Just Meal Buddies

[Refined Scoundrel, Flirtatious Movie Star x Beautiful, Socially Anxious Screenwriter]

[From Meal Buddy to Official Partner]

1.

Wen Yan never expected to see Zhou Moyu at the advanced film and television program in Beicheng. Among all the actors, even when he seemed nonchalant, he was impossible to overlook.

Wen Yan also never expected him to send her a friend request through the class chat group. His first message was: "You're from Haicheng too?"

They say that when two people from the same hometown meet, tears fill their eyes.

So Wen Yan felt the distance between them shrink all at once. They shared the same food preferences and lived right next door to each other, and somehow the two of them became meal buddies.

When they accidentally appeared in someone else's photo, the internet erupted with speculation. At a loss, Wen Yan made a separate account that night, verified it, and clarified:

[We're just meal buddies.]

Zhou Moyu reposted it. It was the first time he had personally addressed a rumor about himself.

2.

At a discussion meeting, Wen Yan mentioned the script she was revising. The producer told her on the spot that Zhou Moyu would play the male lead.

From four or five meters away, she saw him smile and wave.

Her heart raced in an instant.

During their conversation, Zhou Moyu said his hometown was the birthplace of Kunqu opera. Before she knew it, Wen Yan had agreed to visit his home for research, and the two ended up living under the same roof.

One day, his hair was still damp from the shower as he read the script, brows tightly furrowed. Wen Yan immediately grew nervous.

But all he said was, "There's no need for this kissing scene. Cut it."

Wen Yan said, "Huh?"

Later, at the secluded edge of the wrap party, Zhou Moyu seemed drunk, yet his eyes were unusually bright as he stared intently at Wen Yan.

"From now on, could you stop looking for other meal buddies?"

3.

The film received rave reviews, and both of them won awards.

At the awards ceremony, Zhou Moyu looked around the room before finally letting his gaze fall gently on the person beside him. "I'd like to announce something. I've been promoted from meal buddy to official partner."

The whole internet was stunned.

Later, Wen Yan's private account was dug up. It was full of evidence that she had quietly followed Zhou Moyu for years.

Wen Yan was both embarrassed and annoyed, but the man only smiled fondly. "Looks like your tastes haven't changed since you were little."

When he took out a photo of the two of them as children, Wen Yan finally remembered: he had been her meal buddy ever since kindergarten.

Back then, she was too young to know better. She liked pretty things and was possessive, so she had told him, "Now that you've eaten with me, you can't go eat with any other kids, okay?"

He remembered those words for years, until he recognized her again and gradually made his way into her life.

They were destined to be more than just meal buddies.

Bonus scene:

One evening, Zhou Moyu came out of the shower wearing a bathrobe and saw Wen Yan still stuck on a scene in her script.

"Where are you stuck?"

"...The kissing scene."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Showing you is better than telling you. I'll teach you."

After who knew how long, the man asked with a smile, "Have you learned it?"

Wen Yan's eyes were damp. She shook her head, then quickly nodded.

"But I think you need a little more practice..."

-

This novel is also known as "What's It Like to Become Your Idol's Meal Buddy?" and "Romance Begins with a Meal Buddy." Blurb dated July 13, 2023.

Theme: To be added later