Chapter 18: Chapter Twenty‑One: Has a Car and a House, Parents Both Deceased

That night, Chen Ci was still busy at the computer, the faint flickering light of the screen reflecting his weary appearance.

It wasn't from fatigue, but…… At that moment, a QQ icon flashed in the lower‑right corner of the task bar—it was Yang Tongxue.

Only three simple words: 'Have you slept?'

Chen Ci also replied with three words: 'What do you say?'

Hardly two seconds after he replied, his phone rang.

"Ah Ci, I really didn't know, it wasn't intentional……"

"It's fine, don't bring it up again." Chen Ci said calmly.

The nickname 'Ah Ci' is usually used by Chen Ci's parents and his aunt Gu Ma.

Yang Tongxue called him that, feeling a bit odd, but Chen Ci couldn't be bothered to mind it today, since he'd already encountered even more bewildering things.

"Oh, okay……"

Yang Tongxue certainly didn't want to bring it up either—she'd never been this shy before in her life.

After mustering up the courage with difficulty, she had made all the preparations.

It never came early or late, but…… previously it had been delayed, and this time it arrived far too early.

Besides telling her to drink more hot water and stay up less, what else could Chen Ci do?

Yang Tongxue adjusted her tone, trying to sound light: 'It's so late—what are you up to now?'

"Writing a script."

"Is it easier to find inspiration writing a script at night?"

Chen Ci spoke frankly: 'Lying alone, I can't sleep—what else would I do but write a script?'

Upon hearing that, Yang Tongxue on the other end of the line immediately grew anxious—she was already under great pressure today, her emotions unstable.

Flustered and angry, her soft, childlike voice even trembled with a hint of a crying tone: 'Oh dear~ you said you wouldn't bring that up again!'

"Huh~"

Chen Ci finally felt a bit relieved in his heart, although this still couldn't make up for his loss today.

But after all, it's a special period, so one must know when to stop; there will be plenty of chances later to repay the debt slowly.

"All right, all right, hurry up and go to sleep—take care to rest while filming."

That actually sounded like something a person would say, and Yang Tongxue felt much better: 'Oh, you too.'

"Then good night, dear……"

"Wait!"

Chen Ci was about to hang up when he was suddenly interrupted, and he asked curiously: 'What else is there?'

"After I joined the drama crew, you……" Yang Tongxue paused, as if she had made some decision.

"You're not allowed to see Yuan Shanshan!"

"Who's Yuan Shanshan? That name sounds familiar……"

"Oh, you're annoying! Speak properly."

Chen Ci chuckled: 'Am I that idle? Besides, you're not here—why would I go look for her?'

The reason Chen Ci has managed to survive to this day without crashing is largely due to two ironclad rules he has always followed.

1. Firmly never eat 'rehashed grass.' 2. Firmly never eat 'grass beside the nest.'

As for Da Mi Mi, she's just an accident.

It's precisely because of this accident that Chen Ci nearly crashed.

Therefore, Chen Ci is even less likely to provoke the women around her, no matter how beautiful they are.

I never expected Da Mi Mi to care about this, but it's actually quite interesting.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Yang Tongxue wouldn't let up: 'I want to hear you swear an oath.'

"Swear an oath? I never do that."

Oaths lose their value when spoken too often, so Chen Ci won't utter them lightly.

"You……"

Yang Tongxue was about to erupt when Chen Ci suddenly heard an unexpected noise coming from the other end of the phone.

It sounded like someone opening a door and speaking from afar: 'Mi Mi, it's so late—why aren't you asleep yet? Who are you on the phone with?'

Yang Tongxue blurted out: 'Oh, it's a classmate; I'm just discussing a few school matters. Mom, you should go to sleep now.'

"Don't talk so late—you have to get up early tomorrow; if there's anything, we can discuss it during the day."

"Okay, just a few words—I'll hang up and go to sleep."

"Hmm……"

Da Mi Mi got off the phone with her mother after a few words, then picked up her phone again, but having been interrupted, she couldn't quite recall where she'd left off.

At that moment, Chen Ci said: 'Our mothers still don't know about us, do they?'

"What 'our mother'? It's my mother."

"Same thing—when are you planning to tell her, the old lady?"

"You're the one who's old—my mother isn't old at all."

All right, this reverse‑protect‑the‑offspring stunt successfully amused Chen Ci: 'If I can't call you "mom" and can't say "old lady," what should I call you—older sister?'

"You……" The pretty girl was at a loss for words, her brows furrowing: 'This is my mother—aren't you worried at all?'

"What do I have to worry about? I've got a car and a house, my parents are both gone—such a fine condition is hard to find even with a lantern."

"You're such a person—how come you get so improper at night……"

Yang Tongxue, she still left.

Although it's not far, I heard that the film crew is filming locally in Jingcheng.

But after all, it's work; before achieving fame and success, Da Mi Mi remains quite dedicated.

Chen Ci is forbidden from visiting the set, as it would affect her filming.

Both of them know exactly how it would affect her.

Then Chen Ci felt a bit troubled; he had just gotten into the groove when they had to part. Although Yang Tongxue's school has a performance showcase at the end of June, she will take leave to come back then.

But that's also a month away; having Chen Ci go a month without eating meat would have been utterly impossible before!

But lately, Chen Ci has noticed that he feels different.

Mainly, his time with Da Mi Mi gave him a special, unprecedented thrill.

Chen Ci seems to have gotten a bit addicted, so when he looks at other girls he can't muster any interest—it's just boring.

Could Da Mi Mi have spoiled his palate?

But he clearly hasn't eaten yet—wait, he's already tasted it, he just never had the chance to eat his fill.

Never mind that for now; more important things come first.

Now the two major tasks at hand have Chen Ci barely keeping up.

He rushed to Director Jiang with the new promotional video's shooting plan to ask for a budget, but didn't get it, being told that approval from above needs time.

However, Chen Ci did manage to get a list of minority ethnic performers—at least he didn't come back empty-handed.

Thanks to Chen Ci's insistence, under the Han ethnic performers column among the fifty-six ethnic groups, Yang Tongxue's name was added.

After thinking, a month is still too long; Chen Ci is determined to seize each day.

If he starts shooting right away, he can legitimately pull her back from the crew sooner.

Chen Ci has also heard of the drama she's filming, 《Smiling While Living》.

It can be said to be a haven for anti-fans and a hub for ugly photo memes—it's downright brutal.

When it airs, it'll be another work that, following 《Gate》, gets swept by Yang Tongxue into the black history trash heap.

Of course, for Chen Ci, these aren't necessarily all bad; he could use them to motivate Yang Tongxue to do better and better.

"Hello, who's this?"

"Are you Chen Ci?"

"This is interesting—I don't know who's calling me or what they want."

"I'm Chen Xu."

"Who? I don't know you—you must have misdialed."

"Chen Ci was busy and hung up right away—he genuinely has no recollection of this Chen Xu."

"But just a few seconds later, another call came in from the same number."

"I really don't know…"

"Chen Ci, it's me, Shan Shan…"