Love Contract chapter 17

 Who Do You Prefer More

Even though it was known that “The Faded Color” would attract countless attention once released, its impact was entirely beyond Jiang Chuan’s expectations.

In the past week, opportunities for work kept coming in. Jiang Chuan selected a few that he was most optimistic about and invited Jiang Liusui to the company for a detailed discussion. Noticing that Jiang Liusui was holding a small paper bag as he entered, Jiang Chuan casually asked, “What’s in the bag?”

“A hat borrowed from someone.” Jiang Liusui pulled out a chair and sat down, “Thought I’d return it while I was out.”

He didn’t say who it was from, and Jiang Chuan assumed it was from one of his friends, nodding and not asking further. He organized the scripts and plans on his desk and said, “Take a look at these, they are filtered for you. There’s a variety show that I think is good. For several good scripts, you’ll need to audition. See which one you lean towards.”

“The first is a male lead in a web drama, a silent, self-sacrificing character. The role is quite conventional, but this type of rebirth drama still has a market; the second is a supporting role in a Republic-era film, playing a young master who returns from overseas and joins the revolution with the male lead, ultimately sacrificing himself for the country… Both dramas are invested by major companies, with subsequent processes including promotion and distribution assured.” Jiang Chuan said, “Besides these, there’s also a movie.”

Jiang Chuan pushed the script for the audition forward. Jiang Liusui glanced at it, the movie titled “The Unquenchable Bell.”

“This film has a supernatural theme. Although the role you’re auditioning for is the second lead, it’s very important and can be considered the most outstanding role in the movie.”

“It’s said that this film has been in preparation for a long time, and the director is a well-known new director. This is his second movie; his debut work won awards at overseas independent film festivals. But this script…” Jiang Chuan hesitated, “The script has been finished for a long time, but no one has been willing to shoot it. The theme is niche, and it tests the creative team’s skill, making it prone to polarized reviews. It’s likely that the film won’t make much of a splash.”

Jiang Chuan placed the other two scripts on the table as well: “Take them all back and look over them. Give me your answer by the end of the month at the latest.”

Jiang Liusui agreed.

The reason he entered this industry was not only for work and money but also because he was interested in acting and enjoyed experiencing different lives through dramas. With his limited experience, he rarely came across quality scripts that suited him, so the ones Jiang Chuan brought today were comparatively good opportunities.

Even though Jiang Liusui’s name had been appearing all over the internet these past few days, the online world felt intangible. But the string of audition opportunities finally made him feel the reality of his rising fame. Curious, he asked, “What’s the variety show you mentioned?”

“It’s Fantasy Holiday, season two!” Jiang Chuan said eagerly. “It’s one of the most popular shows right now; last season was a hit for an entire year. Luo Yunhao participated last year, and it skyrocketed him to the top.”

Fantasy Holiday was a slow-paced travel show designed to let busy celebrities unwind and enjoy a relaxed, romantic journey. They would always invite the hottest stars of the year.

Jiang Liusui knew how popular this show was, especially since Shen Sijia never missed an episode and could recite the details from memory.

Jiang Chuan thought of the confirmed guest list and added, “Oh, and they invited Qin Yi too. I remember you’re on good terms with him, so it’d be nice to have someone you know there.”

“Really?” Jiang Liusui perked up. “Qin Yi’s going to be on a variety show?”

Since entering the industry, he had encountered only a few good scripts. Jiang Chuan was cautious when selecting roles, always prioritizing quality over quantity and avoiding random projects.

Compared to the popular web drama that gave him a small break, Jiang Liusui’s most well-received role was in a movie called Riding the Wind, where he played the main character’s younger brother, while Qin Yi played the lead—a blind character. Perhaps due to the bond of their roles, he and Qin Yi became fast friends, with Qin Yi even offering acting advice. They stayed in touch after filming, though Qin Yi’s busy schedule mostly limited them to texting.

Unlike most famous actors, Qin Yi was very low-key, rarely appearing in events outside of filming, and this would be his first variety show.

“Exactly! A popular show with someone you know—perfect!” Jiang Chuan hesitated. “There’s just one thing…”

Seeing Jiang Chuan’s hesitation, Jiang Liusui asked, “Is there a problem?”

“You know they usually invite high-profile stars. They hadn’t planned to invite us…” Jiang Chuan started to say something but finally just looked at Jiang Liusui, “To be honest, this opportunity was originally meant for someone else. But due to the buzz from Faded Colors, they suddenly picked you.”

Jiang Liusui understood Jiang Chuan well. From his meaningful look, he guessed that the original choice might have been someone he knew.

But since Jiang Chuan wasn’t saying, he didn’t ask. Jiang Chuan added, “I heard they reached out to He Yujing, but he turned it down.”

Realizing what Jiang Chuan was getting at, Jiang Liusui finally understood.

“Maybe you should reach out to him?” Jiang Chuan, sensing his silence, knew he didn’t want to ride on this popularity but still tried to persuade him. “What if he changes his mind? The show cares about the hype from the MV, so if He Yujing doesn’t come, even with Qin Yi there, you’ll likely get minimal screen time.”

“If he already declined, it’s probably best not to ask him again, don’t you think?”

Jiang Liusui’s voice was calm and clear, often giving a gentle and harmless impression. When they first met, Jiang Chuan thought he was easy to persuade.

Looking at Jiang Liusui’s delicate, beautiful face, Jiang Chuan sighed in exasperation, “If you tried, you might actually convince him. You’re young—just say something nice, and maybe he’ll soften and agree.”

“Jiang Ge,” Jiang Liusui replied helplessly, “Even if we’re close, it’s not right to interfere with someone else’s work decisions. Besides, we’re not *that* close.”

Jiang Chuan didn’t have high hopes of changing He Yujing’s decision. He was just in the habit of seizing every opportunity. With that, he sighed, “You really… fine, just be prepared.”

After saying goodbye, Jiang Liusui stepped out of the office and saw a few new messages on his phone.

As it happened, he had wanted to send a message himself.

Qin Yi had likely just seen the lineup too and was checking with him to confirm.

Qin Yi: [I’ve been out filming in the mountains with no signal, just found out you shot a music video with He Yujing. Congrats, even if it’s a bit late.]

Qin Yi: [My manager mentioned you might be joining Fantasy Holiday?]

Jiang Liusui typed back with one hand: [So this makes it our second time together on a project?]

After a pause, Qin Yi replied with one word: [Yes.]

Glad to have a friend joining him on the show, Jiang Liusui was in a good mood: [By the way, Qin Ge, I still owe you a meal, right? I’ll make it up to you next time we meet.]

—

“The full album drops in less than a month. You haven’t done any events for half a year, so joining a variety show or two would help keep your name out there,” Shen Jie said as she watched He Yujing lounge casually on the sofa, glancing in her direction as she spoke. “I’ve picked a few good ones. One is a dance show; you wouldn’t be a regular, just a guest judge two or three times. Another is a lifestyle show that gives fans a glimpse of your everyday life…”

She listed a few more. Knowing he was interested in variety shows, several highly sought-after ones in the industry had been eagerly sent over for him to choose from. He, however, seemed rather indifferent, not revealing whether he was actually listening.

He Yujing looked distracted, so Shen Jie brought up an amusing tidbit: “Fantasy Holiday even reached out. You know that show, right? It’s pretty well-made but loves to stir things up. They can edit an ordinary conversation to look romantic. That’s how Luo Yunhao rose to fame last year. They wanted to rope you in for that kind of hype. Ridiculous, right?”

He Yujing finally looked interested. “That’s bold of them. Who did they want me to pair up with?”

“Exactly! I had the same reaction—they’d set their sights on you. It’s the kid from your MV shoot—” Shen Jie noticed him narrow his eyes and added, “But whether or not you participate, Jiang Liusui is definitely going. It’s the show’s decision, not his.”

She knew the two of them were generating a lot of buzz right now, with fan discussions about their chemistry on the MV still trending. It made sense that Fantasy Holiday’s producers would be interested. If they managed to get both stars, the show would become a sensation, guaranteed to be a blockbuster even before airing.

However, variety shows featuring He Yujing were always selective, known for being few but high-quality. He didn’t like participating in shows just for publicity or using random hype. Shen Jie knew this well and had already turned down the show’s invitation two days earlier.

“This one,” He Yujing said suddenly.

Shen Jie was taken aback. “You want to go on this show? The team for this show is known for stirring things up. Besides, Jiang Liusui is also on it, and they’re bound to make something out of that. If you’re interested in this type, why not pick a milder one?”

“No need. Just this one.”

Seeing his decision, Shen Jie nodded. “Alright, I’ll get in touch with the production team.”

“Thank you,” He Yujing smiled. Shen Jie figured the show was lucky to have caught his interest but wasn’t sure what drew him to it. “They’ll be overjoyed when they hear you’re joining.”

After finishing the official talk, He Yujing leaned back on the couch and checked his phone.

Chi Lianxi had sent him a new message, with a teasing tone: [I just learned that our junior is actually my fan. No wonder he asked me for a photo on graduation day.

I don’t have his contact, so ask him for me – who does he like more, you or me?]

He Yujing reread it, rolling his eyes at Chi Lianxi’s nonsense, and typed back: [Are you alright?]

Then he corrected, [Fan? At most, he’s your movie enthusiast.]

Chi Lianxi was unfazed: [You’re jealous.]

Then, adding fuel, he wrote: [Now I understand why you cropped me out of the picture; turns out the junior’s favorite senior is me.]

He Yujing: [……]

At that moment, Shen Jie’s voice came from the studio door. “Someone’s here for you.”

Simultaneously, a message from Jiang Liusui appeared: [I’m at the door.]

“Let him in,” He Yujing replied.

Shen Jie told the young man outside, “Please come in.”

Jiang Liusui smiled as he replied. Shen Jie, seeing him in person for the first time, was momentarily taken aback by his charm, finding it hard to look away.

He entered the spacious front area of the studio, where the scent of fresh wood mingled with the cool air.

The headquarters of Shengyun was in a bustling district, with large windows overlooking the busy city streets. Summer sunlight poured in, casting clear shadows across the white carpet.

He Yujing, initially seated on the long couch, stood up as he saw him. “Why’d you suddenly decide to drop by today?”

He had only asked Jiang Liusui to bring the hat, suggesting he swing by if he happened to be in the area or send it with an assistant. Jiang Liusui replied, “My manager wanted to discuss something with me, so I thought I’d drop off your hat.”

Recalling the stunned look on He Yujing’s face when he had tried to walk home that day without a disguise, Jiang Liusui joked, “I don’t know if it was the hat, but the way home was surprisingly smooth with no trouble at all.”

Seeing that Jiang Liusui was wearing a black cap now, He Yujing teased, “Finally learning to cover up when you go out?”

“Yeah, and I brought a mask too,” Jiang glanced at Shen Jie, who was in the adjacent room on a call. “Are you busy? If so, I’ll be on my way.”

He Yujing, however, looked at him meaningfully. “Did you just come to see me for the hat?”

Jiang Liusui shook his head. But seeing his reaction, He Yujing seemed to understand. He had assumed that Jiang Liusui might mention the variety show—since they’d both decided to join. He didn’t mind if Jiang Liusui had brought it up, but the fact that he hadn’t said a word softened him.

Noticing Jiang’s puzzled look, He Yujing suddenly asked, “Chi Lianxi wanted me to ask—do you like him more, or me?”

“What?” The topic changed so quickly that Jiang Liusui almost thought he’d misheard.

“He thinks you’re his fan.”

Jiang Luisui gave him an amused look. “You two really go to great lengths to tease. Is this typical for top stars?”

Without answering directly, He Yujing smirked internally, seeming to guess his answer.

Why was Chi Lianxi so appealing…

“—I like you more.”

He froze for a moment, then asked impulsively, “Why?”

Surprised that He Yujing was asking for specifics, Jiang Liusui’s ears reddened slightly, embarrassed. “Why… just because you’re really kind to me.”