Jiang Mian’s heart pounded. Superstar Song seemed unusually approachable.
Before she could overthink it, Song Xingjia stopped as if on cue. He took two more milk teas and walked over to give them to the director.
She withdrew her gaze, feeling she was overthinking things.
It was just his usual manner with everyone.
Remembering the autograph photo her roommate had asked her to get after learning she'd be acting with the superstar, Jiang Mian hesitated for a moment before deciding to ask him after filming wrapped up for the day.
For convenience, Director Wang had booked everyone into the same hotel. Jiang Mian and Song Xingjia’s rooms were on the same floor.
That evening, Jiang Mian, armed with the autograph photos, knocked on his door.
A moment later, someone opened it. Song Xingjia, dressed in a white bathrobe, his hair slightly damp, his peach-blossom eyes alluringly misty, exuded flawless handsomeness from every angle. Seeing Jiang Mian at the door, they both froze.
"Wait a moment, I'll change," he said quickly, and closed the door.
Jiang Mian stood at the door, gently pressing her palm to her cheek. It was burning.
Good heavens, she had seen the superstar’s upper body.
This was too coincidental.
Five minutes later, Song Xingjia opened the door again. "Please come in. You weren't waiting long, were you? I apologize."
Jiang Mian shook her head and walked in.
The layout and furnishings of Song Xingjia's room were no different from hers. However, it was filled with personal belongings, making it look like he lived there.
The script and a notebook lay on the coffee table, along with a private model, clearly expensive at first glance.
Jiang Mian took a brief look, then withdrew her gaze and stated her purpose: "My roommates are all fans of Superstar Song. Could I ask you to sign a few autographs?"
Song Xingjia sat on the sofa and leisurely poured her a glass of water. "Have some water first."
Jiang Mian hesitated for a second before taking it. "Thank you."
Song Xingjia caught her movement, a hint of a smile in his eyes. He then propped his head on his hand. "Autographs are no problem, of course, but just signatures aren't enough, are they? I'll give them a few albums too."
Jiang Mian pursed her lips. Song Xingjia sang beautifully, and he sang the OSTs for many of his dramas.
He just sang much less frequently later on, making them highly commemorative and collectible.
"Won't they be too precious?"
Song Xingjia chuckled. "For my little fans who like me, they'll feel well worth it."
Thinking of how ecstatic her roommates would be to receive this gift, Jiang Mian had no reason to refuse. The corners of her eyes curved into a pair of charming, adorable peach-blossom eyes, just like his. "Thank you, Superstar Song. You're so kind."
"As long as you're happy," he said naturally.
Jiang Mian handed him the autograph photos. "I've already prepared the pens for you."
Song Xingjia took them and couldn't help but smile knowingly. "It seems your roommates truly love me. These are photos from when I first debuted; it's amazing you still have them."
Hearing this, Jiang Mian’s eyes sparkled. "Superstar Song, everyone in my dorm is your fan."
Song Xingjia’s pen moved with practiced ease. After a few quick signatures, he handed them back to her. "Thank you. One day, you'll be like me."
Jiang Mian clutched the photos tightly. She felt that Superstar Song was always very encouraging. Considering it wasn't ideal for a man and woman to be alone in a room for too long, she stood up after receiving the photos. "Thank you for the autographs, Superstar Song. I'll be going now?"
"Wait, there are the albums too," Song Xingjia stopped her.
He then walked around the bookshelf in the middle of the room to the back. In a moment, he produced three albums. "Here you go."
"Thank you!"
Back in her room, she spread the items out on the bed and took a picture to send to the dorm group chat.
[Duoduo Flower Blooming Richly]: !!! Superstar Song's autograph photos!
[Beauty Ji]: Did you manage to latch onto the superstar’s leg??
[Susu Wants to Lose Weight]: I bet there's one for me in here.
[Jiang Mian]: Superstar Song gave me albums~
Jiang Mian sent a wavy emoji.
[Beauty Ji]: Can we visit your set? I want to see Superstar Song!
[Jiang Mian]: Director Wang didn't mention anything about visitors, so probably not.
Ji Lanruo was quite disappointed. This was the closest she'd ever been to Song Xingjia.
[Jiang Mian]: I'll bring them back to school for you another day.
[Duoduo Flower Blooming Richly]: Can't wait, my dear, just same-day express delivery it, I'll pay for shipping.
[Susu Wants to Lose Weight]: +1
[Beauty Ji]: Look at your greedy faces, but I want one too.
Jiang Mian chuckled. [Alright, I'll mail them to school for you.]
[Duoduo Flower Blooming Richly]: How was he! Is Song Xingjia easy to get along with? Did you take the opportunity to flirt with him?
[Susu Wants to Lose Weight]: I heard his physique is considered the best in the entertainment industry, perfect proportion with eight-pack abs.
Jiang Mian patted her head, recalling the scene she had just witnessed. It did seem quite good, even if only for a few seconds.
However, she replied with firm conviction: [You old perverts, I'm filming a youth campus drama! A pure romance! Besides, I'm already married!]
[Beauty Ji]: Let go of that superstar, let me have him.
[Jiang Mian]: I'll give you Superstar Song's WeChat, dare you to add him?
[Beauty Ji]: …
She wouldn't dare. She was just saying it for fun.
[Beauty Ji]: You actually have Song Xingjia’s WeChat! Quickly, see what he posts on his Moments!
Jiang Mian quietly opened Song Xingjia's Moments. Come to think of it, it was Song Xingjia who had suggested they exchange WeChat details. She had been too shy to ask, but Song Xingjia had said it would be more convenient to add each other.
And so, Jiang Mian had added Song Xingjia on WeChat.
Their conversation was still at the verification message stage.
Song Xingjia's Moments were very simple, only three posts: one announcing a number change.
Another stating he had returned to Port City.
And a third shared a Port City news article.
Jiang Mian took a screenshot and sent it to the group chat to satisfy Ji Lanruo's curiosity.
Ji Lanruo pouted in disappointment after looking. [Old men are so boring.]
[Susu Wants to Lose Weight]: Could there be a possibility that Superstar Song simply doesn't post on Moments?
[Duoduo Flower Blooming Richly]: My grandmother, who's seventy, still posts on Moments.
[Ji Lanruo]: Admit it, Superstar Song is naturally aloof. Not only is he too lazy to be active on Weibo, but he's also too lazy to post on Moments. This kind of person probably only lives to please himself. I just don't know if he's emotionally cold or not.
Jiang Mian almost spat out her water.
She couldn't participate in this topic. After all, she was facing Song Xingjia every day, and she was afraid of her thoughts wandering and leading to overthinking one day.
She exited the chat group, opened her script, and started memorizing tomorrow's lines.
She then remembered she hadn't asked Ji Zhixiu if he had applied his medication on time. Dropping the script, she dialed Ji Zhixiu's number.
The call was answered quickly. "Mianmian."
Jiang Mian propped herself up on the bed, gripping a corner of the pillow, a smile unconsciously curling on her lips. "Inspection time. Did you apply your medication today!"
Ji Zhixiu leaned back comfortably in his office chair. "I did."
He remembered and diligently followed everything she said.
"That's good. Did you eat Aunt Song's cooking on time?"
Before she left, she had given Aunt Song a list of light meals, instructing her to prepare them for Ji Zhixiu three times a day to aid his recovery.
"Yes."
Jiang Mian didn't ask any more questions. Having received satisfactory answers, she prepared to hang up.
"Wait," Ji Zhixiu called her.
"Also, I miss you very much."
Jiang Mian hung up with a blush and reopened her script.
…
The days passed by at a steady pace, with paparazzi frequently staking out the set.
Sometimes, when Director Wang was in a good mood, he would chat with them, but if it came to any spoilers about the movie, he would firmly refuse to discuss it.
Having gotten acquainted, many paparazzi developed a good impression of Jiang Mian.
It was because this young girl appeared on screen so often. Director Wang would praise her as quick-witted and exceptionally talented, and Song Xingjia would also mention her from time to time, praising their great chemistry.
As a result, all of Song Xingjia's fans knew that he was very satisfied with his co-star, Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian's fans were also very satisfied.
Fans from both sides reached an unprecedented consensus. The CP fans were exceptionally harmonious, united in anti-hating, mutual promotion, and ranking support.
Superstar Song had partnered with countless actresses; Jiang Mian was definitely not the one with the strongest CP chemistry. But she was absolutely the one most frequently mentioned by Song Xingjia off-screen.
Furthermore, with Sister Ning’s subtle encouragement, Jiang Mian maintained a lukewarm level of popularity.
The latter half of the movie required filming in Hainan. Director Wang decided to give the entire crew a two-day break to go back and pack their belongings.
So, the next time Jiang Mian saw Ji Zhixiu, the wound on his forehead had completely healed. There wasn't the slightest trace of it.
Having not seen the young girl for about ten days, Ji Zhixiu missed her dearly. Xiaoyugan lay on his lap, looking lazy.
Jiang Mian reached out and stroked him. "Is he… not recognizing me? You ungrateful thing, how can you forget me after only a short while?"
"Meow~"
Ji Zhixiu replied while looking at his computer, "He's just like this, too lazy to move. But when you weren't home, he loved sneaking into your walk-in closet the most."
Jiang Mian playfully ruffled Xiaoyugan's head in feigned anger. "Naughty boy."
Xiaoyugan played dead, letting her do as she pleased.
"Where are you going this time?"
"Hainan," Jiang Mian replied.
Ji Zhixiu’s gaze shifted from the computer screen to her face. "Would it be convenient for you to arrive a day later?"
Jiang Mian tilted her head. "Is there something going on?"
"There's a gala, and I'd like you to be my companion."
Ji Zhixiu had never brought a companion to public events before, but he had suddenly changed his mind, feeling that bringing Jiang Mian out wouldn't be so bad.
It was only natural.
Jiang Mian naturally wouldn't refuse. "Then I'll have to inform Director Wang."
She called Director Wang. He didn't say much, only reminding her that if she came on her own, her airfare wouldn't be reimbursed. Jiang Mian smiled.
Perhaps it was because Director Wang had mentioned it, but Song Xingjia even sent Jiang Mian a message.
[Heard from Director Wang that you'll be arriving a day later, is something going on?]
Jiang Mian: [A bit of personal business.]
The other party understood and didn't ask any further questions.
Song Xingjia gave Jiang Mian a peculiar feeling; he was always so considerate and polite, maintaining just the right distance.