Being stared at by Jing Li with such an intense gaze, anyone could sense the tension in his emotions.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Tingshen couldn’t help but put on a serious expression, leaning closer to the screen with concern.
Seeing that Jing Li wasn’t responding, Gu Tingshen thought for a moment and assumed he was worried about his safety due to what had just happened. He couldn’t help but coax softly, “If you’re really that worried, I’ll listen to you from now on and stay away from those people, okay?”
“Or I can start bringing a couple more bodyguards with me when I go out tomorrow?”
Those things weren’t something that ordinary human bodyguards could withstand.
But it was better than nothing.
Jing Li’s thoughts were pulled back by Gu Tingshen’s voice, and he nodded with a pensive expression. In his heart, he thought that Hu Li was still in Gu Tingshen’s entertainment company, so he could have Hu Li secretly keep an eye on him later.
Later on, he could also make some small gadgets for Gu Tingshen to carry around in case of emergency.
Thinking this way, Jing Li’s expression finally softened a bit.
“Feeling better now?” On the other end of the screen, Gu Tingshen also noticed the change in his mood. He immediately laughed and then looked at him jokingly, “But in my eyes, no matter how many bodyguards there are, they’re not as safe as being by my Xiao Jing’s side. So can I apply to stay by your side as a family member from now on?”
“When you’re filming, I’ll handle work in the room. After you wrap up, we can eat together and chat.”
“That would be too much of a sacrifice for our Mr. Gu.” Seeing him speak so seriously, Jing Li couldn’t help but laugh out loud, but his heart was filled with sweetness.
Although the scenario described by his boyfriend was a bit unrealistic, it was undeniable that hearing such words from the mouth of a boyfriend in the throes of a passionate romance was simply more pleasant than any vows or sweet nothings, stirring even more anticipation and excitement in one’s heart.
Gu Tingshen didn’t say anything, just smiling as he watched the person on the screen whose eyes curved with laughter, his heart and eyes brimming with deep affection.
The previous topic seemed to be glossed over just like that, only leaving a sense of vigilance in Jing Li’s heart. The two chatted affectionately for a while longer before bidding each other good night and ending the video chat.
Before going to bed, Jing Li sent a message to Hu Li, who quickly replied, indicating that he would help keep an eye out for him and urging him to be careful on set himself.
With that, the matter was temporarily settled.
However, just in case, Jing Li still planned to make preparations early on. While continuing to intensify his cultivation, he also began to purify his spiritual power to create protective talismans for Gu Tingshen and his brother.
But this wasn’t something that could be accomplished overnight, so he could only accumulate it bit by bit every night.
That night, Jing Li sat in meditation the entire time. When the alarm went off the next morning, he slowly opened his eyes from his cultivation state.
After a night of cultivation, the previously depleted spiritual energy had been largely replenished, and Jing Li looked as energetic as ever.
After quickly washing up, Jing Li brought his assistant directly to the set.
When they arrived, aside from a few crew members who had arrived early to prepare, there weren’t many people around. However, the makeup room was already packed, with Wu Xiaojun among them.
Seeing him enter, Wu Xiaojun immediately stood up from his seat and called out with a sincere smile, “Jing-laoshi.”
But his eyes clearly carried a hint of uneasiness and insecurity.
Jing Li’s gaze swept over his face without saying anything, only politely nodding at him in greeting before going to sit at an empty makeup station.
This attitude was clearly a bit cold compared to before. In addition to feeling uneasy, Wu Xiaojun couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss, always feeling like he was about to lose something.
“Jing-laoshi, you probably haven’t had breakfast yet since you’re here so early, right? I had my assistant buy some breakfast. Is there anything you like that I can get for you?”
Wu Xiaojun smiled and gestured to the various breakfast items on the coffee table beside him, looking at Jing Li with an eager and expectant smile, as if as long as Jing Li said the word, he could immediately bring what he liked right to him.
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I already ate in my room.” Jing Li still politely nodded at him, then had his assistant go ask the crew about his costume for the day before waiting to change clothes and have his makeup done.
Seeing this, the smile on Wu Xiaojun’s face stiffened, but in the end, he didn’t say anything more.
Meanwhile, Wang Lele and Zhang Shuo, who were at the other two makeup stations, could see something from the exchange between the two. Recalling how Jing Li had specifically sent them a message to leave first last night, they immediately made some guesses in their hearts.
Especially Wang Lele, who had disliked some of Wu Xiaojun’s actions from the start, now disliked him even more as a person. However, considering Jing Li’s face, he didn’t say much.
This strange atmosphere continued until the makeup was finished. During this time, Wu Xiaojun tried several times to strike up a conversation with Jing Li using opportunities like handing him water, but each time he was politely and calmly rejected by Jing Li.
After several attempts, Jing Li’s mood seemed unchanged, as if he completely treated the other party as an unfamiliar stranger, so he didn’t feel there was any need to stir his emotions.
But it was precisely this attitude that made Wu Xiaojun’s heart feel even more upset. The previous uneasiness and sense of loss gradually turned into endless panic and fear of losing him.
He had thought about how Jing Li would react if he found out that he had used him, but no matter how he imagined it, it was obviously no match for the cruelty of facing the scene in person. Especially seeing Jing Li’s clearly colder attitude towards him, he only felt his heart aching as if pierced by needles.
Thinking that after this drama, he might never have a chance to contact him again, he even felt like he was suffocating.
Every minute, every second became an excruciating torment.
Finally, when they finished their makeup and were heading out to the set, Wu Xiaojun couldn’t help but call out to Jing Li, “Jing-laoshi, I have a few words I’d like to say to you in private. Is that okay?”
Wang Lele and Zhang Shuo, who were walking beside Jing Li, looked at each other and then at Jing Li beside them. Seeing that he didn’t refuse, they directly said, “Then we’ll go to the set first.”
With that, they nodded at Wu Xiaojun and left first.
After the two had walked away, Jing Li also stopped and turned to look at Wu Xiaojun, indicating for him to speak.
Wu Xiaojun looked around and, seeing that only the two of them were left here, no longer held back and said directly, “I’m sorry, Jing-laoshi. I apologize for what happened last night.”
“I know it may sound shameless to say this, but I really never intended to hurt you. When Zhang Weixi approached me, he only said he wanted to get to know you and asked me to help connect…”
“You don’t need to apologize, and I won’t accept it either.”
Jing Li interrupted him, his expression still calm, without even a hint of emotional fluctuation. “You’re a sensible person and should have been clear in your heart long ago that the moment you chose to agree, you lost the right to apologize.”
These words were really blunt, but they also clearly pointed out the cruel reality. Wu Xiaojun’s face instantly turned pale, and his lips trembled a few times, but he could no longer bring himself to ask for forgiveness.
“Take care of yourself.” Jing Li didn’t want to waste more words with him. After saying this, he politely nodded at him, then turned around and continued walking forward, leaving behind a completely distressed Wu Xiaojun standing there, just staring at him.
At this moment, the regret that Wu Xiaojun had been suppressing in the depths of his heart finally surged up, even more intense than before, instantly drowning him.
If only he hadn’t been blinded by Jing Li and Gu Tingshen’s relationship back then, if only he hadn’t been instigated and lost his mind at the time…
But in reality, there were no such ifs.
Wu Xiaojun squeezed his eyes shut, finally accepting the cruel reality that Jing Li had distanced himself from him.
As for the matter with Wu Xiaojun, Jing Li seemed to not take it to heart. Every day, besides filming, he would chat and laugh with Wang Lele and Zhang Shuo, occasionally reading scripts and rehearsing with other cast members. In the evenings, he would return to his room and video chat with his brother and Gu Tingshen.
Life wasn’t much different from before, and with Gu Tingshen, it was even more fulfilling than ever.
And since their last conversation, there had been no movement from Zhang Weixi’s side, as if he was truly waiting for Jing Li to consider and give a response.
Although Jing Li was vigilant, he hadn’t yet figured out a proper countermeasure, and the protective talismans he had made had not yet been delivered to his brother and Gu Tingshen, so he could only hold back for the time being.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed. Jing Li had finished filming most of his main scenes in this drama, and with the movie “Immortal Path” already in the middle of shooting, he informed Director Wen and went to the neighboring set, planning to take the opportunity to film his own scenes.
When Jing Li had gone to sign the contract for “Immortal Path” before, he had only met Director Yan Qing. As for the other actors, except for Zhang Weixi, he had only heard about them or read the information compiled by his assistant but had not yet met them in person.
When Jing Li brought his assistant to the set, it was afternoon. Yan Qing had just finished filming a scene. Seeing him come over, he smiled and stood up to greet him, “Did that old codger Wen Zheng finally let you go?”
“Sorry for the delay in coming over,” Jing Li apologized with a smile, “I’ll be in your care from now on, Director Yan.”
“Haha, no problem, no problem,” Director Yan exchanged a few polite words, then glanced at the few people coming out from the set and said, “It just so happens that the main cast members are all here. I’ll take this opportunity to introduce you to them so you can get familiar with each other for future filming.”
With that, he called out to the people inside, summoning the main cast over.
“This is Jing Li. He’s been filming in another crew, so he only just arrived,” Director Yan first introduced Jing Li to everyone, then turned to Jing Li and introduced each person, “This is Wang Tingxu, who plays the male lead Xian Dan. This is Wu Mengmeng, who plays the female lead Zhao Zhao…”
Jing Li politely greeted each of the main cast members as Director Yan introduced them.
Those who were personally introduced by the director naturally understood Jing Li’s importance. Moreover, they were all in the entertainment industry, and Jing Li’s identity was no longer a secret online. So they all responded to Jing Li with polite smiles.
The atmosphere on set was harmonious.
Just then, Director Yan suddenly looked around and asked the people beside him, “Where did Zhang Weixi run off to?”
Hearing this slightly familiar name, Jing Li’s expression slightly froze.
Someone replied, “I think he wasn’t feeling well. After finishing the scene, he went to rest on the side. Should I go find him now?”
“Why is he unwell again?” Director Yan frowned, but his tone didn’t hold much complaint. He then said, “If it’s really not working, he should go to the hospital for a checkup.”
Just as he was speaking, someone called out, “Hey, Director Yan, Zhang Weixi-laoshi is coming over.”
Everyone instinctively turned their heads to look in the direction of the voice.
Jing Li also followed the sound and looked towards the figure slowly walking over from a few meters away. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly.
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