But regardless, Rong Jin’s scheme was already in motion. Chi Feiran had no choice but to go along with it, albeit reluctantly.
Moreover, during the scenes with Rong Jin, Chi Feiran clearly noticed his performance becoming increasingly stable. This improvement was quite gratifying, even though the process was truly indescribable…
However, from the gradually increasing number of times he engaged in physical exercises with Rong Jin, Chi Feiran deeply felt what maturity truly meant. Not only had his acting stabilized, but his mindset had also become remarkably steady!
Of course, he had to thank someone for not taking things to the extreme. If Rong Jin had insisted on being purely innocent, Chi Feiran might not have overcome it so quickly…
Rong Jin smiled without saying a word. There always had to be a balance between work and rest, right?
During this period, Chi Feiran not only had to balance work and rest with Rong Jin but also attend school. He was still a student, and attending classes should be his primary task. Besides, once filming for “Sweet and Sour” started, he would have to take a leave from school. Not earning some extra points now would make him feel quite guilty.
At school, besides attending classes, Chi Feiran had another task: observing his classmates. He wanted to see what these truly youthful people were like in their everyday lives.
Xia Wen and the others felt uneasy under Chi Feiran’s gaze and asked if there was something wrong with them.
Chi Feiran said, “I’m looking for inspiration from you guys for my next role.”
Upon hearing this, they all felt envious. Except for Xia Wen, none of them had even touched the edges of the entertainment industry yet. Even Xia Wen hadn’t managed to get a suitable script for a while because he wanted to transition to acting in films.
Chi Feiran noted their expressions and thoughts but didn’t immediately share his ideas. Instead, he carefully considered their feasibility.
The more he thought about it, the better it seemed. He then discussed his idea with Li Yuan.
Li Yuan also thought it was a good idea. After all, they would need people eventually. Since Chi Feiran wanted to give his friends a chance, passing a message was no big deal.
However, Chi Feiran didn’t want to make it that simple. He said, “We should still respect the director’s opinion.”
He didn’t want to misuse his influence, and the quality of the film should always come first. If they cast someone just because of his recommendation, the film’s overall quality wouldn’t be very promising.
The opportunity had been given; whether they could seize it was up to Xia Wen and the others.
About a month later, the “Sweet and Sour” crew started casting at the A City Film Academy, which was routine and didn’t raise any eyebrows.
The entire acting department showed up, including Xia Wen and his friends. After all, films suitable for their age group weren’t easy to come by, and the competition was fierce.
Chi Feiran didn’t do anything further. This time, many student roles were needed, with varying amounts of screen time. If they couldn’t get selected even then, it just meant their time hadn’t come.
By the time the final exams were approaching, the casting results for “Sweet and Sour” were out. Several students in their class received notifications. Xia Wen was chosen as a major supporting character, while the others had minor roles. This likely correlated with their actual acting experience, and Xia Wen’s already established reputation helped him get selected.
Xiang Fei and the others, being pure newcomers, didn’t feel jealous. They were just happy to have the opportunity to appear on screen. Being able to put on their resumes that their first on-screen appearance was in a film was quite a big deal!
Chi Feiran was genuinely happy for them, but unfortunately, when he found out the results, he was no longer at school. He was busy with the promotion of “Delicious Pavilion.”
The previous combination of work and rest had already felt quite fulfilling to Chi Feiran, and he wouldn’t have minded saying he was a bit busy. But once the promotion began, he felt the true meaning of being busy again. Besides the promotion work, he also had to prepare for his final exams during the few remaining free moments.
Chi Feiran didn’t want his academic performance to decline while his career was on the rise. Failing and retaking exams were absolutely unacceptable in his academic life!
The main creators of “Delicious Pavilion” once again had the chance to witness Chi Feiran’s intense end-of-term study efforts. They sighed with relief, thankful that they had graduated early. Otherwise, dealing with this would be like double the torture.
Chi Feiran didn’t see these activities as torture, but the overly busy schedule did make him feel exhausted. Fortunately, a certain producer named Rong accompanied him throughout the promotion work, preventing him from experiencing the pain of longing.
Chi Feiran couldn’t help but laugh after listening to Rong Jin’s words with his eyes closed. “Yes, yes, yes, thanks to you, or else I’d be so miserable!”
Then he raised his hand to touch Rong Jin’s face, feeling it for a moment before saying, “I don’t feel any difference. Why does your skin feel so thick?”
Rong Jin opened his mouth and bit Chi Feiran’s finger. Chi Feiran was startled and opened his eyes, meeting Rong Jin’s gaze.
Alone, with his beloved by his side, the temperature in the room seemed to rise. Chi Feiran gently moved his fingers, indicating for Rong Jin to let go.
Rong Jin released his fingers but held Chi Feiran’s hand and gave it another kiss before hugging him and whispering, “Sleep now. I’ll wake you up in the morning.”
Knowing that Rong Jin was being considerate of his recent exhaustion, Chi Feiran didn’t argue. They had plenty of time to spend together in the future, so there was no rush. He obediently closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Thanks to the constant temperature maintained by the hotel’s air conditioning, even though it was already summer, they could sleep cuddled together without feeling too hot. Instead, they felt warm and secure with each other’s presence.
After participating in a few more promotional events, Chi Feiran rushed back to school for his exams. He didn’t even wait for the results before hurrying back to continue the promotions.
Chi Feiran worked so hard because “Sweet and Sour” was confirmed to start filming that summer. The school locations for the shoot had already been arranged. With the students on summer break, the crew could use the school facilities. Since he couldn’t participate in the “Delicious Pavilion” roadshow after its release, he had to put more effort into pre-release promotions.
After finishing the last variety show recording before the release, Chi Feiran wondered if he could get into character if he was immediately taken to the set. He had been so busy lately that he hadn’t had much time to think about “Sweet and Sour.” Even the costume fitting and makeup tests were done in half a day. Luckily, it was a modern youth drama; otherwise, this amount of time wouldn’t have been nearly enough.
On July 5th, the premiere of “Delicious Pavilion” took place. Chi Feiran and Rong Jin sat side by side in the cinema, watching the lights dim and the title “Delicious Pavilion” slowly fade away amid a bustling kitchen scene.
Although it wasn’t Chi Feiran’s first time watching a film he had acted in, he was far from experienced. His previous role had only a few minutes of screen time, but this time, he was in almost the entire film, making his expectations and nervousness inevitable.
As the images on the screen gradually became clearer, the anxiety that Chi Feiran had been suppressing started to resurface.
At that moment, Rong Jin took his hand. In the darkness of the cinema, this secret act of tenderness was just the right amount of comfort Chi Feiran needed.
Chi Feiran grasped this hand in return, as if he could feel the strength being transmitted from Rong Jin. The sensation was rather mysterious but undeniably real.
On the screen in front of him, the processed images had a perfectly balanced retro feel—not overly contrived, but with just enough subtle modifications to instantly evoke a sense of time and space interwoven. Time had, at this moment, returned to that turbulent era, placing everyone within the confines of the small Dewei Restaurant.
Ying Duyuan, as the senior apprentice, was busy with his junior apprentices, occasionally giving pointers about kitchen matters. The master was not present, indicating his trust in Ying Duyuan.
The camera shifted to the master chatting leisurely with a friend, while the restless Ji Yunsheng had already made his way to the kitchen.
Seeing a stranger in the kitchen, they naturally stopped and questioned him.
Ji Yunsheng lifted his chin slightly, squinting his eyes a bit with a smug smile. He lazily replied, “Who am I? Have you heard of Ji Family Restaurant? I am the young master of Ji Family Restaurant, Ji Yunsheng.”
The way he spoke made it seem as if everyone in the world should know his background.
He then spoke disparagingly of Dewei Restaurant, showing utter disdain. From someone else, such words would be annoying, but this pretty young master’s soft, childish tone and the way he sulkily added, “I didn’t come here of my own accord,” transformed any budding annoyance into helpless smiles. He was still young, after all.
After filming this scene, Chi Feiran had watched the replay several times, but at this moment, he couldn’t help thinking: so this is his Ji Yunsheng.
Now, he was no longer a participant but an observer, sitting quietly and watching this segment of life unfold.
Gradually, even as an observer, he was drawn in by the emotions on screen, his feelings uncontrollably swayed.
Ji Yunsheng clumsily tried to ingratiate himself with Ying Duyuan. That Mid-Autumn night, a beauty from the moon met a mortal chef; Ying Duyuan fell in love with Bai Fengxian.
Later, Ji Yunsheng was a step too late—his master was gone, Dewei Restaurant dissolved.
Ying Duyuan lost the use of his hands. This time, Ji Yunsheng was finally in time, selling his ancestral property to save his senior apprentice.
There were no dramatic events, just a silent and oppressive process.
Ji Yunsheng paid the money, received his man, and when they finally met, there were no emotional embraces or tears, far calmer than imagined. They walked slowly, silently down the street.
The streets were unfamiliar, as was their new dwelling.
Ying Duyuan remained silent, as if he were a clay statue. Ji Yunsheng, no longer the pampered young master he once was, efficiently helped to tidy up.
Only after he had cleaned Ying Duyuan thoroughly did he touch the scarred hand.
Ji Yunsheng gently massaged the injured hand, carefully stretching the stiff joints. He said, “Senior brother, we still have our skills. I will be your hands.”
Their master often said, “We chefs, with a skill at hand, needn’t fear for our livelihood.”
As long as they were alive, there was hope.
Ying Duyuan’s numb heart was finally touched, his once empty eyes now filled with pain, regret, hope, and finally, tears.
The senior and junior apprentices crouched and sat, crying together.
The camera slowly pulled away, and the credits began to roll, marking the end.
This ending was not entirely satisfying. Chi Feiran and Qi Ming had filmed a scene where the apprentices picked themselves up and even opened a new Dewei Restaurant, but Director Zheng chose to end the film here.
It wasn’t until the credits finished that Chi Feiran let out a long sigh. As an audience member, he didn’t like such movies; the ending left him unsettled. He was still an ordinary person, preferring a happy ending over artistic pursuits and creative aspirations.
But as an actor, Chi Feiran was satisfied with this performance.
He had done everything he could. His Ji Yunsheng lived on the screen before him.
