Chapter 80: A Fated Encounter Part 2

“I haven’t thanked you for last time yet.” Zhu Hanxing used her eyes to signal Mingyue to pull on her sleeve. “Consider it my belated thanks.”

Luo Chaoxue tried to say there was no need to be so polite, but she couldn’t withstand the combined enthusiasm of Ming Xi and Mingyue.

Since Zhu Hanxing was treating, she let the guest choose the cuisine. “Cantonese, Hunan, Suzhou, Beijing, Korean, Japanese, French—anything you like.”

Luo Chaoxue looked at the heavy snow outside and sheepishly rubbed her neck. “I have a very Chinese stomach. Would hotpot be okay?”

“Of course.” Zhu Hanxing snapped her fingers and let Ming Xi lead them to a delicious local hotpot place.

The group of five ate in the main hall. Midway through, someone recognized Zhu Hanxing and came over to ask for a photo.

Zhu Hanxing had Ming Li take the photo for them, carefully instructing the fans, “Don’t photograph my friends, okay?”

The hotpot meal was pleasant. Zhu Hanxing had intended to look after Mingyue herself, but Mingyue insisted on sitting between Ming Xi and Luo Chaoxue. Throughout the meal, Luo Chaoxue took meticulous care of her.

Zhu Hanxing whispered to Ming Li, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was the biological sister.”

Ming Li smiled. “You said the same thing last time.”

“That was different. Gu Qingshuang was your wife… I mean, ex-wife. This woman is practically a stranger.”

Mingyue was surprisingly not shy at all.

At the mention of Gu Qingshuang, Zhu Hanxing realized she had let her tongue slip. She peeked at Ming Li’s reaction, but Ming Li seemed fine, simply asking about Mingyue’s recent status.

Zhu Hanxing gave a detailed account. She had taken Mingyue to the hospital again two days ago but didn’t see Gu Qingshuang. She did, however, see Lu Shuang, who mentioned that Gu Qingshuang hadn’t been doing well lately. After returning from a period of medical leave, she had lost a drastic amount of weight. She wasn’t even seen in the cafeteria, and she looked completely drained of spirit.

At this point, Zhu Hanxing felt a bit of schadenfreude. “Do you think she ended up like this because of the divorce?”

Ming Li placed a piece of goose intestine into her bowl. “Eat more.”

Shut up.

Zhu Hanxing gave a light scoff. “Is it really impossible?”

“Impossible,” Ming Li said firmly.

“Then how do you explain her weight loss?”

“Maybe it’s something else.”

“…”

Ming Li appeared very calm. “Besides, Lu Shuang might be exaggerating. You didn’t see Gu Qingshuang yourself, so how do you know she’s ‘gaunt’?”

“I guess that makes sense,” Zhu Hanxing said, leaning in mysteriously. “Do you think Gu Qingshuang got back together with that ex-girlfriend of hers?”

Ming Li shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Zhu Hanxing sighed in frustration. “I thought I’d hear something from you.”

“I’m not a paparazzi. Why are you coming to me for gossip?” Ming Li said. “I’d rather you tell me some gossip instead.”

“Actually, I do have some gossip lately,” Zhu Hanxing sighed. “But you don’t follow the entertainment industry, so you wouldn’t know the people involved.”

Ever since meeting Zhang Ling on her last set, Zhu Hanxing had gained a reliable gossip partner. Every night before bed, Zhang Ling would chat with her about industry rumors—who was chasing whom and getting rejected, who fell out over a brand deal, which makeup artist and stylist got into a fistfight, or which two actors were feuding and used a filming scene to slap each other for real.

Zhu Hanxing always felt like she wasn’t even in the same circle as them after hearing these stories.

Zhang Ling would tsk at her. “You’re famous for being ‘Love and Peace.’ Every time you join a set, you arrive alone and leave quietly. You’re gossip-proof.”

Zhu Hanxing had a stomach full of gossip she couldn’t tell Ming Li, fearing Ming Li wouldn’t understand. To her surprise, Ming Li said, “Go ahead and tell me. I might know them.”

“Have you heard of Li Xin?”

“The one under Hengyin Company? The little mute girl from Original Sin?”

“You actually know her?”

“…”

Ming Li felt the need to remind her: “I am the CEO of a talent agency now. Thank you very much; I’m supposed to know these things.”

Zhu Hanxing froze for a second. “I almost forgot.”

“How much longer until your contract expires?” Ming Li asked.

“The year after next,” Zhu Hanxing said. “I probably won’t renew. I want to start my own studio.”

“If my company has grown big and strong by then, you can consider us.”

“Then I hope you grow big and strong soon. If you have any good roles, keep me in mind. After all, I am your Legitimate Eldest Bestie.”

“…”

The two of them ate and chatted, the atmosphere warm and lively. Ming Li felt no burden around Zhu Hanxing, and her state was natural. Zhu Hanxing felt the same.

In the heat of their conversation, Ming Xi asked resentfully, “How do you two have so much to talk about every day? What are you whispering about?”

Zhu Hanxing said, “Adult business. Kids should stay out of it.”

Ming Xi huffed and tried to get Luo Chaoxue to ask.

Luo Chaoxue shook her head. “I’m playing with Mingyue.”

Ming Xi: “…Hmph!”

Both Zhu Hanxing and Ming Li were amused by her reaction. Luo Chaoxue happened to catch Ming Li’s laugh.

In her memory, Ming Li was always smiling, but it was nothing like this.

Ming Li’s usual smile was gentle and beautiful, but it lacked this kind of radiance. It was a smile that made one feel involuntarily happy just by looking at it—it was infectious.

Luo Chaoxue began to smile too, though she didn’t realize it until Mingyue signed to her: Sister, what are you laughing at?

Luo Chaoxue rubbed her own face. “Am I?”

Mingyue nodded emphatically.

Luo Chaoxue thought for a moment. “I just think this meal is very happy.”

Suddenly, something that had been blocked inside her felt like it had been cleared. She sat there, staring blankly into space.

Mingyue called her several times without a response, which drew the attention of Zhu Hanxing and Ming Li. Both looked on in bewilderment.

It was the first time they had seen someone go from zero to a total trance in an instant.

Ming Xi whispered, “Is she… experiencing a soul-traveling moment?”

“What do you think she’s thinking about?” Zhu Hanxing asked.

Just as Ming Li was about to speak, Luo Chaoxue’s eyes moved. She looked at Ming Li with a burning intensity. “I’ve got it!”

Ming Li, Zhu Hanxing, Ming Xi, and Mingyue: “…Huh?”

Luo Chaoxue stood up excitedly. “I’m so sorry, I have something I need to do right now. I have to go! I’ll treat you all to a meal another day!”