As soon as Zhu Liao left, Ban Xia knocked on the door. “Boss, someone outside specifically asked to see you.”
“Have them wait a moment.” Lin Jianxi bent down to tidy the tools on the workbench, her obsessive-compulsive tendencies kicking in as she straightened each tool Zhu Liao had touched.
“Alright.” Ban Xia watched Lin Jianxi intently. Lin Jianxi wore a different cheongsam every day, and it was rare to see her in anything else at the shop.
Two minutes later, Lin Jianxi walked out of the studio, her high heels clicking rhythmically. As she stepped out, she saw a man sitting on the sofa in the lounge area.
Si Hang quickly stood up, his eyes filled with astonishment as he stared unblinkingly at Lin Jianxi.
He hadn’t expected the owner of the cheongsam shop to be so young—not only young but also strikingly beautiful.
The entertainment industry was never short of beauties, but the woman before him, dressed in a light green silk cheongsam, was truly eye-catching. The cheongsam accentuated her radiant charm, and what stood out most was her distinct appearance, making her unforgettable at first glance.
Lin Jianxi gestured politely. “Please have a seat, sir. I’m the owner of this shop, and my surname is Lin.”
“Miss Lin, nice to meet you!” Si Hang took out a business card and handed it to her with both hands. “My surname is Si. I’m the location manager for the TV series Dreams of Mountains and Seas. Our crew would like to rent your cheongsam shop for three days of filming.”
Lin Jianxi was momentarily taken aback before nodding and accepting the card. “I’m sorry, but I have no intention of renting out my shop for filming.”
Si Hang hadn’t expected her to refuse so decisively. “Our crew happens to be filming a few scenes in Muling Ancient Town. We’ve looked at several cheongsam shops, and yours has a style that fits Dreams of Mountains and Seas particularly well.”
Lin Jianxi’s brows furrowed slightly. In the two years since opening the shop, it wasn’t the first time a film crew had approached her to rent the cheongsam shop for filming. What surprised her was that the crew was from Dreams of Mountains and Seas.
A series directed by Jiang Xu…
Lin Jianxi pushed aside her thoughts, opened the tea canister, scooped a spoonful of tea leaves into the teapot, and closed the lid.
Si Hang continued, “Our crew only needs to film around the exterior and interior of the shop. You can even continue working here during the shoot.”
“It’s just three days of filming. The male lead of our series is the renowned actor Ye Chen, and the female lead is the rising star Lin Yujing. The show is already slated for broadcast on television.”
Si Hang kept a close watch on Lin Jianxi’s expression. “The scenes in the cheongsam shop involve the male and female leads. Once the series airs, many fans will come to the shop to check it out.”
Lin Jianxi paused as she held the teapot. The implication was clear: I’m interested in your shop, and you won’t lose out.
She poured the freshly brewed tea into a cup and placed it in front of Si Hang. “Please have some tea.”
Si Hang took a sip from the cup. “Miss Lin, could you please consider it?”
He extended his left hand toward Lin Jianxi. “Our crew is offering you this price. What do you think?”
Tong Man and Ban Xia, standing nearby, were stunned. They exchanged glances—was it a five-digit figure or fifty thousand? A five-digit number could range from ten thousand to ninety thousand.
Who knew whether his one finger meant five thousand, fifty thousand, or even ten thousand?
Lin Jianxi took a sip from her white porcelain cup and looked directly at Si Hang. “Is it a five-digit figure or fifty thousand?”
As soon as she spoke, Si Hang fell silent.
After a moment, Lin Jianxi broke the silence. “Sir, our shop’s normal revenue over three days exceeds fifty thousand. Tell me, should I take on such a loss-making deal?”
Si Hang was stunned for a moment, his gaze sweeping casually around the room. And this place is charging over fifty thousand for three days?
Lin Jianxi took a sip of tea, her voice calm. “Ban Xia, bring me the receipts from the past few days.”
“Right away, boss.” Ban Xia nodded, lowering her head to search for the previous days’ receipts.
Si Hang quickly spoke up. “There’s no need to look at the receipts. If you’re interested, just name your price.”
Lin Jianxi’s slender fingers gently traced the rim of the white porcelain cup. “Sixty thousand. Twenty thousand per day.”
“Deal.” Si Hang gritted his teeth and agreed.
He had searched all over Muling Ancient Town without finding a qipao shop that matched the script’s requirements. “Dreams of Mountains and Seas” was a major production; sixty thousand was nothing.
Si Hang worked efficiently. He called someone to draft a contract and have it delivered, promising to transfer the payment once the contract was signed. He mentioned that filming would begin tomorrow.
Lin Jianxi’s fingertips turned slightly white as she held the contract. Didn’t Lin Yujing say “Dreams of Mountains and Seas” was filming in S City? Why would there be scenes in Muling Ancient Town?
If filming started tomorrow, that meant Jiang Xu would return tonight. As for when exactly, she didn’t know.
…
Night fell in an instant at Lanxi Garden.
As usual, Lin Jianxi fell asleep hugging Jiang Xu’s pillow. In her sleep, she felt suffocated and opened her eyes to find someone pressing down on her.
Lin Jianxi’s pupils contracted in shock. The familiar scent of sandalwood lingered at the tip of her nose, mixed with the strong smell of alcohol. She lifted her porcelain-white foot and kicked him.
“It’s me.” Jiang Xu lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her neck.
Lin Jianxi rolled her eyes at his words. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be? Her delicate face turned cold. “Jiang Xu! Get off me!”
Jiang Xu braced his hands on either side of her, leaning closer to her face. “No swearing.”
Lin Jianxi’s breath hitched. The man’s handsome face was inches away, his tall nose drawing closer until his warm, soft lips gently pressed against hers.
Lin Jianxi’s eyes trembled slightly as the man suddenly pried open her soft lips, kissing her deeply.
Her steady breathing grew heavy, her mind muddled by his kiss, momentarily forgetting to react.
Jiang Xu’s breathing deepened as he intensified the kiss, his palm caressing her slender, soft waist before slipping beneath her clothes to stroke gently.
The man’s warm hand wandered around her waist, and Lin Jianxi snapped back to reality, biting his lip hard. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled their mouths.
Jiang Xu released her in pain. Bathed in the soft glow of the night light, his handsome face appeared gentle, his voice husky. “Lin Jianxi.”
Lin Jianxi glared at him with her captivating eyes, her breathing unsteady. “Jiang Xu, have you lost your mind? Don’t use being drunk as an excuse to act out. We’re in the divorce cooling-off period! Do you even understand what that means?”
Jiang Xu’s shirt hung open, revealing a stretch of skin. His voice was low. “Lin Jianxi, if you swear again, I’ll withdraw the divorce application. Believe me?”
Lin Jianxi’s face flashed with surprise, but before she could speak, the man climbed off her and walked heavily into the bathroom.
Lin Jianxi stared blankly at the ceiling, her lips still tingling from his kiss. Withdraw the divorce application?
A few minutes later.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Lin Jianxi raised her hand to touch her soft lips. The faint scent of alcohol still seemed to linger in the air.
Lin Jianxi turned over to sleep on her side, a stifling feeling trapped in her chest, unable to rise or fall. After a while, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and forced herself to fall asleep.
About twenty minutes later, Lin Jianxi opened her eyes to check the time on the bedside table. It was already past one in the morning, and no more sounds of running water came from the direction of the bathroom.
Lin Jianxi held her breath and listened carefully for a moment. The entire master bedroom was as quiet as a mouse. Apart from her faint breathing, there were no other sounds in her ears.
A few seconds later, Lin Jianxi slowly furrowed her beautiful brows. Could he have fainted in the bathroom?