BDB Chapter 56

Perhaps due to having had so many nightmares, Jiang Rao didn’t take the midnight nightmare to heart. She slept soundly until daybreak and only opened her eyes when the morning light was just right. However, before she could adjust to the bright sunlight, she caught a whiff of delicious aroma, accompanied by the clinking sounds of stainless steel cutlery and plates.

“Come here.”

Hearing this, Jiang Rao turned toward the source of the voice. What she noticed first wasn’t the exquisite breakfast spread across the table, but—

“Didn’t you already get dressed last night? Why are you—” Why was he again showing his bare upper body? “Can you put on some clothes and talk properly?”

Li Jueyan smiled, “You can’t even handle this little discomfort. How are you planning on keeping a young hunk when you’re old?”

Jiang Rao’s face flushed with embarrassment, “That was just a joke.”

She wasn’t a romantic fool, neither before nor after entering the story.

So, although she often echoed Qiao Yan’s words, she actually thought that even if she became a rich old lady who didn’t have to worry about food and drink, she should spend her money on enjoyment and self-improvement.

Even though she didn’t take that comment seriously, hearing Jiang Rao’s reply, Li Jueyan couldn’t help but curl his lips into a more pronounced smile.

Without saying another word, he casually grabbed the shirt hanging on the hanger.

As he slowly buttoned up the shirt, he noticed the unrelenting gaze from the bed. He looked back and, with one hand on his waist towel, said, “Watching so attentively? Do you want to keep watching as I change my pants?”

Jiang Rao’s expression instantly stiffened.

She had been dazzled by the white shirt! The male lead was still the domineering type who liked to make dirty jokes!

It was impossible to keep watching, given the male lead’s beastly intentions.

So, while he changed his pants, Jiang Rao went into the bathroom to freshen up.

After this bit of busyness, by the time they finally sat down for breakfast together, the wall clock showed it was already past nine.

The small table was filled with a variety of items, ranging from soy milk and fried dough sticks to Cantonese desserts, showcasing its richness. In the center of the table were two bowls of soup: one with seafood congee and the other with eight-treasure porridge.

Li Jueyan served her a bowl of eight-treasure porridge with two spoonfuls of sugar and said casually, “You talked in your sleep last night.”

Jiang Rao’s heart skipped a beat, and she almost couldn’t enjoy the sweet porridge.

Remaining composed as always, she responded with a slight hum and asked, “What did I say?”

“You don’t remember?”

“Should I? Most people don’t remember their dreams.”

“Then how come you remember that day’s dream so clearly?”

“That day was different.” Jiang Rao set down her spoon. “After all, dying and growing old together doesn’t seem like a normal dream, does it?”

He met her gaze and, after a pause, pressed his lips together and said, “True. But last night, after you woke me up with your talking, I only heard some incoherent mumbling, so I didn’t really understand what you were saying.”

Jiang Rao nodded, acknowledging that she understood.

And she quietly warned herself that after this, she should avoid sharing a room with the male lead before having the conversation she needed to have.

But fortunately, that conversation would be happening soon.

By early July, Jiang Rao had completed all her filming with the crew.

At that time, all the actors had left the mountain and were filming city scenes. Jiang Rao wasn’t the first to finish filming, nor the last, but since she was one of the main leads, she ended up at a nearby KTV with the crew for a farewell party under the strong insistence of the director.

Although Jiang Rao’s scenes with Jiang Tang weren’t numerous, they weren’t insignificant either.

Jiang Rao believed she had never done anything to wrong Jiang Tang. Except for not meeting Madam Bai’s requirement of simultaneously pursuing the male lead while avoiding any shameful relationship with him, she had fulfilled her duties as a substitute. Therefore, she always behaved openly and honestly in front of Jiang Tang.

And Jiang Tang seemed to be a reasonable person. Perhaps due to the butterfly effect, she hadn’t turned into the vicious supporting character described later in the book. Though not particularly warm, she hadn’t made things difficult for Jiang Rao on set.

However, due to the storyline involving the substitute marriage, their relationship hadn’t improved much, and at most, it remained a superficial acquaintance.

Unfortunately, this superficial acquaintance seemed too flimsy when faced with a farewell party that could be attended or skipped.

Jiang Tang didn’t attend the farewell party.

However, someone appeared like a follower midway through the event—Li Jueyan.

When he walked in, Jiang Rao was playing games with a large group of people on the sofa.

Perhaps the night in the valley had left a deep and pleasant impression on everyone. The game they were playing was still “Truth or Dare”, and the punishment for losing was either a truth or a dare.

Whether it was Jiang Rao’s bad luck or because the others had secretly conspired against her, she found herself facing a punishment just as Li Jueyan walked in.

Glancing at the impeccably dressed man by the door, she knew that if she chose a dare, the onlookers would definitely egg on something like a kiss or a hug.

So, after some thought, she could only say, “I choose truth.”

As soon as she finished speaking, someone said, “Jiangjiang, your first…”

The voice abruptly stalled. After a subtle glance at the door, noticing the big shot leaning against the wall with a raised eyebrow, the person hesitated for a while before continuing, “When was your first love?”

The person had actually wanted to ask something more mundane, like her first kiss or first night, but with the big shot, who frequently visited the set and clearly held Jiang Rao in high regard, it felt awkward to ask such questions. It might even affect the big shot’s romantic life. And with the big shot being the financial sponsor of the entire crew and a person one shouldn’t offend in the industry, he had to choose his words carefully.

Jiang Rao blinked, taking a moment to process.

However, even after processing, she wasn’t sure how to respond.

She glanced at the man by the door but didn’t look at him again. “I haven’t had a first love.”

A silence fell over the room.

After a long while, everyone couldn’t help but glance over as a certain big shot walked over to the sofa.

Jiang Rao was sitting at the end of the sofa, and when she looked up, she met his gaze.

“Coincidentally, I haven’t had a first love either,” he said. “Jiang Rao, do you want to be in a relationship? I’d treat you really well; we could even get a marriage license tomorrow.”

Perhaps it was because the KTV accompaniment was playing a touching love song at that moment.

Or maybe it was the neon lights enhancing his unusually serious expression.

Suddenly, she felt a strange impulse and said, “Want.”

Li Jueyan was taken aback.

The others were even more stunned.

But they reacted faster than him.

“Fuck! Congratulations to President Li for winning love and believing in romance again!”

“Kiss her!”

“Wow, the big boss’ love talk is so impressive!”

“Double happiness! The filming is finished and a couple is born. What a divine day!”

“Who the fuck says it’s a good day will be banned!”

“Director Feng, you must have misheard because you’re getting old. Let’s continue playing. Do you want to place some bets or something while we’re at it?”

…

Amidst the incessant chatter and noisy discussions, the two involved chose to leave.

He seemed a bit strange, not as flamboyant as usual. Her one-word response had signified agreement, yet in the private room, his eyes had only briefly flickered with light before being replaced by deep darkness.

It wasn’t until they stepped outside and his gaze shifted from the neon-lit streets to the rare starry night sky that he spoke with a slightly trembling voice, “Jiang Rao, can you repeat what you just said?”

If she truly agreed, did that mean he wouldn’t have to fear her leaving him?

She replied, “Li Jueyan, will you respect any decision or opinion I make, and will you not use violence to hurt me just because either my choices or I don’t meet your expectations?”

If he could do that, it seemed her forthcoming conversation might be feasible.

At that moment, it was midsummer.

The temperature had risen, the days had grown longer, and restless people roamed outside until dawn.

Streetlights cast shadows on him.

From her perspective, she could see his trembling eyelashes.

She waited silently for his response, but he remained silent for a long time before finally saying, “I’m sorry.”

Before Jiang Rao could fully understand what those three words meant, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her neck and collapsed toward the ground.

Just as she was about to hit the ground, he hurriedly caught her.

Seeing the president give him a cold glance, Xiao Zhang, who was wearing a security guard uniform, quickly tucked the stun baton back at his waist. “President Li, do we really have to do this?”

He took a deep breath. “Mm.”

She was a person with exceptional acting talent. Even without professional training, she could easily fool anyone, let alone after spending so much time on the set.

But he was also adept at distinguishing between lies and truth. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to build Li Group to such a scale.

He could clearly remember the details of those nightmares.

The dreams she had were identical to his. How could they be completely forgotten?

Even if she had forgotten everything completely, she should at least show some sign of contemplation when questioned.

But she merely gazed at him with unwavering eyes and returned the question to him with a counter-question.

Her calmness seemed too contrived.

Moreover, considering how she had questioned him today…

Would he hurt her?

“I’m sorry.”

The hurt would be just this one time.

After tonight, all the painful memories that shouldn’t belong to her would vanish.

There would never be another pervert who imprisoned or tormented her in this life.

She wouldn’t need to escape, plead for mercy, or seek redemption through death.

He would love her. She was his life.

——