Chapter 932: Extra 5 – Zhao Yu 1

Chapter 932: Chapter 931: Extra 5 – Zhao Yu 1

On a mid-July weekend, Mu Qiu flew abroad.

Cheng Zhirang was still busy filming, unable to return home, and even if she visited him on set, they couldn’t spend much time together.

Feeling bored, she packed her bags on Zhao Yu’s instigation and went abroad to join her good sister.

The temperature in the United States was slightly lower than back home but still hot. The two of them had already discussed on video what kind of clothes to wear to stand out.

The flight took about ten hours, and she was nearly sick by the time she arrived. Her legs were wobbly when she got off the plane.

Zhao Yu, wearing sunglasses, waited for her outside the airport. As soon as they met, they hugged each other and jumped around with joy.

“Finally, a second familiar face! Finally, a sister to shop with!”

Zhao Yu excitedly pulled her to get a taxi, chatting non-stop about the ups and downs since leaving the country and the upcoming two-day itinerary, meals, and more. She spoke Mandarin rapidly like a machine gun, leaving the driver in front completely bewildered.

Mu Qiu listened to her chatter and weakly said, “I just want to go to bed and sleep.”

“Too much indulgence?”

“…I was on the plane for too long! When will your mind think about something serious?”

Zhao Yu indifferently pouted and said, “I saw in domestic celebrity news that you visited Cheng Zhirang on set recently. You must have done something while you were there, right?”

Mu Qiu maintained her composure, “Did what? I don’t understand, our relationship is purely emotional.”

“I believe you,” Zhao Yu eagerly asked, “Did he really propose to you on the last episode? I noticed some hints in the edited version, and that diamond ring on your hand was so reflective it caught the camera. Spill the details, how did it happen?”

“He just suddenly kneeled and proposed, then took out a ring and asked if I wanted to marry him.”

She had a face saying “there’s nothing more to say, it’s just that simple.”

Zhao Yu could tell her true emotions and clicked her tongue, “I can see your soul leaving your body in transcendence. It must have been much more romantic than you’re letting on. Let me see your hand.”

She reached out her hand, and Zhao Yu admired the blue diamond ring with a gasp of admiration.

“It’s beautiful, much nicer than that clunky pigeon egg-sized diamond ring you wrote about in your junior high daydream diary.”

Mu Qiu: “…That was ages ago, how do you still remember? Did you know this diamond ring has a story?”

Zhao Yu: “Another gimmick from some unscrupulous jeweler to add value? Did Cheng Zhirang use this trick to win you over?”

“…Are you going to listen or not?”

“I’ll listen, tell me.”

Mu Qiu gave her a sidelong glance and continued, “This ring is custom-made, inspired by the concept of a eucalyptus tree and birds. Eucalyptus kills off surrounding life but allows a specific type of bird to perch on it. Only leaving tenderness for you, isn’t that romantic?”

“And this bird only perches on eucalyptus trees?”

Mu Qiu: “…No, not really.”

Zhao Yu clapped her hands, “There you go. So who’s the bird?”

“…Him.”

This uncovered romance left Mu Qiu rather indignantly fuming. After resting enough at Zhao Yu’s rented place, she sent a video to Cheng Zhirang.

She had to question this ‘bird’ properly today.

It was night in the United States, still day in her home country. Cheng Zhirang took the video call from near the filming location, surrounded by lighting technicians, with a handsome face that still had a wound.

“Qiuqiu? Didn’t you say you were going to get a good night’s sleep to adjust your time zone?”

“I slept for a few hours, it was enough. Are you free to take a call now? Are you in a hurry to film?”

Cheng Zhirang shook his head in the video, “I’m taking a break. Why the urgent call, did something happen?”

Regarding the main issue, Mu Qiu put on a stern face, holding the back of her hand to the camera, “See this ring? I was almost swept away by your sudden romance, only now realizing something’s off.”

Cheng Zhirang furrowed his brow slightly, “What’s off?”

“In the eucalyptus and bird story, the eucalyptus only allows the red-billed blue magpie to perch, but the red-billed blue magpie doesn’t just perch on eucalyptus. And you said you’re that bird!”

A romantic story of mutual tenderness instantly turned into a tragic tale of a lovesick girl and a philanderer.

Cheng Zhirang hadn’t expected this romantic story to backfire from her mouth.

He was momentarily stunned, then quickly rephrased, “Then I can be the tree instead.”

Mu Qiu: “Are you saying I’m the unscrupulous one?!”

Cheng Zhirang: “…”

Zhao Yu, who had been eavesdropping on the whole scene, couldn’t help but laugh sympathetically.

A moment later, Cheng Zhirang earnestly inquired, “Perhaps, could there not be a red-billed blue magpie willing to only perch on a eucalyptus tree?”

“Then you should ask the red-billed blue magpie.”

“Qiuqiu,” he was on the verge of laughter, “That might be a bit difficult. But if I can still be the bird, I’ll ask myself, and agree with myself. I’m willing to only stay with you.”

Zhao Yu unexpectedly got a dose of unannounced affection.

Mu Qiu, already flustered, turned red, her stern face unable to maintain, softened.

“Fine, fine, you pass this time. Go finish filming, Zhao Yu, and I need to go out to buy groceries and cook.”

Cheng Zhirang showed no embarrassment, moved closer to the screen, and gently continued with her topic:

“Alright. Be safe outside, don’t wander around at night, be back by nine at the latest and ensure the doors and windows are secure. Do you have enough money with you? I transferred some to your account, convert it to US dollars, buy whatever you want.”

“You transferred more money to me? I already told you I have enough.”

Cheng Zhirang smiled, avoiding further discussion about the money, giving a few more reminders about safety, and finally gently asked:

“Could you bring me back a gift? It doesn’t need to be expensive, just something you find nice or fun, anything at all.”

Mu Qiu readily agreed, “Of course. Okay, I’ll hang up now.”

After the call ended, Zhao Yu clicked her tongue again.

“So sweet it gives me goosebumps. Frankly, Cheng Zhirang really knows what he’s doing, making sure you keep thinking about him these days. And that line, ‘I only want to stay with you,’ just unbelievable.”

Indeed, the old-timer in love stories from the drama world is truly impressive.

——

When Zhao Yu was first introduced in the main story, many said her character was too similar to Qiuqiu’s, not unique at all. Now you can clearly see they are different, how could they be the same?

One works in literature, shaped by her rational family but remaining inclined towards being an artistic youth, with an abundant imagination. Whereas Zhao Yu, though also rational, prefers work involving foreign trade, languages, sales, etc., and is a pragmatist, holding more conservative views on relationships compared to Qiuqiu’s boldness. Just in that aspect, they’re distinctly different.