Quan Jiu hadn't expected Chu Rong to visit the set. She glanced around awkwardly, her eyes meeting everyone's, filled with either curiosity or envy. Once again, she had become the center of attention on set.
Her gaze held a hint of reproach. What was he doing here, at her workplace? How was she supposed to work like this?
Chu Rong, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed. He casually walked over and sat beside Quan Jiu, opening the insulated bag he was carrying. He slowly took out two dishes and a soup, opening the lids of the food containers one by one. Finally, he placed the bowl and chopsticks into Quan Jiu's hands, then smiled gently, "Eat while it's hot."
Quan Jiu scrunched up her face and whispered, "What are you doing here?" Wasn't this just causing trouble? She was already "high-profile" enough.
"I don't trust the food elsewhere. Even if you don't consider me, you should consider Mimi and Tutu, and Mom, Dad, and Grandpa. Your life is far more precious than you think." Chu Rong scooped a spoonful of seaweed and egg drop soup, tasted it himself to check the temperature – it was just right – and then offered a spoonful to Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu instinctively opened her mouth, but only after the soup was in her mouth did she realize the situation. Her face instantly flushed red, and she complained, "Aren't you just making a spectacle? I'm an adult, I don't need to be fed."
"I'd be happy to serve you even if you needed to be spoon-fed," Chu Rong said with a smile in his eyes.
Quan Jiu rolled her eyes at him, took the soup bowl, and drank a few sips. Then, without looking anywhere else, ignoring the gazes around her, she ate her meal with focus.
Admittedly, Chu Rong's concerns were valid. Liu Zhixi had already thought of tampering with the wire rig to make her fall to her death. A little poison wouldn't be surprising.
Chu Rong watched her eat intently. After a moment, he remembered something. He got up and went to Guo Wen, speaking politely but with an air of authority, "Ah Jiu is new to acting, both as a newcomer and an outsider. Thank you for your care, Director. To express my gratitude, Chu Corporation is treating all the cast and crew to lunch today. The food is..."
He glanced at his watch. "It's here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Xiao called out from not far away, "Lunch is served! Today we have chopped chili fish, braised pork ribs, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, hot and sour shredded potatoes..."
He listed over a dozen dishes, astonishing everyone present. The regular boxed lunches on set were not particularly good. If they were to be compared, the boxed lunches delivered by Chu Corporation were equivalent to a banquet.
Guo Wen looked troubled, "Mr. Chu, this is too extravagant. I can't possibly accept it."
If he accepted it, it would be difficult to explain. After all, he had no connection with Chu Corporation. If this set a precedent, then from now on, any slight sign of satisfaction he showed towards Quan Jiu might be interpreted as him accepting benefits from Chu Corporation.
But if he refused, this was the CEO of Chu Corporation, offering a kind gesture. Refusing would be a direct slap in the face.
Chu Rong seemed to understand his concerns. His voice, neither too loud nor too soft, was just enough for everyone present to hear, "This is my personal token of appreciation, a thank you for everyone's care for our Ah Jiu. I also hope that for the next half a month, everyone can offer guidance. If Ah Jiu does anything wrong, please be understanding."
With his words, Guo Wen could no longer refuse. After expressing his thanks several times, he instructed the staff to begin distributing the boxed lunches.
As the cast and crew received their meals, they began to whisper amongst themselves.
"Did I hear that right? He said 'our Ah Jiu.' Could Quan Jiu and he already be boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"Wow, Quan Jiu is amazing, to have snagged Chu Rong. No wonder she brought four bodyguards. Her move today was brilliant, showing off so much."
"So it was true on the reality show, they really did get together. But Quan Jiu is too fake. On the show, she acted uninterested in Chu Rong, and now she's enjoying this."
All sorts of sour remarks circulated in the shadows. People gathered in groups of three and five, their whispers growing more animated.
Guo Wen, Xia Wei, and other key staff members sat together to eat.
Looking at the strange atmosphere pervading the set, Xia Wei couldn't help but laugh, "The air is filled with jealousy, can you smell it?"
Guo Wen, however, saw it from a different perspective, "No wonder she's so outstanding. Someone like Chu Rong wouldn't fall for just anyone. They look really well-matched. Speaking of which, Chu Rong is already in his thirties or forties, it's time for him to get married."
Liu Zhixi sat not far from them. Hearing these words, she was so angry she couldn't even eat.
She tightly gripped her chopsticks, her gaze fixed on Chu Rong.
She was not unfamiliar with this man at all.
He was the pinnacle of young talents in City A. It was said that he was the man every woman in City A wanted to marry, and that was no exaggeration. His noble demeanor, his cold and handsome features that were like works of art, coupled with his exceptionally high intelligence and excellent family background – each of these qualities was a synonym for a dream.
For men outside the New District, if they lacked even one of these qualities, Liu Zhixi wouldn't even look at them.
But this man, whom she dreamed of marrying, was now showering attention on another woman.
Disappointment, anger, jealousy... all sorts of emotions engulfed her, making her unable to control the hatred in her eyes.
Quan Jiu, you shouldn't have, you absolutely shouldn't have snatched this man from me.
Xiao Dong, noticing her mistress's agitation, dared not utter a sound. She lowered her head and quickly ate her meal. But even as she tried to make herself invisible, she still drew her mistress's attention.
Liu Zhixi glared fiercely at her, "Useless trash, you can't even handle a small matter properly." As she spoke, she clawed at Xiao Dong's arm. Her sharp nails dug in with force, and soon, five bloody marks appeared on Xiao Dong's arm.
Xiao Dong trembled with the pain but dared not make a sound. She could only grit her teeth and swallow her tears.
After pinching for several minutes, even dyeing her fingernails red, Liu Zhixi's anger slightly subsided. With a dark expression, she warned, "I'll give you one more chance. If you fail again, I'll turn you into a corpse."
Xiao Dong whimpered timidly and quietly packed away her boxed lunch before leaving the scene.
...
Quan Jiu ate her meal under Chu Rong's watchful eye, memorizing her lines. She was truly hungry and finished every last bit of the food and soup, feeling completely satisfied.
"Mr. Chu, thank you," Quan Jiu said with a smile, wiping the oil from her mouth.
Chu Rong smiled gently, packed the empty food containers, handed them to Wang Xiao, and then instructed, "I'll explain to the director. You must have your bodyguards with you at all times."
He leaned closer to Quan Jiu's ear. To outsiders, it looked intimate and affectionate, but to Quan Jiu, it was full of possessiveness. "Don't try to lure the snake out of its hole with a sob story. My woman doesn't need to do that. I've looked into the Quan family's background and have a rough idea why Liu Zhixi is targeting you."
Quan Jiu's face showed surprise, "So quickly?"
Chu Rong smiled gently again, tapped Quan Jiu's nose, and whispered softly, "Your husband is much more capable than you think."
Quan Jiu's face flushed again. She glared at him playfully and picked up her script, getting up to leave. It was better to discuss important matters back home; now was not the time for idle chat.
Chu Rong also stood up and approached Guo Wen, once again expressing his apologies and gratitude, "Ah Jiu is very important to our Chu family. I'm a rather suspicious person, and the world outside is so chaotic. I'm worried about her safety, which is why I insisted she have bodyguards. I hope Director Guo can understand."
Guo Wen chuckled dryly, "It's fine." Thank goodness for you, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to return a complete person right now.