Youyou took a deep breath and lowered her voice:
"The folk music performance on the day of the preliminaries was a last resort, right?"
Seeing that Qin Wei didn't speak, Youyou continued:
"Before the performance, I went to a nearby snack bar on purpose, the one where the program team ordered dinner that night of the preliminaries. That's when I realized I had made a mistake...
Senior sister, the salad I gave you caused your allergy. I almost ruined your competition..."
Qin Wei didn't deny it. Her expression toward her was somewhat cold:
"Um, anything else you want to say?"
"If I tell you I didn't know anything about it, that I completely washed my hands of this, would you believe me?"
When Youyou said this, her eyes were red. She laughed bitterly to herself and murmured,
"I guess not. If I were you, I wouldn't believe me either. Senior sister has already been very merciful to me these days by not confronting me about it. I have no right to ask for your forgiveness."
Qin Wei stood on the stairs where Jiao Xiao had stood earlier and patted her on the head:
"It's water under the bridge now, so let's not mention it anymore. I have to go upstairs for an interview."
After speaking, Qin Wei immediately walked away. She heard Youyou say something else behind her, but she didn't stop and went straight into the elevator and left.
Qin Wei took out her phone and made a call:
"Hello? Qin Wei? What's up?"
"President Xu, listen carefully to what I have to say next. You might find it interesting..."
...
Finally, after the second public performance, there were two days off in a row. The other artists were busy rushing off to other jobs. Only Xu Mingchuan was conscientious and told her on the phone that this time she should rest well.
After Qin Wei got home, she took some juice and turned on the speakers in the bathroom. She poured her favorite fruit-scented bath salts into the bathtub. Qin Wei started her leisurely bubble bath mode.
Holding a Baccarat crystal highball glass in one hand and a facial mask on her face, Qin Wei sat soaking in the bathtub with her eyes closed, humming along to the songs from the speakers...
Taking the rare chance to indulge herself, she was going to let herself enjoy a high quality lifestyle these two days.
Then she started planning for tomorrow...
Sleep in and then go to Toma Steakhouse for steak. She had been craving it since last time. Unfortunately Xu Mingchuan was there last time, so she hadn't been able to indulge fully.
After the meal she would go watch a movie and shop...
Before she could finish planning, Li Yao called:
"My little ancestor remember to take a nice relaxing bubble bath tonight. Then I'll come pick you up at 8 AM tomorrow. Let's go beautifully shoot a commercial!"
"Huh?"
Qin Wei couldn't believe her ears.
"President Xu said this time was for a good rest. Didn't he tell you?"
"He did."
Li Yao answered very calmly, seemingly not surprised at all.
"Then... isn't making me work tomorrow going too far when I'm supposed to be resting per President Xu's wishes?"
"The rest President Xu referred to just means you should sleep earlier. You're on the rise now. Would you feel at ease slacking off?" *Hangs up phone*
As expected, bosses have no heart.
...
Last time when she rested she took an endorsement for a sporting goods brand. These past few days Li Yao had already negotiated the filming tasks with the brand. Today, as soon as Qin Wei rested, she was dragged to the photography studio for another day of work.
Around noon Xu Mingchuan himself came, bringing the signature dishes from Toma Steakhouse to treat the staff working on site.
"Thank you all for your hard work. You must take good care of our Qin Wei and photograph her beautifully!"
As soon as Xu Mingchuan arrived, he started personally handing out the meal boxes. Although they were just meal boxes, even the boxes themselves were exquisitely designed bamboo wood boxes.
This gesture won over the good feelings of the staff on site, who praised Xu Mingchuan for being a good boss.
After expressing his thanks, Xu Mingchuan took a box and handed it to Qin Wei.
Qin Wei opened the box. Inside was a perfectly temperatured black pepper steak.
Seeing her hesitant appearance, Xu Mingchuan said to her:
"Don't restrain yourself all the time. Occasionally indulging a bit is fine..."
"It's okay. Some people said recently that I'm getting a little fat. I should restrain myself more appropriately."
After speaking, she immediately started on the salad. Xu Mingchuan didn't say anything more. He just looked at her with a smile.
As long as you're happy.
After eating, Qin Wei casually asked Xu Mingchuan while touching up her makeup:
"How's the thing I asked you to help with going?"
Xu Mingchuan put down his phone and looked up at Qin Wei in the mirror. He answered truthfully:
"I made some inquiries and confirmed there is this matter. As for the follow up, don't worry too much about it. I'll handle it myself."
Qin Wei also looked at Xu Mingchuan in the mirror:
"You've gone to a lot of trouble, President Xu. But I don't think you'll regret it if it succeeds."
"President Xu..."
Xu Mingchuan repeated to himself. In the past she had always been very distant with him. Now she was unexpectedly more intimate. It even gave him some illusions. But those two words could always pull him back to reality from that "very close relationship" illusion.
There was a trace of bitterness in Xu Mingchuan's smile, but his tone was the same as always:
"The cost is a bit high for Anhang Entertainment. But since it's your decision, I'll strive my best to fight for it. No trouble is too much trouble. I believe your judgement...
You're the one who's gone to great pains. In just over ten days you've taken two major commercial deals, and they're all first-tier. I think your return is just around the corner."
"Pfft!"
Qin Wei shook her head.
"As long as I'm not eliminated, that will do. Thank you for your trust, President Xu. I'll keep working hard afterward, but after this commercial wraps can I get some rest..."
She looked at Xu Mingchuan entreatingly.
Xu Mingchuan glanced at his phone:
"There's still a magazine cover left to shoot in the afternoon and evening. There might be some interviews too but don't worry. There won't be any tricky entertainment journalists...
Tomorrow morning there's also a Miss R dual magazine cover and feature interview. It'll wrap up around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, then you'll have half a day to rest. In the evening I'll have the driver take you back to the program team..."
Qin Wei was so tired she wanted to roll her eyes. Just how many jobs had the black-hearted boss and manager taken on without telling her!
But she still had to go. Qin Wei asked:
"A dual magazine cover shoot, who am I shooting with?"
Xu Mingchuan showed her his phone screen.
Jiao Xiao.
Oh, normal. Lately whenever the two of them were together the internet buzz was always very high. To drive traffic, the media would naturally have to grasp popular topics.
Whoever was popular would get an invite, whatever was trending would get relentlessly hyped. All major media operated this way.
As a party involved, Qin Wei understood and also admitted she was enjoying the benefits this topic was bringing her.
Seeing her unsurprised appearance, Xu Mingchuan couldn't help asking:
"In less than a month, you've turned a former enemy into a topical pairing. It's pretty hot. How did you accomplish it?"
