Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Brother Tang, the trending search was bought, right?”

As soon as Pei Chuzhi returned to Yan City, Tang Dong invited her to a hotpot restaurant for a late-night meal, saying it was to welcome her back.

She had eaten boxed meals in the production crew for more than two months, and as soon as she smelled the aroma after entering, she craved it.

Unfortunately, actresses must always pay attention to maintaining their figure. After symbolically eating a small bowl of meat, Pei Chuzhi could only rinse vegetables in the clear soup.

While eating vegetables, she didn’t forget to ask about the Weibo trending search.

Tang Dong tapped the rim of his cup with his chopsticks. “Hey, can you have a little confidence? You’ve at least played the female second lead in a big IP. What’s wrong with getting on the trending list? Haven’t you seen those random nobodies hanging on the trending list all day?”

Pei Chuzhi looked at him suspiciously, thinking that in the eyes of the general public, she actually counted as one of those random nobodies too.

Tang Dong felt guilty under her stare, swallowed a slice of fatty beef, and honestly confessed, “The company really didn’t buy the trending search. It’s just that after the edited video was released, we gave it a little push—promoted you on high-traffic forums and marketing accounts.”

These days, even good wine fears a deep alley.

Tang Dong had always had Pei Chuzhi, who could stand out by her looks, but struggled to find the right opportunity to market her.

As for being pretty, Pei Chuzhi was absolutely truly pretty.

But with so many trending topics online, how many people would remember just a pretty face?

“A while ago you finally got some heat thanks to Xing Ye, and these two days just happened to coincide with the wrap of ‘Secretly Fall in Love With You.’ A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I didn’t seize it, I wouldn’t deserve to be an agent.”

After his explanation, Pei Chuzhi’s head full of question marks was finally answered.

It wasn’t that she lacked confidence.

After all, the traffic from trending searches was huge. If just the promotional effect of a fan-edited video could push someone up, celebrities wouldn’t spend big money buying trends.

Now that she learned the company had been fanning the flames behind the scenes, she actually felt more at ease.

Xu Lei, who had been eating intensely beside them, also looked up at this moment. “I’ve been scrolling Weibo in the car. Zhizhi’s follower count is growing pretty fast. This wave gained a lot of face-fans.”

Tang Dong threw a whole plate of meatballs into the pot. “Oh right, take a few photos of her now, and post them together with some other photos. While the heat’s still there, quickly stabilize the fans.”

As Pei Chuzhi’s assistant, recording work status was one of Xu Lei’s daily tasks.

Her phone album was almost entirely photos of Pei Chuzhi. Picking a few that didn’t involve leaks was not difficult at all.

A few minutes later, the new face-fans who had just browsed Pei Chuzhi’s old Weibo posts saw her latest update on their homepage.

【Wrapped filming! Today I officially say goodbye to Jiang Nanyan. Hope you’ll like her in the future.】

The attached pictures were a nine-grid set: some resting on set, some holding flowers at today’s wrap, and one just taken.

If the first few delivered another wave of beauty impact, the last one left the face-fans completely stunned—she actually dared to post a bare-faced photo?!

In the photo, Pei Chuzhi sat at the table, steaming hotpot in front of her, and an ink-style mural on the private room wall behind her.

It was a very down-to-earth scene, but wearing a simple loose V-neck sweater and smiling slightly at the camera, she made people unwilling to look away.

Compared to her made-up state, she lost some sharpness and gained a bit more approachability.

【Those who said she relies entirely on makeup and filters, come look—she’s still stunning bare-faced.】

【OK I get it, great beauties even have flawless skin.】

The comments were increasing far faster than in the past two years. With nothing to do after finishing the late-night meal, Pei Chuzhi took out her phone and scrolled through them.

Soon, a familiar ID caught her attention.

That should be one of her earliest fans, who kept leaving comments under her posts when she was still unknown—the one who once threatened to unfollow her if she didn’t follow Xing Ye back.

Compared with the newly gained fans today, the old fan’s words carried a familiar tone: 【A female celebrity eating hotpot outside after midnight? And the pot’s full of meat? Is it that calories can’t catch up with you, or are you getting inflated and losing awareness?】

Pei Chuzhi always thought the other person spoke interestingly. Since she occasionally replied to comments before, she didn’t think much and smiled while typing: 【Those meats are for my agent and assistant. I didn’t dare eat much. Even the vegetables I rinse in water to wash off the oil.】

The fan replied with a string of ellipses: 【You didn’t have to be this honest.】

After this comment was pushed to the top, the replies underneath were all laughing like crazy.

【??? So she’s actually a straightforward girl?】

【Shouldn’t you seize the chance to set up a foodie persona? If you don’t know how, I’ll teach you: “I’ve never gotten fat no matter how much I eat since childhood, and I especially love barbecue and chocolate.”】

【Why is this a little cute?】

【A personality completely opposite to her looks. This must be the so-called contrast cuteness.】

“……”

Pei Chuzhi put down her phone, completely puzzled about what exactly in her sentence was cute.

“While you were filming, I received some scripts and brand promotion invitations.”

Tang Dong, still eating heartily, had no idea what was happening on Weibo. While fishing out meatballs he said, “But those roles aren’t much different from Jiang Nanyan. The brands are all small, and they won’t even give a title. They’re all trying to pick up bargains while you’re not famous yet.”

“So you rejected them all?” Pei Chuzhi shifted her attention back to work.

Tang Dong nodded. “After the drama airs in autumn, your value will definitely double. There’s no need to rush into accepting insignificant resources.”

As he spoke, he picked up his phone and opened Weibo. “Now it proves what you’ve been lacking all along is exposure. Look at this time—”

His voice suddenly stopped.

Tang Dong looked at the comments under her latest post, then raised his eyes toward the artist in front of him who had sparked massive discussion just because of her personality, and an idea formed in his mind.

“How about trying a variety show?”

·

Pei Chuzhi felt very uncertain.

According to Tang Dong’s theory, variety shows usually have short production cycles—recorded one month and aired the next. If she wanted short-term but large exposure, participating in a variety show was the most suitable choice.

But in the past two years, the film and television industry had entered a cold winter. Many second- and third-tier celebrities who couldn’t get acting jobs were willing to take variety shows to fill the gap. Finding a program with suitable content and platform that was also willing to collaborate with her would not be easy.

However, this was the agent’s concern. After resting at home for a few days, Pei Chuzhi gave Xu Lei—who had worked hard with her for two months—some days off, and she herself arranged to hang out with Qiao Na.

Since switching careers to become a beauty blogger, Qiao Na often kept an upside-down day-and-night schedule, so they simply agreed to meet the next evening.

Before leaving, Pei Chuzhi specially brought the autograph Xing Ye had given for Qiao Na. After thinking about it, she also took out the mask Xu Lei had bought, wrapped herself up tightly, and finally went out for the appointment.

Qiao Na parked directly at the entrance of the residential complex. After Pei Chuzhi got in the car, she couldn’t help muttering, “What’s going on with your company? You’re at least a somewhat well-known actress, and you don’t even have a car when you go out?”

“When there’s work, they do send a car,” Pei Chuzhi took off her mask and explained while fastening her seatbelt, “You know we’re a small company. We’re short in all aspects.”

Qiao Na pursed her lips, embarrassed to say that sometimes Huaxing’s benefits weren’t even as good as the influencer agency she signed with.

Take the residential complex where Pei Chuzhi lived—this was the dormitory provided when she first signed with the company, and it hadn’t been changed for more than two years.

A small unit of just over forty square meters, not even with a balcony.

There wasn’t even registration at the gate. If there weren’t a police station nearby keeping the area relatively safe, Qiao Na wouldn’t feel comfortable letting Pei Chuzhi live here alone.

“Has the pay for ‘Secretly Fall in Love With You’ been issued?” Qiao Na suggested tactfully, “How about someday when you’re free, I accompany you to buy a car?”

Pei Chuzhi smiled, her tone calm. “It was issued early, but I didn’t keep much. Most of the rest I sent back home.”

“…Oh, that works too.”

At this point, Qiao Na felt embarrassed to urge her to buy a car.

They had been classmates for four years, and Qiao Na remembered clearly.

In their sophomore year, something happened in Pei Chuzhi’s family, and they fell into heavy debt.

Qiao Na didn’t dare ask how much exactly. Anyway, from then on, whenever Pei Chuzhi received payment, she would immediately transfer it to her parents to repay the debt.

If not for this, Pei Chuzhi wouldn’t have rushed to sign with Huaxing in her junior year. With her conditions, if she had patiently waited longer, she could very likely have been noticed by a financially powerful big company.

Anyone in that situation would definitely feel depressed.

But after being down for a period, Pei Chuzhi never complained to those around her again. If someone didn’t know her well, they wouldn’t guess what she had gone through.

It was precisely because of this that Qiao Na liked Pei Chuzhi even more.

The topic of buying a car was thus turned over.

At eight o’clock, the two arrived at a Cantonese restaurant for dinner.

Pei Chuzhi took Xing Ye’s autograph out of her bag. “Here, the autograph you wanted. Happy now?”

“Ah! You really got it for me!”

Qiao Na almost couldn’t control her volume. She reached out with both hands and received it in an extremely reverent posture, softly reading, “‘To Qiao Na: Thanks for liking me, wish you happiness every day.’ …Look, he even wrote my name and wished me happiness every day. My Xing Ye really knows how to spoil fans, doesn’t he?”

Pei Chuzhi choked. “Can you put away the fan filter? I’m the one who helped get it. Isn’t writing your name standard procedure?”

“…Nonsense, he’s just spoiling fans! You’re not allowed to slander my Xing Ye!”

Qiao Na stubbornly replied, then helplessly admitted under reality, “Fine, you deserve the most credit. I’ll treat this meal today.”

Pei Chuzhi didn’t stand on ceremony and briskly ticked a few dim sum dishes she liked on the menu.

After the waiter came in and took the menu, Qiao Na carefully put away the autograph, then lowered her voice and began gossiping. “By the way, did anything happen between you and Xing Ye in the crew?”

Pei Chuzhi paused mid-sip, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Qiao Na narrowed her eyes alertly. “There’s something going on. Say it—what did you secretly do to my male god?”

“Didn’t do anything. We’re very innocent.”

Pei Chuzhi’s hand holding the teacup wobbled. She suddenly felt guilty. “I just… went to his room to rehearse lines…”

“Went to his room? Just the two of you?”

“His assistant was there too.”

Although not in the same room.

Qiao Na leaned closer. “Just that? I don’t believe it. Didn’t you two have mutual feelings?”

She placed her hand at Pei Chuzhi’s waist and applied a bit of force. “If you don’t honestly confess, I’ll use torture.”

Pei Chuzhi was ticklish and quickly dodged. “Hey, don’t, don’t—I'll talk, I’ll talk. He… he also taught me how to act a kissing scene.”

“Kissing scene?! …No, we must break off friendship for five minutes.”

Qiao Na withdrew her hand and glared at her with envy and jealousy. She couldn’t hold it for even five seconds before becoming curious again. “Then when he kisses, does it feel especially good?”

Pei Chuzhi didn’t know how to answer.

The kiss between them, separated by a thumb, hadn’t even touched lips. How could she know what it felt like?

Yet strangely, even now, whenever she recalled it slightly, she seemed able to smell the scent of his laundry detergent, and still feel the warmth transmitted from his firm chest.

And that instinctive shiver of being completely guided, unconsciously wanting to sink into it.

Pei Chuzhi’s heartbeat sped up involuntarily, and even the skin from her earlobes to her neck turned pink.

At that moment, she even recalled certain details she had overlooked at the time.

For example, when Xing Ye lowered his eyes to look at her, his eyelashes cast a shadow beneath his eyes. For example, when he touched her cheek, the bent knuckles formed distinct angles.

“It felt pretty good.”

After a long time, Pei Chuzhi finally replied as calmly as possible.

“Just pretty good?” Qiao Na’s tone rose suspiciously. “You savored it for so long and only got ‘pretty good’? Sister, do you need me to take out a mirror? You look completely like a girl in love right now.”

Pei Chuzhi’s cheeks suddenly burned, like they were on fire.

She turned her head and covered her face with her hand, coughing lightly, realizing she was really not suited to continue this topic. “By the way, what are we doing after dinner?”

Qiao Na seemed disgusted by her poor topic-changing skills, shot her a disdainful glance, and asked, “You just came back from filming—you haven’t seen Xing Ye’s new movie yet, right?”

Pei Chuzhi shook her head.

“Perfect then. Come with me to watch it for the second time.”

·

At ten o’clock on a weekday night, the screening hall was still packed.

Pei Chuzhi had just trended and was afraid of being recognized, so she and Qiao Na slipped in together during the advertisements.

Their seats were in the corner of the first row, the least noticeable location.

The movie soon began.

Heavy snow fell from the sky, scattering onto the black mountain ridge.

A green train gradually slowed down and stopped at a dilapidated platform.

A pair of worn boots stepped onto the ground.

The camera moved from bottom to top, sweeping past the man’s long, powerful legs, then focusing on his scar-covered right hand.

He held a black-and-white photo. The old man in the photo looked disheveled, his gaze dull.

The man folded the photo several times with one hand and stuffed it into his pants pocket, then fished out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

Only then did the shot move upward again.

Xing Ye’s handsome side profile appeared on the screen. He tilted his head slightly with the cigarette between his lips, cupping one hand to block the wind while pressing the lighter with the other.

With a soft “click,” smoke curled into the cold air.

Carrying a backpack, Xing Ye stepped on the accumulated snow and slowly walked off the platform.

Pei Chuzhi had checked the film’s information beforehand and roughly knew that Xing Ye played a man running around to investigate the cause of his girlfriend’s death.

For a role with such tragic tones, many would portray him as struggling in pain and remorse.

But as the plot developed, she realized Xing Ye did not intend to handle the character that way.

Most of the time, he presented a numb state.

Even when he saw a girl being bullied by a bad person on the street, he only sat nearby and watched quietly—not the kind of bystander who feared trouble, but a more hollow, almost emotionless gaze.

As if the living person before him was no different from goods displayed on a shelf.

Only when each clue was cut off would he take out the photo from his pocket and look at it a few times.

And at those moments, even without a word, the audience could see a trace of obsession in his eyes.

The old man in the photo was the murderer who killed his girlfriend.

Pei Chuzhi took a deep breath and understood why Xing Ye acted this way.

A man who embarked alone on the road to find the real culprit, a man whose world had turned to ashes after his girlfriend left.

His only motivation to live was to find that old man.

In the eyes of such a person, others simply could not stir any ripples in his stagnant life.

At the end of the movie, Xing Ye found the murderer who had been hiding for years in a remote town.

By then he was injured from various accidents, dragging one leg as he stood by the street. When he saw the police, who had rushed over after hearing the news, arrest the murderer, a faint smile finally tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Then he turned around and limped farther and farther away.

Bleak, heavy music began to play, and the end credits symbolizing the film’s conclusion appeared line by line.

The movie ended at a lingering emotional point.

Qiao Na sniffed and leaned over, whispering, “This movie makes me feel terrible. Xing Ye acted too well. That scene in the latter half where he broke down emotionally—it tore my heart apart.”

Pei Chuzhi nodded, her eyes also slightly red.

The lights above lit up at this moment.

Before Pei Chuzhi could fully pull herself out of the story, she hurriedly lowered her head, put on her mask, and pulled Qiao Na up to leave.

People around them passed one after another. She didn’t dare make a sound the whole time, sticking close to the wall and quickly walking toward the exit.

From time to time, people discussed the movie plot while glancing toward her.

Pei Chuzhi kept comforting herself—she must stand out in the crowd because she was relatively tall.

After safely reaching outside the screening hall, Pei Chuzhi poked Qiao Na’s arm. “There are too many people. Should we take the emergency stairs?”

“Sure.”

Qiao Na agreed knowingly.

Just then, a loud voice rang out in the crowd: “Come, dear friends, follow my camera and take a look. Everyone around us just finished watching the movie. It looks like many people cried. So I’ll randomly interview a few viewers to see what they think about Xing Ye’s new work.”

Pei Chuzhi froze and subconsciously turned her face toward the sound.

A heavily made-up young girl held up a selfie stick, talking nonstop to her phone.

Qiao Na glanced back too. “Damn, I know her. She’s an internet celebrity who randomly interviews passersby in cinemas. Quick, quick—don’t let her notice us.”

But the next second, they heard the girl’s voice getting closer. “Hi, the two young ladies in front—”

Before she could finish, Qiao Na grabbed Pei Chuzhi, trying to squeeze a path through the crowd.

For some reason, the person persistently chased after them. “Don’t go, miss. Are you also Xing Ye’s fans?”

Before finishing, she even reached out and tugged Pei Chuzhi’s shoulder.

Caught off guard, Pei Chuzhi staggered back, then forcefully broke free and ran off.

The girl stayed where she was, stunned, feeling that the half face she glimpsed just now looked very familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere not long ago.

A screen full of question marks flashed in the livestream comments, people constantly asking what happened, even joking if she saw her ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend.

After a few seconds of silence, the girl’s voice suddenly rose. “I remember! She’s that— that that… Pei Chuzhi! Xing Ye’s rumored girlfriend!”

Pei Chuzhi and Qiao Na ran all the way down the emergency stairs to the parking lot. They didn’t even have time to catch their breath before hurriedly getting into the car.

Qiao Na patted her chest, still shaken. “She… didn’t catch up, right?”

“No…”

Pei Chuzhi was also nearly out of breath. She never expected that going out to watch a movie would encounter someone livestreaming.

After resting in the car for a bit, Qiao Na drove out of the parking lot.

Pei Chuzhi felt uneasy. “Do you think she recognized me?”

“Even if she didn’t know you, the phone definitely filmed you,” Qiao Na said while turning the steering wheel. “I remember her livestream has pretty high popularity. And today she seemed to be doing a special for Xing Ye’s movie. Maybe…”

Maybe Xing Ye’s fans would recognize her.

Pei Chuzhi fell silent. After thinking for a while, she decided to give Xing Ye a heads-up.

She briefly explained what happened on WeChat, then, considering Qiao Na was still beside her, she had to phrase the next part vaguely: 【If I get recognized, what should I do?】

Actually, Pei Chuzhi meant to ask how she should respond if people discussed it online again.

But unexpectedly, not long after sending the message, Xing Ye directly called.

Pei Chuzhi was startled, her hand trembling. She answered and quickly lowered the volume, afraid Qiao Na might accidentally hear what Xing Ye said.

Xing Ye immediately asked, “Where are you?”

“In the car going home,” Pei Chuzhi was confused, not understanding why he asked. “I’m with my friend—the Qiao Na I mentioned last time.”

Qiao Na only hated that the road ahead was full of no-parking zones, preventing her from stopping the car to greet her idol.

Xing Ye spoke quickly: “Did anyone block you? Did anyone follow you?”

Only then did Pei Chuzhi realize he was worried she might be in danger. She froze, warmth rising in her heart, softening her voice. “No.”

The male voice on the other end fell silent for a few seconds, seemingly relieved, then chuckled softly. “That’s good.”

Pei Chuzhi smiled too. Just as she was about to say something else, she suddenly heard an annoyed snort from the other side.

“You went to watch my movie and didn’t even invite me?”

Author’s note: Xing Ye: You really don’t like playing with me!