As a private detective, Zhong Ruanxing's whereabouts were very secretive. He looked ordinary and had no memorable features, which also made his work more convenient - after all, it was harder to leave an impression that way.
After that phone call, he never contacted Song JinXing again, like a fish that had sunk into the ocean, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
Leave professional matters to professionals, Song JinXing did not participate any further, only needing to quietly wait for news, so as not to startle the snake by trampling on the grass.
Life seemed to not have changed much, Song JinXing was still shooting his TV series, and occasional paparazzi shots of the filming location would cause a wave of trending online, maintaining the popularity of Letters with You.
Zhong Ruanxing still went to bed and got up early every day, working hard to play the domineering president role. Her professional capabilities were rapidly improving through practice. Sometimes when she couldn't reach Song JinXing, she could handle some project issues herself.
The spring in the capital city was always very short. It seemed like in the blink of an eye, the hot summer had arrived.
The summer vacation lineup finally arrived, and the much-anticipated Floating Voice Song also went online on schedule. After The Spy had crossed the 1 billion RMB mark at the box office, Zhong Ruanxing's first TV drama as the female lead also caught fire, with over 2% viewership on the first day of release.
The audience was completely shocked by Zhong Ruanxing's acting skills in playing two roles. Although they were the same person, with the same face, when the TV drama used special effects to put the two characters on screen together, no one would feel they were the same person.
This was even easier to distinguish than twins! The eyes, smile, subtle expressions were all completely different. They were clearly two people with completely different personalities and experiences!
How on earth did Zhong Ruanxing do it?
Her acting skills are just too amazing!
The wildly praised Zhong Ruanxing herself was browsing Weibo and revealed an awkward smile.
Hmph, this was probably her golden finger. Now that netizens were praising her to the skies, it looked like she would have to improve her acting skills even more, otherwise she wouldn't be able to justify herself if her acting failed one day.
Actors should let their acting skills and works speak for themselves. With the reputation of The Spy and Floating Voice Song, Zhong Ruanxing's status in the industry instantly stabilized. After seven years since her debut, the label of "popular" finally landed on her. Many endorsements and business opportunities came knocking on her door, and she could occasionally see her own billboards when walking down the street.
Song JinXing was still shooting his TV series on set, and didn't have much feeling about this. The ones who felt the impact most clearly were the Zhong family.
Even Zhong You was asked by his classmates for his sister's autograph!
It wasn't a secret that Zhong Ruanxing had a little sister in kindergarten. Back when she wasn't popular, she would often come to pick up Zhong You from school, and many parents of the children knew her. After all, beauty like hers would be unforgettable after seeing it just once.
Now her TV series was playing on TV, her ads were hanging on the streets, you could see her endorsement posters when shopping at the mall. Everyone suddenly realized, a popular celebrity was right by their side!
When Zhong You was let out from school, his little backpack was stuffed full of autograph books that his classmates had their parents pass on.
Zhong Dad happened to be off work today. He had just picked up his young daughter from the teacher and was about to leave when he suddenly felt camera flashes going off around him, someone was trying to sneak photos of them.
Zhong Dad immediately picked up Zhong You and pressed her head into his chest to hide her face. He hurried home, and those paparazzi that had been lying in wait sure enough followed them the whole way, sneakily taking photos.
Zhong Dad's face was stern enough to wring out water. When they entered the residential compound, he exchanged a few quiet words with the security grandpa at the gate. Sure enough, when the paparazzi got close, the security grandpa came out holding his baton, glaring angrily: "What are you doing! Go away! No trespassing!"
The old residential compound was much easier to slip into compared to other celebrity mansions in high-end communities. The paparazzi immediately tried to curry favor by offering cigarettes and laughing, attempting to bluff their way in. They didn't expect the security grandpa to be completely upright and uncompromising.
He took the cigarettes but didn't let them in.
"No entry without being a registered resident of this compound!"
The paparazzi were hopping mad through gritted teeth, and could only loiter at the gates. Finally, they hatched a plan - they turned on their voice recorders and tried to chat up the security grandpa.
"Grandpa, Zhong Ruanxing lives in this compound right?"
"None of your damn business!"
"Oh come on grandpa, we're just making some polite conversation in this civilized society, no malice intended. Did Zhong Ruanxing live here when she was young too? Has she ever dated anyone?"
The grandpa was impervious to coercion or bribery. Seeing no inkling of gossip from him, the paparazzi reluctantly gave up and turned their attention to the aunties coming in and out of the compound instead.
"Auntie, I'm a reporter from XX Weekly, did you know your compound has produced a big celebrity?"
"I know, the Zhong family star!"
"Right, Zhong Ruanxing. Auntie, could I interview you? What's Zhong Ruanxing like in private? Is she really like the online rumors say, bad-behaved in private?"
The auntie who was originally all smiles immediately frowned: "You reporters still believe in spreading rumors? We watched her grow up here, how would we not know what kind of person she is? Go away, I won't accept your interview!"
The paparazzi were determined to dig up exclusive scoops about Zhong Ruanxing, but they stubbornly interviewed several more aunties and uncles coming in and out of the compound to no avail. Everyone's attitude was very consistent - not only did they fail to dig up any dirt, they ended up being lectured by the aunties and uncles on how good of a person Zhong Ruanxing was.
This was just unbelievable! How could someone have such good relationships with everyone? Not a single person had anything bad to say about her! How did Zhong Ruanxing accomplish this???
Of course the paparazzi didn't understand the deep influence Zhong Ruanxing had in this neighborhood after growing up here since childhood, getting along with all the neighbors and winning them over with her perfect personality.
The paparazzi left disappointedly empty-handed. Zhong Dad also called his eldest daughter to tell her about the paparazzi that almost tailed them into the compound today.
Hearing this on the phone, Song JinXing frowned and pondered for a moment before saying: "Dad, let's move. The old compound is no longer suitable for us to live in, security and privacy can't be guaranteed. We blocked the paparazzi today, but we may not be able to block sasaeng fans next time."
Zhong Dad was originally a little reluctant to move, but after Song JinXing spent two minutes explaining to him what sasaeng fans were, he immediately nodded in agreement.
Song JinXing had also only recently been informed about what sasaeng fans were. That kind of all-pervasive, extremely pathological stalker was more like a peeping tom. The old compound was definitely not suitable to live in anymore. Fortunately, when they had switched identities earlier, he had bought a large flat in Four Seasons Cloud Top in the city center. It was even bigger than what the Zhong family was living in now, perfect for the whole family to live in.
After discussing, he called Zhong Ruanxing to tell her about this. The next day, Zhong Ruanxing brought people over to move her own family.
Four Seasons Cloud Top had everything around it, with people coming regularly to clean, so they could move right in.
Zhong Dad had been anxious all night, paranoid after learning about sasaeng fans, constantly getting up to check the door. It wasn't until he saw his capable son-in-law standing outside the door early next morning that he finally relaxed.
"Xiao Song, thank you for the trouble."
Zhong Ruanxing smiled and said, "No trouble at all Uncle, we're all family!"
Zhong Dad felt even fonder of his son-in-law now. He hesitated and said: "Xiao Song, when do you have time... should we arrange for me to meet your grandfather and grandmother?"
The fact that the socially anxious Zhong Dad made this offer showed how extremely satisfied he was with this son-in-law.
In the past, Zhong Ruanxing would have readily agreed.
But now, thinking of the unresolved truth, she could only say: "Let's discuss it again after Xing finishes shooting this drama and comes back."
Zhong Dad didn't suspect anything and nodded.