Three weeks passed in a blur of filming.
Vincent's performance continued to impress. The leaked scenes went viral repeatedly. Public opinion shifted from "Yu Li is trash" to "Maybe Yu Li isn't so bad?" to "Okay, Yu Li is actually talented."
His Weibo followers tripled. Brands reached out. Magazine covers were offered.
But more importantly, things with Ren Jingchen were... progressing.
They had lunch together most days now. Nothing dramatic—just quiet conversations about acting techniques, books, films. Ren Jingchen recommended directors Vincent should study.
[Current Favorability: +25]
"You're doing great, Host!" Bai Yun cheered. "At this rate, you'll hit 100 in another month!"
"Feels too easy," Vincent thought suspiciously.
"Why are you always waiting for disaster?"
"Because I know how these stories work. There's always a dramatic crisis before the happy ending."
"That's just pessimism!"
Vincent was proven right the next morning when Manager Chen called with news.
"You've been invited to the Golden Phoenix Charity Gala," he said, barely containing his excitement.
"That's... good?"
"Good? Yu Li, this is the most exclusive event of the year! Only top-tier celebrities get invited! This is proof you've made it!"
"Great. When is it?"
"Saturday night. And here's the interesting part—you're seated at Table 1."
Vincent's inherited memories stirred. Table 1 was the VIP table. Reserved for the absolute elite of the entertainment industry.
"Who else is at Table 1?"
"Let me see... Film Emperor Ren Jingchen, Director Chen Wei, Actress Liu Yanran, Producer Zhou—"
"Ren Jingchen?" Vincent's heart skipped.
"Yes. In fact..." Manager Chen paused. "According to the seating chart, you're next to him."
"That's... coincidental."
"Vincent. Yu Li. Whatever you're calling yourself now. Nothing at this level is coincidental."
After hanging up, Vincent asked, "Bai Yun, did Ren Jingchen request that seating arrangement?"
"Checking... Yes! He specifically asked the organizers to seat you next to him!"
Vincent's face heated. "Why would he do that?"
"Maybe he LIKES you, Host! Revolutionary concept!"
"Or he's keeping an eye on me."
"You're so bad at accepting when people like you."
Saturday Evening:
Vincent stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his dress for the hundredth time.
The stylist had chosen a deep emerald gown—elegant, sophisticated, with a high slit that showed just enough leg ,His hair was swept up, leaving his neck bare. Diamond earrings.
He looked good. Really good.
"Ready to wow the Film Emperor?" Bai Yun teased.
"Ready to not humiliate myself at a fancy event," Vincent corrected.
The gala was held at the Grand Hyatt—a palatial hotel with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and enough gold trim to fund a small country.
Vincent arrived fashionably on time (fifteen minutes late, as Manager Chen instructed). The red carpet was chaos—cameras flashing, reporters shouting questions, fans screaming behind barriers.
"Yu Li! Over here!"
"Is it true you're dating Ren Jingchen?"
"How does it feel to go from most hated to most watched?"
"Are you and Zhao Meilin still feuding?"
Vincent smiled, waved, and kept moving. Manager Chen had drilled him: look gracious, say nothing controversial, don't linger.
Inside, the ballroom was breathtaking. Round tables draped in white, centerpieces of white orchids and roses, a stage for the charity auction, and everywhere—celebrities.
Vincent recognized faces from dramas, films, variety shows. People who'd never acknowledged Yu Li before now nodded politely.
Table 1 was at the front, closest to the stage.
And sitting there, looking devastating in a black tuxedo, was Ren Jingchen.
Their eyes met across the room.
Ren Jingchen smiled.
[Ding! Ren Jingchen's favorability: +25 → +30!]
Vincent's heart did a stupid fluttery thing.
He walked over, trying to look confident in the ridiculous heels.
"Yu Li," Ren Jingchen greeted. "You look beautiful."
Vincent's brain short-circuited. "You—I—thank you. You look nice too."
'Nice'? Film Emperor Ren Jingchen looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine spread and Vincent said 'nice'?
But Ren Jingchen's smile widened. "Nice. I'll take it."
The other Table 1 guests arrived. Director Chen Wei, a legendary filmmaker in his sixties. Actress Liu Yanran, a sweet-faced woman in her twenties who played innocent roles. Producer Zhou, a shark in designer clothing.
Dinner was served—multiple courses of food Vincent barely tasted because he was hyperaware of Ren Jingchen beside him.
Their arms brushed when reaching for wine glasses.
Ren Jingchen's hand steadied Vincent's chair when he shifted position.
Small touches.
Vincent was losing his mind.
"How are you finding the attention?" Ren Jingchen asked quietly while others were engaged in conversation.
"Overwhelming," Vincent admitted. "Three months ago, people wanted me gone. Now they want pictures."
"Fame is fickle."
"Is it always like this for you?"
Ren Jingchen considered. "I've been famous long enough that I've learned to create boundaries. The wheelchair actually helps—people are less aggressive because they don't want to seem ableist."
"That's..." Vincent didn't know what to say.
"Pragmatic?" Ren Jingchen suggested. "I'm not naive about how I'm perceived. The tragic Film Emperor in the wheelchair. Some people pity me. Some admire me. Some fetishize the disability. Very few just see me as a person."
"I see you," Vincent said before he could stop himself.
Ren Jingchen's gaze intensified. "I know you do. That's why I like talking to you."
[Ding! Ren Jingchen's favorability: +30 → +35!]
The moment broke when the charity auction began.
Items were presented: signed scripts, exclusive dinner experiences with celebrities, luxury vacations, artwork.
Vincent bid on a few items—modest amounts.
Then the final item was announced.
"Our last auction tonight," the host announced with a gleaming smile, "is a very special one-of-a-kind experience: A private dinner prepared by Michelin chef Liu Wei, paired with a personal film screening in Film Emperor Ren Jingchen's private theater! The Film Emperor has graciously donated this experience to support children's arts education!"
The room erupted in excited chatter.
Vincent glanced at Ren Jingchen, who looked mildly uncomfortable with the attention.
"You donated that?" Vincent whispered.
"The organizers insisted I contribute something 'personal,'" Ren Jingchen muttered. "I thought a dinner was safer than, say, a date."
"Bidding starts at 100,000 yuan!"
Hands shot up immediately.
"150,000!"
"200,000!"
Wealthy socialites and executives competed, driving the price up.
"500,000!" A woman in her forties with too much plastic surgery called out.
Vincent recognized her from Yu Li's memories—Mrs. Wang, a real estate mogul's wife who collected celebrities like trophies.
"600,000!" Another competitor.
"One million!" Mrs. Wang declared smugly.
The room gasped.
The host opened his mouth to call it—
"Two million," Vincent heard himself say.
Every head turned.
Vincent's brain caught up to his mouth a second too late. What are you DOING?!
"Saving him from that horrible woman," he thought back at Bai Yun. "Did you see her? She'd probably mount his head on her wall!"
Ren Jingchen stared at him in shock.
Mrs. Wang's eyes narrowed. "Three million."
Shit. Vincent didn't actually have three million. Yu Li's parents had cut her allowance after the stalking incidents—
"I'll match whatever the winning bid is," Ren Jingchen said suddenly, his voice carrying across the silent room. "And donate it directly to the charity."
"So the charity gets double," Ren Jingchen continued calmly. "Mrs. Wang, if you bid three million, that's six million total for the children's program."
Mrs. Wang calculated, realized she'd look terrible refusing, and smiled tightly. "How generous, Film Emperor Ren."
"Miss Yu Li," the host said, barely containing his excitement at the drama, "do you maintain your bid of two million?"
Vincent looked at Ren Jingchen, who was watching him.
"Yes," Vincent said. "Two million."
"Sold! To Miss Yu Li for two million yuan—and Film Emperor Ren's matching donation makes it four million total!"
Applause erupted.
Vincent sat down, his hands shaking.
"That was either very romantic or very stupid," Bai Yun observed.
"Probably both."
Under the table, Ren Jingchen's hand found Vincent's.
Their fingers intertwined.
"Thank you," Ren Jingchen said quietly, so only Vincent could hear. "For rescuing me from dinner with Mrs. Wang."
[Ding! Ren Jingchen's favorability: +35 → +45!]
[Special Event Unlocked: Private Dinner Date!]
Vincent squeezed Ren Jingchen's hand, heart racing.
This was definitely not how the mission was supposed to go.
This felt real.
Too real.
And Vincent was absolutely terrified.
____
The next day,
Vincent woke up two realizations:
He'd just spent two million yuan he didn't have
He'd basically bought a date with Ren Jingchen
"Morning, Host!" Bai Yun chirped. "Sleep well?"
"I had a nightmare where Yu Li's parents sued me for embezzlement," Vincent groaned into his pillow.
"About that! Good news and bad news!"
Vincent sat up. "Bad news first."
"Yu Li's bank account has 2.3 million yuan. After the auction payment, you'll have 300,000 left."
"And the good news?"
"You have 300,000 left!"
"That's the same news!"
"Perspective is everything, Host!"
Vincent's phone buzzed. Manager Chen.
"Please tell me you have a plan for the money," Manager Chen said without preamble.
"I... have 300,000 left?"
"That's not a plan. That's poverty by Yu Li standards. Your parents are going to kill you."
"Can I get an advance on future work?"
"You've already got three endorsement deals pending. Let me push them through faster. But Yu Li—" Manager Chen paused. "—that was either the most romantic gesture I've ever seen or career suicide."
"Which do you think it was?"
"The internet thinks it's romantic. The cynics think you're still obsessed with Ren Jingchen. His fans are divided between 'this is cute' and 'stay away from our Film Emperor.'"
Vincent scrolled through Weibo:
Is this romantic or stalker behavior? I genuinely can't tell anymore
The way Ren Jingchen SMILED at her after though...
ship it. Sue me.
#YuLichen trending #1
"There's a ship name," Vincent said faintly.
"Welcome to fame," Manager Chen replied. "Now about that dinner—when are you planning it?"
"I... don't know? How do these auction things work?"
"YOU coordinate with Ren Jingchen directly. It's your prize, your responsibility."
Which meant Vincent had to call Ren Jingchen and essentially ask him out on a date.
Vincent stared at Ren Jingchen's contact info for twenty minutes.
Just call him. Simple. Professional. "Hey, about that dinner I bought..."
His finger hovered over the call button.
"HOST. JUST DO IT."
"What if he thinks I'm weird?"
"You spent two million yuan on dinner with him. That ship has SAILED."
Vincent pressed call.
It rang once.
"Yu Li," Ren Jingchen's voice answered, warm and slightly amused. "I wondered when you'd call."
"You were waiting for my call?"
"You did buy the dinner. Ball's in your court."
Vincent could hear the smile in his voice. "About that... I may have made an impulsive decision."
"The best kind of decision."
"Is it though?"
Ren Jingchen laughed"Are you trying to back out of having dinner with me?"
"No! I just—" Vincent took a breath. "I want to make sure you actually want to do this. Not just because it's for charity."
"Yu Li," Ren Jingchen said quietly, "if I didn't want to have dinner with you, I wouldn't have donated the experience."
Vincent's heart stuttered. "What?"
"The organizers asked me to contribute something. I chose a dinner specifically hoping someone interesting would bid. I just didn't expect..." He trailed off.
"Didn't expect what?"
"Didn't expect it to be you. Or for you to bid so high. Or for you to rescue me from Mrs. Wang with such dramatic flair."
"So you're not... upset?"
"I'm intrigued," Ren Jingchen corrected"When are you free?"
Vincent checked his schedule. Filming wrapped for the week on Friday. "Saturday evening?"
"Perfect. I'll have my assistant coordinate with Chef Liu. Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
"No shellfish allergy or anything."
"Good to know," Ren Jingchen said, and there was something in his tone that made Vincent's face heat.
Was he... flirting?
"I'll send you the address," Ren Jingchen continued. "My house is in Shunyi District. Private, away from paparazzi."
"Your house?"
"The auction specified my private theater. Which is in my house."
Right. Vincent was going to Ren Jingchen's house. Alone. For dinner.
"Saturday at seven?" Ren Jingchen suggested.
"Seven is perfect."
"Yu Li?"
"Yes?"
"I'm looking forward to it."
[Ding! Ren Jingchen's favorability: +45 → +50!]
[Milestone Reached: Halfway to Love!]
After hanging up, Vincent collapsed on his bed.
"He's looking forward to it," he whispered to the ceiling.
"HOST HAS A DATE!" Bai Yun shouted in his mind.