I'm Crushing on Gorgeous Faces in Variety Shows!-Chapter 275: So, Do You Want to Meet Up?

PM.

Mu Qiu and Zhao Yu sat side by side on a park bench by the river, each holding a cup of milk tea, quietly watching the river.

"So I actually fell for a beauty trap too?"

After a while, Zhao Yu asked with self-mockery.

Mu Qiu didn’t really know what to say, rubbed her milk tea cup a few times, and stayed silent.

Silence returned.

In early May in Yun City, the evenings were still a bit chilly, especially by the river.

The wind blew towards them, disheveling Mu Qiu’s loose hair, making the ends move slightly, falling across her chest.

Her clothes were draped over her legs, and she held a cup of hot milk tea that was about to cool down without drinking it.

It took a while for her to speak up hoarsely: "Sorry."

"Sorry for what? Why are you sorry?" Zhao Yu rolled her eyes dramatically.

"I feel sorry for you, though. I happily found a boyfriend to treat you to a meal, but he had an agenda."

Mu Qiu glanced at her: "Actually, if you clean him up, he might still be worth liking."

"Clean what? Clean up his act? I’m going to go home tonight and call him to curse him out. Even if he can clean up his act, I’ll scold him first. Are those things proper to ask the moment you meet someone?"

At this, she tilted her head and took a sip of milk tea, asking Mu Qiu: "If I had a really special relationship with him, would you help him if he’s in trouble?"

Mu Qiu did not hesitate: "As long as you ask."

"See?!" She angrily placed her milk tea on the bench, "Couldn’t he just be patient?!"

Once emotions are in place, isn’t helping just a matter of losing a bit of face?

"...You can still think about this, so it doesn’t seem like you’re too upset."

"I am upset, but this isn’t the most upsetting thing."

"What is?"

Zhao Yu sat back down, staring absentmindedly at the river, her voice lowered, sounding ethereal and distant:

"The most upsetting thing is, I can clearly see there has suddenly been a huge gap between us."

Mu Qiu was stunned where she was.

Mu Qiu and Zhao Yu were childhood acquaintances; their parents taught at the same university and got along well.

Their family’s financial conditions were similar, not lacking in money. Though they couldn’t be considered as belonging to an Aristocratic Family, their standards of living from childhood were a notch higher than others.

Moreover, at times their personalities were similar, both stubborn.

Mu Qiu was stubborn about "being unconventional," obsessed with online novels, while Zhao Yu was stubborn about "being unconventional," crazily following celebrities.

After graduation, one became a freelancer despite opposition, the other abandoned her major and the path paved by her parents to become a backup manager at a foreign trade company.

Their families were similar, their personalities clicked, and their experiences were also similar, both on the same level.

But now, Mu Qiu suddenly became popular, instantly achieving expectations they thought would take several or even ten years to accomplish, leaving Zhao Yu as the one falling behind.

Even those she got close to and liked were approaching her for the resources Mu Qiu could provide.

Looking ahead, because of this program, Mu Qiu would only become more popular, making contacts with more people, and if she were to think boldly, perhaps she might even find a boyfriend in the entertainment industry in the future.

The gap widened quickly; Zhao Yu watched as the chasm between them visibly expanded.

Yet she couldn’t stop it.

Will their relationship in the future be as good as it is now?

The wind blew, Mu Qiu shivered and snapped back to reality, turning her head to look at Zhao Yu.

"This shouldn’t affect our relationship... right?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Mu Qiu’s brow moved slightly, relaxing her leaning posture: "That’s good then."

A moment later, Zhao Yu spoke sullenly: "You keep at it, aim to become wildly popular."

"You keep up too, oust your manager and succeed him, so next time we travel abroad, we can go together."

"It’s a deal then."

"Deal."

After that, neither of them spoke, sitting close together, sipping their milk tea while gazing at the park scenery ahead.

By nine o’clock, the cold prompted them to get up and prepare to head back.

It wasn’t very safe for two girls in skirts to go home alone at night, so Mu Qiu escorted Zhao Yu to the community entrance before getting in a car she hailed to return.

Sitting in the car, Mu Qiu crossed her arms and sighed, emptying her thoughts as she gazed out the window.

Yun City’s night played out like a drama against the car window: flowerbeds, lights, shops, wandering people—joys, sorrows, love, hatred—all seemed romantic.

The colorful lights reflected in her eyes, adding a touch of brilliance.

She remembered the first time the thought of writing occurred to her was because she didn’t want to stay at home. Riding to the suburbs with Zhao Yu,

leaning against the car window watching the scenery flash by outside made it seem as though the journey had no end, no need to get off and face anything else she didn’t want to.

"Beep beep beep——

The phone on her lap rang, jolting her back to reality.

Cheng Zhirang was calling.

"Hello?"

Since there were outsiders present, she cautiously didn’t call Cheng Zhirang by name.

It was quiet on Cheng Zhirang’s end, his voice had a bit of echo, perhaps he was in a car too.

"It’s me. I’ve arrived in Yun City."

Mu Qiu instantly sat up straight, becoming alert.

"You came here!?"

Her first reaction was if the paparazzi captured this, it would definitely stir up a storm.

She had just made a spectacle of herself shopping and dining.

Cheng Zhirang was puzzled by her reaction: "What? You’re not happy I’m here?"

"Of course not," she sat straight, glanced at the driver ahead, lowered her voice, "Of course I’m happy, but... does it really matter?"

"How could it matter?" Cheng Zhirang said helplessly, "I told you there’s no need to worry, you can avoid suspicion better than I can."

Mu Qiu: "I’m just worried about affecting your career. Why did you come here?"

She bit her lip, fingers tugging at her coat button, unable to clarify whether she was hoping for a specific answer.

"They need help here."

"Oh——" Mu Qiu mocked herself for being overly emotional, then asked: "Working, whose help do they need?"

"Have you seen the news online? Sister Chen’s newcomer ran into trouble, and there’s a TV festival that needs someone from the company."

Huh?

Mu Qiu’s eyes widened: "That Qiu Shuang, she’s with your company?"

"Yes. Though I have my studio now and the company doesn’t manage me much, occasionally some work needs coordination."

"So why have you come to help?"

With his status, helping a not-so-famous newcomer boost attention was a direct aid.

Cheng Zhirang said: "The organizers of this TV festival and several attending actors are close friends of mine, they called me."

After explaining the official reason, he shifted direction to say: "And as coincidence has it, you’re here."

After the disappointment, the surprise came unexpectedly, thrilling emotions even more.

Mu Qiu murmured, her lips pursing, yet unable to hide a smile: "So, half your reason for coming here is me?"

"Yes. So, want to meet up?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

————

The anxiety about gains and losses doesn’t only afflict lovers, but friendships too.