Isn’t money good?

Chapter 25

Liu Xi looked up and saw Yan Shiqiu’s dazed expression. She blinked, “Did I say something wrong?”

Yan Shiqiu had already snapped back to reality, thinking to himself that this sister was completely, utterly wrong!

“Ji Yunnian and I don’t have that kind of relationship.” He suppressed his internal complaints and carried his bowl out of the kitchen.

Liu Xi was surprised, “You don’t? Really not?”

Holding her noodles and sitting across from Yan Shiqiu, Liu Xi studied him thoughtfully for a few seconds, then suddenly had an epiphany, her eyes showing understanding.

“Actually, Ji Yunnian is really a great person – good-looking, good character, talented and wealthy, emotionally devoted. Once he likes someone, he’ll give his whole heart…”

She listed a bunch of Ji Yunnian’s good qualities, then concluded, “So being with him would definitely bring happiness.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

Sister, your matchmaking intentions are way too obvious.

And do you think Ji Yunnian has a secret crush on me?

I’m not worthy of that, really.

“It’s not like that.” Yan Shiqiu explained, “We have a business relationship.”

Liu Xi clearly didn’t believe him. She had her own theory, and it was quite reasonable.

“You know, he really holds grudges. When he was little, he was especially cute. On his seventh or eighth birthday, I coaxed him into wearing pigtails, and when his parents saw it and took photos, he never talked to me again from then on.

All these years, this is the first time he’s contacted me on his own initiative, asking me to protect you, and he doubled my usual rate, offering a six-figure monthly bodyguard fee…”

Yan Shiqiu was amazed by Ji Yunnian’s generosity, but thinking from Ji Yunnian’s perspective, his two instances of help had indeed saved Ji Yunnian and the Ji Corporation from massive losses.

When those losses were added up, the amount was enormous. In comparison, millions or even tens of millions seemed tiny – just a drop in the bucket.

Besides, Ji Yunnian was a genuinely good person.

“Are you listening?” Liu Xi waved her hand in front of his eyes.

Yan Shiqiu came back to his senses, “Sorry.”

Liu Xi looked at him for a while longer, then shook her head, “Never mind, I won’t meddle anymore.”

Yan Shiqiu felt somewhat amused and exasperated.

Probably due to her profession, Liu Xi ate very quickly. Soon she had finished the large bowl of fried sauce noodles.

She still wasn’t full and was eyeing the bowl in Yan Shiqiu’s hands.

Yan Shiqiu hadn’t touched his chopsticks yet. Noticing her gaze, he pushed it over, “Want to eat this too?”

Liu Xi didn’t hesitate at all, “Thanks.”

Yan Shiqiu smiled, got up to get a bottle of milk, poured Liu Xi a glass of warm water, and placed it beside her.

“Aren’t you going to cook something else to eat?” Liu Xi glanced at the water glass and asked him.

“I will, after I finish my milk.”

“Then cook more – I’m still not full.”

“You can still eat?” Yan Shiqiu was surprised.

Liu Xi held up two fingers and waved them, “I could eat two more bowls of fried sauce noodles.”

Yan Shiqiu: “!”

She laughed, “Don’t I look like someone who can eat a lot?”

Yan Shiqiu honestly agreed.

Liu Xi wasn’t tall – about 5’2” – with a good but somewhat thin figure. She didn’t look like someone with a big appetite at all.

“Your thinking isn’t strange, but I really can eat a lot.” She waved her hand, “Don’t worry about it.”

Yan Shiqiu had only been surprised anyway, not worried. After all, the world is vast and full of wonders.

“Want dumplings?” He threw away the empty milk carton and asked.

Liu Xi answered, “Sure, I’m not picky.”

Liu Xi didn’t live at Yan Shiqiu’s place, but not far away – right across the hall. Ji Yunnian had directly bought the apartment for true close-range protection.

After dinner, she prepared to leave.

“Save my number.” She rattled off a string of digits, then said, “Arrange an identity for me – assistant, makeup artist, anything that lets me follow you around conveniently.”

Yan Shiqiu saved the number and nodded, “Okay.”

After seeing Liu Xi off, Yan Shiqiu closed the door and, after thinking, sent Ji Yunnian a text: [Liu Xi came.]

Ji Yunnian’s reply came quickly – he probably wasn’t busy.

[I know, she told me.]

Yan Shiqiu: Thank you.

Ji Yunnian: This feels a bit strange.

Ji Yunnian: You suddenly being polite.

Ji Yunnian: But it’s nice.

Yan Shiqiu smiled, turned off his phone screen and set it aside, picked up the script, found a comfortable position on the sofa, and continued reading from where he’d left off.

—

Three days before “Rivers and Mountains in Chaos” officially began filming, the long-quiet official Weibo finally showed activity, releasing photos of the male and female leads and announcing the casting results.

Chen Hangsheng’s open casting call had generated lots of discussion. After the roles were decided, the cast hadn’t been announced for a long time, so lots of “insider leaks” had emerged.

Sometimes saying they’d chosen some unknown idol.

Other times claiming it was some third-tier actor or some washed-up artist.

Quite a few celebrities had used the show to create buzz and indeed gained some traffic.

But netizens watched like it was all a joke.

[Betting a cucumber that there’s definitely no “Huo Rich Guy.”]

[No Chu Ran either.]

[Right, if Zhang Li is in it, I’ll drink water while doing a handstand!]

[You people are so mean, don’t persecute my baby. My baby is the best – we don’t even want to act anyway. (dog head)]

[Ahhhhh I’m dying of anxiety, why is the official account so slow? I’ve been waiting forever!]

[Here it comes, here it comes – the actors for Xu Yang, Yun Yao, and Chu Yuexuan are out.]

[? Fu Baiqing as Xu Yang? Who is he?]

[Ruan Lin? Holy shit, that really is my schoolmate. Why did she stop doing lab work to act? Am I dreaming?]

[Yan Shiqiu???]

Since it was an original script with no source material, there were no issues about whether the casting fit the characters’ looks. Once all the role assignments were announced, people only argued about acting skills.

Everyone questioned why, with open casting where so many actors and artists auditioned, the final three chosen were all newcomers.

Fans of various artists couldn’t accept it.

Especially those whose favorites had decent acting skills and had won awards – they felt the loss was inexplicable.

[Was this really fair casting? I feel like it was rigged.]

[Fu Baiqing, Hengxing artist; Yan Shiqiu, Hengxing artist. Everyone guess – how much money did Hengxing stuff in?]

[Capitalism has no humanity.]

Among them, Yan Shiqiu received the most attacks, mainly because of the three, he was the only one with any fame, plus he had scandals and had openly come out.

Fans of other artists or “righteous passersby” all came to step on him.

[Did Yan Shiqiu sleep with the casting director? Honestly, he is good-looking.]

[Are they crazy? I absolutely won’t watch if Yan Shiqiu is in it.]

[Is the production team going to support a pretty vase?]

[Chen Hangsheng is going to crash and burn. Yan Shiqiu has acting skills? This is the funniest joke I’ve heard this year.]

[Yan Shiqiu playing Chu Yuexuan is ridiculous. What acting skills does he have? Isn’t this insider dealing? He’s so close to Ji Yunnian – bet he used some underhanded methods.]

[Ji… ah, those who know, know.]

[Get lost, we know you’re Huo fans. Next time suggest registering a burner account before commenting – too stupid to even bother cursing.]

[If Yan Shiqiu isn’t good enough, then your steamed dumpling is even worse, since your steamed dumpling got rejected.]

Although Ji fans had made peace with Yan Shiqiu, they wouldn’t necessarily defend him. But if people tried to drag Ji Yunnian down and take the opportunity to smear him, that was absolutely unacceptable.

Ji fans really had strong fighting power and were organized and disciplined. They came in waves, tearing apart their opponents until they had no ability to fight back and didn’t dare jump so high anymore. Even the harsh criticism of Yan Shiqiu decreased.

After reposting the official announcement, Yan Shiqiu curiously scrolled through the comments and indeed saw many people criticizing and cursing him, questioning whether he’d used unfair means to get the role.

He just laughed it off and didn’t bother responding.

After all, no matter how much they complained, they couldn’t replace him. And after the show aired, whether he had acting skills and was suitable for the role would naturally be judged by viewers.

However, he was somewhat surprised to see many familiar Ji fans fighting for him in the front lines.

Puzzled, he scrolled further down the comment section and finally found the reason.

He clicked into those accounts that were intensely arguing with Ji fans and couldn’t help laughing.

Although the internet trolls Ye Peiyuan hired this time were smarter and knew to hide under other artists’ fan identities to fight, dragging Ji Yunnian into this was basically asking for death.

After thinking about it, he felt it was necessary to give Ji fans a thank-you gift for incidentally speaking up for him.

He switched out of Weibo and sent Ji Yunnian a text.

Yan Shiqiu: Give me an exclusive photo? As a thank-you gift for your fans.

Yan Shiqiu: As fan service!

Ji Yunnian didn’t respond, but five minutes later, he still sent over a photo.

Yan Shiqiu happily saved it and sent him a thank-you message, then switched back to Weibo and clicked on “Blue Sky”, the big Ji fan who was organizing these fan battles, and private messaged him.

Yan Shiqiu typed: “Want an exclusive photo of Ji Yunnian?”

Blue Sky: Yes, but don’t think this will buy me off. I’ll forever only be Teacher Ji’s loyal fan leader!

Yan Shiqiu found these fans really cute: “Not trying to buy you off, purely a thank-you gift.”

Blue Sky: Hmph, at least you know your place.

Blue Sky: For the sake of the photo, I’ll have my sisters say a few more good words for you. But let me be clear – I’m not trusting you, I’m trusting Teacher Ji.

Blue Sky: Also, you better go improve your acting skills. If you dare drag Teacher Ji down, you’re dead!

Yan Shiqiu: Yes yes yes, welcome to supervise me. Here’s the photo.

After getting off Weibo, Yan Shiqiu got up to change clothes, preparing to go out.

Wen Chen had asked him to dinner tonight, and he’d invited Ji Yunnian too.

Matchmaking Plan 1.0 was officially launching.

This being his first time as a matchmaker, he was a little nervous.