Fake Love with the Movie Queen - Chapter 33

The group settled smoothly into the restaurant, opting for a private room to avoid any disturbances.

Qiu Qing’an took the menu from the waiter, placed their order, and then passed it to Gu Nanxuan, who made her selections before handing it to the next person.

Once everyone had taken their turn, Qiu Qing’an inquired about dietary restrictions and added two more soups to the order.

While waiting for the food, Sikong Yuan took the initiative to liven up the atmosphere. “I initially thought this was everyone’s first time meeting on the show, but it turns out you all knew each other beforehand.”

Her gaze swept across each face before settling on Gu Nanxuan, who was seated closest to her. “Nanxuan, how did you and Qing’an meet?”

Since Gu Nanxuan’s clarification video was released, Sikong Yuan’s impression of her had shifted significantly.

Her tone now carried a note of familiarity.

Gu Nanxuan noticed but didn’t particularly care how Sikong Yuan viewed her. Her response was indifferent. “We ran into each other by chance and got acquainted.”

Undeterred by the lukewarm reply, Sikong Yuan turned to Zhu Ningyue. “And how about you and Nanxuan?”

“Because Gu Nanxuan tried to snatch my plushie! It was a limited-edition collectible!”

At the mention of this, Zhu Ningyue’s face lit up with smug satisfaction. “But in the end, I was the one who bought it. Heh.”

This was one of the rare instances where she could claim the upper hand between her and Gu Nanxuan, so of course, she had to flaunt it.

Gu Nanxuan and Zhu Ningyue had met in a merchandise store.

At the time, Gu Nanxuan had picked up the last remaining plushie from a popular brand’s collection. Zhu Ningyue, spotting it from behind, immediately rushed over to intercept her, insisting that she had her eye on it first and demanding Gu Nanxuan hand it over.

Naturally, Gu Nanxuan refused, standing firm on the principle of first come, first served.

The two ended up in a standoff at the checkout counter.

The cashier recognized Zhu Ningyue the moment she saw her and greeted her respectfully.

Zhu Ningyue was an SSSVIP member of the store—practically every staff member knew her, even if they’d only met once.

After understanding the situation, the cashier politely asked Gu Nanxuan, “Miss Zhu genuinely wants this plushie. Would you be willing to yield? We have other items from the same series and can offer you compensation.”

According to store policy, purchases were indeed based on a first-come, first-served basis.

So she couldn’t outright demand Gu Nanxuan give up the plushie—only make a gentle request.

If Gu Nanxuan refused, she’d have to find another way to placate Zhu Ningyue.

Hearing the cashier’s words, Zhu Ningyue was almost certain Gu Nanxuan would relent. She began preening. “See? Hurry up and give it to me.”

“No.” Gu Nanxuan rejected her without hesitation.

Zhu Ningyue puffed up her cheeks in frustration. “What’s your problem? I wanted this plushie ages ago—I just forgot to preorder it!”

Gu Nanxuan lifted her gaze. “If you forgot to preorder, then it’s fair game. I got to it first, so it’s mine now.”

Seeing the argument reignite, the cashier intervened again. “Miss Zhu, would you like to consider other plushies from the same series?”

“No!” Zhu Ningyue stood her ground. “I’ve already collected the rest of the series—this is the only one I’m missing!”

“This…” The cashier was also in a dilemma. She checked the inventory on the computer, and indeed, this was the last plush toy in stock—there was no way to restock it for her.

Zhu Ningyue, of course, already knew it was the last one. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so determined to “snatch” it.

Before coming to this store, she had inquired at several others and knew this was the final piece left in stock.

She had rushed over as soon as possible, only to find she was still a step too late.

Now that she couldn’t get the plush toy she wanted, and she wasn’t the type to outright steal, she could only stare resentfully as Gu Nanxuan placed the toy on the counter to check out.

Perhaps her gaze was too blatant, because Gu Nanxuan finally relented: “It’s not impossible for me to give it to you.”

Zhu Ningyue’s eyes lit up. Afraid Gu Nanxuan might change her mind, she hurriedly asked, “What do you want? Three times the price? Ten times? Or any other compensation—name it.”

Her words made Gu Nanxuan, who had only intended to ask for double the price, pause.

She changed her mind and said bluntly, “Then ten times it is.”

“Ten times it is—deal!”

Zhu Ningyue didn’t think it was too expensive. As long as she could get what she wanted, she’d pay even ten times more without hesitation.

She urged the cashier to scan the item: “Charge it to my card.”

Once she had the plush toy safely in her arms, she turned back to Gu Nanxuan. “Should I transfer the money through contacts, or directly to your card?”

“Through contacts.”

Gu Nanxuan didn’t want to share her bank details with a stranger.

Zhu Ningyue opened her phone, added her as a contact, and with a tap, transferred a hefty sum over.

Gu Nanxuan accepted the payment and saw the neat five-digit figure. Suddenly, she realized she might have undersold herself—she could have asked for even more.

With the money secured, she turned and left the store.

As she stepped out, she exhaled in relief while also feeling a twinge of envy for Gu Nanxuan’s “good luck.”

The cashier, not forgetting professionalism, bid them farewell: “Welcome back next time~”

And so, their first encounter came to an end.

After hearing the whole story, Si Kongyuan blinked. “Are you sure she was the one who snatched the plush toy from you?”

Zhu Ningyue replied with absolute conviction, “I saw it first, so of course it was mine.”

Gu Nanxuan couldn’t be bothered to argue. Bored, she idly played with Chou Qing’an’s fingers, tracing them in her palm.

Chou Qing’an twitched her fingers, lightly scratching Gu Nanxuan’s palm before leaning in to whisper, “You never mentioned this to me before?”

Gu Nanxuan answered, “I really didn’t.”

After their first meeting, she and Zhu Ningyue hadn’t been in contact for a long time.

She didn’t have the habit of cleaning out her contacts, so Zhu Ningyue remained in her friend list.

And it was precisely this habit that allowed Zhu Ningyue to find her directly later on.

At the time, Gu Nanxuan was working a part-time job. When she finally checked her phone and saw Zhu Ningyue’s message, she was genuinely surprised.

After all, they were practically strangers who had only met once—hardly close enough to chat casually.

The most surprising part? Zhu Ningyue had reached out to—borrow money.

Gu Nanxuan couldn’t fathom how someone who had casually transferred tens of thousands without hesitation could ever be short on cash.

Staring at the message in the chatbox, she hesitated for a long while before finally replying:

“What do you need the money for?”

It took Zhu Ningyue two or three minutes to reply: “So you didn’t delete me after all! That’s great!”

“I’ve run out of living expenses recently. Could you lend me five thousand to tide me over? I’ll pay you back later, okay?”

“PitifulPitifulPitiful”

She sent a long string of emojis.

“I really have no other choice. My card was frozen by my family, wuwu.”

Gu Nanxuan didn’t think she was lying: “Five thousand is too much. I can’t lend you that. Three thousand at most.”

The last time Zhu Ningyue had rounded up the change for her, it happened to be three thousand. Even if she didn’t get it back, it wouldn’t be a huge loss.

“Three thousand it is, then.”

Zhu Ningyue counted on her fingers and sighed, “I don’t even know if three thousand will last me a week.”

Gu Nanxuan: “…”

She typed, “If you only need it for a week, then I’ll lend you five hundred.”

“Five hundred won’t do!” Zhu Ningyue quickly replied. “I’d starve to death! Whimper”

Gu Nanxuan didn’t respond further and directly transferred the three thousand to her.

Zhu Ningyue, overjoyed upon receiving it, sent several more emojis: “You’re seriously the best! I’ll treat you to a meal later!”

Gu Nanxuan turned off her phone, packed her things, and headed back to school, not taking her words seriously.

But Zhu Ningyue was indeed a woman of her word.

A week later, she not only returned the three thousand she had borrowed but also transferred an extra thirty thousand.

“Thanks so much for last time. Consider the extra money a token of my gratitude.”

Seeing the two transfers, Gu Nanxuan didn’t hesitate and accepted them.

Noticing the payment had been received, Zhu Ningyue messaged again: “I said I’d treat you to a meal. When are you free?”

Gu Nanxuan replied, “Returning the money is enough. No need for a meal.”

For this “big spender,” she even patiently added an explanation: “I’m working part-time and don’t have much free time.”

“Ah? You’re that busy?” Zhu Ningyue typed quickly. “Not even a single day off?”

Gu Nanxuan: “Nope, none.”

Zhu Ningyue: “Then tell me where you’re working. I’ll come find you.”

Gu Nanxuan: “Forget it. I really don’t have any time to spare.”

She had just started university and was short on money everywhere.

Though the amount Zhu Ningyue had transferred would cover her expenses for a while, she still wanted to earn more while she had the chance.

Zhu Ningyue sounded disappointed: “Alright then.”

Gu Nanxuan thought she’d drop the matter, but to her surprise, Zhu Ningyue actually tracked down her workplace.

Staring at the person who had suddenly appeared before her, she froze for a moment.

“Surprised to see me?” Zhu Ningyue grinned at her.

Gu Nanxuan averted her gaze and continued organizing the items she had moved: “How did you find me?”

Zhu Ningyue crouched down to her level: “We’re in the same place. If I wanted to find you, I just did.”

She didn’t mention that she’d spent money and enlisted help to gather information.

Not only had she pinpointed Gu Nanxuan’s workplace, but she’d even found out which university she attended.

“Turns out we go to the same school! Isn’t that something?”

Gu Nanxuan remained indifferent: “Oh.”

Zhu Ningyue blinked at her: “Don’t you think it’s fate?”

Seeing Gu Nanxuan still busy with her tasks, she stood up: “Come eat with me. I’ve already arranged for someone to cover your shift today.”

Gu Nanxuan said nothing.

She continued to reassure, “Don’t worry, the boss won’t fire you. I’ve already sorted it out.”

Gu Nanxuan looked up at her and asked, “You didn’t use money to settle this, did you?”

“Ahem.” Zhu Ningyue, caught off guard by her accurate guess, averted her eyes guiltily. “The process doesn’t matter! What’s important is that now you have time to go out for a meal with me!”