Chapter 61

The two of them stayed locked in a kiss for quite a while in the makeup room. Outside, people moved back and forth. Tang Ruan clutched Ji Jing’s shirt nervously, her breaths slowing as the tension heightened.

Ji Jing lingered on her lips, savoring the moment, before finally pulling away, his own breathing unsteady as he held her tightly in his arms.

The setting was far from ideal, and any further indulgence would be too reckless.

Tang Ruan’s face burned as she listened to his steady breaths near her ear. She nuzzled against him and, sensing the danger of discovery, stayed obediently still.

Moments later, voices filtered in from outside.

“Where’s An Xun? Where did she go?”

“Hey, weren’t there three men just now? Where did they disappear to?”

“Not sure, but I think they followed Tang Ruan.”

Tang Ruan and Ji Jing exchanged wide-eyed glances, their tension building. Suddenly, someone called out from outside:

“Where’s Tang Ruan? She needs to touch up Lu Chenghe’s makeup!”

Tang Ruan: “…”

Her legs almost gave out. She looked up at Ji Jing in mute distress.

“I…”

Ji Jing raised an eyebrow, his gaze dropping to her lips, now smudged with lipstick from their kiss. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He gently wiped away the smeared lipstick with his thumb, his touch lingering as he cupped her face and stole two more brief kisses. Just as he was about to release her, a calm voice echoed from outside.

“Tang Ruan went to the restroom. I’ll handle the touch-up,” An Xun offered smoothly.

“Alright,” the director replied cheerfully.

In that fleeting moment, Tang Ruan felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Ji Jing held her close a second longer before quietly asking, “Lu Chenghe—is he a man?”

Tang Ruan: “…”

Her instinct told her she should go and do the touch-up herself.

Blinking up at Ji Jing, she gave him a pleading look, explaining cautiously, “Um… Xu Ya had an emergency, so I helped Lu Chenghe with his makeup.”

Ji Jing nodded slowly, then reached out to tousle her hair affectionately. “Got it.”

Not wanting to linger where they might be caught, they quickly left the makeup room, one after the other. The space was in demand, and Tang Ruan wasn’t willing to risk spending any more time alone with Ji Jing there.

–

The director and producer grew visibly tense due to the unexpected visit from investors, while the female actors seized the opportunity to have their makeup touched up in hopes of making a good impression.

In this circle, such things were common. Tang Ruan fully understood why some actresses sought to impress the investors, so she didn’t think much of it. However, she silently mourned for them for a minute—after all, two of those three men were already taken. Still…

She glanced over. Actually, Gu Tian was quite exceptional. Apart from his playful nature, he was a highly capable man in the business world. His looks were nothing to scoff at either. Tang Ruan couldn’t help but conclude that Ji Jing and his friends belonged to that rare class of men who were both wealthy and handsome.

After making the rounds touching up everyone’s makeup, she stopped in front of Xin Ran.

“Touch up?”

Xin Ran gave her a pointed look, rolling her eyes. “Nope. I’m not filming until later. Why bother touching up now?”

She patted Tang Ruan’s shoulder, then lowered her voice. “Do you know who those men over there are?”

“Hmm…” Tang Ruan paused. “I do.”

Xin Ran raised her eyebrows in surprise, then smiled knowingly. “Makes sense. Those three are pretty famous. The most well-known is Gu Tian, followed by President Xi. But the third one—most people wouldn’t recognize him.”

“Why’s that?” Tang Ruan asked, curious.

Xin Ran leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. “Gu Tian’s part of the entertainment industry, so naturally everyone knows him—he’s always making headlines. Mr. Xi is in the hotel business. We’re staying in one of his family’s hotels, by the way. He’s also involved in tech and innovation, often appearing on TV shows.”

She had clearly done her research.

Tang Ruan quietly listened. Though she didn’t know many details about Gu Tian or Xi Zijin, she had a general idea.

“What about the mysterious one?”

Xin Ran’s eyes gleamed as she cast a meaningful glance at Tang Ruan. In a hushed tone, she revealed, “He’s the president of Ji Group. You know Ji Group, right?”

“Yes.”

“Last year, Ji Group became the richest company in the country. By this year or next, they’ll probably be the wealthiest in Asia. The public still sees his father in the photos, but everyone knows it’s Ji Jing who made it happen. He just keeps a low profile and avoids public events, so his father remains the face of the company.”

Xin Ran’s gossip was surprisingly accurate.

Tang Ruan, listening wide-eyed, reflected on how Ji Jing’s low-key nature explained why so few people recognized him. She squinted at Xin Ran and asked, “How do you know all this?”

Xin Ran grinned. “I’m a walking tabloid.”

Tang Ruan burst into laughter.

“But those three aren’t people you can mess with. It’s best to admire from afar,” Xin Ran added with a pragmatic nod, fully aware of the social boundaries.

Tang Ruan smiled, patting her shoulder. “I have a secret to tell you.”

“Go on.”

“That mysterious man you mentioned—he’s my husband.”

Xin Ran: “…”

She stared at Tang Ruan for a moment, pursed her lips, then said, “Well, I have a secret to tell you, too.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re dreaming right now.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

While the two of them shared secrets in hushed tones, the other side of the set bustled with far more commotion.

–

As soon as Gu Tian arrived, the director snapped into full attention. This was no ordinary guest—Gu Tian was the primary investor in the show, someone to be treated with the utmost respect. And if that weren’t enough, the other two men standing with him were even more formidable.

With a nervous smile, the director addressed them, “President Gu, what brings you here today? If you’d told us in advance, we could’ve prepared a proper welcome.”

Gu Tian waved off the formality with a light laugh. “No need for all that. We were just passing by and decided to drop in. Got some business to handle nearby.”

The director: “…”

“Well then, how about dinner tonight?”

Gu Tian exchanged glances with Ji Jing and Xi Zijin before nodding. “How about giving the crew a break tonight? I’ll treat everyone to dinner.”

“Of course! Absolutely!”

Even if he had to pull time from thin air, the director would make it happen.

Surrounded by curious glances from the actresses, Gu Tian coughed lightly and suggested, “Since we’re here, let’s watch some filming. We’ve got time.”

The director gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “Of course. If you need anything, just let my assistant know.”

“We’re fine,” Gu Tian replied nonchalantly. “Go on with your work.”

Soon, the flurry of excitement calmed down, and the set returned to its usual rhythm. Tang Ruan, standing quietly with her tools, noticed three figures moving closer to her.

She: “…”

“Little sister-in-law,” Gu Tian greeted, his voice low as he waved at her.

Tang Ruan smiled. “Hello, President Gu. Hello, President Xi.”

Ji Jing arched a brow. “What about me?”

Tang Ruan shot him a glare. “What do you think?”

With a sheepish grin, Ji Jing rubbed his nose and chuckled. “Tired?”

“Not really.”

The group stood together, keeping a low profile. Though some cast and crew members eyed them curiously, no one dared approach.

Soon, An Xun joined them, pausing when she spotted the trio before falling into a contemplative silence.

–

Fortunately, the afternoon passed quickly. The initial curiosity surrounding the three visitors gradually faded as everyone returned their focus to work.

During their break, a fair number of women eagerly approached the group of men.

Tang Ruan watched as the fourth female lead sauntered over to Xi Zijin, her voice soft and sweet. “President Xi, would you like a cup of coffee?”

She smiled and gestured behind her. “I just had my assistant buy a few cups.”

Tang Ruan glanced at An Xun standing nearby.

“Sister An Xun,” she called softly.

An Xun remained expressionless, replying lazily, “No rush.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

Xi Zijin’s demeanor remained cold as he briefly glanced in An Xun’s direction and gave a faint smile. “No, thank you.”

Still determined, the fourth female lead persisted, smiling warmly. “It’s already bought. It’d be a shame to waste it.”

“Is that so?” An Xun suddenly appeared beside her, her voice calm but sharp. “No need to worry about wasting it. I’m feeling a bit tired—how about giving me the coffee?”

The fourth female lead froze, momentarily stunned, before reflexively handing the coffee to An Xun. “Here… you drink it, Ms. An.”

“Thanks,” An Xun said coolly, taking the cup and sipping it before remarking dryly, “A bit sweet. He doesn’t drink sweetened coffee. In the future, only get him black coffee. Got it?”

The actress: “…”

Tang Ruan, witnessing the scene unfold, was utterly speechless.

After finishing her sip, An Xun calmly took a tissue from Xi Zijin’s hand, wiped her own fingers clean, and then threw him a cold glance. “Come with me.”

Xi Zijin let out a quiet chuckle and actually got up to follow her.

The entire crew: “…”

–

The onlookers were left gaping in shock. Once the pair disappeared from view, whispers filled the set.

“Whoa! What’s Ms. An’s relationship with President Xi?”

“Oh my god, did you see how domineering she was just now?”

“Totally! That was so cool!”

Even Tang Ruan was awestruck. If she had been in An Xun’s shoes, she would have sulked in silence, but An Xun? She simply walked over, grabbed the coffee, and nonchalantly revealed Xi Zijin’s preferences. In one effortless move, she made her claim clear: This man is mine.

While Tang Ruan was lost in thought, Ji Jing appeared beside her, affectionately patting her head. “Daydreaming?”

Blinking, Tang Ruan pointed. “Did they make up?”

Ji Jing raised a brow. “Didn’t ask.”

She shot him a glare and muttered, “There are plenty of beautiful women over there. Why are you here?”

Meanwhile, Gu Tian had already been swarmed by admirers.

Ji Jing shrugged and leaned in closer. “I came to see my wife.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes crinkling as she glanced at him. “If I acted like An Xun just now, would you be mad?”

Ji Jing chuckled and bent down to whisper in her ear, “No.”

After a pause, he added, “You could go even further. No need to hold back.”

Tang Ruan: “That’s too much.”

“It’s not.” Ji Jing squeezed her fingers gently, warming her cold hands as he murmured, “You’re Mrs. Ji. Whatever you do, it’s never too much.”

“That’s your right as Mrs. Ji.”