YABE - 10

The next morning, when Wen Siyu saw Jiang Xu on set, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.

She double-checked the schedule—Su Nuo’s scenes were indeed scheduled for the afternoon.

Having joined the crew a few days late, Wen Siyu had only witnessed one of Jiang Xu’s performances so far. According to the other staff members, however, since the start of filming a week ago, if Jiang Xu’s scenes were scheduled for 2 PM, he would never show up before 1 PM.

So, when a certain Mr. Jiang appeared on set at 8:30 AM with his agent and assistant in tow, everyone’s first reaction was—does Teacher Jiang have scenes this morning?

Jiang Xu strode over calmly and confidently, bypassing the rest area entirely. He pulled out a chair from the corner and sat down.

His assistant handed him the script, which he accepted, opened, and began reading.

At this moment, the assistant director approached. Seeing Jiang Xu, he exclaimed, “Eh?” Glancing around, he called Wen Siyu over.

The girl hurried over, clutching the schedule, ready to receive instructions.

The assistant director was busy checking the lighting setup. He gestured toward the corner with a tilt of his head and asked her, “I remember Su Nuo’s scenes are in the afternoon?”

Wen Siyu nodded. “Teacher Jiang’s scenes start at 2 PM.”

The assistant director hummed in acknowledgment, glanced behind him briefly, paused, and then continued, “I’m tied up right now. Go over there and ask him if there’s an issue with timing. If there is, come back and let me know.”

Wen Siyu hesitated for a moment, her mouth opening slightly but no words coming out.

Seeing her expression, the assistant director understood what she wanted to say but didn’t dare voice aloud: “He’s a big star, an Academy Award-winning actor. If his schedule doesn’t work, we’ll have to rearrange ours. In this industry, whoever’s more famous calls the shots.” He lightly tapped her head with a rolled-up notebook. “Go ahead, be tactful.”

Wen Siyu acknowledged the instruction, took a deep breath, and walked over.

The man sat quietly in the corner, engrossed in the script, occasionally exchanging a few words with his agent. Whatever they discussed made Jiang Xu smile—a faint, lazy grin that exuded effortless charm.

Wen Siyu felt a jolt of electricity at the sight of his handsome smile and tightened her grip on the script.

Step by step, she approached him, just as he happened to look up.

Jiang Xu tilted his head slightly to meet her gaze, his long neck stretched elegantly, the slight curve of his Adam’s apple catching the light.

Wen Siyu swallowed nervously, her mind spiraling into an internal fanfiction frenzy.

She recalled a Weibo poll she’d seen before titled “The Most Attractive Part of a Man’s Body According to Women.” The Adam’s apple had ranked higher than fingers, abs, mermaid lines, and collarbones—it was unanimously crowned the most attractive feature.

Imagining Jiang Xu drinking water, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down—boom! Fireworks exploded in her mind.

Snapping out of her daydream, she quickly composed herself and greeted the man solemnly: “Good morning, Teacher Jiang.”

Her expression was so serious and formal that Jiang Xu almost expected her to bow deeply.

For some reason, seeing her like this lifted his previously gloomy mood. He smiled gently at her: “Good morning.”

He smiled again! AGAIN! AHHHHH HE SMILED AT HER AGAIN!

Internally squealing with joy, Wen Siyu maintained her outward composure: “Teacher Jiang, you’re here so early today.”

“Hmm,” he replied earnestly while blatantly lying, “This afternoon’s scene features Su Nuo and Lu Zhan during their high school years. I wanted to come early to get into character.”

The girl blinked, letting out a soft “Ah.”

Jiang Xu raised an eyebrow.

Wen Siyu quickly forced a smile, waving her hands dismissively. Her expression seemed slightly happier than before: “No problem, no problem. Teacher Jiang, your acting skills are already incredible, and you’re so dedicated. I think you’re amazing.”

Jiang Xu fell silent, his deep brown eyes fixed intently on her.

Feeling unnerved under his gaze, Wen Siyu racked her brain but couldn’t pinpoint what she might have said wrong. She touched her nose awkwardly and chuckled nervously: “Well then, Teacher Jiang, I’ll leave you to it. Call me if you need anything—I’ll go attend to other matters.”

Jiang Xu nodded, watching her scurry away like a little rabbit holding her notebook. His eyes softened slightly.

From the sidelines, the agent who had been observing the entire exchange couldn’t help but marvel: “Miss Wen’s flattery is always spot-on. Teacher Jiang, your conversation with her today feels much more mature than yesterday’s—it’s like you’re not even in the same age group anymore.”

Jiang Xu didn’t respond, instead asking abruptly: “Do I seem old?”

Zhou Yi was baffled by the question but played along: “Judging by your usual demeanor and private conversations, you could totally claim you’re 14 years old to the public.”

“She just called you ‘您.’”

Zhou Yi: “…What?”

Jiang Xu turned to face him, his brow furrowed slightly, lips downturned: “She said, ‘You’re amazing.’ Does that mean I look old?”

Zhou Yi: “….”

“I feel…” He spoke slowly, as if trying to make the man realize his own foolishness, “That’s probably a term of respect.” Pausing, he couldn’t resist adding, “Or maybe she’s from Beijing.”

But Jiang Xu seemed to tune out Zhou Yi’s words, lost in thought: “When she first met me, she mentioned liking my movies since elementary school.”

At the time, he hadn’t cared.

Now, however…he found himself caring a little.

Zhou Yi felt choked: “How old is this girl anyway?”

“….”

Jiang Xu looked up at him blankly.

Zhou Yi: “….”

“You don’t know?”

“You don’t even know how old she is, yet you set ten alarms starting at six in the morning just to come to set today? And you came up with some excuse about needing to check something, all because you were worried she might ignore you???”

Zhou Yi now felt like he was suffocating: “The potential of a lifelong bachelor truly cannot be underestimated.”

“She said I filmed Eternal Life when she was in second grade.” Jiang Xu recalled, did the math, and sighed in relief: “She’s 20.”

“Oh, 20, legal age.” Zhou Yi also relaxed. “That’s fine—at least you’re not breaking any laws.”

Jiang Xu: “?”

“You? What? Reflect on your behavior since last night. Think carefully—am I wrong?”

Jiang Xu: “….”

“You’re annoying. Shut up.”

…

The afternoon’s shoot took place inside a private high school. Wen Siyu was fortunate enough to see Jiang Xu standing in a classroom, dressed in a high school uniform, embodying his youthful self.

Chinese student uniforms generally follow a modest design—uniform tracksuits consisting of white tops and dark, elastic-bottom pants. The baggy outfits effectively concealed body shapes, hiding half of one’s figure.

There’s a saying among students: those who still look good in uniforms are truly beautiful, just as men who remain handsome despite buzz cuts are genuinely attractive.

When Jiang Xu emerged in his uniform, the expressions of female staff within a ten-mile radius practically erupted.

High school girls who had rushed over immediately after class to catch a glimpse of him from afar were equally ecstatic.

Regardless of age, women harbor a peculiar obsession and sentimentality toward their senpai (upperclassmen).

Especially when that senpai looks this good in a uniform.

Including his clean, innocent gaze and youthful smile—he stood there, the perfect embodiment of a male lead straight out of a campus romance novel.

…

In this scene, both Su Nuo and Lu Zhan underwent a dramatic transformation from their previous personas.

During their high school years, Lu Zhan was hot-tempered and quick to anger, the quintessential troublemaker who gave teachers headaches.

As a police officer, his rough edges had been smoothed, his rebellious streak subdued. He became like a quiet flame burning beneath ice—intense yet calm.

As for Su Nuo, by the time he became a vengeful figure, he was on the brink of mental collapse. Engaging in acts he knew were futile, he oscillated between fear, slaughter, repentance, and indulgence in the pleasure of revenge. He yearned for redemption but believed he could never be forgiven.

Yet, clad in his high school uniform, he was pure and unblemished.

His smile was forever gentle; his eyes forever forgiving.

These two individuals, polar opposites from start to finish, were best friends.

No matter how much they changed, they remained inseparable.