CHAPTER 100

Xiaoyuan was confused when the staff called her back in. Lu Jingnian and Zou Yirui were still waiting for her outside, and they waited for a full 40 minutes. Just as Zou Yirui was howling with hunger, Xiaoyuan walked out with a complicated expression.

Before Xiaoyuan could say anything, Zou Yirui dragged both of them off to eat.

In the private room of the restaurant, Xiaoyuan said, "They called me in to audition for the role of Liang Ji."

Lu Jingnian was stunned, "What? Really?"

Zou Yirui paused for half a second before bursting into wild laughter, slapping the table. "This is hilarious! They better choose you!"

Over the course of the meal, the three of them created a WeChat group.

When Xiaoyuan returned home, she collapsed on the bed for a while. The afternoon sunlight crept in through the slightly open curtains. She lifted her foot, and the sunlight fell on her instep. Her toes, painted with clear nail polish, appeared almost translucent in the light and shadow.

She lay there for a while, then opened her WeChat. The top conversation was still with Wei Zhuang—she had changed the nickname to "Big Bad Person."

Xiaoyuan wondered if others experienced this: when you liked someone, you wanted to tell them everything that happened to you, from big things like auditions to small things like wearing a new dress.

She and Wei Zhuang were currently in a cooling-off period, so she could only endure.

The last time she messaged "Big Bad Guy" was on April 20th.

Big Bad Person: [Did you go back?]

Today was already May 9th.

'If she's not sending me a WeChat message, why should I be the one to message her first?'

So what if she's a big CEO? She's a future movie star too!

Hmph!

Xiaoyuan tossed her phone aside and stopped checking WeChat.

For the next few days, Xiaoyuan stayed at home waiting for news from the film crew, working out, and seeing the doctor regularly. On the 18th, she received a call from the producer of Deep in the Palace, confirming that the role of Liang Ji was hers. On the 19th, she went to the company to sign the contract.

When she returned home, she unexpectedly ran into Xiang Zhishi. He looked well, neither thinner nor fatter. Xiaoyuan spun him around in a circle and let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Brother!" she exclaimed with joy, throwing herself into his arms. "You're finally back!"

"I had to come back to celebrate your birthday!" Xiang Zhishi ruffled the top of her head.

Xiaoyuan hugged him tightly, her eyes filled with joy.

......

"President Wei, May 24th is Miss Xiang's birthday." Assistant Gao finally couldn't help but remind her boss.

She wasn't sure what was going on between these two, but based on her years of understanding of the CEO, President Wei might not realize that birthdays are a big deal for "couples."

She figured her boss probably didn't know the significance of the past "520" and "521" (unofficial Valentine's Days in China) days either, and most likely had no idea about her little idol's birthday.

As a "gardener" and the boss's personal assistant, she definitely had to remind her.

Sure enough, Wei Zhuang paused at these words and looked up.

"Then prepare a gift for her."

Assistant Gao perked up her ears, waiting for several seconds, but still didn't hear Wei Zhuang's voice.

Assistant Gao belatedly realized—oh, Miss Xiang's condition in the contract was that she wouldn't accept gifts.

'The contract is dead!'

Assistant Gao screamed internally: 'Your relationship is what matters most! Giving a gift is no big deal. You must give her a gift, Boss! Don't be so inflexible!'

Wei Zhuang's silence lasted for several more seconds before her thin lips parted. "How about giving her a house?"

Assistant Gao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh: 'So she was just thinking about what gift to give, hahaha!'

She tried her best to keep her smile at a proper curve. "I don't think Miss Xiang would accept it."

'Boss, you need to put your heart into it! You have so many houses already, casually giving one is too thoughtless. Besides, the little idol doesn't even like houses!'

'She's not with you for your money, you know!'

Wei Zhuang continued to ponder, her slender, pale hand resting on her cheek.

Assistant Gao smiled subtly and said, "I inquired with President Ruan, and Miss Xiang is scheduled to join the 'Deep in the Palace' crew on the 24th for a week of etiquette training. So, her birthday celebration will be moved up a day."

"Moved up?"

"Yes, that's right. President Ruan has been invited to Miss Xiang's home for dinner on the 23rd."

As soon as these words were spoken, Assistant Gao could sense a subtle shift in the air, a faint hint of something sour, though nothing showed on the boss's face. She simply replied, "Oh."

Assistant Gao was a bit thrown by the brevity of the response but couldn't voice her inner turmoil. She chose to remain silent.

'President Wei, don't get jealous just yet! It's about the surprise, you need to plan a surprise, do you understand?'

After a while, a glint flashed in Wei Zhuang's eyes, and she asked, "What role is she playing?"

Assistant Gao became excited at the mention of this. "Miss Xiang is cross-dressing to play Liang Ji!" This was a piece of news she could only keep to herself, unable to share it in the group chat, which was driving her crazy.

A smile crinkled the corners of Wei Zhuang's eyes, and she lightly tapped the table.

"Contact..." The first half of Wei Zhuang's sentence hung in the air, the end almost inaudible.

Assistant Gao blinked but didn't press for details, calmly waiting for her boss's instructions.

But inside, she was screaming, 'Huh? Why do you need me to be the go-between again? Did you guys have a fight?'

She glanced discreetly at her boss, who was now looking at her phone, a faint, cool smile playing on her lips, lost in thought.

After a short while, she finally said, "Never mind, Alex, you can go."

Assistant Gao blinked twice, acknowledged, and left the room. It seemed her intervention wasn't needed after all. Ah, it wouldn't have hurt to make that call—she really wanted to witness the drama firsthand!

Xiaoyuan planned to have a simple birthday celebration with her brother, Cai Juan, Tiantian, Ruan Qing, and Yang Qiao, just a meal and cutting the cake.

After the meal, Ruan Qing and Yang Qiao left their gifts and departed.

Then, an "unexpected guest" arrived.

It was Xiaoyuan's first time meeting Yu Qiuse in person. Her first impression was that Yu Qiuse was even more striking in real life—her face was smaller, her skin a healthy, radiant white, and her smile was quite charming.

She handed over a gift box with a smile, "Happy birthday."

"Thank you." Xiaoyuan accepted it.

She glanced at Xiang Zhishi, hinting with a smile, "You didn't tell me about Xiaoyuan's birthday. Luckily, I remembered."

Xiaoyuan looked at her in confusion, then turned to her brother.

Xiang Zhishi looked deeply at Xiaoyuan. "Since you're here, join us for the cake."

"Okay." Yu Qiuse replied cheerfully and walked in.

Cai Juan and Tiantian had already set up the cake, waiting for them to approach.

"Is Xiaoyuan turning 25 or 26? I can't quite remember." Yu Qiuse asked with a smile.

"I'm 26." Why did she seem so familiar with her details, yet Xiaoyuan couldn't recall ever knowing her?

"Oh dear, time flies so fast." Yu Qiuse said, her voice slightly raised at the end, revealing a hint of willfulness.

"Brother, what's going on?" Tiantian whispered.

"Let's not worry about it. We'll just wait to cut the cake." Cai Juan lowered his eyes, quietly reminding her.

The lights were turned off, and the golden star-shaped candles were lit, their sizzling sparks creating a beautiful and festive atmosphere.

Just as Xiaoyuan was about to clasp her hands together to make a wish, Yu Qiuse patted her on the side and leaned in with a smile, "Mind if I borrow your light to make a wish too?"

"..." Xiaoyuan looked at her speechlessly, "?"

She didn't mind herself, closing her eyes to make a wish, and even spoke it out loud, "I hope to be with Brother Shitou forever, to stay together for a lifetime."

"..." Xiaoyuan frowned at her, and Yu Qiuse laughed first, "Ah, I said it out loud, but it will definitely come true."

She looked at Xiang Zhishi with a half-smile, "Brother Shitou, what do you think?"

"This is Xiaoyuan's birthday cake," Xiang Zhishi also looked at her, his emotions complex, "May, don't be willful."

Yu Qiuse's expression changed slightly.

Xiaoyuan blew out the candles in annoyance, "It's my birthday, other people's wishes don't count!"

The atmosphere at the scene fell into an awkward silence.

Unaffected by the awkward atmosphere, Xiaoyuan, being at her own home, wouldn't let inexplicable people affect her mood. She started cutting the cake, giving a piece to everyone present, including Yu Qiuse, "I'm about to join the film crew, so I can't eat cake. You all can eat more for me."

"Okay, let's eat the cake." Cai Juan also chimed in with a smile, "Tiantian, come and have some too."

"This cake was specially ordered, it's really delicious."

Tiantian took a piece of cake and ate it with Cai Juan, while Xiang Zhishi looked on helplessly, pulling Yu Qiuse aside to talk to her.

Yu Qiuse shook off his hand, "I need to go to the bathroom, where is it?"

Xiang Zhishi pointed her in the right direction, and she smoothed her hair before turning to leave.

Xiaoyuan walked back to the sofa, opened her WeChat. She had celebrated her birthday early because she wanted to spend it with her family and didn't want to see outsiders.

This woman wasn't even her sister-in-law yet!

Feeling a bit irritated and depressed, Xiaoyuan still wanted to confide in someone, or more accurately, only that woman. She unconsciously pouted and sent a message to a certain big bad guy:

"I'm so angry." Delete.

"Today is my birthday." Delete again.

"..." Sigh, she really didn't know what to send, but suddenly she really wanted to see Wei Zhuang.

Actually, if it weren't for holding back, she might have been able to spend the evening with Wei Zhuang. In fact, most of her requests, Wei Zhuang would agree to.

Her gaze fixed on the empty dialog box, her heart feeling a bit sour.

Just then, the "typing" indicator appeared on the other side. Xiaoyuan suddenly sat up straight.

A 3-second voice message came through.

Xiaoyuan took a deep breath and clicked to play.

The volume speaker in the chat window moved, and a low, magnetic voice came through, "Xiaoyuan, I'm in your basement. Coming down?"

Did she hear that right?

Xiaoyuan slowly calmed her turbulent emotions and tapped it again. She hadn't misheard.

Wei Zhuang's familiar voice, accompanied by a wisp of night breeze brushing her ear, easily made her heart fall.

She suddenly stood up and said to the people in the room, "I need to go out for a bit."

After a pause, she found Xiang Zhishi and quickly said, "Brother, I'm going out, I might not come back tonight."

Before Xiang Zhishi could reply, she rushed back to her own apartment across the hall, looked in the mirror, saw that she looked okay, grabbed her small purse, and headed for the elevator.

Xiang Zhishi looked at the door with a slight smile and walked into the living room to talk to Cai Juan and Tiantian.

"Tiantian, help her pack up her things first."

"Cai Juan, I'll have to trouble you again to take care of Yuan'er on set. You and Tiantian, please look out for her."

"Of course, Brother Zhishi, don't worry."

......

Yu Qiuse came out of the bathroom, glanced around the living room, and then thoughtfully looked at the door before stepping out as well.

She glanced at the apartment across the hall, then turned toward the elevator.

The numbers on the elevator kept dropping. Her eyes sharpened, and she pressed the down arrow as well.

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