Chapter 26: Your Temporary Assistant Has Come Online

Reba: Both of you?

Naza: We went to karaoke tonight. Brother Yang mocked me, saying I traded my musical cells for my looks.

Reba: Haha, your senior is quite humorous, but you really are tone-deaf. I’m surprised you even knew how to hold a microphone.

Naza: You knew I was tone-deaf?

Reba: Didn’t you know yourself?

Naza: The group leader said I might still be in the developmental stage, so...

Reba: Naza, don't doubt it. You really are tone-deaf.

Naza: I don't want to talk to you anymore. You villain, you tricked me out of ten meals!

Reba: A bet is a bet. The Naza I know wouldn't be such a sore loser.

Naza: Who's a sore loser? I'm just condemning you and Brother Yang for teaming up to set me up. But since I lost, I’ll definitely honor the bet. Reba, you’ve changed.

[...]

The two women, who hadn't seen each other in a long time, chatted enthusiastically, sharing their experiences from the past few years and news from all over the world. They didn't even realize when they eventually fell asleep.

The next morning, Naza was awakened by a folk song—her custom ringtone.

"Sister K?" Seeing the caller ID, Naza scrambled to answer the phone.

"Naza, are you still asleep?" Cai Yinong’s voice came through, filled with concern.

Naza glanced at the time at the top of her phone screen and saw it was already 8:30. She felt a surge of embarrassment. "Sister K, I’m up. I was just in the bathroom."

Cai Yinong had guessed as much. She didn't press further and went straight to the purpose of her call. "I’ve thought it over carefully. I’ve decided to have Jiang Jinfu learn from Hu Ge. You will head to Hengdian today to learn by Zhang Yang’s side."

"Oh?" Naza was surprised.

She didn't really mind whether she learned from Zhang Yang or Hu Ge, but if she had to choose, it would definitely be Zhang Yang.

Because Zhang Yang was closer to her age, they had more in common, it was easier to get along, and they had Reba as a mutual friend.

However, her reaction made Cai Yinong think she was reluctant, so she explained proactively, "Jiang Jinfu has been studying acting at the Shanghai Theatre Academy for nearly two years; he can jump straight into learning set etiquette with Hu Ge. Since you're starting from scratch, it’s better for you to learn from Zhang Yang."

"I have no objections, Sister K," Naza realized and answered immediately.

"Good." Cai Yinong flashed a satisfied smile and added, "I’ve already called Zhang Yang. Just make sure to meet up with him before 10 o'clock."

"Okay, Sister K..." Naza agreed readily.

After hanging up, she immediately got out of bed, opened her suitcase, took out a change of clothes, and headed into the bathroom.

After the rustling sounds of undressing, the shower turned on. Steam quickly filled the room, fogging up the glass and leaving only the graceful curves of her silhouette visible.

Half an hour later, Naza walked out wearing a tight black dress. Her wet hair draped over her shoulders, and her delicate collarbones were impossible to look away from.

Bending down to put her discarded clothes into a small bag, she grabbed her makeup kit and returned to the bathroom to apply a simple, light look.

Considering she still had to eat breakfast, she skipped lipstick. After blow-drying her hair, she sent a message to Zhang Yang.

[Senior, when are we leaving?]

Zhang Yang: [I’m having breakfast on floor X. Are you coming over to eat, or are you buying something outside?]

Naza: [I’m coming over now.]

Zhang Yang: [OK, I’m at a table by the window.]

Naza: [Mm-hmm!]

Pulling her room card and locking the door, Naza hurried toward the restaurant.

On the other side, Zhang Yang looked at Jiang Jinfu and asked, "Why?"

"I want to beat you." Jiang Jinfu put down his chopsticks, his expression serious. "Zhang Yang, I want to be more famous than you. I want to win awards faster than you. I want to beat you to prove I’m not inferior to you."

"That’s why I can’t let you be the one to show me the ropes."

With that, Jiang Jinfu stood up and walked away, full of youthful vigor.

Once his back was out of sight, Zhang Yang rubbed his cheeks and smiled. "Heh, I really am a genius."

If he had proactively suggested taking Naza under his wing, Cai Yinong would never have agreed, given her personality.

But by acting indifferent, and with Jiang Jinfu speaking up about not wanting to be led by him, Cai Yinong would have to reconsider.

She might not necessarily put Naza under his guidance, but she certainly wouldn't force him to take Jiang Jinfu, which meant his goal was achieved.

"Brother Yang."

As Zhang Yang was contemplating how to stir up trouble once they reached Hengdian, he heard Naza’s voice.

It was another breathtakingly beautiful day. Even Zhang Yang, who had seen his fair share of beauties, was momentarily dazed. He smiled, "Go grab whatever you want to eat. We’ll leave once you’re done. No rush."

Naza nodded obediently and scurried off to fetch her breakfast—two full plates of food.

"Can you actually eat all that?" Zhang Yang asked in surprise.

"You don't understand. This is a punishment for Reba." Naza pulled out her phone, snapped a few pictures of the two plates, and logged into QQ to send them to Reba.

[Reba]: Naza, do you realize you're committing a crime right now!? (drooling)

Satisfied with the result, Naza’s appetite piqued, and she began devouring her breakfast.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Fortunately, Naza’s three meals a day were reimbursed by the company.

Over half an hour later, Zhang Yang and Naza boarded a business van, heading toward Hengdian.

Zhang Yang initiated the conversation. "About last night, after you finished singing—what I said afterwards was intentional."

"Oh?" Naza blinked, confused.

What was the benefit of deliberately embarrassing me?

"I was training you..." Zhang Yang repeated the same things he had told Hu Ge the night before, adding a bit of artistic embellishment.

"Is that so?" Naza still felt something was off.

"Yes," Zhang Yang answered firmly. "These things were meant to be told to you by Old Hu, but since Sister K changed her mind and asked me to guide you, I have to provide the pointers myself. Don't think I'm just making excuses."

"I wouldn't think that." Seeing how earnest Zhang Yang sounded, Naza stopped doubting him and felt a bit embarrassed. "Oh, in that case, my performance last night was actually quite poor."

"The entertainment industry is a vanity fair; it’s not easy to navigate. Once you join the crew and see more, you’ll understand," Zhang Yang said meaningfully. "So, once we get to Hengdian, I’ll tell everyone you’re my personal assistant. That way, not many people will pay attention to you, and you can learn while you observe."

"Oh." Naza nodded in agreement, though she remained slightly suspicious. "Brother Yang, you aren't just trying to trick me into being your assistant, are you?"

"Of course not." Zhang Yang waved his hand. "It’s just a facade. In private, we’ll act just as we always do."

Hearing this, Naza stopped overthinking it.

"Let me tell you some precautions for when we join the crew. You..."

Zhang Yang patiently began educating Naza.

Because he included anecdotes from his own time on set as examples, Naza listened to it all like it was juicy gossip, finding it quite fascinating.

A few hours later, the car arrived in Hengdian. Zhang Yang contacted the floor manager in charge of accommodations for the *Qingshi Huangfei* crew. After checking into a standard hotel as per his contract, he went straight to the set to report for duty.

The production coordinator glanced at the day’s shooting schedule and pulled a walkie-talkie from his pocket. "Send a makeup artist over. The actor replacing Zhao Kuangyin is here. Get him into makeup."

Zhang Yang was led directly to the makeup room and told to sit. During the wait, Naza asked, "Brother Yang, are we going straight to makeup and filming?"

"Don't you need to go visit the director and the leads?"

Zhang Yang looked up at her, his expression calm. "The fact that I have a good relationship with Old Hu, Sister Tangtang, and Brother Qi might have given you the wrong impression."

Naza: ???