Dating the Heartthrob Superstar-Chapter 44: Four Child Stars

Chapter 44: The Four Child Stars

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo grove, casting scattered patterns onto the leaf-covered ground. A mountain breeze swept through, causing the bamboo leaves to whisper softly. In that moment, all the heat seemed to dissipate, and a serene calmness enveloped the whole body.

Leading the way, Meng Chao walked ahead, guiding Lin Qin deeper into the bamboo forest toward the villa nestled within.

Lin Qin followed curiously. As they proceeded, the villa, with its traditional Chinese design, gradually emerged, shedding its mysterious veil before Lin Qin’s eyes.

"Wow," Lin Qin murmured in awe. The villa looked just like the retreat of some reclusive master in the mountains. Perched above a stream, the villa straddled the divide between sunlight and shade—one half glinting with the shimmering reflection of rippling water, the other cloaked in shadow, where a few small fish swam leisurely to escape the summer heat.

A waterwheel stood on the stream’s bank, turning steadily as it drew water from the brook.

Lin Qin couldn’t resist going over to it. Water pipes made of bamboo directed the stream’s flow into the villa’s courtyard. Lin Qin reached out to catch some water in his hands, feeling its cool and refreshing touch.

Even in the height of summer, the mountain spring water remained ice-cold.

He turned to glance at Meng Chao, who was walking toward him. "It’s so cold! Is this water drinkable?"

Meng Chao nodded. "It’s safe to drink."

Back when the town didn’t have running water, the locals all drank directly from the mountain springs. Even now, despite having a piped water supply, many residents still occasionally collect spring water from the mountains.

Lowering his head, Lin Qin scooped up a handful of water, taking several big gulps. A chill spread through his body, refreshing him from head to toe. The spring water was sweet and icy, far more satisfying than any bottled water chilled in a fridge.

He splashed the spring water on his face, cleansing away all the heat from the journey.

Seeing Lin Qin so enamored with the spring water and looking ready to take a full-on bath in it, Meng Chao quickly grabbed Lin Qin by the hand and pulled him toward the villa.

The villa was constructed with heat-resistant materials and shaded by the forest. Stepping inside, a wave of natural, refreshing coolness greeted them—not the artificially chilled air of air conditioning, but the crisp embrace of nature.

The villa, in traditional Chinese style, featured wooden walkways, sliding doors, and intricately carved windows and screens, exuding an unmistakable elegance. Though Meng Ke had built it as a whimsical indulgence, there was no denying its exceptional charm and refined taste.

Lin Qin was utterly taken with the villa. As a design enthusiast who had always loved ancient aesthetics, he had dreamed of living in such an exquisite space. Unexpectedly, in this moment, a small part of his dream felt realized.

Meng Chao noticed the sparkle in Lin Qin’s eyes and clearly saw how much Lin Qin adored the villa. This only reinforced his belief that selecting it as the filming location for *We Are Together* was the right decision.

Lin Qin’s large eyes gleamed like a rabbit spotting its favorite carrot—adorably bright and eager. Forgetting the presence of cameras, Meng Chao grabbed Lin Qin’s hand and pulled him into an embrace.

"Do you like it?" Meng Chao asked, already knowing the answer.

Lin Qin nodded enthusiastically. "I love it!" But then, recalling something he’d overheard from a local aunt earlier, he asked, "I heard this villa belongs to your family?"

With a casual wave of extravagance, Meng Chao smiled. "If you like it, consider it yours."

Lin Qin chuckled. "Alright, I’ll take it."

He didn’t take Meng Chao seriously, assuming the man was just joking. However, when he eventually saw the villa’s property deed with his name on it sitting in front of him, Lin Qin realized Meng Chao hadn’t been joking at all.

But that’s a story for another day.

As it turned out, both Lin Qin and the production team were thrilled with the bamboo grove villa. The crew, after promising to take excellent care of the property, began contacting other cast members, letting them know to meet at the villa for the upcoming shoot.

Filming, which had restarted today upon Lin Qin’s arrival in Nanjiang Town, now required some adjustments due to the new location. Many logistical arrangements had to be revised accordingly.

The production staff worked through the night to finalize new plans, securing the approval of the higher-ups. By the next day, the bamboo villa welcomed its first wave of guests.

This group consisted of four individuals who had just finished their college entrance exams in June, all of whom had achieved outstanding results and been admitted to film school.

These four were child stars who had entered the industry at a young age, starring in many iconic roles and enjoying widespread national recognition.

The two boys and two girls were Zhao Qin, Wu Zhenzhen, He Chuansong, and Jiang He.

If seniority were based on acting experience, Lin Qin and Meng Chao would have to address them as seniors. However, in reality, the four respectfully called Lin Qin and Meng Chao "teachers," acknowledging their status and reputation in the industry.

Before anything else, the four marveled at the picturesque villa. But just as they settled down for a break, the director issued their first task.

Nanjiang Town was famous for its luscious peaches, and this season was ripe for harvesting. The director relayed a request from local residents, explaining that a large order of 100 boxes of peaches—each weighing ten pounds—needed to be picked and delivered by early next morning.

Hearing that this totaled 1,000 pounds of peaches, the six participants nearly fainted from shock.

Of course, they all knew this wasn’t an actual resident’s request but rather a challenge set up by the production team.

Nonetheless, no one complained. The group of six set off for the peach orchard with great fanfare. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

The orchard’s owner had been waiting for them. Recognizing the four child stars, who had all acted in highly popular TV shows, the owner excitedly called out their character names from the dramas.

"Ahhhhh!" A sudden shriek pierced the air, drawing everyone’s attention.

...

Zhou Linlin, a high school sophomore at Nanjiang County’s Third High School, was like many girls her age—splitting her time between schoolwork and idol worship. But rather than following mainstream celebrities dominating the screen and trending searches, she was a loyal fan of film star Meng Chao.

She had admired Meng Chao for years, watching every one of his movies as soon as they hit theaters. Since there were no cinemas in her town, she’d travel to the county to watch them, sometimes multiple times for a single film—once, twice, even three times.

Her parents owned a small convenience store near the town’s bus station. In recent years, as the local peaches gained fame, her family had leased land to grow peach trees.

In past summers, Zhou Linlin’s responsibilities were light, limited to manning the shop counter. But ever since they began growing peaches, her summers had become exhausting.

However, this year, she was immensely grateful for her father’s decision to plant peach trees. Because, unbelievably, she had just seen Meng Chao and Lin Qin in her family’s orchard—kissing, no less!

In that instant, Zhou Linlin’s teenage heart exploded. It took all her self-control not to let out another scream.

For a moment, she thought she must be dreaming. How else could such a fantastical scene be real?

At that moment, the live broadcast feed on her phone—still connected via Penguin Livestream—was running in the background.