022 Huang Xiaoming's heart shattered into pieces

After finishing their meal, Qin Lan packed up the leftover cake, and the two left the restaurant.

Yan Li had originally wanted to find a place for karaoke or something similar, but Qin Lan felt that singing as a duo wouldn't be much fun. She suggested a stroll through the nearby small woods instead, noting it would be quiet and cool.

Since it was Qin Lan's birthday, her word was law.

It was night, and the small woods were quite dark without streetlights, so the pair walked along the nearby streets. Because of the heat, Yan Li bought two ice cream bars, one for each of them.

"Oh, that's right."

Biting into his ice cream, Yan Li reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a small, egg-sized box. "Almost forgot your birthday gift."

Qin Lan opened it to find a blue crystal necklace. Under the streetlights, it sparkled quite beautifully.

She had Yan Li help her put it on. Qin Lan couldn't keep her hands off it, her fingers gently stroking the crystal, though she spoke with feigned reluctance.

"This must have been expensive. Between the dinner and the cake today, you’ve spent way too much. No, you should return it."

"It wasn't expensive."

Yan Li waved his hand dismissively. "I bought it at a gift shop on the pedestrian street. Seventy-five yuan without a receipt."

Qin Lan: "..."

How on earth did his ex-girlfriend ever fall for him!?

Although she learned the price was under three figures, Qin Lan had no intention of taking the necklace off. Instead, she went with the flow and accepted the gift.

Afterward, the two chatted about their future plans.

Due to the constraints of his intelligence system, Yan Li spoke in vague terms, summarizing his plans as returning to Beijing to seek opportunities. Qin Lan, however, was much more specific and clear.

Although she had filmed Qiong Yao's *My Fair Princess III*, Qin Lan was not an artist under Qiong Yao's agency, Zhongjie Media.

The ones signed to Zhongjie Media were Huang Yi, who played Xiaoyanzi, and Liu Tao, who played Princess Musha. Jiang Qinqin, who also appeared in *My Fair Princess III*, was also affiliated with Zhongjie.

Qin Lan's current agency was Huaxia Film and Television, a subsidiary of Hunan Broadcasting, which was also the production house for the *My Fair Princess* series.

Huaxia Film and Television was backed by Hunan TV; while it lacked a flashy reputation, its actual strength was formidable.

Having acted in *My Fair Princess III*, Qin Lan was naturally being valued by the company. Even before the filming of that production had wrapped, she heard her agent had already lined up her next project.

"My agent told me that if *My Fair Princess III* does well, she might be able to secure a lead role for me."

Qin Lan shared the promise her agent had made, her face glowing with beautiful anticipation for a bright future.

In truth, Qin Lan had played a lead role before, but not in any serious, professional production. One was a short film, and the other was a rural drama—neither of which was ever even broadcast.

So, when she spoke of a "lead role," she meant the lead in a proper film or television production, which was the ultimate dream for countless young, aspiring actors.

Yan Li’s dream was also to be a lead actor once!

Looking at it now, he still had a ways to go to achieve that goal, but Yan Li trusted in his system and felt confident about it.

In a relaxed mood, Yan Li joked with Qin Lan, "When you become a big star and I haven't made it yet, I'll come and rely on you."

Qin Lan took it all in stride, saying, "Don't worry, I'll have your back then."

...

Walking and resting, they chatted for over an hour before Yan Li suggested walking Qin Lan back to her hotel.

Qin Lan still felt like the night wasn't over, but she didn't object, and the two strolled slowly toward her hotel.

As they neared the hotel, Yan Li had just finished persuading Qin Lan that she didn't need to see him off at the train station when he heard a man's voice behind them.

"Qin Lan?"

Yan Li turned around to see a handsome, bald man looking at them in surprise. Under the dim streetlights, his face showed a hint of sorrow and distress.

Having caught a glimpse of him when he previously dropped Qin Lan off, Yan Li recognized him instantly.

A fellow alumnus from the Beijing Film Academy and a suitor of Qin Lan—Huang Xiaoming.

Yan Li's first reaction was to look at Qin Lan. Without a cue from her, he couldn't be sure how she wanted to handle this suitor—whether to clarify things, keep the peace, ignore him, or give him the cold shoulder.

Qin Lan didn't hesitate. She reached out and hooked her arm into Yan Li’s, acting intimate, and then greeted Huang Xiaoming calmly.

"Oh, Teacher Huang. Is something up so late?"

Huang Xiaoming’s smile was somewhat strained. "Just out for a walk after dinner. And this is?"

With her arm still linked in Yan Li's, Qin Lan subtly kicked him in the back of the leg. Yan Li understood instantly and flashed a polite, enthusiastic smile, stepping forward to shake Huang Xiaoming's hand.

"Hello, I'm Qin Lan's boyfriend, Yan Li."

"Hello, hello."

Under the light, Huang Xiaoming sized Yan Li up. Well, he wasn't bad-looking, he was taller than him, and broader in the shoulders. His heart grew even more bitter, yet he clung to a sliver of hope.

"Where do you work, buddy? I haven't heard Qin Lan mention you before."

"I wouldn't call it 'working' anywhere fancy. I'm just scraping by on the set next door."

Yan Li took out his cigarette case to offer Huang Xiaoming one, lighting one for himself as well. He gave Qin Lan a look, and she glared at him, though she obediently took the lighter to light his cigarette.

Exhaling a puff of smoke with satisfaction, Yan Li smoothly slid his arm around Qin Lan’s waist, pulling her into his side.

Then, looking at Huang Xiaoming’s complex expression, he continued to explain.

"We haven't been dating long. Lanlan's company is quite strict about relationships, and the set is full of prying eyes, so we kept it quiet."

"I see."

Huang Xiaoming nodded, taking another look at the two of them pressed close together, and forced a smile.

"A perfect match. I won't disturb you two any further. I have things to attend to, so I'll be going."

Yan Li enthusiastically tried to keep him. "Stay and chat a while longer! Lanlan said you’ve been very helpful to her on set, and I haven't had the chance to thank you properly."

"No, no."

"Alright then, you go ahead and get busy. We'll chat next time, and I'll be sure to thank you then."

Yan Li kept his smile as he waved goodbye. Huang Xiaoming walked away with his head down, his retreating figure looking as if he were fleeing in defeat.

"This guy doesn't seem as thick-skinned as you said," Yan Li remarked, thinking Qin Lan had exaggerated. She stared at him strangely and couldn't help but retort.

"That's because you’re even more shameless than he is."

"Lanlan, how can you say that? I did it all for you. You're not being very wifely."

"Ugh."

Qin Lan pretended to gag, then looked at the hand Yan Li still had around her waist, her face flushing slightly.

"Take it off already."

"Don't be in such a rush. There's no guarantee that guy doesn't have a change of heart and is lurking somewhere nearby watching. If the act falls apart while I'm not here, he'll just go back to bothering you."

Hearing this, Qin Lan, who hadn't been resisting much to begin with, became even more compliant.

"Then let's wait a little longer."

Yan Li held her silently for a while. With a beauty in his arms, his hand inevitably began to wander, touching and poking. Qin Lan endured it for a moment, but when his "claws" began to roam too far, she gritted her teeth and said:

"Is this also to prevent him from having a change of heart?"

"Yup."

Yan Li nodded righteously and added, "I don't think this is enough, actually. I need to add a bit more."

Qin Lan was so angry she laughed. "Add what?"

Yan Li turned to face her. Before she could process what was happening, he cupped her face and kissed her hard, only pulling away after a dozen seconds.

"Just that."

With that, Yan Li pulled away and ran, leaving behind one last sentence: "You were the one who kissed me first, remember?"

He had waited days for this, but he had finally gotten his revenge!

Watching Yan Li’s retreating figure, Qin Lan, who had been feeling indignant, touched her lips and suddenly burst into a bright smile, her eyes filled with tenderness as she softly scolded:

"Scoundrel."

In the corner of the hotel lobby, a certain man surnamed Huang who had been secretly watching the whole scene felt his heart shatter into pieces...