Yes, they had to be there, because Qin Ran had trouble making decisions.
When it came to her own affairs, she could act swiftly, cutting through complexities with confidence. In the business world, she was decisive, never hesitating. But when it involved Yu Shuman, she became hesitant, afraid that any decision she made might put Yu Shuman in a difficult position.
So she gathered the three of them together in the chairman's office, spending a long time choosing scripts.
If the production team had a bad reputation, if there were issues with the cast, or if the script didn't seem strong enough, she rejected them all. Qin Ran became overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices until Sister Li finally spoke up. "Boss, I think we should pick a few scripts and let Yu Shuman choose. She's a strong-willed girl, and she might have her own ideas about what she wants to shoot. Besides, her group hasn't disbanded yet. It wouldn't look good for her to be the first to go solo. We could look for projects that are still in development. That way, when the group disbands, she'll have had some time to study and be ready to join a production."
Sister Li hadn't wanted to be the one to speak up, but the expectant looks from Assistant Wu and Mr. Li forced her hand.
Among the four of them, Qin Ran was the only one who didn't have a packed schedule. Sister Li had a slew of other artists to manage, while Assistant Wu and Mr. Li had numerous tasks, especially after Qin Ran had just assigned them a major project.
Seeing no other option, Sister Li stepped in.
Qin Ran paused, realizing she had been overthinking it. Rubbing her forehead, she agreed, "You're right. Let's do that. Don't worry about the production budget—I'll cover any shortfall. What matters most is the quality of the director, the integrity of the actors, and their acting skills. I don't want her debut film to end up with a rating of 3.0."
With Sister Li's agreement, Qin Ran finally let the three of them go, and they wasted no time in leaving the chairman's office.
A couple of days later, school started again, and Qin Ran had to return to her studies. She passed the time by reviewing the reports Sister Li sent her about Yu Shuman's schedule and focusing on being a good student. After two or three weeks, Yu Shuman finally had some free time and called Qin Ran.
"Hello…"
"Junior!" Yu Shuman's voice was clear and cheerful as she asked when Qin Ran would be free. Qin Ran was puzzled until Yu Shuman mentioned wanting to treat her to a meal. "I promised to treat you ages ago. It's been so long; I'd feel bad if I didn't."
Qin Ran's first instinct was to decline. Yu Shuman had been incredibly busy, and she didn't want to take up her rest time. Yu Shuman had moved into the company dormitory, which Assistant Wu had personally inspected and recorded on video for Qin Ran's peace of mind.
Moreover, Yu Shuman's rising fame made it risky for them to dine out in public.
But then she thought about how long it had been since she'd seen Yu Shuman, and realized how much she missed her.
Though they kept in touch through messages and phone calls, and Qin Ran could follow Yu Shuman's daily schedule through Sister Li's reports, it wasn't enough. She couldn't see Yu Shuman, and the voice through the phone felt distorted. She longed to be with Yu Shuman, even if it was just standing quietly by her side. That alone would make her heart sing, unlike the emptiness she felt now.
It's hard to lie to yourself about your true feelings, so the words of refusal rolled around in her throat before she awkwardly said, "But what if the paparazzi catch us if we go out to eat?"
Yu Shuman chuckled. "Then come to my dorm. I've got a single-room apartment with a small kitchen. I'll have Xiao An buy some groceries and stock the fridge, then I'll cook for you."
Hearing that, Qin Ran's resistance crumbled, and her tone softened. "Alright, senior. I'm free the day after tomorrow afternoon. Can I come over then?" She already knew Yu Shuman's schedule and was aware that Yu Shuman had the next two days off, just as she herself was free that afternoon.
"No problem! I'm off that day too. I'll send you the address later. When you arrive, if the security stops you, just give them my apartment number. They'll call me, and then you can come up!"
The security at Yu Shuman's dorm was top-notch, as Assistant Wu had thoroughly vetted the place. Qin Ran agreed, and after chatting a bit more, they hung up.
Not long after, Yu Shuman sent Qin Ran the address along with a cute sticker of a bunny saying, "You must come!"
Qin Ran replied with a bunny emoji making a fist: "I'll be there."
Though she wasn't visiting until the day after tomorrow, Qin Ran couldn't help but feel excited right after the call. She even started picking out clothes from her wardrobe. Unfortunately, her closet was rather sparse.
Realizing she had too few clothes, she decided it was finally time to buy some new ones.
Qin Ran wasn't the type to care about expensive clothes. Her small wardrobe attested to that. Even when she visited luxury flagship stores abroad, she dressed in simple, unassuming outfits, without any thought of matching her clothes to the occasion.
But now, she worried that if she showed up looking plain next to a stylishly dressed Yu Shuman and got caught by the paparazzi, fans might criticize Yu Shuman's choice of friends.
With that thought, Qin Ran called Assistant Wu, asking her to buy some new clothes for her. They didn't need to be expensive, just comfortable and presentable.
Assistant Wu had already been through one shock when Qin Ran sent her to buy things for Yu's mother, so this more reasonable request didn't faze her. She quickly agreed, and by the time Qin Ran returned from class the next day, her closet was stocked with new outfits.
Qin Ran selected what she considered the best—a modest set of casual clothes and a straight-cut down jacket. When the day arrived, she finished her morning classes and headed straight to the supermarket near the school to pick up two bags of groceries before catching the subway to Yu Shuman's dorm.
This was Qin Ran's first time visiting Yu Shuman's dorm, and it was even more impressive in person than it had been in the video. The dorm was located in a commercial apartment complex—a small community with just one building, available for rent only. Qin Ran had simply rented the entire building.
When the security guard saw Qin Ran approach, he stepped forward to stop her. "Sorry, young lady, but no outsiders are allowed."
He glanced her up and down and then noticed the bags in her hands. "Are you here for part-time work? Who's your contact? I'll need to verify before you can go in."
Well, at least her outfit passed the test.
Qin Ran gave the security guard the apartment number Yu Shuman had provided. The guard looked her over once more before asking her to wait while he verified her identity. He assigned another colleague to keep an eye on her as he made the call. While Qin Ran waited, a delivery driver arrived with food, and another guard took the delivery before sending the driver on his way, then headed inside to deliver the order.
After verifying the information, the security guard finally let Qin Ran through. But even after entering the building, she encountered another checkpoint. The receptionist called Yu Shuman's apartment to confirm her visit, then handed Qin Ran an access card to use the elevator.
The security was strict, but the staff was courteous throughout, a reflection of the hefty rent Qin Ran was paying.
Yu Shuman lived on the tenth floor. When the elevator doors opened, the first thing Qin Ran saw was her senior waiting at the door, waving as she approached. "Junior, over here! Come on in!"
The building had twenty floors, with two elevators serving four apartments per floor. The first few floors had various amenities, leaving sixteen residential floors with a total of 64 apartments. Although typically two people shared an apartment, 99 Entertainment had so few artists that each had their own place, and not even all the apartments were occupied.
As Qin Ran stepped into Yu Shuman's apartment, she took in her surroundings. Assistant Wu had recorded a video of the place before Yu Shuman moved in, but the space now felt entirely different.
Though Yu Shuman had only lived here for a month or two, the apartment was already infused with her presence.
In the entryway, the shoe cabinet held a few personal items, and one of the first things Qin Ran noticed was a small rabbit figurine. Qin Ran had a similar rabbit figurine at her own home. Their shared fondness for rabbits had started with a small rabbit-themed handkerchief, and the motif had continued to appear in their lives ever since.
Seeing the little rabbit made Qin Ran's heart soften.
She reached out to touch the figurine as Yu Shuman handed her a pair of soft, fluffy rabbit slippers. "Junior, it's cold outside, isn't it? Put on these slippers and come into the living room. The central heating is on, and since the company covers our utilities, I've got the place nice and warm."
Anyone else might have thought Yu Shuman was bragging, but Qin Ran knew she was just trying to keep her from worrying about the heating bill.
As soon as she stepped inside, Qin Ran could feel the warmth of the apartment. She took off her coat and watched as Yu Shuman carried the groceries to the kitchen, chiding her playfully. "You didn't need to bring anything. I'm doing better now, much better than before. But you, you've always been so frugal, and yet you still brought food."
As Yu Shuman busied herself in the kitchen, she called back, "But since you brought it, we'll eat it all before you leave. I've already made lunch, just waiting for you to arrive. We'll use the groceries for dinner. No leftovers, okay?"
Qin Ran followed Yu Shuman to the dining area. It wasn't a large space, more like a small alcove, with just enough room for four or five people. The table was already set with food.