Su Ding looked over at the sound of the voice and saw her aunt, Shao Qingqing, walking over.
Shao Qingqing had a hint of joy and nervousness on her face. She stopped in front of them. Although she was the one who initiated the greeting, she clearly appeared somewhat ill at ease.
"Aunt?" Su Ding looked at Shao Qingqing, puzzled. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm also eating here; the food at this restaurant is quite good. I didn't expect to see you," Shao Qingqing said, biting her lip and smiling nervously. She glanced to the side, "Those are my friends."
Su Ding looked in that direction and indeed saw several boys and girls looking over.
Hearing Su Ding call the woman in front of her "aunt," Xiao Yuan also searched her memory. It turned out that she had served as a guest at a casting competition the previous week.
And Shao Qingqing, standing before her, was one of the actresses who had come to audition.
"You know Sister Yuan?" Su Ding asked Shao Qingqing. Judging by her calling her "Sister Yuan," she must have known her identity.
Su Ding held no prejudice against this aunt of hers.
Although they were aunt and niece, the age gap between them was not significant. They had been playmates when they were children. Later, Shao Qingqing went to study out of town, and after Su Ding broke ties with the Shao family and went abroad, they hadn't been in much contact.
Seeing that Shao Qingqing seemed to have some expectations from Xiao Yuan, Su Ding didn't mind lending a hand.
Shao Qingqing glanced nervously at Xiao Yuan and was about to speak.
Xiao Yuan, with a hearty laugh, introduced herself first. "Last week, I was invited to be a guest judge for the auditions. Qingqing was one of the actresses auditioning. I didn't realize she was your aunt, hahaha, what a coincidence."
Shao Qingqing also smiled shyly.
Su Ding finally understood and said with a smile, "So that's how it is. I never expected you two to know each other. How did my aunt perform?" she asked Xiao Yuan playfully.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan knew exactly what she meant. She immediately said with a smile, "Although the results haven't been announced yet, since Qingqing is your aunt, Dingding, and we're all acquaintances, I won't keep you in suspense. Qingqing was hired!"
As she spoke, she specifically looked at Shao Qingqing and said meaningfully, "Qingqing, you might not know this, but Dingding was one of my proteges before, and we're very close. If you have any problems in the future, you can always come to me."
"That's great! Thank you, Sister Yuan!"
Shao Qingqing was first surprised and delighted. Although this role was not a significant one, it was the first drama by the renowned foreign director Wilson in China. To be able to act in it would be a great honor, adding a significant credit to her resume.
Soon, she learned that she had received this favor through Shao Xu.
Xiao Yuan repeatedly emphasized her relationship with Little Xu, also telling her that Little Xu was the one she should thank the most.
"Little Xu, thank you too, Aunt," Shao Qingqing smiled gratefully at Su Ding.
"What are you saying, Aunt? You're being too polite," Su Ding said with a smile.
"I should thank everyone, thank you all..." Shao Qingqing smiled, still a bit flustered. She realized that the niece her family considered so pitiful and useless, Shao Xu, was actually so outstanding in the outside world.
Even the renowned golden-agent manager, known throughout Jiangcheng and even the entire entertainment industry, was good friends with Shao Xu.
How could Shao Xu be as miserable as her mother and elder brothers and third brother said?
"Um... you guys chat, I won't disturb you," Shao Qingqing said, showing her good judgment.
"Goodbye, Aunt," Su Ding nodded with a smile.
Xiao Yuan also waved goodbye, smiling amiably, her attitude towards Shao Qingqing very friendly.
As Shao Qingqing left, she still felt like she was in a dream. She hadn't expected her impulsive action to bring about such a surprisingly delightful outcome.
Previously, at home, she had heard her eldest brother and third brother scrambling to interact with Shao Xu, their motive being that she might have a lot of money. She herself had also been tempted. It wasn't for the money, but rather she hoped Su Ding could leverage their past relationship to bring her resources.
However, as soon as she voiced her intention, her eldest brother and third brother had stopped her.
Because her dream was always considered less important than their money-making plans, she had secretly kept this matter in her heart.
Unexpectedly, today, she ran into Shao Xu by chance.
Moreover, Shao Xu happened to be dining with Xiao Yuan, the guest from that day's audition, and they appeared to be in very pleasant conversation.
Therefore, she impulsively went over to say hello.
She wanted to fight for herself.
"Little Xu, thank you," Shao Qingqing said silently in her heart.
She recalled how Little Xu had relayed her message to Xiao Yuan just now, and the cheerful demeanor of Xiao Yuan, which immediately sealed her decision for the hiring.
At this moment, she was even more certain that Shao Xu had genuinely helped her.
She felt guilty for looking down on her second brother in the past and for not rushing back to help Shao Xu when she heard she had been kicked out of the family. What she was most fortunate about was that she hadn't joined in the mockery of her second brother and Shao Xu at her mother's birthday banquet that day, otherwise, none of this would have happened today.
When she got home, she must remind her eldest brother, third brother, and mother.
Little Xu was not in the predicament they imagined; Little Xu was truly outstanding, the real elite!