Jiang Lin visited the bar for three consecutive nights, encountering Li Qianxing each time.

Naturally, he made this soon-to-be co-star his primary target for observation, keeping a watchful eye while familiarizing himself with the bar’s atmosphere.

Unlike Jiang Lin’s unsightly disguise, Li Qianxing openly displayed his handsome face, which consequently made him less inconspicuous than Jiang Lin.

In current popular terms, Li Qianxing belonged to the “subtle beauty¹I swear I saw this on Tiktok, but I can’t remember what was the term used by English speakers. Something about light vs dark. Anyways, let me know if you know.” category. His facial features were soft, and while each feature wasn’t particularly striking on its own, together they created an incredibly pleasing combination. Moreover, his face was captivating, becoming more attractive the longer one looked.

As a result, whenever he stayed for a while, people would occasionally approach him, especially during the latter half of the night when the atmosphere grew heated and ambiguous.

Li Qianxing welcomed everyone, chatting amiably with each person who approached. He ordered plenty of drinks every night, not for himself, but for his conversation partners to choose from, as if he was specifically there waiting for them.

He appeared to be an excellent conversationalist, seemingly enjoying pleasant talks with everyone. No one managed to invite him away from his seat or obtain his contact information, yet everyone left with a smile despite their disappointment.

If Jiang Lin hadn’t known about Li Qianxing’s reputation for being antisocial in the industry, he might have been fooled by what he’d witnessed these past few days, believing it to be Li Qianxing’s true nature.

Clearly, just as Jiang Lin had created a “disheveled middle-aged man” persona for himself, Li Qianxing was also playing a role different from his actual self, and doing so with such naturalness that there wasn’t a trace of performative behavior.

After observing for three nights, even Jiang Lin had to admit to himself—despite often being called a drama queen by Yan Yi, he still fell short compared to Li Qianxing, this “drama fanatic.” At the very least, Jiang Lin wouldn’t immerse himself so deeply into a role in real life.

On the fourth day, after finishing a scheduled appearance, Yan Yi called Jiang Lin back to the company to review a contract.

Jiang Lin knocked and entered Yan Yi’s office, sitting across from her desk. “Negotiations went that quickly?”

Yan Yi handed over the contract. “Director He already had you in mind, and the investors were agreeable, so it was settled quickly. You’ll join the crew in three months, with filming estimated to last fourteen to fifteen weeks. Take a look, and if there are no issues, I’ll sign it once legal has finished their review.”

Jiang Lin smiled. “Yan-jie, I trust anything you’ve negotiated.”

Yan Yi reminded him, “Pay special attention to the details regarding intimate scenes and exposure levels.”

Jiang Lin flipped to the relevant clauses, carefully reading each one before commenting, “It’s very thoroughly considered. I have no objections.”

He then casually turned to the payment section and looked, slightly surprised. “The pay is quite high?”

Yan Yi explained, “You’ve won such a prestigious Best Actor award, so of course your pay should increase. This is already discounted, considering Director He’s involvement. However, Xingyu is indeed generous. Look at the supplementary clause below—after the award-winning film is released, if the box office is high, they’ll add a box office bonus for this film as well.”

Jiang Lin remarked, “It seems Li Qianxing’s side is taking this film very seriously. They’ve guessed that I’m doing this film as a favor to Director He and worry I might not give it my all, so they’re dangling a carrot in front of me.”

Yan Yi continued, “I’ve carefully researched Li Qianxing’s situation these past couple of days. He’s been decreasing his role frequency over the last two or three years and is clearly attempting to further expand his range. I suspect he might be aiming for a breakthrough with this drama.

“Given the drama’s risqué nature, since he’s willing to dedicate himself to art, he’ll naturally want some results. Therefore, a good partner is essential. Put more effort into this as well. It’ll be greatly beneficial for your future career development if you can impress Xingyu.”

Jiang Lin smiled. “Don’t worry, when have I ever been careless about acting?”

Yan Yi nodded. “Alright, discuss the drama specifics with Director He yourself. As for other work, besides the signed contract, there’s one more scheduled appearance and a few roadshows this month. After the New Year at the end of the month, there’s a special guest role in February, expected to take about ten days to film. I won’t schedule anything else for now, leaving you two months to prepare well for this drama.”

Jiang Lin nodded, returning the contract before standing up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going then.”

Yan Yi casually asked, “Are you going to the bar tonight?”

Jiang Lin was about to say “No,” but as the words reached his lips, Li Qianxing’s face suddenly flashed through his mind.

He had already grasped the details he wanted to observe after three nights and didn’t need to go again. Yet, his curiosity about Li Qianxing urged him to continue.

Besides, he had nothing urgent to do…

In the end, Jiang Lin’s response became: “Yes.”

*

Jiang Lin deliberately arrived later, and soon after entering the bar, he spotted Li Qianxing.

It was the weekend, and Li Qianxing’s area was particularly lively. Several men and women were drinking and chatting animatedly. Of course, based on Jiang Lin’s observations from the previous three nights, Li Qianxing was only holding lemonade.

Jiang Lin found a secluded spot with a view of Li Qianxing, ordered snacks and beer as before, and continued to be a quiet observer blending into the dim atmosphere.

He relaxed against his chair, fiddling with his phone while occasionally observing his future co-star through the crowd.

Jiang Lin’s curiosity lay in seeing if Li Qianxing would reveal his true self in the bar.

However, even when alone, Li Qianxing maintained a smile, watching the crowd as if ready to converse at any moment. This demeanor was far from that of someone who disliked socializing.

Jiang Lin clicked his tongue softly, even doubting the reliability of industry rumors.

His phone vibrated, and Jiang Lin looked down to find a WeChat message from Yan Yi, asking him to repost a magazine preview on Weibo.

Jiang Lin replied with a simple “.”, exited WeChat, and opened Weibo.

The magazine he had recently interviewed for had just released its next issue preview, with Jiang Lin at the center of a nine-grid image. His management studio had already reposted it.

Jiang Lin thought of two playful captions and reposted as well. Soon, fans gathered to repost, comment, and like.

Jiang Lin didn’t follow the traffic route²“traffic star” refers to a celebrity who generates a significant amount of online attention and has a large fan base, focusing solely on acting, and his management studio didn’t engage in fan circle operations. Thus, his Weibo follower count wasn’t astounding, but many were active fans. Especially after winning Best Actor, his fans had become particularly enthusiastic.

These fans could mainly be divided into three categories – career fans, appearance fans, and general supporters. However, Jiang Lin didn’t refer to them as “fans,” only mentioning “film enthusiasts.”

Even Jiang Lin’s Weibo signature read: [Thank you, film enthusiast friends, for your attention. I’ll strive to deliver my most heartfelt performances.]

Jiang Lin posted on Weibo casually and would interact with fans in the comment section when free. Now he scrolled through comments, picking interesting ones to reply to.

A round of interactions passed considerable time. When Jiang Lin looked up again, he noticed Li Qianxing was being pestered by a young man.

The young man was visibly wearing makeup and holding a drink, constantly trying to get close to Li Qianxing. However, while Li Qianxing was talking to him, he skillfully used a cushion to maintain distance, never giving the young man an opportunity.

Jiang Lin found it amusing and muttered to himself as he reached for his beer, “Quite a tight defense.”

But as his hand touched the glass handle, he suddenly paused.

Events unfolded rapidly, almost too quickly to react.

A thin man suddenly darted out from the darkness near the booth, grabbing the young man’s hand and yanking him forcefully, then immediately slapping him across the face.

The young man first stumbled from being pulled, then his face was struck to the side, causing the drink in his other hand to crash to the floor. Though the thick glass didn’t break, alcohol spilled everywhere.

Jiang Lin’s heart instantly sank, and without thinking, he stood up and strode towards them—Li Qianxing was the lead actor and financial backer, he couldn’t let anything go wrong here!

The conflict near Li Qianxing was still escalating, but with the bar’s loud music, no one had noticed that corner yet.

After berating the young man, the thin man turned to point at Li Qianxing and started shouting.

Li Qianxing had already dropped his smile, slightly frowning as he stood up.

His 183cm height clearly towered over the man. The thin man hesitated, but perhaps seeing Li Qianxing’s refined demeanor of not retaliating when insulted, his arrogance quickly reignited, becoming even more brazen than before, trying to compensate for his height disadvantage.

As Jiang Lin approached, he heard the thin man yelling hoarsely, “Go ask around about who I, Huang Lao Er, am! You dare to seduce my person! I’ll teach you today…”

The thin man’s threats were cut short.

A hand suddenly extended from the side, gripping his wrist, which was pointing at Li Qianxing like an iron clamp, and lifting his entire arm upward.

The thin man cried out in pain, turning halfway with the force, only to see a figure looming over him.

Standing at 189cm with broad shoulders and a sturdy chest, Jiang Lin exuded an imposing aura even while deliberately hunching and looking down at the man.

He intentionally deepened his voice as he spoke: “‘Teach you,’ what?”

The thin man’s gaze met Jiang Lin’s cold eyes, instantly deflating his previous bravado. His mouth opened and closed twice, but no sound came out—the physical disparity between them was too great, and anyone who wasn’t crazy or stupid knew when to back down.

Jiang Lin stepped sideways, completely shielding Li Qianxing behind him, then looked at the stunned young man holding his face. “I saw him hit you earlier. Do you want to call the police?”

The young man snapped back to reality at these words, glanced at the thin man, and quickly shook his head while shrinking his shoulders.

Jiang Lin extended his other hand. Without any visible movement, he twisted the thin man around, pinning the arm he was gripping behind the man’s back.

The thin man cried out in pain again.

Jiang Lin ignored it, leaning in closer to speak. “I’m going to let you go now, and you’d better leave immediately. Otherwise, I don’t mind making you crawl out of here.”

Cold sweat had appeared on the thin man’s temples, and he could only nod.

Jiang Lin pushed him forcefully, releasing his grip in the process.

The thin man stumbled forward a couple of steps before steadying himself. He glanced back at Jiang Lin, not daring to retort, and instead vented his anger on the young man. “Hurry up and come here! You’re eating my food, and you try to cheat on me?! I think your skin is itching for a beating!”

The young man trembled but remained silent, obediently following.

Jiang Lin watched them walk away before turning back to ask Li Qianxing, “Are you alright?”

Li Qianxing’s expression remained unchanged, his smile still gentle. “Thank you, I’m fine.”

He then gestured towards the other end of the sofa. “If you don’t mind, let me buy you a drink? To show my gratitude.”

Jiang Lin’s gaze swept across Li Qianxing’s face. He hadn’t intended to interact with Li Qianxing at this point, given that they were both wearing their respective personas. However, since things had come to this, he suddenly became curious about whether he could fool this senior actor, and if Li Qianxing would recognize him when they met again in the future.

With a hidden sense of competitiveness, Jiang Lin nodded to Li Qianxing, maintaining his slouched posture as he casually sat down.

Li Qianxing sat down at a normal social distance, gesturing towards the drinks on the table. “Is there anything you’re interested in, or would you like to look at the app’s drink menu, or… shall I order you a beer?”

Jiang Lin paused, looking at Li Qianxing.

Li Qianxing smiled, “I’ve seen you here the past few evenings, always ordering beer.”

Jiang Lin shrugged, picking up a blue cocktail and raising it to Li Qianxing. “Beer is cheap. Thanks for the treat, I’ll enjoy some good liquor for a change.”

He brought the glass to his lips, taking a small sip while narrowing his eyes as if savoring it. Throughout, he could feel Li Qianxing’s gaze fixed on him.

After a while, Li Qianxing finally spoke again, but instead of asking about the drink, he said, “You’re younger than I thought.”

Jiang Lin’s hand unconsciously tightened on the glass, causing the liquid to ripple slightly.

He had darkened his face, worn a wig, and applied a fake beard, but upon closer inspection, he hadn’t been particularly meticulous. The elasticity of his skin and the lack of fine lines around his eyes could reveal his true state to a careful observer.

Jiang Lin steadied himself, responding with a faint smile as if receiving a compliment, and smoothly changed the subject. “I’ve seen you here these past few evenings too, buying drinks for quite a few people… none of them caught your eye?”

He deliberately chose a slightly offensive topic to divert Li Qianxing’s attention.

However, Li Qianxing showed no displeasure, calmly replying, “I’m not here looking for company. I’m thinking of opening a bar, so I’m chatting with people to get a sense of what bar-goers like.”

Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow. “I see.”

In the drama, Li Qianxing’s character was indeed a bar owner. Of course, not with this personality.

Li Qianxing turned the question back. “What about you? I’ve seen you on your phone these past few days. You seem out of place with everyone else.”

Jiang Lin’s mind raced, and he quickly invented a story based on his character. “I’m meeting someone here.”

Li Qianxing showed appropriate surprise. “They’ve stood you up every time?”

Jiang Lin sipped his drink slowly, revealing a bitter expression behind the glass, as if trying to hide it.

His voice carried a forced lightness. “Yeah, always working overtime at the last minute. He keeps saying, ‘soon, soon, I’ll be there soon,’ but ends up standing me up every day.”

Sympathy appeared in Li Qianxing’s gaze.

Jiang Lin lowered his glass, turning to look at him, hiding the previous bitterness and smiling, “But tonight, I’m not waiting anymore. After this drink, I’m going to find him directly.”

Li Qianxing met Jiang Lin’s gaze, seemingly infected by the determination in those eyes, slowly showing a look of admiration.

He picked up his own glass of lemonade and extended it towards Jiang Lin. “Well then, I wish you success.”

Jiang Lin raised his glass to gently clink against Li Qianxing’s. “And I wish you success with your bar.”

The small glass of alcohol was soon finished by Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin put the empty glass back on the table, glancing at the other two drinks. “Are you staying longer? I’m worried that guy from earlier might come back to cause trouble after I leave.”

This was his ultimate goal—now that there had been an incident, for safety’s sake, he needed to persuade this young master to leave early.

It went unexpectedly smoothly. Perhaps Li Qianxing was also concerned about his safety, as he replied, “I should be heading out soon as well.”

Jiang Lin stood up, saying as if urging, “Did you drive here? I can walk you to your car if it’s on my way.”

Li Qianxing stood up too. “Thank you.”

They left the bar, chatting casually as they quickly walked to Li Qianxing’s car.

Jiang Lin looked at the expensive SUV, his eyes showing envy fitting his persona, but he said, “Bars can be quite chaotic. You should bring someone with you next time you come.”

Li Qianxing: “Actually, I’ve learned enough these past few days. I probably won’t need to come again.”

Jiang Lin shifted his gaze from the car back to Li Qianxing’s face, taking a final look at this version of him. “Well then, until we meet again.”

Li Qianxing’s expression softened, his smile gentle. “Until we meet again.”

Jiang Lin raised his hand in a casual wave, then stuffed it back into his pocket as he turned to leave.

He still walked with hunched shoulders and a slightly inward chest, but his steps were quicker than before, seeming lighter, as if eager to find someone after making a decision.

Only after turning the street corner did Jiang Lin feel the gaze on his back disappear.

He slowed his pace, only then noticing his heart was beating a bit fast.

It was the excitement that came after an intense acting scene.

Jiang Lin’s lips slowly curved into a smile, suddenly feeling more anticipation for the film set three months later.

◇◆

As winter passed and spring blossomed, on April 12th, Li Qianxing packed his luggage and headed to the film set with his assistant, Xiao Zhu.

On the day of departure, Qi Jingnian personally saw Li Qianxing off to the airport, the two brothers sitting in the back seat talking.

As with every time he sent someone off, Qi Jingnian went through a checklist of daily necessities. “I had your usual RV sent over two days ago, leaving a driver to assist Xiao Zhu. I’ve booked an apartment hotel, and Xiao Zhu knows your tastes well. Eat her cooking and avoid eating out too much.”

Li Qianxing nodded patiently. “Don’t worry, Ge.”

Qi Jingnian then called out to Xiao Zhu, who was sitting in front, “Xiao Zhu, keep a close eye on him. If the crew schedules shooting during mealtimes, make sure he eats first to avoid upsetting his stomach. Also, did you pack the medicine?”

Xiao Zhu turned back, responding promptly, “Don’t worry, Mr. Qi. I’ll keep a close eye on Li-ge! I’ve packed all the usual medications, and the crew has an on-set doctor as well. You needn’t worry.”

Qi Jingnian instructed Li Qianxing, “Take a few days to adjust. If anything feels uncomfortable or if you need or want anything, let me know immediately. I’ll be there on the day shooting starts.”

Li Qianxing, who had developed severe stomach issues from filming years ago, no longer dared to argue with his brother and simply nodded obediently.

After being lectured all the way to the airport, Li Qianxing’s ears finally found peace as he entered the VIP passage.

After a two-hour flight, Li Qianxing arrived at the destination airport. The driver who had arrived earlier picked them up in a modest car, and after a few more hours of driving, they reached the filming location.

At the hotel entrance, the three of them crossed paths with two people coming out.

Li Qianxing immediately recognized the man slightly taller than himself—it was Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin had typically strong features, with a three-dimensional face structure, pronounced bones, and an air of aggression that created a striking visual impact. Just one glance was enough to captivate and hold one’s gaze.

Xiao Zhu, following behind, couldn’t help but gasp, muttering softly, “It’s true what they say in the industry gossip, he’s much more handsome in person than in photos!”

Noticing Li Qianxing glance back, she quickly added, “You too, Li-ge. Everyone who meets you for the first time says you look better than your photos~”

By then, Jiang Lin had approached with his assistant.

As the junior, Jiang Lin extended his right hand to Li Qianxing, displaying a bright smile. “Hello, Teacher Li. I’m Jiang Lin. It’s an honor to work with you this time.”

Li Qianxing shook his hand. “Hello.”

However, he reserved all his emotions for acting, typically remaining cold and aloof off-screen, and didn’t force himself to smile now.

Jiang Lin didn’t seem to mind, merely examining Li Qianxing’s face. “Teacher Li looks much better in person than in photos. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Li Qianxing: “…”

Suppressed laughter came from Xiao Zhu behind him.

Jiang Lin: “I greatly admire Teacher Li’s acting skills. I hope you can give me lots of guidance in our upcoming scenes.”

Li Qianxing: “Let’s learn from each other. But I have one thing to say upfront.”

Jiang Lin: “Please, go ahead.”

Li Qianxing: “I have just one principle—no romantic relationships on set.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Li Qianxing sensed a flicker in Jiang Lin’s gaze.

However, Jiang Lin quickly replied with a smile, “What a coincidence, me too.”

Li Qianxing heard Xiao Zhu gasp behind him. He knew she was reminding him that his previous statement was inappropriate, and he also knew that Jiang Lin’s response probably wasn’t entirely sincere.

But Li Qianxing didn’t care at all. He was here to act, not to socialize. He had said what needed to be said, and if any unexpected situations arose later, it wouldn’t be his fault.

As far as Li Qianxing was concerned, they had now reached an understanding.

Li Qianxing shook their clasped hands. “Well then, I look forward to our collaboration.”

Jiang Lin’s smile remained unchanged. “Likewise.”

Li Qianxing’s brow twitched slightly, his gaze quickly flicking to their joined hands—he had a feeling that Jiang Lin might have applied a bit more pressure?

TL Notes

• 1
  I swear I saw this on Tiktok, but I can’t remember what was the term used by English speakers. Something about light vs dark. Anyways, let me know if you know.
• 2
  “traffic star” refers to a celebrity who generates a significant amount of online attention and has a large fan base