Jian Yang seemed a little worried, looking at Wei Wei, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

“If you want to say something, just say it. No need to hide it from me.”

“Well…” Jian Yang licked his lips, “I’m telling you, but you have to promise me to keep it a secret.”

“Then I definitely won’t go around spreading rumors about Guan Ciyan,” Wei Wei replied.

“That’s true,” Jian Yang whispered, “A few days ago, Guan Ciyan came to see me. At the time, there was only one bed, so I invited him to sleep with me, but he refused. The bed was quite big, enough for two people, so do you think he was afraid that I might discover something if we slept too close?”

Wei Wei froze in place, “You mean you invited him to sleep with you, and he refused?”

“Yeah.”

“Is something wrong with him? Jian Yang, do you have a clear understanding of your own looks?” Wei Wei pressed Jian Yang’s hand down, in case he was about to hit him. “To put it bluntly, the Jian Mingwu couple are crafty but not stupid. When they sent you off, do you think they chose you randomly? Do you think just anyone could be chosen to seduce Guan Ciyan?”

Jian Yang touched his face. He was still very confident in his looks. After all, people who aren’t attractive don’t get to star in idol dramas. His idol dramas had all been hits, one after another, and it was impossible to say that it didn’t have something to do with his looks.

“But Jian Buqing looks almost exactly like me. Maybe Guan Ciyan prefers his type?” Jian Yang remembered that at the Wen Ye comeback banquet, Guan Ciyan had spent quite a while watching Jian Buqing’s performance on the second floor.

That gaze was so intense that if Guan Ciyan were a little more devious, he could have taken Jian Buqing away that night.

“Not the same,” Wei Wei shook his head. “Although you two look quite alike, Jian Buqing comes off as petty and always looks down on people, which makes people uncomfortable. It’s like an antique from 180 years ago. You know it’s valuable, but you just can’t appreciate it.”

Jian Yang muttered, “Maybe he just doesn’t like me.”

“But he doesn’t hate you either. If you offered, any man would be unable to resist,” Wei Wei said.

Jian Yang and Wei Wei both fell silent.

No matter how they looked at it, Guan Ciyan avoiding Jian Yang’s invitation to sleep together seemed really strange.

“Let’s just eat hotpot.”

“Go ahead,” Wei Wei picked up his chopsticks. “If I had as much money as him, I wouldn’t mind having a little hidden illness.”

Jian Yang felt a little sorry for Guan Ciyan. A person so proud, staring at his majestic eagle as he slept at night, must feel inferior too. No wonder he was emotionally unstable. Long-term mental torment would wear anyone down.

He realized that badmouthing people behind their backs wasn’t right.

Jian Yang swore he would keep Guan Ciyan’s secret.

“Let’s talk business. I called you out to discuss something,” Jian Yang shifted the topic away from Guan Ciyan’s hidden illness. “Are you interested in collaborating with the Fu Yu Sheng Tang?”

Wei Wei wrapped a piece of fatty beef in sauce, “You should be asking Fu Yu Sheng Tang if they’re interested in collaborating with me.”

“My company isn’t quite established yet, as you know, but Jiang Ke gave me an idea. I can mobilize the functional departments of Fu Yu Sheng Tang to make introductions. Let me know if you need something on your side.”

Wei Wei wiped his mouth, “So, have you really become the little young master of the Guan family?”

“Not really, but Guan Ciyan wants me to play the lead role in the Wen Ye movie. If I bring up other requests, he probably won’t refuse.”

“Probably? Won’t refuse?” Wei Wei slapped his forehead. “Is playing in a Wen Ye movie that bad? Is it worth Guan Ciyan not only opening a company for you but also helping you with your health, protecting you from the Jian family and Guan Jingyu’s harassment, investing more in my senior brother’s show, and even providing you with a driver?”

Jian Yang: “…Well, it couldn’t just be because he likes me, right?”

“That’s impossible,” Wei Wei said firmly. “People like them don’t talk about liking or not liking. Their marriages are all business alliances. But you really need to think carefully—why is Guan Ciyan being so good to you?”

Jian Yang immediately lost his appetite. Wei Wei wasn’t wrong. Guan Ciyan was someone who wouldn’t act without a reason; everything he did had a purpose. Jian Yang was useful to him, but he hadn’t yet reached the point where it made sense for Guan Ciyan to invest so much in him.

He would have to find a way to add more value to himself.

At the very least, help Guan Ciyan make more money.

“So, you don’t have any ideas yet? I can help you out,” Jian Yang asked.

“Well…” Wei Wei was also thinking. Fu Yu Sheng Tang had a great reputation, but he didn’t want to be too limited by the company. Otherwise, he could have easily joined Fu Yu Sheng Tang for a position. “I do have a new drama I want to shoot, but it’s short on funding. However, I want to retain full control over the project.”

“Fu Yu does have an investment department. If they come across a good script, they’re willing to invest.”

“I know,” Wei Wei said. “I considered trying to get funding through that channel, but large companies always come with strings attached, and I’m not keen on accepting that. You understand, right? Whether my drama succeeds or fails, I’ll bear the responsibility, but if a bunch of other people come in and get involved, there’s too much to consider.”

“I get it,” Jian Yang concluded. “You just want the money. You’re okay with sharing profits if the company gets a return, but you don’t want them interfering with your work, right?”

“Hehe,” Wei Wei gave a thumbs up, “Bro, you get me.”

“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

“This works????”

Jian Yang shrank his neck, “I didn’t say it works, just trying it out.”

“Anything works, bro, no pressure, I got it,” Wei Wei clinked his cup with Jian Yang’s, replacing alcohol with cola.

Jian Yang politely tried to return the toast with his cola, but suddenly felt awkward, “You’re making this all weird.”

“Hahahaha,” Wei Wei laughed at his expression, “You actually seem a bit more mature than I thought. At first, I thought you were just a kid.”

Jian Yang: Older by a few years, my bad.

“Hey, did that method come from Jiang Ke?” Wei Wei asked.

“Yeah, I think she’s really good at her job and pretty composed.”

Wei Wei had a different opinion, “Actually, this matter has nothing to do with you. It’s just something she’s doing to get me benefits.”

Jian Yang: “Isn’t this what I agreed to do for you earlier?”

“Yes, yes, I know.” Wei Wei hurriedly said, “But it’s not good for her. It adds more work and brings her into Fuyu Sheng Tang, maybe even causing trouble for Guan Ciyan. I just wanted to say, she seems to be good to you. You should keep an eye on her. If she’s someone you can use, don’t treat her badly.”

Jian Yang hadn’t thought about it from that perspective. According to Wei Wei, Jiang Ke really had no reason to give him that advice.

He should thank her properly next time.

It was only a little after 7 PM after dinner, still not too late, but when Jian Yang got home, Guan Ciyan hadn’t arrived yet.

“Uncle Zhang!” Jian Yang hugged Uncle Zhang warmly and greeted him before heading upstairs to shower and change. By 10:30 PM, Guan Ciyan still hadn’t returned. Jian Yang, lying on his bed reading the script for “Wenyu,” felt uneasy. It was so late and he still hadn’t come back.

Could it be he went to some social gathering again, maybe someone pushing him to meet a couple of small celebrities?

Jian Yang rolled over, reached under his pillow for his phone, and sent a message to Guan Ciyan:

“Sir, it’s really late.”

Once Guan Ciyan gets into work, it’s non-stop day and night. He only realized it was already 10:30 PM when his phone rang and saw Jian Yang’s message, missing the time to welcome him home.

However, part of him felt a little satisfied.

— Let him run off.

Waiting at home was deserved.

Though he thought this way, Guan Ciyan left the documents, grabbed his suit jacket, and rushed home. He’d already had the dessert shop deliver a cake. He took it out of the fridge himself and went to knock on Jian Yang’s door.

Jian Yang had been sitting nervously, waiting for a message. When he opened the door and saw Guan Ciyan, his face changed completely, like drawing a curtain. In an instant, his worried expression turned into a beaming smile, eyes shining with light, and he sweetly called, “Sir!”

Guan Ciyan felt relaxed, pinched his face, then gently touched his forehead with his fingertips.

“Sir, you’re back.” Jian Yang obediently stood, letting him touch. He didn’t notice how close they were, nor did he realize the gentle look of possessiveness in the man’s eyes.

“Want some?” Guan Ciyan held the cake up in front of Jian Yang.

Jian Yang had already ordered two desserts at the hotpot restaurant: a piece of ice cream cake and a matcha daifuku. He’d been avoiding certain foods for five days, but he wasn’t one to deprive himself.

Not getting the expected cheers in response, Guan Ciyan gently asked, “Don’t like it?”

“Of course I do.” Jian Yang’s voice was bright, with a trace of laughter. “I just didn’t expect you to remember I like this cake.”

He happily took it, inviting Guan Ciyan into the room, “Come in and eat together, Sir.”

Jian Yang cut a big piece for Guan Ciyan, as he couldn’t eat anymore. “Sir, it’s really delicious. You should try some.”

Guan Ciyan wasn’t fond of sweet things, but couldn’t refuse Jian Yang’s invitation. He took a small bite. Jian Yang, holding his portion, teasingly licked a bit of cream off his spoon.

“How have you been these days?”

“Okay. Sir, do my eyes look lighter?”

“Not just lighter, they look better.”

Guan Ciyan and Jian Yang sat at the small round dining table in his room, chatting about nothing important. Jian Yang nibbled his spoon, thinking about how to bring up Wei Wei’s matter. It was strange—every time Guan Ciyan saw him, it was either teasing him, talking about work, or scolding him.

But today, none of that happened.

It made Jian Yang feel awkward about bringing it up himself.

The conversation was getting less and less meaningful, and the time was approaching midnight when Jian Yang suddenly spoke up, “Sir, my company wants to add a new business. I’d like to hear your opinion.”

“Go ahead,” Guan Ciyan took a sip of tea to cleanse his palate.

“Do you remember Wei Wei? He’s a pretty good director. I want to invest in his new film, but I don’t have the money, as you know. Doesn’t your Fuyu Sheng Tang have a dedicated film production and investment department? Maybe they could invest in it. This time, I’d just make some money by introducing him. Once I have more money, I’ll invest myself. What do you think?”

Jian Yang lightly bit his spoon, wearing a naive and cute smile on his face. Inside, his heart was pounding.

He didn’t dare to say outright that he wanted to help Wei Wei raise investment. From Guan Ciyan’s perspective, it would look like he was pushing things in the wrong direction. He positioned his own company as the focus, saying that he found a good project and wanted to make money, hoping Guan Ciyan could help him get the ball rolling. If Guan Ciyan gave the word, Jiang Ke would take care of the details. She would definitely secure funding for Wei Wei and also ensure Wei Wei’s autonomy in the project.

In this way, he would also be repaying the favor to Wei Wei.

Guan Ciyan didn’t speak for a long time, and Jian Yang’s cheeks began to ache from biting the spoon, his back getting colder. Staring at Guan Ciyan’s calm face, his smile almost faltered. “Sir… what do you think?”

Guan Ciyan scooped a spoonful of cake, his eyelids half-closed, hiding the light in his eyes. “What did you have for dinner?”