CSGM - Chapter 39
Chapter 39: ChuChu dong Ren
In response to the Director's assessment, Chu Xi simply smiled faintly, not denying it.
At eight in the morning, before Our Restaurant had even started its broadcast, she had a file of the complete recording from the night before last in her hands.
She knocked on Ren Zhi's door.
Standing at the entrance, she asked, "Hey, hey, are you awake?"
Ren Zhi, who was washing her face, came out of the bathroom to open the door. Chu Xi immediately noticed her water-splashed skin, as tender as a freshly peeled white egg.
Some people were truly born to be a feast for the eyes.
Ren Zhi let her in and asked, "What's up?"
The corners of Chu Xi's lips curled upwards, her face wearing an expression that was clearly fishing for praise. She held a USB drive between two fingers and dangled it in front of Ren Zhi.
"Guess what this is?"
Ren Zhi was fully focused on the mirror, dabbing the water droplets from her face with a facial towel. She replied casually, "Not guessing. Say it if you want."
Her reflection in the mirror had moist red lips, bright eyes, and pearly teeth, with fair skin. She was beautiful, and impatient.
Chu Xi couldn't help but click her tongue, remarking disdainfully, "Why are you so impatient?"
Ren Zhi knew she wouldn't come without a reason, and that she'd say it sooner or later. She glanced at Chu Xi in the mirror, smiled, and then ignored her, picking up a pen to meticulously apply her eyeliner.
Chu Xi watched as she carefully traced the corner of her eye. After several strokes, there was hardly any change.
In her opinion, Ren Zhi's natural beauty was already so striking, her allure innate. Her pair of peach-blossom eyes were like those of a captivating and seductive fox spirit from a folktale; extra makeup was of little significance for her.
She said bluntly, "You already look great without makeup. Stop fussing."
Ren Zhi paid her no mind, looking only at the mirror, not at her.
Chu Xi's fingers traced her earlobe as she added, "Your hand is too shaky. Let me do it for you."
Hurry up, you're so slow.
As she spoke, she reached out, only for Ren Zhi to take a step back and flick her hand away with her middle finger. "Get lost!"
Ren Zhi put a small distance between them, looked her up and down, and said, "Don't you know how to avoid suspicion?"
Chu Xi happily leaned against the bathroom wall, watching her. "When your heart is pure, you have nothing to fear. I don't have any ulterior motives, so could it be that you're the one with a guilty conscience? Hmm, Sister Zhi?"
Ren Zhi gave a fake smile that didn't hide her contempt.
"Even if we were the last two people on Earth, I'd have to think twice about you."
She hoped Chu Xi would stop being so narcissistic!
"Ah, alright. But, I seem to be a bit better than your PR team, eh?" Chu Xi tilted her head and smiled at her.
Her expression was exceptionally proud and smug.
"Take a look at this. You can use it. It's enough to debunk the rumors."
Ren Zhi took the USB drive Chu Xi placed in her hand.
Before today's live broadcast began, she quickly plugged it into her laptop to watch. The moment she finished, she sent it to her assistant without a second's delay.
It did indeed contain a piece of evidence that could play a crucial role.
Chu Xi had her skills.
In the end, Ren Zhi sent Chu Xi a message to thank her.
After topics like #RenZhiRelationship, #RenZhiSexuality, and #RenZhiChuXiIntimateLateNightPhotos dominated the hot search rankings on Weibo for more than half a day, Ren Zhi's studio finally issued a statement.
The simple, direct, clear, and powerful clarification sent a new topic soaring to the top of the hot search list within three minutes.
#RenZhiStudioClarification
#DatingIsPureBullshit
#DamnPaparazziWhoTakeThingsOutOfContext
@RenZhiStudio: Ms. Ren Zhi is currently practicing scenes for an upcoming script. If she's crooking her finger at the air, does that mean she's dating the air? /[Come on]/[Smirk] Next is after Teacher Chu Xi comes in, Ms. Ren Zhi performs the same scene for her… Life is like a play, and dating is pure bullshit! [Click to watch video]
The highly persuasive video, coupled with the sarcastic caption and the incisive summary at the end, was like a sharp slap across the faces of the paparazzi who took things out of context and the netizens who spread rumors.
In the video, Ren Zhi repeatedly practiced actions like crooking her finger, pacing, turning, and leaning forward slightly to speak… all directed at the air and the wall. Then, after a fast-forward, she opened the door, Chu Xi entered, and only then did she ask Chu Xi to be her scene partner.
Connected with the previous part, Ren Zhi's behavior instantly made sense. She was purely practicing the movements from a script!
The clarification post was reposted over ten thousand times in five minutes, and the fans were ecstatic.
【@ZhangXiaoyan, was your family business founded on being an asshole?】
【/[LaughingCrying] Why not release the first part of the video and say Ren Zhi's dating an invisible man? That would be even more explosive!】
【@ZhangXiaoyan, deliberately publishing false information to mislead netizens, isn't that illegal?】
【Ignore the rumors! Rumors, get lost! The beautiful Ren Zhi is free to build her career /[Flowers]! The career queen does not accept dating scandals /[Flowers]! Don't! Even! Try!~~/[Flowers]】
The career-focused fans were feasting, overjoyed. The air was thick with happiness.
However-
So what if there were rumors? So what if there was a clarification? This would not shake the recently surging army of CP fans! On the contrary, it would only make them more excited!
In the #ChuChuDongRen Super Topic, the number of new fans continued to increase dramatically every day, and activity remained high.
Outsiders who didn't partake would never understand.
So what if they denied the relationship? They were just being stubborn! They were definitely in the ambiguous phase!
For CP fans, the ambiguous phase was even more delicious to savor than the dating phase.
A CP that wasn't officially and openly together was actually more attractive than a CP that was legally and properly together for life.
What CP fans enjoyed was the thrill of finding sweet moments in the darkest corners with a magnifying glass; they enjoyed the unspoken, ambiguous flow between their CP that they captured in the smallest details; they enjoyed that sliver of hope, infinitely close to reality, that "my CP is about to become real" but forever hovering just before the finish line.
Something being pursued, and the occasional sense of possession it gives the pursuer, is often more charming than the final achievement.
In the small world of #ChuChuDongRen, the fans didn't care about the debunking. All they saw was that their CP's names were together again.
【Just socialist sisterly love, nothing confirmed, we get it /[MeowMeow]】
【Zhizhi's studio calls her Teacher Chu Xi, I love shipping this /[LickingScreen]. I wonder if Zhizhi calls her that in bed too?】
【Not a girlfriend? She's probably already calling her 'wife' in private, right? /[Drool]/[Drool]】
【I'm dying for some fic of Top Xi railing Zhizhi. Tonight, Top Xi should pin Zhizhi down and ask her fiercely, "Am I that unpresentable?" Are there any writers on it?? /[Foodie]】
【Guess why Zhi didn't ask anyone else to run lines, only Xixi? /[Smirking]】
Those who get it, get it! It was a great time to be a "ChuChu dong Ren" shipper!
Even though Ren Zhi and Chu Xi deliberately kept their distance and tried to avoid suspicion over the next two days, it didn't stop the CP fans from savoring every moment.
Zhao Shiqing's guest period ended, and she left. The next day, a new flying guest arrived.
Her official age was twenty-nine, and she looked to be about 165 cm tall. Like most female celebrities in the entertainment industry, she had a slender figure, long black hair, and a pointed chin. Her features were harmonious and gentle, and she had an approachable aura. When she smiled, she resembled a young female teacher giving a lecture at a blackboard.
She smiled at the camera as she introduced herself, bowing to the other five members in greeting.
"Hello everyone, my name is Zhou Luyan. I'm an actress. It's a great honor to be on Our Restaurant. I hope we can get along well over the next few days. Please take care of me."
"Of course, Sister Yan! I'm here, so if you need anything these next few days, just call me!" Luo Yangtian said, patting his chest righteously with a smile.
The Director said, "Luyan is a friend we're all quite familiar with."
Ren Zhi and Xiao Han nodded at the same time. "That's right," they both said.
Ren Zhi extended her hand and shook Zhou Luyan's with a smile. "Welcome, Luyan. It's been a while."
Zhou Luyan wasn't actually a very famous celebrity. She had spent years as a third or fourth-billed actress in various dramas. She had filmed rural dramas, web dramas, and even several terrible anti-Japanese shows where they tore apart enemies with their bare hands. The number of forgettable supporting roles she had played was countless.
It was precisely because she had been in so many crews and played so many supporting roles that even though she wasn't famous in the film and television world, she was a well-known actress within the industry.
For instance, she had appeared in dramas starring Ren Zhi, Xiao Han, and Luo Yangtian.
"Thank you, Teacher Ren. I never expected to be on the same stage with you here."
Zhou Luyan smiled and stood next to Ren Zhi.
Chu Xi glanced at her, then looked away.
Aside from this brief interlude, the person Zhou Luyan had not left much of an impression on Chu Xi.
She was also very quiet while working at the restaurant, not trying to steal the spotlight, just diligently doing her job.
Until that night, after the broadcast ended.
Chu Xi held her class as usual. Li Xiling, for once, was able to grasp the concepts and draw parallels. Chu Xi saw that her IQ had increased by another point, reaching 99.
Now, when she looked at Li Xiling's information, it read-
Name: Li Xiling.
IQ: 99.
It wasn't easy, but there was a small gain today.
Li Xiling herself was also happy. The classes these past few days hadn't been in vain, and her hard work had paid off. Under Chu Xi's training, she found that her mind had become sharper. It felt as if her brain was spinning faster when she thought!
Her mahjong skills had skyrocketed, advancing by leaps and bounds!
If she continued this training, wouldn't she dominate the mahjong table in the future?
Li Xiling thought about her wonderful future and giggled, "Hehehehehehehe…"
After class, Li Xiling and Chu Xi walked out of the RV together. On the way, she said:
"Chu Xi, I'll call you for my next national concert tour. I'm serious about inviting you as a guest! You can sing whatever you want up there, I have venues that hold ten thousand people…"
Chu Xi smiled and said, "Okay, thanks, Sister Ling."
As the two were heading back to the guesthouse, they unexpectedly saw Zhou Luyan, who should have been asleep, pacing back and forth in an open area outside the hotel.
As they passed by, Li Xiling asked curiously, "Luyan, what are you doing out here?"
Zhou Luyan replied sheepishly, "Oh, Sister Ling. I'm memorizing my lines."
And also… trying to find the right feeling for a suspense case in the dark.
Li Xiling said, "If your memory was as good as Chu Xi's, you wouldn't have to memorize lines late at night. She has a Memory Palace training method. You should learn it from her."
Chu Xi's gaze lingered on Zhou Luyan for a moment. She had noticed during the day that this celebrity's IQ was 107, which was within the normal range.
She didn't turn anyone away.
"If you want to learn, you can come find me anytime."
But Zhou Luyan shook her head and explained very politely, "Thank you, Teacher Chu Xi, but my role isn't very big. I don't have many lines in total. I'm mainly trying to get into character."
Chu Xi nodded with an "oh," as expected.
This was also why she hadn't approached Zhou Luyan directly during the day.
Just as she was about to walk past Zhou Luyan and return to her room, she suddenly heard Zhou Luyan's voice from behind, continuing to practice her lines-
"Captain Su, this person committed suicide. After assessment by the expert panel, his motive was likely that he no longer wanted to live."
Hearing this, Chu Xi's steps faltered.
Such an idiotic line, and Zhou Luyan even said it twice, in two different tones.
Saying it once was moronic. Saying it twice was doubly so.
Just as Zhou Luyan was about to try a third tone, "Captain Su, this person committed suicide…"
Chu Xi couldn't take it anymore. She turned around and interrupted her, "Zhou Luyan."
She used her full name.
Zhou Luyan was taken aback. "Eh… huh?"
Chu Xi: "Who wrote those lines for you?"
Zhou Luyan replied, "The screenwriter."
How terrible, Chu Xi scoffed internally.
Perfect. Isn't this a new opportunity? I've caught another walking IQ point.
"You're playing a criminal investigation role, right? Come to my class. I'll teach you how to capture the essence of it."
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