Chapter 14 Drama Club: How Should You Thank Me?

Xing Lan vaguely remembered that when he had a fever in the middle of the night, it was Li Baidong who carried him to the hospital.

Li Baidong's chest felt warm, like a heater.

His arms were strong and long, protecting him well; even though his back was completely soaked, not a single drop of rain splashed on him.

Then she thought of how, ever since Li Baidong moved in, she always took the initiative to keep the room and surroundings spotless, and she slept very well at night, being polite and well-behaved, never moving around or disturbing him.

Although he can be a bit too enthusiastic at times, overall he is indeed a great roommate that is hard to fault.

After returning home, Xing Lan trimmed the bouquet of flowers that Li Baidong had given him and put it in a vase at home.

Because she keeps pets, Xing Lan doesn't actually have many plants at home. The only vase she owns is a free gift from the store when she bought the furniture.

He wasn't very good at pruning flower branches, so he just trimmed them haphazardly by feel, making them look a little more irregular. But perhaps due to a natural talent, the final product was unexpectedly beautiful.

Around four or five in the afternoon, the afterglow of dusk streamed into the living room, like a warm glow of starlight, illuminating the slender glass vase and reflecting a dazzling array of light.

There are several kinds of flowers inside, with different shapes of petals and a perfect color scheme, making it very pleasing to the eye from a distance.

The light pink roses are gentle and delicate, while the lisianthus is pure and white.

A gentle breeze blew by the window, ruffling Xing Lan's soft black hair and the green branches and delicate petals of the flowers.

After Xing Lan finished cutting the hair, she stood by the coffee table and looked at it. The more she looked, the more something seemed off.

He frowned, wondering if Li Baidong had been ripped off by the flower shop.

The bouquet of flowers in front of me looks more like a gift for a lover than a gift for a patient.

-

Xing Lan didn't rest at home for more than a few days; she went back to work as soon as she was discharged from the hospital.

After the resumption of work, he was busier than before. He not only had to prepare for new projects, but also had to take time to deal with Shiweijia and try his best to persuade old customers to change their minds.

The advertising industry's methods for attracting business are very simple: constantly inviting people to meals and drinks to build relationships.

Mr. Chen, who was in his fifties, was a middle-aged man who enjoyed good food. He didn't have a special impression of Xing Lan at first, and only met him because of Yan Jie. However, at the dinner party, Xing Lan's speech and behavior, as well as the small details of etiquette during the meal, were very appropriate and suitable.

Gradually, his gaze changed from indifference and perfunctoriness to appreciation and recognition, and he became more willing to talk and confide in Xing Lan. The two got along like close friends despite their age difference.

Another weekend, Xing Lan accompanied President Chen to play golf. The two walked out of the course one after the other and went to the lounge.

As Mr. Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, he looked up at Xing Lan and asked casually, "Xiao Xing, I remember you graduated from Ningda University?"

Xing Lan nodded.

He had just finished exercising, and although he was a little sweaty, he didn't look disheveled at all. On the contrary, his hair was slightly damp, and his skin was flushed, giving him the air of a beauty emerging from a bath.

After wiping the sweat from his bald head, Mr. Chen changed the towel and carefully wiped his hands.

He smiled and turned to Xing Lan, saying, "What a coincidence, my daughter Xiaoxiao is also studying at Ningda University now, so she's your junior."

Chen Xiaoxiao is President Chen's only beloved daughter. When he thinks of her, President Chen's tone is full of affection: "She studies dance. She just won an award in some competition a couple of days ago. Oh dear, it's not anything serious. She's been showing off at home for quite a while."

"Dance students work very hard, and competitions are not easy," Xing Lan praised without reservation. "Xiao Xiao is very talented, and you should be happy for her."

"Oh, what's so great about it? She's already in college and can't even find a boyfriend." Mr. Chen shook his head with concern.

The next second, as if he suddenly remembered something, he patted Xing Lan on the shoulder.

“Xiao Xing, we’ve met a few times now. I can tell you’re a very ambitious young man, and you seem to have a special connection with our family.”

“We, as her parents, are getting older, and there’s a generation gap between us on many things. As her senior, if you could occasionally have a heart-to-heart talk with her and help her solve some minor problems with her studies, I would be so grateful to you.”

As Mr. Chen spoke, he took out his phone and tried to send his daughter's WeChat contact to Xing Lan.

Xing Lan pursed her lips, glanced down at his phone screen, and politely declined, saying, "Brother Chen, we have different majors, so I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help her."

"Besides, I graduated a while ago and don't know much about what's happening at school."

Upon hearing this, President Chen's expression immediately changed.

He frowned, glanced at the sky outside, and said with feigned surprise, "Oh dear, the sky outside is overcast. It looks like it's going to rain."

He turned his head, his tone tinged with regret: "Xiao Xing, I was planning to invite you fishing tomorrow, and maybe talk about renewing our contract. But now it seems..."

Xing Lan wasn't stupid; she could easily understand what President Chen meant.

While seemingly fretting about not being able to fish due to the bad weather, the real message is that if he doesn't agree to this request, he won't be able to do business.

Xing Lan has already spent a lot of time and energy making sure the food tastes good. If she abandons the project now, all her previous efforts will have been in vain.

He hesitated for a moment, but finally picked up his phone and added Mr. Chen's daughter on WeChat.

“Although I have already graduated, I still have some acquaintances from school.” Xing Lan thought for a moment and promised President Chen, “If Xiaoxiao needs help, I will do my best.”

Sure enough, President Chen immediately became happy and his attitude towards him made a complete 180-degree turn.

"Great! Great!" President Chen laughed heartily. "Xiao Xing, don't worry, I only have one precious daughter. As long as she's happy, anything is negotiable. So, I'll go see your President Liao tomorrow to discuss the contract renewal."

"Thank you, Mr. Chen."

-

After adding Chen Xiaoxiao on WeChat, Xing Lan politely chatted with her for a few minutes, asking if there was anything he could help with at school.

Chen Xiaoxiao is a very lively girl. As soon as she heard this, she immediately told Xing Lan that she really wanted to join the school's drama club, but she had failed the audition before, which was very frustrating.

Xing Lan didn't participate in any clubs during his university years, let alone a club like the Drama Club, which was full of passion and drama and seemed completely unrelated to him.

Although he didn't know much about the situation, since he had already promised Mr. Chen to help his daughter, he would do his best to handle the matter well.

During dinner that evening, Li Baidong noticed Xing Lan sitting at the table with a slightly furrowed brow and a serious expression, as if she had something on her mind.

He asked worriedly, "Brother, what's wrong? Are you still feeling unwell? Don't you have any appetite?"

Xing Lan raised her head and looked down at Li Baidong's handsome face.

He suddenly remembered that Li Baidong was also from Ningda University.

Xing Lan casually put her phone aside, picked up her chopsticks, and without serving herself any food, first served Li Baidong a piece of braised pork.

This was the first time Xing Lan had ever served him food at the dinner table, and it was his favorite braised pork. Li Baidong was flattered, and his eyes shone even brighter.

He looked up with a grin and said affectionately, "Thank you, brother. How did you know this is my favorite food?"

Xing Lan gave a blank "hmm".

He put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Does your school have a drama club?"

"Yes," Li Baidong said, somewhat surprised. "Brother, how did you know?"

“I also graduated from Ningbo University, of course I know,” Xing Lan replied calmly.

“I know, but…” Li Baidong frowned slightly, “Brother, I don’t think I’ve ever told you this before.”

"What did you say?" Xing Lan looked at his expression and suddenly became a little confused as well.

“They said I’m the new president of the drama club,” Li Baidong said with a smile. “I was just about to share this with you, but I didn’t expect you to say it first, brother.”

"...You're the president of the drama club?" Xing Lan asked incredulously.

“Yes.” Li Baidong looked at Xing Lan and slowly explained, “I joined the drama club in my freshman year. The former president stepped down this year because he was busy with graduation matters. Now I am the new president.”

Xing Lan was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized: "Then congratulations."

He stood up from the table, took a can of Coke from the refrigerator, pulled the tab, and poured it into the glass in front of Li Baidong.

Li Baidong couldn't figure out what Xing Lan was thinking. In such a short time, she was serving him food and pouring him drinks, being more attentive than ever before.

He turned to look at Xing Lan and asked uncertainly, "Brother, is something the matter?"

"It's nothing." Xing Lan finished pouring the drinks and returned to her seat, saying casually, "I just wanted to ask what the specific requirements are for your drama club when they recruit people?"

"There aren't any special requirements," Li Baidong said after thinking for a moment. "As long as you have good acting skills, strong expressiveness, and are not stage-frightened, that's fine."

Xing Lan nodded, and while eating, casually said, "I know a girl who is also from your school."

"A girl?" Li Baidong looked at him quietly, the smile still on his face.

"She studies dance, is very beautiful, and has a great figure." Xing Lan carefully chose her words, trying her best to say good things about Chen Xiaoxiao.

"Great figure?" Upon hearing these words, Li Baidong seemed to suddenly become interested. He stopped eating, subtly raised his eyebrows, and stared intently at Xing Lan.

Xing Lan didn't notice the deep and strange look in his eyes, and said frankly, "She has been dancing since elementary school. Dance students have requirements for their figure, so she must have a very good figure and strong physical expression."

Li Baidong clenched his fist, then relaxed it after a moment. He looked up and asked Xing Lan with a smile, "I understand. Brother, so what's her name?"

"Chen Xiaoxiao," Xing Lan said, "I heard she wanted to join your club a while ago, but you rejected her?"

Li Baidong shook his head: "I'm not too sure. Not long ago, I was just a regular member and wasn't responsible for recruiting people."

"But since you think she's good, I'll keep an eye on her more in the future."

Xing Lan nodded slightly and said, "Thank you."

Li Baidong chuckled twice and then lowered his head to continue eating.

Where Xing Lan couldn't see, a glint flashed in his eyes.

Halfway through the meal, Li Baidong paused, seemingly a little embarrassed, and said, "Brother, I just remembered that our club is actually full, and we're no longer recruiting."

"...Full?" Xing Lan was taken aback.

Li Baidong nodded, blinked innocently, and said, "If I make an exception and recruit her, some members might have a problem with me."

Xing Lan lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the porcelain bowl in her hand, her heart filled with conflict.

Honestly, he wanted to help Chen Xiaoxiao, to make President Chen happy and willing to re-sign the contract with the company.

But he didn't want Li Baidong to be criticized so soon after taking office; people were trying to help him out of kindness, and he couldn't let him be put in a difficult position.

In small societies like university clubs, personal reputation is still very important.

“Then so be it…” He was about to speak when Li Baidong interrupted him.

"It's okay, bro. I'll just treat everyone to a meal later. There's nothing a barbecue can't solve," Li Baidong said, tilting his head and speaking in a relaxed tone.

"Thank you for your help."

"No trouble at all." Li Baidong smiled, his dark eyes fixed on Xing Lan. "But, brother, I've gone to so much trouble to help you, how...how are you going to thank me?"

Xing Lan thought for a moment, then looked at him and said, "Shall I treat you to a meal?"

Li Baidong seemed to have been waiting for this, and smiled with narrowed eyes, saying in a light tone, "Okay, bro. I happen to know a really good restaurant, let's go together on Friday?"

A note from the author:

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The next chapter is the day after tomorrow o3o