I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

After everyone had finished laughing, the work was almost done.

An enticing aroma was already wafting from the chimney of the mushroom house.

That was the savory aroma of chicken stew with mushrooms, mixed with the unique earthy fragrance of the mountains and fields.

"You're back? Dinner's ready."

"The food is just ready."

Xiao Chen, wearing an apron, came out carrying a large bowl of steaming hot egg custard.

He glanced at the doorway and bumped into Sha Yi, who was covered in dust and dirt.

"Brother Sha, you're... participating in mud wrestling?"

Xiao Chen couldn't hide the smile on his lips.

Mei Yanfang also crawled out of the house, holding a bowl and chopsticks in her hand. When she saw Sha Yi, she was so happy that she slapped her thigh.

"Sha Yi, are you demonstrating what it means to be 'down-to-earth' with your very life?"

Before Sha Yi could react, he looked down and saw mud spots on his clothes.

Looking in the mirror behind the door, he froze completely.

"My God! My image! My damn handsomeness!"

He yelled and dashed into the bathroom, causing a burst of laughter in the yard.

At the dinner table, everyone sat together, and the atmosphere was so relaxed that it didn't feel like they were recording a TV show.

The old hen that Aunt Li brought was stewed by Xiao Chen until the bones were soft and the meat was tender, and the broth was rich and flavorful.

"Chenzi, with your skills, I think you could become a chef instead of an actor."

Mei Yanfang took a sip of soup and comfortably closed her eyes.

Xiao Chen casually picked up a chicken leg for Dilraba, his tone relaxed.

"No, Sister Mei, I have a sweet tooth and I'll easily go hungry if I don't cook for myself."

He was being modest; everyone knows that when he was filming in Hollywood, those big directors often had their eyes on his personal recipes.

After finishing this meal, the recording of this episode will be nearing its end.

The staff began dismantling some temporary equipment.

Liu Yifei stood under the tree, watching Xiao Chen and Leslie Cheung talking in hushed tones, feeling a sense of emptiness in her heart.

She has to go back to the film set tomorrow to rush to shoot a martial arts drama, and she wishes she could freeze time at this moment.

"Brother Chen, I'm going back to Beijing to go to school tomorrow."

Dilraba moved closer to Xiao Chen, tugged at his sleeve, and looked at him with a face full of grievance.

Xiao Chen gently patted her head, his voice tender.

"Study hard, and I'll ask Sister Hua to give you a few days off so we can go out for something delicious."

Dilraba's emotions calmed down a little.

"I've made up my mind, I'm going back to Beijing too."

Avril suddenly made a surprising remark, wiping her hands and appearing quite interested.

"I have a week free next week, Xiao, I'm going to stay at your place for a few days."

Upon hearing this, the previously noisy courtyard fell silent for a few seconds.

Liu Yifei and Dilraba's eyes widened suddenly, their gazes filled with shock and...jealousy.

Should we stay at Xiao Chen's house? Or in a courtyard house?

That kind of private space, that kind of requirement, made them so envious they wanted to tear their hair out.

But one of them had a busy schedule, and the other had studies, so they couldn't be as free as Avril.

Xiao Chen remained calm. He peeled a piece of candy, popped it into his mouth, and mumbled a response.

"Sure, my mom's been talking about you anyway."

"My courtyard house has many rooms; you can choose whichever you like."

When he was filming in the United States, Avril Lavigne's family took good care of him.

To him, Avril was indeed like a little Western sister who hadn't grown up yet, without so many complicated feelings.

"Really? Aunt Ye still remembers me?"

Avril jumped up with joy and gave Xiao Chen a warm hug.

Liu Yifei gripped the backpack strap tightly, feeling a pang of jealousy.

Why are foreign girls so direct?

After packing their luggage, the group left the Mushroom House as arranged by the production team.

Before getting on the bus, Sha Yi sidled up to Xiao Chen, grinning slyly.

"Bro, come clean, is this foreign girl your girlfriend?"

Xiao Chen rolled his eyes helplessly and casually pushed away his gossipy head.

"Brother Sha, it's a shame you don't use your imagination to write screenplays."

"She is my younger sister, pure, purer than the spring water in these mountains."

Sha Yi chuckled, not believing it at all, and kept shouting as he got into the car.

"Come on, what kind of good friend just moves into your house? You're a lucky guy!"

Xiao Chen didn't bother to explain and simply got into the nanny van that had come to pick him up.

Avril happily followed him, sat down next to him, and chattered on and on.

From Yunnan Province to Beijing, it spans most of the country.

When I returned to that quiet courtyard house, the setting sun was turning the tiles orange-red.

"Mom, I'm home."

Xiao Chen pushed open the lacquered red gate, and a faint scent of incense wafted from the courtyard.

Ye Huimei was lying on a rattan chair in the pavilion, with a thick face mask on her face, resting with her eyes closed.

Hearing the noise, she peeled off a corner of her face mask, revealing a pair of bright eyes.

"You brat, you still know how to come back? You're covered in mud."

Despite saying that, the doting look in her eyes was undeniable.

She spotted the blonde girl following behind Xiao Chen immediately.

"Oh, Xiao Ai's here too? Come in and have a seat!"

Ye Huimei quickly sat up. Although she didn't understand English, she had a very deep impression of this girl.

After all, back when Xiao Chen was in California, Avril always liked to climb over the wall into their yard to steal fruit.

Xiao Chen acted as the translator and said to Avril:

"My mom told you not to be shy and to make yourself at home."

Avril blinked, a sudden glint of excitement flashing in her blue eyes.

As if she had suddenly grasped some incredible information, she grabbed Xiao Chen's arm.

"Xiao, do you mean your mother has agreed to let me be a member of the family?"

"Does she see me as her future daughter-in-law?"

With her half-baked understanding, she forcibly twisted "treating them as family" into "an engagement rehearsal."

Looking at her serious expression, Xiao Chen felt his head spinning.

"You're overthinking it, Avril."

He tapped her forehead helplessly.

"In my mom's eyes, you're no different from the neighbor's big white goose; she watched you grow up."

Avril wasn't annoyed and ran into the house with a smile.

"It's okay, I'll prove my 'lethality' with my actions!"

Ye Huimei watched the two young people bickering from the side. Although she couldn't understand what they were saying, a smile appeared on her lips.

"Chenzi, go get them a glass of water, don't just stand there like an idiot."

Xiao Chen responded and shook his head helplessly as he watched Avril's cheerful figure disappear into the distance.

This girl is probably going to add a lot of "unexpected" things to his peaceful life.

The car from Shiba Culture was already waiting at the entrance of the alley; Wang Jinhua definitely had a bunch of contracts waiting for him to sign.

Even on their days off, the life of a movie star is never truly leisurely.

He rubbed his temples, but a glint of ambition that only he could understand flashed in his eyes.

Regardless, returning to Beijing means work, and he still has many things to take care of.