Chapter 121: Lin Xiaowen Abducted

Lin Xiaowen had completely integrated into Cheng Yishu’s daily work routine, and Su Nian was kept busy as well!
Logistics handled by Lin Xiaowen, chauffeur duties by Su Nian!

Though Su Nian complained about not getting paid and having to be on call every day, feeling a bit wronged this time, she still picked up the lovingly prepared lunch box Lin Xiaowen had just made and headed to the set to deliver the meal to that person.

As she started the car, a fleeting white figure caught the corner of Su Nian’s eye in the parking lot. Suddenly, she felt something was off, but on closer inspection, the figure had vanished without a trace.

“Maybe I was just seeing things,” she thought.

Starting the engine, an inexplicable feeling crept into her heart. The air was oppressively humid after the rain, yet despite the air conditioning running inside the car, Su Nian felt an unusual tightness in her chest.

“Hey! Xiaowen!”

After much hesitation, Su Nian decided to call Lin Xiaowen.

“Hm? What’s up? Did you forget something?” Lin Xiaowen’s voice came from the other end, calm and usual.

“Nothing, it’s just... I’ll be quick. Don’t wander around alone, okay?” Su Nian breathed a sigh of relief hearing the familiar tone and warned gently.

“Oh, I thought something happened,” Lin Xiaowen chuckled. “I’m already on my way to that supermarket. Haven’t picked up dinner yet, so I’m going to check it out… By the way, do you need me to get anything for you?”

Su Nian’s heart sank; the ominous feeling deepened. “Which supermarket?”

Her voice was so serious that Lin Xiaowen paused slightly before answering, “The one we went to last night.”

Since An An left and Chen Kai gradually accepted Lin Xiaowen, Lin Xiaowen and Su Nian had moved into the hotel where Cheng Yishu stayed. Su Nian occupied An An’s former room, right next to Cheng Yishu’s, while Lin Xiaowen naturally shared a room with Cheng Yishu himself.

Cheng Yishu had even cheekily shown off to Su Nian, saying, “Now I understand why there’s a saying ‘The emperor no longer attends court’…”

But Su Nian, pretending not to hear, just replied coolly, “If you’re capable, why not ‘Play the beacon fire to fool the lords, just to win a beauty’s smile’…”

“Listen, come back right now.”

Su Nian’s voice trembled slightly with tension as she continued, “If you need anything, wait for me. I’ll go with you to buy it!”

Sensing Su Nian’s anxiety, Lin Xiaowen became cautious too, softly asking, “What’s wrong?”

Su Nian didn’t want Lin Xiaowen to worry unnecessarily and hoped her premonition was wrong. She pressed the accelerator, eager to complete the task quickly, while pretending to soothe her companion, “It’s nothing, just that you’re not familiar with the area here. I’m afraid you’ll get lost!”

“Oh, I thought…”

Lin Xiaowen relaxed and smiled, “I remember the way, don’t worry, I won’t get lost!”

“Be good. I’m almost at the set. You go back to the hotel now, wait for me to come get you…”

Su Nian continued to coax her softly.

Suddenly, a sharp ‘snap’ sound of the phone dropping to the ground reached Su Nian’s ears.

Her breath caught, she listened intently, hearing hurried footsteps faintly through the phone.

“Xiaowen…”

Su Nian called out anxiously several times, but only silence answered her.

Forcing herself to stay calm, she parked the car by the roadside. Just as she was about to speak again, a shattering sound came from the other end of the phone…

Although the two male leads of the “Ninefold Fire” crew were working together for the first time, they got along extremely well. They often dined together and discussed acting skills and plot details.

Cheng Yishu had boldly promised to treat the film emperor Lin Liyang to lunch—an act of kindness!

So when the director called for a break, Cheng Yishu immediately led Lin Liyang into his resting car, waiting for the diligent little bee—Su Nian—to bring the food over.

Lin Liyang had been in the industry for many years, a late bloomer who had won multiple Best Actor awards, naturally becoming Cheng Yishu’s senior.

“Teacher Lin, do you think I should have let my emotions go a bit more in that last scene? More intense? After all, seeing your brother die right before your eyes, if the emotions are restrained, it might lack impact,” Cheng Yishu frowned as they sat at the table.

“That was fine, you did well. Don’t be nervous. Director Chen said your emotions were spot on!”

Lin Liyang was strikingly handsome, with thick brows and large eyes, his bronze skin adding to his soldier-like image. A slight smile revealed a row of neat, white teeth, and the crow’s feet around his eyes, though prominent, didn’t diminish his radiant charm.

Cheng Yishu exhaled and leaned back, “I’m just worried the director might be too lazy to critique and settle for ‘good enough,’ or might cut some parts.”

“You’re just too nervous. Relax!” Lin Liyang laughed. “Besides, Director Chen Dan is famously strict. ‘Good enough’ isn’t in his vocabulary. Newcomers working with him are afraid he’ll scold them in front of the whole crew. Look at you!”

“Heh…”

Cheng Yishu licked his lips sheepishly. “I’m just eager to learn from the director and from Senior Lin, so I’m a little anxious.”

Lin Liyang paused, then joked, “Though I’m older than you, I don’t want to be called ‘old’… Just call me Brother Yang!”

The phrase ‘Senior Lin’ seemed to make Lin Liyang uneasy, reminding him of that guy Mao Shuyu.

“Alright, Brother Yang!”

Cheng Yishu’s usually rare hearty voice rang out, perhaps lifted by the joyful occasion.

“By the way, last time you asked me how to cheer up a girl without being by her side…” Lin Liyang smiled and continued,

“What? Want to cheer up your girlfriend?”

Caught off guard by the teasing, Cheng Yishu blushed. “Ah, I was just asking. Actually, well…”

“Oh wow, you’re shy now?”

Lin Liyang laughed heartily. “I’ve known you so long, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you awkward about anything!”

“No, really!”

To hide his embarrassment, Cheng Yishu grabbed a water bottle and gulped down several mouthfuls.

“No need to be embarrassed. You’re young. Besides, I think that girl An An seems nice, though we haven’t worked together yet…” Lin Liyang began analyzing seriously.

“Pfft…”

Suddenly, Cheng Yishu spat water far and coughed.

“No way!”

Lin Liyang laughed and leaned back, “I just mentioned her name and you reacted like that! Don’t worry, I won’t gossip about it!”

“No, no…”

Cheng Yishu hurriedly waved his hands. “Cough, cough… An An and I just have a professional relationship, nothing else! You know, professional!”

He gestured meaningfully, and Lin Liyang understood perfectly.

Sighing slightly, Lin Liyang continued, “Well... you young stars have it all—good resources, high popularity, great commercial appeal—but at the same time, so many things are beyond your control!”