Goddess Strategy GL - Chapter 23

“Xiaoyuan, come over and look, this is the Muse I told you about last time!”

In the office, a man suddenly slapped the table, pointed at the computer, and yelled.

“Go away, I’m busy!”

Because there were already “scoops” about Zhao Xin’s next drama online, Xiaoyuan was currently discussing related matters with several publicists, following Susan’s instructions. The staff at Zhao Xin’s studio were all top talents in the industry, targets for poaching by various management companies and celebrity studios. Their work capabilities were excellent; once there was work, they absolutely wouldn’t be idle.

Of course, there was an exception—this Mr. Pi Dali, also known as “Pidan Ge” (Preserved Egg Bro), another signed celebrity at Zhao Xin’s studio. The media called him a handsome man whose face could conquer all. He aspired to follow the path of serious literature but was pulled into the fashion world by his mother because his looks were too striking, forcing him to gradually drift away from serious literature. He was a genuine, artistic young man.

“Xiaoyuan, you were the one who said you would support your cousin no matter what happened.”

“……”

“The article I wrote, you said you would read it, did you?”

“……”

“You said you’d write me a review, where is the comment?”

“You said…”

“Oh my god! When Sister Susan gets here, let’s fire him! Keeping a decorative vase that just babbles all day is a waste, even if we used him to hold water for flushing the toilet.” Xiaoyuan lamented.

Pidan Ge walked over and pointed at the documents in Xiaoyuan’s hand: “What’s wrong with being a decorative vase? Even if I’m a vase, I’m the male lead in this drama…”

Although he was the male lead, Pidan Ge’s character only had ten minutes of screen time. This drama was an art-house film with two female leads.

“You have one minute!”

Xiaoyuan was dragged to the desk by Pidan Ge: “I didn’t tell you last time, I ran into her while doing fieldwork on the bar street. She said she was going to a late-night party, so I drove her there. She looked like a quite glamorous girl that day, so why is she… now wandering and busking on the street?”

Xiaoyuan blinked and leaned closer to the screen.

“Don’t get so close, Sis, you’ll hurt your eyes.”

Xiaoyuan opened her mouth wide, pointing a finger at the screen: “This, this, this, this—”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Is this—Miss Xiaoye??”

That evening, Pidan Ge took his cousin to the place reported in the news. After the two exchanged information, they realized that the lack of communication had caused many problems.

“Why didn’t you say earlier that you drove Miss Xiaoye to the late-night party that day? You’re really careless. If you let her into a place like that, she’d be devoured by that pack of wolves until there’s nothing left.”

“Didn’t Zhao Xin also go there that night?”

“Miss Xiaoye went to find the Boss that night. I guess she must have heard Ren Xi mention that place at the party.”

Pidan Ge thought of the stack of small bills in his drawer and couldn’t help but sigh: “No wonder she ended up wandering on the street. She tossed me a bunch of loose change that day, even one-cent coins. She probably took all the money she had on her in a rush that day. She really cares about Zhao Xin.”

The two searched for a while but didn’t see any sign of Ye Ruoqing. Xiaoyuan couldn’t help but feel anxious: “Miss Xiaoye is a good girl. Once we find her, we’ll settle her down first. We can go back and plead with Sister Susan and the Boss to arrange a job for her at the studio. She came here alone, is unfamiliar with the place, and what if something happens to her if she continues to wander like this?”

Pidan Ge said: “I think she probably ran away from home after a fight with her family. Wouldn’t it be better to persuade her to go home?”

Xiaoyuan rolled her eyes at him: “She’s an adult. She naturally has her own reasons for coming here. She’s already clearly said she won’t go back.”

Pidan Ge sighed, looking at the somewhat disheveled photo of Ye Ruoqing on his phone: “Why go to such lengths?”

Xiaoyuan said: “Everyone has their stubborn points. You do, I do, and the Boss does too. Instead of sighing here, we should hurry up and find her. She is your Muse.”

The two opened the map, marked a few places where Ye Ruoqing might appear, and then split up. It was already getting dark. Zhao Xin was resting at home today, and Xiaoyuan had to deliver the content of the daytime meeting to her. Ye Ruoqing’s previous words were too harsh, and Zhao Xin had also spoken angrily, ending the exchange with a rice cooker. It seemed the two were on the verge of never speaking again. Xiaoyuan planned to start softening Zhao Xin up tonight, little by little. Zhao Xin was actually quite soft-hearted, and would likely give in after a few days of persistent effort.

Xiaoyuan was still searching for Ye Ruoqing when Zhao Xin called.

“Where are you?”

“Ah, my cousin and I are having dinner with a friend.”

“Having dinner with a friend, you say? That’s perfect then, I’m out for a stroll. Let’s meet up, you give me the documents, and you can enjoy your evening. No need to come to my house.”

Xiaoyuan was dumbfounded.

“Where are you?”

Xiaoyuan held the phone, frantically giving a location, which was a restaurant not far from where she was.

“Then let’s meet there at seven, is that convenient?”

“Convenient! Convenient!”

Oh no! Xiaoyuan hung up the phone, looked at the clock, and realized she had less than an hour. She quickly called Pidan Ge again, telling him that Zhao Xin would be arriving soon to pick up the documents. In half an hour, whether he found Ye Ruoqing or not, he must meet her at the restaurant first.

Pidan Ge agreed. While listening to his cousin’s instructions, he kept glancing around. Suddenly, a familiar silhouette jumped into his sight.

“My Muse?”

Ye Ruoqing was squatting under the shade of a tree, gnawing on a tomato. Upon hearing this, her body immediately bristled with warning goosebumps. Looking up, the artistic man from that night was rapidly heading her way in a posture of running towards a beautiful new life, startling her so much that her hand shook, almost dropping the tomato.

“I finally found you!”

Ye Ruoqing subconsciously wanted to run, but she was in the middle of eating dinner. Her small cart was parked to the side, and in front of her were a bowl, a cup, and an enamel basin, lined up. The bowl contained a steamed bun, her main food for the evening. The enamel basin had a bit of pickled mustard and a tomato, her fruit and side dish for the day.

The weather had been hot these past few days, and she had to find a place to shower daily, so she had to cut back on food expenses to maintain hygiene.

Pidan Ge saw Ye Ruoqing’s stunned face and thought she didn’t recognize him, so he took off his sunglasses and pointed to himself: “I drove you to the late-night party that night, remember?”

Ye Ruoqing nodded: “I knew it from your ‘Muse’ comment. Your face isn’t very familiar though.”

“……”

Although he was not focused on an acting career, Ye Ruoqing’s words were a heavy blow to Pidan Ge. Passersby were already looking over. Pidan Ge had many fans, especially female fans; his face was a sight that drew a crowd even on the street. But ever since that night, Ye Ruoqing had acted as if she didn’t know who he was. It was no wonder she had a conflict with Zhao Xin, given how little she cared about celebrities. Zhao Xin’s national popularity was dozens of times higher than his, and she was universally supported by directors and fans. It would be a miracle if she could withstand such a blow from Ye Ruoqing.

“Come, come, we have twenty minutes. Let’s discuss how to correctly treat a celebrity.”

Pidan Ge felt it was necessary to correct Ye Ruoqing’s thinking before pleading with Susan and Zhao Xin. It was essential for someone who was about to enter the entertainment industry to understand some basic social etiquette.

“So, it’s okay if you don’t know who I am. But you can’t show that you don’t recognize me. In your mind, there shouldn’t be any strangers…”

“Big Brother, have you ever met a Muse who can’t even afford to eat?” Ye Ruoqing finished her bun and tomato, rinsed the enamel basin and bowl with water, put them away neatly on her small cart, and then looked up at Pidan Ge’s car commercial on the LED screen not far away, “I also don’t understand why you’re bothering me with all this preaching. If it’s because I didn’t recognize you as Pi Dali that day, then I apologize. You don’t need to be so sensitive. Ever since I was little, apart from my dad and my brother, all men look alike to me… I can’t remember faces.”

She said these words listlessly, stood up, pulled her small cart, and looked utterly devoid of spirit.

What kind of blow did she suffer? How did she change from a lively and sunny girl to this state in just one month? Pidan Ge was speechless. If it was financial difficulty, that would be a small problem. He came to find her today precisely to help her.

“Hold on, don’t leave yet, listen to me.” Pidan Ge also stood up and blocked Ye Ruoqing’s path, “I forgot to mention earlier, but I actually came to help you today. You don’t need to wander anymore. Xiaoyuan told me everything about your situation. That’s right, she and I are both from Zhao Xin’s studio. Our intention is…”

Oh my goodness! Zhao Xin!

Before Pidan Ge could finish, he saw Ye Ruoqing’s eyes flash. Like a horse with a stung backside, she bolted, running with surprising speed.

“Why are you running?”

Pidan Ge couldn’t let Ye Ruoqing escape like this. As Ye Ruoqing ran, he chased after her. The two sprinted down the road. Onlookers thought something was wrong, and some kindhearted people joined the chase. Suddenly, several young, strong men were following Ye Ruoqing. Her long legs and fast pace, combined with the clattering of the pots and pans on her small cart, meant that those few men couldn’t actually catch up.

Pidan Ge was chasing, panting heavily, when his phone rang. He answered and asked, “Who is this?”

“Cousin, it’s time, hurry up and come over.”

“Wait, I found Ye Ruoqing!”

“What?!”

“I said I found Ye Ruoqing, she ran away, and I’m chasing her.”

“Which way did she run?”

“Towards the restaurant where we agreed to meet!”