Chapter 34: A Gentleman Prefers Words Over Fists

Guan Tingna had left. Xu Ming had seen her off personally, leaving behind nothing but a full pot of turtle soup.

The former had originally intended to stay the night, but the latter had firmly refused, citing the urgency of the shoot. Places others yearned for, he had long been able to come and go from as he pleased; it was better to pause for a while and wait until he felt a sense of freshness before returning.

The crew continued filming as usual. In fact, due to the way Xu Ming had spurred Song Jia on, efficiency had increased significantly. Over the next few days, the young actors in the cast grew familiar with one another. Guo Jingfei also joined in, forming a small group of four that would chat about industry gossip whenever they were free. Song Jia only participated occasionally when Xu Ming was not around.

Midway through, Li Nian finished her scenes and left the crew, reducing the group to three until Tang Yan’s scenes were also completed. That evening, Xu Ming hosted a dinner, inviting the actors from the crew to see Tang Yan off.

"Don't any of you argue with me. Tonight, just consider it a chance to bleed a rich man dry. Just relax and enjoy yourselves," Xu Ming said with a smile.

"Don't worry, we won't be polite at all," Guo Jingfei laughed.

Even if they didn't know the exact extent of Xu Ming's income, they had a rough idea from the news. A single commercial appearance earned him around 600,000 yuan. With property prices in Beijing’s Chaoyang District at 21,000 per square meter, one appearance was enough to buy a large master bedroom. Once they realized this, they couldn't even bring themselves to be jealous; the gap was simply too vast.

"Let me pay," Tang Yan suggested.

"Hey, we're seeing you off today; there’s no reason for you to be picking up the tab." Xu Ming waved his hand and asked, "Does your agency have any schedule lined up for you when you get back?"

"I have to attend some promotional events. I have a TV series airing on Beijing TV this month," Tang Yan said, looking a bit embarrassed. The man opposite her had already starred as the lead in a film, while she was still struggling in the world of television dramas.

"You're doing better than me. As soon as I finish this, I have to go back to doing stage plays. Hardly any film crews want me, even for bit parts," Guo Jingfei said helplessly.

He had real acting talent. After graduating from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, he went straight into the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, landing lead roles immediately. The problem was that the market changed too quickly; actors' salaries were rising, and so were property prices in Shanghai. Since his graduation in 2004, the average price of commercial housing in Shanghai had jumped from 6,000 to 16,000 yuan per square meter, meaning a 100-square-meter apartment cost a million more than it used to. His brother-in-law, Lu Yi, was raking in money, but he, a stage actor, was earning less than his wife. He had only landed an audition for this film because his wife, Bao Li, had recommended him. She had previously appeared in *Danger 24 Hours*, directed by Teng Huatao.

"With your ability, getting roles shouldn't be hard. The problem is that acting as a lone wolf is a disadvantage; you need to sign with an agency for support." Xu Ming didn't offer to represent him himself—his company hadn't invested in or produced a single project yet, and besides pure newcomers, it would be hard to attract anyone else. He was just planting a seed in the other man’s mind; you never knew when it might sprout.

The group chatted and drank. It was unclear whether it was because Tang Yan had a low tolerance for alcohol or because the beer was particularly strong, but she had definitely had too much. Seeing this, Guo Jingfei and the others made excuses and took their leave, showing their tact. Xu Ming’s intentions were an open secret within the crew; they knew they were just there to keep the atmosphere going, and once the food and drinks were finished, it was time to exit.

Xu Ming sat down beside Tang Yan without hesitation and draped his arm around her shoulders. "You've had too much to drink, Tangtang. Let me take you back to the hotel."

"I... I haven't had too much," Tang Yan leaned against his shoulder, her voice thick with tears. "Don't you think I'm good enough? Why did they have to replace my role? My promotional photos had already been taken and released."

For an actor, this was undoubtedly a massive blow, enough to make one doubt oneself. Furthermore, although the role of Zi Xuan was good, it was only the third lead—it couldn't compare to the weight of the female lead. Strictly speaking, in terms of screen time, Zi Xuan wasn't even the protagonist; she was more of a major supporting character.

"Who said that? You’re not lacking in any way; the director is just blind," Xu Ming said, gently stroking her back to soothe her. He was the type of man who would tell you that 1+1=10 if that was what you wanted to hear. But if someone were to praise him as a "good man," it would sound like an insult to his ears. Honestly, he also thought Yang Mi was a better fit for the role of Tang Xuejian, but if he said that out loud now, he’d be a complete fool.

"Really?" Tang Yan looked up at Xu Ming, her eyes red.

"Of course. Don't you think you're unique? You have a temperament that no other actress has. I believe that sooner or later, everyone will see that shining side of you." Xu Ming looked into her eyes, speaking with apparent sincerity. "Besides, has anyone ever told you that your eyes are beautiful?" Although, in truth, he preferred Tang Yan’s long legs.

"I... I'm feeling a bit hot. Let's go outside for some air." Tang Yan felt her cheeks burning under Xu Ming’s bold gaze and tried to stand up in a panic.

"Whoops!" Having lost her footing, she fell back toward Xu Ming. It was, of course, the work of Xu Ming’s hand, which had given her a subtle tug.

Seeing this, he immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Before she could react, he buried his face in her neck. Seizing the momentum of the moment, he knew that if he wanted to break the barrier of physical contact, he had to strike while the iron was hot. Tang Yan struggled for a moment, hitting him with her soft, weak hands, but gradually, her arms came to rest on the back of his head.

*Slurp, slurp~*

Xu Ming poured every ounce of his kissing technique into that moment.

"Mmph~"

It wasn't until Tang Yan was struggling for breath that they finally pulled apart.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself," Xu Ming said apologetically. "Don't worry, I won't do anything else."

"You..." Tang Yan’s face was as red as blood. She looked down and said, "Can you take your hand out from inside my clothes before you tell me that?"

"Oh, it's a habit. Maybe it's cold out." Xu Ming pulled his hand back without changing his expression, though he didn't forget a final, light squeeze. Tang Yan bit her lip. Remembering the day they first met, she suddenly had a realization—could it be that from that very moment...

"Let's go. I'll take you back to the hotel. I promise I won't touch you," Xu Ming swore. He only touched the Dior.

"That's what you said," Tang Yan replied, though it was unclear whether she believed him or not. Regardless, she agreed.

Xu Ming drove her to the hotel like a gentleman, but things changed as soon as they entered the elevator. The private, confined space gave the two, whose alcohol buzz hadn't yet faded, a sense of feverish agitation. Tang Yan glanced cautiously to the side and saw Xu Ming staring at her with burning eyes. That flame seemed capable of consuming her entirely.

"Mmph~"

"You didn't keep your word."

"A gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands, right?"

Listening to Xu Ming’s sophistry, Tang Yan gave him a few weak slaps, and then, she responded in kind.