Gaze

After that, there was nothing left for Xu Lin and Chu Qingchan to film, since although Chu Qingchan was an important character, she was not the protagonist. The true lead was the actress playing the deaf-mute girl—the radiant child star Xu Lin had seen before, named Liu Qinwan. She had shot to fame at the age of seven in a modern sitcom.

Although Chu Qingchan and Xu Lin performed well, this young beauty’s acting surpassed theirs. With nothing to do, Xu Lin and Chu Qingchan continued rehearsing their lines for tomorrow when they saw the little lead actress, dressed in a schoolgirl uniform, approaching.

Before Xu Lin could get a good look, a hand touched his waist.

"Chu Qingchan, with so many people around, what are you doing?"

"You like younger girls?"

"What younger girls… I’m just glancing, honestly."

"I noticed you watching her earlier. She’s pretty, aren’t I pretty?"

Chu Qingchan asked the question nearly every woman asks at least once in her life.

"You’re pretty."

"Then why are you looking at her?"

"I just think her temperament is excellent, really suited for period dramas."

"What about me?"

"Come to think of it, you’ve never acted in a period drama."

"I’ve tried, but the costumes didn’t suit me. Since you think this girl isn’t as pretty as me, maybe it’s the uniform you like. I’ll wear one for you sometime."

"Ahem!"

Xu Lin coughed sharply, images of Chu Qingchan in a schoolgirl outfit flashing through his mind—straight, pale legs—no, black stockings would be even better…

"Excuse me, you two, come meet our leading actress," the director suddenly called out, interrupting Xu Lin’s daydream.

"Miss Chu, Mr. Xu, hello. I’m Liu Qinwan."

Her voice was sweet, shy, and reserved, nothing like a seasoned child star who’d been on many sets.

"Hello."

"Yes, little Liu, though she’s young, she’s been acting as long as you have, Chu Qingchan."

"Director, I think Miss Chu performed better than me today."

"Don’t praise her too much, she’ll get carried away. The main thing is, you’ll have scenes together soon, so I wanted you to meet in advance."

The cameraman called him, and the director hurried off, leaving the three of them together.

"Qinwan, you’re too kind. I wouldn’t dare accept your praise. I watched your sitcom several times when you were seven or eight. You’re my senior."

"I wouldn’t dare call myself your senior."

The two began awkwardly chatting, while Xu Lin suddenly felt people watching them.

He immediately looked behind him, but apart from some busy crew members, there was no one else.

"It’s making my skin crawl…" Xu Lin muttered. Liu Qinwan glanced at him and clenched her small fist.

Next came her scene. Director Sun started filming right away, and she nailed it in one take, leaving everyone amazed. This girl—truly terrifying!

"Excellent! Thank you for your hard work." Director Sun beamed. Not far away, Ma Wen rolled his eyes and snorted.

Though he felt a bit annoyed, seeing a beautiful foreign actress nearby made him hold back his urge to complain. He wanted to flirt, but his lack of English made him hesitate—how embarrassing to be misunderstood!

And that Xu Lin, just now during the scene, tried to outshine me, memorizing lines and showing off—what for?

When shooting was done, it was nearly 11:30 a.m., and the crew began preparing for lunch.

"Everyone, lunch isn’t provided today. Each person gets a fifty yuan meal allowance—please sort it out yourselves, okay?"

"Thank you, Director!"

The extras responded in unison; fifty yuan was much better than a boxed meal. Few crews were so generous.

"Are there more scenes this afternoon?"

"I’m done—just had that beating scene. You still have a sunset conversation with the lead. I told you, my role only has a dozen lines in total."

"Let’s go eat. Let’s call Chu Fengyi—she’s really patient, sat all morning."

Chu Qingchan and Xu Lin approached. Chu Fengyi put down her phone and came over. Ma Wen glanced at them—did they know each other?

"What do you want to eat?" Chu Qingchan looked at her sister, knowing how picky she was; she’d never seen her eat anywhere under a thousand yuan.

"I just talked with the director; there’s a tasty local chicken restaurant nearby."

"Alright." Chu Fengyi nodded first.

"I thought you didn’t like ordinary little restaurants," Xu Lin remarked, glancing at Chu Fengyi.

"What do you take me for? Good food isn’t about price."

"I’ve never seen you in a cheap restaurant," Chu Qingchan teased her sister.

Chu Fengyi glared at her, then looked at Xu Lin, "I love local chicken—don’t you know?"

"How would I know…"

A memory surfaced in Xu Lin’s mind—perhaps in a previous life, the two often cooked similar dishes. For them, traveling south, meat, vegetables, and bread were the best meal. As a wandering heiress, she learned to cook from then on.

"Xu Lin!" Before he could finish reminiscing, Chu Qingchan’s raised voice snapped him back.

"When did you two get so close?" Chu Qingchan protectively pulled Xu Lin toward her.

Chu Fengyi, as if her scheme had succeeded, arched her brow and strode ahead, patting Xu Lin’s stomach as she passed.

"While you weren’t looking, sister~"

"Xu Lin? Explain yourself—what’s going on?"

"Nothing’s going on. She’s just teasing you," Xu Lin replied firmly.

He couldn’t possibly mention past life memories; the last time he told Ji Yun he was a time traveler, she didn’t believe him, let alone something even he wasn’t sure about.

"Something’s off. Did something really happen?" Chu Qingchan’s expression was unusually serious, like a wife who’d caught her husband cheating.

"Chu Qingchan, I haven’t cheated!"

"You’re not my boyfriend…" Chu Qingchan’s cheeks reddened at Xu Lin’s words.

"It’s not that you can’t, since you don’t have a girlfriend. But you’d better not fall for Chu Fengyi’s tricks."

"Why? Isn’t a foreign beauty and a rich girl a good thing?"

"Xu Lin, you still say you don’t like younger girls?"

"…Chu Fengyi isn’t that young—she’s twenty."

"I mean her looks. Besides, Chu Fengyi is being groomed as an heir by her father. Her husband will definitely marry into the family; you know what Chu family sons-in-law are like—not very pleasant."

"Yes, I know."

"And Chu Fengyi’s personality—if she’s actively approaching you, don’t be fooled. She might just be toying with you. I’m afraid you’ll get hurt, little chick."

"Chu Qingchan, mind your image. I call it self-restraint."

"Um, are you two going to eat?"

"Qinwan?"

Chu Qingchan noticed Liu Qinwan had somehow appeared behind them, hands clasped together, looking shy.

"Yes, is something wrong?"

"Can I treat you to lunch?"

"No need. If you don’t have anyone to eat with, come with us. It’s a small restaurant, as long as you don’t mind."

"Why would I mind? I’ll join you," she nodded eagerly.

Xu Lin found it odd—such a shy, reserved girl suddenly volunteering to join them for lunch.

Could she have a crush on him? Was he daydreaming again…wait, what’s this feeling?

Thinking about it, Xu Lin felt another chill down his back—a peculiar sense of being watched.

He turned, but still saw no one. Yet it was definitely not his imagination!