Our Tender Harmony

Once the scene ended, Li Feiling left in a whirling rush. She walked to the changing room with fast steps, pulled off her clothing, kicked off her heels, and pulled on a baggy hoodie and pair of sweatpants. Together with Ye Shuhua, she wove through the set, nodding to the crew members as they left.

“See you later.”

“Yep, see you tomorrow.”

“Or yes, see you at dinner maybe.”

“Take care.”

A flurry of farewells left her mouth before her figure disappeared behind the elevator’s closed doors. Some of the set members, as they cleared the set for the next scene, couldn’t help but continue to whisper about the star-studded Movie Queen’s performance.

“That was such a good scene...”

“The presence, right?! She just has a certain aura about her when she’s in that suit. It’s a totally different vibe from her usual banter-y style.”

These crew members’ sentiments, in fact, later mirrored the internet when the show aired many months later. When episode two came out, featuring Zeng Xiaojing and her sensual figure, netizens... Well, they did what netizens do best.

---

[Trending List]

[#1 Trending: Zeng Xiaojing Tilt My Chin Up Please!]

[#2 Trending: Li Feiling Red Suit and Black Stilettos, just STUNNING]

[#3 Trending: What if Li Feiling Returns to The Family Business?]

Each of the top three spots had been taken. The entire internet seemed to have caught fire, as if a certain phoenix-powered businesswoman had stepped out of the screen and stamped the trending list as her domain.

Fan forums, at the same time, had come back to life. Legions of fans poured their hearts out, all for Li Feiling. Some, even, had begun editing clips and screenshots. One screenshot, in particular, had already gone viral—a screenshot of the first-person shot the show had used when Zeng Xiaojing leaned into the camera and tilted its chin up.

[Li Feiling Bends Me Over: IT SHOULD’VE BEEN MEEEEEEEE NOT HIM! IT SHOULD’VE BEEN ME!! T~T WHY ISN’T THE WORLD FAIR]

[Skies Are Blue: Hey, hey, positive speaking. Did your parents never teach you to have a go-getter mindset? You should instead say PLEASEEEEEE LET THAT BE ME PELASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEEEE I’LL DO ANYTHING JUST GIVE ME A CHANCEEEEEE I’M ON MY KNEES]

[Li Feiling’s Wife Fan: I think my favorite color just became red...]

[Blond Men Supremacy: ASLJSFAWOI WHY DID MY HEART FLUTTER?? AM I INTO WOMEN???]

[Tomboys or Nothing: The stylist did such an amazing job... like... that lipstick... I’m going to dream about it]

[I Dropped Out of Economics: Imagine if Li Feiling had gone back to inherit her family’s business!!! Imagine!!! Like.... I bet I wouldn’t have dropped out if I knew that my boss would look like this. I’D HAVE BEEN VALEDICTORIAN]

[Too Poor to Buy a Supercar, Settled for Credit Card Debt: SAME I wouldn’t even be working the 996, I’D BE WORKING 24/7]

[Modern Day Literature Savant, Don’t Doubt Me: I’d be so balls deep in my work on god. Nothing could pull me out of the spreadsheet grind if I my boss was a 10/10 baddie]

[I Like Broccoli: Boss wouldn’t even have to pay me, one look and I’d ascend to heaven...]

The fans, unbeknownst to themselves, had indeed been noticed by their idol. Li Feiling, having also been watching the show, scrolled through the online discourse during her free time; yet, each time she scrolled through the forums, she’d furrow her eyebrows and let out a quiet exasperated laugh. Somehow, this show had turned her eloquent and loyal fans into a pack of rabid dogs...

Just a little bit of fanservice and they’re already like this?

Such low tolerance...

---

Back in the present day, shooting continued without issue. Feng Wei and the rest of the crew ran like an oiled machine. They ran two sets at once, with Feng Wei switching which he focused on based on the importance of the scene. Once the clock struck six in the evening, Feng Wei, having made the actors start early, released everyone for the day.

The crew and the cast jumped at the chance. By the time Feng Wei had finished speaking, half the cast and crew had already packed up and queued by the elevator. Together, everyone bussed and drove back to the hotel. The sun had dipped below the horizon. The wind, as if taking a cue, had picked up once more.

The hotel, though, as dinner rolled around, buzzed with life. Everyone, still energetic after the long day, let loose. Across the entire building, lights dotted the building. Conference rooms. Individual rooms. Gyms. Pools. Everything had been put to use.

In one of the open-air courtyards, six men had gathered. Tall hedges walled off the edges of the courtyard, blocking any pesky gazes coming from the neighboring hallway. Their agents and assistants, having all been dismissed for the day, had no idea about the mini feast taking place.

A gazebo sat in the center of the courtyard. The six men, all sat in a circle around a table, had ordered takeout from five different nearby restaurants. Steak, ribeye, noodles, dumplings, fried chicken, French fries, pasta, sushi, and pho had all been gathered, spread out free for the taking.

Of course, alcohol too.

To start off the night, all the men raised their glasses of wine upward. Too far to touch glasses, they toasted the air before all chugging their first glass.

The first to finish, Ma Xiaotian, fluttered his eyes as he reached for some water to wash away the residual alcohol taste. One-by-one, each of his friends also finished their glasses. Once the last had finished, he uncorked another wine bottle and poured everyone a new glass.

“Brothers, thanks for coming out to join me tonight,” Ma Xiaotian spoke with a gentle tone. “Since I have a fairly important role in this show, I feel it’s my duty to host you all. I hope this meal is a chance for all of us to strengthen our brotherhood camaraderie. You all have been my greatest supporters during my rise. I won’t turn on you all. As I keep ascending, I will bring you all along with me.”

“““““TO BROTHER MA!””””” The five other men cheered, raising their glasses once more. This time, though, they didn’t chug and just took one sip.

One of the men, Peng Yao, took the wine bottle from Ma Xiaotian and helped pour the last few glasses. “Brother Ma, you’re truly the advance guard of the next generation. Even though you’re the same age as Liu Fangjie and Han Jingyiu, you’re worlds above them! Even people like Wu Linjie can’t compare to you!”

“It was merely a difference in early opportunity,” Ma Xiaotian nodded, matching the others and taking another sip of wine. “There is still much work to be done to establish my position.”

“Truly wise words, Brother Ma.”

“To be honest though, I don’t even particularly care about those people,” Ma Xiaotian pursed his lips. “My attention lies elsewhere. I see myself as competition more for Chu Changfeng and Li Feiling rather than Wu Linjie. Even if Wu Linjie and I have both won Newcomer Actor of the Year awards.”

“You won it three years before Wu Linjie after all,” One of the men added in a fawning tone.

“Truly you look forward instead of backward. A key trait of any ambitious man.”

“Exactly, I have bigger fish to fry,” Ma Xiaotian shrugged. “Just to speak pragmatically. Of course, I still have the utmost respect for my peers.”

As his friends cheered once more, praising him for his vast heart and unparalleled virtue under the heavens, he added another note in his mind.

Even if they’re just small fry.

Destined to be runner-up behind me.

As the thought crossed his mind, just the faintest smile curled at the edge of his lips. So faint that not even he noticed.

And so, they partied.

The clink of utensils. The uncorking of alcohol. The echoing shouts and rambunctious laughter. At one point, one of the men even requested a beanbag toss game from the hotel’s front desk. Not long after, everyone had a glass of wine in one hand and a beanbag in the other.

Clunk.

Another beanbag just off the mark. The red beanbag sat on the board just beside the hole.

“Ah... so close,” Ma Xiaotian shook his head, clicking his tongue.

“You’ll get it next time,” Peng Yao patted him on the shoulder while chuckling. A second later, he lowered his voice, “By the way, Xiaotian, any women caught your eye recently?”

Ma Xiaotian raised his eyebrows. Together, he and Peng Yao stood off to the side while the others played a round. “Not... really, why do you ask? Has anyone caught your eye?”

“Not for me, I’m a true bachelor. You know how I am, I’d rather play some video games at home,” Peng Yao waved his hand. “You did mention last time we hung out though that you wanted to get into a relationship, despite not having a target.”

“Yeah, parental pressure, you know how it is,” Ma Xiaotian sighed, taking a swig of wine. “Even if I barely talk to them anymore.”

“What about Liu Fangjie and Han Jingyi? They’re near our age,” Peng Yao shrugged. “Thinking about it?”

“I’m not really into the cutesy-type,” Ma Xiaotian looked downward at his own shadow in the wine. Illuminated by the warm bulbs of the courtyard, he shrugged. “So, I’ll pass on Liu Fangjie.”

“Oh?” Peng Yao grinned, catching onto an implication in Ma Xiaotian’s words. “Han Jingyi, then?”

“They’re both being sucked into Chu Changfeng’s camp anyway,” Ma Xiaotian downed the rest of his wine. A faint blush tinged his cheeks as his breath warmed. “I’ve said too much. We’ll see how it goes.”

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me,” Peng Yao let out a hearty laugh. He patted Ma Xiaotian on the back. “Come on, let’s get back to playing.”