Pei Qingjian followed Lin Xingchen into the dining room and took a seat.
Soon, Ning Rong and Ning Yuan joined them.
Wen Yuan looked around the table and smiled. “This might be the largest family gathering we’ve had this year.”
“Yes,” Zhou Man said. “Xiao Pei, you should come visit more often. Don’t be shy.”
“All right,” Pei Qingjian smiled.
Lin Xingchen nodded, thinking exactly—he wanted Pei Qingjian to come every year to avoid awkward refusals.
“See? I told you—they all like you,” Lin Xingchen whispered into Pei Qingjian’s ear.
Pei Qingjian felt the warmth but also some discomfort. After all, they believed he was Lin Xingchen’s roommate, his friend, yet he was merely Lin Xingchen’s kept “canary.”
If anyone at the table knew the truth, they’d probably be surprised and unsure how to react.
This relationship wasn’t something that could be made public. Everything Pei Qingjian enjoyed—the kindness of Lin Xingchen’s friends and family—was based on a lie. None of it truly belonged to him.
Thinking of this, he felt a pang of sadness.
These happy moments were all borrowed, never genuinely his own.
He lowered his head and began eating the dumplings.
They were shrimp dumplings, delicious, and he ate a whole plate in one go.
Zhou Man laughed, “Xiao Pei, if you and Xingchen like them, I can make more before you leave so you can take some home.”
“How could we accept that?”
“No need to be shy,” Zhou Man said with a smile.
Since Lin Xingchen was in a relationship, she couldn’t visit as often as before—young couples needed their privacy. Now, seeing that they loved the dumplings, she was happy to pack extra for them, letting Pei Qingjian skip cooking altogether.
Lin Xingchen noticed her eagerness. “All right, thank you, Auntie.”
“No problem,” Zhou Man smiled warmly.
Thus, Pei Qingjian and Lin Xingchen stayed at Wen Yuan’s house until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. After lunch that afternoon, with Lin Xingchen returning to work on the seventh day, they finally drove back home.
After being away for a week, Pei Qingjian missed the place a little.
Lin Xingchen missed him more. He wrapped Pei Qingjian in a hug. “Before, at my uncle’s house, we couldn’t—this couldn’t—now we can, right?”
With that, he flipped him over and declared, “Tonight, I’m making up for everything!”
Pei Qingjian laughed. “But you have work tomorrow.”
“That won’t stop me.”
“All right,” Pei Qingjian thought of how restricted Lin Xingchen had been these past days. He hooked his hands around his neck. “As long as it doesn’t affect your work, I don’t mind.”
Lin Xingchen scooped him up. “Don’t worry, it won’t.”
He carried Pei Qingjian into the bathroom, and they spent a while in the water. Afterwards, Lin Xingchen dried him off and carried him back to bed, continuing their playful antics.
That night, Pei Qingjian truly understood what “rebounds” meant.
No doubt, Lin Xingchen had been holding back all week, especially around Wen Yuan and Zhou Man. Just holding his hand and kissing him several times was already more than he’d done before—let alone everything else.
“This is what you call ‘a little’?” Pei Qingjian gasped.
Lin Xingchen, calm as ever, replied, “What else? I was going to let you sleep, so this counts as ‘a little.’”
Pei Qingjian: ……
He didn’t want to talk anymore and soon fell asleep.
As always, he overslept the next day.
Seeing the bed empty beside him, he picked up his phone and saw Lin Xingchen had already messaged him: no need to deliver lunch today—rest well.
Pei Qingjian thought for a moment and asked, “When does your company usually do annual check-ups? At the start of the year?”
Lin Xingchen replied, “Around then, probably March or April.”
“Then take me with you,” Pei Qingjian said.
“Okay.” Lin Xingchen didn’t hesitate.
It had been over half a year, and Pei Qingjian wasn’t sure how Lin Xingchen’s stomach had held up—but it was probably fine. After all, he had been following medical advice carefully and hadn’t had any stomach pain or discomfort all this time.
If it wasn’t a health issue, then it was just about preventing accidents.
Also, they hadn’t seen Xu Jiannian in a long time, so the “butterfly effect” of Xu Jiannian and Tang Wenzhen’s romance likely wouldn’t touch Lin Xingchen anymore.
Pei Qingjian pondered this for a long while before calling Zhou Pengyue to discuss the new movie with Director Jiang.
Zhou Pengyue sounded surprised. “Really? That’s great! You haven’t done a movie yet.”
“Exactly, that’s why I’m telling you—don’t take any other work for now.”
“I understand,” Zhou Pengyue said. “But since this isn’t confirmed, if another script comes along, I might still keep it as a backup, just in case.”
“Mm.”
“All right, then get some rest,” Zhou Pengyue said with a smile. “I have a feeling your free time is going to get very limited.”
“Well, I’ll take your blessing~” Pei Qingjian replied with a grin.
Director Jiang moved fast. Just a week after Ning Rong told Pei Qingjian about the opportunity, Zhou Pengyue received an email from Jiang’s studio asking Pei Qingjian to come in for an audition.
He immediately relayed the news to Pei Qingjian, who was pleasantly surprised. “Send me the script so I can prepare.”
“There’s no script,” Zhou Pengyue groaned. “Nothing at all. You just go there.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
He had no choice but to call Ning Rong.
Sighing, Ning Rong explained, “Director Jiang is like that. He doesn’t like actors preparing in advance. He wants to see their spontaneous reactions and natural aura. So just go there as you are.”
Pei Qingjian: ……
It was his first time encountering a director like this. Artistic types really do have their quirks.
After Lin Xingchen returned, Pei Qingjian told him about it. Lin Xingchen hugged him. “Do you have confidence?”
“A little,” Pei Qingjian said.
“A little?”
“I don’t really have much to go on,” Pei Qingjian explained. “In the film world, I’ve had nothing—no name recognition, not even a hair in the credits.”
Lin Xingchen smiled. “But you still have a little.”
“Well, I’ve already done two projects, so I have some experience,” Pei Qingjian laughed.
Especially the second project—Ning Rong had guided him step by step, and the director’s direction helped him grow rapidly. Even if others didn’t notice, Pei Qingjian could feel his own progress.
If it had been the old him, fresh from another world, he might have lacked confidence. Even after finishing Drunken River Moon, he might have felt a little insecure. But now, he felt a modest but sufficient confidence.
Too much experience wouldn’t suit someone still growing—but just enough was perfect.
Watching him like this, Lin Xingchen found him endearing and leaned over to kiss him.
“Go do your best. I believe you can succeed.”
“I believe in myself too,” Pei Qingjian replied with a smile.
They cuddled for a while, then, once finished, watched some of Director Jiang’s previous films together.
Director Jiang specialized in both artistic and commercial films—a combination that could win awards and sell tickets. Directors like him were always popular. Pei Qingjian, with no prior movie experience, got a chance purely because of Ning Rong’s influence and connections.
Jiang’s assistant scheduled him for the first day of auditions, wanting to see this actor recommended throughout the film industry by Ning Rong.
From the first glance, Jiang was very pleased.
A seasoned actor was like someone skilled at problem-solving—they could see the question and instantly apply the right formula. This was the “craftsmanship” Jiang appreciated. But he preferred “talent,” which was why he often cast newcomers.
To Jiang, Pei Qingjian had talent—a pure, calm, and clear aura, like a spring. He stood politely before Jiang, radiating this quiet energy.
“Hello,” Pei Qingjian bowed. “I’m Pei Qingjian.”
Jiang nodded coldly. “Mm.”
Pei Qingjian noticed Jiang looked unhappy, which made him nervous.
Then Jiang spoke: “On the day of the audition, imagine the casting director turns out to be your father. What do you do? Respond through acting.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
The scenario was completely unexpected. He quickly began acting out his response.
Jiang continued, “But your father doesn’t recognize you. Then what?”
Pei Qingjian could only keep performing.
“Then you look closely and realize it’s a mistake. The person isn’t your father at all.”
Pei Qingjian: ……
He felt his toes curling.
“Finally, the person accepts your apology and lets you leave. Once outside, you suddenly remember your father died long ago—and you are the one who killed him. What do you do?”
Pei Qingjian: ……
He just had to improvise according to the scenario.
Thankfully, he had practiced with many people and scripted scenarios before. Now, when he truly had to act and create on the spot, he managed to pull it off.
Jiang nodded. “Good. You may leave.”
Pei Qingjian: ……
He quietly glanced at him. Director Jiang leaned back in his chair, still wearing that same unhappy expression.
For a moment, Pei Qingjian wasn’t sure—had he failed the audition?
He could only bow again and obediently walk out the door.
“How did it go?” Zhou Pengyue asked anxiously as soon as he stepped out.
Pei Qingjian frowned. “It seems… he wasn’t very satisfied.”
“Ah?” Zhou Pengyue was puzzled. “What exactly did you do in the audition?”
Pei Qingjian: ……
He could only explain the strange scenarios he had performed.
Zhou Pengyue: ???
Scratching his head, Zhou Pengyue muttered, “What does all that even mean?”
Pei Qingjian didn’t really know either. But since the audition was over, he felt he should at least report back to Ning Rong to give her an update.
He got into Zhou Pengyue’s car and called Ning Rong.
“How did it go? How did it go?” Ning Rong asked excitedly the moment she picked up. “The audition’s done?”
“It’s done… but I don’t feel too good about it,” Pei Qingjian admitted, a little embarrassed. He wanted to impress her since she had recommended him, but things hadn’t turned out as he hoped.
“How could that be?” Ning Rong didn’t believe it. “You should be exactly the type Director Jiang likes.”
“Really?” Pei Qingjian doubted it. “But he looked completely unhappy after watching my performance.”
“That’s just his natural resting face, like mine,” Ning Rong reassured him. “Otherwise, how could we get along so well? Wait a moment—I’ll ask him for you.”
“This… is that okay?”
What if Ning Rong’s question influenced the decision, letting him pass just because of her?
“Don’t worry. I’m only asking. I won’t interfere with his casting,” Ning Rong promised immediately, understanding his concern.
Pei Qingjian finally relaxed. “Thank you, sister.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ning Rong hung up and called Director Jiang.
Jiang picked up quickly. “Wow, Ning Rong, your ‘little brother’ is so clean—a blank sheet, extremely moldable.”
Hearing this, Ning Rong knew Jiang must be pleased with Pei Qingjian.
“So you’re willing to let him act in your movie?” she asked.
“Of course,” Jiang said without hesitation. “I’ve already chosen the role for him—he’ll play Xu Cheng’s son.”
Ning Rong: “What? Were there other roles he could have played?”
“Yes. At his age, there are two important roles he could fit. I originally wanted him for the other role, but now I’ve changed my mind. He looks too clean for a villain. Playing a villain would be interesting, but it wastes his aura. It’s better for him to play the young cop.”
“Okay.” Ning Rong didn’t mind either way—Pei Qingjian wasn’t limited to just one movie; more and better roles would come.
“I’ll tell him then.”
“Mm. If you ever have another little brother like this, you can recommend him again.”
Ning Rong: ???
“No more!” Ning Rong laughed. “This is the only one. Treasure him.”
Jiang sighed. “Fine, I understand.”
Pei Qingjian received Ning Rong’s call and could hardly believe it—he had passed the audition.
“Director Jiang… actually let me pass?” he was astonished. “Was it because of you, sister?”
“Of course not,” Ning Rong laughed. “I just told him you were his type, and he really likes you. His evaluation of you is very high.”
“But…”
“Ah, don’t focus on his expression. He looks unhappy with everyone, even me. His face isn’t a reliable indicator of his satisfaction,” Ning Rong comforted him.
Really?
Pei Qingjian smiled lightly. “Okay, got it. Thank you, sister.”
“You’re welcome. Work hard on the filming. When the movie premieres, I’ll book a private screening for you.”
“Great.”
“Oh,” Ning Rong remembered something and reminded him, “Director Jiang can be a bit harsh on set. He scolds people pretty seriously. Be prepared—I cried the first time he yelled at me.”
Pei Qingjian: !!!
He silently nodded. “Okay.”
“Good luck!” Ning Rong cheered him on.
“Mm.” Pei Qingjian gave himself a mental pep talk.
This was wonderful—he had passed the audition! He had a new job!
Author’s Note:
Little Pei is steadily moving forward!