Chapter 888 - 887: Anyway, It’s Not Me

I can’t figure out what kind of game they’ll use this time.

The previous trailers always had that melodramatic web novel vibe, making their show a standout among the variety shows. Now it doesn’t feel that way, it’s more back to basics, finally a bit like a regular slow-paced show.

Could it be similar to the pilot?

Mu Qiu pondered for two minutes, couldn’t grasp it, and continued packing her luggage.

What to bring?

She stared at the fridge for a couple of seconds, unsure if she could bring those vegetables and shrimp wontons.

"Ring ring ring—"

The music sounded a bit different, it was a call from Cheng Zhirang.

She hadn’t properly put on her slippers before running to grab the phone, turning on the speaker.

"Hello, Brother Cheng!"

Cheng Zhirang’s gentle, magnetic voice flowed like a stream: "Qiuqiu, did you have breakfast?"

"Yes, I did. Did you see the message from the production team?"

Cheng Zhirang: "Yes, should I book the ticket for you at seven tomorrow?"

"No need, I’ve already done that. But the director mentioned bringing stuff, what should I take? Leftover food from home? I heard we need to cook ourselves."

"You can, but make sure they’re easy to carry, packaged ones, there should be two or three kinds at home you can bring. Bring extra change of clothes, sunglasses, and hats, and little gifts for everyone in private. Also, could you bring me a couple of extra clothes too?"

"Can I even say no? Let you ’face me bare’?"

Cheng Zhirang fell silent for a moment: "The first day’s shoot is with my top half bare."

Mu Qiu: "What?!"

"If you start talking about this, I get interested. Why does it require a bare upper half? Even if it’s post-apocalyptic, the male lead shouldn’t be without clothes, right?"

Could it be Qing Rong deliberately wrote the male lead to be a ’shirt-busting’ guy?

He chuckled: "The male lead is injured, his upper-body clothes are replaced by large bandages."

Large bandages?

She recalled some illustration works she had seen before, with abs and pectoral muscles wrapped in white bandages, a hint of bloodstains seeping through...

She rubbed beneath her nose, feigning seriousness: "Doesn’t that test physique a lot? You would have to train and eat a low-fat diet. You mentioned ’large’, ’large’, when it airs don’t let it be just two band-aids stuck.

Cheng Zhirang found her words amusing: "How could it be just two band-aids? It tests physique a lot, so it’s low carbs, and whenever I don’t have scenes, I need to find a space to squeeze in some training."

"Is it tiring?"

"Not really, shooting schedule is well planned, not being up too late isn’t tiring. I’ll have Assistant Wen pick you up in the morning to the airport? The suitcase is heavy, at Linhai Airport wait at the exit, I’ll come get the luggage."

Mu Qiu shook her head, realized he couldn’t see it, and said: "No need, I can manage, it’s not much. Plus, at the airport there should be a car from the production, don’t worry."

"Alright, take care of yourself."

This episode just revealed so little, seemed there was nothing more to say.

But neither of them mentioned hanging up.

Mu Qiu picked at the sofa cushion, listening to the shallow breathing on the other end, not sure what to say.

So many things to say, and so many soap bubble thoughts floating up, clawing, but unable to say them, mouth open with nowhere to start.

Cheng Zhirang didn’t speak, after a minute he softly called her name: "Qiuqiu."

Even without saying anything mushy, and although they were far apart, just through this wireless transmission, her ears felt warmer and the bubbling in her heart began boiling.

Eventually, she spoke first: "See you tomorrow? You go ahead with filming."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow. Might shoot late tonight, won’t send a video, go to bed early."

"Got it."

She hung up, sticking to the call, sitting on the floor, leaning against the sofa leg, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window at the small basketball court outside.

Cheng Zhirang had only left for a day, yet it felt like a long time.

...

Online rumors of Li Yang’s team disbanding were growing more intense, the fan war involved the agent, company, and other artists in the company, seemingly hard to suppress.

The little wretch forbidden from posting on Weibo could only rant in a few WeChat groups.

[Li Yang: I feel like we might really disband]

[Li Yang: Yesterday a fan broke into the hotel where my teammate stayed, using red paint to write ’must disband’, too scary]

[Shu Ran: Being a popular star is like that, a few years ago someone stole my clothes, and blocked my home, harassing my family]

[Li Yang: So scary]

[Guan Yu: Watching you chat while munching seeds is quite fun, what are you bringing tomorrow? Didn’t they say we have to cook ourselves? I’m planning to bring dumplings I made personally]

[Shi Yuhuai: For us to eat after being spoiled?]

[Guan Yu: ...Sorry, I forgot they need freezing. Then I’ll bring a pack of seaweed]

[Mu Qiu: Oh, suddenly remembered, I have a pack of dried seaweed from the SCP episode, will bring it too]

[Shu Ran: Who’s cooking?]

[Guan Yu: Definitely not me]

[Mu Qiu: Definitely not me]

[Li Yang: Definitely not me]

[Shi Yuhuai: Certainly not me]

[Cheng Zhirang: ...]

[Mu Qiu: This is called the ’tear-the-facade’ version of the pilot]

[Guan Yu: In the pilot, everyone said politely to prepare a sumptuous dinner together, even if you can’t cook, stay in the kitchen to help... Now we’re too familiar]

[Li Yang: Sister Guan Yu, you can cook, right? Sister Shu Ran too? Mu Qiu can as well]

[Shi Yuhuai: I heard my agent said your agent claimed you could cook some dishes @Li Yang]

[Li Yang: Instant noodles, boiled noodles, dumplings]

[Li Yang: My agent, to market me, said I can do anything]

[Guan Yu: My agent said they want to build me as an all-around comedian]

[Shu Ran: Ask them, can you sing?]

[Mu Qiu: Hahaha, Sister Shu Ran, you’re getting sassier]

[Mu Qiu: Then I’ll bring dry food, bread, and instant noodles, if we can’t eat a meal at least there’s bread and noodles]

[Cheng Zhirang: There isn’t instant noodles at home]

[Mu Qiu: I can go buy~]

[Shi Yuhuai: I’ll bring money, cooking will be up to you all]

[Shu Ran: Why don’t you say you’ll bring your mouth]

[Guan Yu: Ah, relax, we’ll find a way. If all else fails, Brother Cheng will have to work hard]

[Cheng Zhirang: Sigh]

[Shu Ran: Brother Cheng is speechless]

[Mu Qiu: I feel like this last episode seems to be echoing the pilot? Seems a bit similar in structure]

[Guan Yu: This isn’t the end, it’s not even the beginning of the end, but it’s perhaps the end of the beginning]

[Shi Yuhuai: Where’d you quote that from?]