As the group left the teahouse, Yi Tianzhao and Zeng Tuzi hurriedly went to report to headquarters. Jiang Shang Nongchaosheng, who needed to support Yi Tianzhao, also went with them.
Yi Tianzhao's decision was too bold; it wouldn't have worked without the original author's support.
Li Yi helped Grandma Jiang into the car, and after watching the car drive away, he turned to look at Shang Yechu.
In the blink of an eye, only he and Shang Yechu remained on the street.
"Here, take this back." Li Yichong held out his hand to Shang Yechu, with something lying in his palm.
That was the prop that Shang Yechu had just used as a hook; it was actually just a very common kind of chocolate coin made with cocoa butter substitute that cost two cents a piece.
Having spent too much money recently, Shang Yechu's spending habits have had to return to the level they were at right after her rebirth.
When Shang Ye glanced at it, she saw that the piece of chocolate had been deformed by Li Yi's two fingers!
"No need." Shang Yechu was somewhat envious of the other person's strength. She had been trying to exchange her weight for combat power points these days, but after reaching 76, no matter how much she ate, her combat power points could not be increased.
According to 103, this was because her physical condition was too weak.
Martial prowess isn't something built on thin air; it requires an extremely strong physique as a foundation. The image of a sickly, peerless master only exists in martial arts novels. In reality, someone who's constantly panting after every step is lucky if they don't get flicked away by a single finger from a martial arts master.
Given Shang Yechu's current physical condition, it's already precarious for him to maintain his current seventy-odd points of martial prowess; to think he could advance to the next level is simply wishful thinking.
Li Yi hummed in agreement and withdrew her hand.
Compared to when they filmed together two months ago, Li Yi seemed much calmer now. Shang Yechu suspected that he was traumatized by the online criticism.
"Is there anything else?" Shang Yechu tried her best to make her tone sound familiar and appropriate.
Li Yi tilted her head and suddenly asked an unexpected question: "Where do you live?"
"..." Shang Yechu smiled. "What, you want to wish me a Happy New Year?"
"Yes and no." Li Yi said gently, "Grandma said that I should talk to you more about acting and learn from you."
Shang Yechu paused, unsure how to respond.
Should I answer "I have no home" or "I don't want to teach you"? Although both are true, neither is clearly appropriate for the moment.
Shang Yechu shook his brick-making machine. "It's time to change rentals at the end of the year. I'm looking for a place now. I'll let you know on WeChat once I find one."
Li Yi nodded: "Okay. I'll come see you after the New Year."
Having said all he could, Shang Yechu waved to Li Yi, "It's a deal, I'll head back now!"
Li Yi returned the wave with the same politeness: "Okay, goodbye."
Shang Yechu's figure quickly disappeared into the bustling street. Li Yi reached into his pocket and slowly peeled off the gold foil wrapper of the chocolate.
Li Yi put the twisted and deformed chocolate into her mouth.
Cheap, sweet, fake cocoa aroma and a candle-like texture fill the mouth.
Li Yi swallowed the chocolate, his expression obscured by the sunlight.
-----------------
As soon as Shang Ye entered the bookstore, he saw Grandma Hu sweeping the bookshelves with a feather duster.
"Ye Zi, you're back?" Grandma Hu asked with a smile as she carried Shang Ye Chu on her back. "You're on holiday too?"
"Grandma, do you have eyes in the back of your head?" Shang Yechu asked in a light tone, picking up another feather duster and starting to help Grandma Hu clean.
"You're a big star now. I can smell your star quality from miles away!" Grandma Hu teased.
Even though Shang Yechu was immune to all poisons, she blushed deeply: "Grandma! Please keep your voice down!"
When Grandma Hu learned that Shang Yechu had played a prominent role in "Tianji Tower" (in the old lady's simple mindset, the more luxurious the clothes, the bigger the role), she bragged about it for quite a while on the pedestrian street. Not only that, but on the day of the premiere, she also mobilized all the folks on the pedestrian street to watch "Tianji Tower".
Lately, everyone on the pedestrian street, young and old, has been praising Shang Yechu for having the aura of a superstar, exaggerating the abilities of a minor character who only appears for a dozen minutes, making Shang Yechu feel utterly humiliated.
Shang Yechu now gets angry whenever she hears uncles, aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers on the pedestrian street praising her as a big star.
"Alright, alright, you're getting shy now?" Grandma Hu glanced at the book again. "Then I won't call you that."
"By the way, Yezi, I'll be closing for the New Year holiday." Grandma Hu said briskly while cleaning. "The bookstore is yours now. You can stay here if you want, or go and stay in a nicer hotel if you don't. Just lock the door for me."
When this topic was brought up, Shang Yechu suddenly fell silent.
As the feather duster swept across the bookshelf, frame by frame, Shang Yechu suddenly whispered, "Grandma, I'll..."
"What?" Grandma Hu didn't hear clearly. "What's wrong with you?"
Shang Yechu shouted, "I'm not living at the bookstore anymore. I'm renting a place outside!"
The voice was loud and full of energy, as if it were a resolute determination.
Grandma Hu was stunned. After a long while, she slowly put down the feather duster.
"Oh. You're not staying here anymore."
The old lady spoke slowly, "That's a good thing. This place is too small and dilapidated, and besides, it's too cold in winter."
"That's great," the old lady said happily. "Rent in our city is ridiculously expensive. Being able to rent a place means you've made money."
Shang Yechu gripped the wooden handle of the feather duster tighter, without turning around, and said to Old Mrs. Hu with her back to her, "I will often come back to the pedestrian street to see you and everyone else."
"When you become a big star, will you still be able to come back here?" Grandma Hu couldn't help but ask. She didn't know what a star was, but in her mind, those people were far removed from ordinary people.
"Of course I can," Shang Yechu laughed enthusiastically. "It's just that I'll be quite busy and won't be able to come often."
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