Ye Can sat on the bay window cushion, stewing left and right, still fuming. She stared at Lin Zixi’s back for a good while before puffing out her cheeks and letting out a bark.
“Woof! Woof woof!” Lin Zixi turned at the sound and saw Ye Can sitting on the bay window cushion, baring her teeth at her. Lin Zixi looked at her in utter confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Ye Can deflated a bit, her shoulders slumping as she hung her head. “Nothing. I just wondered if this is the kind of pet you wanted.”
Lin Zixi couldn’t fathom her convoluted thought process; she was momentarily floored by the sheer wildness of it. She sighed softly. “I’m keeping you, not a pet.”
Ye Can muttered, “Doesn’t seem much different to me.”
Lin Zixi didn’t bother arguing. Seeing Ye Can idly perched on the cushion, she urged her on. “It’s getting late. Why don’t you go take a shower and get to bed?”
Ye Can said, “Oh.” She blinked at Lin Zixi and asked blankly, “But I don’t have any clothes. What am I supposed to wear? Can’t exactly sleep in this outfit—it’s all dirty.”
Lin Zixi felt like the number of times she’d held her forehead today could push her hairline back two millimeters higher. She sighed. “If you don’t mind, you can borrow mine for now.”
The clothes she’d ordered for Ye Can wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow. For tonight, Ye Can would have to make do with hers.
Ye Can’s face lit up instantly. “I don’t mind at all. It’s just clothes on my body—as long as it’s not indecent.”
Lin Zixi stood and rummaged through her clothes for Ye Can. She found a sleep dress and some disposable underwear, set them on the bed, and said, “Clothes are ready. Go shower.”
Ye Can hopped down from the bay window in a flash, tossed her phone aside, and dashed to the bathroom. Soon, the sound of rushing water echoed from inside. Lin Zixi sat back at her computer and habitually started typing away at her keyboard.
As she typed, her attention drifted entirely to the water sounds from the bathroom.
In her usually quiet room, this unfamiliar yet oddly familiar noise rang out, making Lin Zixi acutely aware that someone had invaded her personal domain.
The once-empty space now carried another person’s presence—a sensation she hadn’t felt in who knew how long.
Creation was, for the most part, a lonely pursuit. Especially after Lin Zixi’s skills and experience had reached a level where she could hold her own; that solitude had become routine.
As a creator, Lin Zixi quite enjoyed her brand of isolation. But now, with this unfamiliar bustle intruding upon it, she didn’t hate it one bit.
Listening to the water, she gradually refocused and typed out the final scene of this episode’s script.
As she typed, her mind inexplicably flashed to Ye Can barking at her earlier. On a whim, Lin Zixi typed a line into the document: I think… I’ve picked up a crazy little dog…
After typing it, she instinctively glanced toward the bathroom. For some reason, she felt a twinge of guilt and promptly deleted the line word by word.
As she erased the last character, her phone buzzed beside the computer. Lin Zixi glanced at it—Jiang Yue calling—and picked up.
The moment the call connected, Jiang Yue’s anxious voice burst through. “Zixi, you okay lately?”
The two had known each other from their humble beginnings; Jiang Yue was Lin Zixi’s one true friend in the industry. Privately, to tease her, Jiang Yue usually called her “Teacher Lin,” rarely using her full name.
This time, though, Jiang Yue sounded genuinely worried, like something huge had gone down. Perplexed, Lin Zixi replied, “I’m fine. What about you? Did something happen?”
Hearing she was okay, Jiang Yue exhaled in relief and cut straight to it. “The big boss behind Guangcan just called me directly, asking if the crew still needs funding.”
Lin Zixi nodded and murmured an “Mm.”
Hearing her so nonchalant, Jiang Yue teased, “You know what she did after calling me?”
Lin Zixi stayed calm. “No idea. Tell me.”
Jiang Yue deflated. “You’re still so detached about everything. Sigh. Anyway, right after the call, she had her secretary wire 50 million to my account.”
“She called it additional investment—no profit share. Only condition: the crew’s security and catering handled by them.”
“I was stunned,” Jiang Yue said. “Thought maybe I’d won over this bigwig with my charm and scored a generous tip. Then I realized, no way.”
“That’s when it hit me—they’ve got a little Golden Leaf shadowing you.”
With a teasing lilt, Jiang Yue added, “Zixi, is that little Golden Leaf chasing you? If so, what a grand gesture.”
Lin Zixi paused, glancing at the bathroom before replying. “Jiang Yue, you’re mistaken. Ye Can and I aren’t like that.”
She couldn’t spill about Ye Can and Director Ye—that was family business. And Ye Can’s condition was private, something Lin Zixi wouldn’t share.
After some thought, she told Jiang Yue, “Ye Can’s been running extras on our crew and the one next door lately. Director Ye asked me to look after her, so…”
She trailed off, and Jiang Yue filled in the blanks. “So, you’re saying Ye Can might dip into the industry, just dabbling?”
In Jiang Yue’s view, rich folks entering showbiz were either chasing dreams or playing around—both basically “dabbling.”
Lin Zixi hesitated. “Mm… something like that…”
Jiang Yue got it. “Okay, I see the situation. I’ll handle it. You just keep an eye on the kid. But if she’s got ulterior motives, tell me.”
“I’m no huge star, but I can handle trouble.”
Jiang Yue might be a businesswoman, but a loyal one. Lin Zixi’s heart warmed, and she reassured her. “It’s fine. Ye Can’s no trouble.”
Jiang Yue grumbled, “Yeah, well, capitalists devour people bones and all. Most are beasts in suits. Stay sharp.”
Lin Zixi hummed in agreement, then asked about Jiang Yue’s schedule. Jiang Yue said she was swamped but could return to set the day after tomorrow to wrap the remaining scenes.
Lin Zixi chuckled. “Busy, sure, but you’re thrilled to be making bank.”
Jiang Yue sighed. “True, money’s the prime mover. Anyway, gotta go put on a face mask. Oh, that script you put on hold—almost done? I scouted a young stud who could play the Faint Lord. When I get back, want me to bring him for a chemistry read?”
Jiang Yue meant she’d signed a hot young actor and wanted to slot him into Limbo Inn.
The Limbo Inn script was ninety percent done, most roles cast—except for the Faint Lord and Beauty episode.
Blame Yu Ming, a total looks fanatic. He insisted the Beauty of Calamity Nation had to be stunning, rejecting every young actor and pushing for Jiang Yue to guest or hunt a pretty starlet.
That stalled the role, so they decided to shoot around it while scouting.
But things had changed. As the screenwriter, Lin Zixi now had a perfect pick in mind for that episode.
For the first time, she stood firm against investor Jiang Yue. “I’ve already found the actor for the Faint Lord script.”
Jiang Yue sounded shocked. “You have? Who?”
Lin Zixi paused. “Ye Can.”
Jiang Yue’s voice pitched up. “Ye Can? The Golden Leaf? She’s just dabbling, and you’re giving her such a standout role? Cross-dressing?”
Lin Zixi paused again, giving an honest assessment. “Her acting’s actually great. Come to set and see. And no cross-dressing—the Faint Lord’s script, I rewrote it. I’ll send it once it’s done.”
Jiang Yue was floored. “No cross-dress? Teacher Lin, you mean Lilies in Bloom?”
Lin Zixi didn’t dodge. “I think the sparks between same-sex leads will outshine the classic Faint Lord and Beauty. Plus, as a weekly streaming drama, censorship’s looser, so…”
Jiang Yue caught on. “Got it. You’re finally going for Lilies in Bloom.”
Lin Zixi couldn’t argue, so she let Jiang Yue ramble. “Fine, fine. Season one had Brokeback Mountain, so Season two with lilies is whatever—as long as the story’s gripping.”
“As for your Golden Leaf, I’ll check her performance when I return, then decide.” Of course, for those 50 million, as long as Ye Can wasn’t awful, Jiang Yue planned to greenlight her.
A free favor was a free favor.
Jiang Yue muttered, “Can’t wait to see how this Golden Leaf won you over. You, who never pushes roles, personally recommended her.”
Lin Zixi laughed. “Hurry back, then. You’ll see how perfect Ye Can is.”
Jiang Yue said okay and goodbye.
Lin Zixi had just hung up, her smile lingering, when Ye Can’s voice came from behind. “Were you praising me?”
Lin Zixi turned to see Ye Can in the thin sleep dress, hair dripping wet, eyes sparkling as she gazed at her. “What’d you say about me? Praise me more.”
