A few minutes after Li Chu sent the message, she received a reply.
【Teacher Ning】: Pheromone blocking patch?
Although the question seemed out of the blue and unrelated to what Li Chu had said, Li Chu instantly understood Ning Manqing’s meaning. Her fingertips flew across the screen.
【Xiao Chu】: It failed, she forgot, then quickly put a new one on
【Teacher Ning】: Did you run into her on the street?
【Xiao Chu】: No, it was during the audition
Li Chu hadn’t intended to go into such detail; it was just one of the amusing things that happened today. But after Ning Manqing’s couple of questions, she ended up recounting the entire process, omitting the incident with Zhong Yue, of course.
Li Chu hadn’t paid Zhong Yue’s provocation any mind, nor was she particularly worried about Zhong Yue targeting her. She believed that talent would eventually lead to success, and she had some awareness of her own commercial value. But her greatest source of confidence, naturally, was Teacher Ning.
“Duoduo, order me a honey-glazed roast chicken.”
Li Chu said while chatting with Ning Manqing, suddenly craving it.
“Sister Li… I can’t…” Qian Duoduo clutched her phone, looking troubled. She glanced at Li Chu’s profile and said, “Brother Nan said you need to start dieting. Tonight is a low-fat meal.”
“Why! No way!”
Li Chu wailed. She touched her stomach, then pinched her leg, sinking into misery.
Technically, she wasn’t fat, even slender, with curves in all the right places. But she also knew that the camera added pounds; she needed to be even thinner to look just right on screen.
Being an artist is so hard. I really want to quit the entertainment circle and eat roast chicken, sob sob sob.
Li Chu made a last-ditch attempt, “Just for today? Can I start tomorrow?”
“Let me ask Brother Nan then.”
Qian Duoduo couldn’t refuse Li Chu’s sparkling eyes.
But when Tang Congnan received the call, he heartlessly refused.
“Still eating honey-glazed chicken? Tell her to obediently eat her greens!”
“Sister Li, Brother Nan says you have to eat grass.”
“Oh.”
Li Chu’s desire to strangle her ‘mom’ stirred again. Such a cruel mom!
After arriving home, Li Chu began eating her ‘grass’ with deep bitterness and resentment. Even though there was chicken breast, it tasted like chewing wax to her.
She forced down a few bites, planning to take a break before eating more, when she received a phone call.
“Excuse me, is this Miss Li Chu? I’m from Black Gold Entertainment…”
The call lasted half an hour. Li Chu went from initial excitement to slight confusion.
After hanging up, she immediately sent a message to Ning Manqing.
【Xiao Chu】: Teacher Ning! Someone from Black Gold Entertainment just called, saying they want to poach me for their company.
A reply came quickly.
【Teacher Ning】: Black Gold is quite good.
Li Chu understood. Black Gold Entertainment was indeed good, several times better than her current company, Fu Yu Entertainment. It was one of the industry giants. That’s why she was even more puzzled – why would they approach an unknown nobody like her? The variety show she was on wouldn’t even air until tomorrow night!
【Xiao Chu】: Yes, I just checked them out online, they don’t seem like scammers. But I’m really surprised they found me.
【Ning Manqing】: Black Gold’s boss is an Omega, and she gives preferential treatment to Omega artists. The company has more Omega artists than others. Besides, you have talent and charisma, so don’t be surprised.
【Xiao Chu】: That’s what they told me on the phone too, but it still feels a bit unreal. And the contract terms they offered are quite good, and it’s not even a long-term contract.
That was even stranger. Li Chu had never encountered such a Good Samaritan. Was this some kind of modern-day supportive philanthropist?
【Teacher Ning】: When the contract is ready to be signed, take a picture and show it to me.
【Xiao Chu】: Okay!
【Teacher Ning】: Don’t worry too much.
【Teacher Ning】: Has Yu Feiming contacted you recently?
【Xiao Chu】: No.
Li Chu had been avoiding the company headquarters as much as possible anyway, since there wasn’t much reason to go. Yu Feiming hadn’t contacted her either.
【Xiao Chu】: What about you, Teacher Ning? Are you busy filming something recently? You seem a bit busy.
Li Chu rarely asked about Ning Manqing’s current situation. Most of their chat history consisted of her sharing and confiding. Li Chu felt that since Teacher Ning was so good to her, she should show more concern too.
Although she didn’t remember much of the original book’s plot, and the plot had gone completely off the rails anyway, maybe she could recall something useful that could help Ning Manqing.
【Teacher Ning】: Yes, some things. See you the day after tomorrow.
【Xiao Chu】: Okay, see you the day after tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow was the recording for the next episode of “This Is The Actor”. She could see Teacher Ning again then.
Li Chu’s mood brightened, and even the act of eating her ‘grass’ felt less reluctant.
Li Chu actually wanted to tell Tang Congnan about Black Gold contacting her, but since nothing was confirmed yet, there was no need to get his hopes up prematurely. Besides, there were still negotiations to be had.
She had said that if she became successful, she wouldn’t forget him. Qian Duoduo would be easy to bring along, but whether Tang Congnan could become her agent again was uncertain. She would try her best to make it happen.
In her opinion, Tang Congnan was quite capable professionally. Although he might not be outstanding yet, his care for his artists was genuine. If possible, she certainly hoped to keep her ‘male mother’ by her side.
After all, she didn’t have any grand ambition to become a top star; being happy was enough.
Li Chu read a book for a while to aid digestion. Around nine o’clock, she went into the bathroom, showered, did her skincare routine, and finally lay down in bed.
She unconsciously opened her chat interface. She didn’t have many contacts, and pinned at the top were Ning Manqing, Tang Congnan, and Qian Duoduo.
The conversation still ended with ‘See you the day after tomorrow’. Li Chu yawned and sent Ning Manqing a “Good night”.
A reply came back quickly, a voice message.
“Good night.”
It was just two seconds long, accompanied by the sound of faint breathing.
The voice wasn’t the clear tone Li Chu remembered; perhaps due to the electronic transmission, it carried a hint of huskiness.
Li Chu listened to it twice more, then saved it with feigned composure.
Drowsiness plagued her. Thoughts of Cloud Mist Tea swirled in Li Chu’s mind, making her toss and turn for a while.
Finally, Li Chu sat up, turned on her phone, and played Buddhist scriptures. In the peaceful and serene atmosphere, she drifted off to sleep.
The peach-scented pheromones floated and drifted, gradually dissipating into the air.
Not bad, Buddhist scriptures are really not bad. All is empty.
Shoutout and huge thanks to Grey and banger for picking up the complete EPUB book on the Ko-fi shop! Really appreciate the support!
