Chapter 21 : Rewarding Emperor Yan

The air in the room was loaded with gunpowder. The costume designers, who up to that point had been faking hearing problems, unwittingly started to sweat heavily.

No one dared to look at the two men, who were engaged in an unofficial, informal glaring contest over Emperor Yan.

"I couldn't care less," Shen Jingwei answered after a while.

Lang Yuxuan, seemingly satisfied with the answer Shen Jingwei gave, beamed at the latter.

"Well then, have a nice day, Senior Shen."

Lang Yuxuan left, but the fire in Shen Jingwei's heart was far from being extinguished.

He wasn't sure whom he was more angry at -- Yan Renzhong or Lang Yuxuan. Or probably himself.

Back at home, Shen Jingwei raided his refrigerator for a slice of strawberry cheesecake, a pack of potato chips, a cup of chocolate pudding, and a can of cold beer.

Accompanied by a lot of mood boosters, Shen Jingwei opened his laptop and started scrolling for gift ideas on an online shop platform.

By the time he ran out of refreshments, he found what he was looking for.

Shen Jingwei quickly filled in his name and address before describing his order.

"I would like two white mugs shaped in the form of plum blossoms* with matching white wooden lids. Please write 'husband' on one lid and 'wife' on another. Use black ink."

Pffft.

It was a petty gift, he knew.

It's not like Yan Renzhong would keep such a gift.

Aaah...

Shen Jingwei threw himself onto the bed and looked at his bandaged hands.

It was close to dinner time. He should take a bath first, and then he could put fresh bandages on his hands.

Ding dong.

Shen Jingwei peered at the door.

"Excuse me! Delivery for Mr. Shen!"

Delivery?

From whom?

Shen Jingwei opened his door to a delivery man who held a medium-sized cardboard box in his hands.

"Who sent it?" He asked the delivery man while signing the delivery notice confirmation.

"The sender dropped the package at the delivery station himself. The sender's name is..."

The delivery man peered at the label across the box.

"Zhu Dongyi. Mr. Shen, do you know this person?"

"... Yes. Yes, I do."

Why would his manager send him a package?

Shen Jingwei closed the door and carried the package to his bedroom. Inside, he found an assortment of ointments specifically formulated for skin issues, including burns and blisters.

Attached was a note left by Zhu Dongyi, "Little Shen, ah, Manager Wen put together this medicine box after she heard about your injuries. Do not forget to say thank you to her and Mr. Yan the next time you meet them."

"..."

Now Shen Jingwei felt a little guilty about ordering the inauspicious couple mugs.

Alas, it was too late to retract the order.

To make it even worse, the ointment was clearly a premium, rare product of high quality.

As Shen Jingwei worked it into his palms, a delicate, fragrant vapor ascended. The sensation upon contact with his skin was a curious blend of coolness and gentleness, almost ethereal in nature.

Ahhh, if only the package arrived ten minutes earlier...

Dejected, Shen Jingwei could only send a thank-you message to Wen Guilin.

"Thank you for the package, Manager Wen."

The reply came when Shen Jingwei was preparing mung bean sprouts stir fry with lamb cutlets.

"Hello, Little Shen. All better now?"

Shen Jingwei looked at his palms, minus the bandages.

"Yeah. The ointment works wonders."

Wen Guilin : "In that case, will you kindly unblock Little Yan on WeChat? Communication is important in teamwork."

"..."

Shen Jingwei chewed on his lower lip.

He forgot that he had Yan Renzhong on the blocklist.

Now that they were working together on a drama, he really should unblock that ex-boyfriend of his.

Besides, what unsightly moments could Yan Renzhong post on WeChat?

Shen Jingwei : "Fine. I will do that now."

After three years had passed, he finally removed Yan Renzhong from his blocklist.

He half expected the man to message him the way he did three years ago, but of course he didn't.

Yan Renzhong was a busy man now. An A-List actor at the pinnacle of fame and popularity. He wouldn't have time for him, a mere Z-Lister who was lucky enough to co-star with him in a drama.

Three days passed by just like that. By the fourth day, Shen Jingwei's burns and blisters had already disappeared.

He was more than ready to attend a second sword fighting class.

Just like on the first day, Yan Renzhong arrived earlier than Shen Jingwei.

"Hey," Shen Jingwei greeted him.

"Hey back to you," Yan Renzhong responded.

"Thanks for the shoes," Shen Jingwei blurted out.

Yan Renzhong nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"And thanks for the ointments," Shen Jingwei added. "They are very good indeed."

"Really. Show me your hands."

"..."

What an eerie thing to say. Shen Jingwei held out both hands, only to have his wrist grasped so that Yan Renzhong could take a better look at the recovered palms.

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Author's note :

*In Chinese culture, white plum blossoms depict farewell and separation.

Shen Jingwei's gift for the happy couple is more or less a curse 乁⁠[⁠ ⁠◕⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠◕⁠ ⁠]⁠ㄏ