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Chapter 57: So Obedient Now

“Lili, your acting’s pretty good! Looks like all that studying abroad really paid off.” Chengdu happily walked up and wrapped his arm around Ji Xueli’s as she approached.

“Well, I am an actress, after all. It’s kind of a requirement.” Ji Xueli sneaked a glance at Duan Qingyu, thinking that given the current state of their relationship, he probably wouldn’t care much.

With that thought, she quietly let out a breath of relief.

“That guy over there—he’s Fu Yunfan?” Duan Qingyu finally spoke, looking toward the man still watching their direction.

Chengdu followed his gaze. The man wore a black and gold costume, his features were striking, but his eyes held something unreadable—like a hint of unprovoked hostility…

“Yeah,” Ji Xueli nodded.

“Good-looking, no wonder he’s the Movie Emperor.” Chengdu commented with a sigh.

“He won the award because of his acting, not his looks, you know. You think pretty faces are enough?” Ji Xueli chuckled at his remark.

Chengdu shrugged, unconcerned. “Still doesn’t compare to our Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince is elegant, otherworldly—of course no one can compare.” Ji Xueli nodded in agreement, raising her brows.

Using words meant to describe a woman to praise him, Duan Qingyu smirked slightly. “Oh? Then how did it feel kissing just now, Lili?”

Really knew how to hit a nerve…

“Yeah, Lili,” Chengdu chimed in, elbowing her playfully, “what was it like filming a kiss scene? Are there more to come? Any steamy ones?”

“Didn’t feel a thing. It’s just my job—I don’t feel anything about it,” Ji Xueli said casually, spreading her hands like it was no big deal.

Just as Chengdu was about to dig deeper, the director and a few crew members walked over respectfully to Duan Qingyu.

“Your Highness, Young Master Cheng—we didn’t know you were visiting today. Apologies for the lack of welcome.”

Saved by the bell, Ji Xueli breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest discreetly.

“It’s nothing. I just had some time and thought I’d come check on Lili,” Duan Qingyu waved it off, glancing meaningfully at Ji Xueli, deliberately calling her by the nickname affectionately.

“Exactly. Lili is under the Crown Prince’s company, after all. No need for formalities,” Chengdu added.

“Would Your Highness like to join us for dinner tonight?” the director asked respectfully. “We’ve already reserved a spot at the restaurant. Since you’re one of our investors—and the production company is yours as well—we’d be honored.”

Duan Qingyu turned to Ji Xueli. “What does Lili think?”

His question caused a stir among those around—weren’t there rumors that the two of them had fallen out? But now… he was calling her so sweetly?

“Sure, why not. You guys don’t have anything else planned tonight anyway. I’ll show you around Hengdian later,” Ji Xueli agreed easily—after all, it had been a while since she’d seen Duan Qingyu.

“Alright, we’ll go with Lili’s plan.” Duan Qingyu nodded.

Chengdu blinked as he looked at the two of them. Don’t tell me they’ve been secretly up to something behind my back…

“This way, please, Your Highness.”

Ji Xueli leaned in slightly closer to Duan Qingyu and whispered, “Since when do you listen to me so obediently?”

“When have I not listened to you?” Duan Qingyu countered, his gaze flickering toward her lips.

“Almost never?” she replied.

Duan Qingyu reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, “Is that so? Maybe it’s because Lili used to be a little too headstrong.”

“That was then, this is now. You can’t compare the two,” she muttered as his cool fingertips brushed against her cheek, making her involuntarily shrink back a little.

Then… Duan Qingyu didn’t move his hand away. Instead, it slowly moved to her lips, his thumb gently pressing against them.

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