Across the Four Seas

Sheng Jiayi knew a thing or two about He Jihan.

Unlike her, He Jihan debuted at eighteen. He spent eight years as an extra, climbing step by step from a background performer to a supporting role with actual lines. It was then, when he had nothing, that he met Xie Huiling, who was known at the time as one of the "Five Flowers" of the Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB).

In those days, TVB’s martial arts dramas were sweeping across Asia. Xie Huiling played the third lead—the protagonist’s younger martial arts sister—in the year’s highest-rated series, *Romance of the Rivers and Lakes*. Her lively and spirited performance made her an overnight sensation. One was a popular star, the other an unknown supporting actor; they had no business crossing paths, yet somehow, through a twist of fate, they ended up together.

Later, He Jihan told Sheng Jiayi that it had been love at first sight with Xie Huiling.

After two years of keeping their relationship underground, they went public. Under Xie Huiling’s introduction, He Jihan met Wang Fan, then the production manager at TVB. A year later, Wang Fan left to establish his own agency, and He Jihan became his first signed artist.

Sheng Jiayi heard that the two often quarreled during their seven-year romance. He Jihan lacked fame, yet he was undeniably talented. Once a man has talent, he becomes arrogant and solitary; if he fails to rise to the top, he becomes bitter and frustrated. In such times, anyone by his side suffers, especially someone like Xie Huiling, whose career was far more successful than his.

They dated for seven years, but it ended in a breakup.

In the second year after Xie Huiling’s departure, He Jihan became a breakout star.

Much like the classic line from Xie Huiling’s drama: "Once you have seen the vast ocean, other waters are mere trickles; once you have seen the clouds over Wushan, other mountains are mere shadows." Those who brave the storms of the world together are not necessarily the ones who make it to the end.

By the time He Jihan reached the status of an A-list star, Xie Huiling was already engaged to a Chinese-Canadian millionaire in the furniture export business. Her fiancé gifted her a twenty-million-dollar mansion in a wealthy Vancouver neighborhood, and she soon retired from the industry to become a content, wealthy socialite.

In Sheng Jiayi’s view, Xie Huiling’s choice was entirely rational. Even if He Jihan had become a dazzling superstar, it did not guarantee a happy life by his side.

The only one who could not move on was He Jihan.

If there was anyone Sheng Jiayi had ever seen work as desperately for money as He Jihan, she had yet to meet them. His appearance fee reached nine million—six times that of Sheng Jiayi—and he had once filmed twelve movies in a single year, earning over a hundred million. The first thing he did with his wealth was purchase a ten-million-dollar mansion on Kadoorie Hill.

He was desperate to possess the things once out of his reach. He even tried his hand at investments, hoping to multiply his money, but suffered heavy losses. Consequently, he had to return to filming. Any movie that approached him had to discuss box office guarantees; if it was less than eight million, there was no conversation to be had. He never touched art-house films, sticking strictly to commercial blockbusters.

Compared to him, Sheng Jiayi was far more relaxed. She did both commercial and art-house films, and her fees fluctuated. In short, she didn't rely solely on her salary to make a living.

They were never the same kind of people.

If one had to compare, Sheng Jiayi was indeed the meddlesome outsider in He Jihan’s heart. She knew it, and she was happy to see lovers find their happily-ever-afters!

But He Jihan was being truly unreasonable. They were both well-known actors in the film industry, yet he had gone off on a secret date in the middle of shooting, dragging Sheng Jiayi’s reputation through the mud. It was as if his head were filled with the seawater of Victoria Harbor. It was fine that he had his precious love, but he couldn't think of Sheng Jiayi only when he needed to make money, then push her out to take the heat the moment his romance came calling.

Sheng Jiayi sighed, a sound that made the hearts of those in the room sink.

"Forget it, Andy," she said softly. "Looking at Mr. He’s eyes, one would think we are the villains in a movie trying to tear his precious romance apart."

She toyed with the fur tassels on her shawl, her long eyelashes veiling her deep blue eyes, making her expression unreadable. "It’s just that, when it comes to destiny, one rarely has the final say."

She then flashed a brilliant smile at He Jihan. "Don't you agree, Mr. He?"

He Jihan opened his mouth, but the words wouldn't come out.

He could feel guilt before Xie Huiling and anger before He Xiyue, but whenever he stood before Sheng Jiayi, he was always at a loss.

In truth, Sheng Jiayi was the perfect "girlfriend." In the film world, she possessed a beauty, education, and family background that others could only dream of.

Her stepfather had been a senior officer in the Serious Crime Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force. The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) had declared that her father died in the line of duty—though he was dead, he held the title of a martyr. The public naturally felt a sense of sympathy for her; even the notoriously vicious Hong Kong media were cautious when mentioning her, avoiding any investigation into her family life.

Moreover, the identity of a Serious Crime Unit officer was significant in an entertainment industry controlled by the Triads. Even the most reckless thugs wouldn't dare provoke her, for that would be like walking straight into a trap. Not to mention that Zhao Shirong, the Chairman of Chenghe with his high status in the underworld, treated her like his own daughter. Ever since she signed with Chenghe, she had snatched up all the best resources for the younger generation.

That was why, despite possessing peerless beauty, few dared to lay a finger on Sheng Jiayi.

As for her career, her debut film won her the Best Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Her starting point was already at the summit. She was a student at the University of Hong Kong, excelling in both character and studies. When the public first saw her on screen, she was only seventeen—well-behaved, adorable, and as pure as water. Over the years, she had grown up under the spotlight. To be able to stage a fake romance with such a woman was a massive boost to any man’s ego.

Yet, this sense of triumph had to remain hidden in his heart; Sheng Jiayi herself never gave him that feeling.

If he said he had never been moved by Sheng Jiayi, that would be a lie. Actors spending time together inevitably involve closeness, and when feelings run high, it is easy for sparks to fly.

But while Sheng Jiayi appeared gentle, she was that way with everyone—never initiating, never refusing, and never taking responsibility. She welcomed all comers. Yet, intimacy was one thing; once things became real, especially when interests were involved, she was cold to the bone.

"Jiayi," He Jihan composed himself. "This time it was my fault, but it’s not what you think between Ada and me. She came back from Canada, and I treated her to a meal. That is all."

Sheng Jiayi’s beautiful eyes were filled with skepticism.

"I am not interested in the nature of your relationship," she said softly. "Mr. He, the reality is this: you knew our collaboration was for the sake of greater profit, yet you met Xie Huiling privately during the shoot and were caught in such ambiguous photos."

"Don't forget, we both signed a valuation adjustment mechanism (VAM) agreement with the investors. If the box office falls short of expectations, we are both finished. Letting Miss Xie take the brunt of the public backlash is the best thing for both of us. For me, I don't want to be labeled 'the other woman.' For you, you are only helping her out of old sentiment. I am sorry she is the one getting hurt, but there is no other way. Only this can minimize the damage to the box office. Don't you agree?"

Seeing He Jihan’s expression shift repeatedly, Sheng Jiayi laughed. "Of course, there is another way. If you want to protect her, take the responsibility upon yourself. You bear all the consequences. Do you dare?"

She offered only two choices, yet the pressure on He Jihan was as heavy as a mountain.

He was already beginning to regret returning to Hong Kong in such a rush after receiving Xie Huiling’s call.

Logically, his itinerary this time was highly confidential. Every paparazzi in Hong Kong thought he was still on the set in Shanghai filming with Sheng Jiayi. He had even used an inconspicuous Buick sedan to travel to the Marriott Hotel—a car that had never appeared in the media; the paparazzi could not have tracked him by the license plate.

In his mind, he couldn't help but recall the scene of Xie Huiling sitting across from him. In the past few years, she had become more refined, wearing two strings of lustrous pearls—accessories she used to find old-fashioned. Her eyes were filled with tears, and as she spoke, she leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder.

That scene was caught by the paparazzi—everything perfectly timed, not a second too early, not a second too late.

When stars reach their level, they don't just earn a salary. Both he and Sheng Jiayi had signed profit-sharing clauses with the investors. If calculated based on the previous average box office of over forty million plus DVD sales, he and Sheng Jiayi could earn tens of millions, with his share being even higher.

And the corresponding penalty clause was nearly ten times that amount.

This was exactly what Sheng Jiayi was concerned about.

Making money together was fine; losing money together was not.

The 280-degree panoramic glass windows were streaked with lines of rain. The double-layered glass was imported from France, providing such excellent soundproofing that almost no noise could be heard inside. The suite was filled with fresh flowers and oil paintings, creating an atmosphere of vibrant luxury.

Behind Sheng Jiayi was a full wall of cabinets, the space behind the brown transparent glass filled with her luxury bags.

At the beginning, He Jihan would send her bags and jewelry, but Sheng Jiayi never accepted them. She worried that if the lovers' act became too real, she might eventually get lost in the performance herself.

He Jihan’s female assistant once said that a single handbag of Sheng Jiayi’s was worth a million, and her clothes were always the latest runway pieces from top-tier brands. Even with her high income, such spending was staggering.

Lin Zhihai had said that a woman like her was not something an actor could afford to keep; she would either remain unmarried for life or marry into the top echelons of the elite.

"I..."

"Are you reluctant?" Sheng Jiayi tilted her head in confusion.

Unwilling to say more to He Jihan, she turned her gaze to Lin Zhihai. "Boss Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Zhihai pondered for a moment and nodded.

Arguments aside, Lin Zhihai was certainly willing to sacrifice Xie Huiling’s reputation to maintain the cooperation between the two major stars of Hengxing and Chenghe.

He placed a hand on He Jihan’s shoulder. "Jihan, I think Miss Sheng makes a valid point."

"This isn't fair to Ada," He Jihan said, suppressing his anger.

Lin Zhihai almost blurted out, "Damn your mother."

At a time like this, he was still worried about Ada? He didn't even notice that Ana (Sheng Jiayi) was sitting right in front of him. Sheng Jiayi was not Xie Huiling, who would waste seven years of her youth full of romantic illusions for him. This girl had climbed to the absolute top of the industry in three years, stepping over all the other female stars in Hong Kong. Aside from having a capable manager, was she not ruthless herself?

But he couldn't say that, because Sheng Jiayi had never truly left any evidence behind.

She was famously good-tempered; she let He Xiyue take the blame for all the unpleasantness.

He Xiyue, as expected, did not care about He Jihan’s face like Lin Zhihai did. She had always known He Jihan was indecisive, but today she realized he was also quite stupid.

"It’s not fair to Ada, but is it fair to Jiayi? Who knows if Ada isn't trying to make a comeback after her divorce and, lacking buzz, deliberately arranged for paparazzi to photograph her."

"That’s impossible... She..."

"Impossible?" He Xiyue mocked him. "Mr. He, you are truly inexperienced in the entertainment industry. There are countless ugly things in this circle you haven't seen. For the sake of profit, anything is possible."

He Jihan could bear it no longer. He stood up to argue, when suddenly, the sharp, shrill ring of a telephone pierced through the sound of the rain, landing heavily on everyone’s hearts.

Sheng Jiayi and He Xiyue exchanged a glance, and He Xiyue reached out first to grab the phone on the side table.

"Hello."

"It’s me, He Xiyue."

"Go ahead."

"..."

She listened to whatever was being said on the other end, her expression gradually darkening.

"In the middle of a typhoon, which media went to interview her?"

"I understand. Yes, understood."

"Find a way to suppress the news. Call the newspapers and radio stations we know; tell them to prepare a PR statement. I’ll be at the office later. Call everyone in the General Manager’s office and get them to work overtime... I don't care what method you use, even if they are in a hotel room with a woman, drag them back to work. Offer double pay. That’s all."

He Xiyue hung up the phone and took a deep breath, telling Sheng Jiayi, "One piece of good news, one piece of bad news. The bad news is that Xie Huiling was cornered by paparazzi at her home. She couldn't handle the pressure and spilled everything to the media, meaning the fact that you and He Jihan are a contractual couple will likely not stay hidden. The good news is that the news is currently held by *The Eastern Post* and hasn't been published yet. The major shareholder of *The Eastern Post* is the Tianyuan Group, the investor for the movie you are currently filming. They just called, expressing a desire to discuss this with us."

"How did she know about the contractual relationship?" Sheng Jiayi asked instinctively, but she quickly found the answer, looking directly at the pale-faced He Jihan.

This time, her gaze was no longer cold; it was as sharp as a sword, piercing straight through He Jihan’s heart.