Seeing Xia Wan put down her bowl and chopsticks, Ji Heng asked, “Not to your taste?” Though he wasn’t sitting next to her, his gaze unconsciously drifted in her direction.
The sudden voice made Xia Wan pause for a moment. “No, it’s delicious. I just can’t eat anymore.”
Hearing this, Ji Heng nodded. “Then why don’t you go pick a movie to watch?”
That suited her just fine. “Okay.” Xia Wan took her chair and sat in front of the screen nearby.
Chen Yubai asked, “Don’t you want Xia Wan to endorse the resort?”
Without looking up, Ji Heng replied, “No.”
Xu Haonan chimed in, “Then why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
Su Yi, however, had a different perspective. “I can understand. After all, Ji Heng runs his own entertainment company with so many artists under him. Asking him to invite an artist from another company to endorse it doesn’t seem quite right.”
The other three found this reasoning somewhat plausible.
Chen Yubai suggested, “If Xia Wan agrees, I’ll have her contact us directly, and you can pretend you don’t know.”
Ji Heng was unimpressed. “What difference does that make?”
Once the endorsement news breaks, everyone online will know about it.
He’s one of the resort’s owners—it’s not exactly a secret.
Xu Haonan said, “So you don’t want Xia Wan to endorse it? If that’s really the case, I’ll go explain it to her now before she agrees.”
They hadn’t considered this aspect earlier.
Ji Heng parted his lips lightly. “I never said I wouldn’t let her endorse it. If she agrees, the endorsement is hers.”
With that, he picked up his glass of red wine and stood up to leave.
Chen Yubai watched his retreating figure and asked, “Where are you going?”
Without turning back, Ji Heng replied, “To watch a movie.”
Su Yi was skeptical. “More like keeping Xia Wan company while watching a movie. I’ve never seen him so interested in movies before.”
Gu Chi, busy grilling meat, said, “Leave him be. Let’s keep eating.”
Ji Heng walked over to Xia Wan and looked at the screen, where a foreign film was playing. “Is it good?”
Xia Wan had already noticed his approach. “It’s okay.”
Ji Heng sat down beside her, gently swirling his glass of red wine. “Are you really full?”
He’d noticed that Xia Wan hadn’t eaten much.
Surprised by the question, Xia Wan kept her eyes on the screen. “About sixty or seventy percent full. I shouldn’t eat too much at night.”
Ji Heng believed her. As a celebrity, she must pay attention to managing her figure. “If you get hungry later, you can grab something from the restaurant.”
Xia Wan nodded. “Okay.”
Ji Heng tilted his head, his tone casual yet pointed. “Are you not used to being around so many people? I feel like you’re a bit reserved.”
Xia Wan was taken aback by how observant he was but still denied it. “Not really.”
Ji Heng raised an eyebrow slightly, calling her out directly. “You seemed different during dinner compared to when it was just the two of us chatting.”
He could tell. Like yesterday and today, when they were hiking up and down the mountain together, Xia Wan had been noticeably relaxed and at ease.
But earlier, although she did speak, she mostly only answered when Xu Haonan or the others asked her questions.
Yet he didn’t think Xia Wan was someone who wasn’t talkative.
Xia Wan lowered her head and muttered, “Well, you’re the same.”
Ji Heng paused, his glass of red wine halfway to his lips. “How am I the same?”
Those guys were his longtime friends. How could he possibly feel reserved? If anything, he felt he’d been a bit too casual.
A moment later.Xia Wan still voiced the feelings in her heart, “Look at now—you actively find topics to chat with me, but earlier, you barely spoke to me.”
Ji Heng hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words, “I noticed the others were chatting with you and didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.”
Especially Gu Chi—his mouth never seemed to stop.
“Oh.” Xia Wan lowered her gaze slightly. “For this resort endorsement, do you hope it goes to me?”
She knew Ji Heng’s status well; it would be understandable if he didn’t want her to take the endorsement.
“It depends on your willingness. I won’t interfere.” Ji Heng added, “I do hope you’ll take it.”
Xia Wan tilted her head to look at him, asking uncertainly, “Really?”
“Really.” Ji Heng raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Is my word so untrustworthy?”
Xia Wan denied it, “No, it’s just that I thought you’d prefer an artist from your own company to endorse it.”
Ji Heng took a sip of red wine. “If I really had that intention, I would’ve arranged for someone long ago.”
He continued leisurely, “My perspective isn’t that narrow. As long as it’s suitable, it doesn’t matter whether the artist is from my company or not.”
Besides, endorsements for company artists didn’t require his involvement—there were specialized teams handling them.
Xia Wan tilted her head with a smile. “What if I accept this endorsement and people blame you?”
Ji Heng’s eyes curved with amusement. “Who would dare blame me?”
“…” She had overthought it—indeed, no one would dare blame him.
Ji Heng glanced at her exposed arm. “Have any mosquitoes bitten you?”
“No.” Xia Wan naturally extended her arm forward. “Look, the mosquito bites I got while tea picking have already disappeared. The medicated cream you gave me is especially effective.”
Seeing her fair, smooth arm, Ji Heng recalled the soft texture when he supported her that morning.
He immediately averted his gaze and changed the subject. “Did the tea you picked get processed into leaves?”
Xia Wan, unaware of his shift, replied gently, “Yes, there’s a small jar. Do you want it? I’ll give it to you.”
Although she had intended to bring it back for Xiao Xiao and the others to try, Ji Heng had helped her so much—if he wanted it, she could give it to him.
She could always come back to pick tea another time.
Ji Heng curved his lips. “Would you really part with it for me?”
Xia Wan blurted out, “Of course.” Then added, “But giving you tea from your own estate doesn’t seem quite right.”
Ji Heng smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t dare take the tea you worked so hard to prepare. Keep it for yourself.”
“That’s fine.” Xia Wan had already decided. “I’ll bring it to you when we go upstairs later.”
Ji Heng shook his head with a laugh. “Then let’s take that jar to the restaurant later and brew a cup to taste. You can keep the rest.”
After a moment’s thought, Xia Wan agreed. “Alright.”
Noticing the person beside him in short sleeves, Ji Heng asked, “Are you cold?”
His question made her realize she did feel a bit chilly, especially on her arms. “A little. I’ll go get a jacket.”
Ji Heng stopped her. “Keep watching the movie.” He stood up. “I’ll get it for you.”
By the time Xia Wan reacted, meaning to say he didn’t have her room key, he was already walking away.
“Here.” Ji Heng soon returned to Xia Wan’s side.
Xia Wan looked up, her lips curving. “Where did you get this blanket?”
No wonder he hadn’t needed her room key.Ji Heng leaned lazily in his chair and said, “I asked the staff for it.”
Xia Wan noticed he was only wearing a white casual T-shirt. “Aren’t you cold?”
“Not cold.”
The few people eating barbecue behind them had naturally noticed Ji Heng fetching a blanket for Xia Wan.
Su Yi: “I told you Ji Heng treats Xia Wan differently, but he still won’t admit it.”
Chen Yubai: “Those involved are often blind to the truth.”
Xu Haonan: “The day he gets proven wrong shouldn’t be far off.”
Gu Chi played devil’s advocate, “Even if he treats Xia Wan differently, it’s useless. My idol treats him the same as she treats us.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he received three scornful looks. “We don’t want to talk to an idiot.”
With that, they stood up and walked toward Ji Heng and Xia Wan’s direction.
“Me, an idiot? Explain yourselves clearly.” Gu Chi followed them, pressing for an answer.