Chapter 23: A Dream Come True! Cupping Therapy for Nazha’s Back! Two of Them!

In truth, from the moment Zhou Le first read the end of the script, he felt the scene where everyone played music together was a bit silly. Hundreds of people on set were rehearsing, and he and the others had to perform even harder on stage. But at the time, seeing Da Peng filled with anticipation for this shot, he kept his thoughts to himself. It wasn't until he actually filmed it that he realized it was actually quite enjoyable.

The only drawback was that Zhou Le couldn't stand in the very center, right at the front. Although playing the drums was cool, in all honesty, in a band, if the bassist isn't there, the drummer is the one who has to go pick up the takeout. Even though guitarists are a dime a dozen, standing in front just looks cool.

"If I ever get the chance, I'll be a director too. I'll cast whoever I want to work with, star in my own films, always stand in the center, and film kissing scenes with whoever I want," Zhou Le thought to himself.

But as soon as this idea crossed his mind, Zhou Le suddenly became wary. Isn't it said that people change once they become famous and wealthy? Why is he still so prone to feeling like a sneaking thief?

"Bored, looking at the hesitation; reaching the ideal is not easy. Even with confidence, the fighting spirit is suppressed..." Zhou Le sang along loudly in the back with his broken Cantonese.

Once this segment ended, the crew members began to disperse.

"Wait a bit, go back to the hotel, freshen up, and change your clothes. We’re having a group dinner tonight," Da Peng said, greeting the guest stars while reminding Zhou Le and the others.

"No problem!" Zhou Le’s voice was the loudest.

Yu Qian watched from the side, chuckling: "You’re the most enthusiastic when it comes to eating. No wonder you seem to have a bit of a people-pleasing personality on set; you’re polite to everyone."

"Godfather, you’ve got it wrong. It’s not a people-pleasing personality; it’s a 'begging-for-food' personality. Right now, I’m just living one day at a time, grabbing a meal whenever I can. After today, I don't even know where I'll be staying."

Yu Qian sighed, "Sigh, if all else fails, come stay at my place. I’ve got plenty of room."

"Is that really okay?"

"When did you become so wishy-washy?"

Zhou Le: "Hehe, I was just pretending to be reserved."

"You kid..."

That night, Zhou Le went to dinner, only to find that because there were so many people, he could only grab a few to chat with. In the end, he hit it off best with the guys from the band. But those band members either had plans to go out and have fun that night or had to catch a show the next day, so they all left early. In the end, he could only join Da Peng to drink with the big shots who hadn't left yet. He drank until he was completely muddled, not even knowing how he got back.

Waking up the next morning, Zhou Le saw a fuzzy head resting on the table.

"Brother Yingjun?"

Zhou Le called out tentatively, only to find his throat was incredibly dry and hoarse, and he couldn't speak clearly. After draining a bottle of mineral water from the nightstand, he felt much better. At this point, Zhao Yingjun woke up too.

"You're up? Sleep a bit more; there’s nothing major today. Just a wrap-up ceremony and a few interviews, and that’s it."

Zhou Le shook his head, "I might as well get up. I’m used to waking up early. But brother, did you stay here and watch over me all night?"

"Yeah, well, what else was I supposed to do? You were dead drunk, and I was worried you’d choke on your own vomit if you lay on your back," Zhao Yingjun said with a smile.

"You should have just laid on the bed; the chair must have been uncomfortable."

"Forget it. Even though we’ve known each other for a few months, I don't know if you’re comfortable with others sleeping in your bed. I’d hate to have you feeling worse than the hangover already has."

Zhou Le felt moved: "Brother, seriously, I could cry... From today on, you’re my real brother."

"Haha, don't. Remember the first time we met, you called me Baldy Qiang?"

"Did that happen..." Zhou Le was just about to tease him further when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." Zhao Yingjun went to open the door. Zhou Le couldn't see what was happening, but he heard Zhao Yingjun exclaim in surprise: "Nazha?"

Immediately after, Guli Nazha’s voice rang out: "Brother Yingjun is here too? I came to bring Teacher Zhou some porridge."

Zhao Yingjun had a sudden realization. "Oh—well, he's inside. You go ahead; I’ll head out first."

"Don't go yet, Brother Yingjun, stay and have some too."

Zhao Yingjun looked at the bowl of porridge and a plate of old pickles on the tray: "Better not, I don't like porridge." With that, he left without looking back.

Zhou Le scrambled up: "Thank you, Teacher Gu, for going through the trouble of bringing me porridge."

"It’s no trouble. Director Da Peng asked me to bring it to you. He’s off delivering to others right now. After all, not many people on set can even get up. You wouldn't want Xixi to bring it to you, would you?"

Zhou Le nodded: "That’s true. But why didn't you say Da Peng sent it earlier? You should have seen the look on Brother Yingjun’s face."

"What look?"

"He definitely thought there was something going on between us," Zhou Le said.

Nazha countered: "Isn't there?"

Zhou Le was flustered: "Is there?"

"Haha, why are you so anxious?" Nazha seemed to enjoy seeing Zhou Le like this.

"I haven't done anything, so of course I'm anxious! Isn't this just baseless slander?"

Nazha looked at Zhou Le and beamed: "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. But you’re actually quite fun; no wonder Sister Mi always liked teasing you guys."

"But why do you always call me 'Teacher Gu' normally? It sounds awful."

"I was just being respectful."

"If you want to be respectful, you can just call me by my full name. I don't like 'Teacher Gu' at all. At the very least, you can call me Nazha; that’s what everyone calls me."

Zhou Le: "Isn't it because I'm a bit younger than you? Then your full name is..."

"Gulnazar Bextiyar."

Zhou Le pondered for a moment: "I think Nazha is just fine."

Afterward, while drinking the porridge, he listened to Nazha complain about how hard filming had been lately, especially since the bass was so heavy and the strings were so thick that they had worn calluses on her hands, and the shoulder she hung the bass on always ached.

"You're just too thin. Look at this shoulder... tsk... I have to say, it’s quite pretty." As Zhou Le spoke, he suddenly felt his comment was a bit off, but he suddenly thought of something: "By the way, is your shoulder hurting?"

"Yeah."

"That must be strain. How about I give you a cupping treatment?"

Guli Nazha: "???"

But what she was struggling with wasn't whether it looked good: "Does that work? I usually just get massages."

"It definitely works. This is something handed down by our ancestors. If I didn't lack the right tools on hand, I'd even give you some acupuncture."

"Ah? What kind of needles?" Nazha was startled.

"Acupuncture," Zhou Le replied.

"Oh, you scared me. I was wondering what kind of needles you were talking about," Nazha said, patting her chest in relief.

Zhou Le: "???"

...

Afterward, Zhou Le asked Nazha to wait there. He went to a nearby convenience store to buy a jar, and incidentally exchanged some coins. As he walked back, he ate the contents of the jar.

At the same time, Nazha received a call from Zhang Han. Zhang Han had learned through a friend that Nazha had finished filming, so he wanted to find a time to have a meal and clear up the previous misunderstandings. He had also been thinking it over—it might not have been what it seemed, because later, Han Tongsheng had posted on Weibo thanking "Little Brother Zhou" for the throat lozenges. He hadn't gotten the role in *Wolf Warrior 2*, and he had nothing pressing at the moment.

"Hey, Nazha, I think the incident last time was a misunderstanding. Now that you've finished filming, I’d like to invite you to dinner..."

"Dinner? I don't have time recently, but I..."

Just then, Zhou Le returned. Hearing the door open, Nazha dropped her phone and went to look at Zhou Le. Immediately after, Zhang Han heard some dialogue on the other end of the line.

"Is the one you bought at the convenience store easy to use?"

"It’s alright. I’ve used it often in the past."

"But we still have to wash it, right?"

"Of course. Even if we use this, we still have to be hygienic."

"Wipe it off after washing it clean."

"Alright, lie down first."

"Right here, right?"

"Yes, it hurts here. Isn't this a bit too big?"

"I don't think so, it feels fine to me."

"It’s a bit hot."

"That's normal. It'll be fine in a moment."

"Alright, it’s suctioned on. Don't move for a few minutes. It’s best not to shower for two days after this."

"How does it feel? Does it still hurt?"

"A little."

"That’s how it should be. Your skin is too delicate, that’s just how it is."

"Alright, I’m taking it off now."

"Pop!"