On the film set.
Liang Ziqian slammed the script in his hand onto the ground with a smack and launched into a furious tirade. "Did you even read the script? Huh? What the hell was that acting? Your heroine is supposed to be sultry and seductive, not a zombie let out of its cage!!! Who the fuck taught you that?! Huh?"
The actress being scolded was Mu Hui, the film's female lead. Clearly, this was not her first scolding, and she was taking it extremely well. She grinned as she talked back. "Director Liang, you've got to be understanding. I've spent years doing action scenes. If you want me to put on an act, then turn around and whack someone with a brick, I can do that. But shouldn't you give me more time to learn this sultry, seductive stuff?"
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm! You do need to learn more."
"Exactly! See, everyone else... Wait, who are you?" Mu Hui automatically picked up the conversation, only to realize halfway through that someone else had appeared beside them.
She looked down and saw someone in a black bucket hat squatting beside Liang Ziqian's chair, munching on an ice cream bar.
Liang Ziqian followed Mu Hui's gaze downward. After a brief silence, he called out uncertainly, "Nan... shu?"
The person squatting beside the chair was indeed Ji Nanshu. He pulled the ice cream away from his mouth, looked up, and flashed a brilliant, toothy grin. "Good morning, Director Liang!"
That close-up smile dazzled Mu Hui. Holy shit, who was this beauty?!
Liang Ziqian clutched his chest, not out of fright, but from the critical hit of that gorgeous face. Boo-hoo, who would end up getting lucky enough to pluck this flower?!
"Nanshu, when did you get here?"
"Oh... when she was wriggling around over there." Ji Nanshu pointed at Mu Hui.
Mu Hui: "..."
Fuck, of all the things to watch, why did he have to see that?!
Liang Ziqian held his forehead. "Go get your hair and makeup done first. We'll focus on shooting your scenes first."
"Linlin!! Come take him to get styled!"
Linlin was the makeup artist who had styled him for his character photos last time.
Linlin certainly lived up to being the makeup artist Liang Ziqian paid a fortune to hire and took everywhere with him. Her work was both quick and excellent.
"Teacher Ji, could I take a photo with you?" Linlin stared at Ji Nanshu expectantly. She was so excited!! She had watched Ji Nanshu on Ideal Life too, and was now a bona fide "Nanshu fan"!
Ji Nanshu nodded in agreement. "Of course."
After the photo, Ji Nanshu began filming. Just as Liang Ziqian had said, his scenes took only half a day to shoot.
"Nanshu, your acting is pretty good!" Thoroughly satisfied, Liang Ziqian patted Ji Nanshu on the shoulder, unable to resist trying to persuade him. "Have you ever considered becoming a full-time actor?"
"...Not interested."
His goal was to coast through life, not work himself to death. They had better not think he didn't know how exhausting acting was. With days and nights turned upside down, he definitely wasn't going to do it!
Liang Ziqian turned ingratiating. "Then... how about an occasional cameo?"
Acting skills aside, as an investor, he really was generous! If Liang Ziqian could secure an arrangement with him, wouldn't the money come rolling in?!
With the lollipop Mu Hui had just given him in his mouth, Ji Nanshu answered indistinctly, "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, we'll see when the time comes."
Just as Liang Ziqian was about to say more, Mu Hui finished removing her makeup and changing her clothes, and was ready to leave.
Mu Hui rubbed her hands together. "Hehe, Director Liang, I don't have any scenes tonight. How about I come back first thing tomorrow morning?"
"Go, go, go. Stop bothering me!" Liang Ziqian waved her off irritably.
"Wait-"
Ji Nanshu stopped Mu Hui and asked, "Sister Mu Hui, are you going on a date?"
Mu Hui looked a little surprised. "Huh~? Xiao Nanshu, how did you know?"
Ji Nanshu blinked. "I guessed. And I'm guessing you're heading the same way as me, so I'd like to trouble you for a ride."
Mu Hui frowned, seeming somewhat reluctant. "Well... that might not be very convenient."
Liang Ziqian said, "Mu Hui, just give Xiao Nanshu a ride!"
With Liang Ziqian speaking up, Mu Hui had no choice but to agree.
She still looked reluctant, though.
Ji Nanshu paid no attention whatsoever to what Mu Hui thought. Once in the car, he gave her his destination and said nothing more.
Now Mu Hui was a little curious. She had initially thought Ji Nanshu wanted to stir up dating rumors with her because of her standing in the entertainment industry. But after getting into the car, he did nothing and didn't even speak, so that no longer seemed to be the case.
So she asked, "Xiao Nanshu, what made you think of catching a ride with me? And how did you know we were going the same way?"
"Oh... I divined it!" In reality, he had accidentally overheard it while removing his makeup.
Mu Hui immediately became interested, a note of excitement in her voice. "Then, Xiao Nanshu, could you tell my fortune too?"
Ji Nanshu shook his head. "There's no need."
"What do you mean, there's no need? Does that mean everything will go smoothly for me from now on, and I'll get filthy rich?"
What could cure her worries? Only getting filthy rich!
"Ha... that's right." Ji Nanshu answered with a smile. He rarely met anyone with such an optimistic outlook. People like her were usually blessed with good fortune, so there was no need to worry too much. Any little setbacks would soon pass.
"Hahahahaha, I knew it! May your lucky words come true, Xiao Nanshu~"
Soon, Ji Nanshu reached his destination. After saying goodbye to Mu Hui, he stood outside a cattery.
He pushed the door open and went in.
Ji Nanshu saw Chu Mo surrounded by a bunch of kittens, looking somewhat at a loss. A little blue kitten was huffing and puffing as it climbed up his trouser leg.
"Meow-"
"Meow, meow-"
"Meow, meow-meow-"
Tiny, babyish meows rose one after another.
Looking at Chu Mo's panicked face, Ji Nanshu couldn't help laughing. "They really like you."
"Quick, get them away from me!" Chu Mo crouched among them, not daring to move at all for fear of accidentally stepping on one and killing it.
Not only did Ji Nanshu not help, he even took out his phone and snapped a picture.
With a click, he captured a photo that could earn enthusiastic applause from netizens for a hundred years!
Just as Ji Nanshu was about to rescue a certain Film Emperor Chu from the kittens' siege, the owner came out. She was a gentle young woman, and she said apologetically, "I'm sorry. This batch of kittens is especially lively. They're very curious about strangers."
Freed at last, Chu Mo let out a long breath. "Mm. It's fine."
"Huh-?! Chu-Chu-Chu-Chu... Chu Mo?!" The owner seemed to have only just gotten a clear look at his face. She clapped a hand firmly over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. "C-could I have your autograph?!"
Chu Mo calmly gave her an autograph, then said, "I'm here to choose a cat. I called ahead to make an appointment."
"O-okay, of course. Chu Gou... I mean, Mr. Chu, what kind of cat would you like?" That was close. She was so used to calling him Chu Gouzi that she had nearly blurted it out to his face.
If she really had said it, she would probably have drowned in Chu Mo's spittle.
Chu Mo: "..." She had better not think he hadn't heard that unfinished "Chu Gouzi"!
Just as Ji Nanshu was about to say he would take a look himself, he felt something pawing at his trouser leg. Looking down, he saw a snow-white Linqing lion cat gazing up at him with a well-behaved expression, its tail held high, as though telling him, "Buy me, buy me! I'm super well-behaved."
He reached out, caught it by the scruff, and lifted it up.
The little white fluffball didn't struggle, continuing to stare at Ji Nanshu with its round, odd-colored eyes.
"This one!"
And just like that, the two of them rather casually settled on their pet.
Finally, after choosing a pile of pet supplies and taking a photo with the owner, they concluded their cat-picking trip for the day.
The two had only just returned home with the little white fluffball when Ji Nanshu received a phone call.
I think calico British Shorthairs are super pretty~! Although I don't like keeping cats, they're really so cute~~ They act all cuddly and rub against you~