Jiang Yun drove them to Jiang Liyue’s apartment in City A.
The apartment was located in the CBD area of Eastern New City in City A, very close to the fashion BS they had just visited. The location was extremely convenient, making it easy to get anywhere.
Halfway there, Jiang Yun received a call from her superior, asking her to return to Beijing to discuss how to handle a newly exposed romance rumor involving a young celebrity she had just taken on.
Jiang Yun finished the call with a frown and angrily tossed her phone onto the passenger seat beside her.
Jiang Yun, sounding irritated, said, “Xiao Jiang, I have to head back early. You should probably head back too. The variety show should be starting soon, so pay some attention to it.”
Jiang Liyue replied, “Mm.”
Jiang Yun seemed to remember something, “Oh right, it seems the variety show script has changed. I’ll send you the new script once it’s out.”
Jiang Liyue glanced at Zhao Chenxing, who was playing on his phone beside him, and said in a deep tone, “Sister Jiang, send me the contact information for the variety show’s producer or director.”
Jiang Yun looked at him through the rearview mirror, “Hmm? What’s up?”
“I have something to discuss with them.”
“Alright, sure.”
After parking the car in the garage, Jiang Yun forwarded the director’s business card to Jiang Liyue.
Jiang Yun said, “I’ve sent it to you. I need to rush to the airport now, or I might miss the evening flight.”
Jiang Yun hurriedly left with her things, making sure to add Zhao Chenxing as a friend before leaving, saying that since they were colleagues now, it would be good to communicate promptly if anything came up.
Zhao Chenxing still didn’t understand what could possibly require such prompt communication even after getting home.
Jiang Liyue’s home in City A had no decorations at all. It didn’t feel like a home, more like a hotel that only provided a bed.
In fact, hotels looked much better than his home.
White painted walls, an empty living room with only a row of gray sofas and a wooden coffee table.
Everything looked like it came with the house when it was bought.
It looked the same as when it was bought.
Zhao Chenxing looked at the large and cold living room, which seemed even bigger due to its emptiness, and complained, “Hey, Jiang Liyue, staying here is less comfortable than a hotel.”
Hearing this, Jiang Liyue walked behind him, grabbed his suitcase, and said sadly, “Is my brother disliking me now? Are you leaving?”
Zhao Chenxing waved his hand, “Am I bored? I’m exhausted, just want to lie down.”
While he was speaking, Jiang Liyue had already pushed his luggage into the master bedroom.
Jiang Liyue said, “Brother, the guest room isn’t tidied up, so you’ll have to squeeze in with me.”
Zhao Chenxing quickly followed him to the master bedroom, grabbed his suitcase, and refused, “No need! I’ll tidy it up myself.”
Originally, Jiang Liyue thought this young master was just saying it and wouldn’t actually do it.
However, he leaned against the guest room door frame, watching Zhao Chenxing skillfully clean up the place and put on the bed sheets and covers.
Zhao Chenxing stepped out of the room sideways, “Big Film Emperor, not helping with the chores and blocking the way at the door?”
Jiang Liyue turned around, looking at Zhao Chenxing’s brisk figure heading to the bathroom with a cloth, his dark eyes revealing no emotion.
Zhao Chenxing originally didn’t know how to do these things. In those past five years, they both changed, but whether these changes were good or bad, Jiang Liyue couldn’t tell for the moment.
After a while, he took out his phone from his pocket and saw a new message from the friend request he had accepted.
– Qian Da: Teacher Jiang! Hello, I’m Director Qian Da. [Handshake]
– Jiang Liyue: I’m Jiang Liyue.
– Qian Da: Teacher Jiang, to be honest, if you hadn’t added me, I would have had to ask your agent for your WeChat soon.
– Qian Da: Could I ask about your recent schedule?
– Qian Da: I don’t mean anything else, it’s just that we just finished a meeting. Due to various factors, the program team decided to modify the variety show’s format, but it’s not much different from when we signed the contract. We also plan to start recording and broadcasting earlier.
– Qian Da: If your schedule allows, we want to change from a flying guest to a permanent one, and we need to quickly re-sign the contract. Filming might start in the next few days.
– Qian Da: Of course, since you’re a Film Emperor, the program team understands if your schedule is too full, but…
– Qian Da: Teacher Jiang, could you spare some time to have a meal with your agent? There are some things we should discuss in person.
Jiang Liyue lowered his eyes, tapping the screen absentmindedly. The messages from the other side kept coming like a money machine, vibrating his phone non-stop.
– Qian Da: Teacher Jiang? What do you think…
Jiang Liyue waited for the other side to stop before typing a reply:
– Jiang Liyue: Sure, I don’t have any other schedules for now.
– Qian Da: That’s great! Teacher Jiang! All the other MCs have confirmed, so once you confirm, I can start preparing directly!
The excitement from the other side was palpable even through the screen.
Jiang Liyue’s eyes flickered, and he sent another message.
– Jiang Liyue: However, I have a condition.
– Qian Da: Teacher Jiang, please tell us. We’ll definitely help you within our capabilities!
– Jiang Liyue: Add someone to the permanent cast, someone with me.
Although Jiang Liyue hadn’t seen the original script, he had heard from Jiang Yun that it was a mix of different types of variety shows, showcasing the guests’ personalities.
Fangce Films also saw the potential in this new format and stuffed in a few likable celebrity personas to boost popularity.
With their withdrawal of investment, the loss of several original MCs was inevitable, and the variety show was short on people. The program team was definitely eager for new personnel to join, but due to the tight schedule, they couldn’t communicate with each traffic star individually to finalize contracts. They would definitely make some adjustments with the existing MCs.
Sure enough.
– Qian Da: Teacher Jiang! Thank you so much. We are indeed short on people, but we didn’t dare mention it to you. We’ve told the other MCs that this variety show requires bringing along friends from the industry for a friendship journey.
– Qian Da: You’ve really helped us a lot! I’ll definitely treat you to a meal someday to formally thank you for your help with our program!
Jiang Liyue’s lips curled up as he put away his phone.
***
The two of them sat at the dining table eating takeout.
Jiang Liyue ordered some dishes he knew Zhao Chenxing liked, mostly sweet and savory flavors from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.
The only downside was the dining table, which probably had never been graced by Film Emperor Jiang. Once seated, he realized the table and chair height was not friendly to someone with Jiang’s model-like stature.
Jiang Liyue frowned, hunching over, looking uncomfortable. Zhao Chenxing mocked Jiang Liyue, “Big Film Emperor? This isn’t your place, is it? Did you borrow someone else’s model home from the sales office?”
Feeling uncomfortable sitting, Jiang Liyue stood up straight, bending over to help open the takeout boxes.
“Can’t eating shut my brother’s mouth?”
“Hiss! Jiang Liyue! Don’t call me brother so casually, I’m really mad!”
Jiang Liyue couldn’t tell if Zhao Chenxing was genuinely angry or just being playful like before, so he didn’t dare to try and just agreed.
“Alright then.”
The bent posture caused the black jade around Jiang Liyue’s neck to sway out from his loose sweatshirt collar, catching Zhao Chenxing’s eye.
Zhao Chenxing reached out to grab the black jade swaying in front of him, even wanting to bring it closer for a better look, using some force.
Caught off guard, Jiang Liyue was pulled into Zhao Chenxing’s breath by the tension on the red string around his neck.
Instantly, Jiang Liyue held his breath, not daring to breathe, afraid of scaring something away.
Jiang Liyue lowered his eyes, his Adam’s apple moving silently up and down on his fair neck.
Unaware of the allure, Zhao Chenxing’s attention was entirely on the black jade. He rubbed the jade with his fingers. Due to the short red string, his actions inevitably touched Jiang Liyue’s skin.
Feeling the warmth from Zhao Chenxing’s fingertips on his skin, Jiang Liyue was at a loss.
The white skin where his fingers touched turned pink in an instant, looking quite beautiful.
After observing the black jade for a while, Zhao Chenxing let go and casually said, “Hey, so the jade is hanging on you? I thought I lost it.”
As soon as Zhao Chenxing let go of the jade, Jiang Liyue straightened his back and, after putting some distance between them, glanced at Zhao Chenxing.
A certain dark light in his deep eyes flickered and disappeared. Not wanting to bring up things that shouldn’t be mentioned in this warm atmosphere, Jiang Liyue changed the subject, vaguely saying, “Your memory is really something.”
“It was meant for you to wear. Uncle Jiang and Aunt Han specially got it for you back then, and it was blessed. Yet you insisted on me wearing it, making me your storage box for so many years!”
As Zhao Chenxing spoke, he recalled the events of that time and curiously asked, “Hey, are you still afraid of those things now?”
“What things?” Jiang Liyue didn’t react for a moment.
“Didn’t you often see strange things when you were a kid? Those unclean ones.”
“Oh, those. With you around, I’m naturally not afraid.” Jiang Liyue said this so lightly that Zhao Chenxing didn’t hear it clearly. He thought Jiang Liyue had been afraid of those things for years and couldn’t have changed so much in just five years.
When Yuan Li called Zhao Chenxing, he was in the shower, so Jiang Liyue answered the call.
Seeing the caller ID, Jiang Liyue smiled and said, “Hello, Mom.”
Recognizing the voice immediately, Yuan Li laughed joyfully and quickly said, “Is that Xiao Yue? I just wanted to ask if Xiao Xing has started working yet.”
“Mom, Brother Chenxing has already agreed. He’s now my assistant.”
“Hehe, that’s good. Let him do everything. Don’t treat him like your brother and let him act like a young master.”
Talking about Zhao Chenxing’s young master temper gave Yuan Li a headache. She remembered how the two of them interacted as kids, which was even more troublesome.
Speaking of childhood, no one pampered Zhao Chenxing more than Jiang Liyue. Even Yuan Li herself couldn’t compare.
When Zhao Chenxing was thirsty, Jiang Liyue poured water. If Zhao Chenxing was hungry in the middle of the night after the nanny had gone to bed, Jiang Liyue cooked. Most of Zhao Chenxing’s shoes were put on by Jiang Liyue. When Zhao Chenxing went to school, his backpack was organized by Jiang Liyue. Sometimes, when Zhao Chenxing couldn’t find a test paper in class, it was Jiang Liyue who found it for him.
In the hot summer, Zhao Chenxing would turn on the coldest air conditioning, cover himself with a quilt, and eat mung bean cakes, only eating the handmade ones from an old grandpa’s shop, which could only be bought by queuing. Jiang Liyue would brave the scorching sun to buy them for him.
Talking about these things, Yuan Li felt that many of Zhao Chenxing’s young master traits were indulged by Jiang Liyue.
Before hanging up, Yuan Li repeatedly urged Jiang Liyue to make sure Zhao Chenxing worked well as an assistant and didn’t act like a master again.
After hanging up, Jiang Liyue couldn’t help but laugh, thinking Yuan Li was worrying too much. Little did he know that when they set off for the variety show, her words would come true.
A video directly sent them to the trending searches.
#Newly Homophobic Film Emperor Jiang Liyue Goes Under#