"Please...eat?"
Almost immediately, Jiang Chuyi remembered the promise she had made in Italy. When Xibao and his friends helped promote "Blade of the Mirror" with a live broadcast, she had promised to treat them to a meal when she returned to China.
After hesitating for a moment, she agreed, "Didn't I treat you guys to a meal when we were doing the live broadcast? It just so happens."
While thinking in her mind, Jiang Chuyi thoughtfully added, "What do you like to eat? Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
Zongye said nothing.
The signal is bad again
Jiang Chuyi called out in confusion.
After a while, his voice came through the microphone: "It's all fine, pick the one you like."
"OK."
The hot pot soup was boiling, and Chen Yi could tell at a glance that Jiang Chuyi was absent-minded.
When she emptied the bean curd for the third time, Chen Yi couldn't help it anymore and asked, "What's wrong with you? Haven't you figured it out yet?"
Jiang Chuyi bit her chopsticks, bewildered: "What?"
"Look at you, you look so worried." Chen Yi sighed and threw away the spoon in his hand. "Tell me, what happened again?"
"Nothing happened. I was just wondering where to treat someone to dinner."
"Who are you inviting to dinner?" Zhao Guangyu stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and said vaguely, "You have a lot of schedules."
"Why do you care so much?"
Jiang Chuyi supported her chin with one hand, wondering whether she should call Xin He to join in.
The recent turmoil is still underway, so we must choose a safe place when we invite them to dinner.
Her heart moved as she wished. She opened her address book and found Qin Tong's assistant Jin Qing. She sent him a message, asking if there was a more private place as she wanted to treat him to a meal.
Jinqing: "I know a Japanese chef who will come to Shanghai for exchange in two days. He is expected to stay for about half a month. If you need, I can help you make a reservation in advance."
Jiang Chuyi: "Okay, thank you! I'll check with my friend later and send you a message when it's ready."
Jinqing: “Received.”
Jiang Chuyi: "By the way, Brother Qing, how is the teacher doing recently? I want to go see him later, is it convenient?"
Jinqing: "I'm fine. Old Qin will be happy if you come."
Jiang Chuyi: "Okay."
"Can you please stop playing with your phone while eating?"
Hearing Chen Yi's cold tone, Jiang Chuyi put down the phone guiltily and smiled, "I have something to do. I'll eat well and stop playing."
Jiang Chuyi stood up slightly, picked up some stewed food and put it into Chen Yi and Zhao Guangyu's bowls, and said attentively: "You guys eat this, it's delicious."
Chen Yi: “…”
Then she asked with a smile, "By the way, are you thirsty? Do you want something to drink? I'll get it from the refrigerator for you."
Zhao Guangyu: “…”
He choked, "Xiaoyi, don't do this, I'm scared."
Chen Yi looked at her radiant and lively face, as if he knew everything. He smiled and said, "Why? Did you make peace with a famous star?"
Jiang Chuyi's smile froze immediately.
Zhao Guangyu was confused and remained at a loss: "Which big star? What reconciliation?"
Jiang Chuyi lost her confidence and whispered, "Not really."
Chen Yi glared at her and said, "Tell me the truth, is the person you want to treat Zong Ye to a meal?"
Under her stern gaze, Jiang Chuyi nodded very slowly and carefully. Then, she added seriously, "There's more than one."
Zhao Guangyu was so shocked that he seemed to be deaf. He said in disbelief, "What sect? Which one?"
Jiang Chuyi was silent again.
Zhao Guangyu raised his voice a little, "The bassist of BloodXGentle? You want to treat him to a meal?"
Jiang Chuyi nodded slowly again.
Zhao Guangyu asked excitedly: "Can I bring my family with me to dinner?"
Jiang Chuyi looked back at him numbly: "What do you think?"
Zhao Guangyu's expression was full of disappointment. He said, "Then ask Zong Ye if he can help me get an autograph from Ji Kai."
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
Chen Yi was speechless: "We are celebrities ourselves, can you not be like the ordinary people outside the circle and ask for autographs? Can you be a little more classy? It's too outrageous to be so plain."
Jiang Chuyi immediately nodded in agreement and echoed, "That's right, that's right."
"How can we compare with them?" Zhao Guangyu disagreed. "Xibao's autograph is very valuable. When we can't make it without any announcements, we can sell it on Xianyu. Maybe we can make some money."
Chen Yi listened to his low words and held his forehead helplessly.
Zhao Guangyu realized it later and looked at Jiang Chuyi, "It seems that you haven't been shooting this movie for a long time. How come you have become so familiar with the top stars so quickly?"
"More than familiar." Chen Yi continued, "She has even become a rumored girlfriend."
Zhao Guangyu exclaimed, "When did this happen? I'm behind the times."
"Okay, okay, stop it. I won't say any more." Jiang Chuyi gestured to stop them from singing the same tune. "I'm just treating them to a meal. Why are you so angry?"
"I don't know who was the one who looked so lifeless just now." Chen Yi glanced at her with resentment and said unhappily, "It seems that I have tried to comfort you for a long time, but a phone call from someone else is not enough."
"Really not." Jiang Chuyi pursed her lips.
"Don't blame me for not reminding you. It's okay to know Zong Ye, but don't make close friends with him." Chen Yi's tone became serious. "His fans are notoriously crazy. Don't bring trouble upon yourself."
"I understand." Jiang Chuyi sighed and begged for mercy sincerely, "You don't have to worry about me. I know my limits."
"You have no sense of propriety. I think you are just so obsessed with Zong Ye that you don't know what to do." Chen Yi continued to eat. "Forget it. I can understand you. If I could secretly date a top star, I would be willing to be scolded by ten thousand people."
"You're getting more and more ridiculous." Jiang Chuyi said firmly, as if she had no guilt at all. "I'm not having dinner with him alone this time. What kind of relationship are we talking about? He's very popular. I know that."
Since Jiang Chuyi had already seen how busy Xibao's schedule was, she contacted Zong Ye on WeChat the next day to confirm the time with him.
Still that respectful tone.
Jiang Chuyi: "Teacher Zong Ye, I have ordered a private restaurant. The confidentiality is very good, but I need to make an appointment in advance. When is it convenient for you?"
After a while, Zong Ye sent a voice message.
Jiang Chuyi clicked on it and listened.
His voice was very gentle, "How old are you?"
Jiang Chuyi was a little confused, not understanding the scope of this topic. She typed back: "I was born in 1997."
Zong Ye: "I am only one year older than you, and we are of the same generation. It seems inappropriate to use the term "you"?"
Jiang Chuyi thought.
He is so particular. Isn't this a way of showing respect to him
Zong Ye: "I will be returning to Shanghai next Saturday, and my plane will land at 8:30 pm. Is that time okay?"
Muneya: "See you next week."
When Jiang Chuyi saw these three words, her heart skipped a beat.
Probably influenced by Chen Yi's inappropriate words, she actually felt that his tone was like that of a young couple having a secret rendezvous...
*
Maybe Jiang Chuyi's autistic attitude of hopelessness last time intimidated Gao Ning a little, and she rejected several variety show invitations for Jiang Chuyi for the first time.
Gao Ning would have loved to have these shows aired for show-and-tell in the past, but everyone knows why he asked Jiang Chuyi to appear on the show at this critical moment.
Gao Ning kept talking to her on the phone: "We should cherish this popularity and not waste it. But we really can't afford to offend Zong Ye's fans, so we should stop while we are ahead. Let's keep a low profile for a few days and don't challenge their bottom line again."
"You know when to quit." "I know, hey, don't be angry."
Jiang Chuyi said in a serious tone: "I am just angry that you didn't discuss it with me before doing anything. If you want to hype it up, you should at least respect my wishes, right?"
"Okay, okay, I'm wrong, okay?"
Hearing her admit her mistake, Jiang Chuyi finally felt a little relieved.
"Did you know that you and Souya have a CP super topic that's been quite popular recently?"
Jiang Chuyi's heart was lifted again: "What?!"
Gao Ning immediately said, "I swear, this wasn't our fault this time. It was spontaneously organized by passers-by! The public has sharp eyes!"
Jiang Chuyi frowned, not in the mood to chat with her: "What CP super topic?"
"It's called Yijian Zongqing, I think." Gao Ning said casually, "If you're interested, go search it yourself."
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
"There's one more thing. I've been discussing a script recently. It's a joint venture between iFlytek and Huarui. It's of good quality. I'll send you the title of the novel later. You can take a look at it in the next few days. It's best to do some research. You may have a chance to try the role of the second female lead. The producer is also amazing. I had to drink with him at least three times before I could get him drunk."
Hearing this, Jiang Chuyi felt sad and couldn't bear to lose her temper again, "Drink less and take care of yourself."
"Oh, you still feel sorry for me?"
"Thanks a lot."
Gao Ning is the granddaughter of Qin Tong's younger brother. Her family has some connections in the entertainment industry, and she is considered a third-generation star. But in the past two years, she quarreled with her parents over issues such as sexual orientation and career planning, and almost broke up with them. In order to save face, she insisted on going out on her own. The circle is deep, but Gao Ning is strong-willed. She will bear everything she encounters and never complain to her family.
After Gao Ning changed his career to become an agent, the first actor he signed through Jin Qing's introduction was Jiang Chuyi, who was already an obscure actress outside the 18th-tier.
Jiang Chuyi also watched step by step how Gao Ning changed his unruly temperament, was smoothed over by reality, became smooth and calculating, and begged for resources everywhere with a humble smile and bowing.
Jiang Chuyi sighed slowly, "I didn't mean to get angry at you before, I was just angry that you didn't trust me. Sister Ning, I will act honestly and not rely on these hypes. Who knows, I may have a day to shine."
"Why are you suddenly so tender? Don't you want to make money for me?" Gao Ning was alert.
"No... I just want to say that I understand your feelings, but I am still an actor after all. The popularity is only temporary. The most important thing is to perform well. The work speaks for itself. I don't want to disappoint my teacher's expectations of me."
"But I've said it many times, times are different now."
Gao Ning paused and stopped smiling at her: "There are so many good actors now. You want to act well, but what does it matter if you have the ability? If you don't have popularity, fans, endorsements, or investment, others will look down on you. Nowadays, everyone relies on traffic to make quick money. I tell you, only when you are really famous, will you have the acting freedom you want."
In this world of fame and fortune, there are too many things that are beyond one's control, and being confused is the biggest sin. Jiang Chuyi also understands this.
But Jiang Chuyi sometimes feels a little disappointed with herself now. She feels that she was very pure in the past and only wanted to act in good movies. She doesn’t know when she started to change.
Perhaps, the moment she chose to go with the flow, she had already begun to lose herself.
*
Jiang Chuyi had nothing to do these days, so she stayed at home and studied novels as instructed by Gao Ning.
In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday.
Early in the morning, Jiang Chuyi got up, washed her hair, and thought about what to wear today.
She opened the curtains and looked outside. Shanghai had been cold and gloomy for more than half a month. It was rare for the city to have a large area of snow.
Jiang Chuyi rummaged through the boxes and found a beige woolen long skirt, but was troubled by the coat.
After choosing and choosing, I finally picked out a gray long coat.
Looking herself in front of the full-length mirror, Jiang Chuyi felt that her outfit looked quite low-key and artistic.
satisfy.
Around 3 p.m., a thin layer of white snow had accumulated on the trees and roads. Jiang Chuyi sent a message to Zong Ye on WeChat.
Jiang Chuyi: "The place to eat is in the old city area in Yangpu. We have booked a private chef. The location might be a little hard to find. Let me know when you arrive and I'll pick you up."
Zong Ye: "I'm not familiar with Yangpu. Can you send me the address and I'll pick you up?"
Jiang Chuyi didn't think too much and shared the address of the community with Zong Ye: "Then tell me when you are almost there, I will wait for you at the door in advance."
The afternoon passed in a flash.
Jiang Chuyi put on some light makeup and perfume two hours in advance. She also put on false eyelashes, but then she took them off.
The clock in the living room ticked slowly, it was eight forty... He should have gotten off the plane, right? Jiang Chuyi glanced at her phone every few minutes, afraid that she might have missed any news.
It was almost ten o'clock when WeChat rang and Jiang Chuyi immediately picked up her phone.
Muneya: “I’m here.”
What?!
Already arrived?!
Jiang Chuyi jumped up from the sofa and frantically searched for her bag and scarf. While putting on her shoes, she hurriedly sent him a voice message: "You've arrived? Why didn't you send a message in advance? Wait for me for a few minutes, I'll be there soon."
The closer it gets to a critical moment, the more likely something will go wrong. Jiang Chuyi was anxiously waiting for the elevator.
It felt like a century had passed before the elevator finally reached the first floor.
With a ding, the door slid open and she rushed out.
The winter night was cold and snowy, and the wind on my face hurt like a knife. Jiang Chuyi didn't care about that anymore and ran out of the community.
By the time I reached the door, I was already panting from exhaustion.
A black car stopped by the road. Snow fell silently, the street lamps emitted a dim halo, and tiny snowflakes swirled and fell on his shoulders and hair. Zong Ye was alone, wearing a very formal light gray suit, with his hands in his suit pants, quietly leaning against the passenger door, like a handsome young man who ran away from a banquet and waited for his lover.
Jiang Chuyi was breathing rapidly and her heart was pounding after running for a while.
She walked around the car, slowed down her pace and walked up to him, looked around, and said nervously: "You, you should get in the car quickly, don't let anyone take pictures."
Due to the height difference, Souya lowered his dark eyelashes and stared at her.
After a few seconds, he pushed the car body with his elbow and stood up slowly.
Jiang Chuyi glanced into the car, confused, "Why are you alone? Where are they?"
"them?"
Souya casually caught her dangling scarf.
His neat cuffs brushed past her ears, and Jiang Chuyi immediately froze, not daring to move.
I seemed to smell the bitter scent of dried orange blossom and citrus again.
Touch and leave.
Zong Ye smiled quietly, took back his hand, and curved his eyes gently, "I forgot to tell you, they don't have time today, I'm the only one free."
(End of this chapter)