Chapter 544: Chapter 543: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry—Tomorrow’s Win or Lose Depends on Stalling

Chen Yi’s physique looks like that of a model, so why is he a fashion designer... Don’t they say there’s a rugged bearded master behind every beautiful dress?

Where’s the rugged beard? He’s still got a baby face.

Chen Yi wasn’t surprised by their astonishment and said, "Surprised? I’ve been in this industry for ten years now."

Guan Yu: "May I ask your age?"

"32."

"Is this the legendary youthfulness that makes you look ten years younger?"

Chen Yi squinted and smiled, while Shi Yuhuai showed clear disdain for Guan Yu’s flattery, rolling his eyes a bit more than usual.

Shu Ran asked another question: "Actually, I’m more curious about how you became friends with Brother Huai?"

Mu Qiu glanced up and exchanged a knowing smile with the others.

Everyone knew Shi Yuhuai was a straight guy and a homebody, making friends with him was like witnessing a miracle. Even Lin Banyan, the only person he got along with, could hardly stand him.

They all thought Shi Yuhuai would have brought Lin Banyan since they couldn’t imagine anyone else.

Chen Yi also suppressed a laugh, evidently aware of everyone’s opinion on Shi Yuhuai.

"We collaborated a few times, and then there were two occasions when we were too busy at work, so we grabbed meals together. I figured, if I could become meal buddies with Brother Huai, we’re pretty good friends."

Guan Yu: "That does qualify as pretty good friends."

Becoming meal buddies with Shi Yuhuai wasn’t easy.

"Knock knock—"

Someone knocked on the door, then two seconds later, two latecomers opened the door and entered.

Cheng Zhirang led the way and focused on Mu Qiu the moment he stepped in. Behind him followed a man with a masculine and righteous air, a buzz cut, a black t-shirt, and slightly visible muscles.

The group that was joking around just a moment ago stood up immediately, and the newcomers leaned slightly forward, ready to shake hands.

"Hello, Brother Cheng."

"Brother Cheng."

"Brother Cheng."

It looked like a meeting of underworld bosses.

"Hello all," Cheng Zhirang’s voice was gentle as he sat next to Zhao Yu, "apologies, something came up and delayed me."

The group hastily waved their hands to say it was alright, but they kept staring at him.

Zhao Yu felt a prickling on his back, turned and whispered to Mu Qiu, "Hey, how about we switch seats? I feel like I’m shining brightly now."

"..." Mu Qiu stood up and switched to sit next to Cheng Zhirang, while Zhao Yu sat beside Han Xizheng, patting his chest.

Although Mu Qiu tried to appear calm and composed, the eyes coming from all around felt a bit intense.

Just as she was about to say "Haven’t you seen people in love?" a jacket suddenly draped over her shoulder.

Cheng Zhirang placed the thin blazer hanging on his arm onto her shoulders and squeezed her hand under the table.

"The air conditioning is a bit low, but increasing it is not really an option. Bear with it for now," he murmured softly.

With so many people around, perhaps others preferred it cooler. It wouldn’t be right to adjust it just for their sake, so using clothes was the only option.

Mu Qiu nodded and interlocked her fingers with his under the table.

Cheng Zhirang let her play her little tricks without moving, staying unaffected by the teasing glances from others, but the corners of his ever-smiling lips deepened slightly.

"Why don’t you two form a team?" said the man Cheng Zhirang brought along, propping up his head and humorously commenting, "You guys can date while we play games, everybody wins."

Zhao Yu agreed deeply, "I think so too, this method is highly feasible."

Even though people across the table couldn’t see under it, she sat nearby and could easily catch a glimpse with her peripheral vision.

Holding hands, interlocking fingers!

Her eyes hurt as if they had just been squeezed with pepper juice like freshly unearthed chili, making her want to poke her own eyes out.

Mu Qiu coughed, "No need to focus on us, it’s just dating. Let’s eat, or play some games."

"Tsk tsk tsk, listen to that voice. Compared to earlier, now it’s like honey-coated," Guan Yu leaned her cheek on her hand and looked starry-eyed at Chu Qiu beside her,

"Chuchu, I’m cold too, could you...?"

"I can. Tell me, how many degrees do you want? Is thirty degrees enough? I’ll adjust it for you."

"...Come back!"

Chu Qiu sat back down, "It’s you who won’t accept my sincere feelings. When it comes to adjusting air conditioning, I’m quite the expert."

"Air conditioning temperature..." Li Yang posed a genuine question, "Isn’t it just pressing a button on the remote?"

"Of course not, there are multiple steps involved. First, you need to feel from the heart what temperature she likes best."

Mu Qiu cut in, "I feel from the heart that the temperature she likes best is 35.485 degrees."

Chu Qiu: "Then you must be a pair of sister stones grown on the Gobi Desert?"

"..."

Li Yang: "Hahahahahahaha!"

Guo Yin: "Puhahahaha!"

After the wave of tenor laughter subsided, Cheng Zhirang formally introduced the man beside him to everyone.

"This is actor Shen Zhousong."

Shen Zhousong stood up and bowed slightly, "Hello everyone."

"I’ve seen your work," Shu Ran said, "a Republic of China film."

Rumor had it then that this person had strong backing, having avoided any scandal since debuting.

Shen Zhousong nodded, "My pleasure. Perhaps few have seen my work because I usually appear in serious dramas, and I don’t produce much."

"He often acts in crime and war films, rarely getting involved with trendy entertainment," Cheng Zhirang added.

Whether they had seen his work or not, everyone nodded along, "Oh——".

Besides Shu Ran being familiar, others probably weren’t.

Thinking of Shu Ran, Shu Ran stood up over there, acting every bit the socialite.

"Since everyone’s here, we’ll introduce the new friends again. This is my friend, Han Xizheng, also an actor.

That’s Li Yang’s friend, Guo Yin, a solo debuting singer and dancer."

Guo Yin immediately stood up and bowed.

"This is Guan Yu’s friend, comedian Chu Qiu, and this is Brother Huai’s friend, fashion designer Chen Yi."

Both stood up and greeted.

Finally, it’s Zhao Yu’s turn.

Shu Ran concluded, "No need for much introduction, right? Mu Qiu’s friend, Zhao Yu, Brother Cheng, you’ve met?"

"Yes, we’ve met."

"Even if you’ve met, stand up and greet," Zhao Yu stood up and extended her hand towards Shen Zhousong, "Hi, I’m Zhao Yu—the ’Zhao’ from Zhao Qian Sun Li, and the ’Yu’ with the gold radical."

Shen Zhousong extended his hand, and they shook hands.

Zhao Yu’s handshake almost had the urgency of two leaders meeting in an office, with the lady extending her hand first, touching for a moment and then withdrawing quickly, almost leaving Shen Zhousong reaching for air, taken aback.

"Now that everyone’s here, we can eat and play games," Guan Yu, not forgetting her role as the ambiance coordinator, moved the snacks on the table toward everyone.

"Eat and drink as you please, tomorrow’s win or loss depends on stalling."

Li Yang immediately leaned in, "Sister Guan Yu, do you know tomorrow’s game format?!"