Chapter 54

On the way to the clubhouse, Yin Jiehong and Jiang Chi's director were chatting happily, feeling as if they were old friends at their first meeting.

Although the two were in the same profession, they specialized in different fields and rarely interacted. They had long admired each other from afar but had never met. It was only because Yin Jiehong had casually mentioned it to Ye Lan a few days ago that Ye Lan helped connect them, leading to today's dinner party.

Amidst the sounds of mutual compliments and laments of not having met sooner in the car, a cold-faced Ye Lan seemed exceptionally out of place.

Jiang Chi secretly glanced at Ye Lan, thinking to himself, 'He can't really be angry, can he?'

'Then... then how should I coax him?'

Ye Lan still hadn't taken off his sunglasses. He lowered his head to play with his phone for a while, ignoring everyone. When he was asked a question directly, he would just hum a few times, looking completely uninterested. Jiang Chi's director had previously received a call from Ye Lan specifically asking him to take care of Jiang Chi and had also heard the news that Ye Lan was going to sign Jiang Chi to his studio. He had originally thought the two had a good relationship, but now he wasn't so sure.

'Have the good buddies had a fight?'

It wasn't convenient for him to ask too much, nor did he dare to get on Ye Lan's bad side. So, he pretended not to notice and continued chatting with Yin Jiehong.

Yin Jiehong looked at Ye Lan and held back a laugh. On the way here, Ye Lan had been bragging to him the entire time, saying how great Jiang Chi's acting and character were. He had also subtly shown off his relationship with Jiang Chi. In Ye Lan's words, as long as he went, Jiang Chi would follow even if it was just to eat street-side skewers at night; there would definitely be no problem.

"He's really different from those other little fresh meats. He's especially polite and very dedicated. Back when we were filming, no matter how Director Ren made things difficult for him over and over, he always cooperated well. You'll know once you come back and shoot a film with him. He truly doesn't have a temper at all, and he's not arrogant either."

In the end, after they had rushed over, Jiang Chi had already left.

When they called him to come back, the guy seemed rather reluctant.

Yin Jiehong, mindful of Ye Lan's pride, didn't tease him. But without him needing to say anything, Ye Lan's own face was already stinging with embarrassment, and he didn't want to talk.

Behind his sunglasses, Ye Lan shot Jiang Chi a glance, held back his temper, and pressed his lips into a thin line.

'It's not convenient to say much in front of outsiders, it would be easy to hurt Jiang Chi's pride. When we're alone... this little brat needs to be taught a lesson.'

Everyone went to the pre-booked super-large private room on the top floor of the clubhouse. Many of the staff recognized Ye Lan and Jiang Chi, but they were intimidated by Ye Lan's cold expression and constrained by their work, so they didn't dare to approach for photos or autographs. The receptionist secretly took a photo of Ye Lan. Jiang Chi's brows furrowed slightly. Yin Jiehong smiled, being very approachable: "Let them take pictures. It's just a few of us having a meal, are we afraid of being photographed?"

Jiang Chi thought about it and agreed. An Ya had instructed him before that when he was with Ye Lan, the more open and frank, the better.

Yin Jiehong seemed like he didn't care about anything, but once inside the private room, he still dismissed the waiter's service and instructed the clubhouse manager to keep unauthorized people out.

With no waiter, Jiang Chi, being the youngest and most junior of the four, automatically took on the responsibility of pouring tea for everyone.

Yin Jiehong and the other director were very polite. When Jiang Chi poured tea for them, they both held their cups with one hand and thanked him repeatedly. Yin Jiehong remarked, "I'll have something to show off to my daughter when I get back. This is tea poured by Brother Jiang Chi."

Jiang Chi smiled. He walked over to Ye Lan's side, fidgeted with his fingers, then lowered his head to pick up Ye Lan's cup. He carefully poured it seven-tenths full before placing it in front of Ye Lan. Ye Lan was still playing with his phone and didn't even look up.

It was as if the two of them really didn't know each other.

Jiang Chi was anxious inside. 'How long is Ye Lan going to be angry?'

'Will I be forgiven if I apologize secretly? I really didn't know he was coming.'

There was no waiter, and the extra chairs hadn't been cleared away yet. Jiang Chi was the last to sit, and now there were two seats available: one next to his own director, and one... next to Ye Lan.

Jiang Chi hesitated for a moment, then sat down next to Ye Lan after all.

Jiang Chi shamelessly thought with a sense of desperation, 'If he's angry, he's angry. Anyway... I just want to be next to him, to be close to him.'

Ye Lan snorted coldly in his heart, his expression softening slightly.

'At least you know what's good for you.'

This clubhouse served food quickly; it wasn't long after ordering that everything was on the table. Yin Jiehong closed the door and smiled, "I've been to this clubhouse before. The manager and owner are both very tactful; they won't disturb our conversation."

He was here on official business this time. After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, he stopped the idle chatter and started discussing business with Jiang Chi's director.

Jiang Chi's director had long been interested in collaborating with Yin Jiehong, so he didn't drink much either and focused on their business talk. Ye Lan would chime in with a few words from time to time, looking absent-minded.

"You're too kind. It's I who has much to learn. When I get back, I'll have my team put together a detailed proposal for you to look at. Actually, these things are all variations on a theme; in the end, it's still about capturing the market's appetite. Current commercial films and TV series basically still follow the 'one-plus-one' formula—one part for acting chops, one part for audience pull. The veteran actors support the reputation, while the fresh meats carry the popularity. When finalizing the cast, you first have to consider if these two legs are of equal length. Of course, there are exceptions." Jiang Chi's director was clearly in a good mood. After speaking eloquently for a while, he looked at Ye Lan and offered a subtle, seamless compliment, "There are also people who can carry both banners, but people like that are too rare... not considered within the scope of planning."

Yin Jiehong smiled, returning the compliment: "Jiang Chi isn't bad either. I heard from Ye Lan and Old Ren that Jiang Chi's acting is impeccable. He's only held back by his young age and short experience, but that's not a flaw. Everyone gets there step by step."

Jiang Chi quickly lowered his head and said humbly, "You praise me too much."

At the same time, he turned his head to peek at Ye Lan, feeling delighted inside. 'Ye Lan praised me in front of others?'

Ye Lan remained lukewarm. Jiang Chi was getting a little anxious. They only had a few hours together to begin with, and Ye Lan had been giving him the cold shoulder for half the time. All that time was wasted!

Jiang Chi's heart was in a turmoil, unsure if Ye Lan was truly angry with him. Over on the other side, Yin Jiehong smiled, "You're being too modest. Ye Lan rarely praises anyone. You don't know how many times he's already mentioned you to me, always saying..."

"When did I ever mention him?" Ye Lan took a sip of wine and said coolly, "You must have misremembered."

Yin Jiehong shook his head and chuckled, "This temper of yours..."

Jiang Chi was a little embarrassed.

He forced a smile, lowered his head to eat, and just as he put the food in his mouth, his eyes widened suddenly, and he nearly bit his tongue.

Someone... was touching his thigh under the table...

Jiang Chi struggled to swallow the food in his mouth. He didn't dare make a sound. His peripheral vision swept towards Ye Lan, and he discovered... Ye Lan's hand was under the table.

Ye Lan's expression was normal, lazy and listless, looking rather impatient. But Jiang Chi clearly felt the hand under the table stroking up and down his thigh several times, and now it was showing a tendency to move towards the middle!

Jiang Chi subconsciously pressed his legs tightly together, and his left hand dropped down, blocking that hand.

It was Ye Lan's hand, all right... On his wrist was the wrap gift he had given him before.

Ye Lan picked up a shrimp with his chopsticks, turned to the side, and placed it on the plate in front of Jiang Chi. He then leaned his head over and said something to Jiang Chi.

The two directors were deep in a heated discussion and didn't notice anything unusual over here, only assuming that Ye Lan had had enough of his tantrum and was finally chatting with Jiang Chi.

Only the two of them knew what was happening under the table, concealed by the layers of the high-end tablecloth.

Jiang Chi's right ear was burning hot. He slowly lifted his left hand and gently placed it on the table.

It wasn't that he was indulging Ye Lan's mischief; it was just because Ye Lan had just whispered in his ear, forbidding him from putting his hand down.

Jiang Chi was nervous to death, constantly keeping an eye on the two directors, afraid that one of them would suddenly bend down to pick something up and see Ye Lan touching him.

But then Ye Lan escalated things, whispering an order: "Spread your legs a little..."

Jiang Chi's other ear instantly turned bright red as well.

"Brother..." Jiang Chi begged for mercy in a difficult whisper, "Don't let anyone see..."

Ye Lan looked at Jiang Chi with his head tilted, his lips finally unable to hold back a sliver of a smile.

Ye Lan lowered his voice, "Then this will have to be put on hold. I'll put it on your tab, and you'll pay it back with interest later, okay?"

How could he possibly say no at a time like this? Jiang Chi nodded in shame. Ye Lan smiled, let Jiang Chi off, and rejoined Yin Jiehong and the others' conversation.

Two hours later, after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the two directors had also reached a basic consensus on their future collaboration. The meal could be considered a perfect success, except... for the fact that Ye Lan hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with Jiang Chi.

Ye Lan was naturally unwilling to suffer this loss. While the two directors were still chatting, Ye Lan stood up, gave Jiang Chi a meaningful look, and went to the private room's restroom first.

Jiang Chi's heart skipped a beat. He waited patiently for half a minute, then followed.

The moment he entered the restroom, Jiang Chi was grabbed by the waist by Ye Lan and pinned against the smooth, mosaic-tiled wall.

"I went to all this trouble just to give you a surprise, and you almost ran away." Ye Lan said through gritted teeth, "Were you doing it on purpose?"

Jiang Chi couldn't find the words to defend himself and quickly explained in a small voice, "You've wronged me. I just didn't want to come out for a social engagement with the director. I don't like those kinds of occasions."

"Talking back?" Ye Lan sneered, lowering his head to gently brush against Jiang Chi's lips. "I know you didn't do it on purpose... but I'm still annoyed. I feel like I can't get over this hump unless I punish you a little."

Jiang Chi's face was flushed. He cleared his throat, "Didn't you... already punish me just now?"

"Just now?" Ye Lan let out a laugh. "Are you silly? Just now, Daddy was just taking advantage of his own boyfriend as he normally would. How does that count as punishment?"

A sweet feeling bloomed in Jiang Chi's heart. Ye Lan said "his boyfriend" so smoothly.

"Do you know why I insisted on you meeting Yin Jiehong?" Ye Lan ruffled Jiang Chi's hair. "Like Ren Haichuan, he used to lean towards art-house films, but recently he's been trending towards commercial films. 'The Regent Prince' is basically a test run. After this, he should have more complete and mature plans for commercial films. I want you to be in his next movie."

Jiang Chi paused and said in a small voice, "Let's leave it to fate, don't..."

"I'm not pulling strings for you. Ren Haichuan recommended you to him too." Ye Lan smiled. "Can't be helped. Great acting and high popularity—who wouldn't like such a perfect little fresh meat?"

Jiang Chi blushed and asked vaguely, "Do... you like me?"

"What do you think?"

Ye Lan didn't say any more, lowering his head and kissing Jiang Chi's lips.

Jiang Chi's director had talked until his mouth was dry. He took a sip of tea and laughed, "When you regret not meeting sooner, you end up talking a lot. Huh? Where are Ye Lan and Jiang Chi?"

Yin Jiehong was sharp-eyed and had more or less figured out what was going on, but he just smiled without saying anything. Jiang Chi's director, however, was worried. He frowned and whispered, "Film Emperor Ye didn't look too happy just now, and he was being cold to Jiang Chi. Is... is everything all right? I thought they were friends before. What happened? Did they have a falling out?"

Yin Jiehong played a prank, saying, "Exactly. And they've been drinking. Don't tell me they've started a fight in the restroom. Why don't you go check?"

Jiang Chi's director didn't suspect a thing and got up to go. He pushed open the restroom door, froze for a moment, then quickly closed the door and retreated.

Inside the restroom, Film Emperor Ye, who had been wearing an icy expression just moments ago, was holding the "displeasing" Jiang Chi in his arms, kissing him wantonly.

If the director's eyes weren't deceiving him, the great Film Emperor Ye also seemed to be kneading a spot below Jiang Chi's waist, and Jiang Chi's shirt seemed to have come untucked from his waistband...

The director rubbed his face and returned to his seat, a look of complete shock on his face.

He looked at Yin Jiehong, realized he had been tricked, and let out a laugh, "You! This... what's there to say about this?!"

"They made up a long time ago. No need to get all worked up." Yin Jiehong filled the director's cup and smiled, "For the next few days, please take good care of Jiang Chi. As for them visiting each other's sets and all that... just pretend you don't know anything."