“Good! That scene was done really well! Passed! Get ready, we’ll shoot another shot in a bit!”
Li Wan let out a sigh of relief and smiled at the young idol she was paired with. “Thank you, Teacher Han!”
When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescents, her pupils clear, and in the glow of the setting sun, her cheeks looked so fair they seemed to glow.
The young idol’s name was Han Yixing. When their eyes met, his cheeks turned red, and he didn’t dare look at her directly, just muttering awkwardly.
“No need to thank me! You’re really amazing!
“You don’t have to call me Teacher Han; I’m not famous or anything!”
Besides, he had a good eye. Li Wan was supposedly a newcomer, but in reality, she had been brought by the legendary Sister Chen, known for turning the then-nobody Chi Yan into a triple award-winning actor and top agent.
Sister Chen had sharp judgment; everyone said anyone she picked would become a big star. Since she valued Li Wan this much, even caming along personally with this small rookie, it wouldn’t be long before he would have to call Li Wan ‘Sister1‘.
And Li Wan was indeed worthy of such attention.
Her face alone would be hard to match anywhere in the entertainment industry, and her acting was decent. Although still a little raw, it was easy to imagine that after Sister Chen placed her in a top director’s project for training, the transformation would be staggering.
She was genuinely beautiful.
Han Yixing secretly lifted his gaze and glanced at the girl again.
The girl happened to look up and, noticing his gaze, instinctively gave him a small smile. Her eyes curved slightly, her dimples faintly visible, sweet like an expensive pink grape.
Han Yixing’s cheeks instantly flushed red.
But Li Wan didn’t notice this. Her attention was on her phone, scrolling repeatedly, unable to find a message from a certain butler.
She was a little upset.
At this time, Chi Yan should have been home and noticed she wasn’t there. Yet this annoying two-legger hadn’t sent a message asking where she’d gone!
How annoying.
She puffed out her cheeks in frustration and shoved her phone into her pink little backpack.
If Chi Yan didn’t care about her, she wouldn’t care about him either.
But after thinking for a moment, she pulled the phone back out, staring blankly at the chat screen, hesitating whether to send a message first.
After all, the butler was very busy.
If he wasn’t done yet, he might still be out.
She was eating Chi Yan’s food and living in Chi Yan’s place. It seemed only proper to show a little concern for the two-legger who went out ‘hunting’.
But he had only been gone for a couple of days. If she kept sending messages, would she seem completely unrestrained?
The little cat frowned, tangled in thought.
Even Sister Chen, who was talking with the director nearby, noticed something was off. She came over. “What’s wrong?”
She glanced at Li Wan’s phone and understood instantly, almost feeling like she’d been hit in the face with pure couple energy.
Clearly, Li Wan was missing Chi Yan.
Sister Chen pursed her lips. She found such intentional or unintentional provocations from young couples rather distasteful. But seeing the girl genuinely upset, with a storm cloud hovering over her head, she couldn’t help but smile helplessly. “If you want to message him, just do it. Tsk, why the hesitation?”
Li Wan froze.
When she realized, her cheeks felt like they’d been set on fire, flushed all the way to her fair, translucent earlobes.
She immediately sensed that Sister Chen misunderstood and hurried to clarify, “No… it’s not like that. I just wanted to ask if he’s back home yet.”
Sister Chen raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Li Wan was so embarrassed she barely dared to look at her, nodding repeatedly in small movements. “Yes, yes.”
“Okay,” Sister Chen’s eyes softened, finally letting the almost-ripe little girl off the hook. “You don’t need to ask. Chi Yan noticed you weren’t home and immediately thought of me. He just called and said he’s coming to pick you up.”
Li Wan blinked in surprise. “Huh?”
Sister Chen, charmed by her, couldn’t help reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Chi Yan’s coming for you. Focus on your shoot; once you’re done, we’ll go back.”
Li Wan felt dizzy, but when she remembered the two-legger would be watching her shoot the next part of the scene, she became excited.
Fortunately, this scene was a sweet campus drama that required portraying a subtle romantic tension between the two protagonists. Her current state fit perfectly.
The director was delighted with her performance and even complimented Sister Chen during the break: “Where did you find this treasure? Has she never acted before?”
“Not quite yet,” Chen Jie replied, beaming with satisfaction, her face almost wrinkling from smiling. “Our Wanwan is a newcomer, so she’ll need the director’s guidance in the future.”
“Of course, of course!” The director extended a hand to shake Sister Chen’s.
Li Wan wore the navy sailor uniform prepared by the crew. The red scarf made her look particularly youthful. Combined with her young age, standing in the sunlight, she looked fresh and delicate, just like the admired, high-achieving girl in high school everyone’s eyes followed.
Many in the crew watched her, and Han Yixing, standing closest, was hit hard by her beauty. Every time he met her gaze, his heart raced like it might leap out of his chest.
Damn, he felt his heart fluttering.
He couldn’t blame himself.
He believed that in front of such a beautiful and easygoing girl, few boys wouldn’t feel their hearts stir.
Although he knew he might not be good enough, he still wanted to try.
After the director called it a wrap, he ran to a nearby convenience store and bought an ice cream for Li Wan. “Here, this is for you.”
It was still hot outside, and most of today’s shoot had been under the sun. Li Wan had long wanted something cold.
She hesitated, thinking ice cream wasn’t anything fancy. Unable to resist, she took it. “Thank you.”
“No need!” Han Yixing scratched the back of his head shyly. “Actually, I should be the one thanking you. My acting isn’t great, and thanks to you going through all those NG takes with me, the director didn’t get mad.”
That wasn’t really an issue.
Li Wan didn’t take his words to heart. She shook her head and complimented him in return: “No, no, Teacher Han, you’re already excellent.”
Han Yixing’s cheeks flushed even more, and he didn’t dare look at her. He wanted to invite her to a meal, but the words rolled around in his mouth and wouldn’t come out.
Li Wan didn’t notice his awkwardness at all; her attention was entirely on the man next to Sister Chen, wearing a baseball cap.
That was Chi Yan!
Her very own butler!!
He really came to pick her up!
The little kitten’s heart leapt with joy. She bounded toward her two-legger and was almost about to pounce into his arms. But, he pushed her back with a finger against her forehead.
“Meow?”
Li Wan tilted her head and realized that the two-legger didn’t seem to be in a very good mood.
The little kitten froze.
What… was wrong?
Could it be that he was angry because she had contacted Sister Chen on her own about entering the entertainment industry?
Thinking that, the little kitten felt a pang of guilt. If she were in her cat form right now, she probably would have buried her head in her fluffy tail, leaving only her two tiny, soft triangular ears peeking out to observe the two-legged human.
Sister Chen, however, could see everything clearly. There was almost a mischievous smile on her face, like she was watching a good show.
Ah-ha!
This wasn’t anger over the girl working, it was because he saw someone else giving his little girl an ice cream!
Sister Chen cleared her throat twice and teasingly fanned the flames.
“Wanwan, was this ice cream from that little idol Han just now?
“Does he like you? His eyes were sparkling when he looked at you, and his face was as red as a boiled shrimp!”
Li Wan gasped and instinctively slowed down her words: “No, I don’t think so.”
They’d only known each other for one day, after all.
Just then, her phone buzzed in her small backpack. It was a message from Han Yixing. He said he wanted to invite her to a meal to thank her.
Sister Chen noticed Li Wan’s expression change, leaned over to take a look, and her gaze instantly turned flirtatious. She looked straight at Chi Yan and said: “Tsk.
“See what I mean? He’s fallen for our Wanwan. Look, he’s even sending a message to invite her to eat!”
Just as she expected.
Chi Yan’s usual cold expression grew even colder. His peach-blossom eyes looked like knives carving into her.
Sister Chen didn’t feel threatened at all. She deliberately blinked innocently at him.
Ha! Of course! It was not like someone was trying to steal Wanwan from him! It’s just since he hadn’t confessed sooner, and now someone else was inviting the little girl to eat, and he’s not happy!
Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho, the unhappy guy.
Li Wan felt awkward, her ears burning. She instinctively looked up at her two-legger.
Seeing no change in his expression, she paused and felt a bit disappointed.
After all, it was just her one-sided crush… He only saw her as a little kitten who didn’t understand much.
Li Wan pressed her lips together. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard the two-legger speak.
“Why refuse?
“He already said he wants to thank you. It’s just a meal. Go.”
Li Wan felt even more upset.
Chi Yan was so annoying!
If he didn’t like her, fine. But he didn’t even care whether she went to eat with another guy!
Even if he only saw her as an ordinary little kitten, his own pet, that still made him her adoptive father!
She goes out to eat with another man, and he not only doesn’t worry, he actually agrees!
The little kitten was about to get mad!!
But the next words the man said froze her on the spot.
Chi Yan said coldly: “I’ll go with you.”
Li Wan: “…?!!”
- meaning Li Wan would be much bigger name than Han Yixing in the industry ↩︎