Chapter 22 – Because You Came

On the last day of the holiday, Jiang Ruo finally kept his promise and buttoned up Xi Yufeng’s shirt for him.

Facing each other, Jiang Ruo knelt on the edge of the bed, buttoning as he spoke: “I promised to do it every day, but…”

Xi Yufeng, standing beside the bed, prompted: “But?”

“But I’ve been too busy,” Jiang Ruo laughed. “Unless you quit your job and follow me wherever I go.”

“It could be you quitting your job and staying at home.”

“That would really make me your hidden beauty, wouldn’t it?”

“It’s not out of the question.”

Jiang Ruo paused in his actions, unsure if Xi Yufeng was serious or joking, and smiled to himself: “I don’t want to spend my days waiting for you in this golden cage.”

Xi Yufeng didn’t respond. Jiang Ruo looked up and met his eyes, which were as indifferent as ever, and sighed with relief.

“And besides, I have to shoot scenes.” Jiang Ruo leaned in for a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “I’m working for you, you capitalists know nothing but exploiting employees.”

This reminded Xi Yufeng of something. Before they parted, Jiang Ruo had been thoroughly exploited, pressed onto the bed, making up for what was missed the night before.

Xi Yufeng remained composed, his shirt buttons unopened, while Jiang Ruo was somewhat disheveled. His clothes, just put on, were scattered all over the floor. Afterward, his legs trembled as he got up to pick them up, putting them back on piece by piece, lying on the bed for a long time before recovering.

Xi Yufeng went to work early in the morning, arranging for Old Liu to drive Jiang Ruo back to the film set.

In the afternoon, Jiang Ruo came downstairs with his bag. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, Xiao Shen approached him. “Assistant Shi asked me to accompany you in the car.”

Assistant Shi represented Xi Yufeng. Jiang Ruo nodded and got into the car with her.

Once on the road, the gentle evening sunlight flooded the car. Jiang Ruo noticed Xiao Shen looking at him frequently, her expression somewhat subtle.

A while later, his phone vibrated. He took it out to see a message from Xiao Shen: Teacher Jiang, your neck.

Jiang Ruo opened the rearview mirror and checked, finding a striking red mark on the left side of his neck. He was instantly stunned.

Considering Old Liu was driving, Jiang Ruo messaged Xiao Shen via WeChat: Do you have a band-aid?

Xiao Shen replied: Yes, but personally, I suggest not using one.

Jiang Ruo: Why not?

Xiao Shen: Perhaps Teacher Jiang has heard the phrase “to cover up is to expose oneself.”

Jiang Ruo: …

Indeed, it was said that a certain movie emperor was reported for soliciting prostitutes because he covered himself too much in the summer heat, drawing attention from the public.

Jiang Ruo silently pulled the collar of his T-shirt higher, catching a glimpse of Xiao Shen’s enigmatic smile, which made him feel so embarrassed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

He sent a message to Xi Yufeng: You’ve made me lose face in public.

About ten minutes later, Xi Yufeng responded with a question mark.

Seeing him “playing innocent,” Jiang Ruo typed furiously: Next time, I’ll leave a mark on your neck too!

Xi Yufeng replied promptly: Mm. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.

Although it was said casually, neither of them expected that this “next time” would be delayed for over a month.

Feng City experienced heavy rainfall during the summer, repeatedly delaying the outdoor filming of the period drama. There would be no more breaks; the director, in a frenzy, dragged the screenwriter along to change locations and fill in plot gaps, moving everything that could be indoors. They aimed to finish shooting according to the original plan, as everyone’s schedules were already packed, leaving no room for additional delays.

Script revisions meant changes in dialogue. These days, apart from acting, eating, and sleeping, Jiang Ruo spent almost all his time with the new script in hand. Due to his meticulous reading, he even discovered several logical inconsistencies compared to the original script, which he pointed out to the screenwriter. The young woman was so moved that she nearly convinced him to switch careers and write scripts.

Jiang Ruo shook his head: “No way. If I wrote it, there’s no way there’d be a scene where the second lead sacrifices himself for the heroine.”

The screenwriter was curious: “So, how would you write it?”

Jiang Ruo thought for a moment: “I’d have the second lead turn to the dark side, stir up storms, then start a war, snatching the heroine away from the first lead.”

The screenwriter looked shocked: “I never knew Teacher Jiang had such a wild heart beneath his graceful exterior.”

Jiang Ruo laughed heartily.

In reality, the character of the second lead in the drama was far from Jiang Ruo’s own personality, making it difficult for him to portray. Therefore, Jiang Ruo put in extra effort, striving to empathize with the role based on acting techniques.

This day, they shot a pivotal scene, also the highlight of the second lead’s character – when he chooses to give up the heroine and retreat to seclusion, coincidentally, the heroine is kidnapped by enemies. He risks his life to save her in the demon realm, but ultimately, because of the initial numerical disadvantage, he sustains severe injuries and dies before reaching the heavens, with the heroine being saved by the protagonist who arrives later.

As he draws his last breath, he still holds onto a small copper bell the heroine gave him as a child.

A scene of thunder and rain, coinciding with actual thunder and lightning outside, turning into a downpour – truly a case of favorable timing.

Although the shooting wasn’t entirely smooth, the rain grew so heavy that the cameras couldn’t focus properly. Later, when the rain eased, the actors’ appearances were adjusted, and the scene was completed intermittently.

It was late at night by the time they wrapped up. The rain had just stopped, and the cast and crew involved in the shoot were exhausted. Especially Jiang Ruo, who had the most lines. The water-soaked wig and costume weighed heavily on him, and after wielding swords and shouting loudly, he was utterly drained. When the director yelled “cut,” he collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Shen rushed through the crowd with a blanket. She failed to pull Jiang Ruo up and panicked: “Teacher Jiang, are you alright?”

In the end, the actor playing the protagonist came forward to help. Together with Xiao Shen, they lifted Jiang Ruo up.

Perhaps this scene changed people’s views on Jiang Ruo, the so-called “resource baby.” The protagonist’s attitude towards Jiang Ruo was better than before, telling Xiao Shen: “He fell several times earlier. Check if he’s hurt anywhere when you get back.”

When Jiang Ruo emerged from the dressing room in fresh clothes, Xiao Shen insisted on taking him to the hospital.

“What’s so serious about it?” Jiang Ruo was pale, his voice weak. “Just a bump, it’ll be fine after a good sleep.”

Xiao Shen didn’t dare neglect him, making him sit down, lifting his leg to examine it.

She couldn’t help but gasp. Although there was no blood, the calf was bruised all over, and the knees, because of kneeling with a sword several times during the scene, showed large patches of purple and blue, with numerous tiny red blood spots densely distributed under the skin, a sight that was alarming.

Jiang Ruo stubbornly refused to go to the hospital. Xiao Shen couldn’t persuade him otherwise and had to buy some ointment for bruises from the pharmacy next door.

On the way back, Jiang Ruo saw Xiao Shen holding him with one hand and raising her phone with the other as if about to send a message. He preemptively warned: “Don’t report to Assistant Shi.”

If Assistant Shi knew, Xi Yufeng would also find out.

Xiao Shen was somewhat troubled: “But…”

Jiang Ruo said: “It’s alright. When I wake up, I’ll tell him myself. I won’t let you get blamed.”

Although he said so, in fact, Jiang Ruo didn’t plan on telling Xi Yufeng.

Last week, he heard that Xi Yufeng had been very busy, even squeezing his sleep time. Jiang Ruo felt this minor incident shouldn’t bother him.

And even if he knew, what could he do? He couldn’t possibly drop everything and rush over in the middle of the night.

Besides, he wasn’t a doctor. Even if he came, it wouldn’t be helpful. At that point, his young master’s nature might kick in, and Jiang Ruo would have to wait on him, what was the point of that.

Thus, back in the hotel room, Jiang Ruo fell asleep with a clear conscience, thinking that when he woke up, his injuries would be mostly healed, treating the incident as if it never happened.

He only slept for less than two hours before waking up abruptly in the middle of the night. In that moment, when he opened his eyes, every sensory input feeding back to his brain told Jiang Ruo – you were too naive.

His legs hurt, his head hurt, and even his waist began to ache.

Jiang Ruo propped himself up slowly with his arms, sitting upright. The moment he stood up, he felt dizzy, and if he hadn’t grabbed onto the wall, he might have fallen.

Feeling the sharp pain at his ankle, Jiang Ruo looked down and found that his left foot had swollen to the size of a steamed bun.

At that time, during the action scene, as he landed from a high place, Jiang Ruo only noticed that his point of contact was wrong, twisting his joint. To avoid delaying the shoot, he didn’t tell anyone, not expecting that he had actually sprained it.

At this critical juncture, his first thought was that he might not be able to shoot normally the next day.

Even the simple act of sitting back on the edge of the bed made him clench his teeth in pain, cold sweat breaking out on his back. Reaching for the water glass on the bedside table, Jiang Ruo saw the scattered abrasions on his arm that had bled, and he actually let out a bitter laugh, thinking that if his pay was lower, he’d be doing them a favor by revising the script and getting injured. He decided to ask the production team for more money later.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard a few light knocks on the door.

Jiang Ruo was first taken aback, then stood up again, supporting himself against the wall and hopping to the door on one foot.

He thought it was Xiao Shen. Earlier, Jiang Ruo didn’t have an appetite and didn’t want to eat. She said she’d bring food to his room later.

Therefore, as soon as he cracked open the door, Jiang Ruo said: “I still don’t have an appetite. You should eat and go to sleep early — ”

The rest of his words vanished, because the person standing at the door was not who Jiang Ruo had anticipated.

He didn’t know when the door opened. He only caught the scent of someone who had traveled a long distance.

Under the light from inside, Xi Yufeng scanned Jiang Ruo, who was unsteady on his feet, frowning: “What happened?”

In that fleeting moment of confusion, Jiang Ruo could only say “how did you come here,” unable to utter another word.

He had a dreamlike feeling of unreality. It wasn’t that he hadn’t imagined such a scene, but each time, as soon as it started, he cut it off and crushed it without mercy.

He dared not even think about it.

Xi Yufeng didn’t answer, only looking at him, seemingly waiting for an explanation.

It reminded Jiang Ruo of the “next time” they mentioned when they parted, and he suddenly felt relieved that he had overthought it.

“I can’t leave a mark on you today.” Jiang Ruo struggled to turn around, leaning against the wall and hopping back. “Wait until I rest for two days… Hey!”

Before he could finish, the person behind him scooped him up, carrying him horizontally.

It was the first time Jiang Ruo experienced a princess carry, and he was startled, his eyes widening.

Xi Yufeng acted naturally, walking a few steps to the bed and gently laying him down.

However, his expression turned darker upon discovering the other injuries on Jiang Ruo’s body.

Looking down at Jiang Ruo, Xi Yufeng asked again: “What happened?”

Stared at by those eyes, no one could lie.

Jiang Ruo had to explain truthfully: “It was from filming. It rained, and I couldn’t see the path clearly. I don’t know what rock I hit.” He paused, adding, “I didn’t feel anything at the time, only realizing it was swollen when I returned.”

“Broken bone?”

“How could it be? Just sprained, didn’t you see me walking just now?”

Afraid of causing trouble for Xiao Shen, Jiang Ruo tried to play it down, but Xi Yufeng still wore a stern expression.

Jiang Ruo attempted to change the subject, asking how he happened to be there. Xi Yufeng said: “Passing by.”

It made Jiang Ruo unable to hold back his laughter: “Is President Xi planning to settle down nearby? How come you’re always passing by?”

Xi Yufeng didn’t answer, casting a cold glance over, as if saying – can you still laugh?

Jiang Ruo suppressed his lips tightly, becoming serious: “Compared to the flesh wounds, there’s another injury that’s more serious.”

Xi Yufeng asked: “Where is the injury?”

“It’s a heartache.” Jiang Ruo held his chest dramatically. “Today’s plot was too heartbreaking. I risked my life to save the heroine, yet she remained unmoved, not even giving me a glance. Tell me, isn’t that painful?”

Xi Yufeng: “…”

“But it’s alright now.” Jiang Ruo’s eyes curved. “Because you came. They say beautiful faces have healing effects. You’re much prettier than the heroine.”

Despite his smile, Xi Yufeng noticed his eyes reddening.

Before confirming if there were tears glistening within, his shoulder suddenly sank, and two arms wrapped around him.

Forced to lean forward, Xi Yufeng heard Jiang Ruo whisper in a moist voice, “Don’t look at me,” and “I’ll be fine soon.”

This was their first embrace.

At that moment, Jiang Ruo felt ashamed.

He didn’t expect himself to be so useless, unable to hold back his tears even as he tried to flirt.

In the past, during such moments, he would secretly hide away, not allowing anyone to see. Even if he desperately needed comfort and wanted to confide in someone, that person shouldn’t have been Xi Yufeng.

Yet, Xi Yufeng was thinking that he could also get hurt, that he wasn’t as strong as he seemed.

Therefore, when Jiang Ruo struggled to calm himself and wanted to withdraw and leave, the hand supporting his back pushed him forward, deepening the embrace.

Heartbeats stilled, breath halted.

And thus, he could feel the warmth of the palm pressed against his spine, as well as Xi Yufeng’s deep, almost gentle voice: “It’s okay, it’s alright now.”