Actresses

Chapter 54 Self-Consistency

Whether it was true or not, Shi Jiahe's words had a great comforting effect. Stone Sister's emotions calmed down again.

This time, the two searched very carefully, wandering around for a while, then returning to the lobby to rest. They practically got to know the receptionists and staff there. Despite exchanging so many glances, they remained all smiles.

Shi Jiahe was even a little embarrassed and asked Sister Shi, "What are you going to do if we haven't found it by midnight?"

"Let's just get a private room and sing for a while," Stone Sister said listlessly.

"That's exactly what I was thinking... I was worried that you'd feel uneasy if we didn't go to another store later."

"That's what I think. But I'm a little too tired to walk anymore." Stone's voice sounded dejected.

Although she didn't look like someone who exercised regularly, the torment of the whole night wasn't just the ever-increasing number of steps, but the futile feeling of not knowing when she would find anything.

Endless endeavors are the most exhausting.

"Don't overthink it, she's an adult. I think she knows what she's doing, and you've already done a great job."

Shi Jiahe's idea was to build an extra step for Sister Stone, so that she could walk down with more peace of mind.

"Could it be that I'm just trying to ease my conscience, instead of actually wanting to find her?" she muttered to herself.

Shi Jiahe bluntly said, "You've been thinking about her, and that's the most important thing. But you have to admit that there's only so much an agent can do for an artist. It's getting late, we definitely won't be able to find her. Let's go, let's get a small private room and sing for a while, it's on me."

Stone shook her head. "No need, I have a card. Let me do it."

Stone spoke with the staff at the front desk for a while, opened a small private room, and then someone led them there. During this time, the staff repeatedly asked them, "Are you sure you don't want to sing until dawn? It's not worth it to only stay open for three hours."

Stone shook her head again. "It's okay."

At this stage of her life, if you ask her to buy funds or health supplements, she'd probably buy anything, because Stone is probably already close to the lowest level of her mental maturity in the first half of her life.

The two of them slumped against the booth in the private room, playing all the old songs they could remember, but neither of them took the microphone. They just watched the music videos and silently ate their fruit platters.

"At least sing a couple of lines. Otherwise, you won't earn a single yuan," Shi Jiahe said.

Stone yawned deeply, still clutching her phone. "No one in the group is saying anything about the progress. I suspect that maybe none of the kids in my company have actually gone out to look for them."

Well, the question was not the answer.

"If it were me, I wouldn't go either. Who knows where celebrities go? You know, once I went to see Sister Ran, and it was at a super luxurious villa in the suburbs, a place I couldn't afford even if I worked ten lifetimes. The occasions they go to are probably places we would never even have the chance to be in."

"That's your Sister Ran. The people she associates with are all people of status and position. It's hard to say about Zhuang Pan. All sorts of weird people are among her friends. Sometimes I feel like she's a child who isn't related to me by blood. No matter how I try to persuade her or how angry I get, in the end I still have to give in to her. I just can't do anything about her."

"You see, you still can't guarantee she'll get a role in our show."

"If you don't believe it, then don't."

Stone mumbled incoherently, then simply lay sprawled on the sofa and closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Shi Jiahe got up and turned the music down.

"It's okay, just keep the music playing. It'll be more comfortable to sleep with some noise in your ears. Otherwise, you'll really start to feel like you're at home." Stone Sister's voice couldn't hide her sleepiness.

"What exactly did we come out here for today..." Shi Jiahe said in a very low voice. But Sister Shi definitely didn't hear her.

She found it increasingly absurd, but drowsiness overcame her, and she slid down, lying completely flat. Once her heavy eyelids covered her eyes, she couldn't lift them.

Finally, both of them woke up to music that rejected drugs, gambling, and prostitution. The waiter next to them, looking puzzled but still maintaining a bright smile, asked, "Would you like to renew?"

Stone Sister looked at Shi Jiahe sleepily. "Are you still going to sing?"

"I never sang it, let's all go home," Shi Jiahe said, rubbing her eyes.

"Hmm." After handing the card to the waiter, Sister Stone looked down at her phone and suddenly exclaimed, "Holy crap! Panpan just called me, but I didn't hear it."

Shi Jiahe jolted awake, her mind clearing. "When did you call?"

"Half an hour ago...we were both asleep. It's my fault, why didn't I think she might call?" Sister Stone said, picking up her phone to call back, looking regretful.

Shi Jiahe comforted her from the side, but in her heart, she thought that most agents wouldn't act this way. Moreover, from what she knew, there were several ruthless and decisive top agents in the industry who would never beg their artists, because they all held some unspeakable secrets about their artists. This was also one of the methods of keeping an artist in check. But it was clear that Sister Stone was not that kind of person at all.

Of course, from another perspective, it's also possible that Zhuang Pan doesn't actually have anything too shameful to hide in private.

This time, it took Stone a long time to get the other party to answer.

"Hey, Panpan, where are you?" Sister Stone asked anxiously.

"I'm at home." Zhuang Pan's tone was very calm, as if nothing had happened.

"I was outside and didn't check my phone. Is everything alright? Should I come to your house now?"

"What do you hope will happen?"

"I don't want to argue with you at this time. Let's talk calmly. What I really want to know is, what exactly happened at the party you went to tonight?"

"Unreliable, are you satisfied now?" Zhuang Pan said fiercely.

Shi Jiahe mouthed to Stone Sister from the side, "I don't think anything's wrong."

Stone looked at Shi Jiahe with suspicion, and hesitated before saying into the phone, "You...you weren't hurt..., were you?"

"No," Zhuang Pan said irritably.

After exchanging those words, both parties seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and stopped talking. But there seemed to be nothing more to discuss. The two sides remained silent, neither speaking, but neither hanging up.

Stone Sister's brows were furrowed, her face full of worry. "Panpan, I apologize. I've been too direct with my words lately, without considering your feelings. But you understand, I'm doing this for your own good, right?"

"Just like my mom, everything she says is for my own good, it's so annoying."

Although it was a complaint, it sounded like the person wasn't as angry as before.

Shi Jiahe didn't dare to breathe too loudly, afraid that the person on the other end of the phone would hear that there were other people nearby.

Sister Stone rubbed her temples and said, "Well... since you're home, get some rest. Tell me when you wake up, and I'll come find you."

"Sometimes I really hate you!" Zhuang Pan finally said again.

Shi Jiahe gestured that everything was alright. Stone Sister also smiled slightly and nodded.

"Go to sleep now. Be good."

Shi Jiahe listened in and thought to herself, "She really is like a mother."

After Stone hung up the phone, looking at the music video playing on the screen in the private room, Shi Jiahe half-jokingly said, "How about we sing a couple more songs to celebrate that she's alright? At least she seems to have calmed down."

"Forget it! They need to clean the private room, just leave."

The two of them took their things, got their car, and drove back to the ground.

"I'll take you home," Sister Stone said.

"If you're not tired, then of course I'm fine." Shi Jiahe fastened her seatbelt, leaned to the side, and closed her eyes against the window. In her drowsy state, she heard a voice in her ear.

"I really think that one day in the future we could work together on something."

Shi Jiahe mumbled, "Let's finish filming our movie first, then we can talk about our relationship. I'd be so grateful if you could ask for a lower salary..."

Shi Jiahe slept soundly that night. When she opened her eyes, it was already broad daylight.

I glanced at my watch; it was a little past eight in the morning. Waking up at this time was close to my normal sleep schedule. And at this moment, a colleague had quietly sent me a PPT presentation awaiting confirmation on WeChat.

She suddenly felt a little ashamed.

Clearly, her colleagues had worked late last night. But as people get older, the guilt isn't as strong anymore. Shi Jiahe sat up, feeling as if she herself was also very tired, and stretched out a long yawn.

I glanced through the PowerPoint presentation and saw that there weren't many things that needed changing, so I had a good idea of ​​what to do. Even if the boss asked, I could still deliver. So I got up and leisurely went to wash up.

As expected, the lucky charm in the living room was still taking a nap.

In the few days since Zhao Cai moved in, Shi Jiahe and she have barely seen each other. This is partly because Shi Jiahe's own schedule is irregular and she is always out during the day, and partly because Zhao Cai is so elusive that no one knows exactly what time she gets up to write.

Today is the fifth day, and the manuscript should be due by now. But Shi Jiahe couldn't bear to wake her up, so she tidied up and quietly left the house.

Shi Jiahe didn't plan to take a taxi today. She rode her bicycle to the company and even bought breakfast on the way. She felt like she was living almost like a normal person.

The weather in Beijing is absolutely lovely today. Sunlight filters through the leaves, and a gentle breeze whispers in my ear; it feels like happiness is washing over me.

Moreover, this feeling is very concrete.

Looking back on the things that had been bothering Shi Jiahe recently, they all seemed less important now. After all, none of them were big deal if you talked about them. However, those who are involved are busy with these things, always and only able to look at their own little corner of the industry. Even if they are clear-headed, they can't help but feel that everything is very important, as if they have gained some extraordinary value because of it.

She parked her bicycle by the roadside and was eating breakfast when she saw a large speck of dust drift leisurely past her.

Or perhaps the universe cares more about this speck of dust. Because compared to humans, dust is at least eternal, not a life form that will perish.

She threw the trash into the roadside bin, wiped her hands, and then slowly rode her bicycle to the company.

Feeling guilty for leaving so early yesterday, Shi Jiahe packed four cups of coffee downstairs to take upstairs. Upon entering, she found the other three employees of the studio already there.

Shi Jiahe walked over with a big smile, went around the table, and placed the coffees on everyone's tables one by one. "I didn't ask what you wanted to drink, it's all hot Americano. Just to warm your stomachs."

"Wow, the sun has risen in the west! Jiahe, why are you coming so early these past few days?" Ding said with a smile.

The only one in the room who dared to interrupt Shi Jiahe was Ding Yi; both children were busy thanking Sister Jiahe.

"It's just a few cups of coffee. Everyone worked hard yesterday."

"It's alright, we were working overtime for the boss, and you ended up treating us. We feel bad, but we have to accept your kindness," Ding Yi continued.

Shi Jiahe couldn't resist any longer and handed over her phone. "Sister, this is Ding Yi. I'd like to invite you to afternoon tea today, what would you like to eat?"

Ding Yi grinned from ear to ear. "Oh my, as expected of President Shi, you understand me so well. But I can't make an exception for myself."

Ding Yi handed his phone to Xuanxuan and Danzi to give them something. The phone went through a round of hands before finally ending up back with Ding Yi.

Just then, Ding Yi suddenly stood up, his expression turning very serious, and handed the phone back. "Jiahe, the boss is calling."

Shi Jiahe was startled, instinctively knowing something was wrong, and quickly answered the call.