Chapter 18 — A Choice Between Two

“Screw you!” Lin Xiaowen laughed and scolded her.

“You’d better hurry up and find yourself a decent boyfriend. Staying single for so long, I’m starting to wonder if there’s really something off about your orientation!”

“Pfft.”

Xu Ningning shot her a dismissive glance. “Fate is something you can’t force. The man I want must be a dragon among men, a hero without equal!”

“Fine, let your great hero show up soon, so Ranran and I can bask in his glory too!”

“Don’t worry, if my future husband ever dares treat you two badly, I’ll put my foot down and divorce him on the spot!” Xu Ningning said with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, please!”

Lin Xiaowen stood up to clear the dishes and added, “He’d be lucky to marry you, let alone take us two along as baggage... Go fix your makeup and let’s get going. We have more important things to do.”

“Alright...” Xu Ningning stretched lazily as she got to her feet. “Whether he’s a ‘real man’ or not doesn’t matter. I’m successful, independent, and strong. Finding a good man would be the icing on the cake, but if no one catches my eye, I’d rather stay single forever!”

“But your ‘cake’ isn’t quite solid yet, so you’d better hurry up and keep ‘baking’!” Lin Xiaowen wiped her hands and headed out front.

Why are there still so few customers on a Tuesday? Not a single one has come in!

“Hey, Xiaowen!”

“What?”

Lin Xiaowen looked curiously at Xu Ningning, who had grabbed her arm, then raised her eyes to meet hers.

“About what happened with you three last night, aren’t you going to tell me?” Xu Ningning grinned wickedly, making Lin Xiaowen shiver with goosebumps.

“What do you mean ‘you three’? Don’t use such weird terms, okay?” Lin Xiaowen cried out in protest, shot her a glare, and walked behind the counter, habitually turning on the computer to check for offline orders.

“So, nothing happened last night... none of those romantic plot twists from a novel?”

Xu Ningning’s curiosity was piqued, and Lin Xiaowen felt her head pounding.

“Nothing! Apart from spending a ridiculous amount on burgers, nothing happened... Oh, that’s right!” Lin Xiaowen’s tone was casual, but she suddenly paused.

“What is it?” Xu Ningning’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

“He paid me back! Yes!” Lin Xiaowen nodded to herself with satisfaction.

“Huh, I thought...”

“Thought what?” Lin Xiaowen looked up at her. “You read too many romance novels and idol dramas. What on earth are you imagining every day?”

“No, no...” Xu Ningning rubbed her chin, lost in thought. “Given the circumstances, you two should have some sort of romantic storyline!”

“Xu Ningning, are you just using me for entertainment?” Lin Xiaowen shot her a look.

“Hehe...” Xu Ningning grinned. “Anyway, I feel like Cheng Yishu treats you... a little differently!”

Lin Xiaowen didn’t bother to respond, dropping her gaze to check the online shop’s customer reviews.

“Oh, come on, Xiaowen, humor me... It’s not a bad thing! Who knows, maybe something will really develop between you two? Think about all those chance encounters, and how well Ranran and Cheng Yishu get along... Fate is truly mysterious sometimes...”

“Who’s Cheng Yishu?” Lin Xiaowen finally couldn’t take it anymore, glancing up with an air of indifference.

“Cheng... the superstar!” Xu Ningning blinked in confusion at Lin Xiaowen, then continued, “The all-round idol who can sing and dance, millions of fans, the hottest young star—handsome and rich... It’s great...”

“So you know who he is, then please don’t let your imagination run wild, alright? One’s a star in the heavens, the other’s a weed in the dirt... Do you really think there’s any story to be told between the two?”

Lin Xiaowen’s tone was flat, her emotions steady, but after saying it, she felt a weight lift from her heart, as if she’d finally let go of something heavy.

Xu Ningning pouted and muttered, “Anything’s possible...”

“Not possible!” Lin Xiaowen cut her off impatiently. “Hurry up, get to work now! The renovation company is waiting for you!”

Xu Ningning let out a sigh and reminded her, “Alright! When you pick up Ranran tonight, lock the door and get a cab home. Text me when you get there!”

“Got it, nag.”

The sound of high heels faded into the distance before Lin Xiaowen pulled herself back together, her gaze unconsciously drifting to her silent phone.

Since Cheng Yishu sent her a photo of himself at the airport in the middle of the night, he hadn’t reached out again...

Good, fewer messages, less annoyance!

——

Beijing.

Inside a certain hotel...

Two scripts lay quietly on the table, untouched and pristine.

Chen Kai dropped onto the sofa, rubbing his chin in silence. Da Lingzi stood off to the side, saying nothing. She felt a certain wariness toward Chen Kai; though he seemed warm and approachable, she instinctively didn’t want to engage with him.

The bathroom door opened and Cheng Yishu emerged in a bathrobe, still wreathed in a pale mist.

“You’re up early!” Chen Kai smiled at him. “I thought I’d have to drag you out of bed.”

“I usually wake up early when I’m not working.” Cheng Yishu walked to the bar, where Da Lingzi had already set out warm water.

“Good habits are important,” Chen Kai remarked, glancing at the two scripts. “Have you read these? Decided which one you want?”

After Cheng Yishu finished his water, Da Lingzi asked, “Would you like milk and bread or soy milk and fried dough sticks for breakfast?”

Chen Kai interjected with a grin, “Soy milk and dough sticks, count me in!”

Da Lingzi looked to Cheng Yishu, who nodded slightly, and she left the room.

As Cheng Yishu sat across from Chen Kai, towel in hand, he glanced again at the two scripts lying on the coffee table, one thicker than the other.

Since his debut, Cheng Yishu had mostly performed on stage, with only occasional opportunities to meet audiences off-stage. His popularity had soared last year, and only then did he begin taking acting roles. Though he hadn’t been formally trained, he seemed born for the craft—what industry insiders called “a natural.”

Directors found him easy to direct; he picked things up instantly. He insisted on doing his own stunts, no matter how dangerous, and his performance in dramatic scenes was impeccable—he even dreamed in lines from his scripts.

It was this dedication that earned him a large fan base in just two dramas, and caught the eye of directors all over, bringing in more and more acting offers.

Unlike before, when Tan Jing would simply sign him up for any script she thought suitable, Chen Kai’s first job as his agent was to let him choose for himself.

Cheng Yishu found himself quietly reassessing Chen Kai, the legendary agent.