CH 69

"What are you smiling foolishly at me for?" Qu Zhi came out after washing up and saw Zheng Baozhu sitting on the bed smiling at him, so he couldn't help but smile too.

Zheng Baozhu grinned and said, "Your figure looks really good."

"Oh," Qu Zhi responded calmly, "No wonder you're drooling."

"..." Almost subconsciously, Zheng Baozhu raised her hand to her mouth to make sure she wasn't drooling, then glared at Qu Zhi, "You!"

Qu Zhi walked over, propped his hand on the bed, and leaned over to kiss her forehead, "I woke up late today; I have to go to the company. You can sleep a bit more."

Looking up, Zheng Baozhu casually wrapped her arms around his slim waist, "I won't sleep anymore; I need to deal with yesterday's mess."

Qu Zhi lifted her head and said, "Then I'll make breakfast for you."

"Okay," Zheng Baozhu replied and went to wash up in the bathroom. When she came out, Qu Zhi was no longer there, but there was breakfast from the restaurant on the table. She walked over and picked up a glass of milk, took a sip, and as she sat down on the sofa, she received a message from Zhou Xiaonan: Are you up? The PR team finished writing the draft. Take a look, and if there are no issues, I'll have them post it.

Zheng Baozhu opened and looked at the drafted statement. The statement was concise and clear, acknowledging Zheng Baozhu's relationship with Qu Zhi and clarifying that the previous internet rumors about "Qu Zhi being a member of Zheng Baozhu's studio" were false. It also urged everyone not to excessively focus on artists' personal lives and finally condemned the person who leaked private photos, reserving the right to pursue legal action.

The statement was well-written and comprehensive. Zheng Baozhu felt there were no problems and replied to Zhou Xiaonan with an "OK" emoji.

With the approval, the studio's official Weibo quickly posted the statement, complete with the official stamp. Netizens seemed to be waiting for this response, as a flood of comments appeared as soon as the Weibo was published. Of course, there were supporters defending Zheng Baozhu, encouraging everyone to focus on her work. However, there were also some comments challenging her, questioning what work she had to be focused on.

"...Hmph!" Zheng Baozhu couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. Even though her works hadn't been released yet, the photoshoots she had done were also part of her work. Taking beautiful photos for magazine spreads was also challenging and required a lot of acting skills. It's not like she could just stand there and call it a day!

But she knew arguing with netizens about this was pointless. As long as her projects weren't released, they would use this to criticize her every day. After calming her mind while sitting on the sofa, she decided to repost the statement on her own Weibo and added some additional clarifications.

Zheng Baozhu V: Mr. Qu and I have been childhood sweethearts since we were very young. After he graduated from high school, he studied abroad and only returned to the country at the end of last year. We only got together recently. He is not from the entertainment industry, so I don't want to share too much information about him. I can only say that he is even busier with work than I am, so please don't worry that my relationship will affect my work. I believe a competent adult can balance work and personal life. Thank you all for your concern ^^.

After posting her Weibo, the comments poured in even more intensely than the studio's post. While people knew that she was in a relationship with Qu Zhi, they didn't expect them to be childhood sweethearts! The popularity of their CP pairing skyrocketed, and under Zheng Baozhu's Weibo post, people enthusiastically explained the details of Qu Zhi's background.

「Mr. Qu is involved in scientific research. He and Baozhu attended a charity gala together before, and it even trended. At that time, not many people paid attention to Baozhu, so some of you might not know about it. If you're interested, here's the [Link]!」

「Mr. Qu is truly handsome, kind-hearted, and intelligent! He's a perfect match for our Baozhu! He even gave a charity lecture at an elementary school before. Check it out! [Link]」

「Wuwuwu! childhood sweethearts are so adorable! Mom, I finally get to see this for real! 」

「Sisters, our brother-in-law is not only handsome but also highly intelligent. He's a rare find! And they've been childhood sweethearts! How can we not be excited about this? And they are a perfect match!」

「Baozhu has good taste in men! Mr. Qu is amazing! 」

Zheng Baozhu: "……"

Ah, she felt like Qu Zhi was even more popular than herself!

Aside from these highly praised comments, there were also some negative remarks, but Zheng Baozhu knew she couldn't please everyone. Although some of the comments upset her, she believed that as more of her works release one by one, there would be more viewers who would appreciate her work.

As she was thinking about this, her phone buzzed again; it was Meng Yaxin sending her a new message.

Meng Yaxin: I saw your Weibo. Are you admitting now that you and Qu Zhi are childhood sweethearts? Weren't you always calling him your enemy before?

Zheng Baozhu: Everything changes with time, people are no exception.

Meng Yaxin: ……Huh, people.

Zheng Baozhu: I'm not going to argue with you. I need to read the script now!

Zheng Baozhu wasn't making up an excuse to avoid Meng Yaxin; she genuinely had to read the script. [The Pursuit of the Heart] had already released the official casting poster and was recruiting actors for some roles that had not been finalized yet. Gao Boyun had scheduled a time to hold a script-reading session with them.

During the script reading session, apart from the director and screenwriter, the cinematographer, sound recorder, producer, and main actors were all present, even including Lin Ziqin. Zheng Baozhu thought that someone as busy and popular as him probably wouldn't attend a script reading, but now it seemed that Lin Ziqin valued the quality of the performance more than making money.

It was Zheng Baozhu's first time attending a script reading session, and she was a bit nervous. It felt a bit like when she used to stand up and read texts in front of the teacher. Due to time constraints, they only selected a few scenes for the script reading and discussion. After a few hours, they gained a lot.

After this period of settling down, the news about Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi gradually faded from the internet, and the situation stabilized. Fans of the CP and ordinary fans didn't interfere with each other.

During the relatively quiet period in the entertainment industry, [The Pursuit of the Heart] officially announced its main cast.

Lin Ziqin was currently the top male artist in the industry, and all aspects of his life were under scrutiny. When [The Pursuit of the Heart] first contacted him, rumors about him playing the male lead in the drama surfaced online. However, since the production team hadn't made an official announcement, they pretended not to know.

Various versions of the casting for the male lead were circulating, including mentions of Zheng Baozhu. If the rumors about Lin Ziqin playing the male lead hadn't been leaked, there wouldn't have been so much attention on the male lead role. After all, this was an original script and not a drama based on a popular IP. However, because Lin Ziqin had a huge following, the male lead role had been closely watched.

Unexpectedly, without any signs or preparation, the production team finally made an official announcement today!

[The Pursuit of the Heart] official Weibo account had been active for some time, previously only posting casting calls. Today, alongside the announcement of the male lead, they also released two characters' official photos.

TV drama - The Pursuit of the Heart: He is the legendary businessman Duan Lanying in the Republic of China, played by Lin Ziqin, who walks between the dark and light, and nobody can guess his heart. She is the wealthy daughter, Zhao Jinghong, played by Zheng Baozhu, who hides her true feelings behind innocence, but a single glimpse reveals her stunning beauty. In that era, how will their fates intertwine? What will happen to national grudges and family hatred? Welcome to watch the Republic of China's commercial war drama [The Pursuit of the Heart].

Although this promotional message is full of clichés, people don't care to criticize it because the four makeup photos below are all stunning.

The production team released four makeup photos at once, two for each of the male lead and female lead. In one set, Lin Ziqin wore a Republic of China-style gown with delicate embroidery, showing an elegant scholarly temperament; in the other set, he wore a fitted suit with meticulous workmanship, exuding a powerful aura.

As for Zheng Baozhu, one set featured a lively and cute sundress, perfectly combining the charm and grace of a wealthy young lady. The other set showcased an intricately embroidered dark red cheongsam, matched with a refined updo and stunning makeup, exuding a sense of dangerous allure.

Both actors demonstrated strong rendition skills, and the two sets of photos showcased completely different auras, but the only common point was that they looked incredibly attractive!

Lin Ziqin and Zheng Baozhu's fans went crazy in the comments; Lin Ziqin fans were too busy being ecstatic to even remember to complain about the casting choice.

As for the Lin Ziqin and Zheng Baozhu CP, it was rejuvenated! After Zheng Baozhu publicly announced her relationship with Qu Zhi, their CP momentum declined, and many people stopped discussing it in their fan communities. But now, their CP fans were back in full force, celebrating as if it were New Year's.

In celebration of this historic moment, they even applied for a new fan community, [ZhengQiLinRan] (Zheng Baozhu's energy and Lin Ziqin's charisma). It perfectly suited their current revitalized and radiant spirits!

Zheng Baozhu, busy replying to comments, suddenly noticed that the CP [ZhengQiLinRan] had unexpectedly resurged. Compared to Qu Zhi, who was presented as her brother-in-law, Zheng Baozhu's solo fans definitely had a lower opinion of Lin Ziqin. Any association with Lin Ziqin would subject them to his fans' scrutiny and criticism. As for the CP fans of Qu Zhi-Zheng Baozhu, this surge in another CP was even more unbearable for them. How could Qu Zhi, their brother-in-law, lose face like that?

So they also applied for a new fan community, [MingZhengQu] (Bright Zheng Qu). They were confidently proclaiming that they were the perfect match!

Amidst the ongoing battle between CP fan communities, some people noticed that Zheng Baozhu's career had secretly made a comeback.

Bringing Happiness to the Entertainment Circle: Ahhhh! Baozhu is awesome!!! Her acting skills are so strong!!! This drama will definitely be a big hit!!! Baozhu, fighting!

「Oh, if I remember correctly, you were the one who wrote the short essay back then, right? [Picking nose]」

「Haha, the shortest time in history! It seems no one can escape the 'true fragrance' law! 」

「Welcome to the sit-up live event, I am a reporter in the front. 」

Because there were too many comments, the person with the username [Bringing Happiness to the Entertainment Circle] posted another message.

「Hello everyone, I am back. 」

After this user's comment, many others also returned, all attracted back by Zheng Baozhu's two photos. Zheng Baozhu getting the lead role undoubtedly injected a booster shot for them. Zheng Baozhu Weibo also saw an increase in followers. Her followers were close to breaking eight million in just a blink of an eye, jokingly saying that at this rate, she would directly reach ten million followers soon.

The drama team also had the male lead post a Weibo, and soon, Zheng Baozhu's Weibo was flooded with fans praising them as a perfect match.

"Sister Xiaonan, am I going to become popular?" Zheng Baozhu excitedly jumped to Zhou Xiaonan, holding her phone. Although Zhou Xiaonan was also happy, she remained calm and reminded her, "You'll only become popular if you act well. If you don't, you might just get burned."

"..."

Did Sister Xiaonan borrow this line from Qu Zhi?

"Also, fans of Lin Ziqin think your popularity is not enough..."

Before Zhou Xiaonan could finish, Zheng Baozhu interrupted, "But there are others who think I look super attractive!"

"Hmm," If Zheng Baozhu's makeup photo didn't have such a good effect, she would have already been criticized by Lin Ziqin's fans, "Just remember to stay grounded and focus on your acting. Besides Lin Ziqin's fans, there are other celebrities' fans who are also nitpicking. If you mess up, they'll be the first to laugh at you."

"I know, I'll do my best in acting!" The official filming was scheduled to start in October, and they would be going to another city since City A's film studio's Republican-era street wasn't as extensive as H City's.

Before the official shooting, Gao Boyun arranged for another script reading session next month, and more actors would participate in this one.

Feeling happy, Zheng Baozhu invited the staff from her studio to dinner, and she also invited Qu Zhi along. Qu Zhi didn't like these team-building activities, but he was afraid that Zheng Baozhu might drink too much alone outside, so he rushed over to join them.

Zheng Baozhu booked two large private rooms at Tianxia Restaurant. The partition between the rooms could be removed to create a super-large private space. The studio's staff had grown in number, so two large tables were fully occupied.

Qu Zhi arrived later as he was coming back from work. Zheng Baozhu originally thought of having everyone start eating without waiting for him, but it turned out that their attention was more focused on Qu Zhi.

With everyone's eager anticipation, Qu Zhi was finally led into the private room. As the door opened, dozens of eyes immediately fell on him. Qu Zhi's steps paused for a moment, then he walked towards Zheng Baozhu and said, "Sorry, I just got off work, that's why I'm late."

"Not at all, we're already happy that you could come," Zhou Xiaonan, as a representative, stood up to welcome Qu Zhi, "Come, sit here next to Baozhu, we've reserved a seat for you."

"Thank you," Qu Zhi thanked them and took a seat next to Zheng Baozhu.

Everyone's eyes were still fixed on him as he and Zheng Baozhu settled down.

Zheng Baozhu thought that being stared at by her staff in the hotel was already awkward enough, but now she realized that it wasn't; this was even more awkward. :)

"Uh, well..." Zheng Baozhu said to the waiter by the door, "Since everyone's here, let's start serving the dishes."

"Sure," the waiter nodded and went out to arrange the dishes.

Zheng Baozhu coughed lightly and said to Qu Zhi, "Let me introduce you. These two are my assistants, you've met them before. Here are our colleagues from the business department, here are the public relations team, here is the finance department, administration, legal, and promotion..."

One by one, Zheng Baozhu introduced the departments of her studio to Qu Zhi. After listening, Qu Zhi smiled and commented, "Although it's small, it's well-rounded."

Seeing his smile, two of the colleagues cheered, and when Zheng Baozhu and Qu Zhi looked over, one of them, the lively administrative staff, boldly said, "Brother-in-law looks so handsome, even more handsome than in the photos! And he's smiling at our boss!"

Now everyone started to smile ambiguously. Zheng Baozhu had to steady her emotions and not let her face turn red amid their laughter, "What's so strange about him smiling at me? You guys haven't seen the world!"

"Exactly, exactly!" Another colleague chimed in, teasingly, "It's nothing for him to smile, considering your relationship! Miss Baozhu is right. We just haven't seen the world!"

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

What kind of words were these?

Fortunately, the waiter quickly brought the dishes, and everyone was occupied with eating.

After drinking some wine, when they were leaving, Zheng Baozhu playfully clung to Qu Zhi, asking him to carry her, "Carry me, if you don't carry me, I won't leave."

Qu Zhi: "..."

Her colleagues nearby were understanding and said, "We'll leave now, we didn't see anything!"

Zheng Baozhu still held onto Qu Zhi's sleeve. With a sigh, Qu Zhi squatted down in front of her and said, "Climb up."