Before ending the call, Feng Qi instructed Tang Li to visit the headquarters of IMG Media Group the next day: "We need to discuss and arrange your upcoming work in person."
"Okay," Tang Li agreed. "I will ask Director Fan for half a day off."
Only after confirming the meeting time did she hang up the phone.
Later, Tang Li contacted Guan Xiao.
Upon learning that she was willing to appear in the music video without any compensation, Guan Xiao’s smiling voice came through the receiver: "Then I look forward to our collaboration again."
Tang Li heard the encouragement in Guan Xiao’s voice and lifted her lips slightly: "Thank you for giving me this opportunity and for your trust."
At 7:30 pm, the day’s shooting ended.
Returning to her accommodations at school, Wu Xuehan plunged into the kitchen to tinker.
After showering, Tang Li went to see her and found a mini oven on the kitchen counter. Wu Xuehan was holding a stainless steel mixing bowl, with one hand using an egg beater. Flour was smeared on her nose; she was busily and joyfully working. Seeing Tang Li enter, she wore a slightly smug smile: "Wait until I finish the butter cookies, then you can take them to the crew tomorrow."
Tang Li didn’t know when Wu Xuehan had bought the oven.
"Just a couple of days ago," Wu Xuehan said, as she placed the mixed dough into a Ziploc bag and rolled it out with a rolling pin. "Since I haven’t been following you to the set, I bought an oven online."
Standing at the counter, Tang Li casually picked up a cookie mold.
"That was also included for free," Wu Xuehan added.
Looking at the dog-shaped mold in her hand, Tang Li couldn’t help but think of the Tibetan Mastiff at Yunqi Villa. Bringing her thoughts back, she turned to Wu Xuehan: "Make some more, I’ll help you."
The cookies were not yet baked, when Yu Sui stopped by next door.
Wu Xuehan rushed to open the door.
After Yu Sui entered and saw Tang Li flipping through a baking ingredient manual, she looked somewhat awkward, and then asked, "How’s your acting going?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Li turned to look at her.
Wu Xuehan replied first: "It’s going well, the director praised Ah Li for her good acting."
"It’s her who’s acting well, not you. What are you happy about?" Yu Sui said, pursing her lips. Then she warned Wu Xuehan: "Don’t say I didn’t remind you. You’ve already been named by several teachers in a row. If you don’t go to class, prepare to retake your sophomore year courses next year."
Tang Li shifted her gaze to Wu Xuehan’s face: "Didn’t you say you had already gotten leave?"
After "Original Sin" began shooting, Tang Li had initially planned to bring Wu Xuehan to the set for just two days, so she could meet her idol, Guan Xiao. Later, Wu Xuehan said she got a leave slip approved by the counselor, who was very supportive of her assisting Tang Li.
That leave slip was just like the one Tang Li had.
Tang Li had seen Wu Xuehan’s leave slip herself, which is why she hadn’t been suspicious.
Wu Xuehan’s face blushed, unable to meet Tang Li’s gaze, but Yu Sui interjected: "Faking a leave slip isn’t hard. She could totally have taken your real one, photocopied it, covered your name and the reason for the leave, retained the counselor’s signature, then figured it out on her own."
"Did you really do that?" Tang Li asked Wu Xuehan.
Wu Xuehan guiltily lowered her head.
Yu Sui snorted softly: "She might look simple and foolish, but she’s not lacking in cunning schemes."
Tang Li looked again at Yu Sui, who appeared smug after exposing Wu Xuehan: "Then what’s your intention in telling me all this?"