Peppermint Candy (Part 2) The planned date didn't happen in the end. Director Jin was simply too busy to even spare half a day. That day, he drove Li Ling home, and the two lingered at her doorstep for quite a while, looking like he really wanted to go in for a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, he couldn't even spare the time for a cup of coffee as Mai Hongcheng called, urging him incessantly. When Jin Jingyao entered the elevator, his face was as dark as a Siamese cat just after winter. Li Ling could only stroke the cat's head again. Fortunately, hard work always pays off. Not long after, good news came: Director Jin's new film was shortlisted for the main competition at the Lion City Film Festival. It would be the only Chinese-language film this year, competing for the Golden Lion with other movies. According to insider information, the film was submitted just before the deadline, and the post-production wasn't even finished. Fortunately, the committee made an exception for him. The internet was full of congratulations, praising the director's prestige and eagerly anticipating his new work, which had been in preparation for over two years. However, many netizens found it strange and speculated privately. "Why go to Lion City?" "Yeah, isn't Director Jin a favorite at Cannes?" "Although both are top-tier film festivals, Cannes seems to have a higher status than Lion City." "Exactly, otherwise why do people spend millions just to walk the red carpet at Cannes?" "Could it be that the film isn't up to standard and he's afraid of being rejected by Cannes, so he submitted it to Lion City?" someone speculated. "Possible. Maybe Jin Jingyao still can't make a good romance film." "Hey, don't talk nonsense!" "You can insult me, but you can't insult my OTP!" "This is definitely the best romance film of the year!" For some reason, even before the film's release, it already had a bunch of OTP fans. "Maybe it's a timing issue. He wants to release it this year," some industry insiders analyzed. "Just to clarify, films participating in the main competition must have their world premiere at the festival. If the film were to go to Cannes, it wouldn't be released until after May next year." "So what? May is fine!" "Does it have to be released this year?" "Why the rush? Is there something on his mind?" - Shortly after the shortlist was announced, Jin Jingyao held a screening at the company. Unlike last time, most of the main cast and crew were present. Having not seen each other for a while, they gathered in small groups to chat before the screening. Li Ling walked into the theater and noticed a tall, unfamiliar man standing next to producer Mai Hongcheng. The two were chatting casually when they suddenly turned to look at her simultaneously. The stranger scrutinized her from head to toe with a cold, piercing gaze, making her feel like a fish on a chopping board. Li Ling inexplicably got goosebumps. Mai Hongcheng waved her over and introduced her solemnly, "This is the director's brother, Jin Jingping." Li Ling responded with an "Oh" and felt a bit curious. According to rumors, Director Jin's family was happy and prosperous, with both parents listed among the wealthy elite, and his two older brothers were also successful in their careers. However, despite knowing him for so long, Jin Jingyao had never voluntarily mentioned his family. Apart from Xiao Liu, this was the first time she had met any of his relatives. Up close, Jin Jingping's features did resemble Jin Jingyao's, but his demeanor was much more mature, exuding a certain authority and coldness. He slightly raised the corners of his mouth, giving Li Ling a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. Perhaps it was intuition, but Li Ling felt that Jin Jingping didn't like her. His attitude towards her was somewhat subtle, a kind of upper-class indifference mixed with a complex scrutiny that made people uncomfortable. She had intended to just say hello and leave, but unexpectedly, the other party was inexplicably persistent. He looked down on her yet kept holding her in conversation, like a neighborhood committee checking household registrations. Li Ling couldn't be bothered to talk much with him and casually replied, "My whole family is dead." Jin Jingping's eyes lit up, showing a satisfied expression for the first time. "That's good, that's good." Li Ling: ? Mai Hongcheng coughed awkwardly, changing the subject. Li Ling began to feel that this guy was a bit strange. They each took their seats, and shortly before the movie started, she heard the other party talking on the phone. His tone had completely changed from the previous arrogance to a very humble one: "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat tonight?" "Do you need money recently? Give me your bank card number." Li Ling: ... How to put it, it suddenly felt a bit subtle, as if she had heard these words somewhere before. No wonder they were real brothers; they had the same clumsy way of coaxing people. Mai Hongcheng, watching the scene unfold, mouthed to Li Ling, "Just divorced." Interesting. Li Ling, deep in thought, subtly moved closer to continue eavesdropping. The person on the other end of the phone had a loud voice and coldly scolded him, "Idiot, we've been married for years, and you still don't know my bank card number." Jin Jingping was stunned for a moment and said, "Yeah, how many years have we been married?" Li Ling: ... There's something here. The call was hung up, and the mature and handsome Jin Jingping looked utterly confused. Mai Hongcheng was struggling to hold back his laughter. Li Ling didn't hold back and laughed directly. Jin Jingping turned his head and glared at her fiercely. - The movie started. Until the screen lit up, Jin Jingping was still restless, occasionally looking down at his phone and cursing his brother's girlfriend in his mind. An underwear model is just an underwear model, really lacking in manners. Could his brother have been deceived by her? Although, recently he had checked Li Ling's background and knew that this little actress was indeed not an underwear model but a very inspirational actress with a tragic past. But what did that have to do with their family? Their family didn't owe her anything. Unlike his parents, he still felt she wasn't good enough for his brother. Actress Li Ling had struggled for ten years, while his brother was a genius director, deserving of the best girl in the world. At the very least, that person should be younger and purer than Li Ling. His brother was even willing to cast her in his movie, helping her revive her career, which was already a great favor to her. Besides, his brother had always been a low-key person, but recently he had been frequently appearing in the trending searches with her, making this woman seem even more unpresentable. He felt sorry for his brother. Jin Jingping knew his thoughts were rather cold. He was, after all, a businessman skilled in calculation and not very artistic. Thinking this, Jin Jingping secretly yawned. In his impression, most of his brother's films were obscure and good for sleeping. He had to force himself to stay awake. However, this movie seemed different. About twenty minutes in, Jin Jingping was staring at the screen, his whole body stiffening. He hadn't read the script, so no one had ever told him that this movie was actually his brother's autobiography from his youth. As the story progressed, every minute felt like torture. For many years, what had happened to his brother at the boarding school was a pain that the whole family couldn't mention. Everyone hoped to forget, to create the illusion that it had never happened. Jin Jingping changed jobs and no longer went to England. His mother had been seeing a psychologist for many years and even studied psychology on her own. None of it helped. His younger brother still drifted further and further away from them. The guilt in their hearts remained unassuaged. At this moment, watching the movie, Jin Jingping experienced increasingly strong physical reactions. He felt cold all over, his breathing labored. Every frame felt like a knife cutting into him. He couldn't let his mother see this movie. Absolutely not. He thought to himself. Then, he saw the turning point—the male protagonist lowered his head and saw the empty pant leg. Everything was fake; A-Ling was an illusion. Jin Jingping felt as if he were nailed to his seat. Perhaps it was no longer his seat, but his cross. In the latter half of the film, the male protagonist dragged a cold prosthetic leg, walking alone in the rainy night, searching for the woman who didn't exist. The rain seemed to spill out from the screen, and Jin Jingping felt a vast, engulfing chill. It was as if his body had been hollowed out by the dampness of the southern spring, an irreparable void tearing him apart. Suddenly, he understood something. He lowered his head, covered his face, and wept uncontrollably. Back then, it was Jin Jingping who insisted on deleting Li Ling's name and contact information from the magazine, preventing his brother from finding her. He thought he was doing it for his brother's good. He thought she wasn't important, just an underwear model. But now, the movie made it clear: He was wrong. They were all wrong. He was also a culprit. His brother's past had no family, no friends, but there was this actress named Li Ling. She was important to him. His brother filmed her into his movie and rewrote the past because of her. Jin Jingping didn't know she held such significance for his brother. He didn't know because he had never had a heart-to-heart with his brother, never asked about his true thoughts. So many years had passed, and it wasn't until he watched his brother's movie that he finally understood him. His brother was a director. The years of estrangement could only be broken through film. All communication was achieved through the movie. Jin Jingping suddenly felt very sad, very sorrowful. They had always thought his brother was emotionally deficient. They thought his brother was inherently strange, different from others, which was why he couldn't integrate with them or understand the family. But the real abnormality was them. His brother was actually very brave. As bystanders, they couldn't even face their own failures. His brother dared to turn his pain into a movie, tearing open that scab. His brother was braver than them, and perhaps understood love better than any of them. He wasn't devoid of emotions; he had a girl he loved deeply, which was why he was willing to film her, willing to face the past for her. He didn't need to weigh pros and cons, to calculate gains and losses. His feelings were clear and evident, written in every minute of the movie. And what right did Jin Jingping have to judge his brother's feelings? He was the real failure. His own marriage was a mess. The movie ended, the screen went black, and Jin Jingping lowered his head, sending "I love you" to his ex-wife in the darkness. The message failed to send. He had been blocked. Jin Jingping felt a sharp pain in his throat, and his tears flowed even more fiercely. A moment later, someone handed him a tissue. He said in a low, hoarse voice, "Thank you." "You're welcome," the other person said. He was stunned for a moment, recognizing it was Li Ling's voice. His hand trembled, almost unable to hold the tissue. Why did it have to be her? Jin Jingping hesitated for a long time, unsure if he should say something to Li Ling. "I'm sorry, best wishes to you both, come over for dinner sometime." These words felt like red-hot blades, slicing back and forth on his tongue, ultimately too difficult to utter. What identity should he assume to face her? He wasn't mentally prepared. He kept mustering his courage, and just as he was about to speak, he saw the actress stand up and walk out of the screening room. The door opened and then closed. In that brief, less-than-a-second moment, he seemed to glimpse a beautiful ending in reality, beyond the tragedy of the film. She smiled, spreading her arms joyfully like a bird, throwing herself into the embrace of a shadow. They looked very happy. Their happiness had nothing to do with him. Jin Jingping's restless heart suddenly felt a bit relieved. Indeed, he thought with a touch of self-mockery, his brother and she never needed his blessings or apologies. This was their own romance; he never had the right to interfere, nor did he have the qualification to comment. Thinking this, Jin Jingping lowered his head and sent an iMessage to his ex-wife, calmly asking if she could take him off the blacklist and not act on impulse, so they could have a proper talk. Still, it didn't go through. She had actually blocked all his contact methods. Damn. Jin Jingping: "..." He gave up. He simply sent a clown emoji. She wouldn't receive it anyway, haha. - Watching the movie again, Li Ling was still very moved. She had initially worried that the cuts would diminish the film's quality. But Jin Jingyao was much smarter than she had imagined; the revised film was even smoother and more accessible. Compared to the version she had seen before, some of the visual impact had indeed been reduced, but the overall expression had not compromised much. By the end, Li Ling's eyes were still red. She remembered how Jin Jingyao had waited so miserably at her door the night he finished editing the film. At this moment, she completely empathized with his feelings. She also wanted to see him immediately. As soon as she pushed open the screening room door, Li Ling hugged Jin Jingyao tightly. She hugged his waist forcefully, burying her head in his chest. At first, she was smiling, but after a while, she started crying, crying messily, her tears soaking his clothes. Jin Jingyao held her and led her to a dark storage room nearby, closed the door, and softly asked how she was. Li Ling said, "I really love your movie." She sniffled, choking up a bit, and repeated, "Did I ever tell you? I really love it, so much. How can you make such a good movie?" Her arms were around his shoulders, trembling slightly. Even while crying, she looked incredibly cute. Jin Jingyao looked down at her for a long time before gently touching her face with his hand, saying, "I thought you would hate it." Li Ling immediately lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes still watery, and asked him, "How could that be?" Jin Jingyao pressed his lips together, not answering immediately. "Why would you think that?" she persistently asked. Jin Jingyao paused, feeling it was hard to explain. Perhaps he would always be cautious in front of her. He hesitated for a moment and decided not to say anything. He pulled Li Ling into his arms and kissed the top of her head. At that moment, the assistant director knocked on the door from outside, saying the film was over and asked if they wanted to go out and chat. Jin Jingyao didn't really want to go, but Li Ling pushed him and said, "You should go."She wiped her tears and said, "I'll be there in a moment." She felt that her current crying appearance was not suitable for others to see. Jin Jingyao didn't want to leave her either. He hugged her and lingered for a while, and only after being pushed several times did he reluctantly go out. Li Ling leaned against the door, listening to the conversation on the other side of the room. The soundproofing of the storage room wasn't very good. She heard people clapping, praising the movie, and expressing surprise. A smile appeared on her face. After a while, as Li Ling's mood gradually calmed down and she was about to go out to find the director, she suddenly received a call from Liang Jingqi. "Li Ling, dear, congratulations on being nominated for the Golden Lion Award!" the other party said excitedly. "I hope you win Best Actress!" Li Ling smiled and said truthfully, "It's the movie that's nominated, not me." "It's the same thing," Liang Jingqi said earnestly. "The movie is starring you, so it's a joint nomination. And you really deserve it. You're amazing, amazing. You must win the award and take our movie to new heights!" Li Ling had no choice but to say, "Alright, I'll take your good wishes." After chatting for a few more sentences, Liang Jingqi suddenly said, "By the way, I need to thank your great director Jin." Li Ling was taken aback. "What about him?" Liang Jingqi said with great concern that a few days ago, Jin Jingyao's assistant specifically came to her to ask for a rough cut copy of "Atheism" and quickly watched the film. "His suggestions were really useful, much better than those from some so-called big shots. It was like a sudden enlightenment," Liang Jingqi said admiringly. Miss Liang was a top student from Tisch, always with high standards, often clashing with producers on set, and extremely combative during editing meetings, never listening to anyone's opinions. It seemed to be the first time she had been so obedient to someone. "As expected of Teacher Jin, my idol. I never thought he would take the initiative to watch my film," she said shyly. "Teacher Li, did you ask him to do it?" Li Ling was stunned again and then said, "I wouldn't say I asked... I might have mentioned it to him." She vaguely remembered that after watching the rough cut of "Atheism," she had mentioned a few things to Jin Jingyao. But at that time, she didn't say much, and he fell asleep on her shoulder. She thought he hadn't heard anything. It turned out he not only listened but also took it to heart. Li Ling sniffed, her eyes turning red again. Having just watched the movie, her emotions were still high, and it was impossible not to feel moved. Liang Jingqi, feeling a bit sour, couldn't help but ask, "So what's the relationship between you two? I'm asking for a friend. When do you plan to go public?" Li Ling, with tears in her eyes, smiled slightly and said, "What friend?" Just as she was about to tease further, Jin Jingyao pushed the door open and came in. He glanced at her, his expression suddenly a bit cold. Li Ling hung up the phone and asked with concern why he looked unhappy, wondering if someone had said something. Jin Jingyao asked unhappily, "Who were you talking to, smiling so happily?" Li Ling: "..." Some people really love to get jealous. She had to explain, "It was Liang Jingqi." Jin Jingyao's expression improved slightly, but he still said unhappily, "Her again." Li Ling coaxed him, "She specifically called to thank you for watching her film and giving valuable suggestions." "Oh," Jin Jingyao responded indifferently. Seeing his cold expression, she couldn't help but tease him, "Director Jin, working overtime and still having time to watch her film?" Jin Jingyao lowered his eyes and said slowly, "I wasn't watching it for her." Li Ling asked knowingly, "Then who were you watching it for?"The young man walked up to her and raised his hand to touch her face. "I'm your fan," he said flatly. "I watch every movie." Although she had already guessed his answer, hearing him say it out loud still made Li Ling's heart beat a little faster. Her face turned a bit red, and she pretended to be very studious, forcing herself to ask him, "So what advice did you give her?" Jin Jingyao said calmly, "It was her first time making a movie, and she wanted too much." What he said was very fair, and it might also be Li Ling's own feeling. The problems Liang Jingqi encountered were almost the common pitfalls for most new directors. A movie is only 120 minutes long, but she wanted to capture an entire life, cramming in all the issues she wanted to discuss and everything she wanted to say. She filmed everything, but in the end, she filmed nothing. Too much, too messy, too chaotic. Jin Jingyao rubbed her chin and the corner of her lips with his thumb, speaking softly, "One focus in a person's life is enough." Li Ling looked up at him, "What's your focus?" Jin Jingyao smiled at her, "Haven't you seen the movie?" "It's you," he said. "Only you." Dust floated in the air of the storage room. Just a door away were other staff members, and the sounds of people coming and going and talking could be faintly heard. In contrast, Jin Jingyao's voice was light, and his breathing was light too. Yet it inexplicably gave a sense of taboo. The light was dim, and through several layers of shelves, shadows fell between the young man's brows and eyes. His face was divided by light and shadow. He looked at her intently, smiling at her. Li Ling felt her face flush and her heartbeat quicken. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. "Alright, a reward for the fan," she said. Jin Jingyao watched her, blinking slowly. Whether out of shyness or something else, he still stood there, staring at her without much reaction. It was only when they were about to part that he held her neck and deepened the kiss slightly. Moments later, he pushed her against the wall, his palm rubbing her waist, moving slowly. It might have been a hint, or it might not have been. She pressed against his chest, the edge of a box digging into her back, very uncomfortable, forcing her to move forward, arching her body as if she were overly eager to throw herself into his arms. In the exchange of lips and tongues, both became a bit breathless. Jin Jingyao's hand brushed past the hem of her clothes, faintly slipping inside, his palm very hot, the heat almost shocking. His breath swept over the back of her neck, and he said in a low voice, "Next time, don't act with her." "They all shoot terribly." He moved closer, burying his face in her neck, his short hair almost pricking her skin, his tone becoming indistinct. "…Only I can film you well." Li Ling's heart beat faster and faster. An indescribable sweetness surged through her chest. Just then, the door to the prop room was abruptly pushed open. "Damn, it's so dark, are you blind?" Xiao Liu said as he casually turned on the light. Click. Blinding white light assaulted them, but more dangerous was the cold, harsh gaze from the young man in the corner. Xiao Liu's hair stood on end, and he jumped in fright, "Sorry, wrong place, you guys continue, continue." Bang. The door was slammed shut. Li Ling had her back to the door, but even so, she felt utterly mortified.She instinctively tried to push Jin Jingyao away, but he refused, holding her tightly. He calmly touched her face and said to her, "It's okay." Li Ling thought, how could it be okay? Her heart was still racing, and she refused to look up at him again. However, the black drawstrings of his hoodie kept swaying in front of her eyes, occasionally brushing against her cheek, like a teasing touch that was barely there. She couldn't help but imagine strangling herself with those two strings. Or strangling Xiao Liu instead. Jin Jingyao held her, continuing his silent comfort. His hand rested on her shoulder blade, right where the box had pressed against her earlier, causing some discomfort. The subtle touch lingered on her skin, slowly seeping into her veins. She instinctively rubbed her cheek against his palm. The atmosphere turned hazy and ambiguous again. Just then, Xiao Liu pushed the door open once more. "Sorry, I forgot to turn off the light earlier!" he said loudly, feeling guilty. Li Ling: "..." Jin Jingyao: "Get out.""