“Eating props is a kind of pleasure,” Ning Qiuxiu said with conviction when she saw Zhang Qingyue’s puzzled expression. “And these buns are from the famous Zhang’s Bun Shop nearby. If we don’t eat them, they’ll get cold and be thrown away. It’s such a waste.”

“……” You’re quite frugal.

Zhang Qingyue looked at the bun in his hand.

The bun’s dough was soft, and if he ate the filling, wouldn’t the bun collapse?

If it couldn’t be used later, the prop master would be mad at her.

But Ning Qiuxiu didn’t seem worried about any trouble.

Instead, she patiently taught him: “Let me show you the trick to eating props.”

Zhang Qingyue watched as she pinched the bottom of the bun, creating a small bulge.

She carefully took a bite, making a small hole in the bun skin, revealing the filling inside.

The aroma of meat mixed with dried mushrooms and green onions immediately wafted out.

—The bun didn’t look great, but it tasted surprisingly good, making it hard to resist.

However, Zhang Qingyue, who was very image-conscious, wouldn’t openly take advantage of the crew, especially when it was just a bun, and eat the filling like that!

“I……”

“Ning Qiuxiu, how could you eat the prop?!”

Before Zhang Qingyue could finish his sentence, someone shouted.

A slightly chubby man, the prop master of the crew, approached angrily.

He glared at the bun in Ning Qiuxiu’s hand and said, “I was wondering where it went. So, you took it.”

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

Give me some respect in front of my man!

“Go ahead and eat it,” Zhang Qingyue chose to support Ning Qiuxiu unconditionally. “I’ll have the driver go buy some more immediately. It won’t delay things.”

Prop Master: “……”

Seeing that Zhang Qingyue was really making a phone call, the prop master hurriedly said, “No, no, it’s fine. Actually, it’s okay to eat it. Just leave the skin. Eat up.”

Ning Qiuxiu: “？？？”

Why are you giving him so much face when he didn’t give you any benefits?

Sycophant!

Everyone in this world is such a sycophant.

Ning Qiuxiu took a bite of the bun angrily to vent her frustration.

Then, Xiao Chi came over, exclaiming, “Sister Qiuxiu, why are you stealing food? Director Xiao said you’ve gained weight and need to maintain your figure! And where did this bun come from?”

What if it’s poisoned and she hasn’t checked it yet?

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

“Ugh, it’s just a bun. Why all this fuss?” Ning Qiuxiu murmured as she put the bun back in the bag, trying to comfort herself. “It wasn’t even that great.”

Zhang Qingyue, amused by the “drama” caused by the bun, knew how hard Ning Qiuxiu worked to maintain her figure.

He saw how frustrated she was and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Seeing her looking dejected, he put his own bun away and said with a light laugh, “Yeah, it’s not very good. It has fatty meat; eating it would make you gain ten pounds.”

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

What a ridiculous way to comfort someone.

How is she supposed to enjoy buns now?

Just then, the director called for them to get ready.

Ning Qiuxiu said, “I’m going to shoot now.”

Zhang Qingyue nodded and gave her a supportive pat on the shoulder.

Originally, Zhang Qingyue planned to treat the crew to afternoon tea as a traditional gesture.

Not treating them could make Ning Qiuxiu look bad, and people might even privately gossip about her being stingy.

But since Ning Qiuxiu couldn’t eat, it would seem like he was just trying to make her crave it.

So, he decided to find another way to benefit Ning Qiuxiu and the entire crew.

Ning Qiuxiu had another scene to shoot. After a short break, she continued filming.

Zhang Qingyue used his phone to review a detailed development plan from the company’s management department.

In the early stages of the company’s development, there are two main ways to build an artist’s career.

One is to nurture them from scratch, using scouts, art schools, and social recruiting to slowly develop new artists with gradual growth.

The other is to recruit artists whose contracts are about to expire.

This method is more direct and effective because these artists already have a foundation and can start earning money immediately without needing much training.

The management department provided detailed plans and budgets for both approaches in ten pages of a Word document.

Zhang Qingyue wasn’t entirely satisfied with the content and frowned as he reviewed it.

“Mr. Zhang, coffee,” a steaming cup of coffee was placed in front of him. “It’s freshly brewed.”

The person who handed him the coffee was Jia Hanxu, the second female lead who had previously spread rumors about Ning Qiuxiu being sponsored by a wealthy man, which had caused her to trend on Weibo.

Xiao Chi, who was instructed to closely guard against any disturbance, had temporarily left, giving Jia Hanxu a chance.

Zhang Qingyue looked up at her and said, “I don’t drink coffee, thank you.”

“Well, what would you like to drink? I can have my assistant get it. It’s quite cold, and a warm drink might be nice,” Jia Hanxu offered.

“No need, I’m not thirsty.”

Seeing his firm refusal, Jia Hanxu had to back off but introduced herself, “Mr. Zhan, you might not know me. I’m Jia Hanxu, the second female lead in this drama.”

Zhan Qingyue wasn’t interested in who she was, so he just nodded and didn’t engage further.

“……” Jia Hanxu wasn’t deterred by his indifference.

She sat down in the seat where Ning Qiuxiu had been.

Zhan Qingyue stayed silent, curious about what she was up to.

“Qiuxiu’s acting is really good. Sometimes, I can’t keep up with her during our scenes,” Jia Hanxu said. “Only when acting opposite the best male lead, Song Chu, do I feel the scenes are truly engaging. Sometimes, I get so into the role that I call him Lian Lian in real life.”

“Hmm,” Zhan Qingyue saw through her little act and said, “Don’t feel inferior. If you practice hard, you can be just as good as her.”

Jia Hanxu: “……”

What about the point?

“Thank you, I will work hard,” Jia Hanxu maintained a smile and said, “I do feel quite insecure sometimes. It feels like I can’t fit in with them. They’re so close, always rehearsing together until midnight in the hotel.”

“Really,” Zhang Qingyue pretended not to catch the implication in her words and chuckled lightly. “Qiuxiu is outstanding and hardworking. No wonder she’s already the female lead in her second drama.”

Jia Hanxu: “……”

Why does it feel like a jab at her?

Meanwhile, Ning Qiuxiu was starting to film her scenes.

Song Lian, having had a misunderstanding about menstrual products, quickly learned about menstrual pain and felt a new sympathy for Ning Qiuxiu, who he often teased.

Feeling guilty for buying the wrong product, he decided to apologize.

With the extras and equipment set, and in a less crowded corner of the campus, Song Lian approached Ning Qiuxiu with a serious expression and handed her a bun. “From Wang A’po’s Bun Shop.”

Ning Qiuxiu took the bun, which had been repackaged, and tried to hide her urge to roll her eyes.

She received it with surprise, saying, “I mentioned wanting buns from Wang A’po’s yesterday, and you went and bought them? And you said you weren’t secretly in love with me.”

“Shut up!” Song Lian said gruffly.

He was playing it up and his acting was intense.

After a moment, he handed her a hot water bottle.

“Hmm?” Ning Qiuxiu took the hot water bottle—only to find it was cold.

She had to pretend it was warm and looked at Song Lian with some confusion.

Song Lian turned his face away awkwardly and said, “I heard that… using a hot water bottle can help with stomach pain.”

After explaining, Song Lian quickly added, “I’m leaving now. Don’t be late.”

He hurried off, not giving Ning Qiuxiu a chance to respond.

“Hey……” Ning Qiuxiu called out, but Song Lian was already too far away, leaving only his retreating figure.

Ning Qiuxiu looked at his handsome back, then at the bun and hot water bottle in her hands, and smiled as she hugged them.

“Cut!” the director shouted. “Qiuxiu, your expression is off. When you receive something from someone you like for the first time, you should show surprise, sweetness, and shyness. What was that expression? Maternal love?”

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

Actually, it was maternal love.

Xiao Sheng said, “Sweetness. Understand? A smile of youthful infatuation, you know?”

“…… Okay.”

Xiao Sheng: “Let’s do it again!”

However, even after another take, the director’s expectations weren’t met.

“Tsk, Qiuxiu, think about it. How do you feel when you receive a gift from someone you like for the first time?”

The first time she received a gift from someone she liked?

Her ancient memories didn’t recall it, but as for Zhan Qingyue… the first gift she received from him was that shareholder’s certificate for selling herself.

“Damn, giving the middle finger!”

Xiao Sheng: “……”

What’s with that look of resentment?

Song Chu, who had already walked away, ran back again.

He was on the verge of breaking down, and heaven knows how hard he had worked to get there quickly!

He heard that the reason for failing was because Ning Qiuxiu couldn’t find that sweet feeling and expression.

He was gloating: “Serves you right for calling me ‘little kid’ every day. You can’t get into character now, huh? Haha.”

Xiao Sheng: “……”

What kind of people are these in the film crew?

He had been fooled by Song Chu’s sweet appearance.

Over time, he realized that this so-called “puppy” character was actually a total fool.

“Need any help?” Zhan Qingyue, who had been observing from the sidelines for a while, asked.

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

Oh, what are you coming to help with? Don’t mess things up!

Xiao Sheng’s eyes lit up when he saw Zhan Qingyue.

Ning Qiuxiu’s expression was a close-up of her face, and it didn’t need to be connected to the shot with Song Chu.

Zhan Qingyue was willing to cooperate, so it could really work.

In the end, the shooting turned into a scene where, after Song Chu walked off, the shot was cut, and Zhan Qingyue stepped in.

He didn’t do much, just smiled and gently patted Ning Qiuxiu’s head.

This is commonly known as a “head pat attack.”

However, it made a difference with another person. When Zhan Qingyue patted her head, Ning Qiuxiu’s expression of youthful infatuation immediately appeared, and she was surrounded by a pink aura.

Everyone: “Oh~”

Does this count as revealing a relationship?

Jia Hanxu, who had previously tried to stir things up in front of Zhan Qingyue but ended up being put in her place, saw this scene and went back to the lounge with a very bad expression.

So embarrassing!

Since there were no media present today, the crew had signed confidentiality agreements.

If they leaked anything, they would face fines and legal trouble.

Plus, the last time a minor actor leaked that Ning Qiuxiu received gifts, he was replaced the next day.

Everyone knew Ning Qiuxiu had a strong background, so no one dared to gossip.

Zhan Qingyue, who had voluntarily helped finish the shoot, went back to check his social media but was puzzled that this news hadn’t leaked.

He thought, “These journalists usually spread all sorts of rumors. Why is there no buzz about this big news?”

He was quite frustrated and thought if these people were his employees, they’d have their bonuses docked for six months!

The shoot wrapped up early again in the afternoon.

It was raining lightly outside, and the weather was wet and cold.

Seeing Ning Qiuxiu’s reluctance to go out and her desire to stay in the hotel, Zhan Qingyue had to suppress his idea of inviting her to a movie.

— Online advice says the best way to date a girl is to go to the movies, but damn the weather!

After dinner, Ning Qiuxiu noticed that Zhan Qingyue seemed like he was going to follow her to her room and felt a bit shy: “Did you book a room?”

“Yes, on the 8th floor,” Zhan Qingyue still wasn’t pushy.

“Oh…” Ning Qiuxiu said deliberately, “Then why are you following me? The 8th floor is not in this direction.”

“Checking your homework,” Zhan Qingyue said seriously, “To see if you’ve been slacking off this past month, and if you’ve done your reading.”

Ning Qiuxiu: “???”