Seeing the thick stack of notebooks in Lin Leyao's bag, Xin Ying asked, "Are you sure you want to film this drama?"
Lin Leyao nodded: "Yes, I just had a short meeting with my agent and staff, and we all feel that this script is the most suitable for me at this stage."
Xin Ying nodded slightly, and silence fell over the car.
Lin Leyao, in the passenger seat, looked around the car and asked, "Why did you change to this car today?"
"There are too many entertainment companies around here, big and small. If I drove that car over, all the paparazzi squatting here would definitely swarm around, wanting to see which rich kid is dating a celebrity. Would you still come with me today?"
Imagining that scene, Lin Leyao laughed: "Indeed, it's better to keep a low profile."
Xin Ying hummed in agreement and asked, "Are you ready for the family dinner next week?"
Lin Leyao nodded: "It should be fine."
Xin Ying comforted her, "Don't worry about anything, my dad likes you very much."
Lin Leyao smiled, but she was still a little nervous. Even if it was an arranged marriage, who wouldn't be apprehensive about the stage of getting the marriage certificate and meeting the parents?
Sensing that Lin Leyao would feel a little awkward bringing up this topic, Xin Ying changed the subject, saying, "So you're joining the crew the week after next? Time flies."
"Yes, this movie is being filmed at the film studio, which isn't far from home. It only takes a little over an hour by high-speed rail from here to the film studio."
Xin Ying was somewhat surprised: "It's so close! I've never been to that film studio before."
Lin Leyao said, "You can go and take a look when you have time. It's just the beginning of winter now, so there are fewer tourists there. Most of the places are film crews shooting movies."
As soon as she blurted out those words, Lin Leyao's expression went blank for a moment.
I'm telling the truth that there are fewer tourists at the film studio now, but I hope Xin Ying doesn't think I want her to visit the set.
No, no, Lin Leyao shook her head frantically in her heart. It was just a polite remark; she was simply overthinking it.
However, Xin Ying chuckled, and her words made Lin Leyao instantly blush.
"Since it's so close, I'll visit the set sometime. You don't mind, do you?"
Lin Leyao rubbed her cheeks, which were burning with embarrassment, and after a long while, she responded softly, "Okay."
In late autumn, darkness falls early, and by this time, colorful neon lights have already illuminated the outside, the city's fiery glow lighting up half the sky.
Xin Ying drove along the wide road towards the edge of the city, and after two and a half hours of traffic jams, she finally arrived at her destination.
It's a guesthouse called Wanchao.
Although located in a rural suburb, this area has been vigorously developing its tourism economy in recent years, boasting convenient transportation and an elegant environment.
This guesthouse has a great location, with a pond behind it and several mountains a few miles away, making it especially suitable for people who live in the city for a long time to come out for a relaxing getaway.
The guesthouse is surrounded by various flowering trees and shrubs. Even though it is late autumn now, the evergreen trees and shrubs and seasonal flowers make the guesthouse very unique.
As the car drove into the yard, the staff inside immediately came out to greet it upon hearing the sound.
A petite girl with short, ear-length hair, wearing the guesthouse's uniform, ran up to the car and asked, "Is this Sister Xin Ying? I didn't recognize you at first because you changed cars."
Xin Ying opened the car door, got out, and replied, "It's me."
Lin Leyao opened the passenger door and got out. Xin Ying walked to her side and introduced her: "This is my friend, you can call her Sister Yaoyao. This is Xiao Liang, she works at this guesthouse."
"Hello." Lin Leyao greeted Xiao Liang with a smile.
Lin Leyao got out of the car without a mask, and Xiao Liang gasped when she saw Lin Leyao's face clearly.
"You, you, you are..." Xiao Liang's eyes sparkled, and she looked at Lin Leyao with great excitement. She stammered several times but couldn't say her name.
Xin Ying naturally took Lin Leyao's hand and led her inside.
Holding my hand, it was slender and soft, the palm warm and strong.
Lin Leyao's mind was completely focused on the hand being held. Half of her arm felt stiff, as if it didn't belong to her, while the other hand, hanging by her side, couldn't help but curl up in a corner where no one could see it.
"Ah—Lin Leyao!" A scream finally rang out, echoing throughout the courtyard and bringing the stunned Lin Leyao back to her senses.
Xin Ying opened the glass door to the hall and, without turning her head, instructed, "Why are you shouting so loudly? Don't forget what your boss taught you."
"I know!" Xiao Liang excitedly followed in and said, "Sister Xu said that we must keep it a secret no matter what celebrity comes over, and I remember that!"
"Mm," Xin Ying replied.
Xiao Liang quickly took out the room key from the front desk: "These are two rooms that have been prepared, on the third floor."
Xin Ying then let go of Lin Leyao's hand, which she had been holding since they entered the courtyard, and took the two access cards from Xiao Liang, handing one to Lin Leyao.
Xiao Liang suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, right, Sister Bai is here today too."
"Sister Bai?" Xin Ying, who was looking at the room number, looked up and her expression changed slightly.
"Mmm." Xiao Liang nodded repeatedly.
Xin Ying put the room key into her pocket, her expression returning to normal: "Okay, I'll go say hello to her in a bit."
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Author's Note:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 00:00:00 and 23:45:00 on February 5, 2022!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 55157345 and Genius Girl 007 (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 17
Once inside, Lin Leyao stood quietly beside Xin Ying, her gaze fixed on her without wavering, naturally not missing the changing expressions on Xin Ying's face.
Sister Bai.
Lin Leyao lowered her eyes and pondered the title for a moment.
Xin Ying's voice rang out from beside them: "We've been driving for two hours, and we're all a bit tired. Let's go to the room, take a shower, and rest for a bit before going downstairs for dinner."
Setting aside her questions for the time being, Lin Leyao nodded and said, "Okay."
The two walked side by side up the stairs to the third floor. At the first turn of the stairs, a slender figure wearing a light apricot dress approached and called out softly, "Xiaoying."
Xin Ying immediately stopped in her tracks and called out to the other person, "Sister Bai."
Sister Bai nodded and said, "Come down and have dinner together in a bit."
After saying that, she looked at Lin Leyao standing next to Xin Ying, smiled gently, and took the initiative to greet her: "Hello."
Lin Leyao's eyes widened the moment she saw the other person.
This woman has delicate, picturesque features, a fair complexion, and a gentle, graceful demeanor reminiscent of the water towns of Jiangnan. When she speaks, her voice is soft yet captivating, making her a very gentle and beautiful woman.
Moreover, she knew this woman very well!
Lin Leyao murmured to herself, "Sister Bai is actually Bai Xin."
Bai Xin is 37 years old this year and is a well-known actress in the industry. She debuted as a child star, and later, in her teens, she reportedly stopped acting to focus on her studies. She made a comeback at the age of 25, starring in many popular TV series and movies.
She is a very famous senior in the industry. Although she is only thirty-seven years old, she has won almost all the awards that an actress should have. She is also one of the few actresses who can do very well in both the film and television industry and can carry both television ratings and film box office.
Lin Leyao quickly snapped out of her thoughts and greeted him politely, "Hello, Teacher Bai."
Bai Xin's gentle smile returned as she said, "You must be Le Yao. I know you. Did you come with Xiao Ying? I own this guesthouse. You and Xiao Ying can come here often when you're free."
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Bai."
Bai Xin nodded: "I won't disturb you any longer, you should go upstairs and rest."
Bai Xin brushed past the two of them and went downstairs.
Lin Leyao and Xin Ying quickly arrived at the third floor, where Xiao Liang arranged rooms facing each other.
Bai Xin arrived at the lobby downstairs, and Xiao Liang greeted her, "Sister Bai, Sister Xin Ying is here!"
"Yes, I saw it."
Seeing several bags of clothes on the counter, Bai Xin asked, "What are these?"
Following the direction Bai Xin pointed, Xiao Liang looked over and explained, "Oh, these are clothes that Sister Xin Ying asked me to prepare for the two of them. They didn't bring any luggage, so she asked me to buy a few pieces."
After listening, Bai Xin pondered for a moment and said, "I have a few new clothes in my room that I bought but haven't worn yet, but have already washed. You can give them those to them. New clothes that haven't been washed are not suitable for girls to wear."
"Okay!" Xiao Liang immediately responded, then teased with a smile, "Sister Bai, you're so good to them. Is it because Sister Xinying is Sister Xu's childhood friend that you're extending your affection to her?"
Bai Xin smiled but didn't answer the question. Instead, she changed the subject and asked, "Which room did you arrange for them?"
"On the third floor, the two rooms opposite each other at the right corner door."
"If they come again in the future, please arrange a suite for them to stay in."
Hearing this, Xiao Liang looked up in confusion: "Suite? Isn't this the room you and Sister Xu stay in? If you give it to them, what about you and Sister Xu...?"
Before Xiao Liang could finish speaking, Bai Xin interrupted her: "It's okay, let's arrange it this way."
Seeing Bai Xin's decisive expression, Xiao Liang suppressed her doubts and said, "Okay."
Upstairs, Lin Leyao was lost in thought in her room when she heard a knock on the door.
Upon opening the room door, one would see Xin Ying standing at the entrance.
Lin Leyao asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Have you eaten?"
“No.” Xin Ying waved the bag in her hand. “Sister Bai had someone send over some clean clothes.”
Lin Leyao took it, and Xin Ying looked at the expression on her face and asked, "Did you suddenly run into Bai Xin here and are you very curious about her?"
Having her thoughts guessed, Lin Leyao did not deny it and nodded.
Xin Ying didn't immediately answer the question, but gestured with her chin toward the room: "Let's go inside and talk."
Upon entering the room, Xin Ying went straight to the point: "This guesthouse is run by Sister Bai and Xu Hong." Fearing Lin Leyao might not remember, Xin Ying added, "Xu Hong is my childhood friend."
Lin Leyao nodded; she remembered.
Xin Ying continued, "Sister Bai used to live in the same villa area as me and Xu Hong. Our families all know each other very well."
Lin Leyao thought for a moment and said, "Teacher Bai is much older than you."
Xin Ying nodded. "Yes, she's seven years older than me and ten years older than Xu Hong. I don't know why Xu Hong has always liked her since she was little. Xu Hong had a tough childhood; she didn't have a mother. I don't know if that's why she likes older, gentle women. She's known Sister Bai since she was a teenager, and they've been through a lot together over the years."
Upon hearing this, Lin Leyao suddenly realized something and abruptly looked up at Xin Ying.