Happiness Extra
Look up, and there is warmth; reach out, and there is happiness.
Hua Luo and Bai Mao walked into the hot pot restaurant hand in hand. It was a place they’d been to countless times; they could find their way with their eyes closed. Hua Luo looked down at Bai Mao’s fingers—slender, long, and very fair. The tips of her fingers were warm, and a force seemed ready to erupt from within her own body. Hua Luo bit down hard, suppressing it, but a smile she couldn’t hold back filled her eyes.
As they walked into the restaurant, she glanced at Bai Mao’s profile. Bai Mao’s expression was much calmer than her own, but for some reason, they just kept circling around inside the restaurant.
The third time they went from the table in the very back of the restaurant to the one by the entrance, Hua Luo couldn’t take it anymore. “Teacher Bai, what’s wrong?”
Bai Mao was still holding her hand, her expression unnatural as she spoke. “I forgot our table number.”
“It’s number eleven,” Hua Luo laughed. “You told me right after we got out of the car.”
Bai Mao nodded and started leading Hua Luo forward. Hua Luo stood her ground, pulling Bai Mao to a stop, and smiled down at her. “Number eleven is over here.”
A blush visibly crept up Bai Mao’s face. She froze for a moment, then said, “Oh, I was just planning to go to the restroom first.”
Hua Luo said, “The restroom is over here, too.”
Bai Mao was out of excuses.
After a few seconds of silence, they turned back. Hua Luo asked, “Teacher Bai, are you nervous now, too?”
Bai Mao pulled at her collar, hiding half her face, and said sullenly, “No.”
Her voice was very calm.
Hua Luo didn’t believe her, her eyes still fixed on Bai Mao. After being stared at for several seconds, Bai Mao couldn’t help but reach out and turn Hua Luo’s face forward. “Watch where you’re going.”
What’s so interesting about the path?
She muttered to herself but obediently watched the path. Just as the two of them sat down, a voice came from behind them. “You’re here.”
Ji Zibo said, “Pretty early. Where are the others?”
Hua Luo said, “They’re not here yet.”
Ji Zibo tsked. “Ever since Jin Shuilan started dating, she’s become seriously unpunctual. Never shows up until the last possible second.”
Hua Luo glanced at Bai Mao and nodded.
“This attitude needs to be severely condemned. Making us eat dog food1 is one thing, but now she’s making us wait! When she gets here, I’m going to have a good talk with her.”
Ji Zibo spoke with righteous indignation, then noticed Hua Luo wasn’t backing her up like usual. She said, “You, you just have too thick of an idol filter. You can’t always see her as a goddess.”
Hua Luo immediately distanced herself. “I do not.”
Ji Zibo smiled and beckoned to them. “They’ll probably be a while. Should we start a game first?”
Hua Luo looked at Bai Mao, who was sitting on the inside. Meeting Hua Luo’s gaze, she said, “I’m fine with whatever.”
The three of them opened up a game. Xiao Yu wasn’t online either, probably on her way over. It was just the three of them. Usually when they played, it was either Xiao Yu who would carry2 the whole game or Jin Shuilan who would carry the whole game, leaving her with no chance to shine. Now, facing Hua Luo and Bai Mao, she felt her opportunity had arrived. “I’ll carry you guys to victory!” she declared.
Hua Luo lowered her head. “Thank you, Teacher Ji.”
She scooted a little closer to Bai Mao and asked in a low voice, “What role do you want to play?”
Bai Mao could play a little of everything. “A marksman, I guess.”
Hua Luo murmured, “Then I’ll play support for you.”
Bai Mao had no objection.
While choosing her hero, Ji Zibo said, “I’ll play marksman. Hua Luo, you support me?”
Hua Luo shook her head. “Let’s have Teacher Bai play marksman. I’ll support her.”
Ji Zibo didn’t mind. “Sure. I’ll be the jungler3, then.”
There was a Zhuge Liang4 on the enemy team, and Hua Luo blocked his ultimate move several times. Ji Zibo praised her, “Not bad, Hua Luo! Your game sense is amazing.”
Hua Luo smiled, lowering her head, and snuck a glance at Bai Mao. Ji Zibo squinted, watching the changes in their expressions, and suddenly felt that something was off. She had a keen sense that something was up, and when the game ended, she asked Bai Mao, “What’s the situation with you two?”
Bai Mao looked up. “What ‘what’s the situation’?”
Ji Zibo said, “Is there a situation with you two?”
Bai Mao looked down. “Yeah.”
Yeah? Yeah!
Ji Zibo’s eyes went wide. She looked at Hua Luo and Bai Mao in shock. “When did this happen?”
Bai Mao said, “Today.”
Ji Zibo was silent for a few seconds, then said, “And you didn’t even tell me? That’s so not cool! You’re in for it when they get here!”
She had an expression that screamed I’m going to tattle on you. Bai Mao opened her mouth but didn’t say anything.
When Jin Shuilan and Lu Zhenqiu arrived, they saw several bottles of beer on the table. They exchanged a look and walked over, hearing Xiao Yu say, “I know.”
Ji Zibo’s voice changed pitch. “You know?!”
“How did you know?”
Xiao Yu said, “Hua Luo told me.”
Ji Zibo choked back her feelings.
Fine, their friendship was deep, nothing wrong with that. She looked at the newly arrived Jin Shuilan and Lu Zhenqiu and asked, “Did you guys know that Bai Mao and Hua Luo are together?”
Lu Zhenqiu was confused but nodded honestly. “I knew.”
Ji Zibo took a deep breath.
She looked at Jin Shuilan.
Jin Shuilan also nodded.
Ji Zibo was astonished. “How did you know, too?”
Jin Shuilan said, “My wife told me.”
Lu Zhenqiu’s face flushed red.
Ji Zibo huffed in frustration. Having a wife is so amazing! She was actually the last to know! Bai Mao was so unreliable! Xiao Yu pulled her down to sit. “Teacher Ji, on such a wonderful day, it’s a shame to waste it being angry. Let’s make them punish themselves with three cups5.”
Hua Luo dutifully poured three full glasses of beer. Just as she was about to hand one to Bai Mao, she saw the look Bai Mao gave her. Her hand froze, and she pulled it back. Before she could even drink, Bai Mao snatched the glass from her.
After the three glasses were downed, the two began to face interrogation. Bai Mao finally couldn’t help but say, “I’ve discovered you guys are really strange.”
Ji Zibo turned her head. “What’s wrong?”
Bai Mao said, “You really like to eat dog food.”
Ji Zibo: …
Xiao Yu: …
Lu Zhenqiu took a sip of her drink, remaining silent along with Jin Shuilan.
A few seconds later, Ji Zibo said, “This is too much!”
But the topic had finally shifted away from Bai Mao and Hua Luo. Ji Zibo asked Lu Zhenqiu, “Did you accept the radio drama from Chang’an?”
Lu Zhenqiu was puzzled. “How did you know, Teacher Ji?”
“Someone’s been subtly dissing6 you,” Ji Zibo said. “The post is trending high. It says you’re nothing special and only got famous because of Jin Shuilan. I bet that post will be in your face in another day or two.”
Another one of those posts.
Lu Zhenqiu was already used to it. Affection hadn’t even started its promotional run, and there were already several posts subtly dissing her. But they were all secretive and worded very carefully. This time, however, since she was cast in a romance radio drama, the dissing had started to increase.
Ji Zibo said, “The scene7 is only so big, and there’s only so much meat to go around. Not to mention your partner this time is the most famous person in the industry. Who knows how many people resent you for it.”
Lu Zhenqiu nodded. She had only just returned to the scene and was already getting a steady stream of good resources; it was normal to be dissed. All she had to do was focus on her job and voice every character well.
Ji Zibo put down her glass. “But this is a good thing, in a way. The more attention you get, the more easily you’ll be noticed when you do a good job.”
So to say, black-red is also red8; the first step is to get attention.
Based on her experience working with Lu Zhenqiu, her work ethic was completely flawless. Not just flawless, but among the most dedicated she had ever worked with. Moreover, she was quite familiar with Lu Zhenqiu’s vocal range and knew a thing or two about Chang’an’s new radio drama. If she did well this time, Lu Zhenqiu would have truly established her foundation in the industry, and it would be difficult to shake her again.
Hua Luo raised her glass. “Go for it, Qiuqiu! I’m designating you for my next radio drama! If you don’t voice it for me, I’ll move into your house and never leave!”
“Oh?” Jin Shuilan spoke up. “Would Bai Mao be willing?”
Hua Luo hissed. She’d been hit on the seven-cun9 spot10.
She closed herself off11, and stopped talking, merely using her eyes to signal to Lu Zhenqiu, Control your wife, she’s always bullying people!
Lu Zhenqiu looked at Hua Luo. “Okay, I’ll take your project.”
Hua Luo revived at full health. “It’s a deal! You can’t go back on your word! Let me mooch off your fame now, before you get too famous for me to afford it later.”
Everyone died laughing at her blunt words. Ji Zibo said, “It still depends on the suitability. Isn’t your book about to be finished? When it is, I’ll help you see if there are any suitable candidates.”
Hua Luo happily raised her glass. “Thank you, Teacher Ji! Next time I have good news, I’ll definitely let you know first!”
Ji Zibo raised an eyebrow. “Sounds good.”
Xiao Yu leaned in. “Alright, Hua Luo, next time you and Teacher Bai kiss, you’ll tell Teacher Ji first thing, too.”
Ji Zibo: …
She was silent for a few seconds. “You don’t have to tell me all the good news.”
Hua Luo scratched her hair and kicked Xiao Yu’s leg with the tip of her foot. Xiao Yu dodged to the side, bumping into Lu Zhenqiu. Lu Zhenqiu leaned to the side and was caught in Jin Shuilan’s embrace.
The table erupted in laughter and playful chaos. People arrived at the neighboring table. The water in the pot was boiling, bubbling noisily. Lu Zhenqiu heard her phone ring. She turned her head. “Phone.”
Jin Shuilan took the phone from her bag and handed it to her. It was a bit loud with everyone talking, so she stepped outside to take the call. It was from the production team for that game she was previously contacted about. They were sending her the script and setting up a time for her to come to the company. Lu Zhenqiu said, “Is the morning after tomorrow okay?”
“That’s fine, Teacher Lu,” the person on the other end said politely. “We’ll see you the day after tomorrow, then. Do you need us to arrange a car for you?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “No need, I’ll take a taxi.”
The person said, “You can get reimbursed for the fare.”
Lu Zhenqiu smiled. “Okay.”
She hung up and heard a voice behind her. “Who was that?”
Lu Zhenqiu turned around. “The people from the game. They want me to go to the game company the day after tomorrow.”
Jin Shuilan nodded. The two went back inside. Jin Shuilan went to the restroom, and Lu Zhenqiu returned to the hot pot table. Xiao Yu and Ji Zibo were discussing something, pointing at a phone, shaking their heads one moment and nodding the next. Hua Luo and Bai Mao had the clingy sweetness of a new couple, their heads lowered as they talked to each other. The white steam from the hot pot swirled around, drifting past Lu Zhenqiu. She didn’t move.
“Qiuqiu?” Jin Shuilan returned to the table and saw Lu Zhenqiu standing there. “Why aren’t you sitting down?” she asked curiously.
Lu Zhenqiu glanced at Jin Shuilan, who had walked up beside her, and took the initiative to hold out her hand. Jin Shuilan looked at her for a few seconds, then placed her own hand on top. They walked back to their seats, holding hands.
The sound of Xiao Yu and Ji Zibo’s argument grew louder, yet also more distant. Hua Luo and Bai Mao leaned even closer. After sitting down, Lu Zhenqiu tightened her grip on Jin Shuilan’s hand.
She had never imagined she could have a life like this, as if she possessed the entire world.
Look up, and there is warmth; reach out, and there is happiness.
The author has something to say:
The full text is now complete. Qiuqiu and Teacher Jin will live happily in their parallel world. Thank you, my darlings, for your companionship for so long. Thank you all. Writing a story is like weaving a dream. Thank you for visiting my dream and finishing this dream with me. Let us meet again at the entrance of the next dream.
If you like Qiuqiu and Teacher Jin, could I ask for a five-star review?
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