Both parties involved became flustered, silently pacing back and forth with awkwardness. The difference was that Chu Yueyi was wandering in the corner, while Shi Guanghua was near the equipment box.
After a moment, Chu Yueyi finally overcame her psychological barrier. She returned to the table and urged Shi Guanghua in a muffled voice, "Put it away quickly."
Chu Yueyi: The public execution is over, I need to regain my composure.
Shi Guanghua obediently closed the equipment box, intending to store the gift properly.
The Chief Director noticed the silence between the two and said helplessly, "There's nothing here we can't film, right?"
Chu Yueyi had merely given Shi Guanghua a microphone. Why all the secrecy and beating around the bush, as if they were underground party members in a spy drama?
In the corner, the young female script editors gossiped in their small group chat:
[The boss is so clueless.]
[So some netizens' complaints aren't wrong - he really can't pick up on natural chemistry.]
[We want to dig for real sparks, not force artificial ones.]
[It feels like we're lecturing students about puppy love in the office.]
[Wrong analogy - the teacher is eager for puppy love, we're eager for no love.]
Compared to the Chief Director's confusion, Cheng was more direct, asking curiously, "But why suddenly give a gift?"
Chu Yueyi mumbled, "I just felt like it."
Cheng: "Is there a special occasion coming up?"
Shi Guanghua froze, opened the calendar on his phone, browsed the nearest holidays, then pressed his lips together nervously. He didn't dare look directly at Chu Yueyi, lowering his head slightly to ask softly, "...A Valentine's Day gift?"
The Spring Festival had already passed, and there were no other holidays - Valentine's Day was the closest.
Chu Yueyi: "!!?"
Chu Yueyi hurriedly waved her hands, stammering uncharacteristically, "This really just happened to coincide..."
Cheng, sour as a lemon, quipped, "I wish I could 'happen to' receive such gifts too."
Shi Guanghua silently stared intently at her, his eyes gleaming like obsidian, clearly not believing her excuse.
Chu Yueyi had thought the matter could be put to rest, but unexpectedly found herself under interrogation. She hurriedly said, "It's just a return gift, consider it payback!"
That's right.
She had received his performance costume before, so she bought the microphone as a reciprocal gift. This was perfectly reasonable, with no ulterior motives.
Shi Guanghua paused briefly, gazing at her impassively before drawling, "But you've given too much in return."
Shi Guanghua knew the price of microphones better than her. According to her usual habits, she should have returned a gift of similar value, not chosen something more expensive. That would have been the proper attitude for cooperating with colleagues - repaying the favor without adding pressure, settling accounts evenly.
But the gift she chose was more expensive than the performance costume, which meant he might need to give her another gift in return. This didn't seem like the result she would want.
Faced with his unhurried questioning, Chu Yueyi became flustered, completely baffled as to why he was suddenly so astute when he was usually so oblivious. Of course she knew she should have returned a gift of equal value, but at the time she thought the flowing black suited him better, and impulsively customized the microphone, temporarily ignoring the subsequent details.
Don't ask her why her brain malfunctioned - by the time she realized it, she had already placed the order.
Impulsive purchases were indeed ill-advised, and now she was facing a barrage of questions!
Chu Yueyi was nearly numb from everyone's interrogation. She felt a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. She had simply wanted to casually give him a gift, but now these people were making a mess of things. Finally, under the immense pressure, she snapped.
She had originally intended to be nice, but if he insisted on pursuing the matter, he couldn't blame her for dragging him down with her.
Chu Yueyi stopped her agitated pacing, put on a brilliant smile, and said gently, "Ah, I didn't give too much at all."
Shi Guanghua said flatly, "You did."
Chu Yueyi smiled, "This is to unlock Teacher Shi's special privileges. I thought I'd see if spending money could solve it. I was even worried this small gift wouldn't be enough, since someone said 'just spending money isn't enough.'"
Shi Guanghua: "..."
Cheng's eyes widened in disbelief as he scanned Shi Guanghua, exclaiming, "What kind of special privileges can you provide? How can they be worth so much?"
Cheng: I didn't expect you to be such a money-making boy, and you didn't even tell me about such a good deal!
Shi Guanghua tried to explain, "I didn't..."
"Who knows?" Chu Yueyi said nonchalantly, "I'm curious too. I just spent the money, haven't experienced the service yet."
Shi Guanghua's ears turned red. He stared at her intensely for a long while before asking hoarsely, "...What kind of service do you want?"
He realized she had been provoked and was now clearly trying to get back at him, showcasing her exceptional linguistic skills.
Cheng, always one to fan the flames, chimed in, "Your attitude isn't respectful enough. Since you're taking money for services, you should change how you address her. You should say, 'Boss, what service do you want?'"
Shi Guanghua: "?"
Chu Yueyi played along with Cheng. She scrutinized her nails critically, like an arrogant customer, and complained, "Your studio's paid experience is terrible. Do I have to teach you how to provide service? I feel like I should ask for a refund."
Cheng hurriedly said, "We're sorry, please don't complain or ask for a refund. We'll start training right away."
He immediately patted Shi Guanghua, who was standing still, and muttered, "Have some awareness, don't ruin the studio's reputation!"
Shi Guanghua's body stiffened: "..." He felt the studio's reputation had already been ruined by their strange conversation.
Chu Yueyi moved the microphone box on the table aside and naturally sat down in the black swivel chair. She then mumbled to herself, shrugging her shoulders suggestively, "Work has been so busy lately, I'm feeling a bit stiff..."
Shi Guanghua caught the hint and walked over, standing behind her: "Do you need a massage?"
Chu Yueyi pretended to consider: "Hmm, is this part of the special privileges? I don't know if I have enough credit, since someone said just spending money isn't enough."
Shi Guanghua knew she was referring to him and said softly, "It's enough if it's you."
His tone was so natural that it made her heart skip a beat.
Chu Yueyi had originally planned to be deliberately difficult, perhaps saying something like "don't mess up my shoulders," but now her voice gradually weakened: "...Alright then, go ahead."
Shi Guanghua seriously extended his hands to massage her shoulders. His fingers were warm and dry, the pressure just right, and he clearly knew what he was doing, instantly relieving her fatigue.
Chu Yueyi, who had started out just trying to tease him, now suddenly relaxed, allowing him to do as he pleased, occasionally letting out a soft hum. She had indeed been very tired lately, with work piling up before joining the group, leaving her no time to think. Now she rarely indulged in the pleasure.
Seeing her eyes close in comfort, Shi Guanghua's gaze softened as he continued the massage, encouraging her shoulders and neck to relax.
After experiencing the service for the first time, Chu Yueyi rotated her neck and commented, "Not bad, just a bit boring."
Shi Guanghua: "Want to go out for a walk then?"
Chu Yueyi looked surprised, instinctively saying, "But the album isn't..."
Shi Guanghua calmly replied, "Didn't you already pay? Do you still need to work?"
Chu Yueyi stood up at his words: "You're right, let's go. I did just make a big purchase after all."
Chu Yueyi: I'm a distinguished VIP8 user now, why should I care about mundane matters?
Their original plan was to produce a digital album, but on second thought, Chu Yueyi didn't really understand it anyway - it was just standard content for the show. Now that Shi Guanghua was actively suggesting going out, the director and others had no objections. In fact, they had enough material for the collaboration album, so filming something else wouldn't be a problem.
Chu Yueyi and Shi Guanghua put on their coats and scarves, said goodbye to Cheng from the studio, and then walked out of the building. The creative park was quite quiet, with everyone busy inside the buildings, leaving the park area nearly empty.
The winter air was slightly chilly. Chu Yueyi stood at the entrance, breathing in the fresh air. Her fatigue from the past few days slightly eased, giving her the illusion of being as free as a bird in the vast sky. She exhaled softly, creating a small puff of white mist, and asked curiously, "Where are we going now?"
Shi Guanghua was caught off guard by the question. He had just wanted to take her out, but now found himself stumped. He immediately took out his phone and said softly, "Give me a moment, I'll look something up."
Chu Yueyi: "?"
Chu Yueyi watched him earnestly search for nearby attractions and couldn't help but tease, "So we have no destination. You just impulsively decided to come out."
She had thought he had ideas for recording, but it turned out he hadn't even decided on a destination.
Shi Guanghua looked up at her, his eyes deepening with meaning as he said, "After all, I've never sold my services before. Today is my first day on the job."
He hadn't expected her to give him a gift, nor had he anticipated that his business would include new service items.
"What does it matter if it's your first day? I'll guide you..."
Chu Yueyi was about to say that she had already planned their New Year's tour in advance, having listed various options, but then she remembered they were currently recording and shouldn't reveal their private interactions. She quickly withdrew her words and rephrased: "Even if it's your first day, you should consider the client's needs. Don't always wait for the boss to speak up. You should act before the boss even thinks to ask..."
She spoke like a small leader educating her subordinate, her words truly skillful: "It's too late if the client has to make requests. You should take action one step ahead - that's what we call service awareness."
Shi Guanghua, who had never really had a proper job, found himself being lectured: "..."
After browsing the information on his phone screen, with her calm and gentle voice in his ears, Shi Guanghua didn't immediately respond. Instead, he lowered his head and took her hand, silently gripping it tightly.
His palm was larger than hers, warmly enveloping her and instantly dispelling the winter cold.
His action was quite sudden, seemingly without any reason.
Chu Yueyi's voice abruptly stopped. She looked at him with trembling pupils, not daring to move.
Faced with her flustered reaction, Shi Guanghua didn't let go. Instead, he pulled her along as he walked, calmly saying, "It's too late if the client has to make requests. You should take action one step ahead - that's what we call service awareness."
Chu Yueyi: "Huh?"
Shi Guanghua swayed their joined hands, saying leisurely, "Service awareness."
Chu Yueyi: "???" How could this be considered a service?
Chu Yueyi said dryly, "...Your services are quite diverse. What other items do you have? I should prepare a bit."
Shi Guanghua glanced back at her: "Sing for you?"
If she wanted to hear him sing, he had no reason to refuse.
In fact, if it weren't for the cameras constantly following them, he would have wanted to sing for her as soon as he received the gift. It didn't matter how many love songs, as long as he could express his feelings to her.
He had never been so grateful for his musical talent, able to confess through varied notes. At least it wouldn't bore her.
Chu Yueyi thought singing sounded much more normal, but hesitantly asked, "Just singing?"
Shi Guanghua added, "Singing all day long."
Chu Yueyi raised an eyebrow: "Just singing for the entire day?"
Hearing this, Shi Guanghua stopped in his tracks. Sensing her dissatisfaction, he turned back to look at her in bewilderment, vaguely responding, "Mm."
He thought singing love songs all day would be enough.
Chu Yueyi said seriously, "This service seems a bit perfunctory. Is there anything else?"
Chu Yueyi thought: Don't think you can fob me off with just singing.
Faced with her solemn expression, Shi Guanghua thought that even repeated confessions of love weren't enough. He wondered what other services he could offer. After a brief thought, his face inexplicably flushed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he suddenly became anxious.
Even the hand holding hers became somewhat hot. He used his other hand to cover his mouth, hiding his expression as he spoke embarrassedly, "...What other services do you want?"
Chu Yueyi said coldly, "You've already forgotten what you just said. Don't keep asking me. Service awareness, remember?"
Shi Guanghua: "!!?" !