"Senior, where are you?"
The video connected, and Feng Bingbing's clear, pleasant voice sounded unusually coquettish.
Then Lin Mu's expression froze.
Was this girl video-calling him from the women's restroom?
On Feng Bingbing's end, she was sitting on a toilet, with her phone camera pointed down at herself from above.
Lin Mu's face turned a little pale. "Junior, y-you're in the restroom?"
Feng Bingbing nodded. "Yeah, Senior. I'm recording a show, and the director just called for a break. I had nothing to do, so I thought I'd call and chat with you."
Lin Mu gave a dry laugh.
I know you called to check whether I'm at the show. I get all that.
But why are you video-calling me from the women's restroom?
There's no dealing with this woman!
"Ahem, Junior, why don't you take care of your business first? We can talk later."
Lin Mu was afraid he might see something he shouldn't, and then this crazy girl might use it as an excuse to make him take responsibility.
"Pfft!"
"What are you thinking, Senior?"
Feng Bingbing suddenly laughed and lowered her phone, pointing the camera at her lower half.
Lin Mu jumped, nearly dropping his phone.
What the hell are you doing?
You can't force someone to watch you use the toilet!
In the next moment, as the camera cautiously moved lower, Lin Mu finally realized—
Feng Bingbing was fully dressed. There was no explicit scene in sight.
So she wasn't using the toilet after all...
Lin Mu was speechless. "Junior, why are you in the restroom?"
Feng Bingbing giggled. "Sister Wan Qing's keeping an eye on me. I had to pretend I was going to the restroom to call you."
Zhou Wanqing, you're useless!
You can't even keep track of your own artist!
Lin Mu complained furiously about the innocent manager in his thoughts, while keeping his smile warm and his voice honest and earnest.
"Oh, I see. So, what can I do for you, Junior?"
Feng Bingbing smiled just as sweetly. "Nothing much. I just wanted to chat with you, Senior. By the way, are you still working at that state-owned company?"
Here it comes!
Lin Mu smiled faintly. Standing beside the security booth, he raised his phone and pointed it toward the company's office building in the distance.
"Yeah. Look, that's our office building. I just stepped out to pick up a package at the security booth."
Feng Bingbing's smile faltered, and she looked a little disappointed. But her eyes shifted, and she continued:
"Senior, remember how I told you I'd signed on for a show? Do you want to know what it is?"
Lin Mu asked with great curiosity, "What show?"
I'll play along as enthusiastically as you need.
"Pure Voice! I'm at Jiangrong Satellite TV right now!"
Lin Mu put on an "astonished" expression. "You're back in Jiangrong? I didn't hear you mention it in the class group chat."
"I had to sign a confidentiality agreement for the show, so I can't tell outsiders."
Lin Mu hesitated. "I see. Was it not a good idea to tell me, then?"
"Senior, you're not an outsider," Feng Bingbing said, putting on a "shy" look.
Keep pretending! You think I don't know you're known as Feng Yidao?
He played along too, acting as if he didn't understand. "What a shame. I have to go on a business trip in a couple of days. Otherwise, I could treat you to dinner."
"Where are you going on your business trip, Senior?"
"To Hushang. My boss asked me to attend a training session. What rotten timing..."
"Oh, what a coincidence! I'm going back to Hushang in a couple of days, too. When are you coming, Senior? I'll treat you to dinner!"
"..."
Lin Mu wanted to slap himself. Feng Bingbing lived in Hushang. Why the hell had he picked that place to say he was going?
How am I supposed to get out of this now?
"Sure. I'll get in touch when the time comes."
Never mind. I'll just say my plans changed and I can't make it!
It's not like this is the first time I've lied to Junior. I don't feel bad about it.
"Great! Hushang has lots of snacks: soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, drunken snails, crab-shell pastries..."
"Senior, you like shrimp, right? The place downstairs from where I live makes really good shrimp shumai!"
Feng Bingbing sounded delighted.
This time, her warmth and happiness weren't an act.
"Shrimp shumai are from Fujian Province, aren't they?"
"Are they? Oh, it doesn't matter. We have a deal, okay?"
"Uh, sure. I guess."
Seeing Feng Bingbing's radiant smile, Lin Mu inexplicably felt a wave of guilt.
He immediately grew wary.
No! I have to stay firm. I mustn't let my guard down!
"By the way, Senior, I met a contestant while recording today. I thought he was pretty unusual."
Sure enough, after a barrage of sweet words, the enemy had finally shown her fangs.
"Oh? What kind of contestant?"
Lin Mu asked as if it were nothing.
"His stage name is Dawei Tianlong. He's an original singer, and he's really impressive. He got an S Card in the Jiangsu Province preliminaries."
"Today he sang another song, completely different from the one he sang in the preliminaries. The title was... what was it again? Senior, can you remember?"
Feng Bingbing asked out of the blue.
"How could I remember? I wasn't there."
Lin Mu replied calmly.
"Oh, right."
Feng Bingbing stuck out her tongue, looking like a sweet, innocent young woman. Then she suddenly said:
"Senior, actually, I quite like this person. Oh, and he's a male singer. I want to learn more about him. Do you think that's okay?"
"Absolutely not!" Lin Mu replied without hesitation.
How could I let you learn more about me? You'd figure out who I am!
Feng Bingbing looked surprised. "Why not?"
Lin Mu froze, thought for a moment, then said:
"Well, he's a man. If you show too much interest in him, people might start rumors, and that wouldn't be good for you."
Feng Bingbing sat on the toilet lid, holding her phone in her right hand and propping her chin up with her left.
"Senior, are you jealous?"
Lin Mu was silent for a moment, then smiled. "Junior, you still love joking around. I'm only thinking about your career."
Still concerned, he added:
"That Dawei Tianlong is just an amateur. You're a big star; there's no need to pay him too much attention."
"Wouldn't it be better to spend your time releasing more songs and landing a few more endorsements?"
"Okay, I'll listen to you, Senior." For some reason, Feng Bingbing suddenly looked happy again. Her fair cheeks even seemed to take on a rosy glow.
"Also, Senior, a male mentor tried to get handsy with me earlier and invited me to dinner tonight. What do you think I should do?"
Lin Mu was taken aback. "Who?"
"Zhou Yiyi," Feng Bingbing said.
Lin Mu was about to reply when a loud knock came from outside the restroom stall where Feng Bingbing was crouching.
"That's enough, Feng Bingbing!"
"Oh, it's Sister Wan Qing! I have to hang up, Senior. Bye! See you next week!"
Feng Bingbing hurriedly ended the video call.
Lin Mu stood there frozen, phone in hand, his expression gradually turning cold.
"Zhou Yiyi..."
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