Cheng Che's eyes instantly lit up when he heard the words "part-time job."
More money to earn!
Excited, he was about to answer, but after looking at the woman in the hat and sunglasses before him, he opened his mouth, then closed it again.
She seemed to see through his thoughts and chuckled. "My surname is Yan."
Cheng Che breathed a sigh of relief.
Good, now I have a surname.
Otherwise, calling her "Miss Customer" the moment we meet would sound weird no matter how you sliced it.
He stole a glance at Old Chen nearby and lowered his voice. "Sister Yan, um... how much does that part-time job of yours pay a day?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself.
How embarrassing.
She hasn't even said what the work is, and I'm already asking the price.
But a moment later, Cheng Che felt perfectly justified. I'm here to work part-time, not spend money. Asking about pay is only right and proper!
Cheng Che felt he had grown again. He had already learned to cast aside unnecessary shame.
Yan Ruanning froze for a moment, then laughed, the sound light, like wind filtering through leaves.
Then she raised a hand and took off her sunglasses.
Cheng Che's mind buzzed.
He had seen pretty girls before.
Lin Xiao was delicate and gentle, and Su Qingyue was poised and elegant, but the face before him was on an entirely different plane.
Her face was palm-sized, her jawline delicate yet sharp, her skin fair with a cool undertone, her nose high and straight, and her lips turned up slightly even when she wasn't smiling.
Her eyes stood out most of all, dark and bright, holding a little moisture from her recent exercise, like a mist-shrouded lake on a spring morning.
But after one look, Cheng Che gave no response for over ten seconds.
Yan Ruanning had thought Cheng Che was dumbstruck by her looks, but she realized this kid seemed... not to recognize her?
"You don't recognize me?"
Yan Ruanning tilted her head slightly, her voice carrying a little disbelief and a trace of embarrassment.
Cheng Che opened his mouth, unsure how to answer.
You're certainly pretty, a real beauty, but why would I recognize you?
Could she be a famous internet celebrity?
That must be it!
"I... I don't spend much time online," he managed to squeeze out awkwardly.
A burst of laughter sounded behind him right on cue.
Old Chen had come over at some point. Rocking back and forth with laughter, he pointed at Yan Ruanning. "Hahahaha! I told you! Even a little lass like you has her moments of defeat! You're killing me!"
Yan Ruanning glared at him, but there wasn't much killing power in her eyes.
Old Chen stopped laughing, cleared his throat, and told Cheng Che solemnly, "Her name is Yan Ruanning."
Afraid Cheng Che still wouldn't know and would make the girl lose face, Old Chen added, "The champion of I Am the God of Song, Yan Ruanning."
A connection clicked into place in Cheng Che's mind.
Of course he knew I Am the God of Song.
His mother, Jiang Xue, had followed two seasons and had even dragged his father along to watch on the night of the finals.
That girl who had stood onstage in a red dress and sung an old song so well that the entire audience rose to applaud...
He abruptly raised his head and looked at the person before him again.
Now that she had taken off her sunglasses, and he could connect her to the name Yan Ruanning, the more he looked, the more she matched.
On television, she wore heavy makeup and glamorous outfits, standing in the light. She looked far too different from the woman before him, fresh off the court with sweat still beading on her nose.
"Recognize her now?" Old Chen asked with a chuckle.
Cheng Che nodded honestly. "Yes. Hello, Yan."
Yan Ruanning didn't respond to that. Instead, she watched him for a while with a half-smile. "Weren't you calling me Sister Yan just now?"
Cheng Che: "..."
"Yan is fine." Yan Ruanning stopped teasing him. Taking a towel from Old Chen, she wiped the sweat from her neck. "Come on, let's go to Old Chen's office. I have something serious to discuss with you."
Cheng Che's heart tightened.
Something serious? What serious business could a popular female singer have with me?
I can't even sing.
Even when he went to karaoke, he never picked any songs and only ate from the fruit platters with his classmates.
Old Chen's office wasn't large: a desk, a computer, a few metal cabinets, and several baskets of spare balls piled against the wall.
After the three entered, Yan Ruanning sat in the only guest chair while Cheng Che and Old Chen stood to one side, like two students called in for a talk.
Yan Ruanning didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
She kept it brief, but Cheng Che's eyes grew wider as he listened.
An MV.
She had returned to Spring City this time to film a tourism promotional video for her hometown and get a few shots for her MV along the way.
One scene involved playing tennis, and they needed a young, fresh face with a boyish air to promote the spirit of sports.
They had originally arranged for a professional model, but he couldn't make it at the last minute.
She had heard Old Chen mention Cheng Che last week, saying the kid was talented and good-looking, too.
She had come today intending to test his skills first.
The results had far exceeded her expectations.
"So..." Cheng Che swallowed and asked for confirmation, "I get paid for filming the MV?"
Yan Ruanning was amused by the way he seemed deaf to everything but money:
"Of course. The fee won't be less than what you make from your part-time job."
Joy blossomed in Cheng Che's heart, but he quickly calmed down again:
"Yan, I'm a senior in high school, and the college entrance exam is coming up. I only have Saturday free."
"One day is enough," Yan Ruanning said briskly. "You don't have many shots. If everything goes smoothly, we can finish in one day. Besides, we're filming right here in Spring City. It won't hold you up."
After hearing that, Cheng Che was completely reassured.
I can earn money without leaving Spring City, and it won't affect my studies.
You couldn't find a deal this good even with a lantern.
"Okay! I'm in!"
He agreed so readily that Yan Ruanning was taken aback for a moment.
She smiled and brought up a QR code on her phone. "Add my assistant on WeChat. She'll let you know the exact filming time in advance."
Cheng Che took out his phone, scanned the code, and entered "Cheng Che" in the note.
He didn't feel disappointed that he hadn't added Yan Ruanning herself on WeChat.
She's a celebrity. That's normal.
Besides, there were only two things on his mind now: making money and the college entrance exam.
Everything else could get in line behind them.
That afternoon, Old Chen paid him his wages for the day.
Looking at the 200 yuan in his WeChat wallet, Cheng Che was so happy he wanted to bounce on the spot.
Together with what he had saved before, he could finally buy facial cleanser and toner today.
On his way home, he stopped at the mall and paid for the two items that had been sitting in his shopping cart for days.
The cashier scanned the code, and Cheng Che walked out carrying the bag. It was so light it seemed to weigh nothing, yet his heart felt utterly settled.
Over dinner, Jiang Xue asked why he had come home later than last week. Cheng Che said he had played ball a little longer with his classmates.
Cheng Jianguo said, "Oh," and asked no further questions, placing the last piece of braised pork in his bowl.
At ten that night, Cheng Che showered and returned to his room.
He hadn't activated Solving Problems with Full Concentration today. His mind was too excited, and he couldn't gather his focus at all.
He lay on his bed with his eyes closed.
The scenes from that afternoon surfaced before his eyes again.
The yellow tennis ball flew toward him. He ran, turned, and swung.
The instant the racket struck the ball, a sharp crack sent vibrations all the way from his palm to his chest.
That feeling was so real, as though it had been carved into his body.
Cheng Che rolled over, buried his face in his pillow, and gave a quiet laugh.
Then he rolled back, opened his eyes, and stared at the ceiling for a while before suddenly speaking.
"System."
"For the stamina trial, I choose tennis."
The panel lit up.
[Stamina Trial · Stage One: Select a sport.] [You have chosen tennis as your primary discipline. Stage mission complete.] [Congratulations! You have received a Tennis Gift Pack!]