***
Chapter 17 – Who Do You Like More?
Even though Jiang Chuan had long known that ⟪Fading Colors⟫ would bring Jiang Liusui immense attention upon its release, the extent of its impact completely exceeded his expectations.
In just one week, work opportunities—big and small—came pouring in. Jiang Chuan selected the most promising ones and invited Jiang Liusui to the company for a detailed discussion. Noticing the small paper bag in his hand as he entered, Jiang Chuan casually asked, “What’ve you got in there?”
“A hat someone lent me,” Jiang Liusui replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “I’m out anyway, so I thought I’d return it while I’m at it.”
He didn’t say who the hat belonged to. Jiang Chuan assumed it was a friend’s, nodded, and didn’t press further. He gathered the scripts and project proposals on his desk and pushed them over. “Take a look at these. I’ve already screened these for you. There’s one variety show I think is particularly good. The better scripts will require auditions, so it’s up to you to decide which one you prefer.”
“The first one is a web drama with you as the male lead: a classic “beautiful-strong-tragic” character who’s quiet and self-sacrificing. The character is fairly conventional, but rebirth dramas like this still have a solid market. The second is a Republican-era film, with you as the second male lead, playing a young man who studied abroad and, swept up in the tides of the times, follows the protagonist into revolution, ultimately giving his life for the country. Both projects are backed by major companies, so everything down the line—including promotion and distribution—is well covered,” Jiang Chuan said. “And aside from those, there’s also a film.”
As he spoke, Jiang Chuan pushed the audition script forward. Jiang Liusui glanced at it—the film was titled ⟪Eternal BellJiang Liusui pried his eyes open in agony, only to see that it was barely four in the morning. “⟫.
“This one has supernatural, almost eerie elements. Even though you’d be auditioning for the second male lead, the role is extremely important—arguably the most memorable character in the entire film.”
“The project’s been in development for a long time. The director is a rising talent with a solid reputation, and this will be his second film. His debut film won a major award at an overseas independent film festival. However, this script…” Jiang Chuan hesitated. “It’s been finished for ages, yet no one’s dared to make it. The theme is niche and really puts the creative team to the test. Reactions could easily be polarized. There’s a strong chance it won’t create much buzz even after it’s released.”
Jiang Chuan placed the other two scripts on top and said, “Take them all back and read them. Give me your answer by the end of the month at the latest.”
Jiang Liusui gave a brief acknowledgement in reply.
The reason he entered this industry, aside from working to earn money, was also because he was interested in acting and enjoyed experiencing completely different lives through his roles. With his background, the number of decent scripts he’d been able to touch before was pitifully small. Compared to those, the ones Jiang Chuan brought today were comparatively quite promising.
Even though he could see his own name online at any time these days, the internet was ultimately virtualIt was the steady stream of audition invitations that finally made his sudden rise feel real. Curious, Jiang Liusui asked, “What’s the variety show you mentioned?”
“The second season of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫!” Jiang Chuan said eagerly. “It’s one of the most talked-about variety shows right now. Last season stayed hot for a full year—Luo Yunhao went straight into the top ranks after appearing on it…”
⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ was a slow-paced travel variety show designed to help busy artists unwind and enjoy a relaxing, romantic, and healing journey. Every guest invited was a star at the height of their popularity that year.
Jiang Liusui knew exactly how popular the show was—after all, Shen Sijia never missed an episode and could recite every segment by heart.
Recalling the confirmed guest list, Jiang Chuan added, “By the way! Qin Yi has also been invited to this show. I remember you two get along well, so it’ll be good to have someone to look out for you on set.”
“Hmm?” Jiang Liusui perked up. “Brother Qin is joining? He’s doing a variety show?”
Since entering the industry, Jiang Liusui hadn’t come across many quality scripts. Jiang Chuan had a conscience when filtering opportunities, adhering to the principle of quality over quantity[mfn]宁缺毋滥 (nìng quē wú làn) – lit. better to have none than settle for something bad[/mfn] and didn’t let him take random roles.
Compared to the web drama that gave him a minor breakout, his most critically acclaimed role came from a film titled ⟪Riding the Wind⟫. In the movie, Jiang Liusui played the male lead’s younger brother, while Qin Yi portrayed the blind male lead.
Perhaps because of their character’s connection, he and Qin Yi quickly grew close, with the latter even offering acting guidance. They stayed in touch after filming wrapped, but Qin Yi’s busy schedule meant most interactions were limited to casual chats online, with little time to meet in person.
Unlike most rising male stars, Qin Yi kept a very low profile. Outside of filming, he rarely appeared at events. This would be his first time participating in a variety show.
“Yeah, a popular variety show with someone you already know participating—how perfect is that!” Jiang Chuan hesitated. “There’s just one little thing…”
Noticing his hesitation, Jiang Liusui pressed, “What’s the issue?”
“You know they’re only inviting artists with current hype. The production team didn’t originally plan to approach us…” Jiang Chuan seemed to want to say more but held back, simply looking at Jiang Liusui. “To be honest, this was likely someone else’s spot. I heard they were already in talks, but due to the buzz from ⟪Fading Colors⟫, the production team decided to include you at the last minute.”
Knowing Jiang Chuan well, Jiang Liusui inferred from his meaningful gaze that the originally intended guest might have been someone he knew. But since Jiang Chuan didn’t elaborate, he didn’t pry further. Jiang Chuan added, “I heard they reached out to He Yujing, but he declined.”
“……” Jiang Liusui snapped to attention, finally grasping the underlying message in Jiang Chuan’s roundabout explanation.
“Why don’t you ask him privately?” Jiang Chuan said when he still stayed quiet. Knowing Jiang Liusui didn’t want to ride on someone else’s fame, he still urged, “What if he changes his mind? The producers are banking on the MV’s popularity. Without He Yujing, even with Qin Yi there, you’d likely be sidelined with minimal screen time.”
“Since he’s already said no, there’s really no need to ask, right?”
Jiang Liusui’s voice was gentle and clear, often giving people the impression of being soft and harmless. When they first met, Jiang Chuan once thought he was easy to handle.
Staring at that captivatingly beautiful face, Jiang Chuan sighed in frustration[mfn]恨铁不成钢 (hèn tiě bù chéng gāng) – lit. hate iron for not becoming steel; means being frustrated with someone’s inability to meet expectations.[/mfn]. “If you were willing, you might actually persuade him. You’re younger—say a few sweet words, and he might soften up and agree.”
“Brother Jiang,” Jiang Liusui said helplessly. “Even if I’m familiar with him, it wouldn’t be appropriate to interfere with his work. And besides, we’re not at that kind of level with each other.”
Truthfully, Jiang Chuan didn’t hold much hope of changing He Yujing’s mind—he was just used to grabbing every chance he could.
Seeing Jiang Liusui’s stance, he could only sigh. “You really are… sigh, forget it. Just remember to prepare properly when you go back.”
After parting ways with Jiang Chuan, Jiang Liusui left the office and checked his phone, noticing several new messages.
Funny enough, he had been about to message Qin Yi himself.
Qin Yi must have just found out about the potential guest list and had come to confirm with him.
Qin Yi: I’ve been holed up in the mountains filming and had no signal, so I only just found out you shot He Yujing’s MV. Congrats, even if it’s late.
Qin Yi: My agent mentioned you might be joining ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫?
Jiang Liusui typed with one hand: Does this count as our second collaboration?
After a moment, the reply came: Yes.
The thought of having a friend on the show lifted Jiang Liusui’s spirits: By the way, Qin-ge, I still owe you a meal. I’lI make it up to you next time we meet.
***
“Your full album is dropping in less than two weeks. You’ve barely had any activity for half a year—taking one or two variety shows would help keep you in the public eye[mfn]刷存在感 (shuā cún zài gǎn) – lit. boost one’s sense of existence[/mfn].”
Shen Jie watched as He Yujing lounged casually on the sofa, his gaze shifting toward her as she spoke. “I’ve picked a few good ones. There’s a singing-and-dancing competition that doesn’t require you to stay full-time—just a couple of guest appearances as a mentor. There’s also a lifestyle show that would let fans see your daily life…”
She listed several options one after another. Since word had gotten out that He Yujing was considering such opportunities, numerous highly sought-after shows had eagerly submitted proposals for his consideration. Yet the man himself seemed utterly disinterested, and it was unclear whether he was actually listening to the introductions.
He Yujing was distracted, so Shen Jie decided to tell a funny little anecdote. “The ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ production team actually reached out to me. You know them, right? Their show is decent, but they love to stir things up[mfn]搞事 (gǎo shì) – slang for creating drama or hype[/mfn]. They can turn a simple conversation into this pink, dreamy, fan-favorite scene[mfn]Figuratively meaning to make something look romantic or overly sweet in media.[/mfn]. That’s how Luo Yunhao blew up last year. They want to use you to generate all sorts of hype—isn’t that more than just pure comedy?”
He Yujing finally showed a flicker of interest: “They’ve got nerve. Who do they want to pair me with?”
“I had the same reaction at first, but the plan’s all set on you[mfn]算盘都打到你身上了 (suàn pán dōu dǎ dào nǐ shēn shàng le) – lit. the abacus has been calculated all the way onto you; meaning “you’re the target” or “the plan revolves around you.”[/mfn]. It’s that kid who filmed the MV with you—” Shen Jie noticed his eyes slightly narrowing, and added, “But whether you join or not, Jiang Liusui will definitely accept. It’s not his idea—it’s the production team’s.”
She knew their recent collaboration had generated significant buzz[mfn]没什么水花 (méi shén me shuǐ huā) – lit. there wasn’t much splash; used to say that something didn’t attract attention, didn’t cause a stir, or had little impact, even if it was expected to.[/mfn], with related CP topics still trending online. It made sense for ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ to approach them. If they could actually secure He Yujing’s participation, there was no doubt the show would become a massive hit even before airing.
However, He Yujing had always been selective about variety shows, prioritizing quality over quantity. Moreover, he disliked messy promotional tactics. Shen Jie, well aware of this, had outright rejected the invitation two days ago.
“Just this one,” He Yujing said suddenly.
Shen Jie was taken aback: “You’re going on this show? The team behind it is already unpredictable. And with Jiang Liusui there, they’ll definitely latch onto that. If you’re interested in this kind of variety show, why not pick a gentler one?”
“No need. Just this one.”
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Shen Jie nodded: “Alright, I’ll contact the production team right away.”
“Thanks.” He Yujing smiled. Shen Jie thought the ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ production team had stumbled into incredible luck, not realizing what had drawn his attention. “Knowing you’re going, they’ll be over the moon.”
After wrapping up business, He Yujing leaned back on the sofa and unlocked his phone.
Chi Lianxi had sent him a new message, the words dripping with smugness:
Chi Lianxi: Just found out the little brother is actually my fan. No wonder he asked for a photo with me on graduation day.
Chi Lianxi: I don’t have his contact details. Can you ask him for me? Who does he like more— you or me?
He Yujing read it again, completely sure that Chi Lianxi was deliberately stirring trouble[mfn]没事找事 (méi shì zhǎo shì) – slang for deliberately causing annoyance[/mfn]. Following his instincts, he sent back a question mark:
E: Are you sick?
E: What fan? At most, he’s your movie fan.
Chi Lianxi replied, calm as ever: Getting anxious.
Then he added a particularly irritating follow-up: No wonder you cropped me out of the picture. Turns out I’m the senior he admires most.
He Yujing: ……
Shen Jie’s voice came from the studio door: “Someone’s here to see you.”
At the same time, he received a message from Jiang Liusui: I’m at the door.
“Let him in.”
Shen Jie addressed the young man waiting outside. “Please, come in.”
Jiang Liusui smiled at her in response. This was Shen Jie’s first time meeting Jiang Liusui in person. Despite having encountered countless beauties over the years, she’d never seen someone whose smile could literally make flowers bloom-she found herself completely unable to look away.
Jiang Liusui stepped into the studio. The lobby was even more spacious than he had imagined, and the cold air mixed with the crisp scent of wood hit him.
Shengyun’s office building sat in one of the busiest parts of the city. Through the towering floor-to-ceiling windows, streams of traffic flowed endlessly. Midsummer sunlight slanted in, painting the snow-white carpet with a silhouette of crystal-clear color.
He Yujing, who had been sitting on the long sofa, stood up when he saw him: “What brings you here today?”
It was just a hat—he had originally told Jiang Liusui to drop it off whenever he passed by Shengyun or simply have an assistant deliver it. Jiang Liusui explained: “My agent needed to discuss something with me, so I thought I’d return the hat to you at the same time.”
Remembering He Yujing’s shocked expression that day when he realized Jiang Liusui planned to get out of the car directly, Jiang Liusui added casually: “I don’t know if it’s because of the hat, but I made it home smoothly that day without any trouble.”
Noticing Jiang Liusui was wearing a black baseball cap himself, He Yujing asked: “So now you’ve learned to cover up when going out?”
“Yeah, I brought a mask too.” Jiang Liusui glanced toward Shen Jie, who had gone to a separate room to make a phone call. “Are you busy? I should get going then.”
Unexpectedly, He Yujing studied him for a moment, as if implying something: “No other business with me?”
Jiang Liusui shook his head. Yet He Yujing, as if piecing something together, stared at him thoughtfully.
He had expected that Jiang Liusui’s visit to return the hat would come with at least a small mention of the variety show. After all, his participation had already been confirmed with his agent. He wouldn’t have minded if Jiang Liusui had such ulterior motives—but it turned out he hadn’t been scheming about him at all.
He Yujing’s heart softened. Seeing Jiang Liusui’s puzzled expression, he couldn’t help but find him irresistibly cute and blurted out:
“Chi Lianxi told me to ask you who you like more—him or me.”
“…What?” The topic shifted too abruptly. Jiang Liusui almost thought he had misheard.
“He discovered you’re his movie fan.”
The person before him didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gave He Yujing an amused look: “You two really know how to make trouble. Is this what top celebrities are like?”
Seeing Jiang Liusui evade the question, He Yujing already understood the answer and mentally clicked his tongue.
What exactly is so great about Chi Lianxi…
“—I like you more.”
He Yujing froze for a moment, then instinctively pressed: “Why?”
Jiang Liusui hadn’t expected He Yujing to ask for specific reasons. The tips of his ears grew slightly warm as he responded somewhat sheepishly: “What do you mean why… It’s just, because you’re very gentle with me.”
— — — —
