abcnovels
Chapter 923
Chapter 923
Chapter 923
Chapter 923 Looking Out For Oneself
In the end, they decided not to go out to see a movie.
Since nine in the morning, Ning Ran's phone kept ringing with calls from her acquaintances in the entertainment industry.
They called to congratulate Ning Ran on her movie grossing over a hundred million on the first day. In the entertainment industry, it was all about fame and fortune. Those so-called friends who didn't usually keep in touch naturally realized that Ning Ran's fame would only rise upon seeing her movie's success.
Hence, they were eager to call her and leave a good impression in case of future encounters.
Despite her plans to spend quality time with her children, Ning Ran found herself annoyed by the constant ringing of her phone. In an effort to deal with the annoyance, she decided to forward her calls to Cheng Xiangyun, who could handle them for her.
At noon, Cheng Xiangyun arrived to pick Ning Ran up for a styling session.
The nanny took care of the two children, arranging for them to nap while Ning Ran got in Cheng Xiangyun's car.
Cheng Xiangyun said excitedly, “Ran, when I first saw you, I already knew you would become a big star!”
“Oh, come on! You didn't say that before. Who was it that called me arrogant and unrealistic?” Ning Ran snorted.
“That definitely wasn't me! I've always thought you had the looks of a big star. That's why I brought you into the industry and followed you all the way in the first place. Can you honestly say that you could
have made it without my help?”
After pondering for a moment, Ning Ran realized that Cheng Xiangyun did play an important role in her success.
Without her, she wouldn't have had any acting jobs or income when she first returned to the country.
In fact, she didn't even have a place to stay and had to rely on Cheng Xiangyun, who took her and her children in.
In times of hardship, true friendship was precious, and even though Cheng Xiangyun sometimes acted out of self-interest, it was natural for people to pursue their own benefits in this world.
“Thank you, Cheng. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today. That's the truth,” Ning Ran said emotionally.
“Well, at least you have some conscience. So, how are you going to thank me now that your movie is a big hit?” Cheng Xiangyun teased.
“Um... I'll find you a man!” Ning Ran said.
“Huh? What do you take me for? Do you think I'm that lascivious? Can't you give me something more practical?” Cheng Xiangyun chided.
“Well, how about I give you the latest branded bag, plus a man?” Ning Ran suggested.
Cheng Xiangyun's mood lightened. “Okay, I knew you were generous! Can you replace the man with another bag, so I get two bags?”
“Hey, a man is worth much more than a bag. With a man, he can buy you a bag. Can a bag replace a man?” Ning Ran challenged.
After thinking for a while, Cheng Xiangyun agreed, “That's true. So, who are you going to introduce to me? Zheng Lunlun or Huang Zichao? Forget about Shi Jie; he's too young! I don't like young guys!”
Ning Ran was shocked as Cheng Xiangyun had just mentioned three of the most attractive male stars in the entertainment industry. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
“Well, um, those guys are too good-looking. They won't give you a sense of security. I think we need someone who is handsome and down-to-earth,” Ning Ran said tactfully.
“Nan Xing? Oh my gosh, that's perfect!” Cheng Xiangyun exclaimed.
“Forget it! Nan Xing is pursuing Lu Jingyuan. He doesn't have time for you!” Ning Ran replied flatly.
“Oh, I guess Nan Xing is a shallow man. He only likes good-looking people. It's better not to have him.”
Stifling her laughter, Ning Ran said, “Yes, he's shallow. Let's not have him.”
“Who do you have in mind then?” Cheng Xiangyun asked.
“Hmm... There's a person who's pretty decent. What about Qiao Zhan?” her friend suggested.
“Him? No way, I still wouldn't want him even if I had to become a nun. He's as muscular as a bull, and while his looks are decent, I don't like guys who are so bulky!”
Ning Ran sighed. “Well then, let's talk about it later. I don't have anyone suitable to introduce to you at the moment. Can you pull over for a while? I need to get out and buy a bottle of water. I ate a salted egg with Erbao this morning and now I'm really thirsty.”
“But Ou has instructed you not to get out of the car. I'll buy it for you,” Cheng Xiangyun offered.
“Is it really that serious? Who knows me anyway?” Ning Ran asked.
“I don't know if it's that serious, but you have fans. Some fans online said they couldn't buy tickets yesterday afternoon because many theaters were booked out, apparently by the same person. While someone rich may have booked out a theater, it's strange to book out several theaters at the same time. Could it be your super fan? If they meet you, won't they just go berserk?” Cheng Xiangyun reasoned.
Feeling frightened by Cheng Xiangyun's words, Ning Ran said, “Don't scare me like that. Why don't you buy it for me?”
After parking the car by the road, Cheng Xiangyun ran to a nearby supermarket to buy bottled water. Ning Ran observed the woman's entry into the store and soon became aware of her prolonged absence. Despite waiting for several more minutes, Cheng Xiangyun had yet to emerge.
Filled with worry, Ning Ran called Cheng Xiangyun, only to realize that the latter's phone was in her bag, which she had left in the car. With no other option, she locked the car and headed inside to find out what was happening.
As soon as she entered the supermarket, someone suddenly called out, “Isn't she the mom from the movie?”
“Yes, she's the mom!”
In the movie, Ning Ran did play the role of a young mother, but being called “mom” by a group of adults was making her feel a little uneasy.
“She's not called mom, she's called Ding Mi. It's really her, oh my gosh! A celebrity has come to our store!”
The store manager was more composed and immediately realized that this was a great opportunity to promote the store.
The customers who were shopping nearby all gathered around.
Many of them had not seen Ning Ran's movies before, but upon hearing that she was a celebrity and seeing how beautiful she was, they naturally wanted to join in the excitement.
One of them even cried, saying she had always been a fan of Ning Ran. She hadn't seen any of her movies or television dramas but was purely a fan of her variety show appearances. Not only had she seen every show that Ning Ran had taken part in, but she had watched them multiple times.
It was the first time Ning Ran had seen a fan cry in front of her, and she didn't know how to comfort her. She seemed unsure and timid, asking if there was anything she could do for the fan.
Luckily, the person only requested a photo and an autograph on her purse.
Ning Ran complied and signed while trying to search for Cheng Xiangyun.
Finally, Cheng Xiangyun appeared, explaining that she had gone to the restroom due to stomach pain.
Upon seeing Ning Ran surrounded by the crowd, Cheng Xiangyun, who was inexperienced in dealing with fans, immediately rushed in. “Let her go!”
Her impatient temperament and intense actions angered the onlookers.
“Who is this person? Why is she more anxious than the big star?”
“Maybe she's the talent agent or something?”
Cheng Xiangyun squeezed her way into the crowd, shielding Ning Ran.
In actuality, she had never managed a celebrity before and didn't know how to handle interactions between stars and fans.
As the people continued to approach and take random pictures with their phones, Cheng Xiangyun became more anxious.
Wang Xiaoou had said that Ning Ran couldn't show her face that day, and now they were surrounded by a crowd. Cheng Xiangyun felt responsible, so she had to protect Ning Ran, but her impulsive attitude caused the onlookers to become hostile.