Chapter 36: Midnight Snack

“Clang~”

The crumpled aluminum can fell into the trash bin.

Gazing at the faintly visible “Very Cola” logo, he patted his belly contentedly; after the last luck boost, he’d been given a huge opportunity—he wondered what this one would bring.

“I’m thirsty too~”

A soft voice echoed through the living room.

Li Luo grabbed two bottles of mineral water and returned; Xu Qing stepped out of the bathroom holding a towel, continuously wiping her damp hair.

She sank back down helplessly, grabbing a pair of seven-eighths casual pants and pulling them on.

A twist, a pull.

Her full buttocks were snugly wrapped in the pants.

“Where are you going?”

Handing her the opened mineral water, Li Luo asked curiously: “Aren’t you going to rest a bit longer?”

“No.”

After gulping down several sips, Xu Qing shot him an annoyed glance: “Are you sure staying here counts as resting?”

This little tormentor, as stubborn as a wild ox.

He demanded endlessly without fatigue, leaving her nearly cramping—where did he get that endless strength?

“Don’t go!”

Li Luo pulled her close, showering her with sweet nothings: “You have no idea how I got through basic training—I missed you every day, your smile, the way you smelled.”

He cut himself off just in time, barely avoiding singing it out.

A faint, tender confession.

It made Xu Qing’s head spin.

“Shut up.”

She forced herself to stay rational, grabbing more clothes and pulling them on: “I’ve got a producer meeting tonight—I need to discuss my next role.”

“Wei Zi is there too.”

“Oh?”

Li Luo’s interest instantly sparked: “Can I go say hello to Teacher Wei Zi?”

Wei Zi was the actor who played Yue Buqun in *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*; during filming, he’d even asked him for acting advice—they got along well. He wouldn’t have thought of it if he hadn’t known.

But now that he did.

He wanted to pay him a visit.

Calling actors “Teacher” had already started becoming common.

Only those with real talent earned the title; those called “Teacher” normally refused it humbly.

It was a weighty term.

No one knew when this trend had gone too far—in the future, even minor actors, minor celebrities, or variety show hosts on stage were called “Teacher.”

But by then, the meaning had changed.

It was just a polite formality.

“Xiao Luo.”

Xu Qing paused, her expression turning serious: “There’s something I won’t lie to you about—I need to tell you upfront.”

“It’s just saying hello.”

Li Luo laughed wryly: “I’m not asking you to get me roles.”

He’d already stepped into this world.

During the peak of *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*, people kept approaching him through connections from the set.

Talent agencies.

Acting offers.

But due to school and basic training, he turned them all down.

Most were from unknown small companies or forgettable small crews—but it proved there was demand; he didn’t need Xu Qing’s help to land roles.

“Let me explain.”

Xu Qing’s expression was complicated as she gripped Li Luo’s hand and spoke slowly.

Only then did he learn.

She was meeting about a military drama.

And one of the actors in it had once been involved with her.

“I don’t want you to find out about it on the news later.”

Xu Qing leaned against his shoulder and whispered: “You have to believe me—those things are all in the past. But if it bothers you, I can turn down the job.”

Given today’s media’s nature.

Old scandals would definitely be dug up; headlines about “rekindled romance” would flood the papers.

She didn’t want such rumors to create distance between them.

“You must take it.”

Li Luo pinched her lips and gave her a loud kiss: “Take it openly. Let the newspapers say whatever they want. Prioritize your career—do you think I don’t trust you?”

The military drama she mentioned.

He’d watched it—honestly, it was well-made.

He couldn’t force Xu Qing to give up this opportunity just because she’d once dated the male lead.

This wasn’t like Deng Chao’s ex-girlfriend.

That kind of drama was something he could never accept.

As for having dated someone before.

That wasn’t worth mentioning—everyone had past relationships.

Just after showering, Li Luo got a call from Jia Naiming; he changed clothes, slipped on flip-flops, and headed toward Huangtingzi Community.

A barbecue stall had been set up by the roadside.

White smoke rolled out with the scent of grilled meat; the skewers sizzled, dripping oil—he swallowed hard, his afternoon exhaustion forgotten.

“Lo-ge, over here!”

Jia Naiming waved enthusiastically: “Order whatever you want—I’m treating you.”

This kid was generous.

But his family’s financial situation was indeed excellent.

“Twenty lamb kidneys.”

Li Luo scanned the stall, then added: “Plus half a case of Tsingtao—ice-cold as possible.”

“Who said you’re paying?”

He plopped onto a small stool, taking the beer Jia Naiming handed him: “You call me Lo-ge all day—tonight I’m treating you to lamb kidneys, giving you a proper boost.”

“Aren’t you afraid you won’t sleep tonight?”

Jia Naiming grinned, raising his glass bottle: “You’re older than me, so calling you Lo-ge is only right. If not for you looking out for me during training, that instructor would’ve broken me!”

“This round’s on me—cheers!”

Though he looked soft and delicate, he had the boldness of a Northeasterner; he raised the bottle and guzzled it down.

Li Luo downed his beer in one go too.

He set the bottle down.

Both let out a simultaneous burp.

With basic training over, the barbecue stall was packed tonight; tables were full. Luckily, Jia Naiming moved fast—the table was already piled high with grilled skewers.

They drank and ate, satisfying their cravings after days of deprivation.

“Li Luo, Naiming.”

As they ate merrily, a voice called out.

Through the smoke, several girls appeared; Wang Luodan strolled over with hands in pockets, looking cool and aloof.

Bian Xiaoxiao waved happily.

Huang Sheng, in the middle, forced a faint smile.

They were all attractive, their long, pale legs dazzling to look at.

“Oh wow, what a coincidence.”

Jia Naiming greeted them immediately: “Sit down, join us—we can share a table. Hard to find seats tonight.”

Li Luo said nothing, continuing to eat.

After all, they were classmates.

They saw each other daily, hadn’t wronged him, no need to be rude.

They saw each other daily, and he had never wronged her; there was no need to give him a cold shoulder.

Bian Xiaoxiao eagerly sat beside Li Luo: “Sorry to bother you.”

Bian Xiaoxiao was only too happy to oblige and immediately sat down beside Li Luo: “Then I’ll be intruding on you.”

Wang Luodan, being blunt, tossed his hair and sat down.

Huang Sheng hesitated, unsure whether to sit at the same table as that jerk.

Huang Sheng’s expression hesitated, uncertain whether he should eat at the same table as that bastard.

"What?"

Li Luo lifted his eyelids slightly and pointed with the skewer of grilled beef: "Our Miss Huang can't handle street food? Over there's a big hotel—heard the food's good."

"Who said I can't handle it?"

Huang Sheng snatched the beef skewer from his hand like a porcupine bristling.