Chapter 41 Part 1

Visiting Ye Lan on set was, of course, no hardship at all.

There was just one small problem. Jiang Chi's driver's child was sick, so Jiang Chi had given him the day off yesterday, and he probably wouldn't be back tomorrow.

Borrowing a driver from the crew on short notice would have been fine, but this was a visit to Ye Lan's set... Jiang Chi didn't want to alert any outsiders. If the media were to find out by accident, it would be another hassle.

"I can drive you," Li Weili said. "After we wrap up tomorrow, it'll probably be four or five in the afternoon. We can just say the two of us are going out for dinner, right?"

"You... forget it." Jiang Chi thought for a moment and shook his head. "I'd better drive myself."

Li Weili was great in every way, except his driving was too slow. He was cautious and meticulous. For a two-hundred-li journey, Li Weili would drive so carefully that he'd probably arrive in the middle of the night. What kind of set visit would that be?

"You don't need to come with me. There are too many miscellaneous people here and on his set. You have a very recognizable face, so the two of us coming and going together would be too conspicuous," Jiang Chi instructed. "Just help me borrow a car, not a nanny van. Get an inconspicuous one. Give me the keys before we wrap up tomorrow. After work, I'll remove my makeup, change my clothes, and leave."

Li Weili thought about it, still worried. "I heard that the location for that Regent Prince crew isn't even finished yet. Who knows how many random staff members are around. If I don't go and you get recognized, there'll be no one to help run interference for you."

Jiang Chi smiled. "Even if someone runs interference, photos will still be taken. Don't worry, their set is quite remote. Fans can't even find a place to stake it out, and filming hasn't officially started, so the paparazzi definitely aren't there. Nothing to be afraid of."

Li Weili had no choice but to agree. "I'll go ask in a bit. I've gotten pretty familiar with a few people from the props department these last couple of days. They definitely have extra cars. I'll just say I need it for personal use, and they'll surely lend it to me."

"Okay," Jiang Chi nodded. "I'll fill up the gas tank for them on my way back. I won't use it for free."

"No, no." Li Weili didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You don't have to be so thoughtful. It'll be a real scene if you get recognized at the gas station. Don't worry about it. Just come back early. The day after tomorrow, you have scenes all day, so coming back early means you can get a few more hours of sleep."

Jiang Chi smiled. "It's fine."

The next day, Jiang Chi delivered a stable and outstanding performance, quickly finishing his scenes. When they wrapped up, it was just four in the afternoon.

There was still plenty of time.

Jiang Chi used the excuse of having a slight cold to return to the hotel early. The director hurriedly expressed his concern and had the Assistant Director arrange for someone to send fresh flowers and fruit to Jiang Chi's room.

Jiang Chi thanked the director, went out to the nanny van, found a parking lot, and switched cars with Li Weili. Jiang Chi looked inside the car. "Is everything ready?"

"Don't worry!" Li Weili smiled. "It's like we're thieves... The mask, hat, and sunglasses are in the bag on the back seat. You have to cover up tight before you get out."

Jiang Chi nodded. "You head back to the hotel. The director sent fruit, eat it for me so it doesn't go to waste."

Having successfully switched cars, Li Weili returned to the hotel, while Jiang Chi drove out of the outer ring road and onto the highway.

As the sky gradually darkened, Jiang Chi took off his sunglasses and set them aside, his mood so good he felt like he could float.

He was going to visit Ye Lan on set!

Jiang Chi often saw news about set visits, but they were usually between celebrity couples or artists in confirmed romantic relationships. For him to visit Ye Lan...

It almost gave him the illusion of eloping.

A secret set visit... have a quiet chat, and then rush back overnight under the cover of darkness.

He couldn't be happier.

Riding a wave of euphoria, Jiang Chi soon arrived in the city where Ye Lan's set was. After getting off the highway, he sent Ye Lan a message: Brother Ye Lan, have you wrapped up for the day?

A moment later, Ye Lan replied: No, where are you?

Jiang Chi pulled up the set location map Ye Lan had sent him earlier, set his navigation, and replied: Just got off the highway exit, about half an hour's drive left.

Ye Lan: Call me when you arrive.

Half an hour later, Jiang Chi arrived at the set. He found a place to park, then put on a mask and sunglasses, a backward baseball cap, and an inconspicuous gray jacket before getting out of the car.

Jiang Chi definitely couldn't get into the set just by showing his face; he needed someone to escort him in. He called Ye Lan, suppressing the small thrill in his heart, and said in a low voice, "Brother Ye Lan, I... I've arrived. Could you have Cen Wen come out to get me?"

Ye Lan told him a location and said: Wait there.

Holding his phone and carrying an insulated food container, Jiang Chi stood obediently at the location Ye Lan had specified, waiting for Cen Wen to come get him.

Jiang Chi had almost never participated in script readings, so he wasn't familiar with the specific schedule for such work. It was already getting late; hadn't Ye Lan finished for the day? Where would Cen Wen take him? To the lounge to wait for Ye Lan? How long would it be before Ye Lan could come over?

"Isn't this my new assistant?"

Jiang Chi's eyes flew open. He turned around to see Ye Lan standing not far away, wearing a pair of huge sunglasses and looking at him with a smile.

"Why are you covered up so tightly?" Ye Lan walked over, lowered his sunglasses slightly, and looked Jiang Chi up and down, then ordered with a smile, "Take off the mask. Let me inspect the goods and see if your looks pass muster."

Jiang Chi hadn't expected Ye Lan to come out himself. He hurriedly glanced around and said in a small, exasperated voice, "Let's... let's go inside first. Have you finished for the day?"

"I guess so. Taking a one-hour break to eat, drink, and play on my phone. I still have to read the script for a while tonight." Ye Lan glanced at the food container in Jiang Chi's hand and smiled. "So thoughtful?"

Jiang Chi said, a little embarrassed, "I didn't know what to bring. This is the pheasant soup from my hotel. I heard it's one of their specialties, and I thought it was pretty good..."

"Perfect, I was just about to eat." Ye Lan led Jiang Chi inside, saying helplessly, "Of all the places to choose for filming, they had to pick here. There isn't even a decent place to eat... I have nowhere else to take you. Come on, I'll treat you to my boxed meal."

Jiang Chi followed Ye Lan into the set, and the farther they went, the more he felt something wasn't right. Staff members were constantly passing by, some even nodding to greet Ye Lan. Jiang Chi had only removed his sunglasses and was still wearing his mask. He asked uneasily, "Where are we going? It's... it's not good for other people to see me, is it?"

To avoid attracting the paparazzi, he had been cautious and on guard the entire journey. But looking at Ye Lan now...

He didn't seem to care at all?

Their movie had just wrapped, and all sorts of news about it were still circulating online. He and Ye Lan shouldn't be seen in the same frame yet!

Ye Lan intended to introduce Jiang Chi to the producer and director, so naturally, he didn't care. Seeing Jiang Chi's cautious manner, he suddenly felt a tickle in his heart. He couldn't help but soften his voice and ask with a smile, "Afraid of starting rumors with me?"

Jiang Chi choked, embarrassed. "How could that be..."

"Then that settles it." Seeing Jiang Chi so thoroughly covered, Ye Lan assumed he was just protecting his reputation and afraid of being photographed. After a moment, he helplessly gave in. "In that case, don't take off your mask. Just stand behind me and don't make a sound. Everyone is busy... I doubt anyone will notice you."

Jiang Chi nodded quickly.

Since filming for the movie hadn't started, Ye Lan's private dressing room hadn't been set up yet. Meals were eaten in the common lounge area.

Ye Lan sat down. A main actor from the film was sitting beside him. He nodded and smiled at Ye Lan, then glanced at the person standing next to him and casually asked, "New here?"

"My..." Ye Lan held back a laugh. "Newly hired assistant."

The other actor nodded. "That's good. It's always better to have a male assistant, otherwise some things are always inconvenient."

"This one isn't convenient either..." Ye Lan tilted his head to give Jiang Chi a critical look. A mischievous thought suddenly struck him, and he said, "What are you staring at? Open the food container."

Jiang Chi, who was already on edge with the fear of being recognized, jumped at his words. He quickly mumbled an apology as he opened the food container for Ye Lan, took out the prepared utensils, and handed them over.

The pheasant soup had been kept perfectly warm in the insulated container. Simmered for hours over low heat, the meat was falling-off-the-bone tender and the rich aroma was tantalizing. Ye Lan was already starving and ate it all with the rice from his boxed meal, leaving nothing behind.

Looking at Ye Lan's empty bowl, Jiang Chi's heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment.

"Napkin," Ye Lan frowned. "What are you spacing out for?"

Jiang Chi couldn't help but want to laugh, but he didn't dare. He lowered his head to find a napkin and respectfully handed it to Ye Lan.

"Mouthwash."

"Mineral water."

"Napkin."

Ye Lan was being especially picky, asking for one thing after another. Jiang Chi obediently did whatever Ye Lan said, all while cautiously scanning his surroundings, hoping not to be recognized.

Fortunately, everyone was tired after a long day of rehearsals, and no one had the energy to pay attention to Ye Lan's new assistant.

Ye Lan had been observing Jiang Chi's expression the entire time. He suddenly said mischievously, "My neck is sore. Give it a rub."

Jiang Chi: "..."

With a smile in his eyes, Ye Lan looked teasingly at Jiang Chi.

Behind his mask, Jiang Chi's face was already red.

Ye Lan loosened his collar and said lightly, "Didn't you hear me?"

"Should I go prepare a spa for you?" Cen Wen strode over in her high heels, saying through gritted teeth, "Right now?"

"You're back?" Ye Lan gave a dry laugh. He knew he had taken the joke too far. Suppressing a smile, he shook his head. "No, that's fine."

Cen Wen, who had been sent away on an errand, suppressed her anger and looked at Jiang Chi.

Others on this crew might not be familiar with Jiang Chi and couldn't recognize him, but Cen Wen had worked with him for several months and recognized him from a glance, even from afar. What was the use of a mask and hat? Anyone familiar with him and with sharp eyes could still tell.

Cen Wen shot Ye Lan a reproachful look.

During the day, Ye Lan had been glancing at his phone from time to time, his mind clearly elsewhere.

When Ye Lan's mind wandered, not even the director dared to say anything. It was just a script reading, after all, so if he zoned out, he zoned out.

Everyone assumed that Ye Lan was exhausted from intensely studying his role these past few days, and that combined with the remote location and mediocre conditions of the set, his body was just worn out, which was why he seemed listless.

Only Cen Wen, who had overheard Ye Lan's phone call yesterday, knew the truth: the little charmer was coming.

After filming wrapped, Ye Lan hadn't seen Jiang Chi for a while, and they hadn't been in frequent contact. Cen Wen had assumed that once filming ended, Ye Lan and Jiang Chi had split up.

She never expected that Ye Lan had simply been too busy.

And now, as the script rehearsal work had eased up a bit these past two days, he had summoned the person over.

Wasn't it self-evident what he had called Jiang Chi over for?

Cen Wen felt then that Jiang Chi didn't have it easy.

He was busy filming his own movie, yet he still had to force himself to deal with Ye Lan's... needs.