Hearing his question, the staff member hesitated for a moment before picking up the bouquet to see if there was any clue about the sender’s identity.
“It’s probably from a fan or something,” the staff member commented casually. A moment later, they found a small card in the bouquet. “Oh, there’s a little card.”
The staff member opened it and glanced at the content, which contained a phrase akin to a love confession: “Meeting you is the only blessing in my long life.”
The signature at the bottom was just a single letter, G.
“The signature is just a G,” the staff member handed the card to Jing Li. “Based on this, it might really be from a fan. Jing-laoshi, take a look at these flow…”
“Give it to me.” Before the staff member could finish, Jing Li suddenly spoke up.
He stroked the small card in his hand, a warm sweetness welling up in his heart because of the signature. If it weren’t for the people around him, he might have been unable to suppress his radiant smile.
However, when he personally took the bouquet from the staff member, he could barely maintain his composure, feeling the solid weight in his palms. His already racing heart instantly pounded even more frenziedly, and the hand gripping the small card pressed harder against the base of the bouquet.
“Er Shao, why don’t I carry it for you?” suggested his assistant, who had hurried over. Jing Li shook his head in refusal. “No need, it’s not heavy.”
As he spoke, he slightly turned to the side, as if afraid the assistant would reach out and take it.
“Jing-laoshi is really nice to his fans,” Wu Xiaojun chimed in with timely praise.
“I suppose,” Jing Li responded indifferently, but his lips then curved upward involuntarily.
Although the smile was not obvious, it was still noticed by Wu Xiaojun, who had been observing him closely.
Before he could say anything else, Jing Li cradled the bouquet and turned toward the nearby resting area, carefully shielding the flowers in his embrace as if afraid they would be damaged.
Wu Xiaojun watched his back for a few seconds, then glanced down at the bottle of water he hadn’t given away, pursed his lips, and handed the water to an assistant before entering the set to film his own scenes.
Jing Li reached his resting spot and carefully placed the bouquet in the center of the small table beside him.
He stared at it for a while, then took out his phone and snapped a photo of the bouquet, intending to send it to Gu Tingshen. After a moment of consideration, he quickly deleted the photo. He then raised his phone to switch to the front camera. Holding the bouquet in one arm, he tilted his head toward the rose cluster, smiled at the camera, and pressed the shutter button.
After checking the picture and making sure it included both himself and the bouquet, he sent it to Gu Tingshen with a message: “It’s beautiful, I really like it.”
Gu Tingshen was likely busy and didn’t reply for several minutes.
[Gu Tingshen: Indeed beautiful, I like it too.]
It was unclear whether he meant the person or the flowers.
But regardless of his meaning, his good mood was evident.
Jing Li’s mood was equally delightful, his gaze lingering repeatedly on those words as his smile grew wider and wider.
Not only that, but throughout the entire day’s filming, his spirits remained high, and his performance was even more stunning, prompting the director and many acquaintances to tease him. The entire crew was filled with laughter and cheer.
Wu Xiaojun observed Jing Li surrounded by people, engulfed in laughter and chatter, with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he beckoned his assistant over and whispered some instructions in his ear.
The assistant glanced at him with mild surprise but nodded and proceeded to follow the orders.
*
Days passed in this peaceful and sweet manner as the filming gradually fell into rhythm. However, as the weather turned colder, the shooting schedule intensified to speed up progress.
Everyone was immersed in the daily busy filming schedule, and Jing Li was no exception. Receiving gifts and chatting with Gu Tingshen had become his sole anticipation and delight each day.
However, likely because they were on set, apart from the first bouquet, Gu Tingshen had subsequent gifts delivered directly to Jing Li’s room by contacting his assistant.
The gifts varied greatly, from expensive custom couple’s cufflinks to meaningful small trinkets brought back from business trips. Each little item was filled with someone’s longing and drenched in the deep love the two shared.
Jing Li would also mail things back, whether local specialties or occasionally a beautiful dried leaf he discovered while filming, though his heavier workload lately left him little time for such gestures.
He mostly received gifts from Gu Tingshen.
Jing Li even found a delicate little box to store the gifts. Unknowingly, the box was nearly full.
Thus, during another late night after filming, as they video-chatted, Jing Li caressed the newly received gift and smiled, “I’m running out of space for all the gifts you’ve sent me, Shen-ge. But I’ve had no time to pick out gifts for you. Aren’t you upset?”
“As long as I’m in Xiao Jing’s heart, it’s enough.” Gu Tingshen gazed at him affectionately, his expression a mix of playfulness and seriousness. After a pause, he added, “But if Xiao Jing could give me something, I might be even happier.”
Recalling something, Jing Li’s face flushed instantly, but he still asked softly, “What is it?”
“I remember Xiao Jing found a white heart-shaped seashell while filming on Blue Island?” Gu Tingshen smiled. “Would you give me your heart? And engrave your name on it.”
Caught off guard, Jing Li’s heart pounded wildly. “……”
The gap between his expectations and reality made him murmur instinctively, “So that’s what you meant.”
“Hm?” Gu Tingshen immediately caught the undertone and, noticing Jing Li’s reddening cheeks, raised a brow. “Otherwise, what did Xiao Jing think I meant?”
“…Nothing.” Realizing he had spoken out loud, Jing Li averted his gaze, slightly uncomfortable under Gu Tingshen’s teasing glance. He quickly changed the subject, “If you like it, I’ll engrave my name on it and send it to you when I get back.”
Gu Tingshen gazed at him silently for a while until Jing Li’s blush deepened, then chuckled softly in agreement, “Okay.”
They chatted a while longer until it grew very late. Not wanting his Xiao Jing to overexert himself, Gu Tingshen suggested they go to bed. They wished each other goodnight before lying down, smiles still lingering on their faces as they fell asleep.
Their relationship continued in this manner. Though their courtship hadn’t been dramatic, their daily interactions created a sweet, tangible connection. One would search for beautiful little things to share, while the other awaited the small surprises each day. This mutual care was more reassuring and sweeter than any grandiose vows.
However, with time, the simple joy of seeing each other through a screen became infused with a growing longing. Their gazes become increasingly affectionate during video calls.
Finally, after enduring this for some time and with the crew’s busiest and most crucial scenes largely filmed, Jing Li began planning to rearrange his schedule and take a day or two off to return home.
Jing Li had always been dedicated to his craft, and as an investor, the director naturally granted him face. Upon hearing his request, the director readily gave him two days off and concentrated all his subsequent scenes into the following two days.
Jing Li sincerely thanked the director and the actors who accommodated him. He then instructed his assistant to summon chefs from the Jing family’s local restaurant to prepare dinner for the crew, causing everyone to laugh and remark that sticking with Young Master Jing meant enjoying a good meal.
After the lively dinner, only one final scene remained before they could pack up and head home.
This scene was an emotional moment between the male and female leads, an important plot point that would trigger a shift in the male lead’s perspectives.
In the story, the female lead, a childhood friend and fiancée of the male lead, returned from studying abroad filled with new nationalistic ideas. She had joined a local revolutionary group and often organized student protests to raise national awareness.
Such activities were inherently dangerous. Time and again, the male lead, a young general, would rush to save her upon hearing reports of her peril, either by sending people or going personally. Each time he would scold and warn her to stay away from these groups and dangers.
Initially, the female lead remained silent in the face of his reprimands, but gradually, she became more defiant, leading to constant arguments that ended in estrangement.
During another protest, the female lead exposed herself to enemy soldiers to save a pregnant woman. The male lead arrived just in time to rescue her, but this incident pushed him to his breaking point.
The scene to be filmed depicted the male lead rescuing his fiancée, angrily confronting her in an alley, and, losing control, forcefully kissing her against a wall.
In the dim alleyway, Jing Li and the female lead stood face-to-face, his hands gripping her slender shoulders as the tension between them heightened.
“Why won’t you listen to me? Do you know how terrified I was seeing someone raise a blade against you?” Jing Li stared at her expressionlessly, his entire face taut, his body trembling uncontrollably—evidently shaken by the recent events.
“Terrified? I was afraid too!” The woman looked up at him, her face pale from pain, but her expression remained defiant. “But I couldn’t just stand by and watch a pregnant woman fall to the enemy’s daggers, so no matter how afraid, I had to rush and save her!”
“Not just her, but the countless citizens of our nation. As long as I live another day, I… mmph…”
Before she could finish, the man, no longer able to bear it, shoved her forcefully against the wall. With one hand braced beside her ear, he gripped her chin with the other and kissed her fiercely.
Their silhouettes merged intensely until the female lead finally broke free and struggled to slap the man across the face.
With a sharp “slap,” his face snapped to the side, and the air fell silent.
The female lead seemed equally shocked and was momentarily stunned.
She glanced at her hand, parting her lips to explain, but before she could speak, the man seized her wrist and strode out of the alley without turning back.
“Cut, that’s a wrap for this scene!” the director called out in a timely manner. Jing Li instantly released the actress’s hand and apologized, “Sorry.”
“It’s alright.” The actress smiled in response, then peered at his face. “How’s your face? I just…”
The alley was dimly lit, so she instinctively leaned closer to check for any injury.
Sensing her approach, Jing Li reflexively leaned back.
However, before he could speak, a low, familiar voice called out from the alley entrance, “Xiao Jing!”
That voice was unmistakable—he heard it almost daily.
Jing Li turned his head on reflex and saw Gu Tingshen standing at the alley’s entrance, his expression stern as he watched him.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please consider supporting the author directly.
You can also follow me on Ko-fi to get the latest updates on my translation progress and new projects. I appreciate your love and feedback.
