The end-of-filming banquet was set for Lixia (the beginning of summer), but the temperatures had already risen long before.

Guan Ciyan had another two batches of clothes sent over. His and Jian Yang’s summer clothes were now stored in the same wardrobe. Looking at the brand-new outfits, Jian Yang couldn’t help but smile. “Wow, we’re about to leave, and you’re still bringing over so much.”

He picked up a trendy white T-shirt with a dog-head print and held it up against himself. “Their designs are really nice, huh? Can I wear this for hiking? It’d look great in sunrise photos.”

Guan Ciyan lounged lazily in a chair. “There’s a hat too. Try it on.”

The hat had a silver metal ring on the brim, cut from denim fabric. The dangling ring added a touch of high-end fashion. Jian Yang looked in the mirror and murmured, “No wonder they call this a statement piece… Hmm, put together like this, I could shoot a magazine cover.”

Turning around, Jian Yang made a peace sign at Guan Ciyan, who snapped a photo and sent it to him.

“Sir, next time you take a picture, can you position me in the lower half of the frame? Makes my legs look longer…” Jian Yang had become increasingly playful with Guan Ciyan. Probably because Guan Ciyan didn’t scold him anymore, Jian Yang was getting bolder.

And ever since Guan Ciyan had crossed the line, he had stayed at the film set, maintaining a steady frequency of three times a week. Not too exhausting, but not too relaxing either. When Jian Yang got tired, he got cranky, and Guan Ciyan simply took it all in stride. This gave Jian Yang a certain level of confidence.

A friend-with-benefits should get better treatment than an employee!

Right now, Guan Ciyan’s value to him was skyrocketing. Without even realizing it, his ass had increased his core competitiveness!

“Alright, let’s retake the photo.” Guan Ciyan stepped back to the window with his phone. Just as Jian Yang struck a pose, a message from Bai Shun popped up.

“Come help me pick an outfit! Urgent!”

Guan Ciyan, annoyed, deleted the message. But then he thought of Bai Shun, still all alone, neither here nor there. After taking another photo for Jian Yang, he called Bai Shun.

“I’m coming. What floor is your room? Got it…”

Jian Yang was still unsatisfied with the picture, but when he looked up, he saw Guan Ciyan stepping out while talking on the phone. He vaguely caught words like “room” and “floor”.

Jian Yang tilted his head. Ever since Guan Ciyan had stayed at the set, he would disappear from time to time. But since the film studio was his property, Jian Yang never asked much—assuming it was work.

But… would work involve a hotel room?

Jian Yang shook his head. Stay calm, Jian Yang. A proper friend-with-benefits doesn’t interfere in the other’s personal life.
Besides giving technical guidance in bed, there should be no overstepping.

---

Bai Shun’s room was on the second floor because the third to fifth floors were reserved for the film crew—and Wen Ye wouldn’t let him stay upstairs. So, he was stuck with a regular double room. His clothes couldn’t even fit properly in the small space. Bai Shun laid out two suits on the bed: one mint green, one dark brown plaid.

“Which one looks better?”

Guan Ciyan stared at both outfits, speechless.

“Don’t you have a stylist? I can get someone from Fuyu Saint Hall to help you.”

“No, no!” Bai Shun stopped him. “Wen Ye’s seen me looking all polished before. Having a stylist do it wouldn’t be sincere.”

“…And these two look sincere to you?” Guan Ciyan deadpanned.

“When we first met, I was only twenty. This was my taste, my budget… And back then, he really liked me.”

This was beyond Guan Ciyan’s expertise. He hesitated before speaking. “Didn’t you say you wanted a fresh start? I think choosing something that fits the current moment is better. You can’t truly go back to the past. Letting him accept who you are now is more important.”

Bai Shun thought about it. “Damn, outsiders really do see things more clearly.”

“But I don’t have time to find something new now…” Bai Shun quickly contacted his agent to select an outfit. Their clothes were usually arranged in advance with brand partners, but Bai Shun didn’t want to settle for something random for this moment.

Guan Ciyan sized him up. “What’s your weight?”

The two were about the same height, and Bai Shun seemed to keep up with his physique. Guan Ciyan had just received a new batch of clothes, and Jian Yang’s latest outfit came from it.

---

Meanwhile, Jian Yang had gone out for a walk after waiting for Guan Ciyan to return.

He wanted Su Jin to check out his new look.

As he walked through the hotel lobby, he ran into Guan Ciyan’s assistant. Jian Yang lifted a hand to greet him but suddenly blanked. What was his name again?

Since Assistant Lin left, Guan Ciyan had changed assistants several times, seemingly unable to find someone he liked.

As Jian Yang hesitated, he noticed the assistant carrying seven or eight shopping bags.

His body reacted before his mind could process it.

“Our clothes were already delivered.”

Something in Jian Yang suddenly tensed.

Their clothes had already been delivered. So who were these for?

His chest tightened as he waited for the assistant’s reply.

The assistant greeted him politely. “Young Master Jian, hello. Yes, I just got the message to send another batch.”

Jian Yang relaxed his grip. “Alright. I’m heading upstairs too. Let’s go together.”

Guan Ciyan didn’t like communicating directly with new assistants—he thought they weren’t worth his time. Jian Yang didn’t want to make things difficult either, so he just followed the assistant into the elevator.

He went to the top floor. The assistant pressed 2F.

---

Jian Yang understood immediately.

The clothes weren’t for him.

Perhaps giving out clothes was just another way for Guan Ciyan to win people over. Since the film city was his business, offering some perks to outstanding employees was perfectly normal. After all, Guan Ciyan was a generous boss.

Not only did he send him clothes, but he even sent his own body to his bed.

It’s fine.

Jian Yang told himself that he and Guan Ciyan were just bed partners. To put it bluntly, Guan Ciyan could even be considered his financial backer—though, to be fair, he also helped Guan Ciyan make money. So, it wasn’t a big deal for Guan Ciyan to be generous with others.

That’s how things should be!

It was good that Guan Ciyan cared for his subordinates. If his business thrived, Jian Yang could rely on him to get more resources.

Jian Yang had thought it through, but he no longer felt like showing Su Jin his new clothes.

When Guan Ciyan returned, Jian Yang was sitting by the window, staring blankly outside. The golden hues of the setting sun flickered in his amber eyes, highlighting a side profile that was breathtakingly beautiful. Yet, despite this, he didn’t seem happy.

Guan Ciyan paused at the doorway.

He had never seen Jian Yang with this kind of expression before. Even when Jian Yang was furious, he would furrow his brows, widen his eyes, and chatter nonstop with words meant to annoy him. “Silence” was a word that simply didn’t belong in Jian Yang’s world.

Guan Ciyan suddenly thought of his mother. She, too, had started with silence. Then came prolonged silence. And finally, she forgot about him entirely, attempting to end her life countless times.

Guan Ciyan glanced at his watch.

He had only been gone for an hour.

What had happened? Did Jian Yang go out?

Seeing the pair of shoes at the entrance, Guan Ciyan bent down, placed them neatly inside the shoe cabinet, adjusted his expression, and walked over with a smile.

“What are you thinking about? You look like I just went bankrupt.”

He pinched Jian Yang’s cheek, knowing how much he loved money, and continued, “Even if I go bankrupt, I can still afford to take care of you.”

Jian Yang looked up and smiled along with him. “Going bankrupt doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Hm?” Guan Ciyan didn’t understand.

Jian Yang was always pushing him to work hard, terrified that one of his projects might run out of funding.

“If you go bankrupt, I’ll take care of you,” Jian Yang laughed. “I can afford to take care of one you—I’m not supporting a whole bunch of people.”

Guan Ciyan froze. “Are you saying you’ll take care of me? But only if I go bankrupt?”

“No,” Jian Yang realized his words sounded off and quickly explained, “I didn’t mean to jinx you.”

“I know.”

Guan Ciyan scooped him up from the window seat and carried him to the couch. Jian Yang simply curled up in his lap, resting snugly in his arms.

“I won’t make you take care of me.”

He couldn’t bear to see Jian Yang suffer.

Still, hearing those words from him was unexpectedly heartwarming. Even if Jian Yang liked him for his money, that was fine—he had plenty of it.

But knowing that Jian Yang would still like him even if he had nothing? That was even more satisfying.

To be precise, it made him feel… happy.

Jian Yang sighed inwardly.

If Guan Ciyan really went bankrupt… he realized he wouldn’t actually mind that much.

If he could support his sister, then he could definitely support Guan Ciyan too.

Unfortunately, Guan Ciyan would never go bankrupt.

Jian Yang leaned in and kissed the corner of Guan Ciyan’s lips.

Guan Ciyan was momentarily stunned.

It seemed… this was the first time Jian Yang had ever kissed him.

Then, Jian Yang pressed closer, his lips brushing against Guan Ciyan’s ear. His cheek lightly nuzzled against the side of his face as he whispered in a breathy voice—

“Sir.”

When caught up in the moment, Jian Yang loved calling him that. He also liked clinging to his chest, rubbing up against him affectionately.

The intention behind it was obvious.

Guan Ciyan tightened his grip around Jian Yang’s waist, dropping a soft kiss on his neck. His teeth lightly grazed his skin as he murmured—

“You’re not shy today.”

Jian Yang had always been passive in bed—not initiating but never refusing either. Guan Ciyan had found it a little regretful… but at the same time, it was undeniably exciting.

The person in his arms knew nothing, understood nothing, and was waiting for him to slowly guide him.

Like now—Jian Yang was mimicking him, kissing his Adam’s apple just as he had done to him before.

Guan Ciyan deliberately restrained his reaction, waiting for Jian Yang to take the initiative. When he hesitated, Guan Ciyan would teasingly tug at his collar, provoking him just enough to make it unbearable.

Then, he waited for Jian Yang to copy him, fumbling to undo his buttons.

Still, Jian Yang had his own preferences. His hands always wandered over his chest and abs, his flushed face revealing an unmistakable look of admiration.

Whenever that happened, Guan Ciyan would punish him just a little for being so easily distracted.

Until Jian Yang was gasping for breath.

“Enough… enough, sir.”

Jian Yang had made the first move, yet he was the first to surrender.

Guan Ciyan pulled him into his arms and sighed, “Idiot.”

Jian Yang’s heart sank.

It seemed… he wasn’t particularly competitive in bed either.

Guan Ciyan tossed him onto the bed, pinning him down.

Jian Yang buried his face in the blanket, biting his lip hard.

After getting past the initial moments, he let out soft, breathy moans—

“Sir, sir…”

“I want to see you.”

“Okay?”