Chapter 32.1

This was just a minor incident. Zhu Xinyue was one of the show’s investors and a Jinhuan artist. The production team wouldn’t include unfavorable comments about her.

But they contacted her agent, essentially hoping the agent would advise their naive artist to be more cautious with her words.

If she dares to say it, do they dare to broadcast it? Even the big boss of Jinhuan doesn’t agree, right?

Brother Hu received the call from the program team, lit a cigarette, and asked, “Can you send me that video? I need to consult our big boss.”

For the sake of the artist’s future and his own prospects, Brother Hu had to act cautiously.

The next day, after finishing a merger negotiation, Ji Linyu received the video sent by Brother Hu.

In the video, Zhu Xinyue had her hair partially pinned up, with loose strands blown by the fan behind her, occasionally brushing her cheeks. She faced the camera sideways, chatting with others, looking serious yet gentle.

“How much money do you need to be with the one you love?”

Ji Linyu had never seriously discussed such topics with Zhu Xinyue.

She was still very young, her career just starting. If she continued down the path of the entertainment industry, being with him now wouldn’t be good for her.

The kiss at the hospital confirmed her feelings for him.

Ji Linyu wanted to be with her, but what did she think? Would she feel they were moving too fast? Would she refuse to date now because she wanted to focus on her career?

This was the first time Ji Linyu faced such a tricky problem.

So Ji Linyu decided to wait until her career stabilized before talking to her about it.

“If a person can’t live as they wish, money becomes a shackle.”

That was indeed something she would say.

Watching the video of the young girl, Ji Linyu couldn’t help but smile.

She was young, but often more insightful and mature than many older than her. She had her own thoughts, which was great.

Ji Linyu didn’t realize how tenderly he was watching the video.

“… Instead of waiting, it’s better to seize the moment.” Zhu Xinyue lifted her eyes, the camera zooming out to include her and the vast ocean background, her state of mind broader than the sea.

Ji Linyu’s eyes sparkled, and his heart lightly bumped.

When he saw the end of the video where Zhu Xinyue mentioned having a crush, Ji Linyu’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

“I have a crush on someone, but I don’t know his feelings.”

Ji Linyu replayed the segment twice.

When the video ended and the phone screen went black, his reflection showed a cheap, grinning face.

He also had a crush, and now he knew her thoughts.

“Assistant Lin, arrange my schedule. I’m going to Yunhai City.”

**

The show was about to go online, coinciding with the release of the second season of last year’s popular music show.

To increase the show’s popularity, after the guest left, leaving only the two regulars and the dark-skinned director, the team suggested to Xie Zhuguang to invite a more famous guest to help promote the show.

Xie Zhuguang confidently assured, “This is a junior I have mentored. I even recommended him to a big director for a role. He will definitely come.”

Zhu Xinyue recognized the name, “I know him.”

That person was Liang Yuyu’s rival, now a second or third-tier star. Like Liang Yuyu, he started as a child actor, but his acting was average, though he had a good face and often appeared in historical dramas. Despite being in his thirties, his acting had not improved, but he was good at creating buzz, often having a rumored girlfriend with each new show.

Because a new guest was coming, and he was famous, store manager Xie Zhuguang decided to take a day off to shop for supplies to welcome the new guest.

Xie Zhuguang personally bought new toiletries and bedding, even clearing out the master bedroom and hanging a nameplate with the new guest’s name.

“You should rest more. It’s too hot outside. We’ll pick him up,” Xie Zhuguang and the dark-skinned director told Zhu Xinyue, suggesting she stay and rest.

In Yunhai City, even in November, the sun was scorching, making it hard to keep one’s eyes open.

Zhu Xinyue watched them and the cameraman walk into the blazing sun, frowning with a word unsaid.

In the novel, Xie Zhuguang would be stood up by the guest.

The team noticed Zhu Xinyue’s concern and asked, “Is there something wrong?”

Zhu Xinyue didn’t reveal her foresight, instead saying, “It’s too hot. I’ll make some mung bean soup for everyone.”

So she went inside to prepare mung bean soup.

Zhu Xinyue’s cooking skills were taught by her mother.

At this moment, she was the only one in the kitchen of the cabin. She walked into the yard, counted the program crew members who were now gathered outside, and had an idea in her mind.

At least three big pots are needed.

There are cameras in various places in the cabin, and now they are all aimed at the figure busy in the kitchen.

The figure looked thin and slender, but she was very focused and serious while working. Probably her first time on a variety show, Zhu Xinyue didn’t talk much, mostly working quietly. She only spoke more when calculating accounts or bargaining during shopping, revealing a real penny-pincher.

The pretty and delicate girl haggling over prices had a strong contrast.

The usually stingy girl today spent her own money to buy a large bag of mung beans, washed and scooped them, cooked the syrup, and methodically followed all the steps. After half a day, she made several large pots of mung bean soup for the team.

The team initially wanted to politely refuse, but the director had already started drinking, so others didn’t hold back.

The soup was sweet and aromatic, the mung beans soft and mushy, sliding down the throat and bringing immense satisfaction.

Zhu Xinyue took out her phone, snapped a photo of her mung bean soup, and sent it to Ji Linyu.

[Zhu Xinyue: (mung bean soup.jpg)]

[Zhu Xinyue: A treat for you.]

She just wanted to tease Ji Linyu since he was currently in Tianze City and could only look but not taste.

[Big Boss: Just wait. (smile.jpg)]

Zhu Xinyue could already imagine Ji Linyu’s helpless expression on the other end, and she laughed with her eyes squinting.

She scrolled up through their chat history. Since her first day on the show, every time she made a new dish, she would send Ji Linyu a picture with the caption “For you.”

Initially, Ji Linyu would ask, “Will you treat me when I come back?”

Zhu Xinyue would reply, “Only available in Yunhai City.”

It was her way of inviting him to visit, but Zhu Xinyue knew that Ji Linyu was very busy and didn’t like appearing on variety shows. He preferred to keep a low profile.

By the afternoon, Xie Zhuguang and the dark-skinned director had not returned.

“Xinyue,” a staff member informed her, “the new guest isn’t coming. Can I have another bowl?”

Zhu Xinyue had kept one pot of mung bean soup in the fridge for them.

“Sure, I’ll serve you some.” Zhu Xinyue brought out the pot again and shared it with the staff, leaving just two bowls for Xie Zhuguang and the dark-skinned director.

The chilled Mung Bean soup was even more delicious.

Zhu Xinyue called Xie Zhuguang to ask where they were.

The dark-skinned director answered, saying that Xie Zhuguang was so upset he was sitting by the sea, contemplating life, feeling his whole existence was bleak and he had no face to meet her or the show crew, even though such moments of darkness often happened in his life.

Ignoring the friend’s playful jab, Zhu Xinyue suppressed her laughter and asked the show’s director what to do.

“What else can we do? We can’t just stop filming,” the director said, smiling helplessly, treating Xie Zhuguang like a kindergartener. “Let’s go and bring him back.”

Zhu Xinyue rode in the director’s car, and halfway there, the director received a call, getting so excited that he immediately told the staff to head to the airport.

Huh?

What happened?

Zhu Xinyue was still puzzled.

“Ji Qingyuan! Your senior brother is coming to our show! And he’s bringing Liang Yuyu and Jiang Rui to promote ‘Peach Blossom Spring’! What a huge stroke of luck!” The director couldn’t contain his joy.

Zhu Xinyue had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, when Ji Qingyuan saw Zhu Xinyue in front of the cameras, he openly hugged her, “Junior sister! Long time no see!”

He was so enthusiastic that it gave Zhu Xinyue goosebumps.

Long time no see? It had only been half a month.

Out of the camera’s view, Ji Qingyuan lowered his voice and said, “My brother told me your show needed some hype, so I brought people over to boost it.

“By the way, he’s coming to Yunhai tomorrow.”

Zhu Xinyue shivered.

Why did she suddenly feel guilty? She hadn’t said or done anything wrong.

Actually, Liang Yuyu and Jiang Rui both said they were there for Zhu Xinyue. Liang Yuyu had been enlightened by her words, making this his first variety show appearance. As for Jiang Rui, it was unclear if she was repaying Zhu Xinyue for saving her life or just because Liang Yuyu was there too.

Ji Qingyuan was a popular actor, and as soon as his trip to Yunhai City for the variety show was announced, fans started sharing airport photos on social media.

Jiang Rui was a rising star in the entertainment industry, a second or third-tier actress with enough buzz.

Liang Yuyu was known for his roles rather than his fame, but he had a large general audience. While people might not recognize Ji Qingyuan or Jiang Rui, they could point out Liang Yuyu and ask for a photo, even asking Ji Qingyuan to take the picture.

The most famous Ji Qingyuan, wearing sunglasses, happily took photos for the fans with Liang Yuyu.

Liang Yuyu usually spends his time studying how to film. He is a bit of a homebody and has an introverted personality. Even though passersby ask for photos with him many times, he never refuses.