Outside the wardrobe.
Yan Ruanning took out a pair of glasses from behind her back and put them on.
Thin frame, gold trim, very thin lenses.
She explained, "I have mild nearsightedness and usually wear contact lenses, but I didn't want to wear them after showering today."
Cheng Che nodded.
But he swallowed hard.
This was the first time he had seen Yan Ruanning wearing glasses.
The thin gold-rimmed glasses on her face accentuated her already delicate features, making them appear even more defined.
The lines of the glasses frame and the curve of her jawline formed a perfect angle, and when her eyes looked over through the lenses, there was a subtle sense of detachment.
That sense of alienation blended together with her dark gray T-shirt, her wet hair, and the way she casually leaned back on the sofa.
It made her look exactly like a career woman in an office.
A mature, older woman.
When this word popped into Cheng Che's head, he himself was a little surprised.
Yan Ruanning is usually pretty, but her beauty is that of a singer, a celebrity, and a kind of beauty that carries a certain distance.
Now, with her glasses on, she exudes an air of intellectual sophistication.
That scent transformed her from a "beautiful female star" into a "woman with a story."
Yan Ruanning opened the folder and spread several documents on the coffee table.
She took out a few portions and pushed them aside.
"Don't bother watching these," she said. "They're historical romance dramas. The male lead is a stoic general, and the female lead is a Hyundai white-collar worker who time-traveled. The script says, 'The male lead glanced at her coldly, his eyes carrying three parts indifference, three parts mockery, and four parts nonchalance.' Reading lines like that will make the audience laugh. Besides, the production company's last drama only got a 3.8 rating."
She sent out another copy.
"This is a variety show called ' Star Journey,' which sends celebrities to unfamiliar cities to complete tasks. But the proposal states that 'guests will perform on the streets to earn travel expenses,' and it even notes 'male celebrities with high popularity will be given priority.' This kind of show is just treating celebrities like monkeys, making money off fans who are reluctant to spend their money."
Cheng Che listened and nodded.
Yan Ruanning took out two portions and placed them in the middle.
"These two are worth considering." She pointed to the first one, "' Walking the Flower Road Together,' a travel variety show. Four guests travel by car to different countries. The production team doesn't interfere with the itinerary; the guests have to plan their own routes, find accommodation, and handle unexpected situations. The production team is the same group that made ' Divas Hit the Road,' so the quality is guaranteed. The biggest advantage of this show is that it doesn't damage your image. You can be your most authentic self, and the audience will actually find it relatable."
She then pointed to the second portion.
"This is a campus drama called ' The Youth Here,' which tells the story of a group of college students' growth from freshman to senior year. The production team wants to find an actor with a youthful vibe who can also play tennis to play a student with athletic talent. The character is a good fit for you. I've skimmed through the script, and the dialogue is well-written and grounded. Plus, it's an ensemble piece, so you don't have to carry the ratings alone."
Cheng Che listened very attentively.
This is his official debut in the entertainment industry, and he doesn't want to just take on any project.
He had wanted to consult Yan Ruanning before because he was unfamiliar with these things and needed someone knowledgeable to help him.
"Both are fine," he said, "But I might need to coordinate the timing."
Yan Ruanning nodded, picked up a piece of grilled meat, put it in her mouth, and chewed it a couple of times.
"Yes, you still have to go to school. Remember to coordinate your schedule with Qin Lie. Also, your studio needs to hire an assistant; you can't let Qin Lie do everything."
"I know."
"So first, agree on the filming schedule with the production team, making it based on your availability. If they want your popularity, they have to accept your schedule."
Cheng Che looked at her and nodded.
He said seriously, "You're right."
Yan Ruanning smiled. "It's all just experience."
She looked down at the documents, preparing to circle the key points for him to see.
Cheng Che leaned back on the sofa, picked up his water glass, and took a sip.
Then there was a knock on the door.
Cheng Che stopped drinking the cup at his lips.
Yan Ruanning heard it too. She looked up and looked towards the door.
" Cheng Che, open the door. It's me and your dad."
Jiang Xue's voice.
Yan Ruanning's expression changed instantly.
She stood up from the sofa, scattering the documents in her hand onto the coffee table.
Her gaze swept around the room before settling on the wardrobe.
"Where should I hide?" she asked.
Cheng Che opened his mouth. "You, you don't need to..."
But before he could finish speaking, Yan Ruanning had already walked towards the wardrobe.
She pushed open the wardrobe door and went inside.
The moment the door closed, Cheng Che's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
He looked at the closed cabinet door and sighed helplessly.
You can play mahjong now.
He got up to open the door.
He has to hurry, or those three inside will really start fighting.
The door opened.
Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo stood outside.
Jiang Xue was wearing a coat and carrying a plastic bag. Cheng Jianguo stood next to her, wearing a jacket, looking somewhat sleepy.
"Your mom insisted on coming over to bring you some fruit," Cheng Jianguo said. "I told her you're going back to Peking University tomorrow, so there's no need to bring her anything. But she wouldn't listen."
Jiang Xue shoved the bag into Cheng Che's arms. "I bought this at the fruit shop downstairs. Take it back and eat it." She glanced into the room as she spoke. On the coffee table were barbecue grills and two cans of drinks. She frowned. "You're eating all this by yourself?"
"I'm hungry," Cheng Che said.
Jiang Xue didn't think much of it, nodded, then turned and pulled Cheng Jianguo away.
Cheng Che closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh.
And at this moment, inside the wardrobe.
Three people were crammed into the same closet.
Pei Jingshu was at the very innermost position, Su Miaoyin was in the middle, Yan Ruanning was at the very outermost position.
The three people looked at each other in bewilderment.
Pei Jingshu didn't recognize Yan Ruanning and Su Miaoyin, but she could sense that something was off.
Su Miaoyin looked at Yan Ruanning, Yan Ruanning looked at Su Miaoyin.
The two stared at each other in the darkness, neither of them speaking.
Then the three of them simultaneously snorted coldly and turned their heads away.
Su Miaoyin cursed inwardly.
Little watch smash.
Yan Ruanning cursed inwardly.
Little watch smash.
Although Pei Jingshu couldn't understand what they were saying, she looked at their expressions and cursed in Korean in her mind.
Little watch smash.