Chapter 10: Learning to Tease Back  Chapter 10.2

Chi Yizhen replied, “But this isn’t an actual film shoot.”

The director made a sound of surprise, “We’re the top reality show team in China, and Ms. Zhang has high standards. We also have high expectations.”

Chi Yizhen reluctantly agreed, “Alright, I’ll go buy some.”

He seemed to remember something and added, “This is part of the program budget, can it be reimbursed?”

The director leaned in and said, “Why are you so stingy?”

For some reason, he adopted a peculiar tone that unexpectedly matched the background music, which was playing traditional Huangmei opera.

Chi Yizhen burst into laughter, and He Tiao stood by silently, observing him.

Chi Yizhen replied, “No choice, we have to make a living.”

The director patted his shoulder and said, “No worries, let’s work together, things will turn out fine.”

Chi Yizhen tilted his head and glanced at He Tiao, smiling as he asked, “What do you think, Mr. He?”

His sudden change of topic caught He Tiao off guard, and he hurriedly responded with a hesitant “Um.”

Chi Yizhen continued, “Should we get reimbursed?”

The director chimed in, “No need for reimbursement. You already have a thousand yuan, right?”

Chi Yizhen clarified, “That’s our startup capital.”

The director countered, “Isn’t the startup capital meant to cover everything from inside to outside?”

Chi Yizhen couldn’t come up with a response at that moment and could only watch as the director walked away confidently.

He was left amused and perplexed for a while. Then, he took out his phone to check the 15-day schedule planned by the production team. While the show allowed for some creative freedom, there were also mandatory activities, somewhat like quests in a video game.

One of the tasks was to choose between visiting an amusement park, a zoo, or an aquarium.

Chi Yizhen couldn’t help but wonder, “Are these really couple activities? And why is there something like ‘pick up your partner after work’?”

“He Tiao is currently running a barbecue stall, and I’m a model. There’s no way our schedules will overlap, right?”

Chi Yizhen looked at the schedule seriously, and the next moment, a mobile phone was extended towards him.

Chi Yizhen asked, “?”

The man standing next to him was extremely handsome but had no resemblance to a party animal. The words “social anxiety” seemed to be written on his forehead. Chi Yizhen was beginning to understand why He Tiao had acted like a delicate flower in the morning. If he put himself in He Tiao’s shoes, he would be equally distressed.

As it turned out, this male companion had mistaken him for a male escort. To make matters more interesting, the male escort was none other than the CEO of a well-known gaming company and a big shot in the gaming livestreaming industry.

Chi Yizhen realized that he might actually have to pay up, all things considered.

Chi Yizhen asked, “Can I set the installment payments on the payment code?”

Seeing Chi Yizhen staring at his phone screen and looking somewhat despondent, He Tiao quickly took it back to check.

Chi Yizhen sighed and then opened his own balance.

It had been many years since he had felt this financially strained. It was as if he had suddenly returned to being fifteen years old when his foster parents had passed away, and he was forced to earn a living on his own.

Did the author of this novel really use me as a reference when writing this story? How come even after I’ve transmigrated, I’m still facing destitution and having nothing?

His sadness wasn’t very evident since there was a constant flow of people around him.

In his original world, Chi Yizhen, though not fond of attending certain events, knew how to handle himself in public.

At the age of fifteen, when he was left with no other options, he had to overcome his fear of the camera to act in movies, realizing that opportunities were rare.

However, his desensitization efforts were not entirely successful. He could tolerate movie and TV camera lenses to some extent, but when it came to photoshoots, it was still excruciating. After each shoot, he would suffer from intense headaches as if the pain from those past experiences had resurfaced, and his body would even create phantom pains, as if the knives that had once cut him were still present.

He Tiao somewhat regretted not configuring the QR code component on his phone screen properly. He rarely added people on WeChat, maintaining separate accounts for work and personal use. He had only a handful of personal contacts.

“I didn’t mean that,” He Tiao explained, “How can we communicate without adding each other on WeChat?”

Chi Yizhen scanned He Tiao’s QR code and said, “The production team is quite frugal. They won’t even provide us with work phones.”

He Tiao solemnly nodded.

A passing crew member glanced at the makeup artist in the corridor and thought, “Good thing it’s not a sound recording.”

This situation was incredibly awkward.

Chi Yizhen said, “About that night…”

He glanced at the person beside him and lowered his voice, “I entered the wrong room that day. I’m really sorry.”

Chi Yizhen looked down, his features naturally striking. He might not have an imposing aura, but there was something unique about him when he listened attentively.

This made Chi Yizhen recall the night when he had heard the other person’s breathless struggles.

How could someone be so different in bed and out of it? They hadn’t even done anything yet, and He was already thinking he might explode if they did.

Could someone his age really be this innocent? It didn’t seem right.

Chi Yizhen was completely oblivious to the explicit nature of his gaze, which lingered from top to bottom, with a brief pause in the middle.

He Tiao shifted closer to him and asked hesitantly, “So, were you originally looking for a male escort?”

He couldn’t help but think of the speculations online that He Yizhen was in dire straits. Considering He Yizhen’s remarks, it was possible that someone had tried to manipulate him into handing over a keepsake, given that He Yiming was his older brother, and a keepsake from one’s dearly departed older brother might make He Yizhen knowingly walk into a trap.

If he hadn’t entered the wrong room that day, what would have happened? Would He Yizhen have reacted the same way he had with him with the other person? Would he have engaged in caresses and kisses, followed by sobs and tearful refusals?

Perhaps it was the result of their first chemical reaction, but suddenly, He Tiao felt a surge of determination.

He Tiao wanted to protect the person in front of him.

He Yizhen shook his head. “For different reasons, I wasn’t quite clear-headed this morning. I’m sorry.”

He Tiao still felt a sense of guilt for sleeping with someone in a committed relationship, but that was likely due to his inexperience.

“It’s okay, we still have to live together for half a month,” He Tiao replied.

Chi Yizhen seemed surprised. “Huh?”

He Tiao smiled and adjusted He Yizhen’s contact name in his phone.

And then, he sent a message to He Yizhen with a sly grin:

“Isn’t it true, my dear wife?”