Chapter 291: CRAVING AN EXPENSIVE SEAFOOD BOIL

By the time the crew wrapped, the studio had cycled through more setups than Guiying could easily count: close-ups of the bowl, wide shots of the full table, candid shots that weren’t even part of the script, everyone determined to capture every possible angle before calling it done.

The director found him near the wardrobe rack, business card already in hand.

"Before you go." He held it out. "I direct short films on the side, mostly independent work, festival circuit stuff. I haven’t seen visuals like yours in a long time, and I want to give my audience something fresh."

Guiying accepted the card and studied it briefly. "You’re inviting me to audition?"

"I am." The director’s expression stayed earnest, none of the performative charm most industry people layered over genuine interest. "No pressure, obviously. But I’d genuinely love to see what you could bring to the role."

"I’ll have my assistant get back to you." Guiying tucked the card into his jacket pocket. "Thank you for thinking of me."

"I’d be happy to see you at the auditions." The director’s smile widened. "I hope you get the main role, honestly. Something tells me you’d surprise everyone."

Guiying thanked him properly before making his way through the studio, offering genuine words of appreciation to everyone he passed: the makeup team, the wardrobe assistants, the crew still breaking down equipment around him.

A fulfilling day, all things considered, though exhaustion had started settling into his shoulders by the time he found Fu Pei waiting near the entrance.

"Ready?" Fu Pei fell into step beside him.

"More than ready." Guiying stretched his arms overhead. "Let’s go home."

Outside, Haiyan had already popped the trunk, loading carton after carton of ramen into the back of the car, a gift from ChuanXiang’s team, apparently delighted enough with the shoot to send him off with more product than any household could reasonably consume.

"Ten cartons." Fu Pei counted them as Haiyan worked. "That’s excessive."

"They were generous." Guiying shrugged, watching Haiyan attempt to fit the last few boxes into a trunk that had already reached capacity.

Four cartons refused to fit no matter how Haiyan rearranged them, forcing the last of the boxes into the back seat instead, where Fu Pei ended up wedged between two cartons after a short, pointless argument about who would sacrifice their legroom.

"This is ridiculous." Fu Pei shoved one carton further against the door. "I refuse to die crushed under instant noodles."

"Character death by ramen." Guiying grinned from the front seat. "There are worse ways to go."

"Not funny."

The car pulled away from the studio, city lights flickering on as evening settled over the streets. Guiying pulled out his phone, checked the time difference automatically, and calculated what time it was in HWI.

Still too early to call. Liuxian would barely have landed by now, likely still moving through customs or settling into the hotel.

He’d try tomorrow instead.

For tonight, he supposed, he’d have to get used to sleeping alone again.

The thought settled heavier than he expected, though he pushed it aside quickly, unwilling to let exhaustion turn into something more melancholy before the day had even properly ended.

"Let’s grab a quick bite somewhere." He leaned forward slightly. "I’m starving. Haiyan, take us to the nearest decent restaurant. Dinner’s on me tonight."

"Understood." Haiyan adjusted course smoothly, already pulling up a nearby option on the navigation screen.

Fu Pei’s expression shifted the moment the offer landed, a slow, wicked grin spreading across his face as he leaned forward and tapped Haiyan’s shoulder.

"I’m suddenly craving an expensive seafood boil."

-_-

"Eh, what the heck." Guiying laughed under his breath. "I did say I’d cover it. Fire away, Haiyan."

Haiyan’s mouth twitched with barely restrained amusement as he redirected the route.

They arrived at a seafood restaurant tucked along the waterfront, the interior warm and dimly lit, the smell of garlic and chili drifting from the open kitchen the moment they stepped through the door.

"Right this way." A waiter guided them toward a window booth, the city lights reflecting off the water outside, casting a soft glow across the table. "Will this work for you?"

"Perfect." Guiying slid into the seat, already scanning the menu.

"We’ll have the extra spicy seafood boil platter." Fu Pei didn’t hesitate, tapping the item directly on the menu. "The large size."

"Excellent choice." The waiter noted it down. "That’ll take about thirty to forty-five minutes to prepare properly, if that’s alright."

"That’s fine." Guiying set the menu aside.

"I’ll bring out some complimentary dishes while you wait." The waiter offered a polite bow before disappearing toward the kitchen.

Guiying leaned back against the booth, letting the quiet hum of the restaurant settle around him, grateful for the company across the table even if it wasn’t the company he’d grown used to over the past several months.

"You did well today." Fu Pei’s voice broke the silence, unexpectedly sincere. "The advertisement people wouldn’t have handed you their card if you hadn’t actually earned it."

"Careful." Guiying’s mouth curved. "That almost sounded like a compliment."

"Don’t get used to it." Fu Pei crossed his arms, though the corner of his mouth betrayed him slightly. "I’m hungry and tired. My guard’s down."

Guiying laughed, the sound easy, genuine, exactly the kind of end to a long day he hadn’t realized he needed.

The complimentary dishes arrived a few minutes later, small plates of pickled vegetables and steamed buns set carefully between them, along with two cups of chrysanthemum tea.

"This is good." Fu Pei popped a pickled cucumber into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Better than the stuff they serve at the place near the estate."

"You’ve explored the area already?" Guiying reached for a bun. "You’ve only been there a day."

"I like knowing where I actually live." Fu Pei shrugged. "Took a walk this morning before you so kindly forgot my entire existence."

"We’re not doing this again."

"I’ll bring it up whenever I feel like it." Fu Pei’s mouth curved, clearly enjoying himself. "Consider it a permanent tax on your forgetfulness."

Guiying groaned, though he couldn’t quite suppress his own smile, sipping a. At the same time, tea while the restaurant hummed quietly around them, other tables filled with the low murmur of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter drifting from somewhere near the kitchen.

His phone buzzed against the table, and he glanced down instinctively, half expecting Liuxian despite knowing the timing didn’t line up.

Jiang Wenxi: Runway rehearsal schedule — detailed. Details sent to your assistant.

"That’s you." Guiying nodded toward Fu Pei’s own phone, which buzzed in near-perfect synchronization.

Fu Pei checked quickly. "Got it. I’ll add it to your calendar tonight."

"Efficient."

"That’s the job."

The seafood boil arrived not long after, the platter enormous, thickly rising, with shrimp, crab legs, and clams all swimming in a rich, fiery red broth that smelled exactly as spicy as promised.

"This looks like it could fight back."

Guiying eyed the platter warily.

"Good." Fu Pei reached for a pair of gloves tucked beside the plate. "I like a challenge."

They dug in without much further conversation, the meal loud and messy in the best possible way, shells cracking, hands sticky with sauce, the kind of dinner that left no room for composure or pretense.

By the time they finished, both leaned back against the booth, thoroughly stuffed and satisfied, the ache in Guiying’s chest from earlier having quieted somewhere beneath the warmth of a full stomach and easy company.