Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

Bai Mengyan threw a punch, but it wasn't very hard; it was more like she was being coquettish.

Lin Shen took her wrist and smiled, "Isn't that good? You can hit people now, so you're not nervous anymore."

Bai Mengyan glared at him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

I'm not really nervous anymore.

She leaned over and quickly pecked him on the cheek.

"This is a reward for you."

"That's it?"

"What else do you want? We're meeting people later."

Lin Shen glanced at her, stopped teasing her, and let go of her hand: "Change your clothes, let's go."

Five minutes later, the two got into a low-key Audi from the underground parking garage.

Bai Mengyan sat in the passenger seat, her seatbelt still on, and flipped through the well-worn book "Silent Separation" again.

Lin Shen glanced at her: "Why are you still looking?"

"This is the last time." Bai Mengyan said without looking up. "I'm afraid that if Teacher Gu Man asks me about the details, I won't be able to answer..."

"If you can't answer, just say you don't remember."

"That won't do!"

"Why not? This book was written so many years ago, she probably doesn't even remember it herself."

Bai Mengyan thought about it and it seemed to make sense, but she still couldn't bear to give it up.

"You've been working so hard lately, is it to avoid disappointing Gu Man, or to act alongside me?"

Bai Mengyan was stunned for a moment, and when she looked up, she met Lin Shen's ambiguous smile.

Her ears felt a little hot.

"...I think so."

Lin Shen didn't speak, but a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Alright, I got it. You still have me, don't you?"

Bai Mengyan looked up and met his eyes.

There was no grand philosophy or solemn promise in those eyes, just a simple, ordinary "I'm here for you."

She suddenly felt less panicked.

"Hehe." Bai Mengyan chuckled, leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, then pulled back and fastened her seatbelt.

"Let's go, let's set off!"

Lin Shen glanced at her, said nothing, started the engine, and the car slid out of the underground parking garage.

In late October in Beijing, it gets dark early in the evening. The streetlights are already on. Lin Shen's car is mixed in with the evening rush hour traffic, heading towards the East Third Ring Road.

Bai Mengyan remained silent for a while, but still couldn't help but speak:

"Brother Shen, what questions do you think Teacher Gu will ask me later?"

"How would I know?"

"What am I supposed to say if she asks me why I played Zhao Mosheng?"

"Just tell the truth."

"To be honest, I really liked the novel when I read it before, but isn't saying that a bit shallow?"

"Then just say it's because you can date He Yichen."

"..."

Lin Shen laughed heartily. Bai Mengyan glared at him, then couldn't help but laugh herself.

It was already completely dark when the car entered the East Third Ring Road.

The restaurant they were going to was a private kitchen near Sanlitun. Lin Shen parked the car in the underground garage and turned off the engine.

He glanced at the passenger seat and saw Bai Mengyan fixing her hair in front of the rearview mirror, repeatedly tying and untying her ponytail.

Lin Shen didn't urge him, and just leaned back in his seat and watched.

Bai Mengyan caught sight of his amused expression, paused, and then snapped angrily, "What are you laughing at!"

"I'm laughing at you," Lin Shen said slowly. "I didn't see you being this nervous when you kissed me in the car earlier."

"Those are two different things!"

"How can they be two different things?"

Bai Mengyan choked.

She discovered that this man was truly skilled with words; the few jokes she had learned were simply not enough in front of him.

Finally, she gave up, casually tied her hair up, and took a deep breath.

"Let's go."

Lin Shen didn't move.

Bai Mengyan turned to look at him.

He looked at her, then suddenly reached out and ripped off the rubber band she had just tied.

"What—" Bai Mengyan covered her head.

"It looks better loose." Lin Shen put the hair tie on his wrist. "Zhao Mosheng doesn't like to tie her hair up either. I'm leaving."

He pushed open the door and got out of the car.

Bai Mengyan sat in the passenger seat, looking down at her loose hair, then at the black rubber band on his wrist.

Then she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and followed.

A small private room on the second floor. When you push the door open, there is a screen at the beginning, and only after you turn the screen can you see the tea table by the window.

Gu Man had already arrived, much earlier than them.

She arrived twenty minutes early and sat in the private room; her palms were even a little sweaty.

—She is a fan of Lin Shen.

It's a little embarrassing to talk about, but she's a well-known writer and screenwriter in her forties, and she's gone to this extent to be a fan of celebrities.

But that's just how it is.

Gu Man felt that this actor had a special talent, ever since "Swords of Legends".

After watching his interviews and listening to his understanding of the role, I became even more certain that this person is not just a pretty face with no substance.

That's why Gu Man insisted on casting Lin Shen, despite opposition, when casting for "My Sunshine".

At the time, the production team wanted to cast other actors, but Gu Man said only one thing: He Yichen is not someone anyone can play. If Lin Shen doesn't take the role, I'd rather wait two more years for this drama.

Later, Lin Shen accepted the offer, and she was happy for several days.

Today, it was Lin Shen who took the initiative to ask her out for dinner.

The door to the private room was pushed open, and Gu Man stood up almost instinctively.

"The forest is deep!"

"Sister Man."

She stood up, smiled, shook hands with Lin Shen, and then her gaze naturally fell on Bai Mengyan, who was peeking out from behind him.

Then she laughed.

"Is this the White Dew solar term? She looks even smaller than in the photos."

Bai Mengyan was so nervous that she didn't know where to put her hands and feet. She subconsciously wanted to bow, but Lin Shen gently nudged her elbow.

"Hello, Teacher Gu, I'm Bai Mengyan, stage name Bai Lu..."

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, because Gu Man was looking at her with a smile, her gaze not one of scrutiny, but rather as if she were looking at something interesting.

"Please sit down, please sit down." Gu Man pointed to the person opposite her. "Don't stand there. I'm not an interviewer."

Bai Mengyan obediently sat down.

Lin Shen sat down next to her and casually pushed the menu towards Gu Man: "Has Teacher Gu already ordered?"

"We've been waiting for you." Gu Man turned the menu around. "The cod here is good, and this too..."

As she flipped through the menu, she casually asked Bai Mengyan what flavors she liked, whether she was afraid of spicy food, and whether she ate cilantro. Her tone was relaxed and casual, like an old friend catching up.

Bai Mengyan gradually relaxed.

While waiting for the food, Gu Man picked up the book "Silent Separation" on the table, which Bai Mengyan had brought.

"You've read it so many times?" She flipped through a few pages, her eyebrows slightly raised as she saw the densely packed small print.

Bai Mengyan quickly replied, "I just... want to understand Mo Sheng's feelings more."

"So, what kind of person do you think Mo Sheng is?" Gu Man put down her book and looked at her.

Bai Mengyan was stunned for a moment.

Lin Shen picked up his teacup, neither looking at her nor offering any assistance.

She clenched her fingers and spoke:

"I think... she's not the gentle type of female lead. She's quite stubborn; once she's made up her mind, nothing can change it. Even after seven years of no contact, she hadn't forgotten; when they met again after returning to China, and she was given the cold shoulder by Yi Chen, she didn't run away."

Bai Mengyan paused for a moment: "But she's not the kind of stubborn person who's independent and proud. She can be soft-hearted, she can hide, and she can secretly watch Yichen for a long time when he's asleep."

"She's just... not very good at expressing herself."