372 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System

# Chapter 372: Wrap Party (Three Updates) Following that question, the host, An Ya, mischievously posed two slightly tricky questions to Su Siyang. As a seasoned star, Su Siyang's responses were quite nuanced, leaving an impression that felt somewhat ambiguous, yet perfectly reasonable upon reflection. After the two topics concluded, the interview finally drew to a close. As the grand curtain descended, An Ya observed the little girl seated on the sofa, letting out a sigh of relief while patting her small chest. She couldn't help but find the sight utterly adorable. She stood up and addressed the siblings, Su Qi and Su Siyang, saying: "You both performed remarkably well, especially little Qi. You truly aced it." Initially expecting criticism, Su Qi was pleasantly surprised by the praise. Her delicate, fair face broke into a smile so captivating it could steal the moon. Two deep dimples accompanied her radiant smile, making An Ya feel a sense of delight at the charming scene. An Ya thought to herself, this little enchantress is truly beguiling; I wonder which lucky fellow will win her favor in the future. As the curtain fell fully, manager Liu Qi excitedly walked to the center stage, thrusting her phone in front of Su Qi, exclaiming, "Little Qi, you're trending! That line you delivered was fantastic, and you've gained many new fans. Some fans even claim they want to marry you. Aren't you thrilled?" Hearing Liu Qi's words, Su Qi felt a bit overwhelmed. She merely wanted to remain a low-profile figure, here just to earn money, not seeking fame. Yet, somehow, she kept getting more renowned. No, she wasn't happy at all! However, this notion dissipated on the way back when her manager mentioned that the payment was expected to come through early next month. After all, earning money was the goal. In the days following the interview with "An Ya Talks," the production of "Chaos in the Merchant House" was finally completed down to the finest details. At 6 PM on the 27th, they celebrated the wrap-up, which happened five days earlier than Director Zhang had anticipated. Originally, he didn't expect Su Qi to have much acting skill. Who could have foreseen? Despite a few stumbling blocks in the early days, this pure-hearted girl managed to capture the seductive yet cruel essence of Su Daji to the core. Even a seasoned director like him, who had filmed countless scenes, felt that Su Daji's character came "alive". Thanks to Su Qi's improved acting skills, the timeline advanced, and the crew increased their budget significantly. As an experienced director, when Director Zhang thought of the excess budget and remembered the little girl praising the crew's food during the show, he decided to splurge the entire surplus on booking a famous restaurant in Nanjing for a proper feast with the crew. Originally, the crew wasn't lacking a meal, with many about to decline the invitation cheerfully. However, upon hearing that the restaurant was the renowned and delicious yet expensive Yanxin Wanghu, many hesitated. Missing out would indeed be a pity! After a moment's hesitation, they agreed to attend the feast. Watching this unfold, Su Qi couldn't help but recall the phrase, "Beastmen will never be enslaved unless food and shelter are involved." Then, she saw Director Zhang walking toward her. Su Qi quickly stood up to greet him. She quite liked Director Zhang, even though he was somewhat older, he possessed an unwavering drive. His constant pursuit of high standards in acting won her admiration for such dedication. Seeing the little girl stand up, Director Zhang couldn't help but chuckle, "Little Qi, eat plenty later. Whatever you like from the menu, let Uncle Zhang order it for you!" Hearing Director Zhang's words, everyone was quite amazed, for he had never publicly shown such closeness before. His words to Su Qi undoubtedly confirmed his recognition of her acting skills. Many celebrities looked at Su Qi with envious eyes. After all, being acknowledged by a director essentially marks an actor as a trending topic, leading to abundant resources. As a rookie actress, Su Qi knew nothing of these complexities. Moreover, she was unlike other actors; she wasn't seeking fame or to become a star; her aim was solely to make money. Unaware of this, Su Qi genuinely studied the menu handed to her by Director Zhang. Seeing this, her manager Liu Qi found it completely off-script, hoping she would seize such an opportunity, yet Su Qi was seriously looking at the menu, making Liu Qi's head ache. However, with Director Zhang present, Liu Qi couldn't remind her otherwise. Director Zhang, noticing Su Qi's cool demeanor, felt even more pleased and considered offering her more roles in the future. He mused she might eventually star in his films, perhaps even win an award. Su Qi, unaware of Director Zhang’s thoughts, was absorbed in the menu, captivated by the prices and pictures of each dish. Though this restaurant wasn't as expensive as the famed Louwailou in Zhejiang, its prices weren't exactly cheap. Su Qi, having never really dined out beyond quick meals, merely wanted to see the menu illustrations. Ultimately, she ordered only a Nanjing pressed duck. After all, she had always eaten the five-yuan-a-bag vegetarian version growing up, and now she wanted to try the authentic thing. Director Zhang naturally agreed, as the little girl's request was easily fulfilled. Shortly after, the group arrived at the famous Yanxin Wanghu Restaurant in Nanjing. Su Qi, clad in a hoodie set, followed beside her brother. Director Zhang, sitting at the main table, specifically asked the little girl to sit next to him. This made many actors, especially the male lead playing Jiang Ziya, feel envious, as if the meal was now hard to swallow. Su Qi was oblivious to this and simply marveled at how Nanjing truly deserved the title of "City of Ducks," with every duck dish being an absolute delight, particularly favoring the duck blood and vermicelli soup. The duck blood, resembling pieces of purple jade, translucent with white duck intestines and red agate-like duck gizzards—deliciously crunchy—combined them with transparent vermicelli, all entwined, forming an inseparable bond. Tasting it while hot, the dish offered a deliciously fresh, aromatic, and slightly spicy flavor, simply delectable. Apart from the ducks, Su Qi was most satisfied with Nanjing's steamed dumplings. Unlike in other regions, Nanjing's steamed dumplings boast a distinctive style, known for their exquisite shapes and refreshing flavors; if too greasy, they lose their refreshing appeal. Su Qi highly recommended the mushroom steamed dumplings. The filling consisted of fresh pork and mushrooms mixed together, with the fragrant mushroom juice enriching the tender meat to create a flavorful and juicy dumpling. A gentle bite released a fresh aroma throughout the mouth. Perhaps due to the celebration of the wrap and knowing that her paycheck would arrive on the 1st of the next month as Liu Qi mentioned, Su Qi thought of the total 4 million she was about to receive. Her bright, delicate face held a perpetual smile, her pristine eyes twinkling, and her long, slender brows slightly arched with joy, making her appear truly adorable. With such a good mood, Su Qi ate a bit more than usual that night, leaving her little belly slightly round. After dinner, Director Zhang invited Su Qi for further collaborations, but she declined, citing her academics. Director Zhang wasn't disappointed, considering she was nearly done with her university studies and graduation wasn't far off. Unaware of Director Zhang's perseverance, Su Qi, now fully satisfied, returned home, quickly checked her stocks, took a bath, and then nestled into her cozy bed. Thinking of not having to shoot scenes the next day and being able to sleep in, her lips curled into a contented smile. Her entire small body felt incredibly relaxed and soft. Soon, a gentle and adorable snoring filled the room.