On Friday, Zoe visited Zheng's studio for her second costume fitting.
This time, Chen wasn't around, and Zoe discreetly breathed a sigh of relief.
The moment Zheng saw her, she greeted her with a warm smile. "I saw the news this morning—you've locked in your next drama!"
Zoe forced a bitter smile, shaking her head. "Don't even bring it up."
"Oh?" Zheng tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "You don't sound too thrilled about it."
"This whole thing made me completely fall out with Song," Zoe admitted, her tone laced with regret. "He hasn't spoken to me in days."
Zheng immediately perked up at the mention of Song. "What happened?"
Zoe sighed. "He invited me to be in his new film, and I really wanted to accept. But I didn't know at the time that my company had secretly committed me to another project. I had no choice but to turn him down."
Zheng waved it off as a minor issue. "That's not a big deal. Just explain the situation to him. He'll understand. Surely he wouldn't ignore you over something like this."
"I feel so bad about it," Zoe murmured, looking despondent.
"It is a shame, though," Zheng remarked, her voice tinged with pity. "Lots of actresses were eyeing roles in his new project. Even third and fourth female leads were being fought over by some well-established names."
Zheng might have been in fashion design, but her industry was closely intertwined with showbiz. She was privy to the inner workings of the entertainment world.
"And that web drama your company signed you on for…" She trailed off, but Zoe understood her implication perfectly.
A wry smile tugged at Zoe's lips, one that hinted at frustration and defeat.
"Out of my hands," she said simply, summing up her helplessness in four words.
Zheng sighed sympathetically. "Your company's handling of this wasn't fair. If they'd already committed you to a project, they should've informed you sooner."
"They did," Zoe admitted. "But I dismissed it right away. I didn't think much of the project and declined. I thought that was the end of it, but… well, here we are. It's a long story."
Zheng could see that Zoe wasn't in the best mood. She patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Alright, let's focus on the fitting first. You've made a strong start in your career. Even if things aren't going your way now, there's always a way to turn it around. As for Song, my advice? Apologize. If you put yourself in his shoes, you'd understand. He gave you an opportunity, handed you a role, and then you turned it down. It's only natural he'd be upset."
"I know," Zoe said with a sigh. "But I've been texting him every day, and he hasn't replied."
A flicker of vulnerability crossed her face, a rare look of defeat that softened Zheng's heart.
She hated seeing Zoe downhearted like this. "Do you know where Song lives?" she asked.
Zoe shook her head.
"Let me find out for you," Zheng offered. "My suggestion? Go see him in person. Don't worry about feeling awkward or embarrassed. It's not worth letting your relationship with Song deteriorate over this. Think about it—he invited you to join his project because he admired you. He saw something in you. Don't let things end on a sour note. You'll regret it later if you don't try to fix this now."
Zoe widened her eyes in surprise, then nodded earnestly. "You're right. I'll do it."
After the fitting, Zheng gave an approving nod. "These two outfits are perfect. We'll schedule a final rehearsal fitting, and then we're all set."
Zoe gave her a warm hug. "Thank you."
"I'm glad you like them," Zheng replied with a smile.
"I really do," Zoe said, her gratitude evident.