Chapter 71: CH 71

The process of cooking lunch went exactly as Jin Man Wen expected.

Without Sang Wan Ci, there was no obstacle to her and Lu Zhi Wei getting along.

With Sang Wan Ci, there were difficulties at every turn, with each one more difficult than flying to the sky.

And she had no way to deal with Sang Wan Ci either.

If only Lu Zhi Wei didn’t treat Sang Wan Ci as well, she wouldn’t be so helpless.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t know Jin Man Wen’s intentions.

In her heart, it had already become an ingrained habit to treat Sang Wan Ci well and care for her, nobody could stop it.

She didn’t expect that this habit would unknowingly help Sang Wan Ci complete the other half of her defence.

So the whole time they were preparing lunch, Sang Wan Ci was very relaxed.

She didn’t need to spend too much effort to stop Lu Zhi Wei and Jin Man Wen from being together.

All she had to do was call out softly “Zhi Wei”, and Lu Zhi Wei would immediately come to her side.

In this battle, Jin Man Wen lost badly.

She was about to explode.

—— Sang Wan Ci, this woman, she likes Lu Zhi Wei right!

This question had been pestering Jin Man Wen the whole day.

At night when she was putting on a sheet mask, she was still thinking about it.

But she was still just suspicious, she didn’t dare to confirm it.

Until she watched the teaser that the official 《Me and My Friend》 Weibo posted.

In the teaser, Sang Wan Ci would always watch Lu Zhi Wei very seriously when she was speaking.

Her brows were gentle and she had a slight smile on her face, clearly appearing like someone who felt happy while looking at the person in front of her.

This might look like someone who was a good friend to other people.

To her, that wasn’t the case.

As someone who liked Lu Zhi Wei and had been openly battled with by Sang Wan Ci, she had confirmed it in an instant.

Sang Wan Ci liked Lu Zhi Wei.

It was undeniable.

And the two of them were even business CPs, it was perfectly acceptable for Sang Wan Ci to show such a gentle expression to Lu Zhi Wei, and the netizens were all fooled.

Heh, she wasn’t so easy to fool!

But she felt depressed.

Sang Wan Ci was too close to Lu Zhi Wei.

And Lu Zhi Wei’s care and concern for Sang Wan Ci was visible for all to see, nobody on the side could compare.

So from the start, she didn’t even start from the same starting point as Sang Wan Ci.

But she wasn’t willing to give up.

Liking someone was never a rational, reasonable thing. She had no way of controlling it.

Besides, Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci weren’t even together, why should she control it?

What if it was just a one-sided thing by Sang Wan Ci?

Then how could she give up on this opportunity so easily?

Who didn’t want to take the radiant sun for themselves?

…… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

《Me and My Friend》 had planned to shoot for a week.

In the blink of an eye, three days had elapsed.

During these three days, Jin Man Wen constantly found excuses to try to get closer to Lu Zhi Wei. She had almost changed the friendship variety show to a show about becoming friends.

Lu Zhi Wei treated her politely.

Sang Wan Ci, on the other hand, was a bit irritated.

—— Who could tolerate a love rival flaunting in front of themselves daily?

So she decided to talk to Lu Zhi Wei about this.

At night, it was about time to sleep.

Lu Zhi Wei was about to go to her room to sleep after washing up.

She walked in and was about to close the door.

Then, she saw Sang Wan Ci walk out of the room opposite while hugging a pillow.

She blinked, forgetting to move.

Sang Wan Ci had already opened the door and climbed into her bed.

She was still confused when Sang Wan Ci finished putting her pillow down and pulled the blanket over herself, looking at her.

The expression on her face was saying “What are you doing, come sleep”.

Lu Zhi Wei: “……?”

Today, she…… was planning to sleep with me?

Sang Wan Ci looked at her calmly, then seeing her confusion, she asked: “Zhi Wei, are you chasing me away?”

How could that be!

Lu Zhi Wei closed the door, showing her respect.

“Lie properly, I’m going to turn off the light.”

“Mm,” Sang Wan Ci looked at the bed’s headboard and suddenly realised the lights could be controlled from there too, so she stopped Lu Zhi Wei, “Wait.”

Lu Zhi Wei asked: “What is it?”

Sang Wan Ci said: “Get on the bed, I’ll turn it off. It wouldn’t be good if you stubbed your toe on the bedframe if it’s too dark.”

Lu Zhi Wei immediately felt touched: “Our Teacher Sang is so good and considerate.”

Sang Wan Ci smiled slightly.

Lu Zhi Wei immediately burrowed into the blanket happily.

Sang Wan Ci waited for her to lie down, then turned around and was about to switch off the light.

Suddenly, the hem of her shirt was pulled.

Lu Zhi Wei said: “Wait, I forgot something.”

Sang Wan Ci furrowed her brows in confusion, then watched as Lu Zhi Wei quickly got up and turned off the cameras and audio recording equipment, complaining: “I almost forgot again……”

She didn’t want stuff like sleeping to be recorded as well.

If she kicked off the blanket or talked in her sleep and showed it to the whole country…… Then she might as well pack up and prepare to move into space.

Everything was done and the end of the day merged into night.

The yellow light from the streetlamps shone into the room, half obscured by the curtains, illuminating a corner of the white wall warmly.

Summer nights were long and quiet.

Lu Zhi Wei laid on her back, looking at the ceiling in the dim light.

Sleepiness came exceedingly slow today.

Then, a sound came from beside her.

After that, a gentle “Zhi Wei” sounded out.

“Mm?” She replied.

“Do you like Jin Man Wen?”

“Why are you suddenly asking this?”

“Just asking.”

“I’m not familiar with Miss Jin, how can there be like or dislike?”

“Then did you notice it?”

“Notice what?”

Sang Wan Ci turned to look at her, observing her face under the dim light.

“Notice that she has other intentions towards you.”

Sang Wan Ci was very straightforward.

But Lu Zhi Wei’s thinking couldn’t catch up: “What intentions?”

Sang Wan Ci: “?”

Lu Zhi Wei embarrassedly scratched her face: “Because I don’t think there’s anything to desire from me……”

A small actress who had just started having some success.

An ordinary and poor person.

What was there for a stranger to “want”?

Sang Wan Ci: “……”

Lu Zhi Wei, you’re really not smart.

No wonder you can’t figure out that I like you.

“Isn’t Miss Jin purely wanting to be friends with me?” Lu Zhi Wei asked, sounding like she was asking for advice.

She had been a transparent entity for so long, she had no experience making friends.

The deception was even stronger now that she had the male protagonist halo.

Sang Wan Ci wasn’t the same. She was the female protagonist, and Xiao Qiu said she was popular and had made many friends. So she definitely knew which ones were genuine friends and which ones weren’t.

“Mm, she isn’t,” Sang Wan Ci didn’t lie to her. “She likes you.”

Lu Zhi Wei paused.

Sang Wan Ci’s calm voice landed in her ear: “Not the type of like between friends.”

Lu Zhi Wei’s expression became even more wooden.

No wonder she felt like some of Jin Man Wen’s actions were a bit overboard, making her feel a bit repulsed……

So Jin Man Wen liked her……

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Someone liked her!

This wouldn’t be because of the male protagonist halo too!!

Lu Zhi Wei was so shocked, she asked: “How did you know?”

“I guessed it.”

Sang Wan Ci said calmly.

“A few days ago when we were cooking together, she kept looking for ways to get close to you. And whenever you treated her nicely, she would be very happy.

“The way she looks at you is different too. At least, she won’t look at Zhou Su like that.”

“And she has been continually looking for you these few days…… Zhi Wei, one won’t go to someone’s house for nothing.”

Lu Zhi Wei suddenly was enlightened.

Instinctively, she believed in Sang Wan Ci’s words.

Seeing her like this, Sang Wan Ci knew she completely didn’t notice it.

Suddenly, she felt relieved.

At least it was because Lu Zhi Wei didn’t realise that Sang Wan Ci liked her, not because she realised it and pretended not to know.

Didn’t the latter mean she was being rejected?

Sang Wan Ci asked: “Do you like her?”

Lu Zhi Wei quickly shook her head and denied it: “I don’t like her, I don’t like her. Don’t misunderstand, I definitely don’t have that kind of thoughts towards her!”

Even if she didn’t take into account the fact that her heart was completely dominated by Sang Wan Ci.

The system wouldn’t allow her, as the male protagonist, to like someone else aside from the female protagonist!

If she dared to do it, she would probably have been electrocuted numb.

Sigh, the pain-fearing her had no way to rebel.

Luckily the person she liked was Sang Wan Ci, the beautiful, mesmerising Sang Wan Ci.

“What are you going to do?” Sang Wan Ci asked.

She was looking forward to Lu Zhi Wei’s answer.

Looking forward to Lu Zhi Wei rejecting Jin Man Wen herself.

Lu Zhi Wei sank into silence, feeling a bit troubled.

It was still their own conjecture that Jin Man Wen liked her.

If they guessed wrong and she confronted Jin Man Wen and asked about it, then didn’t it seem like she was foolish and dumb and narcissistic?

Then when they were working together on the next show, wouldn’t it be incredibly awkward whenever they saw each other?

“We’ll see,” she sighed. “I’m happy to make friends, but forget it if it’s to be girlfriends.”

“I’ll keep a friendly distance from her tomorrow onwards. If she really wants to go overboard, I’ll speak to her about it.

“And stop it in time.”

Seeing that Lu Zhi Wei had her own thoughts about it, Sang Wan Ci was relieved.

Her own planning wasn’t as good as a single word of rejection from Lu Zhi Wei.

Untying the knot had to be done by the person who tied the knot.

“Let’s sleep, Zhi Wei. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight……”

The room descended into silence again.

Lu Zhi Wei was still looking at the ceiling and waiting to become sleepy.

Actually, she had another question. She really wanted to turn her head and ask the person next to her: Then can you realise that I treat you differently from how I treat other people?

She thought about it.

And gave up.

She definitely couldn’t realise it, because she didn’t have many friends for Sang Wan Ci to compare to……

Sigh, it was so hard for a little transparent entity to want to date.

…… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

It was Friday, the third-last day of filming for 《Me and My Friend》.

Today, the three groups all received a mission that was different from the past: live streaming.

The live stream timing was from 8pm to 9pm, an entire hour.

The extra request was that each guest had to showcase their own talent during the live stream.

After the live stream, it was the guests’ own free time and the programme crew wouldn’t interfere.

For the 8pm live stream, the programme had already started marketing on Weibo.

This live stream was also to create momentum for the official launch of 《Me and My Friend》, helping to raise the expectations of the audience for the start of the show.

Scrolling through the comments section, Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci could deeply feel the fans’ enthusiasm.

[@I’m Innocent]: What, a live stream? I can do it!

[@A Fist As Big As a Head]: Wait for me to get money, I’ll buy three phones to watch the live stream at the same time! But I have no money now wuwuwu, I like all three groups, which live stream should I watch [crying]

[@To Eat Or Not To Eat, That Is The Question]: Tonight, I’ll also perform an individual talent for everybody: Shipping! #Wei Shi Bu Wan #Go!

[@Pay Me Back]: Director Mu is the best!

Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci looked at each other, then put their phones down and sank into deep thought.

They hadn’t thought of what talent to showcase.

The production crew hadn’t mentioned this before, so nobody had prepared anything.

But looking at what Director Mu intended, it wasn’t as if he was forcing them to be super professional about it.

As long as the audience was happy, it was enough.

But Sang Wan Ci had never done unprofessional things before.

She had always been an upright, elegant beauty in front of everybody.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t care too much.

She had already decided.

“I’ll play the violin.”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her slowly: “……?”

Even Lao Wu couldn’t help but say: 【Woah, you’re really daring……】

Her practice had gone slowly these few days, with not much obvious progress. Now, even sawing wood would sound better than her playing the violin.

With just this, she dared to showcase this as a talent?

Lu Zhi Wei ah Lu Zhi Wei, how much more bravery are you hiding from us?

Lu Zhi Wei scratched her head in embarrassment, then said: “Aiya, Director Mu said it doesn’t need to be too professional, I don’t have any other talent to showcase.

“I can’t…… possibly knit a sweater on stream?”

“Why not?”

【I think it’s possible.】

Sang Wan Ci and Lao Wu spoke at the same time.

They clearly thought that knitting a sweater was a hundred times better than her playing the violin.

The former had a 100% survival rate for the audience, but it was hard to say for the latter.

Lu Zhi Wei: “……”

How hurtful, guys.

“I like playing the violin lately……” She complained, then gave in. “Alright, I’ll knit a sweater.”

Sang Wan Ci clearly heard her complaint, and then looked at her quietly.

Lu Zhi Wei continued: “Oh right, I can give you the violin and you can showcase it as your talent!”

Sang Wan Ci’s eyelashes fluttered as she suddenly said: “No need, you can play the violin.”

Lu Zhi Wei lifted her head in confusion.

Sang Wan Ci reached out a hand and rubbed her head, speaking in a doting tone: “If Zhi Wei likes it, just do it. It’s okay, it’s most important for you to be happy.

“You have to practice the violin more to be familiar with it, let’s do that.”

Lao Wu: 【……】

Sang Wan Ci, with how much you’re spoiling her, it’ll be really hard if you don’t marry her.

Receiving encouragement, Lu Zhi Wei’s eyes immediately lit up, even as her lips turned downwards.

“It’s better if I knit, otherwise what will you do?”

She watched as Sang Wan Ci folded her arms and looked at the big, eye-catching object in the living room.

She said calmly: “There’s still that.”

—— Piano.

Lu Zhi Wei froze.

These few days, Lu Zhi Wei had never seen her touch the piano once. She wouldn’t even look at the piano for long.

As if it was just an unimportant accessory that was unworthy of her taking an extra glance.

Lu Zhi Wei could actually understand her emotions.

Because of the piano, she had quarrelled with her father, left her home and hadn’t met with her father again until now with their relationship still unhappy and strained.

Under these circumstances, it was natural for her to despise the piano.

But Lu Zhi Wei didn’t expect that Sang Wan Ci would be the one to mention it.

“Wan Ci……”

It was a soft call, but Sang Wan Ci understood her feelings and worry.

Sang Wan Ci looked down and smiled: “It’s okay, Zhi Wei, I don’t hate the piano that much.”

How could a kid that grew up with a piano hate something that was like a friend?

She lifted her head, looking towards that white piano again.

For the first time, she honestly said how she felt about it.

“I actually really like the piano…… At least, I really liked it in the past.”

When her mother was still around.

When her father hadn’t started forcing her to be a pianist.

“I just don’t like it as much now.” She turned to look at Lu Zhi Wei, smiling.

Lu Zhi Wei suddenly felt pained, grasping her hand lightly: “You don’t have to force yourself.”

Sang Wan Ci held her hand and smiled: “I’m not forcing myself.”

Lu Zhi Wei half-believed it: “Really?”

Sang Wan Ci nodded: “Mm, really.”

Besides, you playing the violin and me playing the piano…… We would match better that way.

Sang Wan Ci thought about it in her heart.

With that, Lu Zhi Wei didn’t say anything else, getting up to wash some fruit for Sang Wan Ci to comfort her.

… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

8pm rolled around quickly.

The netizens had already been waiting in the live stream room.

Once 8pm hit, the live stream began.

Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci started off by greeting the viewers.

The two of them sat side by side, dressed up and looking good.

The bullet comments started pouring in.

—— Sang Wan Ci, I’m persuading you to not use that face to kill me anymore, or you’ll have to take responsibility!

—— Lu Lu is so cute when she smiles!

—— Save me, is this a newlywed couple meeting the audience?

—— I’m starting to look forward to their talent showcase

There was an hour for the live stream, so the two of them didn’t rush to do the talent showcase.

They chatted with the bullet commenters for half an hour.

As long as someone asked a question, they would answer it and issue enough sugar for the CP fans.

The live stream’s atmosphere was rising quickly.

The bullet comments asked them to call each other baby like they did in the interview.

They obliged with calm expressions.

At this moment, a bullet comment said they wanted to hear Sang Wan Ci call Lu Zhi Wei jiejie.

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

Good fellow, your comment is trying to kill me!

Sang Wan Ci raised an eyebrow, looking at Lu Zhi Wei with a slight smile.

Lu Zhi Wei accidentally made eye contact with her, blinking.

The next second, she heard Sang Wan Ci gently, softly call: “Jiejie.”

She immediately felt embarrassed, burying her face into a cushion.

How could Sang Wan Ci flirt with her in front of so many people!!

Then, feeling that her face was too red, she quickly lifted her head and pleaded her innocence: “Look at this kid, she’s doing it on purpose, who can stand it!”

But the comments had already exploded the moment Sang Wan Ci called jiejie.

—— Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it sounds so good, Baby Sang, make a solo audio clip!!!

—— Wuwuwuwuwu, mommy they’re so sweet, please get married quickly!

—— Wei Shi Bu Wan is real!!!

—— Give me an opportunity to not be able to take it!

After half an hour, it slowly came to the talent showcase.

The netizens were beyond excited.

Then, they saw Lu Zhi Wei take out yarn and knitting needles: “Okay, now I’m going to showcase my talent for everyone, knitting.”

The screen was suddenly filled with question marks.

Sang Wan Ci sat by the side, smiling and keeping silent.

Lu Zhi Wei looked at the camera, saying seriously: “Don’t be like this, I’m doing this for your ears.

“I was planning to play the violin, but after I asked the production crew, they convinced me not to. They said I couldn’t ignore the survival of the audience, so I changed it to knitting.”

Hearing her say that, the comments suddenly started rebelling.

—— Hearing you say that, now I’m more interested

—— What, there’s such a thing? I’m tired of living, let me hear it!

—— Tell your production crew to mind their own business, I want to die today!

Lu Zhi Wei was tickled pink.

She knew there was no lack of rebellious sand sculpture fans on the internet.

So she pulled out her violin that she had prepared earlier, and stood up.

“In that case, I’ll satisfy everyone. But I haven’t been learning it for long, so I’ll just casually play 《Twinkle Twinkle Little Star》!”

Sang Wan Ci considerately helped her to adjust the phone, ensuring it captured her entire body.

Lu Zhi Wei got into position, putting the bow onto the strings.

She sucked in a breath, her right arm starting to move ——

The workers behind the monitors in the room covered their faces.

They wanted to laugh, but they didn’t dare laugh too loudly.

They had no idea to describe how this violin amateur, Lu Zhi Wei, played.

It was complicated, but also strange.

She tried hard to play a tune, with each note clear but with a lot of effort.

Trying hard to keep in tune but going out of tune inadvertently, going back and forth.

Sawing wood was smoother than this.

The comments were numb.

—— The stars have all died

—— 《It’s casual indeed》

—— It’s not too bad, you can consider going to compose music for a horror movie. I think horror movies are good, what do you think, baby?

—— Baby, other people want our money to let us listen to them play the violin, you want our lives to let us listen to you playing the violin

—— My earphones are bleeding

But because Lu Zhi Wei’s violin playing was too demonic, it attracted many sand sculpture fans to tune in.

They wanted to know how demonic it could sound, they wanted to hear the “demonic sound filling the ears”.

In the end, they were taught a lesson by Lu Zhi Wei.

Including the director for Lu Zhi Wei’s next show —— Liu Zhao.

He had nothing to do today, and hearing others say that Lu Zhi Wei was playing the violin, he tuned in.

He had never thought it would be so earth-shattering.

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He fell silent.

Zhi Wei ah, you need to practice harder……

With this level of skill, I really don’t dare to let you play the instrument……

He was about to exit the stream when he saw Lu Zhi Wei stop.

Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t continue playing, she was laughing too hard.

“Alright, I won’t kill you guys. Now, our Teacher Sang will wash your ears for you.”

She took the phone and followed Sang Wan Ci, becoming Sang Wan Ci’s videographer.

Sang Wan Ci sat in front of the piano.

Her in the camera, her black hair was smooth and her eyes were gentle, she placed her ten, slender fingers on the white keys.

She looked as beautiful as a painting.

—— Odd, I feel like she knows how to play the moment she sits there

—— Screenshot screenshot screenshot!

—— I want to request a song!!! Let me request a song!!!

Liu Zhao was also attracted by her demeanour, putting his hand down.

Obeying the requests of the audience, Sang Wan Ci played whatever they wanted to hear.

Her ten fingers smoothly glided across the keys without the slightest bit of hesitation, as if she was born with the knowledge of how to play the piano, knowing how to bring out the most beautiful sound of the instrument.

At this moment, it was like she was one with the piano.

This was the first time Lu Zhi Wei had seen her play the piano.

Calm, elegant, confident. She was always able to surprise others.

Maybe this was the reason her father had insisted on her becoming a pianist.

Because he believed she could do it.

But so what?

If she didn’t like it, why force her?

People didn’t have to definitely do something as long as they were suited to it.

Lu Zhi Wei felt like it was good now.

Sang Wan Ci could act in the shows she liked, and play the piano that she used to like when she was on break.

Nobody was forcing her, there was no unhappiness.

—— My god, she’s learnt this professionally right, how can she be so good

—— This is a live stream? It’s really not a music club?

—— F*ck, this is incredible, it’s so hard not to be moved, fan +1

—— Let me pick the next song!

Director Liu Zhao’s eyes shone brightly.

He realised Sang Wan Ci was even better suited to the second female lead’s role.

If Sang Wan Ci acted in it, with this charisma, she could totally make the show a double female lead with Lu Zhi Wei!

Then he could definitely promote the second female lead to the main female lead and make it a double female lead show!

But he couldn’t invite her anymore.

Liu Zhao was filled with regret.

Damn it, why didn’t she play the piano earlier!

…

In the affluent district of Jiang City.

Zhou Ling Ling threw her phone aside, unhappiness showing on her face.

So what if she knew how to play the piano?

Was it difficult? She thought it was very easy.

The netizens were really kicking up a big fuss out of nothing.

If she wanted to learn, she definitely could play it too, and she would be better than Sang Wan Ci!

As for this Lu Zhi Wei……

She only tuned into this live stream because she wanted to see how Lu Zhi Wei’s practice was coming along.

Who knew it was so bad.

That wouldn’t do…… How could she meddle with her like that?

Zhou Ling Ling smiled, then searched for Liu Zhao’s WeChat contact.

[Zhou Ling Ling]: Director Liu, have you watched Lu Zhi Wei’s live stream?

[Zhou Ling Ling]: Her violin skills seem to be very bad, you’ll have to watch over her more

[Zhou Ling Ling]: As someone from the same company, I hope more than anybody else that she can meet your requirements and play the violin well

She smiled and put away her phone after having finished pretending to show her concern for Lu Zhi Wei.

When Lu Zhi Wei was finished practising her violin, she would make Lu Zhi Wei’s joy turn to emptiness!