The Nutrition is Too Good - Chap 9
“About two years ago, on a certain short video app, he became popular because someone secretly filmed him while he was working as a drink server in a cat café, only by relying on his looks.”
Xu Youyou said, “At that time, there was also a small buzz on Weibo, but it didn’t last long.”
“And then…”
She added, “He developed quite normally after that. He took advantage of the popularity and filmed a web drama, which received a very good response. And then he directly transitioned into becoming an actors.”
Zhong Yi nodded.
“Which company?”
Zhong Yi asked.
“Um…”
Xu Youyou mentioned a name, her expression becoming somewhat puzzled, “Not exaggerating, it’s a really small company. The boss is named Yun Min, and the company’s resources are quite average. Most of the artists signed under them are foreign models, and they are all pretty average in terms of popularity. It’s like they have a three hundred-day gap in their schedule every year. It feels like the boss themselves doesn’t have much ambition…”
Zhong Yi pondered.
He is not surprised that Rong Mian came from a modeling agency. His body proportions are indeed good, with a slim waist and long legs, which looks pleasing to the eye, being signed is normal.
Beside him, Xu Youyou was a bit puzzled. It had been over a week since they started filming, and she didn’t understand why Zhong Yi suddenly did this.
However, she didn’t think too much about it. Until in the afternoon, when Zhong Yi finished filming his scenes. Xu Youyou was preparing to accompany him to get into the car and go back when Zhong Yi made a gesture and said, “Wait a little longer.”
Xu Youyou made a bewildered sound.
Zhong Yi stood there without moving or saying anything for a while. He just stood there, staring at the other side of the set.
Rong Mian sat obediently on a small stool, and Kong Sandou was using a wet wipe to clean the scrape on his elbow. At the same time, she turned around and secretly glanced behind her.
Then Kong Sandou was shocked beyond measure.
“Zhong Yi seems to be waiting for you.”
Kong Sandou turned his head and stammered, “How did you two become familiar so quickly? Your friendship developed so fast. Clearly, he was indifferent to you before, and are you sure he really knows your true form…”
“When I was eating canned food before, he saw me.”
Rong Mian honestly said, “He said he has some friends who are like me, and they also like the same brand of canned food that I like.”
In this case, it is indeed very convincing for people like them. Kong Sandou murmured twice and then pondered for a moment before saying, “He really is a good person.”
Rong Mian looked at Kong Sandou, paused, and remained silent.
Rong Mian noticed that when it came to Zhong Yi, it seemed that everyone had positive things to say about him, such as “he is a good person,” “he treats his juniors well,” and “if you have any questions, you can ask him.”
Rong Mian didn’t know if it was because of his own problems. At least during the time with himself, Zhong Yi seemed to be in a completely different state.
Most of the time, he would say incomprehensible things to himself and his moods were mostly angry. But in a small fraction of time, Zhong Yi would give him delicious spiced beef jerky, take acting seriously with him, and even now he would bring delicious meal for him every day and be his friend.
Rong Mian felt that Zhong Yi was truly a complex human being.
He felt a bit lost.
However, when he thought that he wouldn’t have to eat the meals made by Kong Sandou anymore, Rong Mian was still very happy. He felt that even his future had become brighter.
And Kong Sandou also genuinely felt happy for Rong Mian.
Cases of working cats like Rong Mian being able to form close relationships with humans are really few and far between. If they can make friends with an understanding human, it would be beneficial for their future lives.
Especially considering Rong Mian’s personality, which is characterized by a long reflex arc and a gentle nature. For example, when he is at the cat cafe, he often ends up eating the portions meant for two people by himself, and only realizes what he has done after finishing all the food.
Then he would apologize awkwardly to the other cats who were crying because their food was stolen, seeming helpless, but he would repeat the same mistake again next time.
Whether it’s with humans or the cat cafe’s companions, Rong Mian has always had significant social problems.
The cat breeds in the cafe, like American Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, and Garfields, all have obedient and easily trainable personalities by nature.
They can adapt well to human society, serving customers at the cat cafe during regular hours and working as human models at Uncle Yun’s company when the cafe is closed.
But Rong Mian is different. He was picked up by Uncle Yun, as a stray kitten, and his personality naturally carries a bit of rebellion.
He doesn’t like to speak or act cute. He is a beautiful black cat with round eyes.
He is actually very popular with customers, but he always hides in high counter and only appears during mealtime.
Later on, even after becoming familiar with social conventions at the cat cafe, Uncle Yun still asked him to serve customers in his original form. After gaining some understanding of human customs, he occasionally helps out in the cafe by transforming into human form and serving drinks.
Kong Sandou is the only dog in the cat cafe, a silly and cute black Shiba Inu. She doesn’t walk like a cat, only knows how to make a mess at home. Therefore, when the store closes and everyone goes to work, Kong Sandou can only stay alone in the shop watching TV.
So she became friends with Rong Mian, who also stayed in the shop. They would gather together every day to watch palace dramas.
Perhaps it was destined for Rong Mian to become famous. One day, while he was pouring a cup of tea, a customer secretly took a photo of him, and it went viral. Since Rong Mian also enjoyed acting, Uncle Yun helped him debut.
However, Kong Sandou sometimes finds it strange. Rong Mian is usually quiet and dull-looking, but when he acts, it’s as if he transforms into a completely different cat, becoming much more agile and lively.
In this drama, Rong Mian spends about a quarter of the time in a state of being having injuries, so the makeup for the injured parts needs to be constantly removed and reapplied.
Ordinary wet wipes are not as effective in removing oil-based paints. Kong Sandou was lost in thought, and he applied a bit too much force with his hands.
Rong Mian felt a slight pain and warmth in the areas where Kong Sandou was wiping.
He looked at his elbow and softly called out Kong Sandou’s name.
Then Rong Mian felt someone tap his shoulder.
He looked up and saw Zhong Yi, who was looking at him with a blank expression. Zhong Yi said, “Stop using the wet wipes. They’re not effective. Go to my car and get makeup remover to remove the makeup.”
Rong Mian blinked, and Kong Sandou paused for a moment before realizing what was happening. She happily waved at him.
Rong Mian noticed that the car assigned to Zhong Yi by the crew was bigger than his own.
Xu Youyou skillfully took out a small box from behind, containing skincare and medical supplies. Zhong Yi casually sat down and started looking at his phone without acknowledging Rong Mian.
After a moment of contemplation, Rong Mian decided to sit opposite Zhong Yi.
Xu Youyou handed Rong Mian makeup remover and cotton pads. Rong Mian accepted them and politely said thank you.
However, Zhong Yi, seated across from Rong Mian, remained silent. His fingers swiped across the screen, and his face showed no expression.
Xu Youyou, sensing the atmosphere, quietly slipped away.
In fact, Zhong Yi was just pretending. He had been waiting for Rong Mian to approach him, but Rong Mian and his assistant seemed too clueless. Zhong Yi felt that if they continue to rubbed it, Rong Mian’s delicate arms would lose a layer of skin.
Zhong Yi glanced over at Rong Mian again and saw that due to the obstructed view, Rong Mian was awkwardly twisting his elbow, slowly removing the makeup on it. Rong Mian had a pointed chin, and his eyelashes hung down gently, casting small fan-shaped shadows on his skin.
He held a damp cotton pad in his hand, struggling to reach the area where the oil paint had stained.
Zhongyi’s blood pressure gradually rose as he watched.
Rong Mian cautiously wiped it first, lifted the cotton pad curiously, and found that only a little bit had been removed, but it was indeed much better than the effect of wet tissues.
Just as he was about to wipe it again, his wrist was grabbed by someone.
Zhong Yi looked annoyed, but said, “Come over here.”
Rong Mian sat next to Zhong Yi, finally able to turn his elbow around.
Zhong Yi pressed the cotton pad with his fingers.
He paused on the scratch for a while.
Not sure if it was due to the makeup remover or Zhong Yi’s slightly higher body temperature, Rong Mian felt a slight warmth on the spot where Zhong Yi had touched his skin.
The oil makeup remover worked very well, and after ten seconds, Zhong Yi lifted his hand, most of the makeup had already been removed.
Rong Mian looked at Zhong Yi and said, “That was fast.”
Zhong Yi folded the cotton pad and casually threw it away without responding to his words, only asking, “What play do you have tomorrow?”
Rong Mian handed him his script.
Zhong Yi nodded and said, “You can go back.”
It was an unnecessary statement, but Rong Mian didn’t say anything after hearing it. He just stood up slowly and sat back across from Zhong Yi.
Zhong Yi was very satisfied with how he controlled the distance between them.
He hoped that this child could feel his deliberate alienation and stop harboring any unclear intentions.
However, in reality, Rong Mian was just feeling bored at the moment.
The man opposite him was reading the script and showed no intention of engaging in conversation. Rong Mian placed his hands flat on his knees, sitting upright, but unsure of what he should do.
In Rong Mian’s world, besides making calls and sending messages, the phone was just a cold piece of metal, a last resort for boredom.
So Rong Mian had a clear plan: he decided to carefully observe the car first. If he didn’t find any flies or mosquitoes, then he would open his phone and play the little game called “Fashion Nail Salon” that Kong Sandou had downloaded for him.
The car was quiet, maybe because it was early spring. Rong Mian observed for five minutes but didn’t find any flying insects. He felt a bit disappointed.
Lowering his gaze, he was about to take out his phone when he suddenly noticed a pen cap on the table.
Zhong Yi looked at the script for a moment and noticed that the person across from him suddenly became silent, which was somewhat eerie.
He raised his eyes and saw Rong Mian staring at a pen cap on the table.
This pen cap belonged to Zhong Yi, a black ballpoint pen, but the pen itself was missing, probably misplaced while working on the script earlier.
Zhong Yi continued to observe with his peripheral vision and saw Rong Mian staring intently at the pen cap for a while. Then, seemingly casually, he stretched out his hand and quickly flicked the pen cap.
The black pen cap fell onto the table, rolling twice before slowly sliding to the edge.
Zhong Yi: “…”
Rong Mian pursed his lips.
Then Zhong Yi watched as Rong Mian leaned forward slightly, widened his eyes, and continued to stare at the pen cap with great interest. After a while, he reached out his hand again, lightly tapping the pen cap.
The pen cap continued to roll and was flicked onto the ground, quietly sinking into the soft carpet.
If the first time was unintentional, this time it was deliberately and unmistakably intentional.
Rong Mian stared at the pen cap for a while longer, then paused and pretended to casually shift his gaze away. He sat upright again in a very obedient manner and began to daydream.
Zhong Yi withdrew his gaze.
Pathetic trick.
He sneered in his heart, thinking that Rong Mian was trying to attract his attention with this little act, as if he couldn’t see through his intentions.
However, Rong Mian felt like he was genuinely having fun.
In a good mood, he continued to search for his next victim and quickly locked onto a new target – a medium-sized empty cardboard box placed next to him, presumably used for packaging deliveries.
The rough corrugated cardboard was perfect for scratching his claws.
Just as Zhong Yi turned a page of the script, he heard new movements from across the table.
He shook his head, thinking it was as he expected. This kid wouldn’t calm down until he achieved his goal. So Zhong Yi took a deep breath and raised his eyes again.
Rong Mian lowered his head, holding the edge of the cardboard box with his fingers, repeatedly rubbing the rough side of the corrugated cardboard, creating a scalp-tingling friction sound.
He pursed his lips, showing a focused expression, enthusiastically indulging in the scratching, as if he was enjoying it.
“That’s enough.”
Zhong Yi said.
Rong Mian lifted his head while cradling a cardboard box, looking at him with a dazed expression.
“Let me make it clear first. I hope you can focus your thoughts and stop doing meaningless things just to seek attention.”
Zhong Yi spoke impolitely, “Our relationship will always be limited to me helping you with your script. Do you understand? Don’t have any expectations.”
Then Zhong Yi noticed that Rong Mian seemed stunned, and immediately furrowed his brows.
His expression quickly turned displeased, visible to the naked eye.
“I don’t understand.”
Rong Mian appeared somewhat disappointed, his voice raised slightly as he looked at Zhong Yi and said, “What you said before, our relationship is not just like that.”
Zhong Yi was taken aback.
However, the disappointment on the boy’s face was genuine. He looked very upset, and the light in his eyes dimmed, as if he couldn’t believe Zhong Yi’s change of heart.
This turn of events even made Zhong Yi almost believe that he had actually made some vague promises before.
So Zhong Yi hesitated and asked him, “What did I say?”
“You clearly said yesterday that if I chose you, you would make delicious meals for me every day.”
Rong Mian tilted his face up and asked earnestly and softly, “I didn’t initiate a conversation with Liu Yuanfeng today, and I also didn’t eat much at noon, so when can we have our meal?”
Author’s note:
#Zhong 11 is a bad man#”
Footnotes
1 in Chinese is Yi
