This director only directs blockbusters.

Li Binbin stared at him for a long time, then smiled.

This time, the smile was very light and faint, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's fine," she said.

She turned around and walked back, but after a few steps she turned back again.

"Director Yang."

"Um?"

"If—I mean, if," she paused, "one day I don't want to be just an actress anymore, would you consider it?"

Yang Ning was silent for a few seconds, then smiled mischievously: "No."

Why?

"Because back then," he said, "you wouldn't be the person you are now."

Li Binbin was stunned, then laughed genuinely: "Director Yang, you're really a strange person."

"I know."

The two walked back.

As they walked to the car, Li Binbin suddenly said, "Don't take what I just said to heart."

"Which words?"

"It was just those few things I said to tease you." She opened the car door. "I was just bored and wanted to see if you'd panic."

Am I panicking?

"No." She got into the passenger seat. "That's why it's boring."

Yang Ning started the car: "So you want me to have an affair?"

"I do want to," she said, fastening her seatbelt. "But your listless attitude is also quite interesting."

Yang Ning turned to look at her; she was looking out the window with a smile on her lips.

The car drove out of the port area.

Li Binbin remained silent throughout the journey. Yang Ning also kept quiet.

She suddenly spoke just as they were about to enter the city.

"Director Yang."

"Um?"

"You said you wouldn't consider it at the container stand earlier—were you serious?"

"Seriously."

Why?

Yang Ning thought for a moment and said, "Because you're overthinking it. People who overthink aren't suited to have that kind of relationship with me."

"What kind of relationship?"

"It's the kind you asked about."

Li Binbin was silent for a few seconds: "Then what kind of person is suitable?"

Yang Ning did not answer.

The car continued driving.

The sun began to sink, turning the entire city golden.

Li Binbin leaned back in his seat, looking out the window.

"Director Yang," she suddenly said, "you know what? The more you act like this, the more I want to try."

"Try what?"

"Let's see if we can make an exception for you."

Yang Ning turned and glanced at her.

The setting sun shone on her face, making her eyes bright, and she wore a smile—not a joking smile, but a serious one.

"You can give it a try," he said.

"What if it works?"

"There's no 'what if'."

"Are you so sure?"

"Um."

Li Binbin laughed: "Alright, we'll see."

The car drove into the hotel.

Yang Ning parked the car and turned off the engine.

The two sat in the car, neither of them moving.

"We're here," he said.

"Know."

There was a few seconds of silence.

Li Binbin suddenly leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Quickly, lightly, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Then she opened the car door and got out.

"Goodnight, Director Yang." She stood outside the car window, smiling and waving.

Then he turned and left.

Yang Ning sat in the car and touched the spot where he had been kissed.

A little warmth remained on my skin.

He lit a cigarette and watched her figure disappear through the hotel revolving doors.

The smoke drifted out of the car window and quickly dissipated in the wind.

He remembered what she had just said—"Let's see if we can make an exception for you."

She tried it.

As for the result...

He put out his cigarette and got out of the car.

In the elevator, he looked at himself in the mirror.

His face was expressionless.

My heart seems to be beating a little faster.

Just a little bit.

He pressed the button for the floor.

The elevator is going up.

…………

At nine o'clock in the evening, Yang Ning had just finished taking a shower when the doorbell rang.

He went to open the door, still wearing his bathrobe. Li Binbin was standing outside, dressed in a loose T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair still wet, carrying two bottles of beer.

"I can't sleep." She smiled. "Want to chat?"

Yang Ning stepped aside to let her in.

She put the beer on the coffee table and plopped down on the sofa. The neckline of her T-shirt was a bit low, revealing her collarbone. She crossed her legs and swung her toes back and forth.

Yang Ning sat down opposite her, picked up a bottle of beer, and bit the cap open with his teeth.

"You have really good teeth," she laughed.

"Practice."

Li Binbin also opened a bottle, took a sip, and frowned: "It's bitter."

"Beer is bitter."

"I know," she said, taking another sip. "I just wanted to say that."

Yang Ning didn't reply, leaning back on the sofa and watching her. The straps of her bathrobe were a little loose, revealing a small patch of her chest, but he didn't care.

"I've finished reading the script." She put down the wine bottle. "I'm a little unsure about Leng Yue's crying scene."

Which one?

"In the thirteenth scene, she sat alone in the monitoring room, watching her teammates trapped, only able to wait," Li Binbin gestured. "There were no lines, just a long take. How did she act that?"

"How do you think we should act it?"

"What I'm thinking is... not to cry."

Yang Ning raised an eyebrow.

"She held back her tears, her eyes were red, but they didn't fall," she said. "A person like Leng Yue wouldn't cry in the monitoring room. If she were to cry, she would hide away."

"and then?"

"Then... I'd like to ask for your opinion."

Yang Ning paused for two seconds: "Your idea is better than the script."

Li Binbin's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Really." Yang Ning took a sip of his drink. "But there's a problem."

"What?"

"Can you hold it in?"

Li Binbin was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Are you questioning my expertise?"

"Yes." Yang Ning was direct. "Crying scenes are easy, but holding it in is hard. Can you do it?"

She stared at him for a few seconds: "Yes. If you don't believe me, I'll show you now."

"try."

Li Binbin stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to him.

The room quieted down. Outside the window was the night view of Cape Town, with the outline of Table Mountain hidden in the darkness in the distance.

She stood there, motionless.

After about ten seconds, she turned around. Her eyes were red, and her eyelashes were a little wet, but there were no tears.

She just looked at him, her eyes filled with everything—worry, fear, resentment, and the strength to hold back her from breaking down.

Yang Ning looked at her for a few seconds: "Passed."

She instantly relaxed and let out a long breath: "How was it? Not bad, right?"

"Um."

She laughed and leaned back on the sofa: "Director Yang, do you never know how to compliment people?"

"Yes, I have."

"Who?"

"Fan Binbin".

Li Binbin raised an eyebrow: "She acted well?"

"Her crying scene on the city wall, filmed in one continuous shot, was truly excellent."

"Better than me?"

"no the same."

"What's different?"

"She was acting out a breakdown, you were acting out holding back from breaking down," Yang Ning said. "Two good approaches."

Li Binbin paused for a few seconds: "Is this a compliment?"

"Yes."

She smiled, a very soft smile, but something else flashed in her eyes: "The way you praise someone makes people want to laugh and cry at the same time."

Why?

"Because it sounds like an insult, but when you think about it, it's actually a compliment." She took a sip of her drink. "But it's just unforgettable."

Yang Ning did not respond.

After finishing one bottle of beer, she opened a second one.

"Aren't you afraid you won't be able to get up tomorrow?" Yang Ning asked.

"What's there to be afraid of? I have nothing to do tomorrow." She tilted her head back and took a sip of her drink. "I'm going back to China the day after tomorrow, and joining the film crew the day after that. This is the only night I can relax."

Yang Ning nodded.

"Director Yang, why don't you get married?"

Yang Ning turned to look at her.

"I checked, you've never been married." She leaned back on the sofa. "But you must have had women, right?"

Yang Ning remained silent.

"Rumors are circulating in the industry that you're involved with Fan Binbin, and Xu Qin too..." She tilted her head, "Is it true?"

"real."

She paused for a moment, then asked, "Both of them?"

"Um."