Superstar's Development Diary
Chapter 296 - 297: Strike When It’s Time

Chapter 296: Chapter 297: Strike When It’s Time

In the evening, He Jinxia lay in bed, thinking about the things she had to do tomorrow.

Suddenly, the sound of a phone ringing started, and He Jinxia recognized it as her own incoming call ringtone and hurriedly searched for it.

The bunkmate below, Zhang Yuanyuan, also helped to look for it. It had been such a busy day, ever since He Jinxia had gone to the procurement market, she had put her phone aside, and even after returning to the inn, she hadn’t had time to check her phone.

She normally wasn’t someone who liked to check her phone constantly, so it wasn’t until she was about to lie down to sleep that she remembered her phone, because it had rung.

After finding her phone in the backpack she carried today, the incoming call no longer sounded. When she picked it up, she saw that the call she just missed was from her mom.

She swiped open the screen and saw dozens of unread messages in WeChat.

He Jinxia’s eyelids twitched as she suddenly remembered the screenshot she had sent to Sheng Yan that morning.

Even now, she still felt a bit... embarrassed -_-||.

Unsure what Sheng Yan would reply, He Jinxia felt a mix of anticipation and evasion.

After thinking it over, she decided not to check immediately but instead walked out of the bedroom to make a return call to her mom in the empty hall.

Mrs. He’s voice came cheerfully through the phone: "Hello, how’s the TV show recording going? Is it hard work? I called you just now, but you didn’t answer!"

He Jinxia’s lips parted slightly, just about to say something, when suddenly she heard a burst of noise coming from the phone that sounded faintly like music.

Curious, she asked, "Mom, what are you doing?"

Mrs. He: "Me? I’m dancing in the community square with Aunt Rui. Lately, we’ve both been practicing dancing in the evenings. We’ve been chosen as community stars, and there’s a cultural performance in the community for the National Day the month after next. All of us community stars have to go on stage and dance!"

Hearing her mother’s vibrant and spirited voice, He Jinxia couldn’t help but curve her eyes and unconsciously wore a smile on her face.

"How many people are there as community stars? Are you going to dance on stage for the square dance? Let me know the exact date when it’s decided, and I’ll ask Brother Luo to clear my schedule for that day to cheer you on!"

Mrs. He: "Oh, no need, no need, that would be so embarrassing. You don’t have to come all this way just for that. You’re so busy with work—that time could be better spent resting. It’s just us old folks dancing there; you young people wouldn’t enjoy watching it!"

He Jinxia insisted: "How can that be? I’ll definitely be there. What’s wrong with being old? Older people can blossom too!"

"Besides, my mother’s square dances are different from the ones outside. After your modifications, the dancing is even more beautiful than what young people do, and it could even compete with them. They’d all be outperformed."

Seeing that Mrs. He still wanted to refuse, He Jinxia added, "Mom, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you—won’t you even let me come watch you dance?"

Her voice was soft, with a hint of grievance and a touch of coquettishness, sounding like she was playfully whining.

Mrs. He had no way to resist her daughter’s whining, even though they had just seen each other the day before yesterday!

When her daughter was going through a rebellious phase, she struggled to communicate, and every time she called, the conversation was cut short.

Ever since her daughter had been kicked out of the JY girl group, and she had decided to lose weight through working out, she had changed completely. She became more responsible and caring and started to show filial piety to her mother.

Mrs. He understood it as her daughter growing up, and she felt quite relieved.

She said, "Okay, okay, they only said it would be on National Day at the community, but the date isn’t set yet. I’ll let you know once it’s decided. By the way, is the reality show you’re participating in going smoothly?"

Whenever she was away from home, He Jinxia always reported the good and not the bad, repeatedly saying everything was going smoothly and that the stars on the set took good care of her.

After sweetly coaxing Mrs. He for a while, He Jinxia looked up at the clock hanging on the wall, saw that it was getting late, and told Mrs. He to go to bed early, emphasizing that she must not wear herself out.

Mrs. He agreed, and she likewise advised her daughter. Just as they were about to end the call, Mrs. He seemed to think of something and suddenly asked:

"I saw in the news that there’s a star named Zhang You in the reality show you’re participating in, is he your rumored boyfriend?"

He Jinxia was momentarily speechless, thankful she hadn’t been drinking water, or she would have surely spat it out!

She hurriedly said, "No, you know how those online news stories are, mostly fabrications, all of it is just nonsense they’ve written!"

Mrs. He made a sound of acknowledgement and then asked, "So, do you have a good relationship with this Zhang You?"

Mrs. He’s thinking was simple, rumors must arise from some sort of contact, otherwise how could they spread?

He Jinxia cautiously replied, "Just so-so, I’ve met him before during variety shows, we’re barely acquaintances. The netizens have too much free time, linking us together based on our zodiac signs."

Mrs. He listened to He Jinxia’s firm denial and couldn’t help but feel pleased, saying, "Mm, it’s good that you don’t have anything to do with Zhang You. I’ve seen his photos, and he seems even prettier than you, fair and delicate, and skinnier too. Standing beside you, you look like the one taking care of him."

"Jinxia, listen to your mother, when you look for someone in the future, find someone older than you, they are more likely to cherish you. And they should have more of a masculine presence, so they can protect you well," Mrs. He said earnestly.

He Jinxia humbly accepted her mother’s advice and nodded in agreement.

Thinking that the "mother-daughter dating advice session" would soon be over, He Jinxia hadn’t expected that right at the end, her dear mother would spring another question:

"Then what’s the deal with Ciming Jiayou?"

He Jinxia felt as if her heart was on a roller coaster, soaring high and then plummeting rapidly, before careening around a bend and soaring and plummeting again.

She couldn’t help but break into a sweat on her forehead, her brows furrowed slightly, wondering why her mother was so interested in her "social circle" today.

"Mom, that’s Luo Dingxin, we’re just friends, don’t think too much about it."

Mrs. He responded with a hint of regret, "I think you and Luo Dingxin are quite a match on the TV show, you both perform so well, I even went out of my way to look up this actor, no scandals at all, a good actor indeed. It wouldn’t be bad if you developed feelings through the drama."

He Jinxia looked slightly embarrassed.

In some respects, her mother was even more fashionable than a young person from ancient times like herself.

Her eyes twinkled as she tentatively asked, "Mom, didn’t you tell me to carefully evaluate someone before deciding, to take it slow? Why the sudden rush today?"

Mrs. He sighed, "I’m just worried you’re young and might pick the wrong person because your mind is not clear, so I thought I’d keep an eye out for you. When it’s time to make a move on someone good, don’t hesitate. Do you still remember Aunt Luo from Qingdu, who lives next to us?"

"Her daughter got married last year, and just yesterday she gave birth to a boy, bragging about it in her circle of friends, you can’t imagine how happy she is. All the blessings of a house full of children and grandchildren are gathered, and hey, Aunt Luo isn’t much younger than me."

He Jinxia felt relieved, realizing it was because of this.

Her thoughts turned to Sheng Yan, and remembering her mother’s high praise for him, she couldn’t help but smile cunningly, saying cheerfully:

"Mom, there will be such a day, don’t worry, I promise I’ll bring someone home who will meet your every expectation the year after next."