Isn’t money good?

Chapter 36

It was already past 1 AM, and there were few pedestrians on the road. The street was empty, with only one or two cars speeding by occasionally. Orange streetlights cast their glow down, making the night quiet and peaceful.

Yan Shiqiu and Ji Yunnian didn’t deliberately disguise themselves as they walked side by side on the sidewalk.

After walking for a while, Yan Shiqiu noticed that aside from convenience stores, no other shops were open. He asked aloud, “Where are we going to eat?”

Ji Yunnian raised an eyebrow. “Worried I’ll sell you off?”

“That won’t happen.” Yan Shiqiu leisurely kicked a small pebble. “You’re not short on money.”

Ji Yunnian said, “Even if I were short on money and sold you, you wouldn’t fetch much.”

That’s not true. I’m quite valuable.

In my past life, I made nearly a billion in just five years!

After silently praising himself in his mind, Yan Shiqiu retorted, “If you really sold me, I’d still be quite valuable.”

Ji Yunnian scoffed. “Who would buy you? What would they do with you after buying you? Worship you?”

“You should recognize my excellence.” Yan Shiqiu puffed out his chest proudly, listing his good points. “I can cook, do housework, act, chat, and occasionally serve as a tutor. Most importantly of all, I’m good-looking!”

Ji Yunnian: “…”

“Narcissistic.” He said.

Yan Shiqiu smiled cheerfully. “It’s not narcissism, it’s fact.”

“…Where’s your shame?”

His tone was light. “Right here.”

…

They continued their banter as they walked, and before long they reached their destination.

Ji Yunnian stopped in front of an inconspicuous shop in an alley and pulled Yan Shiqiu, who was about to keep walking, back. “We’re here.”

They went in one after the other. The owner seemed to recognize Ji Yunnian, because as soon as he saw him, he smiled and greeted him. Ji Yunnian politely said, “Sorry for making you wait for us until now.”

“No problem.”

The owner smiled and personally led them inside. After turning several corners, he pushed open the door to a private room.

Yan Shiqiu noticed a photo on the wall nearby. It showed Ji Yunnian with the owner and a six or seven-year-old child. The Ji Yunnian in the photo looked somewhat youthful, appearing to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.

After they finished ordering, the owner left with the menu. Yan Shiqiu asked curiously, “You know the owner?”

Ji Yunnian poured him a cup of hot soy milk that had just been served. “I helped him out before.”

“This shop doesn’t usually stay open this late. Did he specifically keep the shop open to wait for you?” He had noticed when they entered that the business hours were from 10 AM to 10 PM, and it was now 1:30 AM.

Ji Yunnian picked up his soy milk and took a sip. “Mm, I called the owner in advance.”

He looked up at Yan Shiqiu. “This shop makes excellent chicken porridge. Try it in a bit, and if you think it’s good, you can have Zhou Yu order takeout from here in the future.”

The boxed meals provided by the crew had heavy flavoring, and the doctor had told Yan Shiqiu to watch his diet. This week he had been ordering his own takeout and had tried porridge from all the nearby places.

Yan Shiqiu nodded. “Alright.”

Since there were no other customers in the restaurant and it was just a late-night snack, they didn’t order much. The dishes they ordered came out quickly, and the owner even gave them a complimentary serving of mango pomelo sago.

Yan Shiqiu’s eyes drifted over to it.

Noticing his gaze, Ji Yunnian reached out and moved the mango pomelo sago in front of himself. “You can’t eat this.”

Yan Shiqiu: “!”

He picked up a small bowl and negotiated: “Just a small half bowl?”

Ji Yunnian said nothing.

Yan Shiqiu continued staring at him, unconsciously using a wheedling tone: “Just a small half bowl.”

Ji Yunnian’s resolve softened slightly.

He looked over and made eye contact with Yan Shiqiu. Yan Shiqiu blinked and smiled at him, a shallow dimple appearing at the corner of his lips. His smile was brilliant and beautiful.

His heart felt as if it had been lightly brushed by a feather, slightly ticklish. Ji Yunnian looked away and compromised: “Only a small half bowl. I’ll serve it for you.”

Yan Shiqiu happily made a victory sign with his fingers.

Neither of them had scenes scheduled for tomorrow morning, with only one group scene in the afternoon, so they didn’t need to rush back to rest. They sat in the restaurant, eating and chatting, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

After finishing their late-night meal, Yan Shiqiu went to wash his hands. When he returned, Ji Yunnian had already settled the bill and was chatting with the owner.

The owner smiled, making casual conversation: “I’m so happy you could come. If you hadn’t helped back then, little Qi might not have been saved.”

“Little Qi is already in ninth grade now, and his grades are excellent. Last time he ranked first in his grade and even won the city’s Three Good Students award…”

Yan Shiqiu caught part of the conversation but didn’t go over to interrupt.

He leaned against the counter and casually picked up a business card to look at.

Ji Yunnian chatted with the owner for a while longer, then walked over to him and placed two milk candies in his hand. “Let’s go.”

Walking out of the restaurant, Yan Shiqiu gave one back. “One each, neither of us is a little kid.”

Ji Yunnian took the candy, glanced at him, and smiled slightly. “Fine.”

A breeze blew toward them. Yan Shiqiu’s hair had grown a bit long and was blown upward in a small tuft, like an ahoge. He was eating the candy with his cheeks puffed out, looking even more adorable.

Ji Yunnian’s peripheral vision caught sight of this, then he quietly looked away. The night was hazy, the evening breeze gentle, and the dim yellow streetlights shone on the ground, stretching their shadows long.

When they reached the mouth of the alley, Ji Yunnian’s assistant Lin Yang was already waiting.

Shortly after getting in the car, perhaps because it was too comfortable inside, combined with exhaustion from filming, Yan Shiqiu suddenly felt drowsy. His eyes wouldn’t stay open, and his head began to nod.

After a while, his head rested against the window and he fell asleep.

Under the orange lamplight, the road was empty, with buildings on both sides rapidly receding backward. The streetlights shone through the windows, creating flickering patterns of light and shadow.

Ji Yunnian turned his head and quietly watched the sleeping Yan Shiqiu.

Seeing that he seemed uncomfortable, constantly bumping his head, Ji Yunnian moved closer, reached around his shoulder, and gently pulled his head over to rest on his own shoulder.

Lin Yang saw this scene in the rearview mirror and was extremely surprised.

The next instant, Ji Yunnian looked up and glanced over. Lin Yang quickly withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and focused seriously on driving.

The car drove smoothly all the way to the hotel.

As soon as the car stopped, Yan Shiqiu woke up.

But he discovered that the situation was a bit awkward. How had he ended up leaning on Ji Yunnian’s shoulder?

“Awake?” Ji Yunnian’s voice sounded.

Yan Shiqiu slowly opened his eyes, rubbed them, sat up straight, and remained completely calm, showing nothing on his face. “Awake.”

“Then get out, we’re here.”

Ji Yunnian stretched his stiff shoulder and got out first, then held the car door open, waiting for Yan Shiqiu to get out before closing it. He bent down to give Lin Yang a few instructions.

“Let’s go.” He turned and said to Yan Shiqiu.

Yan Shiqiu followed him.

In the elevator, he stared at Ji Yunnian’s shoulder, puzzled about how he had ended up leaning on it. He had been sitting so far from Ji Yunnian, he couldn’t have reached him.

He pressed his lips together, wanting to speak but hesitating.

“What do you want to say?” Ji Yunnian suddenly spoke.

Yan Shiqiu glanced at the ascending numbers and chose his words carefully: “Is your shoulder okay?”

“Hmm? It’s fine.”

“How did I end up leaning on you?” He followed up with the question naturally, without beating around the bush.

Ji Yunnian had his hands in his pockets, playing with the candy that Yan Shiqiu had given back to him earlier. “Your head was bumping against the car window. I was worried you’d get a concussion and affect the filming schedule, so I kindly lent you my shoulder.”

After hearing this, Yan Shiqiu wasn’t particularly surprised. This was the right explanation.

He had thought so. Although he and Ji Yunnian were sitting in the back seat together, they were each on opposite sides with enough space for another person between them. There was no way he could have actively leaned over.

However, why was Ji Yunnian’s concern still so awkwardly expressed?

He found it amusing.

And actually laughed.

“Thank you.” He said to Ji Yunnian as they stepped out of the elevator.

But Ji Yunnian didn’t seem very happy. He gave him a cool look and walked away quickly.

Yan Shiqiu: “?”

—

Filming time passed quickly. Often, by the time one came back to their senses, it was already evening, then another new day.

Soon, they welcomed Ji Yunnian’s final two scenes.

On this day, the weather at the film studio remained hot. The sky was clear and bright, with not even a single white cloud visible in the afternoon, and the temperature soared to nearly forty degrees.

An Mo had left court feeling displeased, so he got down from his carriage, preparing to take a walk.

He walked along the street. There seemed to be some excitement ahead, as the common people around him were all heading in the direction he had come from. Only he was going against the flow, standing out conspicuously.

Emerging from the crowd, he saw an elderly man who had fallen not far away and hurried over to help him up.

“Are you alright, old sir?”

Seeing his official robes, the old man was frightened and wanted to kneel down to him. An Mo quickly stopped him.

At this moment, a team of bailiffs approached them aggressively and surrounded An Mo and the old man.

The lead bailiff said, “Lord An, please come with us.”

An Mo looked at their official uniforms and understood in his heart. He released the old man’s hand, let him leave first, then asked calmly, “You’re bailiffs from the Court of Judicial Review?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you arresting me?”

“Please assist with a murder case.” He signaled to the two men behind him, who immediately walked to An Mo’s side to restrain him, but An Mo brushed their hands away.

“Don’t touch me.”

An Mo held his head high, standing in the sunlight with his eyes full of light, showing no fear. “I’ll walk myself.”

The long shot captured Ji Yunnian walking into the Court of Judicial Review. The doors of the Court slowly closed, and the final still frame focused on the plaque bearing the three characters “Court of Judicial Review.”

“Cut!”

Chen Hangsheng stood up. “This take is good.”

The doors opened and Ji Yunnian came out from inside. Lin Yang approached to hand him a towel. He wiped his sweat and, not seeing Yan Shiqiu anywhere, asked Lin Yang, “Did Yan Shiqiu go film a scene?”

He had been there just moments ago.

Lin Yang was stunned. “I think he went with Fu Baiqing?”

Ji Yunnian paused, remembering the several times he had caught them laughing and talking together, and asked another question: “Where did they go?”

Lin Yang shook his head.

Of course.

Lin Yang was his assistant.

Ji Yunnian took the small fan and handed the towel back to him, then walked to a rest chair and sat down.

He had barely been sitting for a few minutes when Yan Shiqiu returned with Fu Baiqing. Fu Baiqing was gesticulating about something, while Yan Shiqiu ate an ice cream cone and watched him with a smile.

Yan Shiqiu’s smile was very beautiful, his eyes curved like a small crescent moon. His pupils were a lighter color, and when light fell into them, they showed a beautiful amber hue.

Ji Yunnian suddenly stood up and walked toward them.

Lin Yang, who had been about to hand him a glass of water, saw this: “…”

Seeing Ji Yunnian approaching, Yan Shiqiu stopped walking and waited for him to come over. Then he pulled out an ice cream and pressed it into his hand, tilting his head with a smile. “Vanilla flavor.”

Ji Yunnian was slightly stunned and looked down at the ice cream.

“You don’t like vanilla?” Yan Shiqiu asked. “Or do you want chocolate?”

Ji Yunnian smiled. “No.”

“Then eat it, or it’ll melt.”

Ji Yunnian hummed in acknowledgment and tore off the outer packaging. The weather was hot, so it had melted slightly, but when he tasted it, he found it particularly delicious, very sweet.