Chapter 31: Licking Their Wounds

Yanmian nodded to Lin Yiyang. “Hello.”

“Hello, Teacher Yan. I’m your fan.”

Lin Yiyang’s eyes were bright, and despite being a dazzling superstar, he seemed a little shy upon meeting Yanmian.

Yanmian was surprised and thanked him, “It’s an honor.”

Hu Suling then introduced Yanmian to the other cast members and assistant directors. After greetings were exchanged, the door was knocked on.

“Director Hu, Miss Qian has arrived.”

The production assistant opened the door and walked ahead. Yanmian instinctively turned her head towards the entrance.

A girl wearing a white woolen coat walked in, taking off her sunglasses to reveal a smooth, porcelain-white face.

Yanmian recognized her as the person she had just seen on Baidu Baike, and she looked just like the photo.

“Director Hu, long time no see.”

Qian Yi’s voice carried a Beijing accent. She smiled upon seeing Hu Suling and stepped forward to give him a hug.

Qian Yi’s first film, shot ten years ago, was directed by Hu Suling, and the two had known each other for over a decade.

Four years ago, Qian Yi also auditioned for the female lead role, the one Yanmian was now playing, but Hu Suling felt she wasn’t quite right for the role. Instead, she was cast as the second female lead.

“Xiao Yi, let me introduce you. This is Yanmian.”

Hu Suling put an arm around Yanmian and placed the other on Qian Yi’s shoulder to introduce them.

Qian Yi looked up, her gaze falling on Yanmian. When she saw Yanmian’s face, her smile stiffened, and a scene suddenly flashed through her mind.

Last month, her family arranged for her to have dinner with Tan Qishen.

Qian Yi waited for almost three hours at the reserved restaurant, but in the end, Tan Qishen didn’t show up.

The next day, when she angrily went to his office, she saw a photo frame on his desk. The photo was of a girl. Qian Yi only caught a glimpse, and then Tan Qishen handed the frame to Uncle Nan.

He looked quite unhappy, saying that there was no need for such things on his desk.

Uncle Nan took the frame away.

That day, Tan Qishen clearly told her that he already had a girlfriend.

Qian Yi thought that the girl in the photo must have been his girlfriend.

But why did this girl, Yanmian, look so much like the one in the photo?

She stared at Yanmian in a daze. Yanmian didn’t notice as they shook hands.

“Xiao Yi?”

Hu Suling reminded her, and she snapped back to reality.

Qian Yi quickly turned her eyes away, and her smile returned to normal as she extended her hand. “Miss Yan, you’re so beautiful. I was momentarily distracted.”

After introductions, the actors all took their seats. Once everyone arrived, Hu Suling sat at the head of the table, with the assistant directors, screenwriters, and actors seated on either side.

“Next, we will begin the script reading,” Hu Suling said, her demeanor changing as she became serious and professional. Her aura shifted, and she became all business.

Those who had worked with her knew that she was strict to the point of perfectionism, ensuring every shot was precisely controlled.

The actors sat together, with Lin Yiyang sitting next to Yanmian.

“The script reading is where we dive into the script, read our lines, and deepen our understanding of the story. If there’s anything unclear, feel free to ask the director or screenwriter,” Lin Yiyang explained, worried that Yanmian might not understand the process.

“Thank you,” Yanmian said sincerely.

Lin Yiyang glanced at her, his face turning red again. “…You’re welcome.”

Yanmian couldn’t understand why he blushed so easily.

---

Crash

A crisp sound echoed as a wine glass shattered, and red liquid spilled on the floor, making it look somewhat ominous.

“Are you okay, Qishen?”

Jiang Linjin looked up from the mahjong table and casually asked.

Tan Qishen sat at the bar, his black shirt hanging loosely. He looked dignified yet somewhat dejected, with glass shards at his feet.

He had lost interest in everything and looked completely detached, not even sure what he was thinking.

The bartender handed him another drink. He took it, his fingers gripping the glass, and drank it in one go.

He was silent, and He Cheng, sitting beside him, looked at him with a wry smile. “I’m the one getting divorced, not you. Why are you drinking so much?”

Whenever the three of them gathered at ‘Luyuan,’ it usually meant someone had relationship problems. But this time, it wasn’t Tan Qishen or Jiang Linjin—it was He Cheng.

Luo Xi was divorcing him, catching He Cheng off guard.

“I thought this marriage would at least last three to five years, but it’s only been two,” He Cheng muttered, drinking more in frustration.

“Why does Luo Xi want a divorce? I thought you two were doing well?” Jiang Linjin was shocked when he heard the news of the divorce. He had always believed they had a stable relationship. How could it fall apart so suddenly?

Jiang Linjin asked, “Did you cheat?”

At the mention of “cheating,” Tan Qishen’s hand tightened around his glass, his eyes darkening, and his aura became chilling.

“Shut up,” He Cheng snapped, grabbing some fruit and tossing it at Jiang Linjin, his frustration evident.

“Just kidding,” Jiang Linjin quickly dodged, raising his hands in mock surrender.

Without the mood to continue playing mahjong, Jiang Linjin had everyone leave, leaving just the three of them in the room.

He Cheng continued with his speculation, “It was always a business marriage. Now that both the He and Luo family businesses are on track, the marriage isn’t necessary anymore.”

He had no emotional connection with Luo Xi. They married for the sake of their family businesses—two childhood friends turned into spouses. At first, it was awkward, but over time, they got used to it. For the past two years, they had lived as respectful strangers with no major conflicts. He Cheng thought that was fine, but Luo Xi didn’t.

“But Luo Xi can’t just do that,” Jiang Linjin said. “She takes everything from you and then just walks away?”

He Cheng shot him a look, cursed under his breath, and kicked him, his voice cold. “It serves you right that your girlfriend’s having another man’s child.”

With those words, Jiang Linjin immediately fell silent, feeling a pang in his chest. “Don’t go around hurting each other.”

For a long time, no one spoke.

The room was eerily quiet, and time seemed to stand still. Outside, the snow fell silently, and the entire city of Beijing was wrapped in the stillness of the snow-covered night.

The three men sat there, each licking their wounds.