Chapter 26 Unable to calmly admit that the water at home has been cut off, could I borrow your shower...?
Mo Ningzhi is actually quite lazy in some ways.
He's used the same social media account for years, never changing it. His current profile picture is an orange cat sleeping on its back under an osmanthus tree, a photo he took with Li Yan in a corner of the playground during middle school, and he's used it ever since. Back then, photography skills were lacking, and the photos weren't very pretty, but Mo Ningzhi was just too lazy to change them, and his nickname stuck with him for ten years: "Good Mo Ning."
Later, as I used more social media, I still stuck to using "Goodmorning" without fail.
But now, looking at the large blank chat window on her phone screen, Mo Ningzhi suddenly felt that the nickname was a bit jarring.
I just added Qin Weijin on WeChat, and before we even had a chance to chat, the chat window only showed the message: "You and Qin are now friends. You can start chatting now."
Mo Ningzhi hadn't forgotten Qin Weijin's teasing call that afternoon, and still felt embarrassed thinking about it now.
After staring at her phone for a while, and after a series of complex and careful considerations, Mo Ningzhi decided to change her nickname.
Changing a nickname is not an easy task; it requires the right timing, location, and a flash of inspiration. After much thought, Mo Ning finally moved her fingers and changed "Good Mo Ning" to "Good Cat Ning".
Qin Weijin had just gotten home and hadn't even changed his clothes when his phone chimed softly.
[Good Morning]: [Interview Transcript.docx]
[Good Morning]: This is the final version sent by the interviewee. The previous versions are invalid. Brother Jin, just look at this one.
Her profile picture was a cat, and her nickname was also "Cat." Qin Weijin recalled that Mo Ningzhi seemed gentle and harmless, but when provoked, she would stretch out her little claws to scratch people, revealing a bit of sharpness. She was indeed quite like a cat.
The nickname is well chosen.
【qin】: Hmm, are you home yet?
【Good Morning】: I'm back, on my way.
Good Morning!: [Image]
The photo was taken casually in a taxi, but it captured the characteristics of the scenery very well. The layers and composition were so beautiful that it could be used as wallpaper. However, Qin Weijin's attention was drawn to a corner of the photo—the outline of Mo Ningzhi's face was reflected in the dark glass. He was turned to the side, making his features appear somewhat round and soft.
It reminded Qin Weijin of a cat lazily stretching out in the sunlight.
What are you smirking about?
Qin Weijin's faint smile vanished instantly. Looking at Zhan Linzhou who was leaning closer, he flipped his phone over, covering the chat interface and simultaneously turning off the screen. "Stay away from me."
He looked so guilty that Zhan Linzhou instinctively felt there was something shady on his phone. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you in a relationship?"
"Who should I talk to?"
“...That’s true, wise men don’t fall in love, that’s the only thing about you that makes me feel at ease.” Zhan Linzhou muttered to himself for a while, then finally remembered the important matter, “Director Hou just called and said that the cast of Jiangshan Strategist might be changing this time.”
Qin for Jin: "Hmm?"
Generally, a contract is signed before filming begins. This contract binds both parties. Since such contracts involve many interests, the penalty for breach of contract is naturally high, so generally no one will break the contract midway.
Unless there is some major negative incident that affects the normal release of the show, the production team will not have to replace the actors at the last minute.
"The actor playing the second male lead was drunk driving and fled the scene of an accident. The police have already intervened. This matter can't be kept secret. In two hours at most, the news will be all over the place." Zhan Linzhou thought for a moment and said, "We're not filming tomorrow. Director Hou invited you to go to the audition with him to give your feedback. Xu Mingtiao will be there too."
"What time is it?"
"Ten o'clock."
"I understand, you can go back now."
Zhan Linzhou: "..."
He looked at Qin Weijin with hurt in his eyes, as if he were looking at a heartless bastard. "It's so late, and you still want me to go back?"
As he spoke, he walked familiarly toward the guest room, saying, "There are spare rooms at home, so I can make do for one night."
The new house is a duplex. Qin Weijin values privacy, and the master bedroom on the second floor is a private space that is generally not open to others. However, Zhan Linzhou had visited the house in person when he was choosing it and knew that there were also two bedrooms on the first floor.
Zhan Linzhou had often stayed at Qin Weijin's house before, so the two of them were already used to it. The guest room was dry and spotless, with a sealed cover on the mattress.
Zhan Linzhou tidied up casually and opened the cabinet to look for bedding.
Qin Weijin heard the sound of the wardrobe opening and closing in the living room. He didn't pay much attention at first, looking down at his phone. Two seconds later, he suddenly stood up and strode into the guest room. "Wait."
Zhan Linzhou froze: "What's wrong?"
Qin Weijin glanced at the items he was holding, lost in thought for a moment, and then said, "You can use the other set."
Zhan Linzhou: "What's wrong with this set? Didn't we move it from your previous room?"
Qin Weijin didn't say anything, took the quilt, and changed Zhan Linzhou's quilt without saying a word, "This one is big and comfortable to cover yourself with."
Zhan Linzhou, that idiot, believed him without any suspicion. He picked up the new quilt, dusted it off, and made the bed himself, not noticing that Qin Weijin didn't put the quilt he had taken back in the closet at all, but instead carried it directly back to the master bedroom.
...
The next morning, Mo Ningzhi saw negative trending topics on Weibo, and then received news that filming was suspended. Following Zhang Yuyu's new address, she arrived at the interview site.
"The Strategist" is currently a highly popular S-level adaptation drama. It is said that apart from the male and female leads, the other roles were gradually confirmed as early as half a year ago, and many male and female stars were vying for them. This time, a major role for the second male lead was opened up, which immediately caused another wave of auditions.
When Mo Ning found out, quite a few people had already arrived at the audition.
"Ningzhi, where are you now?" Zhang Yuyu called, her voice a little urgent.
Mo Ningzhi was standing downstairs waiting for the elevator, surrounded by several actors whose names she recognized. "Downstairs, is there something you need?"
He was wearing a mask, so his face couldn't be seen. In this kind of environment, he could easily be mistaken for an actor auditioning. As soon as he opened his mouth, several people around him glanced at him, intentionally or unintentionally.
"That's great. Could you please go to the car and get my first-aid kit for me? I can't leave right now."
Upon hearing this, Mo Ningzhi turned around and strode out, her brows furrowing: "Who's injured?"
"It's Xiao Guo. He accidentally scraped his shoulder blade and it's bleeding. I need a bandage and iodine." Zhang Yuyu's voice came from a noisy background, sometimes near and sometimes far, and she seemed very busy. "The first-aid kit is in the back seat. I've already told Xiao Liu to wait for you in the parking lot."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
After saying that, Mo Ningzhi breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't explain why he felt so relieved, but as soon as he breathed a sigh of relief, he felt quite sorry for Xiao Guo.
So, after retrieving the first-aid kit and taking it upstairs, Mo Ningzhi poured Xiao Guo a cup of hot water. Zhang Yuyu didn't leave while applying the medicine and bandaging, standing by and helping out, being very patient throughout.
It almost brought tears to Xiao Guo's eyes on the spot.
"Ningzhi, you're so good to me." Xiao Guo was touched: "I thought you were hard to get along with because you don't talk much usually, but I didn't expect you to be the slow-to-warm-up type. You care about me so much. I'll pack for you from now on."
"..." Mo Ningzhi was silent for a few seconds, then smiled: "You're too quick to be moved."
"ah?"
"Yuyu, tie a big bow on his head." After saying that, he glanced at the medicine box seriously, "Do you have any pink bandages?"
Xiao Guo: "..."
Zhang Yuyu laughed at him from the side, "Aren't you just cursing someone to get hurt again?"
"That's not what I meant," Xiao Guo said hastily, trying to stand up, but her wound was poked by Zhang Yuyu's cotton swab, causing her to burst into tears from the pain. "I spoke too quickly. I just wanted to express my gratitude."
"I understand." Mo Ningzhi patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Get some rest. I'll go check on Brother Jin."
“Okay, he’s all alone right now, so you can go and keep him company.”
Mo Ningzhi saw Qin Weijin sitting with Hou Qing outside the audition venue, just as the first round of auditions had finished.
"Are you here for an audition too?" A strange voice came from beside me.
Mo Ningzhi turned her head and found a man standing next to her at some point. He was wearing sunglasses and his features looked somewhat familiar.
The other person stood beside him, casually observing the audition scene. "I'm the same as you. Which company are you from? I've never seen you before."
Upon hearing the voice, Mo Ningzhi finally remembered that the person's name was Ling Mo. He debuted in a talent show six years ago and won the hearts of many female fans with his excellent appearance and outstanding performance. His career has been on the rise in recent years, and he has held several large-scale singing and dancing concerts in the first half of this year.
With such popularity and talent, why would someone compete for a supporting male role?
“I’m not an actor.” Mo Ningzhi withdrew her gaze.
Ling Mo chuckled twice: "Don't underestimate me. I'm very good at judging people. You probably haven't debuted yet, right? Are you here today to audition for other roles?"
At that moment, a voice rang out from the audition room: "Next."
Ling Mo winked at Mo Ningzhi, straightened his clothes, and walked in gracefully. "Director Hou, everyone, I'm Ling Mo."
The audition office has a completely transparent glass wall, so Mo Ningzhi can clearly see the people inside and what is happening, but she can't hear what they are saying.
Ling Mo's appearance is among the best of all the trainees in recent years. He has delicate eyebrows and bright features, and his appearance is very close to that of the righteous and evil male second male lead in the drama. If he performs well, he might actually win the role of the male second lead.
As I was looking at it, a thought suddenly flashed into my mind.
Mo Ningzhi felt that she must have heard the name Ling Mo elsewhere...
At this moment, Qin Weijin seemed to glance in his direction, then beckoned to his female assistant, who nodded and bowed.
Their heads slowly leaned together, an indescribable intimacy.
Mo Ningzhi glanced at that corner several times, her expression subtle.
A short while later, the young female assistant came out of the scene and suspiciously approached Mo Ningzhi, "Are you Qin Weijin's assistant?"
Mo Ningzhi was surprised for a second: "It's me."
"Teacher Qin wants you to come in," the female assistant said. "Come with me."
Mo Ning didn't know why Qin Weijin had called him at this time. There was an audition going on inside, but Hou Qing and Xu Mingtiao didn't object, so he followed the assistant in through the back door.
As soon as he entered the scene, Ling Mo bowed with a beaming smile, "Thank you, Director Hou, I am honored to have this opportunity."
It seems the vacant role has been officially decided.
"Brother Jin, you called for me." He whispered in Qin Weijin's ear.
"Actually, it was me who was looking for you," Hou Qing said from the side.
Mo Ningzhi subconsciously looked at what resembled Qin and Jin.
Hou Qing chuckled, "Why are you looking at him? I'm not going to eat you. Although Wei Jin said you have no intention of entering the industry, I still want to give it a try. Your image is very suitable for the bodyguard that the male lead befriends later on. My judgment is never wrong. How about it, do you want to give it a try?"
Mo Ningzhi has no interest in acting. He used to be an outsider with only a superficial understanding of the industry. Now that he is Qin Weijin's assistant and can be considered half an entertainment industry person, he still has no interest in this industry.
He said tactfully, "Director, I can't act."
“Acting skills can be cultivated. You’re not stupid. I’ll hone your acting skills on set. After filming one drama, I guarantee you’ll become famous.”
Mo Ningzhi still wasn't interested. He had worked as an entertainment reporter and an assistant, and he knew all too well how difficult it was for artists. Even someone like Qin Weijin, who was in such a position, couldn't avoid irregular meals and disordered schedules, and had to schedule every minute of his day.
Most importantly, there will be countless cameras constantly spying on and observing.
Mo Ning knew perfectly well that she was not a perfect saint, and that entering the entertainment industry would be a disaster for both herself and others.
Let's forget about it.
He looked up and met Hou Qing's warm and expectant gaze, and he couldn't bring himself to say anything forceful.
"Director Hou," Qin Weijin stood up at this moment, "there are so many actors waiting for news outside, so don't try anything with my assistant."
Hou Qing could also see that Mo Ningzhi's heart was not in this matter, and sighed regretfully, finally giving up the idea completely. "Why are you in such a hurry? Asking a couple of questions won't take it away from me."
When he failed to take the person away, he got angry and said, "Go away, all of you, I want to be alone."
Xu Mingtiao poked her head out from behind her. "Director, can I leave now?"
Hou Qing glared at her: "Go, go, go."
Xu Mingtiao quickly got up and packed her things. "Great! I finally have a day off, so I won't stand on ceremony. I'm heading back now. See you on set when filming starts!"
Leaving behind a joyful tilde, Xu Mingtiao dashed off in a flash.
Hou Qing: "..."
"So, I invited you here today because I've disturbed your rest?"
Qin Weijin glanced at his watch and said rather bluntly, "It's alright, it only took half a day, we still have time."
"..."
Hou Qing was so angry that he kept telling Hou Qing to get lost.
...
After leaving the audition, Mo Ningzhi followed Qin Weijin downstairs. Halfway down, he remembered something, "Yu Yu and Xiao Guo are still upstairs."
"They're already downstairs," Qin Weijin said.
Mo Ningzhi nodded. "What are we going to do this afternoon?"
"Nothing much," Qin Weijin said. "Just going home to rest."
Since joining the company, Mo Ningzhi has seen Qin Weijin work like a machine, rarely taking a break. The total working hours added up to no more than two days, which is more arduous than the work of an ordinary ox or horse, but the pay is much higher.
After exiting the elevator, he followed Qin Weijin.
"Hey, Brother Jin!" Ling Mo ran over from a secluded spot, shouting loudly, which attracted many people nearby to turn around and look. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Qin Weijin took a step back: "Is there something you need?"
Ling Mo smiled brightly, scratching his head like someone meeting their idol for the first time and feeling flustered. "This is my first time working on such a popular drama, and I'm a little worried. I'm afraid I'll hold everyone back, so I wanted to ask you for some advice. Could you tell me some things to keep in mind?"
Ling Mo's main focus is singing and dancing, and acting is a secondary path. He has acted in several movies over the years, but none of them have been very successful. His acting skills are not bad, but they are not particularly amazing either. It is understandable that he wants to learn from his seniors in private.
But Qin Weijin's attitude surprised Mo Ningzhi: "For matters related to filming, you should ask the director and producer."
It wasn't enthusiastic, but it wasn't indifferent either.
His emotions remained tense and awkward, and Mo Ningzhi could detect a hint of evasion in his tone.
"But I'm not that close to the director. Brother Jin, are you free this afternoon? My house is nearby, want to come over for a drink?"
Even someone as socially awkward as Mo Ningzhi could tell that Ling Mo wasn't actually looking for advice on filming details. He kept offering to humbly ask for guidance and then showing up for tea.
At the same time, Mo Ningzhi also realized that Qin Weijin didn't want to make things too ugly. After all, they would be filming in the same production crew in the future. If this character exploded again, Mo Ningzhi was sure that Hou Qing would explode on the spot.
"Brother Jin," he said, "we're going to be late for the afternoon's schedule."
Qin Weijin turned and glanced at him, his eyes filled with pleasure and appreciation.
Mo Ningzhi gave him a sly smile.
During their rare break, Zhang Yuyu and Xiao Guo were both very excited. Qin Weijin, understanding their hard work during this period, gave each of them a red envelope containing 10,000 yuan and told them to make their own arrangements for the afternoon.
“Brother Jin! You’re like my own brother!” Zhang Yuyu said.
Xiao Guo chuckled, holding his phone, "Thanks, Brother Jin."
Looking at the neat row of zeros in the chat box, Mo Ningzhi recalled the red envelopes Qin Weijin had sent in the fan group yesterday and realized that he was much more generous than rumored.
Before becoming an assistant, Qin Weijin was known for mistreating his assistants, being stingy, and having a bad temper. In those people's descriptions, he was said to be so stingy that he would split a blood-stained bun into six meals.
But this person, who has such a stingy reputation, gives his assistant a red envelope containing 10,000 yuan.
Mo Ningzhi suddenly understood the scene when she bumped into Zhang Yuyu on her first day at work. There were all sorts of negative rumors circulating about her, and her assistants were still calling her "Brother Jin" and protecting her like crazy.
How can we not protect it?
Such an equal, mutually beneficial, and caring relationship is bound to be stable and long-lasting.
...
Mo Ningzhi was too tired during this period and had no intention of going out to play. She just wanted to go home and fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. It didn't matter if she couldn't fall asleep, as lying down was comfortable enough.
But he had only been home a short time when there was a knock on his door.
At the same time, my phone rang.
【qin】: Are you asleep?
Mo Ningzhi opened the door directly.
Outside the door, Qin Weijin was wearing an oddly fitting long overcoat and slippers, his slender calves exposed to the air. As soon as the door opened, a moist and rich fragrance wafted in.
"Brother Jin? Is something the matter?"
Qin Weijin nodded helplessly, "The water's off at home, could I borrow your bathroom?"
Mo Ningzhi then noticed that Qin Weijin's hair was damp and there were water stains around his Adam's apple. He stepped aside and said, "Come in."
The afternoon sun was intense, piercing through the glass and cutting large golden rhombuses into the living room. Perhaps the sunlight was too dazzling, for a moment Mo Ningzhi felt that Qin Weijin seemed to be smiling.
A very subtle smile.
"The bathroom is on your left. The towels are all clean, feel free to use them."
Qin Weijin paused as he entered the room, staring at the towel for a while, seemingly lost in thought, before finally stepping into the bathroom. "Thanks."
Mo Ningzhi only snapped out of his daze when he heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. He had been standing like a fool at the bathroom door for quite some time.
He blinked his vacant eyes slightly, his gaze slowly withdrawing from the frosted door, then processing the vaguely visible body he had just seen into his mind.
Mo Ningzhi ran back to the sofa and sat down, then picked up her phone and opened Weibo. She was usually quite adept at following gossip, but this time she couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.
The rushing water disturbed his peace.
Mo Ning looked at the bathroom countless times, unable to pinpoint what was wrong, but the feeling he got from Qin Weijin taking a bath at his house was completely different from the feeling he got from Li Yan taking a bath at his house.
If it were Li Yan, he wouldn't even notice what the other person was wearing.
Is it because Li Yan is closer to him?
“Clatter.”
Before he could figure it out, the bathroom door opened.
The rich scent of sage immediately filled the narrow space, and he and Qin Weijin met eyes from a distance of a few meters.
"..."
After about ten seconds of silence, Mo Ningzhi suddenly looked away, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
He felt a bit hot from the sun, so he casually picked up his backpack and phone from the side and said, "It's getting late, I'll head back now."
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