Africa?
Gu Jingchuan wondered if he had misheard. "Aren't we filming a period drama?"
The director replied matter-of-factly, "Yes, but this is a big-budget production. After extensive discussions, we decided to shoot on location—Africa is more suitable."
Gu Jingchuan frowned. "Why wasn’t this mentioned before filming started?"
The director shot back, "You didn’t mention you’d be absent from the set for weeks at a time either!"
Gu Jingchuan: "..."
Who gave the director the audacity to talk like this?
A figure in a white suit flashed through his mind.
Xie Guanyan!
This had to be that despicable man’s doing!
For investors, manipulating a film’s production was child’s play.
Fuming, Gu Jingchuan snapped, "Africa is too far. I’m not going!"
He wasn’t without his pride.
He was a top-tier movie star with legions of fans, practically untouchable in the entertainment industry.
The director shrugged. "Fine. Then prepare to pay the 1 billion yuan penalty for breach of contract."
Gu Jingchuan gritted his teeth. "Book my flight!"
---
With school officially starting, mornings began much earlier.
At a little past six, Lin Mo came downstairs in her uniform, backpack slung over her shoulder.
Sounds drifted from the kitchen.
She checked the time, brow furrowing.
Was Xie Guanyan up this early making breakfast?
His hand hadn’t fully healed yet—he should be resting.
Peeking into the kitchen, she spotted a middle-aged man wearing a chef’s hat instead.
Lin Mo blinked in surprise. "Chef Li? Your paternity leave is over?"
Chef Li turned, his lips twitching. "Y-yes, it’s over. The kid’s off to college now—I mean, doesn’t need me anymore. Breakfast is ready. Have some before school."
As she ate the sea cucumber and shrimp wontons, Lin Mo asked, "You came to work this early?"
Chef Li smiled. "Yeah, I always arrive early. Since you’re in school now, I figured I’d whip up breakfast for you. How’s the taste?"
Lin Mo savored a bite and nodded. "Delicious. Just like Xie Guanyan’s cooking."
Chef Li: "Glad to hear it."
Of course it tasted the same—everything had been prepped by the young master!
It was like Xie Guanyan was treating Miss Lin like a child to pamper.
While she ate, Chef Li packed fruits and milk into her backpack.
Before she left, he even carried her bag to the car.
The driver always picked up Shen Ji’an first, then Lin Mo.
Once in the car, Shen Ji’an handed her a breakfast box. "Here, sis. Minced pork rice noodles—I had the housekeeper make them specially."
Lin Mo shook her head. "No thanks, I already ate."
Shen Ji’an’s expression darkened. "Who fed you? Don’t eat their food anymore. I’ll bring you breakfast from now on."
Who dared steal his duty?
Lin Mo nodded. "Alright, I’ll tell the villa’s chef not to make extra for me."
Since Shen Yihan’s housekeeper was already preparing breakfast, they might as well make a little more.
No need to trouble Chef Li with an additional portion.
Shen Ji’an grinned. "Good."
---
At lunchtime in the cafeteria, Lin Mo, Shen Ji’an, and Zhang Shuo sat together as usual.
Zhang Shuo, cheerful and rotund, had taken to calling Lin Mo "Young Miss" with unshakable familiarity.
Shen Ji’an shot him several icy glares, but Zhang Shuo remained oblivious.
"Young Miss, I added you to our class group chat," Zhang Shuo announced.
Lin Mo nodded, then took a bite of dragon fruit potato shreds—and nearly gagged.
Earlier, when Shen Ji’an and Zhang Shuo both insisted on fetching her food, she’d joined them in line.
That’s when she spotted this... creation.
Ever curious about new dishes and a devoted fan of potatoes (fried, boiled, mashed—anything potato-related), she couldn’t resist.
Long live the Potato Church!
Yet even her devotion couldn’t save her from the horror of dragon fruit potato shreds.
The cafeteria auntie’s "innovative" streak was clearly still going strong.
Regret washed over her.
One could never truly understand the choices of their past self, even just five minutes ago.
Noticing her expression, Shen Ji’an wordlessly transferred the offending dish to his own tray. "I’ll eat it."
Wasting food was out of the question.
The act of taking food directly from Lin Mo’s plate drew numerous stares.
Shen Ji’an scanned the room.
Some gazes burned with envy, as if thinking, Lucky brat, know how to share properly? Move over and let me do it!
Others were darker—like Gu Jingzhou’s.
Shen Ji’an’s frown deepened. For some reason, the sight of Gu Jingzhou ignited an inexplicable irritation.
His eyes then landed on a girl with shoulder-length hair.
She’d been sneaking glances their way but immediately ducked her head when caught, shoveling rice into her mouth in panic.
Zhao Zixin’s heart raced. Busted!
Lin Mo was so pretty—she desperately wanted to talk to her!
But they weren’t in the same class, and yesterday Lin Mo had been with Shen Jing.
Lin Mo probably assumed she was on Shen Jing’s side.
The school forum had split into two factions:
Team "Lin Mo for School Belle" versus Team "Shen Jing for School Belle."
Actually, she wasn’t on Shen Jing’s side—she was on Team Good Looks, drawn to whoever was prettier!
Once you become a looks-obsessed fangirl, that’s your life set.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Zhao Zixin pulled it out to check.
It was a message from her older sister, saying she’d arrived at the cafeteria entrance.
Her sister sometimes brought her treats, seeing how hard she was working in her senior year of high school.
[I’m eating right now. Just come in—I’m in the middle section.]
Zhao Ziling, sporting oversized sunglasses, stared at her phone in exasperation.
Damn brat, spoiled rotten!
That’s what she thought, but she still clicked her heels and strode into the cafeteria, the driver trailing behind with the food.
The glamorous woman in a red dress and cascading waves looked completely out of place in the cafeteria.
She slid off her sunglasses with slender fingers, scanning the room with a casual glance.
Her sister was easy to spot—shoulder-length bob and all.
Halfway through her sweep, her gaze suddenly landed on a beautiful girl with a high ponytail sitting at a table.
Zhao Ziling’s pupils dilated in shock.
She blinked hard.
When she opened her eyes again, the girl was still there.
Lin Mo—that was Lin Mo!
Never in a million years did she expect to see Lin Mo’s ghost at First High!
Back in the day, she’d often visit her here, sharing meals in this very cafeteria.
Zhao Ziling’s eyes burned instantly.
Even after all this time, her spirit was still lingering at the school.
So studious, it’s heartbreaking!
Most people would be terrified to see a ghost, but Zhao Ziling felt no fear at all.
This was her best friend, the one she dreamed about constantly!
If fate had granted her a chance to see her spirit with her own eyes, it was nothing short of a miracle.
All that digital prayer bead tapping must’ve paid off!
Step by step, Zhao Ziling moved toward Lin Mo’s apparition.
Zhao Zixin had been watching the cafeteria entrance.
She spotted her sister’s signature waves immediately and waved her over. “Sis! Over here!”
But her sister seemed deaf to her calls, walking straight in another direction instead.
Zhao Zixin frowned.
Was there a hot guy or something?
She knew her sister had a thing for handsome men.
Curious, she followed her sister’s line of sight.
But there was no hot guy—just the gorgeous Lin Mo sitting there.
Zhao Zixin gasped.
No way—had her sister switched teams?
Oh hell no, her goddess couldn’t be homewrecked!
With the speed of a charging tiger, Zhao Zixin bolted after her sister, yelling, “Sis! There’s a shirtless guy with abs over here!”
