Chapter 111: Chapter 111

The atmosphere was incredibly awkward, really.

When Song Yi realized what Han Ming meant by "more comfortable," her face flushed crimson.

Of course, it wasn’t out of shyness—no.

Shen Yujing looked even more agitated, his fists clenched as if he was ready to punch Han Ming.

But Song Yi held Shen Yujing back, sneering at the still somewhat naive-looking young man and asking, "Han Ming, what do you want?"

What could he possibly want, to be willing to pay such a high "price"?

Seeing Shen Yujing, his "competitor," so furious and Song Yi already starting to discuss "terms," Han Ming felt victory within reach, his voice trembling with excitement.

He said, "I want to be the male lead in your project."

Song Yi frowned slightly but replied, "I already discussed this with the screenwriter yesterday. We both agreed that you’re the most suitable candidate for the male lead at the moment."

Han Ming was stunned, his excitement evident in his eyes.

But Song Yi’s next words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.

She said, "If you hadn’t knocked on my door tonight to say all this, you would’ve received the formal contract in the next couple of days. Unfortunately, now I’m announcing that you’re no longer suitable for this role. We’ll continue searching for a new male lead."

Han Ming’s smile froze, and then, as if realizing something, he said bluntly, "Director Song, the fact that I came to you tonight already shows my attitude. We’re all in the same circle, all foxes who’ve been around for centuries. Why are you playing this game with me?"

Still putting on that high-and-mighty act—wasn’t this just meant to humiliate him?

Song Yi asked, "What game am I playing?"

Han Ming glanced at Shen Yujing and shot back, "If you’re really as noble as you claim, then what is he? Just another person who climbed their way up by selling their body."

Song Yi: "..."

Shen Yujing: "???"

Who sold their body to get ahead? How could he say something so outrageous?

But Song Yi suddenly laughed. She took Shen Yujing’s hand to calm him down and continued, "Don’t project your own thoughts onto others. After you leave tomorrow, I’ll pretend tonight never happened."

Shen Yujing coldly added, "And if you ever show your face in front of us again, watch your legs."

With that, he slammed the door shut.

Standing outside the door, Han Ming’s eyes flashed with hatred, followed by an overwhelming sense of humiliation and shame.

Shen Yujing sat sulking at the foot of the bed, his back to Song Yi, radiating an aura of "don’t talk to me."

Song Yi sighed and walked over to him, resting her chin on his shoulder from behind. "What are you thinking about?"

"Of course, I’m thinking about that idiot from earlier," Shen Yujing said, growing more agitated as he spoke. "Where does he get the nerve to act like that after seeing me with you? And to do something like that—does he have no shame?"

Song Yi patted his head like she was comforting a puppy. "Alright, don’t be upset. You can help with the auditions and vote for the new actor, okay?"

"...Fine," Shen Yujing reluctantly agreed, but then added, "But I still feel a bit unhappy."

Song Yi, unusually patient, asked, "Why?"

Shen Yujing looked at her, his expression both pitiful and serious. "I think the main reason this happened is because of you."

"Because of me?"

Song Yi immediately let go of his arm, her expression shifting. "How is it my fault?"

"Of course, it’s your fault. We’ve been together for so long, but aside from Murong Huan and a few others, who even knows about us?" Shen Yujing finally found an outlet for his frustration and continued accusingly, "It’s because you won’t acknowledge me, won’t give me a proper title, that these lowlifes think you’re still single and that they have a chance."

Song Yi pursed her lips, considering his words.

Shen Yujing went on, "And that idiot earlier—he thought I was just some kept man you were supporting. But I’m your boyfriend! We’re in a legitimate relationship, yet he made it sound like we were sneaking around."

The more he spoke, the more wronged he felt, and his eyes began to redden.

Song Yi: "...?"

Is this really necessary?

She quickly reached up to wipe away his tears. "Why are you crying while talking?"

"I’m not crying!"

Shen Yujing immediately denied it, wiping his tears away himself. He opened his mouth to explain further but then couldn’t find the right words. Instead, he buried his face in Song Yi’s shoulder.

The gesture was sudden, but feeling the dampness against her neck, Song Yi gently patted his back to comfort him.

Her voice softened. "Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I’ll listen to whatever you have to say, okay?"

Shen Yujing, who had initially felt embarrassed and wanted to save face, suddenly gave up all pretenses when she started comforting him.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his voice trembling with emotion. "There are so many attractive people in the entertainment industry. Today it’s Han Ming, tomorrow it’ll be Wang Ming or Li Ming. He’s only eighteen. I’m still young now, and I’m better than him in every way, but what about ten or twenty years from now? What if another eighteen-year-old comes along? What will I have to compete with then?"

Song Yi couldn’t help but laugh. "What are you thinking about all day? I would never..."

"Don’t say anything yet, let me finish," Shen Yujing rambled on like a spilled bag of beans. "And what was he even saying earlier? That he could do everything I can? Could he ever love you as much as I do?"

"What have I done wrong? Why won’t you make our relationship public? Am I really that embarrassing to you?"

Song Yi paused, then replied, "But every time the media catches us together, you have the photos deleted. I thought you didn’t want to announce it yet."

Shen Yujing looked up at her, his nose red from crying. "Of course, I want to. I dream about it. But I knew you didn’t like it."

Because he knew she didn’t like it, even though he wanted to plaster the words "boyfriend" on his face and parade it around for everyone to see, he held back for her sake.

Song Yi didn’t like being judged, whether it was praise or criticism. She didn’t like her private life being discussed by others.

But now, her fame in the country had reached a point where she couldn’t avoid the attention. She was always the center of gossip.

If this was making Shen Yujing feel insecure, then...

Song Yi kissed the tear stains on his face and said what was on her mind. "Then I’ll give you that title, okay?"

Shen Yujing froze, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes suddenly filled with hope. He asked her to confirm, "Really? You’re not lying to me?"

Song Yi opened her phone and handed it to him. "Think of the announcement post yourself."

Shen Yujing took the phone and, under Song Yi’s exasperated gaze, typed out a long string of self-praise and overly sentimental words before deleting it all.

Song Yi asked, "What’s wrong now?"

"I can’t be so casual about this," Shen Yujing said seriously. "This is the post that officially acknowledges me. It’s important. I need to think about what to say."

"Fine, take your time."

"Why should I take my time?"

Song Yi: "?"

What did she say wrong this time?

"Are you hoping I take my time so you can delay it as much as possible?"

Song Yi: "??"

"Do you still not want to give me that title?"

Song Yi: "???"

Faced with Shen Yujing’s unreasonable barrage of questions, Song Yi felt her fists clench, but seeing how beautifully he cried, she resisted the urge to punch him in the face and just rolled her eyes.

At that moment, Shen Yujing’s face showed a hint of frustration. "This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. Shouldn’t you be annoyed with me by now?"

Song Yi said, "What part of me doesn’t look annoyed to you?"

Shen Yujing looked at her, his eyes filled with sincerity. "If you’re annoyed, then why aren’t you kissing me? Why aren’t you using a kiss to shut me up?"

Even though his words were ridiculous and he was being utterly unreasonable, his red eyes and innocent expression made it seem like she had done something to betray him.

Song Yi chuckled, then reached out to lift Shen Yujing’s chin.

Shen Yujing closed his eyes, his lips slightly parted, waiting for her kiss.

But the next second, the pain in his chin made him grunt in surprise.

Song Yi not only didn’t kiss him but also bit his chin hard, saying, “Stop acting, will you? I see your acting skills have really improved. Who did you learn from outside?”

“I… I didn’t,” Shen Yujing denied guiltily.

Under Song Yi’s suspicious gaze, he couldn’t bear the psychological pressure of lying to her and handed her his phone.

Shen Yujing’s phone was open to a chat page with a male actor he had collaborated with before. The actor was well-known in the industry as a devoted husband who had been happily married for over a decade without a single fight.

The actor had sent him a document titled—

**“The Art of Being a Spoiled Man: How to Make a Woman Treasure You”**

1. Constantly express your love for her and make sure she always knows and believes in your sincerity.

2. Show vulnerability when appropriate. Competitiveness is for outsiders, not your loved one.

3. Be genuine in your interactions. If something bothers you, bring it up immediately. Don’t suppress your feelings under the guise of being considerate. A child who doesn’t speak up gets no candy, and it only makes both parties feel miserable.

4. Never force your partner to do anything. If you really want something, suggest it in a subtle way.

...

Song Yi rolled her eyes and handed the phone back to Shen Yujing. She turned off the light and said bluntly, “Go to sleep.”

“Does what you said earlier still count?”

“No.”

“Are we going public or not?”

“No.”

“Will you give me a title?”

“No.”

“Song Yi!!!”

Shen Yujing immediately lost his temper, tickling her as a half-threat, “Will you or not? You can’t go back on your word!”

Song Yi laughed while dodging his touch, shouting, “Point four from *The Art of Being a Spoiled Man*! You need to be subtle! Subtle!”

Suddenly, Shen Yujing realized something and asked, “Are you mocking me?”

Song Yi admitted directly, “You caught that? Looks like reading really does help. You’ve definitely gotten smarter.”

Shen Yujing: “!!!”

...

The next morning.

Shen Yujing updated his Weibo with a photo.

A young boy and girl, still bearing traces of youthful innocence, sat on a roadside bench. Both wore hair clips, with Shen Yujing sporting an especially exaggerated red bow on his head.

The boy looked reluctant, while the girl smiled with her eyes curved into crescents. The scene was unexpectedly harmonious, and the two looked perfectly matched.

The caption read—

**[My first love in this lifetime.]**

It was his first love, his fate, and the story of his life.

The person he had loved since his youth was still by his side, making him the happiest and luckiest man in the world.

She had seen the most awkward and clumsy version of him as a boy, yet she fell in love with the sincerity that was reserved solely for her, along with all the joy he brought into her life.

Perhaps love is like a commodity, requiring a high price to exchange and effort to maintain its freshness. But only genuine sincerity can make it last a lifetime.

The first snow will melt, and the sun and moon will take turns in the sky.

It seems like nothing in this world remains unchanged—except for the fact that he will always love her.