Chapter 41: Eating Like a Vengeful Avenger (Seeking Collection and Recommendations)

A gilded and splendid restaurant.

The decor here is dazzling, with a kind of tycoon's beauty.

Extremely tacky, yet gilded and splendid, carrying a distinct air of nouveau riche.

These days, all restaurants are like this, because real estate magnates and coal mine owners like it, so the decor is basically standardized.

The waiter led Qi Hui and the others into a large private room, where the executive director was busily arranging things inside.

"Not bad…" Director Lin nodded; at least the space was spacious.

As for the price… it wasn't his money to pay—it was the investor's.

The crew hadn't had a single group meal since its formation; a little indulgence now wasn't a big issue—it was normal expenditure.

Soon, all crew members took their seats. Director Lin spoke a few words, telling everyone to eat well, drink well, and have fun—but no alcohol, not a single bottle.

He didn't want any problems arising from his own crew.

As for the executive director, he was ordered by Director Lin to go nervously welcome Li Caihua and Chi Shuai.

Half an hour later, the executive director returned to the private room, drenched in sweat, with a handsome man and a beautiful woman in tow.

Qi Hui felt sorry for him and poured him a glass of cola.

The miserable executive director instantly felt immense gratitude, almost ready to hand Qi Hui a "good person card."

Soon, the dishes arrived, glasses clinked, laughter and chatter rose.

Director Lin chuckled and introduced Li Caihua and Chi Shuai to Qi Hui and the other lead actors.

Over the past few days, Qi Hui and the others had grown familiar with each other; as long as no accidents occurred, filming was proceeding smoothly.

Hmm… today's incident was the accident.

But Li Caihua and Chi Shuai were different—they were new to the crew and needed some time to adjust to each other.

A group meal to get acquainted was undoubtedly the fastest way to build rapport.

And more importantly, it didn't take up work time—that was the key point.

"This is Qi Hui, our male lead." Soon, it was Qi Hui's turn; Director Lin pointed at him and smiled at a man and a woman.

"Hello, hello." Qi Hui chuckled warmly: "I'm a newcomer; please take good care of me, seniors."

"Loh hau, liang jai," Li Caihua raised her cola, sizing up Qi Hui, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face.

Very handsome, as handsome as Leon Lai.

Shame he doesn't have Leon Lai's charm.

"Hello, looking forward to working together," Chi Shuai chuckled, his expression unchanged.

He'd heard the male lead of this crew was a newcomer; he hadn't expected it to be true.

Aside from being good-looking, he saw nothing particularly special.

"Don't listen to him," Director Lin cut in bluntly: "This kid hasn't been a newcomer for long—his drama just premiered today."

Hearing this, Li Caihua and Chi Shuai couldn't help but glance again at the sunshine-smiling Qi Hui.

On one hand, they were shocked that Qi Hui's drama had already premiered; on the other, they were even more shocked by the director's attitude toward him.

Why did these two seem so close?

Ding~

【Host has interacted with actor Li Caihua, earned one lottery draw. Draw now?】

【Host has interacted with actor and host Chi Shuai, earned one lottery draw. Draw now?】

Two nearly identical messages appeared on the system panel. Qi Hui's eyebrows twitched slightly—he immediately thought: Draw!

Double draw!

【Congratulations, host has acquired skill: Cantonese】

【Congratulations, host has acquired skill: Handmade Jade Crafting】

"..."

Qi Hui grumpily gulped down his cola—another useless skill.

Why would an actor grant a skill like jade crafting? At least give me acting, physical expression, or vocal training skills, you garbage system!

On the other side, Director Lin led the female second lead and male third lead to Qiu Chixuan: "This is the female lead, our protagonist, Qiu Chixuan, portraying Lin Pinru."

"She's from South Korea."

Hearing this, Chi Shuai's eyes lit up instantly, his smile filling with eager flattery: "Hello hello… a ni hao xie yo~"

A foreign beauty, and a South Korean one at that—he was wide awake now!

Li Caihua rolled her eyes; on the plane, when Chi Shuai learned she was from Hong Kong, he'd worn the same expression… oh no, back then he hadn't been this enthusiastic.

"Hehe…" Director Lin smiled and nodded—this was right, this was the normal reaction of a mainland youth seeing a foreign beauty.

That kid Qi Hui wasn't just unenthusiastic—he even looked slightly disgusted. That was abnormal.

And Lei Jiayin… never mind, don't discuss her—he's about to get married.

In the corner, Lei Jiayin sat silently, eating alone.

Qi Hui sipped his cola slowly, his gaze tinged with mockery—this Chi Shuai had terrible eyesight.

In the cast of "The Temptation to Go Home," if you asked who the most beautiful actress was, it was Zheng Yitong, portraying Bao Lian.

She only looked old-fashioned in costume, but her natural looks were flawless; once properly dressed, she could crush Qiu Chixuan and Li Caihua.

Beauty from Yan and Zhao has always been capable of toppling nations—it's not just empty talk.

Bao Lian was a genuine treasure girl.

On the other side, Qiu Chixuan, who was busy eating, paused mid-bite; Chi Shuai's clumsy Korean forced her to slow down.

Seeing his eager, fawning expression, she shoved a piece of pork belly into her mouth, then mumbled a reply to Chi Shuai.

Chi Shuai watched her, not feeling offended at all—instead, he found this South Korean beauty refreshingly adorable.

Of course, if it were someone from the mainland, he'd feel quite differently.

Qi Xuanyi had no interest in Chi Shuai; compared to that man, she was far more interested in the feast.

In her eyes, Chi Shuai wasn't even as important as a slice of post-meal watermelon.

After a perfunctory response or two, Qi Xuanyi stopped paying him any attention and went back to eating pork belly, ribs, pan-seared tenderloin…

Nothing was more important than eating.

Qi Hui watched Qi Xuanyi eating as if avenging some grievance, and found it amusing—quite interesting indeed.

But soon, Qi Xuanyi slowed her feast-eating pace once again.

"Xuanyi, long time no see." Li Caihua greeted her.

"Ah… Caihua!" Qi Xuanyi lit up with delight: "You're here too!"

She had worked with Li Caihua before, and the two of them got along well.

She'd been so busy eating just now that she hadn't noticed Li Caihua.

"Come, come, sit down, let's eat together!" Qi Xuanyi patted the chair beside her and called out warmly.

Chi Shuai's expression stiffened somewhat, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Qi Hui looked over, picked up a dyed-red, perfectly round decorative olive from the plate, and placed it in front of Chi Shuai.

This thing suits you perfectly—especially the nose.

After a round of introductions and everyone getting acquainted, Director Lin announced the official start of the meal, and everyone dug in.

Actually, no one had waited for his announcement—everyone had already picked up their chopsticks.

The only activity tonight was eating and feasting; there was no second half, not even any alcohol.

The crew had no shortage of young men and women—handsome ones and pretty ones alike.

Drinking could easily lead to trouble; he had to be on guard.

After the meal, Director Lin immediately announced the return to the hotel, with filming continuing tomorrow.

Soon, back at the hotel, Qi Hui stood in the corridor, looked down at the sea of lights from ten thousand homes below, and slowly lit a cigarette.

Have a smoke before going back to the room.

Worthy of being the Magic Capital city cluster—looking out, a dazzling expanse of lights.

"Teacher Qi…" Suddenly, a voice came from the side.

Qi Hui turned his head and saw it was Lei Jiayin; under the lights, that signature big head was especially eye-catching.

"Ah… it's Teacher Lei. What is it?" Qi Hui asked casually, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"I'm sorry." Lei Jiayin's voice was low, his tone entirely sincere: "About what happened during the day, I'm very sorry."

"I apologize to you, and I hope you won't take it to heart."

Qi Hui took the cigarette from his mouth and looked at Lei Jiayin in utter astonishment.