Xxxx.9.20.
8:00 AM.
Light rain was falling in Jing City. Hazy threads of rain slanted down from the clouds, striking the glass and making a rustling sound. The airport lawns took the opportunity to take a bath, excitedly poking their heads out and swaying.
The temperature had dropped.
Shi Yi pulled her clothes tighter and sighed, “I should have brought a jacket.”
Xu Meimei’s voice came through her earphones, “Didn’t you bring one?”
Shi Yi: “It’s too thin.”
Xu Meimei paused, “I think there are shops at the airport? I browsed once, but they were too ugly so I didn’t buy anything.” “Look for one once you go inside.”
“No need.” Shi Yi stepped onto the escalator and pulled up her mask, “The airport’s AC has saved me.” The island was in the south, so she probably wouldn’t need one anyway.
Xu Meimei snorted, “You’re just lazy. I offered to take you earlier but you refused. If you used my private jet, you could bring a stylist and an assistant, and you wouldn’t even have to carry your own luggage.”
“It’s not like I’m going to a beauty pageant. I’ll be back in seven days at most.” Xu Meimei thought to herself, Don’t be so sure. What if? Shi Yi glanced at the directional signs, turned into the right-side corridor, and gave a faint smile, “Besides, some looks require no extra embellishment.”
Xu Meimei choked on her words. Hah, are you saying only ugly people need stylists??? Xu Meimei: “Blocked.”
Shi Yi dragged her suitcase into the main hall, “I was wrong.” She paused, then deliberately curled her lips and added, “Even though I was telling the truth.”
“Ahhhhhh Cub!!” A heart-wrenching scream drowned out Shi Yi’s voice, echoing through the space.
Shi Yi: “…”
Xu Meimei: “…”
Xu Meimei rubbed her ear and pulled her phone slightly away. “What’s going on over there? Fans picking up a flight?” “By the way, I didn’t catch the second half of what you said.”
Shi Yi glanced around the hall. In a corner, a group of young girls holding up signs were clustered together, surrounding a few people in the center. The screams were coming from them, but it was impossible to see exactly who was surrounded in the middle.
Shi Yi pushed her suitcase and continued walking forward, “Mn, fans. That’s exactly what I was just saying.”
“Alright then.” —
The production team was very extravagant, chartering a small private plane. The guests sat in first class, while the staff sat in economy. But not every guest was traveling with the production team.
Just in case, the production team chose to depart a day or two early. However, for celebrities, time is money. Relatively famous artists have their daily schedules packed full; leaving a day early means wasting a day’s worth of money. They would choose to set off on the actual day the show began broadcasting.
Shi Yi arrived at the waiting area. There weren’t many people inside; counting them, the plane’s seats might end up more than half empty. Aside from herself as a guest, everyone else was staff.
The group of staff members noticed her arrival and looked at each other in dismay. Which big star is this, why haven’t they seen her before? Did their variety show invite this person? A young girl wearing a badge suddenly realized, stepping forward to ask tentatively, “Are you Screenwriter Shi?” Shi Yi glanced at her badge, which read Lu Mengmeng. “Yes, hello.”
Lu Mengmeng led her to the VIP area, giving her a brief introduction to the situation. With a brisk and cute tone, she asked her to sit and wait there, conveniently fetching her a cup of hot water as well. Shi Yi’s eyes curved into a smile as she thanked her.
Ah! That voice! When the young girl returned, her cheeks were still flushed red. The logistics staff sitting next to her poked her waist vigorously, “Who is it, who is it? What’s this celebrity’s name? Fuck, that waist, those legs, wu wu wu.”
“She’s the screenwriter.”
“…She’s actually not a celebrity?!” The logistics girl lowered her voice in disbelief.
Shi Yi actually felt the faint gazes lingering around her. She lowered her eyelashes and continued chatting on her phone.
The logistics girl covered her face, “Ah, that side profile, those eyelashes, I’m completely dead.”
“…” The hall inexplicably grew a bit quieter, until a group of people hurried in, and the young girl once again went up to greet them.
There were about eight or nine people in the group that entered. The big boy walking in the middle had a head of curly blond hair, giving off a ‘little milk dog’1 vibe. Contrasted against the tall and sturdy assistant beside him, he looked even more well-behaved and soft. His manager settled the big boy down in a seat two spots away from Shi Yi, uneasily whispering a series of instructions.
Xie Yixing agreed with a series of mhm-mhms, “Don’t worry, Brother Li.”
The manager thought to himself, Don’t worry about what? If you actually kept your word even once, I wouldn’t have to worry so much. How are you going to get any screen time if you don’t speak? But he still had to stay behind to negotiate endorsements, so he couldn’t tag along.
Sticking out his beer belly, the manager tirelessly repeated himself again, wishing he could just brand these words into his artist’s brain, before finally being willing to leave.
Xie Yixing breathed a sigh of relief.
He pulled out his phone. His WeChat, which had been beeping non-stop, had already accumulated 99+ messages.
Chu Fengming: Ahhhhhhhh! Chu Fengming: Ahhhhhhhhh! Chu Fengming: Ahhhhhhh! Chu Fengming: I love Teacher Gu! “…”
??? Xie Yixing scratched his head, skipping past the other person’s spamming vents all the way to the end before finally realizing what was going on.
Chu Fengming: Teacher Gu introduced a job to me! Chu Fengming: Have you heard of Home and Country?! The annual blockbuster New Year film! XJN’s family spent a hundred million just for him to show his face, and XJN is already bragging about it to the heavens on Weibo! Chu Fengming: I actually managed to get in!! Chu Fengming: What virtue or ability do I have to deserve this! Chu Fengming: Wu wu wu, I will love Teacher Gu forever!
The big boy let out an “Ah,” “Home and Country?! What role?”
Chu Fengming: You finally replied to me. Chu Fengming: It’s a country boy! I can’t tell you the specifics, but it’s a character with a lot of highlights! I have even more plot relevance than XJN!
Xie Yixing: “Have you passed the audition yet?”
Chu Fengming hehehe’d: Yeah, the director just told me to get a bit more tanned and that my skin needs to be slightly rougher… I’m about to start building muscle right now.
Xie Yixing was envious: “Then Teacher Gu is really good to you.” They both debuted from idol survival shows. Although they had quite a few fans, their status was actually very unstable. Opportunities to transition into acting were incredibly rare.
Chu Fengming sent a GIF celebrating with the whole world, then consoled him, “Your variety show is also really good. It’s Feilou Entertainment’s main push this year, my manager couldn’t even snatch a spot for me.” “Remember to seize the opportunity this time, talk more with the guests, don’t be so shy. Once you get more fans, I’ll help you find a script.”
Xie Yixing was somewhat introverted. Aside from a few older brothers he had spent a long time with, he basically didn’t dare to talk to outsiders. Everyone in their group knew about this issue of his. Xie Yixing also knew his own problem, “I’ll try my best.” But he didn’t know any of the guests… What could he say to not make it awkward?
Chu Fengming hesitated for a moment, “I heard Teacher Gu is also going to participate in Love Island, I wonder if it’s true.”
Xie Yixing pursed his lips, “Probably not?” Teacher Gu rarely participated in variety shows, especially dating variety shows. Last time he only participated in two episodes to help the director out. During the filming of Love Island, one cannot withdraw; it takes a full month.
Chu Fengming: His manager mentioned it in passing, he doesn’t know if it’s true or false either. “I hope it is, anyway.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Xie Yixing was a bit thirsty. He reached out and grabbed the water the staff member had fetched earlier, took two sips, put his phone aside, and took off his jacket. The hall was much warmer than outside; wearing a jacket was a bit hot.
Smack. As he turned to put his jacket down, his elbow bumped his phone. The phone fell to the ground, sliding far across the smooth floor until it landed at Shi Yi’s feet. The green WeChat interface landed face up.
The big boy hurriedly looked at Shi Yi, feeling a bit flustered.
Shi Yi cast a sidelong glance. Her flawless, snow-white chin was delicate and small. She accidentally caught a glimpse of the words ‘Teacher Gu’. She leaned forward slightly, flipping the phone screen over without reading his messages, and gave a light nod, “Careful.”
Xie Yixing looked at the flipped-over phone, feeling a surge of goodwill toward this well-mannered gesture. His eyes lit up as he mustered the courage to thank her, “Thank you.”
Shi Yi nodded. Was ‘Teacher Gu’ referring to Gu Zhan?
The big boy wanted to continue speaking to her, but was somewhat at a loss for words. Pursing his lips, he sat back down and sent a message to his buddy: “The guest this time is very nice.”
…He would try his best to talk more.
Translator’s note:
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