An invitation from a big shot?
Of course, they had to go!
Wang Lele, whose mind was still immersed in the comments from netizens, couldn’t come to his senses for a moment. He thought Jing Li was referring to himself and unconsciously nodded in response.
However, shortly after, he paused, realizing that the other party had mentioned “going together.” Finally, he belatedly realized that the big shot referred to might indeed be a true big shot.
“Mr. Jing is coming?” He froze for a moment, and seeing Jing Li nod, he hesitantly smiled, “You two brothers rarely get to meet, so I’ll just stay out of it and not tag along to liven up the occasion.”
With the recent online exposure, his big brother must have rushed over out of concern for his brother’s distress, intending to accompany him for a meal and provide some comfort.
His presence as an outsider would be quite inappropriate.
“What’s the matter, is your poverty limiting your imagination again?” Jing Li seemed to have guessed his thoughts. While his words were heartwarming, he couldn’t resist teasing him with a glance. Then he smiled, “Come on, they’re both coming, so there’s nothing inappropriate about you joining.”
“Don’t waste any more words. Hurry up and get ready. We’ll go straight there when we’re done.” Jing Li glanced at him with a smile, not wasting any more words. He then looked toward Hu Li, who was removing his makeup. “I’ll call Hu Li over. Once you’re ready, wait for us at the door of the dressing room.”
With that, he left Wang Lele and headed towards Hu Li.
Hearing that Jing Yu and Gu Tingshen were both coming, Wang Lele didn’t say anything further and started packing his things.
Jing Li approached Hu Li.
Initially, when he mentioned a big shot’s invitation for dinner, Hu Li only looked at him with sparkling eyes, implicitly asking, “Like you?” Was it a koi spirit?
“Where do you get all these bizarre ideas?” Jing Li looked at him with some amusement. He then shook his head and explained, “It’s just my brother and his friend. Are you coming or not?”
After a pause, he added, “If you’re really curious, I can take you to meet some other friends next time.”
“I’ll go next time.” Upon learning it wasn’t a supernatural creature, Hu Li immediately refused.
He had never been interested in the hustle and bustle of human society. If it were a supernatural being, he might have had some interest in going out to meet them.
Jing Li knew his temperament and didn’t persuade him further, simply nodding in response before turning to leave.
However, just as Hu Li was about to close his eyes again, he suddenly remembered something and instantly opened them. He twisted his head and called out to Jing Li, “Wait, the friend of your brother you mentioned, it’s not Gu Tingshen, is it?”
Jing Li paused for a moment, turning to look at him with a puzzled expression, and raised his brows, “What did you think?”
“Then I want to go!” Hu Li instantly changed his mind, his face lighting up with excitement.
Jing Li raised his brows even higher, feeling that Hu Li’s reaction upon mentioning Gu Tingshen was a bit too animated.
He couldn’t help but give Hu Li a once-over, but considering the number of people present, he didn’t ask further and simply nodded, “Alright, Lele and I will wait for you at the entrance.”
With that, he turned and continued walking out.
*
After Hu Li finished getting ready, Jing Li called the director, and the three of them left the crew and went to the private restaurant where he had arranged to meet his brother.
The private restaurant was none other than the Miwei restaurant where he dined with Gu Tingshen before.
Although they were seated in a private room, the two had chosen to book the entire place to avoid any trouble. So when Jing Li and the others arrived, apart from Jing Yu and Gu Tingshen, there were only two service staff present.
“Ge, Tingshen-ge.” Jing Li greeted with a smile as he opened the door and saw the two seated, “Did we arrive late?”
“No, we just got here too,” Gu Tingshen responded with a smile.
Jing Yu also smiled and nodded, then shifted his gaze towards the people behind Jing Li.
Clearly, he had been informed earlier that his brother would be bringing others along.
Jing Li followed his gaze and smiled as he introduced, “You’ve both met Wang Lele before at my place. This is Hu Li, a new friend I made on the crew.”
He then turned to Hu Li and introduced, “This is my brother, Jing Yu, and that’s Gu Tingshen, whom I’m sure you’re all familiar with.”
“Mr. Jing, Mr. Gu,” Wang Lele greeted with a smile.
“Hello, Mr. Jing, Mr. Gu,” Hu Li followed suit. However, after greeting them, he couldn’t help but glance at Gu Tingshen a few more times, his eyes once again shining with the same sparkling gaze he had in the makeup room, like a fox eyeing meat. It made Jing Li quite troubled.
It seemed his earlier impression wasn’t wrong. The fox did have an unusual interest in Gu Tingshen. Although Jing Li knew Hu Li preferred interacting with those rich in spiritual energy, his reaction was clearly different from how he reacted to celebrities before.
Jing Li decided to inquire about the reason later.
Jing Yu, however, didn’t notice anything amiss and simply smiled as he invited them to take their seats.
Gu Tingshen’s attention was clearly not on the two newcomers either. He simply nodded with a faint smile as a greeting.
After the greetings, Jing Li glanced at the seat between his brother and Gu Tingshen, about to take a seat there. But before he could take a few steps, he noticed Hu Li had already eagerly headed towards the seat beside Gu Tingshen, as if he couldn’t wait to cling to him.
Jing Li froze in his tracks and quickly called out to him, “Hu Li, Lele, why don’t you two sit on this side? The three of us can sit together.”
Wang Lele didn’t mind either way and moved towards Jing Li’s side upon hearing this.
Hu Li glanced at the seat beside Gu Tingshen, initially reluctant, but when he met Jing Li’s gaze, he could only shuffle his feet and follow.
Seeing this, Jing Li smiled and glanced at his brother, “Ge, move a bit over there. I’ll sit here.”
Jing Yu smiled and complied, assuming he wanted to keep his friends company, and shifted to sit beside Gu Tingshen.
Gu Tingshen also looked at Jing Li, not saying anything, but a hint of disappointment crossed his mind.
After they were seated, the restaurant began serving the dishes.
The dishes in the private restaurant were delicious, and everyone ate with great satisfaction. The atmosphere gradually livened up as time passed.
“Xiao Jing,” Jing Yu suddenly turned to Jing Li midway through the meal and said softly, “I didn’t consult you before publicly revealing your identity online. Are you angry with me?”
Jing Li was momentarily taken aback, but then he instantly smiled, “Of course not. You did it out of concern for me. It would be ungrateful to be angry about that.”
Besides, he didn’t disclose his identity before to make it easier investigating the supernatural beings more easily. Now that he had almost completed his investigation and Gu Tingshen knew his secret, it no longer mattered whether he revealed his identity or not.
However, regarding his brother…
Jing Li paused, then turned to his brother with a serious expression, “I’m sorry, Ge. I made you worry.”
Probably not expecting his brother’s sudden apology, Jing Yu was momentarily stunned, then his face softened into a warm smile as he reached out and ruffled Jing Li’s hair, “We’re brothers. There’s no need for such formalities.”
“You’re my only brother. As long as you’re safe and sound, I’ll support whatever you want to do.”
Jing Li leaned into his hand, his bright smile radiating warmth.
His heart was filled with countless tender feelings.
Beside them, Gu Tingshen watched the affectionate scene between the brothers, his heart brimming with envy.
“By the way,”
At that moment, Jing Li suddenly turned towards Gu Tingshen, staring at him until the latter was momentarily stunned. Then Jing Li quirked the corner of his lips into a smile, “It would be such a waste not to take a photo with my sponsors on this great opportunity and share it on my Weibo as a souvenir.”
He took out his phone and handed it to Wang Lele beside him, “Come on, take a photo of me and my sponsors.”
He then got up and stood between Jing Yu and Gu Tingshen, draping an arm over each of their shoulders and pulling them closer. Leaning his head between theirs, he smiled at Wang Lele, “Go ahead, take the photo.”
Jing Yu smiled and tilted his head closer, while on the other side, Gu Tingshen quickly straightened his posture and leaned towards Jing Li, putting on a gentle and charming smile for the camera.
With a few clicks from Wang Lele, the image of the three together was instantly captured.
“Can I take a photo with Mr. Gu… and Mr. Jing?” Hu Li eagerly asked from the side.
Jing Li narrowed his eyes at him, but before he could respond, Jing Yu smiled first, “Sure, go ahead. And thank you both for speaking up for Xiao Jing online.”
He then turned to Wang Lele, “Lele, you can join too?”
Seeing this, Jing Li didn’t say anything further. He smiled and took the phone back from Wang Lele, taking on the task of photographing his friends and brother.
After capturing the group photos, he also took a separate one with his friends. He then selected a few and immediately posted them on his Weibo.
The news of Jing Li being a kept man had just recently surfaced, and the public opinion was still raging hot when Jing Li’s Weibo update instantly drew the attention of his fans and netizens.
Upon seeing the content of Jing Li’s post, it caused an instant uproar.
Jing Li V: Having dinner with my sponsors again, this time there are two of them. [Image x6]
The images were the photos just taken, with everyone beaming happily, indicating a harmonious atmosphere. The last two photos showed the dishes on the table and a signboard with the restaurant’s name, clearly indicating it was the same private restaurant where the paparazzi had spotted him before.
The netizens and fans who saw the Weibo post instantly went crazy with laughter.
“Hahaha, it’s that private restaurant again, I seriously suspect Jing Li did it on purpose!”
“To the one above, be more confident and remove the words ‘seriously suspect’!”
“They say I’m having a private rendezvous with my sponsors? Alright, let me show you all a grand, open meeting right now!”
“Look! Jing Li is having dinner with his sponsors again! And this time, there are two of them!”
“Hahahahaha, this is probably the most arrogant declaration of financial sponsor I’ve ever seen! But why do I still find it strangely appealing?”
“Jing Shao, you’ve fallen, how could you find sponsors…next time, please let me have this opportunity instead!!”
“Aww, being able to get the two national husbands in the same frame, only Jing Li could probably pull that off!”
“So while flaunting his sponsors to us, Jing Li didn’t forget to give us a late-night scoop too?!”
“His brother really dotes on him. Just yesterday, the rumors of Jing Li being a kept man surfaced, and today, his brother is openly confronting it and even flew over with his friends to support his brother!”
……
Just as Jing Li published his Weibo post, a notification showed that Gu Tingshen had liked it, followed by Jing Yu liking it too.
Shortly after, Wang Lele and Hu Li also reposted Jing Li’s Weibo.
Wang Lele V: Sorry, I butted in too. //Jing Li: Having dinner with my patrons again…
Hu Li: Me too! //Wang Lele: Sorry, I butted in too. //Jing Li: Having dinner…
Seeing their updates, the netizens and fans became even more lively.
“Ahhhh, Gu Tingshen and Jing Shao’s brother liked his post almost instantly after he published it, so they were waiting on-site? That’s too indulgent! I’m envious!”
“When it comes to life’s winners, I only bow to my Jing Shao.”
“You could easily live off your family’s wealth, but you insisted on relying on your talent, and you’re even so good-looking!”
“Hahahahaha, so our Lele and Hu Li really did hug his thighs and became the boss’s leg pendant?!”
“I envy Wang Lele, who saw through the essence of the matter from the start and won Jing Shao’s heart!”
“Aww, I want to be Jing Shao’s leg pendant too. No, even a leg hair pendant is fine!”
“Hahahaha, the one above, I want that too!”
……
There was a moment of joy on the internet.
However, the people involved didn’t seem to mind much and continued eating happily after posting on Weibo.
But as they were eating, Jing Li suddenly felt an odd sensation within his body.
Before he could react, a strong gust of wind suddenly whipped up outside, followed by a muffled peal of thunder that sounded like the prelude to a storm.
Jing Li paused, then glanced at the others present and hurriedly said, “I’ll go to the restroom,” before swiftly leaving his seat.
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