Chapter 114: A Little Incident on the First Date

Another week had passed, and the Thursday break for the crew arrived quickly. Since last Wednesday, every evening after wrapping up on set, Chen Zhe had been rushing over to Bai Fan’s place to learn cooking.

It had to be said that Chen Zhe possessed a natural talent for culinary arts. After an intensive week of learning under the guidance of the exceptional teacher Bai Fan, he had truly picked up quite a few dishes, evolving from a complete novice into an enthusiastic beginner.

“Xiu Jing, I’m already near your place. How’s everything on your end? Can you sneak out quietly?”

Around six-thirty on Thursday morning, hidden behind sunglasses, a mask, and a baseball cap, Chen Zhe completely concealed his face, revealing no trace of his appearance, standing diagonally opposite Zheng Xiu Jing’s house as he spoke on the phone with her.

After all, by now he was a fairly well-known and popular artist. If he went out carelessly without disguising himself like before his debut, especially alone with Zheng Xiu Jing, it wouldn’t take long before rumors would be on the desks of both their agency heads.

“Ah Zhe, no problem. Everything is under my plan. At six-thirty, Oni definitely won’t be awake. You can rest assured.”

Though she said this with confidence, Zheng Xiu Jing lowered her voice, betraying a hint of unease beneath her words.

Clamping the phone between her head and shoulder, she smiled and joked with Chen Zhe while sitting at the entrance, slipping on her shoes.

“Hey, Er Mao, where are you off to so early? I thought you had no schedule this week!”

Just as Zheng Xiu Jing finished putting on her shoes, one hand holding the phone, the other on the doorknob, a voice tinged with irritation sounded from behind her.

Without any footsteps, as if a ghost, it appeared suddenly without her noticing.

Startled, Zheng Xiu Jing froze in place, as if struck by paralysis, her smile instantly frozen on her face.

“Mo? Hey, Zheng Er Mao, I’m talking to you. Don’t you know how to respond?”

Because she had gotten up early, Zheng Xiuyan was still in a foul mood, her voice rough and sharp.

Hearing her sister’s voice again, Zheng Xiu Jing snapped back to reality and slowly turned her head, stiffly, only to see the disheveled Zheng Xiuyan approaching.

Realizing it was her sister, Zheng Xiu Jing’s expression instantly fell, and watching Zheng Xiuyan draw closer felt like the grim reaper coming near.

She knew she had to make a choice: explain everything clearly and take her sister along, or find some excuse to deceive her.

But for some reason, whether a sudden impulse or something else, she made no such choice. Instead, she abruptly turned, grabbed the doorknob, flung open the door, and rushed out.

“Hey, Zheng Er Mao, are you secretly up to something behind my back? You even dare to run off!”

Shocked by Zheng Xiu Jing’s sudden action, Zheng Xiuyan stood frozen for a moment before regaining her senses. She stomped her foot and shouted, ignoring her morning routine, slipping on sandals and chasing after her.

“Ah Zhe, have you called the taxi yet? Let’s hurry and sneak away. Oni somehow woke up unexpectedly and found out I was trying to slip out. She’s probably coming after me now.”

Zheng Xiu Jing glanced both ways across the street and spotted the fully disguised figure waiting—no need to guess, it was Chen Zhe.

Without hesitation, she quickened her pace toward him, calling out as she ran.

Meanwhile, Zheng Xiuyan, rushing out behind her, failed to catch her sister. From a distance, she saw Zheng Xiu Jing get into a taxi with a figure who appeared to be a young man.

Realizing she couldn’t catch up, Zheng Xiuyan immediately pulled out her phone and dialed her sister.

“Zheng Er Mao, are you trying to get yourself killed? Just wait until you come home tonight, you’ll be in for it!”

“And the person who got in the car with you just now—if I’m not mistaken, that’s a boy, right?”

“Give me the phone right now. I want to have a proper talk with him.”

After ringing for a while, the call was finally answered, but there was silence on the other end. No one spoke, but Zheng Xiuyan didn’t bother thinking about it.

She first scolded Zheng Xiu Jing a few times before asking again if the person who got in the car with her was indeed a boy. Still no reply.

To Zheng Xiuyan, this silence was an admission that the person was a boy. Without hesitation, she demanded Zheng Xiu Jing hand the phone over to him.