After blocking Zheng Nanfeng's number, Ji Xiaoli just stared blankly at her phone for a long time.
The wallpaper of her phone was still the photo of Zhong Canxi when he first debuted.
When Ji Xiaoli first set that photo as her phone wallpaper, she never imagined that things would turn out like this.
With a helpless sigh, Ji Xiaoli dialed Panda Min's number.
"Director..."
"Hey, Xiaoli. Are you calling to talk about what happened today?" As soon as the call connected, Panda Min got straight to the point.
Ji Xiaoli felt a pang in her heart. She pursed her lips and said, "Yes. Director, they said Zhong Canxi got the male lead in this drama only because I - I slept with him."
"Oh, haha... How could that be!"
Panda Min laughed heartily. "It's clearly because of me!"
"Ah?!!"
It seemed she had just discovered something big!
"Cough, cough. I mean, it was my decision. I made this decision simply because this kid has talent. If I don't choose him, who else? Fan Kunkun?"
Panda Min chuckled twice more. "Xiaoli, don't take it to heart. I know what's going on."
Ji Xiaoli let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
It was good that he knew someone was behind all this.
"You two were just in a normal relationship, a normal boy - girl relationship!" Panda Min said with a smile, looking understanding. "I get it. I've been there."
The breath Ji Xiaoli had just let out caught in her throat again. "It's not like that -"
"Hey, no need to explain. I know it all!"
"You're just worried that your relationship might affect our drama, right? I understand."
Ji Xiaoli thought: What do you understand?
"It's okay, it's okay," Panda Min continued to comfort Ji Xiaoli. "It won't have any negative impact. They're helping us promote for free. It's a good thing."
Ji Xiaoli: ...
Silence was like the Cambridge tonight.
"Oh, Xiaoli, if you really feel guilty and want to make up for it, how about this? Your director will give you a chance! - How about investing in a movie under our company? I'm telling you, this movie will definitely be a hit, and you'll make a fortune!"
Ji Xiaoli thought: Do I look like a fool with a lot of money?
"Listen to the title - 'I'm Back from My Trials' - Just listen to it. Doesn't the title alone make you super interested in the story? And look at the story itself. It has so many elements!"
"From the title, you might think it's a Xianxia story. Wrong! It starts with an apocalypse, and a girl is about to starve to death. You might think it's a story about surviving in the apocalypse. Wrong again! After she starves to death, she travels back in time to cultivate immortality. You might think it's an immortal - cultivation story. Wrong once more! She gets struck by lightning during her trials and dies. Guess what? She comes back!... "
For the next half - hour, it was all Panda Min's "wonderful" monologue.
Ji Xiaoli's face had turned ashen.
She finally understood that these people were all just eyeing her money.
After he hung up the phone and excitedly sent over the electronic contract, Ji Xiaoli mechanically transferred the investment amount to him.
As always, the system didn't show an increase in good - luck points.
This time, not even five points!
Oh well, whatever. It didn't matter anymore.
Just as she was about to go back to sleep, a message from Li Songyuan popped up -
[I'm downstairs in your dormitory.]
Ji Xiaoli threw off the covers and sat up in a jolt.
...
It was an especially quiet day. The sun was high up, and the university campus was filled with a warm atmosphere.
Ji Xiaoli should have been on the set these days, but unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. She had written several chapters of rain scenes, but it had been sunny during the shooting.
So, since Panda Min called it a day yesterday, he had given the order - stop shooting and wait for the rain.
When Ji Xiaoli rushed downstairs, she saw Li Songyuan leaning casually under a tree. The sparse sunlight made his expression look hazy and mysterious.
Ji Xiaoli ran towards him in a few steps.
Guessing that he was probably here because of today's hot topic on the internet, Ji Xiaoli didn't rush to speak.
Li Songyuan lifted his eyes and squinted at her. After a moment of silence, he said, "Xiaoli, in this situation, you shouldn't have gone to the appointment."
This appointment, of course, referred to Zhong Canxi's invitation to the hotel.
"Whether you did anything with him or not, the public will misunderstand."
The public might misunderstand, but he didn't.
This was what came to Ji Xiaoli's mind after he finished speaking.
"Right now, neither 'Gossip Girl' nor 'Entertainment Granny' is willing to delete their Weibo posts. And after what happened yesterday, it almost confirmed your relationship with Zhong Canxi - of course," Li Songyuan suddenly smiled coldly, "a romantic relationship."
Ji Xiaoli's heart skipped a beat. "I didn't."
"People can say whatever they want. Do you think they'll believe you when you say you didn't?"
Li Songyuan suddenly stared straight at her, his eyes deep and complex.
Ji Xiaoli somehow felt that he had come here because he already had a solution in mind.
Sure enough, he said, "Actually, I have a solution."
Ji Xiaoli: "What is it?"
"You announce your relationship, and the rumors will be self - defeated."
For a moment, Ji Xiaoli wanted to ask him who she should announce her relationship with. But when she saw the gentle sunlight on his face, she understood.
With him.
"Xiaoli," Li Songyuan suddenly moved a bit closer to her. His voice was hoarse and sexy. "Do you have an answer to the question I asked you last time?"
- Do you have someone you like?
Do I?
Him...
A warm breath hit her face.
Li Songyuan's lips were slowly approaching her cheek.
Ji Xiaoli was suddenly startled and quickly took a step back.
Li Songyuan stopped in time. But his eyelids drooped slightly, clearly showing some disappointment.
"Xiaoli, think about it."
He added, "I'm serious about you. I really like you."
Long after Li Songyuan left, Ji Xiaoli still stood there, unable to move for a long time.
He said he was serious...
Ji Xiaoli felt extremely complicated. She couldn't quite describe her feelings.
It wasn't that she didn't like Li Songyuan, but...
This wasn't the right time. She was already so stressed out by everything that had happened. How could she possibly announce her relationship now?
After another sunny day, it finally started to drizzle on Wednesday.
After Panda Min gave the order, everyone started shooting again.
Ji Xiaoli had been busy these two days trying to get "Entertainment Granny" and "Gossip Girl" to delete their posts, but no matter how hard she tried, they didn't even give her a second look.
Dejectedly, Ji Xiaoli came to the set. She scanned the people on the set -
Li Songyuan didn't seem to be here today.