Chapter 437: Cattle and sheep travel in herds; fierce beasts walk alone

After the Golden Rooster Awards, various related topics surged to hot search, easily dominating most of the platforms' front pages.

But perhaps because the awards themselves sparked little controversy, people kept discussing and discussing, eventually turning back to Bai Liang.

What can you do? This guy just stands out.

Besides, the Golden Rooster Awards' move of putting Na Zha and Re Ba on stage together definitely gave the onlookers plenty of entertainment.

It nailed both professionalism and entertainment.

Meanwhile, Jing Tian and Big Mi Mi, who also teamed up, didn't draw nearly as much discussion as the two new Jiang sisters.

Their joint appearance didn't even crack the top fifteen of Weibo's hot search.

On the way from the award ceremony to the airport, Sister Tian Tian grumbled: "Nobody's even talking about me! He hugged me right on stage!"

"Sis, Xiao Bai also hugged Yang Mi—if he'd hugged you alone, it'd have been number one on hot search!" her assistant naturally agreed.

"Exactly! It's all Yang Mi's fault. She has nothing to do with this—why is she even here?"

Watching the discussion of Na Zha and Re Ba's joint appearance rank in the top five of hot search, Sister Tian Tian felt a pang of sourness.

At that moment, her assistant found something to "comfort" her boss.

"Sis, some marketing accounts are talking about your appearance together."

"Show me!"

Sister Tian Tian took the phone and saw: Yang Mi overshadowing Jing Tian.

Pfft!!!

She nearly threw the phone across the room.

"That bitch! She really never rests."

Big Mi Mi: Basic move, no need to 6.

Since you're here anyway, you've gotta release some press releases~

She was in good form today, so getting some marketing accounts to hype her up was just her usual survival tactic in the entertainment industry as a mom.

As for why it had to be "overshadowing" Sister Tian Tian? She had no choice—it could only be Sister Tian Tian.

Besides, when she stood on stage, she just sat there grinning like an idiot, forgetting to manage her expression.

If Big Mi Mi didn't take advantage of that, she'd feel like she was wasting a golden opportunity.

This Golden Rooster Awards, she only showed up to make an appearance—none of the awards had anything to do with her.

Luckily, most 80s actresses had little to do with this year's Golden Rooster Awards; since everyone was equally irrelevant, she felt no heavy psychological burden.

Moreover, in one way or another, she was far ahead.

After the Golden Rooster Awards, except for Zhao Jinmai—who would leave for the airport with Bai Liang tomorrow—all the other older sisters, young ladies, and girls vanished instantly.

No choice—it's year-end, lots of appearances, and many dramas are rushing to finish shooting.

Plus, with so many people around, they all felt it was hard to join the buzz.

Three monks have no water to drink; a whole crowd of "monks" probably couldn't even reach the well's edge.

Add to that the assumption that Bai Liang was probably busy too and might leave today—better to get out early and tend to one's own affairs.

Na Zha, Re Ba, and others all greeted Bai Liang and then hurried off to catch their flights.

Turns out they were on the same flight, sitting across the aisle glaring at each other—even the flight attendants were afraid they'd start fighting.

Luckily, they didn't.

After glaring at Re Ba a few times, Na Zha pulled out her phone and bought something online.

"Sis, what'd you buy? Baby's toy?" her assistant asked curiously.

"I bought a hand grip trainer—work out a bit."

"Huh?"

Only Na Zha and Re Ba knew what had happened during their hand-squeezing contest; no one else knew what went on.

So when they heard she was buying a hand grip trainer, Na Zha's assistant's first thought was: Are you guys playing so fancy now with Xiao Bai? Even grip strength matters?

Meanwhile, Na Zha bought the hand grip trainer, while Re Ba on the other side declared she didn't need any external tools.

Instead, she asked her assistant: "How's the martial arts and fitness training schedule looking?"

Her assistant looked slightly uneasy: "Sis, it won't be that fast—you've got so many appearances, it'll take at least two months before you can start training. Isn't that too soon?"

"It's not urgent—I'm just asking~"

The fitness and martial arts training weren't meant to beat up Gu Li Na Zha. This trip to the Golden Rooster Awards, though Bai Liang was busy, Re Ba hadn't seen him before the ceremony.

But Guo Fan had taken time to find her and talked about the female lead role in *The Wandering Earth 2*.

The character she'd play, Han Duoduo, was a candidate astronaut with strong martial arts skills, so Guo Fan hoped she'd spend some time training properly.

Of course, Guo Fan was considerate—he said if she really had no time, she could use a stunt double.

Re Ba cut him off before he finished speaking and immediately declared she could train! She'd do all the stunts herself, blah blah blah.

Guo Fan: Heh, I knew this trick would work.

Re Ba was clearly the type who had to prove herself.

Training would obviously take a lot of time—even eat into her appearance schedule—and she'd need to negotiate with the company.

Luckily, Re Ba had already mastered the correct way to talk to Gala's upper management.

She simply said it was a requirement from the *The Wandering Earth 2* production team—no negotiation, and if they refused, they could talk to Guo Fan or Bai Liang.

Gala's upper management: … You want us to negotiate with those two guys?

Re Ba: You can talk to Sister Yanzi too—she's a producer, has authority.

Gala's upper management: Sister Yanzi? Director Yan? Better to talk to Guo Fan or Bai Liang.

Back when Bai Liang hadn't fully risen, Sister Yanzi had slammed her fist on Gala's table—and later even pointed at the noses of Gala's upper management and cursed them.

Thus, Re Ba's negotiation with the company went extremely smoothly; Gala's upper management said they supported any decision she made.

So starting about a year ago, she began at least a year of combat training, since Reba planned to keep practicing until filming started.

By then, beating up Gu Li Nazha would be a simple matter.

Reba: I must maintain constant pressure on her!

Before, just by yelling, she could make Nazha completely dazed—when they argued, Nazha was almost always on the defensive.

But for some reason, the other side improved incredibly fast, as if she reviewed every match afterward—this put tremendous pressure on Reba, though she never showed it.

What if one day she can't out-yell her anymore?

This is the perfect chance to carve out a new path.

This idea was inspired by Bai Liang~

When they first finished working together on "A Smile Is Beautiful," Reba was taken by Bai Liang to watch him "beat people up," and she'd acted as a cheerleader back then.

And now~

Reba imagined she might one day even "challenge" Gu Li Nazha to a fight, pinning her to the ground and grinding her down, to see if she'd dare keep jumping around and provoking her every day.

Just thinking about that scene made her ecstatic~

She couldn't help laughing out loud.

Nazha:???

Turning to look at the woman laughing like a "witch," Nazha muttered under her breath: Lunatic!

Then she couldn't resist ordering another grip strengthener.

Nazha claimed she was very smart—she trained with both hands, so when she squeezed Reba later, it'd be like squeezing a chick.

As she thought about it, she too couldn't help chuckling.

For a moment, the cabin seemed filled with an eerie atmosphere.

The passengers on this flight to Yanjing weren't just the two of them, but their sitting side by side drew plenty of attention.

Yet their antics were genuinely terrifying—making Meng Jie and Zhou Ye tremble in fear.

That's right, they were also on this flight.

Zhou Ye: You're Meng Jie! Snap out of it!

Meng Jie: I've been bullied by Gu Li Nazha for years—I feel weak just seeing her~ I really can't muster any courage.

Luckily, Meng Jie was also "smart"—she pulled out disposable eye masks and earplugs from her bag and handed one to Zhou Ye.

Let's sleep happily together!

Escaping may be shameful, but it really works~

Zhou Ye adopted Meng Jie's method—after all, these two newcomers were far "fiercer" than Dou Dou Jie, and she didn't dare provoke them.

Pretending to be dead isn't such a bad thing either.

But after Zhou Ye was finally "soothed" to sleep, Meng Jie quietly began secretly observing them.

Are kings and generals born of a special breed?

The best way to overcome fear is to face it! Today, she absolutely would—

Just as she was fidgeting with her seat, leaning forward, and psyching herself up, a gaze suddenly swept over her.

Meng Jie jolted—her eyes met Gu Li Nazha's.

Nazha didn't glare at her fiercely, only looked puzzled: You're here too? You're good at hiding~

She'd always looked down on Meng Jie as a "little thing"—just a minor player she'd utterly overshadowed back in the day~ Not worth worrying about.

Even if the other seemed good at making friends, having once gathered a group to "gang up" on her and Reba.

But a little player is still a little player—no threat.

Cattle and sheep travel in herds; predators walk alone.

This phrase was something Nazha recently saw on a short video—she thought it sounded powerful, so she quietly memorized it.

After all, Bai Liang was a top student; Nazha felt if she were too dumb and her mind too empty, it wouldn't do.

But reading books was truly hard for her—she could only "study" via short videos.

Hey! The effect was amazing—perfect timing to use it now.

But seeing Meng Jie today, Nazha suddenly thought… she seemed much prettier than before.

Of course, compared to herself, she still fell far short.

Nazha was always confident in this regard!

Just as Nazha was pondering this, another gaze swept over from beside her.

Reba studied Meng Jie with interest; after their eyes met, she smiled and nodded at Meng Jie.

You're Meng Jie, right~

Long time no hear!

Facing the "eye kill" of both newcomers at once—even though Meng Jie was no longer the same timid girl she once was—her heart still pounded.

The psychological trauma Nazha had inflicted years ago, Reba's exaggerated, dominating yelling power—each made her heart tremble.

But she held on! At least, she looked like she held on.

Nazha found it strange—every time they met before, the other had always looked utterly defenseless; where had this confidence come from today?

Could she have gotten some advantage from my little treasure again… wicked woman!

Nazha judged by appearance alone, labeling Meng Jie as a scheming seductress.

Reba didn't keep watching—she noticed that although Meng Jie seemed composed, she'd actually been "dead" for a while.

Her eyes were glazed, vacant.

She had no interest in bullying such a weakling—she posed no threat anyway.

The plane sliced through Xiamen's night sky; a handsome young man standing before a hotel's floor-to-ceiling window happened to see a twinkling object flash past overhead.

"Look, a plane!"

Unfortunately, Big Mi Mi wasn't interested in the planes in the sky.

Her sister had canceled her itinerary just to stay an extra night in Xiamen—not to watch planes with him.

It was just that the night was too alluring; she'd let her emotions overwhelm her without thinking.

She hadn't even taken off her dress yet—she'd been in such a rush just now.

With a lazy sigh, she peeled off her wrinkled gown, spat inwardly, thinking this little rascal really knew how to ruin things.

The haute couture dress borrowed from the brand was expensive; though she wouldn't have to pay for it, she still needed to treat it carefully.

After placing the dress aside, she picked up a glass of wine on the table, swirled the amber liquid inside, then tilted her head back, ready to drain it.

Her alcohol tolerance was poor, but right now she needed a hint of drunkenness—so her senses would feel amplified.

Everything looked charming, everything sounded pleasant, a peculiar kind of happiness.

A single mother needed this feeling.

When drunk, the world feels gentle, doesn't it~?

But just as her lips touched the wine, a hand gently gripped her wrist. "Sister, since you can't drink much, have less, okay~?"

"You care about me?" Big Mi Mi looked up at Bai Liang and smiled.

"I'm afraid you'll vomit on my bed."

"A puppy's mouth never spits out ivory~ How could I ever be so messy, especially in front of you?"

"Then what were you just thinking about?"

"I was thinking about Brother—can I touch your big trophy~?"

The tiny, milky voice made his skin tingle.

Yet Bai Liang, despite the sensual atmosphere, couldn't help saying: "Sister, can you call me something else?"

Big Mi Mi's body stiffened instinctively at this, then slowly relaxed, feigning casualness: "What's wrong? Don't you like me calling you that? Do you think I'm too old?"

"You're not that much older than me. But honestly~ it somehow feels wrong."

Wrong?

Big Mi Mi's eyes flickered—so that's the game he wanted to play, huh~

Should've said so sooner!

No problem—as long as it's just the two of us alone, we can do anything. But if others are around…

"Ding dong!"

"Who the heck would call you now?" Big Mi Mi snatched the blanket off the sofa and wrapped herself up—she'd just taken off her dress and had nothing else on—and complained.

"I bet it's—"

By the time Big Mi Mi, wrapped in the blanket, dashed into the bedroom, Bai Liang went to open the door.

"Brother, I can't sleep~" Zhao Jinmai, in her pajamas, hugged a pillow and looked up at him with pitiful eyes.

Bai Liang: You can't come in just because you can't sleep~

These tricks the little brat was pulling? All worn-out moves from those older sisters.

"Why can't you sleep?" Bai Liang leaned against the doorframe, one hand still holding the door shut, blocking any path inside.

Zhao Jinmai peered around. "Can I come in and tell you?"

"No. Brother's room's got a little lady hidden inside—can't let you in."

Hearing this, Zhao Jinmai became certain there was no one in Bai Liang's room.

She was about to use her age advantage, beg and pout.

Then she saw Bai Liang holding his phone, opening his contacts—right there, clearly visible, was her mother's number, and he looked ready to dial right now!

"Goodnight, Brother!"

The little girl spun around and ran off, leaving the pillow behind.

Bai Liang couldn't even pick it up to return it—she'd run too fast; in a blink, she was gone.

He couldn't tell how long she'd hugged that pillow, but it carried a scent so sharp and clear.

A little girl's scent.

"Scared me to death—who'd even call you now? Who was it?" Big Mi Mi, still wrapped in the blanket, peeked from the bedroom doorway.

"A lost little kitten."

Big Mi Mi didn't press further—why dig into such things? Unnecessary.

She just pointed at the time on her phone. "Time's running out—I leave at four a. m."

"Then why don't you sleep a bit? I'll wake you up when it's time."

Huh?

Big Mi Mi's eyes flickered slightly, as if slow to react—but after a pause, she shot back: "You asking this… are you genuinely worried about me, or are you playing hard to get, hoping for round two?"

Bai Liang looked utterly innocent, protesting his innocence.

But then a small hand softly climbed onto his chest—he let out a long sigh. Well, who could refuse round two?

He reached out and pinched lightly, making her let out a soft cry before melting into his arms.

The night was deep now; by dawn, romance would fade with the sunrise.

But both forgot to set an alarm for four a. m.

Eight a. m.

Big Mi Mi was frantically pacing around Bai Liang's room, making several calls in a row before finally sighing in relief.

Yet the anxiety and helplessness on her face refused to fade.

"Fixed it?"

"Mm, I'll apologize, but luckily I still have some face. Sigh, you've gotten me killed! Little devil!"

"What time is the flight?" Bai Liang suddenly asked.

"Eleven o'clock. There wasn't an earlier one."

"Then we still have two hours free, come here." Bai Liang patted the sofa, gesturing for her to come lie down.

"What for~"

"We're already late anyway. Rather than agonizing for two hours, we might as well enjoy two hours."

"Right now I'm really not in the mood to with you"

Halfway through her words, Big Mi Mi seemed unable to refuse Bai Liang. She sighed and still went over to lie down beside him.

She had already prepared herself to welcome a morning workout session, but that big hand only gently wrapped around her waist.

A minute later, Big Mi Mi heard steady breathing sounds.

She tilted her head slightly to look, and this guy had actually gone back to sleep.

While she found it amusing in her heart, she also envied this fellow's mentality a little.

Always looking so carefree and at ease, as if she'd never seen him anxious

And for some unknown reason, her originally somewhat irritable mood gradually settled down as well.

Lying against that solid, warm chest, her mind gradually couldn't help but start to empty out. Not to mention worries, it was as if even trivial matters had vanished from her brain.

Slowly, she actually fell asleep too.

More than an hour later, Big Mi Mi opened her eyes again, feeling an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

That nap had truly been incredibly sweet.

All these years running forward without a moment's rest, the whole person was like a tightly wound machine, wishing she could even be mulling over things in her sleep.

And now, she was actually a little reluctant to leave.

If no trivial matters hang upon the heart, then it is a fine season in the human world.

(End of chapter)