Chapter 21: Ambiguity

Dilraba glanced at him, and ripples of light danced in Gu Jingyi's clear eyes. Standing in the night, he was as gentle as spring water.

"Thank you."

Murmuring softly, Dilraba pulled her knees together and crouched down. Hiding obediently behind the windbreak, she traced Gu Jingyi's shadow with her fingertips like a little girl.

Gu Jingyi took off his suit jacket, turned his head, and handed it to her.

"Use the jacket... to cover your legs. You're about to have a wardrobe malfunction."

Perhaps feeling a bit awkward, Gu Jingyi—who had been perfectly composed from the start of the shoot—spoke with a slightly wavering voice. Though he recovered quickly, he couldn't hide it from Dilraba, who was standing just ten paces away. She could hear every subtle change in him.

A faint smile replaced the expression on Dilraba’s face. She had to admit that Gu Jingyi was different from what she had imagined. When she first learned she would be collaborating with this rising star, she hadn't held high expectations. Subconsciously, she had applied the stereotypes she formed from previous newcomers she had "mentored" to Gu Jingyi as well. Now, that seemed both biased and presumptuous.

The jacket still held Gu Jingyi's lingering warmth, and the chill from the wind against her legs began to fade. This warm touch felt like a barrier, sealing out the cold. The belated comfort and warmth made Dilraba squint her eyes in contentment.

She thought to herself that Gu Jingyi was truly a gentle person. A person who wasn't gentle wouldn't notice their partner shivering in the cold wind. A person who wasn't gentle wouldn't stand at the edge of the wind to shield her. He kept his distance at exactly ten paces—a gap that would prevent the staff on set from misinterpreting their interaction.

This gentle gesture sent soft ripples through Dilraba's heart. If all the newcomers she was tasked with "mentoring" were like Gu Jingyi, her life would be much easier. She pursed her lips slightly, watching his figure with a dazed expression.

"Little Gu, I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful." Dilraba couldn't help but tease him with a smile. "With such a gentle and considerate nature, your girlfriend must be very happy."

Gu Jingyi shook his head. "Not at all. My standards are actually quite high. I’d rather focus on my career for a few years. I’ll consider that once the gap between me and the actress I admire has narrowed."

"An actress?" Dilraba felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of agitation; she had caught the key point immediately.

"So you like someone in the industry? Who is it? Is she very famous? That’s strange—are you actually worried she wouldn't be interested in you?"

Dilraba's brows twitched as she mentally scanned the names of the top-tier actresses in the industry, though none seemed to fit given Gu Jingyi's age. For some reason, she felt a flare of irritation and, caught up in the emotion, asked directly.

As a rising star, Gu Jingyi had good acting skills and a keen sense of fashion. Coming from Huace, a powerhouse for hit intellectual properties, it was impossible for him to be a nobody in the circle. Top-tier actresses wouldn't necessarily mind a man's professional standing; being young and handsome was the best currency.

"Wouldn't Sister Reba not be interested in me?"

Dilraba met his smiling eyes and hurriedly looked away. "What are you talking about? Who said I'm not interested in you?"

"Are you really not?" Gu Jingyi leaned down, tilting his head to catch the expression on her face.

Feeling inexplicably flustered, Dilraba pushed his face away and stood up. Her red lips parted, and just as she was about to say something, footsteps approached from afar. Seeing who it was, Dilraba’s lips trembled, and she fell silent.

"Sorry to keep you both waiting. The chemistry you two had was so good that I got a bit lost in conversation with the magazine team." Photographer Chen Man walked in, beaming at Gu Jingyi and Dilraba. After a brief explanation, she moved to the next phase of the shoot. "Jingyi, Reba, let's head inside. The set is ready."

The two followed the Harper's Bazaar photography crew to the indoor set. This was the highlight of the shoot: the cover. To fit the theme of "glitz and glamour," the entire bedroom set was decorated with extreme luxury.

"Gu Jingyi, wait a moment." As Gu Jingyi habitually reached for the outfit provided by the staff, Chen Man stopped him. "Don't wear that one. Try this instead."

She handed him a new outfit. Gu Jingyi took it politely, headed to the dressing room, and emerged after adjusting his collar in the mirror.

"Perfect. I knew this would suit you."

The style was similar to the previous set but with more intricate details. His tie was draped loosely around his collar, and his shirt was left partially unbuttoned, revealing well-defined pectoral muscles. Every muscle exuded a sense of raw power, and the female staff in the room could barely keep their eyes off him.

Dilraba also emerged in a new outfit—a slim-fitting, wine-red silk slip dress. The gathered design accentuated her stunning figure to perfection.

Chen Man nodded with satisfaction; she knew this look matched Gu Jingyi’s temperament even better. Originally, the goal of Harper's Bazaar had been to create a contrast between a mature "big sister" and a younger man, similar to the "wealthy siblings" concept used in Dilraba’s July shoot with Lei. The clothes prepared for Gu Jingyi had been more student-like.

She hadn't expected Gu Jingyi and Dilraba to have such incredible chemistry. In fact, Chen Man felt that Gu Jingyi was subtly stealing the spotlight. During the previous short film shoot, Gu Jingyi had added a single glance that gave the male lead’s character arc a new dimension.

Gu Jingyi likely didn't even realize that his small adjustments had caught the attention of the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, Su Mang. Su Mang appreciated his creative touches so much that even the outfits originally planned for the double cover were changed.

The two were moved from standing to posing on the bed.

"Gu Jingyi, go lie down on the bed. Why are you looking at me? This is a new change."

"Yes, just like that. Good. Assistant, dim the brightness of the background panel a bit more."

"Gu Jingyi, don't move. Oh, are you intentionally creating creases in the bedding with your hand? Nice, you really have a great sense for this."

Outside the lens, Chen Man looked at Gu Jingyi with growing excitement, her inspiration flowing steadily.

"Reba, get ready. In a moment, I want you to lean over and press down toward Jingyi from the edge of the bed."

"What?" Dilraba’s eyes were filled with confusion upon hearing Chen Man’s request.

While the magazine had been cautious about fan sentiment during the short film—relying on eye contact to build tension—this double cover felt like they were pushing things a bit too far.

"Reba?"

The photographer's urging rang in her ears. Dilraba recalled Gu Jingyi's earlier gentleness, and her heart softened.

*Forget it, it’s Gu Jingyi anyway...*

Dilraba gritted her teeth and leaned in.