Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 167 Chen Duling: You broke up with Ziyi?
The cool, green light of early morning filtered through the gaps in the curtains and into the room.

The fine dust kicked up by Chen Xiu as she turned over moved erratically and rapidly in the light.

Drawn by his movements, Reba, who had been groggily awakened, followed Chen Xiu's actions and turned to hug that strong back.

He rubbed his face against the bulging muscles and said groggily, "Brother Xiu, it's dawn, we have to catch our flight."

"Hmm, there's still time. I want to lie down a little longer."

After a brief exchange, Chen Xiu turned over and hugged Reba face to face.

Just as he was thinking of taking another short nap, Reba's restless little hand suddenly came to wake him up.

The awakening effect was excellent; Chen Xiu opened his eyes without a trace of sleepiness, and there were even flames dancing within them.

Reba opened only her left eye, and after making eye contact with him, she winked again. The beauty mark under her left eye added a touch of natural charm to her.

"It's such a waste to sleep now, we can sleep on the plane!"

"What you said makes sense."

Lifting the blanket, Chen Xiu knelt up, and the dust particles moving in the light became more intense and faster.

After finishing their morning exercise and washing up, the two were so engrossed in their activity that they didn't have time for breakfast. They quickly put on their clothes, went down to the underground parking lot, and drove off.

Wearing a mask, Reba, sitting in the passenger seat, first glanced at the somewhat empty road outside the car window, then turned to look at Chen Xiu, who was driving.

"Brother Xiu, when I come back after the New Year, could you pick me up in your car like this?"

"We're both coming back on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, right? We can just coordinate our flight times."

"Yes!"

Reba's eyes crinkled with a wistful longing, which she quickly smoothed out, revealing a hint of regret: "Unfortunately, I have to start filming again at the end of the month."

Why should it be a pity to join the production team?

"If I didn't join the crew, I could spend more time with you."

"Career should be the top priority, but from a personal perspective, it's fine for you to put career and me on the same level. I'll come visit you on set when the time comes."

Upon hearing this, Reba nodded slightly, feeling that this was a good idea.

When vehicles travel at high speeds, they often give people the illusion that time has slowed down.

Reba leaned back in her chair, quietly watching Chen Xiu, and suddenly thought to herself, why can't I combine acting with spending time with Chen Xiu?

"Brother Xiu, is there a suitable role for me in that new script you've prepared?"

"you?"

Chen Xiu turned her head to look at Reba, then a strange look appeared on her face before she turned back to continue looking at the empty road ahead.

Seeing his expression, Dilraba asked expectantly, "Really? I don't mind the amount of screen time, I don't care what kind of female lead I am..."

"Hehe, hehe."

Chen Xiu suddenly burst out laughing.

His reaction left Reba somewhat puzzled.

After chuckling twice, Chen Xiu pursed her lips and said, "I'm not laughing at you. I just thought of a funny comic. You could try being the female lead in it."

"The female protagonist of a comedy manga? What's her name?"

"In the comic 'The Long Ballad,' the female lead is named Li Changge. In the comic, she is Li Shimin's niece. In the drama I'm going to film, I play Li Shimin."

"Niece and Uncle?"

Reba muttered about the relationship between the two, then looked at Chen Xiu with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

She wondered if Chen Xiu was hinting that she was going to play something new.

Chen Xiu didn't see Reba's subtle glance. He had just spoken based on his memory of the drama and hadn't really thought about it too deeply.

"The drama I'm going to film has very few female characters, so there really isn't one that's suitable for you."

"Oh, what if I were to play Li Changge?"

"Hmm? Why do you want to play Li Changge?"

"Didn't you say I was suitable?"

Reba winked twice at Chen Xiu, who had turned around, her hints clearly directed at him.

This little code between the two made Chen Xiu, who hadn't thought about it deeply before, instantly understand what Reba meant.

He considered it seriously for two seconds and immediately felt that this was feasible!
The unconventional confrontation between Li Changge and Li Shimin... wow~ I'm actually kind of looking forward to it.

With a heart full of excitement, Chen Xiu pressed the accelerator a little harder.

Finally, the two arrived at the airport 20 minutes earlier than scheduled, and then flew home separately, one to the south and one to the north.

……

Chen Xiu returned to Shanghai at exactly 11 o'clock.

At this time, he felt he could still make it home for lunch.

As a result, as soon as I got home, before I even saw lunch, I was greeted by two unexpected guests.

Looking at Lin Hongying on the sofa and Chen Duling sitting next to her, Chen Xiu turned her head and asked, "Aunt Lin, Duling, what brings you here?"

"You busy man, you're finally back!"

Lin Hongying stood up with a smile and walked up to Chen Xiu.

The attitude she displayed this time was far more enthusiastic than before.

However, considering the groundwork laid in the previous two encounters, and the fact that both families were already on good terms, Lin Hongying's attitude wasn't wrong. Chen Xiu stared at her for two seconds and smiled, "I just finished dealing with work yesterday, and I'm rushing back home for the New Year today. Where are my parents?"

"Sister Zhao just went into the kitchen. Brother Chen said he was going to buy some things..."

Before Lin Hongying could finish speaking, Director Zhao, carrying a fruit platter, came out of the kitchen.

Upon seeing her son return, Zhao Lu was initially delighted, but then quickly put on a stern face and conveyed a message to Chen Xiu with her eyes.

"This mother and daughter are after you!"

Chen Xiu raised her eyebrows. Although she was surprised, she had already guessed it, so she simply sent a signal for help to her mother with her eyes.

"What should I do?"

Zhao Lu quickly rolled her eyes, then turned around to put the fruit bowl down, glancing sideways at Chen Xiu as if she was annoyed by the trouble he had caused and that she had to help clean it up.

However, Zhao Lu's first words effectively solved the problem.

"Xiao Xiu, Lao Su wants you to have lunch at his place. Put your things down and go straight there!"

"What about Aunt Lin and Dudu?"

"I'll take care of the guests. Your dad will be back soon, so don't worry about him."

"Oh fine."

With the mother and son working together in perfect harmony, Chen Xiu successfully escaped the social environment she had never wanted to stay in anyway.

From the last look Zhao Lu gave him, he understood that going to the Su family's house for dinner was not an excuse, but something that really happened.

Pushing her luggage aside, Chen Xiu politely explained to Lin Hongying before leaving.

"Aunt Lin, I had already arranged things with Uncle Su beforehand, I didn't expect you to come today, I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, we just came suddenly and didn't tell you in advance."

Lin Hongying waved her hand, completely unconcerned.

However, after saying that, she changed the subject: "I actually came here today to thank you for introducing the resources to Dudu. Dudu has a few words of thanks that she'd like to say to you in person. Why don't you two go outside and talk?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiu looked at Chen Duling, who had remained silent.

"You have something you want to tell me?"

"Yes, is it convenient?"

Chen Duling nodded, her gaze towards Chen Xiu now carrying a hint of playfulness and charm, and her tone became less formal.

The two spent more than three months on the set of "Love O2O" and would occasionally chat on WeChat. It would indeed be strange if their interactions were too formal.

Seeing that Chen Duling clearly had something to say to her, Chen Xiu nodded and said, "Is it convenient? Shall we go outside to talk?"

"Let's go."

Chen Duling walked over, glanced at Chen Xiu, and then walked out one after the other.

Upon arriving in the backyard, Chen Xiu said to Chen Duling, "Just tell me!"

"Don't you have an appointment? Don't delay your business. We can talk as we walk. When we get back, I can call my mom."

"also."

Chen Xiu led Chen Duling out of the backyard and onto the street, where they both put on masks again.

Su Xiao's house is only a few hundred meters away from Chen Xiu's house; it only takes a few minutes to walk there.

Seeing that they were almost at their destination, and Chen Duling still hadn't spoken, Chen Xiu stopped and asked, "I'm almost there. What do you want to tell me?"

"Forehead."

Chen Duling looked at Chen Xiu with a hesitant gaze, as if she had some unspeakable difficulty in discussing the topic she wanted to talk about.

After staring at Chen Duling for a while, Chen Xiu was thinking of asking her to send the message via WeChat when the innocent-looking college girl preemptively asked the question.

"Chen Xiu, have you broken up with Ziyi?"

A look of surprise flashed across Chen Xiu's eyes, then she frowned slightly and pondered for a moment.

"Sister Meng probably won't talk to you about this, right?"

"She didn't talk about you... However, when we chatted before, you were definitely mentioned in every three sentences. Last month, I talked to her a few times, but she kept avoiding the topic of you. Also, you're posting on your Moments too frequently. Based on all this, I suspect there's something wrong with your relationship."

Watching Chen Duling talk so confidently, Chen Xiu just wanted to ask: What does this have to do with you? And you're even analyzing it!
However, this statement is too aggressive; it's better to just think about it in your mind than to say it out loud, as it can easily hurt people.

If Chen Duling intended to come as a mutual friend to mediate, Chen Xiu felt even less justified in speaking in that manner.

After a long silence, looking at Chen Duling's slightly bright eyes, Chen Xiu explained, "Last month, Sister Meng and I did have a small misunderstanding, but it's all over now. Thank you for your concern."

"Oh, so that's it!"

As Chen Duling nodded, she silently lowered her eyes, making it impossible to discern her true emotions.

Is there anything else?

"Aside from this, there's nothing else. My mother wasn't originally planning to come today, but I was worried about you and your situation, so I asked her to come along."

"I see. Sister Meng has been busy with the New Year preparations these past few days. She should be able to chat with you when she joins the crew for special training."

"Oh, okay! It's good that you're alright."

Chen Duling looked up at Chen Xiu. Her eyes were curved in a smile, but it seemed a little forced.

Just as the two were speechless, a strong voice suddenly reached Chen Xiu's ears.

"Xiao Xiu, what are you doing standing at the door? Come in and sit down! Hey, is this girl with you?"

(End of this chapter)