Chapter 5: If They Didn’t Know Better, They’d Think You’re Keeping a Young Lover on Set

Yu Chi froze for a moment, then frowned, his expression turning completely cold. “Not good at all.”

“Why not?” Sheng Li feigned innocence, her mind racing with satisfaction at her brilliant idea. Bullying this stubborn yet obedient brat was proving to be far more entertaining than she had anticipated. Ignoring his icy demeanor, she spoke in a gentle tone, “Isn’t this a great deal? From now until school starts, that’s just over two months. The line of people who want to be my assistant stretches from here to France. I’m giving you the number one spot, and you’re still complaining?”

What was so great about it?

Did she really think she could buy him? And make him do whatever she said?

Yu Chi’s face remained impassive. “I’d rather play a corpse.”

Sheng Li: “…??”

She nearly choked, feeling as if her heart might seize up.

So, in his eyes, was she worse than a lifeless body?

“Yuan Yuan,” she snapped, her face darkening as she abruptly stood up.

Yuan Yuan trembled nervously. “Ah, I’m here…” She thought, Surely she isn’t going to ask me to silence him again? Why is being an assistant so hard?!

The makeup room hadn’t seen many visitors these past few days, and without air conditioning—just a standing fan—the air was already stifling. Yuan Yuan had turned on the fan as soon as she entered, but its cooling effect was slow, and the heat was oppressive. Sheng Li moved with purpose, striding quickly to Yu Chi’s side and giving him a dismissive glance. “Let’s go to the restaurant and talk to the owner and his wife. There’s no need to make things difficult for a minor.”

Yu Chi clearly hadn’t expected her to suggest visiting the restaurant. He gave her an extremely cold look. For a fleeting moment, Sheng Li thought she saw a flicker of disgust in his eyes. His hair was shorter now, matching the photo on his college entrance exam admission ticket, and his features carried an untamed edge. But just as quickly, he broke into a smile, revealing neat white teeth and a sharp canine. His bright, dark eyes sparkled like those of a typical eighteen-year-old—spirited, straightforward, and pure. “For the next while, I’ll be your loyal servant. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do it.”

“I’ve sold myself to you. How’s that?”

Sheng Li’s heart skipped a beat, and she stared at him blankly.

The next second.

Yu Chi had already retracted his seemingly harmless smile, hands shoved back into his pockets, standing straight with an indifferent expression. “When do I start work?”

Sheng Li: “….”

She felt as though Yu Chi were acting opposite her, slipping into character when she least expected it, only to withdraw just as suddenly. It left her unprepared, losing the upper hand and advantage, utterly outmaneuvered. But after all, she had been in this industry for years; there was no way she’d let a teenager intimidate her into submission.

Quickly, she plastered on a smile. “Alright, be at the set by seven o’clock sharp the day after tomorrow. If you’re late, there will be consequences.”

Yu Chi didn’t bother asking what the consequences would be. He turned to leave. “I’m leaving first.”

Sheng Li suddenly remembered something and called out to stop him. “Wait.”

“What else?” Yu Chi turned back.

“Change your phone number,” Sheng Li suggested. “It shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Yu Chi wanted to change it, but his ID card was still in her possession. Without it, he couldn’t get a new number.

He reminded her coolly, “My ID card is with you.”

Sheng Li: “….”

She had never handled life’s practicalities herself and momentarily forgot that getting a new number required an ID. She turned to Yuan Yuan. “Give him back his ID.”

Yuan Yuan was still lost in a haze of confusion—Who am I? Where am I? Why do I suddenly have a new colleague? —but mechanically handed over Yu Chi’s ID card. After he left, she finally snapped out of it and hesitantly said, “Li Li, Sister Rong definitely won’t approve.”

“Why not?” Sheng Li removed her mask and cap to let her skin breathe.

Yuan Yuan sighed dramatically. “Where do you find assistants who look this good?!”

“Isn’t looking good a plus?” An image of Yu Chi’s straightforward, innocent smile flashed through Sheng Li’s mind. She patted Yuan Yuan’s shoulder. “Don’t discriminate based on looks. He’s your colleague now. Get along well.”

Yuan Yuan: “????”

She hadn’t done anything!

Sheng Li threatened, “Don’t tell Sister Rong. I’ll handle it myself. Otherwise, I’ll dock your salary.”

Yuan Yuan: “…Fine.”

________________________________________

That evening, Sheng Li dined with Rong Hua and the main creative team of the production. The restaurant was located in the bustling central street of the film studio. Since they had filming tasks the next day, no one drank much alcohol. Rong Hua and Director Liu were mainly discussing Sheng Li’s shooting schedule, while Sheng Li quietly played the role of a supporting act.

At half past ten at night, everyone departed by car.

As they passed the restaurant where the crew ordered meals, its doors were wide open, lights blazing, and it seemed some customers hadn’t left yet. Rong Hua, ever the paragon of efficiency, believed in doing things immediately if possible—her self-discipline made her seem like a robot programmed for work. She instructed the driver, “Go around to the other side.”

“Wait, wait! Why are we going around?” Sheng Li immediately knew what she intended to do. Clutching her stomach, she feigned discomfort. “My stomach hurts. Whatever you want to do can wait. Let’s go back to the hotel first.”

Her performance was convincing. Unsure whether she was faking it or not, Rong Hua relented. “Fine, let’s go back.”

Sheng Li pretended to have stomach pain for two minutes. Once the car drove far enough away, she pulled out her phone to check messages.

Empress Zhou: [Are you discharged already?]

Empress Zhou: [I’m really curious. What did you do with that handsome younger brother?]

Carefully shielding her screen, Sheng Li replied: [I made him my assistant. Whatever I tell him to do, he has to do it.]

Empress Zhou: [What?!]

Empress Zhou sent a cold emoji before replying: [He’s a minor. Do you really have to hold a grudge like this? No wonder people say Scorpios shouldn’t be provoked lightly.]

Empress Zhou: [I think you should stop calling yourself ‘Snow White.’ Change your name to Empress instead. Compared to you, I’m practically a saint.]

Sheng Li: [There’s no point explaining. Just don’t leak this to anyone. If you dare say anything, I’ll buy articles to smear you until next year.]

Empress Zhou: [….]

They were almost at the hotel. The driver slowed down to enter the parking lot.

A car ahead seemed to have some issue and was stuck, unmoving.

The driver had no choice but to stop as well.

Sheng Li put down her phone and idly glanced out the window. She spotted a familiar figure walking briskly on the opposite sidewalk, dragging a large black suitcase with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

The streetlights were partially obscured by the lush branches of locust trees, casting fragmented light onto the young man. Everything appeared hazy and indistinct. Yet somehow, Sheng Li recognized Yu Chi by his silhouette alone.

Yu Chi walked out of the patch of scattered light and crossed the road, spotting the parked van ahead.

He paused briefly before averting his gaze and quickly heading toward a nearby budget inn.

The inn looked old and visibly cheap, a far cry from the luxury hotel Sheng Li stayed in. However, it wasn’t far—just a few minutes’ walk away.

So, he wasn’t staying at home?

Sheng Li didn’t know how strained his relationship with his family was, but it seemed he didn’t want to stay there even during the holidays.

________________________________________

The next morning, Yuan Yuan used her card to unlock the hotel room door.

Sheng Li crawled out of bed, rubbing her neck as she sat on the edge of the bed in a daze. Rong Hua went to pull back the curtains slightly, wanting to use natural light to check how her face was recovering. Upon closer inspection, she frowned. “What time did you go to bed last night? Why do you still have dark circles?”

“Around midnight,” Sheng Li said weakly, still rubbing her neck. “I didn’t sleep well. I had a nightmare.”

Rong Hua: “Did you dream about being disfigured?”

Sheng Li: “….”

This was a dream she couldn’t talk about—not to anyone, especially not Rong Hua.

In her dream, Yu Chi had bitten her neck. That sharp canine pierced her skin, drawing blood. The pain in the dream felt so real that she woke up still feeling a dull ache in her neck.

“No.”

Thinking of Yu Chi’s straightforward, innocent smile, Sheng Li shivered involuntarily. She quickly rubbed her neck. “I had a nightmare and didn’t sleep well. My neck feels stiff.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yuan immediately came over to massage her.

Sheng Li got up. “No need to rub it. I’m going to take a shower.”

Rong Hua must have been incredibly busy, as she didn’t bring up the matter of visiting the restaurant owner again. Besides Sheng Li, she also managed a male artist named Lu Xingyu, three years younger than Sheng Li and just twenty this year. Rong Hua often lamented that signing him was the only mistake she’d ever made—he kept causing trouble every so often.

This time, something had happened again. Rong Hua spent the entire day on the phone trying to suppress media coverage. Sheng Li was used to this and didn’t bother caring about her unruly junior.

In the evening, Rong Hua prepared to leave early.

Sheng Li’s face had mostly recovered. Only a few small red spots remained near her mouth, resembling mosquito bites or deliberately applied freckle makeup.

After applying her eyebrows and lipstick, she confidently escorted Rong Hua downstairs.

The driver was already waiting by the roadside.

Before getting into the car, Rong Hua was still on the phone. After a few minutes, she hung up and looked at Sheng Li. “I’ve already arranged an assistant for you. She’ll come tomorrow. She’s a girl, very obedient.”

Sheng Li’s gaze drifted forward, landing on the figure of a young man passing by the intersection.

Suddenly, she said, “No need. I’ve already found my own assistant.”

“Huh? You found your own assistant?” Rong Hua frowned, following her gaze and suddenly sensing something ominous.

Sure enough, Sheng Li pointed to Yu Chi. “Him. His family runs a restaurant, so cooking shouldn’t be a problem.”

Rong Hua’s face darkened instantly. Taking a deep breath, she laughed bitterly. “You’ve gone mad, haven’t you? Hiring him as an assistant? People will think you’re keeping a young lover on set.”

Sheng Li thought to herself, That’s not a bad idea.

But the “young lover” probably wouldn’t agree.

“Yu Chi.”

She called his name.

Yu Chi had initially intended to ignore her, but now he had no choice but to turn around. This was the first time he saw Sheng Li’s face clearly. Her complexion had returned to its flawless state on-screen—fair and beautiful. The few small red spots didn’t detract from her beauty; if anything, they added a touch of liveliness.

Her radiant smile dazzled as she beckoned him with a crooked finger. “Come here for a moment.”

Yu Chi scowled, his face showing clear impatience as he walked over to her.

Stopping in front of her, he asked coldly, “What is it?”

“Sister Rong, take a look at this ‘young lover’s’ expression.” Sheng Li watched his face with amusement, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. “Does he look like someone willing to be kept by me? His expression screams impatience and resistance, as if he wants to keep ten meters away from me.”

Rong Hua: “….”

Yu Chi stared at her blankly, his face practically screaming, Stay away from me, you big villain.