“Wow! Bro! Bro! Little Fairy is trending again! I really never expected Little Fairy to be so amazing! Not only is she beautiful, good at games, and a great cook, but her athletic ability is also so impressive! I’m really curious, is there anything she can’t do?”
After seeing the trending topic about Little Fairy, Wei Haoyang instinctively started talking to Song Zhi about it.
Luo Xiao, who was nearby, nodded in strong agreement.
“This Bai Baozhu really is like a fairy. It seems like there’s nothing she can’t do. I’m seriously in awe of her!”
“So, on the topic of Little Fairy changing careers, which option did you pick?”
Seeing that Luo Xiao was also paying attention to this matter, Wei Haoyang asked curiously.
“Me? Of course I picked for Bai Baozhu to change careers and join the national team, to compete in the Olympics and win glory for the country!”
Luo Xiao, a level-ten patriotic youth, declared with passionate fervor.
“Ah, I picked for Bai Baozhu not to change careers and to keep being a star. I think a face like hers belongs on the big screen.”
“There are so many stars in the world, but there’s only one world champion!”
“But Little Fairy didn’t study sports; she studied dance! And she’s already signed with an agency, which means she still wants to be a star!”
“Really? But if she didn’t like figure skating, she wouldn’t be able to skate that well! She must have been practicing in secret.”
…
Watching the two younger guys start arguing over Bai Baozhu, Song Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth speechlessly.
At that moment, he just wanted to kick these two noisy, childish idiots out.
“Alright, stop arguing.”
As soon as Song Zhi spoke, who would have thought the two would turn their battle onto him.
“Bro! You tell us, wouldn’t it be better for Little Fairy to be a star?”
“Brother Zhi! Bai Baozhu would definitely achieve more value in life by changing to sports and winning glory for the country!”
Faced with the questions thrown at him by Wei Haoyang and Luo Xiao, Song Zhi curled his lips coldly, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of chill.
“You’re not Bai Baozhu. What right do you have to make choices for her?”
Song Zhi’s opening statement stunned Wei Haoyang and Luo Xiao, who had been arguing.
Because they vaguely sensed that their former captain seemed to be… angry?
“Do good-looking people have to become stars? Has she ever clearly stated that she wants to be a star?”
“If someone has talent, do they have to join the national sports team and compete for the country’s glory? Is that the only way to achieve life’s value? You’re just engaging in moral coercion.”
Listening to Song Zhi rattle off a bunch of words dissing them, his language sharp and not the least bit polite, Wei Haoyang and Luo Xiao were left… completely bewildered, not understanding what was happening!
“So… Bro, what do you mean by all that?”
Wei Haoyang swallowed hard, looked cautiously at his former captain who seemed to be in a foul mood, and muttered softly.
“What I mean is, you have no right to make any choices for Bai Baozhu. What she wants to do is her own business. No one else has the right to interfere or question it.”
After speaking, Song Zhi thought about all the various comments and suggestions online for Bai Baozhu, which had practically planned out her entire life.
He didn’t know whether Bai Baozhu liked sports or being a star, but he was certain of one thing: Bai Baozhu was a very simple girl. If he had to guess what she liked, he thought that between the two, Bai Baozhu would definitely prefer being a simple chef…
…
As the online clamor for Bai Baozhu to join sports and win glory for the country grew louder, Bai Baozhu’s agency, Sunrise Entertainment, couldn’t sit still anymore!
Just as this cash cow was becoming more and more lush and able to ‘shake out’ more money, before they could even start making Bai Baozhu earn money, this sudden ‘career change’ trend popped up.
What’s more, a bunch of netizens who loved drama and didn’t mind making things worse outright stated they could crowdfund to pay Bai Baozhu’s breach of contract penalty so she could change careers. This infuriated Xu Xu, the boss of Sunrise Entertainment!
So much so that he was so anxious he developed a blister on his lip.
“Call Bai Baozhu! First, find out what she actually thinks!”
“President Xu, don’t worry. I know Bai Baozhu best. She would absolutely never give up being a star to go into sports. I’ll call her right now and ask.”
Thus, very soon, Bai Baozhu, who was in a closed environment filming Love Cottage, received a call from the Original Host’s agent, Fei Ping.
“Hello…”
Just as Bai Baozhu was thinking about what to say to this completely unfamiliar agent, before she could even speak, the man on the other end of the line launched into a rapid-fire speech!
And it was all lecturing her! This infuriated Bai Baozhu.
“Bai Baozhu, you went there to film a dating reality show. Why are you getting into sports? You should spend more time singing and dancing on the show, showcasing more of your potential as an entertainer…”
“Shut up. Keep nagging and I’ll hang up.”
If not for the fact that she was under contract and this person was the Original Host’s agent—someone relatively important—Bai Baozhu, who really didn’t like being criticized, would have almost hung up right then!
“Bai Baozhu, y-you, what kind of attitude is that? Do you really want to change careers and go into sports? Have you forgotten your star dream? Have you forgotten what you told me, that you definitely wanted to become a nationally recognized and beloved A-list superstar?”
Startled by Bai Baozhu’s cold, sharp tone, Fei Ping suddenly panicked a little. He, who had originally thought he had this star-obsessed Bai Baozhu completely under his thumb, also became a bit uncertain about whether Bai Baozhu would actually change careers.
So, his tone immediately softened.
“I don’t want to go into sports…”
Before Fei Ping could show a relieved smile upon hearing Bai Baozhu’s words,
He then heard Bai Baozhu continue.
“But, I don’t want to be a star either.”
Bai Baozhu stated the thoughts in her heart very bluntly.
“Wh-what?! You don’t want to be a star anymore?!”
Although Bai Baozhu said she wouldn’t change to sports, she also said she didn’t want to be a star!
“Then what do you want to do?”
Fei Ping nearly roared the question.
“Me? Didn’t I already say? I just want to be a chef.”
Bai Baozhu frowned and said flatly.
“Ch-chef?!”
Fei Ping truly never expected to get such an answer from Bai Baozhu.
Although he had also seen Bai Baozhu’s apology statement and knew about her plugging her cooking in it, he had thought at the time that Bai Baozhu was just saying it casually, deliberately trying to please the audience.
But now, hearing from the person herself that she wanted to be a chef was real… it nearly shocked Fei Ping senseless!
“Are you serious?”
Still not quite believing it, a dazed Fei Ping pressed for confirmation.
“Of course.”
Bai Baozhu said very frankly.
“…I don’t know why you suddenly have this idea, but I hope you’ll think about the dream you told me before, and the contract we signed.”
As he spoke, Fei Ping, gradually regaining his composure, started playing the emotional card with Bai Baozhu, talking about the things they went through when he first signed her.
Of course, most of it was spent reminiscing with Bai Baozhu about how persistent and serious she had once been about her star dream.
“To be a star, you never touched oily food. You only ate boiled vegetables every day to lose weight and maintain your figure, all so your body would look better on camera…”
“To participate in this show, you studied etiquette with a teacher for a whole month…”
…
Listening on, Bai Baozhu felt… so moved she was almost falling asleep.
However, Fei Ping’s emotional reminiscence tactic did have some effect.
After all, Bai Baozhu wasn’t a cold, heartless person, and she also had a grateful heart.
She was very grateful to Bai Baozhu.
Because if Bai Baozhu hadn’t given her this body, she might have been nothing…
“Bai Baozhu, you’ve come so far. You suffered so much to become a big star. Now that the bitter days are finally over, are you really going to give up?”
Hearing Fei Ping’s emotionally charged words over the phone, Bai Baozhu’s eyebrows raised slightly.
No one understood better than her how obsessed Bai Baozhu had been with becoming a star.
Originally, she hadn’t paid much attention to this issue. After all, she really had no interest in being a star. Being a star was the Original Host’s dream, not hers.
But now, Fei Ping’s words sketched out memories of how hard the Original Host had worked to become a star.
Those memories played out scene by scene in Bai Baozhu’s mind, affecting her emotions, influenced by that former Bai Baozhu.
It made Bai Baozhu understand even more deeply how serious, how important, how much the Original Host had yearned for that dream.
It was as if becoming a nationally known, universally beloved A-list superstar was the very meaning of her life…
Thinking again of how the Original Host, just because she was blacklisted by the whole internet and couldn’t be a star, made a wrong choice and chose to leave this world—that kind of fervent love and finality towards her dream—suddenly, Bai Baozhu, who had never considered being a star, was shaken for the first time by the countless memories flooding her mind…
“I…”
Faced with those intense, burning memories, Bai Baozhu could no longer firmly say the words ‘I don’t want to be a star’.
Fei Ping’s words seemed to have drawn out the emotions the Original Host had left behind in this body, affecting Bai Baozhu’s own feelings.
“Bai Baozhu, think about it again. A lot of people like you now. Your fans have already surpassed a million! You’re not far from your dream. Once you finish filming this variety show, I guarantee you’ll achieve your dream immediately…”
Under the almost hypnotic sound of Fei Ping’s voice, Bai Baozhu frowned slightly, and finally, took a deep breath.
“I’ll think about it.”
With that, Bai Baozhu hung up the phone.
After returning the phone to the production team, Bai Baozhu seemed completely dejected. The smile that was usually on her face was gone.
At that moment, all she could think about was…
She was using Bai Baozhu’s body. Shouldn’t she, shouldn’t she also do something for her?
“Zhu Zhu, are… are you okay?”
Seeing Bai Baozhu walk in from outside with a terrible expression on her face, Bo Shenyu, who happened to be in the living room, strode over to her side.
Looking up at Bo Shenyu, Bai Baozhu pouted and said gloomily.
“Not okay.”
“What’s wrong?”
Bo Shenyu looked at Bai Baozhu with concern, his voice growing even softer.
If Su Han saw this, she would probably be furious and scream internally again that Bo Shenyu was breaking his persona once more!
Perhaps because Bo Shenyu’s voice was too gentle, or perhaps because Bai Baozhu was in too bad a mood, her mind a mess and wanting to talk to someone,
So, Bai Baozhu, who usually didn’t pay much attention to Bo Shenyu, gloomily expressed her current feelings.
“I’m just in a bad mood, feeling a bit down.”
Hearing Bai Baozhu’s words and seeing her listless appearance, Bo Shenyu thought for a long while, seeming very conflicted. Finally, after a moment of contemplation, he spoke softly.
“Then I’ll make you a dessert that will make you happy.”
As soon as Bo Shenyu said this, Bai Baozhu was so shocked that even her tangled, gloomy mood vanished. She stared at Bo Shenyu in disbelief, as if looking at an alien.
“You? Make me dessert? Are you joking?!”
Bai Baozhu looked at Bo Shenyu incredulously, completely unable to believe his words.
After all, she had seen perfectly clearly how much Bo Shenyu hated eating sweets.
Yet, this person who hated sweets so much was saying he would make dessert for her?
“Hmm, whether I’m joking or not, you’ll know if we go to the kitchen together.”
Seeing the look of frustration and sadness finally disappear from Bai Baozhu’s face, although Bo Shenyu didn’t show much expression, the corner of his mouth quietly lifted.
Because Bai Baozhu was far too curious about whether Bo Shenyu was really going to make dessert, she followed him into the kitchen without another word.
Once in the kitchen, watching Bo Shenyu put on an apron and actually start making dessert, Bai Baozhu finally believed that this man who claimed to hate sweets was telling the truth!
Watching Bo Shenyu’s long, slender fingers separate egg yolks from whites, skillfully preparing the dessert, Bai Baozhu suddenly began to doubt whether he really was someone who hated sweets.
If he truly hated sweets, why would he know how to make them?
Especially when she saw Bo Shenyu actually produce the dessert he had said would make her happy, her suspicions grew even stronger!
“What’s this?”
Bai Baozhu looked at the dessert before her, which looked quite beautiful and delicious. As a foodie, she subconsciously swallowed.
“Strawberry Au Lait. You’ll definitely like it.”
Bo Shenyu placed the plated Strawberry Au Lait in front of Bai Baozhu, watching her with a smile in his eyes.
Cute strawberries dotted the milky-white cream. Whether judged by its appearance or its aroma, Bai Baozhu could tell this dessert was made with skill.
Someone making dessert for the first time couldn’t possibly achieve such perfection.
Bai Baozhu shot Bo Shenyu a suspicious look and asked doubtfully.
“Didn’t you say you don’t like sweets? Why do you know how to make them?”
Bo Shenyu, who had been standing to the side watching her with a smile, immediately stiffened.
“W-well, this dessert is very simple to make. I-I have an older sister who loves it, s-so I was forced to learn by her.”
Bo Shenyu’s explanation came out a bit haltingly.
Hearing his explanation, Bai Baozhu didn’t press further. After all, with delicious food right in front of her, enjoying it was the top priority!
She took a bite. The soft bread, the sweet-and-sour strawberries, and the rich, fragrant cream melted on her tongue, dancing on her taste buds.
The creamy, pure flavor with its hint of sweet and sour was pure bliss with every mouthful.
“Is it good?”
From the moment Bai Baozhu started eating the Strawberry Au Lait he had made with his own hands, Bo Shenyu had been incredibly nervous, his eyes full of expectation as he stared at her.
After all, this was the first time he had made dessert for anyone other than himself, and that person was of the opposite sex!
Therefore, Bo Shenyu, who had never really felt nervous before, was truly on edge as he watched Bai Baozhu eat his Strawberry Au Lait bite by bite. Fine beads of sweat even appeared on the bridge of his nose.
“Mhm! It’s delicious! The method might be simple, but the flavor you made is really amazing!”
When it came to food, Bai Baozhu was never stingy with her praise.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she ate the Strawberry Au Lait, giving Bo Shenyu her highest affirmation.
Seeing Bai Baozhu’s happy smile and blissful expression as she ate, a faint smile also appeared on Bo Shenyu’s face.
Even though he hadn’t eaten any of the sweets he liked, he felt a sweet sensation in his own heart, a kind of happiness as if he had eaten dessert himself.
After polishing off all the Strawberry Au Lait Bo Shenyu had made for her in one go, the troubles and gloom in Bai Baozhu’s heart were swept away, replaced by a feeling of fullness and happiness.
“Ah! It’s true, dessert really can cure all bad moods.”
Bai Baozhu smiled at Bo Shenyu. Originally somewhat cold towards him, her opinion of Bo Shenyu improved because of this Strawberry Au Lait.
“So, what was bothering you earlier?”
Seeing the smile on Bai Baozhu’s face, Bo Shenyu asked her as he cleaned up the kitchen island, while she sat right in front of it.
He looked every bit the househusband! And a very handsome one at that!
“Well…”
Hearing Bo Shenyu’s concerned question, Bai Baozhu rested her chin in her hands, a hint of conflict and uncertainty in her eyes as she spoke.
“If, and I mean if, someone gave you a kindness you could never repay in this lifetime. Would you, after they were gone, try your best to help fulfill some things they really wanted to accomplish?”
“…”
Hearing Bai Baozhu’s words, Bo Shenyu’s hands, which were washing the plate, paused slightly. He thought very seriously for a moment before slowly giving his answer.
“If it were me, I think I would try to help fulfill what they really wanted to accomplish, within my capabilities.”
“But, to be honest, even if you don’t do it for them, it’s fine. After all, they’re already gone. Doing these things doesn’t hold much real meaning. Because you aren’t them. So, whether you do it or not, you shouldn’t force yourself.”
Bo Shenyu’s words made Bai Baozhu nod thoughtfully.
“Mhm, thank you, Bo Shenyu. I suddenly realize you’re not such a bad person.”
Bai Baozhu smiled at Bo Shenyu, feeling much lighter in her heart.
But she didn’t know that this casual, offhand remark of hers had set a certain ‘young man’s heart’ pounding wildly~
…
When the day’s video filming ended, the raw, unedited footage related to Bo Shenyu was sent once again to a certain producer—his cousin, Huo Yu.
After finishing her work, Huo Yu opened the video and saw that not only had her younger cousin made dessert for Bai Baozhu, he had also…
“Heh! Since when did I love eating Strawberry Au Lait!”