Chapter Two: All Is Fate

Bai Chenxi only realized she was hungry after watching dramas all afternoon; when she finally looked up at the clock, it was already five o’clock. Alone and too lazy to cook, she quickly threw on a jacket, pulled down her hat and mask, and headed out.

If her agent, Sister Wang, had seen her, she would have started nagging: "Bai Chenxi! Can’t you be a bit more conscious of your image as a celebrity? Going out in pajamas—what if you get photographed?"

At moments like this, Bai Chenxi would always purse her lips in defiance. She wasn’t famous enough for the paparazzi to tail her around the clock anyway. Besides, what was so wrong with this look? Even if she were photographed, her fans would just praise her for being genuine.

With this in mind, Bai Chenxi left the house, completely unconcerned with her appearance.

On her way back, she hurried along, stomach rumbling—she was nearly starving and needed to get back for a bowl of instant noodles. Up ahead, she saw an elderly woman carrying a bag of groceries. Bai Chenxi quickly caught up.

"Grandma, let me help you with that!"

Her sudden offer startled the old woman, who, on closer inspection, realized it was just a young girl.

"Thank you, dear, but I can manage. It’s not that heavy."

But Bai Chenxi insisted, "Grandma, let me help. Now that I’ve seen you, I can’t just let you carry it alone."

Seeing her persistence, the old woman relented. Bai Chenxi took the bag and followed her. The grandmother kept saying, "Ah, there aren’t many young people like you these days! You really are..."

They chatted as they walked, and soon reached a building entrance. Bai Chenxi looked up—wasn’t this her own building?

"Grandma, do you live here too? I do as well."

"Oh, really? What a coincidence! It seems we were meant to meet, you and I."

Bai Chenxi smiled along. What a twist of fate, helping a stranger only to find they lived in the same building. But as they stepped into the elevator and selected their floor, Bai Chenxi realized just how remarkable this coincidence was.

Both lived on the eighth floor—and there were only two apartments on that floor. One was hers, so the other... She glanced at the grandmother.

"Grandma, I live on the eighth floor too. Looks like we’re neighbors!"

The old woman was delighted by this discovery. Glancing at the instant noodles in Bai Chenxi’s hands, she insisted Bai Chenxi come in for dinner. Unable to refuse, Bai Chenxi politely accepted the invitation.

Inside, only the grandmother and her husband lived there. She explained that the two of them usually traveled and were rarely at home, only returning for the holidays. They’d known a new neighbor had moved in, but hadn’t met them yet.

Upon entering, the grandmother enthusiastically introduced Bai Chenxi to her husband, and Bai Chenxi greeted them politely.

"Chenxi, if you don’t mind, why not call us Grandpa and Grandma?"

Sensing their genuine fondness, Bai Chenxi started calling them Grandpa and Grandma, which delighted them both.

Learning that Bai Chenxi wouldn’t be going home for New Year’s, they warmly invited her to join them for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Bai Chenxi tried to decline, but their insistence left her no choice but to accept.

After Bai Chenxi left, the grandmother immediately called her grandson. "Muyun, are you busy at work? Remember to eat! You young people work as if your lives depend on it, not even stopping for a meal. That’s not good..."

On the other end, Chu Muyun listened obediently, responding now and then. Zhang Kai, watching him take the call, knew instantly it was from the family matriarch.

He thought to himself: Only his grandmother can keep him in line.

When Chu Muyun hung up, Zhang Kai asked, "Your grandmother again? Any new instructions? Did she nag you to find a girlfriend yet?"

For once, a rare smile appeared on Chu Muyun’s face. "Grandma just wants me home for dinner at New Year’s."

Zhang Kai interjected, "That can’t be! She didn’t mention finding you a girlfriend? That’s not like her," he teased.

Chu Muyun shot him a look. "Maybe she’s given up."

"No, no, no—trust me, you can never underestimate the enthusiasm of elders when it comes to urging you to marry and have children. I bet she’s already lined up a ‘girlfriend’ for you to meet when you get back!"

Before Chu Muyun could reply, Xiao Wen chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Exactly! You don’t know what it was like when I went home for New Year’s last time. It was more like a matchmaking convention than a holiday. If I didn’t show up, the look in my parents’ eyes made me feel like an unfilial son!"

"Oh? Then to save you from the fire this year, maybe I shouldn’t give you any time off for the holiday?" Chu Muyun said slyly.

"Don’t! Brother Chu, I was wrong. Your grandmother only wants you home for dinner, she’d never set you up."

Damn! Xiao Wen cursed himself inwardly for provoking someone so dangerous—he mentally slapped himself twice.

Seeing Xiao Wen finally quiet, Chu Muyun turned to Zhang Kai. "Kai, if Grandma really has found someone, want me to introduce her to you? You’re not getting any younger, and you’re more desperate than me."

Zhang Kai shut his mouth and made a zipping gesture. In his head: Chu Muyun, you ruthless bastard—can’t you leave a man’s pride alone? Why did I even try to pick a fight with him?

With both men silenced, Chu Muyun leaned back in his chair, listening to music. Zhang Kai looked at the back of his head, resisting the urge to smack him. This guy was just asking for it. Who would finally be able to deal with him?

As soon as Bai Chenxi got home, she sprawled out on the sofa. Just then, Lin Yue called.

"Hello there, my rumored girlfriend."

"Hello yourself! You still dare bring that up?" The mere mention of those rumors made Bai Chenxi fume.

"Alright, alright, my fault. I’ll treat you to dinner when I’m back," Lin Yue admitted his mistake right away.

"That’s more like it." Seeing Bai Chenxi calm down, Lin Yue teased, "All you ever do is eat. Did you see your face when you went up to accept your award? So round! Tsk tsk, I was almost embarrassed to look. You’re my rumored girlfriend now—people will start questioning my taste."

"Relax, even if I gain a few extra pounds, I’ll never waste a free meal from you," Bai Chenxi replied, each word enunciated with mock ferocity.

Lin Yue’s laughter came through the phone. "My shoot’s almost wrapped up. If you’re not afraid of Sister Wang’s wrath, I’ll treat you to all you can eat when I’m back."

At the mention of Sister Wang, Bai Chenxi shrank a little. She could never forget the terror of being forced to eat nothing but boiled greens—the mastermind behind it all being Sister Wang. Just thinking about her made Bai Chenxi’s voice drop.

"Maybe… we could sneak out instead?"

There was a brief silence, then Lin Yue burst out laughing even more loudly.

"Careful, or I’ll record you and post it online—let your fans see their aloof male idol like this."

Lin Yue didn’t care. "Go ahead! These days, if you don’t have a few ugly pictures of each other, you can’t even call yourselves friends, right, my classical goddess?"

"Brother Lin, must we hurt each other like this? It’s bad for our relationship!" Bai Chenxi whined.

Lin Yue rubbed his tingling arm, feigning surprise. "Wait, do we even have a relationship?"

Bai Chenxi immediately put on a tearful tone. "Our names are still trending together—you’re just going to turn your back on me? Are you seeing someone else on set? Heaven, why is my fate so tragic?"

The more she spoke, the wilder her imagination grew. Lin Yue played along. "If the judges don’t give you the Best Drama Queen Award this year, it’s a scandal."

Bai Chenxi perked up. "Exactly! Look at my natural, unique acting style! Come on, admit it, you worship me—I’m a legend!"

Lin Yue nodded in mock seriousness. "When it comes to wild, uninhibited acting, you’re number one. The only one, in fact."

"Be serious, or we’re not friends," Bai Chenxi retorted.

Just then, Lin Yue was called back to set. He replied, then told Bai Chenxi, "Alright, that’s it for now. I have to get back to filming."

For once, Bai Chenxi put on a tough front: "Very well, you may go."

Lin Yue laughed. "Your Majesty, this humble subject takes his leave. Please take care in your old age."

"Get lost!" Bai Chenxi roared, but Lin Yue had already hung up.

Setting down her phone, Bai Chenxi put on a face mask, ready to face tomorrow’s work.