CH 47

After hanging up the phone, Zheng Baozhu sent Gao Boyun her location.

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the streets were unusually empty of traffic, so Gao Boyun drove smoothly all the way to Zheng Baozhu's home. He didn't take long to arrive at the building and followed the information she gave to find her unit.

Su Mingxi was still sitting at the door, with no sign of softening her attitude. Zheng Baozhu peeled a tangerine for herself and glanced up at Su Mingxi, saying, "Mom, aren't you eating? Want to have a tangerine?"

"I'm not eating!" Su Mingxi stared back, coldly sneering, "Hmph, it's amazing that you can still eat."

As Zheng Baozhu was about to feed her a piece of tangerine, she slurred her words a bit and said, "It's your choice to sit there. Nobody forced you."

Su Mingxi clicked her tongue and cursed Father Zheng in her mind. She knew he wouldn't come up with any good solutions!

Just as she was thinking about that, someone knocked on the door twice from outside. Su Mingxi didn't even stand up, she just turned her head and asked, "Who is it?"

A young male voice sounded from outside the door, "Auntie, I've come to see Zheng Baozhu."

Su Mingxi turned her head to look at Zheng Baozhu, her eyes scrutinizing, "You've brought in reinforcements?"

"No, it's just a friend who came to visit during the New Year."

"What friend? A boyfriend?"

"..."

Zheng Baozhu fell silent. Gao Boyun was still outside knocking on the door, "Auntie, could you please open the door? I've come to wish you a Happy New Year."

Only then did Su Mingxi stand up and peeked through the peephole. Outside the door stood a young man. Although he wasn't as handsome as Qu Zhi, he looked neat and comfortable. His demeanor was better than most people, and unlike some others of his age, he seemed to care about the quality of life and had decent financial conditions.

"When did you meet him?" Su Mingxi turned back to look at Zheng Baozhu.

Zheng Baozhu replied vaguely, "Just recently."

Su Mingxi looked at him for a while, slightly moved the chair, opened the door, and Gao Boyun handed a gift box to her before entering, "Auntie, Happy New Year. Sorry for disturbing."

Because the chair was blocking the door, it only opened halfway. Gao Boyun sidestepped to get inside, smiling, and greeted Su Mingxi. Zheng Baozhu saw that he was still holding the gift and thought to herself that Gao Boyun truly lived up to his reputation as a director. Despite the unexpected situation, he remembered to bring a gift thoughtfully.

Su Mingxi took the gift from Gao Boyun and placed it on the floor. After closing the door, she moved the chair back to its original position and sat down again.

Gao Boyun observed this series of actions and awkwardly said, "Auntie, what's this all about?"

Su Mingxi said, "I'm just tidying up the place. Your timing is a bit unfortunate."

"Hahaha," Gao Boyun laughed dryly and looked at Su Mingxi, "Auntie, you have a good sense of humor. It's the New Year, it's auspicious to be in a good mood."

Su Mingxi looked up and carefully examined him, "You are Baozhu's friend?"

"Yes," Gao Boyun replied and then glanced at Qu Zhi, who was sitting on the sofa, folding his legs casually while peeling an orange. When he noticed Gao Boyun looking at him, he raised his eyes slightly and met his gaze.

Gao Boyun's expression froze for a moment. Qu Zhi's gaze was somewhat sharp, it didn't seem very friendly.

He chuckled twice, thinking that he had indeed walked into a difficult situation today, "This gentleman is Baozhu's old classmate, right? You two... are meeting the parents?"

Zheng Baozhu pulled the corner of her mouth, remembering their conversation in the car that day, "He lives in this neighborhood, he is very close to my parents since elementary school."

"Oh..." Gao Boyun nodded slowly and then swept his gaze between the two. Su Mingxi asked him, "Where did you get to know Baozhu? Why have I never heard her mention you?"

"Oh, let me explain, Auntie, I am a director..."

"A director?" Su Mingxi raised her voice even before Gao Boyun finished speaking, "Then why are you here in our home?"

Due to Su Mingxi's strong presence, Gao Boyun subconsciously took a step back and smiled, "Auntie, please don't get upset. I'm here today just to talk to you about Zheng Baozhu."

"What does Baozhu's matter have to do with you?" Su Mingxi said, and then realized something, "I get it. The film Baozhu starred in, it's directed by you, isn't it?"

"Indeed, it's me..."

"Then you can leave. We have nothing to talk about!" Su Mingxi directly issued him an eviction order.

Gao Boyun hesitated and didn't leave, saying, "Auntie, I know about your family's situation..."

"What do you know?" Su Mingxi's sharp gaze swept over him.

Gao Boyun took another step back and looked completely different from the decisive director on the set, "I heard my dad talking about some things from the past..."

Su Mingxi furrowed her eyebrows, "Your dad? Who is your dad?"

"My dad is Gao Tianming, I am Gao Boyun, and I am also the director of [New Moon Wuxin Sword]," Gao Boyun realized that Su Mingxi didn't interrupt him this time, so he continued to speak non-stop, "Although I am still a newcomer as a director, I believe in my eye for talent. When I first saw Zheng Baozhu in the film studio, I thought she had a unique aura, and her appearance was excellent. She has great potential as an actress. Although she played a small supporting role in [New Moon Wuxin Sword], I'm already working on preparing a new TV drama, and I intend to invite her to be the lead..."

When Su Mingxi heard that Gao Boyun's father was Gao Tianming, she was stunned, and she didn't really listen to what he said afterward. It wasn't until Gao Boyun's buzzing voice disappeared from her ears that her focus returned. She looked at the young man in front of her and asked, "Your dad is Gao Tianming? The director of [Spring No More]?"

"Yes..." Gao Boyun nodded, intending to continue speaking, but Su Mingxi suddenly stood up from her chair. The three people in the room stared curiously as Su Mingxi went to the side and returned with a big broom in her hand.

"Your dad is Gao Tianming, right?" Su Mingxi said, brandishing the broom at Gao Boyun, who quickly ducked away, clutching his head to dodge the imminent attack.

"No, Auntie, let's talk calmly!" Gao Boyun, holding his head, scurried around the living room, looking as disheveled as Zheng Baozhu did back in elementary school, holding his head and running.

Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi reacted quickly and moved forward to stop Su Mingxi, "Mom, let's talk calmly. Please put down the broom first!"

Su Mingxi's face turned red, but even when someone held her back, she still held the broom and waved it in the air, "I have nothing to say to him! He dares to come to our home to find you? It was because of acting in Gao Tianming's film that Mingmei committed suicide back then, and now his son is here to get someone from our family to act again! Do we owe the Gao family something? You're looking down on our family, aren't you?!"

"Auntie, it's a misunderstanding, really!"

"There's no misunderstanding! Get out of here!"

"Alright, I'm leaving immediately! Please don't be upset!" Gao Boyun, clutching his head, hurriedly ran past the living room, pushed the chair, opened the door, and rushed outside. Su Mingxi followed and slammed the door shut with a bang, then returned to her seat.

Still holding the broom that had just struck Gao Boyun, she looked like Guan Yu.

Gao Boyun hadn't expected Zheng Baozhu's mother to be so fierce and he was completely taken aback. He paced back and forth outside the door before finally taking out his phone and calling Gao Tianming, "Dad, I've run into some trouble. It might require your help to resolve it."

"..."

Gao Tianming remained silent for a while before speaking, "Are you going to ask me to some help you out from the police station? Gao Boyun, you are old enough now. Solve your own problems."

"What you said doesn't even make sense! I've only been in trouble once, and you're going to remember it forever?"

"Well, you deserved it."

"..."

Gao Boyun sighed, calming himself down before speaking again, "I called you today for a serious matter. We released the still photos of the drama yesterday; it turns out Zheng Baozhu's family saw them. I didn't expect them to be so opposed to her acting that she's now being confined at home by her mother. I thought I could persuade her mother, but it turned out..."

"You got beaten up?"

"..." Gao Boyun paused for a moment, "How do you know?"

Gao Tianming also paused, "Because I was almost beaten up by them back then."

When he said "almost", it was because he was lucky it happened during Su Ming's funeral. If it weren't for the sake of not causing a scene, he would have been kicked out long ago.

After Gao Tianming finished speaking, there was silence on Gao Boyun's end for a while before he spoke again, "So, it's useless for you to go there, right?"

After thinking for a moment, Gao Tianming replied, "It's true that going there won't be appropriate. You come back first, I'll find a way to resolve this."

"What can you do?"

Gao Tianming said, "Find a more suitable person."

Back in the room, Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi sat back in the living room, and for a while, no one spoke. Su Mingxi's chest was still heaving; it seemed that she was truly furious earlier.

[Spring No More] was the last movie Su Ming starred in, where she portrayed an unsuccessful painter. The painter's life could be described as tragic - an unfortunate year brought irresponsible parents, and painting was the only thing that could heal her. However, when she grew up, she realized that her paintings were worthless and not appreciated by the market. Later, when she finally found someone who appreciated her work, they spent some happy times together, but that man turned out to be married, and everything he said was a lie. The painter ultimately lost faith in the world and chose to end her life by taking poison during that bright spring.

When the movie was released in theaters, many people were moved to tears by Su Mingmei's exquisitely delicate performance.

Tragedies always shook people's hearts more than comedies.

But not long after, Su Mingmei herself committed suicide.

No one could say that this incident had nothing to do with her acting in that movie.

Does embodying a role so vividly also mean losing oneself? Just like Su Mingmei, Zheng Baozhu was equally exquisite and powerful. Even the director said she had a unique aura. However, precisely because of this, they couldn't allow Baozhu to act again.

If something like that happened in their family again, no one could bear it.

"Mom," Zheng Baozhu cautiously called out to Su Mingxi. Su Mingxi looked over, and Zheng Baozhu trembled slightly but smiled and said, "It's getting late now; we should start making lunch."

"Hmph," Su Mingxi snorted coldly, looking at her, and said, "You're still thinking about eating? Yesterday's leftovers are enough; you can just reheat them for lunch."

"But most of yesterday's leftovers are preserved dishes. It's better to make a couple of fresh dishes, right? Plus, we're out of rice, so we'll have to cook some, won't we?"

"If you want to cook, then cook yourself. Don't play any tricks in front of me."

"..." Zheng Baozhu smiled and said, "Alright, I'll do it myself. Today, let me show you my cooking skills."

Zheng Baozhu entered the kitchen as she spoke, and Qu Zhi followed. Wearing an apron, Zheng Baozhu glanced at him, "Why did you come in too?"

Qu Zhi replied, "I'll help you with some prep work."

"No need," Zheng Baozhu looked towards her mom and said to Qu Zhi, "Why don't you go out and have a heart-to-heart talk with my mom? You know she has liked you since we were kids. Maybe if you chat with her, you can convince her about the acting issue."

"...I think that's unlikely," he felt that Zheng Baozhu was being overly optimistic, "But I can go talk to her again."

"In that case, my future will be in your hands!"

"..." Qu Zhi hesitated slightly, showing a hint of discomfort. Zheng Baozhu, who was accustomed to seeing his emotionless face, noticed the subtle change and asked, "What's wrong?"

"...Nothing," Qu Zhi said, then turned and left the kitchen.

While Qu Zhi talked with Su Mingxi, Zheng Baozhu cooked the meal and prepared two dishes. As she was setting the dishes on the table, her phone vibrated. She took out her phone and saw a message from Gao Boyun.

Gao Boyun: How are things now?

Zheng Baozhu: Qu Zhi is having a heart-to-heart talk with my mom, while I'm cooking in the kitchen. Are you back home?

Gao Boyun: I'm still at your doorstep. 

Zheng Baozhu: Σ(⊙▽⊙) You haven't left yet?

Gao Boyun: No, I thought with your mother's fiery temper, if things escalate, I can lend a hand from outside.

Zheng Baozhu: ...Aren't you feeling cold?

Gao Boyun: I can say that I'm both cold and miserable.  I have never been so humble in my life. 

Zheng Baozhu: ...I'll let my mom know, so you can come in and have lunch.

After sending the message, Zheng Baozhu walked out of the kitchen, smiling at Su Mingxi, then leaned over to whisper to Qu Zhi, "How did your talk go?"

Qu Zhi also whispered back, "I didn't fully convince her, but Aunt Su's mood has improved a bit."

"That's good. It's already a small victory at this stage," Zheng Baozhu said to him, then sweetly called out to Su Mingxi, "Mom."

Su Mingxi felt goosebumps rising and looked at Zheng Baozhu warily, not knowing what new idea she had come up with, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Zheng Baozhu said, "Gao Boyun, the one you almost drove away, is still waiting outside. Why don't you let him come in and have lunch too? It's the New Year, and the poor child is outside all alone, feeling cold and miserable."

Su Mingxi was about to speak when Zheng Baozhu quickly continued, "I know you have issues with Director Gao Tianming, but he's just a director, and making movies is his job. Can we solely blame him for Aunt's situation? Even if Director Gao is partly responsible, it has nothing to do with his son. At that time, Gao Boyun was just a child; he knew nothing about it. Look, you've already given him a beating; how about letting him have a warm meal? Besides, he's just a kid."

"..."

Su Mingxi fell silent for a moment. Sometimes she felt that Baozhu was so much like Mingmei, but at other times, they seemed completely different.

If Mingmei had even half of Baozhu's eloquence, she wouldn't have been bullied and come home crying to their big brother when they were young.

"Fine, if you want him to have lunch, then let him eat," Su Mingxi finally made a concession, "Anyway, I would feed a stray dog I saw on the street too."

"Okay then," Zheng Baozhu smiled, "Would you please move aside so I can open the door for him?"

"No need, I'll do it," Su Mingxi was afraid she might escape again, so she added a warning, "You go back to the kitchen and continue cooking. I'll open the door for him. Just to be clear, after the meal, he has to leave, or don't blame me if I hit him again."

"Alright, alright," Zheng Baozhu took her phone and returned to the kitchen to send a message to Gao Boyun, "Congratulations, the Empress Dowager has agreed to open the door and serve you some porridge."