Tea-flavored Romance

Ning Yuan was speechless upon hearing this, thinking to himself that this guy was definitely up to no good. Saying he wanted to help him pursue Jiang Manyue was all a lie; in the end, he just wanted to satisfy his own curiosity...

This curious little one certainly does things differently from ordinary people.

However, it seems he has no reason to say anything to her... Anyway, no one can guess the reason why he approached the two SSR beauties, and he can let her investigate. He just needs to maintain his mystery, get to know the two as friends, and do his best to develop Gu Guanxue and Jiang Manyue.

The three of them are engaged in a battle of wits and courage; it's a battle of love between geniuses!

Hmm? Something seems off...

I'm just a ruthless credit card reader.

Master Ning shook his head, clearing his mind of those strange thoughts, and turned to ask, "Have you thought it through? Have you read the story I sent you before?"

"I've seen it... The story is very ingenious. But I think Kang Man-wol's temperament is more suitable for playing this kind of ruthless and cunning murderer."

Chapter 50: This meal is on me!

"Forget it... I'm already grateful that I was able to invite Jiang to play the piano. Asking her to show off her acting skills is a long and arduous task."

"Don't be so pessimistic." Gu Guanxue took the bottle of peach juice that Lu Jiujiu handed her. She gently pulled the can open, making a crisp sound. "At least you can get Jiang Manyue to do things, which is a big advantage... As far as I can see, no one can order her around so easily."

Ning Yuan thought to himself, "This is mainly thanks to you. If it weren't for you being such a big target to attract hatred, would I have been able to get Jiang Manyue to come?"

"By the way, Jiang said you can play the piano too, is that true?"

"I know a little bit." Gu Xihua made a fingertip gesture, then shrugged: "But I only know a little bit."

Ning Yuan was absolutely certain that a curious child with only a three-minute attention span could never become a music master.

Master Ning opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't express his wish for her help with the music. The main melody of "The Tuner" is related to the piano, so the pieces used naturally need to be of high quality. If Gu Xihua really only knows a little bit, then it's better to just wait patiently for Jiang Manyue to arrive.

"Actually, I can also play a little suona. Do you want me to play it for you?"

"???"

A white cloth covers everything, so you're just waiting for the food to be served, right? Gu Guanxue, are you implying something?!

"I'll definitely ask for your help when I need it," Ning Yuan said speechlessly. "But I hope I never get to see that day."

Lu Jiujiu listened quietly to their conversation, not intending to interrupt—their topic was completely unrelated to her major; if they were discussing something like the four methods of drawing breasts, then there might be something to talk about…

Suona? What the heck is that? Are they talking about a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix?

Making movies is indeed a tiring job, extremely demanding on the participants' mindset. If it were purely a matter of mutual benefit, it would be fine—you only do what you're paid for. But these guys are all people I invited to participate as friends. No matter how much I promise on how much profit they'll make later, it's useless because they won't see it.

We can't keep going on like this. If this continues, even before Lao Wu and the others break down, director Ning will start to break down...

"Do you need any help from outside the venue?" Gu Guanxue asked, leaning closer.

"What do you need help with?"

"The person sitting in front of you is a genuine film student, don't you want to ask me for some advice?"

Ning Yuan glanced at her sideways, thinking to himself, "This girl skips classes and doesn't do her homework every day, does she really have any real knowledge?"

"I know what you're thinking." Gu Xihua nonchalantly pressed the slightly cool juice can against her cheek, squinting slightly. "Although I'm pretty laid-back in class, that's only because I'm no longer interested."

"That's not called being Buddhist, that's called being a lazy bum." Ning Yuan pouted and said, "Asking you for help so soon, I feel like I'll just make you more and more useless... I'd better do it myself."

"Whatever you want... Should we film my scenes first?" Gu Guanxue shrugged and said, "Sometimes a scene just won't get right, so you have to learn to switch scenes to film. It's a kind of mystical art in filmmaking~"

“We really need to change locations.” Ning Yuan picked up the script, stood up, and clapped his hands. “Brothers, we’re done for this scene today. We can’t miss out on tonight’s nightlife. Let’s meet again tomorrow… Lao Wu, come here.”

"What's wrong, Yuan-ge? You're not going to cut my character, are you?"

"Stop talking nonsense... Go back and practice your acting skills properly, so people don't say you got into my crew through a shady deal!"

"Hey~ Brother Yuan, didn't we agree not to mention this?" Fatty Wu winked at Ning Yuan ambiguously, looking shy.

"Get lost... You think you can get into my bed with your looks... Hey, Lu Jiujiu, what's with that shocked look on your face... We've been classmates for so many years, don't you trust me at all...?"

Gu Xihua laughed so hard she bent over. She pointed at Ning Yuan and said, "I didn't expect Director Ning to have such high standards for unspoken rules... It seems she can't use the same method to get a leading lady in the center position."

Old Wu immediately objected, saying that what he meant by "py" was actually a friendly transaction. He added that Yuan-ge wasn't particularly outstanding, but his bottom line was deeper than most... Gu-tong, you can't give up. You still have to have dreams; trying won't hurt. After saying this, the fat guy even turned and winked at Ning Yuan, as if to say with his eyes, "That's all I can do for you."

Monkey and Xiao Hei packed up their equipment and promptly pulled Lao Wu away, saying, "Brother Yuan, you, Gu Xihua, and Jiu Jiu are going to have dinner. Don't worry, we'll leave the door open for you tonight."

"Don't be like that," Gu Xihua replied with a grin, "Why leave the door open?"

"???"

"What I mean is, we can all eat together, so there's no need to leave the door open. It's on me!"

Old Wu: Having dinner with the most beautiful girl in the department = getting into her circle of friends = having a chance to meet up with her pretty girlfriends!

"I have no objection! No, I completely agree!"

Xiao Hei: Gu seems like a total social butterfly. I doubt she has any friends on social media who collect life-sized figurines...

It's hard to say... There's a big difference between popular people in China and popular people in Japan...

"I have no objection either!"

Monkey: I can get a free meal! Yay!

"I have no objection either!"

After a series of complex internal struggles, the three shameless guys readily agreed, giving Ning Yuan no room to refuse.

He glanced at Lu Jiujiu, seemingly helpless, and asked, "Do you want to go eat? If you don't want to, I'll take you home first..."

"I want to go too!" The little fool clenched his fist, his face showing a serious expression that said, "I'll fight anyone who tries to stop me from eating."

Master Ning: "..."

You're the legendary disgrace to rich women! You could easily throw around tens of thousands of dollars with a wave of your hand, but you're obsessed with making money in all sorts of creative ways, and you're never one to miss out on freeloading meals... Your thought process is terrifyingly bizarre.

How could you do this! Is this how capitalists are trained these days?

"Never mind, I'll treat you then." Ning Yuan thought for a moment and then sighed. He had originally hoped to make a little money from the bonus, but now, before the movie was even finished, most of the bonus, besides paying off debts, would end up in these people's stomachs.

"That won't do!"

Gu Xihua smiled and said seriously, "We people in the martial arts world believe in having a clear mind. Today, I'm in a good mood and want to treat you, but you won't let me. Are you trying to make me develop inner demons later?"

Chapter 51: The Reasons for Being Unable to Get Out of Bed

You're saying you're clear-headed and afraid of developing inner demons? Do you think you're cultivating immortality?

However, he could only mutter this to himself. Gu Guanxue had already left and was waving for him and Lu Jiujiu to follow. Lu Hanhan was still watching him expectantly from the side.

"Shall we go?"

"..."

"Let's go."

Hoping that Lu Jiujiu, this little goofball, will one day be as poised and confident as Gu Xihua, chatting and laughing with people she's just met, is probably just a dream.

……

As he watched as cases of draft beer were served, Master Ning suddenly felt a little panicked.

"Gu...you mean treating us to a meal at a street stall?" Ning Yuan pointed at a full glass of beer in front of him, its aroma of malt wafting through the air, looking shocked. "I thought you were going to treat us to something like sashimi and sushi!"

Didn't Jiang Manyue hint before that you were a hidden rich woman? Rich women, show some usefulness! Don't be like this idiot next to me, okay? That guy is a disgrace to rich women!

Lu Jiujiu: (Focusing on eating) These grilled oysters look pretty delicious!

"Please, sashimi is expensive and doesn't fill you up... Do I have a grudge against you for treating you to sashimi? Did I bring you to this restaurant just to torture you?"

"Besides, is a sashimi restaurant a place for ordinary people? Director Ning, are you planning to film me washing dishes in a restaurant as movie material?" Gu Guanxue casually tied her hair into a neat ponytail, raised a cup that seemed completely out of place with her small hands, and said, "Come on, brothers, bottoms up! A toast to the food stall!"

"Let's do it!"

"We have to toast this!" Monkey chewed on peanuts and said with emotion, "Actually, I had a feeling that Gu, the campus belle, would treat us to sushi... but I didn't expect it to be a street food stall... I have to say, you are the most down-to-earth campus belle I have ever met."

"She's the poorest beauty in the department you've ever met," Gu Guanxue added. "Actually, I wanted to treat you guys to a meal, but I was afraid that once I went in, I wouldn't be able to get out."

"Miss, didn't you only ask for a clear mind? You're so poor, yet you still ask for a clear mind?" Master Ning complained.

"Yes, that's how my money disappears so easily." Gu Xihua waved her small hand with a heroic air: "We heroes of the martial world have always only sought to eat meat in large mouthfuls and drink wine in large bowls; money is merely a possession..."

"Come on, come on, Gu Xihua is treating us today. Even if it's just a roadside stall, it's still an honor..." Old Wu raised his glass and took a big gulp of beer. He smacked his lips and said with some regret, "It's a pity the weather isn't very hot right now. Otherwise, it would be so much more enjoyable to have some ice-cold beer."

“Then let’s wait for summer.” Gu Guanxue said with a smile, “A food stall without ice-cold beer is soulless, I know that.”

"Gu Xihua's insight is brilliant!"

"Why are you still calling me Gu Xihua?" Gu Guanxue said, "I think you should change how you address each other. From now on, we're going to be comrades-in-arms who will fight alongside Director Ning. Calling me that makes us sound too distant."

"What do you mean by 'sacrificing one's life for others'? The movie I made is called 'The Tuner,' not 'The Middle East War Chronicles.'"

The three shameless guys lowered their heads and pondered for a moment before tentatively asking.

"Then how about calling her Sister Xue?"

"I'm in the same year as you, why call me 'senior'?"

"Then let's be in the same generation as Brother Yuan! The Bao generation."

"No male mothers!"

“I don’t want it either,” Ning Yuan added.

"Alright, alright, just call me Xiao Gu. You can also call me Comrade Xiao Gu if you want, that way it will show our deep camaraderie."

"Indeed... Comrade Xiao Gu, I welcome you as a male actor from the 'The Tuner' cast!"

"As the assistant director, I welcome Comrade Xiao Gu!"

"I... By the way, Brother Yuan, what exactly is my position?"

"We have so many vacant positions in our department, why don't you just find someone and assign them to one?"

“Alright…” Monkey quickly raised his glass: “As the action director, I welcome Comrade Xiao Gu!”

"No problem, no problem... We all work under Director Ning, so please guide us in the future~"

Cheers!

After taking a sip of wine, Gu Xihua put down his glass without batting an eye, his eyes clear and bright: "Again, fill it up, fill it up, are you raising fish?"

Amidst laughter and chatter, the girl with red-streaked hair easily became friends with Master Ning's three roommates. Monkey's words seemed to be absolutely true; a beautiful young lady as unpretentious as Gu Guanxue was truly a rare breed. She seemed to be born to please everyone, and it was hard to feel any ill will towards such a poised and pretty girl.