Chapter 24: The Smile Training Method

“Director Chen is quite generous this time.” Dai Wen remarked to Qin Yu, who was walking beside her, as they watched Lin Ziyao push a shopping cart towards the seafood section.

“It’s probably because this program has already attracted enough attention even before airing.” Qin Yu and Dai Wen, similar in height, walked side by side. However, Dai Wen, with her model’s physique, appeared noticeably more slender and statuesque overall.

Dai Wen fully agreed with this statement. “Isn’t it all thanks to your roommate?” she quipped.

Qin Yu’s roommate, meanwhile, was currently gazing at the fish swimming in the tank, still undecided on which one to choose. The way she scrunched her brows in earnest contemplation held a unique, endearing charm.

“That’s true. She probably doesn’t even realize the immense buzz that last performance generated.” Qin Yu smiled as she observed her roommate’s earnest expression.

Even Dai Wen nodded in agreement. “My company asked me when we could record the duet version once I got back,” she explained. “The online buzz is absolutely scorching right now.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the supermarket’s background music concluded, transitioning into a familiar instrumental intro.

Lin Ziyao, who had just netted a fish from the water, visibly flinched when the intro began. She cautiously glanced around, and only after confirming that no one seemed to have noticed her, did she relax slightly.

Pushing the cart with the weighed seafood, she hurried back to Qin Yu and Dai Wen. She darted her eyes left and right, wary of the surrounding shoppers, then whispered, “Let’s go, quickly!”

“I stand corrected,” Dai Wen murmured to Qin Yu, blinking. “I think she might actually be aware.”

Fortunately, the program hadn’t aired yet. Most of the available footage of their performance of “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style” was relatively blurry. Consequently, ordinary viewers who didn’t closely follow celebrity variety shows couldn’t recognize that the song was performed by them.

Most of the surrounding shoppers were merely curious about the camera crew accompanying them to the supermarket. Occasionally, someone would recognize Qin Yu or Dai Wen and approach for an autograph, but they were discreetly reminded that they were currently filming and asked not to reveal their presence.

“With all these groceries, we should have enough food for several days,” Qin Yu estimated, surveying the cart overflowing with provisions.

Besides the fish and shrimp Lin Ziyao had netted from the seafood section, intended for a fresh seafood dinner tonight, the cart also contained vegetables Qin Yu had chosen and fruits Dai Wen had helped gather. This bounty was enough to sustain everyone at the villa for another three or four days, unless Director Chen decided to host another celebratory banquet there.

“I’ll go get some more snacks,” Dai Wen decided. “Qiqi loves them.” She recalled Feng Qiqi’s particular fondness for snacks.

Upon returning to the villa earlier, she had seen staff clearing away snack wrappers, suggesting there wouldn’t be many left. This shopping trip presented the perfect opportunity to restock their supply.

“Then let’s pick out some drinks,” Lin Ziyao suggested. “See you later!” After agreeing on a meeting time with Dai Wen, Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu split off to accomplish their respective tasks.

Coincidentally, the cameraman also wanted to capture some behind-the-scenes footage of Dai Wen, so they split into two groups and followed them.

After placing several bottles of juice into the shopping cart, Lin Ziyao clapped her hands together. This shopping trip had concluded perfectly, replenishing all the provisions the production team had consumed over the past few days.

“Let’s go meet up with Dai Wen and head back!” she said to Qin Yu, who was still browsing the shelves, as she pushed the cart.

“We’re still missing one thing,” Qin Yu stated, extending an arm to firmly hold the cart in place. Though her arm appeared slender and delicate, the strength she exerted was enough to prevent Lin Ziyao from moving the trolley.

Lin Ziyao cast her gaze into the cart. Meat, vegetables, drinks — everything was there!

Utterly perplexed as to what could be missing, she could only look at Qin Yu with a questioning gaze.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to practice your smile?” Qin Yu asked, a brilliant smile gracing her lips, though it held a hidden meaning.

A shiver of inexplicable dread ran down Lin Ziyao’s spine at the sight of that smile. She instinctively took a half-step back, her guard raised, and asked, “What… what do you want to buy?”

Qin Yu plucked a pair of chopsticks from a nearby shelf, an undeniable smirk playing on her face. As if anticipating what was to come, she playfully asked, “Have you ever heard of the smile training method?”

‘System!!!’

Realizing something was amiss, Lin Ziyao finally understood the source of her uneasy premonition: it was a daily task issued by the System.

Staring at the chopsticks in Qin Yu’s hand, she vaguely recalled a smile training method she had once heard of, one that required the trainee to bite down on chopsticks. She never imagined Qin Yu would actually want her to use that particular method.

However, having already agreed to train with Qin Yu, and needing to complete the System’s daily task, Lin Ziyao had no way out. She could only reluctantly accept her fate.

Just then, Dai Wen rejoined them, carrying a shopping basket filled with Feng Qiqi’s favorite snacks, along with a can of oatmeal.

“I noticed breakfast was always just bread before, so I wondered if I should bring some oatmeal back. I just grabbed a can here.” Dai Wen placed her shopping basket onto the main cart, and her eyes landed on the pair of chopsticks resting there.

“Were these chopsticks accidentally left here?” she asked, reaching out to pick them up.

Qin Yu, who had been standing nearby, quickly interjected to explain to Dai Wen, “Those are for Ziyao’s training.” She then cast a pointed glance at Lin Ziyao.

Seeing the chopsticks, Dai Wen seemed to recall something, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “I understand now,” she said. “I also used this method for over half a month when I first started training.”

As models, they needed to display natural and graceful smiles on stage, and this required professional training offstage as well.

From Dai Wen’s words, Lin Ziyao gleaned a crucial piece of information: it seemed Dai Wen had also undergone smile training. Could she perhaps ask Dai Wen for help with her own training?

This thought blossomed in her mind, making her want to open her mouth and invite Dai Wen to assist her with the training.

However, before she could even speak, she met Qin Yu’s scrutinizing gaze. From that look, she sensed an unmistakable aura of danger.

Just then, Dai Wen also spoke up. “However, models don’t spend as much time on stage as idols, so our training methods are probably different. But if you need anything, feel free to ask for my help.”

The moment Dai Wen finished speaking, the dangerous aura Lin Ziyao had perceived vanished without a trace.

“But if it were Qiqi, she’d probably say that what always captivates the audience on stage is her music,” Dai Wen mused, covering her mouth with a hand as she chuckled about her roommate.

Dai Wen’s manner of speaking was quite similar to Feng Qiqi’s. Imagining Feng Qiqi saying such a thing, Lin Ziyao chimed in, “If it were Sister Qiqi, she really might say something like that.”

“That statement definitely has Qiqi’s style,” Qin Yu agreed, even she concurring with the sentiment.

As the three chatted and laughed, their turn in the checkout line finally arrived. After paying for all their purchases, they had a staff member help them load the packed groceries into the commercial van, and then they set off for the villa.