"No, it's a girls' gathering. It wouldn't be appropriate for me, a grown man, to disturb you. There are some details in the script that I need to review," Zhou Jing said in a gentle manner.
But Rong Dai could clearly see that Qiao Wanzhou was momentarily infuriated.
However, when Zhou Jing stood up and left, she felt helpless and disappointed.
After Zhou Jing left, Rong Dai replaced Qiao Wanzhou's drink with a glass of juice.
Sitting on the sofa opposite Qiao Wanzhou, she looked at her and said, "Miss Qiao..."
"Can't you call me Qiao Wanzhou or just Qiao Jiejie? Why do you have to be so formal?" Qiao Wanzhou retorted as soon as she heard Rong Dai call her.
Rong Dai sighed lightly in her heart. This woman was just too easily foolish.
Especially when it came to matters of the heart.
Rong Dai could tell that Qiao Wanzhou really liked Zhou Jing, but Zhou Jing's attitude towards her was ambiguous.
He was sometimes good and sometimes bad.
When he was being good, as soon as Qiao Wanzhou finished shooting a scene, he would prepare water, tissues, a chair, and snacks she liked, taking care of her every need.
But when he was being bad, it was like just now—cold and distant, as if he didn't even know her.
"I'm sorry, I just... feel a bit upset. Do you have any alcohol at home?" Qiao Wanzhou apologized with a remorseful look after a few seconds.
"It's fine, I understand how you feel," Rong Dai replied with a faint smile. She had wanted to ask something, but it was obvious that Qiao Wanzhou knew about the issue between her and Zhou Jing. Otherwise, she wouldn't have shown that helpless and disappointed emotion just now.
"I have some alcohol, but it's not good to drink on an empty stomach. If you don't mind waiting, I can make dinner and we can have a little drink together."
"That would be great... I just want to stay here for a while. I don't have many places to go," Qiao Wanzhou said gratefully as she looked at Rong Dai. This was also why she liked Rong Dai so much when she first met her.
Her judgment was never wrong.
Rong Dai was considerate, but not foolish. She had her own bottom line and principles.
And she had ambitions of her own.
When Qiao Wanzhou saw Rong Dai at the Qiao family's place, she was initially just curious.
After all, Huo Shao Ting was not much older than them, yet he had become a legend at such a young age.
The person who could become his wife was naturally intriguing.
During the months of working with Rong Dai on the set, Qiao Wanzhou had grown to appreciate her more and more. She really wanted to be friends with Rong Dai.
But Rong Dai seemed to maintain a distance and caution towards people around her, except for the people from the Huo family.
Although she had achieved great success through her endeavors, it had come at the cost of not just her energy, but also many other things.
Such as friends, true friends.
And she had none.
If she were to say this to others, they would probably think she was being melodramatic.
How could a popular actress like her, who had everything she wanted, not have any friends?
But that was the reality.
The people around her, the ones she could truly open up to and feel safe with, there was not a single friend among them.
Rong Dai looked at her, a gentle smile appearing on her charming face. "I actually haven't had dinner either. It's quite lonely to eat alone, so I really appreciate you coming over to have dinner with me."
Having spent these past few months with Qiao Wanzhou on the set, Rong Dai had come to understand her to some extent.
In fact, she empathized with Qiao Wanzhou's helplessness and her pretense of strength.
In her previous life, before she became the emperor's consort and empress.
Her family background, her talents, and her beauty were enough to overshadow all the young ladies in the imperial capital.
After she came of age, there was a constant stream of suitors from prestigious families coming to propose marriage to her in the General's Manor. The noble ladies who befriended her all spoke with exceptional sincerity.
But on the day of the incident at the Rong residence, the day she was sent to the cold palace.
Not a single person stood up for the Rong family, not a single person spared her a glance.
It was during those ten years in the cold palace that she truly understood the meaning of friendship.
So she understood Qiao Wanzhou's sense of loneliness very well.
The more outstanding one is, the more one may lose.
It could be a trusted friend in your eyes or even a close relative who usually cares deeply for you.
During those ten years in the cold palace, she constantly reflected on herself.
Later, she came to understand.
The more exceptional you become, the fewer people genuinely care about you, and the stronger the sense of loneliness grows.
Meanwhile, small-minded people multiply like weeds.
And these small-minded people, when the day comes that she falls from grace, will turn against her without mercy.
So during these months on the set, apart from her sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and Lu Ye, she kept her distance from everyone else.
She avoided trouble, but once she found herself in the midst of it, there was no way to escape.
So she tried to avoid it whenever possible.
But seeing Qiao Wanzhou in her current state, she couldn't help but feel empathy, otherwise she wouldn't have asked Zhou Jing earlier.
Because she saw a reflection of her past self.
But Qiao Wanzhou was smarter than her, not deceived by the illusions around her.
So, as one becomes more outstanding, they can see more clearly who around them are genuine and who are not, and what things they truly need.
Life is short, and there are actually very few people and things that can make oneself truly satisfied and joyful.
"If you don't mind, my sister-in-law lives across from me. She's been very nervous these days because her brother is here. She might not have had dinner yet. If you're willing, I can call her over to keep you company. Perhaps the two of you have some things to talk about."
Rong Dai didn't forget about her sister-in-law's concerns.
Her sister-in-law had been thinking about Gu Chengyan all this time, but that mysterious Gu Chengyan had yet to appear on the set.
Both her sister-in-law and Qiao Wanzhou had someone in their hearts, but they couldn't have them.
In this regard, they probably had a lot to talk about.
As for herself, well, it didn't matter.
Although she also liked Qiao Wanzhou very much and hoped to have a true friend here.
But such things couldn't be forced.
And Qiao Wanzhou was a very clever woman. If she were to say something wrong in front of her, it wouldn't be good.
"It's alright, go ahead and call her over."
Qiao Wanzhou slumped on the couch, looking exhausted.
"It's fine if you want to take off your shoes and sit on the couch. I don't mind," Zhou Jing said.
Rong Dai nodded. Seeing her hesitantly sitting on the couch, Zhou Jing added, "You can relax and sit comfortably. I'll go knock on the door of our sister-in-law."
"Big sister-in-law..."
Huo Mei Shu had only returned to the apartment last night after confirming that their eldest brother wasn't angry with them over dinner.
She had been on edge for the past few days and couldn't sleep well.
Now that she finally relaxed, she fell into a deep slumber.
"Mei Shu, freshen up quickly and come over for dinner. I'll make hot pot," Rong Dai said, feeling both pity and helplessness seeing her sister-in-law's sleepy eyes.
Although Huo Mei Shu was two years older, she had a very candid personality, and this incident must have scared her badly.
As soon as Huo Mei Shu heard that Rong Dai was going to cook something delicious, her eyes lit up.
"But what about my eldest brother..."
Although she wanted to eat, she still had some lingering fear of her stern-faced eldest brother.
Rong Dai smiled wryly, "Did you forget that your eldest brother is going back today? He took a flight this afternoon. Hurry up and freshen up, both Miss Qiao and Miss Zhou are waiting."
