Lin Shuwen was really busy today. On one hand, she had to record the songs for her album, and on the other, she needed to finalize the filming crew for the album’s music videos.
Generally speaking, Huayue Entertainment’s album music videos were given to the company’s up-and-coming directors to practice with.
Huayue Entertainment was somewhat similar to Tangren Film and Television from Luo Ming’s past life.
This company mainly focused on TV drama production, with singers and actors at roughly a 20-to-80 ratio.
It was just that in the past two years, TV drama production hadn’t been as profitable, so the company’s executives were all looking to transform.
Coincidentally, Zhou Ping, an artist who had returned from South Korea, was doing really well domestically.
That’s when Huayue Entertainment’s executives thought about replicating Zhou Ping’s success. In the early stages, they’d focus on girl groups in the South Korean style, and once the group gained some popularity, they’d slowly transition to solo careers the way Zhou Ping did.
But plans can’t keep up with changes.
Before Huayue Entertainment’s executives could even put their ideas into action, a ban from above shot them down.
South Korean-style girl groups were no longer allowed, and just like that, Huayue Entertainment’s executives were silenced.
On top of that, Lin Shuwen’s popularity had been genuinely high lately, which led to several directors—who had originally been practicing on music videos for new directors but had since worked on commercials, micro-films, and even one who’d directed a TV drama—reaching out to collaborate with Lin Shuwen.
Sister Shan would never make decisions like this behind Lin Shuwen’s back, so all the directors’ profiles were placed in front of Lin Shuwen.
“Sister Wen, how about this one? He’s the only director who’s directed a TV drama. His credentials are definitely solid,” Chen Junmiao said, pointing at the top resume.
“Not good. His credentials are too high. For the music video shoot, I want my own opinions to be the main focus.”
Chen Junmiao nodded and pulled out a profile from the middle.
“Sister Wen, what about this one? Director Qian joined our company last year. He’s only done a few music videos and commercials before.”
“This one’s not bad. Put it on the shortlist!”
After some screening, Lin Shuwen kept two resumes.
Both were directors who had joined the company last year—they had some work experience, but not much.
“Chuchu, take these two resumes to Sister Shan and let her decide which one to pick!” Lin Shuwen said, handing two folders to Chen Sichu.
Chen Sichu nodded and left with the folders.
When Chen Sichu came back after delivering the resumes, she found that Lin Shuwen had already changed her clothes, clearly getting ready to go home.
“Sister Wen, heading back this early?”
“Luo Ming is sick, and I’m a bit worried about him.”
“Sister Wen, we’re still at the company! Be careful, walls have ears,” Chen Sichu whispered.
“We’re in our own office with the door closed. No need to be so nervous.”
“Sis, did you forget? To make it easier for Sister Wen to practice singing in a more private space, Sister Shan specifically soundproofed Sister Wen’s office. You can’t hear anything even if you press your ear to the door. Plus, I didn’t see anyone outside when I came in!”
“Alright, alright! Since Miaomiao is worried, let’s just go!”
The two sisters exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time.
On the way home, Lin Shuwen had Chen Sichu take a detour to buy some groceries.
The two sisters dropped Lin Shuwen off at her building, and she sent them back. She carried the groceries upstairs alone.
As soon as Lin Shuwen pushed open the door, she smelled something burning.
She carried the groceries to the kitchen and found Luo Ming frying an egg.
“If you’re not feeling well, don’t move around. Don’t you know how to order takeout? If you’re hungry, just order takeout!” Lin Shuwen said as she tied on an apron and pulled Luo Ming aside.
Lin Shuwen took the frying pan from Luo Ming’s hand. Luo Ming watched as she held the pan with one hand and gave it a gentle toss—the egg flipped 180 degrees in the air and landed perfectly on the other side.
“Nice.”
“Nice what? This is what you’re eating?” Lin Shuwen glanced at the noodle soup with scallions floating in it.
“What’s wrong with noodle soup and a fried egg?”
Lin Shuwen didn’t say anything. She picked up chopsticks and tasted the noodle broth.
“Luo Ming, don’t go into the kitchen anymore from now on.”
“Huh?”
“Huh what? This bowl of noodles—setting aside looks and aroma—tastes terrible. It’s barely better than pig slop. Your cooking is no different from wasting food.”
Luo Ming felt a sharp pain in his chest: “That really cuts deep, buddy!”
In his past life, he’d cooked for himself for six or seven years. More importantly, Luo Ming was actually pretty confident in his cooking skills.
If he hadn’t been feeling unwell today, he really wouldn’t have messed up even a simple fried egg.
Before Luo Ming could recover from the blow of being told his cooking was terrible, Lin Shuwen’s voice rang in his ears again: “If you want to eat something from now on, just tell me.”
Hearing that, Luo Ming was instantly revived with full health.
Bad news: Turns out my cooking is garbage, and my food tastes awful.
Good news: From now on, someone with great cooking skills will cook for me.
When Luo Ming heard this, a scene couldn’t help but play out in his mind.
In the dead of winter, he comes home through the wind and snow. Lin Shuwen walks over gently, helps him take off his coat, softly brushes the snowflakes from his hair, and says tenderly, “Luo Ming, you’ve worked hard today. I’ve prepared dinner, come eat!”
“Luo Ming, what are you spacing out for? A plate—help me get a plate!”
Lin Shuwen’s voice interrupted his thoughts. He responded and grabbed a plate from the cabinet.
Lin Shuwen slid the egg—which was burnt on one side—onto the plate.
“Do you know why your egg burned?” Lin Shuwen asked, deliberately choosing a more tactful word.
Luo Ming shook his head. He was used to using a lot of oil when frying eggs—with enough oil, they usually don’t burn. Today he just wasn’t feeling well and didn’t control the oil temperature properly, which led to the accident.
“It’s actually simple. You didn’t heat the pan first. Watch closely, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Lin Shuwen said as she quickly washed the pan and put it back on the gas stove.
“Click~” Lin Shuwen turned the heat straight to high, letting the pan heat until it started smoking. Then she turned it to medium, poured in a little oil, and when the oil was about 60-70% hot, she cracked an egg into the pan with one hand.
“Sizzle~” The sound of the egg meeting the oil was quite pleasant.
Thirty seconds later, once the egg had set, Lin Shuwen gave the pan a gentle toss just like before. The egg flipped perfectly, golden and fried to absolute perfection.
“Got it?”
“My brain gets it, but my hands might not. Honestly, just pouring in more oil is easier.”
“Yep, I knew I shouldn’t have expected anything from someone who can burn a fried egg.”
“I just like them burnt.” Luo Ming stubbornly insisted.
“You’re pushing your luck? Fine! Let me rephrase that. Yep, I really shouldn’t have expected anything from someone who can even char a fried egg.”
“Ahem! Nice weather today, huh!”
“Yeah, it’s nice. Now can you get out of the kitchen?”
Luo Ming immediately turned and left.
Half an hour later, Lin Shuwen called Luo Ming back. In that short time, she had already made three dishes and a soup. The millet porridge was still simmering in the pot—by the time they finished eating, it would be ready to drink.
