Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

After about a month, the issue of her and Hu Zhenning’s lack of on-screen chemistry had been resolved.

Apparently, Director Deng had consulted a veteran director who specialized in romance dramas and had focused his efforts on building the right atmosphere.

In any case, Ni Bingyan hadn’t noticed much of a change, but Director Deng was suddenly satisfied.

The male lead, Hu Zhenning, had a different opinion on the matter.

He insisted that the improvement in his own acting was also a major reason.

After all, having worked with such an overachiever for so long, he had shed his old habit of giving up at the slightest setback. He learned to persevere and use his free time to hone his acting skills.

His progress was plain to see, and everyone smiled in agreement, which made him very happy. He treated the entire crew to hotpot that night—he was so easy to please and incredibly generous.

Filming in Ning Province wrapped up a full week ahead of schedule! So, after a quick discussion, the producer and director gave everyone a three-day break!

Everyone was overjoyed!

After being holed up in the mountains for nearly two months, working high-intensity overtime every day, and subsisting on a diet of potatoes and cabbage—in a place where even takeout wouldn’t deliver—Ni Bingyan was at her limit. Add to that the dry weather, which had forced her to go through at least two boxes of face masks, and she nearly cried with emotion when she finally made it through.

The urge to go home and rest was simply uncontrollable! She packed her things and set off that very night.

Even though she hadn’t been in this world for long and had only spent a few days at home, she felt an incredibly strong sense of belonging to the house that was entirely her own.

The next scenes would be filmed at a school and an office. If the sets were close enough, she could live at home and drive to work every day. Compared to her time in the mountains, her situation would be immeasurably better!

She arrived home by the next afternoon, completely exhausted. She grabbed a bite at a nearby restaurant, went home, took a shower, and immediately crashed into bed.

There was nothing like the peace of mind that came from sleeping in your own home.

She slept dreamlessly all night. When she woke up, the sky was just beginning to brighten with the dawn.

After getting ready, she made a bowl of ramen for breakfast, then went downstairs to check on her fruit trees.

She had been away for over a month, but thanks to the remote irrigation system, all the fruit trees had survived. Their shapes, however, weren’t the best.

She would let them grow freely until next March, and then she could have a landscaping company come over to prune them.

If she was lucky, she might even get a harvest next year.

Thanks to the grapevines in the front yard, the house had attracted many more birds. Hearing the noise, they took flight with a great WHOOSH.

The house felt lifeless after being empty for so long, and the yard was covered in bird droppings. She decided to hire a cleaning service to do a deep clean.

She spent most of the day at home.

While the cleaners were there in the morning, she worked out in her home gym. Once they left, she made herself a delicious, nutritious lunch.

After lunch, she curled up in the study to read for a while, then went downstairs to the living room and watched a classic romance movie.

The spacious living room had been fitted with a home theater. ’It’s so amazing for watching movies!’

When she felt it was about time, she went out to get her hair done. While she was at it, she signed up for a membership at a salon and got a massage. Afterward, she went to a high-end restaurant for a nice meal, and from there, headed to the mall to buy some clothes for the new season.

After that packed schedule, she returned home laden with her purchases. By then, it was already past ten o’clock.

The perfect time for bed.

She woke up to the second day of her vacation.

Always running on the treadmill was getting monotonous, so she decided to try a morning jog around the neighborhood.

She came across a few elderly men and women walking toward her. They were wearing sun protection clothing and bucket hats, carrying fishing rods and small pails.

They probably struck up a conversation because she was a new face. Ni Bingyan, being quite chatty herself, explained that she had just moved into Number 32 and had recently returned from a work trip that lasted over a month. She then asked where they were headed to fish.

”There’s a small, natural lake on the Northeast side of the neighborhood,” one of them said. ”When we’ve got nothing better to do, us old folks like to kill time over there.”

After they introduced themselves, an older woman named Liao pointed to the bag of charcoal she was carrying and invited her along.

”The Yayuan Fishing Squad is having an event today—a grilled fish picnic. Xiao Ni, would you like to come with us?”

It was rare for a young person to move into the neighborhood, especially one so pretty and talkative, so everyone was happy to have her join them.

”That would be great! I happen to have some free time. I’ll go home and get my gear right now!”

’I bought this house in such a hurry and left for filming right after settling in. I haven’t even had a chance to properly explore the neighborhood. I can’t believe there’s a fishing spot right here! What a pleasant surprise!’

’As someone who loves to fish, how could I resist, especially on a rare day off and with such a warm and friendly group?’

’Since I’m living here now, it’s a good idea to get on friendly terms with my neighbors. That way, someone can help keep an eye on the house when I’m away.’

With that thought, she quickly ran home to change her clothes and grab her things.

The group was very welcoming to the pretty, friendly young woman and even waited for her, chatting amongst themselves.

When they saw that she had brought not only her fishing gear but also seasonings and snacks, they were even more delighted. And when they learned that her father was a chef and that she was a good cook herself, they were overjoyed!

Most of the residents in Yayuan were retired seniors. With plenty of free time on their hands, they had formed various hobby groups for dancing, sword dancing, tai chi, fishing, and more.

They usually spent their time together, so having a young person join them was a novel and refreshing experience.

The small, natural lake was quite scenic.

Accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds, she ducked under a canopy of lush green trees to find a large, grassy area along the lakeshore, perfect for fishing.

On a small slope not far away, a dedicated barbecue area had been built. It had not only running water and an outdoor prep counter, but also several grills, which clearly saw frequent use.

”Sometimes when our kids visit, they like to come here for barbecues and picnics, so we all chipped in to set this area up. In the future, if you’re craving some barbecue, enjoy a lively crowd, and don’t want to fill your house with smoke, just come on over. The grills are ready to use; all you need to bring are your ingredients and charcoal.”

’It must be said, in a high-end neighborhood like this, people aren’t so petty. The neighbors seem to value relationships and connections more than money.’

The landscaping was lush, and the population density was low, so when a new neighbor moved in, everyone could recognize the new face.

’Living here is so comfortable~’

The seniors cheerfully finished their explanation and then each found a spot to start fishing.

Ni Bingyan nodded in thanks and found a spot of her own, setting up under the shade of a tree.

’I love wild fishing the most,’ she thought. ’Not only are wild-caught fish delicious, but in a place like this, you never know what you might catch.’

’The thrill is like winning the lottery—it’s simply irresistible!’

Since Ni Bingyan had just returned, she hadn’t had time to prepare any fresh groundbait. The seniors all generously shared theirs, and in her delight, she confidently promised that she would grill the fish to perfection for everyone later.

This earned her another round of praise, and she almost got lost in the chorus of ”what a good kid.”

She tossed out the groundbait, then opened a bag of bait, mixed it with water, and kneaded it into a small ball for her hook. After about half an hour, she got a bite. With a great deal of effort, she reeled in a slender, shimmering golden wild carp with a red tail, weighing a little under two pounds.

”Haha! I’m definitely making this one spicy!”

’People in Ning Province don’t really eat spicy food, and with the dry weather, I was too afraid of breaking out to dare eat any. I’ve been craving it like crazy!’

Ni Bingyan licked her lips. ’What a great start!’

”Whoa! Ni, you’ve already caught one?”

The neighboring men weren’t far off. As soon as her carp went into the keepnet, their eyes widened in mock indignation. ”It must be beginner’s luck! You’re just too lucky!”

Anglers are a competitive bunch. Seeing her catch the first fish, the others were fired up with determination.

Some started vigorously chumming the water, others kept changing their spots, and a few were constantly adjusting their rigs, as if the hook itself were to blame for the fish not biting.

Ni Bingyan watched them, amused.

’They see my brand-new gear and think I’m a novice,’ she thought. ’But I’m actually a veteran angler!’

’The original owner of this body didn’t share this hobby, so I had to buy all this gear recently. Of course it’s all brand new!’

Deciding to give her new neighbors a little surprise, Ni Bingyan got ready to show them her true skills.

Once she caught that first fish, it was as if its entire family decided to follow.

By around eleven o’clock, she had caught five carp and three crucian carp in a row, leaving everyone utterly impressed!