Isn’t money good?

Chapter 15

It! Was! Ji! Yunnian! Again!

Yan Shiqiu suspected he might have been cursed with a “100% chance of encountering Ji Yunnian” buff. Otherwise, how could he possibly run into him even while recording a variety show?!

He let out a long sigh.

Returning to the courtyard, everyone was standing around. Though they were smiling, the bewilderment in their expressions hadn’t completely faded. Clearly, like him, they didn’t understand how Ji Yunnian had appeared.

“Teacher Ji, how did you come to be here?” Su Yunmu asked the question everyone was wondering about.

Ji Yunnian suddenly turned to look at him.

“…” What are you looking at me for?

Want to compare who has bigger eyes? Fine, let’s see who’s afraid of whom.

Yan Shiqiu widened his eyes, staring back at him.

“I came here to shoot a magazine. After finishing, Chen Feng called me.” Ji Yunnian gave him another meaningful look before withdrawing his gaze and continuing, “He said he was treating me to dinner and I could order anything I wanted.”

He had a bad feeling about this.

“When I heard that, I came over on an empty stomach. On the way, Chen Feng told me I’d need to order from you all, and you’d cook whatever I requested.” He asked, “May I place my order now?”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

This guy was definitely doing this on purpose.

But when recording a show, one had to bow their head. Besides, Ji Yunnian’s appearance would boost ratings, and when the production team was happy, the red envelopes would be bigger.

Hey, when you think about it, it’s actually a great thing.

However.

“You can order.” Yan Shiqiu blinked and spread his hands, “but there are no ingredients. We only have the scraps left over from making dumplings earlier, probably not even enough to stir-fry one dish.”

Ji Yunnian smiled, “Don’t worry about that. Chen Feng guaranteed me that whatever I want to eat, we! Have! It!”

He deliberately emphasized the last two words.

“Well, we don’t, he lied to you.” Yan Shiqiu set down the food container. “We only have two people who can cook here, me and Teacher Lu. If you order something like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, first we don’t know how to make it, and second we don’t have time. Just one dried sea cucumber takes six days to rehydrate.”

The implication being: you’d be dead and buried by then.

Ji Yunnian: “…”

Avoiding the camera, Ji Yunnian shot him a cold glance.

Yan Shiqiu smiled brilliantly at him.

The other onlookers: “…”

Why did this feel strange somehow?

In the midst of the silence, Tu Ya suddenly spoke up, “Teacher Ji, what dish would you like to order?”

Ji Yunnian didn’t really make things difficult for Yan Shiqiu: “Sweet and sour pork. I saw someone eating it at lunch and it made my mouth water.”

After hearing this, Lu Ze quietly turned his gaze to Yan Shiqiu, “Shiqiu, can you make it?”

Yan Shiqiu nodded, “Yes.”

“Then we’ll help out.” Wu Shan rolled up his sleeves, and Xia Linqiu and Zhang Xiaowen also prepared to lend a hand.

“No need, you all rest. You’ve been cleaning all afternoon and must be tired.” He looked at Ji Yunnian, “Teacher Ji shouldn’t mind lending a hand, right?”

Ji Yunnian walked over, “I don’t mind.”

After getting the necessary ingredients from Chen Feng, Yan Shiqiu walked shoulder to shoulder with Ji Yunnian toward the kitchen.

Turning off his mic and having Ji Yunnian do the same, Yan Shiqiu asked, “Why did you really come?”

Ji Yunnian rarely appeared on variety shows. In fact, besides filming movies and TV dramas, he seldom participated in other commercial activities. He could afford to be this willful not only because he was the young master of the Ji family—lacking neither resources nor money—but also because he had sufficiently strong abilities.

He was a good actor, very dedicated, would absolutely do his own stunts when possible, was selective about scripts, and brave enough to challenge various different types of roles. Most fans liked him purely because of his acting skills.

Of course, there were also looks-based fans.

Just a relatively small portion.

Ji Yunnian saying Chen Feng had called him was definitely true. Otherwise he wouldn’t have said it on camera, but agreeing to come absolutely couldn’t be because of the reasons he mentioned afterward.

“Wen Chen called me this afternoon, said you wanted to treat me to dinner to thank me for taking you to the hospital before, asked if I had time.” Ji Yunnian tilted his head and scoffed, “You’d better actually be treating me to dinner to thank me.

It just so happened that Chen Feng called afterward, asking if I could guest star, so I agreed. Came to see what kind of trouble you’re stirring up.”

“…What kind of logic is that? Can’t I treat you to dinner to thank you? Do I look that impolite?” Thinking of the original’s behavior, he paused, realizing it really wasn’t possible, coughed and said seriously, “You need to change your impression of me. To err is human, to correct one’s mistakes is the greatest good. I haven’t killed or committed arson or broken any laws. You should give me a chance to reform.”

“Do you need it?”

“I do.” Yan Shiqiu looked at him with the most sincere eyes.

Ji Yunnian kept looking straight ahead, “Fine, I’ll trust that you can change.”

Yan Shiqiu was stunned, “You…?”

He thought Ji Yunnian would still, like the previous times, dismiss his words with disdain. He hadn’t expected him to actually respond, and with belief in him at that.

“Thank you.” He smiled.

Ji Yunnian responded faintly, returning to the previous topic, “You specifically had Wen Chen arrange to meet me. What’s the matter?”

He added, “I’m flying to S City tomorrow and the day after, so I’m not free.”

They’d reached the kitchen. Yan Shiqiu’s gaze swept over several cameras and said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Mm.”

…

Sweet and sour pork wasn’t difficult to make, especially the home-style method. The dish was ready before long, and the rice Yan Shiqiu had put on to steam was also done. The grains distinct and fragrant, filling the kitchen with aroma.

Yan Shiqiu placed the dish and rice on a tray, then took the double-skin milk he’d made that afternoon from the refrigerator. Carrying a tray in each hand, he turned back to Ji Yunnian and lifted his chin, “Let’s go, back to eat.”

Ji Yunnian rolled down his sleeves and went to wash off the ash he’d accidentally gotten on his hands while tending the fire, then walked toward him and took one of the trays from his hands, “Let me help you.”

The two returned to the living room together.

Seeing them enter, everyone stood up. Xia Linqiu rubbed his stomach, “Can we eat now?”

“Yes, we can.” Yan Shiqiu handed him a double-skin milk, “Pre-dinner dessert.”

Xia Linqiu’s eyes sparkled, “Thank you, Brother Shiqiu.”

“We want some too, Brother Qiu, you can’t play favorites.” Su Yunmu ran over.

“Everyone gets some.”

After saying this, Yan Shiqiu set down the tray.

Taking the leftmost bowl of ginger milk pudding, he handed it to Tu Ya, saying, “You can’t have cold things, this is more suitable. I also added some brown sugar.”

Tu Ya was surprised, “How did you know?”

“When the task was announced this afternoon, you kept frowning and pressing your stomach, and your complexion wasn’t good either.”

Tu Ya accepted it, cradling it in her hands, lowering her eyes and saying softly, “Thank you.”

Yan Shiqiu shook his head and turned away.

Ji Yunnian was standing not far away and had heard their entire conversation. He turned to look at Yan Shiqiu, but Yan Shiqiu didn’t notice.

After dinner, everyone sat around the small table chatting.

Lu Ze and the others weren’t familiar with Ji Yunnian and had never worked with him. Moreover, Ji Yunnian’s status was much higher than everyone else’s—the distance too vast—so awkwardness and restraint became apparent.

Only Yan Shiqiu would occasionally spar with him, the two of them going back and forth in mutual provocation.

The two happened to be sitting together, forming their own circle. Them inside, everyone else outside, incompatible.

Everyone gradually quieted down, watching them bicker.

Noticing everyone’s gazes, Yan Shiqiu tilted his head, “?”

“No, no, please continue.” Wu Shan made a gesture for them to proceed.

Su Yunmu propped her chin on her hand, “Brother Qiu, are you and Teacher Ji good friends?”

“Not really, he’s friends with my cousin.”

“I remember now.” Su Yunmu clapped her hands, bringing up old matters, “You and Teacher Ji even made it to trending topics once because of you.”

Yan Shiqiu’s gaze lingered on Su Yunmu’s face for a few seconds.

He said naturally, “Right, that time I had a fever of almost 40 degrees, could barely walk, nearly fainted. Thank goodness for Teacher Ji.”

Ji Yunnian also glanced at Su Yunmu, then said to him, “Don’t mention it.”

“Let’s discuss how we’re sleeping tonight, now that there’s an extra person.” Lu Ze jumped out to change the subject.

“True, all the rooms are full.” Wu Shan continued the conversation.

Xia Linqiu raised his hand, suggesting, “How about we roll dice, and whoever gets the lowest number sleeps on the floor? Sister Lin Xue and the others don’t need to participate.”

“No need, I’ll sleep on the floor.” Yan Shiqiu said, “I’m used to hard beds, the room beds are too soft.”

Ji Yunnian raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure you want to give it up for me?”

“Otherwise you could sleep on the floor with me, we could chat.” Yan Shiqiu smiled as he invited him.

“Chatting with you? I’d rather not, I’m afraid I’d die of anger.”

Wu Shan interrupted them, “Let’s still roll dice, for fairness. Teacher Ji should participate too.”

Ji Yunnian nodded, “Alright.”

Yan Shiqiu opened his mouth, originally wanting to say something more, but seeing everyone agreed, he didn’t insist on fighting for the chance to sleep on the floor.

The dice rolling results came out quickly. Xia Linqiu had the worst luck, rolling three ones.

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

He’d rather sleep on the floor!

After deciding who would sleep on the floor, everyone played games for a while longer before returning to their rooms to rest.

Yan Shiqiu and Ji Yunnian entered the room one after the other. They covered the cameras in the room and turned off the audio equipment, then sat on their respective beds, facing each other.

“Speak.” Ji Yunnian was the first to break the silence.

Yan Shiqiu took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the bed, and hugged a pillow like a body pillow, his whole demeanor lazy, “Come over here for a moment.”

Ji Yunnian didn’t move: “What for?”

“To show you chat records, related to Ye Peiyuan.” He said matter-of-factly, “Besides, Ye Peiyuan is targeting you. If you don’t care, I have even less reason to care.”

Ji Yunnian got up and walked over.

“What chat records?”

“See for yourself.” Yan Shiqiu directly opened WeChat, brought up Ye Peiyuan’s chat window, and held it in front of him.

After reading it, Ji Yunnian’s expression quickly darkened.

Yan Shiqiu thought for a moment, then looked up at him and said, “I’m not sure if he only approached me to drug you, or if there’s someone else as backup.

Ye Peiyuan is very suspicious. Last time when I didn’t give him the memory card, though he only lost his temper with me once and then dropped it, he might already suspect me. This time might also be a trap for me.”

Ji Yunnian lowered his head to meet his gaze, “So what do you plan to do?”

“I will drug someone.” He smiled slightly, “but I’ll drug myself. I’ll pretend to accidentally mix things up and drink the spiked drink myself. Then it’ll be up to you. You’ll need to safely get me home.”

Ji Yunnian’s expression froze, “You trust me that much?”

Yan Shiqiu didn’t hesitate for even a moment, “Yes, I trust you.“