Chapter 26

The next day, Xia Lanzheng was taken to the company by Chu Linchuan to attend acting classes.

In the past, they walked separately, but today Chu Linchuan took the initiative to let him get in the car, and the two of them entered the company gate together.

Xia Lanzheng wasn't stupid enough to ask directly. She called Yu Jiawei as soon as she entered the company and ran to the classroom for class without stopping.

"Let's go to Mr. Chu's office after class." Yu Jiawei stopped him.

Xia Lanzheng asked, "Why are you going to his office?"

"Go to class first," Yu Jiawei shook his head, "You'll know then, it's a good thing."

The acting teacher was an old artist in her seventies. Chu Linchuan visited her personally because she knew Xia Lanzheng's background.

But it was useless to say these things. She didn't give Xia Lanzheng any face. If it was good, it was good. If it was bad, it was bad. At first, she was very pleasant, but when Xia Lanzheng was reciting the lines, her eyebrows were furrowed.

The class lasted more than two hours, and some of Xia Lanzheng's bad habits were corrected. When the old artist left, his face looked better again.

"You have a high level of understanding. I'll think about it more when I get back."

Xia Lanzheng nodded and asked seriously, "I think there's still some problem. Do you want to continue for a while?"

The old artist raised his eyes and smiled: "Haven't I scolded you enough? Come on, there'll be another chance next time."

Xia Lanzheng knew she couldn't escape, so she lingered in the classroom until noon. This was her first time going to Chu Linchuan's office since joining the company. She couldn't find the office, so she was finally brought there by an assistant.

Yu Jiawei was waiting at the office door. Seeing him coming, he pulled him aside and whispered, "Wait a minute, Mr. Chu isn't done yet."

Xia Lanzheng glanced inside and saw Chu Linchuan standing by the floor-to-ceiling window answering the phone with a bad expression on his face.

The other party might have said something unpleasant, Chu Linchuan sneered, turned around and threw the documents on the table.

This was the first time Xia Lanzheng saw this expression on his face, and he subconsciously wanted to avoid it. Unfortunately, Chu Linchuan looked up and saw him, looked at him for a few seconds, and waved for him to come in.

Yu Jiawei was terrified and pushed Xia Lanzheng to let him in first. Chu Linchuan's voice came out as he opened the office door.

"That's enough."

"I don't pay you to show me plans like this."

Xia Lanzheng and Yu Jiawei didn't dare to move. Chu Linchuan hung up the phone without mercy, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyebrows: "Sit down."

Yu Jiawei also had a stack of documents in his hand. He heard the conversation clearly, and the veteran agent immediately lost his composure.

Xia Lanzheng touched her nose: "What's the matter?"

He thought Chu Linchuan would get straight to the point, but Chu Linchuan gave Yu Jiawei a look: "Did you bring it?"

Yu Jiawei didn't dare sit down and put the documents on the table.

Chu Linchuan picked it up and looked at the cover: "Okay, that's fine."

Yu Jiawei immediately understood and patted Xia Lanzheng on the shoulder: "Mr. Chu, Xiaoxia, I'll be leaving first. You guys chat."

He had just come in, put down his things and ran away. Standing outside, he met Xia Lanzheng's eyes, gave her a helpless look, grinned and gave a thumbs-up.

Chu Linchuan was flipping through the documents. When he saw the middle page, his expression froze. He looked up and shouted, "Yu Jiawei!"

Yu Jiawei didn't go far and hurried in with his head tilted high: "What's wrong, Mr. Chu?"

"Well," Chu Linchuan said, "Why did the guest list change?"

Yu Jiawei came over to look, and Xia Lanzheng cast a glance as well. Chu Linchuan pointed at the name "Cheng Lan" among them, clearly unhappy.

"I mentioned to you last time that the guest list prepared by the program team is subject to change at any time. Teacher Cheng only recently decided to accept this program."

Xia Lanzheng probably knew what was going on.

Brother Yu mentioned it once, saying that he had arranged a variety show for him and that he would record one episode, and he would be notified once the details were agreed upon.

Xia Lanzheng actually didn’t think it was a big deal. He and Cheng Lan were in the same circle, so it was inevitable that they would run into each other.

But looking at Chu Linchuan's attitude, he seemed unhappy?

Xia Lanzheng sat there without saying anything. Chu Linchuan flipped a few pages back and then turned back: "Nothing to change?"

"It's highly unlikely to change." If it were someone else, it would be fine, but Chu Linchuan was referring to Cheng Lan. Yu Jiawei hesitated, "Boss Chu, it's almost settled there."

Chu Linchuan raised his eyes and saw Xia Lanzheng sitting upright, oblivious to what was happening outside, pretending to be dumb again.

"I understand. You can go out now."

Only Xia Lanzheng and Chu Linchuan were left in the office. Neither of them made a sound, the only sound being the shuffling of papers.

After a while, Chu Linchuan handed the plan to Xia Lanzheng: "Take a look."

To be honest, Xia Lanzheng wasn't really interested. He rarely watched variety shows before, let alone participated in them.

However, when he saw the words at the top, he was no longer sleepy.

"Escape the secret room?" Xia Lanzheng sat up straight and turned back.

Chu Linchuan had expected this reaction: "Well, you like it."

Xia Lanzheng didn't look up: "How do you know I like it?"

"You've said that before."

Did you tell me that? He had no recollection.

Xia Lanzheng's eyes lit up more and more as she read. When she came to the guest list, she didn't turn any further but looked at the names over and over again.

Chu Linchuan noticed his expression and the corners of his mouth drooped.

It's no wonder he was overthinking things; Cheng Lan wasn't in the right mood yesterday. Chu Linyu was clearly already thirty years old, yet he was still acting like an idiot, laughing nonsensically.

Do you still think these two are children?

Chu Linchuan said: "If you mind, then don't go..."

Xia Lanzheng suddenly looked up: "When did Song Xinghuai sign with Xingpai?"

"who?"

Chu Linchuan took a moment to react, then saw the name Xia Lanzheng was pointing at and dug out the name from his memory.

The waiter who smashed the wine before.

"Just a few days ago, Lu Yanqing's people." Chu Linchuan said.

"Brother Lu?" Xia Lanzheng was stunned. "His people?"

"Well, the company has someone who has done the assessment, and there's nothing wrong with it."

Chu Linchuan was not willing to tell this to Xia Lanzheng. In fact, he was quite surprised when Lu Yanqing came to him.

Lu Yanqing is such a serious person, when did he start doing this?

Chu Linchuan tutted, "Why are you asking so many questions? Just give me a clear answer, are you going or not?"

Xia Lanzheng was conflicted. The show looked quite interesting, but it was a pity that she bumped into the main characters, the top and the bottom.

He read to the end in one breath, his eyes falling on the notice fee.

What, how much?

Hesitation for even a second longer is disrespectful to money.

"Go, I want to go."

Chu Linchuan looked at him several times, and it was obvious what made him relax: "Does the Chu family need you?"

"What?" Xia Lanzheng didn't hear clearly.

"Nothing," Chu Linchuan said, "I'll ask Yu Jiawei to help you sign the contract."

Afterwards, Chu Linchuan made several phone calls, including to the Legal Department, the Film and Television Department, and the Publicity Department... Xia Lanzheng was stunned. She was not so cautious the last time she joined the crew.

"So, what do you want from me?" Xia Lanzheng finished half a carton of probiotic yogurt on her desk. "Are you checking to see if I'm paying attention in class?"

Chu Linchuan took the yogurt away and didn't let him continue drinking: "Isn't this the end of the matter?"

Xia Lanzheng exclaimed, "That's it?"

Is it the boss' turn to talk to him about this?

"I've told your agent," Chu Linchuan folded his hands and looked at him, "all your future work will be reviewed by me."

Yu Jiawei was reliable, but Chu Linchuan was still a little worried. Firstly, he didn't want Xia Lanzheng to accept random scripts, and secondly, he couldn't let her approach artists with "reputation" in the industry.

Xia Lanzheng obviously didn't appreciate it: "I know, you're afraid I'll ruin the Chu family's reputation."

Chu Linchuan laughed angrily, stood up and ruffled his hair fiercely: "You are right to say so... Let's go and eat."

Xia Lanzheng asked while fixing her hair, "What do you want to eat?"

"What do you want to eat?"

"The spicy rice noodles downstairs are delicious," Xia Lanzheng followed into the elevator. "The braised chicken across the street is also good."

Chu Linchuan stood by the door and pressed the canteen floor: "The company hasn't been here many times, have you checked out all the restaurants around here?"

"Is there any problem?" Xia Lanzheng asked.

"Of course there's a problem." The elevator door opened, and Chu Linchuan got off first, holding out his hand to block the door. "You can't eat greasy food."

Xia Lanzheng followed Chu Linchuan with her hands folded behind her: "Why can't I eat?"

Chu Linchuan chose a window with a light taste: "Who got a fever when they ate something wrong as a child?"

He didn't even have to swipe his card. Auntie piled a mountain of beef on his plate, and he turned around and handed it to Xia Lanzheng.

"I was in poor health when I was a child, but I'm fine now." Xia Lanzheng almost couldn't hold it, and Chu Linchuan reached out to support it.

There were not many people in the cafeteria at this time. Xia Lanzheng found a place to sit down and then remembered what Chu Linchuan had just said.

He had always been in poor health in his previous life and would get a fever if he ate anything he didn't like. Was it the same for the original owner when he was a child?

Isn't that a bit too coincidental?

"Don't be distracted while eating." Chu Linchuan sat opposite and tapped the table with his knuckles.

"By the way," Xia Lanzheng took a sip of the sweet soup, "why do you like puzzles? Can you tell me?"

Chu Linchuan wiped the dishes with a paper towel: "Time passes very slowly when doing a puzzle."

Seeing that he was using his own cutlery, Xia Lanzheng complained silently in her heart but did not ask any further questions.

"Xia Lanzheng," Chu Linchuan said, "You should spend less time with Cheng Lan recently."

Xia Lanzheng: "Why?"

Chu Linchuan: "No reason, just listen to it, eat."

Xia Lanzheng hadn't figured out the flavor yet. Just as she picked up the beef, the table shook. The food in her chopsticks fell out, and a figure darted out from the side.

Cheng Lan appeared out of nowhere, put down his plate without saying a word, and sat down next to Xia Lanzheng.

Xia Lanzheng subconsciously looked at Chu Linchuan, but Chu Linchuan didn't look at him. He stared at Cheng Lan's face.

"Why are you in the company at this time?" Chu Linchuan asked.

Cheng Lan lowered his head, picked up a chicken drumstick and put it on Xia Lanzheng's plate, then said, "I just finished my vocal lesson."

Xia Lanzheng didn't dare to touch the chicken leg that Cheng Lan gave him with a cold face. He had been observing Cheng Lan for a long time. This man was moody and always weird. Recently, he seemed to have taken the wrong medicine.

Xia Lanzheng wanted to take the chicken leg back to him, but Chu Linchuan took action first.

"Eat it yourself," Chu Linchuan threw the chicken leg back onto Cheng Lan's plate. "Do you still have classes this afternoon?"

Cheng Lan looked up at him, but never met Xia Lanzheng's eyes.

"I have classes all day today."

Chu Linchuan looked at his and Xia Lanzheng's arms leaning against each other again, frowned unconsciously, and finally restrained himself from speaking.

Cheng Lan started to speak several times, and when he was about to say the word "Xia", Chu Linchuan interrupted him and changed the subject.

Xia Lanzheng didn't say anything, just pretended to be invisible and ate her meal quickly.

After finishing his meal, he didn't know whether he should leave first. He looked up and saw Chu Linchuan still drinking his soup slowly, so he sat there without moving.

Cheng Lan didn't leave after finishing his meal. While Chu Linchuan was wiping his mouth, he turned around and said, "Zheng Zheng, come to my house tonight to play games. I just bought a new disc."

Chu Linchuan coughed.

Xia Lanzheng locked eyes with Cheng Lan for the first time today, and she felt like something had changed about him. The emotion in his eyes was different from before, as if he was trying to be nice to her.

Are you dazzled? How is that possible?

Xia Lanzheng asked his brother for his opinion: "Is it okay?"

Chu Linchuan had a blank expression on his face: "Didn't I invite you? Why are you asking me?"

Xia Lanzheng slowly said "Oh," "Cheng Lan, I don't want to go."

Cheng Lan's eyes slowly widened, and then he turned around: "Why, your brother agreed."

Chu Linchuan said: "What did I agree to?"

Xia Lanzheng was silent, is this the point?

Cheng Lan blinked at him, then suddenly moved closer, avoiding Chu Linchuan's sight.

Xia Lanzheng's ears itched and she listened to what Cheng Lan said.

"Come on, I beg you."