Chapter 13

Ji Changyin raised a brow. She hadn’t expected Xu Chaomu to be so proactive.

It was true that if Ji Changyin posted about Xu Chaomu on Weibo and Xu Chaomu didn’t respond for a long time, people would assume they weren’t on good terms.

Ji Changyin could understand Xu Chaomu’s fans, too. The whole world seemed determined to hate the female lead.

[Ji Changyin: Don’t worry. I never listen to the fans’ nonsense.]

[Xu Chaomu: I’m sorry.]

[Ji Changyin: It has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to feel guilty.]

Xu Chaomu’s reply to Ji Changyin’s Weibo post calmed the fans down a little, though plenty of people still speculated that Ji Changyin had forced her to respond.

Ji Changyin found the comments ridiculous.

Every time she read them, she wondered if she wasn’t the heroine at all, but the villainess.

With the fans making such a fuss, the topic stayed near the top of the hot-search list. The video of the two of them dancing had been viewed more than ten million times. Who didn’t like watching beautiful women dance? Even Ji Changyin had watched it twice.

Dream Chaser had released another episode, but only half of the preliminary performances. It ended on a shot of Xu Chaomu scowling at Ji Changyin.

The production team really knew how to stir up drama. They needed to draw an audience, and that was only natural. Zhao Xi had reviewed the footage and hadn’t seen a problem with it.

The online arguments went on and on. Ji Changyin expected the show to remain a hot topic for a while.

She switched to her side account, logged out of her main account, and went back to happily surfing the internet. She checked the show’s rankings. Just as she’d expected, Qiao Tingxi was in first place. The girl who had struck up a conversation with Ji Changyin was in second. Xu Rui, the girl who had used her connections, was in the fifties.

Ji Changyin knew Xu Rui’s ranking would probably rise later. If she was willing to go straight to the judges to get a spot, it wouldn’t be surprising if she bought votes too.

Everyone knew how much of the results on these idol competition shows was fixed.

Ji Changyin took a quick look, closed the page, and picked up the script beside her. Its pages were covered in dense notes.

She might look like a slacker, but when she cared about something, she gave it her all.

She’d also been watching Xu Chaomu’s dramas and films. Xu Chaomu was excellent in both. Movies and television called for different things, but she could adapt to either with her acting alone. Some actors were so used to one format that they looked awkward in the other. Xu Chaomu didn’t have that problem.

She handled the intimacy of television and the distance of film equally well.

Ji Changyin couldn’t help admiring her. Xu Chaomu was probably a born actress.

If Ji Changyin’s acting couldn’t keep up, Xu Chaomu would outshine her in every scene.

Ji Changyin rubbed her chin and sent Xu Chaomu a message.

[Ji Changyin: Teacher Xu, are you free these days?]

Xu Chaomu didn’t answer. Ji Changyin figured she was probably still busy. About half an hour later, her phone finally buzzed.

[Xu Chaomu: ?]

[Ji Changyin: I wanted to run some scenes with you for Beauty Runs Wild. I’ve been analyzing your films in detail these past few days, and the gap between us is huge. I’m nervous. I found an acting coach, but I’m still a little worried.]

Xu Chaomu looked at her phone, the corner of her mouth twitching.

[Xu Chaomu: …]

[Xu Chaomu: Talk normally.]

[Ji Changyin: So, do you have time?]

“Sister Le, could you clear a few days before Beauty Runs Wild starts filming?”

“What’s up?” Xu Le opened her calendar as she spoke.

“I have something to do,” Xu Chaomu said.

Xu Le narrowed her eyes and looked at Xu Chaomu, who watched her back without expression.

“You’re free from Monday to Wednesday next week.”

Xu Chaomu nodded and lowered her eyes to reply. Xu Le leaned over to see the screen, but Xu Chaomu covered it.

“You’re not dating someone, are you?”

“No.”

Xu Le let out a breath of relief. “As long as you’re not dating. Tell me if you do.”

“Okay.” Xu Chaomu nodded.

Xu Le didn’t like Ji Changyin at all. Xu Chaomu didn’t understand why. More precisely, she’d realized that none of the people around her liked Ji Changyin. She couldn’t see what their problem was. In the past few months, she hadn’t found anything wrong with Ji Changyin.

Xu Le was fine with them working together, but she wouldn’t let Xu Chaomu spend time with Ji Changyin in private.

[Xu Chaomu: Monday to Wednesday next week.]

[Ji Changyin: Thanks, Chaomu!]

[Ji Changyin: Love you!]

Ji Changyin hugged her phone and laughed.

[Ji Changyin: Why don’t you stay at my place while you’re here? It’d be more convenient.]

[Xu Chaomu: No need.]

[Ji Changyin: All right.]

Ji Changyin didn’t press her.

The day before Xu Chaomu was due to come over, Ji Changyin had the entire villa cleaned from top to bottom. She also made a point of finding out what Xu Chaomu liked to eat.

She was serious about learning.

They agreed to meet at eight in the morning.

When Xu Chaomu reached the entrance to the neighborhood, she saw Ji Changyin waiting by the gate.

She rolled down the window and waved.

Ji Changyin hurried around to the passenger seat and climbed in.

“You didn’t have to wait outside.”

“Of course I did.” Ji Changyin looked solemn. “How else could I show you how much I value you?”

Xu Chaomu smiled helplessly.

“Are we going to film Dream Chaser together on Thursday?”

“Sure.” Xu Chaomu didn’t refuse.

After parking, they went inside together.

This was Xu Chaomu’s second time at the villa, and she immediately noticed how much cleaner it was than before.

“Have you had breakfast?” Ji Changyin asked.

“Yes,” Xu Chaomu said.

“Want some more? I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Never mind.” Xu Chaomu shook her head and took out her script, following Ji Changyin to the dining room. On the way, she spotted the script Ji Changyin had left on the living room table and picked it up to flip through.

She looked surprised.

“You’re taking this seriously.”

“Why else would I ask you to help? I’ve been taking acting classes every day lately.” Ji Changyin rubbed her neck.

She didn’t have a big breakfast. Just congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and a fried dough stick. Xu Chaomu glanced at her, a little surprised.

“What?”

“When I visited the Li family, they served a huge breakfast. I thought you’d be the same.”

“I may be rich, but I’m down-to-earth.” Ji Changyin took a sip of congee.

Xu Chaomu was silent for a few seconds, then gave up on replying. “Actually, your acting is pretty good.”

“That’s only because everyone else is bad. I’m the tallest dwarf.” Ji Changyin rested her chin on her hand. “And I haven’t been in many dramas. How could you tell?”

“Just a feeling.” Xu Chaomu looked back at the script and fell quiet.

The room went still. Ji Changyin glanced at Xu Chaomu several times, then hurried to finish her congee.

When Xu Chaomu was focused, she was both captivating and terrifying—like the head teacher who materialized out of nowhere at school.