Chapter 93

Exclusive: Wei Jun and Chen Duling's 3-Hour Private Chat

Chapter 94 Exclusive: Wei Jun and Chen Duling's Three-Hour Private Chat (Part 2)

With the role of Xie Zongru secured, only the female lead remained. Wei Jun didn't have to wait long before receiving a reply: Chen Duling was interested in the female lead role and hoped to meet with Wei Jun to discuss it.


Cloudy coffee shop.

Wei Jun arrived at the Cloudy Cafe half an hour earlier than the agreed time.

"Mr. Wei, long time no see. What brings you here for coffee today?" Wei Jun, wearing a mask and carrying a cartoon tote bag, was greeted by the owner as soon as he entered the coffee shop.

The shop owner was an older middle-aged man who spoke politely, dressed fashionably, and had a British gentlemanly air about him. He was always smiling.

"I happened to have some free time and was craving your coffee, so I came over to try it," Wei Jun said. Since his studio was running smoothly, he rarely came over anymore. "How's business lately?"

"Thanks to you, business is much better than before. Many office workers come to buy coffee," the shop owner said, pointing to the flow of people in the shop and then to the shop next door with the same decoration. "I even rented the shop next door."

Fans already knew that Wei Jun was drinking coffee at the Cloudy Cafe. They carefully examined his previous selfies on Weibo and discovered that he had been frequently drinking coffee at this cafe for some time. After this news broke, many fans came to check it out.

Yang Chaoyue told Wei Jun about how Cloudy Cafe became a popular spot for fans to take photos, and she even showed him some photos of it online.

Wei Jun nodded and looked around the shop. Compared to the previous slightly deserted shop, there were many more customers drinking coffee at the moment, with an occupancy rate of at least 70%, which was probably also due to the weekend.

He noticed some customers looking at him curiously, but he pretended not to see them and prepared to leave, apparently needing to change the agreed location.

The shop owner noticed something was wrong. Knowing Wei Jun's identity, he didn't want to expose himself in the shop. Seeing Wei Jun about to leave, he went up to him and called him back, then led him to the shop next door that hadn't officially opened for business yet.

The interior layout is basically the same as the main store, the only difference being the ceiling, which is no longer decorated with cloud-shaped lights, but with lights that look like upside-down peaches and peach blossoms.

"Mr. Wei, the usual?" The shopkeeper gestured for Wei Jun to sit down, his tone gentle.

"Okay, it's been a while since I've had one." Wei Jun nodded.

Five minutes later, the cloud latte was served. Wei Jun added a little sugar, stirred it with a spoon, and took a small sip. The taste was still the same, and even tasted better.

Wei Jun sat in the store for a while, checked the time, and when it was almost time to meet, he put on his mask, got up and stood outside the door, worried that Chen Duling might not know the way.

In March, the daily temperature in Shanghai ranges from 3°C to 16°C. The north wind howls. Wei Jun stands at the door, the wind whistling through his upper body. He is wearing a black cotton-padded jacket, which he zips up to the top, turns up the collar, and waits quietly for Chen Duling to appear.

A minute later, a woman wearing a black beret, silver-rimmed glasses, a white face mask, a black cotton coat, jeans, and a white patterned handbag slung over her shoulder was looking around.

It was Chen Duling; he recognized her at a glance.

Wei Jun snapped his fingers a few times, and when she looked over, he waved to signal her to follow.

He pushed open the glass door, and after Chen Duling entered, he quickly closed it again, as the wind had picked up.

"Sorry I'm late." Chen Duling's voice was slightly low.

"It's okay, I just arrived too." Wei Jun asked the waiter to bring her a cup of hot coffee.

Chen Duling stretched out her slender, fair hands, rubbed them together, and pressed them against the cup, using the warmth from the scalding hot coffee to warm herself.

"Teacher Wei, this is the first time I've seen you in person. You're really as handsome as you've heard." Chen Duling took off her mask, gently picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and the steam from the hot coffee slowly rose up, causing a thin layer of white fog to appear on her glasses lenses.

"Thank you," Wei Jun said with a smile.

After exchanging a few pleasantries about Shanghai's weather and traffic, they soon got down to business.

"Someday or One Day is somewhat like a gender-swapped version of Your Name, with two-way time travel and mutual pursuit. However, you focused your analysis on Chen Yunru, which makes me feel that the core of this drama isn't about 'wanting to see you,' but rather about 'not wanting to be forgotten.' What are your thoughts on this?"

Chen Duling took off her glasses and pulled a tissue from the table to wipe away the condensation.

"Chen Yunru is someone no one rushes towards; she is always being watched," rather than seen. Huang Yuxuan passes through her body to get to know Li Ziwei, and Li Ziwei loves Huang Yuxuan's soul through her face."

"Mo Junjie loves her, but he loves the part of her that is very similar to himself, not her as she is. Everyone looks at her in some way, but no one is looking at her..." Wei Jun said, sharing his understanding of Chen Yunru.

Chen Yunru is somewhat similar to Chen Duling in some ways, both possessing a cool, aloof, and "broken" quality.

Chen Duling listened quietly, not speaking immediately. Instead, she frowned, gripping the cup tightly with both hands, her thumbs gently rubbing it. After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "Li Ziwei wants to see Huang Yuxuan, Huang Yuxuan wants to see Li Ziwei, Mo Junjie wants to see Chen Yunru, but who does Chen Yunru want to see?"

"What Chen Yunru most wants to see is not a certain person, but a version of herself that is not disliked," Wei Jun paused for a few seconds before continuing, "She was not valued by her parents since she was a child, and she was invisible at school. Her only friend, Mo Junjie, always felt sorry for her."

"After Huang Yuxuan entered her body, everyone liked her," but that "she" wasn't Chen Yunru; she only wanted to meet someone she didn't need to pretend with, someone everyone would like.

Chen Duling leaned back in her chair, carefully considering Wei Jun's answer. After she understood, she nodded gently to Wei Jun.

Then Chen Duling asked a few more questions, which Wei Jun answered one by one.

As expected of a top student in science and engineering and a "test-taker in the Chinese entertainment industry," her questions were quite sharp and to the point. If she were a professional actress, she would have had the potential to become the leading actress of the post-95 generation.

Afterwards, the two talked a lot about "Someday or One Day". The more they talked, the more they clicked. Chen Duling became more and more excited about the role. However, she hesitated about whether she was up to the task. After all, the role was essentially about portraying multiple personalities, and she was not a professional actress. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to pull it off.

Wei Jun told her clearly that she didn't need to worry, that he would tutor her well and teach her how to act.

Chen Duling's acting skills are indeed lacking, but Wei Junxing just obtained the entry related to Chen Duling.

[Character Diver: The host can help others understand, delve into, and perfectly portray a character.]

Chen Duling eventually agreed to star in the film, and with that, the main cast of "Someday or One Day" was officially assembled. The subsequent contract signing was handled by her own studio.

After finishing their business, the two began to relax. Chen Duling crossed her legs, her toes slightly upturned. She glanced at Wei Jun and smiled slightly: "Teacher Wei, I didn't expect you to be so talented. You can write songs and scripts. How did you come up with this script?"

Wei Jun adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable and said with a smile, "When we were kids, there was always a Chen Yunru in our class and a Li Ziwei in our school."

Chen Duling raised an eyebrow: "Then you're Li Ziwei?"

Wei Jun shook his head: "I am who I am, not anyone else."

"You're quite interesting," Chen Duling chuckled. "You must have had a lot of girls like you when you were in school."

"It's alright," Wei Jun said, picking up his now-cold coffee and gulping it down in one go. "My desk is always stuffed with breakfasts and love letters every day."

Chen Duling carefully examined Wei Jun and nodded in approval. With a face like that, which young girl wouldn't be attracted?

"You must have had a lot of boys liking you when you were in school, right?" Wei Jun asked her in return.

Chen Duling straightened her back and tossed her hair: "There are still a few breakfasts and love letters in my desk every day."

Chen Duling stared intently at Wei Jun, and he stared intently at Chen Duling. After a few seconds of eye contact, they burst into laughter.

Wei Jun noticed that Chen Duling's coffee was empty and prepared to get up to call the waiter for more milk.

Chen Duling raised her hand to stop her: "No need, it's almost time, I have to go."

"Okay, I'll see you off." Wei Jun put on a mask, picked up the cartoon tote bag that was placed to the side, and got up to see Chen Duling off.

The two of them walked and talked.

"You need to lose weight," Wei Jun said abruptly.

Chen Duling glanced at it and scoffed, "Am I that fat?"

"You're not fat, just a little bit chubby on your face. The role requires you to look a bit frail," Wei Jun said directly, without beating around the bush. "What's your schedule like? Are you in Shanghai lately?"

"There's an event in Beijing tomorrow that I have to attend. I'll have some time afterwards," Chen Duling said after a few seconds of thought. "What's wrong?"

"Come to Shanghai sometime, I'll show you how to work out," Wei Jun said, walking slowly with one hand in his pocket. "You'd better be prepared, I'll create a workout routine and diet plan just for you."

Chen Duling needs to work out, partly to lose a little bit of baby fat on her face, and partly because playing the role of Chen Yunru would be very stressful, and she's worried that her body can't handle it.

"Fine, whatever you say." Chen Duling's eyes held a hint of resentment.

Wei Jun escorted her to the parking lot, and before parting, he handed Chen Duling a cartoon tote bag, saying, "This is for you."

Chen Duling tilted her head, her beautiful hair falling naturally to her shoulders, and asked with a hint of doubt, "A gift? What's inside?"

"A gift for me?"

Wei Jun nodded and smiled.

Inside the cartoon tote bag were handmade essential oil candles and a notebook made by locals in Xiamen. I had originally intended to give them to her when we first met, but we got so caught up in our conversation that I completely forgot about them.

Chen Duling smiled mischievously: "I heard that if someone gives you a gift the first time you meet someone, it means they like you. You don't happen to like me, do you? Let me tell you, I don't plan to date. Don't try to pursue me just because you're a producer and the lead actor."

Wei Jun rolled his eyes for the first time: "Don't be narcissistic, don't overthink it. I also gave He Rundong a gift when we first discussed cooperation, it was a camera."

Chen Duling's eyes lit up: "I also like cameras, did you give me one?"

"Sorry, no," Wei Jun laughed. "Get in the car, see you next time."

"See you next time," Chen Duling replied.

In the car, Chen Duling opened her handbag. Inside was a pink gift box. She gently took it out, opened the box, and saw a handmade essential oil candle emitting a faint fragrance, and a cartoon-covered notebook. Opening it, she saw that each page of the notebook had a cartoon image, with various designs—some cute, some cool…

"So stingy." Chen Duling complained softly, her tone cheerful and happy. How did Wei Jun know that I liked to keep records? How did he know that I liked cartoon notebooks? What a strange guy.

After Wei Jun got into the car and left, he was completely unaware that a paparazzi was secretly taking pictures of the two of them. This paparazzi was the same person who had been curiously watching Wei Jun in the coffee shop earlier. He had a habit of staking out coffee shops, hoping to capture Wei Jun's privacy.

Wei Jun has become incredibly popular lately, and many people are curious about him and want to see what he's like in private. At the same time, some things about Wei Jun's past work have started to appear online.

As the saying goes, perseverance pays off. The paparazzi finally managed to photograph Wei Jun having coffee with a woman, who turned out to be Chen Duling.

"We've struck it rich!" The paparazzi rubbed his fingers together, grinning from ear to ear.

That evening, Wei Jun received a message from his agent saying that paparazzi had photographed him and Chen Duling, and that if he wanted to cover it up, he should give them some "tea money".

Wei Jun directly told Yang Hua to refuse, and let the paparazzi expose it, which would just increase the popularity of "Someday or One Day".

He then called Chen Duling to inform her that the two of them had been photographed by paparazzi. Chen Duling said that the two of them were upright and honest and there was no problem, so the paparazzi could publish whatever they wanted.

When the paparazzi learned that they hadn't received any payment for the tea, they immediately posted photos of the two on Weibo.

[Exclusive News]: Did Wei Jun from "Fighter of the Destiny" and Chen Duling from "The Left Ear" have any interaction? The two chatted privately for three hours in a coffee shop, and before parting, Wei Jun gave Chen Duling a cartoon tote bag as a gift. Could this be a new drama collaboration or a budding romance? #WeiJunChenDulingChatForThreeHours#

The accompanying photos are a nine-grid layout, including Wei Jun gentlemanly pushing open a door, two people chatting and laughing in a coffee shop, and two people whispering to each other while waiting for a car...

Within 15 minutes of the post being published, the hashtag #WeiJunChenDuLingChatForThreeHours# had soared to 1.2 million views and 18 discussions, ranking fifth on the trending topics list.

The comment section was flooded with fans and casual observers.

[Fakenews!! Sorry, my brother is definitely not dating, he's definitely working on a project.]

[Reported, thank you]

[No way! Chen Duling is the only one who matters! This trending topic is obviously bought, so don't give it any attention!]

[The two should be working together. Isn't Wei Jun currently preparing for a campus drama? Could Chen be the female lead? Then I'd love to see them collaborate.]

Whether it's true or not, I'm shipping this couple! I edited a set of black and white photos; their profiles are absolutely stunning. Is there anyone talented enough to write a fanfic about it?

Two people, three hours, a coffee shop? The paparazzi photos are crystal clear, and the angles are so flattering? Who would believe this isn't staged? Probably just hype for a new drama.

Various marketing accounts are vying for traffic.

Wei Jun and Chen Duling secretly met for three hours at a coffee shop! Wei Jun even gave Chen Duling a cartoon gift before leaving, sparking rumors of a relationship?

"When the Wind Rises and the Left Ear Meets: Wei Jun and Chen Duling Spotted Together, Their Chemistry is Amazing!"

Wei Jun and Chen Duling secretly met for three hours in a coffee shop! Their new drama "Someday or One Day" is already generating buzz before filming even begins, and Chen Duling may be playing the female lead.

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