Chapter 1 – Two Worlds

The biting cold of early spring in February filled the streets of Feng City, where leafless trees stood bare and people dragged their feet back to work after the Spring Festival with lethargic postures.

In the evening, on the outskirts at the film base, Jiang Ruo collected his crew lunch box and found a less crowded spot against a wall. He didn’t care whether the shredded potato was too salty or bland, or if there were eggs in the egg flower soup. With a snap, he broke open the disposable chopsticks and started stuffing food into his mouth.

He had shot an all-night scene the day before, then worked with Group A on some background scenes in the morning. When he was about to wrap up, the production manager called him over, saying they needed more extras and asked him to fill in.

Considering he still had scenes to shoot later, Jiang Ruo didn’t mind lending a hand. So he followed everyone to the hotel booked by the crew, where he received a suit that looked well-worn but decently textured. He put it on and braved the northwest wind.

What was supposed to be a one-hour job turned into an afternoon ordeal when the director demanded multiple takes because of dissatisfaction.

Now, Jiang Ruo’s teeth were chattering. He couldn’t chew the half-cooked rice, so he swallowed it with the broth, scraping his esophagus painfully.

One of the extras who had been working with him took one bite of his meal, then tossed it aside, grumbling, “This is cold. How can we eat it?”

A group of them then planned to head out to a restaurant near the film city to order stir-fried dishes, asking Jiang Ruo if he wanted to join. Jiang Ruo shook his head. “I’m in a rush. I need to go downtown later.”

They didn’t insist. Before leaving, they reminded Jiang Ruo not to forget them next time there was work, clearly mistaking him for the head of the extras.

Jiang Ruo naturally agreed, but his thoughts were focused on finishing quickly. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have the energy to collect debts.

When he boarded the last bus to the city, night had fallen completely.

From his seat by the window, Jiang Ruo saw a crowd of extras still squatting outside waiting for roles. Night scenes were often more exhausting than daytime ones, but the pay was higher, and if lucky, one could get a free late-night snack from the crew.

If it weren’t for his mission, Jiang Ruo might have been among them. After all, he had started as an extra himself. Being a driver wasn’t much different; both roles were anonymous, both earned just enough money to make ends meet. There was no hierarchy or distinction.

Recalling how the male lead had complained about him being too noticeable yesterday, demanding the stylist to let down his hair to cover his face, Jiang Ruo found it amusing in retrospect.

His face reflected on the car window curved into a smile, as if mocking the lead actor for being so dark and oblivious that he wasn’t worried about the driver, whose vision could be obstructed by his hair, steering him into a ditch in the dead of night.

In this drama, Jiang Ruo played the driver of the male lead. He had few lines but learned plenty of rules of the “upper class” while following the crew. Standing at the entrance of the brightly lit hotel, he adjusted his attire by the reflective glass doors, only to realize he was wearing the costume’s suit.

He took a call as well.

Jiang Ruo’s phone was two or three years old, having suffered its fair share of drops and bumps. A crack running across the screen made swiping the answer button difficult.

After struggling to answer, he heard An He’s timid voice on the line, making him feel like his head was about to split in two.

“I’m already at the door,” Jiang Ruo said assertively. “Today, I’ll get justice for you no matter what.”

“Even if… he’s willing to pay…” An He on the other end was still weak-spirited. “It doesn’t really count as justice.”

Jiang Ruo laughed. “Would you rather he kneels down and apologizes to you?”

An He fell silent for a moment before making his choice. “Well, then… I’d rather take the money.”

Before hanging up, he didn’t forget to remind Jiang Ruo to be careful. “If he refuses to pay, just let it be. Consider it… me getting bitten by a dog.”

Jiang Ruo thought to himself that this dog was quite despicable, biting and running away. Then he pushed open the door and strode into the hotel.

Perhaps it was his imposing presence that made the receptionist hesitate when he told her he was looking for Zhang Shaoyuan in room 1808. She paused before finally picking up the phone to make the call.

Whatever was said on the other end, when she hung up, the receptionist wore a troubled expression. “Mr. Zhang says he doesn’t know you and asks you to — “

Before she could finish, Jiang Ruo knew what she was going to say.

It would be the usual polite dismissal, asking him to leave now and schedule another meeting later.

Jiang Ruo had prepared his counter-strategy. “Tell him I’m waiting downstairs. I won’t leave until I see him.” He tilted his head towards the hotel entrance, smiling. “Unless Mr. Zhang plans to lower himself and avoid the front door.”

True to his word, after giving these instructions, he walked to the central rest area of the lobby and plopped down on a sofa. A staff member offered tea, which Jiang Ruo accepted without hesitation. Although bitter, the hot tea did help warm him up in the cold.

As he waited, he drank five cups, feeling drowsy and almost falling asleep.

Exhausted from consecutive days of shooting, he was able to hold on purely for the sake of money.

Leaning against the soft backrest of the sofa, Jiang Ruo dozed off for a bit.

His consciousness remained clear, his eyes only slightly squinted. Thus, when he caught sight of a figure unlike the others, his eyelashes fluttered, and he abruptly opened his eyes.

It was a man standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows in the southwest corner of the lobby. His gray coat accentuated his tall, slender silhouette, casting a sense of aloof loneliness amidst the boisterous neon lights.

Inside the glass-enclosed world, everything became quiet.

Jiang Ruo was stunned for a long while, until someone else arrived, bowing and scraping to lead the man away. Only then did he come back to his senses.

The man seemed to be heading towards the elevators. Indeed, in such settings, people either came for business or pleasure, or, like Jiang Ruo, to collect debts. Mundane folk, they had no transcendent grace to speak of.

At that moment, on the central spiral staircase of the lobby, a slightly pudgy middle-aged man descended step by step, looking around furtively as if avoiding someone.

Jiang Ruo pulled out his phone and compared it to the photo. Immediately, he stood up and went to meet him.

In the private room on the second floor of Jin Garden, Xi Yufeng raised his hand to push away a glass of wine that was about to be delivered to his lips.

The loud music pounded in his ears, causing a buzzing sensation. Despite the most annoying setting, he could not avoid attending. The host had invited him repeatedly, and in the same circle, it was impossible to avoid each other. Refusal could not be a constant option.

The host had low tastes, turning an elegant room into a smoky mess. Onstage, even girls in revealing clothes danced.

Right as things were getting interesting, Xi Yufeng was the only one not looking. The girl seated beside him noticed his stern expression, not even lifting his eyelids, and wisely backed away.

Yet she couldn’t resist staring at him, captivated by his rare good looks.

This made the host panic, fearing that President Xi had high standards and was unimpressed. He nearly called for replacements.

Xi Yufeng stopped him.

He stood up, casually waving his phone, signaling that he had a call to take.

“You go ahead and busy yourself,” the host smiled, “I’ll ask them to bring a few more bottles of good wine. Later, please taste it for me, President Xi.”

The door slammed shut, cutting off the noise. Xi Yufeng expelled a breath of turbid air that had been weighing on his lungs.

Answering the call was an excuse; he simply wanted to find a place to be alone.

He frequented Jin Garden. Feng City was only so big, and people in the circle loved to seek entertainment here.

Coming often, he vaguely felt like he belonged to this damned place.

He walked to a secluded corner, leaning against the wall with closed eyes. His phone, still in his hand, vibrated.

Shi Mingxu’s message informed him that Madam had visited the company earlier.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. Xi Yufeng dialed back. “What did she do again?”

“She wanted to see the project proposal for the cooperation with Rongsheng,” Shi Mingxu explained. “But the project manager had already left work, so she couldn’t see it.”

“What about Father and Xi Wangchen?”

“Old President Xi didn’t come to the company today, and the second son didn’t follow.”

“Hmm.” Xi Yufeng acknowledged. “If there’s a next time, let her see it.”

Shi Mingxu was unusually anxious. “But the project is ours, and the investment — “

“Just a project,” Xi Yufeng interrupted calmly. “Give it to her if you’re asked to.”

“But…”

“If I remember correctly, I hired you as an assistant with only one condition.”

“…”

“Don’t remember?” Xi Yufeng prodded.

“I remember.”

“Tell me.”

“Unconditional obedience to the superior’s orders.” No further explanation was necessary. On the other end, Shi Mingxu admitted his mistake. “Sorry, I just couldn’t bear to hand over the fruits of our hard work to someone else.”

The project was secured by Xi Yufeng, and in terms of effort, he hadn’t contributed less than anyone else. Yet, seeing it snatched away at the last minute, he felt no resentment. He merely said, “There will be opportunities in the future.”

They discussed some work matters. Just before hanging up, Xi Yufeng said, “Don’t refer to Xiao Yin as Madam anymore in the future.”

“Then… how should I address her?” Shi Mingxu wanted to ask why but, considering the landmine he had just stepped on, he changed his question halfway through.

Xi Yufeng had no intention of enlightening him. “Call her by her name.”

Saying this, a rare shadow of gloom flashed across his usually calm eyes. “My mother, your aunt, is the only one deserving of the title Madam.”

“Xiao Yin isn’t worthy.”

After hanging up, Xi Yufeng slipped his phone back into his pocket, feeling the empty space on the other side.

Remembering he had left his cigarettes in the private room, the creases between his brows deepened.

Displeasure lingered for only a moment before his expression returned to indifference, as if nothing in the world could truly stir his emotions.

The most luxurious private room in Jin Garden was uniquely located on the second floor. Stepping out, one faced a corridor, and further ahead, a carved balustrade. Standing there, one could overlook the entire lobby and the scenery outside.

Initially, he didn’t intend to linger, but upon hearing a conversation from downstairs, Xi Yufeng halted his steps toward the private room.

In the lobby, Jiang Ruo blocked Zhang Shaoyuan’s path. “President Zhang, remember me?”

Zhang Shaoyuan, feeling guilty, dared not meet his eyes. He bluffed, “Who are you? Get out of the way, don’t block the way.”

Seeing the man about to slip away, Jiang Ruo accurately predicted the direction of his escape. He sidestepped to block his path. “Last night in bed, you kept calling me ‘darling.’ Now, you’ve forgotten me?”

He didn’t hold back his voice, attracting curious glances from passersby, wondering about the relationship between the two.

Zhang Shaoyuan panicked for a moment, speaking harshly. “Can’t you talk privately? Why must it be here…”

“I don’t want to talk here either.” Jiang Ruo shrugged. “But you disappeared right after eating, and being a busy person, you didn’t answer my calls. I had no choice but to come personally.”

This made Zhang Shaoyuan’s face even uglier. “What do you want?”

Only now did Jiang Ruo confirm that this guy hadn’t remembered An He’s appearance at all, and his random fabrication had worked.

Thinking of the bruised marks on An He’s body, Jiang Ruo’s eyes grew colder, but his lips still held a smile. “What can I do? I merely want to collect the deserved compensation from you.”

“Leave me your number, and I’ll call you back — “

“No need for that. Pay me now.”

Interrupted, Zhang Shaoyuan was shocked, seemingly not expecting such audacity from the person in front of him. Last night, a local film company organized a gathering. At the table, he saw the boy drunk and obedient, so he brought him back to his room, thinking he got a free meal. Who could have guessed that this guy would be so difficult to deal with once sober.

Jiang Ruo didn’t care about his thoughts. He lifted his finger to point at the bag under Zhang Shaoyuan’s arm. “President Zhang is so generous. Handing me a few bills wouldn’t be too much trouble, right?”

Indeed, Zhang Shaoyuan’s bag contained a substantial amount of cash. People like him, who came out to play but feared their wives at home finding out, tried to avoid leaving traces by using credit cards. Cash was the most convenient option.

Jiang Ruo wasn’t inexperienced either. “If it’s inconvenient, I don’t mind taking the time to visit President Zhang’s home personally. I’ve heard that President Zhang has a harmonious family and a virtuous wife…”

Zhang Shaoyuan was somewhat hesitant at first. But after hearing this thinly veiled threat, he immediately put down his bag, opened it, and pulled out a few bills. He scanned the surroundings to ensure there were no acquaintances, then impatiently handed them over. “Take it, take it.”

Like shooing away a beggar on the street.

Jiang Ruo didn’t mind. He took the money, counted it, and feigned difficulty. “I thought, based on last night’s performance, asking for a car wouldn’t be excessive.”

Zhang Shaoyuan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Afraid that he would really cause a scene at home, Zhang Shaoyuan hesitated for a moment before pulling out a stack of bills. “Enough?”

Taking the money, Jiang Ruo swiftly counted it twice before showing a smile. “President Zhang is generous.”

With the matter settled, Zhang Shaoyuan took the opportunity to carefully observe the person in front of him. Upon closer inspection, he found it strange. How could he look better than last night?

Even in an ill-fitting suit, Jiang Ruo’s outstanding appearance made it hard to associate him with a habitual extortionist.

He had cat-like round eyes, with slightly upward-slanting corners. At this moment, his lips curled into a smile, revealing a mischievous yet unexpectedly innocent charm.

This stirred a desire in Zhang Shaoyuan to have another go at him.

However, the other party didn’t plan to give him the chance. After counting the money, he promptly stuffed it into his pocket, leaving behind the words “won’t see you again,” and started to leave.

In the instant he turned his head, his eyelids flicked upwards, catching sight of a pure white. Jiang Ruo was taken aback, then unexpectedly met a gaze.

As cold as the white shirt, like snow that had covered the mountains for years.

And yet, it was clear, seemingly capable of seeing through Jiang Ruo’s expensive exterior to the true cheapness within.

Without his coat, the man’s tall stature was even more pronounced. His hands casually in his trouser pockets, he exuded an air of casual arrogance.

Indeed, the man stood on the second floor, but it was as if he stood atop a distant mountain peak, making one feel adrift.

Just as his feet left the ground, he was pulled back to reality by the flattery of the person beside him.

Zhang Shaoyuan smiled ingratiatingly. “What a coincidence, Young Master Xi.”

Jiang Ruo saw the man nod slightly, seemingly in response.

Following were a series of flattery and courtesies from Zhang Shaoyuan, about inviting him to dinner next time and hoping for his attendance, none of which reached Jiang Ruo’s ears.

Jiang Ruo wondered when the man upstairs had arrived and how much he had heard.

Realizing that the man upstairs had his lips pursed and his eyes holding a silent void, Jiang Ruo suddenly snapped out of it.

If the railing was an impenetrable sheet of iron, then the air in between was steel and concrete, completely dividing the upstairs and downstairs into two separate worlds.

Quickly dismissing the meaningless self-troubled thoughts, Jiang Ruo raised his eyebrows and threw a provocative smile at the man upstairs.

You claim to be the upper class, but aren’t you stupid enough to be fooled by me?

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Jiang Ruo saw a fleeting contempt in the man’s still, unrippled eyes.

Not even a thorough scrutiny, at best, it was just watching a spectacle.

Reaching the entrance, Jiang Ruo turned his head on impulse and saw the man known as “Young Master Xi” turn around, heading towards the most luxurious private room in Jin Garden.

His spine was straight, but his posture was relaxed, as if he was detached from the world of fame and wealth.

The automatic doors opened, letting in the bone-chilling wind. Jiang Ruo, dressed lightly, shivered violently.

But he didn’t linger for the warmth indoors. Instead, as soon as he stepped out, he plunged into the cold without looking back.

Anyway, there was no chance to return to such a place.

People from two different worlds would never intersect.