As soon as the call ended, Zhou Lan appeared in front of Zoe like a spirit, almost materializing in front of her eyes.
"Was it Song calling again?" Zhou Lan asked.
Zoe immediately understood the expression on Zhou Lan's face and what she was trying to imply.
She made a "stop" gesture.
"Lan Jie, I'm finishing 'The Eighth Heartbeat' in September, so don't book any more work for me."
"Huh? Why?" This wasn't the response Zhou Lan had expected.
Zoe said, "Song just told me he's reserved the role in 'Heart of the Matter' for me."
Zhou Lan's expression became even more shocked.
"What?"
Zoe spread her hands. "Lan Jie, I know you're shocked, I'm shocked too."
"Zoe, Song really has feelings for you." Zhou Lan's eyes were filled with intense surprise.
"Lan Jie, please don't bring that up every time. Can we focus on something else?" Zoe responded, feeling a little exasperated.
Zhou Lan said, "How can I not bring it up? Song has literally reserved the role in 'Heart of the Matter' for you. What am I supposed to say? He must have recognized your acting skills, thinks you're the perfect fit for the role, and now he's made it clear that it has to be you, right?"
If Zoe weren't trying to deceive herself, she'd have to admit that Zhou Lan had a point.
But there was no way she could admit it.
"Lan Jie, I'm going to sleep."
"Don't avoid the issue. What if Song really confesses to you? What will you do then?"
Zhou Lan's questions were always sharp, like a noose trapping Zoe's feet.
The thought of it made Zoe uneasy, and she didn't know how to respond.
"Now, sit down. Let's talk about the possible scenarios that could happen in the future."
Zhou Lan spoke in the most formal and business-like manner, but there was a gleam of gossip in her eyes.
Zoe rubbed her forehead. "I'm feeling a little dizzy."
"Alright, I'm not joking anymore. Let's talk seriously. If Song really confesses to you, what will you do?" Zhou Lan asked again. "Will you accept or reject?"
Zoe didn't even think before answering, "Of course I'll reject."
"Have you thought it through?"
"Is there even anything to think through? Am I crazy to think about dating Song right now?" Zoe felt this wasn't even a question worth considering.
Zhou Lan took Zoe's right hand. "You know, a lot of people, including some at the company, would think you're crazy for not dating Song."
"That's true. After all, the benefits of dating Song are right in front of me." Zoe's tone was filled with sarcasm.
Zhou Lan said, "You see? You understand it."
"But I don't want to, Lan Jie. The more they push, the less I want to."
"Then what about your own feelings?"
"Huh?"
"How do you feel about Song? If you were just an ordinary man and woman, would you like him?"
Zoe hesitated. "Lan Jie, I don't like this kind of speculation. I'm in the entertainment industry, and so is he. Our situation can't be decided based on the assumptions of ordinary people."
"So, deep down, you're just afraid of what his fans might say about you?"
"No, I'm just afraid that if I end up with someone I like, it won't be an equal relationship."
Zhou Lan fell silent.
Zoe let out a self-deprecating laugh and added, "Besides, I have a lot of things I haven't resolved yet."
"Then you know what to do. Be clear-headed when interacting with Song in the future." Zhou Lan patted Zoe's cheek. "Don't say one thing but then get swept away by emotions."
This time, it was Zoe who fell silent.
Life was never a game where you could completely control the outcome.
There were no clear rules, no requirements to win.
Some things, after going through hardships, led to success.
Other things, you might crash into a dead end, unable to move forward, and sometimes, you wouldn't even know if you'd succeeded or failed, as if there was no real goal at all. You'd feel like you were standing at a never-ending intersection, with traffic flowing in every direction, and you couldn't find a safe route to move forward.
You thought you could wait for the red light to stop, the green light to go, but when you looked up, you realized there was no traffic light at all.
Zoe couldn't find a way to have a safe relationship with Song. Looking ahead, everything seemed like a wasteland. If she rushed into it for temporary pleasure, the consequences later would be too hard to bear.
But just as Zhou Lan had said, the company's people were eager to see Zoe have more interactions with Song.
He Yong's immediate reaction was: "Doesn't the schedule for this drama clash with 'The Eighth Heartbeat'? Why is it back on the table now?"
Zhou Lan replied, "The schedules only overlap for one month. I've talked to Song's side for a long time, and they agreed to shift Zoe's filming to the later part of the schedule. That way, everything will fit perfectly."
"Song really reserved a role for Zoe?" He Yong asked, raising an eyebrow.
According to industry norms, how could Song's side reserve a role for a second female lead? Usually, roles like that were handled by the capital side, since the female lead had to bear the weight of the show's ratings.
Even Su Yan, who had been propped up by others, was a top-tier star with a solid position, so platforms would support her. If it were an actress who couldn't carry the ratings, even if she had backing, the platform wouldn't so easily give her the role.
Zhou Lan didn't want He Yong to know that it was Song who had actively reached out to Zoe, as it might give He Yong some ideas that shouldn't be entertained.
"I heard that Song had some disagreements with his company and platform, so the decision hasn't been finalized yet. I only found out about this recently and pushed for the role for Zoe, especially since she had already been approved by them in the beginning."
Zhou Lan took all the credit for the negotiation, and this seemed to convince He Yong.
"You're really invested in her." He Yong's tone had a hint of sarcasm.
Zhou Lan smiled without saying a word.
"If the schedules don't conflict, then just take the job." He Yong nodded. "She's an artist the headquarters is watching; we can't block her path, can we?"
Hearing He Yong's response, Zhou Lan's heart stirred.
No wonder He Yong's attitude toward Zoe had changed so quickly—it was because someone at the headquarters had taken an interest in Zoe.
After leaving He Yong's office, Zhou Lan went to the company's rehearsal room to find Zoe.
Zoe was practicing some major scenes from "The Eighth Heartbeat" with her acting coach.
Since she didn't have formal training, Zoe had specifically sought out an acting coach outside of the company to help improve her skills.
When Zoe took a break, Zhou Lan told her about the conversation she'd had with He Yong.
"I'll talk to Song's side soon and finalize the contract, so things don't drag on. Also, do you know which big shot at the headquarters is supporting you?"