Chapter 106
“This awful weather, why is it getting hotter and hotter? I really feel like a dried salted fish being sunbaked.”
On set, Yuanzi held a small fan to cool herself down. Looking at Li Chu in the distance, dressed in long-sleeved shirts and pants in front of the camera, the feeling of mugginess intensified.
“Sister Yuanzi, a calm heart brings coolness.” Qian Duoduo sat beside her, striking a meditative pose. Though she said so, she looked even more wilted than Yuanzi.
“I think my heart is calm enough. By the way, the fans are visiting the set later, is the water Li Chu mentioned ready?” Yuanzi sighed, remembering to ask the important question.
Among the three assistants, Yuanzi felt she had the most to worry about. She was responsible for checking Li Chu’s schedule and ensuring her safety at all times, while Qian Duoduo and A Yao only needed to do one each.
However, her salary was also the highest. Thinking about this, Yuanzi cheered up again, as if the summer wasn’t so hot anymore.
“Everything’s prepared, small gifts too.” Qian Duoduo made an OK gesture. When the two new assistants first arrived, she thought she could be the senior assistant.
Until she saw Yuanzi single-handedly subdue a sasaeng fan, and A Yao kick a camera out of a close-up filming proxy’s hand, Qian Duoduo felt that being a junior wasn’t so bad.
Yuanzi nodded, turning her attention back to Li Chu.
The almost stagnant summer heat made the atmosphere on set even more tense. As time gradually passed, Li Chu finished her last line. After Director Wang yelled “Cut!”, she couldn’t help but pull open her clothes and fan herself.
Rong Yun’s character was cold and abstinent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants even in the summer, with the top button fastened.
Qian Duoduo trotted over with a cold towel. Li Chu pressed it to her face, sighing comfortably. As she walked forward, she asked, “Have they arrived?”
“Yes, the gifts have been distributed.”
Li Chu nodded. Due to time constraints, after meeting the visiting fans, she was also invited to attend a brand event tonight. As one of the brand's spokespersons, she didn't have much time, so she went directly from the set, still in her costume.
After some interaction with the fans, Li Chu signed autographs on photos for each of them.
Li Chu’s first fansite master specifically picked her favorite photo. As Li Chu signed, she asked with a smile, “Is the drama you finished filming last year about to air?”
“Yes, it should be soon. Stay tuned!” Li Chu knew she was referring to Model Couple . Originally, the drama was scheduled to air in April, but because one of the minor actors got into trouble and was banned, Zhou Xinyuan had to reshoot those scenes. Fortunately, those scenes had nothing to do with the main characters, so Li Chu and Ning Manqing didn't need to go back for reshoots.
“Can you reveal whether it’s a sweet drama?” The fansite master was still traumatized by Die at Dawn and Dusk . Hearing that Li Chu was acting in an idol drama this time, she had already begun to imagine Li Chu’s sweet girl appearance.
“The sugar content is quite high.” Li Chu answered with a smile, looking incredibly innocent.
As for the presence of shattered glass, well, that belonged to the non-sugar part.
The next day, Model Couple began its promotional campaign.
Li Chu and Ning Manqing retweeted the announcement. Zhao Zhichun, as an internet surfing expert and their good friend, retweeted it immediately, urging his fans to watch.
Fans replied that they understood, “Zhao Dog,” and also urged Zhao Zhichun to find a partner even if he wasn't focused on his career.
@ZhaoZhichun: Are you my mom’s alt account? After watching this super sweet drama Model Couple , maybe I'll want to fall in love!
It could be said that Zhao Zhichun was very helpful in promoting the drama. Of course, after the finale aired, Zhao Zhichun vented his frustration on Weibo, sharpening his knives and saying that his love had been shattered by the damn drama, tearfully demanding that Li Chu and Ning Manqing compensate him for his lost love. But that's a story for later.
Ming Zhi also retweeted. She never hid her friendship with Li Chu. Other actors who had good relationships with Li Chu also helped with the promotion.
The happiest people about the drama’s release weren’t Li Chu’s fans or Ning Manqing’s fans, but the QingLi fans.
@IHaveAQingLiTree: Brothers and sisters, it’s set! Remember to watch! I heard it’s a super sweet drama, I think I can faint from all the sugar!
@SweetheartQingQing: I’ve been killing fish at RT-Mart for ten years, my heart is as cold as my knife, nothing can move me, except for my CP acting in an idol drama. Let’s go!
@BlowBlowQingLi: Although, but, am I the only one who thinks the name of this drama is super cheesy? Even if it’s an idol drama, there’s no need for that, right?
This comment about the cheesy name received quite a few likes.
But when the plot twist was revealed in the drama, this blogger crawled back to apologize.
@BlowBlowQingLi: Cheesy my ass! It’s so fitting! I declare this is the most perfect drama title, bar none!
This Weibo post was flooded with laughter and tears.
@IHaveAQingLiTree: I’m going crazy, you said it was a sweet drama, damn it, when love becomes a habit, can it still be called love? My heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys are all aching together. Lin Lang, you have no heart!
On the night of the broadcast, three hashtags trended on social media.
They were “Model Couple Twist,” “Is Habit Love?” and “Lin Lang You Have No Heart.”
Zhao Zhichun, as a dedicated viewer, posted on Weibo with the last hashtag, the content being only three smiling emojis.
Li Chu herself received impassioned “abusive” messages from Zhao Zhichun and coughed lightly.
【Zhao Zhichun】: Who told me during the promotion that it was 100% sweet, no sweet, no money?
【Zhao Zhichun】: Can you two wives be human? Damn, you can really stab your fans to death.
【Zhao Zhichun】: The last drama at least let us know it was a BE and went for the kill. Good job, this time you’re playing with a spiral knife backstab.
【Zhao Zhichun】: Are you two doing this on purpose? Is your relationship so good and without arguments because you've already abused each other enough in the drama?
Seeing this, Li Chu felt she had to explain to the single dog on the other side of the screen. Of course not.
【Xiao Chu】: We don’t fight because we communicate! Communicate, understand?
Actually, Li Chu and Ning Manqing really hadn’t quarreled much. Their last explosive argument was a long time ago when Ning Manqing hid her injury while filming Behold Me, Ling Shan . That wasn’t really a quarrel, but her one-sided emotional outburst, because she was really scared at the time.
There hadn’t been any since. For one, they were in a long-distance relationship and were too busy being intimate to waste their emotions on arguing. For another, it was a matter of personality. When conflicts and disagreements arose, they would pause and communicate.
Meaningless arguments and the amplified negative emotions and hurtful words spoken during arguments would only hurt people and push them further apart. Neither of them wanted that.
There weren’t so many perfectly compatible loves in the world. The most important thing was to change for each other.
【Zhao Zhichun】: I understand. So why did you tell me it was a 100% sweet drama?
【Zhao Zhichun】: I’m telling you, my injured young man’s heart can’t be healed without ten cups of milk tea.
【Xiao Chu】: Just wait, Brother Zhao.
Li Chu knew Zhao Zhichun’s address and quickly ordered ten cups of milk tea to be delivered.
Zhao Zhichun received the milk tea and smugly posted a picture on Weibo.
@ZhaoZhichun: Compensation from someone for deceiving my feelings. What a beautiful night.
Top comment: Zhao Dog, remember to work out. If you get fat, I’ll unfollow you.
Li Chu almost died laughing in bed when she saw this on Weibo, but when she scrolled down, she couldn’t laugh anymore.
Hey, what was up with those CP fans shipping her and Zhao Zhichun?! Where was the sweet, loving, real hammer?! This wasn’t good brothers walking together for life! And those wishing them an early marriage and children were going too far!
Li Chu’s vision went dark. Zhao Zhichun, on the other side of the screen, also felt his vision darken, silently wishing that Ning Manqing wouldn’t see it.
But someone was stirring the pot, and the hashtag “Zhao Zhichun Shows Off Love” actually trended at number twenty. Those marketing accounts, for fear that the world wasn’t chaotic enough, reposted it, bringing up their past scandals again.
It was difficult for outsiders to distinguish the truth in the entertainment industry. Li Chu’s fists clenched as she read the nonsense, but soon the trending topic disappeared.
【Xiao Chu】: Not bad, Brother Zhao, removing the trending topic so quickly.
【Zhao Zhichun】: …Let’s just say, it wasn’t me.
【Zhao Zhichun】: I’m dead. Sister Ning asked me if I liked milk tea very much. I could feel the murderous aura through the screen.
At the same time, Li Chu also felt her phone vibrate slightly. She clicked back to the message box and saw the message Ning Manqing sent her.
【Ning Manqing】: Cat Pouting.jpg
【Ning Manqing】: You didn’t even order me any milk tea.
【Ning Manqing】: I just finished working overtime and saw my special assistant tell me about removing the trending topic.
【Ning Manqing】: Cat Grievance.jpg
Li Chu’s heart trembled with cuteness at Ning Manqing’s words. The thought of Ning Manqing’s ice queen face acting so aggrieved and coquettish, who could resist that?!
【Xiao Chu】: I’ll buy you some! Baby, how much do you want?!
【Ning Manqing】: I don’t want milk tea, I want freshly squeezed peach juice.
【Ning Manqing】: No need for delivery, I’ll pick it up myself.
Li Chu happily sat up from the bed. She hadn’t touched the real Ning Manqing for a month.
【Xiao Chu】: Are you coming to see me?! I’m afraid there might be paparazzi here.
【Ning Manqing】: I’m coming to pick you up.
【Xiao Chu】: Okay!
Li Chu immediately changed her clothes and sat in front of the vanity mirror, applying a simple, enhancing light makeup.
While she was putting on makeup, the phone beside her kept buzzing with messages from Zhao Zhichun. Li Chu checked the messages after finishing her makeup.
【Zhao Zhichun】: Sister Ning is so ruthless, she sent me a whole case of milk tea!
【Zhao Zhichun】: A whole case of the same flavor, Peaches Cloud Mist Tea! Twenty-four cups!
【Zhao Zhichun】: She said I could post on Weibo now. It’s so terrifying, wuwuwu.
【Xiao Chu】: Post it, Haruno-san, or the oil mines back home will open.
【Zhao Zhichun】: You hurt me and just laughed it off, wuwuwu.
Then Zhao Zhichun went to post on Weibo with a sad BGM, and he was quick about it.
@ZhaoZhichun: Thanks to Boss Ning for a case of consolation. I really can’t finish it all by myself, so I’ll draw a few lucky local fans to get milk tea.
Zhao Zhichun trended on social media again, and onlookers flocked in.
@Zowen: Hello, it’s just that, the milk tea our LiLi ordered, can we be included in the draw?
Zhao Zhichun tearfully screenshotted this comment and sent it to Li Chu, saying that her fans were as ruthless as her, hurting him and then laughing it off.
And Li Chu’s reaction to this was: Can you not distribute the milk tea on XX Road? My darling is coming to pick me up from there.
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