In Shi Yi’s impression, Ying Ming was someone who, most of the time, didn’t seem to care much.

Although the two of them couldn’t be considered particularly close, whenever they interacted, if it came to a point where one of them had to give way, it was usually Ying Ming who stepped back.

He seemed like the type who would argue and get serious, but in reality, he viewed things more lightly than most people.

He could be wild when having fun, but he was often the one who stayed clear-headed in the end.

Perhaps because he was an actor, traces of that naturally bled into his life. You could sense that you’d never really touch the core of who he was. What he let you see was only what he wanted you to see.

This was one reason why Shi Yi had never gotten too close to Ying Ming.

Shi Yi was used to seeing through the people around him, but Ying Ming wasn’t an easy person to figure out.

It wasn’t that he was completely unfathomable.

But you’d definitely have to put in the effort. And that outer shell of Ying Ming’s was, to him, a source of pride.

Shi Yi had no intention of digging deeper.

Doing so would be stressful for both him and Ying Ming. They were just friends. There was no need to complicate things.

That’s why Shi Yi had never seen the aggressive side of Ying Ming.

Even though he had always known it existed.

When someone is on the verge of losing their temper, the time it takes for them to actually explode is often very brief.

When Ying Ming felt that sudden pressure on his arm for the seventh time, his temper flared instantly. He stood up abruptly without caring whether Dong Xiao had regained his balance. With that force, Dong Xiao nearly toppled to the ground.

He stumbled back three steps before barely managing to steady himself, his expression looking somewhat disheveled.

The others were also caught off guard and glanced at Ying Ming in surprise.

Ying Ming patted his arm. As the center of attention, his face showed no expression.

Adjusting his stance and resuming his ready position, he didn’t even lift his head. “The force wasn’t right just now. Let’s do it again.”

Even the director paused in surprise.

Ying Ming was never a troublesome actor during filming. His NG count was notably low, and since he had asked for another take, no one could really object.

The awkward one was Dong Xiao.

Anyone with eyes could tell that Ying Ming’s move just now had been intentional. Caught off guard, Dong Xiao’s reaction made him look humiliated.

He wasn’t happy about it.

When he kicked the second time, he used even more force than before. It was probably the hardest kick he had ever thrown.

The frustration burning in his chest made him feel stifled.

Ever since his debut, Ying Ming had always overshadowed him. Dong Xiao had prepared for years, sacrificing so much just to finally land that one opportunity, only for a rookie who came out of nowhere to snatch everything away.

All that glory should have been his.

The company had expected him to win Best Newcomer that year. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he had been the most promising candidate.

But in the end, he lost.

Not only did he lose the award to Ying Ming, but he also had to play second fiddle to him in later films, a forgettable classmate nobody even remembered.

He’d been stewing over that for over a decade, and now he finally had the chance to even the score.

Fortunes change, and now it was Ying Ming’s turn to play a supporting role for him. And not even as prominent as Dong Xiao had been back then. Strictly speaking, Ying Ming was just a supporting character’s sidekick.

If it weren’t for Liu Li and Wang Yiqi, no one would even remember Ying Ming once this film wrapped.

Those past memories had already been completely forgotten by most people.

Dong Xiao had planned it all out. During the movie’s promotional period, if a reporter brought it up during an interview, he would mention his previous collaboration with Ying Ming. He intended to remind people that things were different now, that he was no longer the same person as before.

But things didn’t go his way.

At this point, if he couldn’t regain his pride, he wouldn’t be able to let it go.

So, with this kick, he put all his strength into it. The ferocity on his face wasn’t just acting.

Shi Yi noticed it.

He frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to warn Ying Ming. He wasn’t part of the entertainment circle and didn’t know much about the unspoken rules on set.

But Ying Ming’s reaction was faster than any warning.

Before Dong Xiao’s foot could make contact, Ying Ming dodged. He moved so quickly that the others barely had time to react, and Dong Xiao, caught off guard, ended up kicking the ground hard.

A sharp jolt shot through him, from his heel all the way up to the back of his head, like an electric current.

It was a pain that was impossible to describe in words.

Dong Xiao sucked in a breath, feeling like his face had probably turned pale. He watched as Ying Ming rolled smoothly out of the way, stood up, and gave him a cool, indifferent glance.

“Dong Xiao, that’s not how you do a leg split. Your aim is way off.”

As he spoke, Ying Ming raised his leg and brought it down hard on a wooden plank nearby.

That plank was actually a prop, made from a material far more brittle than regular wood.

Despite the prop’s brittleness, Ying Ming’s strike still startled everyone on set.

Dong Xiao hadn’t yet recovered from the pain when Ying Ming turned to him and smiled. “That is how you do it.”

It felt like being slapped in the face in front of everyone.

For a long moment, he was at a loss for words.

The people around them watched in silence, unsure how to react to the sudden turn of events.

After about five seconds, the director cleared his throat softly and told the lighting and camera crew to get ready. “Alright, let us do another take.”

But Dong Xiao didn’t move.

His face was stiff as he turned around. “Director, maybe we should take a break. I need to get into the right mindset.”

Even his voice was hoarse.

Everyone could tell how humiliated he felt. The director, sensing the tension, went along with it and announced a ten-minute break.

Ying Ming shook out his hands and walked past Dong Xiao to the side. Just as he passed the camera, he glanced up and saw Shi Yi.

“Hey?”

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “What brings you here?”

Shi Yi smiled and followed him to the side. “Didn’t think you had it in you. Been training?”

“Just a bit of boxing,” Ying Ming replied, tugging at the corner of his mouth. If he had started with Sanda instead, that kick wouldn’t have been as restrained as it was.

He didn’t say that part out loud, but Shi Yi’s smile deepened. “Looks to me like your legs are more effective than his hands.”

Ying Ming turned to look at him but stayed silent.

The two of them exchanged smiles, neither saying another word.

Some people just enjoy making life difficult.

You offer them an easy life, and they refuse to take it.

The two of them found a spot away from the crowd. Ying Ming glanced at the bruised makeup on his hand, gave it a light touch, then leaned back against the door. “Here to see Liu Li?”

“Yeah, just checking in.”

“You sure it’s a good idea to show up right now? Not afraid of getting swarmed?”

Shi Yi’s behavior at the moment could be summed up as walking straight into a trap. With the whole world eager to snap more ‘incriminating’ photos, he was basically heading straight into the line of fire.

Shi Yi took out a cigarette, lit it, and offered the pack to Ying Ming without any explanation.

Since he didn’t explain, Ying Ming didn’t ask. He leaned against the door, smoking in silence. There wasn’t any need to force conversation, and it didn’t feel awkward either.

After a while, Liu Li arrived.

She scanned the crowd twice before spotting Shi Yi smoking in the corner with Ying Ming. Her smile, bright as ever, lit up her face as she headed straight for them.

On set, Liu Li was always the center of attention.

So when she walked toward Ying Ming and Shi Yi, it wasn’t long before someone noticed the unfamiliar face next to her.

“Isn’t that… the guy from the photo?” someone whispered.

The single comment was like pouring water into hot oil.

A ripple of excitement ran through the set.

Ying Ming glanced sideways, then shook his head. “The main attraction has arrived. I better clear the way.”

He was halfway through his cigarette and had it dangling from his lips when he turned to leave, just before Liu Li reached them.

Shi Yi grabbed his arm before he could go.

“Finish your smoke. Let’s grab lunch after this.”

His tone was casual, as though he wasn’t at all concerned about the curious stares directed at them. As Liu Li approached with a smile that reached her eyes, Shi Yi’s own smile deepened, his amusement obvious.

Hadn’t someone written about him and Ying Ming not getting along?

Well, since he was already here, he might as well clear up those baseless rumors too.

Before Ying Ming could finish his cigarette, reporters appeared on the scene.

It wasn’t clear whether they had been lying in wait nearby, but as soon as they spotted Liu Li, they swarmed her. They didn’t dare approach Shi Yi directly and instead shoved their microphones toward Ying Ming.

He sidestepped them smoothly, and waved them off with a smile, making it clear he had no intention of giving any interviews.

Ying Ming stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into the trash can, then gave Shi Yi a light pat on the shoulder. “You two go ahead and grab lunch. I’ve still got scenes to shoot.”

Shi Yi turned his head slightly. “Next time, then. I’ll give you my number.”

“Sure.”

With a brief nod, Ying Ming slipped away toward the filming area. The director spotted him and signaled for Dong Xiao to get ready as well. Meanwhile, the crew took the opportunity to clear the set.

Liu Li handled the reporters with her usual poise. Her responses didn’t vary much from the usual canned answers, and whenever they brought up Shi Yi, she skillfully avoided giving any clear details.

But when it was time to leave, she and Shi Yi walked away hand in hand.

As they turned to go, cameras flashed wildly, capturing every step. The two of them ignored the frenzy, paying no attention to the lenses trained on them.

Shi Yi had shown up today for one purpose, to make their relationship public.

There was no need for a formal press conference. Sometimes, a simple gesture was enough to say it all.

Liu Li kept smiling gracefully.

She had always cultivated an image of elegance and class. To many, she was the quintessential dream woman, beautiful, poised, and intelligent. A goddess in the eyes of her admirers. It wasn’t surprising that she had ended up with someone like Shi Yi. To most people, it seemed perfectly natural, the ideal match.

A classic case of wealth and beauty, the hallmark of celebrity relationships.

Ying Ming watched their retreating figures for a long moment before slowly pulling his gaze back.

Dong Xiao was still glaring at him, clearly seething over what had happened earlier. His sharp, furious eyes made it obvious that if it weren’t for the cameras and crew, he would probably have thrown a punch right then and there.

It was also obvious that Dong Xiao wasn’t the type to let a grudge go. If the chance ever came, he would definitely remember today.

The thought made Ying Ming chuckle unexpectedly.

He had always assumed that the rebellious streak in him had been worn down by the passage of time.

But, as it turned out, there was still a little left.