Chapter 210: Hua Xixi

Jiang Yuanliang understood what Shen Ci meant, so he nodded with a smile and stopped asking about the project. Instead, he changed the subject. "I've been a bit busy lately and haven't found the time. Is your mother still in Longcheng? I have time tonight and would like to invite you and your mother to dinner."

"Uncle Jiang, you are too kind," Shen Ci said. "My mom just came to Longcheng to see me and has already gone back. I'll thank you for your kindness on her behalf."

"Your mother is the one who is too kind. She even went out of her way to send me Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."

Shen Ci thought of what her mother had been worrying about that day, so she took the opportunity to ask, "My mom was still worried that day that she had been too presumptuous and disturbed you, Uncle Jiang. Later, she sent you a text message. Did you see it?"

"A text message?"

Jiang Yuanliang was stunned. Subconsciously, he took out his phone and said while searching, "I don't usually check text messages; in business, we're used to using email. Besides, the programs on this phone automatically filter out text messages from unknown numbers as spam. Found it. Look, it's in the spam folder; the system filtered it out."

After seeing the content of the message clearly, Jiang Yuanliang shook his head with a helpless look. "Ms. Shen thinks too much. That Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was eaten clean by me; why would I be angry?"

"That's what I told her, but you not replying to her message is what kept her feeling uneasy."

The two stood in the middle of the lobby chatting naturally and warmly. Everyone around couldn't help but look over with curiosity, especially feeling more curious about Shen Ci, this young girl.

After chatting a few more sentences, Shen Ci took the initiative to say goodbye. Jiang Yuanliang watched her walk out of the group's main entrance before withdrawing his gaze. He then picked up his phone and quickly replied to Shen Jingjing: "Apologies, Ms. Shen. I only found out about your text message today when I ran into your daughter; I just saw it now. You worried too much. The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was delicious. If there's a chance next time, I'd like to eat it again!"

At the end of January, Shen Li welcomed the final scene of her first drama.

With frost filling the sky and red plum blossoms reflecting against the snow, "Hua Xixi" drew her sword and took her own life to avoid becoming a hostage that would threaten her sister, dying under a red plum tree!

At that time, in Song Anyu's dressing room.

A staff member holding a bouquet of fresh flowers knocked on the door. "Teacher Anyu, is this the bouquet you ordered?"

"Yes."

Song Anyu stood up, and Brother Xiaolong had already stepped forward to take it. "Give it to me."

Looking down, Brother Xiaolong's expression changed immediately. After the staff member left, he turned to look at Song Anyu and said in a deep voice, "Anyu, have you lost your mind? Roses? Are you okay!"

"What's wrong?" Song Anyu said dismissively. "A-Li is wrapping up, and everyone has prepared flowers. Besides, these are yellow roses, not red ones."

"No roses are allowed, period!" After saying this, Brother Xiaolong's face fell. "Can you stop making us worry? Are you trying to confess? Do you not want your career anymore? Sister Hong will be here in a moment; if she sees this, she'll definitely scold you!"

Brother Xiaolong was most aware of Song Anyu's feelings for Shen Li, but he had hidden them well; Sister Hong still didn't know.

If this bouquet of roses were sent out, Sister Hong would definitely suspect something. He wasn't going to help Anyu cover up such a huge disaster!

Song Anyu didn't want to listen to Brother Xiaolong, so he stepped forward to grab the flowers, but Brother Xiaolong dodged to the side. "No, Anyu, this is absolutely not happening."

Song Anyu looked at him with annoyance. "Give it to me!"

"No!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a "bang" sound came from afar—the sound of a party popper.

A-Li had wrapped up!

On set, ribbons flew and applause erupted. The assistant director shouted through a megaphone, "Congratulations to our A-Li for wrapping up! Hua Xixi has wrapped up!"

Shen Li's eyes filled with tears as she bowed to the staff and other partners, feeling quite emotional.

Director Ke personally walked over holding a bouquet of flowers to hug Shen Li. "You've worked hard, A-Li. I look forward to working with you again if there's a chance."

"Thank you, Director Ke."

Then Song Yuner, Xu Junhuan, Gao Fei, and other lead actors also came forward to present flowers. Even Ren Jia had prepared fresh flowers; it was a custom, and even if she disliked Shen Li from the bottom of her heart, she still had to go through the motions.

Shen Li was soon surrounded by a sea of flowers. Xiaoyun and Apan hurried forward to help, and only then did they see Song Anyu running over quickly holding a bouquet of yellow roses, with Brother Xiaolong following behind with a bitter face.

Getting close, Song Anyu shoved the flowers at Shen Li. "A-Li, congratulations on wrapping up!"

The other flowers were all different, but there really were no roses, so Song Anyu's bouquet was particularly eye-catching. Even though they were yellow, they were still very noticeable.

"Yo, as expected of a CP, Anyu sent roses!" Ren Jia, who loved to watch the drama, said loudly in a joking tone.

Because of what happened last time, Shen Li could already feel Song Anyu's feelings for her, and receiving roses at this moment made her feel a bit at a loss.

To be honest, she couldn't respond to Song Anyu because she had never had any feelings for him beyond that.

Whatever she had was only the love "Hua Xixi" had for "Chu Yan"—it was the emotion between the characters.

At this moment, Xiaoyun had a flash of inspiration and quickly said, "Teacher Anyu is sending these flowers as 'Chu Yan' to 'Hua Xixi'!"

"Right, right, right, that's exactly what Anyu was thinking." Brother Xiaolong nodded like a garlic-pounding machine as soon as he heard this.

Song Anyu didn't speak, just looked at Shen Li with eyes full of deep affection and reluctance.

After nearly four months of getting along, from the first time they met in "Jin Xiao's" dressing room to the end of this first drama, the deepest memory Song Anyu had left in his heart was the moment his lips touched Shen Li's.

He still remembered that feeling even now.

Shen Li averted her gaze, deliberately not looking at him, and turned to speak to the others. "Thank you all. This is my first drama. I enjoyed the filming process very much and learned a great deal from all the seniors. Thank you for taking care of me. We'll meet again."

"A-Li, keep it up!"

"You'll win an award!"

"Right, exactly, you'll definitely win an award in the future!"

Everyone applauded and cheered as they saw her off. In this crew, most people appreciated and liked Shen Li.

Back in the dressing room, the table was piled full of fresh flowers. Shen Li began to remove her makeup, while Xiaoyun and Apan had already packed everything up and were now doing a final check.

At this time, Shen Li called the two of them to her side and took two red envelopes out of the drawer under the vanity mirror. "These are for you. The New Year is coming soon; thank you for these past few days."

Xiaoyun and Apan looked at each other in surprise. They didn't decline, and after taking them, they said in unison, "Thank you, A-Li."

Shen Li said with a smile, "I've already spoken to Sister Kuan. From now on, you two will follow me. After the New Year, we'll need to be ready to join a new crew."

The two were naturally happy and nodded excitedly. "Okay!" ===== CHAPTER 211 =====