Chapter 10: Tang Yan: I Will Vindicate the Central Academy of Drama

Stare!

Yang Mi was staring at Zhang Li, while Tang Yan was staring at Liu Shishi. They both wanted to know exactly what time Liu Shishi had left Zhang Li’s room the previous night. Furthermore, they were curious about when she had arrived there in the first place.

"Startled!"

Liu Shishi, who had still been feeling a bit drowsy, woke up instantly. Her delicate little face turned as red as a sunset cloud. Her lips parted, but she didn’t know how to answer. If she admitted she didn't leave until nearly one in the morning, she would definitely be misunderstood. But if she didn't say anything, she would still be misunderstood. Actually, was being misunderstood really that bad?

At this moment, Yang Mi turned to Tang Yan and said, "When Ah Li and I finished our late-night snack and returned to the hotel, it was already nearly midnight." The implication was clear: Liu Shishi had gone to see Zhang Li in the middle of the night.

"Oh~" Tang Yan let out a sound filled with deep meaning.

Liu Shishi’s cheeks flushed even deeper. She cast a sidelong glance at Zhang Li. "Look at the mess you’ve caused."

"Shishi, why are you glaring at me?" Zhang Li asked, feigning injury. "Our relationship is perfectly innocent. There is nothing we cannot speak of in public, right?"

The memory of sneaking a kiss from Liu Shishi the night before suggested otherwise—it wasn't quite that innocent.

"Indeed!" Liu Shishi’s eyes flickered as she explained, "I was afraid my acting wasn't good enough and would drag everyone down, so I asked Ah Li for help. I wanted him to give me some pointers whenever he had free time."

Tang Yan and Yang Mi immediately wore expressions that said, "I may be beautiful, but don't think you can fool me." A gorgeous actress visiting a handsome actor in the middle of the night, claiming the purpose was to ask for acting advice? Only a fool would believe that!

"That’s exactly how it is," Zhang Li chimed in. "I’ve already agreed to help Sister Shishi. She said that out of gratitude, she would give me a massage every day. I didn't believe her at first, but she actually did it last night, and I didn't even know when I fell asleep."

Oh~ So that was it.

Yang Mi and Tang Yan looked at Liu Shishi with even more mischievous expressions. Liu Shishi’s face was now so red she felt as if it might bleed; she wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Her little secret couldn't possibly escape the eyes of these two veterans of the entertainment industry. Only Zhang Li, a naive, inexperienced youth, couldn't see through it.

"Wait, why are your tones and expressions so strange?" Zhang Li asked, looking genuinely confused. "Shishi and I had a fair trade. Is there a problem with that?"

"No problem, no problem at all," Yang Mi said, waving her hands dismissively. "It’s just that Shishi’s attitude toward acting is so serious; I feel like I need to learn from her."

"That’s right, that’s right," Tang Yan agreed, nodding. "I also feel that I need to treat the role of Zixuan with more seriousness."

"That’s great," Zhang Li said, looking impressed. "If we all work together, this drama is sure to be a success."

Mi and Tang: "..." They felt this "little brother" was a bit too dense.

"So, what time did you leave last night?" Zhang Li asked, looking at Liu Shishi and pulling the conversation back.

***

Mi and Tang: He’s not just "a bit" dense; he’s incredibly dense.

"Nearly one," Liu Shishi gritted out, "but I didn't fall asleep until nearly three." After the stolen kiss, her brain had been buzzing with excitement, and she couldn't sleep no matter how much she tossed and turned. She had ended up taking out her camera to flip through the photos she’d taken during the filming of *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*. After all that, she didn't drift off until nearly three, only for Tang Yan to wake her up at 7:30 as they had previously arranged.

"Sleeping so late, no wonder you look so pale." Zhang Li raised his thick eyebrows, set down his chopsticks, and stood up. "I'll go make a cup of coffee for you and Sister Mi." He looked at Tang Yan as he took a few steps. "Do you want one, Sister Tang Tang?"

"Thank you," Tang Yan said with a sweet smile.

"Do you prefer it sweet or bitter?"

"On the sweeter side."

"OK."

Zhang Li walked toward the coffee machine. This hotel was quite upscale, and the buffet restaurant was stocked with various ingredients; he could craft a cappuccino or a caramel macchiato. Watching his busy figure from afar, Tang Yan’s perspective shifted again. Even if this younger brother was dense, he was also very thoughtful.

Before long, Zhang Li returned with three cups of coffee. Yang Mi chose the cappuccino, Liu Shishi took the latte, and Tang Yan received the caramel macchiato.

"This is delicious," Tang Yan said, her eyes lighting up. She wasn't actually a coffee drinker; she preferred sweets. She had only accepted out of politeness so as not to rebuff Zhang Li’s kindness. She hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.

"If Ah Li ever stopped being an actor, he could make a living just by opening a coffee shop," Yang Mi said with a smile. "I don't know where he learned such great skills at such a young age."

"You’d better not let my foster sister hear you say that," Zhang Li replied with a faint smile as he peeled an egg. "She loves coffee and always made me brew it for her at home. I practiced until I got it right." In truth, he had honed these skills while working part-time at a coffee shop to save for tuition before he inherited his parents' estate in his previous life. After Liu Yifei tasted his coffee, she had become hooked, often using both soft and hard tactics to make him brew it for her, which was why his craft had improved so much.

Liu Shishi’s hand, holding the coffee cup, froze, and the smile on her face faded slightly.

Mi and Tang: "..." Mentioning another woman in front of a woman who likes you is a taboo. And mentioning Liu Yifei in front of the "little Liu Yifei" (Liu Shishi) was definitely a taboo. Zhang Li had just committed the taboo of all taboos.

"Why aren't you drinking?" Zhang Li asked, looking at Liu Shishi. "I remember you drink this flavor, don't you?"

"How did you know?" Liu Shishi asked, glancing at him sideways.

"Last time Brother Hu treated us, I saw you ordered this, and you finished the whole thing, so you must like it," Zhang Li replied casually.

But it was precisely that casualness that made Liu Shishi’s heart bloom. If Zhang Li paid such close attention to the details of her life, he must have feelings for her. Thinking of this, the smile returned to her face. She took a sip of the coffee. "You make it better than that coffee shop. Can you make it for me often from now on?"

"Sure," Zhang Li agreed without hesitation. "You shouldn't drink too much coffee with added sugar, but drinking more of this purer kind in moderation is good for your health."

Liu Shishi nodded with a smile. Yang Mi watched this scene quietly, a "tsk" in her heart. Zhang Li had the potential to be a real player. If Zhang Li knew what Yang Mi was thinking, he would surely laugh it off. A mere player? Were they even worthy of being compared to him?

Breakfast ended, and the four of them headed to the set together. Hu Ge hadn't returned yet, so the morning was scheduled for the scenes involving the second male and female leads—which meant Zhang Li and Tang Yan needed to film. The two of them went straight to the dressing room. By the time they were finished with their makeup, the crew had already arrived.

"Today we’re filming the scenes for Xu Changqing and Zixuan," Li Guoli said, calling over Zhang Li and Tang Yan. "Do you need me to explain the scene?"

"Let’s try it ourselves first," Zhang Li replied. "If we feel there’s an issue, we’ll ask you for guidance, Uncle Li."

"What could I possibly teach you?" Li Guoli said with a laugh and a shake of his head.

Tang Yan: ?

So the scene explanation was just for her? Tang Yan felt a burst of frustration. She was a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama with over a year of acting experience. Could she really be overshadowed in a scene that was supposed to be centered on her?

"Action!"

*Clap!*

Inside an antique-style restaurant, Tang Yan sat on a long bench, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. Zhang Li, holding a horsetail whisk, looked serious, staring at her intently. This gaze put a bit of pressure on Tang Yan, so she took a shortcut: instead of meeting his eyes, she looked down at her own hands.

"Daoist, please get this straight."

"This is a bar."

Zhang Li: "..."

Shishi and Mi: ?

Director: ??

All the staff: "..."

*Pfft!*

The entire set erupted in laughter.