The next moment, a soft grumble echoed from little Dudu’s belly.

With an innocent look on his face, he looked up at Ye Fan and said. “Hungry… Baby hungry.”

Ye Fan sighed and reluctantly carried Dudu to the kitchen.

Since the original character didn’t cook, the kitchen was spotless, only used when the nanny came to prepare meals. The nanny had been on sick leave recently, so the original character had been improvising to feed the child.

Ye Fan gently patted Dudu’s slightly deflated belly and coaxed. “How about we go out and eat?”

Dudu’s face lit up with excitement. “Eat! Baby wants food!”

Fearing that the child might stay hungry, Ye Fan grabbed her wallet and phone from the sofa and quickly left the house with Dudu in her arms.

Not far from home, there was a children’s restaurant.

Ye Fan carried Dudu all the way there, and the little boy’s weight was no small matter.

After a while, Ye Fan’s arms began to feel a bit numb.

She gently set Dudu down on the ground and then took his hand.

Bending down, Ye Fan asked. “Can Dudu walk on his own?”

Dudu didn’t fuss or cry as he tightly held Ye Fan’s hand.

His small face looked serious, and in his soft, babyish voice he replied. “I can.”

Ye Fan wasn’t sure what a two-or three-year-old could eat, so she ordered a few easily digestible dishes.

She made a mental note to check online recipes later and start cooking for Dudu when possible.

She certainly couldn’t take him out to eat every day.

The waiter led Ye Fan to a table, since both she and Dudu had striking looks, the waitress lingered a little longer, admiring them.

As she handed them the menu, she smiled and said. “Your baby is so adorable.”

Having worked at the restaurant for some time, it was her first seeing such an eye-catching mother and child duo.

Ye Fan paused for a moment, then smiled, feeling a little flattered by the compliment.

When she smiled, her already delicate features became even more radiant, glowing with an almost mesmerizing allure.

She also had a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes, which seemed to sparkle with tiny flecks of light whenever she looked at someone.

The waitress was momentarily taken aback. The woman before her was clearly not wearing any makeup, yet her skin was flawless, and her natural beauty surpassed that of many actresses.

“Thank you.” Ye Fan said softly as she took the menu from the waitress.

The food arrived soon after.

Ye Fan had ordered a steamed egg and chestnut cake for Dudu, along with apple oatmeal porridge.

Dudu was still unsteady with the spoon, spilling food on his clothes, so Ye Fan decided to feed him spoonful by spoonful. Only when he had finished eating did she eat a little herself.

After the meal, Ye Fan cradled Dudu and returned home. By the time they got back, Dudu had already fallen asleep in her arms. She carefully placed him in bed and lay down beside him, drifting off to sleep herself.

Even though Dudu was very well-behaved, taking care of a child was still exhausting, especially for Ye Fan, who had never cared for a child before.

…

The next day, Ye Fan left Dudu in the care of the nanny and prepared to head to the set. On the way, she gathered her thoughts about the drama she was about to shoot.

The TV series Ye Fan was starring in was called Undercover on the Bund. It tells the story of a pair of spies working undercover in Shanghai. The male and female leads pose as a married couple, acting affectionate in public but maintaining professionalism and focus while on mission.

As the story progresses, the leads develop feelings for each other while enduring hardships together. Ultimately, they acquire the critical Japanese intelligence document—Code 76—and complete their mission.

In recent years, several spy dramas set in the Republican era have become huge hits, and many major Chinese production companies have invested in similar projects. Undercover on the Bund was one of the largest investments in the genre.

The director was one of the most renowned figures in television, having won several prestigious industry awards. The female lead, Tang Jin, was a top-tier celebrity with a strong background and massive popularity.

Tang Jin’s romance with rising star Duan Qi was also a hot topic. They were a stunning couple, and after they publicly confirmed their relationship, their fanbase grew even larger, almost becoming a national “couple” in the eyes of their supporters.

To add to the buzz, the production team had managed to recruit international film star He Han to play the male lead, sparking even more conversation. Undercover on the Bund was a high-profile project from the very beginning, with all eyes on it.

Ye Fan’s role as a stand-in for Tang Jin in the drama was due to Tang Jin’s demanding nature. She refused to do the more physically challenging scenes, such as falling into water or riding horses, and preferred to send a stunt double in her place.

The public had no idea about Tang Jin’s true nature; her fans only knew her for her beauty and sweet personality.

Upon arriving on set, Ye Fan was immediately approached by an assistant, who instructed. “Please go get your makeup done, change into your costume, and then we can start filming.”

The assistant led Ye Fan to the makeup room, where she sat down, and the makeup artist looked at her in admiration. “You’re truly beautiful.”

Ye Fan’s skin was fair and delicate, her features exquisitely refined. With just a little touch-up, her entire face became strikingly radiant.

In her opinion, Ye Fan was more beautiful than most actresses. Even Tang Jin, a popular rising star, couldn’t compare to her beauty.

The makeup artist glanced at Ye Fan once more.

What a shame, such a beautiful woman, yet she was only a stand-in.

After finishing her makeup and changing into her costume, Ye Fan stepped out of the makeup room.

All eyes turned to her.

The first thing to catch attention was a pair of delicate, fair hands lightly resting on the doorframe, like a soft layer of pearl-like light.

Her graceful figure was hidden beneath a dark blue qipao, with a slender, elegant neck and a waist that could be clasped with a single hand.

As the gaze moved upward, it landed on her exquisite, beautiful face.

Her skin was as white as snow, her features radiant, each one perfectly placed.

She was a natural beauty, like a movie star stepped out of a Republican-era magazine.

When everyone saw Ye Fan, the room fell into a brief silence.

Ye Fan looked ahead at the tall figure in front of her—the male lead of the drama, the award-winning actor He Han.

Who was He Han?

He was the king of the box office, an unparalleled actor with a stellar reputation, a national idol whose fan base spanned all age groups.

He Han’s first supporting role in a TV drama earned him the Best Supporting Actor award, and then he transitioned into the film industry, starring in numerous commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies.

He Han had worked with renowned directors across the country, and all his collaborations received unanimous praise. He won multiple Best Actor awards, including the Golden Horse, Golden Bauhinia, and Cannes Film Festival Best Actor, firmly establishing his position in the film industry.

This time, He Han returned to act in a TV series, supposedly to repay the director for his early support.

At that moment, He Han happened to turn his head, his gaze landing on Ye Fan. His cold, indifferent eyes swept over her, exuding an air of aloofness.

He Han’s features were sharp and defined, with jet-black eyes, a strong jawline, and cool, thin lips.

There was not a single flaw in his appearance, making it impossible to look away.

He Han had already changed into his costume.

At this moment, He Han was dressed in military uniform, his figure lean and refined, with a black leather belt around his waist. His posture was straight, embodying the proud and upright spirit of a Republic of China soldier.

The brim of his military cap was lowered just enough to reveal a pair of cold, piercing eyes.

Yet, Ye Fan felt no stir in her heart. Her expression remained calm, and no matter how excellent He Han was, it had nothing to do with her.

He Han was unaware that he had a child, nor did he know of his past with the original owner. Only the original owner knew about it.

Therefore, Ye Fan could face He Han with complete composure.

The director called Ye Fan and He Han over to discuss the scene. Ye Fan quickly composed herself and walked over.

This scene involved the female and male leads in a narrow alley, where they encountered a group of searchers. With the enemy approaching, the two, in a moment of urgency, pretended to be close to each other to deceive the enemy.

The rising star, Duan Qi, was the boyfriend of Tang Jin. He had mentioned to her that he didn’t want her to perform intimate scenes. Although Tang Jin was willing to act alongside He Han, she had agreed to Duan Qi’s request.

As a result, Ye Fan would play the role of the fake couple in this scene.

With the lighting and cameras set, the scene began.

Outside the alley, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. The enemy was searching, and danger was closing in.

Ye Fan looked at He Han. “I hear footsteps.”

He Han’s expression grew serious. “They’re getting closer.”

“What should we do?” Ye Fan asked.

He Han lowered his head, his gaze briefly flicking to Ye Fan. She stood there, her slender neck pale and delicate. In the dim light of the alley, her skin was as white as snow.

He Han spoke slowly. “No matter what I do next, you must cooperate with me.”

Ye Fan was about to reach for her gun when, in the next moment, a pair of warm hands covered her wrist, and she was suddenly pulled backward.

Her body staggered, but the person beside her steadied her by the waist.

Ye Fan looked up, meeting He Han’s pitch-black eyes.

He Han spoke calmly, his voice cold. “We’re married.”

For the success of their mission, the two of them were playing the role of a fake couple.

Ye Fan remained silent, allowing He Han to pull her away. He Han took a few steps forward, and her back pressed against the cold, hard wall.

He Han bent down slowly, moving closer to Ye Fan. His crisp, cool breath enveloped her bit by bit.

With He Han so close, Ye Fan could almost feel the intensity of his dangerous gaze, bearing down on her.

It was overwhelming, inescapable.

Ye Fan wasn’t used to being so close to anyone. She instinctively turned her head, tilting it to the side, avoiding He Han’s gaze.

“Cut!” the director called out.

As soon as the director called for a stop, He Han straightened up and quickly detached from the scene. His eyes didn’t even glance at Ye Fan.

His expression remained neutral, no hint of emotion showing.

The intimate pose from earlier had been purely for the performance.

The director frowned and looked at Ye Fan. “Ye Fan, in that scene, you shouldn’t have looked away.”

According to the script, Ye Fan was supposed to maintain eye contact with He Han.

Ye Fan recognized her mistake and lowered her gaze. “Sorry, director. I’ll pay more attention next time.”

She had no formal acting training, but she was determined to learn, no matter how long it took.

The director waved his hand. “Let’s do it again.”

Ye Fan took a deep breath and composed herself. She steadied her emotions as He Han’s indifferent gaze met hers.

This time, she didn’t avert her eyes.

He Han bent down again, his body leaning closer. He stared at Ye Fan, then raised his hand to gently brush the hair away from her forehead.

“Sorry, but this is unavoidable,” He Han’s low voice resonated, now tinged with a hint of hoarseness.

In the next moment, He Han gently tugged at Ye Fan’s collar.

The fabric of her clothes shifted downward, exposing a small, delicate shoulder. Ye Fan felt a chill on her shoulder, and her ears suddenly grew warm.

Behind her was the cold wall, and in front of her was He Han’s warm breath.

Ye Fan was trapped in this confined space, with nowhere to escape.

She clenched her fists tightly.

The sound of footsteps grew closer outside the alley, and the muffled noise of the enemy’s search could almost be heard.

At this moment, He Han slowly bent down, and the distance between them grew even smaller, so close they could almost see into each other’s eyes.

Their breaths mixed and lingered together, the tension palpable in the air.

In the brief silence, the atmosphere turned charged with subtle intimacy.

He Han placed his hands on either side of Ye Fan, and they silently locked eyes.

His breath inched closer, and Ye Fan’s body stiffened, tension rising through her.

He Han’s gaze was dark and unreadable, slowly sweeping over Ye Fan’s eyes, lips, and neck.

Finally, his eyes settled on Ye Fan’s snow-white shoulder.

He continued to lean down, drawing closer.

His lips moved toward her shoulder.

His gaze lowered as his thin lips were almost grazing Ye Fan’s skin.

There was only an inch between them.

=^_^=