Sang Wan Ci’s embrace and comfort probably really had the magic of calming someone down. In her arms, Lu Zhi Wei finally had a good sleep.
That messy dream was quickly forgotten.
The next morning, she woke up full of energy and started preparing breakfast for Sang Wan Ci energetically.
Sang Wan Ci was a little baffled: “Is there something you’re happy about?”
“Yes.” Lu Zhi Wei was honest. “Thanks to you last night, I was able to sleep well. So I must make a good breakfast for you today as thanks.”
After Sang Wan Ci had her breakfast, Zhang Xian Rui would come to pick her up.
If Lu Zhi Wei didn’t take this chance to thank her with breakfast, she didn’t know when the next chance would be.
Hearing that, Sang Wan Ci asked: “What was your nightmare about?”
Lu Zhi Wei didn’t answer truthfully, just smiling in reply: “Nothing much.”
Sang Wan Ci knew better than to keep asking, reaching out a hand to pat her head: “It’s alright, dreams are the opposite of reality.”
When she was a kid and she had nightmares, that was how her mother comforted her.
Now that she was all grown up, it was her turn to comfort others.
Regardless whether this was true or false, there was still a degree of use to it.
Lu Zhi Wei nodded along: “Mm, it’s the opposite.”
The messy dream didn’t need to be remembered.
After breakfast, Sang Wan Ci changed into the clothes that she was wearing when she arrived and put on her coat.
She came carefreely and she left carefreely.
Lu Zhi Wei gave her that pair of gray gloves and walked her out.
Zhang Xian Rui came soon after.
The car stopped outside and the door was open, just waiting for Sang Wan Ci to get in.
Just as Sang Wan Ci was about to walk over, she stopped as if she remembered something, then turned to Lu Zhi Wei.
She lifted the bill of her cap and made eye contact with Lu Zhi Wei: “Lu Zhi Wei, if you need someone to accompany you in the future, you can call me. I’ll definitely come if I have time.”
Lu Zhi Wei was a good person, she really liked Lu Zhi Wei.
They were friends, and friends should spend time with each other.
Besides, men and women couldn’t be too close. Ying Xi Ze would definitely not be able to accompany her, so only Sang Wan Ci could do it.
Her voice was serious and steady, Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t help but laugh.
If it was in the past, she wouldn’t take it to heart.
When everybody parted ways, they would forget about it immediately.
But it was different now. She was no longer transparent.
“Okay, I’ll remember that.” She smiled. “Go on, work hard.”
Sang Wan Ci pulled her cap lower as she got onto the car and waved at her.
“See you next time.”
Lu Zhi Wei nodded.
After Zhang Xian Rui closed the door, she walked over and said in a low voice: “Thank you for taking care of Wan Ci these few days.”
Not only was Sang Wan Ci unharmed, she was glowing with happiness. It was clear that she had a good rest at Lu Zhi Wei’s home.
Compared to letting her run amok outside, Zhang Xian Rui would certain prefer letting her stay with Lu Zhi Wei.
Not only could she get some rest, there wasn’t any danger, so why not?
Zhang Xian Rui took out a name card and said: “I’ll reimburse you for the expenses incurred while she was staying at your place.”
Lu Zhi Wei hurriedly waved her hands: “No need, I didn’t spend a lot, so you don’t have to give me anything. It’s just an additional person at home. We’re all friends, so it’s fine.”
Zhang Xian Rui raised an eyebrow.
She wouldn’t interfere with Sang Wan Ci making friends.
As long as they didn’t have ulterior motives, as long as it wasn’t a close male friend, everything was fine.
Someone like Lu Zhi Wei was good.
She wouldn’t cheat Sang Wan Ci.
She wasn’t a man who would use flowery words and promises to trick someone into a relationship.
She was a harmless jiejie to Sang Wan Ci.
“Alright, you should go back in. It’s cold out, we’ll head off first.” Zhang Xian Rui said.
Lu Zhi Wei nodded and pulled her coat tighter around her as she turned around and walked off.
After Zhang Xian Rui got in the car, she wound down the window and looked outside for a moment.
As if she was looking in the direction Lu Zhi Wei had left in.
And as if she was looking at the housing estate.
Sang Wan Ci’s gaze moved from her and the car window, then she asked: “Zhang jie, what are you looking at?”
She was worried Zhang Xian Rui didn’t like Lu Zhi Wei.
Worried that Zhang Xian Rui felt that Lu Zhi Wei was someone with ulterior motives.
Zhang Xian Rui looked away and wound up the window as she assessed the situation: “Your friend’s house isn’t very secure, there isn’t even a competent security guard around.”
Hearing that, Sang Wan Ci looked in the direction of Lu Zhi Wei’s home silently.
…
After sending off Sang Wan Ci, Lu Zhi Wei went back to her rented apartment alone.
She wasn’t used to it when Sang Wan Ci came.
Now that Sang Wan Ci had left, she wasn’t used to it either.
It was certainly a mysterious thing, the interaction between people.
Lucky Lao Wu was still around to accompany her.
Although he couldn’t be by her side, at least he could talk to her.
Once she got home, Lao Wu came out and said in a praising manner: 【You two were getting along well these few days.】
He analysed it rationally: 【If you two can continue developing like this, repairing the protagonists’ relationship line is not far off.】
“……”
Lu Zhi Wei: “Wake up, this is friendship, not love.
“If the relationship you’re talking about is friendship, then I can fix it tomorrow!”
【You can do it even if it’s not friendship.】
Lao Wu encouraged her.
【Lu Zhi Wei can’t say she can’t.】
Lu Zhi Wei: “I can’t.”
Sang Wan Ci had her own way of thinking, and it wasn’t easy to figure it out.
Besides, she couldn’t think of anything that she had at the moment that was worthy of Sang Wan Ci falling for her.
She felt that the person who could move Sang Wan Ci had to be the most excellent and outstanding person in the world.
She didn’t even think that most people would be worthy of Sang Wan Ci.
Lao Wu: 【What are you worried about, you have the male protagonist halo, your starting point is better than anybody else.
【Work hard and leave the rest to the male protagonist halo.】
Lu Zhi Wei pouted.
She felt like something was wrong in her heart, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
But if she couldn’t put her finger on it, then there was no point deliberating over it right now.
She asked curiously: “Anyway, don’t you guys need to celebrate the new year?”
She had stopped working, but Lao Wu was still at his workstation.
She was on vacation, but Lao Wu was still at his workstation.
It was the third day of the new year, but Lao Wu was still at his workstation.
She was beginning to suspect that the system had to work all year round with no breaks, wasn’t that the dreadful “007”[1]!
No, this was even worse, this was “00365”!
Lao Wu was calm: 【We’re from another planet, we don’t follow Earth’s customs.】
Lu Zhi Wei was shocked: 【Oh! You’re an alien? There really are aliens in this world? How surprising.】
After that, she suddenly thought of her situation then calmed down.
【Oh, my situation is pretty surprising too.】
First a transparent entity, then the male protagonist.
People who weren’t in the know would think they were filming a television show.
But she was still curious about Lao Wu, this alien, and she couldn’t help but activate her curious mode.
“What do you look like?”
【The same as you.】
“Oh, then aren’t there any areas that are different? Like your nose might be super long, or your mouth is really big?”
【No, we look the same externally, but our lives are longer than yours, much longer.】
“Wow, I’m envious. Then the person you like is an alien too?”
【Mm.】
“Oh, then that’s good. When you guys get together in the future, you won’t have to worry about mismatched life expectancies.”
Hearing this, Lao Wu looked at the serious lady on the screen and couldn’t help but laugh.
【Why are you suddenly thinking of us getting together?】
Lu Zhi Wei hung up her coat: “Because you haven’t given up, and you’re still chasing after her.
“Once she accomplishes her dream and slows down, I believe you’ll catch up to her.”
【Maybe.】
Lao Wu actually didn’t have much hope.
He just liked her and kept on liking her. He didn’t want to give up even though she didn’t feel anything for him.
Because she was really too good in his heart.
Even if she wouldn’t agree, he was willing to continue liking her silently, working hard and trying to become even better for her.
Because he liked her, so he would work hard to become a better person for her, wasn’t this the meaning of liking someone?
“Don’t be depressed.”
Lu Zhi Wei opened the Wikipedia page for the original male lead, Qiu Luo, and changed the topic.
“You still haven’t told me what her name is.”
【Bai Zhi.】Mentioning the name of the person in his heart, Lao Wu’s smile became softer. 【Doesn’t it sound nice?】
Lu Zhi Wei replied without thinking: “Mm, it’s nice.”
Putting aside the fact that the name “Bai Zhi” was nice.
Even if she wasn’t called Bai Zhi, with Lao Wu’s love filter, no matter what she was called, Lao Wu would certainly think it was nice.
Lao Wu asked what she was doing.
She replied: “Oh, Wan Ci said Qiu Luo is the male lead for 《Questioning Deity Sect》, and as someone who’s acting in it, I have to check out his information first.”
Qiu Luo was called a “famous product” by his fans because of his handsome looks.
At the moment, he didn’t have much television shows to his name with just a single idol drama and a few variety shows.
He was a year older than Sang Wan Ci, and the two of them debuted in the same year.
They both had extraordinary good looks, so they stood out in the bunch of new actors. There were plenty of people online who shipped them together and made couple fan videos, hoping they would work together on a show.
Lu Zhi Wei propped up her face with one hand as she scrolled with the other.
Qiu Luo and Sang Wan Ci were supposed to work together on a show.
But because the female protagonist didn’t follow the script.
So now the male actor who collaborated with Sang Wan Ci first became the sand sculpture second male lead, Ying Xi Ze.
Keeping her phone away, Lu Zhi Wei supported her face with both hands as she started thinking.
When 《Phoenix》 comes out, would Sang Wan Ci and Ying Xi Ze’s couple fans be more than Sang Wan Ci and Qiu Luo’s?
Maybe.
After all, the two of them had plenty of chemistry when they were filming.
A main couple without chemistry was a failure.
Being able to have chemistry when acting meant the actors already had a quarter of success.
—— Her idol Meng Lian Yu thought so, and she did too.
Seeing his silly daughter in a daze, Lao Wu asked: 【What are you thinking about?】
Lu Zhi Wei came back to her senses and voiced out her thoughts.
【……】
Lao Wu held his forehead speechlessly.
【As the male protagonist, you’re not thinking if the female protagonist and you have couple fans. What are you thinking about the second male lead and the female lead for?】
Lu Zhi Wei said reasonably: “I’m just a small maid in the show, what couple fans can we have?
“If you say the female lead and second female lead have couple fans, that would be more reasonable than me!”
【As someone who watched the entire filming process, I really do think that if you and Sang Wan Ci don’t act in a same sex show, it’s a waste.
【Besides, if there really was a same sex movie, would you be willing to film it?】
“Of course.” Lu Zhi Wei answered without a second thought as her eyes shone. “Then I’ll also have a chance to be the female lead.”
From the moment she stepped into the entertainment circle, her roles had been incredibly small. It was only Xiao He’s role that had been a bit bigger.
But as an actor, who didn’t want to be the lead actor?
In the past, she had no choice. It was good enough that she had a role.
Now that she had the chance to progress, she would certainly have ambition.
After all, her dream was to become an excellent actress that everybody liked, like Meng Lian Yu.
Seeing her shining eyes, Lao Wu suddenly was left silent.
What sort of bad intentions could a child who was once a transparent entity have?
She just wanted to stand under the light and let the world see her.
【There will be that day.】
Lao Wu said.
……
After celebrating the new year happily, people had to go back to their normal lives.
《Questioning Deity Sect》 was due to start filming in the middle of March.
Before that, the unknown newcomer Lu Zhi Wei had to film the show that Wen Yao had fought to get for her.
It was a role that just needed to show her face a few times, so she didn’t need to stay in the crew for too long.
She wasn’t upset about it.
Wen Yao was a small manager and her resources were limited too.
Being able to help her get the audition chance for 《Questioning Deity Sect》 and Xiao He’s role was already very good.
Besides, smaller roles were also useful for training Lu Zhi Wei’s acting skills.
She was enthusiastic, and so was Wen Yao.
She would encourage and motivate her, becoming a living and walking encouragement person.
Sometimes when Lu Zhi Wei saw her, it was rather funny.
Wen Yao and Sang Wan Ci’s manager was different.
She had the sense of youthfulness and vigor, like someone who had just entered the workforce.
She also wanted to become a mature, reliable presence like the experienced managers, so that her artist could trust her wholeheartedly and believe she could do anything.
But sometimes, she would fail in pretending to be mature.
Every time that happened, Lu Zhi Wei would look at her and see a small child who was tiptoeing, pretending to be a grownup.
It was cute and impossible for people to blame her.
They had just finished another scene today.
Wen Yao was driving Lu Zhi Wei home as she suddenly asked: “Zhi Wei jie, do you regret being assigned to me?”
She was inexperienced and had limited resources, she couldn’t give her artists much.
But Lu Zhi Wei always listened to her and followed her arrangements enthusiastically, making her feel a little guilty.
If only she was a big manager like Zhang Xian Rui, then she would definitely arrange for the rest resources for Lu Zhi Wei!
Lu Zhi Wei smiled and asked: “Why would I regret it?”
Wen Yao said guiltily: “Because I’m a new manager, I can’t get any resource I want like Zhang Xian Rui……”
Lu Zhi Wei said warmly: “I’m a new person too, isn’t it very normal to not have resources?”
“What’s wrong with you today, why are you suddenly so despondent?”
Wen Yao stopped at the traffic light and sighed: “I just feel guilty. If only I was a big manager, then you wouldn’t have to act in these small roles……”
She felt like it was waste of Lu Zhi Wei’s talent.
Lu Zhi Wei had the skills, she shouldn’t just be acting in these small roles.
Lu Zhi Wei comforted her: “Even the big managers slowly made their way there. Like Manager Zhang, did she have thousands of resources once she entered the industry? Didn’t she also slowly make her way to her success now?”
She reached out a hand and patted Wen Yao’s shoulder: “It’s the same for you now. You’re taking one step at a time. Believe in yourself, as long as you work hard enough, you’ll become successful like her.”
Then she turned around to look at her and said softly: “It’s the same for me. As long as I work hard, there will be returns.
“Even if there aren’t, I won’t regret it, because at least I dared to try.”
To her, having tried and failed was a hundred times better than standing still and stagnant.
The former at least had the experience of trying and the lessons learnt.
Wen Yao was infected by her smile and slowly cheered up.
That’s right. Not everybody succeeds at the start, or life would be too easy.
“Zhi Wei jie, your attitude is so good, you’ll definitely be successful!” She said enthusiastically.
Even if she wasn’t very successful, with that kind of attitude, she would live well!
She had to work hard too and get more resources for Lu Zhi Wei!
……
Spring came back in March, with everything blooming back to life.
Tender new leaves sprouted from the branches of trees.
The initial spring in An City might not be as cold as winter, but it was still cold.
A jacket had to be worn in the day, and warm coats had to be worn at night.
If she wasn’t filming, Lu Zhi Wei wouldn’t go out at night, staying at home and keeping warm.
After the new year, Sang Wan Ci’s schedule started filling up.
Lu Zhi Wei felt like her schedule was never ending, because when they would chat, Sang Wan Ci would leave to go film and only reply in the middle of the night sometimes.
Lao Wu even felt moved seeing it.
Lu Zhi Wei: “?”
What’s there to be moved about???
Lao Wu: 【The female lead is working hard to be the best, can’t this system administrator be moved?】
If Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci could heal the world line, then he could knock off and take a break.
The world line not only contained the protagonists’ relationship line, but also their career lines.
Even though the female protagonist Sang Wan Ci didn’t follow the script, but at least when it came to work, she was never slacking off. Wasn’t it enough for him to be moved?
【You have to work hard too, male protagonist!】
Lu Zhi Wei: “……”
That might be a bit tough……
The original male protagonist Qiu Luo came from a wealthy family and the company he joined was part of the family business. He already had half the race done from the start.
It was clear what sort of resources he had from the beginning.
But Lu Zhi Wei wasn’t the same.
She had a standard family, and her parents didn’t love her. She had to rely on herself to climb step by step, it was destined to be slower than Qiu Luo’s career.
Speaking of which, she didn’t know what sort of role the original male protagonist had now.
A passerby?
A common second male lead?
A special second male lead?
According to the ridiculous experiences over this period of time, her brain suddenly got stuck with a bold and outrageous idea.
Maybe…… the second female lead?
Lu Zhi Wei: “……”
No.
Don’t do that.
She was starting to worry!
……
Before entering the crew for 《Questioning Deity Sect》, Sang Wan Ci had a few days to rest.
She was busy working at home, looking at the script and analysing the character.
If her father called, then she would take the time to quarrel with her father, neither of them giving in.
Then after that, she would call her teacher to ask for help with her acting.
“You’re entering the crew soon.” The woman’s mature voice came from the other end, sounding relaxed.
Sang Wan Ci sat in front of her window, her gaze far in the distance.
The night sky was filled with stars, shining and twinkling.
“Mm.” She replied.
The teacher on the phone laughed: “I heard you’re acting with the male actor who debuted with you?
“I’ve seen plenty of your couple videos on the web.
“How is it, is there a spark?”
The air of gossip suddenly descended.
Sang Wan Ci: “……”
She replied decisively: “There’s no spark, I don’t like him. Work is more important.”
The teacher smiled at her answer.
“Our Wan Ci is all grown up. You’re career-minded, that’s good.
“Oh yes, where did you spend the New Year at?”
“A friend’s home.”
Mentioning Lu Zhi Wei, Sang Wan Ci’s voice got softer.
“Her cooking’s good.
“Her house isn’t big, but it’s nicely decorated and warm.”
Ever since she spent the New Year at Lu Zhi Wei’s house, she started feeling like her own house was too cold.
Although it was big, it wasn’t as warm and cozy as Lu Zhi Wei’s house.
No, the most important factor was still Lu Zhi Wei.
Without Lu Zhi Wei, that house was just an ordinary house.
From her warm tone, her teacher could easily tell how much she liked this friend, so she smiled: “Is she good?”
Sang Wan Ci said: “Very good.”
Her teacher replied: “Then that’s good. It’s a good thing you can make a friend, I’m happy for you.”
Sang Wan Ci continued: “She worked with me. She has roles in last year’s 《Phoenix》 and this year’s 《Questioning Deity Sect》.”
Her teacher exclaimed in surprise: “Oh? The same industry? Then when it airs, I’ll have to take a good look at your friend.”
Sang Wan Ci: “Mm.”
Sang Wan Ci suddenly recalled what happened during the New Year.
She thought of Lu Zhi Wei hugging the pillow and staring at Meng Lian Yu excitedly.
At that moment, Lu Zhi Wei’s eyes looked like there were stars hidden in them.
She recalled Lu Zhi Wei’s “I like them all”.
And she fell silent, considering how much this “like” was.
It felt like…… it wasn’t just a typical like?
“She……” Sang Wan Ci said hesitantly.
“Mm?” Her teacher asked. “What?”
Sang Wan Ci said slowly: “She seems to like you a lot.”
“Really?”
Meng Lian Yu laughed.
“And Teacher Ji Feng.” Sang Wan Ci continued slowly.
Meng Lian Yu ran her hand through her hair, saying: “Ha, Ji Feng’s charm is still there. He used to have a lot of fans in the past. I didn’t think that at 40, he would still be able to get young girls to like him.”
Sang Wan Ci chuckled: “She seems to like you more.”
Meng Lian Yu swept her hair to the side: “Of course, it’s expected. How can Ji Feng, that singer, compare to such a mature beauty as me.”
—— Sorry, beautiful women are just that confident.
After Meng Lian Yu was done being narcissictic, she looked at the time and realised it was late: “Alright, hurry and sleep. If your dad knew I was still calling you at this time, he would say I’m disturbing your sleep and be upset at me again.
“You know how he is, that black face he pulls when he’s upset, tsk.
“I’m hanging up now, sleep early, goodnight.”
“Mm.”
Sang Wan Ci’s voice was light and soft, infused with pleasing obedience.