Chapter 698
Businessman
Yu Shuang, wearing a beige apron, was carefully chopping vegetables; Xiao Yu and Luo Xin were washing dishes and chopsticks nearby, occasionally playfully bickering with each other; Rita, on the other hand, was leaning against the bar without any regard for her image, holding a half-glass of red wine, directing hope Ran, who was mixing dipping sauce.
"You're back?" Hearing the door open, Yu Shuang turned around, smiled gently, and handed over a warm, damp towel. "Wipe your hands first, then you can eat right away."
Su Mo took the towel, changed into slippers, and sat down at the dining table. Looking at this warm and welcoming scene, the tension that had gripped him for a whole month on the field finally eased completely.
"Brother Mo, thank you so much at the airport today." hope Ran walked over with two bowls of prepared sesame oil and garlic sauce and placed them in front of Su Mo. Today, she had her long hair casually tied back and was without makeup, but she exuded the purity of a girl next door. "If it weren't for your quick thinking, those reporters would definitely have made a big deal out of last night's events."
Su Mo picked up his chopsticks, placed a piece of freshly cooked tripe into Xi Ran's bowl, and said in a calm tone, "There's nothing to it anyway. Let them write what they want. Don't hide away from others in the future. Make friends normally. Who says esports players can't have a meal with a host?"
“Exactly!” Rita leaned over and sat down next to Su Mo in a carefree manner. She picked up Su Mo’s thermos without hesitation, unscrewed it, and took a sip of goji berry water. “We’re doing this openly and honestly, what’s there to be afraid of? Come on, let’s toast to our seven-time champions’ Grand Slam!”
The group raised their drinks and glasses, the clinking sounds echoing in the cozy apartment.
The hotpot meal was exceptionally enjoyable. There were no outsiders to disturb them, nor were they under the scrutiny of the spotlight. Su Mo remained the same quiet person, silently helping everyone cook the meat and vegetables. The girls also tacitly avoided mentioning anything about work or the competition, instead chatting about which TV series was good and which dessert shop had the best desserts.
After dinner, Yu Shuang and Xiao Yu volunteered to wash the dishes. Su Mo leaned back on the soft sofa in the living room, watching a boring variety show on TV, and gradually became sleepy.
hope Ran cut a plate of fruit and came over, gently placing it on the coffee table. Seeing that Su Mo had his eyes closed, she quietly went around behind the sofa, stretched out her slender, fair fingers, and gently massaged his temples.
"Is the force okay?" hope Ran asked softly.
"Hmm, just right." Su Mo didn't open his eyes, enjoying this rare tranquility in complete relaxation.
This is his most authentic life. On the field, he is an invincible god; but off the field, he just wants to be an ordinary person who leaves work on time and has a few close friends by his side. They understand his humility, and he protects their peace of mind.
……
After a two-day break, the official sponsor event resumed as scheduled.
That afternoon, EDG manager Abu approached Su Mo with a schedule: "Brother Mo, there's an advertisement shoot for a high-end watch brand this afternoon. This is a top-tier endorsement we signed after winning the championship. The brand attaches great importance to it, not only sending a professional filming crew, but also having one of their Asia-Pacific brand ambassadors participate in the interactive shoot. Please prepare accordingly."
"Brand ambassador?" Su Mo slipped on a clean white T-shirt and casually asked, "Who is it?"
“Lin Xuan.” Abu pushed up his glasses. “She’s the most popular and talented actress in China right now, and has won Best Actress at several film festivals. But I’ve heard she’s quite low-key in private, not at all like a celebrity, so she should be easy to get along with.”
Su Mo nodded, didn't ask any more questions, picked up his thermos, and followed the staff into the van. To him, whether it was a female celebrity or an ordinary person, they were all just colleagues doing work together.
The filming location was set in a high-end art studio in downtown Shanghai.
When Su Mo arrived at the scene, the staff were adjusting the lights. He did a simple styling in the dressing room—actually, he didn't wear much makeup, just tidied his hair, since his handsome and sculpted face was already very striking.
Since the studio was still being set up, Su Mo took the script and thermos and went into a relatively quiet VIP lounge next door to wait.
Pushing open the door, the lounge was quiet, with only a soft floor lamp on.
A woman was sitting on the sofa.
She wore a perfectly tailored, deep blue haute couture suit, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders. Her features were cool and refined, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly elegance. At this moment, she was slightly furrowing her brow, pressing one hand to her temple, occasionally letting out a suppressed cough or two.
She is none other than Lin Xuan, a currently very popular actress in the entertainment industry.
Hearing the door open, Lin Xuan looked up.
In the entertainment industry, she had seen all sorts of men. Some were obsequious, some were pretentious, and some were so nervous they couldn't speak when they saw her. She had assumed that the legendary seven-time e-sports champion, even if not a gaming addict, would be a somewhat arrogant young man with a touch of youthful arrogance.
But the man who walked in made her pause slightly.
Su Mo was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and black casual pants, holding a black thermos that seemed out of place in the fashionable photo studio. When he saw Lin Xuan, he simply nodded politely as a greeting, his eyes clear and calm, without a trace of surprise or restraint.
He then walked straight to a single sofa in the corner of the lounge, sat down, unscrewed his thermos, took a sip of water, and then looked down at the shooting script in his hand.
Lin Xuan was somewhat surprised. Under the spotlight of her status, few men could be so utterly indifferent.
"Cough cough..." The cold air from the air conditioner made her throat itchy, and Lin Xuan couldn't help but turn her head and cough a few times. She had just finished a four-hour interview that morning, and her throat was already a little inflamed. Her assistant had gone to buy her medicine and hadn't returned yet.
Just as she was about to get up to get some hot water, a cup of water with a faint steam rising from it was gently placed on the glass coffee table in front of her.
Lin Xuan looked up and met Su Mo's deep and gentle eyes.
The water was poured from a clean paper cup in the lounge, with two plump goji berries floating in it.
"The air conditioning is too cold. Drink some warm water; it'll soothe your throat." Su Mo's voice was low and calm, without any hint of flattery or deliberate attempt to get closer. After speaking, he withdrew his hand and sat back down in his seat.
Lin Xuan paused for a moment, looking at the warm water in the glass, and a certain string in her heart was gently plucked.
"Thank you." She held the paper cup with both hands and took a small sip. The temperature was just right, with a hint of sweetness from the goji berries. It slid down her throat and greatly relieved the dry, itchy feeling.
"My name is Lin Xuan. Please guide me during the upcoming shoot." Lin Xuan spoke first, her tone more sincere and gentle than when she usually faced the media.
"Su Mo." He closed the script, glanced at her, and smiled politely. "I haven't filmed many commercials like this. If my blocking or expressions aren't quite right later, I'll have to trouble you to be understanding, Ms. Lin."
He didn't call her "big star" or "Ms. Lin," but rather addressed her as "Teacher Lin" in a very natural and respectful way.
This perfectly balanced exchange made Lin Xuan feel exceptionally comfortable. She suddenly felt a surge of curiosity about this man who had achieved legendary status in another field. "I saw the news about your finals. Although I don't know much about the game, the way you held the trophy on stage was very captivating," Lin Xuan said with a smile, trying to start a conversation.
“It’s a team sport. Without teammates, I couldn’t lift that cup by myself.” Su Mo remained calm and composed. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s mainly so I can get off work and rest earlier. Playing in competitions and filming are essentially jobs that need to be taken seriously.”
The stark contrast between describing the global finals, which represent the youth and dreams of countless people, as "a job to clock out" made Lin Xuan chuckle softly. She discovered that this man possessed a relaxed quality rarely seen in the entertainment industry. He was unpretentious and genuine, making her feel very grounded.
Just then, the director pushed open the door to the dressing room: "Teacher Lin, Master Su, the lights outside are adjusted, we can get ready to start."
Su Mo stood up, straightened the hem of his clothes, picked up his thermos, and gestured for Lin Xuan to proceed.
The filming process went exceptionally smoothly.
The script required the portrayal of the "precision and composure" conveyed by the wristwatches worn by top figures in different fields.
In front of the camera, Lin Xuan regained her professional demeanor as a film queen, exuding a powerful aura, every glance radiating nobility and elegance. Although Su Mo was not a professional actor, his natural portrayal of a calm, reserved, and unflappable character perfectly complemented Lin Xuan's presence.
Especially the shot where the two of them are back to back, slightly turning their faces to show the details of the watch. The director behind the monitor, watching the two people in the picture, one cold and the other warm, yet inexplicably harmonious, was so excited that he slapped his thigh repeatedly.
"Great! Fantastic! Soften Su Shen's gaze a little more... Yes, hold on! Raise Teacher Lin's chin slightly by half an inch, perfect!"
During a break in filming, Lin Xuan's assistant finally bought some throat lozenges and rushed over to hand them to her.
Lin Xuan took the candy and glanced at Su Mo, who was standing not far away, head down, confirming the upcoming itinerary with Coach Abu. He was still holding that thermos, as if the surrounding hustle and bustle had nothing to do with him.
"Sister Xuan, what are you looking at?" The assistant followed her gaze and whispered, "Isn't that the seven-time champion gamer? He's really handsome, much more sophisticated than those young heartthrobs in our industry. But he seems cold and unapproachable."
Lin Xuan looked away, unwrapped a throat lozenge, and put it in her mouth. Recalling the perfectly warm goji berry water in the lounge, a slight smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
“He’s not cold, he’s just very clear-headed,” Lin Xuan said softly, something her assistant couldn’t understand.
As evening approached, the filming finally came to an end.
"Thank you all for your hard work, teachers!" the director said with satisfaction, signaling the end of filming.
Su Mo changed back into his white T-shirt, slung his peripheral bag over his shoulder, and prepared to leave.
"Su Mo".
Lin Xuan's voice came from behind.
Su Mo turned around, and Lin Xuan, who had changed into a comfortable set of casual clothes and was wearing a fisherman's hat, walked over gracefully. She took out her phone, and a WeChat QR code was displayed on the screen.
"It was a pleasure working together today. If you don't mind, could we add each other on WeChat? If I have the chance to be in Shanghai sometime, perhaps I could treat you to a cup of tea, as a way of thanking you for the warm water you offered today." Lin Xuan's eyes shone with generosity and sincerity.
If this happened in the entertainment industry, a top female star taking the initiative to ask for your WeChat would absolutely make any man feel flattered.
But Su Mo calmly took out his phone and scanned the QR code.
With a "ding," the friend was successfully added.
"It was nothing, no need to be so polite. Teacher Lin, you should go back and rest early too. If your throat is sore, eat less sweets." Su Mo put away his phone, didn't exchange any more pleasantries, nodded slightly to Lin Xuan, and then turned and walked out of the studio.
Looking at the pure black profile picture in her WeChat contact list and the simple nickname "EDG.Mo", Lin Xuan stood there for a moment.
In this world of fame and fortune, men approach her either for her beauty or for her fame. But this is the first time a man has added her on WeChat and left so decisively, without the slightest hesitation.
"What an interesting person..." Lin Xuan murmured softly, put her phone back in her bag, put on her mask, and left the studio under the escort of her assistant.
For Su Mo, this was just an ordinary workday in his long career. He didn't experience any emotional fluctuations because of meeting a female celebrity. Perhaps the seeds of a new relationship had been sown, but he always preferred to let things take their natural course and never force anything.
As soon as Su Mo got into the van to return to base, his phone vibrated.
It was a WeChat message from Xiran.
"Brother Mo, are you off work yet? I learned a new dish in the kitchen today, braised pork rib noodles. Sister Yu and the others have a meeting at the station tonight and won't be home for dinner. Do you want to come and test it for me? [Pity][Pity]"
Looking at the pitiful emoji on the screen, Su Mo's mind conjured up the image of hope Ran wearing an apron and frantically trying to make a living in the kitchen.
A genuine smile spread across his lips as he tapped lightly on the screen.
"Just finished work, will be there in half an hour. If the noodles are too soggy, we'll order takeout."
Half an hour later, Su Mo's black SUV smoothly drove into the apartment's underground parking garage.
As the door opened, a rich aroma of soy sauce and meat wafted out from the open kitchen. hope Ran, wearing a soft off-white knitted cardigan and a bear apron tied around her waist, was carefully stirring the pot with long chopsticks.
Hearing the noise at the door, she turned around, her forehead still covered with a fine layer of sweat, but her eyes instantly lit up: "Brother Mo, you're back! Go wash your hands quickly, the braised pork rib noodles are just right, if you're a minute later they might burn."
Su Mo changed into slippers, put down his peripheral bag and thermos, and went to the sink to wash his hands. Looking at hope Ran's expression, which was both alarmed and full of anticipation, a gentle smile appeared in his eyes.
Two steaming bowls of braised pork rib noodles were placed on the table. The noodles soaked up the rich broth, turning an enticing reddish-brown color. The pork ribs were stewed until tender and falling off the bone, and a few sprigs of vibrant green vegetables were garnished on the side. (End of Chapter)