Chapter 12

Of course they had a relationship!
She was an artist under his company; they had an employer-employee relationship.
It was nothing for the big boss to take an employee out to eat when he saw she had gotten so thin.
Zhu Xinyue found a justification for Ji Linyu.
"We have acting class at 7 p.m., so we have an hour for dinner. Let's hurry!" Zhu Xinyue's stomach was already growling with hunger.
Ji Linyu took her to a restaurant. Valuing his privacy, he reserved a private room.
Zhu Xinyue didn't dare to indulge recklessly, fearing that suddenly switching from a vegetarian diet to rich meats might cause stomach discomfort, so she casually ordered two dishes along with a dessert for after the meal.
While waiting for the food to arrive, Zhu Xinyue had already planned how to fill the brief, awkward silence, by reporting her work progress to the boss!
But Ji Linyu didn’t give her the chance. His phone rang, and he stepped out into the hallway outside the private room to take the call.
The door to the private room closed softly. Feeling bored sitting around, Zhu Xinyue stood up and walked toward the balcony nearby.
While looking at the menu earlier, Zhu Xinyue had noticed that the restaurant’s prices were significantly higher than those of ordinary eateries. Occasionally, the roar of airplanes passing overhead could be heard, leading her to guess that the higher prices were due to the restaurant’s proximity to the airport.
Besides the location, the decor also justified the cost.
Upon entering the restaurant, one could see an artificial pond, crisscrossed with small bridges and flowing water features. The private room on the second floor was surrounded on three sides by the pond, resembling a pavilion built over the water.
From her vantage point, she could also see tourists taking photos on the water swings at the restaurant’s main entrance.
Several cars pulled into the parking lot in front of the restaurant one after another.
At first, Zhu Xinyue wasn’t sure who had arrived, but when she spotted the light golden hair, even with a mask on, she could recognize him, Ji Qingyuan.
After Ji Qingyuan got out of the car, he turned back to speak to someone inside.
Out stepped an extremely thin man. Unlike other actors who wore masks or baseball caps when going out, with their casual outfits meticulously coordinated as if for a runway show, he was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and black pants. His slightly long, curly hair was tied back with a small elastic band. With deep-set features, fair skin, and an innate artist’s melancholic aura, he stood out.
Zhu Xinyue had seen him in photos, he was the actor playing the "Second Elder," Liang Yuyu.
The director, lead actors, and others who had previously appeared at the training base were here again, seemingly for a group meal.
When Zhu Xinyue spotted the martial arts instructor beside the director, her first instinct was to hide, as he had been teaching her these past few days. But then she thought, since Ji Linyu had brought her here to eat, if anyone had to take the blame, the big boss would shoulder it first. So, she straightened her back confidently.
That’s right! She was determined to enjoy this meal today!
A knock sounded at the door behind her.
A server entered with the dishes.
Zhu Xinyue’s stomach growled. She returned to the private room to wait for Ji Linyu to come back so they could start the meal.
Wait, since it was a crew gathering, and Ji Linyu was the investor, wouldn’t he have to join the director’s table? Should she still wait for him?
But since Ji Linyu was treating her to this meal, how could she start eating before he returned? That would be so impolite.
Zhu Xinyue’s chopsticks paused mid-air, then she silently withdrew them and set them aside.
A while later, all the dishes she and Ji Linyu had ordered were served, but Ji Linyu still hadn’t returned.
The soundproofing in the private room wasn’t great. The neighboring room, which had been quiet earlier, gradually grew noisy, the clinking of glasses and lively conversations drifted into Zhu Xinyue’s room, making her space feel even more silent.
Zhu Xinyue had left her phone in the dormitory and hadn’t been able to return after class. Now, she could only sit there idly, waiting for him to come back.
She wasn’t sure how long she waited, but the food on the table was starting to get cold. Feeling genuinely hungry, Zhu Xinyue finally stood up to go look for him.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway, glancing left and right. The corridor was empty, no one in sight.
Maybe he’s in the restroom?
Zhu Xinyue randomly approached a server in a purple uniform and asked, “Excuse me, where is the restroom?”
The server, who was carrying a dish, glanced back in the direction behind her. “It’s at the end of the hallway.”
“Okay, thank you.”
The server in purple took two steps forward, then suddenly seemed to remember something. She was about to call Zhu Xinyue back to tell her that a guest from the neighboring room had asked her to start eating without waiting for him. But she had been so excited and flustered after seeing her idol, Jiang Rui, that she’d forgotten to deliver the message.
Well, it’s been half an hour already. She’s probably finished eating by now, since she’s heading to the restroom. The server in purple comforted herself with this thought and carried the dish into the neighboring room.
“This batch of new actors is quite promising. They have potential.”
“We’ve given them riding and martial arts lessons, and the results are good. The scenes will look great when filmed.”
“Glad to hear it’s working out! Our action director has worked hard. Come, let me toast to you.”

Ji Linyu sat in the neighboring room, chatting with the producer. Occasionally, someone would come over to propose a toast, but since he was thinking about having to take the “kid” next door back to the base later, he politely declined and drank tea instead.
Occasionally, Ji Qingyuan would help his brother block a toast or two, but as the conversation gradually shifted its focus from Ji Linyu to Ji Qingyuan, the latter became too busy to look out for his brother anymore.
Ji Linyu was content with the peace and quiet. He sat by the tea table at the other end of the room, sipping his tea. When he saw the server in purple bringing in a dish, he remembered that he’d asked her to relay a message to Zhu Xinyue. He wondered if she had finished eating.
He had sent Zhu Xinyue a text message but received no reply.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Ji Linyu said to the others before standing up and walking out.
The room was lively, and even if someone noticed him leaving, they didn’t pay much attention.
Ji Linyu walked to the neighboring room, knocked on the door, and pushed it open.
The room was empty.
The table was full of dishes, completely untouched.
Ji Linyu’s heart sank, as if something heavy had dropped inside him.
“Boss, you’re back?” Zhu Xinyue’s voice came from behind him.
Ji Linyu turned around and saw Zhu Xinyue walking toward him from the other end of the hallway. She said, “I waited for you for a while, but when you didn’t come back, I went to look for you.”
A while? Ji Linyu had just checked the time, he had been gone for at least half an hour.
"I'm so hungry. You're finally back. Let's eat." Zhu Xinyue's gaze swept past Ji Linyu as she walked past him and entered the private room.
Ji Linyu lowered his eyes, watching the girl pass by him. She didn't look at him, her long hair lifted by the wind, gently brushing against his chest.
For some reason, he suddenly felt a strong urge to explain himself.
"I just..."
She had already taken her seat, picked up her chopsticks, and looked up at him.
Ji Linyu swallowed the words he was about to say. He entered the private room, closed the door, and sat down beside her.
Zhu Xinyue was truly starving. Only after Ji Linyu started eating did she begin serving herself, practically devouring the food. Her eyes were fixed solely on the meal, nothing else mattered.
Ji Linyu had already eaten his fill earlier in the neighboring room. Now, he was just accompanying her, symbolically picking up a piece of meat. When he put it in his mouth, he realized the food had gone cold.
Of course, she had been waiting for half an hour.
He initially thought about asking the server to reheat the dishes, but the girl beside him was eating so eagerly, seemingly unconcerned about whether the food was hot or cold, delicious or not. All she wanted was to fill her stomach.
Zhu Xinyue was so hungry she felt like her stomach was touching her back. She quickly finished a bowl of rice, feeling somewhat satisfied, and wiped her lips with a tissue.
Just then, the door was knocked on again.
It was the server in purple from earlier. He came in to ask, "Miss, would you like the dessert served now?"
"No need, take it away." Zhu Xinyue glanced at the night outside. "I'm going to be late for class."
The server in purple scratched his head. Noticing the male guest beside her staring intently at him, he suddenly had a realization and said, "Oh! I'm sorry! This guest earlier asked me to tell you to start eating first, but I completely forgot. How about I pack the dessert for you to take back?"
Zhu Xinyue looked at Ji Linyu beside her, met his gaze, then lowered her eyes and said, "The base doesn't allow outside food. Let's just forget it."
Ji Linyu frowned and said, "Serve the dessert now. Finish eating before you go back. I'll help you ask for leave."
Zhu Xinyue pressed her lips together and didn't speak.
The server sensed the tense atmosphere in the room and quietly retreated.
The door opened and closed, and the private room fell silent again. Faint, indistinct sounds came from the neighboring room, making it easy to imagine how lively it was next door.
Ji Linyu sat in his seat. It felt as though countless strings in the room were vibrating with the noise from next door. With each vibration, his heart trembled along, making him acutely aware of how she must have waited for him in the empty room half an hour earlier.
Every second felt like a year.
His phone vibrated, breaking the silence in the room.
Zhu Xinyue glanced at his phone screen, it was already 7:20 p.m.
The caller ID showed "Wen Shu," who happened to be the director of "Peach Blossom Spring."
Ji Linyu, who had previously stepped away to the corridor to take calls, this time answered it right in front of her.
"Everyone, please continue. No need to wait for me."
She didn’t know what was said on the other end, but Ji Linyu replied, "...Mm, there's an important personal matter I need to handle."
After he hung up, Zhu Xinyue tactfully said, "How about you call a taxi for me? I can head back to the base on my own so I won’t delay your personal matters."
Only then did Ji Linyu realize she hadn’t brought her phone.
The server returned with the dessert.
"Let’s eat first," Ji Linyu said.
It had been a long time since Zhu Xinyue had dessert. Whether it was her taste buds acting up or some other reason, she felt this French lemon tart tasted bittersweet amidst the sweetness.
In the room, the crisp sound of her metal fork clinking against the porcelain plate echoed.
Ji Linyu looked at the girl eating dessert with her head lowered. His hand resting on the table unconsciously curled, his thumb rubbing against his index finger as he carefully considered his words.
"Did you wait long just now?"
Zhu Xinyue swallowed a bite of dessert, gripping the cold metal fork. She lifted her head and looked out toward the balcony, where the sky had turned completely dark.
Ji Linyu followed her gaze to the night outside.
When they had first arrived, the sun had just set. Now, it was completely dark.
"It’s only right that I wait for you," Zhu Xinyue said.
Ji Linyu noticed the change in how she addressed him, and his heart grew heavy.
He curled his fingers and lightly tapped them on the table, as if pondering some difficult problem.
Zhu Xinyue finished her dessert, took a tissue, and wiped her lips.
"I’m done. Thank you, Mr. Ji, for treating me to dinner today and for helping me take leave." Zhu Xinyue stood up first, smiling at Ji Linyu.
Ji Linyu looked up at Zhu Xinyue, his brows furrowed as if he were in a bad mood.
Zhu Xinyue thought to herself, I waited so long just to eat, and I’m not even in a bad mood. But then again, he’s the boss and the one paying. When you accept someone’s favor, you can’t complain. Let it go.
Ji Linyu remained seated, unmoving.
Zhu Xinyue understood and said, "Are you going to handle that important personal matter here? Then I’ll take a taxi back by myself."
Ji Linyu stood up and walked toward the door.
He opened it, stepped aside, and waited for her to approach.
Zhu Xinyue thought it was over, but as she passed him, she heard him say to her:
"Sorry."
This "sorry" came neither too early nor too late, it perfectly seized her wavering emotions.
If he had apologized as soon as he came in, Zhu Xinyue would have brushed it off with a lighthearted remark, letting it slide, after all, that’s just how bosses are. If he had waited until he dropped her off at the base to apologize, or not apologized at all, she would have already retreated behind the boundaries of interpersonal interaction.
But it had to be now.
Right when she had waited alone, hungry, for nearly an hour, and he had returned to accompany her through the meal. Just as she was beginning to reflect, ready to curse him three thousand five hundred times in her mind and mock herself for being too polite and not knowing how to stand up for herself.
He apologized to her earnestly, as if he had spent the entire meal reflecting, deliberating on how to bring it up.
As though he truly cared whether she was upset or angry about it.
Zhu Xinyue stood in the corridor, turning back to look at Ji Linyu, gazing into his ever-calm eyes.
It was as if a key had unlocked the door to her heart, releasing a flood of seawater that instantly submerged her mouth and nose, soaking her wounds. The sorrows that had never been acknowledged by anyone before now began to ache and fester.
A tingling numbness spread from her heart throughout her entire body.
The sense of grievance arrived belatedly.
So, she was allowed to feel aggrieved.