Chapter 11: Quite a Coincidence

“Yes, it’s my shirt.”

The handsome man’s voice was clear and straightforward. “Your clothes were soaked with alcohol last night. But there weren’t any women’s clothes at home, so I had the housekeeper change you into a shirt.”

“It’s new.”

Pei Heng added with a smile, “Yaoyao, don’t worry.”

The little beauty’s long lashes fluttered as she felt a little embarrassed. She politely thanked him,

“Thank you, Mr. Pei.”

“I’ll take it off and wash it before returning it to you later.”

For a moment, the man’s deep gaze lingered on her, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly. An inexplicable thirst stirred within him.

His exquisitely sculpted face remained expressionless as he responded in a calm voice,

“No need to wash it.”

Of course, he was just being polite—there was no way she could really not wash it before returning it.

After changing into the clothes the housekeeper brought, Jiang Yaoyao picked up the shirt she had taken off and was just about to head to the bathroom.

The housekeeper, smiling warmly, interrupted her. “Miss Jiang, you don’t need to wash it.”

“Our sir never wears the same clothes twice. Even if you wash it, no one will wear it again.”

The efficient housekeeper casually took the shirt from her hands.

“Miss Jiang, sir is still waiting for you to have breakfast.”

“I’ll take care of the shirt for you.”

—

Carrying the shirt over her arm, the housekeeper left the guest room and walked through the house, turning twice along the intricately carved mahogany staircase before stepping into the study.

Seated at the desk, the man wore a black dress shirt, with golden sleeve garters clasped around his forearms. The stark contrast between black and gold only accentuated his refined and aristocratic features.

Hearing footsteps, he lazily lifted his gaze.

His cold, impassive face betrayed no emotions. His voice was just as distant.

“Did you bring it?”

“Yes, sir. Here’s what you asked for.”

The housekeeper, though unsure why he wanted the shirt, still handed it over respectfully. She was naturally meticulous and couldn’t help but ask,

“Sir, since Miss Jiang wore it, should I have it washed for you?”

A pair of icy eyes landed on her face. “No need.”

The housekeeper nodded, then quietly closed the door behind her as she left.

—

Inside the study.

The handsome man lowered his gaze to the white shirt in his hands, his expression unreadable—neither happy nor sad.

His half-lidded eyes exuded an air of cold restraint, like a high and distant mountain flower—untouched, untouchable.

Devoid of any worldly desires.

Yet, in the next instant, his slender fingers tightened around the fabric. The veins on the back of his hand became pronounced.

Holding the shirt delicately, as if it were some rare treasure seized by a possessive dragon.

He lifted it close to his nose.

And inhaled.

His sharp brows twitched slightly as his gaze drifted to the dark-tinted glass panel nearby.

His reflection stared back at him.

Deep-set eyes, slightly upturned at the corners.

A pair of long, narrow phoenix eyes, tinged with cool indifference—like a devout monk who had unexpectedly fallen into the mortal world.

Restrained yet undeniably alluring.

—

Breakfast at the Pei household was a lavish affair.

The steamed chicken feet in lily sauce were uniquely flavored—tender, fall-off-the-bone delicious, bursting with richness at every bite. Shrimp dumplings were sweet and fresh, beef meatballs were bouncy and chewy. The duo of millet cakes—one fragrant with red bean, the other rich with coconut—each had its own charm. The crab roe buns were steaming hot with a mouthwatering aroma, while the braised goose feet melted effortlessly on the tongue…

Jiang Yaoyao’s cheeks were puffed up as she ate, resembling an adorable little squirrel.

Anyone who looked at her would find their appetite growing.

In contrast, the man sitting across from her ate absentmindedly, his gaze never straying to the food—instead, it remained fixed on the slender figure before him.

“Yaoyao, what’s your plan after breakfast?”

Jiang Yaoyao, currently scooping up a spoonful of seafood egg custard, looked up at him upon hearing the question.

“I have to go to the film set.”

“Film set?”

The man chuckled softly, as if he wasn’t entirely sure, and confirmed with her:

“You mean Director Gu Zhang’s film, the one we saw yesterday?”

The little beauty obediently nodded.

In truth, she was a bit conflicted.

Based on what happened yesterday, Gu Zhang was definitely no good.

He didn’t seem like a serious director at all—more like a sleazy middleman.

But she had already signed the contract. If she broke it, she’d have to pay an enormous penalty—so large that even selling her house wouldn’t be enough to cover it.

So even though she knew it was a trap, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and finish filming.

At the very least, she would never attend another one of their dinners again. Once filming was over, she’d leave as soon as possible.

Yes! And she needed to hire an assistant!

“I see…”

The man’s voice stretched slightly, carrying a hint of regret.

“Yaoyao, you probably don’t know yet, but your film has already been shut down.”

Jiang Yaoyao’s head snapped up. “What?!”

The man across from her let out a soft sigh and slid his phone across the table. The news article was displayed right in front of her.

The little beauty lowered her gaze and quickly skimmed through the article. Her stunning eyes filled with surprise.

“Someone reported our script for being a sensitive topic?”

“Gu Zhang was evading taxes?! He got summoned for questioning in the middle of the night?”

The man’s lips held a faint smile, his dark eyes deep and unreadable. The amusement never quite reached his eyes.

“Quite the coincidence, isn’t it?”

Jiang Yaoyao pushed the phone back, mumbling under her breath.

“Serves him right.”

“Honestly, I wasn’t that interested in filming this project anyway…”

“Oh?”

The man suddenly seemed very interested in this topic.

“Then what kind of project would you like to be in?”

The little beauty, with her rosy lips and pearly teeth, shook her head. She was quite self-aware and replied matter-of-factly:

“With my status, it’s always the roles picking me, not the other way around.”

“I do have a few friends in the film industry. If you don’t mind, I could ask around and see if any productions are currently casting.”

The little beauty, who had been quietly eating, suddenly looked up. Her dewy eyes, filled with a thin layer of mist, tilted slightly as she gazed at him—her expression laced with subtle suspicion.

It was as if she was silently asking him: Why are you suddenly so interested in helping me?

Before Jiang Yaoyao could voice her question, the man set down his chopsticks.

“But I can’t guarantee I’ll actually be able to help you.”

“After all, I’m just an outsider. I don’t know much about your entertainment industry.”

Hearing this, she nodded. The wariness on her delicate face melted away, replaced by a bright, crescent-eyed smile.

“Thank you, Mr. Pei.”

Like a little creature with a strong sense of self-preservation.

The moment someone treated her a little too well, she immediately suspected ulterior motives—wondering if there was a hidden cage waiting to trap her.

Meanwhile, Pei Heng’s phone, resting on the table, suddenly lit up, and several WeChat messages popped up in succession:

【You want a strong female lead, but she can’t have a romantic subplot? And she can’t suffer at all in the story?】

【I’m begging you, bro! Pei bro! Don’t make this hard for me.】

【The moment I mentioned these conditions, the entire writing team at the company started crying.】

【Here, take the pen. You write it yourself!】