Dating My Drama Queen Girlfriend On A Slow-Paced Variety Show - Chapter 48

After whispering those sweet words, the “Goddess” Luo became quietly shy. Pretending to be nonchalant, she tucked her phone into her pocket and raised her hand to press the mask against the bridge of her nose.

Discussing a script wasn’t like performing on stage, most of the theater actors wore little to no makeup, dressing in a low-key and simple manner, whatever was most comfortable. Unlike the actors who spent their lives on the theatrical stage, Luo Mingzi was a major celebrity. In the capital, walking down almost any street, you’d find her face on a billboard or see products she endorsed. She couldn’t leave the house without a mask and a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses.

The glasses had been given to her by Wu Xuezhen. After developing a deep teacher-student bond with Wu, Mingzi had been staying at Wu’s home in the capital, taking “remedial lessons” with two veteran mentors every day.

“By the way, Mingzi, didn’t you go to the Tapula Juran Summer Show a while back?” an actress struck up a conversation. “They have a particularly beautiful shawl, a limited edition. It was already out of stock by the time I tried to buy it.”

Luo Mingzi leaned over to look at the woman’s phone and said sweetly, “Which one? I’m the Tapula brand ambassador for the Greater China region. Their designer loves me. I’ll get one for you.”

Her appearance and temperament were highly favored by major domestic and international brands, making her a regular in the fashion world. Tapula’s designers had praised her publicly on many occasions, an appreciative attitude that stood in stark contrast to her reputation in the acting world.

The actress was thrilled to get a positive answer. She huddled with Luo Mingzi, whispering and giggling together.

The place they were headed for dinner was near a commercial district. The shopping centers in the capital were lined with luxury brands, looking incredibly glamorous. Under the pretext of “getting some exercise,” Wu Xuezhen led everyone on a walk to take in the sights. Looking up, they saw the Kapula flagship store standing tall.

However, the Kapula entrance was currently cordoned off, preventing customers from entering.

Celebrities are human too, and humans are curious.

Several actors couldn’t help but slow their pace to peek through the glass walls.

Inside the spacious and luxurious Kapula store, the entire staff was mobilized. Every employee, regardless of gender, was strikingly attractive and full of enthusiasm, wearing crisp uniforms to serve the VIP guests who warranted a private session.

Wu Xuezhen sighed, “There are so many rich people in the capital.”

An actor nearby teased, “What are you saying? Aren’t you a rich person too?”

Wu Xuezhen waved her hands hurriedly, insisting she was just a “working person.”

Still, it was rare to see such a scene in person. Bolstered by their numbers and thick skin, the group simply stopped to observe. They wanted to see what the rich were buying, if the items looked good, and if it was just like the movies where someone says, “I’ll take everything except this and this.”

Luo Mingzi thought: A break? Perfect! Let’s take a selfie for my girlfriend!

She stood to the side, using the store’s glass wall as a mirror to fix her bangs.

Inside the store, an employee whose face was practically aching from smiling caught the manager’s look and turned around, nearly jumping out of her skin.

There, behind the glass wall, stood five or six people in a row. They were dressed like they were headed to a wet market, carrying cloth bags, and two of them were wearing full coverage sun hats.

There was even a girl fiddling with her hair as comfortably as if she were in her own home, though she was wearing a mask, it wasn’t hard to guess from her natural movements that she was perfectly composed!

The only ones embarrassed were the employees witnessing this.

The staff member felt a bit of a cold sweat, fearing the VIP guest might be dissatisfied. She considered calling someone to bring out drinks and ask these “strange individuals” to leave. But before she could move, the actors, sensing the employee’s awkwardness through the glass, prepared to leave out of politeness. Wu Xuezhen reached out to take Luo Mingzi’s hand.

Just as her hand was about to touch Mingzi, the snowy-white Maltese being held in the arms of that employee suddenly looked up and barked fiercely at Wu Xuezhen.

Everyone in the store turned at once. In the moment their eyes met, both inside and outside the wall fell silent.

Luo Mingzi’s eyes widened: Li Yue, Li Yue! There’s a dog!

Clinking glasses with Director Liu, Li Yue felt a slight itch in her nose. She paused, tilted her head in confusion, and after the “alarm” subsided, she downed her drink in one go.

The people at the table let out a shocked gasp.

The Cloud!

The Cloud just downed it in one!

Yu Bilan: !!!

Her eyes were practically flashing red exclamation marks. She had thought Li Yue’s pause meant she couldn’t drink anymore and felt immediate heartbreak. The “facade” of Huaguan’s music department, the rising star of Chinese music, must not be taken down by a single glass of beer! As a manager, if she didn’t step up now, when would she?

Yu Bilan rolled up her sleeves, ready to go toe-to-toe with Director Liu, when the Director suddenly spoke: “Xiao Yue, you singers need to protect your voices. If you can avoid drinking, don’t drink.”

Li Yue smiled, “My tolerance is alright, and it’s just two glasses of beer.”

At that moment, the “Owls” (fans/teammates) who were busy stuffing their faces at the table pricked up their ears. They looked at each other, a heroic ambition to shed blood for “Goddess Li” surging in their hearts, and they immediately reached for the beer bottles.

Director Liu felt her vision go dark, sensing a “divine calling” (of impending doom). She shouted, “No, no, no! Don’t drink anymore! Everyone, eat! Let’s finish up early and rest! We have to record tomorrow!”

The assistant director and segment producer sitting next to Director Liu burst out laughing.

Their industry involves a lot of pressure, and they usually turn to cigarettes and alcohol to decompress. But after a day of working with these artists, the pressure had shifted from work to their souls. Director Liu had ordered three crates of beer per table just to take the edge off.

Especially halfway through the recording when Director Liu had pulled people aside to earnestly tell them to buy life insurance.

However, the recording process had been very smooth. Not just smooth, but exhilarating. Director Liu and the production team were in a state of “painful bliss.” Now, feeling a sense of relief that their lives were intact, she encouraged everyone to eat.

Originally, Director Liu wanted to give a speech about the future to motivate them saying things like making Inspiration Explosion bigger and better, “kicking” the Saturday Carnival Party, “punching” the Sunday Matchup, and aiming for view counts that rivaled Evening Village. But looking at the artists who were eating so vigorously it seemed they might chew through the table, she fell silent. Realizing they weren’t interested in “pie in the sky” but only in the food on the table, she quickly grabbed her chopsticks.

If she didn’t eat now, they really would start on the furniture!

Yu Bilan went to toast other tables and secretly asked the waiter for more dishes. After being busy for a while, she returned to find her bowl piled high with food. Deeply moved by the “monkeys'” filial piety, the corners of her mouth began to lift, only to realize the “Cloud” next to her had a smile even wider than hers.

“?”

Yu Bilan leaned toward Li Yue and whispered with a smile, “Goddess Li, you’re in a great mood today? Me too. Our people in the Huaguan music department are finally rising again!”

All of this is thanks to you coming to Huaguan.

In front of the others, Yu Bilan swallowed her words. Reaching for the fruit platter that had just rotated in front of her, she grabbed a handful of cherry tomatoes and placed them atop the mountain of food already in the “Goddess” Li’s bowl.

Feeling in high spirits, Li Yue snapped back to reality. She raised her glass, intending to share a toast with Yu Bilan. However, the upward curve of Yu Bilan’s lips immediately did a 180-degree turn, shifting from a happy smile to a sharp, narrow focus.

Having roamed the “rivers and lakes” of the industry for many years, Yu Bilan’s nose had already captured a mysterious scent. She pressed down on Li Yue’s wrist, shocked: “I had them take all the beer away. Where did you get the baijiu (white liquor) from?”

Li Yue replied without changing her expression, “This is water. Just plain boiled water.”

“…”

Yu Bilan was stunned. It was as if she were watching a clear white cloud in the sky suddenly turn into a dark storm cloud. Panic-stricken, she didn’t forget to scavenge the table. Her eyes, like searchlights, scanned the area for a long time before locking onto a mineral water bottle sitting right by Li Yue’s hand, it was only a third full.

Li Yue: “…It really is water. I’ll drink it and show you.”

She pinched the cup and poured the “water” into her mouth, her face not changing color one bit.

The storm cloud was destroying the evidence!

Yu Bilan grew increasingly shocked, even feeling a hint of doubt as she stared at Li Yue’s calm, composed, and gently smiling face. Could she have truly smelled it wrong? Half-doubting, she pushed her own teacup aside and grabbed the glass belonging to “Pigtails” not noticing the instantaneous look of terror on the girl’s face.

“I happen to be thirsty. Pour me some water,” Yu Bilan said.

Li Yue pretended not to hear. She picked up a decorative flower carved out of a radish and respectfully placed it atop the high pile of food in Yu Bilan’s bowl.

Manager, please enjoy your meal.

The manager was about to erupt like a volcano. Beside her, Pigtails immediately grabbed the teapot and poured tea into the cup in Yu Bilan’s hand, shouting: “Drink tea!”

Ever since Li Yue joined the company, her image in Yu Bilan’s heart had always been that of the “reliable one.” Even with incidents like the “Owls Crossing the Great River,” or today’s recording where the “Owls Dove into the Sea” and “Monkey-Owls Stormed the Desolate Mountain to Worship a Wild Temple,” Yu Bilan viewed them through a filter of “good for the show.” She still trusted Li Yue!

But at this moment, that trust was teetering. Yet, looking at Li Yue’s face, Yu Bilan couldn’t bring herself to scold her as harshly as she did the rest of the “monkey troop.”

Unable to vent her anger, the manager frustratedly gulped down her tea. In an instant, the scalding tea mixed with the fiery baijiu, and the burning sensation immediately set her temper ablaze.

Yu Bilan slammed the table and stood up.

“Li….Da….Yue! Liu….Ji…Cai!”

“Oh, I have a call. You guys eat first. Director Liu, don’t forget to wake up early tomorrow to head into the mountains for the temple scene. Remember the props, bring plenty of joss paper.” Li Yue pulled back her chair and stood up elegantly. By the time she finished her instructions, she was already walking away with her phone, never looking back.

“Li Yue, you get back here! Who bought you that liquor? Was it you guys?!” Her waist held back by others, Yu Bilan vented her “impotent rage” by turning her sights on the Goddess’s subordinates.

The Owls, now full to the brim, let out a cheer, grabbed some fruits from the table, and scattered in a flash.

The table was suddenly half-empty, with what looked like stray feathers or monkey fur drifting chaotically in the air.

“Don’t let me catch you!” Yu Bilan gnashed her teeth. Then, in a split second face change, she flashed a flattering smile at the others who were still holding their chopsticks in mid-air. “So sorry, Director Liu. These kids just don’t know any better, they didn’t even say goodbye before leaving.”

Director Liu was breaking into a cold sweat. Facing Yu Bilan, she felt as if there were thorns on her chair. She shifted uncomfortably, looking sorrowfully at a meatball that had fallen into her bowl when Yu Bilan shouted. Deciding that her life was more important, she said painfully, “Then we should also…”

“Wait, wait, Director Liu, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. We haven’t had much contact before, let’s have a good chat!” Yu Bilan laughed loudly. Reaching out, she grabbed the “contraband” Li Yue had left behind and sat down next to Director Liu with a beaming face. “Actually, we can have a little drink!”

Gulp. Director Liu swallowed. Aside from that “divine calling,” this time she saw bright red flowers swaying before her eyes.

Director Liu: “Ha… ha… ha…”

Outside the private room, Li Yue, who had slipped away to the stairwell with long strides, breathed a sigh of relief and held her phone to her ear.

She wasn’t lying about this; she really did have an incoming call.

She and Luo Mingzi usually reported their daily lives via messaging apps or left a video call running when they were free. They rarely used voice calls, so when Luo Mingzi called, Li Yue answered immediately.

However, listening to the noisy sounds coming from the other end, Li Yue’s brow furrowed.

That sound… what was it?