Chapter 20: If You Don’t Open Your Eyes Soon, I’ll Kiss You.

Lu Xingyu was reluctantly ushered out by Sheng Li, who then returned to her seat. Gripping the script, she took a deep breath and gazed at the treasure she had stumbled upon—Yu Chi—with bright eyes. Yu Chi’s gaze swept over her face imperceptibly, his expression as calm as ever. Sheng Li couldn’t tell if he was nervous or not.

In Jiangshan Scroll, the storyline between the female lead Yun Lansheng and Yang Lingfeng was relatively simple. While fleeing for survival, Yun Lansheng saved a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy. For a time, they relied on each other for survival. Having lost her family—including her younger brother—Yun Lansheng initially treated Yang Lingfeng like her own sibling. Meanwhile, Yang Lingfeng harbored secret feelings for her. The two were separated during a turbulent incident in the city.

The role of the young Yang Lingfeng was played by a child actor, with only a few scenes. Sheng Li had already finished filming those scenes with the young actor a few days prior.

Yang Lingfeng’s character began as pure-hearted but, after being separated from Yun Lansheng, endured abuse and gradually realized that only by becoming powerful could he avoid being trampled upon. Consumed by ambition, he rose from being an ordinary guard in the Fourth Prince’s mansion to becoming the ruthless and cunning right-hand man of the Fourth Prince.

Three years later, the struggle for the crown prince position reached its peak, with the Fifth Prince Huo Tingyan and the Fourth Prince locked in fierce competition. Yun Lansheng and Yang Lingfeng reunited during this time, by which point Yun Lansheng and the Fifth Prince had already developed romantic feelings for each other.

The siblings who once depended on each other now found themselves on opposing sides. The once-innocent youth had transformed into someone unrecognizable.

The audition scene today was their reunion. There were only a few lines of dialogue, but the emotional demands on the actor were high. Yang Lingfeng couldn’t let the Fourth Prince see that he knew Yun Lansheng, yet he couldn’t suppress his joy at seeing her again. Mixed with disappointment and confusion, his emotions needed to build gradually.

The actors auditioning performed opposite crew members holding scripts, much like acting in a fantasy drama where performers often act against thin air.

At first, Sheng Li worried that Yu Chi, having not acted in years, might be rusty.

But the moment Director Liu called “Action,” Yu Chi’s gaze and demeanor shifted, perfectly capturing the emotional nuances of the scene.

After the audition ended, Yu Chi stepped outside to wait.

Director Liu pondered for a moment before turning to Sheng Li. “Who do you think is more suitable?”

To be honest, Sheng Li hadn’t paid much attention to Lu Xingyu’s performance earlier because she knew he didn’t care about the role. His participation in the audition was merely a punishment orchestrated by Rong Hua to teach him a lesson. He likely hadn’t given it his all during the audition. Had he truly committed, he might not have lost to Yu Chi, especially since Yu Chi hadn’t acted in years.

Sheng Li, showing favoritism, said, “I think the person who takes the role seriously is more suitable.”

Meaning, Yu Chi was more suitable.

Director Liu raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “You make a good point. This kid, Yu Chi, is quite impressive. Which company is he with again?”

From the director’s tone, it seemed he leaned toward Yu Chi.

Sheng Li smiled. “Starlight Entertainment Media—a small company.”

“Hmm? Never heard of it. A new company?” Director Liu asked curiously.

“It’s not new. It’s been around for several years.” Sheng Li didn’t want to elaborate on the struggling company. “You’re choosing an actor, not a company, right? It depends on who you prefer.”

Once the crew cleared out, Director Liu went to the window to call Rong Hua. After hanging up, he saw Sheng Li still seated and smiled. “Rong wasn’t set on giving this role to Xiao Lu anyway. Lately, Xiao Lu has caused quite a bit of trouble. If someone genuinely outperformed him in this audition, it’s a good opportunity to knock him down a peg. Even if no one did better, it’s still a lesson for him. If he keeps going like this, no one will keep propping him up forever.”

Sheng Li grew anxious. “So, what’s your decision?”

Director Liu beamed. “Of course, it’s Yu Chi. Newcomers are cheap and effective.”

Sheng Li: “...”

Though it was good news, she couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart.

In her mind, Yu Chi was a treasure!

What was Lu Xingyu compared to him? Expensive and ineffective!

Half an hour later, in Sheng Li’s dressing room.

Upon learning he had been defeated by Yu Chi, Lu Xingyu exploded with rage, pointing at Yu Chi and demanding, “How could he possibly be better than me? Did he really outperform me?” In a panic, he grabbed Sheng Li and asked, “Sister, tell me, who was better?”

Yu Chi, who hadn’t slept much the previous night, was lazily reclining in a chair with his eyes closed, completely ignoring Lu Xingyu as if he were invisible.

Sheng Li glanced at him and said to Lu Xingyu, “Honestly, Yu Chi was better than you…”

A thousand times better.

Lu Xingyu couldn’t accept this answer. Furious, he exclaimed, “I don’t believe it! I didn’t even see him perform. Mother Rong and Director Liu must have teamed up to sabotage me.”

Sheng Li smiled sweetly at him. “Believe what you want. You’ve already been eliminated. As for whether Yu Chi performed well, you can stay tonight and watch.”

Director Liu had decided to film Yu Chi’s scenes that very evening.

Lu Xingyu hadn’t cared about the role initially, but as with most things, losing made him crave it more. Fuming, he declared, “Fine, I’ll stay and see just how terrible he performs.”

However, Lu Xingyu didn’t get to stay.

Without hesitation, Rong Hua booked him a flight back to Beijing, forbidding him from causing further embarrassment.

Half an hour later, Lu Xingyu was reluctantly dragged away by his two assistants and shoved into a car headed for the airport.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to remind Sheng Li, “Sister, don’t forget our three-month agreement.”

Yuan Yuan had gone out to fetch dinner boxes, leaving Sheng Li alone with Yu Chi in the dressing room.

Sheng Li now found every aspect of Yu Chi endearing. She sat beside him, staring at his profile for a while before seizing the rare private moment to tease him. “Yu Xiaochi, if you don’t open your eyes soon, I’ll kiss you.”

Yu Chi: “...”

He opened his eyes and gave her a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable.

Sheng Li smiled warmly at him, her voice soft. “I honestly thought you wouldn’t come. I’m glad you did.” She paused. “From now on, you won’t need to be my assistant anymore. Just show up when you have scenes. Though I’ll miss spending every day with you, I’m still happy.”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “Yang Lingfeng has quite a few scenes, and filming wraps late. It’ll probably take over a month. Should I find you an assistant?”

Most actors on set had assistants—even those filming for just half a month had temporary help.

Yu Chi’s throat felt a little sore. Clearing it, he replied hoarsely, “No need.”

Sheng Li asked, “Is your throat uncomfortable?”

Yu Chi grunted affirmatively. Sitting up, he grabbed the mineral water bottle from the table, unscrewed the cap, and drank the remaining half. With precision, he tossed the empty bottle into the trash bin and slouched back into his seat.

“Do you have a cold?” Sheng Li reached out to touch his forehead. “Let me check if you have a fever.”

Yu Chi hadn’t been sick in a year or two. Catching sight of Yuan Yuan entering with the meal boxes, he gently pushed Sheng Li’s hand away and said indifferently, “No fever, just a sore throat.” Glancing at her, he added coldly, “Sister, are you running a fish pond? You already have a three-month agreement with someone else, yet you’re so concerned about me?”

His tone was laced with jealousy.

Sheng Li almost burst out laughing but maintained a serious expression. “As for Lu Xingyu, he won’t last three months.”

Yu Chi smirked skeptically.

Yuan Yuan walked in with the food boxes and addressed Yu Chi. “Yu Chi, the director just said to eat quickly and head to makeup. You have a lot of scenes tonight—it might go on until midnight.”

“Mm.” Yu Chi took the boxed meal and opened it.

Yuan Yuan’s emotions were conflicted. She had so much to say but felt it wasn’t appropriate…

Seeing her on the verge of bursting, Sheng Li kindly said, “If you have something to ask, go ahead.”

Yuan Yuan chewed on her chopsticks, looking at Yu Chi. Despite having so many questions, only one came out: “Why is this world so surreal? Just yesterday, you were an assistant like me. How did you suddenly become an actor?”

Sheng Li chuckled softly and drawled, “Looks matter.”

Yuan Yuan glanced at Yu Chi’s handsome face and silently closed her mouth.

Yu Chi ate quickly, finished his meal, and headed to makeup.

While Yuan Yuan was merely astonished by Yu Chi joining the production, others on set were utterly stunned. During mealtime, whispers spread, and imaginations ran wild.

“Didn’t they say Lu Xingyu came to audition? Is he not good enough? That’s hard to believe. He’s been so popular these past two years, and his acting is decent. If he wanted this role, Director Liu wouldn’t refuse.”

“Who exactly is Yu Chi?”

“Didn’t they say he’s the restaurant owner’s biological son? Does he have a rich biological father who recognized him and showered him with resources?”

“Could it be Sheng Li giving him resources? It feels like…”

Gossip about Sheng Li and Yu Chi had always existed, though the previous narrative had temporarily quelled rumors. Now that Yu Chi had suddenly joined the production, despite his good looks, something still felt off.

Fortunately, Director Liu overheard some chatter and, annoyed by their laziness, came to explain. “Yu Chi is my choice. Do you think I’d pick someone who isn’t good enough? Stop gossiping and get back to work!”

Tonight’s main scenes involved the Fourth Prince and Yang Lingfeng.

Director Liu wanted to capitalize on Yu Chi’s momentum from the afternoon audition and film a few more scenes to help him settle into his role. After all, he hadn’t acted in years, and one good performance didn’t mean he was fully in character yet.

Sheng Li had some downtime tonight. She sat on a lounge chair, waiting for Yu Chi to emerge.

With his physique, his ancient costume should look stunning…

“Wow, so handsome!”

A girl gasped.

Sheng Li turned her head and saw Yu Chi step out of the makeup room. Dressed in sleek black attire, his tall and imposing figure exuded a youthful yet dignified aura. She stared at him, itching to whistle.

Yu Chi casually glanced at her before heading straight to Director Liu.

Feeling pleased, Sheng Li leaned back into her chair, pulled out her phone, and scrolled through Weibo. Debating whether to take a selfie and post it, she opened the trending topics.

To her surprise, the third trending topic caught her eye.

#Sister, Don’t Forget Our Three-Month Agreement#

Sheng Li: “...”

That lunatic Lu Xingyu actually posted about this on Weibo? Black lines formed on her forehead as she clicked on the trending topic. Lu Xingyu had masterfully stirred speculation, with everyone guessing, “What could this three-month agreement be?”

The comment section was lively, ranging from “It can’t possibly be about casual hookups” to “Could it be announcing their relationship in three months?”

Thankfully, there were still rational comments: “Could it really be about announcing their relationship? No way! Goddess Cici, please reconsider! Don’t fall for Lu Xingyu—he’s not worth it!”

Sheng Li’s We ibo comments and private messages were exploding.

Lu Xingyu had posted the tweet before boarding his flight, and his phone was still off.

Fuming but unable to vent her frustration, Sheng Li reluctantly called Rong Hua. “Sister Rong, can you delete that Weibo post by Lu Xingyu? Look at the mess he’s stirred up!”

Rong Hua’s tone was calm. “No need to delete it. Let the netizens guess. They’ll never figure it out anyway. So, what exactly did you two agree on?”

Sheng Li sneered. “Nothing. He’s just daydreaming.”

“Alright, I won’t ask further. Only the two of you know the truth. A bit of buzz is always good. Leave the post up and let them speculate.” Rong Hua swiftly changed the subject. “I heard Yu Chi was your recommendation to Director Liu? I won’t say more—you know where to draw the line. Don’t create a scandal for me.”

“It wasn’t just me. Wei Cheng also recommended him. Ultimately, it was Director Liu’s decision.”

After hanging up, Sheng Li noticed Yu Chi had already started filming.

Yu Chi’s earlier scenes went smoothly. The final scene for the night was one where his character was punished.

The Fourth Prince’s character was ruthless to the point of being somewhat deranged. To test Yang Lingfeng’s loyalty, every minor mistake Yang made resulted in severe punishment. Only after enduring such torment—and still remaining loyal—would the Fourth Prince deem him trustworthy.

In this scene, Yang Lingfeng was beaten and then submerged in a well overnight. It took nearly an hour to film. By the time it wrapped, Yu Chi emerged soaked, sitting by the well with a pale face and a dark, brooding gaze, as though he hadn’t fully stepped out of character yet.

Sheng Li handed him a towel and said softly, “Dry off.”

Yu Chi glanced up at her, took the towel, and stood up, his voice hoarse. “Thank you, Sister Cici.”

Sheng Li: “...”

She glanced around at the crew members who hadn’t dispersed yet and pretended to nod casually. “You’re welcome. You don’t have an assistant, and you’ve helped me so much before—it’s only right that I look after you a little.” Despite how appealing his wet appearance was, she urged him, “Go change into dry clothes quickly. Don’t catch a cold.”

Ironically, her words came true.

That night, Yu Chi caught a cold. Perhaps because he hadn’t been sick in so long, it hit him hard. He spiked a fever in the middle of the night. When he woke up at noon the next day, his voice was completely gone. With another scene scheduled for that evening, there was no way he could film.

He scrolled through WeChat and realized that aside from Sheng Li and Yuan Yuan, he hadn’t added anyone else from the production team.

After some thought, he called the production coordinator.

By evening, Sheng Li had already finished her makeup. She looked around but couldn’t find Yu Chi. She remembered he had a scene at 8 PM, so he should have been getting ready by now. She sent him a message: [So now that you’re not my assistant, am I not going to see you all day?]

Yu Xiaochi: [Yes.]

Sheng Li: “...”

Yuan Yuan rushed over and said, “Cici, the coordinator just said Yu Chi requested leave for tonight. They’ve added an extra scene for you instead. Is that okay?”

Sheng Li frowned. “Why is he taking leave?”

“He said his throat is too sore.”

“...”

Did he really catch a cold? Sheng Li stared at her phone screen, pondering. She typed a message in the chat box but deleted it immediately.

Handing her phone to Yuan Yuan, she whispered with a mischievous smile, “Yuan Yuan, think of a way for me to visit Yu Chi after we wrap tonight.”

Yuan Yuan: “...”

She didn’t want to think about it, couldn’t think about it, and wouldn’t dare to think about it!