His face lit up with delight, and he quickly opened the chat and sent a message.
When Jing Yuan received the message, he was momentarily baffled.
Who was this person?
But the moment he opened it, his pupils shrank sharply.
Nie Luo was going to be a mentor on a talent survival show?
Was this information reliable?
He stood up and paced back and forth, thought for a moment, then made a call.
“Is this information reliable?”
“Of course it is. I just happened to be on his set today—I heard it with my own ears.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m absolutely sure! Would I dare lie to you with fake news? This info wasn’t easy to get either. You should think about covering my fee…”
“You’ll get paid—but you need to help me with one more thing.”
“What is it?”
Jing Yuan held the phone and slowly revealed a sinister smile.
“You can get into the production crew. I want you to help me do something. It’s very simple…”
He lowered his voice and said a few words.
The man on the other end thought for a moment, then replied in a muffled voice.
“As long as the money’s right, that’s no problem.”
Jing Yuan let out a cold laugh.
“Don’t worry. As long as you can do it, money won’t be an issue.”
“I like doing business with generous people like you. Leave it to me.”
The man grinned broadly, his dark yellow teeth giving off a nauseating impression.
Mountains and Rivers Under Heaven was a long drama series, more than sixty episodes in total.
After taking leave, the backlog of scenes Nie Luo had accumulated meant that even though he rarely needed retakes, he was still shooting day and night to catch up.
After sending the gift, he couldn’t free up even a single moment for three straight days.
But he didn’t want to ask Fan Qing over messages whether he liked the gift.
He wanted to see Fan Qing’s reaction with his own eyes.
Something real, vivid—something he could hear.
Thinking that, Nie Luo crisply delivered the final line of dialogue.
“Alright, cut!”
Another scene wrapped, and suddenly a bit of commotion broke out on set.
The crowd quickly reacted.
“It’s Young Master Jin! Second Young Master Jin came to visit Nie-ge and even brought food and drinks for everyone!”
Jin Yi?
What was he here for?
Nie Luo was still thinking about it as he headed back to his lounge.
The moment he pushed the door open, Jin Yi’s big face was standing right behind it.
He nearly crashed straight into Nie Luo!
He hurriedly stepped back, then took one look at Nie Luo’s styling and was shocked.
“Holy crap—your look is this good? How are the rest of us supposed to survive?”
One sentence offended quite a few people.
Fortunately, none of them could hear it.
Nie Luo didn’t bother arguing with him, just found it odd.
“What are you doing here?”
“And you’re asking me now?”
Jin Yi leaned closer and snorted twice.
“Can’t a brother come visit the set?”
He paused and added, “I even brought you food and drinks! Can’t you show a little gratitude?”
Nie Luo shot him a glance and walked inside.
“Then you might as well just give me cash. I’m pretty short on that lately.”
Jin Yi clicked his tongue.
His eyes darted around, but seeing Nie Luo walk in, he didn’t say anything more.
Nie Luo sat down on the chair, relaxing slightly.
The next second, a figure flashed over, about to sit directly on his thigh.
Nie Luo jolted and instinctively reached out to push him away.
But then a familiar laugh sounded by his ear, carrying intimacy and heated breath.
“Short on money, huh? Why didn’t you tell me?”
He paused, then laughed again.
“And you still bought me so many clothes—and… underwear.”
The last two words were spoken extremely softly, then disappeared into the kiss Nie Luo initiated.
Why was Ah Qing here?
That thought barely crossed Nie Luo’s mind before he instinctively lowered his head and kissed the smiling lips in front of him.
Jin Yi stood behind them, his scalp going numb.
…Damn.
Reading gossip was one thing, but watching two brothers make out?
That was way too much.
…………………………
“Why did you come?”
Nie Luo was startled, then immediately delighted.
Jin Yi visiting the set was fake—Ah Qing coming was the real deal?
His boyfriend’s kissing instincts were really something.
Fan Qing thought.
All those late nights rushing work these past few days hadn’t been for nothing.
And getting here had been pretty troublesome—he’d used Second Young Master Jin as cover and had to carefully wear a mask and a hat just to dare enter the set.
All in all, he’d been terrified of being recognized.
Actually, it had been a long time since his previous scandal blew over.
Worried about paparazzi?
Not really.
Fan Qing said, “I wanted to give you a surprise—consider it a return gift.”
Nie Luo was momentarily dazed, then quickly understood.
A return gift… for the clothes?
He looked at Fan Qing in disguise and said seriously,
“It’s fine even without a return gift. I was supposed to give them to you anyway.”
They’d already talked about it before.
It was fine even if Ah Qing didn’t give anything back.
“That’s different.”
Fan Qing’s gaze swept over his earnest brows and eyes. He leaned in close to Nie Luo’s ear, whispering softly.
His words carried ambiguous heat.
“The other clothes don’t matter, but the underwear that fits just right—how did my boyfriend know my size?”
He’d been curious for a long time.
And because of that, he’d squeezed out time to personally come visit the set.
It wasn’t really for any other reason—mainly because…
Fan Qing’s gaze brushed past the flush at Nie Luo’s ear.
See, of course it was to see this very scene.
Excess baggage.
I really am completely unnecessary.
Off to the side, Jin Yi finally couldn’t take it anymore. He silently turned around and went out the door—standing guard outside would be much more comfortable!
Nie Luo’s ears warmed slightly.
He stayed silent for quite a while, until Fan Qing’s gaze made his scalp prickle. Only then did he say a few low words.
“I don’t know. But if I got it wrong this time, I’ll send a different size next time.”
Fan Qing froze for a beat, then couldn’t help letting out a muffled laugh.
So that’s how it was?
So it had really just been a blind guess?
Even though none of his earlier speculations were right, it didn’t affect Fan Qing’s excellent mood at all.
After all, from what Nie Luo meant, if this time was wrong, there would be another time—another gift.
With such a considerate boyfriend, how could his mood possibly be bad?
“Oh, right—how’s the assistant?”
Leaning back into Nie Luo’s arms, Fan Qing suddenly remembered something else.
“Hm?”
Nie Luo made a vague, single-syllable sound.
He hadn’t really registered what Fan Qing was asking.
Because Fan Qing was leaning back a little too far.
Nie Luo frowned slightly, a bit troubled.
Ah Qing—was this on purpose?
Or was it just accidental?
Recalling the incident when Fan Qing went to take a shower, Nie Luo fell silent.
Probably… should be… definitely not intentional.
“Hm? Nie-ge?”
Fan Qing was puzzled.
Why wasn’t Nie Luo saying anything?
He leaned back a little to look.
As he turned his head, his waist moved slightly as well.
The position had already been extremely intimate; with that twist, Nie Luo let out a muffled groan.
“Don’t move.”
A large hand, hot against his skin, gripped Fan Qing’s waist and turned him back around.
“What—”
Fan Qing was about to ask when he sensed himself brushing against something unusual.
The grip at his waist tightened.
Fan Qing understood.
He stopped moving.
After quite a while, Nie Luo finally spoke hoarsely.
“What did you ask me just now?”
When it was too quiet, there was no way to distract his attention.
Guessing Nie Luo’s thoughts, Fan Qing only found it amusing.
So, even with all that said—was he really this attractive to Nie Luo?
Coming to visit the set had indeed been worth it.
Still, this was a film set.
What a pity.
Fan Qing sat up a little straighter.
“I asked how the new assistant is.”
So that was it.
Nie Luo nodded.
He thought for a moment and briefly explained what had happened today.
“He’s pretty good.”
He paused, then asked,
“Where did you find him?”
He really did seem quite decent.
Fan Qing said, “You probably won’t believe it, but I poached him from President Jin’s side.”
“Hm?”
Nie Luo let out a surprised sound.
“Didn’t expect that, did you?”
Fan Qing chuckled softly and then explained it briefly.
As for Nie Luo’s assistant, he hadn’t originally planned to interfere.
Discovering this one had been a complete accident.
He’d only thought to pick out a couple of suitable people from Jin Si’s side.
And just happened to spot this assistant among them.
Fan Qing straightened his back.
“Maybe it was fate. When I went over, he had just been eliminated for failing the assessment.”
Fan Qing hadn’t paid much attention at first, but this guy had some awareness and came forward to recommend himself.
“Having him be your bodyguard was obviously out of the question.”
Fan Qing sounded lazy.
“But with that kind of awareness, a bit of courage, some skills, why be a bodyguard?”
Bodyguards were easy enough to find—but a suitable assistant?
That was far harder.
Especially one who had some actual ability. Even if he’d been eliminated, he was still better than most assistants.
And besides, when it came to carrying heavy things, wouldn’t he be more useful than the average assistant?
Fan Qing said seriously.
Hearing this, Nie Luo slowly nodded.
“True. He’s quite handy.”
“I say, you two big shots—are you done being all lovey-dovey yet?”
Jin Yi couldn’t help pushing the door open and poking his head in.
“I came alone to visit the set, and now I’m standing guard outside. Anyone can tell something’s off, okay?”
He glanced at Fan Qing’s sitting position and hesitated.
“…Maybe you should come down first?”
Was this really something he could watch for free?
Even if he could, what about random people passing by outside?
Fan Qing shot him a glance and didn’t move.
He tilted his head slightly, barely daring to shift his body.
“Ge?”
What—?
Jin Yi was shocked.
You two are already at this stage?
Just getting off his lap, and you still have to ask first?
Isn’t this ridiculous?
Nie Luo used a bit of strength, gripping Fan Qing’s waist as he stood up.
“It’s fine now.”
Really fine?
Fan Qing actually didn’t quite believe it.
His gaze drifted downward—wasn’t that a little… too fast?
?
Hey, I’m still here. Can you two have some respect with your eyes?
Jin Yi watched for a moment and understood.
Once these two got together, he was a completely invisible person!
Before that, he’d been nothing but a proper tool person!
Tch!
Jin Yi ran cover for Fan Qing for a full fifteen minutes. Thankfully, since he’d brought food and drinks, no one in the crew was tactless enough to come looking for Nie Luo and interrupt them for the time being.
At a time like this, getting to see each other for fifteen minutes was already enough for both of them to feel satisfied.
“He’s gone?”
Nie Luo looked at the assistant who had gone to see them off—there was no way Nie Luo himself could do it; that would have been far too obvious.
The assistant smiled and nodded.
“Yes. Second Young Master also said he won’t be coming again in the future.”
Nie Luo fell silent for two seconds, then spoke with certainty.
“He definitely will.”
The assistant froze, then asked cautiously, curiosity creeping in.
“Nie-ge is that sure?”
This assistant was someone from Jin Si’s side.
Someone Fan Qing had personally chosen.
Nie Luo glanced at him and didn’t bother hiding anything.
“He’s usually got nothing to do when he’s idle. With something this lively going on, he’ll definitely come join in.”
“I see.”
That really did match what he’d heard about Second Young Master’s personality.
But…
The assistant couldn’t help taking a few extra looks at Nie Luo.
He felt a bit puzzled.
“What is it?”
Nie Luo looked back at him.
After thinking it over, the assistant smiled politely and asked,
“I thought Nie-ge and I weren’t that familiar yet. I didn’t expect you’d casually tell me things like this.”
Even though, in name, he was Nie Luo’s assistant now—
He was still just an assistant, after all.
“Teacher Nie, we’re getting ready to shoot.”
A crew member knocked at the door.
Nie Luo stood up. “I’ll be right there.”
The assistant felt a little regretful.
Did that mean he wouldn’t get an answer?
He hurried after Nie Luo, checking the integrity of his makeup as he went.
“You’re someone he picked.”
Nie Luo let him finish checking, then flicked his robe sleeve and walked toward the center of the set.
The assistant froze.
Then it clicked—because he had been personally chosen by Mr. Fan?
The answer sounded almost unbelievable.
But when he thought about it carefully, he realized he couldn’t come up with a better explanation.
So that’s how it was.
With the mystery of the sizing resolved, Fan Qing ruthlessly abandoned Second Young Master Jin on the spot and went their separate ways.
Jin Yi was furious at this “use-and-throw-away” behavior, but didn’t dare say anything.
What else could he do?
Wasn’t he still going to have to forgive Fan Qing?
After all, the company relied on him to make money.
But then he thought again—Fan Qing was going back to make money for him!
Heh!
Beautiful. His mood instantly turned beautiful~
Fan Qing really did go back to the company to make money.
He had just received news from the talent show—he’d submitted the list of participants long ago, and they had finally finished the procedures and confirmed it.
As soon as he returned to the office, Fan Qing had someone call over all four people on the list.
“Hello, Manager Fan.”
“Hello, Manager Fan.”
Four big boys filed in one after another, their nervousness obvious on their faces.
Especially Huar—he’d heard a bit of news from his brother’s side.
But even his brother hadn’t dared guarantee whether it was accurate, so he’d been worried the whole time.
And now that Manager Fan had called them all over, could it be…?
As soon as he got nervous, he couldn’t help tightly gripping Yuan Jing’s fingers beside him.
Yuan Jing flinched in pain, but his face was blank—he was clearly so nervous he no longer knew what the word “pain” meant.
The other two, whose information wasn’t as up to date, had still heard about Fan Qing’s reputation from Huar and grew tense as well.
When Fan Qing saw them come in, he seriously considered something.
What—did this look like a place where people were being led to their execution?
A knock sounded at the door.
Fan Qing said, “Come in.”
Wen Qi leaned halfway in, looking a bit awkward.
“Manager Fan, I was worried they’d be too nervous. Is it okay if I come in and keep them company?”
Overindulgent kindness ruins children.
For a split second, those four words flashed through Fan Qing’s mind.
…Well, it wasn’t that serious.
They were newcomers, after all. A little nervousness was understandable.
Fan Qing nodded.
Seeing his agreement, Wen Qi immediately let out a sigh of relief.
The moment he entered the office, the four boys visibly relaxed.
The effect was almost immediate.
Seeing that Wen Qi actually helped, Fan Qing let it be.
He looked at the four of them, lightly tapping his fingers against the desktop.
“I’ve arranged a talent show for the four of you.”
“Bang!”
A loud crash rang out.
Fan Qing slowly shifted his gaze to Wen Qi, the source of the noise.
That said—why are you getting excited?
Wen Qi also knew he’d caused trouble and embarrassed himself, but he really was shocked.
He asked incredulously,
“Manager Fan, did you just say four people? All four have been arranged?”
Now Fan Qing understood why he’d lost his composure.
Pushing aside the fleeting thought of firing someone, Fan Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.
“What, Teacher Wen—do you think I’m joking?”