My Landlord is an Idol Singer - Chapter 177

Twenty minutes later, Gu Zhinan’s phone buzzed, it was a WeChat message from Chen Ru. Ever since he’d taught his mom how to use WeChat, she had started getting a little trendy. Luckily, she only used it casually, sometimes sending him those “help me cut a bargain” links, but she hadn’t gotten too deep into internet scams.

The message was simple, “Meet at a café inside a CBD office complex in downtown Hangzhou at 1:00 p.m. the day after tomorrow.”

Attached was a girl’s selfie. Her makeup skills were impressive, but Gu Zhinan’s focus wasn’t on her face. He zoomed in carefully. If the photo hadn’t been edited, then his mom hadn’t lied, she was indeed… well-endowed. Suddenly, this blind date felt very necessary.

“Holy crap?” A voice startled him from behind. It was Lai Jingming. Annoyed, Gu Zhinan turned around, wasn’t the crew packing up their things? 

“Who’s that girl on your phone? Don’t tell me you’re two-timing—eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot? A scumbag? Didn’t take you for one.”

Gu Zhinan quickly closed the photo, shoved his phone back in his pocket, and sighed. “When have I ever two-timed anyone?”

“Then who is she?”

“My mom’s blind date candidate.”

“Huh?”

Gu Zhinan pulled Lai Jingming aside and repeated everything about Chen Ru’s earlier phone call. Lai Jingming finally understood, but he looked rather gleeful about it. “Auntie is really keeping up with the times! She’s looking out for you!”

“Shut up! Don’t you have scenes tomorrow afternoon? Drop me off at my small apartment. I need to grab something for the third round of Masked Singer.” He had originally planned to go alone, but now it seemed impossible. He also had to tell Xiao Li that he’d go directly to the Hangzhou TV station.

Lai Jingming nodded, though he eyed Gu Zhinan curiously. His buddy’s moves were always unpredictable. “What if her personality’s actually good? What will you do then?”

“So what?” Gu Zhinan gave him a flat look, then walked straight back to the crew. “When in doubt, ask the spring breeze. When the spring breeze is silent, follow your heart.”

The next morning, Gu Zhinan left early with Lai Jingming to retrieve his things from Lin City. Lai Jingming didn’t know what it was until they arrived. That’s when he finally got to see the small apartment Xia An’ge had bought. It wasn’t large, but it was extremely cozy, no wonder Gu Zhinan loved staying there.

“You came back just to get a guitar?” Watching Gu Zhinan carefully tuck the instrument into a soft case, Lai Jingming couldn’t understand. It didn’t even look like an expensive guitar. If Gu Zhinan wanted to perform, the Hangzhou TV station would surely provide him with something better.

“Yeah. I plan to use it for the next round, so I came to get it.” Gu Zhinan slung the guitar over his back and walked out. Seeing Lai Jingming still standing frozen, he raised a brow.

“Can’t bear to leave? This is my home, not yours.”

“I just can’t believe you came all the way just for this guitar. If you want one, they’ll give you a better one at the TV station! This thing—” 

Lai Jingming trailed off, but Gu Zhinan knew what he meant. Tightening the strap, he chuckled. “I’m used to this one. And it’s a lot more expensive than you think. Not just anyone can touch it.”

Lai Jingming’s jaw dropped. This plain-looking wooden guitar? Expensive? No way. He figured it must be sentimental, used for years, which was why Gu Zhinan refused to change. 

“Another original for the next round?”

“Mm.”

Lai Jingming fell silent, focusing on driving. By now, he was used to Gu Zhinan’s freakish talent. With songwriting skills like his, why was he even wasting time as a novelist? But then again, even his novels were top-tier. One was about to be published. According to Gu Zhinan, he’d have a book signing in Beijing around January next year. That was what his editor, Cheng Mengxi, had told him.

Unbeatable.

Lai Jingming decided to just focus on making his movies. They filmed for another two days. Finally, it was time for the Masked Singer taping.

Gu Zhinan joined the crew at the filming site, but when it was about time to leave, he told them he had to go. He’d already told Xiao Li yesterday that he only needed a guitar as accompaniment, no extra arrangement.

But Xiao Li said the rules had changed. He was about to call Gu Zhinan anyway. The taping had been pushed to the next morning. That meant Gu Zhinan only needed to reach Hangzhou TV that evening.

The sudden change left him baffled. If he didn’t know better, he’d think Masked Singer deliberately delayed the show just so he could attend his blind date.

“I’ll grab a taxi. You guys work hard.” With a wave, Gu Zhinan left, guitar on his back, casual jacket on, he really looked like a musician.

“Hello? This is Gu Zhinan. You’re Wu Dandan? Mm, okay, no problem, I can wait.” He’d barely gotten into the taxi heading for the high-end café when his blind date called. Her mom had swapped numbers with his mom.

The girl asked him to wait; she was busy and would be a bit late. Gu Zhinan didn’t mind. After all, she was a corporate executive. Being busy came with the territory. But just as he hung up, his phone rang again, it was the landlord.

“Where’s your film crew?”

“Huh?”

“I asked, where’s your film crew?” Xia An’ge repeated herself.

“Uh… at the new Hangzhou Film and TV City…”

“Mm.” She hung up.

Ruan Ying, sitting beside her, was stunned. “Teacher Gu is really filming a movie? So the money he borrowed from An’ge-jie was for this?”

Luckily, Cheng Mengying wasn’t around, she was still in Haipu City and wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow. Xia An’ge and Ruan Ying had been notified by Masked Singer to show up tonight.

“Mm.” Xia An’ge gave a short reply, but her expression betrayed her urgency. She really wanted to see what kind of movie Gu Zhinan was making.

“This is unbelievable. I thought Teacher Gu was just in his little apartment in Lin City writing Legend of Sword and Fairy. I never imagined he was investing in a film in Hangzhou!” Ruan Ying mumbled, watching Xia An’ge drive seriously, unsure what to say. She’d always felt something was unusual about the relationship between An’ge-jie and Teacher Gu.

But the two of them had never shown anything obvious. And now, Xia An’ge suddenly wanted to see him? She thought they’d head to Lincheng, but it turned out he was right here in Hangzhou.

“An’ge-jie…” Ruan Ying wanted to say more, but Xia An’ge cut her off, her tone cool.

“You’ll see when we get there. It’s just a small-budget film. Don’t exaggerate.”

“Oh.” Ruan Ying stuck her tongue out, busted. She had indeed imagined it was some big-budget project.

Meanwhile, Lai Jingming had been strict since Gu Zhinan laid down rules: no matter what, if there were no important scenes, the crew had to eat lunch on time. As he and Situ Hongwei were digging into their lunchboxes, a white car pulled up nearby.

Everyone in the Natural Entertainment crew looked confused. Did their cast have a hidden A-lister? Or was it an investor? Then, Xia An’ge and Ruan Ying stepped out.

When Xia An’ge pulled down her mask, revealing that stunning face, Lai Jingming froze. And then a chill shot straight up his spine.

Gu Zhinan was doomed.