This director only directs blockbusters.

Li Binbin stared at him for a few seconds, the corners of her mouth slowly curving upwards, but with a hint of mockery: "Well done, Director Yang, you're quite the hidden talent." She tilted her head back and took a sip of her drink, the icy liquid sliding down her throat as if suppressing some kind of emotion.

"What about Gao Yuanyuan? I heard that you two don't know anything about her either."

"That's true." Yang Ning's tone was calm, but her fingertips unconsciously circled the rim of the cup.

She raised an eyebrow: "Anything else?"

"That's all," he said. "There are only these three now."

"Currently." She repeated the word, her smile deepening, as if concealing something. "Your choice of words is quite sophisticated."

Yang Ning didn't explain, but simply picked up the cup and took a sip.

Li Binbin swirled the bottle, the bottom tapping against the glass tabletop with a crisp sound. She whispered, "Me too."

"you?"

"Hmm." She nodded, her gaze drifting to the window as if recalling something. "I've dated before, but after we broke up, I realized—being alone is great. I can do whatever I want without having to explain myself to anyone. Dating is too tiring; you have to report to someone every day, and you get angry all the time."

She paused, her smile fading slightly: "So I won't get married. Never in this lifetime."

Yang Ning looked at her, his eyes filled with a complex emotion, a mixture of helplessness and resentment.

"Me too," he said.

She suddenly laughed, a bitter laugh: "Then we're quite a good match, we're both weirdos."

"Weirdos match weirdos."

She paused for a moment, then burst out laughing, but the laughter didn't last long, as if something had caught it and stopped abruptly.

The atmosphere in the room changed. A breeze blew in from outside the window, and the curtains moved slightly, as if holding their breath for them.

"Yang Ning." She called his name softly.

"Um?"

"Do you know the question I just asked?"

"Which one?"

"I mean... would you consider me?"

Yang Ning looked at her with a steady gaze, yet it made her inexplicably uneasy.

"I said I wouldn't."

"I know." She stood up, walked up to him, her heart pounding, but her palms were a little cold. "But I'm not asking if you'll consider it."

She looked down at him, her breathing a little rapid: "I'm asking—now, do you want to?"

Yang Ning didn't move.

She bent down and leaned closer to him. So close that he could smell her scent—shampoo, and a hint of the bitterness of beer.

"I won't ask you to take responsibility," she said softly, as if trying to convince herself. "Tonight."

She straightened up, trying to make her voice sound relaxed: "If you want, I'll sit down. If not, I'll leave now."

She stood there, looking at him, her mind a complete mess.

I waited a few seconds.

Yang Ning reached out, grasped her wrist, and gently pulled.

She fell into his arms.

The curtains weren't drawn, and the city lights streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a thin layer of light on the floor.

On the sofa, the two sat very close, their breaths mingling. The noise outside was shut out, leaving only their heartbeats.

Li Binbin's fingers gently traced his shoulder, as if testing him, or perhaps confirming his feelings. There was a rare tenderness in her eyes, a tenderness seldom seen in her usual demeanor.

Yang Ning lowered his head and met her gaze. At that moment, all words seemed superfluous.

There were no promises between them, nor were there any explanations needed. On this night, they simply gave each other a brief but genuine closeness.

After an unknown amount of time, the room fell silent.

Li Binbin lay in his arms, gently tracing circles on his chest with her fingers.

"Director Yang." Her voice was a little hoarse.

"Um?"

"You... know a lot."

Yang Ning laughed: "You're the first person to say that out loud."

"Why don't others say anything?"

"I won't tell."

"Then they're hypocritical." She looked up at him, her eyes bright. "Good is good, what's wrong with saying it?"

Yang Ning looked down at her. The light shone from the side, revealing the lingering blush on her face.

"And you?" he asked.

"What?"

"Is it comfortable?"

She paused for a moment, then smiled: "What do you think?" She leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words.

Yang Ning raised an eyebrow.

"Then next time..."

"Wait." She suddenly interrupted him, propped herself up, and looked down at him.

His expression was a mix of seriousness and amusement.

"Director Yang," she said, "I have a question for you."

"explain."

"Between Fan Binbin and me..." she paused, "...who made you more involved?"

Yang Ning was taken aback.

He looked at the woman nestled against his chest—she had just experienced intimacy, yet remained as lucid as if they were discussing work.

"Are you sure you want to talk about this now?" His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

She laughed: "Why, can't I mention it?"

"It's not that it's impossible," Yang Ning said, looking at her. "It's just that... don't you think it's... inappropriate to talk about someone else at this time?"

"So, are you going to answer or not?" She stared at him.

Yang Ning paused for two seconds: "It's different."

"Why is it different?"

"She... is more immersed, completely absorbed. You, on the other hand, are more measured, knowing when to stop and when to continue."

As Li Binbin listened, the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile: "Are you praising me, or insulting her?"

"To be honest," Yang Ning said, "both are good, but they are good in different ways."

She nestled back against his chest, her soft voice escaping her lips: "Then let me ask you, is her...thing big?"

Yang Ning laughed: "Why are you asking that?"

"I'm curious." She poked his chest with her finger. "People in the industry are always talking about it."

"real."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"I touched it."

Li Binbin fell silent.

After a while, she suddenly said, "What about me?"

Yang Ning thought for a moment: "Pretty much."

"About the same?" She looked up at him. "So she's older than me?"

"I haven't measured it."

She laughed and playfully punched him: "You're so tactless."

"truth."

She lay down again: "Director Yang, do you know, we've always been compared in the industry. People compare who's more famous, who's a better actress, who has more endorsements... Now, it's gotten to the point where they're comparing us in bed."

Yang Ning didn't speak, but gently stroked her back.

"But I don't hate it," she suddenly said.

"What don't you dislike?"

"I don't dislike being with you like this." She looked up at him. "At least you know what you're doing. Unlike some people who, even after doing something, pretend to be saints."

Yang Ning looked at her: "And what about after that?"

"What do you mean, 'after'?"

"What do we look like?"

She thought for a moment: "It's not about unspoken rules, because I didn't want the role—it was already cast. It's not about dating, because neither of us wants to get married. So it must be..."

"It's an adult game," Yang Ning replied.

She nodded: "Yes, it's an adult game. Fair, voluntary, and without responsibility. Plus... we can exchange information about our competitors."

Yang Ning laughed: "You're quite open-minded."

"What if you can't figure it out?" She nestled back against his chest. "In this industry, it's not easy to find someone who doesn't pretend."

It was six o'clock in the morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Yang Ning woke up first.

Li Binbin was still asleep, curled up in his arms, her face buried in the crook of his neck. She was sleeping soundly, her breathing even.

He moved slightly, trying to pull his arm away.

She hummed, didn't wake up, and instead hugged him even tighter.

Yang Ning didn't move.

I just lay there, watching the sky outside the window gradually brighten.

Thinking back to last night's conversation—

"Is she about the same age?"

"I haven't measured it."

She laughed and punched him.

It wasn't a hard blow, but it hurt quite a bit.

He stared at the ceiling.

These women each have their own temperament. Fan Binbin is stubborn, Gao Yuanyuan is gentle, Xu Qin is steady, Li Binbin... she is the most clear-headed one.

Knowing what you want and knowing what you are doing.

This type of woman is the easiest to get along with.

But it is also the most dangerous.

Because you can't see through what she's thinking.

At seven o'clock, Li Binbin woke up.

She opened her eyes, saw him, and was stunned for a moment.

Then he smiled and said, "Good morning."

"morning."

She sat up, and the blanket slipped down. She looked down at herself; she was naked, with nothing covering her.

"I'm going to take a shower." She stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

Reaching the door, he turned back and said, "Director Yang."

"Um?"

"Last night... was fine."

Yang Ning smiled and said, "Mm."

"Also," she paused, "we'll keep what we said last night to ourselves. Don't tell anyone else."

"Know."

She pushed the door open and went in. The sound of running water could be heard.

Yang Ning sat up and lit a cigarette.

The Cape Town sun shone through the window.

a new day.

He remembered what she had said last night—

"An adult game. Fair, voluntary, and without responsibility."

Yes, that's it.

He put on his trousers and went to the window.

My phone rang. It was a text message.

Li Binbin: "I ordered breakfast for 7:30, let's eat together. By the way, I remembered your answer—it's roughly the same age as her, hmph."

It was followed by an eye-rolling emoji.

Yang Ning looked at the screen and smiled.

Reply: "I haven't measured it, so I'm not sure."

A few seconds later, she replied: "Scumbag."

Yang Ning did not reply.

The sound of water was still coming from the bathroom.

He stubbed out his cigarette and began packing his things.