Chapter 18: A Hit to the Heart
Wang Ming: “…”
He makes a valid point, Wang Ming thought. So what was I thinking just now?
“So, what do you plan to do now? Do you want to eat something?” Seeing Wang Ming’s dejected look, Ao Chen offered some kindness.
Wang Ming: “…”
“No, thanks,” Wang Ming politely declined.
At the same time, his stomach grumbled loudly.
Ao Chen: “…”
Wang Ming: “…”
“Hey, brother, let me be honest with you,” Wang Ming thought for a moment, then started a heart-to-heart talk with his earthly fiancé.
“I’m a traditional person,” Wang Ming said.
“Although my family is from humble beginnings, we’ve never mooched off others,” Wang Ming said.
Ao Chen: “…”
“So I was thinking, I’ll eat your meal, then check online how much it costs, and repay you later.”
“But if I keep eating your meals, won’t I be repaying this debt forever?”
Wang Ming honestly explained, clearly not treating Ao Chen like an outsider.
Ao Chen: “…”
This person is very straightforward, Ao Chen thought.
Compared to those who love using flowery language, he clearly preferred straightforward and honest people.
However, Ao Chen felt that Wang Ming’s honesty had some logical flaws.
“You said you’re a traditional person,” Ao Chen repeated Wang Ming’s words.
Wang Ming nodded vigorously.
“Then here’s the question, being so traditional, didn’t you find it unusual to marry a man?” Ao Chen hit the mark.
Wang Ming: “…”
What?! Wang Ming thought, exhibiting his lack of worldly knowledge.
I haven’t even thought about that, Wang Ming thought.
It seems this gentleman’s logic chain is collapsing, Ao Chen thought, noticing Wang Ming’s stunned expression.
Wang Ming was stuck in a loop about marrying a man; he had almost completely forgotten about the “minor” issue of eating someone else’s food.
“Do you want to eat something? Thinking uses a lot of energy,” Ao Chen timely suggested.
“Okay,” Wang Ming nodded blankly, starting to eat the roast chicken, his expression strangely synchronized with his food.
Only after finishing the food Ao Chen gave him did Wang Ming remember his earlier concern.
Wang Ming: “…”
What’s done is done, Wang Ming thought.
What’s done is done? Of course, I’ll work hard to repay him! Even if I vomit it up now, it doesn’t count, Wang Ming felt a sense of resignation, then suddenly felt relieved.
After dinner, Wang Ming, seemingly unburdened, went to work with renewed vigor.
——
He met the bald man at their usual spot.
After picking up the boxed lunches, they rushed to the film set.
“Traffic’s terrible today, so jammed,” the bald man kept repeating along the way.
Wang Ming: “…”
It’s not necessary to repeat yourself, Wang Ming thought, but since it wasn’t his place to say and the bald man was kind to him, Wang Ming didn’t say anything.
Perhaps because Wang Ming was quiet as a quail, the bald man stopped his incessant complaining.
“Don’t mind my nagging. That big-shot male lead is terrifying; he keeps making requests, and I end up taking the blame…,” the bald man apologized after venting, feeling it wasn’t necessary to keep complaining.
Wang Ming: “…”
“It’s fine, I’ll take responsibility,” Wang Ming confidently patted his somewhat thin chest.
The bald man smiled bitterly, seemingly respecting Wang Ming’s self-esteem, though he didn’t really believe it.
The van arrived at the set just a few minutes late.
The bald man nervously got out, expecting a scolding, but the reality was completely different.
The picky male lead was at the food distribution point, but he didn’t look impatient; he didn’t seem to intend to cause trouble and even nodded when he saw the bald man.
The bald man: “…”
What’s going on? The bald man wondered, but no one could answer him.
Then the bald man saw an unforgettable sight.
The moment Wang Ming got out of the car, the usually sarcastic male star warmly approached him, addressing him with exaggerated politeness.
The bald man: “…”
What’s going on? The bald man asked the heavens silently, but no one could answer him.
In fact, even Wang Ming didn’t understand why the usually aloof male star suddenly became so friendly.
After being stunned for a moment, Wang Ming remembered it was probably because of his earthly fiancé.
Mr. Ao… Wang Ming thought, so impressive.
That’s how it is! Wang Ming thought confidently.
Since the guy kept calling him Mr. Ao, this guy must be a business tycoon, an industry elite? I can probably find him online.
Wang Ming had a flash of inspiration and searched online.
After searching, Wang Ming started questioning life.
It’s better this way, Wang Ming thought. I’ll just live my life properly.
With this thought, he abandoned his plan to find a stable job and decided to live a peaceful life.
——
After a day of hard work, Wang Ming returned home, feeling very fulfilled.
Although he didn’t find a stable job as planned, this temporary work was still good.
Not only had he earned the appreciation of his boss—the bald man—for his diligence, but the usually difficult male lead had also softened his attitude towards him, or rather, practically fawned over him.
Wang Ming was grateful to Ao Chen; this was clearly his subtle support.
Once he gets paid, he can immediately treat him to a meal, Wang Ming thought as he reached his doorstep.
He returned home and saw that the table was once again laden with food.
Wang Ming: “…”
I think I’m doomed, Wang Ming thought.
But after looking closely, he felt better.
This time, the food was simple home-cooked meals.
Of course, the previous two meals were also home-cooked meals, but they were Ao Chen’s home-cooked meals, not his.
“You’re back,” Ao Chen greeted Wang Ming.
“I’m back,” Wang Ming nodded in response.
“Do you want to eat together?” Ao Chen asked.
“Yes,” Wang Ming nodded, feeling that treating Ao Chen to a simple dish was a small gesture.
Wang Ming happily sat down and had a quiet dinner with his earthly fiancé.
Wang Ming: “…”
It’s too quiet, Wang Ming thought.
His family wasn’t quiet like this.
They used to eat in the fields, there was always noise, laughter, and sometimes, during busy seasons, they’d drink to relieve fatigue. There was always chatter.
Wang Ming felt it was boring.
He wanted to chat with his neighbor, Mr. Ao, but Ao Chen seemed to be ignoring the world.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Excuse me, I want to ask you something,” Wang Ming mustered the courage to speak.
“Please,” Ao Chen nodded.
“Can I use my phone for a while?” Wang Ming said, taking out his phone.
Ao Chen: “…”
“Go ahead,” Ao Chen nodded nonchalantly.
Wang Ming breathed a sigh of relief and propped up his phone with a stand and started watching short videos.
Ao Chen: “…”
Ao Chen continued to eat, but the exaggerated sound effects from the videos made him occasionally glance at Wang Ming.
“Sorry, it’s a bit noisy, I’ll turn it off,” after watching a few videos, Wang Ming noticed Ao Chen’s glances and apologized.
“It’s fine, I don’t find it noisy,” Ao Chen shook his head.
“Do you want to watch together?” Wang Ming asked.
He simply thought that since Ao Chen didn’t mind and had looked at it several times, perhaps he was curious about the content.
Ao Chen: “…”
“No, thanks,” Ao Chen shook his head.
“These short videos are too short for me,” Ao Chen said.
Wang Ming: “…”
“I understand,” Wang Ming said.
“Our time dimensions are different.”
“Do people in your paranormal world also like to watch short videos?” Wang Ming continued chatting with Ao Chen.
“Probably,” Ao Chen said.
“Oh, they must watch entire movies as short videos, right?” Wang Ming cleverly guessed.
Ao Chen: “…”
“Probably not,” Ao Chen shook his head.
“They watch the entire lives of ordinary people,” Ao Chen said.
Wang Ming: “…”
Short videos are actually me?