Chapter 87 - 87: Unnecessary Worry
Zhou Mei and Wen Xing stood by the front desk near the entrance. Spotting Wen Nian as she walked in, they beckoned her over and inquired, “Wen Nian, is this classmate of yours quite wealthy?”
Wen Nian didn’t want to alarm the two of them, so she chose to respond subtly. Despite having a hunch, she simply replied, “I think they’re doing fine.”
Observing Wen Nian’s implicit response, Zhou Mei chimed in, “I agree. There’s a distinct vibe about him. While we were having our meal earlier, I didn’t feel the urge to engage in casual conversation. It seemed appropriate to adhere to proper dining etiquette while dining with him.”
Wen Xing glanced at his wife and remarked, “I was curious why you were unusually silent during the meal today. I noticed the somewhat serene ambiance and was waiting for you to speak before I did.”
Zhou Mei playfully rolled her eyes at Wen Xing. “Don’t talk about me. Don’t you usually make smacking sounds while eating? I’ve been telling you for years that some things never change. But today, you didn’t do it even once. I never expected Nian Nian’s classmate to have the power to cure your habit. I might as well invite him over for dinner everyday!”
Wen Nian watched her parents bickering like children once again, a smile playing on her lips as she shook her head. She walked over to the counter, retrieved her bag, and headed home to continue working on the progress she had made yesterday while preparing her birthday gift. “Dad, Mom, I’ll go back and focus on my homework for now.”
Zhou Mei reminded Wen Nian, “Alright, be careful on your way home.”
After seeing Wen Nian leave, Zhou Mei expressed her thoughts, saying, “I was concerned that if the two children interacted daily, they might develop an early romantic relationship. However, after the meal, I realize my worries were unnecessary.Given his family’s status, he might not even agree to dating Wen Nian even if Wen Nian wanted to date him.”
Wen Xing, feeling unconvinced, retorted, “What’s wrong with our daughter? What’s wrong with her? Besides, who said that the two individuals in a relationship must be exceptionally remarkable? There are plenty of exceptions. Our daughter topped her cohort. Previously, she had just entered high school and was going through an adjustment phase, which led to some deviation in her thoughts. But now, she’s willing to put in the effort, and I’m confident she’ll catch up swiftly!”
“Perhaps it will turn out that Shen Jun is the one interested in dating Wen Nian, and she ends up rejecting him.”
The two of them bickered about this topic again.
Previously, Bai Zheng was constantly pestered by Xu Chang and was forced to add Xu Chang on Wechat. During his free time, he casually scrolled through his WeChat Moments and was slightly taken aback to come across some pictures of pre-shoot preparations posted by Xu Chang.
Bai Zheng messaged and asked, “Director Xu, are you filming your movie soon?”
Xu Chang replied, “Absolutely! By the way, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you! I was in such a rush after signing the contract with Wen Nian last time that I didn’t have a chance to treat you to a meal. The next time you visit the capital, please be sure to let me know. I insist on treating you to a delicious hot pot of mutton!”
Upon reading the message, Bai Zheng found it hard to believe. After all, becoming part of the production team required much more time and effort than playing the piano. He felt a sense of dejection, realizing that even though he had met Wen Nian before Xu Chang, the difference in treatment between them was substantial.
Bai Zheng was not one to dwell on matters, but Wen Nian held a special place in his heart. After a frustrating day, he found himself unable to fall asleep at night. Eventually, he mustered the courage to send Wen Nian a message on WeChat.
Bai Zheng messaged, “Wen Nian, I heard that you’re involved in Director Xu’s film project?”
Wen Nian had just finished taking a shower and was about to start working on another practice paper when she received a message from Bai Zheng.
Wen Nian replied, “Yes.”
In that moment, Wen Nian also reflected on how she had previously declined further piano lessons, citing the need to focus on her studies. However, now that she had taken on something more time-consuming, she realized the importance of providing an explanation to Bai Zheng.
Wen Nian messaged, “The movie that Director Xu wants to make has a very realistic theme. Moreover, he’s willing to accommodate my studies and has assured me that my filming scenes will be prioritized. He’s even taking care of the tuition fees for joining the production team. Given these factors, I made the decision to participate in the film.”
Bai Zheng didn’t expect Xu Chang to have put in so much effort. He despised himself for being petty today.
Bai Zheng replied, “It’s great that you can engage in something meaningful without compromising your studies. However, I still feel a sense of regret that I can’t practice the piano together with you.”
Wen Nian noticed that Bai Zheng had shifted the conversation towards the topic of piano and wondered if his piano playing skills were exceptional.
Wen Nian messaged, “I consider myself an amateur, but I feel incredibly honored to receive recognition from a professional like you.”
Bai Zheng messaged,
“I’ve recently composed a song, and I’d appreciate your feedback on it. If you’re available, you can come over at noon to listen to it. I have this nagging feeling that there’s something peculiar about it. Perhaps as an outsider, you can provide valuable suggestions and insights.”
Bai Zheng’s words were vague, lacking a specific time frame for the invitation.
Wen Nian contemplated for a moment and decided not to decline the invitation.
Wen Nian replied, “Okay..”