Chapter 62: The Night Is Still Long, Endlessly Enchanting…

The request Qu Heng made could help Jiang Qi, so Zhi Xi naturally wouldn’t refuse.

However, he was currently busy directing the shots, and during breaks between filming, the young man would cling to Zhi Xi, leaving little time for a proper conversation.

In the end, Zhi Xi and Qu Heng exchanged WeChat IDs.

The renowned director looked serious and mysterious as he whispered to the girl, “Don’t tell Jiang Qi about this for now. If he finds out the script contains traces of his own past… he might resist.”

Qu Heng spoke with such conviction that it convinced the somewhat bewildered Zhi Xi to nod obediently.

It wasn’t until much later that Zhi Xi realized why Qu Heng had asked her about these things.

Jiang Qi had a full schedule that day, with scenes lined up from morning until past 8 p.m. However, each scene was followed by ample rest time, so he didn’t feel too exhausted.

Zhi Xi stayed with him until filming wrapped up. Standing just outside the set, watching Jiang Qi act, immerse himself in a role, and embody an entirely different persona was a fresh and fascinating experience.

In Qu Heng’s eyes, Zhi Xi’s visit to the set that day was nothing short of a blessing.

The reason? Jiang Qi’s final scene.

The last scene of the day involved Jiang Qi’s character, Chen Si, taking on his first part-time job to earn money.

In the script, Chen Si was shy, gentle, and introverted. Though his family was financially stable, his parents saw him as an outcast—a disgrace—and ignored him entirely. Once he entered university, they acted as if he didn’t exist, cutting off his living expenses entirely.

Chen Si was a good student and tried tutoring to make money, but the earnings weren’t enough to cover both tuition and daily expenses.

So, mustering his courage, he decided to try modeling—thanks to the encouragement of the female lead, Meng Su, who had once told him his slender frame looked good in anything, fitting the fashion industry’s obsession with a gaunt aesthetic.

Chen Si went, dazzled by the glamour of the runway. His mind and vision were both overwhelmed by a hazy, dreamlike sensation.

Walking down the runway for the first time in flamboyant, eye-catching attire, Chen Si’s mind went blank, his movements stiff. Yet deep down, he felt an unmistakable thrill, a bubbling excitement.

It was as if some long-suppressed part of him had been awakened on that runway, stirring restlessly.

—Wasn’t there a strange parallel here to Jiang Qi’s own real-life entry into the entertainment industry?

But Jiang Qi was far less passionate and exhilarated than Chen Si in the script.

Because Chen Si genuinely loved the runway—the dazzling outfits, the spotlight, the cheers of the audience. Even if his first attempt at modeling was a bit of a “failure,” once he stepped offstage, he couldn’t help but secretly smile.

It was the kind of joy his timid nature couldn’t suppress, though he only dared to let it show when no one was looking.

A cautious, hopeful smile, brimming with anticipation for the future.

This was a state of mind that Jiang Qi, especially a few months prior, would have struggled to portray—back when he was still weighed down by bitterness and sorrow.

Fortunately, months of therapy had helped him improve. And even more fortunately, Zhi Xi was there on set that day.

Being able to catch glimpses of her just outside the frame brought Jiang Qi a sense of peace and softness.

So, the final scene wrapped up smoothly.

Before calling it a day, Qu Heng made a point to thank Zhi Xi. The girl froze for a moment before realizing why.

Her emotions were complicated as she suddenly remembered a phone call from Shen Lei nearly eight or nine months ago—back when Jiang Qi had just decided to take on “Jiao Si”. Only now did she truly understand what the director had meant.

It turned out that acting out happiness and joy was genuinely difficult for Jiang Qi, which was why Shen Lei had reached out to her.

Looking back, Shen Lei had been so concerned for Jiang Qi, while her own response at the time—unaware of the bigger picture—had been somewhat inappropriate.

Zhi Xi couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Truthfully, she would love nothing more than to accompany Jiang Qi whenever possible. If she had free time outside of classes, she’d rush over without needing anyone to ask, just to watch her boy immerse himself in his roles, bringing another person’s life to life.

Unfortunately, her graduate program was just around the corner, and next week she would have to leave for Yingzhou.

Because of this, Jiang Qi had been sulking a little, acting somewhat displeased.

After wrapping up for the day and leaving the set together, Jiang Qi enveloped Zhi Xi’s small hand in his long, slender fingers. She couldn’t resist curling her lips into a smile and lightly scratching his palm.

The boy was ticklish—his entire body was sensitive—but he only gripped her hand tighter.

On the way back, Jiang Qi didn’t let Qiu Mi drive them. He took the wheel himself.

During the ride, Zhi Xi idly munched on the small cookies always kept in the car, the crisp crunching sounds making Jiang Qi glance over. “Hungry?”

Earlier in the evening, she had eaten the same set meal as him—standard two meat dishes and one vegetable—but cafeteria-style boxed meals were never particularly tasty. Jiang Qi knew the girl had always been picky with food.

“Not really.” If she said she was hungry, Jiang Qi would undoubtedly go all out to cook for her the moment they got home, but he had already worked a full day. She couldn’t bear to trouble him further.

Besides, that wasn’t what was on her mind right now. She had something else to ask him.

“Jiang Qi.” The girl’s eyes flickered as she seized the moment the car stopped at a red light. “Who was that girl who came to talk to you this afternoon?”

Zhi Xi was referring to Yue Yuan, but to Jiang Qi, he had interacted with so many people that afternoon that he had already forgotten the one she was deliberately asking about.

So he tilted his head in confusion. “Which one?”

Zhi Xi: “The girl named Yue Yuan.”

Only then did Jiang Qi remember.

“Don’t really know her. Met her once during auditions before.” In truth, it wasn’t until after Yue Yuan left that Jiang Qi belatedly recalled the time Shen Lei had taken him to Wang Zhaoqiu’s set for an audition. The female lead of that film—the one he had passed the audition for but ultimately didn’t end up shooting—seemed to have been that Yue Yuan.

But he had never been good at remembering unimportant people, so it really did take him a while to place her.

Zhi Xi pouted slightly and couldn’t help muttering under her breath, “I think she likes you.”

A girl’s intuition about another girl’s feelings was usually spot-on. The way Yue Yuan had looked at Jiang Qi… Zhi Xi found it all too familiar, because she had once had that same look in her eyes.

Infatuation, admiration, and even a faint trace of pity.

A woman simply loving a man wasn’t scary. What was scary was when love mixed with pity—when natural maternal compassion blended with adoration, it became an incurable affliction.

Hearing this, Jiang Qi slammed on the brakes, pulling the car over to the side of the road.

He turned to look at Zhi Xi, flustered as he explained, “I—no… I really don’t know her.”

Zhi Xi froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Why are you so nervous? I’m not blaming you.” The girl cupped Jiang Qi’s face with her small hands, tilting it left and right as she examined him closely before wrinkling her nose in mock disdain. “With a face like yours, it’s only natural people would like you.”

At most, she was just… a tiny bit jealous.

But more than that, she was happy—finally, someone else had discovered how wonderful Jiang Qi was, that he was a hidden gem. Nothing made Zhi Xi happier than that.

Yet Jiang Qi shook his head, dead serious as he said, “I don’t want to be liked by others. Having you is enough.”

Especially women. He only needed Zhi Xi’s affection.

“Alright then,” Zhi Xi suppressed a smile, biting her lip as she whispered, “If you don’t want it, then you don’t.”

Hearing him say that made her happy too.

It wasn’t until they got home that Jiang Qi realized the sly little glint in her laughter earlier.

And wait—had Zhi Xi actually been jealous?

Standing in the entryway, it suddenly dawned on him. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind.

Caught off guard, Zhi Xi let out a soft “Ah!” as his fingers brushed against her sensitive sides, tickling her into breathless giggles.

“Haha, Jiang Qi!” She elbowed his lean chest lightly, feigning annoyance. “What are you doing?”

“Qiqi,” Jiang Qi nuzzled against her neck before catching her earlobe between his teeth, his warm breath fanning over her skin and turning the delicate flesh a faint shade of pink. Dizzy from the tingling sensation, she could only hear him murmur, “Were you jealous?”

His voice was low, clear, and laced with unconcealed delight.

And was she jealous? Of course she was—though her jealousy was mixed with happiness that others could see how wonderful he was too.

But Jiang Qi, it seemed, much preferred the idea of her being “simply” jealous. So, suppressing a smile, Zhi Xi nodded slightly, her lips pressed together.

The sensation of his teeth grazing her earlobe was electrifying, sending shivers down her spine. Curving inward, the girl nearly folded herself into a little shrimp, squirming helplessly in his arms.

The next second, Jiang Qi bent down and hoisted her over his shoulder. Zhi Xi’s legs dangled in front of him, her petite heels swaying slightly with each step. Her ankles were porcelain-pale and delicate—so slender they looked like they might snap with one careless squeeze.

The boy’s gaze darkened. He gently slipped off her shoes, cradling one tiny, jade-like foot in his hands. Unable to resist, he pressed a kiss to her instep.

Jiang Qi had always had a thing for feet—but only Zhi Xi’s feet. He adored every inch of them.

Zhi Xi, however, found this far too bold.

“Jiang Qi, what are you—?” The girl gasped, her heart fluttering wildly at his actions. Suspended mid-air over his shoulder, she kicked weakly at his waist, her voice trembling with embarrassment. “They’re dirty…”

Jiang Qi didn’t reply, but his grip on her ankle didn’t loosen.

In just a few strides, he carried her into the bedroom and laid her down on the bed—his movements urgent yet tender, careful not to let her bump against anything.

“Wait—” Zhi Xi squirmed as his lips trailed along her neck, her breath hitching. “We haven’t showered yet…”

Jiang Qi’s voice was rough as he pinned her gently but firmly. “Later.”

He knew Zhi Xi had her little rituals—showering first, turning off the lights, this and that—but right now, he couldn’t wait.

The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast shadows across his pale, toned arm as he reached for the small box on the nightstand.

The retro red-and-green packaging featured a woman in high heels.

The best-selling condoms the supermarket owner had recommended… They’d already gone through several boxes.

The night was long.

And full of possibilities.

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