Lin Moci and Ling Qianhe were still at the hotel.
Her agent, Ye Tongtong, called her, sounding quite excited.
"Xiao Ci, right, the release date for the Wu Minlong film series you starred in has been moved up— they're asking if you're available to attend promotions."
"Yang Weiyang is filming, but she said she can manage it herself, she's absolutely fine. So, I wanted to ask you, Xiao Ci, what do you think?"
Ye Tongtong was eager to know.
If it was convenient for Lin Moci.
Attending promotions was a serious matter, and Lin Moci naturally intended to accept immediately.
Then Ye Tongtong continued.
"Also, Xiao Ci, Wu Minlong mentioned that the main actors of this film might need to shoot some promotional videos."
"You, Weiyang, and Yan Wenwen, him, Zhou Yuan'an all need to go. Your behind-the-scenes footage from the set has also been edited and will be released in the next few days. I'm telling you in advance, just in case someone gets unhappy."
Right, even her own agent was well aware.
That Ling Qianhe was an exceptionally possessive person, a top-tier醋坛子 (cùtánzi - vinegar jar, idiom for extremely jealous person) that was hard to find in the world?
She glanced at Ling Qianhe. He was still gazing at her with an aggressive stare, but a hint of a smile played on his lips. Lin Moci coughed, but responded without hesitation.
"Of course, it's convenient for me."
"It's all for work. Someone can understand."
Ye Tongtong said she would send the work procedures and sample footage to her soon.
Lin Moci put down the phone and focused on her email.
Ling Qianhe narrowed his eyes. Lin Moci glanced at him and deliberately made a funny face.
"What, curious about my movie?"
"Not collaborating with you feels great!"
Seeing Xiao Ci acting smug, her cheeks were vividly cute— Ling Qianhe watched her flaunt that this movie wasn't a collaboration with him. He chuckled softly, then, without the slightest hesitation, pulled Lin Moci into his embrace.
Lin Moci's eyes widened— he lowered his head and expertly, proactively kissed her lips.
"Doesn't this feel even better?"
Lin Moci almost choked.
His kiss was incredibly long and deep.
Truly befitting a dancing idol.
A single kiss felt like it could last an eternity— with no end.
Lin Moci's cheeks flushed. It was only after Ling Qianhe finally broke the kiss that she felt as if all the air in her lungs had been instantly drawn out by him, her mind hazy.
Ling Qianhe reached out and gently stroked her stray hairs, saying.
"You go to work."
"I need to go see Franklin."
Franklin?
The name instantly made Lin Moci alert.
"You know where he is?"
Ling Qianhe hummed. His fingertips still casually played with the stray hairs on Lin Moci's forehead, and then Lin Moci heard him say.
"I know where Franklin is."
"He has a very secretive studio."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment, a profound, inscrutable smile spread across his lips.
His fingertips caressed her cheek. Because his expression was so captivating, Lin Moci even felt a moment of daze. Then Ling Qianhe leaned close to her ear and said.
"Xiao Ci, if this world were to end— would you be sad?"
Lin Moci gasped.
No.
Hadn't this yandere (病娇 - bìngjiāo - term for a character who is sickly and obsessive, often with a dark side) gone mad again?
But Lin Moci had clearly misjudged Ling Qianhe's intentions. He was just teasing her. He leaned closer to her ear, then whispered.
"However, I won't let this world end."
"If this world ends— Xiao Ci would have to leave."
"I want you here with me, for all eternity, never leaving."
After saying that, he stood up and looked at Lin Moci meaningfully.
He said.
"You know, many scripts have come my way. Now that the Ling family matters are resolved, after I have a good talk with Franklin, I will choose a script that is very suitable for us."
Lin Moci stared at him, her eyes wide.
"Didn't we already film 'Desperate Woman'!"
"Haven't we collaborated enough?"
"The audience will get tired of seeing us!"
Ling Qianhe raised an eyebrow.
"So, Xiao Ci, you mean you're unwilling?"
"Are you tired of me?"
"You want to find another man?"
He raised an eyebrow, his exquisite and captivating eyes fixed on Lin Moci's. Being looked at like that by him, Lin Moci instantly wilted. She stammered for a long time, then blinked, her voice soft.
"It's not being tired of you..."
"It's just, there needs to be some novelty."
"Isn't it more exciting to try someone new?"
She was testing the waters on the edge of danger again— Ling Qianhe's smile became even more inscrutable. His lips curved slightly upward, matching his eyes, truly making one feel lost in the darkness, as if stars were shining together, the radiance of the sun and moon paling in comparison to his gaze.
He said.
"Try someone else? You'd find that exciting?"
"Xiao Ci."
"That's your true feeling, isn't it."
"What you said before was just to complete the task. All that eagerness to marry me, or those provocative words about wanting to spend our wedding night together, were just casual talk."
"Your true feelings."
His eyelashes fluttered gently, like dense fans, and then he composed himself, continuing.
"In your heart, you feel that I'm pressuring you too much, that you have no freedom, that being with me is boring."
"You wish you could find someone else, so it would be more interesting, more thrilling, more fun, right?"
He looked at Lin Moci with raised eyebrows.
Lin Moci panicked under his interrogation.
Ah, ah, ah— absolutely cannot let this yandere misunderstand.
Seeing his eyelashes tremble as he was about to turn away, Lin Moci, without a second thought, rushed forward and threw her arms around Ling Qianhe!
"Don't—!"
"That's not what I meant— I'm happy to collaborate with you— but acting isn't reality, is it? It's understandable that people want to see fresh pairings..."
She was racking her brain for an explanation.
Ling Qianhe, however, continued to look into her eyes.
Then he asked her.
"Which 'people'?"
Lin Moci: "..."
How could she know which 'people'? The audience— the audience comprised many people.
She was flustered, her gaze wavering, and Ling Qianhe said.
"Every movie, every character is different. Or do you think I can't portray the differences?"
"Is the official pairing not sweet enough, not C++ (磕 - kē - slang for shipping characters) worthy, or is my acting so poor that I become myself in every role, making it impossible for the audience to get invested?"
Lin Moci: "..."
This man was just being unreasonable, he wasn't making sense!
But Ling Qianhe stared intently at her features, his smile slowly spreading. He leaned close to her cheek and kissed her.
"If it's you, Xiao Ci, acting for a lifetime, I can do that too."