Didn’t Expect That, Did You?

Please

Shao Cixin was held in the arms of Wen Zhihan, her eyes blinking slowly.

The warm sun revealed half of its brilliant face from behind the pure white clouds, silently casting a golden glow.

They were enveloped in the light, with warm air fluttering around them, silent and serene.

Friend…

Does she want to be friends with me?

There was a small part of Shao Cixin that was quite happy about this.

She thought Wen Zhihan was good, good in every way, and she was willing to open her heart to this gentle woman – if she was willing.

But there was one part she didn’t quite understand.

“What do you mean by a different kind of friend?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a light pat on her head.

The voice of Wen Zhihan fell into her ears: “A friend who can share a bed and owes me twelve times.”

Shao Cixin understood.

“Huh, that’s called a bedmate.”

“Hmm?”

“…That’s for others, we two must be different kinds of friends!”

Wen Zhihan had a smile in her eyes and contentedly patted her head.

Shao Cixin gently raised her hand and lightly pinched Wen Zhihan’s white windbreaker, then asked curiously: “Wen Zhihan, are we now friends?”

“Yes.”

“Can we talk about anything?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…”

Shao Cixin was speechless again, and rested her chin on Wen Zhihan’s shoulder without moving.

After a while—

“Wen Zhihan, I am unhappy.”

This was the second time she said this.

When she came back to her senses, most of her mood had once again fallen into the abyss of being hit and self-doubt.

Without sorting out these two emotions, she could not digest what Long Hui had said with a calm mind.

She needed to cheer up.

Wen Zhihan asked, “Why?”

Shao Cixin sighed deeply, “I was wondering if it was because I’m stupid.

“When Zhou Hong and I joined the group, we were about the same. But just after New Year’s Day, she made rapid progress, and I’m still stuck in the same place. The gap between us has unwittingly widened so much…

“I even made Director Long so anxious and disappointed… am I very stupid?”

“Cixin, you’ve forgotten something.”

Wen Zhihan lifted her face.

“You forgot that you didn’t come from a professional acting background.”

Shao Cixin did not study drama in college, and initially, she had never thought she would enter the entertainment industry.

If it weren’t for the acting offer before graduation, she would probably be at Shao Group, working under her father and eventually taking over the Shao family business, just like the current Wen Zhihan.

After she tried acting, she suddenly discovered that she liked acting, and suddenly found a goal. She wanted to do this.

And indeed, she persisted, stumbling along the way and finding a performance system that belonged to her.

Until today, when she hit a bottleneck.

Wen Zhihan continued, “Cixin, Zhou Hong and the others are different, they come from drama schools, they have received more professional guidance than you.

“But you’ve managed to get here on your own, even being able to match Zhou Hong when you joined the group. Such a person is clearly very smart, how could you be stupid?”

Shao Cixin blinked her eyes, a look of realization on her face.

Yes, she had been so focused on the view ahead that she forgot how she had come this far…

Wen Zhihan looked at her with tender affection, her fingertips gently stroking her face, her captivating blue eyes full of trust and affirmation.

“Cixin, if you encounter a professional problem that you can’t solve, it means that your current knowledge reserve is not enough to handle this matter, not that you are stupid. No one is born knowing everything, everyone learns as they go.

“So if you don’t understand, go learn, ask for advice, enrich your knowledge reserve, try to correct next time, and if next time doesn’t work, then the time after. Practice makes perfect.

“In short, don’t doubt yourself, don’t deny yourself, you have already surpassed countless people.”

Shao Cixin obediently looked at her, “Is that how you made it?”

Wen Zhihan smiled, “Of course.

“Not just me, but also my dad and your dad, everyone in the world is like this, isn’t there no easy path in life?”

No one’s life is smooth sailing, with everything going well.

There are bumps, difficulties, and bitter-sweet experiences – that is life.

Shao Cixin was comforted.

Right, she shouldn’t doubt herself!

If she wasn’t cut out for this, she would have stumbled and fallen at the outset. How else could she have come so far, have been praised by her first director for having a spirit and potential, and how else could she have starred in the hit movie “Red Lotus”!

She wasn’t stupid, she just needed to expand her knowledge reserve!

“Thank you, Wen Zhihan,” she said with a determined spirit, “I know what to do now!”

Wen Zhihan watched her turn and walk away, curiously asking, “Where are you going?”

Shao Cixin bundled up in her down jacket, “I’m going to get a notebook to take notes and expand my knowledge!”

She, Shao Cixin, would never admit defeat so easily!!!

Wen Zhihan watched her regain her fighting spirit and breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

…

Shao Cixin found a quiet place to sit down and reflect on her issues.

Long Hui had given her plenty of time. Learning cannot be accomplished all at once, and going to extremes will inevitably lead to backlash[1].

However, there were some finer points that she still couldn’t grasp. It felt like there was a thin layer of film in front of her, and if she could just puncture it, she could move forward. But she couldn’t figure out where this obstruction was.

Resting her chin on her hand and pinching her pen, she fell into deep thought.

Long Hui was busy directing and had no time to teach her. The seniors in the crew were either also filming or not on set…

Should she seek help outside the set?

If the people in the crew don’t have time to teach, she could call and ask the industry seniors she had met before who were willing to teach her.

Having made up her mind, she stood up and prepared to go to Lin Mumu to get her phone.

As soon as she stood up, she saw Zhou Hong striding over.

Zhou Hong crossed her arms, and when she saw her, she habitually lifted her chin, revealing an arrogant posture.

Then she strode over to her side like a strutting peacock and sat down.

“Where is Mrs. Wen heading?”

Shao Cixin closed her notebook and candidly said, “My acting skills are too poor, I’m going to ask others how to improve.

“What’s up, Mrs. Zhou, do you need something?”

Zhou Hong chuckled: “If you beg me, I can also reluctantly teach you.”

After saying that, she looked up at Shao Cixin, waiting to see her lose face and leave.

After all, they had been at odds for so long, and Shao Cixin had never lost to her.

Shao Cixin looked down at her: “You, teach me?”

Zhou Hong lifted her chin: “Yeah, what do you think? I took classes with my husband, and you’ve seen the results, my acting is good, if you’re unwilling——”

Shao Cixin sat down with a plop: “I beg you.”

Zhou Hong, who was interrupted: “?”

Shao Cixin’s eyes were burning: “Teach me.”

Zhou Hong: “???”

She was stunned.

She really didn’t expect Shao Cixin to beg her so easily!

“You… are you serious?! You can actually beg me so easily?”

Shao Cixin had an innocent look on her face: “Yeah, why not? Didn’t you say that if I beg you, you’ll teach me?”

Zhou Hong exclaimed in surprise: “Shao Cixin, I was getting you to beg me! Do you have no self-esteem at all?!”

Shao Cixin declared righteously: “Nope.”

Zhou Hong: “?”

Shao Cixin: “This thing can’t help me improve my acting skills right now, why would I need it? I’ll consider having it back depending on the situation next time.”

Zhou Hong: “……”

Damn it, she’s making too much sense!

She still couldn’t figure out the pattern of this person, Shao Cixin!

Shao Cixin opened her notebook, disregarding their past grudges, and said enthusiastically, “Come on, teach me.”

“……”

Seeing her opponent looking at her so enthusiastically for the first time, Zhou Hong felt a bit uncomfortable.

But Shao Cixin’s reaction was too natural, as if all the things they had done before were false, and their relationship was as harmonious as it was at this moment.

The little bit of amusement Zhou Hong had harbored in her heart vanished in an instant.

Her visit this time wasn’t really to make fun of her…

Zhou Hong wasn’t used to dealing with this kind of Shao Cixin, and shifted her gaze awkwardly, “You… you really believe me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll mislead you?”

“You won’t,” Shao Cixin confidently replied, “I understand you, and I trust you.”

Even though the reason they became rivals was somewhat laughable, their rivalry was actually just a bit of fun.

No matter how much Zhou Hong disliked her, she would at most speak a few harsh words, but she wouldn’t cause substantial harm, let alone misguide her or lead her astray.

Not to mention that she now had a certain discernment ability and wouldn’t be easily led astray, why would it benefit Zhou Hong to lead her astray?

Under the direction of Long Hui, who demanded perfection, if she couldn’t perform well, it would delay the filming progress of the entire crew, and Zhou Hong, who was acting with her, would suffer the most.

It would delay the wrap-up, the return home, and most importantly, it would delay Zhou Hong’s time to see her husband – how could Zhou Hong, who had become so dependent on her husband, tolerate this?

Zhou Hong: “……”

It was too complex.

In her lifetime, she was able to hear the phrase “I trust you” from her rival.

But what was even more complex was her own thoughts.

She indeed wanted to help Shao Cixin, just like she had been helped in the past.

Having been publicly criticized, she could understand the reluctance and embarrassment, and because she had been helped before, she was even more willing to help people in the same situation.

She couldn’t stand Shao Cixin, but… she didn’t dislike her that much.

She just called Zhou Yi and told him about this.

After listening, Zhou Yi actually laughed and told her to teach Shao Cixin, follow her heart, and fearing that she might feel uncomfortable, he praised her on the phone, making her feel good about herself, and she felt even more that her action was justifiable, and it couldn’t be more reasonable!

So she was sitting here.

So she could hear Shao Cixin saying “I trust you”.

Shao Cixin’s burning desire to learn was still focused on her.

After feeling awkward for a while, she opened her mouth and said, “Humph, Shao Cixin, you have a day when you need me. In that case, I’ll reluctantly teach you.

“You just performed too fully, there’s no room to pull back, my husband said I used to have this problem, you can try this…”

Shao Cixin listened carefully and took notes diligently.

What Zhou Hong taught her was Zhou Yi’s exclusive tips, and the effect was surprisingly good.

The more involved the teaching became, the more they would stand up and rehearse the scenes over and over again.

With both explanation and demonstration, Shao Cixin felt an increasingly clear understanding in her heart.

That elusive barrier that was blocking her breakthrough seemed to be right in front of her, stirring her heart.

“Zhou Hong, I feel like I’m about to break through, I’m going to become a Golden Core cultivator[2]!”

“… You’re crazy!”

“Thanks for your help, Mrs. Zhou. I’ll treat you to a meal later!”

“Pfft, I don’t need that. Who cares about a meal?”

“Then you can treat me to a meal. I’d appreciate it.”

“…?”

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat while we talk. You can’t teach me if you faint from hunger.”

Shao Cixin was in a good mood now.

She looked radiant, grabbing Zhou Hong’s arm and dragging her away.

They hadn’t eaten anything since they started filming, she couldn’t starve the teacher.

Zhou Hong said nothing, “You really care about me, huh…”

Shao Cixin: “Just a bit.”

Zhou Hong: “Do you think I’m praising you?!”

Seeing their intimate hand-holding, Zhou Hong quickly slapped her hand away, “Get off! We’re rivals, who’s that friendly with you, stop pulling!”

Shao Cixin was thick-skinned and grabbed her again, “It’s okay, I’m a social maniac[3], I’m unilateral friends with you now – let’s go, let’s eat!”

Zhou Hong: “?”

What the hell is a social maniac?!

Is the reason I can’t beat her because I don’t have as many funny phrases as her???

Wen Zhihan stood not far away, quietly watching them leave.

The scene was bustling and cheerful, without the tension that one would expect from rivals.

Just as Shao Cixin had said, they were just messing around a little bit.

Looking at it this way, her Mrs. Wen seemed to be quite happy on set.

This was good.

It was time for her to leave.

…

Night fell, the stars were scattered in the sky.

In the hotel, Shao Cixin paused while drying her hair with a towel, looking at the person before her in surprise. “Ah? You’re leaving? So suddenly?”

Wen Zhihan smiled, “Is it sudden?”

Shao Cixin: “……”

She almost forgot that Wen Zhihan was here on a business trip, not to live here permanently.

Calculating the days, their President Wen should indeed be returning to Feng city. It wasn’t sudden.

Seeing her daze off, Wen Zhihan gently asked, “What’s wrong? Are you going to miss me?”

Upon hearing this, Shao Cixin turned back to the mirror, continuing to dry her hair as she looked at her reflection. She answered calmly, “Not really, after all, I’ll still see you when I get back to Feng city, and I’ll be going back by the end of the month anyway.”

“But I’ll miss you.”

As his words fell, Wen Zhihan’s hand gently took hold of hers, naturally taking the towel from her hand and tenderly helping her dry her hair.

“Being with you makes me happy.”

Endless sweet talk, an always elusive train of thought, jokes that never crossed the line, and never made one feel annoyed.

Shao Cixin, a lovely and interesting big star.

Shao Cixin looked at herself in the mirror, her gaze tracing her delicate features.

After a while, Shao Cixin laughed, “Being with you makes me happy too.”

“Hmm?”

“Just seeing such a beautiful face is enough to make anyone happy.”

Wen Zhihan paused, then chuckled softly.

Seeing her smile, Shao Cixin felt a strange urge to smile as well. As she laughed, she suddenly remembered something very important.

“Wait, Wen Zhihan, once you go back… are we going to be in more debt?!”

Wen Zhihan calmly smiled, “Yes, we are.”

Shao Cixin: “……”

Why did she suddenly feel like she would never be able to pay off this debt in this lifetime??

…

Wen Zhihan left.

Shao Cixin had to shoot a scene, and didn’t have time to see her off, only getting back to the hotel after wrapping up for the night.

She opened the door.

The sudden darkness in the room startled her, her feet nailed to the ground as if unable to move.

After standing quietly for a moment, she turned on the light and closed the door.

After removing her scarf and coat, she collapsed onto the bed from exhaustion. Closing her eyes, she found herself inexplicably thinking of Wen Zhihan.

It seemed like she was going to miss her a little bit…

The author has something to say: Haha, you didn’t expect it, but it’s Zhou Hong who’s teaching!

TL Note – I love Zhou Hong 

[1] “物极必反”: This is a Chinese proverb that translates literally to “things will reverse when they reach an extreme.” The idea is that when things reach an extreme, they can only move in the opposite direction. It is often used to convey the notion that extreme actions often lead to adverse consequences.[2] “金丹修士”: In Chinese culture, specifically Taoism, the concept of “Golden Core” or “Jindan” refers to a stage of spiritual cultivation. It’s an important concept in Xianxia and Wuxia genres of Chinese fantasy literature. Here, Shao Cixin uses this term to express her excitement about her acting breakthrough.[3] “社交猖狂分子”: This phrase could be interpreted as a playful way of saying that someone is overly active or enthusiastic in social situations, even to the point of being considered crazy about socializing. This term seems to be unique to the context of the novel or the author’s own creation.