Qin Mingyuan had been extremely busy these past few days. Apart from overseeing various major and minor projects for the Qin Corporation, he had also managed to squeeze in a business trip.

When he worked, he was always fully focused, leaving little room to think about the plot of the story he was trapped in. Yun Yuexian had called him a few times during this period, but Qin Mingyuan hadn’t seen the calls—or rather, even if he had seen them, he wouldn’t have answered. As such, the incoming call notifications were easily ignored, and he hadn’t bothered to call back.

However, his WeChat inbox was filled with messages from Yun Yuexian, none of which said anything particularly important—just the usual greetings and some amusing anecdotes from the film set.

Qin Mingyuan had to admit, he was somewhat impressed. If the plot hadn’t gone off course, Yun Yuexian and the male protagonist should already be showing some romantic tension by now. Even so, Yun Yuexian hadn’t forgotten to keep him, the “backup fish,” on the line.

What was more impressive was that the tone of Yun Yuexian’s messages was close and familiar, but not overly intimate. Even if someone else saw them, there wouldn’t be any trouble. It would only further fuel Qin Mingyuan’s role as a hopeless admirer.

No wonder the original Qin Mingyuan had been so infatuated, always believing there was still hope, and willing to sacrifice everything in the end.

Setting his phone aside, Qin Mingyuan propped his chin on his hand and tapped the desk with his other fingers. Maybe it was time to visit the person he “liked” on set, and perhaps meet the other protagonist in this world as well.

The family Liang Zichen belonged to, the Liang family, was one of the most powerful in A City, on par with the Qin family, though they operated in different industries. The Qin family focused on financial investment, while the Liang family dominated the entertainment industry.

Liang Entertainment held a near-monopoly, with countless top-tier celebrities under its wing. From film emperors and empresses to idol superstars, the company commanded a large share of the entertainment industry, and the best resources were always sent their way first.

With such vast resources at his disposal, Liang Zichen’s venture into the entertainment industry seemed more like a hobby. Growing up immersed in this world, he certainly had the talent, and all his achievements were well-earned.

After winning the Best Actor award, he had begun transitioning into company management, cutting back on his acting roles. However, Liang Entertainment was still officially run by his mother, not him.

Liang Zichen’s father had passed away early, and at the time, the uncles and distant relatives of the family had schemed to take control before he could come of age. The Liang family had been in chaos during that period.

In the midst of all that turmoil, Liang Zichen’s mother, though an outsider to the family, managed to fiercely protect her son’s interests and temporarily took over the reins of the company. Her tenacity was proof of her formidable skills.

This same woman would later become the greatest obstacle in the protagonists’ love story, doing everything in her power to tear them apart. At one point, she nearly crushed Yun Yuexian and the Yun family’s business to force them apart.

The only reason she didn’t utterly destroy them was because of the original Qin Mingyuan’s intervention.

Before all of this, the Qin and Liang families, because of their different business focuses, rarely crossed paths. On the few occasions they did meet at banquets, they were cordial enough to share a drink.

But once Yun Yuexian entered the picture, countless conflicts arose between the two families, resulting in losses on both sides. Meanwhile, some opportunistic families took advantage of the situation to benefit themselves.

In the end, the mother of the male protagonist only relented after a kidnapping incident, during which her son was injured and fell into a two-day coma. It was only in that moment of almost losing him that she realized how deep his feelings were, and she finally let go.

Qin Mingyuan narrowed his eyes. The story had a happy ending for everyone—except for the second male lead, who paid the price with his life, making him the most unfortunate character in the entire book.

Oh, perhaps there was another unlucky soul as well: Yun Pei, who ended up in prison for orchestrating the kidnapping and murder. But considering the situation, one could argue he deserved it.

Qin Mingyuan’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. His thoughts drifted back to the scene of Yun Pei being carried into the car, his ears slightly red. Qin Mingyuan paused. He still couldn’t quite figure out where the young man had found the courage to commit such a reckless act.

There was very little description of Yun Pei in the book. Even if Qin Mingyuan wanted to speculate, there wasn’t much to go on.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, deciding not to dwell on it. As long as Yun Pei didn’t interfere with his plans, the reasons behind his actions had nothing to do with him, the outsider.

Qin Mingyuan pressed the button to connect with his assistant. He asked Zhou Yang to arrange a day in his schedule for him to visit the film set soon.

Zhou Yang, accustomed to not prying into unnecessary matters, promptly agreed and also inquired what Qin Mingyuan wanted for lunch, so they could prepare it in advance.

Qin Mingyuan had no particular cravings and left the decision to the staff.

After hanging up the phone, he leaned back in his chair and loosened his tie slightly. In truth, he was rather curious—if the original Qin Mingyuan hadn’t stepped in to help, how would the story between those two characters have developed under the pressure of the protagonist’s mother?

——

The filming location for [Winter’s Sun] was in C City, a neighboring area about a two-hour drive from A City.

For this trip, Qin Mingyuan brought his driver, and Zhou Yang accompanied him as well. This way, they could handle some company business during the drive.

For easier communication while working, Zhou Yang sat in the back with Qin Mingyuan. Throughout the ride, Zhou Yang couldn’t help but sneak a few glances at his boss’s serious side profile, barely able to contain his gossip-loving spirit.

“Is something on your mind?” Qin Mingyuan noticed the obvious stares without looking up, his fingers continuing to type on his laptop.

Busted for his sneaky peeks, Zhou Yang awkwardly cleared his throat and sat up straight. “No, nothing, just wondering when we’ll arrive.”

Knowing what Zhou Yang was really thinking, Qin Mingyuan didn’t bother to call him out. He continued looking at his laptop, replying flatly, “You should ask the driver that question.”

Zhou Yang let out a nervous chuckle and, in an attempt to ease the awkwardness, leaned forward to ask the driver. He received an answer: about ten more minutes.

Qin Mingyuan soon finished his work, closed his laptop, and handed it to Zhou Yang. He massaged the bridge of his nose and turned his gaze toward the window.

Unlike the towering skyscrapers of A City, C City had a more laid-back atmosphere. The buildings weren’t as tall, and there was less of that oppressive feeling.

Economically, C City couldn’t compare to A City, but its slower pace of life made it a comfortable place to be. Director Li Lin probably chose this location for filming because of its unique charm.

Qin Mingyuan had already informed the crew of his visit. Since the Qin Corporation had invested in the project, it was a perfectly legitimate reason for him to inspect the set. As the president of the company, it wasn’t unusual for him to check in on their investments.

He hadn’t informed Yun Yuexian of his visit, though. In the novel, the original Qin Mingyuan hadn’t told him either, so as not to disturb him, and ended up witnessing the protagonists’ intimate interaction.

When they arrived at the set, they were stopped by staff members, but after confirming Qin Mingyuan’s identity, they were quickly let through. It seemed the crew had been notified in advance.

Qin Mingyuan wasn’t particularly interested in the entertainment industry. In the past, he had occasionally invested in films and TV shows, but those were handled by his subordinates. This was the first time he had visited a film set in person.

With his impressive looks, tall stature, and the way he walked confidently alongside his assistant, Qin Mingyuan attracted a lot of attention. Many people were probably guessing if he was a new actor in the production.

“President Qin!”

A plump middle-aged man approached them, likely someone in charge of the production, who had been informed to greet him.

Zhou Yang took over the socializing duties, shaking hands with the man, who apologized, explaining that Director Li was currently busy filming. If they were interested, they could go and watch.

Qin Mingyuan had no objections and nodded. The man led them to a small room where a scene was being filmed.

The space was crowded with crew members, and since the weather was cold, the actors dressed lightly, and no windows were open, making the air feel stuffy.

The area around the director was the most spacious. The production lead brought them over, and Director Li, focused on the screen, turned and gave them an apologetic gesture.

Qin Mingyuan didn’t mind and raised his hand to signal that a chair wasn’t necessary, as he wouldn’t be staying long.

Once he settled into place, his gaze landed on the screen. It was a coincidence that they arrived just in time for Yun Yuexian’s scene.

Yun Yuexian sat in front of an easel, painting something. The camera zoomed in on his face, and with the soft lighting and light makeup, the atmosphere felt peaceful and serene.

The camera then gradually pulled back to reveal another man approaching and leaning down to look at the painting, a smile on his face.

The man was quite handsome, with slightly upturned eyes that exuded affection when he smiled. The side lighting on his face made the scene look striking. His appearance was very suited for the screen.

Qin Mingyuan’s eyebrows twitched slightly. If he wasn’t mistaken, this was probably the other protagonist of the book, Yun Yuexian’s fated lover, Liang Zichen.

“Cut!” Director Li raised his hand and called out loudly, “That take was good. Actors, stay in place. We’ll adjust the camera and continue.”

Upon hearing the director, the two actors relaxed. The mature man casually patted Yun Yuexian’s head, complimenting him, and Yun Yuexian smiled shyly, his cheeks turning slightly red.

The scene was beautiful, and as Zhou Yang watched, he couldn’t help but sneak a glance at his boss. Seeing Qin Mingyuan still focused on the actors, Zhou Yang felt a cold sweat forming on his back.

Although the boss’s recent actions made Zhou Yang think he might no longer be as infatuated with Yun Yuexian, that was just speculation. Watching such a scene now, Zhou Yang couldn’t help but feel like they were in the middle of a love rivalry, and it was terrifying.

While Zhou Yang was mentally panicking, Qin Mingyuan wasn’t thinking much about the scene. He was only more convinced that the original Qin Mingyuan had been hopelessly foolish.

To have ended up like that, all for someone who didn’t care about him, and even in his dying moments, still thinking about Yun Yuexian’s well-being.

The production lead finally found an opening and quickly introduced the director to their investor.

Li Lin turned and greeted them politely but without subservience.

With his established position in the industry, Li Lin was no longer the type to bow and scrape before anyone, even investors. His genius and personality made him stand out.

Some other investors might have felt slighted by this, but not Qin Mingyuan. He wasn’t interested in socializing and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Since Qin Mingyuan wasn’t there to meddle in the movie’s production, Li Lin was satisfied. Seeing that he wasn’t keen on small talk, Li Lin turned back to his assistant director. “How’s the search for Yun Yuexian’s hand double going?”

In the movie, Yun Yuexian’s character was a painter, so naturally there were several scenes showing him painting. Yun Yuexian, however, had no idea how to paint, and there wasn’t enough time for him to learn. Although they could cheat by using finished works and having him make a few brushstrokes, Li Lin didn’t want to settle for that.

There’s a clear difference between someone who knows how to paint and someone who doesn’t. Especially with close-up shots, any imperfections would be magnified on the big screen. Li Lin was a perfectionist and wouldn’t tolerate any flaws in his work.

On top of that, Li Lin wasn’t happy with Yun Yuexian’s hands. It wasn’t that they were unattractive, but they were too well-maintained. Yun Yuexian’s character was supposed to die from an illness, and his hands needed to reflect a fragile, broken beauty. While makeup could fix his face, there wasn’t much they could do about his hands.

The production had already tried hiring several well-known painters to serve as hand doubles, but none of them gave Li Lin the effect he wanted. Several close-up scenes had been postponed as a result.

“We’re still looking. Your standards are too high. You want someone with excellent technique and the right hands. There aren’t many famous painters who fit that description. We’ve tried all the ones we could. It’s not that easy.”

The assistant director had worked with Li Lin for many years, so they had a good relationship, which gave him the confidence to complain.

“High standards are what make great films. We still have time, so keep looking,” Li Lin replied firmly. He never compromised when it came to his films.

“Uh, Director Li…”

A young assistant who had been quietly listening nearby timidly raised his hand. “I think I might know someone who could fit. He’s not a famous painter, though. He usually just posts drawing videos online.”

“A social media artist?” Li Lin frowned. It wasn’t that he had anything against them, but with so many people doing flashy tricks for attention online, he was naturally a bit wary.

The assistant grew more nervous under Li Lin’s gaze and stammered, “B-but he’s really good at painting, and his hands are very nice-looking. Of course, I’m not an expert, so I might not be the best judge…”

“Well, we could at least take a look. It’s not like watching a video will hurt,” the assistant director was much more laid-back, patting the young man on the shoulder.

Seeing that Li Lin nodded in agreement, the assistant quickly pulled out his phone and fiddled with it for a moment before handing it over.

Qin Mingyuan was standing right next to Li Lin, so when he glanced down, he could easily see the content on the phone. He had originally just been looking casually, but his gaze froze when he spotted the ID.

Si Yu?