Chapter 37.2

　　Jing Xi’s lips curled into a brief smile as he closed the chat, deciding to ignore the future film emperor from that point on.

　　They wasted no time lingering in the evening air before hopping into a car bound for a cozy little apartment. Inside, the AI worked its magic, keeping everything pristine and perfectly organized.

　　Duan Chi’s eyes swept across the apartment, eagerly taking in every detail. It consisted of two bedrooms, a living room, and a study, yet it contained only one bed.

　　He was very pleased with the layout and proceeded to uncork a newly purchased bottle of red wine. Pouring two glasses, he and Jing Xi cozied up on the sofa to watch a movie before getting ready for rest.

　　Nestling snugly in bed, Jing Xi instructed, “Keep a close eye on him. Let’s see if he makes any attempts to drug me.”
　　System responded incredulously, “What? You suspect him of trying to drug you, and yet you are still willing to sleep with him?”
　　Jing Xi asserted, “Just do as instructed.”
　　System simply replied, “Oh.”

　　The memory of the previous incident weighed heavily on Jing Xi’s mind, shrouding him in a veil of unease. He reckoned sleep would elude him, leaving him restless in the quiet hours of the night.

　　To his utter amazement, the moment he flicked off the light switch, he found himself effortlessly drifting into a deep sleep.

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　　He questioned, “Is it because something happened in the past?”

　　Department Head’s smile deepened, radiating an even more enchanting charm. “Yeah, something did happen, but it’s classified information that’s only accessible to positions above that of a Divine Lord. With your current rank, you are only a few missions away from becoming a Divine Lord, so won’t you consider it?”

　　Jing Xi shot another glance at him before turning around and walking away.

　　Without delay, he accepted a new mission and spent three uninterrupted years in that world without ever coming across that string of data. He harbored suspicions that Department Head had intervened and resolved the situation. Upon reconsideration, he reasoned that if Department Head had truly intervened, he would have been informed ahead of time.

　　‘Could it be that he had grown weary and had finally given up?’

　　A faint hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he thought to himself, ‘This is for the best. It’s better than wasting time on him.’

　　Just then, a faint rustling sound emanated from the treetop above him. He instinctively looked up, only to witness a pitch-black bundle landing right into the cradle of his arms.

　　It was a creature of petite stature that bore a striking resemblance to a leopard, but what truly caught the eye were the wings unfurled on its back.

　　The little creature riveted its eyes on him for a moment and emitted a baby-like cry before affectionately nuzzling its head against his chin.

　　In an instant, Jing Xi was roused from sleep by a fluffy bundle rubbing against him.

　　Blinking awake, he discovered a tail wound around his waist and a pair of ears nestled in the nape of his neck.

　　System relayed its findings. “After a thorough inspection, no drugs were detected.”
　　As Jing Xi stirred from his slumber, Duan Chi pulled him into his arms, a hint of reluctance in his touch. Even so, he still noted, “You’re running late, My Darling.”

　　Upon hearing that, Jing Xi sunk into silence.

　　Nuzzling into the crook of his neck once more, Duan Chi wondered in a voice brimming with satisfaction. “Not planning to get up?”

　　Jing Xi snapped back to reality and gently tapped his shoulder, gesturing for him to step aside. It was only then did he rise from bed and begin to prepare for the day.

　　At the end of a satisfying breakfast together, Jing Xi walked him to the door and offered a warm goodbye. After switching back to the rabbit’s body, he made his way to the film set.

　　As luck would have it, Hu Xiao had no scenes to shoot at that moment. Noticing Jing Xi’s arrival, his curiosity got the better of him and he pondered, “What important matters did you discuss with him?”
　　Jing Xi teased, “It’s a secret.”
　　With a nonchalant shrug, Hu Xiao brushed off the urge to delve deeper into questioning.

　　As time passed, life gradually fell into a rhythm.

　　With no one causing mischief on the set, Hu Xiao and Jing Xi wholeheartedly focused on their tasks. While one dedicatedly brought his character to life, the other tirelessly supported him as his trusted assistant.

　　Shuang Yeliang continued to work on building a favorable impression, tactfully refraining from confessing his emotions or appearing overly zealous. Consequently, Jing Xi felt compelled to maintain a cold demeanor in response.

　　Deciding not to disrupt Jing Xi’s work, Duan Chi opted to stay off the film set.

　　Serendipitously, he discovered that Shuang Yeliang was not a Silver Fort artiste, but rather, one that was signed to his friend’s company. With this revelation, he casually mentioned the artiste at a dinner gathering. “Keep him busy with more assignments, and don’t let him sit idle.”

　　Catching them off guard, the friend inquired, “Why?”

　　In response, Duan Chi calmly brought up the topic of the superficial couple, subtly hinting at his acquaintance with Qin Zhao. As such, he endeavored to prevent Shuang Yeliang from constantly hanging around Hu Xiao at Qin Zhao’s behest.

　　Inquisitively, the friend probed, “Is he trying to steal Hu Xiao from Qin Zhao?”
　　Duan Chi explained, “Nah, Qin Zhao’s just jealous.”
　　The friend quickly grasped the situation and replied enthusiastically, “Sure, leave it to me. Don’t worry.”

　　Unbeknownst to Shuang Yeliang, a great catastrophe was about to befall him.

　　The long-awaited day arrived when Fox Xiao wrapped up filming, and the production crew spared no expense in celebrating with a delightful display of colorful flowers, delectable cakes, and bottles of exquisite champagne. Shuang Yeliang and the rabbit raised their glasses, the clink echoing through the air. “I’ll invite everyone to dinner once I’ve wrapped up filming.”

　　Jing Xi chuckled, “Sure thing.”
　　He added inwardly, ‘If I’m available.’

　　Since he was not fond of keeping tabs on Duan Chi, he remained oblivious to the subtle moves taking place on Duan Chi’s end. His plan was simply to bide his time and wait for Shuangye Liang to reach out to them. Even if he were available, he intended to say he was not.

　　Little did they expect that the moment they stepped into the office, they were met with an unexpected surprise — the manager had already arranged for Hu Xiao to appear on a variety show.

　　“It’s a travel-adventure variety show that was newly released this year. The production crew has done a remarkable job, and I am quite optimistic about it,” the manager shared. “The show allows you to bring a companion, and if you don’t have anyone in mind, I can make arrangements for you.”

　　As Hu Xiao flipped through the papers, a thought came to his mind. “Can I bring an ordinary person?” 

　　The manager queried, “Are you thinking of bringing your husband along?”
　　He cautioned, “I suggest you proceed with caution. You’ve recently gained some fans, and they’re mostly fans of your appearance. So, it’s best not to reveal your romantic relationship.”

　　Hu Xiao simply stated, “I know.”

　　Noticing the manager occupied with other tasks, he sidled up to his second uncle and whispered, “Would you like to come along? With our duo, we’re bound to get some spectacular moments on screen, don’t you agree?”

　　Jing Xi commented, “There won’t be loads at the beginning, though.”

　　‘After all, with one newcomer and one ordinary folk, what kind of appeal could we possibly have?’

　　Moreover, his reluctance to participate stemmed from this being only the second storyline. The character afflicted with a terminal illness was meant to take center stage exclusively in the current storyline, while Yi Zhou and the rabbit were available for use in other storylines.

　　Since Yi Zhou was already a renowned figure, he preferred the rabbit to maintain a discreet presence and refrain from drawing undue attention.

　　After a brief moment of contemplation, he proposed, “I’ll arrange for a well-known figure to join you. That way, you’ll have more screen time.”

　　With each extra moment on screen, Hu Xiao’s potential for stardom grew exponentially. Each stellar performance could be his ticket to fame, opening doors to countless job opportunities and paving his way to becoming a film emperor.

　　Hu Xiao questioned, “A celebrity?”
　　Jing Xi answered, “No, an ordinary person.”
　　Hu Xiao looked apprehensive as he voiced his doubts. “You’re not seriously considering inviting CEO Duan, are you? I’m not sure I’m up to the task of dealing with someone of his stature.”
　　Jing Xi raised his eyebrows and chuckled, “No, the other one.”

　　In the mere flutter of his lashes, Hu Xiao grasped the meaning behind Jing Xi’s words.

　　Utterly shocked, he was unable to hold back an expletive. “What the f*ck!? You actually want Yi Zhou and I to participate in a variety show together?”