CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: BROTHER CHENG, CAN I MAKE YOU MY MALE LEAD?

The other side.

Mu Qiu returned home in the city center from the show’s production team. It was already night, and she didn’t take a taxi. She pulled her hat down and hitched a ride on the production team’s car, then took the bus.

Sitting on the bus, the first thing she did was take out her phone to refresh messages.

As someone involved, she had to keep up to date with what’s happening inside. Otherwise, she might find herself on the front page one day.

But as an invisible rookie, besides some book fans cheering for her after school, there wasn’t much about her online.

Last time, it was Su Yan and Shu Ran, this time—

Mu Qiu swiped left and right, up and down, and all she saw on the pages were Shu Ran’s name.

Looks like this time, it’s Shu Ran’s solo stage.

She sat in the last row, leaning her head against the open window, and carefully read through the main content.

[Gossip Expert V: We’ve been watching the recently popular variety show, and it’s a hot topic in the group. We suggest Shu Ran withdraw from this show. Shu Ran actually doesn’t have many works, and there’s hardly anything outstanding. In the past two years, she’s only appeared in a few variety shows to keep her presence fresh, earning the title of a refreshing up-and-comer. Unexpectedly, in the newly popular "Different Variety Show," her performance was mediocre, even downright awkward—unable to follow the sketches or let go of her baggage. Quite a few people criticized Changtong’s investment for choosing people from different industries who can’t speak for training their acting skills. I don’t agree with that, but based on Shu Ran’s performance, I agree with quitting the show. What do you think?]

The comments below were full of agreement, shared feelings, awkwardness, pretentiousness, and the like, with more arrogant ones tagging it with multiple tags like #ShuRanQuitTheShow# #ShuRanAwkward#.

Gossipy ones directly spilled dirt on Shu Ran, saying that despite her lack of works, she managed to feature in major magazine shoots and appear on variety shows year-round because she slept her way up, even played the mistress in someone else’s marriage, and her frail appearance was said to be because she had a child for a big boss and didn’t recuperate well after.

Three parts truth, seven parts false, leaving the unaware baffled and suddenly enlightened.

Mu Qiu had a "subway old man talking to subway" expression, holding her phone straight on her lap with narrowed eyes and a strange expression.

These people really do dare to make stuff up. She doesn’t know about the hidden rules, but bearing a child, that’s quite something. Fabricating without evidence almost made her believe it with her eyes closed.

However, she was quite surprised by Shu Ran’s pretentiousness, which led to audience resistance.

She thought that after all these years of Shu Ran’s debut, the audience would have gotten used to her tea-scented refreshing appearance, with antibodies developed, so it wouldn’t cause physiological discomfort. Yet, surprisingly, so many "straight men" and passersby came forward expressing their discomfort with Shu Ran.

Indeed, sticking with a fixed pattern for too long isn’t great.

The bus arrived at the station, Mu Qiu put on her mask and walked back home leisurely.

The night in the city isn’t quite night, it’s another day. Some people’s activities are just beginning, while trees and flowers, after the excitement given by daylight, now enter the fatigue and pain of being illuminated by artificial lights. Her phone didn’t show any new calls.

At the entrance of the residential area, Mu Qiu looked up at the ubiquitous lights in the darkness, suddenly feeling a pang of sadness—thousands of lights, not one awaits her.

Heading upstairs, that Agent Chen probably hadn’t returned yet, there was no light on the floor. She stomped her foot in the elevator, turning on the sound-activated light before stepping out.

After a few steps, she saw a small figure squatting at the door ahead.

Chengcheng was squatting at the door, timidly looking up at her, white cheeks covered with tears.

Seeing her peeking, he whimpered in a baby voice, "Sister."

Mu Qiu walked over, squatted in front of him, placing her hand on her knee, unconsciously mimicking his obedient pose.

"Chengcheng, were you locked outside?"

Chengcheng shook his head, tears flowing again, wiping them with little chubby hands: "No, I, I came back to see my dad, but, but..."

"But dad’s not here?" She lightly wiped away his tears, asking.

Chengcheng nodded, a small figure squatting, voice thick with crying, glancing at his home’s door beside, softly saying: "Grandma wouldn’t let me come back, Auntie, Auntie said, my dad doesn’t want me anymore."

Mu Qiu frowned.

"Sister, does my dad really not want me? Chengcheng is very good, I even got a star at kindergarten yesterday!" He hurried to prove himself, talked about the star, immediately stood to search his little backpack, but couldn’t find it.

Couldn’t find it, the little chubby boy immediately got anxious, standing and looking up, crying, the voice hoarse from who knows how long of crying before.

"My little star! My dad! My dad doesn’t want me anymore!"

"Of course he hasn’t abandoned you," it’s just your mom he doesn’t want, Mu Qiu sighed, holding him in her arms, "It’s just everyone has their things to do, like you going to kindergarten every week, right? Mom has Uncle Cheng’s work, and your dad, he has things to do too, only farther away."

Chengcheng nestled his little chin on her shoulder, tilted his head resting on her neck, sobbing, "Like going to school?"

"...Yes, dad has to go to school too, and take exams. If he doesn’t do well, the teacher won’t let him come back. How long have you been here? Does mom know?"

Chengcheng’s little head shrunk beside her neck, muffled, "Mom’s not here, Grandma, doesn’t know."

Mu Qiu endured the uncomfortable sensation on her neck, slightly raising her head, saying: "Then how about sister brings you to my place first? I’ll show you cartoons."

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with her reflection, Chengcheng quietly glanced at her.

Leaving without telling Grandma, Mom would scold him, and Grandma would hold him and talk for a long time. But this sister, didn’t seem to blame him at all.

Mu Qiu indeed didn’t mind, she brought Chengcheng into her home, missing the flicker of light outside on the floor.

After entering the room, getting the cartoons ready for him, Mu Qiu used the very serious and legitimate reason of "a child leaving home and is at my place so adults don’t worry," and naturally rummaged through Cheng Zhirang’s WeChat to send him a message.

[Brother Cheng, Chengcheng is at my house.]

First, using the specific important matter as the lead, ensuring he would see the message, then think of ways to say more.

But as she cupped the phone waiting for two minutes, there was no response from the other side.

Not until after watching a ten-minute episode of cartoons with Chengcheng did the reply finally come through.

[Cheng Zhirang: I called Sister Chen, sorry to trouble you]

She calmly mocked him for being too gentlemanly without a hint of curiosity.

[No problem, but Chengcheng said she sneaked out to find his dad, not finding him, likely already cried at the door for a long time]

[Cheng Zhirang: Got it, I’ll inform Sister Chen]

[I can imagine Brother Cheng’s seriousness and gentle demeanor through the screen, can I use you as a character reference for the male lead in the book I’m writing?]

[Cheng Zhirang: ?]

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Brother Cheng: (slightly frowning) That author, speaks with too much leap.

Mu Qiu: It’s okay, Brother Cheng, I’ll accommodate your age.