Chapter 52 - 1#

Jing Shun unexpectedly fell into the depths of Chi Gui’s pupils, letting the emotions drown him.

Out of nervousness, his fingertips rubbed back and forth, trying to confirm that what had just happened wasn’t his imagination. “You… what did you say?”

“…”

Chi Gui sighed, but only silently took out a disinfectant cotton swab from the bag.

Jing Shun bent down a little closer. “Chi Gui.”

“Hmm?”

“That thing you just said… you weren’t joking, were you?”

Heartache?

Why heartache?

Was it what he thought it meant?

Chi Gui said nothing, only gently pressed the disinfectant swab onto Jing Shun’s knee.

Instantly, a sharp sting made Jing Shun’s expression change abruptly. “Ah!”

Chi Gui’s hand trembled, and he dared not move anymore. “Does it hurt a lot?”

Jing Shun caught the fleeting panic and annoyance in the other’s brow, and for the first time, he broke into a smile. “It’s good that it hurts—at least I know I’m not dreaming.”

None of this was a dream.

Seeing that Jing Shun was still in the mood to laugh, Chi Gui let out a helpless sigh. “Your knee’s skin is all scraped up like this, and you’re still laughing?”

“Mhm!”

The smile at the corner of Jing Shun’s lips hadn’t faded. He glanced at his knee. “It’s a good thing. Being able to feel pain is a good thing.”

“…”

Compared to that numb, gradually wilting decline from before, this current state was what he wanted.

Chi Gui understood the deeper meaning behind his words. “I’ll continue then. Bear with it?”

Jing Shun nodded.

Chi Gui went on disinfecting the wound, but his movements were even lighter now, as if he were handling some fragile treasure.

With the psychological preparation from that first sting, Jing Shun was taking it well this time. He gazed at the man so close to him, and suddenly many things became clear—

To Chi Gui, he was different from everyone else.

It wasn’t just a contractual relationship, nor just an ordinary friendship.

Otherwise, why would the dignified chairman of the Chi Group bother to stay here and apply medicine for him? It couldn’t just be that he had nothing better to do, could it?

Brother Yu was right, and Yu Zhen was also right—

As long as he didn’t cross moral lines, as long as he didn’t lose himself, he should live according to his own heart, instead of setting too many rules and hesitating too much.

Jing Shun took a deep breath. “Chi Gui, are you free next week on the twenty-fourth?”

“…”

Chi Gui paused slightly in his movements.

Jing Shun knew he was listening and continued. “I just found out that our birthdays are on the same day. If you’re willing, would you like to celebrate together?”

Actually, after his injury in his past life, Jing Shun’s attitude toward his birthday had become increasingly negative, and he hadn’t celebrated it properly for several years. But this year was different—

This was his first birthday after being reborn, and his physical condition was gradually improving. Most importantly, he had someone he wanted to spend his birthday with.

Jing Shun looked at Chi Gui, who was right in front of him, waiting with a nervous heart.

Chi Gui finished applying the last bit of ointment on the scraped area. He didn’t refuse, but instead took full control of his schedule. “You have rehabilitation tasks both in the morning and afternoon on the twenty-fourth. Can you handle it?”

With the filming completed, Jing Shun would enter a period of full-scale rehabilitation—a double drain on both physical and mental energy.

“Then how about evening?” Jing Shun just wanted to settle this matter. “That way it won’t interfere with your work during the day.”

Chi Gui lowered his head, tearing open the ointment, a slight curve tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Jing Shun didn’t catch his fleeting expression and muttered, “Say something, will you? Yes or no?”

“Yes.”

Chi Gui agreed, dispelling Jing Shun’s unspoken unease and social anxiety. “I’m free on the evening of the twenty-fourth. I’ll follow your arrangement.”

Jing Shun, having gotten his answer, smiled. “Mhm.”

Chi Gui handed the swelling ointment to him and instructed, “Wait until the disinfectant dries before applying it, and don’t forget to put on the antibacterial band-aid.”

Jing Shun rubbed the cool ointment in his palm. “Are you leaving?”

“I just told Brother Zheng I needed to find a quiet place to take a work call. If someone found out I’d been staying in your dressing room for a long time, wouldn’t that give us away?”

Chi Gui explained, raising his brow imperceptibly. “Has Young Master Jing grown so pampered that he can’t even apply medicine himself?”

“…”

Who was pampered?

Jing Shun felt his face heat up. “I can do it myself.”

Chi Gui concealed his smile, stood up, and handed him the medicine bag as well. “Then I’ll head out first?”

“Wait!”

The next second, Chi Gui felt the corner of his shirt being gently tugged. When he looked down, he met an expression of anticipation that Jing Shun rarely showed.

“Chi Gui, did I act well today?”

Shining brightly, with a hint of pride hidden within—just like Dog Bao waiting for praise on an ordinary day, but even more adorable than Baby Bao.

“…”

Chi Gui’s heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly remembered the reason Jing Shun had invited him to visit the set:

—The thing I’m most confident about in this life, so far, is standing in front of the camera and acting.

—I want to invite you to see that version of me.

Chi Gui looked at his shirt corner still being held, and patted Jing Shun’s right wrist—not hard, but intimate.

“Let go?”

Jing Shun immediately released his grip, feeling a wave of numbness spread through his wrist. Before he could come back to his senses, Chi Gui’s approval came from above.

“You acted well today. Very well.”

A knock sounded.

Yu Zhen came in carrying a large pile of things. “Jing Shun, I—”

He spotted Chi Gui inside the dressing room, halted his steps, and wisely tried to retreat. “Chi Gui’s here too? I’m, uh, interrupting?”

“No, stay.”

Chi Gui stopped Yu Zhen and explained, “Jing Shun has a scraped knee. Help him with the medicine. I’ve been here too long already; better if I leave first.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhen immediately agreed. “Okay.”

Chi Gui exchanged another look with Jing Shun, then turned and left.

The dressing room door closed softly.

Yu Zhen placed the food he’d brought on the small table, taking the ointment from his friend’s hand. “Seriously, I knew those falls today were no joke!”

Jing Shun, still immersed in the sweet heart-racing moment from earlier, smiled and took the milk tea from the table himself, completely forgetting the pain in his knee.

“I’m fine. It’s already disinfected. The iodine color spread over a large area, making it look worse than it is.”

Yu Zhen guessed right away. “In such a good mood? Chi Gui cleaned that up for you, didn’t he?”

Jing Shun didn’t deny it.

He took a sip of the hot milk tea. It wasn’t sweet enough, but it was still much better than ginger tea bags.

Yu Zhen was curious. “What were you two talking about just now?”

Jing Shun honestly told his “love consultant.” “I asked him if he was free on the twenty-fourth, if he wanted to celebrate our birthdays together. He didn’t say no.”

“How could he say no? He’s probably thrilled inside!”

Yu Zhen hit the nail on the head, trying to go for the big move. “If you ask me, even if you just went up and kissed him, he probably wouldn’t refuse.”

“…”

Jing Shun sucked up a tapioca pearl and nearly choked. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Yu Zhen applied the medicine as he gave his lesson. “You don’t understand this, do you? Kissing releases dopamine. Sometimes it can even become addictive, as long as it’s with someone you love.”

That was how it was between him and Qin Ye.

Sometimes when he secretly did something bad and faced his lover’s stern reprimand, he’d just go up and kiss him—way more effective than a verbal apology.

Jing Shun had no experience, so he just listened blankly without responding.

During his “relationship” with Chi Sheng in his past life, there had never been any intimate acts between them.

The former had simply never liked men and was just messing with him, while Jing Shun had never really felt anything. He had even once convinced himself that he was only suited for a platonic relationship.

Kissing?

He couldn’t imagine Chi Gui getting excited about something like that.

Jing Shun felt that he and Chi Gui weren’t anywhere near that stage yet, and that such intimacy probably wouldn’t happen anytime soon. He decided he could put this knowledge aside for now and learn later.

So, he changed the subject. “By the way, where did this milk tea come from?”

This was the Western Suburb Cemetery. There weren’t any shopping centers nearby. How could the crew have prepared these things?

“Brother Yu ordered it in your name!”

Yu Zhen sat across from him, picking up a small cake. “I heard from the crew’s production assistant that Brother Yu contacted a food truck supplier two days in advance, to celebrate your wrap.”

Jing Shun, holding the milk tea, was moved. “Brother Yu went to a lot of trouble.”

Yu Zhen scooped up his cake, filling his cheeks, but still reminded him, “Jing Shun, let’s just grab a bite and then head out. The crew is waiting to celebrate your wrap.”

“Okay.”

…

Ten minutes later.

The moment Jing Shun, freshly tidied up, returned to the set, he was immediately surrounded by the crew.

“Young Master Jing, happy wrap!”

“Happy wrap, Jing! You worked hard!”

Jing Shun looked down at the two bouquets of wrap flowers in his arms, his gaze lingering on the simpler white jasmine on the right.

This bouquet, which shouldn’t have belonged to this season, now bloomed in full, in small clusters.

Even though the card had no signature, Jing Shun instantly guessed the origin of the flowers. His gaze traveled through the gaps in the crowd, settling on the familiar figure under the monitor tent.

Everything went without words.

Jing Shun’s heart was filled with a heavy sense of satisfaction. He looked around at everyone. “Thank you, Director. Thank you, everyone.”

Even if it was just a supporting role’s wrap, he had finally taken that step back!

With the crew’s permission, Jing Shun posted his wrap group photo on Weibo. In addition, he also posted a single photo of the white jasmine—a blatant display of favoritism.

It had been a while since Jing Shun had posted any original content, and his eagerly waiting fans flooded in as fast as they could—

“Ahhhh! Baby! Happy wrap!”

“I’ve already seen several leaked photos—super excited!”

“Jing Bao, are you feeling better?”

Feeling the love from his fans, Jing Shun selectively replied to one: “Thank you. I’m getting better. Look forward to seeing you in the future.”

The scent of jasmine filled the entire car.

Yu Zhen, sitting beside him, couldn’t help but sneeze. “Oh my god! Jasmine isn’t in season right now, is it? For them to manage to get such a huge bouquet, the crew really went all out.”

To avoid gossip, Jing Shun and Chi Gui had left separately.

Jing Shun’s fingertips gently brushed the jasmine petals, letting the fragrance, mingled with his strong feelings, seep into his heart and lungs.

“Mm, they did.”

…

After the filming officially ended, Jing Shun began his daily rehabilitation. The process wasn’t easy—on the contrary, it was tedious and drawn out.

Jing Shun gritted his teeth and persevered. No matter how many times he failed, he never showed any negative emotions again.

Before they knew it, it was August 24th.

Chi Gui swiftly exited the group’s conference room and stepped into the elevator. He glanced at the time on his phone. It was still early, just past five.

“Weidi, confirm the change of time for tonight’s international conference call.”

“Don’t worry, sir. It was already changed this morning.”