Chapter 61: Chapter 61 National Idol (31)
Chuzheng would occasionally splurge in the production crew, and the crew treated Chuzheng with utmost courtesy.

In the end, Chuzheng even planned to go broke hiring a foreign special effects team for the director.

Director: “…”

Did he find a leading lady or the God of Wealth?

Whenever a production team was short on funds, they would hope to cast Chuzheng as the leading lady. If not the lead, then the second or third female role would do—just as long as she accepted, it meant that the production would no longer be short on funds.

And she didn’t care whether the money she invested would come back; she was just playing with money.

There wasn’t a production team that wouldn’t love that.

#Has President Gu splurged today#

#Has President Gu bought something for Cutie Su today#

#Have President Gu and Cutie Su shown off their love today#

These topics were the most common. The dramas Su Jiu featured in were all hits, and those who said he rode on Chuzheng’s coattails, the haters, couldn’t deny that Su Jiu was truly talented.

Even if his acting skills were somewhat lacking, each new performance was an eye-opener, showing his rapid improvement.

This wasn’t something that could be bought with money.

But what dissatisfied the fans was—that aside from their private life, Su Jiu and Chuzheng seldom appeared together at events or in dramas.

[Cutie Su is mine: Please have them get married right away!]

[Flames Light Up Xijing: When will President Gu act in a drama with Cutie Su? I really want to see them compete acting skills, hahaha!]

[Yisheng Qiu: Miss Chuzheng, don’t you plan to change roles? You always play the cold beauty, but I want to see Miss Chuzheng play a shy Little Cutie.]

[Miss Chuzheng’s Little Sweetheart: The comment above is crazy (dry) and sick (nice), but I think our Miss won’t change her acting style. I just love her domineering CEO demeanor.]

[Chujiang Shenpo: It’s hard to go far with just one acting style.]

[The little cutie from the Chuzheng-Jiu family: Our President Gu isn’t short on money. She can play whatever she likes. Why fear not being able to go far? Just throw money at it!]

[Everyone: …] That sounds so reasonable; there’s no way to refute it.

–

In a certain apartment.

Liu Manman sat amidst a mess. These past days, she had been trying to find Xie Zhou, but while it used to be very easy to see him, now she couldn’t see him no matter how hard she tried.

However, now she had actually seen Xie Zhou publicly declare that the girl she had seen him with last time was his girlfriend?

As everyone knows, many women have been rumored to be involved with Xie Zhou, but which one of them has he ever publicly acknowledged as his girlfriend?

Only this one person…

Liu Manman’s eyes were almost glued to the screen, the hand clutching the tablet turning veiny from the force, fingertips losing their color.

“Girlfriend… girlfriend… ah!”

Liu Manman flung the tablet away; it hit the wall and shattered into pieces.

In the end, she was nothing, just a joke…

No, all of this was caused by Gu Chuzheng!

If Xie Zhou didn’t know about her past, how could he have possibly broken up with her?

If they hadn’t broken up, she would be the one he was publicly acknowledging now! She would be the one being envied!

Gu Chuzheng…

Why does she have such a good life? Endless resources, constant trending, and a guy to show off her love with every day? Why!?

“Gu Chuzheng, if I’m not having a good time, then don’t you even think about having one either!”

Liu Manman tidied up a bit, grabbed her purse, and left.

–

“Is Teacher Su visiting the set?”

“Yes, where is President Gu?” Su Jiu replied sweetly, taking over the notebook from the staff member for autographs, signing as he asked.

“President Gu should be in the break room, I’ll take you there,” the staff member said enthusiastically, leading him to the break room.

Su Jiu raised his index finger, signaling them to be quiet.

The staff members dispersed with a smile, and Su Jiu didn’t knock but carefully pushed the door open and entered.

Chuzheng lay on the chair in the resting room, her face covered with the script, seemingly unaware of anyone entering.

Gently and quietly, Su Jiu approached and lifted the script from Chuzheng’s face. The person beneath the script had her eyes closed, breathing evenly as if asleep.

He carefully kissed her face, and turning towards the tempting lips, Su Jiu was about to kiss her when Chuzheng suddenly opened her eyes.

Their eyes met, and Su Jiu’s face instantly flushed red. He clenched his fist slightly, quickly pecked her lips, then swiftly stood up and stepped aside.

Chuzheng frowned, “Why are you here again?”

Su Jiu: “…”

What did she mean by ‘again’?

Did she dislike him that much?

“My crew is filming at the film city today, I missed you, so I came to see you,” Su Jiu replied obediently, “Mao Tuan misses you too.”

Mao Tuan was the cat they had picked up.

The name was given by Su Jiu…

Chuzheng clenched her fist, then released it.

“Come here.”

Su Jiu: “???”

He moved in front of Chuzheng, and when she gestured for him to kneel, Su Jiu, though confused, obediently did so.

It was not until Chuzheng placed her hand on his head that the corner of Su Jiu’s mouth twitched.

What did she see him as!

Su Jiu lay on her lap like a cat, one hand holding her empty fingers, “President Gu, can I act in a drama with you?”

Pei Yu said this matter had to be discussed with her, that it would only work if she agreed.

“Why?”

“You are the kindest to me,” Su Jiu had learned to play the Good Person Card well.

Indeed, Chuzheng nodded, “I will ask Pei Yu to give you the script.”

Su Jiu’s face lit up with a smile, pulling Chuzheng’s fingers to his lips, kissing them, and tentatively asked, “I don’t want to call you President Gu, can I call you Chuzheng instead?”

The term of address wasn’t intimate at all.

“You can call me anything.” Names were but mere labels.

Su Jiu reached out and held her waist, “Chuzheng.”

His voice was especially pleasant, the endnotes carrying an appealing flavor that made one’s heart itch.

“Mmh.”

Burying his head in Chuzheng’s embrace, Su Jiu thought, what should he do, he wanted her to belong only to him, for her eyes to see only him.

Chuzheng pulled away his hand, and Su Jiu immediately suppressed his remaining emotions, revealing a docile and gentle smile.

“I have more scenes to shoot in a while, if you have nothing else…” Chuzheng’s voice paused, her finger brushing his palm. Su Jiu wanted to retract his hand but Chuzheng held onto it.

“Why are you pinching yourself?” she asked.

Su Jiu’s gaze darted away, traces of blood in his palm where nail marks were visible from his own pinch.

He turned his head away, speaking in a somewhat troubled manner, “It’s nothing.”

Chuzheng took a tissue, wiped his hand, then suddenly drew close to him, “Su Jiu, are you sick?”

Su Jiu shook his head.

“If you’re sick, we’ll treat it, money is not an issue.” Avoiding medical advice was not an option!!

Su Jiu: “…”

He wasn’t sick!

He just was…

How could Su Jiu dare to say that, to say he had just been thinking about how to make her his alone? Su Jiu feared that if she knew even a glimpse of his dark thoughts, she might not want to glance his way again.

The thought of Chuzheng turning around and leaving him alone made his body uncontrollably tremble.

He hugged Chuzheng again, “Please don’t leave me behind.”

Chuzheng, confused, touched his head, “I won’t…”