Chapter Forty: Wu Ming vs. Zhao Jinzhi, The Battlefield of Carnage!

After chatting with a group of longtime fans for quite a while, Li Shixin found these fans to be quite endearing! In his previous life, when he had just become an idol trainee, there were a few casual fans as well. But back then, interacting with them felt more like being monitored by strict supervisors; those young ladies were even more demanding than his responsible agent, constantly urging him to work hard and not let them down, as if their casual likes on the company’s artist ranking cost them enormous effort.

But now?

Seeing a group of elderly women fussing over him, offering health advice, and reminding him that he should add angelica root to his thermos along with goji berries, Li Shixin felt immeasurably warm.

I love these fans!

While Li Shixin was interacting with his very first batch of fans, he failed to notice the silent rivalry brewing between two elderly ladies beside him.

When she saw Li Shixin just now, Wu Ming immediately noticed Zhao Jinzi, who had been quietly standing by his side.

Wu Ming had seen Zhao Jinzi before—just two days ago in the square; when Li Shixin fainted, it was this woman who tended to him.

With decades of experience, years of watching romance dramas, and her discerning eyes sharpened from observing countless people, Wu Ming sensed at once: this smiling woman, pressed close to Li Shixin’s side, was very dangerous!

A little enchantress, maintaining herself so well? If not for Wu Ming’s keen observation, catching the barely visible wrinkles on her neck and hands, she might have mistaken her for a woman in her thirties.

She had really underestimated her the other night, far too much!

Ah, look at her positioning.

Not too close, not too far—exactly one meter. This distance doesn’t make the other party feel too intimate, yet keeps them within arm’s reach.

For someone who has only just met but wants to deepen the relationship, such positioning reveals one truth—she absolutely has intentions toward Brother Shixin!

While Wu Ming squinted, sizing up Zhao Jinzi from head to toe, Zhao Jinzi was also examining the elderly lady before her.

Just now, as she guided Shixin to interact with his fans, she deliberately displayed some coquettishness, her gaze shimmering with flirtation, and her subtle touches went far beyond the bounds of ordinary fan-idol interactions.

Look at her attire; the latest violet slim-fit tracksuit from Adidas NEO this autumn, and at night, she came to dance in the square wearing a pair of VANS—not age-appropriate, certainly not comfortable. Most ridiculous of all, her wrinkled calf sported a red anklet.

She was clearly trying to use her outfit to shave twenty years off her image—a classic little sister move.

Tsk, tsk.

Their chilly gazes collided, sparking flames.

“Little minx!” “Show-off!”

They almost simultaneously labeled each other in their minds.

“Shixin,” Wu Ming was the first to break eye contact, patting Li Shixin’s arm and glancing at Zhao Jinzi, who stood with her hands behind her back, “How about you take a photo with our fan club members?”

Hearing there was to be a group photo, the elderly fans were thrilled.

Seeing the excitement, Li Shixin grinned and nodded, “Of course.”

Wu Ming clutched the roster, emphasizing “fan club members” as she looked at Zhao Jinzi, who smiled faintly.

After a moment’s thought, Zhao Jinzi stepped in front of Li Shixin. “Brother, it’s getting late. I should head home now.”

“Alright,” Li Shixin nodded, “See you tomorrow!”

Zhao Jinzi stood straight with her hands behind her back, smoothed her wind-blown hair, and shook her head with a gentle smile. “Actually, I wanted to tell you—I’m only temporarily staying here for recovery. I’ve been here for quite a while, and tomorrow I’ll be leaving. I probably won’t return for a long time.”

“Oh…” Li Shixin nodded. “You see, I haven’t even had a chance to thank you for saving me twice the other day. How about… we exchange phone numbers?”

Seeing Li Shixin’s reluctant smile, Zhao Jinzi lightly shook her head. “No need. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Li Shixin breathed a sigh of relief.

He really feared some late-life romance might unfold. Although the woman before him appeared much younger than her actual age, with remarkable poise—if she dressed up, many would believe she was in her thirties.

However… cough, cough, she simply wasn’t his type!

While he was lost in thought, Zhao Jinzi looked at him deeply, leaned in, and whispered a few words.

“Chase your dreams, take care of your health.”

With that, she smiled at Li Shixin, cast a sidelong glance at the fuming Wu Ming, and gracefully took her leave.

“!!!”

Hearing Zhao Jinzi’s eight-word message, Li Shixin froze.

He instantly recalled the note inside the kraft paper envelope.

Was she the one who helped him with the special actor permit?

It made sense now.

He had only just arrived in this city, knowing just a handful of people—besides Zhang Shuo and Zhang Ying, there was Guan Lan from the “End of the Line” crew. But neither of these two elderly women had any reason to help him.

“Shixin, Shixin?”

Wu Ming called him twice, seeing him staring blankly at Zhao Jinzi’s departing figure.

“Oh.” Snapping back to reality, Li Shixin made up his mind.

Zhao Min.

He’d have to look into her later.

Could she be the wife of some bigwig in the actor’s union?

With these thoughts, Li Shixin took his place among the assembled fans. Sandwiched between Wu Ming and little Chen Boshi, he struck a pose.

“Hey! Brother!”

Just as the passerby helping with the photo was about to press the shutter, a raspy voice rang out.

Everyone looked over to see a gaunt elderly man, seated in a wheelchair and pushed by a young man, waving his hand.

“Brother, what is it?” Wu Ming stepped forward and greeted him.

“Count me in! I’ve been watching you all for ages! I want to join your fan club too!”

“….” Wu Ming forced a laugh, eyeing the frail old man. “How old are you, sir?”

“Eighty-four!”

“Oh my, that’s quite advanced in age. You’d better focus on your health and not chase stars!” Wu Ming eyed his condition, protesting.

“Didn’t you say just now that as long as you want, as long as you dare, as long as you do, you have dreams and hope? Why are you going back on your word so quickly? What, you think I’m too old?” The old man, indignant, called to the young man behind him. “Grandson!”

“Here!” The young man bent down.

“Give me fifty yuan.”

“Alright.”

The old man, trembling, held a green banknote, struggled from his wheelchair, and made his way to Li Shixin. Extending a hand even more withered than Li Shixin’s, he slapped the money into his palm.

“I see you and I feel energized! So, am I your fan or not?”

Looking at this genuine old-timer, Li Shixin smiled gently.

“Brother, welcome.”

“Great!” The old man beamed, flashing a mouthful of dentures, and waved at Wu Ming. “Come on, write my name down! Liu Feng!”

Watching Wu Ming helplessly register the old man’s name, Chen Boshi snorted beside Li Shixin.

“Wow, Grandpa. Our fan club’s average age is now seventy-three! Shouldn’t you clap and welcome our oldest new member?”

Thump!

Wu Ming tapped her forehead with a pen. “You talk too much!”

“Alright, everyone get in position for the photo!”

Wu Ming called out, gathering the group into neat formation.

Click.

With a soft shutter sound, the moment was frozen.

In the photo, Li Shixin stands with hands behind his back, his expression calm and profound. Wu Ming, beside him, tilts her head toward him with a hint of intimacy. Chen Boshi, covering her forehead, has tearful eyes full of grievance. Next to her, the frail Liu Feng, supported by his grandson, flashes a peace sign.

The rest of the group wears faces of novelty and excitement, like an elderly tour group about to embark on a new journey…