CSGM - Chapter 100
Chapter 100: New Year's Eve
Heaven only knew what the assistant, Xiao Mei, had just heard. Her neck felt as if it had been turned to stone, and she didn't dare risk a single glance behind her.
—Haven't slept together in a long time?
—Chu Xi, touch Sister Zhi too?
Ah... what on earth was their relationship?
Xiao Mei didn't know, and she didn't dare to ask. All she could do was imagine she was invisible, pretending she wasn't even there.
But this invisible person's ears were, in fact, still pricked up, listening for any sounds from behind them—
"Go away!" Ren Zhi's sharp voice was filled with resistance.
"Put your hand back!" came another stern command.
Oh, it sounded like there was nothing scandalous going on after all.
Xiao Mei was both relieved and, for some reason, a little disappointed. She couldn't understand why her feelings were so complicated.
Did she want her prized cabbage to bloom beautifully on its own, or did she want a pig to come along and claim it...?
Her hand having been rejected, Chu Xi pulled it back onto her lap, a hint of dissatisfaction lingering on her lips.
She grumbled, "It's not like I'm lusting after your body. Why can't I touch you...? I'm not a man..."
Ren Zhi shot her a cold glare that made her shut up completely.
Chu Xi's break from the gala came to an end. Beautiful moments of freedom were always fleeting.
The next day, she was back to the cloistered, high-intensity life of filming with the crew.
Ren Zhi was busy producing her new album, and her schedule was just as grueling, working from dawn till dusk. Sometimes, the two would even run into each other in the elevator in the wee hours of the morning.
Chu Xi found it very strange.
Why was it that she worked from morning to night every day and was tired as a dog, with no energy to spare during her commute, yet Ren Zhi seemed to have the inexhaustible stamina of an ox?
Was this some kind of special buff exclusive to workaholics?
Name: I'm Not Tired.
She just wondered if Ren Zhi had the same kind of energy, one that could rival her passion for work, when she was doing other things.
The Three Kingdoms crew rushed to meet their schedule and finally finished filming all the indoor scenes before the end of December.
The director, in a great show of mercy, gave everyone half a day off, announcing they would head out for location shooting after the new year began.
—It wasn't much of a holiday, really. The crew had already been scheduled to start location shooting in January anyway.
On the morning of the 31st, as the cast was removing their makeup, everyone was already enthusiastically discussing their plans for New Year's Eve.
Today was the last day of the year. At midnight, the year would turn over, so tonight was destined to be a joyous evening!
Chu Xi sat in her chair with her eyes closed, failing to understand their logic.
Was there any necessary connection between the two?
Besides, what kind of holiday was New Year's Eve, anyway?
"I'm taking my girlfriend to a movie tonight. The tickets are all sold out now! Good thing I bought them early and even managed to get seats in the middle row..."
"Have you guys seen Entertainment Queen? How is it? I'm planning to binge-watch it to ring in the new year."
As the group of young actors chatted, they eventually turned to the silent Chu Xi and asked about her plans for the evening.
Chu Xi said flatly, "I don't have any."
"Huh?" Everyone was puzzled by her answer.
"Is today any different from yesterday?" Chu Xi asked.
"Of course there is! It's New Year's Eve tonight!"
Even the makeup artist removing her makeup laughed in surprise.
"You don't celebrate New Year's Eve?"
Chu Xi said expressionlessly, "It's hardly a real holiday."
While that might be true, everyone was just looking for a festive atmosphere, a reason to relax and enjoy themselves for a while. It wasn't about it being an official holiday.
Every year on New Year's Eve, the internet would be buzzing with discussion, and all the major television networks would host New Year's galas.
Over time, it had become an unspoken custom to treat this night as a special, joyous occasion.
So Chu Xi's complete lack of interest struck people as very odd.
"Chu Xi, you're so old-fashioned!" a colleague exclaimed.
"..." Chu Xi was speechless.
Weren't they the ones making a big deal out of nothing?
Someone else even suspected, "Chu Xi, you're not a complete loner, are you?"
How could one person have absolutely zero festive spirit!
Chu Xi's mouth twitched. "I'm not."
The props master, who was organizing a case, said, "Oh, that's really strange. Anyway, my girlfriend and I are going out to celebrate tonight."
Someone else added, "Yeah, hehe, I'm going to ring in the new year in a video game!"
Oh, well. Chu Xi had nothing to say about this holiday they had seemingly fabricated out of thin air.
After removing her makeup and changing into her own clothes, Chu Xi pulled her phone from her coat pocket and noticed a new message.
It was from the Director of Our Restaurant. Since the first season ended, the two had maintained a cordial relationship built on his one-sided admiration for her.
【It's New Year's Eve tonight. Friendly reminder, you could give Ren Zhi a small gift.】
Chu Xi: ?
The Director of Our Restaurant had long since noticed that Chu Xi's feelings for Ren Zhi were not ordinary. He figured their private relationship must be excellent.
But Chu Xi's emotional intelligence was also exceptionally poor. Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to give her a little reminder.
Friendships needed maintenance, too, and he just so happened to know that Ren Zhi always made a habit of treating New Year's Eve as a proper holiday.
After this exchange, now Chu Xi knew it too.
She scratched her head, thought for a moment, and sent Ren Zhi a message.
【Are you celebrating New Year's Eve tonight?】
Ren Zhi's answer was a definite yes.
She had to perform at a local TV station's gala, but she wasn't the closing act and would be home by eleven.
When Chu Xi got home from the film set, she went and rang the doorbell of the apartment upstairs.
She entered Ren Zhi's home and, with practiced ease, slipped into the personal slippers she kept there. Then she asked:
"Are you coming back for dinner tonight?"
Ren Zhi glanced at how comfortable and at-home she looked, remembering that Chu Xi also lived here all by herself.
"Yes. Do you want to join?"
"Why else would I have come up here?" Chu Xi looked at her and retorted, puzzled.
Ren Zhi was caught off guard by her bluntness. "..."
The next second, Chu Xi smiled. "I'll keep you company. You'll be back at eleven, right? I'll make dinner and wait for you."
Oh, that was fine. At least she wouldn't have to order takeout tonight.
One more person wouldn't make a difference, Ren Zhi thought.
It might even be a bit livelier.
She accepted the idea quickly and said:
"I'll have to trouble you, then. Could you buy some extra groceries? I'll transfer you the money on WeChat."
In the next moment, she sent a ten-thousand-yuan transfer to Chu Xi via WeChat, adding a note:
"Let me know if you need more."
"So generous," Chu Xi noted with a nod.
Just what you'd expect from a superstar who raked in money hand over fist.
Ren Zhi left for her rehearsal with a smile, getting into her van. With the money in hand, Chu Xi went all out and bought a king crab and an Australian lobster.
If she didn't buy some expensive ingredients, ten thousand yuan worth of groceries would be enough to feed them until they burst.
So she thought.
Little did she know that when evening came, a smiling Chu Xi, wearing an apron, would open the door to be greeted by the sight of—
Her assistants Xiao Mei, Xiao He, Xiao Ju, and Xiao Tao, all four of them swarming in excitedly.
Chu Xi froze.
...?
Ren Zhi ambled in last.
The moonlight mingled with the city's countless lights. In the kitchen, steam rose from pot lids and marinated ingredients sat ready to be cooked, the beginnings of dinner already taking shape.
While Chu Xi had been prepping in the kitchen, she had imagined a quiet, peaceful New Year's Eve for just the two of them.
—She had nothing else to do, after all, so she'd just keep Ren Zhi company.
But the four young, beaming faces that had just rushed in, along with the cacophony of their voices, instantly shattered that assumption.
...Why hadn't she mentioned there would be so many people?
Ren Zhi's four assistants seemed far more excited than she was. They slipped on shoe covers and dashed into the living room.
"Sister Xi, you're cooking tonight? It must be delicious!"
"Sister, please, sit down! We'll go help."
"Sister Xi, is there anything you need help with?"
"Wow, I can't believe Sister Xi is celebrating New Year's Eve with us this year."
Listening to them, Chu Xi couldn't help but feel like she was the extra one.
Her expression was strained as she turned to Ren Zhi and asked:
"Why are there so many people?"
Ren Zhi blinked.
"They always celebrate New Year's Eve with me."
She made it sound as if Chu Xi's question was the strange one.
Chu Xi fell silent, looking sullen. Ren Zhi finally asked in surprise, "Did you think it was just going to be the two of us?"
How could that be?
There's no way that would happen, right?
Why would she spend the holiday alone with Chu Xi?
Chu Xi took a breath and pressed the bridge of her nose. "I didn't expect it," she said.
She really had thought it would be just the two of them. She hadn't expected Ren Zhi to bring a whole team of assistants home. Now, all she could do was return to the kitchen with a sigh.
"There isn't enough food. I'll go make more."
Fortunately, Ren Zhi's kitchen was large and had plenty of burners. Even though she had to start from scratch, Chu Xi quickly prepared a dinner for six.
When the food was served, the four assistants, who had been waiting eagerly, burst into applause.
Chu Xi noted that none of them looked very old, probably recent college graduates. She couldn't understand why Ren Zhi would hire such greenhorns as assistants.
More mature, capable people would obviously be more efficient.
Xiao Ju and Xiao Tao suggested they watch a sweet urban drama. It was a popular foreign show that was currently airing, and a new episode had just been released tonight.
Hearing that the cast was gorgeous, Xiao He and Xiao Mei were instantly sold, their romantic hearts aflutter. They nodded repeatedly. "Oh, yes! A delicious dinner like this deserves to be paired with a good show!"
Chu Xi was speechless.
Wasn't seeing their own boss every day enough? How much more handsome could anyone else possibly be?
She couldn't understand their childish way of thinking and simply put on a pair of gloves to start shelling the crab.
Ren Zhi, however, was very indulgent with her assistants. She took out her iPad, connected to a VPN, found the show Xiao Ju had mentioned, and cast it onto the dining room television for them.
Using a pair of tweezers, Chu Xi placed the crab meat she'd extracted into Ren Zhi's bowl. "Here," she said casually. "I'll shell it for you."
The four young assistants watched the fluffy foreign romance, squealing one moment at the sweetness, grabbing each other's hands and shaking with excitement the next. They seemed to have an endless supply of energy.
Ren Zhi laughed along with them.
Xiao Tao rubbed her hands together excitedly. "Sister, if you ever get to work with He Zhu in your lifetime, you have to get me an autograph! Ahhhhhh!"
Ren Zhi chuckled as she ate. "Alright, I'll do my best."
"Sob, Qiaoqiao's body proportions are so perfect. I'm so jealous. Too bad my torso and legs are the same length."
Chu Xi looked up at Xiao He, who had spoken.
Her proportions weren't that bad.
But the person on TV didn't have perfect proportions, either.
She suddenly spoke up, offering a scientific explanation. "The perfect golden ratio is 0.618. She doesn't have it. Hers is 0.6 at most. The waistline of her pants is creating an illusion."
Xiao Mei, Xiao He, Xiao Ju, and Xiao Tao all turned their heads in unison to stare at Chu Xi, blinking.
Huh...?
Chu Xi saw nothing wrong with what she had said and continued bluntly:
"I've observed, and your boss is the one whose body is closest to the golden ratio."
As a result, Ren Zhi stomped hard on her foot under the table. Chu Xi sucked in a sharp breath. "Hiss..."
She turned to look at her, her expression a mixture of innocence and confusion.
What was that for?
Ren Zhi smiled at her assistants. "Just keep watching. Don't mind her, she's just joking."
Chu Xi didn't understand. Why was Ren Zhi so gentle with these young assistants?
She considered her own relationship with Ren Zhi to be quite deep, so why had she never seen Ren Zhi treat her this way?
It was baffling...
To be honest, a series of baffling events had been unfolding ever since she saw the four assistants burst through the door.
So Ren Zhi was this close with her work colleagues.
She hadn't realized that, by the sound of it, these were the same people who spent New Year's Eve with Ren Zhi every year.
The one thing she had to admit was that all four assistants were lively and energetic, and they certainly did add a festive atmosphere to the apartment.
If Ren Zhi enjoyed this kind of liveliness, then she had nothing more to say.
Xiao Tao raised her glass. "Sister Xi, it's so great having you here this year! This meal is way better than what we've had in previous years!"
After all, there was a big difference between a piping hot, home-cooked meal and restaurant takeout.
Besides, Chu Xi's cooking was absolutely first-rate. Every dish, big or small, was exquisite and delicious. The assistants ate until they were completely satisfied, clinking their juice glasses against hers in a toast.
The glasses made a crisp clinking sound, and Chu Xi gave a faint smile.
The episode on TV was nearing its end, and Xiao Ju, Xiao Mei, Xiao He, and Xiao Tao were all on the edge of their seats, completely engrossed.
"He's finally going to confess!!!"
"Hurry up, Quan Lu! The progress bar is almost at the end!"
"Don't you dare end on a cliffhanger here, I'll die!"
Ren Zhi laughed. "Don't worry, I paid for early access. We can watch the next episode right after this."
The assistants breathed a collective sigh of relief.
There's no one in the world better than their boss!
The moment everyone was waiting for... well, the moment four pairs of eyes were glued to the screen for, had finally arrived: the confession scene!
The male lead called out the female lead's name. She stopped and turned back to face him. His eyes, full of deep affection, met hers as he began his sincere confession:
"I've realized that I can't help but worry about you, care for you, and want to take care of you. But that's not a bad thing. I want to be closer to you, and I want to keep doing this from now on."
Against the backdrop of snow-dusted pines, yellowed streetlights, and a quiet, lived-in street, the protagonist's confession seemed to be coated in a layer of gentle moonlight.
"Ahhhhhh—"
The young assistants stomped their feet on the floor, their clasped hands trembling in the air. They were utterly and completely thrilled!
Chu Xi raised an eyebrow, disdainful of how far the quality of television dramas had fallen these days.
"This is their idea of a confession?"
Xiao Tao nodded her head like a chicken pecking at grain. "Mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm!"
Chu Xi continued disdainfully, "That counts?"
This was the kind of romance they loved to watch?
The aesthetic standards of today's audiences were really not very high.
She turned to Ren Zhi and said, "I feel the same way about you, you know."
"Pfft!"
Luckily, Xiao Mei turned her head quickly enough that she only sprayed half a mouthful of juice onto Xiao Ju, instead of all over the food on the table.
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