June 2009, Dragon Kingdom.Yan University basked in warm sunshine.
"Third Bro, how's the job hunt going?"
"Job hunt? What job hunt?"
"What else could I mean? Don't tell me you still haven't found work."
"No one wants me, so I'll just go home and inherit the family business."
"Family business? Come on, don't tell me your folks dig mines?"
"Pretty much." Shō Unkai thought for a moment; his family did sell tin ore, so "mining" wasn't wrong.
"Tch, a mining heir? What kind of rich kid hides his light like you?"
His buddy clearly didn't believe him.Shō shrugged.
BEEP BEEP
They had reached the main gate. A BMW 3 Series glided to a stop nearby.
A woman stepped out—long white dress, high heels, midnight-black hair.
"Bro, look! A goddess. She's even hotter than our department beauty."The roommate's jaws practically hit the curb.
Seeing her head this way, he squealed, "No way… Third Bro, she's walking toward us! Am I about to score a last-minute graduation romance?"
Shō Unkai rolled his eyes. With your nonstop muttering, any romance would run for its life.
The woman approached. Shō's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Wait, Bro, she looks familiar… where have I seen her?"His roommate squinted hard.
Shō ignored him, stepped forward, hugged the lady, and kissed her fair cheek. "Why are you here? Aren't you filming in Hengdian?"
Looping her arm through his, she giggled. "You said on the phone you graduate today. I took special leave to surprise you."
"Happy to see me?"
Shō nodded. "I'm pleasantly shocked."
"Excuse me," the roommate blurted, "a-are you the actress Yanagi Shishi—Dragon Kui from Legend of the Sword 3?"
Yanagi Shishi turned with a gentle smile. "Yes, nice to meet you."
It was her first visit to Yan University. She didn't know the roommate, but seeing him with Shō she guessed they were friends and politely confirmed.
"You… Third Bro, you…"The roommate was thunderstruck. For four years this low-key guy had hidden a relationship with Yanagi Shishi.
Like a princess choosing a commoner—his brain turned to mush.
Shō laughed, slipped an arm around Shishi's slender waist, and said, "Brother, after today we each follow our own path. See you when fate allows."
He waved, escorted Shishi to the BMW, and drove off, leaving one stupefied roommate behind.
Only when the car disappeared did the poor fellow recover."My bro's girlfriend is Yanagi Shishi—holy…"
—
Inside the car, Shō rested one hand on Shishi's smooth, springy thigh and half-closed his eyes in lazy contentment. She was long used to it.
"Where to now?" she asked.
"Hotel first."
"Hotel?"Color rose to her cheeks.
"Mm-hmm."
"You're up to mischief again."
"Don't you like it?" Shō winked. "Someone once begged me…"
"Stop it!" She swatted him, cheeks glowing.
"Fine, fine. Let's go to the usual place. Good atmosphere, tight security."
"I'm not going."Yet she still turned toward their "usual place."
—
Two hours laterPresidential suite, five-star hotel, Haidian District.
CLICK
Shō flicked on the light, propped himself against the headboard, and sat up. Beside him lay a woman with tousled hair, wrapped in a white quilt, eyes still unfocused.
Their clothes lay scattered on the carpet.
He grabbed a bottle of mineral water, took a long swig, then handed it over. "Drink. Soothe your throat or you'll sound hoarse tomorrow."
Shishi shot him a sidelong glance. "Your fault for teasing me."
She accepted the bottle.Shō smirked. So much for being cool as a cucumber—she always surrendered.
Actually, that cool-beauty persona came later; right now she was more the girl-next-door. They had known each other three years. On a whim he'd accompanied a roommate to the Beijing Dance Academy and met her. Back then she'd filmed a show that hadn't aired, utterly unknown in the industry.
Shō helped her sign with Sugar Man Studios, kept inviting her to dinner, visiting sets in Shanghai and Hengdian. One thing led to another, and here they were.