Chapter 24
Shengtang, as it happened, was the name of that rising new company in the industry.
Qin Cheng had never liked the name, so even when grumbling about the company in her head, she refused to mention it.
In her opinion, that man surnamed Tang had little leadership ability to speak of. The company had reached its present position only because Chu Qinyi had devoted herself to steering it for the past several years.
Rather than Shengtang—“Prosperous Tang”—it would be more accurate to call it Qiangchu—“Mighty Chu.”
Unfortunately, the person with the most money was the boss. Besides, when the company had been officially registered and named, Qin Cheng had already found an excuse to leave. She had possessed no right to voice an opinion and could only privately feel indignant on behalf of the woman she loved.
Although she disliked the name Shengtang, Qin Cheng followed the company itself closely.
She knew that despite its rapid rise over the past several years, the company had always maintained a lean and efficient structure. Its officially contracted artists could be counted on one hand.
Among that handful of artists, the most famous male star was probably the tall man Director Jin had just dragged through the door.
Li Xinyu had swept several domestic and international awards two years ago for an arthouse blockbuster produced by Shengtang, becoming one of the hottest award-winning actors in the industry.
He was a late bloomer. Qin Cheng did not know his exact age, but he was probably well into his thirties.
According to reports, it had been President Chu of Shengtang who personally made the decision to recruit Li Xinyu, who had spent years frustrated and unsuccessful.
She gave him the opportunity to let his accumulated talent finally burst forth, allowing him to turn his career around in one brilliant stroke.
So look at how important a leader with excellent judgment was.
As for the man surnamed Tang, aside from throwing money around, his only contribution had probably been finding Chu Qinyi and bringing her into the company all those years ago…
Qin Cheng silently muttered to herself, but none of it showed on her face.
When Director Jin and the others entered, she greeted them with a smile, then flipped the sign to indicate that the shop was closed.
At the same time, she lowered the blackout blind halfway to prevent irrelevant passersby from peeking inside.
Seeing Qin Cheng cooperate so smoothly and tacitly, the plump old man beamed.
He sat down in his usual spot without ceremony and gestured proudly toward the man beside him.
“I brought a new companion today. Look—take a good look. Does he seem familiar?”
He was clearly showing off, but the others did not cooperate much.
Although Nuonuo’s eyes shone brightly as she looked over, she remained as quiet as ever.
Miss Guoba had already approached the counter to place an order, so Nuonuo immediately focused seriously on her work.
Only Qin Cheng smiled and nodded.
“Welcome. Your presence honors our humble shop.”
Then she showed no further reaction.
Such a restrained response to a top-tier star was remarkably indifferent.
There was none of the delighted excitement, requests for photographs, or demands for autographs that the old man had anticipated.
Director Jin’s desire to show off shattered, and he once again made that pouting expression that looked thoroughly unsuitable on him.
The award-winning actor himself, who had quietly observed the shop ever since entering, instead laughed.
He removed his sunglasses and mask, appearing more relaxed.
Relaxed or not, Mr. Best Actor seemed every bit as disciplined and rigorous as the rumors suggested.
Li Xinyu did not order any drinks. He asked only for a complimentary glass of lemon water, then began discussing work with the director and screenwriter, who were busy eating and drinking.
Clearly, he had agreed to be dragged here only because they had serious business to discuss.
As for the two eccentric industry talents, Director Jin and Miss Guo had long since grown accustomed to discussing work while eating.
Perhaps because he had personally experienced the benefits, Director Jin had become increasingly attentive to healthy eating.
Aside from fruit-and-vegetable juice, his favorite item was the assorted freshly cut fruit. He had to eat a box every day.
The screenwriter, meanwhile, continued to love everything sweet.
Besides high-sugar fruit juices, she adored the fruit custard sandwiches and pan-fried toast with berries.
She had even begun buying jars of jam and leaving them at the shop instead of taking them away, eating from them whenever she visited as though storing a bottle of liquor at a bar.
Still, no matter how good something was, eating it for long enough inevitably inspired a little pickiness.
“Little Boss, now that I think about it, your selection of vegetables is rather limited.”
The old man ate mango pieces with obvious enjoyment while suddenly addressing Qin Cheng.
“I tried a kind of fruit cucumber somewhere else a few days ago. It was excellent. Why don’t you stock some too? This old Jin will guarantee long-term purchases!”
“We’re discussing work, Director Jin. Why did you suddenly change the subject?”
Before anyone else could answer, the bespectacled screenwriter pushed up her glasses.
“But speaking of food, Little Employee, please give me another fruit sandwich. Thank you.”
“Little Boss” referred to Qin Cheng, while “Little Employee” naturally meant Nuonuo.
The two women approached one after another, and the subject truly shifted completely for a moment.
With the business discussion paused, the award-winning actor, who temporarily had nothing to do, felt around in his pocket.
As though remembering something, his expression became slightly awkward.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
He coughed and spoke voluntarily for the first time, asking Qin Cheng, “Is smoking… allowed here?”
The answer was no.
The shop was small, and one cigarette would fill the entire place with smoke. Both the owner and employee also thoroughly disliked the smell.
Naturally, she could not say it that way.
Considering that a famous actor could hardly go outside and smoke openly in the alley, Qin Cheng pointed toward the restroom and smiled.
“I’m sorry, but smoking is prohibited in the shop. However, provided you don’t mind, you may use the restroom. It has an excellent ventilation system and can serve as a temporary smoking area.”
That was the truth.
Since the restroom had no window, Qin Cheng had put a great deal of effort into its ventilation.
She had spent heavily on a dehumidifying and air-exchange system to ensure there would be no dampness or unpleasant odors.
Forget smoking inside—someone could probably open a can of Swedish fermented herring in there without anyone outside smelling it.
Perhaps a nicotine craving truly was difficult to endure.
Mr. Best Actor rose without complaint and headed toward the restroom.
During those few short steps, he coughed once more.
Qin Cheng looked sympathetically at his back and remarked casually, “I heard Li Xinyu was extremely disciplined, exercised year-round, and had no bad habits. I didn’t expect cigarettes to be the exception.”
“Exactly. He has no other faults, but he loves a smoke.”
Director Jin seemed stirred by the subject and sighed.
“Given the pressure in this industry, it’s understandable. But lately, that fellow seems to be smoking more and more heavily…”
“The greatest pity is that every time he tries to quit, he can’t hold out. Even Little Chu’s advice doesn’t work anymore.”
“If it did, perhaps he might still have had a sliver of hope of winning her heart…”
The elderly man had merely spoken out of passing emotion, without any deeper intention.
But the moment the words left his mouth, Boss Qin sharply glanced over.
“Winning Little Chu’s heart?”
She asked as though merely curious, “Who is Little Chu? And why does Best Actor Li want to win her heart?”
The subject immediately took on a distinctly gossipy tone.
As expected, the plump old man put on an equally gossipy expression.
He smiled mysteriously and was just about to say something when the person behind him jabbed him in the lower back.
“Old Jin, are you about to reveal your busybody nature again?”
The bespectacled woman spoke coldly from behind him.
Her tone was calm, but her attitude clearly carried a warning.
Unfortunately, the two of them argued constantly, so the warning had no effect.
“What are you afraid of? Little Boss and Little Employee are both one of us. You think they’re blabbermouths?”
The old man retorted with dissatisfaction.
“If they were, everything we’ve discussed in this shop over the past several days would have been sold to the tabloids already. Would they have waited until now?”
Ordinarily, if someone showed reluctance to discuss a matter, Qin Cheng would never force them. She would even take the initiative to change the subject.
This time, however, she merely nodded in agreement and smiled, assuring them that the shop was completely safe and they could speak freely.
“It isn’t that I don’t trust them…”
The screenwriter muttered, then shifted her seat away.
“Forget it. This has nothing to do with me.”
Driven by a certain instinct for self-preservation, she prepared to stay out of the conversation.
The slow-witted plump old man, however, smiled smugly and began enthusiastically explaining to Qin Cheng who Little Chu was and what kind of feelings Mr. Best Actor harbored for her.
In truth, the gossip was not complicated.
It could be summarized in just a few sentences.
One party had met a rare kindred spirit and regarded her as a confidante, never forgetting her afterward.
Unfortunately, the other party felt only the appreciation of a discerning patron who had discovered a talented person.
The prince might be interested, but the goddess remained unmoved.
A soulmate in art would never become a beloved companion.
“He knows he can’t move her heart, but that boy is stubborn. I’m afraid he still hasn’t given up even now.”
“Otherwise, with his current identity and status, why would he keep visiting the company whenever he has the slightest excuse?”
“I only dragged him out today because I felt sorry watching him brood. Little Boss, you absolutely mustn’t let this slip!”
Only after thoroughly satisfying his appetite for gossip did Director Jin estimate that the smoker in the restroom would soon emerge.
He patted Qin Cheng’s shoulder and solemnly gave her this warning.
Boss Qin nodded sincerely, the corners of her lips curving into a smile.
“…Don’t worry. This shop will make sure he relaxes properly.”
She had originally thought that once her goal was achieved, she should restrain herself.
Celebrities and other highly visible public figures were best kept away from the shop.
But now that she reconsidered it, she might as well reluctantly attract him here.
There could be a few minor complications, but provided she remained careful, they would not become serious problems.
Surely that was better than having him “keep visiting the company whenever he had the slightest excuse,” right?
So when Mr. Best Actor finally satisfied his craving and emerged from the restroom, he was slightly startled to discover that the atmosphere around him seemed subtly different.
The restroom’s soundproofing was quite good, and even the loud-voiced Director Jin knew how to whisper when gossiping.
Li Xinyu therefore could not identify exactly what had changed.
If he had to put it into words, perhaps the shop’s atmosphere had become warmer and more harmonious.
For example, the owner and employee had previously treated him more like an ordinary person—neither distant nor close, neither overly warm nor cold.
To be fair, that had felt quite pleasant.
But now, perhaps gradually influenced by Director Jin and the others, they treated him more like a familiar regular, showing an appropriate degree of friendliness and concern.
Admittedly… this felt even better.
“Here, everyone. This is freshly prepared rock-sugar stewed pear. It moistens the lungs, relieves coughing, promotes fluids, and eases dryness. Try some.”
Sure enough, after he involuntarily coughed several more times, the shop owner specifically prepared a dessert like this.
On the surface, it was for everyone to try.
In reality, it was obvious who she had made it for.
Although he knew he should not consume too much sugar, his throat truly felt worse after smoking.
Considering Director Jin’s feelings and experiencing a faint sense of gratitude, Li Xinyu accepted the dessert and carefully took a small sip.
The small bowl of pear stewed with rock sugar looked clear and refreshing, and it tasted equally light.
Perhaps Qin Cheng had not added much rock sugar, because it lacked the cloying sweetness he had expected.
Instead, a gentle pear fragrance spread through his mouth with the warmth.
Clear syrup and pear as soft as pale jade—drinking a mouthful of the syrup was like eating a bite of pear.
After simmering, the fruit’s originally slightly coarse flesh had become smooth and tender, as delicate as agar, yet carrying a fresh fragrance agar could never possess.
After a little chewing, it slid down his throat.
The warmth and fragrance soothed everything they touched, carrying away all discomfort.
He had originally intended to take only one reluctant bite, but the sensation was too soothing.
Even the disciplined and self-controlled actor could not bear to put down the bowl.
He continued eating one small spoonful after another.
The other two had long since begun noisily shoveling spoonfuls into their mouths.
Before long, each had emptied their bowl of stewed pear.
“Hahaha! What do you think?”
The plump old man wiped his mouth and set down his bowl with satisfaction.
Seeing that Li Xinyu had also finished half of his serving, he smiled triumphantly and raised his eyebrows.
“I told you, didn’t I? Eating at this shop is simply comfortable and satisfying. It’s completely different from ordinary juice shops!”
“And whatever you eat here is guaranteed to be good for your health!”
Just as he had said, after drinking half a bowl of the stewed pear, Li Xinyu no longer felt the itch in his throat that made him want to cough.
He was pleasantly surprised, though he wondered whether it might be a psychological effect.
He was about to say something when a different fragrance interrupted him.
“It smells wonderful…”
Miss Guo had already become unable to remain seated.
Murmuring to herself, she followed the aroma toward the counter.
Had Nuonuo not stopped her, she might have entered the restricted area behind it.
“Kitchen area. Unauthorized people prohibited.”
The diligent employee pointed at the sign and read it aloud word by word.
Then she added apologetically, “It’ll be ready soon. Don’t be impatient.”
Outside of work-related matters, Miss Guoba was always easygoing.
She obediently stayed outside, standing beside Nuonuo and staring longingly at the kitchen door.
Fortunately, they did not have to wait long.
Only a few minutes later, Boss Qin emerged from the kitchen.
With her appearance, the sweet fragrance in the air was replaced by a rich aroma of scallions and pan-fried food.
Nearly everyone’s gaze focused on the large plate in her hands.
The food on the white porcelain plate was nothing particularly sophisticated, but that did nothing to diminish its appeal.
Crisp, thin pancakes layered in pale yellow and golden brown were studded with countless flecks of green and red.
Their surface gleamed lightly with oil without appearing greasy.
Although the exact ingredients were not yet clear, their appearance and fragrance alone were already enough to seize everyone’s attention.
“Sorry. We’re finishing late today, and Nuonuo and I became hungry, so I casually made a simple staff meal.”
Qin Cheng placed the plate on the counter.
As though unable to see everyone’s expressions, she merely smiled and explained, “Pan-fried shredded potato and egg pancakes with a little chopped scallion and bacon.”
“It’s nothing presentable. Please excuse us.”
As she spoke, she first served two large pieces to herself and her employee.
Only then did she look toward Director Jin’s group and ask tentatively, “Although it isn’t anything impressive, it should taste fairly good. Would everyone like to try some?”
The plump old man and the screenwriter naturally agreed eagerly.
Only the disciplined actor remained silent, struggling visibly.
After all, pan-fried starch-heavy food like this…
“There’s no need to worry.”
As though seeing through his thoughts, Boss Qin encouraged him.
“I used a nonstick pan and only a very small amount of oil.”
“There’s no flour in the shredded potatoes either. Potatoes naturally contain starch, so once mixed with egg, they bind together easily and become very fragrant.”
“Eat only a little. The calories won’t exceed your limit.”
With this encouragement, Director Jin and the screenwriter’s impatient urging, and the fragrance filling the air, even the most disciplined person would struggle to resist.
Thus, three additional servings of golden pancakes dotted with chopped scallions and bacon appeared before the guests.
Layer upon layer of shredded potato was bound together with egg and fried until mottled gold.
The outside was crisp, while the inside remained soft and tender.
Combined with the toasted fragrance of egg, the freshness of scallions, and the savory aroma of bacon, one large bite filled the mouth with hot, fragrant flavor that rushed in every direction, making it impossible to stop.
Qin Cheng wiped her hands while watching the three diners from the corner of her eye.
She felt quite confident.
Although the snack was simple and humble, she believed no one could resist it.
Unexpectedly, however, Director Jin was the first to stop after hurriedly eating two bites.
He even prevented the other two from continuing.
“Wait, wait! Stop! Everyone pause!”
They thought something had gone wrong.
Instead, the plump old man fumbled for his phone and shouted, “I nearly forgot! Let me take a few photographs first!”
Not long afterward, the renowned and highly accomplished director Jin Feng—nicknamed Shorty Jin—posted several photographs on social media.
The lighting, angles, and color correction were all excellent.
But the pictures were not film stills, work photographs, or photos of friends.
They showed a plate of… pan-fried shredded potato and egg pancakes with chopped scallions and bacon.
More importantly, the even more famous award-winning actor Li Xinyu and Shengtang’s gold-medal screenwriter Guoba shared the post almost simultaneously, each attaching a photograph of their own.
Miss Guoba’s picture showed a fruit custard sandwich cut open to reveal its filling.
Mr. Best Actor’s photograph showed… a gleaming, completely empty bowl.
All three posted only a single word:
Delicious.
Although it was already late at night, this was precisely when social media activity peaked.
The three obviously coordinated posts quickly attracted enormous attention and discussion.
Naturally, among those closely monitoring the direction of the topic were the employers of these three prized employees—the senior executives at Shengtang’s headquarters.
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