Font Size:
Secret
Jiang Xiao keenly noticed Zhou Qishen’s movements, swallowed nervously—pretending not to be nervous was futile, but she had to steel herself to speak, “Let me introduce, this is my senior in the industry, Ji Changzheng, and this…”
The first part came out smoothly until she paused inexplicably when introducing Zhou Qishen. After hesitating for a moment, she struggled to say the remaining words, “is my husband, Zhou Qishen.”
After speaking, Jiang Xiao felt somewhat stunned. Why did she feel ashamed now saying the title she could casually call out before?
Upon hearing the answer he wanted, Zhou Qishen’s lips twitched slightly upwards without making a sound.
“You’re married?” Ji Changzheng was genuinely shocked, his voice unintentionally raising a bit. He had considered several possibilities—brother, boyfriend, lover, or fling—but never expected “husband.”
People in their industry, regardless of gender, generally marry late. Jiang Xiao, a young woman just over twenty, was actually married so young?
Jiang Xiao raised a finger to her lips, gesturing for silence. “Yes, but it’s a secret.”
Ji Changzheng’s reaction was within Jiang Xiao’s expectations. Before realizing it, she had never imagined her life would turn out like this. Everything she did now was just to survive.
The reason she didn’t choose to hide it and instead truthfully told Ji Changzheng about her relationship with Zhou Qishen was because Zhou Qishen was right there, and she couldn’t lie in front of him.
Under Jiang Xiao’s reminder, Ji Changzheng regained his composure and nodded understandingly. “Got it. I won’t tell anyone.”
Although he said this aloud, he couldn’t help but feel regretful inside.
After spending this time together, he admitted that he had developed improper feelings for Jiang Xiao. After all, who wouldn’t like a cheerful, warm, and cute girl? Moreover, her family background was quite good. Although she occasionally had a bit of a stubborn temper, overall, she was a good girlfriend candidate.
The purpose of his visit today to deliver breakfast was to further deepen their relationship. He hadn’t expected to encounter such an unexpected obstacle midway through his plan. Now it seemed he had to give up; he wasn’t so vile as to make a move on a married woman.
Ji Changzheng secretly cast a glance at Zhou Qishen, but as soon as their eyes met, he felt a faintly hostile gaze, silently warning him to better retreat.
Men could tell a lot from just one look—what the other was like and what schemes they might have. Ji Changzheng wasn’t someone who didn’t know what was good for him. He cleared his throat and decided to give the breakfast and leave. “Here.”
“No need, take it back and eat it yourself. I’ve already ordered breakfast from the hotel,” Jiang Xiao waved her hand to decline.
“It’s specially bought for you. I’ve already eaten breakfast.,” Ji Changzheng said succinctly.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiao reluctantly accepted it. When she took it, it was quite heavy. Glancing roughly, there were quite a few types of breakfast.
Watching the other person leave, Jiang Xiao suddenly remembered there was someone else beside her.
Zhou Qishen leaned lazily against the door frame, his posture relaxed. Perhaps feeling neglected for too long, he looked at her with drooping eyelids, his expression indifferent, seemingly lacking interest.
“Are you two close?” His chin lifted smoothly, his tone casual, showing no emotions.
Jiang Xiao sensed something amiss and carefully chose her words, saying, “Just… average?”
Zhou Qishen pursed his lips slightly, a hint of a smile in his eyes as he said, “Then can he also call you Xiaoxiao?”
“People around me all call me that. Is there a problem with that nickname?” Jiang Xiao shrugged inexplicably. Perhaps she was used to it since childhood, or perhaps reduplicating syllables made them seem more intimate to each other. She didn’t think it was a big deal.
After hearing this, Zhou Qishen raised his eyebrow thoughtfully and slowly said, “No problem. Let me take this.”
After saying this, he took the large bag of breakfast from her hands proactively.
With someone helping to carry things, Jiang Xiao felt relaxed and leisurely followed him.
During filming, they needed to control their diet to maintain their weight. Ji Changzheng, also an actor, naturally understood this point. He had prepared low-calorie, low-fat foods: boiled eggs, broccoli, whole wheat bread, two cups of unsweetened soy milk, corn, cucumber, and so on, totaling twelve kinds.
Was he treating her like a pig? Buying so much for one person?
Jiang Xiao rolled her eyes and looked at the headache-inducing breakfast on the table. After thinking for two seconds, she decisively called the hotel front desk, telling them not to deliver breakfast today.
If Jiang Xiao and Zhou Qishen didn’t waste what Ji Changzheng bought, it would be good enough.
While she was making the call, Zhou Qishen had already placed the breakfast on the dining table. When he bent over, the bathrobe inadvertently opened a bit, revealing a small piece of flawless white skin.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xiao unconsciously raised her eyes and happened to catch a glimpse of his concave collarbones. Looking deeper, she saw large chest muscles and clearly defined abdominal muscles, tight and sexy, making her ears feel hot.
Soon, Zhou Qishen noticed the girl’s discomfort and looked down at her gaze. He saw the loose bathrobe and adjusted his collar with his right hand while lightly tapping the table with his left hand.
However, Jiang Xiao was still immersed in admiring his physique, completely unaware of his subtle emotional changes. Even after he covered up the scenery, she still regretfully gnashed her teeth, seeming indifferent and unreserved.
Seeing this, Zhou Qishen’s eyes flashed with a hint of tranquility, but he didn’t expose her peeking behavior. He just helplessly said, “You eat first. I’ll go change.”
Jiang Xiao’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Her amber-like clear eyes stared straight into his, asking, “I’ll be doing makeup for the shoot later. Will you stay at the hotel to rest, or will you return to Beijing?”
She asked like this, partly because he hadn’t rested well last night, and partly to test how long he would stay in Hengdian. After all, she still needed him very much and didn’t want him to leave so early.
Zhou Qishen stood straight, his deep gaze fixed on her. Suddenly, inexplicably, he chuckled, “Didn’t you ask me to be your pendant? Are you willing to let me leave?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiao almost choked on her own saliva. Memories of last night’s ambiguous teasing flashed back, causing an inexplicable embarrassment to surge within her. Her face alternated between red and pale, unable to speak for a moment.
“I… “
Out of selfishness, she definitely didn’t want him to leave, but hearing it from him made the situation suddenly more intimate.
Zhou Qishen just wanted to tease her, not to force an answer out of her. He walked over and rubbed her head, laughing, “Don’t worry, I won’t leave for the next few days.”
His movements disheveled the hair on her forehead, making it flutter around, obscuring her view, and she could only vaguely see the handsome smile on his lips.
Soon, his tall figure walked away, leaving Jiang Xiao standing there. Her heart was pounding, making her chest and throat feel itchy and numb.
*
The sun was shining brightly without a cloud in the sky, scorching hot at noon.
Not to mention that the actors had to wear thick ancient costumes and film outdoors. Whether it was the lead actors or extras, they were all sweating profusely, wishing they could hide inside the wind machines used to create atmosphere.
Figures moved around the set, and Jiang Xiao, sitting in a makeshift tent waiting for her scenes, couldn’t even be bothered to look at her phone, instead using a mini fan to blow air on her face.
The ground was hot, and even though there was wind, it only brought hot air. But it was still better than nothing.
Hot weather also meant that makeup would wear off quickly. To ensure the effect, the lead actors needed touch-ups every so often, slowing down the usual progress.
The assistant director wiped the sweat from his forehead, sighed, and waved his hand, “Everyone, take a twenty-minute break.”
Upon hearing this, the actors and crew all swarmed towards shady spots.
Ji Changzheng, who had been baking in the sun for half an hour, also walked over to Jiang Xiao and sat down on a prepared stool. His assistant immediately handed him a fan and a water cup.
After gulping down the water, Ji Changzheng sighed, “It’s really hot.”
“Tell me about it.” Jiang Xiao absent-mindedly echoed.
She had been in the shade for a while now, feeling hot and restless, with sweat on her chest and back, not to mention Ji Changzheng.
The two chatted casually while waiting. Later, they were going to film an important fight scene where the male lead, played by Ji Changzheng, rescues the female lead from the antagonist, and they are trapped in a maze with their lives at stake, sealing their love with a kiss.
The makeup artist touched up Ji Changzheng’s makeup, adding battle scars to his existing look.
Having finished her makeup, Jiang Xiao looked around boredly. Some crew members were resetting the stage, while actors were reviewing their scripts. She inadvertently met Qin Yuanyuan’s gaze not far away.
They both hesitated for a moment, then rolled their eyes simultaneously and looked away.
After spending some time together, Jiang Xiao confirmed one thing: they were destined not to get along. Qin Yuanyuan didn’t like her, and whenever they crossed paths on set, she would surely make sarcastic remarks.
Jiang Xiao wasn’t a saint either. She would retort when necessary, and whenever she saw Qin Yuanyuan fuming, she found it amusing, adding a bit of fun to the boring moments on set.
Unexpectedly, Qin Yuanyuan seemed to have a change of heart or was too lazy to bother, as she didn’t mock Jiang Xiao. Jiang Xiao found this somewhat surprising.
Suddenly, there was a commotion on the set.
Most of the people passing by held a cup of cold drink in their hands, branded with a slightly expensive milk tea brand from outside the studio. Each cup cost quite a bit, in contrast to other milk teas priced around ten to twenty yuan.
Looks like someone was treating them to milk tea, Jiang Xiao thought.
With hundreds of people on the crew, treating everyone to drinks would cost thousands. For the higher-income group of actors, it wasn’t a big deal, and it could also help build a good reputation. Many people would do it, and Jiang Xiao had treated others as well.
Jiang Xiao silently speculated in her mind about who it could be, but then heard someone shout through a megaphone, “Sister Xiaoxiao has prepared cooling herbal tea for everyone. If you need it, come over here to get it.”
As soon as the announcement was made, the crowd echoed with a chorus of “Thank you, Sister Xiaoxiao.”
Jiang Xiao pointed at herself, puzzled, “Me?”
Her assistant Xiao Zhang also looked confused. Usually, these things were handled by her, but this time Jiang Xiao hadn’t informed her. Could it be arranged by Sister Liang?
Many people headed towards the place to get milk tea, and Qin Yuanyuan, who had been sitting in her place, quickly disappeared. Jiang Xiao didn’t believe she went to get milk tea, but she didn’t care what she was up to either.
What Jiang Xiao was currently pondering was who had arranged the milk tea in her name.
Before long, a possible answer flashed through her mind.
**
Hey guys, don’t forget to check out Ayalee’s other translation projects ʚ(*´꒳`*)ɞ
Ongoing
Completed
Ayalee[Translator]
Hi there! Aya here 🌸 If you're enjoying my translations, feel free to treat me to a Ko-fi—it would absolutely make my day! Thank you for your support! ｡˚🐈⬛.𖥔 ݁ ˖