Mad Dog

Chapter 80: Daily — Which company sent a rookie like you to secretly film?

Zhi Qi, after snapping back at her brother, didn’t really take the matter to heart.

These days, aside from going to work, the thing she looked forward to most was going to the film set every weekend to watch Jiang Qi’s “entertainment activities.” Within a few days, she’d completely forgotten about Zhi Yu’s instructions.

But Zhi Yu couldn’t ignore it and act like nothing had happened.

Although he felt Zhi Qi’s words were utterly absurd and rebellious… he still had to intervene. Besides, Meiran and Zhi Minglin, the two elders, for some unknown reason, didn’t directly talk to Zhi Qi themselves. Instead, they kept pushing him to nag Zhi Qi, leaving Zhi Yu both frustrated and helpless.

—That’s what it means to be an older brother.

Parents on one side, sister on the other, caught in the middle.

So, this weekend, both Zhi Yu and Zhi Qi drove to the temporary film set in the desert outskirts.

Neither of them had expected the other to go, and since they hadn’t contacted each other beforehand, there was no “coincidental meeting.”

However, Zhi Yu didn’t have the free access pass to the set that Zhi Qi had, and he hadn’t considered this beforehand. When he arrived at the set, he was stopped by staff stationed at the outer perimeter.

The staff member, wearing a mask, politely said, “This is a private area, unauthorized entry is not allowed.”

Zhi Yu thought for a moment, then went back to his car and, after some deliberation, gave Jiang Qi a call.

Since he couldn’t get in, he could only ask Jiang Qi to come out.

But when the call went through, it wasn’t Jiang Qi who answered. Instead, a strange man’s voice came from the other end: “Hello? Who is this?”

Zhi Yu squinted his eyes, “Who are you?”

“I’m Qiu Mi, Jiang Qi’s assistant. He’s currently filming and can’t answer the phone. May I ask…”

Qiu Mi glanced at the screen and saw the note “Brother-in-law,” cautiously asking, “Is there anything you need me to pass on?”

It was because of that note that he answered the call—everyone knew Jiang Qi was a doting husband, and the “brother-in-law” in the note naturally referred to Zhi Qi’s brother. Qiu Mi wouldn’t dare to ignore him.

While speaking, Qiu Mi looked around but couldn’t spot Zhi Qi anywhere. It seemed she had just gone back to the resting area.

“Tell him to come out.”

Zhi Yu’s cold voice came through the phone, “I need to talk to him. I can’t get in.”

“Ah, are you outside the set right now?”

Qiu Mi was startled and quickly said, “But Qi-ge can’t come out right now. How about I send someone to bring you in?”

…

After quite a bit of back and forth, Zhi Yu finally made it into the set.

Following the directions given by the staff, he walked toward the western filming area. From a distance, he could see a crowd of people gathered in several layers. Zhi Yu raised an eyebrow and walked over.

The staff member responsible for bringing him in didn’t know who Zhi Yu was and didn’t pay much attention, simply giving him directions before heading off to attend to other matters.

Zhi Yu wasn’t the type to bother others unnecessarily. Though it was a bit embarrassing, as a grown man, he had a “slight” sense of direction, but he trusted his instincts and figured he could find the place on his own.

After all, the temporary set was only for the filming of “Sovereign of the City,” so there wasn’t much room to get lost.

Zhi Yu simply followed the crowds wherever they were.

As he neared the set, he happened to run into Ji Liang, who was instructing a supporting actor on their movements.

She was wearing a leather skirt and a gray shirt tucked into the waistband of her fitted skirt. Her long, straight legs were striking, and the flat sandals on her feet were identical to Zhi Qi’s.

Zhi Yu paused for a moment, then walked over and asked, “Hello…”

But before he could finish his sentence, Ji Liang, with a cigarette in her mouth, irritated by how poorly the instruction was going, raised a sharp eyebrow and shot him a glance, “What do you want?”

Although she used the polite term “您” (you), the question itself was far from courteous.

Zhi Yu wasn’t the type to have a good temper either. His long eyebrows furrowed, and he pointed at the sandals with two silly rabbit decorations on Ji Liang’s feet, “Are those your shoes?”

Ji Liang raised her delicate eyebrows and swept him up and down with her beautiful eyes, “What does that have to do with you?”

For some reason, her gaze even seemed to carry a bit of scrutiny.

This made Zhi Yu instantly annoyed. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Liang turned away, completely ignoring him, and delivered a karate chop to the shoulder of a young man who was stretching his legs nearby.

“This elbow move is wrong. How many times have I told you?”

The young man, playing a supporting role, gritted his teeth, not daring to make a sound.

—After all, Ji Liang was famous in the industry for having a bad temper and demanding strict action guidance.

As Zhi Yu watched the scene unfold before him, the words “shrew” involuntarily popped into his mind.

Perhaps because Ji Liang had just snapped at him, the man who rarely sympathized with others suddenly found himself feeling a bit sorry for the young man being “beaten.”

However, Zhi Yu wasn’t someone who liked meddling in others’ business. He held back his temper and turned to the young man, who was grimacing in pain, and politely asked, “Could you please tell me how to get to where Jiang Qi is filming?”

Both of them were stunned by his question.

“Jiang Qi… you’re looking for Qi-ge?”

The young man didn’t answer directly but instead glanced nervously at Ji Liang beside him, as if afraid to speak out of turn.

Ji Liang thought for a moment, waved her hand to signal the young man to leave, and only after he hurried off did she turn to face Zhi Yu.

It was then that she carefully scanned him from head to toe, her eyes finally landing on the work pass hanging from his chest—the same one Qiu Mi’s staff had handed Zhi Yu when they brought him in.

Unfortunately, Ji Liang didn’t know this.

“Which media outlet are you from, sneaking in here with that pass?”

Ji Liang let out a mocking laugh, lightly flicking the work pass Zhi Yu wore with her slender fingers and sneering, “Looks like you’re not very skilled since you couldn’t even find your way. I wonder what kind of company would send out such a rookie.”

This man, who was tall, long-legged, and handsome even by her high standards, clearly didn’t have much brains. He had snuck in to take photos without even bothering to wear a mask and then had the nerve to ask her where Jiang Qi was filming… Wasn’t he just begging to be kicked out?

“Find your own way,” Ji Liang chuckled softly and shook her head at Zhi Yu’s darkening face, “I won’t call security on you.”

With that, she was about to turn back to instruct the supporting actors.

But before she could walk away, someone grabbed her wrist with a grip strong enough to feel like it might crush her. Ji Liang couldn’t help but yelp in surprise and looked back in shock.

She was met with Zhi Yu’s fierce gaze, his eyes dark and intense, as he nearly growled, “What did you just say?”

Rookie? Was that her word for him?

Zhi Yu swore it was the first time in his 27 years of life that he had been called something like that, and the sheer arrogance of this extremely narcissistic man made him immediately bristle.

Though this was somewhat off-topic, Zhi Yu couldn’t help but feel a childish anger rise within him.

“I said you’re a rookie.”

Though Ji Liang usually acted like an uncompromising queen, with sharp words that had offended plenty of people, it was the first time she’d been grabbed with such force.

The woman felt a bit scared but still refused to show weakness, glaring dryly at Zhi Yu. “Aren’t you going to let go? I’ll call security!”

Of course, Zhi Yu wasn’t going to let go.

He was no longer in a hurry to find Jiang Qi. All he wanted now was for this woman in front of him to apologize—media, sneak-in, rookie, what did she take him for?

So Ji Liang really did start shouting for security.

In the midst of the commotion, a crowd had gathered around.

When Zhi Qi returned from her phone call, this was the scene that greeted her.

Her usually proud and domineering elite brother was, for some reason, at the film set. He looked as if he had stepped out of a time-travel drama, being held up by two staff members by his arms, his whole demeanor one of furious frustration.

Surrounded by a ring of staff, on the other side, was Ji Liang, clutching her wrist with a pitiful expression.

Zhi Qi felt a little dizzy, completely confused by the scene before her.

But there was no mistaking her brother—that man was definitely Zhi Yu.

Zhi Qi was only stunned for a few seconds before she quickly rushed over, inserting herself between Zhi Yu and the group of staff. Her voice was soft and clear, audible to everyone around, “Brother! Why are you here?”

“Brother.”

The people around didn’t mishear her, and for a moment, everyone was in a daze, including Ji Liang.

Ji Liang’s eyes visibly paused, and before Zhi Yu could speak, she quickly asked, “Qi Qi, is this man your brother?”

“Yes.”

Zhi Qi, still unaware of the “conflict” between the two, blinked her clear eyes and nodded, “He’s my brother.”

Then, she turned to her brother, whose shirt was slightly wrinkled from being grabbed, his face showing an expression of “great suffering and deep hatred,” and nervously asked, “Uh, brother, why did you come here?”

Could it be… he had driven for several hours just to reprimand her?

After all, during their last phone call, she had indeed been a bit “rebellious.” Zhi Qi quietly reflected, her eyes betraying her guilt.

But at this moment, Zhi Yu’s attention was no longer on her.

With most of the staff wisely dispersing, there weren’t many people left around. Zhi Yu, still maintaining his “refined” persona, calmly straightened the collar and sleeves of his shirt, then sharply stared at Zhi Qi, “Where’s Jiang Qi? I need to talk to him.”

So, he came to see Jiang Qi.

Zhi Qi immediately felt a headache coming on—after all, how could she not know why Zhi Yu was looking for Jiang Qi?

“Uh, he’s filming right now. They’re still shooting a court scene.”

After saying that, Zhi Qi paused deliberately and asked, “Brother, do you want to go watch?”

“Why would I want to watch that?”

As she expected, Zhi Yu had no interest in such things and frowned, “Do I look like I have nothing better to do?”

Zhi Qi: “Then why did you come?”

…

“Uh, brother, I’m sorry.”

Realizing she had once again spoken out of turn, Zhi Qi quickly apologized. Behind her, Ji Liang couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, making Zhi Qi’s hair stand on end. She hurriedly apologized, but Zhi Yu’s expression remained grim.

His face darkened, and his gaze, sharp as a knife, wasn’t directed at Zhi Qi but at Ji Liang behind her.

“Brother, how about I take you to eat something?” Zhi Qi, determined to get him out of the set, quickly came up with a plan. She linked arms with Zhi Yu and, with her other hand, grabbed Ji Liang’s arm, smiling brightly, “Once Jiang Qi finishes filming, I’ll have him come over to talk to you, okay?”

Hehe, Jiang Qi won’t be done filming until tonight.