Chapter 188: Returning to Hometown
Xu Youyou didn’t expect that surprises would keep coming one after another.
“Boss, from now on, I’m not called Zhao Zhaodi anymore! I’m Zheng Peifeng, make sure you don’t get it wrong!” Zheng Peifeng repeatedly reminded Xu Youyou.
Zhao Zhaodi had completely canceled her old ID and officially changed her name to Zheng Peifeng, and she had already received her new ID.
Xu Youyou actually wanted to tell her not to call her boss anymore. After all, although they had signed a very strict artist contract, everyone knew that the real reason for signing it was just to snatch the little girl from Li Cuiyun’s hands.
But Zheng Peifeng refused to change how she addressed Xu Youyou. With a firm look, she said, “I don’t care if the contract is void, to me, you’ll always be my boss. In the future, if I run into trouble, I’ll still ask my boss for help.”
Looking at the little girl’s trusting and admiring expression, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, I’ll support you for life.”
After recognizing each other, Zheng Peifeng’s mood improved, and her overall condition visibly improved. In just a few days, Zheng Peifeng, who once had a sallow complexion, now had a fair and translucent face.
Ouyang Ouyang, upon seeing her, immediately commented that she had become more graceful.
No longer the malnourished little sprout she used to be, Zheng Peifeng now looked like a blooming flower, full of vitality.
“Boss, I think Peifeng could try for Xue Baochai’s role,” Ouyang Ouyang suggested more and more confidently.
Looking at Zheng Peifeng’s life experiences, she seemed to have nothing in common with Xue Baochai. In fact, during the Luoyang auditions, the role Zheng Peifeng was originally going for was Xiangling.
However, Xu Youyou, having experienced the situation with He Zhiting, didn’t immediately reject the idea. Instead, she quietly took out the character compatibility card.
[Zheng Peifeng: Compatibility with the role of Xue Baochai is 92%]
Xu Youyou was stunned when she saw this result. Anything over 90% was considered a very high compatibility.
Earlier, she had secretly compared Shu Yunling, and her compatibility with Lin Daiyu was only 86%, but this was still the highest compatibility among all the actresses for Lin Daiyu.
A 92% compatibility with Xue Baochai meant Zheng Peifeng was the perfect candidate for the role.
“Everyone thinks you could play Xue Baochai, would you like to join the cast? Don’t worry, it won’t interfere with your studies. We’ll arrange a one-on-one tutor for you, just like we did for Yunling, to ensure you can go to college,” Xu Youyou said.
Zheng Peifeng didn’t have strong thoughts on acting, but she really liked Xu Youyou, and most importantly, the filming would take place in Suzhou, so she wouldn’t have to leave her family. She immediately agreed.
Mrs. Lin and Mr. Zheng also supported their youngest daughter’s decision.
“Since Nuonuo joined Miss Xu’s crew, we have no concerns,” Mrs. Lin said with a smile.
Xu Youyou felt that the “lucky find” task with Zheng Peifeng had a particularly different meaning.
Like all her other “lucky find” tasks, for Lu Jingyao, it was a matter of saving his life; for Song Zhibai, it was about saving his mother; for Xie Ran and Ouyang Ouyang, it was about encountering someone who truly understood them.
But for Zheng Peifeng, it felt more like correcting a wrong. She should have had a bright and smooth life, but due to the wicked intentions of human traffickers, she had to suffer greatly.
In just over ten days, Zheng Peifeng seemed like a completely new person. Xu Youyou could clearly feel the immense transformation brought on by the “lucky find” task, as if it were a rebirth.
“Can there be more tasks like this? I want to help more precious souls reunite with their loved ones,” Xu Youyou quietly asked the system.
The system’s reply seemed cold yet full of meaning: [System tasks refresh randomly and cannot be controlled. The return of treasures to the light and birds returning to their nests holds the same significance. Host, please stay humble, cautious, and avoid rushing for more accomplishments.]
Xu Youyou: …
“Alright, alright, every task has its own meaning. But are there any more tasks? I’m eager to complete them.”
She didn’t expect the system to reply, but unexpectedly, the system said: [You are still in the beginner protection period. That’s why nothing major has happened. When the protection period ends at the end of the year, you need to be cautious.]
Xu Youyou: !!!
She had already faced life-and-death crises during her so-called protection period. If the protection period ended, would she be bathing in bullets every day?
The system didn’t continue responding.
With two important roles confirmed, the “Dream of the Red Chamber” crew was finally ready to start filming. Xu Youyou didn’t stay in Suzhou any longer but returned to Shanghai with her team.
As the New Year approached, she needed to pack up and return to her hometown.
“Boss, you’ll need a car when you’re in your hometown for the New Year. I’ll go with you,” Xu Fang volunteered.
Xu Youyou was momentarily stunned. She had planned to give the people around her some time off for the New Year, but she didn’t expect Xu Fang to say this.
“Aren’t you going to be with your children for the New Year?”
Xu Fang shook her head. “You need me more.”
Xu Youyou thought for a moment and said, “How about bringing your kids and family over, and we can all celebrate the New Year together? It’ll be more lively.”
Xu Fang’s eyes widened slightly. Xu Youyou had money and could easily hire another driver, but if it weren’t for the fear of losing this job, Xu Fang would want to celebrate the New Year with her children.
Xu Fang finally just brought two children over. Although her mother usually took care of them, she had chosen to return to her hometown to celebrate the New Year with her son and daughter-in-law.
Xu Fang also had a brother who had a family. The elderly woman had been helping Xu Fang with the children, partly because she understood her sister-in-law’s situation, and partly because Xu Fang paid her a monthly salary of 6,000 yuan.
Although Xu Fang often traveled with Xu Youyou, her two children were well-behaved and obedient. Once they got into the car, they immediately sat quietly in their safety seats, not making a sound.
After discussing with the four bodyguards, they decided to take turns resting. Two bodyguards went home for the New Year, and the other two continued to protect Xu Youyou.
This time, Xu Youyou didn’t choose to fly or take the high-speed train but decided to drive back. The car made stops along the way, allowing her to enjoy the scenery, and she didn’t feel particularly tired.
When the car entered the Yellow Mountain area, Xu Youyou looked at the familiar scenery and felt a sense of peace in her heart.
Xu Fang originally thought Xu Youyou must have a place to stay in Yellow Mountain, but she was surprised when her boss told her the final destination was “Yellow Mountain Orphanage.”
“Don’t worry, there are plenty of rooms in the orphanage, so everyone will have a place to stay. The conditions are a bit simple, but don’t complain,” Xu Youyou said.
Xu Fang’s family conditions weren’t particularly good either, so she wouldn’t be rude and complain about the boss’s home.
Besides, this time she was accompanying her boss back home for the New Year, and she would be getting triple pay every day. She was more than happy to stay with Xu Youyou a few more days.
The Yellow Mountain Orphanage was in a more remote area, near the suburbs, but it wasn’t small in size.
Knowing that Xu Youyou was returning today, even though it was already dark, the gates of the orphanage were still open, and the lights inside were bright.
“Big Sister Youyou is back!”
“Big Sister Youyou’s car is so beautiful!”
