Isn’t money good?

Chapter 24

After hanging up the phone, Ji Yunnian was about to take the elevator downstairs when Chen Hangsheng called out to him again.

“Leaving already? Got plans tonight?”

Ji Yunnian shook his head. “No.”

“Perfect then, come eat dinner with everyone.” Chen Hangsheng invited him.

After thinking it over, he patted Ji Yunnian’s shoulder. “Even though you’re just doing a cameo, you’ll still be with the crew for a week or two. Getting more familiar with everyone can’t hurt.”

Ji Yunnian figured he had nothing to do anyway, so he agreed. “Alright.”

There were ten people who came to shoot promotional photos today, plus Chen Hangsheng made eleven. Zhao Yutong had reserved a restaurant in advance, and they were led directly to a private room upon arrival.

Yan Shiqiu went to the restroom and arrived last. When he entered, the only empty seat left was next to Ji Yunnian.

He paused in his steps, then walked over and sat down.

Ji Yunnian didn’t miss that moment of hesitation and raised an eyebrow. “What, too embarrassed to come sit?”

“No.” Yan Shiqiu looked back at him with mock pity. “I’m just amazed at how unpopular you are that no one wanted to sit next to you.”

He picked up a mint candy from the table and placed it in front of Ji Yunnian. “Here, have a candy to comfort you.”

Ji Yunnian: “…”

Ji Yunnian was so annoyed he didn’t want to talk to him anymore and turned to chat with Chen Hangsheng instead.

Yan Shiqiu cheerfully made scissors fingers in his mind, satisfied to mark down another victory in his mental notebook.

Suddenly, he sensed someone watching him and turned his head.

He met the eyes of Su Yu, the actor playing the Sixth Prince in the drama. Startled, he nodded at Su Yu.

Su Yu turned his head away expressionlessly.

?

Yan Shiqiu found it baffling.

Soon their ordered dishes arrived, along with two bottles of red wine.

Being in the entertainment industry, everyone had more or less experienced various dinner parties and drinking gatherings. They were accustomed to drinking culture and skilled at it, so after eating their fill, they began raising their glasses in toasts.

Halfway through the drinking, the atmosphere heated up.

The initial restraint disappeared, and Zhao Yutong and the others began actively striking up conversations with Ji Yunnian. Ji Yunnian didn’t talk much, occasionally responding with a sentence or two, mostly just nodding or offering a polite smile.

At this moment, Su Yu pulled out an autograph book and walked over to Ji Yunnian. “Teacher Ji, could you sign this for me? I’m your fan. I’ve watched all your works and really love them!”

His cheeks were flushed red, staring directly at Ji Yunnian.

Ji Yunnian glanced up at him and took the autograph book, signing his name with flourishing strokes.

“Thanks for your support.” Very official.

Su Yu clutched the book, overjoyed.

After calming down, he looked down and said matter-of-factly to Yan Shiqiu: “Let’s switch seats. You go sit where I was.”

Hearing this, Yan Shiqiu looked up and held his gaze for several seconds.

Withdrawing his gaze, he stood up. “Fine, you sit.”

He took his utensils and moved to Su Yu’s original seat, propping his chin on his hand as he continued eating.

He Qian was sitting next to him. She suddenly said, “So annoying!”

Yan Shiqiu had his mouth stuffed with sweet and sour pork, his cheeks bulging as he turned to look at her. Not immediately understanding, he made a confused sound: “Hmm?”

“How can you eat so deliciously!”

Yan Shiqiu blinked and looked at her bowl, finding it clean. He remembered that He Qian needed to lose another five pounds, and restaurant food was generally heavy in oil and salt. Things that were absolutely off-limits for someone trying to lose weight.

“Sorry, sorry.” He put down his chopsticks. “I’ll stop eating.”

He Qian quickly waved her hands. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

She lowered her voice. “Aren’t you angry? Earlier he didn’t dare sit next to Ji Yunnian, but now that he’s discovered Ji Yunnian is easy to talk to, he has the nerve to ask you to give up your seat.”

Yan Shiqiu smiled. “I’m not angry.”

He tilted his head and pointed his chin toward the opposite side, indicating for her to look. “Don’t you think he’s embarrassed now?”

He Qian looked over and saw that although Su Yu had sat down, he had tried several times to strike up conversation with Ji Yunnian but couldn’t find an opening.

Ji Yunnian was either talking to Chen Hangsheng or Xie Zhaoli, and occasionally even spoke to Fu Baiqing across Su Yu, completely ignoring him.

She laughed quietly and commented, “I feel embarrassed for him.”

The dinner lasted over two hours, finally ending close to nine o’clock.

The assistants had been waiting in the parking lot early on. Seeing them come out, they drove over one by one to pick up their charges.

After Yan Shiqiu got in the car, Zhou Yu was about to drive when the car door was pulled open again and Ji Yunnian got in.

Yan Shiqiu: “?” “Where’s your car?” He asked after recovering.

“My assistant’s wife is about to give birth, so I sent him to the hospital.”

“Then you could have caught a ride with Director Chen.”

“Inconvenient. His house and mine are in opposite directions.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

Like hell I believe you. My house and yours require a big detour too.

Zhou Yu looked at them through the rearview mirror. “Brother Yan, should I drive?”

“Drive.” Yan Shiqiu said. “Go to the Ji residence first.”

He naturally recited the address.

Ji Yunnian turned to look at him. “You remember it so clearly?”

Of course, that used to be my home.

He thought to himself.

“I have a photographic memory. Are you envious?” Yan Shiqiu met his gaze, corners of his mouth raised.

Ji Yunnian scoffed. “Where’s your shame?”

Yan Shiqiu’s eyes curved with mirth as he leaned his face closer. “Right here, right here. Stop calling attention to it. I know you think it looks good.”

Ji Yunnian: “…”

Speechlessly averting his gaze, Ji Yunnian searched around the car and quickly found a button to press. A partition rose up in front, blocking Zhou Yu’s view and isolating sound transmission.

Leaning back against the seat, he composed his expression and said in a low voice: “I found someone to protect you. Her name is Liu Xi. She used to be in special forces and is very capable.”

Yan Shiqiu had been puzzled by his raising of the partition and was about to ask when he heard this, stunned.

“You found someone to protect me?” He was somewhat surprised.

Ji Yunnian hummed in acknowledgment, his tone calm. “The Ye family is dangerous, especially Ye Peiyuan. He has connections with both legal and illegal circles. I overlooked this before and forgot to arrange protection for you. Ye Peiyuan isn’t stupid. He’ll definitely notice something’s wrong later and become suspicious of you.”

Yan Shiqiu agreed with this assessment.

He didn’t refuse the kind gesture. “Thank you.”

Taking the pillow from behind him to hug, Yan Shiqiu rested his chin on it and suddenly remembered something, asking cautiously: “Does Ye Peiyuan know this Liu Xi?”

“No, she’s a classmate of Sheng You’s sister. She went to the military after finishing her sophomore year.”

Yan Shiqiu felt relieved and asked again: “Do you have her photo? Otherwise how will I recognize her?”

Ji Yunnian said nothing and directly pulled up a photo on his phone, showing it to him. “Though even if you see her, you might not recognize her. She’ll come find you herself, probably in the next day or two.”

Staring at the photo and memorizing Liu Xi’s appearance, Yan Shiqiu thanked him again. “Thank you.”

Neither of them spoke after that.

Yan Shiqiu lowered the partition and noticed Zhou Yu’s worried glance in the rearview mirror. He shook his head, indicating everything was fine.

Seeing this, Zhou Yu tactfully withdrew his gaze and focused on driving.

After dropping Ji Yunnian off at home and returning to his own place, it was already past 10:30.

Yan Shiqiu took a quick shower and climbed into bed with his script. He read while dramatically reciting lines, using this to find the emotional beats of the character, making notes in the margins.

He didn’t turn off the lights to sleep until one in the morning.

—

Yan Shiqiu encountered Liu Xi on the third evening at the entrance of the supermarket downstairs.

At first, he didn’t recognize her.

Liu Xi was chasing a thief at the time. From a meter away, she used a nearby railing to leap and directly tackle the thief, landing less than a meter from where he stood.

He quickly put down his things to help, but saw that Liu Xi had already skillfully pinned the thief with her knee, forcefully pulling both his arms back to completely restrain him.

The police soon arrived to take the thief away. He was about to leave when Liu Xi stopped him.

He looked puzzled: “Something wrong?”

“Are you Yan Shiqiu?” She removed her hat, revealing a princess-cut hairstyle, shook her hair, and extended her hand to him. “I’m Liu Xi.”

Yan Shiqiu was instantly dumbfounded.

After recovering, he carefully examined Liu Xi’s face, unable to match it with the photo he’d seen. He couldn’t help but doubt: “Are you really Liu Xi?”

Liu Xi’s lips curved. “Don’t believe me?”

“…Doesn’t look like it.” Yan Shiqiu spoke honestly.

“Wait a moment.” Liu Xi rummaged in her backpack for makeup remover and removed her makeup on the spot, revealing her natural face.

“Recognize me now?”

Having a girl remove her makeup in public made Yan Shiqiu feel very embarrassed. He bowed his head apologetically. “Sorry.”

Liu Xi had a great personality, particularly cool and easygoing. She waved her hand, not minding at all. “It’s good that you’re cautious. Makes my job easier.”

“By the way, can you make fried sauce noodles?” She suddenly asked.

The topic changed too quickly, leaving Yan Shiqiu somewhat bewildered: “Huh?”

Liu Xi said matter-of-factly: “I’m hungry. Make some for me. Consider it a welcome gift from you. Looking forward to working together.”

She put her hat back on and looked up at him. “So can you make it?”

Yan Shiqiu looked at her for several seconds, then smiled. “I can.”

“Then what are we waiting for.” Liu Xi turned and walked ahead of Yan Shiqiu, heading straight into the residential complex.

Back home, Yan Shiqiu put on an apron and went to the kitchen to prepare. Half an hour later, two bowls of fried sauce noodles were ready.

Liu Xi followed the aroma into the kitchen. “Ready to eat?”

Yan Shiqiu turned off the heat and turned around. “Yes.”

“Then I won’t be polite.” She took a bowl, skillfully mixed it, then picked up a large mouthful and put it in her mouth. Her eyes immediately lit up.

“Delicious.” She looked at Yan Shiqiu with a smile. “Ji Yunnian is quite blessed. He has good taste.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…?”

What does this have to do with Ji Yunnian? He couldn’t understand.