Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 79 Birthday (Please read on, please recommend, please do everything!)

"Damn, what kind of monster is this kid?"

During a training break, Hu Jun rubbed his aching shoulder and, glancing at Gu Xiao who was silently doing push-ups not far away, couldn't help but complain to Gao Hu, who was also grimacing beside him:
"He must have grown up on some kind of super-strength pill; his physical abilities are incredible!"

Gao Hu nodded in deep agreement and lowered his voice, saying, "That's really an exaggeration. I heard he even went to the horse farm with the martial arts instructor yesterday."

"What?!"

Hu Jun's eyes widened, and then he gasped as the movement aggravated his wound:
"Wow, this is really risking their lives!"

He admitted that he initially underestimated Gu Xiao, thinking that the young man probably couldn't handle the hardships of action scenes.

After all, that face was too delicate and the figure was too thin; no matter how you looked at it, it didn't seem like someone who could withstand high-intensity training.

But now, all Hu Jun wants to do is beg the other party to stop getting involved.

We're all just working people, why risk our lives like that!
Gu Xiao had finished warming up and took the towel Luo Rui handed her to wipe her sweat.

Luo Rui looked at Hu Jun and Gao Hu not far away and lowered his voice: "Teacher Hu and the others seem to be watching us."

"Don't worry about it," Gu Xiao handed the towel back. "How are you feeling? Are you getting used to it?"

Luo Rui took the towel and nodded. "It's quite interesting."

I hope you'll still think that way when you get to the set. Gu Xiao twitched the corner of her mouth and then said:

"What did your family say? Did they agree to you becoming their assistant?"

Luo Rui lowered his eyes and gave a curt, expressionless sound:
"As long as I don't play games and can make money, they don't care what I do."

Gu Xiao remained silent for a few seconds, then stopped the conversation, only offering a reminder:

"Think it through no matter what."

Luo Rui raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the actors sweating profusely in the training hall, before settling on Gu Xiao:
"Don't worry, I can manage to get through these few months."

Gu Xiao said no more and waved for him to go and rest.

……

……

Late at night, the bus carried everyone back to the hotel.

Gu Xiao, who was in the best condition, was the first to get off the car, with Luo Rui silently following behind him, carrying both of their backpacks.

The elevator slowly ascended, and the only sound in the enclosed space was heavy breathing.

Hu Jun and Gao Hu leaned against the wall of the room, too exhausted to even speak.

The elevator doors opened, Gu Xiao nodded to Luo Rui, and then walked straight to her room.

As soon as he stepped into the room, Xiao Jiu rushed over, grabbed his pants, climbed onto his shoulders, and started yelling wildly while pointing at the room:
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Fire! Fire!"

Gu Xiao was about to complain about where she had learned that phrase when she caught a glimpse of Liu Yifei sitting cross-legged on the bed, and her jaw dropped in astonishment:
"How did you get in here?!"

Liu Yifei was wearing comfortable cotton pajamas, holding a pillow in her arms, and sporting a mischievous grin.
"Guess it?"

Gu Xiao activated her spiritual vision and circled the room, quickly spotting scattered apple crumbs on the carpet. She looked at Xiao Jiu expressionlessly.

"So it was a thief within our own ranks!"

Xiao Jiu guiltily turned her head away.

"I was just trying it out, I didn't expect it to actually work."

Liu Yifei sat cross-legged on the bed and said curiously, "It feels a bit too smart, like it has special abilities."

Gu Xiao didn't reply, but instead asked, "Did you need something from me?"

Liu Yifei was about to glare at him, but then she suddenly remembered something, and her expression fell. "Have you forgotten something?"

Gu Xiao paused, then, as if remembering something, explained, "Jade carving isn't that fast. I went to check on it not long ago, and the master said it would take another two months."

Liu Yifei exclaimed in surprise, "It takes this long? That stone doesn't look very big."

But that stone is expensive. According to Yang Baorui, it's top-grade yellow jade, worth at least 600,000 yuan. He didn't dare to cut into it casually, Gu Xiao muttered to himself.

"Slow and steady wins the race." He walked to the table and sat down, then casually scooped Xiao Jiu off his shoulder and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll send it to you as soon as it's finished."

Liu Yifei said "Oh" and didn't say anything more.

Seeing her like this, Gu Xiao was puzzled. "Did something happen?"

Liu Yifei pouted, "Today is the 25th."

Gu Xiao thought about it carefully and, confirming that it wasn't an important day, asked, "So?"

Seeing his genuinely blank expression, Liu Yifei became furious and grabbed the cushion she was holding, throwing it at him: "You're so stupid!"

Gu Xiao caught the pillow and looked surprised: "It's your birthday."

Liu Yifei snorted, her clear eyes filled with dissatisfaction.

Although Gu Xiao felt wronged, she also knew that there was no point in reasoning about such matters, so she said:
"Is there any restaurant you'd like to go to? I'll take you and your auntie there."

Since we're not officially filming now, the travel restrictions aren't as strict.

"No, no," Liu Yifei waved her hand and said, "Mom is already asleep."

She hugged her knees, resting her chin on them, and said in a muffled voice, "And we have to get up early for training tomorrow."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Gu Xiao thought for a moment and asked, "The restaurant downstairs shouldn't be closed yet, right?"

Liu Yifei shook her head, "No, but I don't have much of an appetite."

Gu Xiao ignored her refusal and continued speaking to himself:
"Jiang Xin and the others should still be awake. Go ask them what they want to eat, and I'll inform Teacher Hu and the others."

"No, no, no," Liu Yifei quickly stopped her, "I don't want to make things so complicated."

Whether they come or not is their business.

Gu Xiao comforted them, saying, "Besides, eating doesn't take them much time."

Liu Yifei shook her head: "The hotel staff have been working hard all day, let's not make them suffer."

"No need for hotel staff."

Gu Xiao said calmly, "I'll do it."

Liu Yifei's eyes widened in shock.

……

……

The staff restaurant is located on the second basement level of the hotel.

Hu Jun and the hotel manager chatted casually, the air still carrying the smell of disinfectant from the post-dinner cleaning.

"Sorry sorry."

Hu Jun clasped his hands together, his face showing some fatigue and apology. "Thank you so much for taking up space so late."

"Teacher Hu, you're too kind."

The manager quickly waved his hand, his smile professional yet warm: "It's our honor to host the 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' crew. We've already spoken to the kitchen staff; there are professional chefs with us, so there shouldn't be any major problems."

Hu Jun naturally didn't believe these polite words. He figured the manager was probably just trying to curry favor and gather material for future hotel promotions.

But who cares, as long as it works.

Just as Hu Jun was about to exchange a few more polite words, an enticing aroma suddenly wafted from the direction of the kitchen.

That's the aroma of hot oil releasing the spiciness of scallions, ginger, and garlic, mixed with the crispy smell of some kind of meat being grilled.

Hu Jun's stomach rumbled loudly, much to his dismay.

The manager had obviously smelled it too; his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and he curiously peered inside.
"Is Teacher Gu a chef?"

(End of this chapter)