Countless Blossoms: The Actor's Gamble | Chapter 43 | Doing Great | Novela.app

Zheng Kunyu and Qi Bailu stayed in Paris for over twenty days, spending the New Year there and not returning until the end of February. By the time they arrived back in the country, Qi Bailu’s makeup advertisement had already been completed and launched across major streaming platforms, with even offline displays in place. On the night of their return, Cheng Wenhui went to the airport to pick them up. Qi Bailu’s workload had piled up significantly, including the OST recording for *How Much Hatred in the West Wind*, several new scripts to review, and promotional photoshoots. Cheng Wenhui spent the car ride discussing these matters with him. As the car passed through a bustling commercial plaza teeming with people, they happened to see the makeup advertisement playing on a giant screen. Cheng Wenhui, sitting in the passenger seat, was the first to notice and turned around to alert Qi Bailu. Seeing it on such a massive screen carried a much stronger impact than seeing it on a phone. In the ad, Qi Bailu’s hair was very short and he wasn't smiling, looking quite different from his everyday self. Qi Bailu only glanced at it twice before lowering his head to continue studying the OST lyrics in his hands. In contrast, Zheng Kunyu watched the advertisement from beginning to end. Since Zheng Kunyu had to return to his parents' home first, the driver dropped Qi Bailu and his luggage off at the villa before driving away with Zheng Kunyu. After not seeing him for so many days, Cheng Wenhui felt that Qi Bailu seemed to have put on a bit of weight—at least, he wasn't as thin as he had been right after the filming wrapped. He helped Qi Bailu carry the suitcases back to his room; Qi Bailu had left with only one suitcase but had returned with an extra one. As Cheng Wenhui watched him hang the new clothes back in the wardrobe, he quietly picked up a new medicine bottle from the table—one covered entirely in foreign text—glanced at it, and then put it back. To Cheng Wenhui’s pleasant surprise, Qi Bailu had even bought gifts for him and Lydia. For him, it was a collector's edition Harry Potter Lego set; for Lydia, a complete makeup gift box. Cheng Wenhui hadn't expected him to be so thoughtful, as he rarely mentioned his family matters in front of Qi Bailu. He had only had a video call with his son once while Qi Bailu happened to be nearby, and the young man had remembered what his son liked. Qi Bailu seemed the same as before, and even his way of interacting with Zheng Kunyu hadn't changed much, yet Cheng Wenhui felt the atmosphere between them was a bit strange. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was odd. After hanging up his clothes, Qi Bailu sat on the edge of the bed and spaced out, likely exhausted from the long journey. It wasn't until Cheng Wenhui called his name that he lifted his head, looking as if he had been pricked by a needle. "Xiao Qi, was everything alright in Paris?" Qi Bailu nodded. Seeing that his lack of energy wasn't the sickly kind, Cheng Wenhui felt somewhat relieved and asked, "Do you want something to eat?" Qi Bailu shook his head. "I'm fine." When he said that, Cheng Wenhui felt even more certain that something was up. Under Cheng Wenhui’s repeated questioning, Qi Bailu said helplessly, "You were born to worry, constantly fretting over this and that. He and I are doing great." They did indeed seem to be doing great. Zheng Kunyu hadn't shown any unusual behavior in the car, acting just as he always did. Cheng Wenhui could only assume he was being paranoid. After getting Qi Bailu settled, he confirmed the upcoming schedule with him. The casting for *Fierce Spring Water* was proceeding in an orderly fashion, and Cheng Wenhui had received reliable information that the production team was leaning toward Qi Bailu for the second male lead. Qi Bailu listened for a while before asking, "Did he not tell you? The appointment two days from now needs to be canceled." "Is there another arrangement?" "Guan Chengzhu’s birthday." The moment he said the name, Cheng Wenhui understood. Who hadn't heard of the "Great Beauty Guan"? Guan Chengzhu was one of the few actresses in the film industry who fit the glamorous and sexy archetype. In the last two years, she had begun developing her career in Hollywood, following the path of an international superstar. Although she only played "eye-candy" supporting roles in Hollywood blockbusters, her status had soared. Now, whenever Guan Chengzhu was mentioned, everyone knew she was a top-tier domestic star. Guan Chengzhu had a gentle and bright personality and a wide circle of friends; she was a well-known socialite within the industry. Every year, she held a birthday party at her luxury mansion. This year marked her thirtieth birthday—a milestone year—so naturally, it was being made exceptionally lively, with half the industry's acquaintances invited to show their support. Qi Bailu wasn't close to her, but Zheng Kunyu was. Thus, Cheng Wenhui lowered his head and marked an 'X' next to that date. "This is a good opportunity to meet people. I don't expect you to initiate conversation, but just don't act like a mute when others talk to you. Also, it's best not to touch any food or drinks handed to you by others. There's no telling what might be in them." Previously, there had been a celebrity who, during a birthday party where everyone was playing wildly, took some pills and was caught on the spot by the police. Cheng Wenhui wasn't worried about anything else; after all, Zheng Kunyu would be there. | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 西风多少恨 | How Much Hatred in the West Wind | The title of the drama/film Qi Bailu recently finished. | | 泉水凶猛 | Fierce Spring Water | The title of the new film project Qi Bailu is auditioning for. | | 关成珠 | Guan Chengzhu | A famous, glamorous actress and socialite. | | 三十而立 | Thirty and standing firm | A Chinese idiom meaning one should be established/independent by thirty. |