Chapter 53: CH 53

Lu Zhi Wei was a very principled person.

But when meeting the light of her life, Teacher Meng, she could temporarily have no principles.

That was Meng Lian Yu, could principles compare with Meng Lian Yu?!

No.

Teacher Meng was the most important in the world!

Wen Yao could feel Lu Zhi Wei’s passion through the phone, asking curiously: “Zhi Wei jie, you like Meng Lian Yu?”

Lu Zhi Wei nodded frantically: “Yes, yes.”

Wen Yao: “Oh, then work hard to get it, if you enter the crew, you’ll have a chance to meet with your idol!”

Hearing that, Lu Zhi Wei was motivated: “Mm!”

But…… Why would a production that could invite Meng Lian Yu still have the female lead role open?

Could it be that they decided Meng Lian Yu’s role first, then decided the leads?

With such a big celebrity like Meng Lian Yu, nobody wanted to snatch the role of the lead in this show?

She voiced her suspicions to Wen Yao.

Wen Yao replied: “No, the male lead has long been decided, only the female lead is left.

“Because the director is very strict and the actresses that auditioned before all didn’t match what he wanted his female lead to be, so he publicly called for auditions.

“The investors didn’t interfere either, saying that they handed the show to him, so of course he would have free reign in choosing who would be the leads.”

Even though that was the case, Wen Yao was still a bit uncertain.

She felt that Lu Zhi Wei matched the female lead’s character, but the director might not think so.

Aside from that, even if the director felt that Lu Zhi Wei was a match, but would he really be willing to use a small actress like Lu Zhi Wei?

In the end, he might just go with a popular actress.

She didn’t dare to have too much hope.

But since Lu Zhi Wei was willing to go, then she was willing to tag along and root for her.

Hearing that the director was strict, Lu Zhi Wei had a measure of things in her heart.

“It’s alright, we’ll leave it up to fate and just treat it as getting more experience.”

It’s fine if she couldn’t bump into Meng Lian Yu this time, it’s also fine if she couldn’t get the female lead role.

Taking one step at a time, she believed there would come a day when she could walk to Meng Lian Yu and personally thank her.

“Mm! No matter what, as long as you try your best!”

Wen Yao showered her in chicken soup again, then changed the topic.

“How’s your hand? There are still two days of leave that Director Guo gave, right?

“Then I’ll fetch you tomorrow and we’ll go for the audition the next day? Or else I’m afraid that it might be a bit rushed if I fetch you from the scene on the morning of the audition itself.”

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t mind.

She said, sure, anything works, whatever you say.

At that moment, she felt like she was very similar to someone.

—— Sang Wan Ci.

She would always say such stuff to Lu Zhi Wei.

She didn’t know when she started becoming like this too.

Thinking about Sang Wan Ci, she thought about the soup she was boiling, hurrying over to take a look.

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Xiao Qiu walked out of Sang Wan Ci’s hotel with two food containers.

She didn’t understand why Sang Wan Ci suddenly didn’t want to eat the food from the restaurant, opting instead of Lu Zhi Wei’s food.

…… Was it really that good?

She thought about when she was watching Lu Zhi Wei fill up the containers.

The soup was fresh and aromatic, the dishes were varied and looked colourful.

It looked and smelled…… pretty okay?

Hopefully it was good.

As a glutton, she prayed earnestly in her heart.

It was time for lunch.

Qiu Luo was preparing to get into his car to eat, along with his assistant.

Turning around, he saw Sang Wan Ci sitting at the same spot without moving.

He looked around, the assistant Xiao Qiu who would normally deliver food to her punctually was nowhere to be seen.

Qiu Luo raised an eyebrow, walking over and saying: “Your assistant didn’t come? Then do you want to eat lunch with me? My assistant bought enough food.”

Sang Wan Ci refused politely: “No need, thanks, she’ll be here soon.”

If she could eat Lu Zhi Wei’s food, why should she still eat food from other people?

Besides, she hadn’t eaten Lu Zhi Wei’s food in a while and she missed it.

Seeing the two of them not leaving for lunch, Guo Hui walked over in curiosity.

“What are the two of you doing, not eating? There are still scenes to be filmed later, you won’t have strength if you don’t eat.”

Sang Wan Ci stood up: “I’m waiting for my assistant. Zhi Wei cooked for me, so she went to fetch the food and she’s coming over now.”

Guo Hui was a little surprised: “Oh? Xiao Lu can cook?”

Sang Wan Ci nodded, smiling: “She can, her food’s delicious.”

Qiu Luo: “?”

He didn’t mishear, did he? Lu Zhi Wei cooks?

So Sang Wan Ci was sitting here and just waiting for Lu Zhi Wei’s food???

Guo Hui: “Then her hands are recovering well.”

Sang Wan Ci was like Lu Zhi Wei’s spokesperson: “Mm, she’ll be able to return to filming after her hand completely recovers in the next two days.”

Guo Hui patted her shoulder: “You’ve worked hard taking care of her these few days. She’ll move out after her hands recover.”

Sang Wan Ci’s eyes moved, looking in Qiu Luo’s direction, then moving back to Guo Hui.

“I’m not intending to let her move out.”

“Mm?” Guo Hui looked at her in confusion.

Qiu Luo stared at her, wanting to hear what she would say.

Sang Wan Ci’s expression was calm: “I have someone to talk to and to rehearse with if I stay with her, and I can even eat her food. So I’m keeping her.”

Guo Hui laughed: “Is it really that delicious?”

Qiu Luo scoffed coldly internally.

It must be some ploy to charm others.

He didn’t believe it.

Sang Wan Ci said calmly: “She made chicken soup, I’ll give you a bowl later so you can try it.”

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In the hotel, Lu Zhi Wei was looking at the audition information that Wen Yao sent over.

It was a modern idol drama about musicians and their dreams.

The female lead was a violinist, her dream was to be able to stand on the most visible stage to perform one day.

She was suddenly very curious as to what role Meng Lian Yu would play in this drama.

How many scenes would Meng Lian Yu have in this show?

If she really got in, what would she say to Meng Lian Yu, just a word of thanks?

She sunk into her thoughts, then quickly pulled herself back.

How could she dream when the auditions hadn’t even started yet!

She pinched her cheeks to wake herself up.

Thinking about 《Phoenix》’s trailer releasing today, she quickly went on Weibo and opened the official page for 《Phoenix》.

The official trailer was around nine minutes.

The two leads met, got to know each other, and eventually became enemies.

The character that she acted as, Xiao He, appeared on screen proudly with the main topic “loyalty, self-sacrificing”.

She took another look at herself.

She had no lines, since she was a stammering character anyway.

She didn’t have a lot of scenes, but the effect was good, not dragging anyone down.

Being able to achieve this result, she was already very satisfied, a hint of happiness showing in her eyebrows.

It hadn’t even been more than half an hour when the teaser released, but the comments section was already on fire.

@My neck hurts: Ahhhhhhhhhh I can do it again!

@I went out to beg for food: Ze Ze, you’re so handsome, you’re not allowed to be a scumbag, dame[1]!

@Metaphysics can’t change your life, money can’t save you: This story is teaching us that you shouldn’t be a scumbag or you won’t have a good ending [support] But I still want to say, Ze Ze is so handsome! Sang Sang is so pretty! I love watching handsome men acting with pretty ladies!

@34°C and cloudy: I’m all fired up! Release date, hurry up, I’m tired of saying these two words, I want to see my wife Sang Sang!

Lu Zhi Wei slowly scrolled the comments section.

She knew the comments section was pretty much focused on discussing the leads and the veteran actors, with nothing to do with her.

There was no moderator controlling the conversation and the fans were surprisingly cordial while Amwaying their idols.

She couldn’t help but look at the comments on Sang Wan Ci.

All of her emotions were driven by these three words.

If someone praised Sang Wan Ci, she was happy.

If someone criticised Sang Wan Ci randomly, she would be annoyed.

As someone who had witnessed Sang Wan Ci’s growth until now, she dared to pat her chest and swear that Sang Wan Ci’s efforts warranted her current success, and warranted even more success.

How could such a good person be slandered!

Her fist was hard!

After she got angry, she suddenly realised.

Wait, what’s with my attitude?

Did I really become her fan??

I faked it until I made it???

Thinking about it, she calmed down.

So be it if it was real.

Our Teacher Sang was worth it!

As she scrolled, a comment with a photo came into view.

@Pink galaxy: Save me SOS, who’s this meimei, her expression is killing me. Three minutes, I want all the information on her! [Photo]

She opened the photo and froze.

—— It was her.

She was wearing the female lead’s coat in the photo, a spear pierced through her shoulder by the enemy as blood flowed down.

She was leaning against a wall, holding onto the spear as her chin was raised slightly, rivulets of blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth.

Even so, her expression was fearless, her eyes filled with a surprising strength.

This comment had been upvoted hundreds of times, with a lot of people replying.

@Moving bricks: This expression is too good!

@040 minutes: She’s pretty easy on the eyes. The first impression is that she’s clean and comfortable, but she’s so pretty after looking at her for a longer time!

@gww give me a big iron!: This blood puking…… is a little attractive [shy]

@Hurry up and go home: I know, she’s Sang Wan Ci’s instant noodle buddy. She was the one who went on the hot search the last time with Sang Wan Ci [dog head] [dog head] [dog head]

@Japanese salt bread: Instant noodle buddy, the grass is growing[2]

Lu Zhi Wei looked it at blankly, not daring to believe it.

They were…… discussing her?

The Xiao He that she acted as?

She had really been seen?

Of course, in this Amway-able place, there was definitely one person present.

She saw her one and only fan again.

@Qiao Qiao Ya: New actress Lu Zhi Wei, a shining character, you won’t lose out if you follow her [heart] Welcome everybody to click into my page and eat my jiejie‘s Amway [heart] [rose] [rose] [heart] softly: she just started, there aren’t many fans, if you become her fan now, you’ll always be an iron fan in the future!

She posted it thrice, as if she was afraid others wouldn’t be able to see it.

A single person had the presence of thousands of people.

Lu Zhi Wei could almost see a small person jumping up frantically in the sea of humans, working hard to attract everybody’s eyes.

Hardworking and lonely.

Almost like…… the her from before.

Lu Zhi Wei smiled and couldn’t help the tears from swelling in her eyes.

This emotion couldn’t be ignored.

It was so nice to have someone see her hard work, to have someone who liked her……

She was suddenly filled with strength.

She must continue to work hard, to let Qiao Qiao know she didn’t make a mistake becoming her fan!

“Dong dong” the door was suddenly knocked.

Lu Zhi Wei quickly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and got up, looking into the peephole.

—— Xiao Qiu.

Opening the door, Xiao Qiu brought the food containers back into the room.

She said: “Xiao Sang shared your soup with Director Guo and the rest of the production crew, asking everybody to try your cooking.

“And then Director Guo said……”

Lu Zhi Wei’s face was filled with curiosity: “Said what?”

Xiao Qiu laughed: “She said her suite still has a room. If you don’t want to stay with Xiao Sang, you can stay with her, just cook for her.”

Lu Zhi Wei signed in relief and smiled.

It was good they liked it.

This way, it would be even more convincing as an excuse for her to stay with Sang Wan Ci.

Xiao Qiu rubbed her nose in embarrassment: “Thanks for making lunch for me, it’s really very delicious, so…… can I trouble you for food again next time?”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled: “Of course. You guys eat lunch together, I’ll just make two portions so you don’t have to always go buy food.”

“Thanks Zhi Wei jie!”

Xiao Qiu basically wanted to scream hurray.

From today on, Lu Zhi Wei was her jie, with such great cooking skills!

The relationship between the two of them was suddenly more intimate with this “jie” being called.

The awkwardness was all swept away.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Relationships between people were simply so amazing.

“Then will you still be cooking tomorrow?” Xiao Qiu asked in anticipation.

Lu Zhi Wei shook her head.

“I can’t tomorrow, I have something to do so I need to leave the set, I’ll only be back the following day.”

Xiao Qiu blinked slowly.

Lu Zhi Wei consoled her: “It’s alright, isn’t there still tonight? Just tell me what you want to eat.”

Xiao Qiu’s expression smoothed out: “Ah, okay, I’ll reimburse the groceries!”

“Oh yes, is someone coming to fetch you? If not, I can drive you there?”

“There is, my manager will come and fetch me.”

“Oh, okay then.”

“Ah, and,” Xiao Qiu looked at her. “Does Xiao Sang know about it?”

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“Tomorrow?”

Sang Wan Ci looked at Xiao Qiu suspiciously.

Xiao Qiu helped her arrange her wig as she nodded: “Mm, Zhi Wei jie said she had to do something and her manager would pick her up. She said she’ll tell you once you get back.”

Sang Wan Ci showed a knowing expression.

She straightened her sleeve as she looked at Xiao Qiu.

“When did you start calling her jie?”

This was her first time hearing Xiao Qiu call Lu Zhi Wei “Zhi Wei jie“.

In the past, she would either call her full name or politely call her “Miss Lu”. She had never been so casual.

Xiao Qiu laughed cheekily: “With her cooking skills, she’s my jie from now on!”

Following Zhi Wei jie, there would always be delicious food!

Sang Wan Ci raised an eyebrow.

This wasn’t anything big.

Lu Zhi Wei was older than them anyway, so it was natural to call her jie.

Xiao Qiu looked at Sang Wan Ci, emotional: “Thank you, Xiao Sang.”

Sang Wan Ci was holding on to the script: “?”

Xiao Qiu’s smile was genuine: “I can only get free food because of you.”

Sang Wan Ci: “You’re welcome.”

Xiao Qiu said excitedly: “Zhi Wei jie said she’ll cook tonight too. Can I go back and eat with you?”

Sang Wan Ci nodded: “Mm.”

Xiao Qiu happily took the script from her: “Thank you Teacher Sang, Teacher Sang is really a good person!”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her in amusement, then left to film.

This scene was the scene that the male and female leads confirmed their feelings for each other.

She had exchanged her first kiss with Lu Zhi Wei in this scene.

Until now, she couldn’t forget the kiss that had a trace of fruits.

It was a warm imprint in her life, whether it was the kiss or the atmosphere at that moment. They were all worth remembering in the future.

As for this scene with Qiu Luo.

There was no way they were going to kiss. Aside from the angle trick, he better not dream of anything else.

Qiu Luo didn’t think so.

Even if they were using the angle trick, he wanted to let Sang Wan Ci feel his charisma.

Maybe Sang Wan Ci would be moved in that second, realising she truly loved him and she couldn’t help but kiss him?

He wanted to ask, when his handsome face was magnified and close to someone’s eyes, who could refuse?

Nobody could.

The person who would refuse hadn’t been born yet.

Qiu Luo raised his chin arrogantly, brushing away a lock of his wig.

—— Ah, this blasted charisma that I can’t put anywhere else safely.

Sang Wan Ci looked on from afar, feeling like this person couldn’t be trusted.

So before they went to film, she went to have a “friendly” exchange with Qiu Luo.

She walked to Qiu Luo and took the initiative to grab his hand.

“Mr Qiu.”

Qiu Luo was stunned.

See, this is the first step to clarity!

He confidently showed a handsome smile, his teeth white and gleaming: “Is something the matter, Miss Sang?”

“There’s something I want to make clear to you before we start filming.”

“Mm?”

“When we’re doing the angle trick later, if you dare to kiss me,” Sang Wan Ci suddenly applied pressure with her hand, her face unchanging. “You’re a dead man.”

A hand that looked weak and dainty suddenly applied enough strength to crush a mountain.

Qiu Luo’s eyes suddenly widened, he felt like his hand was about to be pulverised!

“Pain, pain, pain ——” He cried out in defeat.

Sang Wan Ci eased up on the pressure as she patted his forearm, turning to leave.

Qiu Luo looked at his red hand, then looked at her slender back.

Suddenly, he had no doubt about what Sang Wan Ci said.

—— If I dare to try to kiss her, she’ll definitely twist my head off!

How did this woman have such great strength!

Did she train before??

He didn’t understand, his hand hurt.

After this “friendly” exchange, the two of them had reached a silent understanding.

Aside from the script’s request, there were no extra movements, neither of them offending the other.

Sang Wan Ci suddenly felt like she had grasped the technique to keep Qiu Luo in line.

…

When Sang Wan Ci was done with work, the sky was already dark.

She took out her phone, seeing Lu Zhi Wei’s message.

[Zhi Wei]: Have you finished work, are you coming back?

[Zhi Wei]: If so, then I’ll start cooking?

[Zhi Wei]: Xiao Qiu said you shared the soup with Director Guo and the rest, so you didn’t have any to drink. So I cooked more soup, you’ll be able to drink it once you come back

[Zhi Wei]: The rice is ready too, it’s just the dishes left

[Zhi Wei]: Remember to reply once you see the messages

Seeing these messages, Sang Wan Ci suddenly had a feeling.

It was like Lu Zhi Wei was her lover, cooking every day and waiting for her to come home.

Thinking about it, she didn’t feel repulsed, but there was a simple warmth.

Three meals a day, something to look forward to, someone that was waiting for her.

Wasn’t it good to live this sort of life?

[Sang Wan Ci]: Mm, I’m preparing to go back now.

[Sang Wan Ci]: You’ve worked hard, do you need me to bring anything back?

[Zhi Wei]: No need, just bring yourself back safely to have dinner

[“Zhi Wei” patted me[3].]

Sang Wan Ci didn’t know why, but she suddenly wanted to see her.

The faster the better.

If possible, she even wanted to give her a hug and say in her ear: “I’m back.”

“Let’s go, Xiao Sang.”

Xiao Qiu’s voice suddenly rang out.

Sang Wan Ci’s thoughts were pulled back and she looked at Xiao Qiu.

Only to see the other person looking at her in anticipation, anxious to eat.

Sang Wan Ci: “……”

Looks like there won’t be any chance of that.

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Remembering that Xiao Qiu would be coming over to dinner, Lu Zhi Wei cooked plenty of food.

When she was cooking the dishes, she was a little dazed.

In the past, she was a hermit who would only cook for one. In the blink of an eye, she was suddenly cooking for three people……

Life was truly filled with surprises and unexpected incidents.

And in the blink of an eye, she had already gotten to know Sang Wan Ci for almost a year.

Time really flew by, she mused.

At that moment, someone opened the door from outside.

Sang Wan Ci and Xiao Qiu had returned.

The first thing Sang Wan Ci did after entering the room was look for Lu Zhi Wei.

Lu Zhi Wei had just finished frying the second dish, turning to see Sang Wan Ci standing at the entrance of the kitchen.

She called out: “You’re back.”

Sang Wan Ci nodded lightly, a faint, warm smile on her lips: “Mm, I’m back.

“Was it boring staying here alone?”

Lu Zhi Wei shook her head and smiled: “Not boring, 《Phoenix》’s trailer came out. I could look at everybody’s comments and reactions for an entire day.”

Sang Wan Ci only just realised today was the official trailer release for 《Phoenix》, planning to look at it later.

She scanned the kitchen. The originally empty room was now filled with groceries, pots and pans and more.

It looks like Lu Zhi Wei had bought plenty of things today.

The food containers they had used in the afternoon had been washed clean and set aside.

It was as if as long as Lu Zhi Wei was around, things would never get messy.

Lu Zhi Wei let her first drink a bowl of soup.

“The dishes will be ready soon. Sit outside and slowly drink the soup while waiting.”

“Don’t you need me to help?” Sang Wan Ci asked.

“No need,” Lu Zhi Wei answered. “You’ve worked the entire day, you should rest.”

Xiao Qiu also appeared at the entrance and agreed: “That’s right Xiao Sang, you’ve filmed for the entire day. Go sit and rest, I’ll help her.”

Sang Wan Ci turned and left to sit in the living room.

She took out her phone and opened Weibo.

Looking at 《Phoenix》’s trailer, then at the comments.

After scrolling for a while, she saw a comment about Lu Zhi Wei.

There were a bunch of comments under it, all praising this new actress.

She looked up, and glanced at the kitchen.

This was probably a first for her too……

Sang Wan Ci didn’t know if Lu Zhi Wei saw this comment when she was looking at the comment section today.

She got up and walked to the kitchen with her phone.

She wanted to let Lu Zhi Wei see this comment.

She wanted to tell her, you’re worthy of being liked. There will be a lot of people who discover you and like you.

From now on, you’ll only get better and better.

When she walked to the entrance, she saw Lu Zhi Wei laughing and chatting with Xiao Qiu as she wiped her hands.

Xiao Qiu was recalling a tale about when she was small. She disregarded her own safety and climbed a tree to pick fruits to eat, and got punished by her parents. In the end, because the fruits were too delicious, she forgot about being punished and climbed the tree again the next day, angering her father.

Lu Zhi Wei was amused and sympathetic, reaching out to pat her head: “It’s okay, it’s all in the past.”

Xiao Qiu nodded: “Yeah, it’s all in the past. Now I don’t have to climb trees and my dad won’t hit me anymore.”

Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t help but laugh: “You’re so cute.”

Seeing this, Sang Wan Ci’s eyebrows furrowed.

She felt uncomfortable, unhappy; her chest felt sour and constricted.

As if her treasure was about to be stolen.

She didn’t understand why she would feel like this.

Because Lu Zhi Wei said someone else was cute?

Because Lu Zhi Wei was close to a woman?

…… Because Lu Zhi Wei was close to someone of the same sex?

She froze, her heart suddenly feeling happy at the sight of Lu Zhi Wei’s smile.

She had her answer, it was right in front of her.

“Xiao Qiu,” she said. “Bring the food back to eat.”

Xiao Qiu turned to look at her.

Sang Wan Ci calmly looked at the time, then found an excuse: “You’ve worked hard today too. Go back early to eat and wash up and rest.”

Xiao Qiu was an intuitive person, she wouldn’t stay and make her boss annoyed when she knew she wasn’t wanted around.

So she happily said: “Okay, then I’ll pack up the food to go and eat while I’m watching television. I’ll bring breakfast for you guys tomorrow!”

Sang Wan Ci agreed.

Lu Zhi Wei had just coincidentally finished cooking, so she put a portion of food into the containers.

Sang Wan Ci sent Xiao Qiu out.

Xiao Qiu happily held onto her “takeout”: “Remember to call me if there’s anything.”

Sang Wan Ci said in a soft voice: “There’s nothing else tonight, have a good rest.”

She saw Xiao Qiu off.

Sang Wan Ci closed the door and returned to the kitchen.

Lu Zhi Wei was plating the dishes, then started to arrange the plating on a whim.

Walking behind her, Sang Wan Ci reached out and hugged her around the waist.

Lu Zhi Wei froze for a second, and when she returned to her senses, Sang Wan Ci had already placed her chin on Lu Zhi Wei’s shoulder.

Her actions were intimate, and she was close enough to hear Lu Zhi Wei’s breathing.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Zhi Wei asked.

Sang Wan Ci’s heart calmed down.

When she hugged Lu Zhi Wei, it felt as if she possessed her.

The jealousy from before faded away.

She tilted her head to look at Lu Zhi Wei, smiling.

“I wanted to hug you.”

My answer, my heartbeat.

My Lu Zhi Wei.

[1] 达咩 – Pronounced da mie in Chinese, this is a play on the Japanese term for refusal, だめ.

[2] 草生出来了 – This is another reference to Japanese internet culture. The Japanese use wwwwww to express laughter or amusement, which looks like stalks of grass growing, so when someone says the grass is growing, it’s to say the situation is funny or that they’re laughing.

[3] 拍了拍我 – This is a feature on WeChat where you can double-tap the other person’s profile pic and it’ll buzz their phone and send a notification, basically a way of getting their attention.