CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: DREAM MATERIAL ACQUIRED

Would you spend half an hour with a little bun in exchange for the contact of your dream guy? Would you agree?

Mu Qiu remained composed and immediately agreed, seriously saving Cheng Zhirang’s name as a contact.

[Cheng Zhirang: Thank you, Miss Mu. Chengcheng’s mom asked me to pass on her gratitude.]

Mu Qiu thought for a moment and replied—

[No problem, it’s convenient for my novel research.]

Adding a handsome male actor as a friend was indeed dream material for the next book.

But Cheng Zhirang was destined never to know her intention.

[Cheng Zhirang: I hope you find the material you’re looking for; articles with real experiences are indeed more engaging.]

[Thank you, I already found it.]

It will appear in tonight’s dream.

Long legs, muscular ape-like back, wasp waist, strength, and a sweat-drenched translucent white shirt.

Cheng Zhirang chatted briefly but didn’t reply afterward. Originally, this matter belonged to Sister Chen, but her home affairs were a bit tangled at the moment. Since he was in the program’s work group and had Mu Qiu’s number, he could at least promptly say thank you on Sister Chen’s behalf.

Putting down the phone, Cheng Zhirang lifted his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and asked his Assistant Wen beside him.

"How’s it going with Sister Chen?"

Assistant Wen, who was busy tracking media news and had tired eyes, rubbed his face and replied, "Xiao Luo said she’s calmed down and is sitting on the couch hugging Chengcheng, just not speaking."

The mention made Assistant Wen a bit helpless to hold back, "Sister Chen really is making sure to walk the paths of all the popular actresses, huh."

First, secretly getting married, having a baby during a booming career, and then wanting a divorce when the child is three or four. Such a familiar plot.

The actor he was with didn’t have such issues, but the actor’s manager sure let him experience it once.

Cheng Zhirang’s voice was light and tired; in his non-stop state, even his voice became a bit hoarse, "First help Sister Chen deal with this, there are no events these days, I’ll rest at home."

Assistant Wen immediately ceased his murmuring, couldn’t help but take a photo of Cheng Zhirang’s reclining profile with closed eyes.

The studio’s materials were all stored bit by bit like this by him.

That first night in the temporary home in Hai City, Mu Qiu, true to her online writer reputation, diligently had a perfect dream, dreaming what she should and shouldn’t have dreamt.

Several days passed, and she was still haunted by the back view in that dream, with the misty ambiguous bathroom heating up, the wet white shirt clinging to muscular arm lines, and the faint breaths...

"Miss Mu?"

Mu Qiu’s hand on the doorknob trembled imperceptibly, looking up at the woman across.

A woman over thirty in a slate-blue suit, short hair, exuding the aura of a career woman, smiling at her.

"And you are?"

The woman extended her hand, "I’m the neighbor, Chengcheng’s mom."

Paused, then added, "And Cheng Zhirang’s agent."

A perfect two-hit combo, spending half an hour with a little bun and gaining the idol’s agent’s friendship too.

Mu Qiu smiled, shaking her hand, "Sister Chen, is it right? Hello, I’m Mu Qiu."

Chen Song: "The original author of ’Different Variety Show,’ Miss Mu, you’re very talented. Thanks for helping care for Chengcheng that day; my home was too chaotic. I was planning to thank you the next day, but you weren’t home when I knocked."

Her speech was crisp and direct, indicating a brisk agent, but why she cried so sorrowfully that day remains unknown.

"No problem, Chengcheng was good."

When mentioning her son, Chen Song helplessly said, "He’s actually quite mischievous."

The conversation couldn’t be too long. Chen Song said only this before stopping, then looked at Mu Qiu’s suitcase.

"Are you heading to the program group?"

Mu Qiu pulled out her suitcase as she replied, "Yes, the director said this time we’re going to a somewhat remote place."

Chen Song nodded.

The door across opened, and out came a little bun with a hat, short legs, and arms, holding a blue sippy cup and a small backpack, running over.

Chengcheng looked up at Mu Qiu and called out sweetly, "Sister."

Mu Qiu patted his yellow hat.

Chen Song held the little bun’s hand softly, "Chengcheng, say bye to sister."

Mu Qiu found it curious. It was a Friday afternoon; preschool should have ended."

Chen Song saw her confusion and smiled, "I have to go to the company, so Chengcheng has to go to his grandma’s first."

Mu Qiu acknowledged with an ’oh,’ and waved goodbye to the little bun with a smile.

Chen Song took the child to press the elevator, glanced back at Mu Qiu at the doorway, analyzing in her heart.

Curiosity in people has layers; superficial curiosity serves as a continuation aid in conversation, whereas deeper curiosity can make one feel uneasy. As for Mu Qiu, her curiosity toward gossip didn’t even reach a conversation-continuing level. She seemed uninterested in unrelated matters.

Quite like Cheng Zhirang, though one gently wishes to leave others space for secrets, while the other seemingly doesn’t care.

With this thought, Chen Song snapped back, shaking her head, feeling inexplicably amused at analyzing the two together, smiling, she then led Chengcheng to the basement.

Mu Qiu was unaware of Chen Song’s assessment and double-checked the apartment, ensuring the windows and doors were secure before heading downstairs.

This time, the recording location, according to the director in the group chat, was privately developed at great cost. A row of villas plus a workshop, with a convenience path leading straight to the entry, a stride to living a happily wealthy life.

Mu Qiu was quite looking forward to this episode. After all, it’s the debut episode, possibly incorporating more of her book’s contents, so she’s not entirely unhelpful.

Moreover, although not a fan of Su Yan, having another handsome guest would surely be a sight not to be missed.

She leisurely took the subway, then a bus, wobbling and arriving at a rural lodge outside the third ring.

This rural lodge was fairly large, with garden-style paths splitting into different routes leading to various attractions, a back garden, vineyard, strawberry garden, herbal garden, fishpond...

Dusk was falling, and beneath twinkling lights, the two-story wooden frame building and blue-bricked villas exuded a dominant hotpot aroma under red lanterns.

As she was about to step toward the right, she heard a suitcase wheel’s rumble and then a panting voice from behind.

"Mu Qiu, Mu Qiu!"

Mu Qiu turned, seeing Guan Yu holding a suitcase handle in one hand and astonishingly gripping a fish tied with twine in the other, the fish was still vibrantly swaying its tail.

"What’s with this... outfit?"

Guan Yu, with a face of excitement, held up the fish, "We’re asking the director for a feast! There’s nothing planned tonight; others and guests arrive tomorrow!"

Fish hotpot, pickled fish, green peppercorn fish, fish puree soup... Mu Qiu decided,

"That’s a great idea."