Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 151 Stand Up, Tian Mei'er!
Next, Gu Jingyi went to Ajizai's traditional pastry shop on University Road.

He didn't really know what Tian Xiwei liked to eat, but he remembered that she seemed to be quite interested in desserts.

I saw on her WeChat Moments before that Tian Xiwei posted a message condemning peanut cheese sandwich cookies.

"Waaaaah, it's so delicious! Every bite is bursting with rich peanut butter, but I feel so guilty about it. It's a calorie bomb! Why do all these delicious things make me fat?"

Gu Jingyi immediately gave it a thumbs up, indicating that he had read it.

However, I did remember Tian Xiwei's taste preferences.

He already knew that Tian Xiwei liked snacks, and now that he knew more about it, he was able to send her snacks in a more targeted way.

Gu Jingyi simply took a picture of Ah Ji Zai's doorplate, and Tian Xiwei replied instantly.

[Jingyi, are you at Ajizai right now?]
"Yes, that's perfect, you just replied to my message. Let me see what you like to eat so I can buy things accordingly."

These kinds of handmade pastries have a very short shelf life, usually only a few days.

By the time SF Express delivers it, the validity period won't be long either.

Based on Gu Jingyi's understanding of Tian Xiwei, she definitely wouldn't be willing to share with the rest of the crew.

Tian Xiwei wasn't short of food; what she valued more was Gu Jingyi's feelings.

Buying too many short-shelf-life foods at once is actually a burden for her.

Why not just buy what she likes and then mix it with some other things?

The chat window on Tian Xiwei's end kept displaying "The other party is typing," and Gu Jingyi watched her delete and edit.

He immediately and decisively sent a video call, and by then it was almost his turn in the queue.

The glass display case was fogged up with condensation, and Gu Jingyi leaned against the counter with one hand. His phone camera was pointed at the golden sun cakes in the display case, and Tian Xiwei's face on the other end of the video call was flushed pink from the warmth of the heater.

Her nose was almost touching the screen as she whispered, "Teacher Gu, please...please stop filming. I'm telling you, my manager found that peanut butter cookie wrapper in the trash. He really gave me an order: I have to get back to the weight I had when I first joined the crew!"

"Really? But I don't think you're fat at all."

"Besides, your TV series has already finished filming, right? It's scheduled to air on July 13th, I remember you said that before. You're so professional, even after the actresses have left the set, you're still so self-disciplined."

Gu Jingyi deliberately lowered the camera, cleverly flicking the phone past his collar. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he chuckled softly, "What should I do? I just told the boss to choose the sweet and salty flavor. My little girl loves that."

After speaking, Gu Jingyi smiled and pulled off his earphones. The next second, a gasp of surprise mixed with the sound of fabric rubbing against the earpiece rang out next to the receiver.

Tian Xiwei seemed to be rolling around on the bed: "You're committing murder! Murdering an actress's waistline!"

"It's okay, life is just about eating, drinking, and having fun. You're young, your metabolism is high and you can keep up with the calories you burn."

Gu Jingyi smiled; he still really enjoyed seeing Tian Xiwei's lively and vibrant side.

"Alright, I won't say any more. Send me your address, and I'll mail it to you later."

"Okay," Tian Xiwei said, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her lips. In the hazy light, she looked utterly captivating.

When girls from Sichuan and Chongqing are gentle, they can really melt your heart.

Gu Jingyi's voice softened even more, "Xiao Tian, ​​do your best in the new drama. I'll cheer you on on Weibo when it airs."

"Then... can you come to the press conference for 'Waiting for You in the Longest Time'?"

After hesitating for a long time, Tian Xiwei finally asked the question.

"Ok?"

As soon as Gu Jingyi said it, she felt like she had been burned.

"Ah...it's nothing, I was just asking..."

"Xiao Tian," Gu Jingyi replied after a moment of silence, "Under normal circumstances, there is no free time."

"Haha, it's okay if it's inconvenient for you. I understand, your popularity right now is just..."

Tian Xiwei was still trying to make light of Gu Jingyi's words, her lips clearly upturned. Yet, for some reason, her nose felt sore, and her shimmering eyes were welling up with tears.

Gu Jingyi is such an idiot. Why is he so gentle when he clearly doesn't like me? Doesn't he know that this will easily lead to misunderstandings?

She almost thought that Gu Jingyi liked her too.

How could that be? How could the bright moon hanging high in the sky understand the feelings of the person it illuminates...?

Tian Xiwei sniffed, and the joy of receiving the gift suddenly vanished.

She forced herself to remain calm and continued, "Gu Jingyi, I hope you do your best on your film shoot. I will... I will be there in the cinema, silently supporting you..."

"Tian Xiwei"

Gu Jingyi suddenly became serious and called her by her full name.

"To!"

"..."

Lin Ze, standing next to him, was struggling to suppress his laughter when Gu Jingyi gave him a thumbs-up.

As expected of Top, not only is his eye for choosing dramas top-notch, but his eye for choosing girlfriends is also top-notch. Who would have thought that the hot-tempered sweet girl Tian Xiwei could be molded into this state by Gu Jingyi?

Her sweet and elegant face, along with her perfectly proportioned figure, is every man's dream.

Not to mention that Tian Xiwei usually treats everyone except Gu Jingyi with cold indifference, but she is gentle only towards him.

Damn it. I can't think about it anymore, it's making me more and more jealous!
The smile vanished from Lin Ze's face in an instant; he looked like a clown.

“I hadn’t finished speaking yet; you were asking about the general situation.”

Gu Jingyi spoke slowly, his voice clear and melodious.

Like a clear spring, it refilled her parched heart.

Tian Xiwei's nostrils were still twitching slightly. "Huh?"

"Therefore, the situation between you and me is different."

"..."

Tian Xiwei's head was about to explode; her emotions were fluctuating wildly like a rollercoaster.

Gu Jingyi had given her so many surprises that she couldn't help but pinch her cheek.

[Ouch, that hurts. Looks like it wasn't a dream.]
[Wait, it's not a dream!]
Gu Jingyi heard a "bang" sound from the other end of the phone, as if he had been hit.

"So, Gu Jingyi, you mean..."

"It's my turn now, I need to pay, I have to talk to you later."

Gu Jingyi hung up the phone when Tian Xiwei was at her most emotional.

"Weiwei, what are you doing? Why are you laughing so happily?"

In the dormitory of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Xiao Lu couldn't help but ask Tian Xiwei, who was laughing heartily after hanging up the phone.

Although it was already summer vacation, Tian Xiwei still went back to school after finishing filming in order to earn credits.

Participating in plays can earn academic credits, and Tian Xiwei and her roommate both took on off-campus roles this semester. However, they haven't spent enough time at school, resulting in a limited number of credits.

So, right after finishing filming, Xiaotian went back to school to participate in a drama recording in order to earn extra credits.

For aspiring actors, stage plays offer excellent opportunities for practical experience. The Shanghai Theatre Academy, being a top-tier arts institution, boasts comparable resources and platforms in this area.

New actors need time to make a name for themselves, and after filming wrapped, Tien Hsi-wei didn't have many gigs. Aside from a few magazine spreads and posters, she only appeared in a few other things.

Gong Yuhan was happy to let Tian Xiwei take the job, so that she could use this time to hone her acting skills.

Once you become famous, there's no time left to hone your acting skills. You'll be busy with one gig after another—business deals, brand appearances, and variety show appearances. There's no time left to take acting lessons and improve your skills.

This is probably why, in the era of internet celebrities, most actors' peak acting skills remain at the newcomer stage.

Even the older generation of middle-aged actors, such as Brother Xiaoming and Brother Chao, have acting skills as sharp as the "Six Meridian Divine Sword".

When he takes on commercial films, his acting seems to be sealed away. Even in "My Sunshine," his acting was overshadowed by Yang Mi, which is completely unlike his usual style when making art films and aiming for awards.

The entertainment industry is rife with restlessness, and there are very few good actors like Gu Jingyi who are dedicated to honing their acting skills and don't take on multiple projects at once.

Tian Xiwei's smile was like a spring breeze, but Xiao Lu immediately sensed something was wrong.

The two of them were originally sitting on their beds in the dormitory, leaning against pillows, rehearsing their lines together. They had been practicing for the school play that was going to be held in a few days.

Not long after it started, Tian Xiwei, who was memorizing the text, kept getting message notifications.

"Which idiot is so blind as to do this at a time like this..."

She had only said half of her insult when her roommate saw Tian Xiwei abruptly retract her words.

Then she saw Tian Xiwei holding her phone and quickly sending messages, and her roommate observed her for quite a while.

The main problem is that Tian Xiwei not only sends messages, but she also chuckles as she does so.

Her entire demeanor suddenly became peaceful, exuding a sense of the all-encompassing nature of Mother Earth.

Anyone who saw her could tell that Tian Xiwei was in a very good mood.

Next, something truly shocking happened to my roommate.

She witnessed Tian Xiwei scream when she was invited to the video call.

"what?"

Tian Xiwei, who was still holding her phone and smiling foolishly, was startled as if her tail had been stepped on, and she almost threw the phone away like a hot potato.

I hurriedly climbed down the ladder, tidied my hair with a cushion brush, reapplied my lipstick, and kept rummaging through drawers. Unable to find my Bluetooth earphones, I climbed into bed with a tangled mess of them in my hands.

[Tch, that's boring. Wearing headphones too, that's so inconsiderate.]
Xiao Lu saw Tian Xiwei go upstairs wearing headphones. She showed little interest. She also looked away and began to look at the script.

However… her sister’s shrill “Teacher Gu” made her realize something was wrong. Alertly, she twitched her ears and, using the script as cover, eavesdropped on their conversation.

Sure enough, she quickly caught him red-handed.

"Xiaotian, are you dating that guy?!"

Xiao Lu, who had listened to the entire conversation, was incredibly excited. She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "You two are like characters from a novel come to life! Tell me, what's it like to date a top celebrity?!"

These excited expressions of enjoyment prompted Tian Xiwei, who was still immersed in joy, to want to share.

However, she still waved her hand politely.

"No, Gu Jingyi and I are not in a relationship yet."

Xiao Lu looked like she understood, and she nodded: "I understand, I understand, it's only a matter of time."

"The future is uncertain, so please don't be so certain. To be honest, I don't understand what he really thinks of me. I don't know if I'm more than just a fan in his eyes..."

Although Tian Xiwei was secretly pleased by Xiao Lu's flattery, she still spoke up for Gu Jingyi.

"Although I don't understand what he really thinks of you, Xiaotian, you are such a good person. I always hope that you can be happy."

Friendships between girls can be beautiful too. Xiao Lu saw Tian Xiwei lowering her eyes and fiddling with her fingers.

I got out of bed and sat down next to her. I spoke gently, offering quiet comfort.

Tian Xiwei hesitated for a moment about whether to mention anything related to Gu Jingyi, but her roommate's words struck a chord with her.

Xiao Tian put her phone away, and although she was a little conflicted, she still told the truth: "Gu Jingyi and I will be attending the press conference for my new drama in a few days."

"Is it true? That's great. But Gu Jingyi is still filming a movie, right? Leaked photos have already been released. Let me find it. Look, Xiao Tian, ​​these are pictures of him taken by the media at today's press conference. You're really lucky. No matter how many times you see this face, you'll always marvel at the wonder of creation."

Xiao Lu sent over the press release issued by the media.

"He has always been the best, otherwise I wouldn't have liked him for so many years."

Whenever Gu Jingyi was mentioned, Tian Xiwei's eyes sparkled like stars. Her dimples reappeared, radiating a sweet and heartwarming charm.

"But there must be many girls around him, and I don't have the confidence to be his one and only exception."

Thinking of the rumors that had been swirling around Gu Jingyi since the beginning of the year, Tian Xiwei couldn't laugh anymore. The rumors might be fake.

But Dilraba... she's been photographed before.

During a break from shooting a magazine with Dilraba, Gu Jingyi and Dilraba were chatting and laughing.

She doesn't remember what she was feeling when she gave the photo to Gu Jingyi.

I only remember that my mind was in turmoil at that time, and I wanted to ask something but had no reason or status to do so.

The bittersweet feeling of unrequited love is always hard to bear.

Xiao Lu, however, seemed not to understand Tian Xiwei's feelings. She asked again, "Gu Jingyi is going to attend your new drama's press conference? Is he crazy? With his current popularity, let alone attending your new drama's press conference, even if he just sits in the audience and shows his face, the media and crew will spot him and drag him out and keep bringing him up."

"Then, the hashtag for your new drama will be linked with the hashtag for Gu Jingyi. By leveraging his popularity, it will trend on social media and draw public attention to the drama."

Tian Xiwei fiddled with her fingers, then suddenly looked up and said seriously, "Then I don't want him to come. I'll tell him right now!"

"Don't go," Xiao Lu slapped Tian Xiwei's arm away.

Seeing that she still looked at her with confusion, she smiled and explained, "Xiao Tian, ​​do you think Gu Jingyi wouldn't understand all of this, which we can all think of? Is he the kind of top influencer who got to this position purely by luck and has no brain?" Yes, Xiao Lu's repeated questions gradually made Tian Xiwei's thoughts clear.

What kind of person is Gu Jingyi?

He was gentle yet resolute, a pure idealist.

Yet, in order to better achieve his goals, he adapted to the environment of the Chinese entertainment industry. Gu Jingyi was adept at navigating the industry, and none of the investors or staff he encountered had a bad word to say about him.

He is talented yet humble. He is incredibly strict with himself, yet lenient with others. He considers the emotions and well-being of every team member with grace, and possesses a strong personal charisma that makes the team thrive.

Almost as soon as the question arose, a series of answers formed in Tian Xiwei's mind.

Just like how Xiao Lu views Tian Xiwei, Gu Jingyi is also a very, very good person in Xiao Tian's eyes.

Like a bright moon hanging high in the sky that chills the heart, or like a blazing sun.

She longed to get closer, but was afraid of being frozen by the moon or scorched by the blazing sun.

But every time she spent with Gu Jingyi, the slightest bit of tenderness she received gave her a false sense of security.

Gu Jingyi might actually have feelings for her; he's not as indifferent as he seems.

"Sweetie, do you think that something we newbies can think of? How could a top star like him not think of that? If Gu Jingyi were really that stupid, he would have been used as a cash cow by Idol Producer. They would have used up all his popularity and then just casually given him a debut spot."

"Don't you always say that a top star is a top star, and Gu Jingyi is Gu Jingyi? He's a man with ideas and charisma. He's been highly involved in all his works since his debut. He's an artist, a unique treasure, not some puppet, nor some uncharismatic illiterate."

Tian Xiwei's cheeks flushed slightly as her best friend showered her with a string of adjectives, even though these were the very words she often used.

But it was so embarrassing to have my best friend repeat it to me like that…

She lowered her head, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"So, just trust him. Since Gu Jingyi has agreed, he can definitely do anything. He can handle anything. Just look forward to our next meeting with that in mind."

Xiao Lu smiled and took Tian Xiwei's hand, speaking very sincerely.

"I...I see."

This was the first time Tian Xiwei had seen her so serious, and she gradually gained confidence.

"Xiaotian, when are you planning to confess your feelings?"

Before Tian Xiwei could recover, Xiao Lu dropped another bombshell.

"Hmm... I don't know either. Maybe it'll take some more time. I'll wait until my popularity is on par with his. Then I'll definitely tell him how much I like him..."

Tian Xiwei was like a student giving a speech in front of a teacher; she was a little reserved but very serious.

"Pfft, what is this? I thought that even if you two weren't together yet, you were at least one step away from it."

Xiao Lu was amused by Tian Xiwei's somewhat childish answer. She patted Tian Xiwei's head and said with some emotion, "I really didn't expect that our Weiwei is such a clueless child when it comes to emotions."

"Don't touch my head, it's messing up my hair..."

Tian Xiwei was a little unhappy. Why did all these people treat her like a child?

Xiao Lu is like this, and so is Gu Jingyi.

She's clearly the older sister!
"No, just a little bit."

Xiao Lu laughed even harder, before Tian Xiwei could explode.

She slowly gave the answer to the question she had just asked, "Weiwei, have you ever thought about this? Gu Jingyi cares the least about things like your social status."

“How could that be…” Tian Xiwei recalled Gu Jingyi’s cheerful conversation with Dilraba during their collaboration and subconsciously refuted him.

She's just a top female celebrity, what's so great about her?

She will definitely become a leading figure among the post-95 actresses! She will continue to strive for the top spot.

"So that's why your relationship with Gu Jingyi is progressing so slowly. If you don't take the initiative, are you going to wait for him to? Weiwei, have you ever thought about why, even though you've known Gu Jingyi for so long, your relationship is still stagnant and hasn't progressed with time?"

Xiao Lu rested her chin on her hand, her bright eyes looking intently at Tian Xiwei.

"Because he's career-oriented?"

"wrong."

"Because he has a mental fastidious disorder?"

"Still wrong."

"He doesn't like being controlled?"

"It was still wrong."

Xiao Lu smiled happily, "Of course it's because Gu Jingyi is very strict with himself and very serious about relationships."

"Really?" Tian Xiwei was getting more and more confused.

"Really, Gu Jingyi is a man with strong execution skills and unwavering loyalty. He's also a Libra, so he constantly analyzes the pros and cons before deciding whether to start a relationship. It's very difficult to get a Libra to take the initiative, so we can only rely on you."

Xiao Lu's analysis was very logical, and she nodded seriously.

"Me? No... can I handle it? If I confess and fail, I'll even lose the right to be friends, right?"

Tian Xiwei was still somewhat hesitant; she really didn't dare to act rashly.

"Gu Jingyi definitely has feelings for you. Have you ever wondered why, on the very first day of filming, after the press conference, he went around looking for local delicacies and buying souvenirs for you?"

"I checked, and Aji is more than ten kilometers away from where Gu Jingyi is holding his press conference. Weiwei, he even remembers a rant you made on WeChat Moments so clearly. And he went to all that trouble to come all this way to buy you a gift. Isn't that obvious enough?"

Tian Xiwei was also somewhat tempted by her best friend's words. She wanted to take the first step but was afraid of failure.

"Weiwei," Xiao Lu suddenly called out Tian Xiwei's name.

"Ok?"

"What kind of good memory can simultaneously remember the date of your new drama's press conference and your food preferences?"

"You can't be so sure," Tian Xiwei said, her pretty face almost scrunched up, somewhat indignantly. "Gu Jingyi is a Libra, and Libra men are almost all people who are nice to everyone!"

After she finished speaking, Tian Xiwei waited a long time for her best friend to say the next word.

"July 13th is just a few days away. Time really flies."

"Yes," Tian Xiwei nodded. From joining the crew to wrapping up filming, everything felt so incredible. Time flew by so fast; it'll be online in the blink of an eye.

"Time flies! Half of this hot summer has already passed in the blink of an eye. If we don't do something soon, we won't have any memories left from this summer."

The cicadas outside the window chirped hoarsely, their sound carrying a heart-wrenching persistence. Sunlight crept in through the crack in the door, illuminating the girl's strawberry-scented secrets.

Tian Xiwei's heart skipped a beat, and a somewhat crazy yet incredibly exciting idea formed in her mind.

Xiao Lu noticed the undercurrent of emotion in her eyes and smiled with some relief.

[Weiwei, this is all I can do for you...]
.........

Lin Ze, carrying the pastries he had already bought, said sarcastically, "It's my turn now, I need to pay, I can't talk to you anymore~"

“Ze-ge, your expression right now is just like that pink beaver.”

"what?"

"Loopy, you don't even know this?"

Gu Jingyi took the snacks, opened the car door, and got in.

"Let's go to the next one."

Then he asked Lin Ze to take a detour to Zhongshan Road and buy some low-fat dried meat from Huang Shengji.

"No, here you go."

Gu Jingyi took the food from the car. He placed the black pepper cod fillets, pork jerky, and beef jerky together with the snacks.

"Remember to use SF Express and select privacy shipping."

"Okay, tell me, little frog who sends postcards, where are you going next?"

"Don't give me random nicknames. Are you obsessed with playing Travel Frog? Go to Miss Zhao and buy some pineapple cakes and tea."

Gu Jingyi rubbed his temples, calculating the time.

He has been out for thirteen minutes. Ms. Zhao is relatively close and also very well-known.

Moreover, the foot traffic at this location is relatively low.

"toot toot"

A WeChat call suddenly rang, and Gu Jingyi unlocked his screen to take a look.

It was Dilraba calling.

"Honey, I tried calling you but the line was always busy."

Dilraba seemed a little unhappy, and her voice came through the microphone in a muffled tone.

The sound was played aloud, and Lin Ze had a smirk on his face.

He had previously thought that Dilraba Dilmurat should be the kind of cold and aloof queen who lived a life of "leading lady".

Unexpectedly, she's actually a sweet girl disguised as a mature woman, and a seasoned romantic at heart.

Damn, I'm so jealous. I'm so envious. Why does Gu Jingyi get to have such a great time in his relationship?

"I was just chatting with the other girls," Gu Jingyi said calmly.

"Pshaw, who would believe that?"

Dilraba pouted, not believing it at all.

"It's up to you."

"You're so cold, Teacher Gu."

"Um"

"Are you still angry? Oh dear, don't be so petty, you're a grown man!"

"Hello sir, now it's time to settle your account. The signature pineapple cakes total 1702 yuan. Cash or WeChat payment, please?"

Dilraba, who was still pouting and acting cute, froze on the spot, "You're outside..."

“I’m wearing Bluetooth, so they can’t hear me.”

After settling the bill, Gu Jingyi picked up the gift bag and came out.

"Teacher Gu, were you buying something just now?"

"Um"

"Are you buying me a gift? I think I just heard pineapple cakes."

"It's fake, you misheard. I bought it for Lin Ze, not for you."

"Honey, you're so good to me, I love you the most, hehe."

Dilraba was overjoyed; after talking with Gu Jingyi for so long, she had finally found his flaws.

She's hypocritical and arrogant.

As the older sister, she certainly wouldn't expose her.

"I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going back."

The phone signal was cut off as soon as he finished speaking.

Dilraba, far away on set, was smiling happily, her cheap smile reappearing.

"Sister Ba, it's our turn to film."

"Mmm," Dilraba replied, her eyes and brows still showing a hint of joy.

"correct"

She had just gotten up and taken a step or two when she suddenly turned around with a very serious expression.

"What's wrong, Sister Ba..."

The assistant was a little startled and asked cautiously.

"If you receive any calls from Mr. Gu in the future, please let me know as soon as I finish filming. When he calls, you should also answer the phone and tell him that I am filming."

Is this also part of the job?

“No,” Dilraba said with a slight smile, “This is more important than your job.”

(End of this chapter)