Chapter 11 – Bewitched Soul

A pivotal scene about life-changing moments was completed in one take. Originally, there were other scenes scheduled for the morning, but after seeing Jiang Ruo’s disoriented state, Director Sun Yao gave him a special two-hour break so he could eat, rest, and adjust before continuing in the afternoon.

After thanking Sun Yao, Jiang Ruo headed to the dressing room to change out of his dance costume. He slipped into his usual sweater and jeans, a simple yet comfortable outfit. As he opened the door to leave, he spotted Xi Yufeng standing by the entrance, and after an initial surprise, he smiled. “President Xi hasn’t left yet.”

Xi Yufeng stood a few meters away with his hands in his pockets, watching Jiang Ruo. His icy gaze lacked warmth but held a hint of scrutiny. Perhaps it was just Jiang Ruo’s imagination; Xi Yufeng was truly hard to read.

Lunch was once again organized by Director Zhou. Familiarity had bred friendliness, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than the night before. Jiang Ruo even found himself accepting compliments and praise without reserve, even when they came from flattery. After the morning’s scene, there was genuine admiration in their words.

He had confidence in his dancing abilities. Consequently, his appetite was better than the previous day. He devoured half a plate of large shrimp and several slices of braised pork belly. The beef brisket at this private restaurant was cooked to perfection, tender and falling apart, and Jiang Ruo couldn’t stop eating, even mixing the sauce into his rice until it was all gone.

After savoring Chinese cuisine, he felt grounded, as if he had returned to the mortal world.

The producer, a woman in her thirties, observed Jiang Ruo eating without restraint and remarked enviously, “I heard dancers need to strictly control their weight. How does Teacher Jiang manage to stay so slim?”

“It’s not always like that,” Jiang Ruo replied. “In college, I ate hotpot every day for a while and gained five pounds in half a month. I didn’t dare step on the scale in front of my teacher.”

His comment suggested he wasn’t naturally skinny, but when Director Zhou heard it, he took it differently.

“Look how hungry our Teacher Jiang is,” Zhou said, feigning dissatisfaction as he questioned the production staff. “Hasn’t he been allowed to have extra meals? He seems to have lost weight since we last saw him.”

The assistant was a young woman new to the industry and didn’t know what she could and couldn’t say. “He’s allowed, but Teacher Jiang isn’t picky. He eats the same box lunch as everyone else.”

“…Box lunch?”

“Yes, it’s standard fare – one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, and unlimited rice.”

A momentary silence fell over the table.

Just as Director Zhou tried to change the subject and ease the tension, Xi Yufeng asked Jiang Ruo, “Where’s your assistant?”

“I don’t have one…” Jiang Ruo blurted out, then quickly corrected himself. “I didn’t ask them to come.”

“Why not?”

“I’m a grown man; I don’t need someone to look after me.”

Jiang Ruo had experienced Xi Yufeng’s efficiency firsthand. By the time they left the restaurant, he noticed Xi Yufeng’s assistant, Shi Mingxu, standing by the roadside with a bespectacled girl.

As they approached, Shi Mingxu greeted Xi Yufeng. “President Xi, I’ve brought the person.”

Xi Yufeng nodded, took a few sheets of paper that looked like a resume from the girl, skimmed through them, and handed them to Jiang Ruo.

Jiang Ruo was puzzled. “What’s this? Why are you giving this to me?”

Shi Mingxu explained, not needing Xi Yufeng to do so. “Her name is Shen Chuxia. You can call her Xiao Shen. Starting today, she will be your personal assistant.”

Even if Xi Yufeng didn’t feel compelled to explain, Jiang Ruo felt he had to pry open his mouth to get an answer. He pulled Xi Yufeng aside for a private conversation, his smile vanishing instantly. “May I ask what President Xi means by this?”

“I’m assigning you an assistant,” Xi Yufeng stated simply.

“I told you, I don’t need an assistant,” Jiang Ruo responded bluntly. “Besides, considering our relationship, it’s not really your place to make such decisions for me.”

Xi Yufeng regarded him calmly. “What kind of relationship do we have?”

This question stumped Jiang Ruo.

What kind of relationship did they have? Was it merely acquaintances who had met a few times? Was it based on a single intimate encounter? Or was it that of a creditor and a debtor?

These were relationships known only to the two of them. On the surface, they were a sugar daddy and his kept lover, a relationship that should be dirty and hidden in the shadows, yet it was thrust into the limelight for everyone to gossip about over tea.

What disturbed Jiang Ruo was that he stood firmly on practical ground, viewing Xi Yufeng’s actions as overstepping boundaries and adding unnecessary burdens.

Yet, Xi Yufeng’s matter-of-fact attitude stemmed from his role as a sugar daddy. All his actions, including helping Jiang Ruo escape rumors and arranging an assistant for him, were justified within the context of their relationship.

It was all for show, and Xi Yufeng didn’t care what their actual relationship was, because to him, it made no difference.

Realizing this, Jiang Ruo felt a sense of frustration, akin to punching a pillow.

In public, Jiang Ruo quickly composed himself and countered Xi Yufeng’s move with a question. “I thought I had already repaid President Xi in full. If you do this, won’t I owe you another favor?”

This statement laid bare their real relationship, comparing himself to a commodity.

A strategy that hurt the enemy a thousand while self-inflicting eight hundred, Xi Yufeng ignored the subtle sarcasm in Jiang Ruo’s words. “I might need your help in the future.”

Jiang Ruo raised an eyebrow. “President Xi, someone as capable as you needs help from others?”

A more direct jab, but Xi Yufeng seemed oblivious. “No one can predict the future.”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Jiang Ruo detected a hint of amusement in Xi Yufeng’s indifferent expression.

Not wanting to delve deeper – because if Xi Yufeng truly meant to mock him, Jiang Ruo doubted he could refrain from exploding on the spot – he remembered he wasn’t known for his temper.

“Then, let me thank President Xi in advance.”

Following protocol, Jiang Ruo thanked Xi Yufeng, only to realize he often found himself saying ‘thank you’ to Xi Yufeng.

As if he owed him a great deal.

His mood, which had slightly improved, soured again. He flipped through the resume in his hand, clenching and unclenching his jaw. “Then, how much will this assistant earn per month?”

“Not much, I’ll pay for it,” Xi Yufeng said. “Consider it additional interest for the help you’re providing.”

In the afternoon, Assistant Xiao Shen officially started her duties.

She proved to be a highly professional assistant. As soon as Jiang Ruo finished a scene, Xiao Shen would be waiting at the entrance with a cup, ready for him to take a sip. The temperature was just right.

Jiang Ruo also acquired his own umbrella for protection against the increasingly intense spring sun, along with a reclining chair placed beneath it. A table beside it held freshly washed fruits and various snacks.

Picking up a bag, he found duck feet inside. Jiang Ruo was surprised, and Xiao Shen explained, “President Xi mentioned you like duck feet. This brand has good reviews, so I took the liberty to buy more.”

It was an awkward moment, but Jiang Ruo maintained his composure. “…Yes, this brand is delicious.”

Xiao Shen’s capabilities extended beyond taking care of people.

In the late afternoon, Jiang Ruo received a call from his lawyer, informing him that the court date for his contract termination lawsuit had been set and suggesting they meet to discuss the case.

Jiang Ruo was getting his makeup retouched and had put the call on speaker. After hanging up, Xiao Shen chimed in. “Teacher Jiang is involved in a lawsuit to terminate your contract?”

“Yeah,” Jiang Ruo replied listlessly. “That company is asking for too much; it’s a real hassle.”

“I know a friend who specializes in these types of cases. I can ask them about precautions you should take.”

“Really?”

Xiao Shen immediately called her friend, briefly explained the situation. Then, she took out pen and paper and, guided by her friend, listed over a dozen points to watch out for, including ways to prevent the opposing party from setting traps and avoiding being swindled by lawyers.

Jiang Ruo read the notes and realized each point addressed his knowledge gaps, cutting straight to the core issues, offering invaluable advice.

Grateful from the bottom of his heart, Jiang Ruo thanked Xiao Shen, who blushed in embarrassment. “Helping Teacher Jiang is part of my job.”

Jiang Ruo waved his hands. “No, no, don’t call me Teacher Jiang. I should be calling you Teacher Shen. Teacher Shen is a versatile talent, it’s a waste for you to be with a C-list celebrity like me.”

“Actually, there’s no difference,” Xiao Shen pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Major stars have busy schedules and often work around the clock without rest. Besides, the treatment here is good; it’s an honor to work with Teacher Jiang.”

Jiang Ruo was speechless.

Indeed, she was a down-to-earth person.

That evening, they filmed a rain scene.

The spring nights in Feng City were already chilly, and as long as the artificial rain poured, Jiang Ruo remained drenched. When the scene wrapped, he shivered violently, wrapped tightly in a thick blanket by Xiao Shen, who also stuffed a hot water bottle into his arms. It took him a while to warm up.

Tang Jiani was also in the scene, but she had stood under the eaves and wasn’t as thoroughly soaked.

As the crew prepared to wrap up, staff members bustled about, packing and cleaning. In the midst of the commotion, a couple took advantage of the dark night to steal a kiss.

Wrapped in his blanket, Jiang Ruo stood in a sheltered corner, watching as Su Yi, the third male lead of “When Orioles Take Flight,” grabbed Tang Jiani’s hand in a more secluded area, shielded by low shrubbery. She pulled away, but he persistently reached for her again.

A virtuous woman could be worn down by a persistent suitor. After a few attempts, Tang Jiani acquiesced, and they leaned their heads together, likely whispering sweet nothings about missing each other.

Back in the dressing room, Jiang Ruo first shed the clothes that clung to his body, damp from the rain. Someone gently knocked on the door from outside.

“Teacher Jiang, are you in there?”

It was Xiao Shen.

Jiang Ruo acknowledged her presence.

“President Xi is leaving,” Xiao Shen’s voice lowered, ensuring only those inside could hear. “Does Teacher Jiang want to see him off?”

“…He’s still here?”

“Assistant Shi said President Xi had meetings with the producers in the afternoon and social engagements tonight, and he just finished.”

This wasn’t surprising. After all, Xi Yufeng was a walking treasury, a wealthy investor, and a newcomer to the entertainment industry. He was naturally a sought-after figure by major production companies.

Jiang Ruo hesitated. “Do I have to see him off?”

The person outside paused, focusing solely on fulfilling her duties as an assistant. “Then, I’ll inform him…”

Before Xiao Shen could finish, the door suddenly opened.

Jiang Ruo threw his jacket over his shoulders and, somewhat irritably, asked, “Where is he?”

Naturally, Xi Yufeng was outside the filming location. As Jiang Ruo caught sight of the black business car parked by the roadside, he quickened his pace.

But he stopped about ten meters away.

Beside the car stood Xi Yufeng and a tall, slender woman. They spoke, maintaining a polite distance of roughly two meters between them. It didn’t seem like they had arranged to meet here; rather, it appeared to be a chance encounter.

Jiang Ruo swore he didn’t have the habit of eavesdropping. How could he cover his ears when conversations were delivered to him?

He didn’t overhear anything significant; he had arrived at the tail end of their discussion.

He heard the woman say, “I still can’t believe President Xi would come all the way to a place like this for a small-time actor.”

Xi Yufeng responded, “If it were the old me, I wouldn’t have believed it either.”

“Are you truly smitten with him?”

“Yes.”

“How deeply?”

Due to the lack of visual cues, the tone of the voice conveyed a dangerous sense of sincerity, as if every word was spoken from the heart, honest and straightforward.

Suddenly, Jiang Ruo wished he could cover his ears and not listen, but it was too late.

He heard Xi Yufeng say, “Is being bewitched enough?”

As the sound of high heels faded away, Jiang Ruo matched the face to the name – the woman who conversed with Xi Yufeng was Zhou Xinyao, acting in the neighboring production.

Recently, he learned from Lin Xiao that this actress, who rose to second-tier fame thanks to a film, was Xi Yufeng’s protégé, a rising star he personally groomed.

With a jumbled mind, Jiang Ruo wasn’t sure of his current position.

An inexplicable urge to flee welled up inside him. Just as he turned around, a cold voice froze him in place.

“Dancer,” Xi Yufeng called out from behind, “eavesdropping isn’t a good habit.”

Jiang Ruo felt his ear tips heat up, unsure whether it was due to the embarrassment of being caught or the extravagant title.

When he turned around, he had concealed his discomfort.

“I didn’t want to listen,” Jiang Ruo said. “You two were just too loud.”

“So, you ran away.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement.

But what did ‘running away’ mean?

Jiang Ruo frowned. “You were about to leave. What would I be doing here?” Suddenly remembering the purpose of his visit, he waved his hand dismissively. “Goodbye, President Xi. Take care, no need to see you off.”

It was an attitude of being trodden upon and restrained by some pressure, a pretense so realistic it was almost believable.

It made Xi Yufeng unusually relaxed, and he casually blurted out, “So eager for me to leave?”

Jiang Ruo was taken aback, a voice in his head questioning – did he want Xi Yufeng to leave?

Did he really want him to go?

What would happen if he wanted him to leave? And what if he didn’t?

Standing ten meters away, gazing at the distant, emotionless Xi Yufeng, he felt the distance between them was vast.

Recalling the advice he had planned to give Tang Jiani after comforting her –

Heard that Su Yi comes from humble beginnings. He must have worked hard to reach his current position in just two years. You aren’t in the same class, inherently separated by a distance. If he is particularly submissive or fawning toward you, don’t rush into things. Instead, consider his sincerity.

At the time, Jiang Ruo swallowed his words, fearing they would sow discord. Now, he realized he should have warned himself –

You are naturally distanced from him. If you listen to his every word and obey him, how will he interpret your intentions?

His instinctive refusal to comply and please was an attempt to avoid being misjudged, or perhaps to preserve the remnants of dignity he thought he had exhausted.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ruo acknowledged this realization.

It wasn’t despair at understanding himself, but rather the realization that the distance was too great, like a chasm that couldn’t be crossed.

But he was about to leave.

And the distance would grow even greater.

In that moment, Jiang Ruo felt the same courage he had on that rebellious night, an unwillingness to accept the status quo, a desire to try and close the gap.

Regardless of whether he was seen as prey to be hunted or a toy to be casually played with.

He was determined to narrow the distance.

Thus, Xi Yufeng watched as the person who had previously avoided him walked towards him, stopping less than half a meter away.

Close enough to see Jiang Ruo’s skin, pale and nearly translucent under the streetlight, and the shadow trembling in his pupils with each breath.

“If I say I don’t want you to go, will you stay?”

It was an obvious question, but Jiang Ruo didn’t seem to expect an answer. After asking, he took another half-step forward, tilting his head up to approach Xi Yufeng’s ear.

It was as if he was foreshadowing – the next sentence was the crucial part.

Xi Yufeng barely hesitated, missing the best opportunity to dodge.

First, he sensed the light, feather-like warmth of Jiang Ruo’s breath against his skin, followed by the tickle of hair brushing against his cheek.

In the damp spring night of Feng City,

“I reminded President Xi last time, don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Jiang Ruo narrowed his eyes, placing his hand on Xi Yufeng’s shoulder for support. His lips grazed the cool shell of Xi Yufeng’s ear, mimicking his detached tone but dragging out the endings of each word, revealing a lazy innocence. “I’m quite simple-minded; I’ll take your words seriously.”

He was referring to “Xi Yufeng being bewitched by Jiang Ruo,” an event that seemed absurd yet wasn’t entirely impossible.