After She Fell for Me, I Lost My Memory (GL) - Chapter 46

Cen Luo casually placed the jewelry box on the coffee table in the living room and went into the kitchen to pour a glass of water.

Feeling a bit tired, she planned to lie on the sofa for a while before washing up.

When she turned on her phone, she discovered a message from Zhao Zhao sent half an hour ago.

Zhao Zhao wished her a happy New Year. Attached was a short, several-second video.

It was a video of Zhao Zhao standing on stage during the New Year countdown with the people around her.

It didn’t look like an official recording; it seemed to be filmed privately with a phone.

However, Zhao Zhao’s gaze was fixed directly on the lens.

While everyone else stood in the center of the stage looking at the official cameras, waving and making faces to get more screen time, Zhao Zhao was looking elsewhere.

Cen Luo then remembered Zhao Zhao had mentioned a few days ago that she would be performing at the Lemon TV New Year’s Eve Concert and asked her to remember to watch.

The “Happy New Year” message Cen Luo had typed was just sent when she received a reply from Zhao Zhao the next second.

Zhao Zhao: [Did you watch?]

Remembering that Zhao Zhao had specifically reminded her to watch, Cen Luo deleted the “Haven’t watched yet” she had initially typed.

She retyped a few words.

Cen Luo: [Watched it, watched it.]

While replying to the message, Cen Luo fumbled around the corner of the sofa and found her tablet under a throw pillow.

She searched for the “Lemon TV New Year’s Eve Gala” on the Tianyi Video website.

The concert had long ended, so she could only watch the official replay.

The cover of the replay video featured seven people.

In recent days, Cen Luo had learned quite a bit about the figures in the entertainment industry; everyone on the cover was a popular star.

And Zhao Zhao was among them.

To achieve such success only two years after her debut—Zhao Zhao was truly impressive.

Sighing with admiration, Cen Luo opened the video. Before she even dragged the progress bar to Zhao Zhao’s part, she received another message:

Zhao Zhao: [So, how was my dancing?]

Dancing? Did she dance?

Well, it must have been great.

Cen Luo: [It was absolutely beautiful.]

Even though she hadn’t seen it yet, it surely was beautiful.

Zhao Zhao: [Hmph.]

Cen Luo: [?]

Zhao Zhao: [Sister, take a good look at what kind of “dance” I performed.]

Likely having just finished the gala and being free now, Zhao Zhao replied to every one of Cen Luo’s messages very quickly.

Seeing the message, Cen Luo began dragging the progress bar. It was a full four-hour show; how long would this take?

Zhao Zhao: [It’s at 02:37:36.]

Oh, thanks.

Cen Luo was just about to type those words when she suddenly realized something.

Zhao Zhao knew she hadn’t watched it.

When she dragged the progress bar to the timestamp Zhao Zhao mentioned, Cen Luo was even more certain Zhao Zhao knew.

In the video, Zhao Zhao was sitting on a swing singing a song; during the entire performance, she probably took no more than ten steps on stage.

Cen Luo: […]

Cen Luo: [Your singing is so beautiful!!]

After all, Zhao Zhao had reminded her repeatedly, and Cen Luo had promised to watch, yet she had simply forgotten.

Was it too late to make amends?

Zhao Zhao: [Sister, do you not care about me at all?]

Cen Luo scratched her head. Hadn’t she just been dazed by the trip to ST Bar? She hadn’t thought of it for the past few days.

Zhao Zhao: [Why don’t you ask me why I was sitting on a swing to sing?]

Finally, a question Cen Luo knew how to answer.

Cen Luo: [Wasn’t it for the stage design?]

Cen Luo: [It looked really good.]

For a full minute, there was no reply.

After a long while, Cen Luo finally received Zhao Zhao’s answer.

Zhao Zhao: [Sister, you’re failing as an entertainment reporter.]

Why was she attacking her now? Cen Luo was confused.

Zhao Zhao: [I’m a somewhat popular star at least; don’t you follow me at all?]

Cen Luo suddenly felt that Zhao Zhao wouldn’t say this for no reason, so she smartly typed “Zhao Zhao” into a search engine.

News about Zhao Zhao quickly appeared on the page.

Only then did Cen Luo learn that Zhao Zhao had injured her foot while filming two days prior.

She was originally scheduled for two performances—one dancing and one singing—but because of the foot injury, the dance program was cut.

Zhao Zhao: [Does Sister feel like I’m so tragic and pitiful now that she wants to reach out and hug me?]

Cen Luo, who had just typed “I’m sorry”: …

Thinking she was tragic was true, but the thought of “reaching out to hug” hadn’t occurred to her.

Zhao Zhao: [Sister, treat me to dinner on the 3rd.]

Cen Luo agreed without a second thought; she didn’t have anything else to do anyway.

Cen Luo: [As long as it’s convenient for you.]

Zhao Zhao: [But Sister, you know that as a star, eating out is a dangerous thing.]

Zhao Zhao: [So, can Sister invite me to her house for dinner?]

Cen Luo: […]

Cen Luo didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she took a turn around the kitchen. There were plenty of kitchenware. She opened the fridge: a few bottles of soda and mineral water, and a few eggs.

The eggs were bought before she went to the hospital; she wasn’t even sure if they were still edible.

This situation looked tragic no matter how you sliced it.

Cen Luo stood before the fridge, thought for a moment, and decided to change starting tomorrow.

She had to work hard to escape the daily takeout routine and let the former “Chef Cen” reappear in the world.

At that moment, Zhao Zhao was sitting in her trailer, listening to her manager nag.

“I’ve read the script for Late Soul. The story is excellent, and there’s a high chance it can take you up several levels. Although you are very popular now, fans are heartless. Once the heat passes, you’ll be forgotten quickly.”

Zhao Zhao’s finger spun her phone idly, appearing to listen yet not quite.

Seeing the manager’s expression on the verge of an outburst, the assistant quickly tugged at Zhao Zhao’s skirt to remind her.

Zhao Zhao snapped back, first checked her phone and saw no reply from Cen Luo, then responded:

“I know, aren’t I considering it?”

“What is there to consider? From the director and screenwriter to the production crew, the original team of No Return spent two years polishing this one play. What is there to consider?”

Two years ago, No Return made two Best Actresses. From the director to the script to the costumes, it had zero negative reviews. Late Soul was now a resource everyone in the entertainment industry was fighting for.

Coincidentally, the director and producer both chose Zhao Zhao and sent her an invitation.

Zhao Zhao’s ears had nearly grown calluses these past few days.

“Filming for Late Soul takes six months, five of which are in Huiling Mountain, over 3,000 kilometers away from Yuncheng. During that time, the leads are not allowed to leave at will.”

The draft contract and script had been delivered to Zhao Zhao long ago. The script and the team were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But…

Six months—would there still be time?

“After all, it’s the result of two years of preparation; they’re probably worried that the lead’s other activities might delay filming. It’s understandable. And with your professional attitude, you could do it even if you weren’t allowed to leave the set for a year, right?”

The manager was still persuading Zhao Zhao, likely guessing that her hesitation was due to the “no leaving at will” clause in the contract.

Zhao Zhao felt her phone vibrate and looked down at it.

Cen Luo: [Sure, see you in two days.]

The manager noticed that Zhao Zhao, whose brow had been furrowed because of her words, relaxed and even smiled after looking at her phone.

The manager glanced at the assistant, who shook her head, indicating she didn’t know what had happened either.

The manager sighed helplessly: “Or as I mentioned last time, Fang Qing’s side is interested in collaborating with you. The script is also good; why not agree?”

Zhao Zhao scoffed at the suggestion: “Her acting is famously bad.”

“And, do you want us to be tied together forever?”

The manager had wanted to say that “shipping” them would be quite good, but was shut down by those words.

Indeed, being tied together is easy but unbinding is hard. Moreover, rumors were already spreading online that Zhao Zhao was intentionally clinging to Fang Qing. Collaborating now might bring more harm than good to Zhao Zhao.

It was more stable to follow the path of skilled acting.

“Filming starts next month. The contract should be finalized in the next two days. You should know, some opportunities only come once.”

The production side gave Zhao Zhao a week to consider. If she didn’t want to sign, they would reopen public auditions for the lead.

After replying to Cen Luo’s last message, Zhao Zhao put her phone back in her bag, took out a steam eye mask to put on, and gave a soft hum: “I know opportunities only come once, that’s why I’m hesitating.”

The night grew deep, and they were still rushing to the next filming location.

After replying to Zhao Zhao, Cen Luo tidied up and prepared to wash up.

As she stood up, she saw the jewelry box on the table and paused.

Toss it? Don’t toss it?

Toss it where?

While thinking, Cen Luo noticed four very small letters on the bottom right of the box: JYKJ.

Jianyi Technology?

Doesn’t her company focus on smart tech products?

A tech company making jewelry?

Is this company about to go bankrupt?

Cen Luo opened the box to take a look.

A teardrop-shaped blue gemstone was set in gold, and there seemed to be a tiny teardrop-like inclusion in the center. The chain was silver-white.

Exquisite—it was certainly exquisite, at least mid-to-high quality in texture.

Cen Luo put the necklace back in the box and pondered where she should throw it.

She stood up and casually tossed it toward the coffee table, but the box deviated from her intended spot due to the force. it landed on the very edge of the table, half of it hanging off.

It looked like it was about to fall, but it didn’t.

Even if it fell, it would fall right into the trash can placed next to the table.

Let’s see what fate decides; it’s your own choice, don’t blame me.

In the end, Cen Luo didn’t go to pick up the jewelry box but went into the bathroom to wash up.

By the time she came out, she had forgotten the matter entirely and had a good night’s sleep.

When Cen Luo woke up the next day, she instinctively opened a delivery app. Just as she clicked in, she remembered her words from yesterday about changing starting today.

Maybe start tomorrow?

Cen Luo only hesitated for a moment, then switched to another interface and began ordering groceries.

She ordered one of every dish that had a familiar name.

Logically, although she wasn’t very good at cooking before the age of sixteen, she should have muscle memory after ten years, right?

Wait, maybe not ten years; she forgot to ask Qin Ran when she learned how to cook.

After ordering the groceries, Cen Luo felt a bit hungry and took some snacks out of the cupboard.

She turned on the TV, and remembering Zhao Zhao’s words from yesterday, she typed Zhao Zhao’s name into the channel search.

Zhao Zhao had participated in several variety shows, moving from the most ignored corner at the start to the center position surrounded by everyone.

It took only two years.

Cen Luo felt quite a bit of emotion; Zhao Zhao was born for this. Now she just lacked a definitive work to solidify her status.

After watching TV for a while, Cen Luo heard a knock. She brought the groceries in. Seeing that the trash can was nearly full, she took the opportunity to throw the trash in the bin in the stairwell.

When she returned, she happened to run into Jian Mu coming out of her room carrying a trash bag.

When they met, Jian Mu took the initiative to greet Cen Luo: “Good morning.”

Her expression was natural, and she entered the stairwell before Cen Luo could react.

Cen Luo didn’t take it to heart, but when she closed the door, she suddenly remembered something. Her hand on the door paused, then after a few seconds, she closed the door and looked at the coffee table where only a few bags of snacks were placed.

It was its own choice; it ran toward the trash can itself.

However, she didn’t seem to have agreed to Jian Mu’s request to throw it where she couldn’t see it, so it had nothing to do with her.