Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Shen Qingyuan was taken aback; she had never given a direct answer to this question to anyone before.
After a long pause, she replied, "Well, I'm just tired. I don't want to be a doctor anymore." Instinctively, Shen Qingyuan tried to brush it off.
"Impossible!" Ye Chuyang looked at her, his gaze unwavering. "I remember you said in high school that you wanted to be a doctor. That was your dream."
Many years ago, at a class meeting, everyone had to state their future career aspirations and target universities. He remembered that a beautiful young girl stood up from her seat and clearly stated that she wanted to be a doctor in the future.
Because doctors can save lives and heal the wounded, it is a noble profession.
-
It's rare for anyone to remember something from so long ago.
Shen Qingyuan thought to herself that she was still a doctor, and a private doctor was still a doctor. She wasn't tired of this profession.
“Of course, being a private doctor is alright. The income is good, and it’s a relaxed job. After all, it’s my livelihood, and I have to make a living. I can’t just give it all up.” Shen Qingyuan looked up at him and smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
She tried to gloss over the issue. As for the reason for leaving Jicheng, she didn't want to talk about it now. Perhaps one day she would tell the truth, when she had truly let go of her resentment.
Ye Chuyang wanted to say something, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by a sudden ringing of the telephone.
Shen Qingyuan took out her phone; it was a familiar number, and the location of the number was Jicheng.
"Excuse me, I need to take this call."
Shen Qingyuan spoke as she walked out.
In the afternoon, Xiao Chao booked her a standard room, specifically choosing one on the same floor as Ye Chuyang's room.
The room key was in her jeans pocket. Shen Qingyuan checked the room number and used the key to open her room door.
The phone rang for a long time, persistently, as if eagerly awaiting a response from the phone's owner.
After entering the room, she pressed the answer button.
"Hello."
There was a few seconds of hesitation on the other end of the phone before the voice said, "Qingyuan, you've finally answered my call."
It was a male voice, slightly hoarse with a hint of weariness.
-
After Shen Qingyuan left, Xiao Chao came out of the small room, carrying bedding that had been treated with a mite remover.
"Hey, what's that call? I have to go out to answer it." Xiao Chao had obviously heard Shen Qingyuan's phone ringing and asked with a mischievous gossip, "Could it be Sister Shen's boyfriend?"
“No,” Ye Chuyang said.
He wasn't sure either, but he just subconsciously felt that it wasn't.
Xiao Chao's eyes widened: "Brother Yang, how did you know that you and Dr. Shen even talked about this?"
Ye Chuyang frowned slightly, remembering that he had been unusually talkative today, and it seemed that she didn't know where to begin when trying to lecture him.
"So noisy!"
I'll give him two concise words.
Ye Chuyang suddenly remembered something, "What time will the script meeting start tomorrow?"
“11 a.m., but it might be delayed,” Xiao Chao said. “I saw Ning Xin’s agent in the group say that they will fly over from Shanghai tomorrow, so they might arrive a little later.”
Xiao Chao snorted, "She's not that much of a celebrity. Even you, Yang, in your wheelchair, can show up on time, but she's already putting on airs."
Ye Chuyang changed his posture and gave a perfunctory "hmm," seemingly not caring much.
-
The sun set quickly, leaving only a small patch of crimson light in the western sky. This light was fading at a visible rate.
Shen Qingyuan was still holding the room key in her hand. She didn't put the room key into the power outlet, and the room was dark.
The air freshener smells a bit strong; it's the same old lemon scent.
Shen Qingyuan walked to the window and looked out.
There's not much of a view outside the window. The film and television industry has developed rapidly in recent years, and Hengdian has built many supporting facilities; this area is full of hotels. They're all similar buildings, crammed together, utterly lacking in aesthetic appeal.
"Sun Zhi, long time no see," Shen Qingyuan said into the phone. "What's up?" Her voice was calm, revealing no emotion.
The person on the other end of the phone felt a sudden tightness in their chest.
"Qingyuan, I heard you've found a job as a private doctor."
She knew that if even one person in the hospital knew about her situation, it would eventually reach Sun Zhi's ears. She hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
Shen Qingyuan gave a muffled "hmm" and then fell silent.
Sun Zhi waited for a while, and seeing that she didn't seem to want to start a conversation, he said gently, "Qingyuan, I'm really happy for you. I was worried that you would be discouraged."
"Thank you, Sun Zhi." Shen Qingyuan's tone softened, becoming calm and slightly distant. This was generally her attitude towards people she didn't know well.
Based on Sun Zhi's understanding of Shen Qingyuan, she wasn't the type to immediately run away when disappointed in someone, uttering hurtful words in a decisive manner, severing all ties, and never speaking to them again. She was calm, rational, and relied on reason more than emotion.
Years of high-pressure, high-intensity professional medical training have further enhanced these characteristics.
Therefore, she still answers his calls.
Sun Zhi used to think that Shen Qingyuan was good in this respect; she wasn't so emotional, unlike most girls.
During his student days, he had heard some male classmates talk about their girlfriends being unreasonable and dramatic. This made him appreciate Shen Qingyuan even more.
However, too much of a good thing can be bad. Being too calm and rational isn't always a good thing; it's like a pile of damp firewood that won't light. Fortunately, he wasn't a rich young master from a romantic novel, so he didn't have that much tenderness and affection to shed.
It would be better to use that energy to read more papers or perform more surgeries.
“I called you before, but you wouldn’t answer.” Sun Zhi said carefully. “Qingyuan, where are you now? I want to rest for a few days and then come to talk to you.”
Shen Qingyuan thought for a moment and said, "I'm sorry, it's not convenient for me to reveal where I am right now. I signed a confidentiality agreement with my employer." Indeed, the contract she signed with Ye Chuyang contained a thick stack of confidentiality agreements, even thicker than the contract itself.
Sun Zhi was taken aback, feeling that this excuse was rather perfunctory. Could it be that he had become some leader's private doctor?
"Qingyuan, there's a misunderstanding between us. How about we talk it out in person? After we meet, I'll respect your decision no matter how it goes!"
“Sun Zhi,” Shen Qingyuan sighed softly, “aside from our past relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, we were also alumni and colleagues, and we may have academic exchanges in the future… I don’t want any new changes.”
Sun Zhi sighed, unable to maintain his composure and patience any longer.
There was no hysteria, no tearful outburst. She didn't even want to see him again. Two extremely rational people often resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently.
Never drag things out.
“Shen Qingyuan, you can be really cruel sometimes,” he said.
-
The script meeting was indeed delayed by more than an hour.
Producer Mr. Lü was somewhat dissatisfied, but he tolerated it. Although Ning Xin wasn't the biggest star, she was a rising star this year, and the drama she was currently starring in had good ratings and reviews, so her future looked promising.
President Lü currently has two rising stars in his arsenal. Su Liao goes without saying; he can carry a drama and has a large fan base. With Ning Xin added to the mix, as long as filming and production go smoothly, the project shouldn't encounter any major problems. It's practically a sure-fire way to make money.
Ms. Lü secretly resolved that once the project was launched, she would burn three sticks of incense every day to pray to the gods and Buddhas for its success.
Ning Xin and her agent, Sister Xu, arrived late.
Sister Xu was quite self-aware. As soon as she arrived, she bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle to apologize to everyone. She also took the blame for being late, saying that it wasn't Ning Xin's fault, but rather that she, as the agent, hadn't coordinated the project schedule properly.
Everyone just laughed it off.
Ning Xin followed Sister Xu in bowing, but not at a full 90 degrees; the bow was much shallower.
"I'm so sorry, teachers, I'm late."
When everyone looked up, a stunningly beautiful woman in a short skirt, revealing her long, slender legs and exquisitely beautiful features, stood gracefully, a picture of elegance in herself.
A gentle breeze carries a sweet fragrance, accompanied by soft, whispering voices.
To exaggerate a bit, it was like a refreshing breeze, making even the infamous sweltering heat of Hengdian seem less intense.
Her figure is obviously too thin, almost too thin. But that's not surprising, given that people in this industry need to be photogenic.
Who cares if the beautiful actress is late? The director said it's fine, as long as the male and female leads aren't late when filming officially starts, he has no objections.
Everyone laughed.
This means they've already "selected" two lead actors in advance. Even the biggest stars can tolerate being late or leaving early occasionally, but if it happens too often, who can stand it? It's best to give them a warning beforehand to avoid any unexpected problems that could delay the project and make things awkward for everyone.
Staff members invited Ning Xin and Sister Xu to sit down.
Ning Xin sat up gracefully, head held high and chest out, her gaze sweeping over the directors, screenwriters, producers, planners, and other main actors present... finally landing on Ye Chuyang's face, just as Ye Chuyang's gaze also fell upon her, and their eyes met.
Ye Chuyang nodded in acknowledgment.
Ning Xin quickly smiled and waved to him, "Long time no see, Su Liao."
Mr. Lü astutely noticed, "Su Liao, you and Ning Xin knew each other before, right?"
"We've met at work," Su Liao said with a faint smile. "I've greeted Teacher Ning."
"No way, I remember you two were with the same agency when you debuted?" a male planner suddenly said.
Everyone was a little stunned when he said that.
Su Liao's road to fame wasn't smooth. After graduating, he spent several years playing minor roles, gradually building his reputation step by step. In fact, the company he initially signed with had long since gone bankrupt, and he was sidelined for a year before switching to his current well-known agency.
With nothing better to do, who wants to reminisce about past hardships and appreciate present happiness?
Revealing someone's secrets is a bit inappropriate. Although the male planner may not have had any ulterior motives, he just suddenly thought of mentioning it.
Ye Chuyang didn't respond, his expression indifferent.
Ning Xin didn't respond, but she quickly glanced at Ye Chuyang to observe his reaction.
Seeing that no one paid any attention to him, the male planner could only awkwardly say, "I'm sorry, I might have remembered it wrong!"
Director Biao laughed and said, "These days, audiences love shipping couples. It's even better if the male and female leads have chemistry. I have a suggestion: if you two have the time, you should get to know each other beforehand and build up your chemistry!"
Ye Chuyang readily agreed, "Of course, since the director said so, we'll definitely work together to maintain a good relationship in private."
Ning Xin chimed in, "Even if the director hadn't said anything, I would have liked to ask Su Liao for more advice. I really admired his acting in his last work!"
"But let's not go overboard," Mr. Lü said with a chuckle. "It's not good if the gossip outweighs the work itself during the promotion of the drama. Just kidding, haha! We're all professional actors, we'll definitely know our limits!"
Everyone: Hahahaha...
There's a reason why Mr. Lü suddenly said that. He had a project before where the male and female leads fell in love while filming and started dating.
However, the good times didn't last long. After filming wrapped, editing and scheduling were completed, and by the time the promotional period arrived, more than a year had passed.
As it turns out, the male and female leads broke up! And it wasn't a pleasant affair. They didn't even want to come during the promotional period because they disliked each other and were reluctant to appear on stage together, let alone engage in any intimate gestures to promote the event.
It was a complete mess.
In previous years, hype relied on romantic rumors, which worked every time. But the trend has changed in recent years. On stage, the male and female leads can kiss, hug, and lift each other up, but off stage, they have to avoid suspicion.
Mr. Lü thought to himself, "When I burn incense, I should ask the Bodhisattva for an extra favor: The male and female leads shouldn't fall in love! If they absolutely have to, please don't break up during the promotional period!"
After the pleasantries, the next step was to review the project, with the lead actors reading lines from famous scenes according to their respective roles.
Everyone was quite excited about the new project and was determined to do it well, so the atmosphere was great, and laughter could be heard from the meeting room from time to time.
Xiao Chao stood guard at the door. Seeing that it was almost noon and the meeting showed no signs of ending, he took out his phone and ordered two takeout meals.
The light meal was ordered for Ye Chuyang, with a note specifying no sauce. No doubt, with filming about to begin, Ye Chuyang would definitely need to strictly control her weight.
Xiao Chao couldn't stand the food that cows and horses ate, so he ordered braised pork ribs for himself.
-
When the atmosphere is good, the process moves quickly.
Although Ning Xin's lateness caused a slight delay, the script discussion meeting still concluded successfully before 1 p.m.
The staff packed up and left; some had plans to have dinner together, while others were rushing to catch the afternoon's high-speed train or plane. The scene was bustling with activity.
Xiao Chao peeked around as the people in the conference room came out. Ye Chuyang was still in his wheelchair, engrossed in reading a thick stack of scripts. He showed no intention of coming out.
Well, I'm in there again.
Xiao Chao was used to this scene; that's why people say artists are often a bit eccentric and easily get lost in their own world.
At times like these, Ye Chuyang hated being disturbed the most. Xiao Chao wisely continued to wait; after all, his job was to serve people.
Why hasn't my takeout arrived yet?
I checked my order on my phone, and lo and behold, the address was the hotel! The delivery guy was already near the hotel.
The office building where the script meeting was being held wasn't far from the hotel, but it was still about five or six kilometers away. Xiao Chao hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask someone for help.
"Sister Chen, I'm so sorry, I filled in the wrong address for the takeout. I think the delivery guy is almost here, and a robot will probably deliver it. Could you please help me receive the food?"
Shen Qingyuan said, "Okay, no problem. Will you eat when you get back?"
As they were talking, sure enough, a food delivery robot in the hallway announced in a cute little girl voice: "3514, your meal has arrived."
Shen Qingyuan opened the door.
Their medical profession is an ancient craft that doesn't rely much on artificial intelligence, so she was quite curious about the food delivery robot. After picking up her meal, she watched the robot slowly glide away and into the elevator before closing the door.
At that moment, Xiao Chao subconsciously glanced at the conference room. Besides Ye Chuyang, why was the female lead, Ning Xin, still there? And the two of them were even chatting!
They say opposites attract. Are the male and female leads going to cultivate their feelings for each other beforehand?!
Xiao Chao lowered his voice and whispered into the microphone, "...Sis, if it's convenient, could you bring the takeout over? Yang Ge might not be able to get back for a while. I'll send you the address via WeChat..."
-
There were only two people left in the meeting room.
The meeting ended amidst a flurry of activity. Ye Chuyang decided to wait until everyone had left before calling Xiao Chao in, since he was currently unable to move around easily.
Ye Chuyang read the script for a while, and one particular scene was quite well-written; he was somewhat mesmerized. Thinking about becoming the male lead, he unconsciously began to imagine how he would portray the scene.
When Ye Chuyang came to his senses, he realized there was another person in the conference room.
It's Ning Xin.
Their eyes met, then they looked away.
Since it wasn't a public event, Ye Chuyang didn't wear makeup or style his hair today, just a hat. After all, he's a grown man; if he weren't in this industry, he wouldn't need to wear cosmetics every day.
His gaze lowered, the shadow of his hat brim falling over him, revealing only a faint glimmer in his eyes, which appeared flickering and uncertain from a distance.
Ning Xin spoke first, "I saw the news and knew you were injured, but I didn't expect it to be so serious."
When most people see a patient in a wheelchair, they immediately assume that the injury is very serious.
Before Ning Xin arrived, the team members had already been showering Ye Chuyang with concern and care.
The producer knew his condition best and was most anxious about it, even consulting Ye Chuyang's orthopedic doctor. With filming about to begin and preparations largely complete, stopping now would mean all the money was wasted.
Ye Chuyang glanced at Ning Xin: "It's nothing. I've talked to the producer. We'll shoot the dialogue scenes first, then the action scenes. It won't delay the filming schedule."
Such an official answer... but she didn't seem to care about the filming schedule.
A strange sadness appeared on Ning Xin's face. She was a natural beauty, and when she was sad, she was truly touching.
“Filming is intense, and it’s hard to get proper rest. Are you really… okay?” Ning Xin sighed and said softly, “Should I have your agent talk to the producer and move the schedule back by a week or two? My schedule is fine, and I’m willing to cooperate.”
When they were most exhausted, they only slept three or four hours a day. Even a second-tier actress like Ning Xin had such an experience, let alone first-tier male actors who have many action scenes.
It hasn't been easy for anyone to get to where they are today...
"Thank you, Ning Xin." Ye Chuyang looked away. "But it's alright. I've hired a private doctor to accompany the crew. If there are any problems, I'll communicate with the production team." Thinking of Shen Qingyuan, Ye Chuyang's lips curled up slightly.
Ning Xin noticed this slight smile.
“I should be thanking you,” Ning Xin said with a wry smile. “When the production company told me you were the male lead, I didn’t think I had much of a chance of being cast as the female lead. With your status, changing the female lead would be a piece of cake.”
Ye Chuyang raised her eyebrows. "The production company gave two actresses as options. Your fan base and acting skills are decent, and you're an artist on the rise. You're more suitable than the other one."
One of the investors, a second-largest shareholder, had a share of Ning Xin's earnings from her agency contract, which is why they recommended her. The male lead, of course, also had a say.
These words were undoubtedly affirmative, but for some reason, Ning Xin felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She couldn't help but blurt out, "A-Yang...I..."
"Ning Xin," Ye Chuyang interrupted her, "then, please take care of me from now on!"
Ning Xin suddenly felt that although the two of them were in the same room, there seemed to be a great distance between them.
She fell silent for a moment, somewhat lost in thought. Then she suddenly wondered if these two, if they were to play a couple, could they truly create the so-called "chemistry"? Or would it all come down to acting skills?
The thought of spending four or five months together day and night suddenly made Ning Xin feel a sense of insecurity and burden, and her expression changed slightly.
“The project is the most important thing,” Ye Chuyang said calmly, seemingly noticing her confusion. “For the next project, the cooperation and chemistry between the male and female leads are crucial. If… you feel it’s inconvenient, or have other considerations, you can also tell the producer that you’re withdrawing from the role. I have no problem with that.”
"No, it's not inconvenient at all!" Ning Xin replied immediately. "I really like the team and the script. It's an S+ project, so there's no reason for me not to take it." She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "This project might even help me level up. I have to take it seriously!"
Sure enough, it's still Ning Xin, Ye Chuyang thought to himself.
"That's good. You've always been very rational," Ye Chuyang said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Ning Xin wasn't sure if his comment was a veiled insult or a genuine compliment, but it didn't really matter.
There were voices outside the door. What they were saying was nothing special, just words with implied meanings, and they weren't afraid of being overheard.
"Well then, Mr. Su Liao, take good care of yourself. See you at the opening ceremony!"
-
Shen Qingyuan hailed a taxi according to the address and headed out. The road conditions were good, and she arrived in about ten minutes.
She entered the office building and took the elevator upstairs. While waiting for the elevator, Shen Qingyuan called Xiao Chao to tell him that she had arrived.
Xiao Chao's voice was very low, and the signal in the elevator was poor, so she couldn't hear him clearly. In the blink of an eye, the elevator went up to the floor she pressed.
Seeing Xiao Chao standing by a glass door in the distance, Shen Qingyuan quickly went over and said, "Xiao Chao, lunch is here."
"Sister Chen, I can't thank you enough!"
Xiao Chao was starving. He took the two takeout orders, opened his own braised pork ribs first, and started eating them hurriedly.
It was already past one o'clock. Shen Qingyuan glanced at the glass door, thinking that this meeting had been going on for quite a while and wasn't over yet. Were the people inside so busy they didn't even have time to eat?
"Should we send the food in?" Shen Qingyuan asked, referring, of course, to Ye Chuyang's portion. "He's a patient, so he needs to eat on time to ensure he gets the nutrition he needs."
Xiao Chao buried his head in his food and mumbled, "Brother Yang is exchanging feelings with the female lead... uh, the script, hehe, it's not convenient for us to go in." After saying that, Xiao Chao shook his eyebrows and gave a sly smile.
Shen Qingyuan's face darkened. Uh, okay. She didn't need to ask that question.
Suddenly feeling a bit curious, Shen Qingyuan asked, "Does Ye Chuyang often have private conversations with the female lead about their feelings... uh, the script?"
The question was a bit too direct. Xiao Chao was taken aback, quickly put down his chopsticks, and waved his hand, saying, "Sister Chen, please don't misunderstand. Our Yang-ge is very clean-living and never gets involved in any messy relationships, uh..."
Xiao Chao thought for a moment and suddenly realized that in the three years he had worked with Ye Chuyang, he had never seen Yang Ge (Ye Chuyang) date!
That's true. Out of 365 days a year, he spends 300 days on film sets, and the remaining few dozen days shooting commercials and doing business deals. He also squeezes in time to visit his family in his hometown of Chenyang.
When do I have time for dating?!
Yang Ge must be a passionate and spirited man, yet... he suffers sleepless nights, enduring the torment day after day. Alas, countless female fans cry and beg to marry him, but he can't get a single bite...
Has he finally figured it out? The female lead is indeed quite beautiful! When Ning Xin came up, Xiao Chao saw her at a glance, his gaze was fixed on her, and he looked like a lovesick fool, watching her until she entered the room.
Seeing that Xiao Chao had suddenly lost focus and his expression was uncertain, Shen Qingyuan asked, "What's wrong?"
The amount of information was too much for Xiao Chao to reveal to anyone. Although Shen Qingyuan was now part of their team, her status as a private doctor was only temporary. Once Yang Ge recovered, they would all go their separate ways. It was best to keep quiet.
Just then, the glass door opened, and a very stylish and beautiful woman walked out.
Without a doubt, this is the female lead in Ye Chuyang's next drama.
She was truly beautiful; even Shen Qingyuan couldn't help but keep looking at her face. And her figure—that tiny waist, wow, Shen Qingyuan thought of the "slender waist that could be grasped in one hand" described in novels.
However, she's a bit too thin.
My BMI is definitely in an unhealthy range, so my immunity is probably not very good. I'll likely catch a few colds in the fall and winter, and my periods might not be regular either.
Health is the most important thing!
Former orthopedic surgeon Shen Qingyuan has never experienced anxiety about her appearance or body shape. She doesn't immediately feel inferior when she sees a beautiful woman.
Xiao Chao tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Sister Chen, isn't the female lead beautiful?"
"Uh-huh."
A fragrant breeze wafted by, and the beautiful woman had already passed them and walked towards the elevator.
She and Xiao Chao stared at each other with their mouths slightly open, like two lovesick fools.
At this moment, Ye Chuyang also came out of the conference room in a wheelchair and saw two employees of his team who were not very worldly and were looking at Ning Xin's back with reluctance.
Only after Ning Xin entered the elevator did the two reluctantly turn their heads back.
Amazing!
Xiao Chao is fine; he's just a hot-blooded young man in his early twenties, and it's in his nature to like looking at beautiful women.
Ye Chuyang glanced at Shen Qingyuan with a subtle look in her eyes, "So, you also like to look at good-looking people. I thought Dr. Shen had long since transcended such lowbrow tastes."
Ten years ago, there was a handsome guy constantly in front of her, how could she have ignored him back then? Thinking about this, Ye Chuyang felt somewhat resentful.
Shen Qingyuan, oblivious to everything, nodded and said, "Yes, she is really beautiful. I've seen her in TV dramas, but I didn't expect her to be even more beautiful in person! Everyone has a love for beauty, how can that be considered low taste?"
"That's true. Having a handsome guy like me as your colleague must make you feel great every day, right?" Ye Chuyang said in a very irritating way.
Shen Qingyuan looked up, seriously considering the question. After a moment's thought, she said, "No, not really."
"how?"
“Once you get used to it, you get used to it.” Shen Qingyuan thought of the “Animal World” program that her father often watched. “Like the African marabou stork and peacock, the so-called beauty and ugliness are just subjective human evaluations, an abstract, distant cross-species concept. They have no meaning for the animals themselves. Once you know that these concepts are just human imaginations, the evaluation itself is not so important.”
Ye Chuyang: "..."
He was bad at math in his student days and had extremely poor logical reasoning skills. After hearing Shen Qingyuan's words, he didn't quite understand.
However, it seems he's being compared to a peacock, so that's fine, I suppose. But being beautiful isn't entirely meaningless, is it? For example, in nature, beautiful birds attract more females, resulting in more offspring, and so on…
Xiao Chao suddenly slapped his thigh and said in frustration, "Oh no, I was so busy looking at the pretty girls that I forgot to ask Ning Xin for her autograph. My girlfriend is a fan of hers and specifically told me to get her autograph!"
Ye Chuyang asked suspiciously, "You have a girlfriend? When?"
Xiao Chao said smugly, "Yeah, Yang-ge, my girlfriend and I have been dating for several months now. Sorry, I've been out of the single life for a long time!"
Ye Chuyang had a curse word he wanted to utter, but he was the boss, and a boss has to be cultured.
Xiao Chao only ordered two takeout meals, and he had already finished half of his braised pork ribs.
Ye Chuyang glanced at his light meal and asked Shen Qingyuan, "Dr. Shen, have you had lunch?"
"Not yet, I'll bring your takeout over, I'll eat it later."
"I suddenly have a craving for home-style cooking," Ye Chuyang said casually. "Let's go, it's on me."
"No need..."
"Brother Yang, you should have said so earlier!" Xiao Chao immediately lost his appetite for the ribs in his mouth, put down his chopsticks, and hurriedly leaned over to say, "No, Sister Chen, let's go together. It's rare for Brother Yang to treat us!"
Ye Chuyang spends most of his time working, and given his position, it's not convenient for him to frequently host dinners. What Xiao Chao said is true, but why does it sound a bit harsh?
It's as if it's saying how stingy he is.
It would be one thing to say it in front of others, but to say it in front of Shen Qingyuan...
Arguing back seems a bit too uncouth. Oh well!
Lately, I've found Xiao Chao really annoying. How did I put up with him for three years?
Ye Chuyang silently gave herself a hug in her heart, realizing how difficult things had been for her...
When Xiao Chao said this, Shen Qingyuan lowered her head and smiled faintly, the smile quickly disappearing. In her memory, Ye Chuyang often treated her to meals. For example, snacks in her desk drawer, breakfasts still warm...
Girlhood is always poetic.
Ten years ago, she suppressed too many of her natural instincts.
-
With no work scheduled for the afternoon, everyone relaxed and hopped into the van, leisurely heading to the private restaurant Ye Chuyang had suggested.
The group went around to the back door and went straight to the private room upstairs.
Ye Chuyang had been here a few times with his colleagues from the film crew, and he remembered which dishes were good, so he casually ordered five or six dishes. There were three of them, so they couldn't eat much. Besides, he mainly ate his own light salad and barely touched the private dishes.
This benefited Xiao Chao and Shen Qingyuan.
Needless to say, Xiao Chao's eating manners are terrible and unsightly.
Shen Qingyuan was still somewhat reserved; her cheeks were puffed out, her eyes greedily fixed on the food, and she looked completely satisfied.
...They're actually quite cute.
Ye Chuyang ate his vegetable leaves with a bland taste, but watching her eat made the vegetables in his mouth seem instantly more delicious.
It's better to eat with people who have good appetites.
He realized that this explained the popularity of mukbang (eating broadcasts). People who can't eat much can still satisfy their appetite by watching others eat.
What should we feed them next time?
-
It was almost 4 o'clock when we finished eating.
The three got into the car and drove for a while. Xiao Chao glanced at the rearview mirror a few times and said alertly, "Brother Yang, someone is following us."
There was a silver-gray van in the rearview mirror.
It's nothing new for paparazzi to follow celebrities. Before you're famous, you wouldn't even think about being followed.
Honestly, living that kind of life is quite annoying.
“Wait a minute, I recognize this car!” Xiao Chao said energetically. “Brother Yang, do you remember that scalper’s car that followed us last month? It’s this one! It seems like this car followed us for a long time when we went back to Hengdian.”
Speaking of this, even Ye Chuyang, who is usually good-tempered, became annoyed. He remembered that the oxcart was driving recklessly. As soon as his car stopped, five or six girls rushed out of the oxcart and shouted at him.
"What is a scalper cart?" Shen Qingyuan asked curiously.
Xiao Chao said, "It's about taking money to help obsessive fans chase after celebrities."
"Sasaeng fans?"
Xiao Chao choked for a moment. This girl really didn't know anything. Are there still girls who don't follow celebrities these days? That's rare.
"The most fanatical type of fan, who will go to any lengths to spy on, stalk, and secretly photograph celebrities, is the type of fan that gives celebrities the biggest headaches," Xiao Chao gave the official explanation.
Shen Qingyuan gave an "oh," realizing there was quite a bit to learn in the entertainment industry. She couldn't help but wonder, "Aren't these people really free? Don't they have anything else to do?"
Many years ago, she read news about fanatical fans chasing after celebrities, and even the destruction of their families because of their pursuit of celebrities. At the time, she found it unbelievable.
While they were talking, Xiao Chao gritted his teeth and sped up, trying to shake off the oxcart.
During their casual conversation over dinner, Shen Qingyuan learned that Xiao Chao had previously served as a special forces soldier and had taken this job as a celebrity assistant after retiring from the military.
He's a good driver and quite skilled; he wouldn't be afraid to fight.
Ye Chuyang rubbed his lower back and said to Xiao Chao, "It's alright, let them follow, just drive slowly."
"Brother Yang, don't worry, I'm a great driver, I'll definitely shake them off!" Xiao Chao said, overtaking two cars, his skills were indeed quite impressive.
Ye Chuyang felt a little uneasy, and he was indeed annoyed that the oxcart was like a leech following him around every day.
He could understand the fans' behavior; they were all teenagers and students in their twenties, not mature enough, and sometimes it was understandable that they would do extreme things because they liked someone. Who hasn't been young and impetuous, doing foolish things?
Unlike scalpers, these scalpers exploit the fervor of fans, turning it into a business and brazenly infringing on others' interests—it's quite shameless.
After passing a traffic light, Xiao Chao drove for another seven or eight minutes, and the tortoise cart was no longer visible in his rearview mirror.
"Brother Yang, we've shaken them off!" Xiao Chao, a former special forces soldier, proudly boasted. "I told you, you can't get by without some skills!"
Shen Qingyuan, sitting in the passenger seat, also looked through the rearview mirror for a while, and sure enough, the oxcart was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Chao slowed down and smoothly merged into the traffic.
With the scalpers gone, everyone relaxed considerably. Shen Qingyuan took out her phone and checked WeChat.
Suddenly, with a loud "bang," Shen Qingyuan felt the car jolt violently forward. Her mind went blank for a moment; her body lurched forward due to inertia, only to be pulled back by the seatbelt. Startled, her phone flew out of her hand and landed under the seat.
Depend on!
Xiao Chao's first thought was that he had rear-ended someone. He quickly slowed down, braked, pulled over, and turned on his hazard lights. When he looked in his rearview mirror, he saw a familiar gray minivan.
As soon as their car stopped, the van behind it also stopped immediately. The sudden accident left everyone stunned.
Girls stuck their heads out of the car windows, peering at them with curiosity and a sense of voyeurism, seemingly unaffected by the accident.
They also lacked any common sense or self-awareness as adults!
As soon as the car stopped, Xiao Chao asked Ye Chuyang, "Brother Yang, are you alright?" Then he turned to Shen Qingyuan, "Sister Chen, what about you? Are you hurt?"
"It's nothing..." Ye Chuyang's voice was somewhat muffled. He sat in the back seat.
"I'm fine," Shen Qingyuan replied. Her cervical spine seemed to have strained, but it wasn't serious. She supported her head and rubbed it a few times.
"Damn it, they did this on purpose!" Xiao Chao was furious. He slammed the car door open and got out, cursing, to argue with the scalper.
Shen Qingyuan thought of Ye Chuyang's fragile waist. That bump might not have much of an impact on a healthy person, but Ye Chuyang was different. There's a saying: "A hemp rope breaks where it's thin."
"Ye Chuyang, are you alright?" She turned to look at the back seat.
This time, Ye Chuyang didn't answer immediately. Shen Qingyuan saw him curled up, one hand on his lower back, half-lying on the back seat. His face was hidden in shadow, so his expression was unclear.
Shen Qingyuan panicked for a moment, quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, and jumped out of the car.
She opened the back door and climbed in to check on Ye Chuyang's condition.
"Ye Chuyang, Ye Chuyang..."
Large beads of sweat appeared on Ye Chuyang's forehead. He gritted his teeth and hissed through his teeth.
Did the previous sprain worsen, or is it an acute herniation of the nucleus pulposus?
It's difficult to judge based on appearance alone; it's best to go to the hospital immediately for an MRI.
As Shen Qingyuan was pondering, she suddenly heard Ye Chuyang say in a low voice with difficulty, "Xiao Chao... call Xiao Chao back, don't fight..."
The sound of Xiao Chao arguing with the scalper could be heard all the way over.
Xiao Chao, a tall man over 1.8 meters, charged forward, and he was quite intimidating. Although the scalper was in the wrong, there's a type of person who is unreasonable and can be called the scum of human civilization. He was very arrogant.
When Shen Qingyuan got out of the car to look for someone, Xiao Chao and the scalper had already started arguing and fighting.
When Shen Qingyuan arrived, she happened to hear those words: "You dare to interfere with me? Who do you think you are? A lackey of an actor!"
There were two young girls crying on the scalper cart. Although they were enthusiastic, they weren't stupid. They knew that the scalper cart they had paid for had gotten them into big trouble and they didn't know how to get out of it.
Xiao Chao rushed forward, taking three steps in two. With a swing of his long arm, he grabbed Huang Niu's shirt by the chest. "You ungrateful wretch, no one taught you how to talk, did they?"
The scalper was pushed and stumbled, his hands gripping Xiao Chao's wrists tightly as he tried to shake them off.
War was imminent, or rather, it had already broken out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
