Why would Gu Tingshen call him at this time?
Jing Li was a little surprised but still pressed the answer button smoothly, “Tingshen-ge, do you have anything to ask me?”
The person on the phone paused for a moment. This time, he didn’t joke about ‘Can’t I call you if there’s nothing?’ and instead said, “I happened to be on a business trip to the film and television city these days. Your brother asked me to bring you some things. When do you have time for me to deliver them to you?”
As he spoke, he paused and then laughed and said, “It just so happens we can have a meal together. I heard there is a good Cantonese restaurant nearby. Do you want to try it together?”
From this invitation, it was obvious he knew Jing Li’s preferences well.
Jing Li was a little surprised by his initiative but soon thought that the other party was probably taking care of him for his brother’s sake and instantly felt at ease.
If it were usual times, he would have agreed to such an invitation. But having just learned about the incident of demons attacking humans here, obviously, he didn’t dare to continue being careless.
It wasn’t just him. Gu Tingshen had better not take risks alone either. Although he was surrounded by swirling purple golden aura, few monsters would take the initiative to provoke him easily, lest they bring disaster upon themselves. But who knows if some short-sighted and greedy ones might eye the spiritual power on him.
These thoughts flashed instantly, and Jing Li decided almost without hesitation, “I should have time the day after tomorrow in the evening, but going out for a meal may not be very convenient. Tingshen-ge, if you don’t mind, why don’t we dine at the hotel I’m staying at the day after tomorrow evening? The chefs at this hotel are also very skilled.”
Gu Tingshen obviously didn’t expect him to make such a suggestion, but since he wasn’t really going to see him just to eat, he agreed without hesitation.
The two made an appointment for the time and place, chatted for a few more sentences, and then hung up the phone.
After Jing Li hung up, he immediately lay down to sleep. With Gu Tingshen coming in person, he decided not to bother looking for Hu Li regarding Nie Dong’s issue.
After all, as the owner of Sen Tu, no one probably understood such secrets better than Gu Tingshen. If things went well, maybe he could even find a chance to meet the person involved.
Of course, Gu Tingshen didn’t know Jing Li’s plans. After hanging up the phone, he looked at it and smiled for a moment, then was startled by the joy he showed.
He looked at his slightly upturned lips reflected on the blackened screen and fell into thought for a time.
When did he become so concerned about Jing Li?
It seemed that just before leaving when his friend found him, and he thought of Jing Li’s face, he had reflexively taken these actions that followed his heart.
But in fact, when he thought about it carefully, he still didn’t understand the meaning behind these actions of his, nor the purpose of the call he had just made to the other party, and what he wanted to get from this call.
Especially,
Gu Tingshen reached out and touched his heart that had become restless because of this call. Just hearing Jing Li’s voice had stirred up such emotional palpitations in him again.
Even after hanging up the phone, the delight in his heart didn’t diminish at all. Rather, it seeped deeper and deeper into his heart, making him unconsciously want to touch more.
Gu Tingshen knitted his brows and was about to delve deeper into his heart when he saw Secretary Qin walk in. He had come to report on the itinerary for this business trip, so Gu Tingshen could only temporarily press down the emotions in his heart and resume his usual state.
*
Because promotional photos needed to be taken first, Jing Li got up early the next morning. After eating a little, he took his assistant and hurried to the makeup room.
By the time he arrived, there were already quite a few people sitting inside. And because there was a large workload today, everyone was gathered together. People were chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere in the makeup room was harmonious.
Seeing Jing Li, a makeup artist quickly waved him over to change into ancient costumes, then led him to an empty seat to start his makeup.
Unlike the young master’s identity in Immortal Road, Jing Li played a strategist in The Last Remnant – bold, straightforward, yet extremely crafty, and a young master of a prestigious family. So the makeup and styling also needed to bring out the elegant and noble aura unique to sons of prestigious families.
Dressed in a snow-white silk brocade robe, the cuffs embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in gold thread, a fine mutton fat jade pendant hanging from his waist, he exuded an air of elegant luxury from head to toe.
When the makeup was done, and he opened his eyes to see the sharpened features in the mirror, his whole temperament instantly precipitated an unignorable sharpness, adding a touch of mystery to the character.
“Wow! Jing Li, you look like a completely different person in ancient costume! So handsome!” Hu Li, who had just finished his makeup across from him, happened to see Jing Li’s styling and couldn’t help praising. It instantly drew the people around to look over.
But because they weren’t familiar with each other, the others didn’t speak up, only glancing over briefly before withdrawing their gazes again.
“You look very handsome, too,” Jing Li also smiled at him.
This was in no way false. Hu Li’s face was inherently charming. With his features sharpened, it precipitated more stable elegance. Matched with the luxurious palace robes, he was a well-bred prince raised in the depths of the palace, with innate nobility.
“Are you two complimenting each other for business?” Wang Lele, who was sitting next to Hu Li, couldn’t help but complain. But his eyes lit up when he saw their costumes. Even knowing how outstanding their looks were, he still couldn’t help but feel shocked when seeing their different images.
“Lele is also very handsome! This chivalrous costume is super cool!” Hu Li immediately turned to look at Wang Lele, praising him seamlessly. It made Wang Lele burst into laughter instantly. Laughing and joking, the three didn’t settle down until they reached the set.
The cast of this crew was full of beauties. Gathered together, they almost formed a unique scenic line, attracting frequent glances from the crew members of other crews. It was quite spectacular.
But the people in the crew didn’t have the leisure to appreciate each other. Since the promotional photos required all the actors to gather, time was very tight. The whole process was taken seriously by everyone, each trying their best to maintain their most perfect state to avoid unnecessary trouble.
As the second male lead, Jing Li’s turn was naturally relatively early. But after finishing, he didn’t have time to appreciate the shots before going straight to the director to prepare for the next scenes.
His role was the male lead’s friend and advisor, so his first scene was with the male lead, portraying the occasion where he accidentally discovered the male lead’s identity while investigating the extermination of the male lead’s family.
Having just cooperated with Fu Yan in the last drama, the two understood each other’s acting styles. So, they didn’t need much communication for the first scene together and directly went into formal shooting.
At the director’s cue, the two instantly got into character, standing erect on either side of the stone table in the pavilion, eyes lowered, looking at a map on the table, their expressions calm yet subtly tense.
“The bandits on Mount Cangting are indeed not without conscience. But the imperial troops sent to suppress them won’t care whether you are good or not. Now that their power has expanded to the point of posing a threat to the court, do you think they still have the necessity to continue existing?”
Jing Li lightly tapped the red circled area on the map with the corner of his fan, smiling at Fu Yan across from him. His demeanor was still elegant and refined, but his eyes revealed undeniable sharpness. “Speaking of which, Brother Youxun strongly promoted amnesty as the main approach for the troops and frequently offered plans to buy time for the mountain bandits, seeming deeply concerned about this matter?”
“I’m just unwilling to add more slaughter,” Fu Yan’s expression was unchanged as he flatly said, “Even if they are bandits, they are still the citizens of Great Yuan, not to mention there are many women, children, and the elderly in the mountains.”
“Is that so?” Jing Li uttered a cryptic chuckle, neither confirming nor denying it.
He raised his fan and lightly tapped his palm. Suddenly leaning in close to Fu Yan, he casually spoke by his ear, “But I’ve heard an interesting rumor that after hearing of their commander being executed along with his whole family, a group of Han Family’s fine generals and loyal followers rose in revolt, fighting all the way to the capital to take away Han Family’s sole surviving grandson, hiding him in Mount Cangting…”
…
Jing Li maintained his casual elegance, but his words were incisive, subtly revealing probing and bait as he vividly portrayed the character – crafty yet adept at utilizing human nature to achieve his goals. The tense atmosphere he stirred up instantly seized the onlookers’ hearts, involuntarily immersing them in the ambience he created.
Fu Yan’s equally outstanding acting was also compelling. Their back and forth made it seem as if one was truly amidst the intricate power struggles of the court.
When the scene finished filming, the set was still quietly pin-drop silent until the director called “Cut” to pull everyone back from the drama.
What followed were high praises for this scene and the actors’ performances, especially Jing Li. Many who didn’t think much of his acting before now looked at him approvingly.
“Didn’t expect Jing Li’s acting to be this good, even I was engrossed.”
“Looks like Director Wen’s eye for talent is indeed sharp!”
“It’s true that the younger generation is to be feared, it seems the industry’s future is promising.”
…
Facing everyone’s compliments, Jing Li only smiled politely and modestly, then went to rest quietly at the side.
But his unassuming composure once again earned the good impression of everyone. Many around his age even took the initiative to come chat with him.
The day passed busily like this. After filming another scene in the afternoon and some closeup shots, Jing Li finished work, removed his makeup, and went back to his room to rest.
Having made dinner plans with Gu Tingshen at the hotel tonight, Jing Li didn’t dally too long. Seeing it was about time, he changed and went straight to the lobby entrance to wait.
The sky outside had already darkened. With few people around the hotel entrance and Jing Li wearing a face mask and cap, there was no fear of being recognized.
By this time, it was getting dark outside, and there was no one at the hotel entrance. Jing Li wore a mask and cap, so he wasn’t afraid of being recognized.
Fortunately, Gu Tingshen was also very punctual. Jing Li didn’t have to wait long before seeing his car stop at the entrance and Gu Tingshen get out.
Jing Li met his gaze and smiled, instinctively taking a few steps forward to greet him. But he saw Gu Tingshen suddenly glance to his right, his expression changing as he shouted, “Watch out!” and rushed towards him quickly.
Jing Li was startled. He instantly turned to look at his side and saw a black shadow suddenly charging at him, moving at a speed far beyond normal human capability.
Seeing the dense black aura on the figure as it swiftly approached, Jing Li’s pupils instantly constricted.
But before he could react, he felt himself pulled forcefully into Gu Tingshen’s embrace in a swift turn to block an attack for him. Gu Tingshen then quickly kicked back at the black shadow.
Jing Li watched wide-eyed as the black shadow was directly kicked more than two meters away.
Jing Li: “…”
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