Unable to sleep through the night, not for any other reason, but because of what Cheng Liran had said, those words "you must be very lonely," Ji Xiaonian had pondered over them the whole evening.
In truth, she was also a very lonely person, whether in the past or present.
In the past, she was a child abandoned by her parents due to their divorce. No one wanted the burden of raising her, and the period when her grandparents took care of her was the happiest time of her life.
But when they passed away one after the other, she had been alone ever since, eating alone, working alone in other cities. She would occasionally have meals with colleagues, but her daily life was still a lonely one.
But Ji Xiaonian? What was loneliness? Why, for such a long time until now, had none of her relatives ever contacted her?
What kind of family did Ji Xiaonian have? She had no clue, not even a hint from her friends' circles on WeChat, Weibo, or anywhere else.
"Sis, you look so tired." Early in the morning, He Yi came to pick her up, as they were preparing to go to the new film crew for shooting.
Ji Xiaonian sighed, recalling how He Yi had spent the early morning packing, with two large suitcases full of luggage. She asked, "Where's the new film crew located?"
"Sis, can you focus a bit? We're about to board a flight," He Yi looked at her in shock.
Ji Xiaonian finally snapped out of it, having almost forgotten that they were heading out to shoot a film. She hadn't slept the previous night and her mind was hazy.
"Sorry, I was a bit dazed," Ji Xiaonian yawned, her spirit lacking.
At the airport, He Yi dragged two suitcases while Ji Xiaonian pulled one. Two of the suitcases were packed by He Yi for Ji Xiaonian, and the other one was He Yi's own.
As Ji Xiaonian was currently a rather popular figure, essentially a viral sensation, most people who followed online news would recognize her. So this time, she had come fully prepared with a fisherman's hat, large sunglasses, and a face mask.
Suddenly, there was a commotion as many young girls carrying signs rushed hurriedly toward a certain area.
Ji Xiaonian stared blankly at the crowded mass of people in the distance and asked the nearby He Yi, "What's going on?"
He Yi remained calm, saying, "Probably that celebrity."
Seeing the screaming girls and the densely packed crowd, Ji Xiaonian remarked, "What a big fuss."
He Yi also sighed, recalling how when she had accompanied Shen Shuyao, there were also many fans surrounding them, truly an experience.
"We're both celebrities, but why am I treated like this?" Ji Xiaonian was perplexed. "Is my approach wrong? I have over fifty million Weibo followers..."
"And why do other celebrities have bodyguards and a whole team behind them when making public appearances, but I only have you?" Ji Xiaonian asked in bewilderment.
He Yi paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "We are a bit pitiful, but it's safe for us to travel like this. See, no one has noticed us."
Ji Xiaonian sensed an air of awkwardness. "You have a point. I don't need such a big fuss."
He Yi said helplessly, "Although you're very popular now, you haven't produced any substantial work. Apart from the mysterious song given to you, despite your many Weibo followers and online listeners, you have very few true fans. For now, those bodyguards and entourages behind celebrities are unnecessary for you."
"In the end, it's because I'm not good enough," Ji Xiaonian nodded.
"Work hard and try to get a good project under your belt. This movie is a great opportunity, with Director Xiao being renowned both at home and abroad," He Yi smiled.
"Just focus on the work and make money to prepare for retirement," Ji Xiaonian's only goal now was to laze around at home without worrying about anything, as long as she had money to spend.
Knowing her apathetic nature, He Yi looked at her helplessly. She truly had no ambition whatsoever.
"Hey, I think those fans' signs are for Yu Luobai," He Yi said in surprise.
"Really?" Ji Xiaonian also looked closely, seeing the dense crowd.
"Yeah, who else could cause such a commotion? It must be Yu Luobai," He Yi laughed. "But there are too many people, so let's just skip the greetings. We can't squeeze through that crowd anyway."
Ji Xiaonian looked over and froze for a moment. Yu Luobai was such an outstanding person, loved by so many.
And yet, he actually liked her? It was truly a wondrous thing, and she didn't know how long this affection of his would last.
The entertainment industry never lacked beautiful women or outstanding individuals. Perhaps after some time, he would realize that the woman he liked was just an ordinary person without any special qualities.
Ji Xiaonian was insecure at heart. She didn't dare to date or perhaps even avoided it, likely due to the disharmony in her family growing up, which made her constantly guarded.
"Let's go, we need to check in our luggage," He Yi urged, dragging the suitcases.
Ji Xiaonian followed slowly behind. Once inside the airport, it became much quieter, as those fans couldn't enter.
"You're in business class," He Yi handed her the ticket. "I'm in economy, so we'll be seated separately. Just wait for me after we land."
"Okay," Ji Xiaonian took the ticket.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a WeChat message.
Yu Luobai: I saw you.
Ji Xiaonian was surprised. Even wrapped up like this, he could still recognize her? Although she felt a strange sensation, she responded with a teasing tone.
Ji Xiaonian: Who caused such a big fuss? It turned out to be Teacher Yu traveling.
Yu Luobai: (Knock knock) I don't know who leaked the information, but fans came to see me off.
Ji Xiaonian: Is Teacher Yu also preparing to go out for work?
Yu Luobai: Took on a new project, will be staying out for a while.
Ji Xiaonian: How coincidental, I'm also going out for work.
In the VIP lounge, Yu Luobai held his phone with a gentle expression and a slight smile.
Yu Luobai: That is quite a coincidence. You haven't come for acting classes lately, has your acting improved?
Ji Xiaonian: It must have improved, considering it's three thousand per lesson.
Yu Luobai: I can teach you for free.
Ji Xiaonian stared at her phone screen without replying. To be honest, her current relationship with him was rather awkward. They weren't lovers, yet they interacted harmoniously.
She wanted to avoid this relationship, but couldn't help but be drawn to it, so she always maintained a natural attitude. She knew this wasn't right, but her heart was conflicted.
Seeing that she didn't respond, a hint of disappointment flashed in Yu Luobai's eyes. Bored, he began scrolling through their previous chat history.
Peng He shook his head helplessly upon witnessing this. If those fans saw their idol behaving so meekly in pursuit of a woman, their hearts would surely shatter.
Who would have thought that a man with such a handsome appearance, good character, and deep family background would struggle to win over a woman? Thinking about it, Peng He felt a sense of balance in his heart and wanted to laugh out loud at the heavens.
