CH 16

In the morning, they were running around outside, but in the afternoon, Zheng Baozhu lay on the bed resting until evening when Meng Yaxin sent a message to go down for dinner.

Meng Yaxin had been having a great time at the Starlight Farm these past two days. She went to the strawberry field in the morning to pick strawberries and spent the afternoon with a group of children at the ranch, watching cows. She even rented a small plot of land on the farm and said she would come to take care of it every week.

As working professionals couldn't come to the farm every day to tend to their vegetables, Starlight Farm also offered a hosting service. For a fee, they could have someone take care of their plot regularly. Zheng Baozhu thought of it as an "intellectual tax" because she couldn't see much difference between this and farmers growing vegetables and then you buying them at the market. But she hadn't expected that there were many people rushing to pay this "tax".

"You don't understand. This is something engraved in the DNA of our Chinese people," Meng Yaxin shrugged, refusing to admit that she was subjected to this "intellectual tax".

"Oh," Zheng Baozhu didn't bother arguing further; it wasn't her money anyway. As they chatted, Zheng Baozhu's phone alarm suddenly went off. Meng Yaxin was startled and looked with her chopsticks in her mouth, "What did you set the alarm for at this time? Reminding you to have dinner?"

Zheng Baozhu shouldn't be so obsessed with work that she would skip meals, right?

Zheng Baozhu turned off the alarm and quickly entered the background casting group, "At this time, they will post the casting notice in the group. I missed it yesterday, I can't afford to miss it again today!"

"Oh," Meng Yaxin didn't expect that posting a casting notice in a group was as competitive as snatching seconds in a sale, "There's so much competition even for foreground roles?"

Zheng Baozhu said, "There are only one or two casting notices in the group each day, but there are hundreds of people waiting for them. Do you think the competition isn't fierce?"

Meng Yaxin: "..."

She couldn't understand. With that effort, why not try to find a role directly at the studio?

"It's here," the group admin's announcement message was posted, and Zheng Baozhu quickly pasted her pre-written response, "Yes! I'm the first today!"

"... Congratulations to you."

While Zheng Baozhu and Meng Yaxin were having dinner, Tan Yao was singing at the KTV with his brothers.

On the sofa was the stuffed doll that Zheng Baozhu gave him today.

"I didn't expect Brother Tan to be sentimental," one of his brothers picked up the doll that Tan Yao had placed on the sofa, "How strange."

"Tsk, don't make it dirty," Tan Yao took the doll back and placed it on the other side. The brother couldn't help but laugh, "What's going on? Is this doll a gift from your friend? Wait, when did you make new friends? Why didn't I know about it?"

Someone nearby informed him, "Today, Brother Tan took his little cousin to the Starlight Farm to play. He competed with a boss there in catching dolls; he lost with a score of zero to four. He hasn't recovered from the embarrassment yet."

"Hahaha, tell me more!"

"Don't mention it. He was really embarrassed today. It's a pity I was not there to witness it, hahaha."

Tan Yao: "..."

What kind of friends did he have? :)

"Stop laughing!" Tan Yao stood up from the sofa, took the microphone in his hand, and announced, "I've made up my mind. Sooner or later, I will make Zheng Baozhu fall for my charm!"

Others exchanged comments like watching a show:

"Oh, are you planning to pursue her?"

"But what does she see in you? Your skill in catching dolls?"

"Hahaha."

"..."

Tan Yao shook his head, trying to exude charm desperately, "Can't she like me for being handsome? I refuse to believe I can't win her over."

He lost face today, but he was determined to regain it tomorrow!

Tan Yao wasn't joking. Early the next morning, he went to the Starlight Farm to find Zheng Baozhu.

Since he made a fuss in the lobby yesterday, the front desk remembered him, so they quickly brought Manager Wei over when they saw him again.

"Mr. Tan, wasn't yesterday's issue already resolved?" Manager Wei was wearing a suit and stood straight in the lobby, "Is there something else you're not satisfied with?"

Tan Yao squinted at Manager Wei and replied off-topic, "Where's your Boss Zheng? I came to see her."

Wei Zhen replied, "Miss Baozhu left early this morning. If you have any business, you can tell me, and I'll do my best to assist you."

"Gone?" Tan Yao obviously didn't expect this result, "So early in the morning, where did she go?"

Wei Zhen said, "The boss's schedule is not something we can decide, and I can't answer you."

Frowning, Tan Yao turned to the front desk and said, "Alright then, please help me book a room for a month."

"?" Xiao Yu looked hesitantly at Wei Zhen, who nodded, giving permission to arrange it.

Xiao Yu proceeded to book a room for Tan Yao and handed him the room card. Tan Yao took the card and headed upstairs.

"Manager Wei, what kind of person is this Mr. Tan?" Xiao Yu couldn't understand. Was he planning to stay in their hotel for an extended period?

Wei Zhen said, "We don't need to guess a guest's intentions. As long as he doesn't cause trouble or owe room fees, he can stay as long as he wants."

"Alright... but why did he come looking for Miss Baozhu?"

Wei Zhen shook his head, "I'll inform Miss Baozhu; you all should keep an eye on Mr. Tan."

"Okay, Manager Wei."

At this moment, Zheng Baozhu had already arrived at the hotel where the crew was getting their makeup done. As today's assembly time was relatively early, she worried that it might be difficult to get a taxi, so she drove herself.

The hotel was right next to the film studio. Zheng Baozhu parked her car before following the signs to find the makeup room of the extras.

The makeup room was spacious and bright, clearly belonging to a well-funded production. After learning that they would be shooting a Republican-era drama today, Zheng Baozhu was worried if it would be Sun Jing's crew again, but upon arrival, she realized it was a different one.

The makeup artist even complimented her when doing her makeup and hair, making Zheng Baozhu feel good. Although she only had a small role as a nurse, she still couldn't hide her natural beauty.

Since today's assembly time was early, the crew provided breakfast for everyone. After finishing breakfast, Zheng Baozhu went outside to wait for the crew's bus to the shooting location. As she walked out of the hotel, she noticed two extras discussing her car.

"Who's that? Driving a Porsche to work as an extra?"

"...Is this what extras these days drive?"

Zheng Baozhu calmly walked past them, pretending the car was not hers. After a while, the group leader finished counting the number of people and asked the bus driver to depart. The bus drove to the same Republican-era street as before, but today's shooting took place in a hospital.

Everyone was queuing to get their costumes, Zheng Baozhu also joined the line to receive a nurse uniform and a child.

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

The child was a young actor, wearing a patient's gown, portraying a hospital patient. The group leader explained that, later on, she would be fleeing with the child and needed to show that she was protecting the child while running.

Zheng Baozhu nodded, "Understood."

The child's mother accompanied the child to the set since they would be shooting scenes with Zheng Baozhu together. The child sat beside Zheng Baozhu the whole time, unlike other children, he was well-behaved and obedient on set. Zheng Baozhu noticed his big, bright, and lovely eyes, making him look very adorable.

Perhaps aware that Zheng Baozhu was looking at him, the child turned his head to glance at her and then shyly hid in his mother's arms. His mother asked, "What's wrong?"

The child looked at Zheng Baozhu and said, "Big sister looks so beautiful."

His mother laughed and suggested, "How about taking a photo with big sister?"

"Okay!" The child nodded in agreement.

Zheng Baozhu happily agreed to take a photo with the child actor. They took several pictures together. After they finished, she sent one of the photos to Wang Jingyi and wrote, "Met this adorable young child actor on the set today!"

Wang Jingyi had finished work at 2 AM yesterday, so she didn't take any new acting jobs today. She just woke up and saw Zheng Baozhu's message, "Wow, adorable! Are you filming another Republican-era drama today? You're a beautiful nurse!"

Zheng Baozhu: 

Wang Jingyi: Is this for the [Glory] drama set? The lead actress is Teacher Lu Xinci!

Zheng Baozhu: Yes!

[Glory] is a tribute drama. All the actors in the show are well-known veteran actors, making the cast truly star-studded. Take the lead role, Lu Xinci, for example, she won all the Best Actress awards when she was young and is now a prominent figure in the film and television industry even in her forties.

Wang Jingyi: I've played an extra on this set before! Teacher Lu Xinci's acting skills are really amazing!

Wang Jingyi: And she's still so beautiful! Goddess of the silver screen!

Zheng Baozhu: I haven't seen her yet (:з」∠)

Zheng Baozhu has been on the set for the whole morning but hasn't filmed her scenes yet. After waiting for a while, it started to rain, and many extras were caught in the rain. Zheng Baozhu heard from others that they would receive a rain fee if it rained, but it's only 10 yuan per person, barely enough to buy a packet of instant noodles...

Zheng Baozhu: Being an extra is really tough.

Just as she sent this message to Wang Jingyi, the director finally called them to start shooting.

Zheng Baozhu's role was straightforward; she was a nurse leading the hospital patients to take shelter during an enemy air raid. Many people were playing doctors and nurses, but Zheng Baozhu was the only one assigned to take care of a child, and she had to accompany the child throughout the evacuation.

At first, Zheng Baozhu was worried about how to cooperate with the young actor, but after chatting with the child's mother, she found out that this little actor had much more experience in acting than she had expected. :)

The child could be considered her senior in the industry.

Once filming began, she finally got to meet Lu Xinci, who portrayed a character visiting the hospital to see patients, only to encounter an air raid. They then joined everyone else to take shelter during the air raid.

"Imagine this, outside is the enemy bombing, with the sound of explosions all around, you all must be very scared," the director emphasized to everyone, "You must show that look of terror and fear, understood?"

Everyone replied that they understood and the director officially began shooting. The escape route was pre-planned, so everyone ran in terror along the route. Zheng Baozhu carried the child to prevent him from being bumped or hurt in the chaos and simply held him in her arms.

The director shot this scene three times before he was satisfied. Zheng Baozhu felt like she might develop biceps from all the carrying.

After the fleeing scenes were done, they moved on to the scene of taking shelter during the air raid. This was a significant scene for the lead character where she would deliver an important speech.

Zheng Baozhu, holding the child, crouched behind Lu Xinci. During the scene, the young actor would have to cry, and Lu Xinci would come over and comfort him.

In this way, Zheng Baozhu and Lu Xinci had some scenes together. The director had high demands for this part, asking them to portray the emotional transition from fear to hope when hearing the lead's words.

"You must act out this psychological change. Don't just crouch there, act with your expressions when Teacher Lu speaks!" The director explained. He let them prepare and then officially started filming the scene.

There were no real bombings on the set; everything was dependent on the actors' imagination. Everyone performed with a great sense of terror. Some acted as if they were so frightened that they screamed. The child in Zheng Baozhu's arms was also scared and cried loudly, creating a trembling sound.

Lu Xinci walked over and whispered a few words to the child, and he stopped crying. However, the sounds of bombing continued outside, filling the tense space with a sense of urgency.

It was at this moment that the lead stepped forward to speak. Zheng Baozhu had originally been worried that she might not be able to perform at the level the director wanted, but as soon as Lu Xinci began delivering her lines, she realized she had been overthinking.

The "goddess of the silver screen" in the film industry was not just a title; Lu Xinci's performance was beyond the reach of many young actors. Her lines were full and realistic, and in just a few lines, she drew Zheng Baozhu into that era.

It was as if she had personally experienced living in that era, endured the enemy's bombardments, and witnessed the devastation all around. But even in such dire circumstances, there were always those who resisted, relying on their beliefs to tear open a path in the darkness.

It was precisely because of the existence of such people that others could see hope.

"Cut! Excellent!"

When the director called cut, Zheng Baozhu suddenly noticed that her eyes were filled with tears!

In the blink of an eye, tears streamed down uncontrollably!

The director was so satisfied with the scene that he passed it in one take. Afterward, Zheng Baozhu didn't have any more scenes, but the crew didn't release anyone, so she could only wait on the side. When the crew finished work, it was already 11 PM.

Zheng Baozhu calculated that she had already worked overtime today, so she would receive overtime pay. Overall, she could earn more than 300 yuan for a day's work.

When the crew's bus returned to the hotel for makeup, it was almost midnight. It was too late for Zheng Baozhu to drive back, so she decided to stay overnight in the apartment she had rented earlier.

The next morning, as soon as Tan Yao arrived, he asked the front desk about Zheng Baozhu, and the answer was still the same: she wasn't here. Tan Yao was speechless, "How come the boss is never around?"

The front desk responded, "Because she's the boss."

"..."

This logic was indeed irrefutable.

"Do you know where she went?"

The front desk shook their head, "I don't know, maybe she went home."

Before coming here, Tan Yao had considered that things might not go smoothly. He also considered that Zheng Baozhu might initially reject him. However, he never imagined that after a whole day and night had passed, he couldn't even see Zheng Baozhu!

He decided to leave the hotel and stopped waiting there.

When Zheng Baozhu returned, it was already past 10 AM. Upon seeing her, Xiao Yu immediately told her, "Miss Baozhu, the man who caused a commotion because of the claw machine, Tan Yao, has booked a room in the hotel for a month. He has been inquiring about your whereabouts."

Zheng Baozhu had already heard about this from Wei Zhen, but she didn't pay much attention to it since she had been on the set all day yesterday. Now, Xiao Yu mentioned it again, she finally had time to pay attention to it, "What does he want from me? Does he still want to complain about the hotel?"

"No," Xiao Yu shook her head, looking at Zheng Baozhu, "I think he seems to be interested in pursuing you."

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

This seemed more terrifying than his complaints about the hotel.

"Stop talking nonsense, it's not good to say such things in broad daylight."

Xiao Yu: "..."

Zheng Baozhu went upstairs to change her clothes, then had a brief meeting with Wei Zhen before going to the restaurant for lunch.

In the restaurant, Meng Yaxin and Qu Zhi were sitting together and eating. When Zheng Baozhu saw them, she raised an eyebrow and approached them, "You two seem to get along well?"

Meng Yaxin smiled and said, "We just happened to have lunch together in the restaurant. When we ran into each other, we decided to eat together," she pulled Zheng Baozhu to their table, "I heard you didn't come back last night?"

"Yeah," Zheng Baozhu replied, "I stayed at the rented apartment near the film studio."

Meng Yaxin knew about her rented apartment, so she didn't ask further, "Did you finish filming late yesterday? It seems to be going smoothly this time?"

"Too smoothly! It was the best performance I've ever given!" Zheng Baozhu spoke excitedly about the filming process yesterday, "I was on the same set with Lu Xinci, the big senior. Her acting was so amazing that it effortlessly led me into the scene."

Although Lu Xinci wasn't a young star, her name carried weight in the entertainment industry. Even if you weren't a fan, you would still respect her. Meng Yaxin had also seen some of her movies and curiously asked Zheng Baozhu, "Did you have a scene together?"

"Not exactly, but I was lucky to witness some intense acting on the set!" Zheng Baozhu remembered the experience and shivered with excitement, "It was like I was baptized, you know? Her acting slapped me in the face, even if you were wooden, she would bring out your emotions!"

"Hmm, it sounds profound, but her acting is indeed top-notch."

"It's really amazing!" Zheng Baozhu sighed, "After seeing her performance, I realized how far I am from being a good actor. No, I have to take more acting classes."

"..."

Meng Yaxin bit her chopsticks, "Are you really taking this so seriously?"

"Of course!"

Qu Zhi, who had been silent on the side, took a tissue and stood up from the table, "I'm done eating, I'll go back to the company first."

"Okay," Meng Yaxin glanced at him and continued chatting with Zheng Baozhu.

When Qu Zhi walked to the lobby, he saw Liang Huihui sitting in the same place where Zheng Baozhu had been interviewed last time, reading and writing. Curious, Qu Zhi walked over to take a look and found that she was studying English vocabulary.

Seeing Qu Zhi approaching, Liang Huihui stood up and smiled at him, "Mr. Qu, is there something you need?"

Qu Zhi shook his head and asked, "Am I disturbing you?"

"No, not at all." Liang Huihui smiled apologetically, "I'm just taking the opportunity of having no work this afternoon to catch up on my assignments."

Qu Zhi was somewhat surprised, "You're still studying?"

"Not exactly," Liang Huihui shook her head, "It's the classes that Miss Baozhu signed us up for!"

Now Qu Zhi was even more surprised, "Zheng Baozhu?"

"Yes, since we often have foreign tourists here, Miss Baozhu signed us up for English classes," Liang Huihui explained, "It's a video-based course, we can watch it whenever we have free time; it's very flexible. But the teacher checks our assignments weekly, and if we don't complete them, Miss Baozhu will be informed of it!"

"Oh, I see..."

"And there's also a makeup class!" Liang Huihui gestured as she spoke, "Because the service staff and front desk staff need makeup, Miss Baozhu specifically signed us up for makeup classes. When I first came here, I really didn't know anything and looked very unsophisticated, but now I can do beautiful makeup!"

Qu Zhi didn't say anything; he seemed to be pondering something. Liang Huihui couldn't stop praising Zheng Baozhu, "Mr. Qu, have you noticed that most of the hotel's staff are youngsters? Miss Baozhu could have easily recruited people who already knew English and makeup, but she still gave us a chance! She said that even if we don't stay here in the future, having these skills will make it easier for us to find jobs elsewhere. She's such a good person! Not only is she beautiful, but she also knows everything. I hope I can be like her in the future!"

Qu Zhi was momentarily taken aback. In his eyes, Zheng Baozhu was nothing more than someone who knew how to look good; he hadn't thought she would be seen as an inspiring figure. He hadn't expected that she could do the things Liang Huihui just mentioned.

"Mr. Qu, are you alright?" Liang Huihui noticed him standing there lost in thought and waved her hand in front of him.

"It's nothing," Qu Zhi snapped out of it and replied to Liang Huihui.

When Zheng Baozhu came out of the restaurant, she saw that Qu Zhi was trying to hit on her female staff member!

Qu Zhi was so persistent that it made Zheng Baozhu feel exhausted.

"Huihui, what are you doing here?" Zheng Baozhu approached Liang Huihui and asked.

"I'm studying vocabulary here!" Liang Huihui replied.

"Oh," Zheng Baozhu glanced at her and saw that she was indeed studying, which relieved her a little, "By the way, I heard from Wei Zhen that everyone is going to sing tonight. Since you're not on the night shift today, do you want to join us?"

Liang Huihui thought for a moment but shook her head, "No, thank you. I'd better study more vocabulary. My foundation is not good, so I need to spend more time on it."

Zheng Baozhu observed her and said, "Are you doing it to study vocabulary, or to save money?"

Liang Huihui replied, "I'm really doing it to study vocabulary!"

"Oh..." Zheng Baozhu casually responded, then changed the topic, "By the way, about the boyfriend you mentioned before, which university in H city does he attend?"

"H University. Is there something wrong?" Liang Huihui asked.

"No," Zheng Baozhu smiled at her, "Have you visited him before?"

Liang Huihui nodded, "I visited him once last year, but this year he's preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination, and he said I would disturb him if I visited, so I didn't go."

"Oh... Then..."

Zheng Baozhu wanted to say something, but Liang Huihui picked up her books and retreated, "Miss Baozhu, I won't disturb you and Mr. Qu anymore!"

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

Qu Zhi tugged at the corner of his mouth and was about to leave. Zheng Baozhu called out to him from behind, "Hey, Qu Zhi, wait a moment, I want to ask you something."

Qu Zhi turned back and asked, "What is it?"

Zheng Baozhu casually picked up an orange from the table and sat down on the sofa, "Sit down, let's talk."

Qu Zhi pursed his lips and walked over to sit on the opposite sofa.

As Zheng Baozhu peeled the orange, she spoke to him, "Huihui has a boyfriend in H city who is still studying and she sends her entire salary to him every month. From a man's perspective, do you think this guy is reliable?"

Qu Zhi asked, "Is it the boyfriend you mentioned earlier, the one who wants to take the postgraduate entrance examination?"

"Yes, that's him."

"He's not reliable."

"Exactly!" Zheng Baozhu agreed with Qu Zhi for once, "I also think he's not reliable, but I'm afraid of jumping to conclusions about him."

"There's nothing to hesitate about. A man who is in his twenties and still relies on his friend's salary to live has some serious issues."

"But he's busy preparing for the entrance exam..."

"When I was studying abroad, I worked also part-time while studying, and it didn't affect my studies."

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

Although she didn't believe in that Li Yifan, Qu Zhi's remarks were a bit harsh.

"I think his brain is probably not as good as yours..."

"If his brain isn't good, why is he taking the entrance exam?"

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

This academic genius is quite assertive.

At this time, Tan Yao sneaked back inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw Zheng Baozhu sitting on the sofa and quickly ran up to her, "Miss Baozhu, you finally came back."

He noticed the man sitting opposite Zheng Baozhu, who looked extremely handsome, and instantly became alert, "Who is this guy?"

Zheng Baozhu ate another slice of orange, "He's a guest here. Yesterday, he even witnessed you losing to me with a score of zero to four. Don't you remember?"

Tan Yao: "..."

He did remember, but there was no need to bring up the four-zero loss again.

Upon learning that the man wasn't Zheng Baozhu's boyfriend, Tan Yao relaxed his guard a bit. Zheng Baozhu glanced at Tan Yao and asked, "I heard you were looking for me. What's the matter?"

Tan Yao smiled sheepishly, "It's nothing major, I just wanted to ask you to be my mentor and teach me how to catch dolls."

Zheng Baozhu raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you the one who claimed to be an expert? Why do you need me to teach you?"

"Well, there will always be someone better than you. There's always a sky beyond the sky," Tan Yao humbly replied.

Zheng Baozhu considered for a moment and said, "Alright, I can do that, but I don't have much time, and I'll charge you for it."

"Sure, everything will be according to your terms," Tan Yao said, feeling triumphant. He didn't believe that Zheng Baozhu, who would now be in close contact with him, wouldn't be captivated by his charm!

Seeing Zheng Baozhu eating oranges, Tan Yao asked politely, "Miss Baozhu, do you like this type of orange?"

Zheng Baozhu answered, "Not particularly."

Qu Zhi snorted lightly and spoke, "It's just convenient, you can peel it with your hands without needing to use a knife."

Zheng Baozhu finished the last slice of orange, "That's the basic quality of an excellent fruit."

Qu Zhi gave a faint hum and left.

Watching him walk away, Tan Yao had a hunch that Qu Zhi and Zheng Baozhu's relationship was not simple. However, asking Zheng Baozhu about it right now might cause her to react defensively, so he changed the topic, "What were you two talking about just now?"

"Men's topics," Zheng Baozhu replied.

"Well, I'm a man too, so why don't you talk to me about it?" Tan Yao suggested.

Zheng Baozhu glanced at him and asked, "Do you know anyone at H University?"

"As a matter of fact, I do!" Tan Yao snapped his fingers, "My cousin, the one who came here to play with me yesterday, is a student at H University!"

Zheng Baozhu's eyes lit up; she hadn't expected to casually find the right person who can help her.

"In that case, help me inquire about someone, and in return, I'll teach you how to catch dolls for free."

"Sure," Tan Yao readily agreed, "Who do you want me to inquire about?"

"A person named Li Yifan."

Zheng Baozhu didn't know much about Li Yifan, but she shared what she knew with Tan Yao, thinking she would ask Huihui for more information later. Xiao Yu and Liang Huihui were standing at the front desk, watching Zheng Baozhu and Tan Yao whispering to each other, and Xiao Yu became even more convinced of her guess, "I was right. This Mr. Tan must be interested in Miss Baozhu."

As a CP fan of Zheng Baozhu-Qu Zhi, Liang Huihui felt threatened, "What should we do? Will Mr. Qu's position be in danger?"

Xiao Yu said, "I don't think so."

Liang Huihui was still worried, "Although Mr. Qu is Miss Baozhu's childhood friend, this Mr. Tan is like a gift from the heavens! I've heard people say that childhood friends can't compete with gifts from the heavens!"

Xiao Yu shook her head disapprovingly, "Huihui, you only know one aspect of it. Mr. Qu is not an ordinary childhood friend; he's a gift-from-the-heavens type of childhood friend! Being a gift-from-the-heavens type means having both the attributes of a childhood friend and a gift from the heavens, making him unbeatable!"

"Oh!" Liang Huihui felt more relieved after hearing this explanation.

As long as the CP doesn't become a BE1, it's good.

Passing by, Meng Yaxin saw the two of them whispering and curiously approached, "What are you looking at?"

Liang Huihui greeted her and said, "Xiao Yu said that Mr. Tan seems to be interested in Miss Baozhu."

"Oh?" Meng Yaxin turned her head to see who this Mr. Tan was.

Liang Huihui continued, "But we just discussed it, Mr. Qu's position is still unshakable."

Meng Yaxin couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with this statement. She turned back to look at Liang Huihui and Xiao Yu, "You two don't think Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi are a couple, do you?"

Liang Huihui nodded repeatedly, "Many of our colleagues at the hotel ship their CP!"

Meng Yaxin: "..."

Let your colleagues find another CP to ship.

Kind of pitiful.

"Well," Meng Yaxin leaned in closer to them and whispered, "Do you know that Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi were high school classmates?"

"Yes," Both of them nodded.

Meng Yaxin continued, "One is beautiful; the other is good at academics. Don't they seem like a perfect match?"

"Absolutely!"

"But in our high school, no student thought they were a couple!" Meng Yaxin shook her head, "Everyone knew they were childhood friends, but those who liked Qu Zhi didn't envy Zheng Baozhu because the whole grade knew they were incompatible. Their childhood friend, the one who came to see Qu Zhi last time, do you remember her?"

"You mean Miss Cen?"

"Yes, that's her. She once declared that if Qu Zhi and Zheng Baozhu got together, she would eat all the keyboards at home."

Liang Huihui: "..."

Xiao Yu: "..."

"There are countless CPs in this world; if this one isn't sweet, find another one," Meng Yaxin spoke sincerely, "Don't stick to one choice."

Zheng Baozhu was unaware of the small meeting between the three of them. Lately, she was focusing all her efforts on improving her acting skills. She had even enrolled in an acting class to watch videos whenever she had spare time. She had initially signed up for an offline class, but now, due to her role as an extra in the film and television studio, she switched to an online training course.

The videos were pre-recorded by the teacher and the students practiced along with them. After each session, there would be an assignment for them to record their own performances, and the teacher would review them in the next video.

This method, though lacking face-to-face interaction, provided flexibility in scheduling, which was more convenient for Zheng Baozhu. Besides watching videos, she also bought various books, not only related to acting but also directing.

Between attending classes and learning on the set, Zheng Baozhu felt that she had made some progress during this period. However, it was apparent that this progress was still far from enough. Her goal was to become an actress like her aunt, Su Ming, and she knew she needed to put in much more effort.

When Qu Zhi came to the restaurant for lunch, he saw Zheng Baozhu sitting in her usual spot, wearing earphones, watching videos, and taking notes. He glanced at her and then went straight to the restaurant. After finishing his meal and returning, Zheng Baozhu was still sitting there, but she had already fallen asleep with her head resting on the table.

Zheng Baozhu liked to read in this specially arranged study corner. The sofas here were carefully selected for comfort and the books on the shelf were carefully put together one by one. In winter, during a clear noon, sunlight would shine through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and sitting in this cozy space, basking in the sun while reading, made Zheng Baozhu feel content.

However, being too comfortable had its consequences, as she easily fell asleep.

Qu Zhi stood still for a few seconds, then walked towards Zheng Baozhu. Facing her was a tablet with a video on pause; the teacher's explanation was frozen in an interesting position. The earphones hadn't been unplugged from the tablet and were casually placed on the table. Zheng Baozhu had a book open as a pillow and slept soundly. Surprisingly, the pen she was holding didn't fall down and maintained its writing posture.

This scene suddenly reminded Qu Zhi of their high school days. Back then, Zheng Baozhu would sometimes fall asleep on the desk when she was tired of studying. Once she even used her newly written notes as a pillow, and when she woke up, the notes' marks would be imprinted on her face.

Thinking of that scene from the past, Qu Zhi felt amused. He took another step forward, lowered his head, and glanced at Zheng Baozhu's book. It was her notebook on acting, filled with colorful notes and even sticky notes in some places.

Since the third grade of elementary school, Qu Zhi knew that Zheng Baozhu wanted to be a star.

However, he never expected Zheng Baozhu to be so serious about it.

Her dedication was far beyond his imagination and much more long-lasting than he had thought.

The sunlight from the window quietly fell on them. Qu Zhi picked up a thin blanket from the sofa and gently placed it over Zheng Baozhu's shoulders.