Han Jibai said with a smile, "I was just about to call you about this. Yesterday, Lu Jiang called and said that Cheng Yi specifically wanted Nannan to be the Female Lead in 'Mist.'"
Ran Shasha was slightly taken aback, "Cheng Yi didn't even give a heads-up."
Initially, when Lu Jiang talked about making a new movie, he shared some ideas with her. She became interested in the setting of the movie right away and had Han Jibai invest in it after returning home.
She had been hoping to use this movie to make a comeback in the domestic market...
"So, does Nannan know about Cheng Yi..."
Han Jibai seemed to have anticipated Ran Shasha's question and interrupted her before she could finish, "That guy Cheng Yi is famously proud and stubborn. I guess Nannan doesn't know."
Ran Shasha curled her lips into a faint smile, "Looks like Cheng Yi is really pushing for Nannan."
Suddenly, Han Jibai walked behind Ran Shasha and wrapped his arms around her, encircling her in his embrace, his eyes smiling, "What? Are you afraid someone will shake your position as the queen of actresses?"
Ran Shasha symbolically hit Han Jibai's chest, "Get out of here."
Han Jibai touched his chest and laughed, "Alright, alright, I was wrong."
Ran Shasha pouted and "hmphed."
"By the way, the Cheng Family and the Xi Family are getting married," Han Jibai suddenly said.
Hearing this news, Ran Shasha wasn't too surprised; she had known since middle school that the Xi Family always intended to marry Xinan into the Cheng Family.
Back then, the Xi Family had exerted a lot of effort to cultivate a relationship between Xinan and Cheng Yi, even transferring Xinan to the school where Cheng Yi was studying.
Ran Shasha sighed deeply, "I hope the two of them will be alright."
—
Xinan received the news that she had passed the audition while she was shooting a magazine cover.
Xinan was checking Weibo, surrounded by two fashionably dressed girls, one doing her makeup and the other styling her hair.
Today's makeup looked perfect on Xinan, a light peachy makeup with a clear and atmospheric vibe, completely different from her usual style. Even Ding Lan was stunned by today's Xinan; she was truly beautiful.
"I just thought I recognized the wrong person," Ding Lan joked as she walked towards Xinan.
"It's not that exaggerated."
"The audition results are out."
Although Xinan had braced herself for failure, she couldn't help but feel hopeful, "What's the result?"
Seeing Ding Lan's expression darken, Xinan suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, becoming increasingly anxious.
But Ding Lan's expression suddenly brightened, and she smiled, "Congratulations, Xinan, you've successfully landed the Female Lead role in 'Mist.'"
"Really?" Xinan exclaimed happily.
"It couldn't be truer. Director Lu Jiang personally called this morning to inform you that after signing the contract, you will join the team in three days."
Three days later? That soon!
The filming location for 'Mist' wasn't in Jing City but in a small town in the south. Xinan wondered if Cheng Yi would agree to it, feeling somewhat worried.
When Xinan arrived back at Luming Academy that evening, Cheng Yi was already home, sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Xinan paused outside the living room for a few seconds before slowly walking in.
Seeing Cheng Yi lazily sitting on the sofa, his long legs casually crossed on the coffee table and his face turned to the side, he looked very relaxed.
As Xinan approached, she realized he wasn't watching TV but resting with his eyes closed.
He seemed to hear Xinan's footsteps, but he didn't open his eyes, "Come over and massage my head."
Xinan put her bag on the coffee table and walked over to Cheng Yi, gently massaging his temples with both hands.
He really seemed tired.
Remembering that Cheng Yi had been leaving early and returning late recently, sometimes she would only feel someone lying down beside her in the wee hours. Was the company that busy?
In the vast living room, only the sound of the TV played. Xinan was very close to Cheng Yi and could clearly hear his steady breathing.
After a long while, Xinan finally spoke softly, "I passed the audition."
Cheng Yi hummed softly, his dark hair partially covering his eyes, faint shadows visible under them.
"In three days, I'll be joining the production team, and I might be away from home for a long time."
The shoot was expected to take three months, and unless something unexpected happened, she would likely spend most of that time with the production team.
He simply responded with a light acknowledgment.
Xinan continued, "Brother Ji Bai is back..."
Finally, Cheng Yi showed some reaction. He opened his eyes, his expression darkening slightly, "You're happy that he's back, aren't you?"
Xinan didn't quite understand what Cheng Yi meant by that. Brother Ji Bai had grown up with them; shouldn't they be happy about his return?
"I really am quite happy."
Suddenly, Cheng Yi sat up, grabbed her wrist strongly, and with a quick maneuver, pinned her beneath him.
Before Xinan could react, his hands began roaming over her body, causing her to panic instantly and start resisting forcefully.
But her slight strength was like scratching an itch for Cheng Yi, utterly ineffective.
Xinan clenched her lips tightly, her body trembling from his rough actions until she gradually became numb to her reactions.
Seeing her react this way, a hint of self-mockery flashed in Cheng Yi's eyes.
Was it because he wasn't Han Jibai that she resisted him like this?
Cheng Yi snorted coldly.
Xinan clung desperately to the corner of the sofa, as if it could somehow lessen the pain.
She didn't understand why Cheng Yi had suddenly turned like this; did he really hate her that much?
She didn't know how long it had been before he finally stopped.
Cheng Yi stood by the side for a long time, his gaze slowly falling on Xinan, curled up in the corner of the sofa.
She lay there on the sofa, her whole body trembling slightly.
Cheng Yi felt a strong sense of helplessness rise within him; when he saw the tears at the corner of Xinan's eyes, his heart tightened, and he instinctively wanted to wipe them away.
But as soon as his hand reached out, Xinan's body trembled even more violently.
He clenched his hand tightly, then slowly retracted his gaze, picked up his jacket, and walked out the villa's front door without looking back.