Chapter 49

Chapter 49
Ming Huai looked utterly baffled. On second thought, could Xu Zhuoyan’s reaction mean he really was in love? The Ji and Xu families were old friends who had known each other for years, yet in their memories, Xu Zhuoyan had only been in one serious relationship. After that long-term romance ended several years ago, he had remained single ever since.
“You’re not actually in a relationship, are you? What happened, did you forget your first love?” Ming Huai asked with a wry smile. As far as he knew, that past romance had left an indelible mark on Xu Zhuoyan. Ming Huai clearly remembered that Xu Zhuoyan hadn’t always been so cold and distant; it was only after the breakup that he’d turned into this version of himself.
At the mention of this, Xu Zhuoyan’s emotions shifted noticeably. His voice grew low and steady. “I’ve forgotten her. Lately, I’m just having some fun with someone.”
“I see…” Ming Huai found this increasingly strange. Although it wasn’t really his place to interfere, he couldn’t help but offer a warning. “Take it easy, alright?” After a moment, he changed the subject. “Thanks again for last time. Things between Tingqian and me wouldn’t have progressed so quickly without your help.”
After exchanging a few more words, they hung up. Ming Huai tucked his phone away, lowering his head as he lost himself in thought. He wondered whether he should call Ji Peihan next, and more importantly, whether he ought to tell Ji Tingqian the truth.
Yet a film set is hardly an ideal place for a phone call. The only reason Ming Huai had chosen to call Xu Zhuoyan here was his assumption that their conversation wouldn’t last long. Pushing aside his lingering thoughts, he turned and began walking toward the set, but after taking just two steps, he lifted his gaze and froze on the spot.
This entire area is filled with ancient structures. The film crew is currently shooting on location. Ming Huai, worried that straying too far from the set would make walking troublesome due to the winding paths, hadn’t ventured far. Standing beneath the eaves was none other than Ji Tingqian. No one knew how long he had been standing there, nor how much of their conversation he had actually heard.
This reminded Ming Huai of when they were filming “The Farmhouse Courtyard”; it was just like this. Whenever he and Lin Zhimeng got into an argument, Ji Tingqian would stand silently in one spot.
“Brother Ji,” Ming Huai called out, clutching his phone with a nervous tremor. His eyes darted restlessly, finding no place to settle; the uncertainty of what lay ahead filled him with unease. Ji Tingqian made no other move, simply watching him. It was precisely this silence that made Ming Huai’s tension mount—though, of course, it was far better than if Ji Tingqian had launched straight into an interrogation.
After a moment, Ji Tingqian strode toward Ming Huai. He lowered his gaze and reached out to take Ming Huai’s hand. Enveloped by the warm, dry grasp of that large hand, Ming Huai only then realized his own palm had grown damp with sweat.
Ming Huai looked up, somewhat at a loss. “I…”
Ji Tingqian cut him off, a slight curve playing at the corner of his lips as he lifted his gaze once more, his eyes soft and tender in that way reserved solely for Ming Huai. “The moment filming wrapped, you vanished without a trace. I just had some drinks delivered, along with a few of your favorite desserts. Let’s head back first.”
Ming Huai was speechless for a long while, allowing Ji Tingqian to lead him by the hand toward the film set in a daze. As figures began to appear in the distance, Ji Tingqian still refused to let go. Ming Huai tugged at his hand in haste, but Ji Tingqian held firm, tightening his grip instead.
“Brother Ji!” Ming Huai exclaimed in agitation.
Suddenly, Ji Tingqian laughed—a rare sound that lit up his eyes and softened the sharp angles of his handsome face like a spring breeze passing over winter frost. After his brief amusement, he released Ming Huai’s hand; clearly, this had been nothing more than a small prank.
“Don’t do that again,” Ming Huai scolded, shooting him a glare before rubbing his reddened cheeks. Being looked at by Ji Tingqian in such a way was almost too much for him to bear.
After all that commotion, Ming Huai’s heart felt lighter, and the smile on his face grew more genuine. Mostly because he believed Ji Tingqian hadn’t overheard that conversation.
Chatting and laughing, the two arrived at the film set, only to discover fans had come to visit. More than a dozen young girls were hovering around Tang Lili and Amy; clearly, they were supporters of both Ji Tingqian and Ming Huai.
It was quite a sight to behold. For so long, Ming Huai’s and Ji Tingqian’s fanbases had traded vicious insults online with gleeful fervor. Yet ever since “The Farmhouse Courtyard” aired, tensions between the two camps had eased. Of course, after such fierce battles, turning hostility into genuine camaraderie wasn’t something that could happen overnight. But judging by the scene before them, both sides seemed to be getting along remarkably well.
As soon as Ming Huai and Ji Tingqian arrived, the young girls spotted them instantly. Their eyes lit up, short gasps of delighted surprise escaped their lips, and smiles tugged irresistibly at the corners of their mouths.
Among them were a few who had been fans of Ming Huai since his debut, essentially serving as fan leaders; they had visited the set not just once or twice. Over such a long period, Ming Huai had become quite familiar with them.
Ji Tingqian and Ming Huai greeted everyone, while the girls presented some gifts. To Ming Huai’s surprise, Ji Tingqian’s fans had also prepared gifts for him, and his own fans had done the same for Ji Tingqian.
One of the girls joked half-seriously, “Oh my, since you two brothers are so close, we fans should learn from your example!”
Ming Huai couldn’t help but smile. He nudged Ji Tingqian beside him and teased, “Brother, they say we have such a great relationship. What do you think?”
Ji Tingqian seemed unusually prone to smiling today; with a faint smile, he readily replied, “Yes.”
The fans felt as though they were about to faint. Just look at the doting tone, the adoring gaze, and the indulgent expression that Gao Ling Zhi Hua Ji directed toward Huaihuai. Nothing is more exhilarating than official sugar-dropping, and they were witnesses to this very scene. Spreading word of this would have them screaming with excitement!
The girls restrained their racing, pink-tinted hearts, exchanged knowing glances, and then, blushing, asked for autographs and photos. Tang Lili took some pictures for them.
They didn’t stay long on set. Only after everyone had left did Ming Huai tug at Ji Tingqian, asking if he had known all along that people were coming, since Ji Tingqian hadn’t looked the least bit surprised.
“Mm,” Ji Tingqian nodded. “Amy told me yesterday, and they came together.”
It seemed their relationship had indeed improved significantly.
That evening, after returning to his room, Ming Huai called Ji Peihan. She expressed great satisfaction with this progress, smiling as she said, “That’s good. Now we just need Mom and Dad’s approval.”
Ming Huai suddenly remarked, “Don’t forget, my brother still doesn’t know what I am to him.”
Ji Peihan was momentarily at a loss. She walked over to the window and gazed downward, offering an awkward smile. “It does seem that way… What are your thoughts on this matter?”
Ming Huai leaned back, staring dejectedly at the ceiling, and let out a soft sigh. “My original plan was to tell my brother once he and I were back together. But now… I’m not quite sure how to bring it up.”
This was indeed a major dilemma. If the two had merely been lovers before, it would have been one thing; but they were also brothers—albeit without blood ties, they still shared the same surname.
“Should I try to test the waters for you?” Ji Peihan’s own tone was filled with extreme uncertainty.
Ultimately, the root cause of this awkward situation lay in Ji Kun and Dong Ruman’s initial concealment from Ji Tingqian. Their deception involved conspiring with everyone around them; it sounded like a tale from One Thousand and One Nights, yet they had indeed pulled it off.
Back when Ming Huai and Ji Tingqian’s relationship was exposed, neither Ji Kun nor Dong Ruman could accept it. Ji Kun, in particular, had beaten Ji Tingqian within an inch of his life, declaring that he no longer had a son by that name.
In the eyes of the elderly couple, Ji Tingqian was the older brother. Now that he and Ming Huai were together, they naturally assumed Ji Tingqian had led Ming Huai astray. They would never give their consent, yet separating Ming Huai and Ji Tingqian was equally impossible.
Coincidentally, Ji Tingqian was about to graduate at that time. He had been taking on various odd jobs here and there, gaining a modest reputation in the industry thanks to his striking appearance.
Even before graduation, Haiyu Entertainment had expressed interest in signing him. After this incident occurred, he urgently needed financial independence, so matters that would normally require careful consideration were swiftly settled.
His subsequent developments nearly drove Ji Kun and Dong Ruman to madness. After signing the contract, Ji Tingqian accepted a supporting male role in a television drama. Once he received a decent payment for his work, he immediately moved Ming Huai out of the Ji family home. His message was clear: as long as the elders refused to approve their relationship, they would not return even for a single day.
Those initial days were indeed quite difficult. Previously, with older brothers and sisters above them, they never had to worry about anything; whatever they wished to do enjoyed the support of their siblings. Relying on the Ji family’s vast resources, their clothing, food, and daily necessities were all of the finest quality, everything going smoothly and according to their desires. But now, having fallen out with the family, they were no longer the pampered young master and miss; every matter, from daily life to career pursuits, they had to resolve entirely on their own.
Ming Huai was the youngest in his family and had been raised with the utmost indulgence. Though the child never complained, enduring everything silently, believing that simply being together with his beloved older brother was happiness enough, Ji Tingqian could not bear to let him suffer even a shred of hardship or fatigue. During that time, he accepted every engagement offered, all so they might enjoy a little more financial ease.
Since I can no longer accompany you as I once did, I must not allow my beloved to suffer any further hardship in any other way.
Ji Kun and Dong Ruman ultimately couldn’t bear to let their two children suffer out in the world. Although Ji Tingqian had done these things, they hadn’t resorted to extreme measures to force the pair back, yet neither would they offer any assistance.
The fact that Ming Huai and Ji Tingqian had never shared a stage since Ji Tingqian’s accident and subsequent comeback was no coincidence; it was the result of sabotage by Ji Kun and Dong Ruman. Their ability to meet now indirectly signaled that the two had finally relented.
Ming Huai snapped out of his memories, a heavy weight settling over his heart. He twisted the corner of his shirt between his fingers, clenched his jaw, and said, “Sister, could you please test the waters for me? This matter will have to come out sooner or later anyway.”