CH 41

Zheng Baozhu had just sent out that message when Meng Yaxin appeared in the group chat.

Meng Yaxin: Lin Ziqin is so nice!

Meng Yaxin: But why did you take a photo with the heater? You should have taken a photo with Lin Ziqin!

Zheng Baozhu was speechless for a moment. She selected a few decent photos she had taken over the past few hours and shared them in the group chat.

Meng Yaxin: Ahhhh! Lin Ziqin looks so handsome! That height, that slim waist! Let me just say it, I want to sleep with Lin Ziqin!

Zheng Baozhu: .........

Zheng Baozhu: Control yourself, Qu Zhi is still in the group chat.

Meng Yaxin: Qu Zhi doesn't care if I want to sleep with Lin Ziqin. [doge]

Cen Tongtong: Baozhu, share your photos! Let's see!

Zheng Baozhu: [Pictures][Pictures][Pictures]

Meng Yaxin: Whoa! Are you wearing a costume with Lin Ziqin?

Meng Yaxin: Wahhh, they look so good! There are so many people on the set. Wahhh, can I visit the set? I also want to use Lin Ziqin's heater. [pity]

Cen Tongtong: Baozhu, are you staying in the same hotel as Lin Ziqin? Lin Ziqin is really handsome. If not, can you work harder?

Meng Yaxin: I see. Tongtong, you just don't want to eat your keyboard, so you're desperately trying to matchmake Baozhu with other men.

Meng Yaxin: Qu Zhi is watching u.

Cen Tongtong: No, I'm not, really, I'm just offering sincere advice.

Zheng Baozhu: ...These photos are sent by the director. The photos I posted are for the group's viewing only, not for external sharing.

After sending this message, Zheng Baozhu put down her phone and went back to work.

Her first day on set went smoothly. The crew finished work early at 7 p.m. Zheng Baozhu heard from other actors that as long as they didn't film night scenes, the crew would usually wrap up around 6 or 7 p.m.

Zheng Baozhu could only say that the crew was great with Gao Boyun as the director!

As her luggage was in Gao Boyun's car, it was natural for her to walk back with him after work. It was apparent that Gao Boyun treated her differently, and everyone noticed, but no one said anything in front of them. They all whispered about it privately. Even Lin Ziqin's manager couldn't resist gossiping a bit on the way back to the hotel.

"Do you know what's going on between Gao Boyun and Zheng Baozhu?" Lin Ziqin had some private conversations with Gao Boyun, so his manager assumed he knew some inside information.

Lin Ziqin lay half-reclined on a chair, looking at his phone. Hearing this, he replied, "What do you mean, what's going on?"

"Don't you think Gao Boyun treats her too well?"

"Oh, you're talking about that... Gao Boyun probably wants to nurture her; he appreciates her. Besides, she doesn't have a manager or an assistant, so he's just taking care of her a bit more."

The manager suddenly remembered when she visited the set today, Zheng Baozhu was sitting in Lin Ziqin's resting area, using his heater. The assistant said it was at Lin Ziqin's request.

The manager became alert instantly: "So, you're also giving special treatment because of this?"

Lin Ziqin hesitated for a moment, sensing the implied meaning behind her words, "Sister, not only do you think Gao Boyun has something with her, but now you also think I have something with her?"

"..."

The manager coughed lightly, "Well, she's very beautiful. Not just men, even I feel something when I see her."

"..."

Lin Ziqin looked up and said, "Sister, your words are quite bold."

The manager said, "When I said feelings, I meant I want to sign her under my management."

"Oh..." Lin Ziqin lay back down, "But it seems like she doesn't plan to sign with the company. Gao Boyun wanted to sign her, but she rejected it."

"Haha, she even rejected Director Gao?" The manager chuckled, "This girl has some spirit."

At this moment, Zheng Baozhu was sitting in Gao Boyun's car, sending a message to the group chat about finishing work. Suddenly, Qu Zhi, who had been quiet all day, sent her a private message.

Qu Zhi: Don't you have a heater? Tell me your hotel address, and I'll send one to you.

Zheng Baozhu: No need, I didn't bring a heater mainly because I'm lazy to carry it. Other people have a bunch of assistants, they can bring a lot of stuff, but I'm alone. Just carrying an actor's chair and a bag is already heavy enough.

Qu Zhi: Oh... Do you want to hire an assistant?

Zheng Baozhu: I thought about it, but I'm only staying on the set for twenty days. After twenty days, should I just fire the assistant? (:з」∠)

Qu Zhi: ...

That makes sense.

Qu Zhi: What about driving there?

Zheng Baozhu: I thought about it too, but my car is quite high-profile. If I drive it to the set, everyone will think too much. Ah, I envy those regular cars.

Qu Zhi: ...Thanks, for being down-to-earth. 

Zheng Baozhu: But Gao Boyun said I can use his car every day, so I can bring more stuff now. 

Qu Zhi: Looks like everyone loves you on the set. 

Zheng Baozhu: You just realized it? I've always been loved.

Qu Zhi: Oh.  I finished eating, back to overtime. 

Zheng Baozhu: Why do you keep sending me that? 

Zheng Baozhu: :):)

Qu Zhi: :):):)

Zheng Baozhu: "......"

Help, why are they acting so childish. :)

"Are you texting your boyfriend?" Gao Boyun suddenly asked while sitting beside her. Zheng Baozhu guiltily locked her phone. Then she wondered why she reacted like that.

"No, it's just an old classmate," Zheng Baozhu put away her phone and smiled at Gao Boyun.

Gao Boyun raised an eyebrow, "A male classmate?"

Zheng Baozhu looked at him, "Is that important?"

"If it's not important, why did you hide it?"

"..."

Did she hide it? No, haha!

After arriving at the hotel, Zheng Baozhu realized that the room Gao Boyun arranged for her was on the same floor as Lin Ziqin's. For a supporting role like her, the production crew wouldn't allocate such a good room. Before coming, she had already planned to book a better room herself in case the crew provided a poor one.

Unexpectedly, Gao Boyun handled everything for her.

Zheng Baozhu felt a bit uneasy, "Director Gao, did the crew arrange such a good room for me?"

Gao Boyun nodded casually, "Ordinary rooms might not suit President Zheng's preferences, right? If you're worried about the production budget, you can invest in us anytime."

"...That won't do," Zheng Baozhu dragged her luggage and spoke sternly, "If I invest, wouldn't I be bringing money into the production? It would damage your reputation. I can't do something that would tarnish your reputation!"

"... Well, thank you then."

"You're welcome. Director Gao, goodbye," Zheng Baozhu used her room key card to open the door and went in with her luggage. Although the production crew finished work early, they started quite early in the morning. Zheng Baozhu had to wake up around 4 a.m. to get ready and go to makeup and styling.

To wake up early, she went to bed at 9 p.m.

Even elementary school students would still be playing video games at this time.

Zheng Baozhu checked her phone for a while and soon felt sleepy. She double-checked the alarm she set, yawned, and locked her phone.

The next day, Zheng Baozhu woke up on time, did her makeup and styling early, and followed Gao Boyun to the shooting location. They were filming action scenes today, which excited her. The production crew had a specialized fight choreographer who taught Zheng Baozhu the moves. With her dance background and good flexibility and control, she found it not too difficult to learn.

The fight scenes were specially designed by the choreographer. While they might not be practical for real combat, they looked impressive on screen. Zheng Baozhu was enthusiastic and practiced with the teacher. She was jumping and trying out various moves.

"Ah, great pose! It's my first time doing aerial silk!"

Listening to the fight choreographer's remarks, Gao Boyun, who had been talking with him, subconsciously glanced over, "You seem excited."

"Well, a little, hahaha!" After all, who doesn't have a martial arts dream deep down? Flying over roofs and walls is engraved in the DNA of the Chinese!

After the final confirmation, Gao Boyun shouted "Action". In today's scene, after Ye Ling saved the male lead, the male lead's enemies came looking for him. The male lead had lost his memory completely, even forgetting his martial arts skills. Fortunately, Ye Ling knew martial arts and drove the troublemakers away.

When Zheng Baozhu was flying on the aerial silk, she couldn't contain her joy and laughed in the air, "Hahaha, I'm flying, I'm flying~~"

Gao Boyun: "..."

I hope you can still be this happy later. :)

After flying on the aerial silk twice, Zheng Baozhu mastered the techniques and felt a great thrill. She felt like an invincible martial artist!

However, after being suspended in the air for the whole morning, Zheng Baozhu couldn't find it amusing anymore. Her entire body was sore, and she was exhausted. In this chilly winter, she was sweating profusely.

Seeing the makeup artist coming with her tools to touch up her makeup, Zheng Baozhu drank several mouthfuls of water, feeling like she couldn't go on, "Director Gao, I can't do this anymore. Flying so many times, but it's not that exciting anymore."

Gao Boyun sat in front of the monitor, not even looking up, and said, "You were so excited just now. Maintain that excitement."

"..."

Excited? Isn't it the recklessness of the young and inexperienced? Although aerial silk was thrilling, it was also painful!

"Alright, let's have lunch first. This scene is good enough; we'll continue in the afternoon."

"..."

The scenes in the afternoon were even more agonizing. In the morning, she had only flown around and did some somersaults, but in the afternoon, there were many aerial poses she needed to hold for a while. Moreover, the fight choreographer knew about her dance background and designed several high-difficulty moves for her. They looked stunning, but they were really painful...

To endure the pain and still maintain an elegant posture, deliver lines, and make everyone believe you were as light as a swallow! At this moment, Zheng Baozhu apologized to all the actors she had criticized before!!

I was wrong!!!

After finishing filming for the day, Zheng Baozhu felt that her body was falling apart.

Slumping in the car on the way back to the hotel, she saw Meng Yaxin and others constantly sending messages in the group.

"Where are today's behind-the-scenes photos? Why did you die after posting the aerial silk video in the morning!"

Zheng Baozhu: ...I truly almost died just now. 

Zheng Baozhu: I'm contemplating why I chose to become an actress. 

Meng Yaxin: ...Oh, really? What happened?

Zheng Baozhu: I was hanging on the aerial silk all day and now my whole body is in pain. I just want to get a full-body massage. 

Zheng Baozhu: I finally understand why historical drama actors are so thin. Being lightweight surely helps. 

Zheng Baozhu: Before I got on the aerial silk, Lin Ziqin kindly came over to give me some tips on how to cushion myself to reduce the pain... but it still hurts a lot. My neck will be all blue for sure. 

Cen Tongtong: Oh, that's too miserable.  Hugs to you. You should get some medication at the hotel tonight. Do you have any medicine?

Zheng Baozhu: Lin Ziqin gave me some. He's such a good person. 

Meng Yaxin: Lin Ziqin's dosage is too high.

Cen Tongtong: Why don't you look at the group name?

...Meng Yaxin fell silent.

Zheng Baozhu: Gao Boyun told me that I'll get used to it after a few more takes. I guess this is being PUA'd by aerial silk. 

After sending this message, Qu Zhi contacted her privately.

Qu Zhi: How are you feeling now?

Zheng Baozhu: ? So you've been peeking at my messages all along!

Qu Zhi: ...

Zheng Baozhu: I should be feeling better after taking some medication and having a good sleep tonight. Today was just too exhausting.

Qu Zhi: Then rest early. Send me your hotel address, I'll send something over for you.

Zheng Baozhu sent him the address and then collapsed in her seat. Typing on her phone felt laborious now.

After returning to the hotel, Zheng Baozhu checked herself and indeed found bruises and broken skin where she was strapped in the aerial silk. The last time she experienced such hardships was when she was just starting to learn dance. It's a good thing she had gone through tough times before; otherwise, she would have been too frustrated now.

After taking a shower and applying some medicine to her injuries, Zheng Baozhu massaged herself for a while and then fell asleep.

The next day, there were still fight scenes, but she didn't have to be suspended on the aerial silk for extended periods. Most of the scenes were performed on the ground. During breaks, she sat there roasting sweet potatoes while watching Lin Ziqin practice on the aerial silk.

Indeed, watching someone do flips in the air was more enjoyable than doing them herself.

Zheng Baozhu recorded a short video and shared it in the group: Lin Ziqin looks so cool doing aerial silk. It's simply beautiful.

Meng Yaxin: So handsome!! How are you feeling today?

Zheng Baozhu: I'm feeling better. People can gradually become numb to pain. 

Meng Yaxin: ...

In the evening, Zheng Baozhu still hitched a ride with Gao Boyun back to the hotel. Now, she kept her actor's chair and backpack in Gao Boyun's car and only carried a small bag when getting off.

When getting off, she also put on a mask and a hat. Gao Boyun even teased her, saying she hadn't become a big star yet, but she was already acting like one.

After saying that, he put on a mask himself.

As soon as they walked into the hotel lobby, the lobby manager recognized her and whispered, "President Zheng, there's a gentleman waiting for you over there."

Zheng Baozhu was taken aback and looked in the direction the manager pointed to. There was a man sitting on the sofa in the lobby resting area. He was dressed in a black coat, leaning casually on the sofa with both legs crossed in front of him, and a magazine on his knees. He was slightly tilting his head, flipping through the magazine in his hands.

Zheng Baozhu paused because that man was none other than Qu Zhi.

How did he end up here?

She greeted the lobby manager and walked over to Qu Zhi, "Qu Zhi, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing her voice, Qu Zhi turned his head and stood up from the sofa, "Didn't I say I would send something for you?"

"?" Zheng Baozhu was full of question marks, "Wait, you mean you came here to personally deliver it?"

"Of course."

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

Why are making it sound so reasonable?

Gao Boyun approached from behind and stared at Qu Zhi curiously, "Who's this gentleman?"

Zheng Baozhu said, "Oh, he's my old classmate."

Qu Zhi also looked at Gao Boyun, greeting him, "So you must be Director Gao? A pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Gao Boyun nodded toward him, playfully looking at Zheng Baozhu, "Your old classmate is quite handsome."

"Haha, is that so?" Zheng Baozhu pulled Qu Zhi's arm and walked toward the elevator, "I'm going upstairs now."

Without waiting for Gao Boyun to speak, she pulled Qu Zhi away. After turning into the elevator, she let go of Qu Zhi and scanned him up and down, "Didn't you say you came to bring me something? Where is it?"

Qu Zhi looked at her, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Didn't I say I was going to bring you something?"

Qu Zhi raised his eyebrows and was about to speak, but Zheng Baozhu interrupted with a startled expression, "You're not talking about yourself, are you?"

"..."

Qu Zhi remained silent for a moment, then nodded, "You gave me a good reason, I can use that next time."

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

"But this time, you will have to be disappointed; I put that in the room."

Zheng Baozhu was taken aback, "You even booked a room?"

"What else would I do?" Qu Zhi looked at her with a sideways glance, "Don't tell me you're inviting me to stay in your room?"

"..."

Zheng Baozhu choked, "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"Tomorrow's the weekend, a day off."

"..."

Oh.

The elevator door opened again, and Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi stepped out. Qu Zhi pressed the button for his floor, "Let's go to my room first."

"Okay," Zheng Baozhu looked up at him, "What did you bring?"

"Food and some medicinal plasters," Qu Zhi replied, then looked down, "Didn't you say you wanted a massage?"

"?" Zheng Baozhu expressed a puzzled look, "So?"

Qu Zhi said, "Didn't you already experience my massage last time?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the elevator door opened again. The two young people, who were on the other side, looked at them ambiguously.

"..."

Zheng Baozhu took out another mask from her bag and handed it to Qu Zhi, "You should wear one too."