Chapter 58: World Two [28]

Faced with Director Li’s puzzled gaze, Shao Qing could only clear her throat lightly and say, rather tactfully, “Jing Ke was developing her career abroad before. We hadn’t been in much contact. She only returned to the country after I finished filming that wilderness survival variety show.”

Shao Qing added, “Jing Ke has recently been looking to invest in some projects with good potential. Director Li, if you have any good projects to recommend, you could let her know.”

Director Li nodded, half-understanding. So, Shao Qing’s friend wasn’t short on money, but short on good projects?

“In that case, how about this? You invest ten million, and I’ll still give you ten percent of the profits. Also, I’ll ask a few of my friends. If there are any good projects, I’ll notify you, alright?” Director Li modified her way of showing gratitude.

When giving a gift, you should give what the other person needs. Since the other party wasn’t short on money, she would find them some projects with higher returns.

“I know of some projects that are short on funding, but all investments carry risks,” Boss Hao spoke up. As a producer, she had more resources in this area than the other two.

“High risk brings high return. I understand that principle,” Jing Ke said with a smile. “Teachers, let’s exchange contact information. If a suitable project comes up, just let me know.”

And so, after adding three new contacts to her phone, Jing Ke left the hospital with Shao Qing.

According to the original plan, after finishing the brand endorsement shoot, Shao Qing was supposed to return to Sea City to continue studying the script and practicing swordsmanship.

But the authorities moved faster than Jing Ke had anticipated. Before they could even make a move, the authorities had already swiftly penetrated the enemy’s lair.

Those celebrities and entertainers who had dealings with the drug trafficking ring were arrested on the spot by plainclothes police, given no time to react. The internet was in an uproar, and all sorts of unsavory characters looking for clout came sniffing around.

There were relatively more industry insiders living in Sea City. With so many parties mixed together, the situation became chaotic. News media, along with influencers and self-media accounts trying to capitalize on the hype, all swarmed into Sea City, hoping to get a big scoop.

“Things are a bit chaotic here. Some fans are reacting quite intensely, even going to the police station to cause trouble, and all of them got detained. Self-media and influencers are all over the streets. You should just rest easy in Mianyang and wait until after New Year’s Day,” Sister Ke promptly called Shao Qing.

“Also, Director Hua’s private dinner party is being used by those marketing accounts to stir up trouble. If you see any hit pieces slandering you online, don’t engage. The police will make an announcement after they’ve dealt with everything uniformly. You can just follow up with a statement then. Right now, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Whether you’re involved or not, keep a low profile.”

Sister Ke naturally knew whether the artists under her management were clean, but she still couldn’t help giving a long string of instructions.

Barring any accidents, after this storm passed, the pie within the industry would likely need to be redistributed. As long as one remained steady and error-free during this time, there would definitely be a place for Shao Qing on the future stage.

“That’s the gist of it. Sister Ke postponed my upcoming work arrangements. Barring any surprises, we’ll return after New Year’s Day, and then participate in the recording of ‘Who Is the Murderer?'”

Shao Qing was crouching on the ground as she spoke, her voice slightly muffled.

The fleece cap on her head covered her ears and the back of her head. A scarf wrapped around everything below the bridge of her nose, leaving only her eyes exposed without reservation to the cold air.

“What about your usual exercise equipment? Will Sister Ke mail it to you?” Jing Ke was crouched beside Shao Qing, wearing gloves and helping Shao Qing harvest the fully grown vegetables.

“Yeah, mailing it is too much trouble. Sister Ke already reordered it for me. It should probably arrive at the delivery station tomorrow,” Shao Qing said, glancing at the vegetables in the basket.

“Jing Ke, are these vegetables enough to make baozi? Should I cut a few more?” Shao Qing asked.

“That should be about right. Adding the meat filling and other side ingredients, we can probably make about twenty baozi,” Jing Ke estimated the portion. “But isn’t Teacher Jiang being discharged today? Should we make a few extra and gift some to the teachers?”

Thinking of Jing Ke’s excellent cooking skills, Shao Qing immediately nodded. “Alright, let’s make ten extra. We’ll give half to the teachers. Grandma and I can eat the other half over two days.”

“Okay, let’s add four more heads of greens then,” Jing Ke said.

Making baozi was quite simple for Jing Ke. She just needed to prepare the filling, wait for the dough to rise, and then she could start directly.

But with Shao Qing, whose exercise equipment hadn’t arrived yet and who was insistent on helping, the originally simple process became a bit more complicated and interesting.

“Is it like this? Isn’t this wrapper a bit too small?” Wearing an apron and sleeve protectors, Shao Qing began studying the small dough balls Jing Ke had divided.

“It’s enough. We’re not making huge baozi,” Jing Ke said, identically dressed.

But Jing Ke’s fingers were clearly more nimble than Shao Qing’s. Simply flattening a dough ball in her palm, she scooped a large spoonful of meat filling onto it, easily wrapped it up, and even pinched eight pleats into it.

Shao Qing watched intently, her gaze involuntarily drawn to Jing Ke’s trimmed, smooth, and slender fingers. Good-looking people looked good in anything, and any movement made by hands with well-defined knuckles seemed exceptionally elegant.

Jing Ke’s hands, for example, were beautifully shaped. Even an act like wrapping baozi was quite aesthetically pleasing to observe.

After observing carefully for a while, Shao Qing looked down at her own fingers, which had only recently had their nail art removed, and tried to replicate Jing Ke’s movements.

The first step was simple, just flatten the dough ball with your palm.

The second step was also easy. Shao Qing used Jing Ke’s spoon, simply mimicking her by scooping a spoonful onto the wrapper.

But at the third step, the final act of wrapping the filling with the dough, Shao Qing started to fumble.

Perhaps because Jing Ke’s baozi were all thin-skinned with generous filling, the same amount of filling became uncooperative in Shao Qing’s hands. After a frantic attempt at salvage, the finished product looked more like a large dumpling.

Looking at the patched-up result, Jing Ke hesitated, then found a silver lining from a different angle. “It’s quite good. One of these will fill you up. The shape is very unique, like a crane among chickens.”

“Pfft— ‘A crane among chickens’ isn’t meant to be used like that. More like ‘a chicken among cranes,'” Shao Qing couldn’t help but laugh. “Seems I don’t have any talent for making baozi. I can’t bring myself to gift these. I’ll just make a few for us to eat.”

“Perhaps, this can indirectly show that the baozi were handmade by us, not bought?” Jing Ke said hesitantly.

Shao Qing thoughtfully touched her chin. “That actually makes sense. Then let’s add one in. Hopefully, Teacher Yu and the others won’t mind this uniquely shaped dumpling.”

Jing Ke acknowledged with a sound, noticing the obvious flour on Shao Qing’s chin. She couldn’t help but pull out a napkin nearby, pressed it down with her fingertip, and gently wiped Shao Qing’s chin.

Shao Qing didn’t react immediately. Only after Jing Ke pulled her hand back did she lean back slightly and look at her with mild confusion.

“There was flour on your chin just now,” Jing Ke explained.

“Oh, oh, thanks.” Shao Qing looked down at her own hands, clearing her throat lightly to cover her embarrassment.

Thank goodness her reasoning had been online then, and she hadn’t blurted out that strange question. Otherwise, it would have seemed like she was overthinking things.

With their combined efforts, thirty baozi were finally steamed and out of the pot by four in the afternoon.

Looking at the steaming hot baozi, Shao Qing chose one of the ‘dumpling bao’ she had made herself. She blew on it several times before taking a tentative bite.

Not bad. Although the process was a bit bumpy, overall, it was still a delicious thin-skinned baozi with plenty of meat.

“Jing Ke, quick, have a bite. It’s very tasty.” Shao Qing was extremely satisfied with her creation.

Without overthinking, Jing Ke looked down at the dumpling bao held in Shao Qing’s chopsticks and took a bite at the exact spot Shao Qing had just bitten.

“Mm, the seasoning is just right. Tastes good,” Jing Ke said, seeming quite pleased with the meat filling she had personally prepared.

Shao Qing’s mouth opened slightly. She glanced down at the dumpling bao, now missing a bite, as if she wanted to say something.

But then, thinking that her own words and actions just now could easily be misunderstood, she silently swallowed back the question she was about to ask.

Between friends, sharing a baozi or drinking from the same cup of soy milk was normal. There was no need for her to make a fuss and make things become subtle between them.

After picking out a baozi made by Jing Ke for her grandmother, Shao Qing brought over two airtight containers. She carefully placed the fourteen perfect baozi into one and the patchwork dumpling baos she had made into the other.

“Jing Ke, do you want to come with me to visit Teacher Jiang?” Shao Qing asked, looking at Jing Ke after placing the containers into a paper bag.

“Let’s go together. I can confirm the details of the contract with Director Li while I’m there.” Jing Ke picked up the two scarves draped over the back of the sofa, hung one around her own neck, and handed the other to Shao Qing.

“There’s a light drizzle outside. Wear your scarf, so you don’t catch a cold,” Jing Ke said very considerately.

“Okay, thanks.” Shao Qing took the scarf and casually wrapped it twice around her neck.

Jiang Qingyi’s place wasn’t far from Grandma Shao’s two-story self-built house, just a five-minute walk away.

The timing of Jing Ke and Shao Qing’s visit was also particularly coincidental. Yu Hongjun and the others had just brought Jiang Qingyi back from the hospital and hadn’t been sitting down for long.

As for the local nanny hired before, although she couldn’t exactly be blamed, after the incident of her swallowing pills in a suicide attempt, she still inevitably had to take her payment and leave.

The person currently caring for Jiang Qingyi was hired by Yu Hongjun from a professional company, with a monthly salary of fifty thousand and just in her early thirties.

Perhaps the method Jing Ke suggested was quite effective, as Jiang Qingyi’s mental state looked better than it had in the hospital. Upon hearing that Jing Ke and Shao Qing had personally made baozi and brought them over, she showed some interest.

“There are two boxes here. Qingyi, which baozi do you like?” Yu Hongjun opened the airtight containers and placed them on the table, letting her friend choose freely.

Jiang Qingyi looked at each one. Her gaze was quickly drawn to the uniquely shaped dumpling bao in the middle.

Jiang Qingyi didn’t hesitate long. After choosing the baozi she liked, she directly picked it up with her chopsticks.

After the five-minute walk from home, which allowed the heat to dissipate slightly, the skin of the freshly steamed baozi was at the perfect temperature to bite into. The temperature of the meat filling inside was slightly higher, but not scalding, which actually enhanced the aroma and ensured the texture.

“It’s very delicious, thank you.” Jiang Qingyi looked at Jing Ke and Shao Qing, the corners of her mouth curving slightly upwards. “You two, sit. I’ll go make tea.”

“Let me, let me. I haven’t really learned how to write scripts over the years, but my tea-making skills have improved a lot. Qingyi, you can try some later,” Director Li said, conveniently dragging Boss Hao, who was beside her, along to the kitchen to fiddle with the hot water and tea leaves.

“Is it really that delicious? Qingyi, can you help me pick one too?” Yu Hongjun asked, careful not to let her expression become too exaggerated.

“Alright.” Jiang Qingyi nodded. Holding her dumpling bao in her left hand, she used her chopsticks to pick up a baozi with a near-perfect shape and handed it to Yu Hongjun.

Yu Hongjun didn’t stand on ceremony. She took a big bite directly, and upon tasting the flavor of the filling, her eyes couldn’t help but light up.

“It really is delicious! I didn’t expect you to have such hidden talent, Little Shao. This skill is no worse than mine,” Yu Hongjun didn’t hold back her praise. After swallowing the baozi in her mouth, she quickly took another bite.

“I just helped prepare some of the raw ingredients. Jing Ke was in charge of the rest of the process. My skills are no good; it’s Jing Ke who has the good skills,” Shao Qing said, touching her nose. Someone who couldn’t even wrap a baozi properly couldn’t possibly accept praise meant for a great chef.

“This baozi… wasn’t made by you?” Jiang Qingyi looked at Shao Qing and asked, her gaze very innocent.

“It was, but I only wrapped it. The shape is a bit… special,” Shao Qing said with a breezy laugh, not wanting to admit she could only make dumpling shapes.

“A very special shape. I like it very much, thank you.” Jiang Qingyi smiled and soon took another bite of the baozi.

After all, Jiang Qingyi was a patient just discharged from the hospital. After eating one baozi and drinking half a cup of hot tea, she started to feel drowsy. Under the care of the new nanny, she went upstairs to the second floor to rest first.

“Teacher Jiang seems much better,” Shao Qing said, looking towards the stair landing. She suddenly understood those people who felt an injustice had been done to Jiang Qingyi.

Even while unwell, Teacher Jiang could still treat her, a stranger, so kindly and considerately. When Teacher Jiang wasn’t ill, she must have been a very gentle person. Whether as a friend or a senior figure, Teacher Jiang must have been very popular.

“Indeed. Following Jing Ke’s suggestion, I picked some interesting anecdotes to tell Qingyi during her hospitalization, and she responded quite well,” Yu Hongjun said.

“Before being discharged, Qingyi even commented on the new drama I’m about to shoot. She said both the female lead and the second female lead were good people,” Director Li added from the side, proactively pouring tea for Jing Ke and Shao Qing. “When she heard the second female lead was you, she even smiled.”

“Thank you, Director Li,” Shao Qing said, thanking her.

“We should be thanking you. Without your reminder, we would have been too close to the situation to see clearly,” Director Li sighed.

“By the way, Little Shao, how is your swordsmanship practice coming along now? Do you want me to find an old senior to teach you?” Director Li asked.

“It barely has a bit of a showy form now. I just don’t know if I can maintain it while on a wire harness,” Shao Qing said modestly.

She had basically not slacked off in the two months of muscle-building training. Aside from taking a few days off for shoots, Shao Qing spent about four hours daily on exercise and sword practice.

“So it’s presentable then.” Director Li nodded with great satisfaction. “Little Shao, keep it up. You have a lot of action scenes. If possible, I’m planning to use a long, unbroken take to show today’s netizens what a true wuxia film looks like.”

“Director Li, don’t worry. The equipment will arrive tomorrow. I won’t neglect my practice while I’m here either,” Shao Qing replied with a smile.

In a relaxed state, Shao Qing’s features looked even more radiant and captivating. Even Jing Ke, who had been cohabitating with her for two months, couldn’t help but let her gaze linger on Shao Qing’s profile for an extra second.

“Old Li, one good news and one bad news. Which do you want to hear first?” Boss Hao, who had just returned from a phone call, took her seat. She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea.

“Good news and bad news? I’ll hear the good news first,” Director Li said, frowning slightly.

“Mu Chengzong, who was trying to retire from public life, has been arrested. His name is on the official’s latest arrest list,” Boss Hao said, taking a sip of tea. Her gaze fell on Jing Ke. “Miss Jing, your contact is truly formidable. Thank you.”

“That old bastard got arrested!” Director Li’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t help but slap the solid wood tea table. “This is fantastic news! When Qingyi wakes up, I have to tell her this good news!”

“Jing Ke, thank you for your help. If there’s ever anything we can do for you, just say the word,” Director Li said, unable to hold back a hearty laugh.

Yu Hongjun’s reaction was comparatively more restrained, but the laughter in her eyes was already too much to hide.

“If there’s anything you need help with, Jing Ke, just tell us directly,” Yu Hongjun followed up, expressing her stance.

A few days ago, she had given the evidence mailed from overseas to Jing Ke. And this afternoon, Mu Chengzong was arrested. This certainly wasn’t a coincidence.

“Alright. If there’s ever a need where I have to trouble you, teachers, I will speak up,” Jing Ke said, not engaging in false politeness, but directly accepting their offer.

Hearing this, the smile on Director Li’s face deepened. She clearly liked Jing Ke’s straightforwardness.

“Oh right, what was the bad news you mentioned?” After her excitement calmed down slightly, Director Li looked at her friend.