MMLDU Chapter 49

They ordered a yin-yang hotpot, with one side tomato and the other side red oil. The vegetable rack was filled with an assortment of ingredients.

They didn’t bring their assistants, fearing the assistants wouldn’t let them eat much. Pei Lang hadn’t had hotpot in a long time. Although Aunt Lin’s cooking was delicious, hotpot was something that a bento just couldn’t replicate.

While waiting for the hotpot base to boil, they snacked on two or three appetizers to satisfy their cravings. The cool, melt-in-your-mouth treats were full of rich flavors. Pei Lang’s happiness was obvious. It wasn’t just the smile constantly on his face, but a sense of genuine joy that radiated from within.

Every time he ate something delicious, he wore that same expression. The two lead actors were used to it by now, but they were still inexplicably drawn to it. What had started as a lazy mood now relaxed into an enjoyment of the food, and his laid-back demeanor added a touch of innocence, creating an irresistibly charming contrast that worked on both men and women.

The waiter bringing the dishes almost stumbled when they saw him.

“Pei Lang, do you have any direction for your next project? I know a lot of directors and can keep an eye out and recommend you,” Zhong Yixiao asked. His gaze always had a hint of tenderness. But Pei Lang, with his peach blossom eyes, saw affection in everyone, so he didn’t notice the subtle difference in Zhong Yixiao’s expression.

At the table, only Pei Lang was eating; the other two were watching their figures and didn’t dare to eat sweets.

Sitting in silence wasn’t ideal, so they casually chatted.

“Pei Lang, with your acting skills, you should leave more works for the entertainment industry,” Liu Ran agreed.

“At the moment, I don’t have a clear direction. I have fewer scenes, and I wrapped up filming earlier than you. As for joining another project, I’ll wait until this one airs,” Pei Lang replied. He had something planned for the time being; he would use this break to network and make sure to tie up Pei Ziqing and Yan Xiuyuan for the task. He needed to complete it to earn the system’s promise to heal Yan Han’s legs.

“That’s true. Once this drama airs, directors will probably be knocking down your door,” Liu Ran said without exaggeration.

She was very impressed with Pei Lang’s acting.

Only the people in the same crew knew the real state of Pei Lang’s career. Director Jin’s confidentiality was top-notch, so no one leaked anything. To the public, Pei Lang was still seen as an actor who couldn’t act and threw tantrums. After this drama airs, things will be different. People would quickly realize his true strength. Directors with sharp eyes wouldn’t miss out on a good-looking actor with great skills. By then, there would be no need for introductions—people would be coming to him, and he’d be too busy to handle them all.

Liu Ran could already imagine the faces of those who would be proven wrong.

Pei Lang chuckled and didn’t say much more.

As he ate, he received a call from the orphanage dean. He glanced at the two of them and apologetically stood up. “Sorry, I need to take this call.”

There didn’t seem to be a good place to take the call, except for the private room or the noisy lobby. Pei Lang stepped outside the door to answer. “Dean, is there something you need?”

“Xiao Lang, are you still filming? I hope I’m not disturbing you.” The dean’s kind voice was like a summer evening breeze, warm but not hot, gently comforting.

“No, the filming’s already done.”

Pei Lang’s joining the set had been so popular online that the dean knew about it.

“That’s good,” the dean sighed in relief. “Xiao Lang, Xiao Chi’s biological parents came for him a few days ago. He’s been taken home. I didn’t want to bother you, but today when I was cleaning up his room, I happened to find his diary. You two made a birthday promise, didn’t you?”

“Xiao Chi’s 18th birthday is coming up, and yes, we agreed I would be there to celebrate with him.”

“The child left in a hurry that day and didn’t mention it. I have a duty to protect his privacy, so I can’t tell you where he went or who he’s with. I didn’t want you to make a trip for nothing, so I’m calling to let you know.”

Pei Lang paused. The news was sudden, but he understood.

It meant he wouldn’t be able to celebrate Xiao Chi’s birthday with him.

“When it’s his birthday, will you be preparing a gift for him?” Pei Lang suddenly asked, thinking of something.

“I’ve raised him for over ten years. I won’t miss his 18th birthday. Although his parents weren’t happy about it, I managed to get a chance to see him. But, I can only send him a gift. I won’t be able to attend in person.”

“Then how about this, I’ll prepare a gift as well and you can help me deliver it to him. Even though I can’t be there with him, at least he’ll know I haven’t forgotten the promise.” That was the only option left.

From the dean’s tone, it seemed that Xiao Chi’s biological parents were difficult to deal with. Pei Lang wasn’t sure what they thought, but he hoped the child would be well taken care of in his new home. He didn’t know what kind of people his parents were, but regardless, they were still his biological parents, so they wouldn’t mistreat him.

With that thought, Pei Lang finally felt a bit relieved.

“Xiao Lang, when you have time, come visit again. The kids really miss you,” the dean said. “Before, they only heard your songs on the platform. But after seeing you perform in person, they’re no longer satisfied just listening to your voice.”

“Also, since you’ve been filming, your song updates on the platform have been slower, and it’s always the same few songs. While they never get tired of hearing them, they still wish for new material.”

“I’ll have a long break after finishing filming. I’ll make time to come by,” Pei Lang replied.

“Let me know in advance when you come. I’ll get ready.”

“Got it.”

After the call ended, Pei Lang returned to the table and could finally eat. He enjoyed the meal, though he couldn’t drink since he had to film tomorrow. Otherwise, he would’ve had a couple of drinks. Zhong Yixiao and Liu Ran quickly got full, and by the end, Pei Lang was the only one still eating, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yan Han wasn’t in such a good mood.

“How’s it going? Any progress?” Qi Shaoheng’s curiosity had been piqued and hadn’t let up. He’d been asking about the progress every few days, always receiving cold responses from Yan Han.

Yan Han’s face was expressionless as he furrowed his brows and shook his head. “No progress.”

“How could that be? Did you not study the book I gave you thoroughly?” Qi Shaoheng asked in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you haven’t taken action because of your pride? I told you, if you want to win the heart of a woman¹remember, up until now, Qi Shaoheng still thought that the person Yan Han is pursuing is a woman. “He” and “she” in Chinese are pronounced the same., forget about pride. Pursuing her is the most important thing!”

It was better not to mention the book, but as soon as it was brought up, Yan Han’s mood soured even more. “The book you gave me is useless. I studied it thoroughly, followed the instructions, and still got no response. He doesn’t understand what I mean.”

Here he was, this big CEO, making meals for him, only to have them thrown away.

The wall slam… and people still thought he liked that Su Jia guy.

“Is it too subtle? Does he prefer something more direct?” Qi Shaoheng began to doubt. “How about this, I have a few limited edition books here, very powerful, I guarantee they’ll work.”

“I feel like the books you gave me are unreliable,” Yan Han said, doubting Qi Shaoheng’s methods because of the lack of results. “If someone used those methods to pursue me, I’d probably strangle him.”

“You don’t get it,” Qi Shaoheng replied with an air of wisdom. “You’ve never been in love, so you don’t understand the principles behind it. You’re the pursuer and she’s the one being pursued—two different mindsets. Plus, you’re a man, and you lack nothing, so those tactics won’t work on you. They’ll just make you feel like a clown showing off in front of a master.”

His reasoning was solid, and Yan Han was swayed.

Qi Shaoheng continued, “Don’t worry, as your brother, I wouldn’t steer you wrong. I’m just glad you finally like someone. I almost wish I could tie the person up and throw them on your bed. If you really can’t handle it, I’ll come back to the country and teach you how to pursue someone, step by step.”

“No, don’t come back,” Yan Han firmly rejected. “He’s too charming. I’m afraid you’ll get the wrong idea.”

“Big brother, get a grip. I like men, MEN!” Qi Shaoheng shouted in frustration. “And who would dare take food from your mouth? They’d be asking for trouble.”

“Heh, then you definitely can’t come back,” Yan Han teased.

“You…” Qi Shaoheng was about to argue, but Yan Han swiftly changed the subject, his tone turning serious.

“How’s the mission going?”

Qi Shaoheng wanted to say something else, but at Yan Han’s shift in focus, he had no choice but to take the conversation seriously. “We’ve gathered quite a few clues. He’s hiding deep. We still haven’t found his hiding place.”

“Focus on the task, stop being so nosy,” Yan Han urged.

“I…,” Qi Shaoheng felt wronged but didn’t dare speak further. “Do you still want those books?”

“Of course.”

“…” Qi Shaoheng choked up, falling silent.

—

The next scenes focused on the male and female leads jumping off the cliff but surviving, only to accidentally obtain a legendary martial arts manual. They disguise themselves, trying to evade the Demon Sect’s pursuit while diligently practicing martial arts. The bond between the two, which was already strong, deepened even more through shared life-or-death experiences.

Meanwhile, after losing his eyesight, Wen Yan becomes irritable and agitated, struggling not only with the pain of the medicine for his eyes but also with the need to investigate the whereabouts of the male and female leads. The torture wears him down, leaving him in constant suffering.

No matter the state, Pei Lang’s performance was outstanding.

Especially his portrayal of blindness, which was so well done—he could get into character in an instant. He managed to not blink for long periods, remaining blank and stiff, truly making it seem like he couldn’t see.

He had always been a genius, excelling in both medicine and martial arts. Losing his eyesight filled him with hatred and fear as if being dragged from a high pedestal into the dirt. It made him overly sensitive, questioning every small movement, though his other senses remained sharp, keeping others at a distance.

Because he was blind, his mind was constantly haunted by visions of Qin Junru and Fu Zhixing’s loving moments, tormenting him endlessly.

His father still doted on this rebellious son.

Even though his son had always disapproved of his methods, after finally returning to take over the family business, he was tortured like this because of romantic feelings. His father felt both frustrated and angry, wishing he could bring out and punish the person who hurt his son.

The role of the leader of the sect was played by an experienced actor. Pei Lang’s interactions with him were seamless, with no trace of inexperience. The two talented actors complemented each other perfectly. Their scenes were always one take, with any mistakes being due to other issues.

After more than half a month of steady shooting, Pei Lang’s schedule became so tight that he could barely talk to Yan Han on the phone for more than a few minutes, often falling asleep before finishing a conversation. This made Yan Han feel quite heartbroken.

The shooting pace slowed down. Director Jin gave him a three-day break to rest and adjust his condition.

In truth, Director Jin, impressed by Pei Lang’s performance, wanted to add more scenes for him. But since things weren’t progressing with Yan Han, he gave Pei Lang the break to spend a few days with the lonely Yan Han. In Director Jin’s mind, Yan Han had become a resentful wife, always waiting for her husband to come home.

• 1
  remember, up until now, Qi Shaoheng still thought that the person Yan Han is pursuing is a woman. “He” and “she” in Chinese are pronounced the same.