ASFSODS 94

Jin Ge and Sangsang were like parents waiting for their children to finish school at the kindergarten gate, standing next to the office. Sangsang occasionally peeked out to see if Wen Chi had come out yet.

“Didn’t Xiao Chi say he was done? Why hasn’t he come out yet? It’s almost eight o’clock,” Sangsang said, glancing at the time.

“Send him a message and ask,” Jin Ge said.

“Alright.”

Sangsang had just opened the chat window with Wen Chi when the office door opened from the inside. Jiang Siheng and Wen Chi walked out one after the other, with Wen Chi’s face still a bit red.

Sangsang froze for a second, then remembered something and looked at Jin Ge.

Jin Ge’s face had turned as black as it could get, and he seemed like he was about to faint and never wake up again.

Sangsang pressed Jin Ge’s shoulder and whispered, “Jin Ge, stay calm.”

When Wen Chi saw Jin Ge and Sangsang, he immediately said, “Let’s go eat, I’m starving.”

Jin Ge glanced at him and said, “I thought you wouldn’t be hungry.”

Wen Chi grabbed Jiang Siheng’s wrist with one hand, then turned to look at the man. “Teacher Jiang, are you coming with us?”

Jin Ge’s death stare immediately shot toward Jiang Siheng. Jiang Siheng calmly replied, “Yes.”

Jin Ge choked: “…”

Sangsang quickly said, “Jiang Ge, I just ran into Xiao Pang. He said he was going to the bathroom.”

“Mhm, got it. Send him a message and tell him to drive the car around and wait outside after he’s done,” Jiang Siheng said.

Sangsang: “Oh, okay.”

Wen Chi looked at Sangsang, then turned to Jiang Siheng. “Why are you asking my assistant to go contact your assistant?”

Jiang Siheng said, “Too lazy to take out my phone.”

Wen Chi: “…” Now that was truly lazy.

The restaurant had already been booked in advance by Jin Ge. Wen Chi and Jiang Siheng walked in front, while Sangsang and Jin Ge followed behind. Sangsang kept a constant eye on Jin Ge’s darkening mood, ready at any moment to hold him down if needed.

Fortunately, this little couple managed to stay fairly composed in public, without the clinginess they showed in private. If not for knowing about their relationship, one would simply think Wen Chi and Jiang Siheng were just particularly close friends.

While waiting at the street corner for Xiao Pang to drive over, Wen Chi spoke softly to Jiang Siheng. On the surface, the two maintained polite distance and courtesy, but in the blind spot of others’ gazes, their pinkies secretly hooked together.

Just then, a voice called out from ahead, “Teacher Jiang.” Wen Chi instantly let go, as if shocked by electricity, and looked toward the speaker.

It was Xu Zhouwei, who should have already left, suddenly appearing here. Beside him stood a girl holding a coat, probably his assistant.

Xu Zhouwei first greeted Jiang Siheng, then, as if only just noticing Wen Chi, showed a hint of surprise before smiling. “I really didn’t expect us to end up in the same production crew.”

Wen Chi blinked, reacting a beat too slow. “…Oh.”

Xu Zhouwei said, “Don’t you remember me? At first, Heart’s Confession 2 actually wanted me, but because I had other more important work, I had to turn down the invitation from the show. Then they went to you instead. Who would’ve thought that after all these twists and turns, we would end up in the same production crew. Teacher Jiang, don’t you think Wen Chi and I are really fated?”

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could hear the implication behind Xu Zhouwei’s words. Wen Chi only got on Heart’s Confession 2 thanks to him.

Wen Chi: Huh???

Jin Ge looked completely baffled.

Sangsang narrowed her eyes, secretly sizing up Xu Zhouwei. For some reason, she felt like there was something off about him.

Jiang Siheng hadn’t spared Xu Zhouwei a single glance. He was busy messaging Xiao Pang, telling him to hurry over or his pay would be docked. After a moment, he said flatly, “No idea.”

“…” Xu Zhouwei choked on his words.

Wen Chi pressed his lips together.

Xu Zhouwei still refused to give up. He felt he had no real conflict with Wen Chi or Jiang Siheng, so there was no reason for them to mock him like this. He spoke up again, “By the way, Teacher Jiang, during the script read-through today there was a scene I couldn’t quite grasp—the emotions it was trying to convey. It’s the scene where you and I are drinking and talking in the bamboo courtyard…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Pang, driving at the edge of losing his paycheck, pulled up in front of them, forcing Xu Zhouwei to drop the subject.

The window rolled down, and Xiao Pang bellowed, “Jiang Ge, I’m here!!”

Jiang Siheng: “…”

Wen Chi: “Pfft.”

Xiao Pang looked at Wen Chi in confusion, scratching his head. “Teacher Wen, what are you laughing at?”

Wen Chi waved a hand. “Nothing, I just thought you were cute.”

Xiao Pang blushed. “Thanks.”

Jiang Siheng glanced at Wen Chi, who was still holding back his laughter, and let out a helpless sigh. “Get in the car.”

From start to finish, no one paid any attention to Xu Zhouwei’s words.

Xu Zhouwei stood off to the side, feeling painfully awkward. His hand at his side clenched into a fist, then loosened again. Forcing a smile, he said, “Teacher Jiang, heading to dinner? Then I won’t bother you. See you tomorrow.”

Jiang Siheng brushed against Wen Chi’s arm and said calmly, “Let’s go.”

Wen Chi pulled his gaze away from Xu Zhouwei’s face with a soft “Oh,” then stepped past Jiang Siheng and got straight into the car, showing no intention of waiting for Jiang Siheng to get in first.

It wasn’t until the car drove off and vanished around the corner that Xu Zhouwei snapped out of it. He frowned, replaying what he had just seen. If this wasn’t Wen Chi’s first day in the entertainment industry, then he should’ve known that, compared to someone with far more standing like Jiang Siheng, the proper thing would be to wait for him to get in first—instead of leaving him behind and climbing in on his own.

As for Wen Chi’s manager, he hadn’t stopped his artist either. It was as if all of them were used to it.

The relationship between Wen Chi and Jiang Siheng… seemed to be more than just friends.

Xu Zhouwei turned to his assistant beside him and said, “Go contact ‘President Jiang’ and have him look into Wen Chi and Jiang Siheng’s relationship.”

The assistant froze for a moment, then replied, “Alright.”

…

Xiao Pang was steadily driving the car, Jin-ge sat in the passenger seat, while Jiang Siheng and Wen Chi were in the back row. Sitting in the middle row, Sangsang was still trying to figure out what exactly felt off about Xu Zhouwei just now.

“That Xu Zhouwei is kind of strange,”

Wen Chi’s voice came from the back. Sangsang turned her head and saw Wen Chi frowning as he said, “Weren’t the things he just said basically belittling me? What does he mean by saying that only because he turned it down did the program team come to me? Ugh, so annoying.”

Only then did Wen Chi realize what Xu Zhouwei had meant with that remark, and he deeply regretted not snapping back at him earlier.

Jiang Siheng patted Wen Chi’s head and coaxed, “Just ignore him.”

“Of course I’ll ignore him. After all, he’s not even coming after me this time.” Wen Chi shot Jiang Siheng a sideways glance and even let out a huff.

Jiang Siheng: “…”

Sangsang stared at Wen Chi for quite a while and suddenly realized what felt off just now. In Xu Zhouwei, she seemed to have caught a glimpse of Wen Chi’s shadow.

After dinner, on the way back to the hotel, Jiang Siheng asked Wen Chi which floor his room was on. Wen Chi took out his key card and glanced at it. “309. What about you, Teacher Jiang?”

“703.”

Wen Chi paused for a second. “Why are you living so high up?”

Jiang Siheng replied loftily, “I don’t stay on the same floor as everyone else.”

“The seventh floor rooms are the presidential suites?”

“Mhm.”

Wen Chi: “…Boss, you’re really generous.”

Jiang Siheng let out a soft laugh. “Want me to upgrade you to a suite?”

“No, no, this room I have is fine. Besides, if only you and I are up on the seventh floor, it’ll easily make people suspicious.” Wen Chi refused without even thinking.

Jiang Siheng said, “But with you on the third floor, it’s not very convenient for me to come see you either.”

Hearing that, Wen Chi fell into thought. It was true that the entire third floor was filled with people from the crew. If someone happened to see Jiang Siheng coming to him, it would be a disaster.

Jiang Siheng watched leisurely, taking in the boy’s thoughtful expression.

He was still expecting Wen Chi to say, Then I’ll just come up to see you, but instead, the boy turned to him and said solemnly, “Then during the filming period, let’s not visit each other.”

“…” Jiang Siheng was so exasperated he laughed. “Why can’t we meet?”

Wen Chi answered bashfully, “Because it’s inconvenient.”

Suddenly, Jin Ge, who was sitting in the passenger seat, shouted “Nice!” All at once, everyone in the car turned their eyes to him. But Jin Ge kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, not turning to acknowledge the looks from the back. He cleared his throat and said, “I’m watching the game. Xiao Pang, you just focus on driving, don’t mind me.”

Xiaopang: “It’s a red light.”

Jiang Siheng withdrew his gaze, and while at it, turned Wen Chi’s face back toward him. “You’re not allowed not to see me.”

Wen Chi: “I just won’t.”

Jiang Siheng raised an eyebrow. “You wanna try me?”

Wen Chi’s expression instantly turned aggrieved. “…Are you threatening me?”

“…” Jiang Siheng let go of him. “Fine, if you won’t, then you won’t.”

Film Emperor Jiang really showed what it meant to be a thoroughly henpecked husband.

Back at the hotel, the two of them walked into the lobby with masks on and waited for the elevator. Wen Chi glanced back at Sangsang, then looked elsewhere, suddenly feeling that this scene seemed a little familiar.

Seeing Wen Chi turn to look at her, Sangsang asked curiously, “What is it, Chi-ge?”

Wen Chi shook his head and said, “It’s nothing, just remembered something.”

“Huh?” Sangsang pointed at herself. “Does it have something to do with me?”

Wen Chi thought for a moment and said, “Not really, but you were there at the time.”

With a ding, the elevator arrived at the first floor and the doors slid open. A few people came out chatting and laughing, but when they saw the two standing right in front of the elevator, they froze for a moment.

“Jiang Ge.”

“Good evening, Jiang Ge.”

The few were all actors from the crew. After greeting Jiang Siheng, they finally noticed the young man standing beside him. Although he was also wearing a mask that hid his face, they recognized the outfit—he had been wearing it just a few hours ago.

“Wen…” They hesitated over how to address him. Wen Chi was just a small celebrity, about the same level as them in the entertainment industry, so they really couldn’t bring themselves to call him “Teacher Wen.”

Seeming to understand the reason for their sudden pause, Wen Chi smiled and said, “Just call me Wen Chi.”

“Ah, okay, okay, Wen Chi.”

Jiang Siheng gave them a slight nod, then said to Wen Chi, “Let’s go.”

Wen Chi responded with an “Oh.”

It wasn’t until Jiang Siheng and Wen Chi entered the elevator and the doors closed behind them that the people outside finally pressed their hands to their chests and exchanged looks.

“Damn, scared me to death.”

“Wen Chi and Jiang Ge seem really close.”

“Of course. I’m telling you, we can’t give Wen Chi any trouble on set from now on. He’s linked with Jiang Siheng, used to be a CP with him too, he’s definitely not the same as before.”

“I’m not even close to him. Why would I bother giving him trouble?”

“Alright, alright, let’s just finish shopping and head back.”

The elevator quickly reached the third floor. Wen Chi turned his head, said a quick goodbye, and slipped out right behind his manager’s assistant. No matter how fast Jiang Siheng reacted, it was too late to catch Wen Chi’s hand. Just before the elevator doors closed, what he saw was the boy’s eyes crinkling in a bright smile.

As the elevator continued upward, Jiang Siheng let out a helpless laugh inside.

He really ran off fast.