"Yes." Li Ling moved aside a bit and said nonchalantly, "So don't tell him, okay?" She cautiously glanced at the doorway, confirmed that the director had left, then lowered her head and quickly grabbed a piece of the bullfrog she had been craving. The director is not home tonight, Li Ling secretly eats bullfrog. Manager Chen was momentarily stunned. Meanwhile, Ms. Li Ling was already devouring her food. Her lips turned a vivid red from eating, giving off an especially vibrant and enticing look. Her lips, opening and closing, were so alluringly red, like a delicate poppy, swaying under the light and exuding a heady fragrance. The more he looked, the more dazed he became. After a while, he lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell him." "Thank you, you're so kind," Li Ling mumbled, her head down as she ate voraciously. Manager Chen continued to stare at her for a long time, his attitude suddenly becoming exceptionally enthusiastic. If his previous compliments to Li Ling were more like add-ons to curry favor with Director Jin, without any sincerity, Now, this actress had finally made it to the table, becoming a dish with full color, aroma, and taste. He asked her with great interest questions like "How many films have you acted in?" "Why haven't I seen you before?" "How did the director choose you?" He fully affirmed Director Jin's vision and was very confident that Ms. Li would become very popular after this film. Li Ling turned her head and politely thanked him. He was greatly encouraged, perhaps thinking that she was willing to go back to his room tonight, and suddenly leaned in close, sitting directly in Jin Jingyao's seat. His breath, reeking of alcohol, almost sprayed onto Li Ling's face. "You really love spicy food, huh?" He looked her up and down, "Could you be my favorite type, a spicy little pepper?" Li Ling's chopsticks froze, and she almost choked. Manager Chen was puzzled, "What's wrong?" Li Ling: "…Nothing." It's just that she hadn't heard such a cheesy pickup line in a long time. The other party was oblivious, showing a smile that was part rustic, part lecherous, "While your director isn't here, Ms. Li, come on, let's have a drink." Most of the main crew at the table had left with the director, and the people nearby were drinking and having fun on their own, not paying attention to what was happening on their side. Even if they noticed, it wouldn't make much difference; who would dare offend Chen Fei's only son? And actresses in such settings were always considered sweet spoils of war. Li Ling was quite aware of her own status and patiently put on a naive and sweet demeanor, weakly saying, "But, the director…" "Isn't it enough that I'm here?" Manager Chen lowered his voice, "Ms. Li, you can't refuse me this favor, can you?" Li Ling looked at him somewhat blankly. If she weren't secretly eating a piece of spicy beef tripe, the fear and tension in her eyes would have seemed more genuine. Fortunately, Manager Chen, blinded by lust, didn't notice these minor acting flaws. At first glance, Manager Chen didn't really resemble his father. Probably because he had a beautiful actress mother, which greatly improved their family's genes. But when he looked at her so intently, Li Ling realized that he and his father were actually quite alike. They had the same eyes. Droopy eyelids, lifeless pupils, emitting a certain unpleasant fishy smell. "Alright." Li Ling demurely put down her chopsticks and raised her glass. Then, without changing her expression, she poured the drink behind her back. Great acting! Great skill! A passerby crew member walked by and silently gave her a thumbs up. "Good! You can really hold your liquor!" Manager Chen also cheered for her. Li Ling enthusiastically said, "Another glass, my treat."Mr. Chen Jr.: "Alright! Cheers..." After a few drinks, Mr. Chen Jr.'s face grew even redder, and his neck swelled as if he had a thyroid nodule, making him look more like his father. It was clear that, given his status, few people dared to make him drink. Otherwise, his alcohol tolerance wouldn't be so poor. However, upon hearing Li Ling mention his father, he immediately waved his hand and said, "The old man retired years ago. Ever since his good friend He Wei died, he lost all interest in movies. If I hadn't dragged him out this time..." Li Ling, diligently pouring him more wine, said in surprise, "Mr. Chen and Director He had such a deep bond?" "Decades of friendship," Mr. Chen Jr. said. "I never liked He Wei's movies anyway. What kind of old artist is he? Boring, pretentious, dull... And he spent his whole life making films, only to die on set. Isn't that funny?" Li Ling said, "Funny. Let's toast to the funny Director He. You finish your drink, I'll drink as I please." Nothing complements alcohol better than the adoring gaze of a beautiful woman. Mr. Chen Jr., filled with bravado, downed three more glasses. He was almost unable to sit up straight, drunkenly saying, "My dad said He Wei died making movies. He spent years writing the script, years finding actors, and then held some open casting call, picking a complete novice who had never acted before." "...He said he found a great talent, wanted to hide her away, train her well, and when the movie was released, make her a big star..." Mr. Chen Jr. gestured wildly like an orchestra conductor, loudly saying, "But what happened? The movie wasn't finished, and he died!" "The film never came out, and that so-called genius newcomer, ha, who even remembers her now..." He was supposed to continue, but a tragedy suddenly occurred. The drunken Mr. Chen Jr. knocked over an empty wine bottle on the table. The bottle shattered into pieces, its fragmented remains strewn across the floor, looking quite pitiful. Li Ling asked, "Does Mr. Chen Fei not remember either?" "Him? He meets so many people every day, how could he remember..." "True," Li Ling said. "What happened to that genius newcomer?" Mr. Chen Jr. stared at her with a sly grin, "Want to know? Come to my room tonight, and I'll tell you." "Sure," Li Ling agreed without hesitation. Overjoyed, he leaned over, trying to grab her with his greasy hand. She subtly pushed her wheelchair back. Seeing that the drunken Mr. Chen Jr. was about to lose his balance and fall, making a spectacular mess, the wheelchair was suddenly held in place by someone. A cold voice from behind said, "What are you talking about?" Mr. Chen Jr. stopped himself just in time, pressing his hands on the table, slowly sitting up straight, and gave Director Jin a sheepish smile. Li Ling turned her head with a look of regret, saying in an innocent tone, "Nothing, Director. Mr. Chen was just telling me his room number." Sincerity is the best weapon. The storm passed, and the room fell into a rather delicate silence. Mr. Chen Jr. was initially stunned, then sobered up. His bloodshot eyes, as if wound by a spring, turned dully a few times. "Haha, Director Jin, I... I was just joking with Teacher Li," he said dryly to Jin Jingyao. Jin Jingyao ignored him completely. The producer came in, assessing the situation from behind, and cleaned up the mess, carrying the drunken Mr. Chen Jr. away. Only the two of them were left by the messy table. He looked down at Li Ling, pursing his lips, "You didn't drink the porridge."Leiling choked for a moment, wondering if Director Jin had gone out and secretly drank some fake wine, because his thought process was so bizarre. Was the porridge really the main point here? But she obediently said, "Okay, Director, I'll drink it right away." "It's already cold," Jin Jingyao said calmly. Compared to a personal trainer at the gym, he seemed more like a strict wife checking on a husband who came home late. He stared at her coldly and asked, "Did you drink?" Leiling immediately shook her head, "No, Director, I wouldn't dare." She was telling the truth; she hadn't touched a drop of alcohol. It had all spilled onto the floor. Jin Jingyao stood quietly for a moment before saying, "Hmm. You wouldn't dare." He took a step forward, placing his hands on her wheelchair, the veins on the back of his hands becoming more pronounced. Even Leiling, who was usually not very perceptive, sensed that something was off. A smart person would have run away immediately, but she was sitting in a wheelchair, too passive to do anything—her premonition came true in an instant. Without warning, his large hand pressed down hard, forcibly turning her and the wheelchair half a circle. Dizzy and disoriented, Leiling's body lost control, as if she were thrown high into the sky and then slammed back to the ground, forced to face a pair of eyes devoid of warmth. He was very unhappy. But why? A shadow gradually covered her face. Jin Jingyao lifted his lips slightly, his smile carrying a hint of oppression. He reached out his hand towards her. For a moment, a wrong memory surged into her mind, like a bottle of poison being spilled, seeping into the cracks of her bones. Leiling's pupils dilated, and a chill ran down her neck instinctively. She thought he was going to hit her. However, Jin Jingyao didn't touch her at all. The young man bent down and calmly tidied her disheveled collar, even smoothing out the wrinkles. His lowered gaze flickered under the light, like a rippling lake. At such a close distance, Leiling could almost count his eyelashes. But he was so focused, never lifting his eyes to look at her, as if he were far away. In her confusion and suspicion, she became even more puzzled. What exactly did he want to do? Until she saw, with her own eyes, his slender fingertips gently slide over a damp spot on her collar. Damn. She was exposed. The faint smell of alcohol, like an ambiguous breeze, lingered around her nose. "You've dirtied my clothes," Jin Jingyao said in a flat, straightforward tone. Leiling quickly explained, "No, Director, you misunderstood. This was accidentally spilled... I really didn't drink..." He wasn't very interested in her explanation. He straightened up and looked at her again. Leiling's breath caught, frozen by his gaze. The young man's tone was cold, his eyes almost gloomy, yet inexplicably giving off a feeling that was both icy and sticky, like a never-ending swamp, making one's body and mind sink uncontrollably. Her heart tightened, feeling both familiar and strange. It was the same look Zhou Jing had when he intended to make A-Ling vomit. - Jin Jingyao turned and left the room. Leiling didn't dare not follow, so she braced herself and went after him. The good news was that she lost sight of him in the darkness after a short while. The young man walked quickly, like a gust of wind, while her wheelchair was like an old ox pulling a broken cart—there was no way she could catch up. Not being able to catch up was good, saving her the trouble of having to coax him. Leiling felt a sense of relief, thinking she had shown enough effort and could now go back to sleep peacefully. Unexpectedly, after walking a little further, she saw a tall, slender figure among the shadows of the trees. Li Ling: "..." You said you would walk fast. With no other choice, she had to continue expressing her stance, pretending to be very attentive, huffing and puffing as she pushed the wheelchair, eagerly catching up and calling out "Director." Jin Jingyao did not turn around, remaining very cold. But the distance between them was gradually closing, to the point where Li Ling had to say something. "Director, I will help you wash your clothes clean," she vowed, "I'll wash them as soon as we get back." Jin Jingyao: "They're already dirty." "Then I'll buy a new one to compensate you?" Li Ling said, feeling the pinch. She had already checked the logo; such an inconspicuous jacket actually cost nearly six figures. It was really unreasonable. Damn capitalists. "Throw it away," he said indifferently. If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, Li Ling really wanted to ask him, isn't it wasteful to throw it away, could she sell it on Xianyu instead? Asking was out of the question. Her emotional intelligence was that high. Li Ling, with high emotional intelligence, said, "Director, are you angry? I really didn't drink—okay, I admit, I did eat a little bit of bullfrog." Jin Jingyao did not stop walking, nor did he turn around. Fine, what a noble priest. Li Ling knew her sin was unforgivable, and confessed with a heart-wrenching tone, "I also ate spicy chicken." "And I ate Mao Xue Wang." "And chopped pepper fish head..." The young man's footsteps suddenly stopped. Li Ling breathed a sigh of relief. With his back to her, he said lightly, "What if I hadn't come back just now?" "I wouldn't have eaten the couple's lung slices either!" Li Ling said guiltily. Jin Jingyao turned around, his gaze deeply locking onto her. In the darkness, his eyes were like ghostly flames, or a trapped moon. "Then would you have gone to his room?" he asked her.