“What’s wrong?” Gu Tingshen sat in a position that happened to be adjacent to the wall, so he didn’t notice the flash of light just now. Seeing Jing Li glance outside, he couldn’t help but follow his gaze and look out, but similarly saw nothing.
“It’s nothing.” Jing Li withdrew his gaze, thinking he must have imagined it. He then picked up a piece of diced beef and put it in his mouth.
The diced beef was specially marinated with seasonings and stir-fried over low heat, allowing each condiment to seep into the meat. The aroma was tantalizing, and once in the mouth, an array of delectable flavors instantly overwhelmed the taste buds, stimulating one’s appetite to crave for more.
With each chew, different flavors gradually unfolded—the numbing spiciness of chilies, the fragrance of cumin, the crisp nuttiness of sesame…
Jing Li couldn’t help but squint his eyes as he ate, clearly savoring the boundless deliciousness of the food to the fullest. In the end, he couldn’t help but smack his lips, savoring the aftertaste. “Delicious.”
Seeing his completely satisfied expression, Gu Tingshen couldn’t resist curling his lips into a smile, his gaze instantly softening. He then picked up a piece of apricot claypot chicken and placed it in Jing Li’s bowl. “Try this one too.”
Jing Li glanced at it and eagerly picked it up and put it in his mouth without delay.
Unlike the numbing spiciness of the diced beef, the chicken had a relatively milder flavor, yet it was far from tasteless.
The chicken chosen was a free-range black-boned chicken, stuffed with mushrooms, peeled northern and southern apricots, sea coconut, and other ingredients, then marinated. It was then placed in a sand pot with soup ingredients like gorgon seeds and slowly stewed overnight. The entire black-boned chicken was now completely tender, but the meat remained pleasantly chewy with a delicate mushroom fragrance that cut through the greasiness, resulting in a delightful mouthfeel.
The broth that had simmered overnight was especially rich and savory. Jing Li drank it and couldn’t help but pour himself another bowl, looking even more satisfied.
Seeing this, the corners of Gu Tingshen’s mouth curved upwards even more, and the tenderness in his eyes deepened.
The meal proceeded in this harmonious atmosphere, and Jing Li felt pleasantly full for once.
As it was getting late after dinner and both of them had commitments the next day, Gu Tingshen sent Jing Li back to the hotel directly.
However, he didn’t enter the hotel but merely sent Jing Li to the entrance, gave him a few reminders, and then left by car.
Jing Li watched him drive away, about to turn and head inside, when he sensed another flash of light in his peripheral vision. Due to the proximity, he even heard a clicking sound similar to that of a camera shutter.
He paused, turning his head back to look outside, but the lush vegetation around the hotel made the lighting even dimmer. He scanned the area but still couldn’t discern anything.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” The security guard at the entrance noticed his actions and couldn’t help but approach and inquire.
Upon getting a clear look at Jing Li’s face, he momentarily froze, then vigilantly surveyed the surroundings, his right hand gripping the baton at his waist.
Obviously, he had recognized Jing Li as the guest who had almost been assaulted at the hotel entrance previously and thought he had spotted some suspicious individuals, fearing another similar incident—which would reflect poorly on the hotel’s security.
“It’s nothing, thank you.” The guard’s call brought Jing Li back to his senses. Seeing his actions and recalling the previous encounter, he gave the guard a reassuring smile and a word of thanks before returning directly to his room.
However, he couldn’t help but ponder the matter. Not because he thought he was being targeted by some supernatural entity again—he didn’t sense any demonic aura. Rather, it was the clicking sound that made him suspect paparazzi. Being secretly photographed was a common occurrence in the entertainment industry. It was never a good thing.
Jing Li decided to have his assistant notify the team to keep a closer eye on online trends in the coming days. Additionally, except for filming, he would remain in his room as much as possible to avoid any unnecessary troubles.
For the next few days, however, everything remained calm, as if the abnormality that day was merely a figment of his imagination.
Seeing no further incidents, Jing Li disregarded it and instructed his team to continue monitoring the situation before immersing himself back into filming.
*
A few days after Gu Tingshen’s departure, Jing Li left the film set and returned to the capital city the day before his scheduled advertisement shoot.
When he got home, it was already late at night. He had not informed his brother beforehand. When he got home, he found out that that his brother had been busy with work recently and hadn’t returned home, staying at the company instead.
Upon realizing this, Jing Li decided not to call him and planned to visit him at the company after the shoot the next day.
After a night’s rest at home, Jing Li and his assistant headed to G.T. Company, a subsidiary of the Gu Group, early the following morning.
Sister Wang was already waiting there. Upon seeing him, she approached and said, “The shoot is scheduled for 10 AM. You will be partnered with Lin Xiaoman, a popular actress from Sentu. During the shoot, you may be asked to engage in some affectionate actions with her. This is a common promotional tactic for advertisement shoots.”
“Since you’re endorsing a lipstick product, the focus should lean more towards appealing to female consumers.”
Jing Li nodded in understanding, having no objections to this.
It was merely part of his normal work, nothing worthy of concern. He simply needed to exercise appropriate restraint at the time.
“Lin Xiaoman is among those who have become popular smoothly. She also has some influential connections, so her temperament may be somewhat arrogant. However, her on-set performance is still highly professional. The shoot shouldn’t take too long, but you may need to be a bit more tolerant.”
“Understood,” Jing Li replied without further comment. The entertainment industry was a melting pot, and naturally, there were individuals with varying personalities. He couldn’t expect everyone to be humble and courteous. He only needed to focus on himself.
As they conversed, they reached the G.T. reception area. The receptionist was a young woman around Jing Li’s age. Before he could greet her, she excitedly recognized him and took the initiative, “Jing Shao, are you here for the advertisement shoot? It’s in Studio 2 over there. I’ll lead the way.”
Her tone was enthusiastic yet maintained professionalism, not making anyone feel uncomfortable.
Jing Li paused momentarily, then guessed from the two white lights flickering above her head that she was likely a fan. He smiled and nodded in thanks before following her to the studio.
The young woman was outgoing, chattering nonstop along the way, vividly describing the characters Jing Li had portrayed in dramas and the variety shows he had appeared on. Her excitement grew as she spoke, occasionally stealing glances at Jing Li, causing white specks of light to pop out. Obviously, she really liked Jing Li to the extreme.
Along the way, she complimented him several times: “You look even more handsome in person than on TV!”
“I didn’t expect you to have such a good personality. You don’t seem bothered by my rambling at all.”
“Ahhh! Jing Shao, I really like you so much! I’ll be your fan for life!”
…
Jing Li maintained a smile, listening to her chatter and occasionally responding with a laugh.
This was his first time witnessing a fan in person, and he found the experience rather novel.
He thought, “So this is what my fans are like? How adorable.”
This little episode further elevated Jing Li’s mood, and the smile never left his face as they arrived at the studio.
The receptionist looked at him with a regretful look, as if reluctant to part ways.
However, her professionalism still forced her to stop bothering her idol. After bidding Jing Li a polite goodbye, she turned to leave.
At that moment, Jing Li suddenly called out to her, gently asking, “Would you like an autograph?”
He recalled that fans typically enjoyed receiving autographs.
As expected, the young woman paused in surprise before excitedly nodding vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes!”
She had nearly forgotten this crucial matter.
However, as she surveyed herself, she couldn’t find a suitable spot for an autograph. Ultimately, she reluctantly offered her wrist, resolving not to wash it for a week—no, a month.
Jing Li felt somewhat helpless at her request, but with no better option available, he signed her wrist as requested. However, he made a mental note to have his assistant find a notebook after the shoot and provide her with a proper autograph.
As he thought about it, Jing Li’s elegant calligraphic signature materialized on her wrist. Unlike others’ ornate signatures, his style was boldly unrestrained yet subtly exquisite.
The fan beside him instantly squealed with excitement, profusely praising his beautiful handwriting. Only then did she clutch her wrist fondly and depart, carefully avoiding any accidental bumps that might smudge the treasured autograph.
Jing Li shook his head with an amused chuckle.
After bidding farewell to the fan, Jing Li entered the studio, where numerous crew members were preparing for the shoot. He politely greeted everyone with a smile before heading directly to the makeup room.
As soon as he stepped inside, he met the gaze of a young woman seated at the makeup counter, getting her makeup done.
The woman exuded an exceptional aura and refined features, possessing the currently popular oval-shaped face. Dressed in a daring ensemble, her visual impact was striking.
However, her gaze towards him held a hint of mockery and a touch of disdain.
Evidently, she had witnessed Jing Li’s entire interaction with his fan and found his actions quite disdainful.
Jing Li paused briefly before assuming that she must be Lin Xiaoman, his co-star for the advertisement. After a moment’s thought, he approached with a smile and extended a courteous greeting.
“Hello, are you Senior Lin Xiaoman? I’m Jing Li, your co-star for this advertisement. I look forward to working with you.” He politely offered his hand.
However, Lin Xiaoman merely glanced dismissively at his outstretched hand and gave a perfunctory “Hmm” before averting her gaze, showing no intention of acknowledging this newcomer’s attempt at establishing a rapport.
Jing Li didn’t dwell on it, simply withdrawing his hand with a smile. He then prepared to take an unoccupied seat and wait for the makeup artist.
However, as he turned away, he heard a scornful scoff from beside him, delivered with utter disdain, “Getting so chummy with a mere fan, thinking that’ll make them worship you forever?”
“G.T. really screwed up with their choice of endorser this time, having me collaborate with the likes of you. How degrading!”
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