Hidden Affection - Chapter 01
The April weather was not too cold, even at night, with a warm floral fragrance drifting in the air—perhaps from gardenias blooming somewhere nearby.
After finishing the recording, Ning Zhi stepped out to find the car already waiting by the roadside.
As soon as she got into the car, she leaned back in her seat, exhausted to the point where she wished she could disassemble every bone in her body, letting it sprawl out without any support for complete relaxation.
The agent Jiang Peng in the passenger seat turned around, clearly wanting to say something but finding it difficult to bring up.
Seeing the wool felt doll in her hand, he seemed to have found a good conversation starter and asked with interest, « Where did this come from? A gift from a fan? It’s quite exquisite—must have taken a lot of time, right? »
This wool felt doll was much larger than usual, longer than an adult’s palm.
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The creator must have not only spent a considerable amount of time but also put in great effort to shape it into Ning Zhi’s cartoon likeness, with the little expression being remarkably lifelike.
Ning Zhi lazily lifted her eyelids, signaling to get to the point.
Jiang Peng cleared his throat and smiled, saying, « President Su just called. There’s an announcement he wants to discuss with you personally and asked you to come to the company immediately. »
…
…
« Now? » Ning Zhi straightened up.
It was already past 1 a.m. Ning Zhi had been working nonstop since 5 in the morning. Jiang Peng also knew how unreasonable it was to ask her to rush to the company at this hour, especially since she had been maintaining such an intense workload for nearly a month.
But there was no way around it—when the boss gave an order, he didn’t dare disobey.
It must be a major announcement if they’re calling you this late. Just go ahead, and I’ll contact tomorrow morning’s program team to push back your recording time so you can sleep in a bit more.
Ning Zhi pressed her lips together, clearly displeased. No one could maintain a good mood after receiving such an unexpected overtime notice.
But she didn’t lash out, merely nodding before adding, « No need to push it back. »
Her schedule was already packed with various commitments. Pushing back the morning appointment would mean rearranging the afternoon ones as well, and she didn’t want her itinerary disrupted.
With that said, she leaned back into the seat and closed her eyes again.
The car headed toward the company. At half past one in the morning, the city’s roads were much emptier, and the bustling metropolis briefly quieted down. The amber streetlights cast a warm, almost endearing glow over the cold steel and concrete.
Jiang Peng wasn’t sleepy. He took out his tablet, double-checked Ning Zhi’s schedule for the next day, and as he looked up, his gaze caught sight of her reflection in the rearview mirror.
Her eyes were closed—whether she was asleep or simply resting, her face was relaxed, and she still held the wool felt doll given to her by a fan.
She was dressed in her own casual clothes—a white hooded sweatshirt with a loose neckline that revealed her slender neck. Her lips were thin, with a small pink lip pearl at the center of her upper lip. When she pursed them slightly, a pair of tiny dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.
Her nose was high-bridged, with deep-set eyes that were somewhat narrow in shape. When she smiled, they curved like crescent moons, exuding a delicate softness.
The streetlights surged into the car like a tide, then receded, casting flowing shadows and light across her face.
No matter how many times he looked, Jiang Peng was always amazed by the exquisite beauty of Ning Zhi’s features. Even in an entertainment industry teeming with stunning looks, Ning Zhi’s appearance stood out among the very best.
Yet what astonished Jiang Peng even more than her appearance was her sheer luck.
Ever since the first talent show variety became a hit, the entertainment industry had proven the success of this star-making model. Since then, several similar shows were unfailingly produced every year, featuring both highly talented amateurs from the public and batches of trainees manufactured by major capital-backed agencies.
Ning Zhi belonged to the former. When she plunged headfirst into the entertainment industry—a melting pot of complexities—she had no connections, pure as a blank sheet of paper. With just a guitar on her back and the spirited confidence of youth, she stood on the stage of that music competition show.
Luck truly is an enigmatic thing.
When she first appeared in public, mixed among the many young people who either harbored dreams or sought fame and fortune in the entertainment industry, who could have imagined that she would skyrocket to fame in just one short summer.
In the end, she even overshadowed the male lead of that year’s summer-limited BL adaptation drama, becoming the new top-tier celebrity in the public eye.
Jiang Peng didn’t know how Ning Zhi felt about transforming from an ordinary freshman into a red-hot singer, but as her agent from the very beginning of her career, he was well aware that Ning Zhi was never content with being just an ordinary celebrity in the conventional sense.
The car stopped in the company’s underground parking lot.
Jiang Peng turned his head and said, « We’re here. Time to get off. »
Ning Zhi opened her eyes, her rims still slightly red with lingering drowsiness. She hesitated for a few seconds before pushing the car door open and stepping out in a daze.
The wool felt placed on her lap slipped off with her movement and fell to the ground.
Jiang Peng exclaimed, « Hey, » and was about to pick it up for her when Ning Zhi waved her hand, bent down to retrieve it, and casually stuffed it into the pocket of her hoodie. As she straightened up, the drowsiness in her eyes vanished—she was fully awake now.
The door to Su Xin’s office was open.
As soon as she stepped inside, the reception area was shrouded in smoke. Su Xin had a cigarette dangling from her lips, with two others seated beside her—one facing the door, whom Ning Zhi didn’t recognize, and another sitting on the sofa with their back to the entrance.
When Ning Zhi caught sight of that head of white short hair, her heart skipped a beat. Her expression remained unchanged, but her gaze was already glued to that person.
Su Xin looked up as they entered and immediately smiled, holding the cigarette between her fingers. « You’re here? »
Ning Zhi didn’t make a sound. She walked closer and looked at the person with their back to the door.
It was a woman in her thirties or forties, with evenly dyed white hair. She wore a misty blue silk blouse, the sleeves rolled up to three-quarter length, revealing wrists that were almost too slender. Between her fingers rested a slender cigarette, its ash grown long, the smoke curling upward and casting a hazy veil over her features.
Hearing Su Xin’s words, she turned her head, resting her elbow naturally on the back of the sofa.
Her eyes swept over Ning Zhi, finally settling on her face before she smiled—a smile that carried the grace of a mature woman.
Su Xin’s gaze lightly rested on Ning Zhi for a moment. Jiang Peng understood the cue and immediately stepped forward, smiling as he said, « Sorry to keep you waiting, sorry! That show was dragging on forever and took up way too much time. Ah-Zhi, come meet… »
Just as he was introducing Ning Zhi, she smoothly took over the conversation: « Good evening, Director Mei. »
The moment she saw that iconic head of white hair, she had already guessed it was her—though she still couldn’t quite believe it.
Mei Lan, currently the most renowned director in the country, masterfully blends commercial appeal with profound humanistic depth. A multiple international film award winner, she has twice broken domestic box office records. Every actor dreams of working with her.
It’s truly a major announcement worth making a late-night trip for; even if the collaboration doesn’t work out, this single meeting alone is precious enough.
Mei Lan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment of the greeting, then gestured toward the sofa opposite her. « Have a seat, make yourself at home. I’m just borrowing President Su’s space to discuss a script with you. »
« No need to be so formal about borrowing. If you take a liking to our young talent, I’d be honored to even turn my office into a filming set, » Su Xin said with a leisurely smile, skillfully showcasing his regard for the studio’s star.
Mei Lan smiled, faint lines appearing at the corners of her eyes. They didn’t make her look old but rather reflected the沉淀 of time and a touch of serene composure.
She extended her hand to the side, and the man who appeared to be her assistant immediately retrieved a script from his bag and placed it in her palm.
Meilan handed the script to Ning Zhi, « Take a look first. »
Ning Zhi received it with both hands. She could sense Meilan’s urgency—otherwise, she wouldn’t have come in person late at night, carrying the script with her and immediately asking her to read it.
So without further ado, she took it and began flipping through the pages.
What a sweet spring dream, where love runs deep between us.
The first thing that caught my eye was this sentence.
Ning Zhi’s gaze paused, her fingertips unconsciously brushing lightly over the page before she continued reading.
She didn’t read it carefully, as the current situation didn’t allow her to savor every word in detail.
After skimming through about ten pages and grasping the general outline of the story, she stopped and looked at Meilan. Hesitating for a moment, she asked uncertainly, « Do you want me to play the role of Chisheng? »
Meilan smiled faintly and nodded slowly.
Ningzhi pursed her lips, then flipped open the script again and read a few more pages.
It’s a dual-female-lead drama featuring a high school girl and a prostitute, with Chisheng playing the role of the high school student.
Just from the character settings, this theme already hints at forbidden entanglements. Set against the backdrop of summer, Ningzhi can already envision the scorching sunlight in the final film, intertwined with burning ambiguity, emotions, and love, creating a sizzling blend of passion and desire.
Meilan wasn’t in a hurry to rush her. Instead, while Ningzhi was reading the script, she took the opportunity to observe her carefully. At twenty years old, playing a seventeen-year-old high school student wasn’t much of a stretch. As for her looks, there was no need to say more—being a top-tier star, her beauty was undoubtedly one in a million.
What made Ningzhi even more exceptional was her photogenic face—a straight nose bridge, a well-balanced midline, and eyes that seemed to speak volumes, carrying the weight of countless unspoken words while still retaining the clarity and innocence of someone untainted by the world, a perfect blend of contradiction and harmony.
Her height was just right. Meilan’s gaze drifted slightly downward, catching sight of the half-exposed wool felt doll peeking out from Ning Zhi’s hoodie pocket. Thanks to her slim figure, the stuffed toy barely made a bulge despite being tucked inside.
Yet this childish trinket, half-hidden in her pocket, somehow suited her image in an unexpectedly fitting way.
While Meilan was observing, Ning Zhi flipped a few more pages back.
Sensing she had seen enough, Meilan spoke up, « So? Do you want to star in this film? »
How many people would have the heart to turn down her movie?
The gazes of the remaining three people all fell on Ning Zhi.
Jiang Peng, afraid she might suddenly act foolishly, quickly said, « You must be joking. Landing the lead role in your film is something anyone would jump at—who in their right mind would refuse? Right, Ah Zhi? »
While speaking, he kept winking at her vigorously, urging her to quickly agree.
Meilan smiled at him, then turned her gaze to Ning Zhi and said slowly, « I need to hear it from Ning Zhi herself. »
Ning Zhi asked, « May I ask why, out of so many professional actors, you chose an amateur like me? »
Although the entertainment industry today is quite murky, acting skills have become the most dispensable aspect. Anyone can dive into the acting circle, and what gets produced hardly matters—there’s always a massive fanbase ready to foot the bill.
But the key to Meilan’s immense success lies in her meticulous approach to filmmaking. To put it simply, in terms of acting alone, any actor she’s worked with in the past could easily outshine Ning Zhi.
It was no surprise that Ning Zhi had such doubts, and Mei Lan wasn’t taken aback either. Instead, her smile deepened. « You’re popular, and I’d like to ride on your coattails—save a fortune on promotion costs. »
Her tone was teasing, making it hard to tell how much was genuine and how much was pretense. Ning Zhi pondered for a moment, guessing that her popularity played some role, though likely not a major one.
You flatter me. I may have some popularity, but if you wanted an actor with clout, you could pick anyone in the entertainment industry.
Her bluntness earned Mei Lan’s admiration. The worst thing about young people was their inability to see their own place, getting carried away by a few flattering words.
Your appearance is the most suitable. The character’s persona is crucial, and I’ve had many people audition, but none were satisfactory. Later, someone recommended you.
So it was about matching the character’s appearance. Ning Zhi fell silent for a moment. Still undecided about taking the role, she asked another question: « Has the other lead, Ruan Yinmeng, been cast yet? »
Jiang Peng was startled by her bold question and immediately shot her a warning glance, signaling her to stop.
It’s normal to ask about your co-star when accepting a role, but Ning Zhi’s tone clearly suggested she had someone in mind for the other part.
She hasn’t even decided whether to act yet, but she’s already interfering with the casting. That question crossed the line.
Meilan didn’t take offense, seemingly surprised by the question. She shook her head and asked, « Why? Do you have someone to recommend? »
A flicker of hesitation and unease flashed in Ning Zhi’s eyes, but she quickly lowered her lashes, concealing those emotions. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her tone carrying an unconscious weight of reverence as she uttered a name: « Shen Yizhi. »
Speaking the name aloud seemed to relieve a great weight off her chest. Her brows relaxed slightly as she asked earnestly, « Do you think it’s suitable? »
The office fell silent in an instant, with the remaining four people all turning their gaze toward her.
Su Xin, who had remained silent until then, let out a faint laugh and shook her head, remarking, « She doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. »
Jiang Peng was much the same, though more reserved, gently advising her to reconsider: « Ah Zhi, you’ve always been focused on music and probably haven’t paid attention to the film industry. Shen Yizhi’s projects aren’t so easy to book. »
