Chapter 11: “Is Secondhand Smoke Interesting?”

Yu Chi’s arm remained steadily outstretched, blocking Hu Yi Yang from advancing further. Only then did Hu realize that his earlier pose had made it look like he was about to pounce on the goddess. Given his weight, Sheng Li might have been knocked over if he hadn’t been stopped.

“Control yourself. If you get dragged away as a pervert later, I’m not helping,” Xu Yang pulled Hu Yi Yang back, his sunny smile tinged with shyness as he glanced at Sheng Li. “Goddess, don’t be angry. He’s just too excited—he’s not a pervert, I swear.”

Hu Yi Yang’s face flushed red with embarrassment, and he hurriedly explained, “Li Li, I’m not a pervert! I really am not! I…”

Sheng Li had been tackled by overly enthusiastic fans before, so she had been startled earlier. She glanced at Yu Chi, who retracted his hand and shoved it back into his pocket. Looking at her, he said, “You sent a message, and this brain-dead fan saw it. He begged me to bring him here. There was no way around it—I had to bring them.”

The rain had lasted for over two hours, so they hadn’t gone anywhere else. Instead, they went to the arcade in the mall. While Yu Chi was playing a basketball game, he casually left his phone on the side. When Sheng Li sent a message, her name appeared on the screen.

As soon as Hu Yi Yang saw it, he went wild, pestering Yu Chi to confirm whether “Sheng Li” was real or fake.

Even Xu Yang and Zhao Shutong were curious. Yu Chi, annoyed by their incessant questioning, briefly explained that he was currently Sheng Li’s temporary assistant. Hu Yi Yang didn’t want to beat him up anymore but relentlessly begged him to take them to the set. Yu Chi, unable to endure a fat guy—especially a male one—acting cute and throwing tantrums, finally relented.

“I believe you now,” Sheng Li said with an amused smile, looking at Yu Chi’s impatient expression. She asked, “Have you guys eaten yet?”

Xu Yang sheepishly replied, “Not yet. We rushed over as soon as we heard we could visit the set—we were afraid Yu Chi would change his mind.”

“Eating the crew’s boxed meals?” Sheng Li moved to Yu Chi’s left, lightly bumping his shoulder and glancing up at him. “If not, let Yu Chi buy something else for you—I’ll treat you.”

Hu Yi Yang’s eyes lit up as he quickly responded, “Can we eat the crew’s boxed meals? Then I want to eat!”

Meals outside could always be eaten later, but eating boxed meals with the goddess at the set was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The others naturally had no objections.

Every day, there were usually a few leftover boxed meals from the crew. Sometimes people skipped them and bought their own food elsewhere. Leftovers were typically taken by the production staff to feed stray cats and dogs nearby.

After the crew finished distributing the boxed meals, Yu Chi brought the last five portions back to the lounge.

There was also one more luxurious meal—for Sheng Li.

Sheng Li watched as Yu Chi handed out the boxed meals to his classmates, leaving himself empty-handed. She asked, “None left for you?”

Yu Chi glanced at her. He remembered that Yuan Yuan usually arranged all the meals neatly, and Sheng Li never touched them herself. After a brief pause, he opened the lids of the boxes, stacking the white plastic covers. Turning around, he sat down on a chair, his long legs awkwardly bent with nowhere to go. Leaning forward slightly, he focused on his phone and casually said, “Hmm, I’ll go out and eat later.”

Zhao Shutong next to him quietly suggested, “The boxed meals are quite large. I can’t finish mine—I’ll share half with you.”

“No need, eat it yourself,” Yu Chi replied without looking up, his tone cold and distant.

A teenage girl’s pride was still fragile. After being rejected so bluntly, Zhao Shutong hesitated to say anything more. Sheng Li had only suspected earlier, but now she was almost certain: this girl liked Yu Chi—and probably had for a while.

Sharing a boxed meal together was such an intimate act, and Yu Chi’s refusal indicated he had no interest in her.

Without showing any emotion, Sheng Li divided her meal. Keeping a third for herself, she nudged Yu Chi’s sneakers with her foot. When he looked up, Sheng Li gestured, “I can’t eat much—you finish this, or it’ll go to waste.”

Yu Chi calmly looked at her, put down his phone, and said straightforwardly, “Hmm, an assistant’s duties include…”

“That’s enough. Just eat,” Sheng Li interrupted him with a bright smile, refusing to let him embarrass her in front of others.

“Can we take pictures?” Hu Yi Yang timidly asked.

Sheng Li smiled and stood up. “You can take pictures now, but not later.”

Hu Yi Yang quickly moved to occupy the spot next to her. Xu Yang was much calmer than him, but he still wanted to stand next to the goddess. After all, if he became famous in the future, he could show off a picture of himself with the goddess at eighteen. Politely turning to her, he asked, “Goddess, can I stand next to you?”

Xu Yang was handsome, polite, and studying music. He had even been admitted to the Beijing Film Academy, making him Sheng Li’s junior. Sheng Li thought that compared to Yu Chi, this junior was much more obedient. She had a good impression of him and smiled, saying, “Of course.”

Zhao Shutong, despite being a young girl, was also thrilled at the chance to take a photo with a celebrity.

Everyone gathered around Sheng Li.

Except Yu Chi.

Hu Yi Yang handed his phone to Yu Chi, his tone dripping with jealousy. “You take the picture for us. You’re always on set lately—you can take selfies with her anytime.”

Yu Chi stood by the door and took a few photos of them. Xu Yang turned to Zhao Shutong and asked, “Didn’t you guys bring a selfie stick? Take it out and let Yu Chi join us for a group photo.”

Just then, the makeup artist walked to the door. “Li Li, it’s time to prepare for makeup and styling. We might not have enough time.”

“Alright, I’ll be right over,” Sheng Li said, glancing at Yu Chi before calling out to the makeup artist, “Teacher Mao, help these students take a group photo.”

The makeup artist chuckled and agreed, “Sure thing.”

Yu Chi didn’t want to join the photo, but everyone was staring at him. Expressionless, he walked over and stood at the far end.

“Are you ready?” the makeup artist asked.

“Hold on a second.”

The boy standing next to him grinned and nudged the female classmate beside him. She understood immediately, smiling as she pulled Zhao Shutong—who had been standing next to Xu Yang—out and pushed her to Yu Chi’s side.

With his hands in his pockets, Yu Chi frowned, his expression cold.

Zhao Shutong stood next to him, blushing and biting her lips as she looked at the camera.

Sheng Li inwardly clicked her tongue. Were these classmates blind? Couldn’t they see that Yu Chi wasn’t interested in that girl? Why were they trying to play matchmaker?

—

The set was closed for filming, disallowing leaks or fan visits.

During the actual shoot, Xu Yang and the others watched from afar for a while before Yu Chi politely escorted them out.

Yu Chi walked ahead lazily, his hands in his pockets, seeing them off.

Hu Yi Yang clutched Sheng Li’s signed photo, looking back every few steps, reluctant to leave. “It feels like a dream. I actually ate with the goddess, took photos with her, and was so close to her!”

He suddenly grabbed Yu Chi’s arm, asking hopefully, “Brother Chi, ask the goddess if she still needs an assistant?”

“Hu Yi Pang, give it a rest, will you?” Xu Yang smacked the back of his head and chuckled. “Why don’t you suck up to me instead? If I become famous someday, you’ll have another chance to meet the goddess. You can get any celebrity’s autographed photo you want.”

“Then I wish you fame soon,” Hu Yi Yang said insincerely, returning to his musings about Sheng Li. “Guys, what kind of man do you think deserves our goddess?”

“Rich and cultured?” another boy suggested. “An aristocratic heir?”

Xu Yang laughed mockingly. “Superficial.”

Hu Yi Yang nodded. “Exactly. Our goddess wouldn’t be so shallow. Who knows what kind of person she likes? She’s had plenty of rumors since her debut but has never publicly acknowledged any relationships. Maybe she hasn’t dated anyone at all?”

Hu Yi Yang added, “She definitely likes mature and steady types, like Wei Cheng.”

Yu Chi, who had remained silent until now, shot him a cold glance. If Hu Yi Yang knew that the goddess he worshipped didn’t fancy mature and steady types but preferred younger men—or even tried several times to seduce Yu Chi himself—would he turn from a fan to a hater and attack Sheng Li?

Or maybe punch Yu Chi right there?

They reached the entrance. Two girls went to the nearby bubble tea shop to buy drinks.

Yu Chi stood in front of a 24-hour convenience store. Xu Yang watched him buy a pack of cigarettes and approached with a smile. “Do you remember Jiang Nan? The agent we met when we went out singing during our sophomore year?”

Yu Chi frowned and asked coldly, “Did he contact you?”

Xu Yang remembered that Yu Chi had clashed with Jiang Nan back then. Later, Yu Chi explained that the man was a talent scout who wanted him to act, and Yu Chi cursed Jiang Nan for being crazy.

Afterward, Jiang Nan secretly handed Xu Yang a business card. From it, Xu Yang learned that the man wasn’t just any talent scout but an agent from Starshine Entertainment Media. Knowing how angry Yu Chi was, Xu Yang didn’t tell him about the encounter.

Starshine Entertainment was a small, unknown company with a few artists who couldn’t seem to break through.

Xu Yang didn’t understand why Yu Chi’s expression darkened so much. Hesitant, he said, “Yeah, he talked to me about signing a contract… just a couple of days ago, he came to my house and discussed it with my parents.”

Yu Chi stared at him and simply asked, “Did you sign?”

“Yeah…”

Yu Chi’s voice grew colder. “For how many years?”

Xu Yang licked his lips nervously under Yu Chi’s icy gaze. “F-five years…”

“Fuck.” Yu Chi swore, glaring at him coldly. “Didn’t you check that company before signing? They have a few actors who can’t get famous no matter what. You’re studying vocal music—what future do you have with that company? Are you stupid?”

These days, there were too many art students graduating every year, and very few could sign with agencies, let alone make it big. Xu Yang thought it was a happy occasion to sign with a company right after being accepted into the Beijing Film Academy. He wanted to share the good news with his best friend, but instead, he got scolded. Annoyed, he snapped back, “How exactly am I stupid?”

“What’s going on? Why are you two fighting?”

Hu Yi Yang turned back, alarmed by their tense stances, and hurriedly stepped between them.

Yu Chi took a deep breath, suddenly feeling drained. He glanced at Xu Yang. “Nothing. I’m heading back.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

—

Yu Chi arrived outside the filming location and lit a cigarette at the alley entrance. His expression was terrifyingly cold as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

The call connected quickly. The person on the other end chuckled. “Oh, Yu Chi? Rare for you to call me voluntarily. Have you come to your senses?”

Yu Chi exhaled a puff of smoke and asked coldly, “Jiang Nan, did you do this on purpose?”

“On purpose? What are you talking about?” Jiang Nan countered, chuckling before quickly adding, “You mean signing Xu Yang? How could that be intentional? I saw potential in him. What’s wrong with signing him? Just like how I saw potential in you and signed you back then.”

“I never signed a contract with you,” Yu Chi said. He hadn’t lost his temper over this in a long time. “I never acknowledged it.”

“Your parents signed it—ten years. Six years remain. Black and white—it’s valid whether you acknowledge it or not,” Jiang Nan mocked. “Your parents took quite a bit of money from me when they signed you.”

Yu Chi hung up, leaning his entire body against the wall. Tilting his head back, the back of his head pressed against the wall as he gazed at the dim, starless night sky.

After a while, he heard footsteps and glanced down at the approaching figure.

Sheng Li stood before him, holding a steaming cup of water. With a serious expression, she scolded him, “Assistant Yu, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Are you hiding here smoking and slacking off?” She reached out, took the cigarette from his fingers, examined it briefly, and then raised it to her lips for a drag. Afterward, she stubbed it out and tossed it into the nearby trash bin.

Yu Chi shifted slightly, taking a deep breath, and looked at her expressionlessly. “Is secondhand smoke interesting?”

“Not at all, which is why I threw it away,” Sheng Li replied, sipping the hot water. She looked up at him with fervent eyes. “Kissing is much more interesting. Want to try?”