Living Together

Zhou Qishen stood tall and imposing in place, his white shirt unbuttoned at the top, his arm draped in a gray suit jacket, exuding an air of casual indifference. Even his words were lazily spoken, “Can you stop calling me Mr. Zhou? It sounds strange.”

“Huh?” Jiang Xiao’s smile froze, a few question marks seeming to appear above her head. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, “Then what should I call you?”

In her heart, a vague guess emerged—could he want her to continue calling him husband? After all, they were legally married now, so calling him that wouldn’t be unreasonable.

But before, it was just acting for survival that forced her to keep calling him that. Now, thinking back, she found it incredibly awkward. With everything laid bare, she couldn’t easily say it again.

Zhou Qishen noticed her tangled and contemplative expression, understanding her misunderstanding. He showed a keen interest in her dilemma, staring at her intently for a while before raising an eyebrow slightly, “Just be more casual. You can just call me by my name.”

Jiang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief but also felt embarrassed for guessing wrong. She smiled and nodded, “Okay, I’ll call you Zhou, Zhou Qishen from now on…”

Perhaps she was too nervous; her words came out a bit stuttered, with a slightly husky tone at the end, sounding awkward.

Zhou Qishen didn’t seem to mind at all that someone said his name so awkwardly. On the contrary, he smiled, the slight curve of his lips adding a charming touch. “Then I’ll call you Xiaoxiao from now on.”

With that, he leisurely repeated her name twice under his breath, “Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao…”

His thin lips parted slightly, faintly red, each syllable pronounced deliberately and seriously, as if he was making an effort to get used to this new nickname.

After a moment, Zhou Qishen turned to look her straight in the eyes, his gaze unwavering. In a low voice, he repeated once more, “Xiaoxiao.”

Jiang Xiao felt a tingling sensation from being called by him. She had been used to those two words her whole life, but hearing them from his mouth somehow gave them a new flavor, as if tinged with a hint of ambiguous intimacy.

Jiang Xiao thought she must be going crazy. Her eyes flickered, and she shifted her gaze to the sidewalk beside them, afraid to meet Zhou Qishen’s eyes, afraid of what he might see.

“Uh…”

After a while, she managed to utter a very light monosyllable from her throat in response.

Different from her awkwardness, Zhou Qishen maintained his aloof and noble demeanor, showing no extra expression. He asked, “What did you want to say just now?”

Jiang Xiao’s thoughts returned, and she cautiously turned her gaze back to Zhou Qishen. Carefully, she asked, “Mr. Zhou, can we live together?”

She almost forgot the primary purpose of agreeing to this contractual marriage.

A hint of imperceptible surprise flashed through Zhou Qishen’s dark eyes. After a moment of silence, his voice grew deeper, “You want to live with me?”

Hearing his hesitation, it was clear he had misunderstood her intentions. Jiang Xiao quickly explained, “I mean living together in the same place, but sleeping separately.”

“Weren’t you wanting us to cooperate in playing the loving couple? Living together would make it easier to act out the role, right?” A passing breeze lifted Jiang Xiao’s stray hair across her cheek, tickling her. She reached up to tuck it behind her ear, blinked her long eyelashes, and added.

Understanding dawned on Zhou Qishen. He raised his arm slightly, indicating they should discuss the specifics in the car.

The car interior was spacious, with a quiet atmosphere spreading. Zhou Qishen leaned on his chin, staring at her intently before speaking, “If you don’t mind, of course you can.”

“I’m fine with that,” Jiang Xia replied decisively.

Of course, she didn’t mind. She was eager to live with him and get more traffic every day. Getting married would directly increase her status to 45%, which was a good sign for her. Once she reached 100%, she could be free.

Zhou Qishen looked into her shining eyes and sensed something amiss, but what did it matter? She was already married to him, and even if there were pitfalls, he was willing to take the leap.

His eyebrows twitched slightly, a smile playing on his lips. “Should I move in, or do you want to come over?”

Having received so many benefits, Jiang Xiao didn’t want to trouble him further. She said, “I’ll move in.”

“When will you move in?” He nodded without hesitation, suggesting gently, “How about this weekend?”

Jiang Xia intended to agree immediately but suddenly slapped her forehead, quickly checking her phone’s reminders.

When she saw the highlighted note, Jiang Xiao knew her suspicions had been confirmed.

After a few moments of silence, she could only apologize, “Um, the moving plans will have to be postponed. I have to start filming in a few days, and I probably won’t have time to pack…”

This sudden news stunned Zhou Qishen.

The previously harmonious atmosphere instantly quieted down.

After a while, Zhou Qishen asked, “How long?”

“Probably three to four months?” Jiang Xia wasn’t sure. So much had happened these days that her mind was unusually chaotic. She had almost forgotten about such an important schedule.

The drama she was about to start filming was adapted from a male-oriented novel set in the Ming Dynasty. The cast and crew were top-notch, with the male lead and supporting actors being well-known in the industry. She could only be considered a secondary female lead.

The director was known for being strict, demanding natural performances, and focusing on an actor’s skill and strength. If an actor’s performance faltered, he would call for retakes. Actors who had worked with him usually couldn’t handle his autocratic ways; some even cried in private due to the pressure.

Therefore, after learning that she had passed the audition, Jiang Xiao specially cleared her schedule for the next six months to focus on the drama.

The filming schedule was roughly to start in Hengdian before moving to other locations. Filming in Hengdian would take about a month, followed by two to three months of continuous shooting across the country. Including promotional activities, it would likely take more than three to four months.

In other words, shortly after obtaining the certificate, they would have to live apart for six months…

Zhou Qishen proposed the marriage agreement just to deal with his family, but how could she help if his other half wasn’t in Beijing? This was completely contrary to his original intention.

In addition, there was another headache for her: she had to postpone her plan to capitalize on his traffic.

It was because of her work that she had wasted his time. He was in charge of such a large business empire and must be even busier than her. Therefore, she could not shamelessly beg Zhou Qishen to take time out to accommodate her. She could only find ways to increase the frequency of their meetings despite her busy schedule.

Jiang Xiao was upset, with her hands intertwined and her long fingertips scratching her palm. She said with some embarrassment, “I’ll come back to Beijing whenever I have time. Let’s meet again then.”

Zhou Qishen looked at her watery eyes, filled with guilt and remorse, as if apologizing to him.

“Work is more important; I’m fine with that.” Zhou Qishen’s voice was calm and flat, as always, showing understanding of her busyness.

This inadvertently gave Jiang Xia some confidence, so she reorganized her wording and said, “Have you ever been to Hengdian? If you haven’t, you can come and visit when you have time.”

She said this somewhat selfishly and suggestively. If Zhou Qishen was willing to visit the set occasionally during filming, it could make up for the shortcomings of being apart, at least allowing her to capitalize on his traffic.

As for Zhou Qishen, he quickly sensed her underlying meaning. “Do you want me to visit the set?”

Jiang Xiao tightened her grip on her palm. She wanted him to visit the set, but saying it outright would inevitably make it awkward. So she replied, “If you want to come, you can.”

“Of course, I know you’re busy, and Hengdian is quite far from Beijing. If it’s really inconvenient, forget it…”

At the same time, Jiang Xiao gave herself a way out to avoid embarrassment after being rejected.

“I’m not reluctant to go. I’m just afraid it will affect your career.” Zhou Qishen paused for a moment before continuing, “If I do come, are you not worried about rumors?”

It was normal for him to have this concern.

After all, Hengdian was the easiest place in the country to run into stars. There were plenty of fans waiting and paparazzi taking pictures, where one might accidentally be caught doing something uncivilized like smoking or spitting. Or there might be gossip about romantic affairs.

However, once their marriage was established, being discovered and exposed was only a matter of time. Considering this, Jiang Xiao felt there was no need to hide anything. She had never marketed herself as single. If she was caught, she would openly announce it. If she wasn’t caught, she didn’t want to reveal her private life to the public.

Lost in thought, Jiang Xiao suddenly realized something. She didn’t mind being public about it, but what about Zhou Qishen? There were probably few entrepreneurs willing to expose their private lives to the public.

Jiang Xiao glanced at him and tentatively asked in a low voice, “Um, we’re just in a contractual marriage, not a real relationship. So I don’t plan to announce it officially. But if we do get caught, I hope you’ll cooperate with me on handling public relations.”

Zhou Qishen understood her meaning clearly. His thin lips slowly curved upwards, his tone sounding quite pleased: “Alright, I’ll go.”

*

After parting ways with Zhou Qishen, Jiang Xiao went straight home and started packing her necessities.

Considering she would be settling in Hengdian for a long time, she decided to bring two suitcases: one for skincare and daily essentials, and the other for clothing. With less fabric in summer, packing wasn’t too difficult.

Due to frequent business trips, she had stocked up on travel sets online, streamlining the originally cumbersome process. Before long, both suitcases were packed neatly.

Upon arriving in Hengdian by plane, Jiang Xiao’s life returned to normalcy as if nothing had happened. If it weren’t for the extra red booklets at home, she might have thought that the recent experiences were just a dream brought on by mental confusion.

After resting for a night in the hotel suite arranged by the crew, Jiang Xiao woke up at five and changed into a custom-made short-sleeved shirt from the prop team. She left early to attend the opening ceremony scheduled for 8:18 AM.

Upon arriving at the scene, she heard someone greet her: “Xiaoxiao, long time no see.”

Jiang Xiao turned her head towards the voice and saw a tall figure. Clad in a tight black T-shirt that accentuated his well-built physique, with bare arms showcasing smooth muscle lines, his honey-colored skin complemented his deep-set eyes and high nose bridge, along with thin lips. His facial features were exceptionally striking.

The person speaking was Ji Changzheng, the male lead of this drama. Despite his rugged and masculine appearance, his personality was unusually gentle and approachable, akin to an elder brother next door. He began his career as a child star, rooted himself in the film industry, and became the youngest winner of the Best Actor award at the age of 16. With excellent reputation and skills, he remained at the forefront of the industry, having won numerous awards, though last year’s Golden Award for Best Actor ultimately went to Zhou Wenting.

Jiang Xiao had been filming TV dramas since her debut, and their paths hadn’t crossed before. At most, they had exchanged nods at various banquets. It wasn’t until last year when Jiang Xiao briefly guest-starred in a movie starring Ji Changzheng that they formally met.

They had unexpectedly gotten along well on set, so they exchanged WeChat privately. However, they hadn’t had much opportunity to communicate until recently when they both confirmed their roles as the male and female leads in “The Legend of Zhu Xi.”

Their relationship wasn’t close, but it wasn’t bad either, just colleagues who could chat casually.

Recognizing who had greeted her, Jiang Xiao put on an official smile and sweetly replied, “Brother Changzheng, long time no see.”

There’s an unwritten hierarchy in the entertainment industry: movie stars are above TV drama stars, who are above idol stars. Every actor wants to make movies and win awards, and Jiang Xiao was no exception. It didn’t hurt to maintain a good relationship with Ji Changzheng, who had been entrenched in the film circle for years.

As for why Ji Changzheng suddenly started filming TV dramas, it was probably due to the improvement and popularity of TV dramas in recent years. He also wanted to ride the wave and add a significant chapter to his life experiences.

Ji Changzheng approached slowly, his gaze falling on the girl in front of him. Her fair skin contrasted sharply with the black T-shirt, and under her denim skirt were long and fair legs. Her well-proportioned figure, with cascading fluffy hair resembling waves, exuded smooth glossiness.

Jiang Xiao’s beauty was undoubtedly impactful. Her flawless facial and bone structure meant that even with light makeup and fluttering eyelashes, she could still quietly captivate souls.

Perhaps due to her young age and confidence, there was no hint of coquetry or eagerness in her eyes, adding a sacred quality to her allure that made it daunting to easily profane.

Ji Changzheng, who never hesitated to praise a beauty, said, “You’ve become even more beautiful after a few months.”

Everyone likes to hear compliments, and Jiang Xiao was no exception. Her smile deepened on her face, showing a sincere appreciation. Having been around the entertainment industry for a while, she replied diplomatically, “Where did that come from? Brother Changzheng, you’re getting more handsome.”

Ji Changzheng chuckled lightly, a deep laugh emanating from his chest. “Haha, really? Looks like my hard work in the gym these past few months wasn’t in vain.”

They exchanged some flattery, immediately easing the atmosphere.

Before long, other actors joined in, and soon the area was filled with laughter and conversation centered around them.

Just as Jiang Xiao had made a joke that made everyone laugh, a remark from the side suddenly silenced the laughter, chilling the air several degrees.

“This isn’t a market. Where did this annoying mosquito keep buzzing from?” A passing actress glanced over the crowd and rolled her eyes blatantly towards Jiang Xiao’s direction, impatiently calling her assistant, “Hurry up and bring me my earphones. It’s so noisy.”

The remark was harsh, with overt provocation that was lamentable.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the actress who had spoken disrespectfully. It wasn’t a pleasant sight; her arrogance and attitude made it difficult to respond. Surrounded by four or five assistants who hovered around her like ancient palace maids, holding umbrellas, bags, coats, and offering water and earphones, they served her like courtly attendants.

People’s expressions varied, suddenly realizing who her remarks were aimed at. However, her words had insulted everyone present. Most were veterans in the industry, having struggled for many years, and none of them were soft targets to be bullied. Normally, they would have retorted immediately.

However, because today was the opening ceremony, and Director Zheng and others would arrive soon, no one wanted to stir up trouble at this critical moment. They all maintained composure, treating her words as nonsense, choosing not to engage with her provocations.

But there was one person who couldn’t tolerate her. Sneering, he sarcastically remarked, “Oh, Strong Sister, we know you’re straightforward, but can’t you keep your mouth shut?”

“Phew—” Someone couldn’t help it and burst into laughter.

Qin Yuanyuan first froze upon hearing this, but quickly understood the implication behind the words, instantly blushing, “You!”

Jiang Xiao leisurely admired her exasperated expression, blinked, and said innocently, “What about me?”

The two confronted each other from a distance. Qin Yuanyuan couldn’t think of a suitable retort and found herself at a loss.

Accustomed to being arrogant, Qin Yuanyuan was skilled in verbal sparring, but what could she do against Jiang Xiao? Just as she was about to step forward and teach Jiang Xiao a lesson, her intention was abruptly interrupted by a voice.

“Director Zheng is here.”

Director Zheng heard the dispute from afar, glanced at Jiang Xiao and Qin Yuanyuan, both looking uneasy, and saved face for them without directly addressing the issue. He casually asked, “What’s going on here?”

Director Zheng’s demeanor carried an inherent authority, subtly imposing a strong pressure.

Jiang Xiao moved her lips as if to speak, but Ji Changzeng beside her preemptively intervened, “Nothing much, just chatting.”

Having conveyed this, he subtly signaled Jiang Xiao with his eyes, and she understood, quietly closing her mouth.

“The filming is about to start soon. It’s appropriate to get familiar and build relationships. However, let me be clear—if anyone is not focused on making a good film and instead has other intentions, don’t blame me for not showing mercy.”

Although Director Zheng’s tone was calm and steady, his meaning was unmistakably uncompromising, directly warning everyone that he would not hesitate to replace anyone causing trouble.

Director Zheng’s deep industry experience and extensive network meant that offending him was akin to blocking one’s own future prospects. Everyone felt a chill, silently relieved they hadn’t responded to Qin Yuanyuan earlier.

After delivering his warning, Director Zheng left, and the others dispersed accordingly, leaving Jiang Xiao and Qin Yuanyuan staring at each other.

Jiang Xiao and Qin Yuanyuan both possessed striking appearances and pursued similar roles in the industry—One is backed by Fengchao Entertainment, a well-established capital company, while the other is backed by Fenghua Entertainment, which is currently in its heyday. They are in a competitive relationship both secretly and openly.

Initially, Jiang Xiao hadn’t paid much attention to such figures in the entertainment industry. However, through various manipulations and strategic moves, Qin Yuanyuan inadvertently lost many roles to Jiang Xiao.

This time was no exception. Initially, Qin Yuanyuan had auditioned for the same role Jiang Xiao currently held. However, the director ultimately chose Jiang Xiao, leaving Qin Yuanyuan with only a minor supporting role as a disliked antagonist, with little screen time, essentially a marginal character in the drama.

The two already harbored long-standing grievances, and this public confrontation cemented their enmity.

A moment later, to prevent further conflict between the two, Ji Changzeng led Jiang Xiao towards the direction of the stage, while Qin Yuanyuan was persuaded away by her assistants.

With all the lead actors present, the opening ceremony officially began.

The official Weibo account of “Legend of Zhu Xi” announced the start of filming, confirming the cast. Fans of the original work and the actors flooded in upon hearing the news, discussing everything from character roles to costume designs and plot developments, dominating the day’s hot search rankings.

After the ceremony, Jiang Xiao and the producer-director finished their discussions and returned to the hotel to prepare for the official shoot the next day.

She nestled on the sofa, reading the script covered with dense annotations, with important parts marked in colored markers, organized and clear, showing her dedication.

Liang Cheng quietly accompanied her. After a while, she suddenly spoke up, “By the way, the acting teacher you asked me to find for you will arrive at the hotel tonight. I’ve sent Xiao Zhang to pick her up.”

In an era where popularity reigns supreme, many actors like Jiang Xiao, who lacked formal training but gained fame solely on looks, emerged. Each was delicate and beautiful, like porcelain dolls displayed in a showcase, difficult for people not to like.

However, Jiang Xiao was keenly aware that the current attention she received was temporary. With time passing, if she stagnated, she would inevitably be pushed off the pedestal and forgotten.

Therefore, rather than starring in forgettable films, she needed to focus on honing her acting skills and carefully selecting good scripts and roles. Striving to produce representative work was what she should prioritize at this stage.

“Legend of Zhu Xi” undoubtedly offered her a chance to elevate her career and learn from predecessors in acting.

In this historical drama where the male lead took the central stage, she played the charming innkeeper who initially appeared to be the childhood sweetheart of the male lead, forming a team with him and a chivalrous protagonist to solve mysteries and uncover the truth behind the massacre of the male lead’s family.

However, her true identity was the daughter of the main antagonist, approaching the male lead with a purpose, torn between two factions, experiencing anguish and conflict. Eventually, her story ended tragically, killed by the antagonist to protect the male lead, a storyline that resonated deeply with countless readers.

This role dared to love and hate, had depth and complexity, a stark contrast to the roles she had previously taken on. This meant the acting challenge was significantly greater, requiring her to put in countless efforts to excel.

Over the past half-month, she spent her days filming with the crew and evenings refining the script with her acting teacher at the hotel. In her spare moments, she actively sought discussions with Ji Changzeng, who had the most scenes opposite her, to find the best approach for her character.