Chapter 999: Perplexed and Smitten (59)
“Nah.”
The makeup artist helped her remove all the elaborate hair accessories on her head. Without the added weight, she instantly felt a huge sense of relief .
Fang Erlan decided not to remove her makeup since she had to attend the celebratory dinner tonight.
“Erlan, what time are you leaving tomorrow?”
“Early in the morning.”
“Me too. Shall we leave together?”
“…”
They then exited the room. Yan Ge said to Xiao Li, “Let’s go back too.”
Xiao Li murmured assent.
After packing their belongings, Fang Erlan and Xiao Yue changed into their outfits and headed to the restaurant on the second floor of the hotel to attend the dinner.
All the actors, actresses, and crew members showed up one after another. Everyone was in high spirits and had a smile on their faces.
Fang Erlan walked toward the table where Jing Tian was sitting and discovered that Yan Ge and the other supporting actors and actresses were also present.
“Director…” the supporting actress whispered into Jing Tian’s ear.
After hearing her words, Jing Tian agreed with a nod, “Of course. Let her come over.”
“Alright, I’ll send her a text, then.”
“Sure, sure.”
Noticing that Yan Ge did not seem to be too happy, Fang Erlan asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Fang Erlan did not ask him any more questions. After toasting to one another, everyone returned to their respective seats, after which the supporting actress said, “Director, she’s here.”
All eyes were on Yu Caiwei, another female celebrity.
Fang Erlan was shocked to see her.
Yu Caiwei was a celebrity who had shot to fame around the same period as Sun Weiwei. She gained recognition and fame because of a television series she’d starred in, after which she began partaking in low-production films and series. There were only a few highly-acclaimed productions that she was involved in. However, that did not affect her fame or career.
With her superb acting chops and ravishing good looks, she definitely had what it takes to be the female lead. At the very least, her face was still full of collagen and she was much more pleasant-looking compared to other actress who’d had plastic surgery. On top of that, she also had a voluptuous figure, which made a massive number of male fans idolize her.
She was dressed in a white bustier dress that ended below her knees, and she had a faint smile on her face when she walked into the restaurant gracefully with her bodyguards.
It was Fang Erlan’s first time seeing Yu Caiwei in person, and she discovered that the latter’s face was much smaller in real life than on camera.
Jing Tian greeted, “It’s such an honor to have a megacelebrity here with us. Please have a seat, quick.”
“Director, you won’t hold it against me for disrupting your end-production celebratory dinner, will you? I heard from a friend that you were here and I happened to be nearby too. I told myself that I mustn’t miss the opportunity to meet you. Hence, I decided to come.”
“Why would I hold it against you? You must be joking.”
Yu Caiwei sat down opposite Fang Erlan and Yan Ge.
“Hello, Ms. Fang.”
“Hello.”
“Yan Ge, long time no see.”
He murmured assent coldly.
Jing Tian chuckled and said, “I didn’t know that you two know each other. I’ve never seen you guys starring alongside each other before.”
Yu Caiwei said with a smile, “We’re friends in private.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Ge denied vehemently, “We don’t know each other that well.”
A strange tension filled the air. Fang Erlan cocked her head toward the side, only to discover that a gloomy expression had formed on his face.
She could sense that something was amiss based on her intuition.
She had always made sure not to speak too much during company dinners, and it was no exception this time. Furthermore, Yu Caiwei, Jing Tian, and the supporting actress were chatting incessantly throughout the meal. Fang Erlan was seated in between Jing Tian and Yan Ge. Thus, there was nothing for her to say since Yan Ge did not strike a conversation with her.
Fang Erlan thought to herself that it was great that way, since the sooner they finished eating, the sooner she could leave. However, things did not turn out that way in reality.
Yu Caiwei initiated a conversation with her.
“Erlan, you look really young. How old are you?”
Yu Caiwei had addressed her by her name, despite it being only their first time meeting each other.
“I’m 24 years old.”
“You look like you just hit twenty. Your features are so youthful and delicate. Do you find Yan Ge to be rather difficult when you’re filming with him?” Although Yan Ge had already clarified earlier that he wasn’t close to Yu Caiwei at all, everyone could not help but suspect something after hearing her words.
“Not at all. He’s very nice, and he’s always been helping me as a senior.”
Yu Caiwei smiled and said, “That’s so rare of him. He’s usually very difficult in real life.”
Everyone looked at each other in shock. In real life?
Yan Ge looked up and snapped coldly, “Does me being difficult or not have anything to do with you? Who are you to butt in?”
Everyone was dumbfounded by his response. It seemed like he wasn’t on good terms with her…
Fang Erlan remained silent, for fear that she would blurt something inappropriate.
The supposedly joyous occasion immediately turned awkward and tense, all because of the uninvited guest.
When the meal ended, Yu Caiwei said to Yan Ge, “Why have you become so callous and harsh with your words? Let’s have a talk.”
“There’s nothing for us to talk about,” said Yan Ge, who wiped his mouth and threw the tissue paper away before standing up.
Fang Erlan decided to leave as well, upon seeing that Yan Ge had left without looking back.
They brought their respective assistants and bodyguards and entered the elevator one after another.
An awkward silence filled the air.
When the elevator stopped on the eighth floor, they exited and returned to their own rooms.
Fang Erlan removed her makeup and took a shower. Just as she lay in bed after drying her hair, the doorbell rang.
“Who’s there?”
“It’s me.”
“Give me a moment.” She quickly cast her towel aside and put on a set of pajamas before answering the door.
Standing by the door, he said, “You usually have such a huge appetite, but you barely ate anything tonight. I didn’t eat much either. Care to have supper together?”
“I’ll gain weight if I eat at night…”
“Does that mean you don’t want to eat anymore?”
Tempted by the aroma of food, she said, “I want to. Did you buy the beer yet?”
“Yes, it’s still cold.”
“Awesome. Come in, quick.”
Noticing how eager she was, he smiled and entered with the bags of food and drinks.
Fang Erlan closed the door and walked inside. “I’ve already brushed my teeth just now. Seems like I’ll have to brush them again later.”
“We’ll be leaving this place tomorrow. Let me treat you to this meal.” Yan Ge sat down and took out a total of six dishes from the plastic bag, all of which smelled and looked appetizing.
“Sure.” Fang Erlan opened two cans of beer and exclaimed, “Let’s hope our television series will be a success and that your career will be taken to greater heights!”
He picked up a can of beer and knocked it against hers. “I hope so.”
Fang Erlan took a sip of beer and separated a pair of disposable chopsticks. “I could already tell what’s between you and Yu Caiwei,” she said while helping herself to the food.
“What’s between us?”
“She’s your ex-girlfriend, isn’t she? I’m pretty sure she is,” she said firmly.
He glanced at her and asked, “How could you tell?”
“My instincts have always been accurate.”
“Could you now use your instincts to guide you and tell me if you can sense that I’m harboring intentions about you?”
She hesitated for a moment and asked, “What… intentions?”
“Making you mine.”
