Chapter 155: A Bunch of Little Cuties and One Big Cutie

The villagers were exceptionally warm and affectionate, calling her "Little Deer" with every breath.

Bailu happily chatted with them all the way to the accommodation arranged for her, talking the entire journey.

The villagers didn't treat her like an outsider or a celebrity; they treated her just like a child from next door.

"My, Little Deer has grown so tall! In my memory, you were only about this big."

"I'm going to grow even taller!"

"Little Deer, come over to my house for dinner later. Grandma is going to slaughter a chicken and cook meat for you."

"No, eating meat makes you fat. I can only eat vegetables!"

"Nonsense, growing kids need to eat meat!"

"Little Deer isn't fat at all! She's as thin as a rail!"

It felt just like returning to the village for the New Year, bearing no resemblance to a major celebrity coming to a mountain village to shoot a film.

When they reached the single-story brick house arranged for her, a group of children came running over.

"Sister Little Deer! It really is Sister Little Deer!"

"She is so pretty!"

The children gathered around in a circle, though they were too shy to step forward.

"You're pretty too!" Bailu proactively walked over, pulled a handful of lollipops from her coat pocket, and then unzipped her backpack to reveal that it was completely packed with snacks.

She squatted down on the ground, instantly blending in with the children.

"Wow, it's a living Sister Little Deer!"

"Pfft, pfft, pfft. I've always been alive."

"Sister Little Deer, can I give you a hug?"

"Sure!"

Then a group of children swarmed forward. Bailu fell backward onto the ground, giggling with laughter as she held two kids in her arms, smiling even brighter than they were.

She simply sat right there on the ground, with children in her arms and others clinging to her back, practically turning herself into the king of the children.

A group of cute little ones, and one big cute one.

The scene was unimaginably beautiful.

A staff member from the organizing team wore a doting, maternal smile. "Little Deer's personality is simply wonderful. She's a true little angel."

Meimei lowered her eyelids, letting out a cold sneer in her heart.

Hmph, just playing the crowd and buying people's affections.

She only put on this little act because she knew there were cameras recording.

In the end, it took the village chief and the village party secretary stepping forward to persuade the overly enthusiastic villagers and children to disperse.

Bailu dusted off her clothes, tugged on the village party secretary's sleeve, and secretly slipped him a bank card. "The PIN is six sixes. It's my donation for the kids' breakfast and lunch."

The village party secretary initially refused, but upon hearing her words, he accepted the card.

There was only one school in the mountains, covering elementary, middle, and high school. All the children from the nearby villages studied at this single institution.

The children living in the village furthest from the school had to set out at five in the morning, walking over two hours of mountain paths just to reach it.

Their breakfast consisted of hard, cold steamed buns, and their lunch was cold dry buns washed down with plain water.

The school provided free breakfast and lunch for the children, but the village was too poor to afford it and had to rely on charitable donations from society.

The village party secretary brought his hands together in a gesture of gratitude and started to bow to her.

Bailu smiled brightly as she gently grasped the village party secretary's hands. "Education is the only way out for the children of the mountains. No matter how poor or difficult things are, we must ensure the children get an education and find a way out into the wider world. Especially the girls—never let them give up their studies."

Tears streamed down the weathered face of the village party secretary.

After seeing the village party secretary off, Bailu skipped over to the organizing team's staff members. "Cameraman uncle, please delete those photos!"

"?"

"Delete all of them," Bailu said with a beaming smile. "Right now."

"Isn't it good for us to help promote you?"

"Not at all. I didn't come here for such empty fame. When you do good deeds, you don't leave your name. Do you understand the spirit of Lei Feng!" Bailu urged, "Hurry up and delete them, don't leave a single one."

The cameraman deleted the files for a moment, then almost started crying. "These few are just too adorable. Can we keep them? Little Deer, uncle is your fan. I promise I won't post them online, I'll just keep them to admire myself."

"...... Would a group photo and an autograph be enough?"

The cameraman immediately deleted the photos and pulled out his phone. "Coming!"

The staff members lined up to take pictures with her.

Bailu, exhausted and battered from the bumpy journey to the point where her entire body felt like it was falling apart, still agreed with a bright smile.

"Little Deer, you scolded him well!"

"Right, we all support you!"

Bailu: "We?"

All the female staff members nodded in unison.

"From now on, we're one big family!"

...Oh, so they were all Sister Ting Xiangxue's people.

Her father's damnably irresistible charm!

Ma Liang squatted by the roadside, blew out a ring of smoke, and smiled as he said to Meimei, "No wonder the boss appreciates Bailu. Who wouldn't love a personality like hers?"

When other celebrities do charity work, even if they don't buy trending searches for self-promotion, they at least make sure their names are known.

Someone like Bailu is simply too rare in this industry.

Meimei's gaze turned somewhat cold. "So you have nothing better to do?"

With that, she turned and walked away.

Ma Liang was left slightly bewildered.

Does Sister Mei really dislike Bailu that much?

Xiao Dan walked over, holding a carton of cigarettes in his hand. "Brother Liang, I lack experience. Over the next few days, I'll have to trouble you and Sister Mei to take good care of Little Deer."

Though his experience was limited, he was sharp-witted and knew how to handle interpersonal relationships well.

That was the exact reason Lai Jian dared to let him accompany Bailu here alone.

Ma Liang had been Lu Yiting's assistant for five or six years, acting practically as his deputy manager. Since Meimei was a woman and certain situations were inevitably inconvenient, Ma Liang was usually the one accompanying Lu Yiting.

Even veteran artists in the industry addressed Ma Liang respectfully as Brother Liang when they saw him.

Working by Lu Yiting's side meant dealing with numerous strict rules; there was a good reason Ma Liang had managed to last this many years.

Not to mention a mere carton of cigarettes—the number of people trying to gift Ma Liang bank cards, cars, or beauties was already countless.

Ma Liang never accepted gifts, but he accepted this carton of cigarettes with a smile.

For no other reason than the fact that the boss had specifically instructed him and Meimei to look after Bailu.

Xiao Dan exchanged a few pleasantries with Ma Liang. Ma Liang didn't hold back, introducing all the key personnel to Xiao Dan, pointing out the areas that required caution, and passing on a wealth of experience he had accumulated over his years as an assistant.

Xiao Dan listened with utmost attention, memorizing every single detail.

It wasn't until Bailu finished resting inside, touched up her makeup, and emerged that Xiao Dan repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Ma Liang smiled, signaled him not to be so formal, and proactively initiated a conversation: "Little Deer, after such a bumpy trip, why aren't you resting in your room?"

Bailu replied, "I wanted to go and say hello to the production crew and Movie Emperor Lu."

Ma Liang nodded and led her to the only school in the mountains.

This village was situated halfway up the mountain, which was why the school was built here. Furthermore, one of the units in the poverty alleviation promotional documentary was titled 《The School in the Mountains》.

Just as Bailu arrived, she happened to hear the director shout: "Cut! That take is good. Movie Emperor Lu, take a break while we get the next scene set up."

"Oh, Little Deer is here!"

Someone called out, and everyone's attention instantly focused on her.

Among them, quite a few gazes flicked between her and her father in secret curiosity.

Bailu gracefully and obediently greeted everyone one by one, and finally addressed her father: "Hello, Movie Emperor Lu."

It was her first time facing her father in a professional work environment, in the capacity of an actor to another actor.

To be honest, it felt a little strange.

"Hello." Lu Yiting nodded and asked her, "Have you read the script?"

Bailu: "?"

I only came over to say hello! Once I finished saying hello, I wanted to scurry back and rest, Dad!