Chapter 183: This Is the Best Background Music (Double Vote Beg for Monthly Tickets)

After downing a cup and a half of milk tea, Bai Liang's time at the gym that evening was "forced" to extend by over half an hour.

He had just gotten back to his room when Sister Yanzi came looking for him.

The purpose, of course, was to discuss his upcoming work schedule.

Soon Bai Liang's scenes in *Riding the Wind and Waves* would be wrapping up, around early December; a few days after that the entire crew would wrap, and with over a month before the new year the film would go into post-production, then release during the Spring Festival slot in January.

It could be said that, until the film's release, a portion of Bai Liang's energy had to be devoted to movie promotion.

This was the most efficient crew he had experienced so far, bar none!

Sighing once more, he thought: Han Han really is a goddamn genius.

And after wrapping, besides some film promotion work, there were also several endorsement events waiting for him to handle.

They were all deals Sister Yanzi had already negotiated; even though she pursued excellence with exacting standards when picking endorsement brands, quite a few still remained.

After all, that's just how it is at the top — aside from some high-end luxury goods brands that still play hardball and like to make artists kowtow to them, most endorsements are the other way around, with brands chasing after hot artists, and even then they get picked over when they run into someone like Bai Liang.

And regardless of new or old endorsements, brands all love to hold some kind of brand-side event before the new year, so he'd still have to selectively make appearances.

After all, once you've taken their money, you have to promote them properly.

"Now I'm starting to get a taste of what being top-tier actually feels like," Bai Liang said, his tone somewhat wistful.

Sister Yanzi was quite perceptive, and quickly asked: "Dou Xiao Bai, do you feel like you have too much work?"

"It's alright~ Most of the time I'm pretty relaxed."

Bai Liang compared it with Reba's schedule and felt that Sister Yanzi really did know how to care for people.

"Yanzi, what would I ever do without you, Yanzi!"

"Ugh, don't start with that."

In an instant, Sister Yanzi was mortified with embarrassment — when *I Belonged to You* was released back then, she happened to be organizing a team-building event for the studio.

The studio had hired quite a few people this year, and since Bai Liang didn't bother managing things, Sister Yanzi was the head housekeeper — she had to handle all of it.

And wouldn't you know it, at the end of the team-building they watched a movie together, and this was the one they picked.

When Yue Yunpeng chased after the taxi on the big screen shouting that line, Sister Yanzi felt so embarrassed she got goosebumps all over.

None of her studio colleagues could hold it together either.

From that moment on, she couldn't bear to hear that phrase anymore.

The other studio members of course didn't dare bring it up in front of her, but Bai Liang didn't care — he loved saying that phrase.

"Let's be serious here!"

"Okay!" Bai Liang immediately sat up straight, the very picture of a good student ready to listen attentively.

"Dou Xiao Bai, honestly your workload is already huge — fans online all feel sorry for you."

"Huh? Feel sorry for me?"

Bai Liang's expression turned very strange; growing up, this was the first time he'd ever heard such a thing.

Someone actually feeling sorry for him?

Growing up, many of his friends would, when facing him, lose their composure in various ways.

Envy, jealousy, resentment.

After entering the entertainment industry it was the same — Lin Gengxin, Huang Jingyu and the others always thought Bai Liang was outrageous, and now fans were feeling sorry for him?

"Do you know how many shows you've filmed in your two years since debut?" Sister Yanzi counted on her fingers for him. "Four dramas last year, two dramas and two films this year — basically no days off the whole year!"

"Filming is basically relaxing, isn't it... It's not tiring."

"That's just because you have too much energy!"

When Bai Liang said he wasn't tired, Sister Yanzi didn't think he was being modest or putting on an act at all — after all, a person who, while filming, wants to soak in the gym every single day and still gets up in the morning to go running, it's hard to say his work has worn him out.

She could only sigh and call it a god-given gift.

And her own Dou Xiao Bai could even spare so much time and energy to socialize with all sorts of girls...

As for why fans still feel sorry for their brother... fan stuff, ordinary people can't figure it out either.

They just felt Bai Liang was working too hard.

Besides filming one project after another, he was also being "forced" by his manager to work out constantly to maintain his physique.

Some of the daily workout content featuring Bai Liang was actually posted by the studio's Weibo account.

And then Sister Yanzi got scolded — fans thought she was too harsh on Bai Liang.

Sister Yanzi:... Sometimes I really want to call the police.

"Ahem, let's talk about the most important thing! Next year's projects!"

Bai Liang finally perked up. "Do tell!"

Sister Yanzi: Sure enough, interest really is the best motivation.

She had always felt that acting was just her own Dou Xiao Bai's hobby; the other endorsements, events and such were what he considered work.

At this moment Sister Yanzi was glowing with excitement, because her own Dou Xiao Bai was truly red-hot right now.

Unlike before, when she had to drag him around scrounging here and there, basically relying on the young ladies and old babies, and still getting picked over by them.

Moreover, he was a top-tier star who rose to fame through dramas, which was a bit different from those idol types, so among the scripts and casts that came to him proactively, there really were some quite excellent ones.

Sister Yanzi brought Bai Liang quite a few scripts — of course, these were ones she had already screened through one round.

But only two needed her special emphasis this time; the others could be left for Bai Liang to look through slowly.

"There are both male-lead and female-lead projects, but from my assessment, the most reliable ones are two female-lead scripts — their casts and configurations are a notch above the rest, and then some."

The two scripts Sister Yanzi especially emphasized were one called *The Story of Minglan* and another called *Minglan*.

She also stressed: "*The Story of Minglan* is a Noon Sunshine production — this company is famously known in the industry for being refined and reliable. *Nirvana in Fire*, *The Disguiser*, *Ode to Joy* — these are all Noon Sunshine productions. Oh right, I heard the reason the other side invited you, Dou Xiao Bai, to play the male lead is because the female lead was cast first — it's Sister Li Ying."

Bai Liang naturally understood what she meant. "She recommended me?"

"Probably, but if we want to take it, we still have to audition."

Could this be the "return gift" that Sister Xiao Zhao mentioned?

A production from a gold-standard brand in film and television dramas — Noon Sunshine's show.

However, compared to *The Story of Ming Lan*, Bai Liang was actually more interested in *Ming Dynasty*.

Ever since he started acting, he'd had a little obsession.

Back then, he'd rushed off to the *War God Zhao Zilong* crew specifically to play the Emperor, but ended up "forced" into playing Lü Bu instead.

From then on, playing an Emperor became a "lingering sore spot" for Bai Liang.

Although after that he barely got a foot in the door with *Princess Agents* and *Eternal Love*, those clearly weren't the kind of Emperor he wanted to play.

However, Sister Yanzi's view was — both of these shows were positioned as female-led, so picking up just one would be enough; there were some projects in the second half of next year, and they could wait until *Ride the Wind* was released before negotiating again, putting effort toward the film direction.

And as for the film projects currently approaching him, not a single one looked reliable.

Anyway, there was no rush to decide, especially for *Ming Dynasty* — that thing was still a long way from starting production.

It might not start filming until the end of next year, and supposedly the female lead hadn't been decided yet either — apparently she was still in talks with some "big name."

After finishing these matters, she left a stack of scripts with Bai Liang, and Sister Yanzi was off like a shot.

Just as Bai Liang was preparing to stay up a little later tonight, hoping to find some interesting scripts, there was a knock at the door.

He thought Sister Yanzi had come back, but when he opened the door and looked —

No one.

Ruling out the possibility of a ghost, he tried tentatively: "Mm, little kitty?" "How did you know it was me?" Li Yitong, squatting beside the door, said in some surprise.

Because Bai Liang hadn't poked his head out at all, hadn't even glanced downward.

"In this whole crew, only you would pull something like this~ What do you need me for so late?"

Seeing that Li Yitong showed no sign of getting up from her squat, Bai Liang simply squatted down as well.

The motion was as if, in an instant, they were back to the time they "together" ate wall plaster.

Li Yitong instinctively curved her eyes into crescents. "I've come to say goodbye to you — I'm leaving."

"Leaving? You're leaving now? In the middle of the night?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I was afraid there wouldn't be enough time if I waited."

"Then I wish you a safe journey."

"That's it?"

This book's latest update is at ##!! Update!

"Peace and safety, prosperity and fortune?" Bai Liang added two more auspicious phrases.

But Li Yitong still wasn't quite satisfied. "You're just going to leave me squatting at the door? Not going to let me in to talk?"

Bai Liang paused for a second, looked at her, then nodded. "Sure."

Then he stood up first, extended his hand to her, and pulled her up.

After entering, Li Yitong gently pulled the door shut, holding the handle so it closed without making a sound.

The whole sequence of motions was like a thief at work.

But then again, it did fit her character.

From the moment Bai Liang had known her, she often pulled off these little thief-like moves, sneaking around.

Perhaps it was just like how a little cat walks without making a sound.

After entering Bai Liang's room, Li Yitong — who had just been pitifully saying she'd come to say goodbye — instantly perked right up.

Wandering around his room with her hands clasped behind her back, she said with a face full of wonder: "So tidy! They always say some boys can be pretty messy."

Bai Liang gave her a look of speechlessness. "We're staying in a hotel. Someone cleans it every day. Even if I really were messy and liked to throw things around, it wouldn't be that easy for you to see it."

"Then how could I see it?"

"Well… how about you ask Meng Jie? She should be able to give you an answer."

That one sentence from Bai Liang left Li Yitong completely dumbfounded; the cheerful little expression on her face instantly dropped quite a bit.

Inner thoughts: …Bastard male fox! Calling me out?!

But this instead stirred up a little of her rebellious streak.

People are like that — their inner thoughts are always changing.

At the very beginning, on the *Legend of the Condor Heroes* crew, she could get along with Bai Liang with a fairly normal mindset — her head was full of "I want to be famous," and beyond her career, nothing else could fit inside.

The only thing that touched her slightly was the little bottle of zinc supplements Bai Liang gave her before he wrapped and left.

Just that one little moment — and it was immediately buried again.

But then, as they knew each other longer and understood each other more… that stinky girl Meng Jie also kept deepening her understanding of him in every way from time to time.

And then she ran into that unreliable crazy girl Jin Cheng, which made her take a huge step forward as if possessed.

Truly, fellow villagers meeting fellow villagers — tears of being screwed flow.

After that step was taken, the tiny bit of ambiguity that had existed was instantly magnified many, many times over.

The "tools of the crime" had even been touched by her — how could things still be clean and pure?

Before coming over, Li Yitong had actually run through it all in her head, and finally confirmed: that bastard Bai Liang was absolutely a male fox!

The nickname she'd given him wasn't wrong at all.

But some rivers are like they're blocking the inevitable road of life — making a person have to step in and feel how deep it is…

"Why would I ask her that? Didn't you two break up?" Li Yitong said deliberately.

Hearing this, Bai Liang was now certain — he decided to take the initiative and tear through the thin paper, otherwise letting the girl keep performing over there was a bit awkward.

"What, you want to give it a try? Coming to find me so late at night… autumn's here, feeling the urge to fall in love?"

Those words made Li Yitong take a deep breath, her face flushing red. It took her several seconds to recover, and she said in a complaining tone: "…How could you be so direct all of a sudden?!"

Bai Liang, holding the script and leaning back on the sofa, said with a calm smile: "Watching you act is pretty tiring — buying me milk tea, dropping verbal hints, coming to say goodbye late at night, checking whether I'm messy or not — let me just give you a hand, otherwise god knows how long you'd keep dawdling~ It's already past ten o'clock. Girls sleeping too late isn't good for their skin."

"Do you do that with Meng Jie too?"

"Well, I can't say—that's her privacy."

Though he didn't say it out loud, Bai Liang actually thought to himself: Meng Jie's got way more guts than you~

The way she walked into Bai Liang's room was just like coming home.

Completely natural.

But Li Yitong read a different meaning into it.

She sat down next to Bai Liang on her own, leaned close, and asked softly, "You won't tell other people about us, right?"

Bai Liang set down the script and looked steadily at her. "Like what?"

Li Yitong: Like what aaaah! I don't know!

She regretted it the moment she walked in, but after hearing what Bai Liang had just said, she seemed to regret it no longer.

So annoying,

But just then, some strange sounds suddenly drifted in from outside the window.

It happened that neither of them was talking, so even though the sound wasn't loud, it was unusually clear.

At first Li Yitong hadn't even registered it, then she heard someone pinching their throat calling out "hubby."

But the other words that followed—like "faster" and such, plus a bunch of modal particles—how could she not know what kind of sound that was!

Bai Liang, hearing the commotion, was a bit embarrassed too. He slapped his own forehead. "Uh, the neighbors next door are, uh, making a baby."

"Thanks for the heads-up. Who is it?"

Li Yitong was originally a bit shy and speechless, but she still couldn't help being curious inside.

"In our crew, who else could it be?"

"You're kidding—Dong Zijian and Sun Yi? These two really have no soundproofing at all?"

Actually, the hotel's soundproofing was pretty decent, but both rooms had their windows open, so no amount of soundproofing could help.

Bai Liang was uncharacteristically a little embarrassed—after all, the fact that he himself had his window open was a behavior that seemed impossible to whitewash.

Eavesdropping on people—shameless!

But honestly, who could resist listening~

He'd almost started treating this thing as his nightly staple show, silently cheering on the little buddy next door every time.

Li Yitong: Tch, men!

It was the first time she'd seen Bai Liang looking this slightly flustered. Before, this guy always had a gentle face, or said some cheeky lines with a roguish grin~

That look right now gave her a sense of vindicated satisfaction.

So this is how it feels when it's your turn~

Alright, we're even.

She didn't say anything else, just silently held him back when Bai Liang tried to get up to close the window.

Don't close it, I love listening.

This is the best background music.

——

There's one more update later tonight.

Last two-plus hours of double monthly votes, muah~

(End of chapter)