Bai Yin was practicing snowboarding on the beginner slopes at the ski resort. Even with guidance from a professional instructor, she still managed to fall hard several times.
"You don't have to force yourself to learn snowboarding," the coach said sympathetically, unable to bear seeing her fall so badly: "Gu Qing is not good at snowboarding to begin with. If you get too good at it, it won't seem right during the performance."
"But I can't be completely clueless either," Bai Yin thought aloud: "Gu Qing loved Cheng Nian very much. This time, after being reborn, she will definitely try her best to learn about this sport he loved. So during the performance, I can't look like a complete beginner."
The ski instructor naturally could not understand the characters as deeply as the actress. Since Bai Yin wanted to learn, he patiently taught her.
After Bai Yin fell on her butt, a cheerful laugh rang out from afar: "Hahaha, little miss is fickle in love, abandoning tennis for snowboarding now?"
Hearing the familiar masculine voice, Bai Yin looked back and saw Li Chunfeng in a white down jacket, waving at her from outside the ski resort.
He wore a stylish black knit hat, with a sunny smile on his face. Against the backdrop of blue skies and white snow, his appearance somehow lifted Bai Yin's mood.
Bai Yin patted her butt and got up from the snow, asking joyfully: "Li Chunfeng! What are you doing here?"
"The crew invited me to produce the ending theme song 'In the Third Year After You Left'. I came specifically to watch you guys act and get a feel for the plot, to get some inspiration," Li Chunfeng explained breezily.
"You never came to the set to get inspiration when you composed songs before?"
"This one is different," Li Chunfeng said candidly: "Little miss is the lead actress. Of course I have to put in some extra effort no matter what."
"Thanks for thinking so highly of me."
"Also, I discussed with the music production team that you should be the one to sing the ending theme," Li Chunfeng added.
"No problem."
Seeing the blue snowboard in Bai Yin's hands, Li Chunfeng asked: "Do you have more snowboarding scenes?"
"Just a few shots, so I'm learning the basics." Bai Yin casually asked: "Do you know how to snowboard?"
Li Chunfeng thought about how the main reason Chen Huaixiao was cast as the male lead was that he was great at snowboarding, a level one expert.
He answered without hesitation: "Of course I do! I'm an athletic prodigy. Give me the snowboard, let me show you."
Hearing him proclaim himself an athletic prodigy, Bai Yin hesitated a little. She had seen him posting tennis photos on his social media feed every few days, and thought he was really good at tennis. She didn't expect his skills to actually be terrible.
"Forget it, you're not wearing any protective gear. It'd be bad if you fell."
Li Chunfeng took the snowboard from her and strapped it to his feet: "With just this little slope, even little kids play on more thrilling stuff than this! Ah--"
Before he could even finish speaking, the snowboard under his feet slipped out.
Standing on the loose snowboard, Li Chunfeng was scared out of his wits, swaying east and west as he flew down the slope.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
With a plop, his scream was abruptly cut off as he fell head over heels.
Bai Yin hurried down the gentle slope: "Are you okay!"
Supporting his waist, Li Chunfeng waved his hand: "I'm f-fine, just not used to the snowboard yet. Let me try again."
"Give it up, your pants are torn."
"I'm really okay. How could anything happen to an athletic prodigy like me?"
"Sorry to break it to you, but you're just an athletic dud!"
"Hey! You little rascal." Li Chunfeng violently rubbed Bai Yin's head.
As the two got up, they saw Chen Huaixiao's tall, dark figure silently standing in the snow at the ski resort entrance.
Seeing him, Bai Yin felt a little uncomfortable. She said to Li Chunfeng: "Want to go sit in the lounge?"
Sensing her change in mood, Li Chunfeng roughly guessed what was going on.
"Sure, I'm just a side character anyway, feel free to use me however you want," he said breezily, decisively putting his arm around Bai Yin's slender shoulders and walking with her into the resort lounge.
Once inside, Bai Yin looked back again, only to see that Chen Huaixiao had already left.
The gloominess that had overwhelmed Bai Yin after being provoked by him and Qin Yao immediately lifted. She felt a great sense of avengement, and casually pushed Li Chunfeng's arm off: "Go play by yourself."
"You heartless woman."
"You're only realizing that now? Chen Huaixiao learned it long ago," Bai Yin shot back.
Li Chunfeng poked her with his elbow, still holding the snowboard: "Bai Yin, you actually really like Chen Huaixiao, don't you?"
"No way." Bai Yin immediately rejected: "We only have a mutually beneficial relationship, nothing more."
"You don't have to admit it," Li Chunfeng shrugged casually. "Whether you keep it hidden or deny it to death, liking is liking. It won't cease to exist just because you don't acknowledge it."
Bai Yin was struck at the heart of the matter. She lowered her head, silent for a long time, not even hearing Li Chunfeng's chattering.
It was only a few minutes later that she absentmindedly murmured: "You've gone from athletic prodigy to love prodigy."
Li Chunfeng looked at her speechlessly: "Miss Bai, we're discussing music right now. Don't you think your train of thought is a bit too winding? You're still mulling over that other thing."
"..."
That night, when Bai Yin returned to the resort hotel, she heard that Qin Yao had already left, looking very upset when she did.
Bai Yin guessed that the misunderstanding this morning at the cafe was likely her own doing.
Qin Yao was eager for Bai Yin to misunderstand, hoping she'd get so upset she'd die from anger. That's why she used Bai Yin as an entry point for her attack.
At the cafe, Chen Huaixiao was probably laying his cards on the table with Qin Yao, agreeing to the promise he made her that night.
Bai Yin really hadn't expected that he could let go of Qin Yao so lightly.
Could it be that he truly developed feelings for her over time, even letting go of his first love?
Thinking this, Bai Yin realized this was also likely what Elder Master Chen feared. Otherwise, he wouldn't stand on Qin Yao's side, giving her resources and popularity to take everything away from Bai Yin.
Can there really be no feelings in the marriages of wealthy families?
Bai Yin scoffed.
She was narrow-minded, truly unable to understand what these rich people were thinking.
Chen Huaixiao's own mother passed away so many years ago, yet the Elder Master still wouldn't let him go pay respects at her grave, not even letting him shed a single tear.
How tiring.
Just as Bai Yin was lost in thought, the elevator let out a "ding" and the doors opened.
Chen Huaixiao walked out wearing casual athletic leisure wear, making his handsome features seem even younger.
Bai Yin and he stared at each other, both frozen for a few seconds. Chen Huaixiao unhesitatingly hit the close door button.
The moment the elevator doors began closing, Bai Yin swiftly slipped inside like a gust of wind.
Chen Huaixiao hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop the elevator door from closing completely, a hint of anger in his tone: "Very dangerous, why did you rush in!"
Bai Yin stood behind him and sullenly said: "Seeing me, you hurried to close the door, then you snap at me?"
The elevator stopped on the 2nd floor cafe. Chen Huaixiao strode to exit, but Bai Yin grabbed his sleeve: "Don't go."
"Let go."
"Don't go, Chen Huaixiao." Finishing speaking, the little girl directly jumped up and clung onto his back: "You looked really unhappy seeing me snowboard with Li Chunfeng earlier."
Chen Huaixiao coldly said: "Bai Yin, let me go."
"I won't."
Hearing voices approaching, Chen Huaixiao immediately hit the close door button again and looked back at the girl clinging to him like a spider: "Aren't you afraid of being seen?"
"Why would I be afraid of being seen hugging my husband?"
"Not worried about others gossiping, saying the big star only achieved success today relying on Chen Huaixiao's connections?"
Bai Yin hugged him even tighter: "Before, I was worried because I wasn't famous enough yet, and Su Anning didn't get the retribution she deserved. I was afraid of losing everything I worked for, so I was very careful with each step. Now I don't need to prove my own ability through this anymore. I was awesome to begin with, so I'm not afraid anymore."
Her resilience and self-confidence were what Chen Huaixiao admired most about her.
His heart softened a little: "If you're not afraid, should I announce it publicly?"
"Up to you, it'll help my resources if you announce it."
Chen Huaixiao pulled her off his back and pressed her against the wall, leaning in to passionately kiss her, a deep, lingering kiss.
Chen Huaixiao threw all the restraint he kept while filming out the window, pinning her against the elevator wall as he tasted and licked the softness he had been longing for day and night.
Bai Yin obediently closed her eyes, letting him pry open her lips as his tongue twined with hers.
Hopelessly intoxicated.
"Ah Yin, why?"
"Why what?"
"You were just flirting with your little follower at the ski resort and putting on a show for me to see. Now you're actively provoking me again. No one understands the art of playing hard to get better than you," said Chen Huaixiao as he bit Bai Yin's lower lip, a trace of charm in the corners of his eyes.
Bai Yin replied, "Doesn't big brother really like when I do this?"
Chen Huaixiao really wanted to push her away and never fall for her tricks again, but he just couldn't do it.
He kissed her even more fiercely, as if wanting to regain all of his lost dignity from her.
Bai Yin's neck was tickled by him and she giggled, "We're in an elevator!"
Chen Huaixiao kissed her while taking out his card and swiping the floor number.
But Bai Yin blocked him, "Ah, we can't. I made plans with the female co-star to run lines together. She's still waiting for me in the room."
Chen Huaixiao pressed his face against her neck, breathing heavily. He brushed his nostrils against her neck, smelling the faint scent on her body, "A Yin, are you playing with me?"
Bai Yin gently pushed away his body blocking her way. She pressed the button for the third floor and said with a laugh, "Yeah, big brother will take the bait if he dares."
Chen Huaixiao lightly bit her neck.
The elevator arrived at the third floor. Bai Yin pushed him away and walked out, waving her hand back at him.
The elevator door slowly closed. Chen Huaixiao's face was gloomy, his eyes full of unsatisfied desire and helplessness.
...
At the film set in Mingfeng Mountain, the male lead Cheng Nian had more skiing scenes, while Bai Yin had fewer scenes.
It just so happened that Li Chunfeng came over to discuss the ending theme song with the music director. Bai Yin was the vocalist for the ending theme song, so she was always discussing it with Li Chunfeng in the cafe on the second floor of the hotel.
Every time Chen Huaixiao came back from filming, he would see them sitting in the cozy corner booth of the cafe, chatting excitedly.
Bai Yin held the music score, and would occasionally try singing a few lines.
Every time Chen Huaixiao saw the two of them sitting together, he felt extremely unhappy.
But they really were just discussing business, so he had to restrain his emotions and had nowhere to vent his frustrations.
The crew was at the filming location during the day, so the cafe was almost empty, with a tranquil and quiet environment.
After trying the singing, Bai Yin said to Li Chunfeng, "The melody in the third section could go a bit higher to make it more impactful."
Li Chunfeng immediately took out a pen and made edits on the sheet music. His pen ran out of ink, so he shook it and scratched lines on the paper.
Just then, a black enamel fountain pen was extended to the side of his hand.
Li Chunfeng looked up to see Chen Huaixiao sitting expressionlessly across from them, lazily leaning against the sofa chair backrest.
A few buttons of his white shirt were undone, neatly ironed. His handsome yet gloomy face stared calmly at them, but his gaze was full of aggression.
As soon as he came in, the harmonious atmosphere of the cafe completely changed. This man's powerful aura made everyone's attention converge on him.
"Thanks." Li Chunfeng borrowed his pen and marked the sheet music before returning it to him, "Mr. Chen, did you come over for something?"
Chen Huaixiao glanced at Bai Yin next to him, "I came to the cafe, of course it's to drink coffee. You guys continue, don't mind me."
Bai Yin said, "Then let's keep going."
"Okay..."
Li Chunfeng felt immense pressure but was helpless to do anything. He steadied his mindset and continued discussing with her.
Chen Huaixiao's Americano arrived. He held the coffee cup by the rim and took a light sip, his gaze calm as he looked out at the snowy mountain view outside the window.
"Bai Yin, try singing the last section with more breath support."
"Let me try."
Although Chen Huaixiao silently drank his coffee on the surface, whenever the two talked, his gaze would fall on them, watching their every move like a vigilant sheepdog.
A few times when Li Chunfeng chatted excitedly and laughed with Bai Yin, Chen Huaixiao would also appropriately smile along, but his smile was chilling.
Li Chunfeng really couldn't take it anymore. He scratched his head and said to Chen Huaixiao, "Mr. Chen, if it's not too much trouble, could you please move seats?"
"Am I disturbing you two?"
"I can't relax with you here."
Chen Huaixiao almost blurted out, "You're chatting intimately with my wife, how else do you expect to relax?"
But saying that would be admitting he was unhappy due to jealousy, so Chen Huaixiao held himself back.
"You know I'm an artsy type who has high demands for the environment. With you here, a lot of my ideas can't come out."
Chen Huaixiao rolled his eyes.
Bai Yin also said to Chen Huaixiao, "Why don't you just leave for now?"
Hearing him say this, Chen Huaixiao heavily put down his coffee cup on the table, splashing some of the brown liquid out. He got up to leave.
"Wait a moment, dear," Bai Yin called out to him after he had walked a few steps. Chen Huaixiao paused, feeling a bit better, and was about to turn around and sit back down. But he heard Bai Yin say, "Since you're already here, do me a favor and go settle our bill at the cafe counter."
Chen Huaixiao: "..."
