This was how Li Qianxing and Jiang Lin began their days of sharing meals.
Li Qianxing couldn’t be more satisfied with Jiang Lin’s culinary skills. In the half-month after wrapping up his previous project, he had only regained two pounds. Now, after just ten days of eating together, he had put on another three.
There was another aspect of Jiang Lin that touched Li Qianxing: he didn’t entirely cater to Li Qianxing’s tastes. They said it was easier to buy and cook for two, but they both knew those were just excuses Jiang Lin made up.
In reality, Jiang Lin would sometimes prepare dishes that only one of them liked, clearly separated on different plates. Other times, he’d split a dish into two portions, adding spice to one. Clearly, this was an approach meant for long-term cohabitation.
Within those ten days, Li Qianxing spent increasingly more time at Jiang Lin’s place, and Jiang Lin gained long-term access to Li Qianxing’s elevator floor.
Though discussing new scripts together was part of the reason, it was undeniable that their current living arrangement left Li Qianxing relaxed and happy. He unconsciously grew accustomed to having Jiang Lin by his side.
So far, the changes Jiang Lin brought were exactly as Li Qianxing had imagined: emotional stability, enjoying only the pleasures of love.
That afternoon, Li Qianxing received a WeChat message from Jiang Lin and went downstairs for dinner as usual.
Upon entering, he heard Jiang Lin on the phone, seemingly chatting with the landlord. Not wanting to disturb him, Li Qianxing washed his hands in the kitchen and helped set the table.
When Jiang Lin hung up, Li Qianxing brought over the rice. “Still haven’t reached an agreement?”
Jiang Lin sighed. “She says she needs to reconsider the price. People who can afford to buy property here aren’t short on money, so the market price doesn’t really appeal to her. But I’m reluctant to pay a premium.”
Li Qianxing: “If she’s unwilling, forget it. Renting is just as good.”
Jiang Lin nodded. “Let’s eat.”
While serving food, he changed the subject, “I’m going on a live variety show this weekend.”
Li Qianxing: “I remember. I saw you tell the housekeeper to cook for those two days.”
They now had a group chat where Jiang Lin would typically instruct the housekeeper. However, Li Qianxing had it on mute and didn’t always check it.
Jiang Lin: “I’ll prepare breakfast for you. Come down to eat. The noodles won’t keep well, but I’ll make congee and leave it in the clay pot. Just reheat it until it simmers slightly. Eggs, buns, and shrimp dumplings will be in the steamer to stay warm. Remember to turn off the power after taking them out.”
Li Qianxing was surprised. “Aren’t you leaving quite early? No need to prepare specially. I’ll just order takeout when I wake up.”
Jiang Lin smiled. “I need to eat breakfast too. It’s easy to cook extra. I’ll drive straight to the filming location and don’t want to stop for food on the way. It’s more convenient to eat at home.”
Li Qianxing nodded. “Alright, got it.”
After a moment, he asked, “What kind of variety show is it?”
He never participated in variety shows and hadn’t paid attention to them.
Jiang Lin: “It’s called ‘Wonderful Weekend.’ It will be livestreamed during the day, with an edited version airing at night. It’s a comprehensive variety show, and this episode’s theme is acting. They invite five guests and randomly select a partner from each guest’s phone contacts to act out a few scenes.”
Li Qianxing found it strange. “Randomly select from contacts? Is it truly random?”
Jiang Lin shook his head with a smile. “Of course not. Anyone appearing on a variety show has been negotiated with and signed a contract beforehand.”
Li Qianxing found it even stranger. “Then why not just invite them directly instead of this odd gimmick?”
Jiang Lin: “Maybe they think it’s more exciting this way. Oh, for the show’s effect, they might actually make one or two random calls. If they happen to call you, just say you have work and can’t make it, or that you’re out of town. Or I can message you before I go on stage, and you can turn on airplane mode.”
Li Qianxing: “Alright. So, who are they actually inviting?”
Jiang Lin: “It’s basically veterans bringing in newcomers. Five already famous people paired with five newcomers for exposure. This show has high popularity and traffic. Yan-jie wants me to showcase my acting skills.”
Li Qianxing: “Who’s your partner?”
Jiang Lin took out his phone, scrolled a bit, then showed him. “Qian Chang. I’ve checked some of his roles. Some are barely passable, others are unbearable. He probably can only play types close to himself right now.”
Li Qianxing frowned slightly. “Acting without any practice? What kind of performance can you give with such a partner?”
Jiang Lin shrugged. “The audience is just there for entertainment. I only need to focus on my own performance. If he’s receptive, I can teach him a bit. If not, I’ll let him be. On camera, the audience will judge for themselves.”
“Every year, so many productions start filming. Quality dramas are the minority; the majority are shoddy and perfunctory. Even good productions often can’t avoid having one or two wooden actors forced in by investors. My strategy is to ignore them and treat it like a monologue.”
Li Qianxing suddenly remembered the person who wanted to replace Xiang Xiaohu in their previous production and laughed. “Treating the other person like a cabbage?”
Jiang Lin laughed heartily. “Who would expect a cabbage to react, right?”
They finished dinner while chatting, then loaded the dishes into the dishwasher as usual. Since Jiang Lin had an early start tomorrow, Li Qianxing didn’t linger and quickly returned home.
Just as he entered, Qi Jingnian called. The brothers discussed work and then life.
Li Qianxing casually asked, “Do you have a rough idea of how much my apartment is worth now?”
Qi Jingnian was taken aback. “What? Are you thinking of selling?”
Li Qianxing: “No, Jiang Lin wants to buy the unit below mine. I was wondering if you could recommend a good negotiator to help him.”
Qi Jingnian was even more puzzled. “Jiang Lin? Buying the unit below you? He knows your address?”
Li Qianxing then realized he hadn’t told his brother about Jiang Lin moving in. He briefly explained the situation, including their current meal-sharing arrangement.
After listening, Qi Jingnian was silent for several seconds. When he spoke again, his voice was quite peculiar. “Qianxing, Di-ah, am I… about to have a brother-in-law?”
Li Qianxing couldn’t help but smile. “Probably.”
Qi Jingnian clicked his tongue heavily.
Li Qianxing: “I’ll give him an answer in the next couple of days. I can’t keep him hanging. So I think it doesn’t matter whether he gets the place or not. If we’re together, we’ll definitely live together, and he can stay at my place. But he says he doesn’t have his own place yet, so buying an apartment might make him feel more secure.”
Qi Jingnian: “Wait, hold on! Isn’t the jump between ‘being together’ and ‘living together’ a bit small?”
Li Qianxing: “Is it? Once we’re together, why be coy about it? Living apart is inconvenient. We wouldn’t be able to see each other whenever we want.”
Qi Jingnian: “Won’t you feel somewhat… like your territory is being invaded? You never used to bring guests home, and except when filming on location, you didn’t give your key to anyone else.”
Li Qianxing thought about it and replied, “But I feel at ease with Jiang Lin. There’s no sense of constraint like having an outsider at home.”
Qi Jingnian sighed lightly. “Well, as long as you’re happy.”
He continued, “I think I vaguely remember the owner of the unit below yours. We met when viewing the apartment, and I might have heard something recently. Hold on a moment.”
Li Qianxing then heard his brother cover the phone and call to his sister-in-law. “Minmin, do you remember the apartment Qianxing is living in now? We viewed it together back then…”
After a while, Qi Jingnian came back. “I’ve figured it out. That family is actually facing some business troubles and needs a large sum for cash flow. Your complex is nice, but it’s not easy to liquidate quickly. So when she heard Jiang Lin wants to buy, she definitely wants to ask for more.”
“Tell Jiang Lin not to rush. Let her stew a bit, and hint that he might look elsewhere if it doesn’t work out. Once they get anxious, they’ll naturally lower the price. By then, they’ll be begging Jiang Lin to buy, and the price can be negotiated further. We won’t take advantage of their situation, but following market price, they should split the taxes too.”
Li Qianxing thanked Qi Jingnian and immediately messaged this information to Jiang Lin downstairs.
Jiang Lin was on a call with Yan Yi.
Yan Yi: “The show just informed me that one guest has been replaced by Li Mingsi.”
Jiang Lin scoffed. “He has the nerve to cross my path? He’s not afraid of embarrassing himself.”
Yan Yi: “I find it strange too. Though your discord isn’t public, there are rumors in the industry. Since they invited you, it’s odd they’d invite him too. If it’s for ratings, creating conflict would boost traffic, but it’s surprising he agreed.”
Jiang Lin: “Maybe being a top star for so long, being pampered by fans, he really thinks he’s all that.”
Yan Yi: “But his popularity has been declining recently. From last year to this year, he starred in three consecutive flops. His reputation has plummeted, casual fans have abandoned him, and he’s lost many dedicated fans too.”
Jiang Lin: “So he wants to go on this show to prove it’s not his acting that’s bad, that the poor films aren’t his fault. Hah, if he’d just stop changing so many pages of the script, maybe not every film would be a disaster.”
Yan Yi: “He’ll definitely try to set you up. Be careful.”
After chatting a bit more with Yan Yi, Jiang Lin hung up and noticed Li Qianxing’s message. Reading it carefully, he felt a warmth in his heart and quickly replied.
However, having such a capable brother-in-law made him feel a tiny bit of pressure…
◇◆
The next day, Jiang Lin woke up early, prepared breakfast for Li Qianxing, made himself a bowl of noodles with some buns, and left for the shoot after eating.
The show arranged individual lounges for the five guests who arrived early.
After going over the process with the host and getting his makeup done, Jiang Lin chatted with Li Qianxing while waiting to start.
[Jiang Lin: Makeup’s done, waiting to go on. Are you up?]
Li Qianxing replied quickly.
[Li Qianxing: Heating the congee now. Should I stir it? Seems like it might stick to the bottom otherwise.]
[Jiang Lin: Use the lowest heat. You can stir it slowly, not too fast. Be careful it doesn’t suddenly splash out.]
They chatted until Li Qianxing sat down to eat. Suddenly, there was a knock on the dressing room door.
Thinking it was a staff member, Jiang Lin was about to speak when the door opened directly.
Li Mingsi leaned against the doorframe, glaring at Jiang Lin. “Well, if it isn’t the great award-winning actor. Long time no see.”
Jiang Lin’s expression and tone remained mild, but his words were biting. “Indeed, it’s been a while. But I didn’t want to see you. Just looking at you makes me feel like my eyes are dirty.”
Li Mingsi lifted his chin and sneered. “You think just because you got lucky and won an award, you can completely crush me? Keep dreaming!”
Jiang Lin calmly replied, “You think too highly of yourself. I’m walking my own path. Why would I care about some bug squirming on the roadside?”
Li Mingsi’s anger flared. “You-!”
Then, seeming to remember something, he suppressed his temper, his expression twisting strangely. “Do you know why the show invited me?”
Jiang Lin mercilessly jabbed at his wound. “Didn’t you beg them to come? Not that it matters. It has nothing to do with me anyway.”
This time, Li Mingsi didn’t argue back. Instead, he gave an eerie smile. “Just wait till we’re on stage. You’ll be in for a surprise!”
As he turned to leave, Jiang Lin suddenly called out, “Li Mingsi, was it you who bought those negative trending topics about me last time?”
Li Mingsi looked back. “I wouldn’t waste money boosting your popularity. Don’t you know how many people you’ve offended? Don’t pin everything on me.”
Jiang Lin stared at him for a moment, then spoke calmly, “Li Mingsi, I once played a minor character in a drama you starred in.”
Li Mingsi scoffed dismissively. “Just an extra. Why would I remember that?”
Ignoring him, Jiang Lin continued, “Back then, your acting was passable, at least enough to fool people. But now, you’re lying to my face, thinking you can deceive me? Over the years, what little acting skill you had has almost completely regressed.”
Li Mingsi finally lost his composure. He slammed his fist against the doorframe, gritting his teeth. “Jiang Lin! You-”
Just then, a staff member’s voice came from behind him. “Oh my, what’s going on here? It’s time to go on stage. Please follow me.”
Li Mingsi had to forcefully suppress his anger. He glared fiercely at Jiang Lin before turning to leave.
Jiang Lin slowly stood up, adjusted his clothes in the mirror, gave a polite smile to the staff member, and strode towards the stage.
A live show meant zero margin for error. But Jiang Lin was relaxed. Acting out a few short scenes wasn’t challenging for him. He treated it as on-camera practice and hadn’t even brought his assistant Xiao Ding along today.
Behind a prop door, the host was introducing some of Jiang Lin’s representative roles on stage.
Jiang Lin lifted his head slightly, looking past the prop door at the large screen hanging opposite. There was no image, only scrolling comments.
He had naturally announced his variety show appearance on Weibo earlier. Now he could see some fans typing his name, and even “99CP”.
Just then, Jiang Lin clearly saw a few comments:
[It’s a pity only one of the 99 couple is here. I really wish they could appear on variety shows together.]
[Aren’t they supposed to make random phone calls to invite people? Maybe we’ll actually see them together again!]
[Don’t dream about it. Li Qianxing has never been on a variety show.]
Jiang Lin couldn’t help but smile at these comments.
At that moment, the host announced loudly, “Let’s welcome Teacher Jiang Lin!”
The prop door opened, and Jiang Lin walked calmly to center stage, waving at the camera: “Hello everyone, I’m actor Jiang Lin.”
After some light banter with the host, Jiang Lin sat in his designated seat.
Once all five guests had appeared, the comment volume gradually increased.
The host stirred up the atmosphere, then said with a smile, “The live audience is already very excited. I’ve seen the contact lists of our five guests, and there are so many familiar names! Let’s have the director show it on screen for everyone to see… Alright, just a glimpse. Now then—let’s start with Teacher Hua on the far left!”
Another screen at the front of the stage lit up, showing a screenshot of a phone’s contact list. The image was too long to read clearly, with a red line rapidly scrolling up and down. When the host shouted, “Stop!” the red line slowly halted, and the final name it landed on was enlarged.
The host reminded, “Each guest only has three chances to invite someone, so please make sure to use them wisely and try your best to persuade the other person to join the show.”
Among the five guests, Jiang Lin, having won a major international film festival award, had the highest status and sat in the center position. He was the third to make a call.
The first guest “selected” their predetermined choice on the second try. The second guest had slightly worse luck, being rejected twice before “selecting” on the third try.
Jiang Lin had the best luck, “randomly” getting Qian Chang, who the show had arranged, on his first try.
The call went through quickly. “Hello?”
Jiang Lin’s tone was casual, as if chatting with a friend. “Hey Xiao Qian, it’s me, Jiang Lin.”
Qian Chang: “Ah, Teacher Jiang! Hello, hello!”
Jiang Lin: “It’s like this, I’m participating in ‘Wonderful Weekend’. Are you free? I’d like to invite you to join the show and have some fun.”
Qian Chang was silent for a second, then laughed dryly. “I’m so honored to be invited by Teacher Jiang. But I’m really sorry, I’m out of town right now and can’t make it back in time.”
For a moment, Jiang Lin saw the host standing nearby stiffen slightly from the corner of his eye.
However, Jiang Lin didn’t show any change and continued asking, “Where are you? The show says they can arrange transportation for you immediately.”
Qian Chang’s voice trembled slightly: “I’m… I’m abroad. It’s an eleven-hour flight. Listen—”
He seemed to move the phone away a bit, and foreign electronic announcements could be heard through the microphone.
Jiang Lin didn’t press further, just saying with a smile. “That’s too bad. I’ll have to find someone else then. When you’re back, let’s have dinner together.”
Qian Chang quickly agreed, and they both hung up.
Jiang Lin calmly said to the host, “Please draw the next one.”
The host: “Alright, let’s look forward to seeing who will be invited from Teacher Jiang’s contacts next—”
Jiang Lin looked up to see the red line on the big screen start moving again.
He could feel a gaze on him from the right—it was Li Mingsi.
There was no need to think about it; this must be Li Mingsi’s doing. That’s why he had deliberately come to the dressing room earlier to say those self-important threats.
However, Jiang Lin really couldn’t understand Li Mingsi’s logic. If Qian Chang didn’t come, it would be the show’s problem, not his.
As Jiang Lin watched the red line on the screen, he kept trying to figure it out but couldn’t make sense of it.
Did Li Mingsi think that “being rejected three times on a live broadcast and failing to invite anyone” would upset him? This wasn’t a punishment game; who would be upset over such a thing? It was just one less person. The show would adjust accordingly, and he would cooperate as needed.
Finally, Jiang Lin decided to spare his brain. Trying to understand the logic of fools was truly an abuse of his intellect.
Just then, the host called for a stop, and the red line on the screen halted.
The name the red line landed on was enlarged.
Jiang Lin paused imperceptibly, then his smile gained a touch of genuine warmth.
*
Li Qianxing finished the breakfast Jiang Lin had left, cleaned up the table, and returned to his own apartment.
Checking the time, it was exactly when Jiang Lin had said the show would start.
Li Qianxing connected his phone to the screen and searched for the live streaming platform of “Wonderful Weekend.” As soon as he tuned in, he saw Jiang Lin making his entrance.
He settled comfortably into the sofa and watched. Seeing Jiang Lin “randomly” select the correct target on his first try, he chuckled softly.
But then Qian Chang said he couldn’t make it.
Li Qianxing immediately stopped smiling, his brows furrowing slightly—what was going on?
The screen quickly moved on to selecting the next person.
Li Qianxing gripped his phone tightly.
Each person only had three chances to invite someone. Without prior arrangements, it was almost impossible for anyone to agree.
Li Qianxing took a deep breath, looked down at his phone, opened his contacts, and found Jiang Lin.
He decided that after Jiang Lin’s second phone call, he would call him proactively.
Just then, the red line finally stopped.
The name was enlarged.
Li Qianxing’s eyes widened slightly.
The screen displayed—
Li Qianxing.
Immediately, his phone rang. It was a call from Jiang Lin’s phone.
Li Qianxing answered at once. “Jiang Lin.”
Jiang Lin’s gentle voice came simultaneously from the phone and the speakers. “Li-ge.”
Li Qianxing looked up and saw Jiang Lin’s smiling face on the screen, as if looking directly at him.
Jiang Lin: “I’m participating in ‘Wonderful Weekend’, a live variety show. Would you like to come and join in the fun?”
Li Qianxing smiled in return.
“Sure.”
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