Good Night

Li Chu received a reply a few minutes after sending her message.

[Teacher Ning]: "Pheromone blocking stickers?"

This seemingly random response didn't match Li Chu's original message, but she immediately understood what Ning Manqing was hinting at and quickly typed a reply.

[Li Xiaochu]: "She forgot when it failed and only realized it later."

[Teacher Ning]: "Did you meet her on the street?"

[Li Xiaochu]: "No, at the audition."

Li Chu hadn't planned on being so detailed this was just one of the many amusing things that had happened to her that day. But since Ning Manqing asked, she ended up explaining everything that happened during the day, though she deliberately left out her encounter with Zhong Yue.

Zhong Yue's provocations didn't concern Li Chu much. She wasn't worried about Zhong Yue targeting her. Li Chu believed that as long as she kept improving her skills, she would stand out regardless. She understood her own marketability but had greater confidence, thanks in large part to Teacher Ning's support.

"Duoduo, order me some honey-roast chicken," Li Chu said while chatting with Ning Manqing. Her stomach was growling.

"Sister Li… no way…" Qian Duoduo looked at Li Chu with a confused expression, holding her phone. "Brother Nan said you need to start your diet today. You're supposed to have a low-fat meal tonight."

"Why?! No!"

Li Chu groaned, grabbing at her stomach and pinching her legs, falling into an exaggerated expression of misery.

Technically, she wasn't fat actually, she was quite slim, with all the right proportions but she knew she looked a bit fuller on camera. She had to stay thinner to achieve the desired aesthetic on screen.

Being an actress is tough. I just want to quit the industry and eat roast chicken forever, boohoo.

Desperately, she tried, "Just this once? I'll start again tomorrow, I swear!"

"I'll go check with Brother Nan," Qian Duoduo relented, unable to say no to Li Chu's pleading, hopeful eyes.

But Tang Congnan, who received the call, flat-out refused.

"Honey chicken? Let her eat grass in peace!"

"Sister Li, Brother Nan says you have to eat grass."

"Oh," Li Chu grumbled, her frustration simmering. She was ready to declare a revolt. Brother Nan was such a tyrant!

When she got home, she begrudgingly nibbled on her "grass," aka a bland salad. Even though there was chicken breast in it, to Li Chu, it tasted like cardboard.

As she painfully chewed a few bites, her phone rang.

"Is this Miss Li Chu? I'm calling from Black Gold Entertainment..."

The call lasted about half an hour, and by the end, Li Chu's initial excitement had turned into a mix of confusion and disbelief.

After hanging up, she immediately messaged Ning Manqing.

[Li Xiaochu]: "Teacher Ning! The people from Black Gold Entertainment just said they want to poach me to join their company!"

A quick reply came.

[Teacher Ning]: "Black Gold is a solid company."

Li Chu knew Black Gold Entertainment was excellent far better than her current agency, Fu Yu. It was one of the leading companies in the industry, which only added to her bewilderment. The variety show she was on hadn't even aired yet!

[Li Xiaochu]: "Yeah, I looked them up. It doesn't seem like a scam, but I'm still surprised they reached out to me."

[Teacher Ning]: "The boss of Black Gold is an omega. She treats omega artists very well. In fact, the company has more omega artists than others. You've got talent and charisma, so it's no wonder they're interested in you."

[Li Xiaochu]: "They said pretty much the same thing during the call, but it still feels surreal. And the contract they're offering isn't even long-term, which is really generous."

That part was especially puzzling. Li Chu had never encountered such generous terms in the entertainment industry. Could this really be some kind of modern-day philanthropy?

[Teacher Ning]: "Make sure to take photos when you sign the contract."

[Li Xiaochu]: "Will do!"

[Teacher Ning]: "Don't stress too much."

Then Ning Manqing added, "Has Yu Feiming contacted you recently?"

[Li Xiaochu]: "No."

Li Chu had been avoiding the company headquarters anyway. She didn't have much reason to be there, and Yu Feiming hadn't been in touch at all.

[Li Xiaochu]: "Teacher Ning, how about you? Are you working on a new drama? You seem really busy these days."

In truth, Li Chu rarely asked about Ning Manqing's current projects. Most of their conversations revolved around Li Chu's life, with Teacher Ning always offering advice and support. Li Chu felt that, given how kind Ning Manqing was to her, she should care more about her mentor's well-being too.

Although Li Chu doesn't remember much about the plot of the original book, and her mother's storyline has deviated, she knows that recalling any useful details might help her in the future.

[Teacher Ning]: "Well, there are a few things. See you the day after tomorrow."

[Li Xiaochu]: "Alright, see you the day after tomorrow."

The day after tomorrow was when the new episode of This Is the Actor would be recorded, and Li Chu would get to see Teacher Ning again.

Li Chu's spirits lifted, and even eating her "grass" (diet food) became more bearable.

She thought about telling Tang Congnan about Black Gold's interest in her, but since nothing was finalized yet, there was no need to get his hopes up prematurely. After all, negotiations were still ongoing.

Li Chu believed in staying loyal to her roots keeping her people close. While it would be easy to take Qian Duoduo with her, it wasn't certain if Tang Congnan could continue as her manager. But she hoped he could.

In her eyes, Tang Congnan's professional abilities were decent. Even though he wasn't perfect, he genuinely cared about the artists he managed. If possible, she wanted to keep her "work mom" by her side.

After all, Li Chu didn't have grand aspirations of becoming a top-tier star. She just wanted to live a happy life.

After reading for a bit to help with digestion, Li Chu went into the bathroom around 9:00, took a bath, and followed her skincare routine. After finishing everything, she crawled into bed.

Absentmindedly, she clicked on her chat app. Her contact list wasn't long. The top names were Ning Manqing, Tang Congnan, and Qian Duoduo.

The last message in the chat with Teacher Ning was still, "See you the day after tomorrow." Li Chu yawned and decided to send a goodnight message.

Almost immediately, she received a reply. It was a voice note.

"Goodnight."

It was just two seconds long, accompanied by the sound of faint breathing.

The voice didn't sound as clear as Li Chu remembered. Perhaps because of the way it was transmitted, it came across a little hoarse.

Li Chu replayed it twice and then, with a slight smile, marked it as a favorite.

Sleepiness was creeping in, and thoughts of Yunwu Tea swirled in her head, making her toss and turn for a while.

Eventually, she gave up, grabbed her phone, and played some Buddhist scripture chants. The calming sound lulled her into a peaceful sleep.

The peach-flavored pheromones in the air slowly dissipated as she drifted off.

"These Buddhist scriptures are really great," she thought as her consciousness faded away. "All is peaceful, all is empty."