Chapter 53.2

This request was not unreasonable. Wen Tang used to regularly perform live streams for Zhou Jingyu, so today was just an exception.

Wen Tang responded quickly, without any hesitation or burden.

Seeing her response so promptly, Zhou Jingyu chuckled and said, “Don’t be so quick to agree. If it happens again, I’ll definitely deliver meals to your filming set.”

He then cast a glance at the RV, clearly indicating that this time he was letting Wen Tang get away with it, but next time he wouldn’t be so easygoing.

Wen Tang noticed the underlying threat in Zhou Jingyu’s words and nodded vigorously.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let it happen again!”

After Zhou Jingyu left the vehicle, it returned to the film set.

The secretive and sneaky nature of Wen Tang and Zhou Jingyu’s meeting made it seem like an underground organization. No one in the crew knew what Wen Tang’s RV had been up to for an hour. They only saw her return on time, with a flushed face and slightly moist lips, looking much better than before!

However, since Wen Tang and Zhou Jingyu had been having frequent video calls, rumors soon spread in the crew that Wen Tang had a new boyfriend.

After all, who else but a boyfriend would be so punctual and attentive? Wen Tang’s patience and dedication to him suggested as much.

When acquaintances discreetly inquired, Wen Tang admitted it openly.

She just didn’t reveal who the man was or what his identity was.

But even without details, based on her past relationships, it was evident that her new boyfriend was likely someone from the industry and probably younger than her.

What surprised everyone was that he wasn’t from the same crew.

No one knew when Wen Tang and her boyfriend met, but it became clear when someone started delivering meals to her and when she started having regular video calls.

The timing seemed short—perhaps during that brief one-month break?

Actors who had previously shown interest in Wen Tang had given up their pursuit, and rumors that Wen Tang was interested in Gong Yue or that they were together were now disproven.

After an intense month and a half of shooting, Wen Tang’s scenes were finally wrapped up.

As the last actor to finish filming, Wen Tang’s completion marked the end of all shooting for the crew. The film, which had been shot over four months from winter to summer, was now ready to move into post-production.

Everyone was thrilled, and on the day of wrapping, the crew prepared a celebration banquet. Everyone remaining in the crew was invited, including some major investors and big bosses.

Whenever Wen Tang attended any form of gathering, she was always the center of attention, and this occasion was no exception.

After being pulled into various conversations and toasts, Wen Tang finally found a moment to rest on a chair on the balcony. But, to her surprise, someone familiar approached her.

Gong Yue’s scenes had ended shortly after Wen Tang resumed work. As the third male lead, he had only a few scenes with Wen Tang, mostly as the friend of the male lead and playing against the male lead. He had completed his part and left the crew after filming a few additional scenes with Wen Tang.

For this wrap party, he had been specially brought in by his manager from another production.

Everyone had their eyes and ears in the crew and had heard about Wen Tang’s new boyfriend.

Gong Yue owed Wen Tang a favor. Without her help, he might not have been able to return to the crew. At that time, not only did others think Wen Tang was interested in Gong Yue, but even Gong Yue and his manager believed so.

Wen Tang’s reputation as a “sea king” was well-known, and with no boyfriend at the time, many were tempted by her beauty. Her every move easily led to speculation about her feelings.

Gong Yue had once thought he was disdainful of Wen Tang. Unlike other men, he didn’t want to be just another member of her entourage. Gong Yue was very proud, and after Wen Tang unexpectedly helped him, he found himself being linked with her by others. People envied his fortune, amazed that Wen Tang would notice him. Even friends who hadn’t been in touch for a long time started messaging him with admiration, as if he was already hers and would soon become her official partner. Even his manager advised him to accept her if she truly liked him.

At Gong Yue’s age, he was impulsive and rebellious, always eager to contradict others. Everyone was urging him in one direction, but no one asked for his opinion. Gong Yue resisted all these pressures.

So, after seeing Wen Tang on set, Gong Yue deliberately showed a nonchalant attitude towards her. He was reluctant to even exchange a few words with her, afraid she might misinterpret his indifference and become attached.

Every day on set, Gong Yue’s thoughts were occupied with how to keep his distance from Wen Tang. Little did he know, when a man thinks about the same woman constantly, regardless of the reason, he ends up holding her in his heart.

When Wen Tang took leave due to Wen Anle’s car accident, Gong Yue felt a sense of relief, glad to be free from her presence on set and the gossip that came with it. Wen Tang was then on another month-long leave.

During that month, Gong Yue began to notice something was off. He found himself thinking about Wen Tang often, glancing at her old spot in the rest area, now empty without her, which made his own heart feel empty.

When Wen Tang returned to work, Gong Yue’s gaze was fixated on her.

However, he kept his feelings hidden, not daring to let anyone see. Unlike before, he even felt a vague sense of anticipation towards Wen Tang. But until he left the crew, Wen Tang did not make any further moves towards him and barely acknowledged him except for the necessary scenes.

Leaving the crew with a heavy heart, Gong Yue soon heard the news that Wen Tang had a new boyfriend.

…She already has a new boyfriend.

What did that make him, who had been rumored with her for so long?

At the wrap party, his manager had called him over, mainly because of the presence of investors—a good opportunity for networking.

Gong Yue attended.

He spent the evening absentmindedly, watching Wen Tang flit through the crowd like a butterfly, charming and graceful. She had toasted and mingled with everyone but had not approached him.

Gong Yue found this increasingly intolerable.

Seeing Wen Tang go out to the balcony alone, Gong Yue followed with a glass of wine.

“Wen Tang… Sister.”

Addressing her as “Sister” marked a clear distance between them.

From his vantage point, looking down at her sitting on the sofa, Gong Yue felt no sense of superiority. Instead, he felt humbly insignificant in her presence.

Wen Tang looked up at him, slightly drunk from the many toasts she had made that evening.

She had been resting, her gaze unfocused, and it took her several seconds to recognize Gong Yue.

She rubbed her forehead, recalling Zhou Jingyu’s advice to avoid drinking too much at the party. Now, having drunk so much, she knew Zhou Jingyu would be upset if he found out.

Gong Yue saw Wen Tang’s distracted state and realized she was lost in thought. Even though he was right in front of her, she didn’t acknowledge him, deepening his sense of frustration.

“Wen Tang, thank you for helping me get back into this crew. I never got the chance to thank you in person. Also, while on set, I… misunderstood you a bit.” Gong Yue raised his glass and said, “I’m sorry.”

Wen Tang didn’t expect Gong Yue to come over just to say this. Her sluggish mind struggled to process it. At that moment, Ke Xin arrived.

“Tang Tang, are you ready? The car is here.” Ke Xin walked in and was visibly surprised to see Gong Yue there.

Wen Tang remembered she had asked Ke Xin to contact the driver and prepare to leave.

She said, “Oh,” stood up from the sofa, and walked past Gong Yue without another word. Approaching Ke Xin, she said, “Let’s go.”

After leaving the balcony and turning away from Gong Yue, Ke Xin quietly asked Wen Tang, “Tang Tang, what were you and Gong Yue doing on the balcony?”

Her curious gaze suggested she was concerned about Zhou Jingyu.

Wen Tang often felt Ke Xin had been swayed by Zhou Jingyu and was no longer the loyal Ke Xin she once knew.

“Just accidentally running into him,” Wen Tang replied dismissively.

Ke Xin wasn’t convinced and still believed Gong Yue was the person Wen Tang used to chat with, questioning her, “Really?”

Wen Tang couldn’t be bothered to explain further and walked away.

In just a few seconds, she put some distance between herself and the short-legged Ke Xin.

Ke Xin hurried to catch up, calling out, “Tang Tang, don’t walk so fast. I can’t keep up. Wait for me!”