Just as Ji Ling expected, the film’s post-production wrapped up quickly, and soon it was ready for review. The release schedule had been locked in early on, with the premiere set for Singles’ Day.
“A movie all about romance, premiering on Singles’ Day? Bold move,” He Xiaoguang commented.
Ji Ling had discussed it with the production team. While there didn’t seem to be anything particularly sensitive in the film, they decided to hold off on promotions until it cleared the review process.
Ji Ling felt a bubbling excitement.
It was like setting up a complex chessboard, waiting to see how the moves played out — or like pulling back a bowstring, ready to release the arrow at just the right moment.
It had been a while since Ji Ling felt this kind of anticipation. After all that preparation, he was itching to start the promotional campaign and see if his strategy would pay off.
But he knew better than to rush things.
During this time, Yan Yixuan seemed to have caught on to Ji Ling’s routine of visiting the stables every week and had stopped bothering him.
Ji Ling knew full well he had zero privacy when it came to Yan Yixuan — his business and personal life were practically an open book to that man.
On the flip side, Ji Ling never knew when he might accidentally cross a line.
That moody young master could be all smiles one minute, planting a kiss or two, and plotting some mischief the next.
Ji Ling couldn’t help but describe it as ‘mischief’ in his head — like being someone’s pet, just there for amusement when they got bored.
It wasn’t exactly a comfortable feeling, but given the vast gap between their social status, Ji Ling didn’t have much choice.
After weeks of visiting the stables, Ji Ling had started picking up some basic riding skills from watching others practice.
The stables had professional trainers, and Ji Ling had hired them to teach him. Naturally, that added some extra costs, but Ji Ling just put it all on Yan Yixuan’s tab.
Sometimes, Ji Ling felt like he was being a bit childish. He knew exactly what kind of temper Yan Yixuan had, yet he couldn’t help poking at him whenever he got the chance.
And oddly enough, the more he did it, the more satisfying it felt.
Ji Ling couldn’t help but wonder if he’d somehow picked up Yan Yixuan’s bratty tendencies.
By now, Ji Ling could manage some simple slow-paced riding. Equestrian sports were all about grace and control — elegant yet powerful. Only after practicing did Ji Ling realize that what looked effortless and smooth from the outside was actually incredibly demanding. Just staying seated in the saddle for a long time was hard enough. He knew he was still far from mastering it, but he treated the lessons as a good way to stay fit.
But sure enough, what Ji Ling had been dreading eventually happened.
That day, the trainer needed to work with ‘his’ — no, with Yan Yixuan’s horse — so Ji Ling followed along to watch from the outer track.
That’s when he saw him — a man in a sleek riding outfit, galloping down the track on horseback.
The tall horse and the tall rider seemed to move as one, their figures blending into a powerful, fluid silhouette. Man and horse raced like they were chasing the wind, stirring up a trail of dust behind them.
The rider leaned forward, lowering his center of gravity, murmuring something low and firm. Then, in a sudden burst of strength, both horse and rider leapt into the air. His long legs gripped the horse’s body tightly, muscles taut from the steed’s back all the way up to the rider’s waist — like a sculptor had carved out every line to perfection. It was a striking mix of strength and elegance.
The pair soared over the obstacle ahead, landing smoothly with flawless precision. The whole thing was breathtaking — seamless, powerful, and awe-inspiring.
Ji Ling almost couldn’t stop himself from shouting, ‘Nice!’
But he held back. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t leave either — just stood there quietly, watching.
Because that rider was Yan Yili.
After a lap around the track, Yan Yili dismounted, giving the horse a few pats before handing it off to the trainer. As he turned around, his gaze drifted toward Ji Ling. Ji Ling didn’t look away. He just stood there.
And then their eyes met.
Ji Ling wasn’t sure if Yan Yili recognized him, so he stayed put. Yan Yili, however, seemed to hesitate for a moment before walking toward him.
When Yan Yili reached the trackside fence, he didn’t bother going around — he just vaulted right over it. Despite his tall frame, his movements were swift and effortless. The snug riding pants only added to his striking presence, making his athletic grace all the more impressive.
It was a completely different kind of charm from Yan Yixuan’s.
Yan Yili stopped in front of Ji Ling, squinting slightly as he studied him. Seeing that there was no avoiding the encounter, Ji Ling took the initiative and greeted him.
“Hello, Mr. Yan Yili.”
Yan Yili gave a small nod, glanced around, then asked, “Where’s Yan Yixuan?”
“Not here. Just me,” Ji Ling replied calmly.
Yan Yili paused, clearly surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Ji Ling gestured toward the horse in the distance being led by the trainer. “Just watching the horse.”
Yan Yili looked at the horse, then back at Ji Ling. He seemed to be piecing things together. “Did Yan Yixuan tell you to come?”
Ji Ling nodded.
Finally understanding the situation, Yan Yili let out a mocking laugh. “Figures. He’s always into things for about five minutes. When he said he wanted to buy a horse, I knew it wouldn’t last.” His gaze swept toward the horse and lingered for a moment before he added, “What a shame. That horse deserved a better owner.”
Ji Ling raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Yan Yixuan’s busy with work, so he asked me to take care of the horse. He’s not neglecting his responsibilities.”
Yan Yili eyed Ji Ling carefully. “Busy, huh? Like I don’t know his schedule? You sure jump to his defense.”
That rubbed Ji Ling the wrong way. He knew Yan Yixuan well enough — of course he’d speak up for him. What, was he supposed to badmouth him behind his back?
So Ji Ling shot back, “Why wouldn’t I? It’d be weirder if I stood here gossiping about him with ‘you’, wouldn’t it?”
Yan Yili crossed his arms and studied Ji Ling with a curious smirk. “I thought you two had a… business arrangement.”
Ji Ling knew exactly what Yan Yili meant by ‘business arrangement.’ He wasn’t talking about some simple contract — he was hinting at something far more personal, something that involved both money and bodies.
Yan Yili’s scorn and arrogance lit a spark of anger in Ji Ling. His tone turned cold as he said, “Mr. Yan Yili, ever heard the saying, ‘a filthy mind sees filth everywhere’?”
His words were borderline rude, and Yan Yili’s brows knitted tightly. He held back his irritation, pressing his lips together before saying, “Here’s some advice — you shouldn’t stay involved with Yan Yixuan.”
Ji Ling stared at him blankly, unsure what he was getting at.
“You know Yan Yixuan’s had a lot of lovers, right?” Yan Yili said. “You’re not the first, and you sure won’t be the last. I can see you’ve got some genuine feelings for him, but plenty of people have chased after him and ended up with nothing. Why tie yourself to someone like that?”
Ji Ling was stunned by Yan Yili’s wild assumptions. It caught him off guard, and for a moment, he couldn’t help wondering — ‘Do I really look like that to outsiders?’
A wave of helplessness washed over him.
There was no point trying to explain. Ji Ling figured even if he tried, Yan Yili wouldn’t believe him. So instead, he chose silence.
Yan Yili continued, “I can’t stand his playboy attitude — using people and tossing them aside like it’s nothing.” His voice darkened, eyes glinting with something heavier beneath the surface. “We’ve both been victims of that kind of behavior — so why does he get to keep acting this way?”
In those words, Ji Ling glimpsed a hint of the Yan family’s messy history.
He remembered seeing Yan Yili with his girlfriend before — that woman had seemed completely overshadowed by Yan Yili’s presence, yet Yan Yili still wore the expression of a devoted man.
The complete opposite of Yan Yixuan.
Ji Ling’s mind wandered to their backgrounds…
But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. He had no intention of getting involved in their family drama — or rather, he just didn’t care. Everyone had their own way of dealing with life, and Ji Ling didn’t see the point in forcing his values onto others.
Finally, Ji Ling spoke. “No matter what kind of person Mr. Yan Yixuan is, and no matter what my relationship with him might be, gossiping behind someone’s back is still a matter of basic manners and respect.”
Yan Yili let out a sarcastic laugh. “You think Yan Yixuan never badmouths ‘me’ behind my back?”
Ji Ling’s response was firm and unwavering. “He doesn’t.”
Anyone with eyes could see that the two Yan brothers didn’t get along. Ji Ling had seen Yan Yili a few times before when he was with Yan Yixuan, but no matter how tense things seemed, Yan Yixuan had never once spoken badly about Yan Yili in front of him.
Yan Yili looked a bit surprised by Ji Ling’s firm response. His lips pressed together tightly, and he finally dropped the subject.
Ji Ling didn’t bother with him any further. After glancing at the horse and the trainer, he said flatly, “I’ll be going now.”
He didn’t want to spend another second talking to Yan Yili. Without waiting for a reply, Ji Ling turned to leave.
But Yan Yili called out from behind, “Hey.”
Ji Ling forced himself to turn back, barely hiding his irritation.
“I’ll give you one more piece of advice,” Yan Yili said. “Yan Yixuan may look all smiles on the surface, but when he decides to get ruthless, he doesn’t hold back. Be careful.”
Ji Ling couldn’t help but feel baffled again.
Of course, he knew Yan Yixuan wasn’t some harmless pushover. Anyone surviving in the business world couldn’t rely on kindness alone — they all had to play the game. Profit drove everything, and anyone too soft-hearted would get swallowed whole.
In fact, Ji Ling didn’t find it surprising that Yan Yixuan could be tough when needed — what ‘did’ surprise him was how soft-hearted Yan Yixuan could be at times.
That kindness — that tendency to let things slide — left a deeper impression on Ji Ling.
To be honest, if their roles were reversed, Ji Ling knew he wouldn’t have been nearly as patient. If it were him, anyone who dared to challenge him would’ve been crushed ages ago.
After saying goodbye to the trainer and making sure the horse was taken back to the stable, Ji Ling left the riding club.
He didn’t bother looking back to see what Yan Yili was doing, nor did he care.
As Ji Ling drove home, he suddenly realized something — he’d spent way too much effort defending Yan Yixuan in his head, almost like he was trying to justify things.
He rubbed his nose, feeling a little awkward about it.
‘What’s the point of thinking about all this?’ he thought. ‘It’s not like I’d ever admit it out loud.’
Just then, his phone rang. It was the film production company. The movie had passed the censorship review and was scheduled to premiere on Singles’ Day — November 11th — just as planned.
Ji Ling was still driving when he got the news, and he felt a surge of excitement bubbling inside him. He nearly smacked the steering wheel in celebration.
In that instant, all his irritation from dealing with Yan Yili vanished. His mind was already shifting gears, fully focused on the battle ahead.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
