Chapter 112:
The next day, Jiang Yunjian was woken up by his alarm clock. It took him two rings to remember that someone else was with him today, and he hurriedly got up to turn it off.
Turning his head, he saw that Cheng Peng had already opened his eyes, a trace of drowsiness still lingering in them. “What time is it?”
“…Six-thirty,” Jiang Yunjian replied. “Sorry, I forgot to turn off the alarm.”
“If you turned off the alarm, how could you wake up?” Cheng Peng tugged at the corner of his lips, his voice still hoarse from sleep. “Heading to the set already?”
Jiang Yunjian sat up. “Right, are you going back to sleep?”
Cheng Peng said, “No, I’ll head back now. The timing works out perfectly.”
Jiang Yunjian went into the bathroom to freshen up. As he was brushing his teeth, his phone suddenly rang.
It was Bo Zhen calling.
He answered, but since his mouth was full, he only managed to make a sound. “Mm?”
“Is President Cheng still in your room?” Bo Zhen got straight to the point, his tone slightly urgent.
Jiang Yunjian frowned, rinsing his mouth. “He is. What’s wrong?”
“There’s trouble,” Bo Zhen said anxiously. “I finally managed to get rid of the paparazzi following you last night, but this morning, I don’t know what news they got, they’ve all come back—there are even more now…”
Jiang Yunjian paused. “What do we do now?”
Bo Zhen said, “The main concern is that we don’t know if any of them recognize President Cheng. Even if they see him, they might not necessarily make the connection, but just to be safe, keep him there for now. I’ll get rid of them before he leaves.”
Cheng Peng had already arranged to have breakfast with his family’s elders today, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cancel.
“It’s fine.” After listening, Cheng Peng fastened his tie. “Do you have a mask?”
Jiang Yunjian nodded. “I do… but I’ve worn all of them before.”
Cheng Peng said, “Just give me one.”
Fortunately, it was winter. With his coat over his suit, wearing a mask wouldn’t seem out of place.
Bo Zhen rushed to their room. “President Cheng, I’ll have to trouble you to pretend to be an assistant. They shouldn’t recognize you.”
Cheng Peng chuckled and turned to Jiang Yunjian. “So, does this mean I have to carry your bag too?”
Jiang Yunjian was briefly stunned, then shook his head. “No need, I always carry it myself.”
The two walked out of the hotel one after the other, their shoulders nearly touching as they headed toward the set. After walking some distance, they spotted Cheng Peng’s assistant waiting by a black sedan.
The hotel wasn’t far from the set, only a few minutes’ walk, but this was the first time Jiang Yunjian had taken a car there.
Inside the car, Cheng Peng took off the mask and handed it back to Jiang Yunjian. Holding the mask, Jiang Yunjian thought to himself that he might not be willing to wash it.
The ride was too short. He hadn’t even had time to say much to Cheng Peng before the car pulled up at the entrance of the film studio.
Jiang Yunjian opened his backpack and took out a plastic bag. It was unclear what was inside.
“This is for you.”
Cheng Peng took it. “What is it?”
“Breakfast.” Jiang Yunjian seemed a bit embarrassed. “The past few days have been all early morning shoots, so I haven’t had time to eat much else. This is all I have.”
Cheng Peng opened the bag and saw a few slices of toast, along with a bottle of yogurt.
Since he didn’t say anything, Jiang Yunjian assumed he didn’t like it. “Or I could get out and buy you something? There are plenty of breakfast shops nearby—noodles, porridge, dim sum… The drive back to your house will take a while, so you should eat something first.”
“If I eat yours, what will you eat?” Cheng Peng asked.
Jiang Yunjian opened his backpack. “I still have some.”
Cheng Peng glanced inside. It was filled with various small packaged bread rolls.
“Alright,” Cheng Peng said. “Go on.”
Jiang Yunjian nodded, stealing a few more glances at him before saying goodbye. “See you next time.”
On the way back, Cheng Peng opened the white plastic bag, took a bite of the toast, and washed it down with a sip of yogurt.
Now he understood why Jiang Yunjian was so thin. Eating something like this first thing in the morning—how could anyone gain weight?
“President Cheng, should I take the car in for maintenance the day after tomorrow?” the secretary in the driver’s seat asked. “It’s going to snow soon. Changing the tires would be better.”
Cheng Peng looked out the window. The sky was overcast, and it looked like it was going to rain again. “It’s going to snow?”
The secretary nodded. “The temperature has been dropping these past few days. In a week or two, it should start. This winter is unusually cold.”
Cold?
He had just walked quite a distance with Jiang Yunjian, yet he hadn’t felt the cold at all.
Suddenly, he missed the warmth of the bed earlier. Cheng Peng pulled his thoughts back and didn’t dwell on it.
Last night, Jiang Yunjian had mentioned how much he liked the first snowfall of winter. It wouldn’t be long now.
The sudden influx of media had come without warning. Bo Zhen suspected someone was stirring up trouble, and he had been on edge for days. Fortunately, Cheng Peng hadn’t returned.
Though he hadn’t come in person, he had sent money to the production team—specifically earmarked for meal expenses.
“This lunchbox would cost thirty-eight yuan outside!” an assistant exclaimed, holding up his meal.
Jiang Yunjian laughed. “That specific?”
“Of course! Brother Jiang, I’ve followed you to so many sets, and this is the best and most generous meal I’ve ever had!” the assistant said.
After finishing his meal, the assistant went to run some errands on set. Left alone in the dressing room with Bo Zhen, Jiang Yunjian checked his phone.
“Enough, stop checking. President Cheng hasn’t replied,” Bo Zhen remarked.
Jiang Yunjian put his phone away. “Stop peeking.”
“I don’t even need to peek.” Bo Zhen grabbed a nearby makeup mirror and held it up to him. “Look at yourself. Look—beaming with joy.”
Jiang Yunjian was amused by the random phrase. “The New Year is in a few months, so a little joy is warranted.”
“How about I get you an idol drama during this period?” Bo Zhen suggested.
Jiang Yunjian nodded. “Sure.”
“Sure, my ass. I was joking.” Bo Zhen clicked his tongue. Jiang Yunjian had finally transitioned to leading roles. If he took an idol drama now, it’d be impossible to switch back.
A week later, Jiang Yunjian made his first public appearance since joining the production.
It was an awards ceremony, but the awards went to the screenwriter and supporting actress of his previous drama. He was only attending as a formality.
The ceremony had ties to his company’s interests, so Jiang Yunjian had no choice but to make an appearance.
“Just think of it as a break from filming,” Bo Zhen said, sitting beside him in the car.
Jiang Yunjian was lying in the back seat, catching up on sleep. Upon hearing this, he murmured a low “Mm.”
At the venue, Jiang Yunjian sat still as the makeup artist touched up his look. He pulled out a silver watch from his bag and fastened it on his wrist.
“Wait, don’t wear that.” Bo Zhen stopped him. “Where did this watch even come from?”
He had noticed recently that Jiang Yunjian always carried it. He looked up the price—it was just over forty thousand yuan. Wearing that to an awards ceremony was practically a joke.
“Someone gave it to me,” Jiang Yunjian said, securing the watch. “Let’s go. It’s almost time for my red carpet walk.”
Bo Zhen immediately understood, but he was confused—wait, would President Cheng really give such a cheap watch?
He tried to dissuade him. “It doesn’t match your suit. Why don’t you—”
“Let’s go,” Jiang Yunjian interrupted, getting up.
Even though he was just attending, Jiang Yunjian remained a focal point for the media. Cameras continued snapping even after he walked in, while the stars behind him received little attention.
The organizers had arranged a decent seat for him, right next to a young actor he had previously done a magazine shoot with.
“Brother, aren’t you up for an award this time?” the young actor chatted with him. “Looking at the list, only He Han is any competition for you.”
Jiang Yunjian already knew the results—neither he nor He Han had won. He smiled. “Who knows?”
Throughout the ceremony, Jiang Yunjian maintained a polite smile. When the cameras swept over him, he acknowledged them seamlessly, staying composed until the end.
As the event wrapped up, Bo Zhen found him. “Xiao Jian! Come quick! Director Wu wants to introduce you to some other directors!”
Director Wu was no ordinary person—any director who interacted with him was at the very top of the pyramid. With his introduction, wouldn’t that mean more opportunities in the future?
Jiang Yunjian was just about to respond when his phone suddenly chimed.
The message he had sent a few hours ago had finally received a reply.
[Jiang Yunjian: Are you busy?]
[Cheng Peng: Just finished a meeting. What’s up?]
[Jiang Yunjian: You’ve worked hard.]
A voice message came through. As soon as Jiang Yunjian played it, he heard Cheng Peng’s deep chuckle. “It’s not hard. Do you need something?”
Jiang Yunjian pressed the button to reply. “Not really… Just wanted to say, rest early.”
When he arrived among the group of directors, Jiang Yunjian greeted each of them politely. They all knew who he was and showed their appreciation through their words and demeanor. With Director Wu’s praises on the side, it didn’t take long before someone invited Jiang Yunjian to join their dinner gathering that night.
“I’ll send you the address on your phone. Come over when you have time,” Director Wu said before the group got into their cars and left. A few actresses followed behind them.
Bo Zhen was beyond excited. “Did you recognize the person next to Director Wu just now? A Taiwanese director—he’s responsible for a ton of classic idol dramas! I take back what I said before. If it’s this director inviting you to film an idol drama, then we should definitely consider it…”
Jiang Yunjian wasn’t paying much attention. He opened a voice message from Cheng Peng.
The man’s voice sounded tired. “Rest? I’m still at the company. Haven’t even eaten yet.”
[Jiang Yunjian: You’re not done working?]
Cheng Peng: “No, something happened with the project. It’ll take a bit longer.”
[Jiang Yunjian: You’re working hard.]
Cheng Peng chuckled. “Yeah, I am. Why don’t you come and help me relax?”
[Jiang Yunjian: …How do I do that?]
Cheng Peng: “What do you think?”
His voice was slightly hoarse, probably from talking too much in meetings. Hearing it made Jiang Yunjian’s heart pound.
A moment later, another voice message arrived. “Alright, I can’t talk to you too much. Don’t want to delay your filming.”
[Jiang Yunjian: It won’t delay anything!]
[Jiang Yunjian: …You can say a little more.]
Cheng Peng saw those two messages and couldn’t help but laugh. His heart felt warm and soft, but he decided not to tease him further. Instead, he simply said, “Hurry up and finish filming.”
Hurry up and finish—then what?
Just one sentence was enough to completely hook Jiang Yunjian’s heart. The bold thought in his mind grew stronger and stronger.
[Jiang Yunjian: Can I come see you?]
Barely ten seconds after he sent the message, Cheng Peng’s call came through.
“Where are you?” Cheng Peng asked directly.
Jiang Yunjian gave him the name of the building. “I was at an awards ceremony today. Just finished.”
Bo Zhen, who had been standing next to him, was caught off guard by the sudden phone call. Then, after hearing the conversation, his eyes widened.
Cheng Peng asked, “Did you win?”
Jiang Yunjian lowered his gaze. “No… Sorry.”
“What’s there to be sorry about?” Cheng Peng chuckled. “When are you heading back?”
Jiang Yunjian: “Tomorrow at noon.”
“Then do you want to come over?”
Jiang Yunjian hesitated. “Will I be disturbing your work?”
“You won’t.”
Jiang Yunjian took a deep breath. “Then I’ll go back and take a shower—”
“Don’t shower. Just come over,” Cheng Peng interrupted. “Can’t you shower at my place?”
Jiang Yunjian fell silent for a moment.
Cheng Peng suddenly realized he was being a little too eager. He let out a small laugh, unsure if he was laughing at Jiang Yunjian or himself. “If it’s inconvenient, then never mind.”
“I’m coming.” Jiang Yunjian quickly cut him off. “…Wait for me. I’ll be there soon.”
Bo Zhen tried to reason with him as he finished the phone call. “Fine, you can go. But at least finish this dinner event first, alright?”
Jiang Yunjian replied, “He hasn’t eaten yet.”
Bo Zhen: “So?”
“I’ll bring him some food. And eat with him.” Jiang Yunjian pressed his lips together. “I’m skipping the dinner. I’ll tell Director Wu myself.”
Bo Zhen was already numb to it.
“Xiao Jian, your future is in your own hands. It’s not like what I say matters,” Bo Zhen rubbed his temples. “It’s just one meal.”
“Brother Bo, you know I don’t like these kinds of dinner events.” These gatherings always came with a certain… unspoken understanding.
“Even if there were hidden rules tonight, they wouldn’t apply to you!” Bo Zhen said bluntly.
Jiang Yunjian simply said, “I’ll be at the set on time tomorrow.”
“…” Bo Zhen was exhausted. He leaned back against his seat and finally couldn’t help but ask, “I don’t get it. Did Cheng Peng save your life or throw money at you? Why do you like him so much?”
Jiang Yunjian just smiled without saying a word.
—
Cheng Peng instructed his secretary to let the person in directly if they arrived.
By the time Jiang Yunjian arrived, Cheng Peng had just opened the last document he needed to review.
The door opened, and he instinctively looked up at the sound.
Jiang Yunjian walked in, wearing a gray suit. His hair had been carefully styled, giving him an elegant and refined look. The only thing that didn’t quite match was the two large plastic bags he carried in his hands.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Jiang Yunjian said as he approached.
Cheng Peng asked, “What’s that?”
“Dinner.” Jiang Yunjian placed the bags on the empty spot on the desk. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
Cheng Peng chuckled. “Isn’t this too much?”
“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I bought a bit of everything,” Jiang Yunjian admitted, slightly embarrassed. “I saw some employees still working outside. Should I order more for them?”
The project had run into major issues today. Cheng Peng had been merciful enough not to fire anyone—of course, they had to work overtime.
“I already asked the company cafeteria to prepare food for them,” Cheng Peng replied.
Jiang Yunjian paused mid-motion, feeling a little awkward. “…Sorry, I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just eat this,” Cheng Peng said. Then, he glanced at the watch on Jiang Yunjian’s wrist and raised an eyebrow. “You went to an awards ceremony wearing that watch?”
Jiang Yunjian nodded. “I wasn’t planning to go at first, but the company arranged it last minute, so I didn’t have time to tell you.”
Cheng Peng asked, “You went to the award ceremony wearing this warch, did your stylist allow you?”
Jiang Yunjian pressed his lips together. “…I really like it, so I wore it. Brother Bo didn’t say anything.”
Cheng Peng withdrew his gaze and nodded. “Go sit down first. Let me finish this document, then we’ll eat together.”
Jiang Yunjian didn’t move. “…Didn’t you say you wanted me to help you relax?”
Cheng Peng looked at him. “How are you going to help me relax?”
“I’ll massage your shoulders. I’m really good at it.”
Cheng Peng let out a low laugh. “…Alright, go ahead.”
He was only wearing a white dress shirt, and his well-built physique stretched the fabric in places, making it both refined and subtly seductive.
As Jiang Yunjian massaged his shoulders, he openly stole glances at him from behind.
Cheng Peng flipped a page. “Have you practiced this before?”
“Mhm. I used to wash people’s hair when I was younger. Sometimes, I’d help massage them, too,” Jiang Yunjian said honestly. “But I only did it for two months, so I only learned a little.”
Cheng Peng was slightly surprised. Jiang Yunjian was only twenty-four or twenty-five. “When you were younger? How young?”
“Sixteen.”
“That’s child labor.”
Jiang Yunjian chuckled. “It wasn’t that strict back then. Later, I met Brother Bo and got magazine shoots, so I never went back.”
As Jiang Yunjian’s fingers pressed into the back of his neck, a tingling sensation spread across Cheng Peng’s skin.
He swallowed, about to tell him to stop, when Jiang Yunjian’s fingers slid up and brushed his ear—delicate, slow, and tantalizing.
It had started as a simple massage, but Cheng Peng’s thoughts were beginning to drift elsewhere.
He set down his pen, caught Jiang Yunjian’s fingertips, and whispered, “Are you hungry?”
“It’s alright, I had a couple of pieces of bread before coming to the venue,” Jiang Yunjian replied.
Another mention of bread.
Cheng Peng asked, “You’re not in a hurry to eat, right?”
Jiang Yunjian pressed his wrist against Cheng Peng’s neck, feeling the vibrations as he spoke. “Not in a hurry.”
Cheng Peng teased him with a playful tone, “Then how about we have something else first?”
Jiang Yunjian took a moment to react, his face turning red in an instant.
Seeing his silence, Cheng Peng chuckled. After all, he was a big star; it wasn’t easy to be in this situation. It had been a whim of his, and perhaps he had been a bit excessive: “Just a joke.”
“…I want to eat,” Jiang Yunjian finally heard himself say, “I want to eat it.”
…
Jiang Yunjian’s nose always brushed against Cheng Peng’s belt, cool to the touch, sending a slight shiver through him each time they collided.
Jiang Yunjian put in a lot of effort but wasn’t very used to it; his technique wasn’t great, yet Cheng Peng found it incredibly pleasurable, leaving him a bit lightheaded.
Worried that Jiang Yunjian might bump into the desk, he placed his hand at the back of his head. After a while, he gently ruffled Jiang Yunjian’s hair. “Alright, you can let go now.”
Jiang Yunjian looked up, tears glistening in his eyes from the initial discomfort that had caused him to cough a few times.
He mumbled, “…I want to finish eating.”
Jiang Yunjian’s eyes were beautiful; when he looked at someone, it made them unable to help but pause, draw closer, and feel a desire to cherish him.
And at that moment, those very eyes were fixed on Cheng Peng, filled with him, submissive to him.
Cheng Peng listened to his own heartbeat, lifting his hand to gently pinch Jiang Yunjian’s earlobe, sighing softly, “…Good boy.”
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
