Chapter 223
Wei Maomao, with a bowl of food, successfully silenced Zhao Can, but not for long…
“While I’m still free, I’ll go to the restroom.” Zhao Can said, glancing at the time, she grabbed a tissue, wiped her mouth, and dashed off, catching the other two off guard.
Under the table, Wei Maomao slowly retracted her hand, which had instinctively reached out.
The hot pot restaurant’s private room was large, the table taking up less than half the space, they had to stand slightly to reach each other’s bowls.
The private room was also small, small enough that with one person gone, the remaining two, seemingly looking elsewhere, their eyes were mostly on each other.
Wei Maomao, her earlier impulsive action stopped just in time, she hid her hand under the table, the steam from the hot pot concealing her childish desire to follow Zhao Can to the restroom.
But actions spoke louder than words.
A pale arm, visible even through the steam, lifted slightly, then lowered, lips pressed together, eyes following Zhao Can… even after she left the room…
Cheng Tingyan saw it clearly, then, before those eyes returned, she looked down at the food in her bowl.
The private room, with just one person missing, felt empty, the silence amplified.
“I asked Grandpa He for help with that Sha Mingfeng incident.” Cheng Tingyan said quickly, breaking the silence. “Grandpa He is amazing; without his quick investigation, it would have been difficult to convince Hao Zhen to act.”
“Grandpa is always amazing.” Wei Maomao said, looking up and smiling.
Cheng Tingyan, using the conversation as a distraction, looked at the little girl before her.
The little girl had grown up, no longer the chubby three-year-old, nor the naive teenager from when Cheng Tingyan first left for university.
Her smiling eyes, round and bright, like dewdrops, as the media described it, a deer-like agility, a natural charisma that drew people in. And those dimples, Cheng Tingyan had read a magazine article praising them, calling them captivating.
From a director’s perspective, Cheng Tingyan thought Maomao’s smile was perfect.
But…
Maomao wasn’t truly smiling; it was just a performance.
Cheng Tingyan suddenly hated her professional observation skills.
When did it become like this, their one-on-one interactions awkward, filled with forced conversation and fake smiles…?
She had only wanted to take a small step back…
Some things couldn’t be controlled…
Cheng Tingyan knew it was her decision that caused this, although she felt a pang of regret, but she couldn’t think of a better alternative, she could only continue the awkward small talk.
Thankfully, Zhao Can returned quickly.
“What are you doing, just chatting and not eating?” Zhao Can asked, returning to the table, she surveyed the situation, dissatisfied, she started adding more food to the pot, her voice laced with concern. “Especially you, this might be our last good meal for a while, eat more.”
“What, we’re going to work, not to…” Wei Maomao said, stopping Zhao Can from adding meat to her bowl. “I’m almost full, I’ll go to the restroom.”
“Where are you going? I was the one who was nervous, you’ve been filming since you were three, it’ll be like going home for you.” Zhao Can said, successfully adding the meat to Wei Maomao’s bowl.
Wei Maomao pushed Zhao Can’s hand away, amused and slightly annoyed. “Even if it’s like going home… do you only use the restroom at home?”
“Hey…” Zhao Can reached out, but Wei Maomao patted her hand and left.
One after another, going to the restroom…
Maomao was one thing, but why was Zhao Can also…
Cheng Tingyan, watching the door close, turned to Zhao Can and asked with a smile, her eyes narrowed, “What, am I a tiger today?”
“No, no…” Zhao Can said, realizing her actions were a bit too obvious, she chuckled awkwardly. “I’m just a bit… nervous.”
“Nervous about what?” Cheng Tingyan asked, surprised.
“About the… job later…” Zhao Can said, fidgeting under Cheng Tingyan’s gaze. “It’s all because I’m useless, otherwise, Maomao wouldn’t have to take this job for me, to save the spot for me. Maomao wasn’t even interested in this variety show, she doesn’t even want to date. Director Xiao contacted her first, but she refused… I was afraid Zhixing Entertainment would get the spot, and then Wang…”
“Wait.” Cheng Tingyan said, interrupting Zhao Can’s rambling, she chuckled. “You haven’t forgotten I’m also in the group chat, right? We discussed all this months ago.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” Zhao Can said, glancing at Cheng Tingyan. “We’re going soon, so I just wanted to… you know…”
“Don’t be nervous, reality shows are similar to filming. And the director is Director Xiao, we all know him, if there are any problems, you can tell the production team, and if you need help, he’ll contact us.” Cheng Tingyan said, she didn’t understand Zhao Can’s sudden nervousness, she assumed it was because of the reality show, she offered a few words of comfort.
Zhao Can, listening obediently: “…”
She wasn’t comforted at all!
Was she nervous about the reality show? She was nervous because Maomao took this dating show for her!
Zhao Can glanced at Cheng Tingyan, who was sincerely offering comfort and advice… What was she even thinking all these years, was she the only one immersed in their imaginary angst-ridden romance?
Ah… she hoped Yan Yan wouldn’t kill her for this one day…
Zhao Can, remembering Yan Yan’s martial arts competitions, shuddered.
Cheng Tingyan, seeing her reaction, was even more puzzled, why was she even more scared now?
“By the way, Sister Ming mentioned Maomao suddenly wanting to act, that misunderstanding…” Cheng Tingyan said, giving up on comforting her, she changed the subject.
Cheng Tingyan was just making small talk, but for Zhao Can, it was a lifeline.
Zhao Can eagerly joined the conversation. “Right, that misunderstanding was so funny! Who would have thought Little Maomao, so jealous, thinking Auntie Zhang was pregnant, she didn’t even confirm it, she just… And after a few months, realizing Auntie Zhang’s belly wasn’t growing, she even asked, ‘Mom, are you okay?’… Hahaha, seriously, who’s not okay?”
Cheng Tingyan: “…“
Zhao Can, giggling, covering her mouth, whispered, “And Auntie Zhang, so clueless, with such a good figure, secretly taking diet pills, thinking the side effects were pregnancy symptoms, and Little Maomao overheard her discussing it with Uncle Wei… Maomao was so angry she stayed in bed all day, and because it was Uncle Wei who said those things, she took all his CEO novels to Grandpa He’s villa, hahaha, Uncle Wei didn’t dare to let Grandpa He see them, it took him months to sneak them back.”
Cheng Tingyan: “…“
“Maomao was so jealous when she was young, super jealous, right?” Zhao Can asked, looking at Cheng Tingyan, expecting a smile.
Mmm… why wasn’t she smiling?
Zhao Can, noticing Cheng Tingyan’s calm, almost serious expression, her heart skipped a beat.
But some people, even when they sensed something was wrong, they refused to acknowledge it.
“Yan Yan… why aren’t you laughing? You… you know about this misunderstanding, right?” Zhao Can asked, her voice tense.
“I know now.” Cheng Tingyan said honestly, then added, “It seems everyone knows it was a misunderstanding, but only you know the details.”
Yes, only Zhao Can knew everything.
So… Little Maomao’s best friend these past few years, it was indeed Zhao Can.
As expected, nothing surprising, Cheng Tingyan took a sip of water, calming her racing heart.
The door opened, interrupting Zhao Can’s thoughts.
“Keep it a secret!” Zhao Can mouthed silently to Cheng Tingyan before Wei Maomao returned to her seat.
“What were you talking about? Why aren’t you eating?” Wei Maomao asked with a smile, glancing at the food on the table.
“Nothing, just… random stuff, nothing important…” Zhao Can said quickly.
Wei Maomao, who had been mimicking Zhao Can’s earlier behavior, was surprised by her response, she looked at Zhao Can, who was shaking her head vigorously.
Cheng Tingyan: “…“ If only she could apply her acting skills to real life, it wouldn’t be this awkward.
Thankfully, they only had two hours before their next job; the awkwardness didn’t last long.
Their next filming location was in the suburbs of Leyuan City, less than half an hour’s drive from the hot pot restaurant.
After the meal, Cheng Tingyan, not wanting them to be late, urged them to leave, she even walked them to the parking lot.
Zhao Can started the car, Wei Maomao, in the passenger seat, didn’t look back, she just watched Cheng Tingyan’s receding figure in the rearview mirror.
Their last meeting was three months and twelve days ago.
Then when would their next meeting be?
If they were lucky, two weeks later, after they finished filming the dating show.
Realistically, two or three months later.
Wei Maomao sighed softly, she should have objected to the company setting up their headquarters in Leyuan City, there was no… legitimate reason for her to visit Helian City.
Without a good reason, she would be suspected…
She couldn’t be seen as a stalker again…
As the car turned a corner, Cheng Tingyan’s figure disappearing from the rearview mirror, Wei Maomao looked down and pressed her hand against her racing heart.
Then, no more unnecessary actions, just patiently wait for their next meeting.
Being able to meet again was already good enough…
She had prepared herself mentally countless times, but Wei Maomao didn’t expect their next meeting to come so soon…
