Chapter 65: Sixty-Five Fires

Yan Duo was so angry she didn’t want to talk to her brother anymore. With his emotional intelligence, if he really ended up with Zeng Meng, who knew how many times he’d make her cry? So Yan Duo gave up on playing matchmaker for them and let Yan Yi be.

After dinner, Yan Duo invited Zeng Meng to check out F City’s night market together. Zeng Meng was initially interested, but upon learning that Ji Ran would also be joining them, she decisively declined and returned to the hotel early.

Director Zhong had to leave early due to prior commitments, so in the end, only Yan Duo, Ji Ran, Fang Fang, and Ma Peng were left to go shopping.

Yan Duo originally planned to stroll around and buy some local specialties, but that idea was immediately abandoned when they were recognized right outside the restaurant.

“Are you Ji Ran and Yan Duo?” asked a girl in her twenties, staring at their faces with disbelief.

The moment they were recognized, Fang Fang and Ma Peng immediately stepped forward , Approaching with a nervous demeanor, as if fearing something might go wrong.

Yan Duo glanced at Ji Ran and, noticing the faint smile on his face despite his silence, replied, “Yes, hello.”

The girl across from them immediately brightened and asked, “I’m a fan of your couple! Can I take a photo with you?”

Yan Duo smiled and agreed, “Of course!”

After taking photos with fans, Yanduo walked back to the hotel arm in arm with Jiran, saying as they went, “Being recognized by fans is all thanks to your great fortune!”

If it weren’t for Jiran, probably no one would have recognized her on the street—he truly was her lucky star!

Jiran, however, didn’t see it that way. “No, even without me, you’d still become famous.”

He had seen clearly earlier—the fans recognized her first, hesitated a bit, and only confirmed after spotting him. In truth, Yanduo was much more popular than she realized.

Yan Duo smiled and said, “I think it’s all the good luck you brought me. Without you, there wouldn’t be the me of today.”

Without Ji Ran, she wouldn’t have wanted to enter the entertainment industry, wouldn’t have wanted to act. She would probably have followed in her parents’ and brother’s footsteps to become a teacher, nurturing future generations. Although that would have been meaningful too, how could it compare to now?

Ji Ran didn’t say anything more, just held her hand and tucked them both into his pocket.

Now he just felt grateful that he had accepted the film academy’s invitation that spring and met the girl whose eyes were full of stars.

The next afternoon, the film crew went to the TV station again to officially record the show.

Ji Ran changed into a white shirt, dark blue vest, and black pants that he had brought. Yan Duo wore the outfit Ji Ran had specially coordinated for her—a long-sleeved dress and a matching vest. When the two of them appeared one after the other, the audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

After the four guests took their seats, the host smiled and asked Ji Ran and Yan Duo, “Can I ask who styled your outfits?”

Yan Duo glanced at Ji Ran with a smile but said nothing.

The host understood Yan Duo’s hint and asked Ji Ran, “So, is this your intention?”

Ji Ran wore a faint smile, “It’s just a coincidence.”

Yan Duo brushed her hair aside, still silent.

The host asked, “Yan Duo, do you have anything to say?”

Yan Duo sighed, “Anyway, Teacher Ji packed the luggage, so whatever he says goes.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the audience burst into laughter.

After a smooth start, the host began discussing topics related to *Waiting for You Year After Year*, eventually circling back to the two lead actors. The show’s large screen then played behind-the-scenes footage of the two filming on set.

The two in costume sat together going over their lines, their serious demeanor revealing nothing unusual about their relationship.

After the video ended, the host curiously asked the two, “Can I ask if you two are married at this point?”

Ji Ran glanced at Yan Duo, “Should you answer this question, or should I?”

Yan Duo gave him a sidelong glance with a smile. “Let me answer that. Even though we’ve gotten the marriage certificate, I don’t want to go public with our relationship just yet.”

The host didn’t press for the exact date they registered their marriage and instead asked, “So how do you two usually go on dates?”

Yan Duo covered her face, unwilling to answer. gugeyuedu.com

Ji Ran glanced at her and said to the host, “At her request, we pretend not to know each other on set. After work, either I go to her or I trick her into coming upstairs.”

The host was momentarily speechless. “Trick?”

Ji Ran nodded, “Because she was always worried someone might see, so I had to resort to extreme measures.”

Another wave of laughter and applause rose from the audience.

The host said with a smile, “It’s hard to imagine that the aloof and reserved Emperor of Film, Ji Ran, would be a man who goes to great lengths for his wife. Thinking about it this way, you must have planned to reveal your relationship during the live broadcast, right?”

Ji Ran glanced at Yan Duo with a smile, everything left unsaid between them.

The host asked Yan Duo again, “So, how did you feel when you heard Ji Ran say he was married on the show?”

Yan Duo: “At that moment, only two words flashed through my mind—’I’m doomed!'”

The host laughed and said, “But in the end, you still walked right into the trap and voluntarily revealed your marital relationship with Ji Ran in front of the entire nation.”

Recalling the awkwardness of that moment, Yan Duo blushed and said, “Let’s just say the timing of my surprise for him couldn’t have been worse.”

Ji Ran reached out to hold Yan Duo’s hand, delivering a heartfelt blow in the process. “That episode—even if you hadn’t surprised me, I would’ve found a way to make our relationship public. So, don’t regret it.”

This was the first time Yan Duo had heard such words, and her eyes widened instantly in shock, completely stunned.

He had planned it all along! This man is downright terrifying!

The host, seeing Yan Duo’s surprised expression, smiled and said, “It just goes to show that you’ll never guess what Movie Emperor Ji is thinking, Duoduo.”

Yan Duo replied earnestly, “The longest road I’ve ever walked is probably Teacher Ji’s套路.”

The host nodded in agreement, “It’s clear that Actor Ji not only planned to go public long ago but also enjoys showing off his affection. Let me ask the audience here—did everyone watch Ji Ran and Yan Duo’s New Year’s Eve performance?”

As the best domestic variety show producer, TTV’s New Year’s Eve gala has always been the highest-rated. Sure enough, many in the audience responded, “Watched it.”

The host asked again, “Did anyone notice where Ji Ran and Yan Duo were standing during the final countdown?”

The auditorium fell silent at this moment.

The host smiled and said, “Now, let’s all turn our attention to the big screen.”

At that moment, the big screen began replaying the New Year’s Eve countdown footage at one-tenth speed. As all the audience members and performers on-site shouted “Happy New Year” together, the camera froze on a man and woman kissing in the third row near the corner of the stage.

Seeing the images on the big screen, the audience below burst into laughter again.

The host said to Ji Ran, “Ji Ran, by suddenly showing affection on stage like this, have you considered how the people next to you might feel?”

Ji Ran smiled and replied, “At that time, I only thought about kissing Yan Duo and didn’t really consider how the people around me felt.”

Faced with such honesty from Ji Ran, the host was momentarily speechless, while Yan Duo had long covered her face, unwilling to say another word.

After finishing the recording and leaving the TV station, Zeng Meng pleaded with Director Zhong once again: “Director, I really want to go back. Please let me go, okay?”

Making a single dog like her who’s never been loved tag along with these two heartless people was just to make her feel even more like she didn’t want to live.

Director Zhong glanced at Ji Ran and Yan Duo, pondered for a minute, then said, “How about you two go together for the next two programs? I just remembered there’s something I need to handle in City T, so I won’t be accompanying you.”

The next two programs were a small-town variety show and an internet celebrity’s live stream, both relatively simple—more than enough for the two of them to handle.

Yan Duo widened her eyes in surprise. “Director Zhong, this is your movie! How can you not go?”

It’s understandable if Zeng Meng doesn’t go, but wouldn’t it be unreasonable if Director Zhong doesn’t attend?

Director Zhong shook his head, “Anyway, I’d just be overshadowed by you all if I went, so I won’t go to be a background prop.”

These two are currently quite popular, bringing their own buzz, and are essentially live advertisements, so they won’t join in the commotion.

Yan Duo was speechless. How could there be such a hands-off boss? Weren’t they supposed to work together? She looked at Ji Ran, hoping he would say something.

Ji Ran readily agreed, “Alright, you guys go back first.”

Yan Duo saw Ji Ran agree and couldn’t say much else. Returning to the hotel room, she asked, “Can the two of us really handle the upcoming show on our own?”

Ji Ran: “Of course.”

Yan Duo wasn’t afraid of promoting the show—she was only worried about not performing well enough and affecting the box office. So she looked at him and said, “This is my first time as a female lead, and I don’t have much experience with promotions. You’ll need to guide me more from now on.”

Ji Ran took off his outer robe and pulled Yan Duo onto the bed, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”

Yan Duo lay on the pillow, letting Ji Ran undress her, when she suddenly remembered how he had revealed during the show that he had long planned to make their relationship public. Feeling a bit distrustful, she asked, “Why do I feel like hearing that makes me even more uneasy?”

Was it just her imagination, or did Ji Ran seem particularly eager for this promotional trip with just the two of them?

Ji Ran didn’t even glance at her, busy stripping them both before pulling a condom from under the pillow and putting it on. “What’s the point of worrying about that now?” he said.

The double meaning in his words left Yan Duo speechless. Was he implying that since everyone else had left, there was no use talking about it? Or was he saying he didn’t want to discuss “business” right now and would rather focus on some “private matters,” urging her to get serious?

Before she could even ask, Ji Ran unusually skipped the usual “prelude” and went straight into “tonight’s performance.”

“Ah!!!”

Yan Duo couldn’t help but hit Ji Ran’s shoulders, “Slow down!”

Remembering they weren’t at home, she added, “Quick, cover us with the blanket.”

Although Ji Ran had thoroughly checked the room when they moved in yesterday and found no hidden cameras or anything of the sort, Yan Duo still couldn’t shake her unease, given how often stories of secret filming made the news.

After a couple of movements, Ji Ran got into a smoother rhythm. Though somewhat amused and exasperated by Yan Duo’s words, he obediently covered both of them with the blanket and continued. In the end, he muffled all of Yan Duo’s sounds of pleasure, struggle, and pleas for mercy under the covers, keeping them for his ears alone.