Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 60 Leaving the Group (Please read on, please recommend, please do everything!)

The atmosphere in the hotel room was exceptionally oppressive.

"So, you haven't even gotten your hands on the script outline?"

Chi Shuai sat cross-legged on a cushion in the corner of the room, his brows furrowed. "Is everything alright? Your opponent is Lin Zhiying!"

The name "Little Whirlwind" was a household name in 2002.

"No, Lin Zhiying's salary is too high, so it has already been rejected."

Gu Xiao bent down to stuff the last neatly folded shirt into the suitcase, answering without looking up:
"According to Director Zhou, this audition was mainly to finalize the choice of 'Xu Zhu'. I was just going through the motions so that Producer Zhang could see me in person."

This was obviously a lie, but he didn't want to explain too much.

"Don't be careless."

You Jianming sat with his arms crossed in the only reclining chair in the room:
"Finding a role requires careful consideration, but elimination often only takes a moment. 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' is a major CCTV project, so the internal evaluation process will only be more rigorous."

Gu Xiao nodded, meeting his gaze: "I know what I'm doing."

"When are you leaving?" Liu Jiajia asked softly, leaning against the doorframe.

"Seven o'clock tomorrow morning, long-distance bus," Gu Xiao replied.

The room fell silent for a moment after he said that.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Liu Yifei pouted, hugged Xiao Jiu tightly in her arms, and buried her face in its soft, fluffy fur.

Xiao Jiu seemed to sense the atmosphere of parting as well. For once, it did not struggle. It just looked at this and that with its bright black eyes, making a soft "gurgling" sound in its throat.

Gu Xiao's gaze swept over the crowd, she smiled silently, and offered a word of comfort:

"It's not like we'll never see each other again, there's no need for this."

The people present remained silent.

In this industry, saying goodbye is indeed not difficult, but whether the person is still the same is really hard to say.

A tense atmosphere quickly filled the room.

After a long pause, Chi Shuai smiled and stood up, looking at him and saying, "Do your best in the audition. Remember to help me out when you become famous."

Gu Xiao nodded gently, "I understand. You all should act well and keep it up."

Seeing this, everyone offered their blessings and left the room one after another.

As the door closed gently, Gu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Turning her head, she saw Liu Yifei still sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Xiao Jiu, showing no intention of leaving.

"What's wrong?" he asked, puzzled.

Liu Yifei lowered her head, twirling Xiao Jiu's tail with her fingertips, and said in a muffled voice:

"Where's the gift I gave you last time?"

Gu Xiao thought for a moment and replied, "I left it at home. That pen is too delicate; I was afraid of breaking it."

"Oh"

Liu Yifei responded, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly raised her head, staring intently at him:
"Last time we parted, I saw you off. This time it's your turn to leave first, shouldn't you give me something?"

Gu Xiao was slightly taken aback, and subconsciously said, "Isn't this a bit too sudden?"

At this point in time, he conjures up gifts from somewhere.

Liu Yifei hugged Xiao Jiu tighter, raising her chin slightly, "Anyway, you have to deliver it. You can't just do it half-heartedly!"

Gu Xiao had a headache.

He looked around and saw that his luggage was so simple that it was almost rudimentary. Apart from a few clothes and toiletries, there was really nothing worth showing off.

Suddenly, Gu Xiao thought of something, quickly went to the desk, and took out a piece of jade from the side pocket of her backpack:
"Is this okay?"

That was the yellow jade that Gu Xiaoxin had chosen during his trip. It was the size of a fist, with a smooth surface and a warm, smooth feel. Xiao Jiu loved to sleep with it in his arms.

Liu Yifei examined the object in his palm, speechless, and said:

"Stone?"

“Jade,” Gu Xiao corrected.

"You know about this?" A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yifei's eyes.

Gu Xiao thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Actually, I don't really understand."

Liu Yifei was instantly speechless with anger, glaring at him reproachfully: "Then you'll give it to me?!"

Gu Xiao thought what she said made sense, and readily agreed to take the stone back.

"But this is all I have right now."

Seeing that he actually intended to take it back, Liu Yifei wanted to roll her eyes but was mindful of her image, so she could only snort and say:

"Don't you write songs?"

Gu Xiao shook his head, his attitude clear: "Then it's better to give stones." "Why?" Liu Yifei frowned in confusion, finding this person's logic really strange.

Gu Xiao didn't explain, she just looked at her quietly.

Liu Yifei stared at him for a moment, knowing she couldn't win against him, so she could only mutter softly:

"But you can't just send a stone like that, can you? It's not pretty at all. At least... at least carve it."

She felt that the request was reasonable.

Gu Xiao nodded thoughtfully and asked:
What pattern do you want?

Liu Yifei glared at her and said, "Think for yourself!"

After saying that, she gently placed Xiao Jiu in her arms on the bed, stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked towards the door.

As she walked to the door, she turned back and waved her little fist forcefully at Gu Xiao:

"Audition secured!"

Gu Xiao looked at her serious expression and couldn't help but laugh:

"I will."

……

……

The next morning, before dawn.

With her backpack on and suitcase in tow, Gu Xiao quietly walked out of the hotel's side door.

“Haw—!”

A resentful shout came from above.

Xiao Jiu squatted on his head, its fluffy tail sweeping restlessly back and forth, its little paws fidgeting with his hair.

Gu Xiao tilted her head slightly and said helplessly, "Aren't there several more at home? Enough for you to carry."

"Squeak—!" (But that one is the most comfortable to hug!)
Xiao Jiu clearly didn't accept this explanation. She angrily swung her tail and lightly flicked the back of his head, complaining that he was a spendthrift.

Gu Xiao reassured her, "The stone is still there. I'll find another one later."

Xiao Jiu tilted his head, his bright black eyes darting around, and thought that made sense, so he nodded in satisfaction.

Gu Xiao walked to the side of the street and flagged down a passing taxi.

After putting his luggage in the trunk, he straightened up and glanced back at the hotel.

The building was quiet, and most of the windows were still dark, suggesting that everyone was still asleep.

His gaze lingered briefly in a certain direction before he looked away, opened the car door, and bent down to get into the back seat.

The car engine hummed softly, carrying a man and a mouse, before merging into traffic and disappearing from sight.

……

……

The capital city in July was unusually hot and humid.

The road surface was cracked from the scorching sun, and the air was filled with sweltering heat.

Gu Xiao, dressed in a black sun-protective suit and gray sweatpants, strode into the Kunlun Hotel.

The moment I stepped through the revolving glass door, a strong blast of cold air hit me, instantly dispelling the heat all over my body.

Gu Xiao couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

The next second, the pocket on the chest of the sun protection clothing wriggled, and a furry little head suddenly popped out.

Xiao Jiu opened her mouth wide, her pink little tongue sticking out slightly, her bright black eyes filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster.

"Chirp! Chirp!" (It's alive! The rat was dying of heat!)

It scratched at the edge of the pocket with its little paws, greedily breathing in the cool air.

Gu Xiao gently flicked its little head with her finger and whispered:
"Pets aren't allowed here, so please be quiet."

Xiao Jiu grunted in dissatisfaction, but still obediently shrugged back into his pocket.

Gu Xiao's casual attire, so out of place in a five-star hotel, coupled with her slightly strange behavior just now, quickly attracted the attention of the hotel staff.

A waiter in a crisp uniform strode forward, a formulaic smile on his face:

"Hello sir, how can I help you?"

Gu Xiao met the scrutinizing gaze and calmly spoke:
"Langgan Hall, the Tianlong film crew."

(End of this chapter)