The President Comes Knocking - Chapter 199 - "Good for Nothing"

Having successfully caught Lin Zisu’s glance, Fu Zichu’s expression shifted subtly in an instant. It was an amalgamation of amusement, helplessness, and-just barely visible-jealousy.

The photographer, in charge of capturing the scene, kept an unwavering focus on the lens. He managed to snap this fleeting moment on Fu Zichu’s-well, rather, Chu Ziyu’s-face. A subtle change of expression like this, perfectly illustrating a character’s intricate inner emotions, made for an undeniably exceptional close-up.

“Cut!”

Zhang Dong’s voice rang out at just the right moment, pulling the photographer back to reality. Pressing the stop button, he reviewed the final frames of the scene, smiled in approval, and quickly closed the camera before hurrying toward Zhang Dong.

That moment had produced several great shots, ones he wanted to turn into close-up highlights. He would need to discuss the idea with the director in detail later.

As soon as the camera was switched off, the people on set could no longer suppress their shivering.

The costumes they wore were a peculiar in-between: not thick enough to combat the chilly outdoor temperatures but heavy enough to make them sweat indoors. In a word, they were utterly “good for nothing,” offering little beyond looking aesthetically pleasing.

Grabbing the overly long hems of their “good for nothing” costumes, the cast hurried off the set to meet their agents, eagerly awaiting the embrace of those warm coats.

Considering that today’s temperature was even chillier than the last shoot, Chu Qianqian had brought thicker coats for the duo this time. Once swathed in the soft, heavy outer layers, the previously trembling Qingyi and Chu Ziyu both visibly relaxed.

But coats alone weren’t enough. To prevent them from catching a cold, Chu Qianqian had also made a point of boiling several cups of ginger syrup earlier that morning. She poured the syrup into thermoses and brought them to the set. As soon as the two sat down, she handed each a cup.

The block of brown sugar Chu Qianqian used for the ginger syrup was something she had found in the pantry. She wasn’t sure of the brand, but it had a strong sweetness. The resulting syrup tasted rich and comforting. Even Qingyi-who normally disliked the taste of ginger-downed an entire cup.

Thanks to Mu Han preparing breakfast that morning, Chu Qianqian had managed to carve out the time to make two full thermoses of syrup. Even after Qingyi and Chu Ziyu had helped themselves, most of the first bottle still remained.

Glancing over at Qi Yue, who was chatting with her agent, Chu Qianqian smiled. Picking up a thermos and the disposable cups she’d brought along, she headed over to where Qi Yue was sitting.

“Qi Yue,” she said warmly, “I boiled some ginger syrup this morning and kept it in the thermoses. It’s still warm-I’ll pour you a cup, okay?”

In an environment like this, being able to have a warm drink was undoubtedly a luxury. Qi Yue hesitated, her eyes flickering with consideration, but before she could decide, Chu Qianqian had already poured her a full cup. The strong, spicy smell of ginger and the rich sweetness of brown sugar quickly filled this little corner of the set, making everything feel noticeably warmer.

Just as Qi Yue said her thanks, Chu Qianqian poured another cup, this time for her agent.

Zhu Yan hadn’t expected to be included, her large doll-like eyes widening in surprise. Her youthful face looked even younger in that moment, carrying a hint of schoolgirl-like adorableness.

“Thank you.”

Off-camera, Qi Yue was always warm and gracious. She didn’t repeat her thanks, instead simply holding the cup with both hands and taking a sip of the syrup.

Ginger, known for its warming properties, worked its magic quickly. As soon as the drink settled in her stomach, Qi Yue’s complexion took on a healthy flush. Setting the cup down, her voice remained soft and gentle as she smiled and said, “This syrup tastes wonderful. I’ll ask my agent to learn how to make some so we can send some over to you next time.”

Chu Qianqian hadn’t done this expecting anything in return. Her only intention was to build better rapport between them. Hearing this, she simply smiled and said nothing further.

After exchanging a few casual words with Zhu Yan, Chu Qianqian waved goodbye to Qi Yue and returned to her seat.

Taking a quick look, she noticed there was still a bit of ginger syrup left in the thermos. Not far from where Qingyi and Chu Ziyu were sitting, Lingxuan was quietly seated. Chu Qianqian hesitated, debating whether to pour him a cup as well. Lingxuan’s temperament seemed rather aloof, almost distant, and she wasn’t quite sure how to approach him.

Before she could make a decision, Qingyi suddenly stood up, smoothly taking the thermos from her hands. His eyebrows arched as a playful glint appeared in his eyes, and without a word, he made his way over to Lingxuan’s spot.

The lightness in his steps hinted at his good mood.

Chu Qianqian turned toward Chu Ziyu, her expression puzzled. “What’s gotten into him?” she asked.

Chu Ziyu, who had been fully engrossed in drinking his ginger syrup, didn’t even lift his head. In a muffled voice, he replied, “During the shoot earlier, Qingyi was standing in a bad spot-right where there was a small puddle. He nearly slipped a few times, and it was Lingxuan who kept catching him before he could fall.”

He pointed toward where they’d been standing earlier, though the area was now obscured by some busy stagehands. Chu Qianqian couldn’t make out the details.

Not dwelling on it any further, she shifted her attention toward Lingxuan. Because his back was turned toward her, she couldn’t see Qingyi’s expression. She could only guess what Qingyi might have said from observing Lingxuan’s reserved reactions.

Lingxuan’s finely sculpted face initially remained expressionless, but a few seconds later, his brows knit together in a faint frown. It seemed like he heard something unexpected, and then, as if on instinct, he glanced toward Chu Qianqian.

Coincidentally, Chu Qianqian had been looking over in their direction. Their eyes met, and out of habit, she offered him a friendly smile. To her surprise, Lingxuan’s pupils suddenly contracted, almost as if startled, and he immediately averted his gaze. The abrupt reaction left Chu Qianqian feeling rather perplexed-and a bit frustrated.

Was she that intimidating?

Chu Ziyu, who had been keeping his head down and focused on his drink, didn’t notice what had just occurred on Lingxuan’s side. But when he saw the subtle change in Chu Qianqian’s expression, he quickly put down his cup and gave her a questioning look.

Chu Qianqian shook her head slightly, choosing not to explain what had just happened.

Then, as if a thought struck her, she suddenly stood up and walked toward the corner of the tent. Over there, several temporary sockets had been set up for charging equipment-mostly for actors’ devices, though low-power appliances could also be plugged in if needed.

Not long after, Chu Ziyu saw Chu Qianqian returning, arms full with two heavy-looking items. When she got closer, he finally realized what they were-two uniquely designed hot water bags.

Calling them “unique” might be a stretch; in reality, their designs leaned more toward adorable than anything outlandish.

Both hot water bags were fairly large and stacked on top of each other like a tower, held snugly in Chu Qianqian’s embrace. The one on top immediately caught Chu Ziyu’s attention: it was a cartoonish brown puppy sprawled lazily on its belly. Its eyes, big and round, glimmered with an uncanny sense of life-almost as if it had just spotted a tasty treat.

Chu Ziyu didn’t need to think twice to know this had to be Qingyi’s hot water bag. The resemblance between the two was uncanny in a strangely fitting way. His gaze shifted downward to the second hot water bag. It was partially obscured under the puppy, but he could still make out the soft gray coloring. The design, however, remained a mystery for now.

For some reason, Chu Ziyu suddenly recalled a certain comment that had been made about him in the past-something about how he looked like a cat. A vague sense of unease bubbled up inside him. He felt as though he might soon understand why.