That evening, He Hong personally called Qin Wei to inform her of the next day’s schedule:
“The new drama has been scheduled. Tomorrow, the leads will accept an invitation from the video platform to promote it. Qin Wei is familiar with this, right?”
“Mm, Manager He can rest assured that I will cooperate.”
“I’ve arranged the clothing and makeup on my end. Tomorrow morning, Wang Dongdong will deliver it to you. No requirements for jewelry - just wear your own. Go directly there when the time comes. Wang Dongdong will discuss the specific arrangements with you along the way.”
Qin Wei readily agreed to everything that fit the routine publicity procedures.
After hanging up the phone, Qin Wei looked towards her roommate who was sitting beside her. Her roommate gave her a meaningful look.
“What are you looking at me for? Because I’m good-looking?”
Feeling self-conscious under her stare, Qin Wei unconsciously touched her own face.
“Will there come a day when you get used to her thoughtful arrangements for you and then develop feelings and sign a friendship agreement?”
Qiao Sixiao jokingly asked her.
“I won’t do that kind of ‘falling for someone just because they treat me well’ ever again. That ‘good treatment’ comes at a price - it’s often something I don’t want to give. It’s better not to receive it from the beginning... But Manager He doesn’t count. This drama mainly promotes your family’s artist, so my active participation in publicity is actually helping her.”
Qiao Sixiao squinted her eyes into a smile.
“If you try to lump Su Yang in with ‘my family’ again, I’ll kick you out!”
“You’re overthinking it! I just meant he's an employee of your family... People nowadays are so sensitive! Even word choice can make them angry. When will you be more tolerant like me? Give some space to those just joking around. Give ourselves some freedom of discussion...”
As Qin Wei spoke, she reached out and pinched Qiao Sixiao’s cheek. She was very slender, but her skin was tender and smooth to the touch. It felt rather nice.
So this is what it feels like to pinch someone else’s face. Such fun!
Qiao Sixiao lifted her hand to bat Qin Wei’s away. She was already in a bad mood to begin with, and Qin Wei simply couldn’t resist pinching her a couple more times, finally provoking her anger.
...
The next morning, when Little Wang brought the makeup artist over, the two young ladies were sitting on the sofa ignoring each other and not speaking a word.
The atmosphere was awful and the air pressure low...
Now what was going on here...
Little Wang’s heart thumped apprehensively, but she didn’t dare speak out loud. She could only stiffly approach Qiao Sixiao and say:
“Sis, Manager He selected today’s outfit for you. Please get your makeup done here first. I’ll take Teacher Qin to the bedroom to change clothes...”
Little Wang took the clothes. As Qin Wei also stood up, Qiao Sixiao suddenly opened her mouth. Her tone revealed no detectable emotion:
“Wang Dongdong, whose assistant are you? Hm?”
Little Wang froze in place, truly unable to analyze from those words what had happened.
“Sis, I’m your assistant. I always have been...”
She spoke firmly. Having finished, she turned to look at Qin Wei, her entire face screaming-
“Save me!”
“It’s fine, I can change myself. Little Wang, sit for a bit. Don’t mind us. We had a fight last night and nearly came to blows. It’s a small matter, don’t worry about it too much.”
Qin Wei’s tone was indifferent. She took the clothes from Little Wang’s hands and headed off to the bedroom to change, minding her own business.
Little Wang swallowed hard, silently chanting the Heart Sutra to calm herself.
“Little Wang, who allowed you to sit down? Have you watered the plants? Fed the fish? Why do I need to remind you of everything these days?!”
Qiao Sixiao grew more agitated as she spoke, raising her voice a notch.
“If you don’t want to worry about these things, then don't keep them in the house! You go ahead and put them there but then don't take care of them! Muddling along every day without a shred of responsibility - can you take some responsibility for once?!”
Little Wang’s hand shook and the small watering can for the plants fell to the ground.
The loud clang, paired with Qiao Sixiao’s anger, was as if expressing dissatisfaction towards her.
“Wang Dongdong!”
Qiao Sixiao had been furious to begin with. Now she was even more incensed.
Having finished changing, Qin Wei trotted out from the bedroom making a beeline for the balcony. She picked up the little watering can and found an absorbent cleaning cloth that she placed on the floor.
Only then did Little Wang return to her senses. She quickly knelt to wipe the floor.
Qin Wei put down her rolled up sleeves and walked into the living room, determined to debate with Qiao Sixiao in order to protect innocent little Wang.
“Little Wang is your lifestyle assistant, but she isn't the housekeeper you hired. Please don't take your anger at me out on her, okay?”
Qiao Sixiao directly ignored her. She said to Little Wang:
“That’s enough. Stop cleaning. Go to the walk-in closet and take out that silver tassel pearl earring set, then do whatever you're supposed to do. Don't make me tell you again.”
Although she didn't know what had happened to make her boss so angry, nor did she understand exactly what was going on, this silly cute girl unexpectedly wasn't coaxing her older sister either, but Little Wang in order to prevent losing her high-paying job, silently ran off to the walk-in closet without a word.
...
During the filming of “Meteor Shower”, Qin Wei’s contract with An Xing was still active, so publicity was considered a collaborative project between the two parties. An Xing had arranged for Li Liang, Li Yan, Little Morning and others to drive over temporarily and participate in the publicity alongside her.
“Sis, long time no see!”
Li Liang had been sitting in the car the whole time staring at her laptop screen. Seeing Qin Wei get into the car, her eyes instantly turned red. She whimpered,
“I missed you so much...”
The team member most devastated by the dissolvement of the previous contract was Li Liang. From the beginning when she was helping out, to later getting transferred to work alongside Qin Wei, the two had developed a close relationship.
She didn’t want to separate from Qin Wei. She had even discussed with Qin Wei about taking a pay cut, giving up benefits, as long as she could continue following her.
The problem was Qin Wei faced too much uncertainty about the future, so she could only appease Li Liang:
“If I sign with another company in the future, I’ll bring you all over.”
Li Liang pouted grievously, but could only agree.
“What are you doing?”
Qin Wei softly grumbled as she pointed at the screen of Li Liang’s laptop:
“Writing incantations?”
Li Liang nodded and dabbed at her tears at the same time:
“Mm. General Manager Xu assigned me to other artists. I figured that way I wouldn’t have time to keep following Sis. General Manager Xu told me to go back and type incanta...code to support myself...”
“Don’t cry. Having work is good. We dissolved the contract with An Xing but there are still activities, and chances to collaborate...”
Qin Wei comforted Li Liang the entire ride. She was easy to console, and was perfectly cheerful again after just a few sentences.
In the interim, Li Liang had roughly explained the publicity plan for Qin Wei, saying it was the same as the previous mall tour, only this time it was during the day with more people and more events, lively but tiring as well. Li Liang urged Qin Wei to pace herself.
“Sis, publicity for the new drama this time is divided into three groups, still going to Triangular Video. You, Teacher Qiao, Brother Su Yang, and the child actors are together.
You don’t need to worry about the other two groups. Those are other creators from the team going to record. The specific plan is just as I said earlier.
Also, the Wilson x Wei and Wei x Smiles ships have both had pretty good momentum recently, so some fanservice for both is probably expected today...”
Li Liang didn’t dare continue. Qin Wei’s expression had clearly turned ugly. Li Liang understood why - the Wilson x Wei ship’s popularity spike came with all kinds of rumors that more or less still troubled her older sister.
The ship I stan is still the most stable! Wilson is just a guest star!
Li Liang said, “But Sis, don’t worry. We’ll still focus the main fanservice on the Wei x Smiles ship!”
For some reason, Qin Wei looked even more unhappy.
...
Same as last time, as soon as the car arrived downstairs at the company building, many people came out to welcome them. Having learned from experience, the executive in charge of receiving them had agreed on a time with the artists’ management company ahead of schedule, and would definitely wait downstairs until the entire cast & crew arrived before going up together.
The first to show up was Su Yang. As usual, he was wearing arefreshing and neat student outfit.
Many female employees at Triangular Video were his fans. Most were seeing him in person for the first time and, like his other fans, felt that he was even more handsome than they imagined. Such a dazzlingly handsome sight to behold the moment he emerged from the car.
Fans screamed, among them even several male fans:
“Ahhhhhhh! Yangyang!!!”
