Chapter 501: Extra: Baili Jing - Cyclic First Love (1)

During the New Year festival holiday, dozens of movies rushed to hit the theaters in a frenzy. The release schedule was packed to the brim, an absolute madhouse.

However, a film with no promotional campaign managed to break through the siege. Riding on its incredibly high attendance rates, it squeezed its way into the market, and by the third day of the New Year, it had claimed most of the screening slots in major cinemas.

That evening, on a well-known movie enthusiast website, the replies to one particular thread were skyrocketing.

Title: [Is "Cyclic First Love" actually worth watching? Why are there so many good reviews?]

Original Post: [As the title says. This movie seems to be directed and written by Baili Jing. And it was only filmed over six months. I believe in his skill as an actor, but whether his directorial debut can actually move people... I’m skeptical. Can anyone who’s seen it weigh in? (Fans are welcome to comment, but please don’t exaggerate, thanks.)]

Baifabaizhongli: [I’m a fan, and I guarantee it’s good! Waaaah, there was no news for half a year, I thought Mr. Baili had retired from acting. I didn’t expect him to go off and become a director! I’m so touched!]

momo: [...What’s there to be so touched about? He’s a movie star. Isn’t filming a movie perfectly normal for him?]

Baifabaizhongli replied to momo: [That’s not it. A long time ago, he said his dream was actually to be a good husband and loving father. We all just assumed he would leave the industry and retire after getting married...]

ChiYuniguanbao: [You don’t see many traditional males like him these days. No wonder Sister Jiang likes him so much.]

momo: [Can we please focus on the movie? Why is everyone so interested in the director’s private life?]

Anonymous456: [Saw the premiere. The movie is definitely above average. Plus, the New Year’s lineup is all commercial blockbusters, so watching a refreshing little film like this is a nice palate cleanser. The box office numbers won’t be low.]

Anonymous233: [Just finished watching it. Not a fan. How should I put this... the movie’s story is actually very simple and a bit cliché. It’s about a protagonist whose first love dies in an accident, and she gains the ability to loop time, constantly going back to save him. What moved me were the cinematography and the dialogue. You can tell he poured his heart into it.]

Zhizhizhi: [I went in with a critical mindset, but... how do I say this... even though it has some flaws, I genuinely felt the emotions he was trying to convey. It made me think of my own first love.]

IwanttoDrinkMangoSago: [Speaking of which, I remember Baili Jing saying he had a "white moonlight," right? Was that his first love?]

Anonymous666: [So, is it Jiang Qingli?]

RousongMianbaobao: [Baili Jing is doing a promotional livestream in the Third District today! They’re giving away free movie tickets! Hurry! [Link]]

...

The camera shook slightly before focusing on a handsome young man in a white silk shirt, seated on the stage.

He had just played some games with the main cast as part of the promotion. While the others looked a bit tired, he was relaxed, like a piece of perfectly carved jade, a pleasing sight to behold.

After the host finished the promotional spiel, the event quickly moved toward its conclusion: the much-anticipated random Q&A session.

After a round of more official topics, a fan stood up and cut straight to the chase. "Mr. Baili, why did you decide to create a film with first love as the theme?"

A smile touched the corners of Baili Jing’s lips. "Probably because my first love is quite unforgettable."

"Is it Miss Jiang?"

The venue fell silent. Countless pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

Although many had speculated about the "white moonlight" first love Baili Jing had once mentioned, he had always been extremely cautious about his privacy concerning Jiang Qingli after their union. He never revealed a single word, fearing his comments would be misinterpreted and lead to negative press.

This time, however, Baili Jing smiled and said, "I suppose that’s a rather open secret."

"Indeed. My female master and I were each other’s first love."

...

The livestream comments flew by at lightning speed.

[AHHHH BAOBAO MAOMAO I’M ASCENDING!]

[I knew it! Foxes are the most devoted and faithful, they only recognize one partner for life! I’m shipping this so hard!]

[Sister Jiang is a true queen. To be so good and responsible even to her first love... I’m seriously smitten. Please open up the remaining Beast Husband positions...]

[Let’s see who dares to spread rumors that my bro had other women now! They’re each other’s first love, do you understand the weight of that?! All you Li Ye shippers and Li Chen shippers can step aside. The first love is the one true pairing!]

[What did Li Ye ever do to you? Stop making enemies for your own ship, okay?]

[Exactly! The Prince is about to be promoted to Colonel. Our Li Ye is the slow-burn type, you get it? The loyal puppy type is unbeatable.]

[Hehehe, we who ship the ’brother-sister’ dynamic are just like our idol—we don’t like to cause trouble. You really think we don’t have any fight in us? Take a good look at who won first place in last year’s poll!]

[The military circle has a fandom now, too? That’s terrifying.]

[Baili Jing is old and washed up. He’s lost his appeal and will be abandoned sooner or later.]

...

"Where do these people even come from? Why are there so many haters? They must be the remnants of Ling Qing’s fanbase, right?" Liu Wu was utterly speechless as he stared at the various comments on the screen.

As he closed the door of the nanny van, he raised his hands to Baili Jing, who was sitting beside him, to profess his innocence. "Boss, I swear I didn’t hire any bots this time!"

"I know," Baili Jing said.

Liu Wu sent a message to the livestreaming platform, asking them to delete some of the negative comments when they uploaded the replay. "By the way," he said, "the president of Hongbo Film and Television wants to treat us to dinner later. Should we go?"

Baili Jing took out his terminal, his eyes fixed on the screen. A few seconds passed before he said, "No."

Seeing this, Liu Wu couldn’t help but ask, "Hasn’t Miss Jiang replied to you yet?"

Baili Jing hummed softly in affirmation, his finger sliding across the screen, constantly refreshing.

But the pinned chat at the top of the screen remained without a new message notification.

Liu Wu sighed and instructed the driver to head to the hotel. He made a call to decline the dinner invitation, and when he turned back, he saw Baili Jing was texting Jiang Qingli.

He typed out a long message, then deleted it.

He turned off the screen, only to turn it back on two seconds later.

He repeated this several times. Still no reply.

It pained Liu Wu just to watch. "Boss, you’ve been working around the clock for days. Why don’t you get some rest?"

"I’m not tired."

Baili Jing said, putting away his terminal. He stared at the roof of the car, his gaze somewhat unfocused.

The perfect, glamorous movie star from moments before now seemed to have had an outer layer stripped away, revealing the exhaustion underneath.

Liu Wu was worried, but he didn’t know what to do.

He didn’t actually know what had happened between Jiang Qingli and Baili Jing.

He only knew that they seemed to have had a fight.

Before they left, Liu Wu, the driver, and an assistant had gone to the Jiang Family’s home to pick him up, but only Baili Jing had been there.

Normally, as long as Jiang Qingli was home, she would always see Baili Jing off, even if he was just going with them to a film set in the suburbs.

Many people in the industry envied their relationship.

But that day, not only did Jiang Qingli not show up, she didn’t even call... ’What is going on?’

Just as he was worrying, the assistant suddenly cried out, "Brother Wu, look at Mr. Baili!"

Baili Jing was leaning against the window, looking completely drained. A searing heat was radiating from his body.

Liu Wu touched him, and his expression grew grave.

’We’re screwed. Baili Jing is going into his x-period!’