke first, “Brother Ting, no need to trouble yourself.”
He could clearly hear the subtext in the manager’s words. He had enough self-awareness for that.
Whether or not they had known each other before, he should take the initiative to avoid suspicion in private. He shouldn’t bring any unnecessary public scrutiny upon himself or the other person.
Jing Shun came up with a reasonable excuse to politely decline, “Actually, my other half is here to pick me up. He’s not in the industry, so… it’s not convenient for him to show his face.”
“Other half?” The manager’s earlier concerns mostly dissipated. He smiled, “Didn’t see that coming. I thought you were single.”
Jing Shun smiled back without saying much.
Although the “romantic relationship” between him and Chi Gui was just a contractual arrangement, it did serve as a handy excuse at certain times.
Anyway, as long as you weren’t a traffic actor, dating wasn’t taboo.
Fu Changting was visibly taken aback by this unexpected news, but he was measured enough to drop the subject, “Alright then, I’ll be off. See you at the recording the day after tomorrow?”
“Mm, see you then, Brother Ting.”
Jing Shun watched Fu Changting leave until the other man’s car drove away. Only then did he, still standing in place, let out a silent sigh of relief.
Beep beep!
Suddenly, a car horn sounded from behind.
The screech of tires against the ground followed immediately. Jing Shun, thinking he was blocking the way, quickly moved to the side.
The next second, a familiar black luxury car pulled up right in front of him. The rear door opened automatically, revealing Chi Gui’s figure—
He was wearing nothing but a high-necked black thin sweater. The dim, warm light inside the car bathed his deep, cold features, yet carried an unexpectedly aloof and restrained allure.
“……”
Meeting his gaze, Jing Shun felt his mind wander inexplicably.
The specially modified lift platform descended.
Chi Gui asked him, “All done?”
“Huh?”
Jing Shun blinked, then stepped forward, “Mm, all done.”
Once or twice was enough to get used to it.
Now, even without anyone’s help, he could steadily get into the car and secure his wheelchair seat using the equipment.
Three minutes later, Wei Di, who was driving in the front, started the engine and left the B1 parking lot.
Fu Changting’s white van was parked not far away, surrounded by a group of fans who had been waiting for a long time. Despite the freezing weather, their enthusiasm hadn’t dimmed.
Jing Shun noticed this, then turned his attention back and asked, “Mr. Chi, have you been waiting long?”
“Not really.”
Chi Gui naturally caught where Jing Shun’s gaze had lingered.
He pressed the window down slightly to let in some air, deliberately pointing out, “I saw you were chatting with someone, so yes, I waited a bit.”
“……”
Jing Shun understood, “You mean Brother Ting?”
Hearing this rather familiar form of address, Chi Gui rolled the window down a bit more, “You two are pretty close?”
“……”
Up front, Wei Di stealthily glanced at the rearview mirror, then silently closed the partition between the front and back seats, minimizing his presence as much as possible.
“Fu Changting. Have you heard of him?” Jing Shun, afraid Chi Gui might not know much about entertainment industry figures, added a bit more introduction, “Brother Ting is a really outstanding actor. He became a TV Emperor before he was even thirty.”
“……I don’t watch TV dramas much.” Chi Gui’s tone was flat, but he rolled the window all the way down.
The chilly night air rushed in.
Jing Shun said honestly, “I did a few scenes with him when I was a kid. I didn’t expect we’d get to record a show together again this time. Just now, when they saw I was alone, they came over to ask if I needed a ride back.”
Chi Gui turned his head to look at him, “Then why didn’t you accept?”
Jing Shun asked in return, “Didn’t you text me saying you were waiting?”
“……”
Chi Gui was silent for a few seconds before saying, “You can have normal social interactions. I won’t interfere.”
“Mm, I know.”
Jing Shun voiced his inner concerns, “Brother Ting’s current status and popularity are not something just anyone can match. I don’t want to cause any unnecessary trouble, so…”
He remembered the excuse he had used earlier to decline, and a belated sense of awkwardness flickered across his brow.
Chi Gui caught the hint of unease, his eyes fixed on him as he probed, “So what?”
Feeling exposed under that gaze, Jing Shun said, “So to politely decline their kindness, I said my other half had come to pick me up.”
“Other half?” Chi Gui repeated the phrase, his brow lifting slightly, “Me?”
“……”
Jing Shun’s confidence wavered, his voice growing softer, “I didn’t reveal your identity. Was that not okay either?”
The moment the words fell, Chi Gui let out a short laugh, “I didn’t say it wasn’t okay.”
Jing Shun paused, suddenly feeling an inexplicable flush of shyness, “What are you laughing at?”
Chi Gui denied it, “I didn’t laugh. You must have misheard.”
“……”
The wind outside the window rushed in urgently, dissipating the subtle warmth on Jing Shun’s face. He steadied himself and changed the subject, “Can you roll your window up a bit? I’m a little cold.”
“Alright.”
Chi Gui closed the window and turned up the car’s air conditioning a notch.
Feeling the warmth return, Jing Shun relaxed, “Mr. Chi, why did you come to wait for me today?”
Hearing this form of address, Chi Gui explained calmly, “I went to inspect one of our subsidiaries in the evening. It was pretty close to the Sea City TV station’s recording studio, so I came.”
Not giving Jing Shun a chance to dig deeper into that reason, he asked knowingly, “Jing Shun, our agreement has been in place for a while now, hasn’t it?”
Jing Shun was confused, “Mm.”
Chi Gui said, “Since you claimed to others today that I’m your other half, are you planning to keep calling me ‘Mr. Chi’ in front of outsiders from now on? Aren’t you afraid of slipping up?”
Jing Shun faltered, “I…”
If not ‘Mr. Chi,’ then what? His name? Given Chi Gui’s status and position, that didn’t seem quite appropriate, did it?
Chi Gui saw the hesitation clearly in his eyes and stated directly, “Is it that hard? Just call me by my name.”
Jing Shun muttered, “Mm.”
The car sped through the thick night. Forty minutes later, they arrived at the Chi residence.
The rear doors on both sides opened simultaneously. Chi Gui got out first.
“We’re here. Get out.”
“Mm.”
Jing Shun suppressed the fatigue that was gradually washing over him. He unbuckled his seatbelt and the wheelchair’s securing locks, then carefully but skillfully transferred to the lift platform.
He turned the seat a bit too much, and the casters underneath veered off balance. In an instant, both he and the wheelchair tipped sideways!
Panicked, Jing Shun closed his eyes and instinctively protected his face and head.
Clatter!
The sound of the wheelchair crashing onto the ground rang out heavily, but the pain of falling never came.
“Jing Shun? Are you alright?”
“……”
Jing Shun held his breath and opened his eyes, meeting Chi Gui’s gaze, the residual tension still lingering in his eyes.
The man’s hands were firmly placed around his waist, practically holding him entirely in an embrace. The soft fabric of his clothes gave off a familiar scent of tea, radiating a calming aura along with his subtle body heat.
“……”
Jing Shun was used to the clumsiness of falling, but this was the first time he had experienced being caught by someone. For a moment, he was at a loss, bewildered.
Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Chi Gui frowned, “Jing Shun, answer me. Are you okay?”
After a delayed beat, Jing Shun let out a light breath, “I’m… I’m fine.”
Wei Di rushed over and lifted the wheelchair back up, “Sir.”
Chi Gui carried Jing Shun back into the wheelchair and double-checked, “Do we need to call a doctor?”
The surgery was scheduled for the end of the month. No mistakes could be made at this stage.
“No need. I’m fine.”
Remembering Chi Gui’s timely catch, a warmth gathered in Jing Shun’s heart, “Thank you, Mr. C—”
He quickly caught himself and corrected the formal address, “Thank you.”
“As long as you’re okay. Then rest early.”
“Mm.”
The two entered the house and took the elevator upstairs.
As the elevator slowly opened on the second floor, Gou Bao, who had heard the noise, immediately ran out of the room.
Spotting Jing Shun’s familiar figure, the dog bounded over, wagging its tail frantically, its short little legs scrambling all over the place, “Awoo! Woo~!”
Jing Shun bent down and scooped it into his arms, soothing it gently, “Beibei, good girl. Did you miss me?”
The dog kept burrowing its head into his chest, “Woof!”
“Jing Shun.”
Chi Gui held the elevator’s open button and instructed, “The surgery is coming up soon. Other than your show recordings, stay home for the time being. Don’t let something like tonight happen again.”
“Mm.”
Satisfied with that answer, Chi Gui pressed the close button.
Watching the elevator doors slowly slide shut, Jing Shun blurted out, “Chi Gui!”
Hearing his name, Chi Gui quickly changed the button back, “What is it?”
Unsure how to express the gratitude swelling in his heart, Jing Shun simply turned the dog in his arms around and, with a light smile, waved the chubby little paw, “Look—”
“The puppy says goodnight to you.”
Meeting his warm, gentle gaze, Chi Gui felt a stir in his heart, “Mm, received. Sweet dreams to you too.”