Chapter 14

“Here.” Just after leaving the horse ranch, Yan Li arrived at the small grove and immediately saw Qin Lan waving at him. Compared to the last time they met, Qin Lan had changed her outfit again. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, earrings sparkling on her ears, wearing a beige off-shoulder T-shirt, paired with a blue denim skirt. Her long, toned legs, bathed in sunlight, were quite eye-catching. Yan Li had to admit that his previous comparison of Qin Lan's and Dong Xuan's figures was somewhat hasty. Dong Xuan had some advantages in body shape, but when it came to legs, Qin Lan won. Actually, in terms of height, Dong Xuan was a bit taller than Qin Lan, but the proportion and beauty of her legs were slightly better. Seeing Yan Li’s distracted gaze, Qin Lan hummed proudly to herself. “Stunned, huh?” Of course, he had been fixated on her fair skin and legs, right? His ex-girlfriend might be fair too, but did she have legs as long, slender, and beautiful as hers? “Are you looking for me for something?” Qin Lan’s legs were indeed beautiful, and Yan Li liked looking at them, but he couldn’t keep staring. It was impolite. The best solution was to engage her in conversation, distract her while sneaking a glance occasionally, enjoying the view without being rude. “Can’t I look for you if there’s nothing?” Hearing this, Qin Lan’s tone became a bit stiff, almost as if grinding her teeth. The last time they met, they hit it off well during their meal. Later, she had confided that a suitor had been harassing her, and Yan Li had offered to help deal with it. She had hoped that their relationship would change after that. After all, she was a beautiful woman, and with the interest she had shown, it was clear what it meant between single men and women. If a man was interested, he would at least make some efforts—maybe not just asking her out directly, but texting or calling her regularly to maintain the connection. But instead, Yan Li barely contacted her, and the only time they spoke was when she called him. She thought maybe he had been busy lately, but when she found out he had time for the horse ranch, it made her furious. What’s so great about the horse ranch? Grinding her teeth, Qin Lan cursed Yan Li in her mind. In fact, although there had been some connection between them, they had only met a few times. Though she had a favorable impression, it was more about attraction and some impulsive fantasies, not love or deep affection. Qin Lan had her pride, and if Yan Li was so high and mighty, she wasn’t going to chase after him. But still, she felt some frustration in her heart. She had invited him out, dressed up, and had some intentions to show off. “Maybe you don’t recognize a good thing when it’s right in front of you. You’ll regret it!” However, if Yan Li came to his senses and sincerely apologized, maybe she would give him another chance. But obviously, that wasn’t what was happening. He was here mainly to ask for a favor. “No, I’ve got something I want to ask you to help with.” Yan Li’s words shattered Qin Lan’s last bit of hope. She was about to roll her eyes and leave, but then paused and reconsidered. To be fair, Yan Li hadn’t really shown any romantic interest. Maybe she had been reading too much into things. Perhaps he just saw her as a friend? Yan Li had treated her as a friend, even offering to help her with the suitor issue, and now he had come to her for help. He had probably assumed she was just seeking his assistance. She had no right to throw a tantrum for no reason—it wasn’t very friendly. After some internal debate, Qin Lan softened. “Okay, what’s the favor?” Yan Li smiled, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you help me for nothing. Let’s eat first, my treat.” Yan Li understood well that if he wanted someone to help his horse run faster, he’d have to feed it grass first. Since he was asking Qin Lan for help, he couldn’t just ask with empty words. “Alright, do you have enough money? I’m picky about food,” Qin Lan said, her mood improving slightly at the mention of a meal. Once Yan Li said he’d pay, Qin Lan immediately began preparing herself to take full advantage of the situation. She was willing to help, but she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to make him pay. “Anything, order whatever you want.” Yan Li was very agreeable. When asking someone for help, one had to be prepared to spend. It was only right that he paid for the meal. “Such generosity. In that case, I won’t hold back.” However, Qin Lan wasn’t as extravagant as she sounded. She chose the same restaurant they had eaten at before, but this time added two more expensive dishes and upgraded the drinks. “Is this your idea of not being polite?” Yan Li watched as Qin Lan fussed over the dishes with a resigned look. He had expected her to choose a fancy place, almost preparing himself to eat nothing but box lunches from the crew afterward. “I’m not stupid.” Qin Lan snorted, “In Hengdian, what could a meal cost? If I wanted to really take advantage of you, I’d make you treat me in Beijing. This meal is just interest. The real meal will come later in Beijing.” “No problem,” Yan Li agreed. He could tell that Qin Lan had a tough exterior but a soft heart. Even if she made him pay for a few more meals in Beijing, it would still be a reasonable expense. “Alright, tell me what you need help with.” Qin Lan asked, curious. Yan Li smiled and enthusiastically served her food and poured drinks. “Don’t rush. Let’s finish the meal first, then talk.” His casual demeanor made Qin Lan a bit uneasy. She wondered if he was planning to use this meal to get something else from her. She set her chopsticks down. “Go ahead, say it. Once you do, I’ll eat.” Yan Li, with a slightly embarrassed look, said, “Actually, it’s nothing major. There’s a scene I’m unsure about, and I want your help to run through it and get a feel for it.” “Ah, that’s it?” Qin Lan let out a relieved sigh. She had thought it was something huge. During their previous conversation, she had learned that this was Yan Li’s first significant role, and it was normal for him to be uncertain given his lack of experience. Qin Lan had been through the same thing in the past, working hard behind the scenes in the "Princess Returning Pearl 3" set, finding familiar faces to rehearse lines. She understood Yan Li’s situation. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you. I’ll make sure to guide you properly.” Qin Lan took the lead, acting like a senior mentor. However, in reality, she had only been in two or three productions herself, mostly in minor roles, while Yan Li had been working on sets for a year and studying at Beijing Film Academy. Neither of them had significantly more experience than the other. But since he was seeking her help, she would graciously accept. She didn’t even refute her self-proclaimed “sister” status and smiled as she continued serving food. “Thank you, thank you. I appreciate your help.” After finishing their meal, they returned to the grove, finding a secluded spot where no one would interrupt, ideal for rehearsing. Yan Li handed her the script, and she skimmed through it briefly. Qin Lan spent less than a minute reading the script before looking up at Yan Li five times. Her confident expression turned into confusion, then a resigned look as she stared at him with a bitter face. “I regret coming now, can I still back out?” Yan Li politely shook his head, joking, “We’ve already eaten, are you really going to back out now?”