Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

Li Ran stood to the side, feeling somewhat awkward.

Zhang Jingyi looked at him, and Wang Churan also looked at him.

The two women's gazes fell on him; one was calm yet scrutinizing, the other had a mischievous glint in her eyes.

He gave an awkward laugh and explained, "Um... she's free today, no classes at school, so she came to visit me on set."

He didn't know what to say, but he had no choice but to say something.

Zhang Jingyi glanced at him, said nothing, but turned to Wang Churan: "Come with me for a moment, I have something to say."

Wang Churan raised an eyebrow: "Let's say it here."

Zhang Jingyi turned to look at Li Ran, her tone calm: "Li Ran, I want to talk to her alone."

Li Ran glanced at her, then at Wang Churan.

He nodded with an awkward smile, then looked at Wang Churan with a hint in his eyes: "Then you should go and have a brief chat with her."

Wang Churan met his gaze, gave him a reassuring look, and smiled, "Alright then."

Zhang Jingyi led Wang Churan to a secluded corner.

The corner wasn't big, and it was piled with some filming props, but it was quiet and private enough.

Wang Churan crossed her arms and spoke first: "Speak, what is it? Hurry up and say it, I'm in a hurry to spend time with Li Ran."

Zhang Jingyi remained silent for a few seconds.

She looked at the woman in front of her, who was bright and generous and made no attempt to hide her interest in Li Ran.

"Wang Churan".

She spoke, her voice so calm it betrayed no emotion, "Stop bothering Li Ran."

Wang Churan frowned as he looked at her.

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, then continued, "We're already together, you have no chance."

Wang Churan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Just to tell me this?"

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, "What did I think?"

Zhang Jingyi looked at her expressionlessly.

Wang Churan rolled her eyes and said coldly, "What do you mean I should pester him? That's an awful way to put it."

What she was really thinking was: Who's bothering whom? When I was with Li Ran, you didn't know anything about it.

But she remembered Li Ran's instructions not to let it slip.

So she simply tilted her head and changed the subject: "Are you sure Li Ran is just your boyfriend?"

Zhang Jingyi frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

Wang Churan smiled, a smile that carried a deeper meaning: "Right now, the Wildfire CP and Xinyi for the Burning CP are locked in a fierce battle online."

She paused, looking into Zhang Jingyi's eyes: "Your opponent should be Zhou Ye."

"And you two look quite alike, don't forget! Li Ran and Zhou Ye are classmates."

Zhang Jingyi was silent for a moment. Of course she knew about what was happening online, but she trusted Li Ran.

She spoke slowly, her tone still calm: "Li Ran and she are just friends. He told me not to try to sow discord."

Wang Churan genuinely laughed this time, finding the junior schoolmate's silliness somewhat endearing.

Do you even believe that yourself?

She leaned forward and lowered her voice: "Even if we're friends, do you think you're good enough for Li Ran? Just because you've known each other for a long time?"

She paused, her tone carrying a deliberate air of goodwill: "There are quite a few people online comparing you to Zhou Ye these days. Zhou Ye is your biggest enemy."

Zhang Jingyi looked at her with a cold gaze.

"I will handle my relationship with Li Ran myself."

She said, word by word, "All I want to tell you right now is that Li Ran is my boyfriend. You should know what shame is and stay away from him."

After saying that, she turned and left.

I don't want to waste my breath.

Wang Churan stood there, watching her departing figure.

She really is a stubborn little girl. Although Zhang Jingyi is older than her, she is a bit too naive.

Zhang Jingyi is currently unaware of the exact relationship between Li Ran and the others. She may have sensed it, but Li Ran has not told her directly.

Wang Churan knew all of this from the very beginning.

That's her advantage.

She didn't need to fight or snatch; she just needed to stand quietly beside Li Ran and watch them compete with each other.

As for the alliance with Tian Xiwei?

Haha! It's just a delaying tactic.

Li Ran watched Zhang Jingyi walk back, his gaze sweeping across her face, but he couldn't discern any emotion from her.

"What did you two talk about?"

Zhang Jingyi shook her head: "It's nothing. Let's go, it's almost our scene."

Li Ran nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She didn't want to say, but she would ask Wang Churan that night.

The afternoon shoot went smoothly.

During a break in filming, Wang Churan told Li Ran her room number and left without staying long.

……

By the time filming wrapped, it was already dark.

Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi returned to the hotel together.

The two stepped out of the elevator, and Li Ran stood in the corridor, waving to Zhang Jingyi.

"Go back and rest. See you tomorrow."

He turned around, about to leave...

Zhang Jingyi reached out and grabbed his wrist.

She spoke softly, "Brother Li Ran, let's sleep together tonight. I have something to ask you."

Li Ran was stunned for a moment.

He looked at her; her eyes were calm, but beneath that calmness seemed to lie something.

He nodded immediately: "Okay, I'll keep you company tonight."

The two entered the room.

Zhang Jingyi stood in the entryway, looking at Li Ran, and suddenly said, "Want to shower together?"

Li Ran shook his head: "You go first."

Li Ran shook his head: "You go first."

Zhang Jingyi looked at him with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"You usually insist on showering together, what's wrong today?"

Li Ran smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes: "What? You want to shower together? Can't wait?"

Zhang Jingyi glared at him: "Fine, then we won't go together."

After saying that, she turned and went into the bathroom.

The door slammed shut, and soon after, the sound of rushing water came from inside.

Li Ran stood there, listening to the sound of water, and after a few seconds of silence, took out his phone.

Open Wang Churan's chat window and start typing.

I'll go later.

He thought for a moment, then added: "It's not past midnight yet, you should go to sleep early!"

My phone vibrated very quickly.

【? ? ? 】

[Did the junior schoolgirl catch him?]

Li Ran smiled slightly as he read the message.

He scrolled through his collection of emojis, found one of a cat that was "smiling without saying a word," and sent it to the emoji pack.

The other side remained silent for a few seconds.

Then the messages came out like a machine gun.

【hehe】

I've prepared a surprise!

Whether you come or not is up to you.

Young Master, you can't back down!

You'll regret it if you don't come!

Finally, a photo was sent over, which Li Ran opened and looked at.

His breath hitched the moment the image loaded.

He took a deep breath and started typing.

[It was exactly 12 o'clock]

Li Ran looked at the message, then at the closed bathroom door, and finally at the time on her phone.

There are still more than three hours until midnight.

Li Ran calculated the time and started taking off his clothes.

He opened the door and went straight into the bathroom.

Zhang Jingyi was startled. She looked at him and said with displeasure, "What are you doing!"

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly, "Of course we'll shower together."

"No, aren't we going together?"

"Now I'm thinking about it again..."

……

Zhang Jingyi asked in confusion, "Why are you reacting so strongly..."

Li Ran said earnestly, "Then please help me..."

Then he hugged her.

Zhang Jingyi gently pushed him away, "Let's talk after you shower..."

"Li Ran..."

Li Ran hugged Zhang Jingyi as they walked out of the bathroom. It was already 10:30, and there was still an hour and a half left.

Half an hour passed after Zhang Jingyi finished blow-drying her hair.

Li Ran looked at her, feeling a little impatient.

"Jingyi, what do you want to ask me?"

Zhang Jingyi walked to the bedside and lay down.

She turned her head to look at him, her eyes bright, and slowly said, "Brother Li Ran."

"Um?"

"When Wang Churan came to see you today, you seemed... a little nervous."

Li Ran looked at her but didn't say anything.

Zhang Jingyi continued, "You're not usually like this; you're always very natural. But today, you're a little different."

She looked at him, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"What is your relationship with her?"

Li Ran thought for a moment and then said, "Don't you know? I'm just afraid you'll be jealous."

Zhang Jingyi didn't say anything, she just looked at him.

Li Ran met that gaze without flinching.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhang Jingyi asked again, "What about Zhou Ye?"

"My friend!"

She continued, "Is there anything else?"

"A classmate from Beijing Film Academy..."

She shook her head and continued, "You know that's not what I'm asking. Is she your ex-girlfriend? There are photos of you two from your time at the Beijing Film Academy online."

Li Ran smiled and said, "Um... she was indeed my ex-girlfriend."

In his mind, he added, "Of course, it's also my current girlfriend."

Zhang Jingyi slowly spoke, "I knew it. So, what about now?"

Li Ran looked at her, "Of course, we're still female friends."

Zhang Jingyi punched him lightly. "Why are you breathing so heavily when you talk!"

After saying that, she gently hugged him, her voice muffled, coming from the crook of his shoulder, "Brother Li Ran, I believe in you."

Li Ran stroked her back.

She continued, "But don't lie to me."

Li Ran nodded. "Jingyi, let's continue!"

"No, didn't we do it while showering?"

"But then it got up again..."

……