Chapter 24: A Sudden Outburst of Youthful Folly

By the time Jin Li reached the midpoint of the mountain, she was panting heavily, but her eyes were exceptionally bright and her spirits were high.

Upon seeing the massive Mazu stone statue, Jin Li bowed devoutly, feeling as though all her physical fatigue had vanished.

Reinvigorated, she set off once more and finally arrived at the main hall, the "Tianhou Palace," half an hour later.

Tianhou Palace is also known as the Mazu Temple. It features many Minnan-style buildings, and even on weekdays, many people come to burn incense.

In folk belief, Mazu is known as the "Goddess of the Sea," capable of ensuring maritime safety, guarding peace, and averting disasters.

Before setting out to sea, everyone pays respects to Mazu to pray for favorable winds and safety; many people even install Mazu shrines on their vessels for worship.

Thus, Mazu is a deity venerated by sailors, mariners, travelers, merchants, and fishermen alike.

There were many young people around, some wearing masks and hats. Jin Li felt that her current outfit allowed her to blend into the crowd quite normally.

After all, this time, she was no longer dressed in all black.

Ever since Jin Li saw the trending topics online and realized that wearing black when going out could actually have the opposite effect, she had learned her lesson and vowed never to wear black in public again.

After carefully finishing her prayers to Mazu, Jin Li walked out of the main hall. A surge of divine energy seemed to flow into her body, instantly making her feel refreshed.

With a healthy body and full vitality, Jin Li's mood improved significantly.

She scanned her surroundings; the Mazu Temple was surrounded by a commercial district with many areas themed around history and culture.

Tianhou Palace, ancient opera stages, fishing culture and entertainment museums, a seaside bar street, and various specialty shops... everything was steeped in a thick Lingnan atmosphere.

Jin Li felt she hadn't been out for leisure in a long time; even when she had squeezed in time to burn incense before, it had always been a rushed affair.

She decided she might as well take this opportunity to wander around, stay in a hotel, and experience the simple joys and festive atmosphere of the mortal world.

***

At Chenxi Entertainment.

Sui Lingfang was busy managing Jin Li's schedule.

Just moments ago, the company's legal department had finally finalized the contract with Domy Cosmetics, and the terms were quite favorable to Jin Li.

It seemed Domy Cosmetics truly liked Jin Li to make concessions so quickly.

After dinner, Sui Lingfang called Jin Li to ask about her rehearsal progress today.

After just a few sentences, Sui Lingfang sensed something was off with the voice on the phone and asked sharply, "Where are you?"

"I'm at..." Jin Li said in a small voice.

"What did you say? Where are you?"

"At the Mazu Temple."

"Mazu Temple? Where is that?"

Jin Li felt a bit guilty, but since Sister Fang wasn't there, she gathered some courage.

"In Haikou. I'm taking a vacation here while I'm at it."

Sui Lingfang felt her vision go dark; she felt like she was going to faint. Hai—Haikou?!

She was actually in Haikou?!

Sui Lingfang hurriedly said, "Wait for me at your hotel there. Don't wander off!"

Jin Li's voice on the phone was exceptionally well-behaved and sensible: "Okay, Sister Fang, I'll wait for you."

After hanging up, Jin Li looked at a shop ahead with the words "Music Bistro" written on it, pondering the possibility of dragging Sister Fang along to check it out.

Her little carp soul didn't dare go alone~

But it would be different with company.

***

Sui Lingfang had just stepped out of her office when she ran into He Yixuan.

He Yixuan was somewhat hesitant, appearing as if she wanted to say something but held back.

"Sister Fang, I want to discuss something with you, I..."

Sui Lingfang interrupted, "Yixuan, I have some business to attend to and need to head out. If you have something, tell Zou Da; he will help you handle it. If you need someone to accompany you for work, you can tell him as well; I've already spoken to him in advance."

Right now, her mind was entirely occupied with Jin Li's situation.

She had finally remembered which deity Mazu was. Good heavens—she had only looked away for one afternoon, and Jin Li had already run off to burn incense again. And at this hour, she still hadn't left!

Sui Lingfang felt a dull ache in her forehead; her head felt like it was going to explode.

"Sister Fang, but I..."

He Yixuan hurriedly called out to her, but Sui Lingfang did not stop, and her figure soon disappeared.

He Yixuan bit her lip, feeling both aggrieved and sad.

***

By the time Sui Lingfang stormed into the Mazu Temple area, it was already ten at night.

Her artist was waiting in the hotel lobby, behaving very well by diligently working through practice exam papers. With her hat and mask both on, anyone would have mistaken her for an exam candidate.

The anger accumulating in Sui Lingfang's heart vanished instantly.

Among the artists she worked with, Jin Li's temperament was actually very good.

Besides, artists have their own private schedules; it's just that they coordinate more frequently with their managers regarding work.

No matter how much a manager interferes, they cannot control an artist's private life.

She had been too impulsive just now, thinking about Jin Li's physical condition and fearing something might happen to her outside. Now that she had calmed down, Sui Lingfang felt a bit bewildered.

Jin Li was already 25!

She wasn't a minor; she was someone with experience, someone who had exploded in popularity in the entertainment industry, fallen, and then slowly climbed her way back up—a "veteran."

Sui Lingfang took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She realized that the more she interacted with Jin Li, the more she felt like a "mother."

However, no matter how much she controlled her temper, when Jin Li suggested going to a bar, she exploded again.

Sui Lingfang's face darkened instantly. "Do you want to go, or did someone invite you? Speak up—which brat is hitting on you? Someone in the industry or an outsider?"

Jin Li said softly, "No, I've never been to a bar before. I just wanted to see what it's like."

Sui Lingfang froze. "You've never been?"

Jin Li searched her memory and shook her head firmly; neither the original host nor the carp spirit had ever been.

Sui Lingfang thought for a moment and agreed to take her, but not right now.

"After the second episode of recording is finished, I'll go with you."

It is better to guide than to block. Rather than constantly stopping her, it was better to take her once.

Bars were nothing special; she had played them to death when she was younger.

In her eyes, it would be much more terrifying if Jin Li suddenly had a "youthful outburst" and said she wanted to re-study for the college entrance exams.

For someone who could persist in studying every day, going to a bar was really nothing.

If we're talking about corrupting one's thoughts and making them restless, thinking about playing every day... Sui Lingfang actually hoped Jin Li would go out to play every day while working. With her watching, nothing would go wrong.

In any case, that was better than working while studying, which was truly "hell-level" difficulty.

Doing well on exams might not necessarily bring substantial benefits to a celebrity's career.

But if she did poorly, netizens would definitely swarm in to curse her!

That would be unbearable.

***

Another day passed.

After staying in the hotel for one night, Sui Lingfang felt quite comfortable here, with everything from food to entertainment available. She decided to stay there until Jin Li's schedule ended.

As for Jin Li, the one or two-day intervals between rehearsals were high-intensity exercise for her; she practically wanted to live with Mazu every day.

Now that she was being asked to move, she flatly refused.

Today, Jin Li was undergoing her third rehearsal.

As usual, she did not sing a complete song, only humming a few lines casually.

After this rehearsal, the official recording would begin tomorrow.

When the rehearsal ended, Jin Li sat on a chair outside to rest, as was her custom.

In March, a boy group emerged from another rehearsal room. The four young men walked over to greet her quite bashfully, "Hello, Senior Jin Li!"

Jin Li smiled. "Hello. Did the rehearsal go smoothly?"

Among the four young men—no, three young men pushed and shoved while one made way—Gu Cheng was squeezed to the front to act as the spokesperson.

Jin Li couldn't help but burst into laughter; it was too funny.

Goodnight~

(End of Chapter)