MTL - 47

Little Fatty Sheep always emphasizes that your family owns mines—does owning mines really make you special?

It’s not like I’m planning to marry a mine owner.

— From “Little Tyrant’s Diary”

Tang Dingding stared at Tang Xin’s long message for a long time.

She knew everything Tang Xin said was right. Every situation has two sides, and there were indeed many loving couples in the entertainment industry. She couldn’t let her negative impression of Huo Chendong color her view of the entire entertainment circle.

Sometimes she hated herself for being so weak—how could she have fallen for him?

Aside from her older brother Tang Yu, Tang Dingding had several cousins, including one older sister. However, her cousin was in the military and had a rough personality. Shen Fei was close to her, but few people offered her guidance the way Tang Xin did. Most of the time, their conversations revolved around new bags, clothes, and parties.

Tang Xin and You Huan were different from her other friends.

You Huan was more direct. She called Huo Chendong a dog of a man, too promiscuous, and unworthy of Tang Dingding.

Tang Dingding sighed as she rested her head on the table, feeling down. Suddenly, she remembered the thrill of going shopping with Tang Xin and perked up.

Tang Dingding: “When do you have time? Let’s go play at Sister Huan’s shop!”

Tang Xin: “….”

After all she’d written, this was her reply?

Tang Xin replied half-heartedly, “I’ve been swamped lately. No time to go.”

Tang Dingding deflated. “Alright…”

After a while, she sent another message. “Since our family owns mines, why don’t you agree to be my brother’s girlfriend? He’s such a great guy.”

Tang Xin sent a smiley face emoji and ended the conversation awkwardly.

…

Zhou Jialu and Liu Tian waited a few days but didn’t hear back from Lu Zhixing. They grew increasingly anxious, especially Zhou Jialu. Panicking, she asked, “Brother Tian, why hasn’t Director Lu contacted us? Did he find someone else?”

Liu Tian was worried too. He reassured her, “Don’t rush. I’ll call and ask.”

Zhou Jialu urged him, “Then call quickly! I’m afraid he’s already found someone else.”

“Alright, alright.”

Liu Tian immediately called Lu Zhixing.

Lu Zhixing wasn’t surprised to receive the call. Coincidentally, they were in the middle of a script meeting. He picked up the vibrating phone from the table and glanced at it—”Zhou Jialu’s agent.” Instinctively, he looked up at Tang Xin.

Tang Xin pursed her lips. “Dingding is still considering. Give her some time.”

She couldn’t guarantee anything.

Lu Zhixing answered the call, grabbed a mint from the table, peeled it, and popped it into his mouth. He stood up and stretched his neck by the window. Liu Tian politely invited him to dinner. Lu Zhixing chewed on the mint, its coolness refreshing his mind. He chuckled and said, “To be honest, when you said you didn’t have availability earlier, I went to the Film Academy and found someone else. It seems we won’t have the chance to collaborate this time.”

Liu Tian’s heart sank. “What? Didn’t you say you thought our Jialu was a good fit?”

Lu Zhixing: “She is a good fit, but there’s someone even better.”

Liu Tian: “….”

Neither Tang Xin nor Feng Cheng expected Lu Zhixing to cut off Zhou Jialu so decisively.

Zhou Jialu must be regretting it now. She terminated her contract with Shi Guang but also lost the lead role here. If word got out, she’d lose fans, and future productions would hesitate to cast her. Tang Xin could already imagine the news headlines and trending topics on Weibo.

After Lu Zhixing hung up, Tang Xin feigned a sigh. “Director Lu, if Little Fatty Sheep doesn’t agree, are you planning to make me step in?”

Lu Zhixing leaned against the window and smiled. “Your salary is too high. I can’t afford you.”

Tang Xin tapped a pen lightly on the table, feeling a bit restless. Lu Zhixing walked over and leaned back in his chair, reassuring everyone. “It’s fine. If Little Fat…,” he clicked his tongue and rubbed his temples with a chuckle, “this nickname just rolls off the tongue. I mean, if Tang Dingding really doesn’t want to act, we’ll just find someone else.”

He paused and looked at Tang Xin. “Is she afraid she can’t act, or does she simply not want to?”

This…

Tang Xin couldn’t exactly say that Tang Dingding had some bias against the entertainment industry.

She smiled faintly. “Probably both.”

Lu Zhixing crossed his arms, lounging lazily in his chair. He closed his eyes halfway and remained silent for a moment before looking at Tang Xin. “Can you arrange for her to come here? I’d like to talk to her and see if I can persuade her.”

Tang Xin was momentarily stunned.

Then she laughed. “Of course.”

“Alright, carry on.” Lu Zhixing stood up, picked up his phone, and left.

Once he was gone.

Feng Cheng shook his head. “That’s it. Lu Zhixing’s gotten himself into another stubborn situation.”

Old Yuan chuckled. “Not necessarily. This time it’s Shi Guang Entertainment’s young miss, not some old man at the village entrance. It’s not the same.”

@Endless Great Reads, All on Jinjiang Literature City

Feng Cheng also laughed. “True, you’re right.”

Tang Xin suddenly remembered an interview video she’d seen before. It was Lu Zhixing and his screenwriting partner Feng Cheng Wanli being interviewed together. Feng Cheng teased Lu Zhixing about how, to get an elderly man to play an important supporting role in his movie, Lu Zhixing had camped outside the man’s house every day, keeping him company while he smoked opium. When the old man said he didn’t know how to act, Lu Zhixing assured him it was simple and demonstrated it for him.

After visiting numerous times, the crew filmed him. Eventually, the old man agreed to act, and Lu Zhixing patiently demonstrated everything again and again. The crew edited the footage into a blooper reel and uploaded it online, where it went viral and made viewers laugh endlessly.

Lu Zhixing gained countless fans from that video, which explained why, even though he made bad movies, many fans still bought tickets to see them in theaters.

He was a director obsessed with film.

Tang Xin suddenly felt a bit lucky that her movie director was Lu Zhixing. She felt a surge of passion.

If you’re going to do something, you should do it to the best of your ability.

That was the attitude life should have.

Thinking about it, she searched for that video online and sent it to Tang Dingding.

Tang Dingding: “What?”

Tang Xin: “Something fun.”

Tang Dingding: “….”

Confused, she opened the video.

A while later, she burst into laughter in the office, tears streaming down her face.

Fifteen minutes later.

Tang Xin called her directly. Hearing her laughter, Tang Xin laughed too. “Fun, wasn’t it?”

Tang Dingding’s laughter hadn’t subsided yet. “Super fun! I had no idea filmmaking could be so entertaining. Director Lu is so patient.”

“How about joining us and working together?”

“…”

“You’re aimlessly drifting through your days at the company anyway. Have you ever thought that maybe this is fate? You gave away 1,000 copies of my book to netizens, and you said you liked it too. Unintentionally, you’ve done so much for this project. We think you’re perfect for the lead role. Maybe, in some mysterious way, this role is meant for you. Wouldn’t it be great if you fell in love with acting and found something you truly enjoy doing?” Tang Xin held her phone, standing in the hallway, and for the first time, felt incredibly patient. “Dingding, do you want to join?”

“…”

Tang Dingding’s laughter slowly faded, and she felt a bit shaken.

Tang Xin didn’t pressure her. Smiling, she said, “How about coming over to play?”

Tang Dingding finally snapped out of it. She whispered softly, “Now?”

Tang Xin: “You skip work all the time anyway.”

Tang Dingding: “….”

Tang Xin said, “I’ll wait for you. I’ll send you the location shortly.”

With that, she hung up directly.

After hanging up, she sent the location to Tang Dingding.

Tang Dingding received the location message, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed her car keys and walked out of the office.

In the underground parking garage, Tang Dingding had just stepped out of the elevator when she saw Huo Chendong walking toward her while on the phone. Their eyes met, and Huo Chendong hung up, smiling at her. “Little Dingding, where are you going?”

Tang Dingding looked at him and smiled. “I’m going to see Sugarheart. She said I should join them.”

Huo Chendong was startled and frowned. “You’re really thinking about acting?”

Tang Dingding didn’t even know what she liked about Huo Chendong. Perhaps it was a fleeting teenage crush that had carried on until now.

She looked at him and grinned. “I’m still considering it. Maybe I’ll agree. Tang Xin convinced me a little earlier. Right now, I’m just coasting along at the company and not helping my brother much. Who knows? If I become an actress, maybe I’ll make a lot of money.”

Huo Chendong chuckled helplessly. “Do you really need to earn money?”

Tang Dingding blinked. “I want to try spending money I’ve earned myself.”

Huo Chendong fell silent, staring at her for a few seconds before speaking softly. “Dingding, this industry isn’t suitable for you.”

“Because it’s chaotic?” Tang Dingding smiled sweetly. “I’m not afraid of that. My brother protects me. You wouldn’t dare touch me, so who would dare? Anyone who dares lay a hand on me will have their leg broken by my brother.”

“…”

Huo Chendong was momentarily speechless and frowned at her.

“I’m leaving now. Sugarheart is waiting for me.”

Tang Dingding waved and skipped past him, heading off cheerfully.

Huo Chendong turned to look at her slim, graceful figure walking away. A subtle sense of unease settled in his heart. Back then, he had indeed been attracted to her and promised Tang Yu that he wouldn’t touch her unless he could guarantee her loyalty. Otherwise, their brotherhood would be ruined.

He knew full well how much of a playboy he was and wouldn’t dare harm her. She had tried to seduce him a few times, but he had calmly rejected her.

Now, he suddenly felt a strange bitterness.