Chapter 20: He Is So Captivating

Gu Jingyi was momentarily stunned, though he quickly averted his gaze.

Today, Dilraba was dressed in an exquisite beige dress, the hem swaying gently with every step she took. Against the backdrop of the illuminated filming location, she formed a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

"Sister Reba, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Gu Jingyi; I look forward to working with you."

Gu Jingyi wore a warm, pleasant smile, as if he were greeting a long-time friend.

"Hello, Gu Jingyi."

Dilraba’s expression was equally natural, showing no signs of dissatisfaction regarding their equal billing. In truth, artists these days didn't place too much importance on such things; having good projects and exposure was worth more than anything else. It wasn't until after 2019 that the domestic entertainment industry would gradually enter the era of "fan wars" over billing order.

Time was tight, with no room for adjustments. After their initial introduction, they began filming the program.

The shoot started with a short film. Gu Jingyi and Dilraba stood at their designated positions in front of the cameras. After both gestured "OK" toward the lens, filming officially commenced.

The plot of the short film was simple: Gu Jingyi, while riding a bicycle, encounters a stunningly beautiful woman in Shanghai who leaves him mesmerized. Dilraba, wearing her long dress, looked so glamorous that she seemed to have just stepped out of a high-end banquet. She glanced at Gu Jingyi, not lingering for long.

The scene shifted to two years later. Gu Jingyi, now a successful entrepreneur after graduation, crosses paths with Dilraba again. They meet in a magnificent, opulent hotel to sign a business contract.

It was a plot so simple it bordered on cliché, but the photographer’s main goal was to utilize the striking appearances of the two leads to capture the fast-paced essence of Shanghai. For instance, in the beginning, Gu Jingyi wore youthful student attire. Later, when he started his business with friends, he switched into the sharp suits typical of the elite. During the shoot, he changed into several outfits of completely different styles and moved across numerous locations. As he changed clothes, the backdrop shifted to highlight the iconic, glittering lights of Shanghai. The impression of the city slowly unfolded in the minds of the audience.

These were standard interactive designs for fashion photo shoots. Before 2020, Bazaar had not yet earned the nickname "Bazaar Matchmaking Agency." At this time, collaborative short films fully upheld the "avoiding suspicion" culture prevalent in East Asian entertainment; there was almost zero unnecessary interaction between the male and female leads, perfectly aligning with what the fans wanted to see, ensuring minimal friction. However, by adding a touch of a chance encounter, it was a slight breakthrough from the norm.

In the final shot of the short film, the two meet again and sit down to sign the contract in the hotel. Both stand up, and Dilraba and Gu Jingyi shake hands to conclude the scene.

As they shook hands, a flicker of imperceptible amusement crossed Gu Jingyi’s eyes. It was as if all the efforts he had made were solely to wait for this moment. Like a hunter who had spent two years meticulously setting a trap just to get closer to his prey.

When he saw the prey fall into the trap without the slightest suspicion, the cunning hunter, despite his composed expression, let a trace of pride leak from his eyes upon achieving his goal.

Gu Jingyi’s slight improvisation made the intent of the short film much more profound. The eye contact during their first meeting on the street was not just a simple spark of attraction. By flashing a smile at Dilraba, he had quietly left his mark.

Off-camera, Chen Man paused. Although this small action was improvised, it was fitting for the scene. After some consideration, she decided not to stop him and kept the shot as the final frame of the short film.

"Cut!"

Gu Jingyi, however, seemed lost in the moment; he remained standing where he was, staring at Dilraba. If one looked closely, a hint of deep affection could be seen in his eyes.

Dilraba turned her head away awkwardly, seemingly shy.

On set, Chen Man couldn't help but walk over to Gu Jingyi and tease him, "Jingyi, while Reba is indeed very beautiful, we are still working. Don't just stand there staring at her, lost in a daze."

"It's not that. I just felt that the male lead in the short film should have that kind of emotion," Gu Jingyi said, waving his hand to explain his interpretation. "If I were the man in this film, I would never let her leave my sight. All of my affection is actually something I’ve been harboring for a long time."

Dilraba said nothing, but she found Gu Jingyi a bit strange. Most people filming fashion shorts followed the script step-by-step. It was rare to find someone like Gu Jingyi who would obsess over details and perform based on his own interpretation.

Chen Man’s reaction was quite agitated; she walked away in a hurry immediately after calling "Cut." Perhaps she wasn't far off, as Gu Jingyi could faintly hear her reporting something to her superiors.

Dilraba glanced at Gu Jingyi before looking away again. She didn't feel any aversion to this small gesture, but she did find it strange. This little episode with Gu Jingyi made her look forward to the upcoming duo cover shoot. She wondered if this "campus first-love heartthrob," who had appeared out of nowhere, would have any new interpretations by then.

Gu Jingyi didn't take the opportunity to curry favor; he stood to the side, composed, admiring the night view. Dilraba also stood her ground, showing no intention of initiating conversation.

In the quiet night, Dilraba’s thoughts surged like rising spring water. 2017 was the year she ascended to the level of a top-tier celebrity, but her resources had not kept pace. In other words, her current level of popularity had completely outgrown her status and resources. Relying on variety shows to broaden her national appeal, many in the industry did not truly view her as a top-tier star. She was only just entering the fashion world, and in the film and television industry, she was still taking on projects from Jaywalk Studio that were notorious for being mediocre.

It wasn't that Dilraba wanted to take them; it was that Jaywalk needed to fulfill a gambling agreement, constantly mining her remaining value without regard for her career prospects. No sooner had she finished one internal Jaywalk production than she was sent to film *The Flame's Daughter*, which starred another male artist from the same company. This meant that when it came to the works that define an artist’s standing, she was naturally at a disadvantage compared to others.

After *The Flame's Daughter* wrapped, it wasn't as if she hadn't voiced her opinions to the company. The uniform silence from the higher-ups left Dilraba’s heart cold. The fifth season of *Keep Running* had ended, and the fundamental problems regarding her subsequent film and television resources remained unresolved. Where should she go from here?

On this night, her current experiences and her boundless, aimless imagination about the future swirled together in her mind. A massive sense of doubt welled up in Dilraba’s heart, spreading with the wind until it became a sea of fog, trapping her within, unable to break free.

Shanghai in December was bone-chillingly cold. The damp, biting cold peculiar to the south felt like a parasite that had burrowed into the bone; the moment the sharp northern wind touched her skin, it swept through her entire body. Today, Dilraba was only wearing a beige cardigan dress, leaving her long, slender, and shapely legs exposed to the air—a stunning sight to behold. The wind seemed bedazzled, rushing directly toward those glowing, dazzling white legs, seeping into her skin inch by inch.

Dilraba couldn't help but shiver, and tiny goosebumps rose on her legs. There were only staff members off-camera; her artist team was not on-site. Dilraba could only grit her teeth and endure it in silence.

Suddenly, the biting northern wind seemed to fade from her senses. Dilraba looked up and saw a human wall. Gu Jingyi was standing ten paces away, having adjusted his position to stand directly in front of her. With his own body, he blocked the desolate, freezing wind for her.

Their gazes met, and then quickly moved away.

Gu Jingyi spoke, "Crouch down; I'll block the wind for you."