Chapter 13

Chapter 13: We Were Never Meant To Be

Du An Rao’s thought was like a bolt from the blue crashing down on the two people involved, shocking them both inside and out.

Seeing that Du He Xuan seemed unwilling, Director Gao was afraid his temper would flare and he would offend this powerful investor boss, so he hurried to persuade him: “It’s just a meal, it won’t take long. And I’ll be there too, right? Even if we really drink later, I’ll personally send you back. Is that okay, President?”

In fact, these words were also his roundabout way of assuring Du He Xuan that tonight really was just a meal and nothing else would happen.

Since the words had already gone this far, Du He Xuan could not refuse again.

“Then I’ll trouble President Xi,” he said. “Brother Zhou, take An An back first.”

When she heard that her second brother wanted someone to send her back first while he went to the dinner alone, Du An Rao panicked: “Second Brother, can’t I go with you?”

[No way. For my second brother’s innocence, I have to go with him. Brave An An will guard her brother, defeat the evil capitalist, charge!]

The “evil capitalist” himself, Xi Jing Yue: …

Du He Xuan: …

Ancestors, with those skinny arms and legs of yours, if something really happened, would you be protecting me or would I be protecting you?

“This is Film Emperor Du’s… sister?” Xi Jing Yue quickly adjusted his expression and asked with a calm smile. Then he invited: “Why not come together? The more people, the livelier.”

Du He Xuan frowned slightly and did not say yes or no, but this only made Du An Rao even more certain of what she was thinking.

[Sure enough, this man has designs on my second brother. Otherwise why would he be this easygoing? I really do have to go with them. If needed, I can throw my brother over my shoulder and run. No one will be able to catch up with us.]

Du He Xuan: …

He really wanted to say, “Wow, thanks so much.”

Xi Jing Yue: …

Was it possible that he did have plans, but his target was someone else?

In the end, they still chose to go together. Otherwise, Du He Xuan really worried that if he had Zhou Shun Zhe send Du An Rao away now, she would just sneak out and follow them later.

Xi Jing Yue had booked a private home-style restaurant. It was not very big, but the decor was extremely refined and careful, full of old-fashioned charm.

So the misunderstanding would not grow deeper, Xi Jing Yue started explaining as soon as everyone sat down: “Today really is just to meet Film Emperor Du and have a meal. In fact, you might not know this, but my cousin Li Yue Sheng, the original author of the drama you’re filming now, Cang Hai Yue Ming, is a loyal fan of Film Emperor Du.”

“The Master in the drama was written based on Film Emperor Du from the very beginning. After the book unexpectedly became a big hit and they started on the film and TV rights, my cousin only made one request. She didn’t care about the other roles, but the Master had to be played by Film Emperor Du.”

Neither Du He Xuan nor Director Gao had known there was this kind of connection, and both were a bit stunned.

Director Gao was the first to react: “No wonder! I kept wondering why, after looking at so many people, the original author decided to sell the rights to me. So it was because…”

Though Director Gao was considered a well-known director, most of his past works were historical or martial arts dramas. He had filmed a few xianxia series, but none of them had really taken off.

The drama he was shooting now already had many fans and was strongly promoted by the platform. It was a real big IP.

Several directors more famous and experienced than him in xianxia dramas had wanted to work with the original author, but unexpectedly, this big pie had fallen on his head instead.

Before this, Director Gao had thought it was because he had offered a high price and willingly given up a lot of say in the project.

Now, after Xi Jing Yue’s explanation, he realized the other side had probably long known that he was familiar with Du He Xuan and was sure he could really invite him, which was why they had passed on better choices and picked him instead.

This showed just how much the author truly loved Du He Xuan.

After hearing all this, Du An Rao was also left in awe at the author’s wild moves.

[Wow, good job! So this is that saying, “you and I were never meant to be, so I’ll just throw money at it”? Do rich people chase stars with such simple but deep tricks now? First she writes a character based on him, then when it gets adapted, she gets the real person to play it, and finally she naturally asks for his autograph. Step after step, each one linked to the next. Amazing, really amazing!]

Seeing that Du An Rao’s attention had been pulled away by Li Yue Sheng and she was no longer worrying about her second brother’s innocence, Xi Jing Yue quietly let out a sigh of relief.

“Tonight’s sudden visit is also because of her,” he went on. “My cousin is still studying abroad and very busy, so she really can’t fly back right now. When she heard the drama had started filming and that I happened to be nearby, she asked me to come take a look for her and ask Film Emperor Du for an autograph. I wonder if Film Emperor Du could give me this honor later, so I can have an answer for my cousin?”

Xi Jing Yue’s words were half true and half false. It was true that Li Yue Sheng had asked him, but tonight’s big dinner had not been in the original plan.

He had only planned to casually take a few candid photos of Du He Xuan on set and then get a few autographs from the Director to bring back and muddle through.

Who knew he would run into Du An Rao here? The chore he had been unwilling to do suddenly became the perfect excuse to get close to her.

Du He Xuan knew nothing about all these twists. Realizing he might really have misunderstood Xi Jing Yue’s true intentions, he felt a bit embarrassed.

“It’s my honor to receive Miss Li’s favor,” he said. “Later I’ll have my agent prepare some gifts for her. I hope President Xi can help pass them along for me, and thank Miss Li for her support and affection.”

“Of course.” Xi Jing Yue raised his glass to Du He Xuan with a quiet smile.

Chewing on a chicken foot, Du An Rao watched this scene, feeling both relieved and a bit disappointed inside.

[Thank goodness. I thought my second brother’s charm had already reached the level where men and women all fell for him, turning the whole world upside down. Looks like he still has room to improve.]

Du He Xuan: …

How was he supposed to “improve”? Become attractive to both men and women?

[But speaking of that, my second brother’s fangirl even has the surname Li, same as Fourth Sister’s family. Wait, Li Yue Sheng, Li Yue Sheng… hold on!]

Her chewing suddenly froze. She raised her hand weakly: “Sorry to ask, but which characters does your cousin’s name use, President Xi?”

In his heart, Xi Jing Yue thought, Finally, she noticed!

Yes, he had purposely mentioned the name just now to test whether Du An Rao knew about the relationship between Li Yue Sheng and that certain person in her family.

On the surface, he showed just the right hint of confusion and said: “The Yue written with the jade radical, and the Sheng from ‘shengse heming.’ Does Miss Du know my cousin?”

“…No, I don’t. I just think that name sounds… pretty nice.”

After speaking, Du An Rao lowered her head and went back to gnawing on her chicken foot, as if she had only asked in passing.

Only Du He Xuan and Xi Jing Yue knew that inside her mind, the comments were scrolling like crazy.

[The Yue from “daidai zhi yue,” and the Sheng from “shengse heming”… it really is her! Li Yue Sheng, Li Yue Sheng, one of the dragon and phoenix twins of the Li family’s First Branch, Fourth Sister’s cousin in name! I was just wearing out iron shoes looking everywhere and couldn’t find a way into the Li family, and now they deliver themselves right to my door?]