The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Shang Yibo and Zhou Yanruo's interactions are calm and natural. They often discuss work and handle affairs, while also showing care for each other and communicating with warm words. This way of getting along makes both of them feel very comfortable, without any burden between them. It's the kind of feeling that's more than friendship but not quite romance.

Shang Yibo has been busy filming for days. The script has been adjusted, but his role is still very important.

Although he has decided to gradually end his acting career after completing this project, he knows that this film is the result of everyone's hard work, so he will never be perfunctory. This is a responsibility to himself and others.

He had carefully considered the potential impact of leaving the entertainment industry on all parties involved, especially on Yihua Entertainment. Sister Yihua had not only given him a second chance at success but also shown him great favor and helped him immensely. Yihua Entertainment had just signed a performance-based agreement with investors and was preparing for an IPO next year; if he suddenly left, a large portion of Yihua Entertainment's revenue would be affected.

Perhaps he could choose a semi-retirement phase, which would allow him to dedicate most of his energy to the work at Rushang Group without catching many people off guard. This arrangement would likely be the most appropriate for everyone.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yanruo traveled back and forth between Huizhou, the capital, and Guangdong multiple times, and the hardship she endured was self-evident.

Shang Yibo saw this and felt deeply concerned, but he couldn't personally take her place in her hard work. So, he tried his best to communicate with the production team and director, hoping to speed up the filming process so that he could finish his scenes as soon as possible and relieve some of the pressure on Zhou Yanruo.

On Friday, a light sleet fell in Huizhou. This kind of weather is the most uncomfortable in the south during winter, with the cold and damp air seeping into one's bones.

These past two days, the crew has been filming a joyous and lively scene of a marriage alliance between two major families in Huizhou. However, the rainy weather is completely out of place with the atmosphere of the story.

The crew had been filming for over thirty hours straight, working non-stop with people taking breaks but the machines never stopping. Looking at the weather outside, it seemed like it wouldn't clear up anytime soon, so the crew decided to give everyone a day off to rest.

Shang Yibo knew Zhou Yanruo would be arriving that afternoon, and that they hadn't had a proper meal together these past few days, either at the hotel or on set. So, he called Ding Jiajia over and instructed her, "Book a private room. When Yanruo arrives, we'll go out for a meal together."

Upon hearing this, Ding Jiajia blurted out, "Should I come along too?"

During this period, Shang Yibo and Zhou Yanruo mostly acted alone. They would either talk in their rooms or mysteriously hide in some corner to make phone calls. Seeing that the two were getting thinner and thinner due to the immense pressure, others didn't want to ask too many questions.

A couple of days ago, a colleague from Rushang Group called Ding Jiajia, asking her to get Shen Qing's autographed photo. During their conversation, they mentioned that the group seemed to be facing some problems; the chairman hadn't been to the headquarters for some time, supposedly because the project in Yuehai was having issues.

Considering Zhou Yanruo's recent frequent trips to Yuehai, Ding Jiajia couldn't help but guess that something might have really happened there.

Even Jian Zheng went to Yuehai and hasn't returned for two weeks. Ding Jiajia doesn't know if he went straight back to Beijing or stayed in Yuehai. Although the two have kept in touch, Jian Zheng hasn't mentioned his exact location, so Ding Jiajia hasn't felt comfortable asking.

Ding Jiajia overheard Shang Yibo and Zhou Yanruo mentioning Jian Zheng during a conversation. Every time the name was mentioned, the atmosphere of the conversation became unusually strange.

Therefore, Ding Jiajia never dared to tell Shang Yibo about her relationship with Jian Zheng.

"Let's go together. Let's invite Xiaoguangzi and Teacher Sai. See if there's anyone else who can come with us, and invite them all." Shang Yibo hoped for more people to make it more lively, and more importantly, he wanted Zhou Yanruo to relax and not be always burdened by things. Too much pressure is bad for her health.

Ding Jiajia was finally being taken seriously and said happily, "I know a very good restaurant. Jian Zheng took me there once. The dishes there are very exquisite and the environment is quite high-end. Yibo, if you're going to treat us, you should still choose a high-class place."

"You're starting to call Jian Zheng by his full name now, it seems you two are quite familiar with each other?" Shang Yibo asked with a hint of teasing.

In her excitement, Ding Jiajia let slip that Shang Yibo was pressing her for an answer, so she had no choice but to tell the truth: "Yibo, Jian Zheng is pursuing me. He confessed his feelings to me. But I haven't accepted him yet."

After hearing this, Shang Yibo said in a slightly indifferent tone, "So that's how it is. No wonder he knows my schedule so well."

Ding Jiajia quickly clarified, "Yibo, you're wronging me. How could I possibly tell Jian Zheng about your work arrangements?"

Shang Yibo countered, "Isn't that how it is?"

Ding Jiajia's voice trembled with anxiety: "Of course not. I, Ding Jiajia, am not so bad as to lack professional ethics. Besides, aren't you friends with Jian Zheng, and Jian Zheng with Sister Zhou Yanruo? Why would I need to tell him your schedule?"

“I naturally won’t interfere in your personal relationships, but considering we’ve worked together for over three years, I’ll only remind you this once: Jian Zheng is not as simple and easy to get along with as he seems on the surface,” Shang Yibo said earnestly.

“At his age, and as an entrepreneur, it would be strange if he were just a simple, straightforward person. I know what I'm talking about.” Ding Jiajia’s temper flared up, and she started to speak without thinking. “Are you trying to say that my status is not a good match for Jian Zheng? That you two can be friends because you are from the same social class, and I am not at that level, right?”

Shang Yibo was somewhat annoyed, but he didn't know how to reveal Jian Zheng's background to Ding Jiajia, so he could only say "incomprehensible" and then turn and leave.

Ding Jiajia felt extremely wronged. She had originally thought that after working with Shang Yibo for so many years, besides their professional chemistry, they got along very well, and assumed they were all "one of their own." Now it seemed she had been overthinking things and had been somewhat presumptuous. She finally understood that there had always been a barrier between them.

Shang Yibo didn't bother to say anything more and walked into the hotel lobby alone.

He wanted to go for a walk, but through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he saw several people standing outside the hotel, pointing cameras at him. Left with no other option, he turned back.

"Yibo." He heard someone call his name.

Shang Yibo turned around and, as if to say the best, Jian Zheng was holding a large bouquet of red roses, looking at him with a smug expression and a smile.