When Tang Yao returned, she saw the
short-haired girl she had seen before standing in the garden, taking
pictures of flowers AND looking very focused.
She was about to
walk over when she saw a strange man already behind the girl, seemingly
saying something.
"Ah!" A short scream rang out in the guesthouse
garden.
Tang Yao quickly took a few steps forward, pulling the
girl who had run out of the garden behind her.
"What happened to
you?" Tang Yao asked, frowning.
Seeing more people, the man
hurriedly raised his hand: "I didn't touch her. I just said one sentence to
her and she suddenly screamed."
Zhang Ru rushed out of the
restaurant, hugging her daughter with heartache and whispering reassuringly,
"It's okay, it's okay, it's alright now."
Li Yuanyuan huddled in
Zhang Ru's arms, still trembling slightly.
"Are you alright?
Let's take her to the hospital immediately." Tang Yao was about to dial an
ambulance.
“I don’t want to go to the hospital,” Li Yuanyuan
struggled in Zhang Ru’s arms.
“Okay, okay, no hospital.” Zhang Ru
thanked Tang Yao for her kindness and half-carried her daughter back to the
room.
The man was still muttering, “What is she pretending for?
Nothing happened, who is she trying to extort? Look so average-looking…”
“Sir,
please leave the guesthouse, or we will call the police.” At this moment,
Xiao Yue stood in front of him with a serious expression.
Xiao
Yue had always been smiling gently. It seemed no one had ever seen her lose
her temper.
“Why are you kicking me out? I paid! Be careful, I’ll
tell the boss to fire you!” The man hesitated for a moment before shouting
loudly.
"She's right. Please leave. I'll refund your money and
the guesthouse will never welcome you again," Tang Yao said coldly.
"Verbally insulting women and you think it's something to be proud of? Also,
if anything happens to this girl in my establishment, you'll be legally
responsible."
Seeing that the other person was just a young
woman, the man raised his hand to slap her.
But the next second,
his wrist was grabbed and a piercing pain shot through him.
"What
do you want to do?" Lu Bei stood in front of him. A head taller and with
deep dark eyes, he was imposing.
The man, who had been so
arrogant just moments before, instantly cowered.
The onlookers
began to criticize him.
"Pah, what a lousy guesthouse! I wouldn't
come here again even if you invited me!" Seeing the growing number of people
criticizing him, the man turned and left.
"Thank you," Tang Yao
said, turning back to the suddenly appearing Lu Bei.
After
calming the remaining guests and diners, Tang Yao went to the mother and
daughter's room.
"Are you alright?" Zhang Ru opened the door and
Tang Yao quickly asked. "This was due to our guesthouse's inadequate
screening, allowing such a scumbag to mingle in. If you need to go to the
hospital, I'll cooperate."
"What does this have to do with you?
You can only know a person's face, not their heart. Boss, you don't need to
take all the blame. I bear responsibility. I shouldn't have listened to her
and let her go clear her head." Zhang Ru said softly and her eyes
reddening.
It was clear that there was some unspeakable matter
between the mother and daughter, and Tang Yao naturally couldn't pry. After
comforting her, she left the room.
The guesthouse had returned to
its previous liveliness. Some people were discussing what had just happened,
and some even said that the police should have been called.
However,
whether it was what she witnessed herself or what she saw on the security
camera, the man hadn't done anything. He had only said one sentence. Tang
Yao could only kick him out for now.
When Tang Yao returned to
her small building through the garden, she noticed a long scratch on her
arm, probably from someone's fingernail during the struggle.
She
hadn't felt anything before, but now it burned with pain.
Blood
was oozing from the wound.
Tang Yao frowned, preparing to go back
to her room to disinfect it with alcohol.
"How did you get hurt?"
Tang Yao looked up and saw Lu Bei approaching with a frown.
"It's
nothing, just a small injury. Why did you come over? There are so many
people now. Someone might recognize you," Tang Yao said with a smile.
"So
what if they recognize me? It doesn't matter," Lu Bei said casually, but his
hand holding Tang Yao's was very careful.
The red, swollen wound
was still quite noticeable on her fair skin.
"Do you have any
alcohol or iodine swabs? If not, I'll go buy some. A scratch from a
fingernail can be quite irritating," Lu Bei said.
"Yes, I have
some at home," Tang Yao said quickly.
Tang Yao sat on the living
room sofa. Under her direction, Lu Bei rummaged through the drawers for
alcohol and swabs.
He wore a black shirt, sleeves rolled up to
reveal the toned, smooth muscles of his forearms.
His black,
tousled hair fell down, obscuring his eyes.
Indeed, a focused man
exuded a unique charm.
Quite pleasing to the eye.
Soon,
he found everything he needed. Lu Bei sat beside Tang Yao and carefully
applied iodine to her wound.
Tang Yao hissed softly when the
iodine first touched the wound.
Lu Bei quickly removed the cotton
swab: "Does it hurt a lot?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore, just a
little when first applied. Actually, I can do it myself."
"It’s
good that it doesn't hurt. Just bear with it a little longer, there's just a
little more left." Lu Bei subconsciously ignored Tang Yao's last
sentence.
Tang Yao could only helplessly hold up her arm for Lu
Bei to apply the medicine.
After the medicine was applied, Tang
Yao found her arm was wrapped in gauze like a dumpling.
"There's
no need to wrap it up like that. It's not that serious. It should heal on
its own soon."
This appearance was indeed a bit funny. Lu Bei
lowered his head and coughed lightly,, "It's fine, just to avoid
infection."
Tang Yao rolled her eyes at him and removed the gauze
from her hand.
Lu Bei quietly put away his phone. A satisfied
smile played on his face.
Tang Yao did know about Li Yuanyuan's
situation, but only from a police report posted online.
By then,
Li Yuanyuan and her daughter had already left the guesthouse.
Tang
Yao had stumbled upon the police report by chance.
The report
concerned a university professor who had abused his position to sexually
assault a female student. The students had jointly filed a lawsuit against
him, listing a series of his crimes.
The comments section was
filled with disbelief.
"You can know a person's face but not
their heart. I even took his class."
"He's almost seventy, how
could he have the nerve? It's disgusting."
"I haven't told
anyone. It was this same professor who called me to his office before and he
kept his hand on my shoulder. I felt uncomfortable."
"He was
rehired by our school, highly qualified, and had many students. I never
expected him to be this kind of person."
...
After the
professor was arrested, interviews were released.
Although her
face was blurred, Tang Yao immediately recognized the somewhat strange girl
that had stayed at her guesthouse. She calmly recounted her emotional
journey.
"...I had nightmares every night, dreams filled with the
professor covering my mouth, preventing me from saying anything. During that
time, I developed severe depression... Later, my mother took me to a
guesthouse, where I met a very kind neighbor, a warm-hearted owner and
staff. Gradually, I recovered and dared to face my inner self."
Netizens
speculated about which guesthouse it was, with many even trying to claim
credit.
However, Tang Yao didn't come forward to clarify. After
all, she wasn't the only one who saw Li Yuanyuan acting strangely that day.
If she spoke out, these people might recognize her.
...
The
elderly man who had previously bought huanghuali wood from Tang Yao had a
set of tables and chairs made from it. He didn't waste the leftover scraps.
He made beads to have around his wrist and wore them every day.
A
person from a villa area saw this and gathered around, asking where he
bought the items.
Tang Yao was unaware that her guesthouse had
become popular again because of the elderly man's recommendation.
She
was on the phone with Xu Haocheng, who had just arrived abroad a few days
ago and was complaining on the phone about not being used to the food.
Listening
to his wailing, Tang Yao hung up expressionlessly.
However, the
stubborn but soft-hearted Tang Yao still had Xiao Li pack a large bag of
snacks to send to Xu Haocheng.
After sending the snacks, she
sowed some seasonal vegetable seeds in the garden. The weather was getting
hotter. Summer had arrived a few days ago and fewer tourists were visiting
Wanhua Town.
Xiao Li brought over iced drinks, one for Tang Yao
and one for Lu Bei, who had joined them midway.
Lu Bei had
completely abandoned his actor persona, standing in the field with his
trousers rolled up, helping to sow the seeds, and looking very down-to-earth
with the straw hat.
Tang Yao knew this man was pursuing her, but
he always maintained a leisurely pace and a comfortable distance, often
making Tang Yao forget she had a suitor.
However, some small
gestures could indeed be quite captivating.
For example, right
now, a tall, long-legged man stood before her, brushing pebbles from her
hair and casually inserting a straw into her drink before handing it over.
His gaze was so intensely fixed on her and his eyes filled with a dramatic
intensity, as if he were acting in a television drama.
Meanwhile,
Xu Haocheng, far away abroad, heard Lu Bei's voice when Tang Yao hung up the
phone. He immediately became displeased and started typing furiously on his
phone.
Soon after, Lu Bei received a long text message with harsh
words like, "Don't think you can win over my elder sister so easily. You
haven't gotten past me yet."
Before going abroad, Xu Haocheng had
added Lu Bei on WeChat. They rarely chatted, and when they did, the tension
was palpable.
However, it was usually Xu Haocheng rambling on and
on, with Lu Bei occasionally replying with a few words.
"Be
sensible, I'll buy you the sneakers you like."
Upon receiving the
reply, Xu Haocheng was torn between his favorite elder sister and his
favorite sneakers.
Lu Bei put his phone back in his pocket and
his gaze fell on Tang Yao.
Tang Yao was drinking a beverage. The
cold drink relieved the heat of the day.
That evening, Tang Yao
was relaxing on the rooftop when she received a call from Cheng An.
"Yao
Yao!" Her voice sounded excited, "He confessed to me!"
This time it was quite a big commotion. Gu Xian's face was scratched all over.
Gu Boyuan was furious. He dragged Gu Xian to the study and gave him a severe scolding.
When his son and daughter-in-law quarrel, regardless of who WAs right or wrong, as the father-in-law, he could only discipline his son first.
Besides, he watched his second daughter-in-law and the others grow up. Although she was spoiled, he didn't see her as an unreasonable child. Why would she scratch Gu Xian's face for no reason?
He knew his son's personality very well. Why would a girl scratch a man's face? He could guess without even thinking that he must have provoked some people he shouldn't have.
He couldn't build a solid fence himself and let others slip in. He shouldn't blame others for that.
As for his daughter-in-law going into acting, he neither commented nor denied it. He believed that young people should be allowed to choose the kind of life they want. The world changed too fast and as the chairman of a company, he sometimes struggled to keep up. He often had to try to consider things from the perspective of young people, otherwise, they would fall behind and the company would be difficult to run.
Gu Xian left his father's study dejectedly and headed home. As he walked along the garden path, he caught a glimpse of Gu Shi out of the corner of his eye. Face full of resentment, Gu Xian couldn't help but go over and complain to him: "Why did you give money to fourth younger sister-in-law to film a TV series? If it weren't for fourth younger sister-in-law filming a TV series, why would your second elder sister-in-law have thought of acting? Fourth younger brother, don't spoil fourth younger sister-in-law too much and let her have her way with everything, or she'll start causing trouble for you sooner or later."
"Is that so?" Luo Zhengzheng's voice rang out softly from the side.
Gu Xian was startled when he saw her: "What are you doing here?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him sullenly, her tone icy and somewhat intimidating: "If I weren't here, how would I know that second elder brother had such a big problem with me?"
Gu Xian glanced awkwardly at Gu Shi, gesturing for his help, but Gu Shi pretended not to see his look.
Gu Xian laughed, no longer intending to hold back: "What I said is true. If you hadn't invested in making TV dramas, would your second elder sister-in-law have thought of acting? You've been spoiled rotten by fourth younger brother."
Luo Zhengzheng naturally wouldn't tolerate him either: "The reason second elder sister-in-law went to act is because you're too much of a playboy and she feels insecure."
Second elder sister-in-law might try to save face for him and cover it up for him, but she wouldn't. When she got angry, she was ruthless and didn't care about family ties.
Gu Xian looked around hurriedly and didn't see anyone else. He said through gritted teeth in a low voice, "You can't just say things like that."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him and said, "I'm not making this up. You are a womanizer."
Gu Xian was both angry and guilty after being rebuked by her. He said angrily, "Anyway, i don’t care. You’re not allowed to let your second elder sister-in-law act in your film production and this matter can be dropped."
Luo Zhengzheng snorted: "You can drop it, but I don't want to. Second Elder Sister-in-law's acting skills are amazing. I plan to wait until she finishes this production and recommend her for auditions if there are any good roles in the future. Maybe second elder sister-in-law can even win a Best Actress award or something. She'll become more and more outstanding, while you'll gradually become an ordinary man with no special characteristics. Just wait to be disliked by second elder sister-in-law."
Gu Shi glanced at second elder brother, then gently patted Luo Zhengzheng's shoulder. These two were in their twenties-thirties, why were they arguing like children?
Luo Zhengzheng glared at him and said with displeasure, "Don't interrupt me, you're affecting my performance."
Gu Shi: "......"
Gu Xian scoffed: "You and your second sister-in-law? It's not that I look down on you, but this TV series might turn out to be a terrible show. Forget about winning Best Actress or Best TV Actress awards, you'll be lucky if you don't get attacked online. You must have invested a lot of money in this TV series, right? Don't cry when it loses money."
Luo Zhengzheng retorted, "Anyway, I'm better than you. At least we dare to challenge things we've never done before. What about you? You only dare to challenge your wife's bottom line."
Gu Xian glared at her: "You're spoiled by fourth younger brother, have no respect for your elders."
Luo Zhengzheng: "It's still better than you being a womanizer."
Gu Xian: "You and your younger brother are both reckless and unruly."
Luo Zhengzheng: "It's still better than you being a womanizer."
Gu Xian: "......"
Exasperated, he glared at Gu Shi and harshly threw out, "You'd better keep an eye on her, otherwise you'll be stuck with a wife and brother-in-law and sooner or later, they'll cause trouble."
After saying that, he strode away. If he didn't leave, Luo Zhengzheng would drive him crazy.
Luo Zhengzheng watched his retreating figure with a face full of anger: "He's a womanizer himself, yet he still tries to control his wife going into acting. It's absurd."
Gu Shi looked at him and tactfully asked, "You won the argument. Are you still angry?"
Luo Zhengzheng glared at him, somewhat dissatisfied: "You should have joined me in arguing with him just now."
Gu Shi said with a mocking smile, "How about I scold him for you next time?"
It wasn't that Luo Zhengzheng looked down on him. She simply couldn't imagine Gu Shi scolding.
Thinking of this, Luo Zhengzheng said, "Forget it, just stand to the side and don't get in the way."
Gu Shi joked, "Okay, I won't affect your performance."
Luo Zhengzheng: "......"
That evening, after washing up, Luo Zhengzheng called Chen Hui and asked her to help find a teacher. She wanted to personally find a teacher for second elder sister-in-law to teach her acting, preferably someone who could teach her on set. It was just acting, how difficult could it be? Second elder sister-in-law had talent. No matter how difficult it was, with more learning and practice, plus one-on-one guidance from a renowned teacher, she didn't believe she couldn't produce a bright student.
Gu Shi came out of the bathroom and saw Luo Zhengzheng lying on the bed making a phone call. She intermittently spoke, "It has to be a teacher who knows how to teach students, who can see the problems in students at a glance... Hmm, I'll wait for your message. Tomorrow I'll have second elder sister-in-law go to Wanhua Entertainment, and you can have the teacher go directly to teach her... Second elder sister-in-law isn't afraid of hardship. If she's afraid of hardship, tell me. How can acting not be hard? Since she wants to act, she must have considered this. Don't worry."
After hanging up the phone, she saw Gu Shi sitting on the edge of the bed. She glanced at him, ignored him, and sat on the bed in a daze.
Gu Shi asked her with a smile, "Are you planning to go against second elder brother?"
Luo Zhengzheng sat up straight: "What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'going against him'? I won't stoop to his level at all."
Gu Shi asked doubtfully, "Really?"
“Of course.” Luo Zhengzheng said seriously, “Second elder brother has a misunderstanding. What’s wrong with acting? Why does he forbid second elder sister-in-law from acting and look down on filming? I used to think second elder sister-in-law was spoiled and couldn’t endure hardship, but I think she’s serious about doing something this time. She not only stayed up all night to finish reading the whole novel, but also studied the characters in it. Director Lu, who is such a strict person, is very satisfied with her. You know, she never used to read novels.”
Seeing her serious expression, Gu Shi chuckled and sat up straight to listen attentively to what she had to say.
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him and said, "Since second elder sister-in-law is so serious about acting in the TV series I invested in, as an investor, I will naturally support her. Supporting her is supporting myself. We are both people who are serious about our careers and don't have the mental capacity to be petty with him."
Gu Shi ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "Okay, I understand."
Luo Zhengzheng yawned and rubbed her eyes: "I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep."
Gu Shi chuckled softly when he saw her close her eyes and fall asleep.
In the following days, Gu Xian pretended not to see Luo Zhengzheng.
Luo Zhengzheng thought to herself, "You're such a petty older brother. Just pretend you didn't see it. I'm not angry. I don't know who will be the one who gets angry in the end."
Liu Hanyue also knew that fourth younger sister-in-law had argued with that scoundrel Gu Xian because of her, and she felt very bad, so she went to apologize to Luo Zhengzheng.
Luo Zhengzheng grabbed her arm: "You're my second sister-in-law. What he's like has nothing to do with you. Why apologize for him? Ignore him. Focus on your studies, focus on your acting, and win a Best Actress award to show him. Who told him to look down on us women."
Wang Yaning wanted to remind Luo Zhengzheng that she called her 'Second Elder Sister-in-law' because she married Gu Xian. They were a married couple, how could they have nothing to do with each other?
However, in Luo Zhengzheng's heart, she acknowledged Liu Hanyue but not Gu Xian, her second brother-in-law. Naturally, she wouldn't consider the two of them together. Clearly, in her heart, her second elder sister-in-law was her second sister-in-law, and Gu Xian was Gu Xian.
On Friday evening, Luo Can arrived at the Gu family's house ahead of schedule.
Gu Shi and Luo Zhengzheng had the gifts they had prepared loaded into the vehicle. And because there were large gifts, they even called a truck.
Luo Can glanced at the huge thing and asked his elder brother-in-law, "What is this?"
Gu Shi carried the suitcase and put it in the trunk: "Automatic massage chair."
Luo Can touched the cardboard box containing the massage chair: "Is this bought for my dad?"
Gu Shi nodded. "Your elder sister said his back is uncomfortable."
Luo Can glanced at him and gave him a thumbs up: "Not bad, not bad, you know how to please Father-in-law."
Gu Shi glanced at him: "This isn't about pleasing. It's about genuinely caring for father-in-law."
Luo Can: "Your awareness is truly high."
Luo Zhengzheng led Jiajia out of the house: "If you don't have high awareness, you won't be able to find a wife."
Gu Shi glanced at her with a smile. He didn't marry a wife based on his high level of enlightenment.
Upon hearing his mom's words, little Chengjia suddenly blurted out, "I'll never be able to find a wife."
Luo Can burst into laughter, ran over, picked him up, hugged him tightly, and pinched his little nose: "Who can't find a wife?"
Little Chengjia didn't know what "getting married" meant, but he vaguely thought it meant: "Maternal uncle find wife."
Gu Shi looked at him: "He's telling you to get married."
"What find wife?" Luo Can said with a smile, "This kid's speech has become much clearer in just a few days."
As they were talking, Ye Li arrived, carrying two bags. She handed them to Luo Zhengzheng: "These are gifts for your parents. It's your dad's birthday and I won’t go over. Please apologize to your parents."
Luo Zhengzheng smiled and took the bag: "It's okay. The company is quite busy, and it's not a big birthday. It's the same with Gu Shi coming back with me."
Ye Li nodded and looked at her grandson in Luo Can's arms: "Grandma hug you okay?"
Little Chengjia immediately reached out his hand. Ye Li hugged him, kissed his little face, and then handed him to Luo Can.
The group got into the car. Luo Zhengzheng looked at Ye Li: "Mom, we're leaving."
Ye Li waved and said, "Be careful on the road."
Luo Zhengzheng: "Okay."
She looked at her son and said, "Say goodbye to Grandma."
Little Chengjia waved his little hand repeatedly, saying goodbye to his grandma.
Luo Can took the car keys, opened his car, and looked excited.
Luo Zhengzheng couldn't help but say to him through the car window, "Drive carefully."
Luo Can gave him an OK sign and asked loudly with a smile, "Elder Sis, want to ride in my car?"
Luo Zhengzheng immediately shook her head. Her driver was from the military and had very steady driving skills, which Luo Can, a novice, couldn't match. She wouldn't dare ride in his car.
After Gu Shi died in a car accident in her previous life, she had always had a psychological shadow. She was afraid to drive herself and had high requirements for her driver.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu didn't take Gu Jijing's appearance to heart. From birth until now, their lives had only consisted of their mommy.
The title "daddy" was as foreign to them as Gu Jijing himself. They didn't envy other children for having daddies. instead, they found it strange that other children would like someone who was competing with them for their mommy's affections. So, knowing that Gu Jijing wouldn't bother them anymore, the two children felt the matter was over.
Yun Chuman, however, was still somewhat concerned, not about Gu Jijing himself, but because she felt there was more to the story than met the eye.
Gu Jijing's proposal for her and the children seemed too perfect. Judging from his attitude, perhaps Yun Xinxin and the yet-to-be-seen male lead both had issues.
But she didn't want to question Gu Jijing about it. Accidentally getting involved would be troublesome. It was best to minimize contact.
Therefore, after leaving the coffee shop, despite their differing thoughts, one big and two small were in good spirits.
Seeing it was getting late, Yun Chuman took the two children straight to a nearby shopping mall for lunch. Afterward, they would go to the supermarket inside to buy some fresh fruits, vegetables, and snacks to stock up at home.
Lunch was simple: pan-fried buns.
Yun Juan loved stuffed foods like buns and dumplings, and unusually ate a little more than usual.
Yun Shu's little cat tongue was very sensitive to heat, but happened to like hot food and wouldn't eat it cold. So, she ate her meal with a long face, quite conflicted, and only cheered up again after being fed by Yun Chuman.
After lunch, the two children strolled around the mall again.
Yun Chuman wandered around excitedly, wanting to try everything. She took the two children to try out VR and even took them to a closed, soundproof karaoke room.
Yun Chuman was a terrible singer and usually didn't dare to sing, but thinking that only her two children were with her, she confidently went in and sang a song first.
The machine actually had a scoring system. out of 100, she only got 30 after one song.
"Mommy, why did that song you sing sounded weird," Yun Shu asked innocently, blinking her eyes.
Yun Juan coughed, feeling guilty, and said, "What Mommy did is called an adaptation."
Yun Shu exclaimed admiringly, "Mom, you're so amazing!"
Yun Chuman scratched her head, awkwardly turning her head away to avoid eye contact, and gave a dry laugh, "Haha, it's nothing special."
She stole a glance at the innocent little girl. If the girl had even a kindergarten diploma, she wouldn't have been fooled like this by her and Yun Juan.
After that, she didn't touch the microphone again, spending half an hour listening to the two children sing.
She was surprised to find that Yun Shu's pitch was excellent, and her voice was also pleasant.
Yun Juan, on the other hand, was exactly like herself, completely out of tune. No wonder Yun Juan had been so quick to help her out earlier. they were in the same boat! She hadn't even noticed before that he only hummed and didn't sing!
The one adult and two children played in the mall all afternoon before heading to the supermarket to buy groceries. Afterward, they would go home.
As they passed the third floor, they encountered a mall promotion. A young boy in a light blue T-shirt was enthusiastically shouting through a megaphone, "Kids' Kitchen! Kids' Kitchen! Let your children experience the joy of cooking in a safe environment. It's easy to operate, even kitchen novices can easily get started! Everything is 50% off now, don't miss it!"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu stopped when they heard the words "easy to operate," and their big eyes gazed over curiously.
Yun Chuman also stopped, but she heard the words "safe environment."
"Little Juan, Little Shu, shall we go take a look?" she asked the two children, looking down at them.
The two children's eyes lit up, and they nodded simultaneously, drawing out their "Okay~"
Yun Chuman smiled, took their hands, one on each side, and walked towards the promotion.
When they were about a hundred meters away, the salesman's sharp eyes locked onto them. He darted forward and eagerly said, "This lady looks like a loving mommy. How about a children's kitchen set? It can help develop your child's hands-on skills."
He then looked at the two children and added, "Your two children are so adorable. If they could also be good cooks at such a young age, wouldn't that be the icing on the cake?"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu blushed shyly at the compliment. They tilted their heads, looked at each other mischievously, and winked at each other. This elder brother didn't know they could cook!
Yun Chuman had the same reaction, smiling as she asked, "You don't watch variety shows, do you?"
The salesman shook his head. "I've heard that variety shows are scripted. Since they're all scripted, it's better to watch TV dramas. at least they're more detailed."
"That makes sense," Yun Chuman said, nodding in agreement.
The two children looked up at her, blinking in confusion, wanting to say, "Mommy, we don't have scripts!"
The children's kitchen was a miniature version of the family kitchen, complete with stoves, pots, pans, and various small appliances. It was finely crafted and looks adorable.
But the fact that it was being promoted suggested it wasn't selling well. Besides taking up space and being largely useless, another major reason was its high price.
With their little hands gripping the edge of the table, Yun Juan and Yun Shu stood on tiptoe, tilted their heads back, and blinked their bright puppy eyes, exclaiming in unison, "Wow!"
"Are you sure these are safe?" Yun Chuman asked.
The two children love to cook. Although she usually supervises the fire and knives, the household utensils were too big for them, making injuries a real possibility.
Looking at their adoring gazes, she was interested in buying a children's kitchen. The thought of the two children playing in their miniature kitchen was incredibly cute.
"Of course! All the tools meet safety standards, and stoves like this, being so small, don't need gas. Alcohol blocks will suffice," the salesperson said with a bright smile.
"Little Juan and Little Shu, do you want them?" Yun Chuman asked.
The two children nodded repeatedly. These little tools looked easy to use. Mommy could learn to cook!
Yun Juan mentally compared the prices, looked up and said, "Mom, let's buy them with Little Juan's money!"
Bouncing, Yun Shu raised her hand, "And Little Shu's too! Little Shu has money now!"
The saleswoman assumed they were talking about their New Year's money and smiled foolishly, thinking how well-behaved these two children were, even knowing to use their own savings to buy toys.
Yun Chuman paused, "Little Juan and Little Shu’s money got to be properly saved. I have it here."
Yun Juan and Yun Shu disagreed. This kitchenware set was a gift for their mommy, who was a complete novice in the kitchen. If they used Yun Chuman's money, would it still be a gift?
The two children exchanged a glance and grabbed Yun Chuman's hands. One on each side, they shook her hands back and forth: "Mommy, let's use ours!"
Yun Chuman couldn't resist their pleading and pinched their cheeks, smiling, "Okay, okay, we'll use yours."
Though she said that, she definitely wouldn't touch the two children's money.
A few days ago, Xu Qiuhong from the gallery had happened to get her an illustration job. The workload wasn't heavy, and the price was good. After seeing the painting she had drawn for Yun Shu, the client immediately paid her a deposit.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu watched her pay with sparkling eyes, secretly gave each other a high five, and whispered a "Yay!" Now Mommy wouldn't be unhappy anymore because she couldn't cook!
Yun Chuman was also very satisfied. With a children's kitchen, the two children could play to their hearts' content, so she generously bought the most complete set.
The sales clerk beamed, "Madam, we also offer home delivery! Could you please tell me your home address and contact information? We guarantee this children's kitchen set will be delivered to your doorstep when you arrive."
Yun Chuman readily agreed. carrying the children's kitchen set home would probably exhaust her.
Afterwards, Yun Chuman, Yun Juan, and Yun Shu, both happy about buying kitchenware for each other, walked briskly downstairs to the supermarket.
The sales clerk watched their backs as they occasionally skipped along, thinking that if only a few more customers with such generous spending habits came along, his commission for the month would be more than enough.
At this time, a group of people suddenly gathered in the television section behind him.
The sales clerk, still in a good mood after selling a large item, couldn't resist peeking to see what was going on.
Neatly arranged high-definition televisions of varying sizes were playing the same image, looking rather mesmerizing.
The salesperson, seeing Mo Rongwen on TV, exclaimed in surprise. No wonder so many people were attracted. It was Movie Star Mo! After watching for a while, he chuckled, "This movie star is a real warrior! He actually keeps so many pets!"
The TV was showing the opening sequence of the first episode of "Every Family Has Its Own Affairs," a significantly more polished version than the rough preview.
The opening sequence featured short, interesting clips of each guest, interspersed with small animations.
Mo Rongwen's scene involved being tormented by his furry friends to the point of almost vomiting.
The images on the TV screen changed continuously. A beautiful woman stood in a kitchen, diligently wielding a spatula. Soon, her hair animatedly transformed into an afro, and two children beside her took over the spatula, creating delicious dishes.
"This...this..."
The salesperson's eyes widened in astonishment. Wasn't this the customer who had just come to buy something from him?!
He glanced at the children's kitchen set beside him with a complicated expression, wondering who it was really for. "No wonder they asked if I watched variety shows..."
Yun Chuman and Yun Juan and Yun Shu were unaware that the salesperson had discovered the truth shortly after they left.
When they returned home carrying their bags, the mall staff were already waiting at the entrance, with the large children's kitchen set beside them.
Yun Chuman quickly thanked them and even gave them a bottle of water.
After the staff left, she laboriously carried the kitchenware into the living room. Just as she was about to unpack and set it up with the two children, Xiao Xi called.
"The first episode of 'Every Family Has Its Own Affairs' has premiered! Did you watch it? Did you all forget it officially aired today?!"
Xiao Xi raised her voice, "The second episode is filming the day after tomorrow, you didn't forget that too, did you?"
Yun Chuman scratched her head, remembering their plans for the day after tomorrow: "No, no, Little Juan, Little Shu, and I just got back and were about to turn on the TV."
The two children immediately seconded.
Yun Juan turned on the TV, while Yun Shu waited nearby with the remote, constantly changing channels and turning up the volume.
Xiao Xi, hearing the familiar voice, grumbled twice and let her go: "We'll pick you and the two kids up at 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow. Pack your luggage in advance tomorrow."
Yun Chuman repeatedly assured her before the other party hung up.
"Mommy, come quick! So Elder Brother Mo was injured by Haha before he came to find us!"
Yun Chuman heard Yun Shu's voice and turned to see the two children already sitting obediently on the sofa, swinging their little legs, and watching TV intently.
She checked the time. It was already dinnertime.
After the show ended, it would be time for them to go to bed, so she grabbed some snacks and small cakes they had just bought and went over.
The family of three squeezed onto the sofa, eating snacks and watching TV.
The two children giggled occasionally. When Yun Shu saw herself in the screen, would shyly hide behind Yun Chuman, peeking out with her eyes.
Yun Juan, used to appearing on TV, would tease Yun Shu, "Little Shu's legs are so short!"
Yun Shu poked her head out from under Yun Chuman's arm, pouting, "Elder Brother's legs are short too!"
"But yours look fatter than mine," Yun Juan said, swinging his legs and finishing the last bit of his cheese stick.
Yun Shu retreated back behind Yun Chuman, secretly measuring her legs with her little hands, and sadly realized that they were indeed a little bit short.
Yun Chuman found the siblings even more entertaining than the variety show, and laughed heartily.
Although her attention wasn't on the show, she still noticed the difference between this episode and the pilot episode.
The pilot episode was an hour long, with each of the six guests averaging ten minutes.
The first episode was nearly two hours long, with her and Mo Rongwen's group clearly taking up the majority of the screen time, leaving only a small portion for the other two groups.
She was curious to see what Yun Xinxin was up to, but she only had about ten minutes of screen time, either explaining antiques to the DINK couple or drinking coffee—it was incredibly boring.
Yun Chuman could understand why the production team did this. The other two groups required the post-production to work hard to create humor before piecing together a segment of less than an hour.
After the show ended, it was already quite late.
The two children, though still somewhat buzzing, were yawning constantly. And after having just eaten small cakes, their tummy bulged and they felt even sleepier.
Yun Chuman helped them brush their teeth, gave them a bath, and dressed them in cute bear pajamas.
The two children couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep while having their hair dried. Yun Chuman carried them one by one to the bed. She laid on the edge and easily embraced them both.
This close proximity instantly gave her a great sense of security.
Yun Juan instinctively grasped her fingers with his small hands.
Yun Shu, like a kitten, rolled over and rubbed her cheek against her shoulder.
Yun Chuman softly said goodnight and quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, she woke up and, as usual, tiptoed out to do her morning exercises.
As soon as she turned on her phone, she found many missed calls and messages from the previous night.
She habitually put her phone on silent when the two children were sleeping, so she hadn't seen any of them.
Yun Chuman frowned in confusion, starting with the most familiar messages from Xiao Xi and Mo Rongwen.
She opened her chat with Xiao Xi, and immediately saw it filled with exclamation marks. She could feel the other person's excitement even through the screen.
Yun Chuman did a quick sweep and learned that the gist of it. She was saying yesterday's variety show had gone well, even trending on social media. Gaining a huge following overnight, it led to numerous collaboration offers—from variety shows to TV dramas and movies.
However, neither Yun Chuman nor Yun Juan and Yun Shu had an agency or a Weibo account, so many people didn't know how to contact them and instead called Li Rufei, the director of "Every Family Has Its Own Affairs."
Li Rufei worked through the night to select several promising offers and had Xiao Xi forward them to Yun Chuman.
Yun Chuman skimmed through the form and discovered that quite a few were for her, not any less than for her two children.
But she wasn't the original owner of this body, so she crossed off the acting offers without a second thought. She found a few variety shows quite interesting and thought she might look into them later.
There were even more offers for Yun Juan and Yun Shu, including the "Little Chef" competition variety show that Mo Rongwen had mentioned before.
Yun Chuman saved the form and sent a voice message to Xiao Xi: "Thank you, Xiao Xi. Please also thank Director Li for me. Little Juan and little Shu will seriously consider these invitations."
Then she switched the chat interface to Mo Rongwen, expecting a similar message, but the other party only sent three sentences.
【What's going on between you and Gu Jijing? Why are you trending?】
【It's not good to have a scandal at this time. it could easily affect little Juan and little Shu.】
【Gone? Gone! Gone…】
The three messages were sent less than a minute apart.
Yun Chuman thought for a moment and checked Weibo. It was possible for her and Gu Jijing to be trending, after all, their blind date yesterday was so high-profile, many people had seen them.
The trending topic about her and little Juan and little Shu was still there, with related hashtags like #WhatShouldIDoWhenMyKidCanSwimButICan't?#, #Yun Juan&Yun Shu: OurDailyLifeWithOurUselessOldMommy#, and #TheBestExampleOfApproachingSocialAnxiety#. She didn't click on it. Judging by the title, she knew it would definitely contain clips of her being taken care of by the two kids! The comments would probably be mostly just laughter at her.
Yun Chuman tried searching for Gu Jijing, but only business reports popped up.
She didn't even need to think. Gu Jijing was definitely suppressing the trending topics, otherwise they wouldn't have disappeared so quickly and completely.
Yun Chuman felt a little grateful. After all, just as Mo Rongwen said, if she were to be associated with Gu Jijing now, many people would definitely investigate Little Juan and Little Shu's background, which might hurt them.
At this time, Mo Rongwen sent a message: "Am I seeing things? Or am I dreaming from drinking too much last night? But why would I connect you with Gu Jijing?" Yun Chuman scratched her head, remembering that Mo Rongwen genuinely cared for the two children, so she didn't hide anything from him and replied directly: "It's true, Gu Jijing is little Juan and little Shu's biological father, but they're strangers now."
She waited a while, only seeing Mo Rongwen's end repeatedly displaying "typing," but no word came for a long time.
Yun Chuman stopped worrying about it, guessing that Mo Rongwen was imagining a whole drama. Following her usual routine, she found the broadcast exercises and started doing them.
Halfway through, the two children woke up and groggily joined in.
Yun Juan occasionally yawned secretly and his eyes were watery. Still clutching her small blanket, Yun Shu waved her limbs instinctively with her eyes closed.
When it came to making breakfast, it went without saying the children's kitchen she had just bought the night before was used.
Yun Chuman meticulously cleaned and disinfected each kitchen utensil. Two children, wearing pink aprons, stood eagerly beside her.
"Mommy, are you done yet?" Yun Shu had clenched her little chubby hands fists, tiptoed a couple of times, and asked softly.
"Mommy, shall we make some pancakes in a bit?" Yun Juan had already planned out the menu.
"Okay, whatever you want to make."
Yun Chuman responded, speeding up her work. After finishing the last palm-sized frying pan, she said, "Little Juan and Little Shu, come and let’s cook together!"
The two children rushed over, offering her tissues to wipe her sweat.
Yun Chuman sat on the floor, tilting her head slightly to enjoy their service, and asked with a smile, "What should I do in a bit?"
"Mommy will fry pancakes."
Yun Juan washed his hands again, placed the carrots he had already washed on the cutting board, took out the special children's knife, and skillfully shredded them.
"Me? Fry?" Yun Chuman pointed to herself in surprise. Wasn't he afraid she'd turn the pancake into a rock?
"Mom is already tired from sterilizing the kitchen utensils, so elder brother and I will prepare everything. Mommy just needs to fry it."
Yun Shu smilingly took out a large bowl, poured in some flour, added a pinch of salt and an egg, added water, and stirred constantly until it became a batter.
Seeing that the batter was the right consistency, Yun Juan added shredded carrots and some chopped scallions.
The two children walked to Yun Chuman's side, one on each side.
Yun Juan pointed to the small stove: "Mom, light this."
Yun Chuman habitually followed his instructions, placing the alcohol flask under the stove and lighting it with a lighter. The fire quickly grew strong.
Yun Juan placed a small frying pan on it, picked up a small piece of fatty meat and coated the entire pan with the rendered fat.
Yun Chuman humbly asked, "Little Juan, what are you doing?"
"Mommy, this is called seasoning the pan. Then the bottom won't burn," Yun Juan earnestly explained.
Yun Chuman exclaimed "Wow!" and clapped her hands sincerely. She hadn't known any of this. Where did the little kid learn it?
After the little fatty meat was dried and golden brown, Yun Juan took it out.
Yun Shu, who had been waiting nearby, scooped out a small spoonful of batter and poured it evenly onto the pan, saying softly, "Mommy, gently shake the pan."
Yun Chuman obediently pinched the handle of the pan with her fingers and gently shook the palm-sized pan. The batter quickly set, emitting a faint aroma.
Her eyes lit up. At this time, Yun Juan handed her a small spatula. She held the spatula with her other hand, held her breath, and flipped the pancake over, revealing a golden-brown side.
"I...I'm going to succeed?" Yun Chuman was excited. Although it was just a simple pancake, it was the first time she had ever made something edible!
"Mom, you're so amazing!"
Yun Juan and Yun Shu clapped enthusiastically.
With their prompting, Yun Chuman took the pancake out. The outside was slightly browned, the sides crispy, and the inside soft and savory.
Looking at her battle prize, Yun Chuman couldn't resist making two more. She got so carried away that she turned the entire bowl of batter into pancakes.
Yun Shu whispered to Yun Juan, "Elder Brother, Mom's so happy!"
Yun Juan smiled and nodded, replying softly, "Looks like we didn't make a mistake buying this kitchen set. Even Mommy can easily grasp it now."
Yun Chuman, who was about to show off her creation to the two children, froze upon hearing their words. Her lips twitched slightly, and she silently turned and put the stack of small pancakes back.
Only then did she understand why Yun Juan and Yun Shu insisted on buying this children's kitchen set with their own money—it was for her to play with! While feeling heartwarming, she also felt a pang of guilt.
Afterwards, Yun Juan and Yun Shu cooked a small pot of vegetable porridge, which they ate with the vegetable pancakes.
The children's kitchen set wasn't large, just enough for the three of them to eat their fill without feeling overwhelmed.
After breakfast, Yun Chuman helped Yun Juan and Yun Shu pack their luggage for tomorrow.
Having learned from their previous experience, the two children helped even more efficiently, and in no time, Yun Chuman had packed the suitcase.
The two children and the adult lay on the sofa. The sun was blazing outside, while the air conditioner blew cool air into the room.
Bored, Yun Juan and Yun Shu stretched out their chubby little arms. Yun Chuman was almost dozed off when they suddenly said, "Mommy, let's go for a walk."
Yun Chuman snapped out of it. She glanced out the window. It was incredibly hot today. The scenery outside looked distorted by the heat. If she took the two children out, they'd get sunburned!
She pondered for a moment, sat up, took out her sketchbook and pencil from the bedroom, and said, "Little Juan, Little Shu, how about we draw? We won't go out today, we need to rest up for recording the show tomorrow."
Yun Juan's eyes lit up instantly. He jumped off the sofa with a spring in his step, nodding repeatedly, "Okay, okay!"
Yun Shu didn't react as strongly. She yawned, turned around, and lay on the sofa with her chubby little legs dangling in the air and her cheek pressed against her arm. She lazily smiled, "Okay~"
Seeing that she wasn't very interested, Yun Chuman thought for a moment and said, "I said before that I would teach Little Juan to paint, right?"
Yun Juan nodded expectantly, "Yes! I want to learn to paint with Mom!"
"But Mommy won't teach you today. Little Juan, just draw whatever you want, and Mommy will see your skill level," Yun Chuman added. "Can Little Shu be elder brother's model?"
Yun Shu raised her little head and rolled over to the side of the sofa while still lying down. Before Yun Chuman could reach out to catch her, she was already standing steadily on the ground.
She even raised her short, chubby arms high, tilted her chin up, and proudly struck a gymnastic landing pose.
Yun Chuman couldn't resist patting her little head and said, "Little Shu is so amazing. Let's go change our clothes first, and then you can be Elder Brother's model in a little while."
Yun Shu excitedly nodded and ran barefoot to the bedroom.
Yun Chuman stood up. Before following, she recalled to tell Yun Juan to wait a bit.
Turning around, she saw him with a serious expression, staring intently at the sketchbook in front of him, as if the notebook owed him a huge amount of snacks. His chubby little hands gripping the pencil were so tight that his fingertips had turned white.
She paused for a moment, squatted down, and leaned closer to Yun Juan, cheerfully dais, "Oh, what's wrong? Our little Juan can be nervous too."
Yun Shu stopped after taking only a couple of steps, turned around, and raised her voice in surprise, "Elder Brother is nervous? Why are you nervous? Elder Brother is actually nervous!"
Yun Juan blushed and said fiercely, "I’m not!"
However, because the voice was too immature, it lacked a bit of imposing presence, making it look rather fierce in a cute way.
He wrinkled his nose, explaining that he just felt he needed to take his first drawing seriously, not that he was nervous. He told Little Shu and Mommy they were just making things up.
Yun Shu ran back, like a smug little kitten, and stuck her head from Yun Juan's left and right sides.
Yun Juan held back for a long time before his two chubby little hands firmly and accurately pinched his plump cheeks. She frowned and said, "If you don't go change your clothes, I won't use you as a model anymore."
Yun Shu's cheeks were pinched so hard that the flesh on her cheeks gathered together, and her mouth pouted. She said indistinctly, "Gl, glo, hm, num."
It took Yun Chuman a moment to realize that she meant "Going now."
As soon as Yun Juan released her cheek, she ran away on her short legs, afraid that her brother would not let her be a model.
Yun Chuman didn't follow. She patted Yun Juan's little head and asked, "Little Juan, didn't you choose to paint because it is fun? Why do you look so bitter and resentful now?"
Seeing that the little boy looked a bit dazed, she smiled and said, "I'll go help Little Shu change her clothes. Little Juan, can you get ready?"
Yun Juan pursed his lips, looked at her, and nodded vigorously: "En!"
Mommy was right, painting was a fun thing!
He took a deep breath, and his expression visibly relaxed.
Seeing this, Yun Chuman felt relieved and went to the bedroom to find Yun Shu.
"Mom, what should I wear?"
Yun Shu tilted her head back, looking at the colorful clothes in the wardrobe with a puzzled expression.
Considering that this was Yun Juan's first time drawing, Yun Chuman thought it would be better to let Yun Shu do a simpler design. She looked through it and took out an overall short .
When she took Yun Shu out, Yun Juan was already sitting on a stool on the small balcony, holding a pencil and notebook in a very serious manner.
Yun Shu went straight to the white wall of the balcony, sat down on the ground, crossed her short legs, rested her small hands on her cheeks, half-closed her eyes, and tilted her head slightly to face the sunlight outside. Her long eyelashes casted a shadow on the red clouds.
She wore a simple white short-sleeved top and shorts that looked exactly like a pumpkin. She had two little braids in her hair, and she looked like a little pumpkin hiding from the sun under the clouds. She was so cute.
Yun Chuman's eyes lit up, thinking to herself that Yun Shu's expressiveness was indeed very good. She didn't need to be taught at all. She knew how to express herself and her clothes.
Her fingers twitched, wanting to draw her too, but ultimately refrained.
Yun Juan looked at Younger Sister, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, and isr last bit of nervousness subsided.
He observed Yun Shu for a while before slowly beginning to move the pencil.
Afraid of disturbing him, Yun Chuman quietly sat down in a place a little further away.
Looking at Yun Shu, who remained in the same position, and then at Yun Juan, who was very serious, it turned out that the perspective of an observer was quite interesting.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the adult and two children. The room was quiet except for the soft breathing and the soft scratching of pencil on paper.
Time passed second by second.
Yun Shu had a strong will. Even when her hands and feet were numb, she could endure it and remained still.
Yun Chuman felt distressed for her and would occasionally let her rest for a while when she had the chance, and would also massage her limbs.
Yun Juan remained focused. It took him about two hours before he finally put down his pencil.
He stared blankly at his work, head down, and after a long while, he stammered, "It's...it's finished..."
Yun Shu was relaxing in Yun Chuman's arms when she heard this. She immediately stood up and ran excitedly towards him, saying, "Elder Brother, I want to see!"
Yun Juan subconsciously wanted to hide the drawing behind his back, but after glancing at Yun Shu's expectant face, he held back and handed the drawing over with a less-than-pleasant expression.
The little girl peeked out, and her expression froze the moment she saw the drawing. Her big eyes were filled with disbelief, as if to say, "Is this me?"
Yun Juan stole a glance at her with his face turning bright red.
Yun Chuman looked at the two children with a puzzled expression.
She got up and walked over. As soon as she got close, she could feel Yun Juan's tension. The child's movements were stiff, and he kept glancing at her with his head down.
Yun Chuman became even more curious. She bent down slightly and saw a little girl wearing pumpkin pants drawn in the center of the white paper. Although the lines were messy, the details were very accurate, especially the expression.
However, the proportions were a bit off. The little hands and feet were chubby like steamed buns, and the shading was not done well, making the otherwise well-drawn features looked dirty, especially the red marks on the face, which were originally carefully drawn, but now looked very abrupt.
“I…” Yun Juan pursed his lips and squeezed out a single word.
"Elder Brother, your drawing is amazing! My eyelashes are so long!"
Yun Shu interrupted him, looking at him with surprise and delight. She even brushed her eyelashes with her little hand, then shyly hugged the painting. "Elder Brother, you drew Little Shu so cutely! I love it!"
Yun Juan was stunned. He hadn't expected her to say that.
"Elder Brother, Elder Brother, this is the first drawing you've ever done for me. Can I keep it?" Yun Shu asked expectantly.
Yun Juan was in a dilemma. He felt that his drawing was not good and might become a black mark on his past.
"Elder Brother~ Elder Brother~" Yun Shu pouted and shook his hand, speaking in a soft and coquettish tone.
"All right……"
Yun Juan had no choice but to nod, but seeing how much she cherished it instead of disliking it, he felt a little happy.
"Elder Brother is the best! Little Shu will definitely treasure this painting like a precious gem!" Yun Shu jumped up and down, hugged him, grabbed the drawing, and ran off.
As Yun Juan watched her retreating figure, his gaze gradually fell into sadness. He knew that Little Shu was trying to comfort him, and his nose began to sting.
"You drew very well." Yun Chuman squatted down, leveled with his eyes and patted his little head.
Yun Juan looked at her anxiously yet expectantly: "Really?"
But the next second he said dejectedly, "But my drawing doesn't look like Younger Sister at all. It's not cute at all."
“Isn’t the little pumpkin cute? I think it’s very cute,” Yun Chuman smiled. “Little Juan, do you trust Mommy?”
“Yes.” Yun Juan nodded without hesitation. Of course he believed her.
"Then I can tell you very seriously that you are very talented in drawing. That drawing is not very good because of a lack of technique, but you have captured Little Shu's expression. It is already very impressive for your first drawing."
Yun Chuman wasn't lying. She squeezed Yun Juan's chubby little hand and smiled, "Mommy will teach you a lot of techniques in the future, and then Little Juan will draw an even prettier picture for Little Shu, okay?"
Yun Juan became much more confident after receiving her affirmation.
Yes, he hadn't started learning yet! He'll definitely get better and better in the future!
Yun Juan's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously to Yun Chuman: "Yes! I will try my best to learn with Mommy!"
He wanted to draw the cutest Little Shu, and then switch back to that drawing!
During a break in their conversation, Yun Shu ran into her and Yun Juan's bedroom.
She hid under the table between the two small beds, reached her chubby little hands behind the table, felt around a couple of times, and then pulled out a small wooden box.
Yun Shu skillfully opened the combination lock on top, put the drawing in her hand inside, and it was placed on a thick notebook. Scattered around were odds and ends, such as old origami cranes and plastic tube stars.
She swayed her little head as she carefully closed the wooden box and hummed as she put it back in its place, "Treasure, treasure, Little Shu's treasure, it'll be put into the secret treasure chest along with Mommy's and Brother's~"
A note from the author:
Yun Juan and Yun Shu: Today we bought a toy for Mommy with our own money! [Proud.jpg]
Liu Hanyue didn't let the driver take her. She drove her Lamborghini to Wanhua Entertainment instead.
A few days ago, she heard her mother-in-law say that Luo Zhengzheng's TV series was casting and an idea sprouted in her mind. She couldn't resist and read the novel online.
She was very interested in the empress of the founding emperor in the story. Or rather, the empress's personality was somewhat similar to hers. Although she had very few scenes, the empress involuntarily caught her eye.
She wore a red dress today. Her appearance was already dignified and elegant, and the red dress made her look even more imposing. She was very satisfied with the effect of the dress. After all, an empress must have an aura.
Luo Zhengzheng came downstairs to meet her. When she saw her outfit, her eyes lit up, and she said, "Are you dressed up to try out the role of the founding empress?"
Liu Hanyue nodded: "You understand me best."
Luo Zhengzheng naturally understood her.
Luo Zhengzheng led her upstairs. Director Lu's eyes lit up when he saw Liu Hanyue. There were many actresses with good acting skills in the entertainment industry, but it was difficult to find an actress who fits the role, especially the actress who plays the founding empress. But this lady in the red dress looked exactly like the founding empress in his mind.
Although he was a director, he was only focused on how to make the film and didn't know many of the female celebrities in the entertainment industry. Besides, Liu Hanyue had only participated in a singing competition and had some fame, but not much. Director Lu didn't know Liu Hanyue.
Director Lu looked at Luo Zhengzheng: "And who is this?"
Luo Zhengzheng smiled and said, "This is my second elder sister-in-law. She came to audition. She said she wants to earn her living through her own abilities. Just let her audition according to your own rules."
She couldn't break Director Lu's rules just for her elder sister-in-law's sake. These were his principles for filming, and if she wanted to use Director Lu, she had to respect them.
Han Yue, sitting to the side, narrowed her eyes upon hearing Luo Zhengzheng's words. Luo Zhengzheng was no ordinary person. Could her second elder sister-in-law also be an ordinary person?
Besides, she thought the woman in the red dress looked familiar. After taking a closer look, she suddenly remembered someone.
She was Liu Hanyue!
Was Liu Hanyue going to act?
Liu Hanyue was a heiress who married into the Gu Family. She was no ordinary person and couldn't possibly play a minor supporting role. So, was it possible for her to land a lead role?
She was very unwilling to accept. This drama not only had a good script, but it was also directed by Director Lu, and all the actors were talented. She pursed her lips and secretly sent a text message to Chen Ze: "Luo Zhengzheng's second elder sister-in-law is Liu Hanyue? She actually auditioned too. In that case, do I still have a chance?"
Chen Ze was puzzled when he saw her text message. How come he didn't know Liu Hanyue was going to act in a movie?
However, he still replied, "Don't you know Director Lu's temper? Let alone Liu Hanyue, even if Luo Zhengzheng wants to play a role, she still needs to pass the audition. True gold fears no fire."
Han Yue was furious. What kind of boyfriend was this? He couldn't help her at all and even made snide remarks about her behind her back. If it weren't for the fact that he was the boss, who would want to be with him?
Director Lu didn't mind Luo Zhengzheng recommending Liu Hanyue. After all, she had said that if she passes after auditioning, then use. If not, she would go home.
He turned to Liu Hanyue: "Whose role do you want to audition for?"
Liu Hanyue smiled and said, "The founding empress."
Director Lu's eyes lit up: "You have a good eye. You are a perfect fit for the role of the founding empress."
Liu Hanyue smiled slightly, raised her head, and said confidently, "Of course."
Director Lu's eyes lit up again. It was that confident demeanor that was so similar to the empress in the drama.
Han Yue breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing Liu Hanyue's words. Liu Hanyue at least had some self-awareness.
Director Lu selected a scene where the founding empress reprimanded the concubines and asked her to try acting it out.
Liu Hanyue glanced at it. Scolding people, she was really good at it.
She first memorized those lines and tried to act them out. Gradually, her eyes became stern, and her aura became very imposing.
Having worked on a film set, Luo Zhengzheng could understand some acting skills. Seeing how convincingly she acted, she really resembled the Empress. She smiled slightly. Second elder sister-in-law had never acted before, yet she could act quite well. Everyone had their own talents, and perhaps second elder sister-in-law could really develop a career in the entertainment industry.
Director Lu nodded slightly: "Your eyes and lines are passable, but your movements are stiff. You need to hire a teacher to help you practice your acting and movements. Movement is especially important in period dramas."
Liu Hanyue's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes lit up with joy as she asked Director Lu, "Director Lu’s meaning is?"
Director Lu smiled and said, "You've got the role of the Empress."
A huge weight was lifted from Liu Hanyue's heart, and she happily waved her hand, "It's almost noon, shall I treat you to lunch?"
Director Lu pointed to the other actors auditioning: "Time is limited, and there are still quite a few people waiting to audition. After you finish eating, just pack one for me."
Although he declined Liu Hanyue's invitation, he didn't stand on ceremony.
After Luo Zhengzheng and Liu Hanyue left, Director Lu looked at Han Yue and said, "You just auditioned for the female lead's role, but you are still a bit lacking."
Han Yue's expression changed slightly.
He always spoke his mind. Even if Han Yue was unhappy, she had to endure it. Then he continued, "But you might be able to try the role of the Imperial Consort."
Imperial Consort?
Although she had more screen time than the Founding Empress, should a top-tier actress lower herself to play a supporting role?
Without even thinking, she refused. Then she added, "Lulu can do in the scenes when the female lead is a child."
Director Lu said, "That role is already settled."
Han Yue: "......"
She felt that many things were not going well lately, but she couldn't find a place to vent. If she continued to feel so frustrated, she would go crazy sooner or later.
Thinking about the role of the Imperial Concubine, she asked Chen Ze for his opinion. Chen Ze looked at her as if she were a fool and said, "Even a small supporting role in Director Lu's film is hard for others to get. So what if you are a top actress? How many roles do you have that you can be proud of? You have fame now, but your works are mediocre and you haven't won a single award. What's important now is to improve your skills and win some awards. Don't think that playing a supporting role is shameful. If you can humble yourself and play a supporting role, it will make people think that you are seriously studying your acting skills and have not been blinded by vanity."
After returning home, Han Yue pondered the matter carefully and felt that Chen Ze's words made some sense. After much deliberation, she dialed Director Lu's number.
Chen Ze was surprised that Liu Hanyue would go into acting. He wasn't familiar with Gu Xian, so he thought about it and called Gu Shi to invite him to get together that night. But Gu Shi said he had made plans with Luo Zhengzheng that night.
People say women were like clothes, and brothers were like limbs. But for him, brothers meant nothing in front of his wife.
He sighed and said he could only make an appointment another time.
After getting off work, Gu Shi arrived on time to pick up Luo Zhengzheng.
He first called Luo Zhengzheng and learned that she was in the audition room on the third floor, so he went directly to the audition room on the third floor.
Gu Shi's face was very distinctive and he had some fame online. In addition, he and Chen Ze were childhood friends, so many people in Wanhua Entertainment know him. When they saw him arrive, they all greeted him warmly, and he nodded slightly.
Knowing that Gu Shi would come, Chen Ze arrived at the audition room early. Upon seeing him, he cheerfully said, "Elder sister-in-law's TV series is about to start filming, and you finally made it."
Gu Shi glanced around the audition room and looked at Luo Zhengzheng: "Are you done?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at Gu Shi and introduced him to Director Lu: "This is Director Lu."
Everyone called him Director Lu, but most people didn't know that Director Lu (Lu Dao) was actually his real name. They call him Director Lu simply because he was a director.
Director Lu extended his hand: "Hello, President. Gu!"
"Hello!"
Gu Shi shook his hand in return. Chen Ze suggested, "How about I treat everyone tonight, and we can all get together?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at Gu Shi questioningly, and Gu Shi replied, "Next time."
Chen Ze could only watch them leave. Since getting married, Gu Shi had become increasingly attached to his home.
Han Yue appeared out of nowhere, looked at their retreating figures, and asked softly, "Is Luo Zhengzheng's husband President Gu of the Ye Group?"
She should have thought of it sooner. Luo Zhengzheng said that Liu Hanyue was her second elder sister-in-law and Liu Hanyue married into the Gu Family. Chen Ze and Gu Shi were childhood friends and called Luo Zhengzheng elder sister-in-law. So Luo Zhengzheng's identity was obvious and easy to guess.
Chen Ze glanced at her: "Otherwise, do you think anyone else is worth me making such a fuss over?"
Han Yue suddenly asked, "I heard that President Gu's wife comes from a farming family?"
Chen Ze's cold gaze shot towards her: "What do you want to say?"
Despite his constant calling Luo Zhengzheng a country girl, the brothers have come to accept her as their own after spending so much time with her.
Moreover, Luo Zhengzheng was a very good person and intelligent, making her easy to get along with.
Han Yue's subtle scrutiny displeased him.
Han Yue felt wronged: "I didn't say anything! That is Luo Zhengzheng’s background. Is it not allowed to talk about it?"
She thought Luo Zhengzheng had some extraordinary status, but it turned out she was just a country girl. And she had to treat her with respect! She felt a little uncomfortable.
Chen Ze felt it was time to break up again. His tone was impatient: "Luo Zhengzheng graduated from a prestigious university, and her younger brother is also a student at Tsinghua University. Even if she's a country girl, she's still better than you, isn't she?"
How could Han Yue possibly accept that? "I'm a top-tier celebrity, a popular actress."
Chen Ze scoffed: "If Luo Zhengzheng wants to make a top-tier actor famous, it's easy for her. Don't be jealous of her all the time. It will only make you repulsive and won't bring you any other benefits."
Han Yue pursed her lips: "Why would I be jealous of her?"
She didn't want to admit it, but she was jealous of Luo Zhengzheng. Before she knew Luo Zhengzheng's identity, she could still hide her jealousy.
Once she knew her true identity, her jealousy became impossible to hide.
If a country girl can marry into a wealthy family, then it's not impossible for her to do so.
She glanced at Chen Ze and secretly made a decision.
Luo Zhengzheng and Gu Shi sat in the car.
Gu Shi took her hand and glanced at her: "Busier than me?"
This was her first time investing in a TV series, so she naturally had to be cautious. She said, "I'm not that busy, am I?"
Gu Shi held her fingers tightly: "How long has it been since we ate together?"
Luo Zhengzheng recalled: "That..."
One week, or two weeks?
Gu Shi glanced at her and said helplessly, "It's been almost three weeks."
Luo Zhengzheng blinked: "Has it been that long?"
Gu Shi took out his phone: "Want me to count the days for you?"
Luo Zhengzheng quickly replied, "No need, it's been almost three weeks already."
Gu Shi looked at her: "Do you know what day next weekend is?"
Luo Zhengzheng asked him, "What day is it?"
Gu Shi gently rubbed her palm: "It's Father-in-law's birthday!"
Luo Zhengzheng exclaimed in surprise. She had even forgotten her father's birthday! Wasn't she even less filial than the son-in-law, Gu Shi?
She stared blankly at Gu Shi: "I really forgot!"
Gu Shi squeezed her hand: "How about we go back early Friday night to celebrate your father's birthday?"
Luo Zhengzheng nodded: "Let's invite Luo Can too, it's the weekend anyway."
Wearing a short-sleeved shirt, Xu Haocheng placed the flowerpots in the positions Tang Yao had designated.
After they were all moved, Xu Haocheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and quietly rubbed his aching arms.
"You've worked hard. Go take a shower and change. In a bit, come up to eat."
While Xu Haocheng was changing, Tang Yao heard someone call her name.
She walked to the edge of the rooftop and looked down. Lu Bei was standing below, carrying something and giving her a slight smile.
"I brought a gift. Can I come over for a meal?"
"Just come up the stairs. No need to bring a gift," Tang Yao said with a smile.
Lu Bei went into the stairwell leading to the rooftop, while Tang Yao took out her phone and called Xiao Li, asking her to add a couple more dishes.
Xiao Li readily agreed.
Just after hanging up, Lu Bei came up to the rooftop and placed the things he was carrying on the table.
"I brought you some pastries from Daocun. I heard they're quite famous. There’s also gifts from Cheng An and my elder brother that they asked me to bring."
"Thank you. You're too polite," Tang Yao said helplessly.
Cheng An had been quite busy lately. Her stunning appearance at the recent fashion show had brought her renewed attention, and now numerous domestic trendy luxury clothing brands and jewelers were approaching her.
TV drama and film scripts were being sent to her.
Cheng An was quite career-driven. Before, she worked to reach a higher position and be worthy of that person, but now she was truly starting to enjoy her profession.
However, even when she was busy, she still made time to chat with Tang Yao.
The elegant and aloof actress on screen was more like a vibrant girl in Tang Yao's presence, complaining about being overworked and criticizing her co-stars for their lack of professionalism.
Tang Yao almost always replies to her messages. Although they haven't seen each other for a long time, their feelings haven't faded.
Before Lu Bei's visit, Cheng An said she'd come to the guesthouse next time she had a break.
However, they both know that "next time" might not be that long.
Xu Haocheng changed his clothes and went upstairs. Xiao Li had already brought up their food. Seeing the sudden appearance of another person, Xu Haocheng wasn't overly surprised, though his gaze towards Lu Bei was unfriendly.
Xiao Li had stewed a large pot of mutton stew, which was still steaming hot when she brought it out.
The mutton was stewed until incredibly tender, easily separated with chopsticks, and with absolutely no gamey smell. The lamb ribs were falling off the bone, and the tendons were practically melting in your mouth.
Paired with Xiao Li's homemade sauce, the taste was excellent.
Even Lu Bei, who wasn't usually picky about food, showed a satisfied expression.
As dusk settled, lights came on on the rooftop. The three sat together enjoying their meal.
Lu Bei and Xu Haocheng seemed to be in a competitive struggle, constantly piling food into Tang Yao's bowl.
Tang Yao, at the center of the storm, seemed oblivious, focused solely on eating.
After dinner, urged by Lu Bei, Tang Yao opened the Daocun pastry box. Various exquisitely crafted pastries were arranged inside and in the center was a peach blossom hairpin.
Tang Yao picked up the hairpin: "This box also includes a hairpin. The workmanship is quite rough."
Tang Yao noticed that although the workmanship was rough, the wood was actually a very good type, more expensive than gold or silver.
The hairpin was carved with a blooming rose, with openwork details. It looked like a beginner's work and couldn't be examined closely.
"If you don't like it, just throw it away. I didn't even notice. It was probably a free gift from a promotion," Lu Bei said from the side.
Xu Haocheng suddenly chuckled.
"What?" Tang Yao raised an eyebrow at him.
Xu Haocheng waved his hand: "Nothing, Elder Sister."
Lu Bei glanced at him sideways, his gaze somewhat cold.
Although the workmanship was rough, Tang Yao still accepted the hairpin.
This gesture instantly improved Lu Bei's mood. Xu Haocheng pouted, turned around, and grabbed a pastry, stuffing it into his mouth.
"A bit dry, Elder Sister," Xu Haocheng deliberately remarked.
"Go drink some water if it’s dry. Who told you to eat my pastry?" Tang Yao glared at him. Though she put everything away, she still slipped another pastry into Xu Haocheng's hand.
After finishing their meal, Lu Bei said goodbye.
Tang Yao gave him a bag of healthy snacks she had made herself, so he could eat them when he had free time.
Lu Bei thanked her and leisurely left with the snacks.
Lu Nan gifted a piece of raw jade, a small amount of polished outer layer revealed a full-green interior. Cheng An gave her a bottle of perfume. The logo on it was unfamiliar, and it smelled of fresh herbs and trees, with a very pleasant base note.
Tang Yao thanked Lu Nan and Cheng An on her phone.
Lu Nan was working and it took him a long time to reply to the message, which was very simple: "This is a return gift of peach blossom wine."
Lu Nan hadn't expected that the peach blossom wine he'd casually brought back from the guesthouse would actually help him close a deal.
He'd originally planned to have a small drink during his office break, but just as he poured the wine, an unexpected customer came to visit. The company had been interacting with this customer for a long time, and upon smelling the crisp aroma of the wine, the customer immediately became interested.
In the end, as the customer was leaving, Lu Nan reluctantly gave him a small bottle and the deal was struck.
Lu Nan felt that Tang Yao might be their family's lucky charm. After meeting her, Lu Bei's illness had improved and the Lu family's business was booming.
An hour had passed before Cheng An replied to her message.
"Just finished a meeting with a director. I got a script and will start filming next month. Ah, social niceties are so annoying. You're welcome. This perfume is from my personal collection. It was custom-made by a French perfumer. Doesn't it smell wonderful?"
The two chatted like this, one sentence after another.
When Cheng An heard Tang Yao mention the ugly wooden hairpin in the Daocun pastry box, she couldn't help but send a voice message filled with "hahahahaha."
Tang Yao frowned and put her phone aside, only picking it up again after Cheng An finished laughing.
"Keep your voice down, or your 'actress' image will crumble," Tang Yao replied with a voice message.
"Hey, do you even know Lu Bei is pursuing you?"
The next second, Cheng An's direct question stunned Tang Yao.
She was still twirling the ugly hairpin in her hand, waiting a moment before answering, "I know."
This time it was Cheng An's turn to be stunned, not sending a message for a while.
"I thought you didn't know, but there's something you definitely don't know: this hairpin isn't a gift from some shop. Lu Bei personally learned to carve it from a master carver for a week." Cheng An's face instantly turned gossipy.
"Is he that free?" The question slipped out, eliciting another burst of laughter from Cheng An.
"He's incredibly busy. He's learning in his spare time. Lu Nan said he practices even at home every night," Cheng An added.
Tang Yao's gaze fell on the hairpin in front of her, a slight smile playing on her lips.
She had already guessed. After all, she wasn't really a girl in her early twenties. She was an ancient monster who had lived for who knows how long in the small worlds.
After their conversation ended, Tang Yao lay in bed, gazing at the night sky outside the window, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
The next morning, Tang Yao opened the window. Her long hair, not yet tied up, fluttered wildly in the wind. She gathered the stray strands behind her ears, took a deep breath—the morning air was always exceptionally refreshing.
Lu Bei stood on the balcony with a coffee in hand and saw this scene.
"Tang Yao." Someone called her from downstairs. Tang Yao looked down and saw it was Xiao Hua, the grandson of the old man who made bamboo baskets.
He had come to deliver the baskets. The fruit basket business had been booming lately, and Tang Yao had ordered another hundred.
"Got them delivered?" Tang Yao greeted him with a smile, skillfully tying her hair into a bun. "You haven't had breakfast yet? Xiao Yue, take Xiao Hua to get breakfast and pack some to bring back to Grandpa Dong."
"No, no, no," Xiao Hua said. His face flushed and he was quickly waving his hand in refusal.
Actually, he had just finished delivering the fruit baskets, got paid, and was about to leave when he unexpectedly saw Tang Yao when passing by the building. His voice was faster than his brain and had already uttered the name he had longed for day and night.
After calling out, he didn't know what to say. Now, being asked to stay for breakfast, Xiao Hua felt even more embarrassed.
Lu Bei stood there watching the whole scene, noticing Xiao Hua's blush and Tang Yao's openness.
A little coffee spilled uncontrollably from his hand, "How annoying!" Lu Bei thought.
Tang Yao finished getting ready and went downstairs with Xu Haocheng for breakfast. The restaurant wasn't open to the public during breakfast hours, so there were far fewer people than at lunchtime and dinnertime.
Tang Yao saw the middle-aged woman who had asked her to look after her daughter yesterday in the restaurant. The short-haired girl next to her must be her daughter.
Li Yuanyuan had insisted on going downstairs for breakfast with Zhang Ru today. After staying here for a day, she seemed to be in much better spirits than before.
A faint smile appeared on her lips, which made Zhang Ru very gratified.
Today's breakfast consisted of various kinds of steamed buns. Li Yuanyuan ate four fist-sized buns in one go and drank a cup of freshly squeezed, fragrant soy milk.
While eating breakfast, Li Yuanyuan's eyes were looking around, as if she was looking for someone.
However, she didn't find the person she was looking for in the end. She didn't know that Xiao Kui next door had stayed up too late editing videos yesterday and was still asleep.
After spending another day at the guesthouse, Xu Haocheng had to leave after a few phone calls from Xu Anguo and Sun Yulan.
"Elder Sister, I'll go abroad as soon as I get back and sort things out. I won't be coming back," Xu Haocheng had his head down as his eyes reddened.
"Go ahead, study well, and don't cause trouble," Tang Yao said.
Xu Haocheng's eyes reddened even more as he stared intently at Tang Yao: "Elder Sister, I was foolish and immature before. I'm sorry."
He turned and left, afraid that if he didn't go soon, he would miss her even more.
On the bus, Xu Haocheng found a bank card and a note under a large bag of snacks his elder sister had prepared for him.
"The password is your birthday. Be frugal with money abroad."
A tall man, over six feet, sitting on the bus, tears streaming down his face, attracted the attention of everyone.
Seeing her younger brother off again, Tang Yao felt a pang of sadness, but she quickly composed herself.