Chapter 24: The Self-Cultivation of a Spy

Outside the set, Ji Yu stepped out of a public phone booth and went to buy a pack of cigarettes.

As he returned to the set, he happened to run into Li Yapeng seeing Zhai Ying off. Li walked her to the gate, but fearing the presence of reporters, he turned back inside. Zhai Ying headed toward the parking lot alone, looking visibly angry.

Ji Yu glanced at Li Yapeng, then at Zhai Ying, and a clever idea instantly took shape. He gave a light cough and activated his voice-mimicry skill.

Using Li Yapeng’s voice, he called out to Zhai Ying, "If you want to go public, then go ahead! I couldn't care less."

He shut his mouth immediately, lowered his head to unwrap his cigarettes, and began walking toward Li Yapeng before Zhai Ying could turn around.

"Brother Peng, what did you just say? I didn't hear you." Ji Yu shouted as he jogged toward Li.

When Zhai Ying turned back, she saw Li Yapeng looking her way and lifting his chin slightly.

Zhai Ying: "???" What is that supposed to mean?

From Li Yapeng’s perspective, he was simply greeting Ji Yu. He only noticed Zhai Ying once Ji reached him, so he smiled and waved.

From Zhai Ying’s perspective, Li had just told her to go ahead and expose them because he didn't care, and now he was waving his hand as if telling her to get lost. She was absolutely furious!

Li Yapeng withdrew his gaze and said to Ji Yu, "I didn't hear what you said just now."

Ji Yu smiled. "I thought you were calling me. I must have misheard." He looked back toward Zhai Ying, then flattered Li with a smile, "With such a big scandal, your lady still came to visit the set to check on you. Brother, you’re the man!"

"Heh, it’s nothing. Just a man's charm," Li replied with a grin.

Ji Yu handed him a cigarette. "It’s all about you! Here, have a smoke."

Li Yapeng accepted the cigarette and, putting on airs, remarked, "A man has to maintain a certain status, you know."

Watching them chat and smoke from afar, Zhai Ying felt even more incensed. *Who are you putting on this suave act for?! Just you wait!* She turned on her heel and stormed off.

Ji Yu glanced back, blowing a puff of smoke toward her retreating figure. The blue haze drifted slowly, veiling his inscrutable eyes. As Li Yapeng continued to brag about his domestic authority, Ji Yu cast a look of disdain at him and chuckled inwardly. He flicked the cigarette butt away, the scarlet spark bursting against the pavement.

"Damn, fake cigarette. Trying to act like the real deal, I’m going to go find that shopkeeper." Ji Yu cursed loudly, said a quick goodbye to Li, and walked off.

Li Yapeng puffed on his cigarette, muttering to himself, "I didn't taste that it was fake. He wasn't insulting me, was he?"

The next morning, Ji Yu yawned as he picked up two newspapers from a newsstand. He tucked them under his arm and strolled off to get breakfast.

***

Once he started his breakfast, Ji Yu opened the papers.

#Zhai Ying visits the set of *Detective Kelan*!#
#Zhai Ying tells the media she has broken up with Li Yapeng!#
#The inside story behind Zhai Ying and Li Yapeng’s breakup!#
#Li Yapeng messes around on set; Zhai Ying can no longer tolerate it!#

Ji Yu took a large gulp of soy milk after reading the headlines. *Beautifully done!* These reporters were quite savvy; they didn't forget to promote the show while writing the gossip.

Li Yapeng was the one paying the price, though. He probably wondered why Zhai Ying had suddenly announced the breakup. Old Cai was likely suffering from a headache too; with this breakup, the rumors about Li Yapeng’s infidelity had been dragged back into the spotlight. While it wasn't a major crisis, the impact was undeniable.

Old Cai had called Li Yapeng that morning to berate him. "What on earth is going on! Zhai Ying visiting the set was supposed to be a positive sign. How did you talk to her? It’s turned into this mess—I’d like to see how you resolve this!"

Li Yapeng was just as bewildered. He had no idea why Zhai Ying had gone public! They had agreed to give him some time! When she left yesterday, she had even looked back with lingering affection! How could they have broken up so suddenly? He couldn't figure out where things had gone wrong.

But Li didn't have time to worry about the cause. With the situation as it was, he could only hide on set and play dead. Outside the *Detective Kelan* set, a crowd of reporters was waiting for an interview, but the crew wouldn't let them in. The reporters could only linger on the perimeter, snapping a few photos to finish their assignments.

Inside the set, Ji Yu watched the reporters and couldn't help but hum a tune. He had truly broken his back for the sake of this show. When these reporters wrote their reports, they would surely mention the drama in passing. That’s how you generate buzz. Unfortunately, he had to keep his achievements hidden; such was the self-discipline of a spy.

However, now that Li Yapeng was single, he would surely look for his next target. He had always enjoyed using women to hype himself up, and his past relationships were almost always seamless transitions. Without Zhai Ying as a marketing tool, he would definitely look for someone else. There was only one person on set who fit his criteria.

Ji Yu turned his gaze toward Jiang Qingqing, who was wearing her hair in braids. Li Yapeng was nearby, wearing a trench coat and gold-rimmed glasses, looking every bit the smooth operator as he chatted with her. Ji Yu considered placing a wire on Jiang Qingqing.

Perhaps he could drum up some news! But after thinking it over, he decided it wasn't a good idea. If Li Yapeng got together with Jiang Qingqing, the entire focus of the show would be on the two of them. Once the drama aired, what would it matter how well he acted? Everyone would be more interested in the gossip.

*I have to prevent them from getting together!* Ji Yu decided it would be better if he continued to manufacture a fake romance with Jiang Qingqing himself. That way, he could help share the pressure for Li Yapeng! They were brothers, after all; helping him divert the public's attention was the least he could do! Li had already enjoyed the spotlight enough—it was his turn now.

With a plan in mind, Ji Yu walked over to Jiang Qingqing.

"Brother Peng, Sister Qing." Ji Yu smiled at Jiang Qingqing. "Sister Qing, we have a scene together this afternoon, I wanted to run the lines with you."

Li Yapeng frowned. This was interfering with his pursuit! *I’m already single; I need to find a replacement quickly!* He spoke up first, "You two don't have many lines, there's no need to rehearse, right?"

Jiang Qingqing gave him a surprised look. *I haven't even said anything yet, why are you so agitated?*

Ji Yu really wanted to slap Li Yapeng. *She’s not your girlfriend yet, why are you so jumpy!*

The atmosphere between the three became awkward. Ji Yu gave a self-deprecating smile and looked at Jiang Qingqing. "Never mind, I won't disturb you two. Brother Peng, I came at a bad time. I just remembered I have something to do, so I’ll be going."

Jiang Qingqing frowned. *What does he mean by 'disturb you two'?* She looked at Li Yapeng, wondering if he had said something to Ji Yu. *Is he targeting me now?! You just broke up, and you’re already coming after me? Everyone will think I’m the 'other woman'!*

Jiang Qingqing immediately called out to stop Ji Yu. "Wait a second. I actually wanted to run those lines too. It just doesn't feel right."

Ji Yu put on a troubled expression, deliberately glancing at Li Yapeng. Seeing this, Jiang Qingqing felt even more certain of her suspicion. She walked over to Ji Yu and pulled him away.

Li Yapeng: "???" *Something isn't right here! Ji Yu is acting strange! Don't tell me he’s trying to compete with me? Didn't Old Cai say he had a girlfriend?*

After pondering for a while, Li Yapeng decided to wait and see. If something really happened between Ji Yu and Jiang Qingqing, he would leak it—it would be the perfect way to deflect the heat from himself. He would also take the opportunity to expose the fact that Ji Yu had a girlfriend. That way, he wouldn't be the only "scumbag" in the room!

As for his next target, he could find someone else later; Jiang Qingqing’s fame was still lacking anyway.