With Jiang Yue returning to the crew utterly shameless, Lin Zixi’s daily life gradually became more eventful.
Originally content to trail after Ye Can like a little assistant, Lin Zixi slowly turned into Jiang Yue’s favorite pastime after her fake breakup. And once Jiang Yue arrived, Meng Zhiqiu no longer needed to avoid suspicion either. So whenever Ye Can had solo scenes, the three of them would huddle off to the side, watching her act while playing Fight the Landlord.
Of course, as the lead actress, Meng Zhiqiu had a heavy load of scenes. Usually, after wrapping the ones with Ye Can, she’d spend the next few days shooting with the supporting cast.
The Dongshan production’s contracts were ironclad—no leaves unless it was urgent. On days without her own scenes, Jiang Yue would drag Lin Zixi and Ye Can into a game of Fight the Landlord. If other actors were around to make up the numbers, they’d switch to mahjong.
But Ye Can’s card skills were downright abysmal; she lost constantly. Loser had to treat the entire crew to watermelon. With Ye Can losing every day, Ye Shen simply arranged a dedicated fruit delivery truck for the Dongshan Crew, stationed there permanently.
During this time, Ye Shen even swung by the set for a visit when she had a free moment.
Dongshan’s promo had already drawn massive attention thanks to its star-studded cast. The first teaser trailer was so high-quality that it pulled in a wave of fans. Once media caught wind that Meng Zhiqiu and Jiang Yue were on the same crew, they pulled every string to infiltrate for scoops.
But Guan Shengkai kept the set locked down tight. Despite filming for so long, no paparazzi had breached the perimeter.
Ye Shen’s visit hit the entertainment reporters’ G-spot, sending them into a frenzy. Soon after she left, the internet exploded with gossip about her, Jiang Yue, and Meng Zhiqiu.
【J-Surname Star’s Sugar Mommy Lightly Brushes Off Shadow Queen; the Two Clash on Set】
Clicking the headline revealed blurry on-set photos paired with a wildly distorted article.
Jiang Yue had no scenes that day, so she was helping the props team set up while scrolling her phone for her own gossip. Bursting into laughter, she called out to Lin Zixi, “Hahaha, Teacher Lin, check this out—look at this!”
She scooted over to Lin Zixi, sharing the screen as she tapped into the post and read dramatically: “Let me spill the tea on JY and her new sugar mommy…”
“Earliest sighting of JY’s sugar mommy was around December last year, during Limbo Inn Season 2 filming. The mommy pulled up to set in her car… Three days later, the car rolled back to the mommy’s pad…”
Jiang Yue pointed at the photo in the post, cracking up nonstop. “Ahahaha… ‘Sugar mommy’? This mismatched nonsense is hilarious.”
Lin Zixi peered closely before asking, “Is that the car Ye Can drove onto set back then?”
Jiang Yue nodded. “Yup, what else could it be?”
They kept scrolling together, uncovering the poster’s “evidence” for why Ye Shen was Jiang Yue’s new sugar mommy.
For instance, during the toughest stretch for Jiang Yue’s studio, Guangcan had invested in her projects. Then with Limbo Inn, Guangcan shelled out fifty million for her. And they’d even attended the premiere together—talk about pampering.
Jiang Yue lost it at the “pampering” bit. “‘Pampering’? With Ye Shen’s poker face? Yeah, she pampers alright—her baby sister!”
Lin Zixi sighed helplessly. “You really treat gossip about yourself like comedy gold. What a big heart.”
Jiang Yue shot her a flirtatious glance. “Darling, if I didn’t have a big heart, how could I stir up storms in this industry? Anyway, we’re just killing time—chat away.”
She scrolled further and spotted a contrarian take.
【JY’s sugar mommy? Nah, that’s the Shadow Queen’s girlfriend.】
【Spill it!】
【Tell us!】
【Grab popcorn, spectating.】
【Last January, didn’t the Shadow Queen snag that massive endorsement deal and jet to Iceland for the pricey shoot? Bigwig move. And the movie the bigwig checked out? Shadow Queen’s summer blockbuster. JY was just a smokescreen.】
【By that logic, the bigwig’s JY’s boss.】
Everyone in the industry knew about Meng Zhiqiu’s huge endorsement gig, but Zhenzhi always went over-the-top like that—no surprise there.
This speculation felt eerily plausible. Eating your own drama then biting into a colleague’s? Deliciously sour.
Jiang Yue handed the phone to Lin Zixi, eyes crinkled in mirth. “Check this—hilarious. This thread’s full of armchair Sherlock Holmeses.”
Lin Zixi glanced over. “‘Massive endorsement’? That’s the drama they wanted to shoot instead of Calamity Nation, right?”
Jiang Yue nodded. “Probably. Feels too convenient, though.” A vague suspicion nagged at her, but she couldn’t pin it down.
Just then, Meng Zhiqiu—clad in flowing white robes with classical makeup—finally wrapped her morning scenes and headed to the shaded spot. Her voice arrived first: “What are you two gossiping about? Sounds fun—I heard Teacher Jiang laughing from way over there.”
Jiang Yue twisted around, grinning slyly. “Fairy off duty! Come grab some water—you earned it.”
She unscrewed a bottle of Meng Zhiqiu’s usual mineral water and passed it over. Meng Zhiqiu took it with a “thanks.”
She tilted her head back, sipping just a tenth to soothe her sun-parched throat before setting it down and turning to Lin Zixi. “Any new fun from you two teachers? You look like you’re having a blast.”
After two and a half months of closed training plus filming time, Jiang Yue and Meng Zhiqiu were thick as thieves, trading harmless jabs freely.
Hearing this, Jiang Yue waved her phone. “Just reading gossip about us.”
Meng Zhiqiu blinked. “Gossip?”
Jiang Yue grinned. “Yup. Ye Boss visited earlier, and now it’s all scandals of me and her ripping into each other over her.”
Meng Zhiqiu chuckled. “What even is this?”
Jiang Yue shoved the phone at her. “See for yourself.”
Meng Zhiqiu skimmed the screen. “‘Massive endorsement’? You mean the Iceland one?”
“Spot on—Iceland.”
Meng Zhiqiu sat beside Jiang Yue, her gaze drifting to Lin Zixi with a hint of regret. “Speaking of that… such a shame. If not for Iceland, I might’ve worked with Teacher Lin.”
Jiang Yue perked up. “With Teacher Lin? On Calamity Nation? Yeah, total bummer—I was hyped to team up with you too, Teacher Meng.”
Lin Zixi watched their banter. “But you’re on the same crew now—pretty good, right?”
Meng Zhiqiu smiled softly. “Yeah, it is. Working with Teacher Jiang’s been enlightening.”
Jiang Yue waved it off modestly. “Nah, getting pointers from Teacher Meng? That’s the real honor.”
Meng Zhiqiu lobbed it back. “No way—Teacher Jiang’s skills taught me plenty.”
They went back and forth, hyping each other up. Lin Zixi smiled from the sidelines. “Do all you actresses do this humility dance?”
Jiang Yue quipped, “Teacher Meng’s the humble one.”
Meng Zhiqiu shot back, “Teacher Jiang’s the most approachable.”
They locked eyes mid-sentence and dissolved into laughter.
Once the giggles subsided, Jiang Yue circled back to the scandals, eyeing Meng Zhiqiu curiously. “For real though—why’d that endorsement drag you away for a whole month?”
Meng Zhiqiu smiled faintly. “The director was super chill, kept tweaking the plan. We were almost done pre-Iceland, but Director Ye wasn’t thrilled, so she sent the team there.”
Jiang Yue went, “Oh. Director Ye’s a handful.” This could be Ye Shen pulling a diversion tactic to help her sister snag the girl—keep Meng Zhiqiu, Ye Can’s rival back then, out of the picture. Totally her style.
Meng Zhiqiu just smiled noncommittally, clearly harboring some opinions.
She sighed softly, gazing at Lin Zixi. “If only I’d landed Calamity Nation…” Without missing that shot, maybe Ye Can wouldn’t have paired with Lin Zixi. I could’ve confessed sooner, not fallen so far behind.
But half a year on, Meng Zhiqiu felt regret but acceptance. Unrequited feelings fade without reciprocation and with less time together. Now, she could befriend Lin Zixi properly.
Lin Zixi caught the undertone and smiled. “No worries. Hope my next script teams us up.”
Jiang Yue laughed. “Teacher Lin, better step it up—Teacher Meng’s not easy to book.”
Meng Zhiqiu chuckled lightly. “With Teacher Lin’s scripts? I’d come running.”
Jiang Yue winked. “Sweet—next time, we team with Teacher Lin. No Ye Can this round.”
Meng Zhiqiu teased, “Can’t exclude Ye Can— she’s glued to Teacher Lin. Haven’t seen them apart since I joined.”
They ping-ponged teases, leaving Lin Zixi shaking her head in amused exasperation.
The trio chatted merrily, oblivious to Ye Can—who’d just come down from the wire rig—standing not far from their sun umbrella, watching them.
Under the scorching sun, Ye Can gazed at the faint smile on Lin Zixi’s face. For some reason, she couldn’t take a single step forward.
Lin Zixi sensed it and turned toward her. Seeing Ye Can baking in the sun, she waved her over.
This time, Ye Can didn’t rush. She shook her head, staying put and just looking.
Blazing sunlight poured down, splitting their worlds in two. Ye Can stood bathed in summer’s full glare, radiant as if from another realm.
Lin Zixi watched her and smiled. She pulled out her phone, aimed the lens at Ye Can beyond the umbrella’s shade, and captured the moment forever.
