Chapter 64: Didn

「Mmm…」

Huang Shengyi rubbed her eyes, slowly sat up, and the quilt slipped from her shoulders, revealing smooth, pale, silken skin.

「Where is he? 」

Huang Shengyi looked around her empty bedroom—Yan Li and his clothes were gone—her eyes flickered with confusion.

Just then, she faintly heard voices outside; she quickly pulled on two garments and got out of bed.

When she opened the door, her heart eased slightly—Yan Li was sitting on the sofa watching the news.

「…The historical Wu Xia film Hero, directed by Zhang Yimou, has premiered domestically, with daily box office earnings exceeding ten million for several consecutive days… poised to break the domestic film record of 130 million set by Life or Death Decision…」

Hearing movement from the bedroom, Yan Li muted the TV and apologized to Huang Shengyi: 「Did I wake you up? 」

Huang Shengyi walked over, hugged him affectionately, and whispered sweetly: 「I thought you'd run off. 」

Seeing how thinly she was dressed, Yan Li feared she was cold, pulled her into his arms, and slipped his hand inside her clothes to warm her.

「This is my place. Where would I run to? 」

Huang Shengyi found his hands cold, squirmed to make him pull them out, but only relented after he pinched her twice, sinking softly against him and glaring at him reproachfully.

「You always pick on me. 」

Yan Li kissed her ear: 「Aren't you the one who enjoys it? 」

Recalling last night's wild, absurd frenzy, Huang Shengyi's face flushed crimson, yet she had to admit—she truly… enjoyed it.

The two lingered affectionately; as Yan Li's actions grew increasingly bold, Huang Shengyi blushed and whispered a plea.

「I have class today. 」

「Take a day off. 」

「No, I didn't even go home last night—if I take another day off, they'll laugh me to death. 」

「Why care what they think? They're just jealous. 」

Huang Shengyi opened her mouth to protest, but Yan Li silenced her with a kiss, one arm circling her back, the other sliding under her thighs, lifting her bodily and carrying her back into the bedroom.

…

By day, clothes are laid bare; the Yellow River flows into the sea.

To see a thousand miles further, climb one more level!

Afterward, Yan Li leaned against the headboard smoking; Huang Shengyi nestled in his arms, disliking the smoke, and told him to put it out.

Yan Li said nothing, glanced at her, then suddenly asked: 「Your ex doesn't smoke? 」

「Why bring him up? We broke up. 」

Huang Shengyi's expression grew uneasy; Yan Li exhaled smoke, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gently urged:

「I think this guy's decent—honest, steady. You should still be cautious about letting him go. 」

Huang Shengyi finally caught on, sat up straight, and frowned at Yan Li: 「What do you mean? 」

You haven't even pulled up your pants yet, and you're already pretending not to know me?!

「Look at you, getting worked up over nothing. 」

Yan Li looked innocent, his hand stroking her slender waist: 「Just chatting, that's all. I'm just curious—why did you break up? He treated you well. 」

Huang Shengyi's face turned cold: 「I don't want to talk about it. 」

「Then we won't. 」

Yan Li was easygoing—he shifted topics immediately, bringing up the news he'd just watched, and lit another cigarette.

「…If Hero truly breaks 200 million in box office, it won't just prove the mainland can produce commercial blockbusters—it'll confirm the market's vast potential. Companies and filmmakers from Xiangjiang, Taiwan, and all across Asia will come here begging for scraps. 」

Since acquiring the Intelligence System, Yan Li made time to watch the news—politics, finance, entertainment, society—he consumed it all.

Doing so triggered intelligence updates and, through system feedback, expanded his insight and sharpened his analytical judgment.

For Yan Li, the Intelligence System gave him more than information—it indirectly trained and elevated him across multiple dimensions.

Compared to the Yan Li of half a year ago, before he received the system, he was utterly transformed.

And crucially, he was still growing at a rapid pace.

Watching Yan Li speak with such fluency, Huang Shengyi's eyes flickered with admiration and reverence.

Though she had her own private thoughts, she truly found his current demeanor—commanding, decisive, pointing to the Jiang Shan—strikingly handsome.

Confident, mature, well-read, sharp, capable.

Even his bare-chested cigarette smoking, upon closer reflection, carried a certain rugged, untamed charm.

In contrast, her ex-boyfriend Jia Nailiang—

He fixated on trivial matters: asking if she was cold or hungry, recommending restaurants, recommending games, worrying whether she'd fail her final exams—so childish.

He coddled her constantly, always agreeing, appearing weak and indecisive, lacking any real masculine spirit.

Yan Li had been speaking enthusiastically, but when he noticed Huang Shengyi's gaze softening into tender adoration, he paused mid-sentence.

「Hungry? I'll go make you something to eat. 」

Yan Li dressed and left the bedroom; hearing sounds from the kitchen, Huang Shengyi's heart swelled with sweetness.

Earlier he worried about her being cold, now he worried about her being hungry—Master Brother may seem careless on the surface, but inwardly he's thoughtful, attentive…

————

This apartment in Zhiqiang Nan Yuan had been rented by Yan Li for only a short time; he'd barely stayed here. Appliances and bedding were intact, but there was little food.

Too lazy to travel far, he went downstairs to the neighborhood convenience store, bought eggs and ham, then boiled a few packs of instant noodles.

Huang Shengyi didn't complain—she ate heartily and praised Yan Li's cooking.

After eating, Yan Li took out his bag and pulled out a stack of cash.

Lately, Yan Li had been busy with social obligations; cash was more convenient than cards, so he always kept a few thousand yuan on hand.

With a light flick of his fingers, he counted out twenty hundred-yuan bills, glanced at Huang Shengyi—her face like a hibiscus, posture elegant—and swiftly added ten more.

Totaling 3,000 yuan, Yan Li placed it before Huang Shengyi, who turned pale and demanded angrily.

"What do you think I am?!"

Huang Shengyi's father was a university professor, a graduate of Tsinghua, descended from the Jiangxia Huang lineage; her mother was an editor at a newspaper. Their family was not wealthy, but they were a scholarly household.

If Yan Li thought of her as one of those women who sleep with you and then take money and leave, it would be a grave insult.

"What are you thinking?"

Yan Li rubbed Huang Shengyi's head and coaxed, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just want to give you some pocket money—for clothes, meals, things like that. I'm busy most of the time and can't look after you well; having money on hand will make things easier."

He might not want to take responsibility, but Yan Li was never the type to take what he wanted and then act as if nothing happened.

His career had just begun; he had no other talents, but giving her occasional pocket money or small gifts made her happy and didn't weigh on his conscience.

Regardless of everything, it was a kind of fate, and Yan Li sincerely hoped they could part on good terms.

Hearing this, Huang Shengyi's expression softened slightly, but she still shook her head and refused: "I don't want it."

"Listen to me!"

Yan Li's face hardened, his tone sharpened—and Huang Shengyi, oddly, always responded to this. Reluctantly, she took the money.

"That's better. Use it first; if you need more, ask me."

Yan Li kissed Huang Shengyi, who felt both happy and melancholy, then suddenly blurted out:

"Is this what you call keeping me?"

Yan Li laughed: "You overestimate me. I can't afford to keep you."

Not even a steady mistress!

Huang Shengyi caught Yan Li's implication, bit her lip, and said: "If you ever get a role, can you help me get it?"

"No problem."

Yan Li agreed readily—if he encountered a suitable opportunity or role, with this connection, he would naturally recommend her.

But whether she got it would depend entirely on her own ability.

Forget about going all out for her like he had for Dong Xuan with "Snow Goddess Dragon."

Dong Xuan was Yan Li's ex-girlfriend; they had started dating in their first year of college, spent over a year deeply in love, and their bond far surpassed that of ordinary couples.

Hearing Yan Li agree so readily, Huang Shengyi felt a little better inside.

He gives me money, he promises to help—Senior Brother still cares about me…

(End of Chapter)