Chapter 50: Friends
After lying in the hospital for a month and a half—through stifling heat and into cooler weather—on October 28, Jiang Yu was finally pronounced fully recovered by Dr. Zhang and allowed to be discharged.
Han Cheng came early in the morning to pick Jiang Yu up. Qi Sheng came along as well. In just over a month, the old man looked like he’d aged another ten years.
“You’re finally getting out. We’re just waiting on your scenes now.” Taking advantage of Han Cheng going to get the car, Qi Sheng leaned close to Jiang Yu and complained in a low voice.
“Sorry, Director. I can go and start filming right away,” Jiang Yu said helplessly. After dragging things out for a month and a half, Han Cheng still hadn’t agreed to replace him.
“No, no. You should still go back and rest with President Han today. Discuss things properly with him and then come back to film. It’s not urgent anymore anyway—we’ve already missed the October release slot. I’ll wait for a New Year’s release; there’s still plenty of time.”
“But doesn’t the crew lose a lot of money every day filming is delayed? I’ll talk to Han Cheng—if today won’t work, I can definitely film tomorrow.”
“President Han is the investor. In any case, it’s his money being spent. If President Han isn’t in a hurry, I’m not in a hurry either. Rest well. I’ll look for you again when there’s another project.” Qi Sheng patted Jiang Yu on the shoulder, giving his assurance. With an investor’s ‘legal spouse’ like this, he had to cling tightly to that thigh.
Han Cheng drove the car over. Qi Sheng watched as Han Cheng and Jiang Yu left together, while Wang Huan looked innocently at Qi Sheng.“Director, can I hitch a ride in your car?”
“Heh, sure. Let’s go.”
Han Cheng drove Jiang Yu back to the seaside villa. The villa looked exactly the same as it had a month and a half earlier. Aunt Chen had already prepared a whole table of Jiang Yu’s favorite dishes.
Jiang Yu practically drooled, wolfing the food down until his belly was round and full. Han Cheng rubbed Jiang Yu’s stomach; as he kept rubbing, the atmosphere gradually became inappropriate. Some physical activity helped digest the overstuffed belly very effectively.
A satisfied Han Cheng was easy to talk to. When Jiang Yu said he wanted to start filming the next day, Han Cheng lazily agreed.
The next day, Han Cheng dropped Jiang Yu off at Young Master Yang’s residence—the castle.
Because Zhao Chen had been arrested, Jiang Yu needed to reshoot Zhao Chen’s scenes with Wang Mingyu, who had replaced him. And in those scenes, both of them had interactions with Ji Xu.
Ji Xu had returned to the set a day earlier. Sitting in a chair on the castle lawn, script in hand, he seemed much quieter than before. In the past, his calm, refined demeanor required deliberate acting; now, that sense of composure seemed more genuine.
This kidnapping had, in fact, made Ji Xu grow quite a bit.
After dropping Jiang Yu off, Han Cheng left without sparing Ji Xu even a glance.
Ji Xu looked up as Jiang Yu slowly approached. The coldness in his eyes made Jiang Yu shiver all over, and he unconsciously stopped in his tracks.
That look was a little frightening.
Seeing Jiang Yu hesitate to come closer, Ji Xu suddenly smiled. The chill in his eyes melted, and he instantly became gentle again. Smiling at Jiang Yu, he said, “Come over. What—do you think I’m going to eat you?”
With the look Ji Xu had just given him, if Ji Xu really could eat people, Jiang Yu figured he’d already have been swallowed whole.
Muttering inwardly, Jiang Yu walked into the sunshade tent. A round table was set with four chairs.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yu sat down beside Wang Mingyu, leaving an empty chair between himself and Ji Xu.
“Brother Yu” Wang Mingyu looked even younger than Zhao Chen. In the script, Zhao Chen’s character was an eighteen-year-old boy, and Wang Mingyu looked about the same age as the role.
Jiang Yu smiled and nodded at him. With Wang Mingyu there, the three of them ran through the lines smoothly. Ji Xu didn’t deliberately make trouble again.
Filming began soon after. Ji Xu’s improvement was astonishing—his acting and line delivery were clearly much more polished than they had been a month and a half ago. While acting, he even managed to overpower Jiang Yu, making Jiang Yu nervous and causing two NGs.
They stumbled through the scenes and finally finished. Wang Mingyu, very perceptive, quickly ran off, leaving only Jiang Yu and Ji Xu behind.
Jiang Yu sat in a wheelchair, while Ji Xu stood in front of him, staring at him expressionlessly.
Facing this now steady, almost intimidating Ji Xu, Jiang Yu felt a bit tense. He wanted to leave, but Ji Xu’s gaze made his legs feel weak. One kidnapping really had changed Ji Xu a lot.
“You win.” After staring for quite a while, Ji Xu suddenly said this out of the blue. Chin lifted high like a proud peacock, he left with his assistant.
Win what? Han Cheng?
Han Cheng had been treating him very well lately, but Jiang Yu felt uneasy inside. He wasn’t sure whether this kindness truly belonged to him.
As soon as Ji Xu left, Wang Huan ran over. Seeing Wang Huan carrying a big bag, Jiang Yu complained a little, “Where did you go?”
Just now, facing Ji Xu alone, Jiang Yu had been terrified, afraid Ji Xu might kick him again.
“President Han just bought you some snacks. I went to get them. They’re all your favorites.” Wang Huan lifted the big bag happily to show him.
Jiang Yu noticed that Ji Xu, who hadn’t gone far, faltered in his steps.
Sigh. What a cursed entanglement.
With Zhao Chen gone and no longer causing trouble, Jiang Yu’s scenes went very smoothly. In five days, almost everything was done. Only the rain scene with Ji Xu—running to deliver news—remained.
Qi Sheng didn’t wait for natural rain and used artificial rainfall instead, afraid Jiang Yu might get drenched too much. With artificial rain, the amount and duration could be controlled.
As for Ji Xu, Qi Sheng patiently talked to him for a long time, until Ji Xu promised he wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for Jiang Yu again. Only then did Qi Sheng feel at ease enough to start filming.
During the shoot, Qi Sheng kept a close eye on Ji Xu. Fortunately, Ji Xu didn’t pull any stunts this time. The scene was completed quickly, and with that, all of Jiang Yu’s scenes were finished—officially wrapped.
After taking a hot shower, Qi Sheng wanted to treat everyone to celebrate Jiang Yu’s wrap, but Han Cheng intercepted him halfway. Sitting in Han Cheng’s car, Jiang Yu caught sight of the gloom on Ji Xu’s face.
That expression clearly showed unwillingness. Jiang Yu glanced at Han Cheng, who was driving. What a walking disaster.
Once Qi Sheng’s film was done, Jiang Yu became a stay-at-home again. Han Cheng returned to the villa every night, moving some daily necessities over as well, as if he truly regarded the seaside villa as home.
November 9 was Jiang Yu’s birthday.
Han Cheng didn’t go to the company that day and spent the entire day playing with Jiang Yu—the aquarium, the zoo, the amusement park. Jiang Yu had an absolute blast.
They stayed out until evening. Jiang Yu wanted seafood, so Han Cheng took him to a hotel restaurant said to fly in live seafood from all over the world.
Jiang Yu was enthusiastically reaching for a big blue lobster when someone suddenly greeted them beside him: “Han Cheng? What a coincidence, running into you here. Long time no see.”
Jiang Yu turned around and immediately saw Ji Xu—but the one speaking was a young man he didn’t recognize, standing next to Ji Xu.
When Han Cheng saw the young man, his brows knit instantly. “Wei Rang? It really has been a long time.”
“Ten years. And now you’re President Han,” Wei Rang said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, his tone hardly sounding like praise. “I just got back to the country a few days ago and happened to catch quite a spectacle. You even dared to take on the Zhuang family—impressive, President Han.”
Jiang Yu glanced at Han Cheng’s expression—cold and guarded—and immediately understood: these two were definitely not friends.
“I’ve just returned and only settled in over the past couple of days. I’ve been away for ten years and miss some old friends, so I’m thinking of throwing a party for everyone to get together. We’re old friends, after all—you have to come.
“This must be your little lover, right?” Wei Rang tilted his head and looked past Han Cheng at Jiang Yu. “Bring him along too. The more people, the livelier it’ll be. I was all alone overseas and really missed you all.”
He only flicked a glance at Jiang Yu before withdrawing his gaze.
Jiang Yu had seen plenty of people around Han Cheng look at him like this—Wei Rang clearly took him for just another kept lover and didn’t take him seriously at all.
“Sure,” Han Cheng said, stepping forward to stand squarely in front of Jiang Yu, completely blocking him. He smiled politely and asked, “You’re back—it’s only right to welcome you. Where will it be held, and when?”
Wei Rang was surprised by Han Cheng’s protectiveness toward Jiang Yu. He glanced at Ji Xu beside him, smiled meaningfully, and said, “Not decided yet. After being away for ten years, things have developed so fast that I hardly recognize the place anymore.
So I asked Ji Xu to show me around and help me get familiar with things. He remembered that I like seafood and recommended this hotel, said their seafood is good.
You two are here for seafood too, right? Why don’t we eat together? It’s been so long—I know nothing about what’s been going on with you anymore.”
“No need,” Han Cheng refused without hesitation. “Today we want some time alone. Once you’ve finalized things, send me an invitation and I’ll come welcome you properly.”
“Little Chengzi, you’re still as boring as ever,” Wei Rang said with a mock scold. Turning to the waiter, he added, “We’ll sit at the same table as them. I’m paying.”
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Wishing you a happy day, every day!