Chapter 90 Zhu Qingzhi, the Fast Food Expert: It's nothing, just a small birthday. ...

"A request for leave?" Director Zheng was reviewing footage on the monitor, his face beaming with joy. But upon hearing Zhu Qingzhi's leave request, his expression immediately fell. "What is it?"

"Um...it's a private matter." Zhu Qingzhi sensed something was wrong, but she still forced herself to speak.

Director Zheng kept his eyes glued to the screen, completely unconcerned about her private affairs: "No approval."

The two-day break had actually been agreed upon by both parties beforehand, but it wasn't written into the contract. Zhu Qingzhi hadn't thought there was anything wrong with it before, but seeing Director Zheng's attitude now, she wasn't worried that he would renege on his promise.

She was worried that he had forgotten.

But directly reminding them seems likely to provoke conflict. Let's try appeasing them first.

"Just approve it! Two days, just two days!" Zhu Qingzhi took a deep breath and shamelessly pressed the pause button for him. "No delays, I promise!"

Director Zheng: "......"

What are these two young people up to? Wen Qi had just finished asking Zhu Qingzhi about her filming schedule, and Zhu Qingzhi immediately came to ask for leave.

There is definitely something wrong with it.

"Personal matters are too vague. You need to specify the details of your leave request." Director Zheng softened his expression, not showing it too obviously.

Zhu Qingzhi, in a very obsequious manner, handed the teacup to Director Zheng: "Someone in the family is having a birthday."

Birthday? It really is related to Wen Qi.

He slowly took it, blew on it, and didn't drink it right away. He even leaned back in his chair and said, "It's just a birthday celebration. We can have it next year."

“Next year is next year, this year is this year, it’s different, I…” Zhu Qingzhi was anxious and quickly stopped halfway through her sentence.

She forced an even sweeter smile, then knelt down beside the director's chair, softening her voice, "Director Zheng, please... just two days, I'll definitely catch up on the schedule when I get back, I'll make the most of every day!"

This was the first time he had ever seen Zhu Qingzhi act so coquettishly, somewhat like his own little daughter, but he wasn't buying it.

"What do you mean 'certainly'?" Director Zheng interrupted her, his lips twitching slightly as he suppressed a laugh, his face still stern. "Hundreds of people in the crew are waiting, and you just leave like that? That's called being disorganized and undisciplined!"

Zhu Qingzhi blinked twice. Why was Director Zheng reacting so strongly? Seriously, did he really forget?

As she frowned, trying to figure out how to get the leave approved, she caught a glimpse of Director Zheng's fingers lightly tapping the play button.

This is one indication that he is in a good mood.

Zhu Qingzhi immediately realized that Director Zheng seemed to be teasing her on purpose.

A sudden idea struck her, and she immediately adopted a more sincere expression, half-jokingly pleading, "Director Zheng, I was wrong! Next time we play chess, I'll give you a three-piece handicap, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Director Zheng's forced seriousness completely crumbled.

He burst into laughter, pointed at Zhu Qingzhi, and said to Producer Li, who had walked over unnoticed, "Old Wang, listen to this! This little brat dares to negotiate with me! Give me a three-point handicap? I wonder who lost three games to me last time!"

Producer Li, being easygoing, laughed along: "You volunteered to be tortured just to get leave? Qingzhi, that's not right of you. The leave was agreed upon long ago, and besides, Director Zheng isn't an unreasonable person, right?"

"Yes! You're absolutely right." Zhu Qingzhi immediately realized that Producer Li was there to support him, and she playfully pretended to massage Director Zheng's legs, "Director Zheng, you're the best!"

Director Zheng: "......"

He had indeed forgotten that the little girl had mentioned before that she would be taking two days off in early April.

He didn't let Zhu Qingzhi actually massage his legs. He leaned forward, drank some tea, and relented, "Whether it's good or not is another matter, just don't delay the progress."

"Thank you, Director Zheng! Thank you, Producer Li!" Zhu Qingzhi stood up without saying a word, and before leaving, she clasped her hands together with great sincerity. "Director Zheng, Producer Li, could you please not tell Wen Qi about my leave request?"

The two seasoned veterans exchanged a glance, somewhat puzzled.

Zhu Qingzhi suddenly became a little embarrassed, twisting her hands together like her braided pigtails: "He's abroad, he might not be able to make it back in time."

Director Zheng got goosebumps and shrugged, "Then what are you going back for?"

Zhu Qingzhi quickly held up five fingers, indicating "no," and her tone lost its previous affectation: "Just because he can't make it back doesn't mean I shouldn't prepare. What if he works overtime to avoid disappointing me? Director Zheng, you know how it is; when things are rushed, mistakes are more likely to happen!"

Director Zheng took a sip of tea and leaned back: "Oh, weren't you worried about his health?"

Zhu Qingzhi was taken aback by the question, two red clouds rose to her face, and her voice unconsciously lowered, but she still did not give an answer: "No."

“But if I don’t make mistakes at work, my health will naturally improve!” Zhu Qingzhi immediately straightened her back, speaking with an air of self-righteousness, “This way, I’m solving the problem at its root, which is more efficient.”

His unreasonable words made Producer Li, who was standing next to him, burst out laughing.

Director Zheng was so taken aback by her bizarre thought process that he was speechless for a moment, and almost dropped the teacup in his hand.

After a while, he put down his teacup and waved his hand impatiently: "...Alright, alright, finish filming today's two scenes. If you're not in good shape, don't even think about leaving!"

Zhu Qingzhi felt as if she had been granted a pardon. Her face instantly brightened, and she smiled so broadly that her eyes disappeared: "I guarantee to complete it to a high standard!"

After she finished speaking, she walked away lightly, her ponytail swinging behind her.

Watching her figure disappear around the corner, Producer Li finally couldn't help but shake his head with a smile and say to Director Zheng, "This girl is the most stubborn of all. She's clearly heartbroken for others, but she insists on talking about work efficiency."

Director Zheng snorted, picked up the walkie-talkie again, but couldn't suppress a smile: "Just like that kid Wen Qi! Remember when that kid came to visit the set last time? He clearly missed me, but insisted on coming to inspect the investment results. Those two are a match made in heaven."

*

When Zhu Qingzhi arrived in Beijing, it was already late at night. Gu Qiao volunteered to pick her up from the airport, and the two of them stayed at Gu Qiao's small apartment in the north of the city that night.

Gu Qiao pestered her to stay awake, her nose almost touching the tip of hers: "Why are you being so mysterious? Let me hear your plans!"

Zhu Qingzhi turned her face back and wrapped her up in layers of blankets: "Nothing much, just a little birthday celebration."

"A little birthday? That's all?" Gu Qiao, the silkworm baby, stared wide-eyed. "Do you think I'm stupid? Confess and you'll be treated leniently, resist and you'll be punished severely!"

"Actually, I haven't decided yet. He probably doesn't like big fuss." Zhu Qingzhi tidied Gu Qiao's messy hair, then took out her phone and snapped a picture of her. "So cute!"

"You've only just realized how cute I am?" Gu Qiao indulged in her narcissism for three seconds before quickly getting back into character.

She protested, wriggling inside the blanket, but with her hands and feet bound, she looked like a little turtle turned upside down. "Zhu Qingzhi! Don't try to change the subject!"

Zhu Qingzhi laughed and dodged her "headbutt" attack, supporting her shoulder to prevent her from falling to the ground: "Really, I'm not lying to you, I really haven't thought it through, but it's good enough to be able to accompany him."

Her eyes softened under the warm yellow light of the bedside lamp, sparkling with a longing and anticipation that Gu Qiao had only seen when she decided to enter the entertainment industry.

So she is truly happy.

The room was quiet for a moment. Finally, Gu Qiao took her hand out from under the covers, rested her head on Zhu Qingzhi's shoulder, and sighed softly.

"That's wonderful." Her voice was muffled, with a barely perceptible nasal tone. "Seeing you like this now, I'm truly happy for you."

Zhu Qingzhi felt a warmth in her heart, reached out and put her arm around her shoulder, gently rubbing her chin against the top of her head: "I know."

Some things don't need to be said; they both understand. They understand the struggles and hardships each other faced while striving for their dreams, and they also understand how precious this settled peace is.

But this silence only lasted a few seconds.

"But I really didn't expect Wen Qi to be such a good husband." Gu Qiao nudged her shoulder and said in a deliberately sour tone, "Hey? Who was it that swore back then that focusing on your career is better than dating and marriage?"

Zhu Qingzhi chuckled and bluntly called her out: "Come on, wasn't it you, Miss Gu, who said back then that 'Wen Qi is such an iceberg, just looking at him makes my teeth ache'?"

“Things change!” Gu Qiao raised her head confidently, her eyes sparkling. “Back then, who could have imagined that this iceberg would melt and reveal hot spring water inside? Not only did she help you resolve so many troubles, but she also supported your work so much.”

"Sigh, unlike me, not only can I not help you, but now I've been reduced to only being able to sleep in the same bed with you when Wen Qi isn't around. Sigh, I..."

Here we go again!

Zhu Qingzhi covered her mouth expressionlessly: "Go to sleep! Otherwise, I'm going home right now!"

Gu Qiao immediately shut up, blinked her big eyes, made a zipping motion with her mouth, and obediently shrank into the blanket.

The next morning, Zhu Qingzhi sent Wen Qi a "Good morning" message, and Wen Qi replied instantly: "[I just finished a social engagement, and I'm flying to China first thing tomorrow morning.]" A video call request then popped up.

Zhu Qingzhi didn't dare to answer at all, and finally ended the conversation hastily with the excuse that she was "overslept and would be late" before rushing off to carry out her packed schedule for the day.

She went to Jingshan Park to pray for a good luck charm, made a birthday cake, arranged flowers... and because she decided to cook at home for Wen Qi's birthday last night, Zhu Qingzhi, a fast food expert who can only cook instant noodles, also had to squeeze in a cooking class.

Around noon, she received another WeChat message from Wen Qi, a notification that he was preparing to board the plane. However, Zhu Qingzhi was a little puzzled because this international flight did not offer in-flight Wi-Fi.

However, she didn't have much time to think; she was engaged in a life-or-death struggle with a lively, wriggling fish.

As evening fell, Zhu Qingzhi finally returned home with a large pile of spoils. As soon as she got home, she didn't collapse on the sofa as usual, but instead got busy.

She yawned and went upstairs to the second floor only after everything was in place.

Although she was really tired, her heart was filled with a tender anticipation. She forced herself to stay awake until midnight, sending Wen Qi a "Happy Birthday!" message before finally falling asleep.

Zhu Qingzhi was half asleep when she received a phone call. She answered it instinctively and heard a familiar voice.

But there's a sense of unfamiliarity mixed with uncertainty.

"Still not done working?"

Zhu Qingzhi's mind was still shrouded in sleepiness, and she mumbled, "...I'm at home."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone. Wen Qi's voice became clearer, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible: "Which home?"

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Author's Note: Kiyoshi [starry-eyed]: I'm so happy!

Wen Qi [resting her chin on her hand]: Happy.

Ah Mei [eating melon seeds]: Happy~ Adding another chapter [shy]