Evolutionary Superstar

Lin Haoren had no idea what had gotten into Mu Qingxue. They weren’t so familiar with each other that they could communicate in riddles.

Although he had no idea what she wanted, he wasn’t prepared to hold a hot potato.

Thus, his first reaction was to deflect and avoid.

That said, it was rare for this A-list celebrity to reach out to him first. He was curious why she decided to message him.

"Lumi, can you decipher Mu Qingxue’s intention based on our chat history just now?"

"Master, according to my analysis, there is a likelihood that Mu Qingxue wants to mooch a meal off you and believes you hid your real cooking skill from her before."

"Why would she think..."

Lin Haoren frowned in confusion when he suddenly froze with realization.

Mu Qingxue must have eaten the lunch he prepared for Su Xiaoran.

His Cooking Skill was only at the intermediate level when Mu Qingxue ate lunch at his place last time.

However, his Cooking Skill has advanced since then. Moreover, with top-quality ingredients, the final taste should be close to expert-level.

Such a huge difference in a matter of days naturally created doubt.

Lin Haoren figured out the reason behind Mu Qingxue’s misunderstanding, and his expression stiffened.

This was a grave misunderstanding!

Unfortunately, he had no way of explaining his rapid improvement in cooking. He couldn’t possibly reveal the system, right?

Attribute everything to the ingredient’s quality?

This seemed like a bit of a stretch, but it’s the only reason he could give. He could even say the previous cheap ingredients used in cooking might have been off.

Yeah, let’s go with that.

Lin Haoren glanced at Mu Qingxue’s chat and hesitated, thinking it was not a good time to talk it out. He had just ignited the gunpowder, and her aggro should be at 100%.

If he tried to reason with her, even apologize and seek forgiveness, she would likely still grill him.

Let’s wait for her to cool down first.

Forget it for now, and worry about his own stuff. He had a lot to do before catching his flight to Beiyang City.

Nanqiao Pet Hospital

The vet clinic was a 10-minute walk from Hongxing Apartment.

Lin Haoren took Oreo with him on his e-bike and arrived in under 2 minutes, arriving around 1:25 pm.

After completing the check-in procedures, he was guided to see Doctor Zhu, the veterinary expert who had previously saved Oreo at a discounted price.

It could be said that Doctor Zhu’s kindness saved Oreo’s life.

Otherwise, even if Lin Haoren was willing, he couldn’t have afforded the usual surgery fee that exceeded 10,000 yuan.

"Xiao Ren, it’s been quite a while. It also looks like Oreo has been doing very well," Zhu Yisheng greeted with a gentle smile. His gaze paused on Oreo’s slightly plump body and added, "Maybe a bit too well."

Ever since Lin Haoren made some money and taught Oreo Tai Chi, the cat had been eating very well.

But unlike him, the cat had been getting fat instead.

"His appetite has been quite big these days," Lin Haoren rubbed his nose awkwardly.

"Hahaha... Looks like your financial situation has improved. That’s good. Live well, and be happy. I also follow your short videos. They are very entertaining to watch. It’s a pity they are too short and few," Zhu Yisheng said.

Lin Haoren coughed with embarrassment, not expecting a respected elder like Zhu Yisheng to also watch his short videos. But then again, if Zhu Yisheng didn’t love animals, he wouldn’t be a veterinary expert.

"Since Doctor Zhu has said so, I definitely have to upload more short videos," Lin Haoren smiled.

"Hahaha, that’s for sure! I’m looking for it, Xiao Ren." Zhu Yisheng laughed.

Oreo’s health examination proceeded smoothly. The results were out after a few tests. Besides being a bit heavy, Oreo was practically the epitome of healthiness.

Zhu Yisheng was impressed by the health results.

It was clear to him that Lin Haoren was a very responsible owner. As such, his already high opinion of him was elevated a few points higher.

After getting the health certificate and paying the 180-yuan fee, Lin Haoren bid Zhu Yisheng farewell, promising to visit again when he had free time.

Shortly after leaving Nanqiao Pet Hospital, he swung by the mall to buy a few more items, then headed home. Upon his return, he let Oreo down, then dived into study mode—picking up an old textbook on acting.

It was time to touch up on his acting skills.

Ding!

[Reading Foundations of Modern Acting, revising fundamentals, and reinforcing knowledge: Acting Skill Proficiency +28]

[Reading Foundations of Modern Acting, integrating the essence of mind and script: Acting Skill Proficiency +29]

[Reading Foundations of Modern Acting, understanding the best angles under the camera and the characters beyond the scripts: Acting Skill Proficiency +27]

[Acting Skill has reached the beginner-level mastery...]

[Acting Skill has reached the intermediate-level mastery...]

...

Shortly after Lin Haoren started reading the Foundations of Modern Acting, his heart froze for an instant when he heard the system prompts.

Indeed, even his Acting Skill had to be relearned from the start.

His entire schooling years of studying acting seemed to have been wasted. At the same time, the so-called "talent" Effort Rewards the Diligent sounded incredibly ironic.

In the face of supernatural forces, real effort was nothing at all.

When Lin Haoren received the influx of information on the Intermediate-level Acting Skill, he realized that even his previous acting skill couldn’t compare to it.

Without the system’s blessing, he was trash who would never reach Advanced-level Acting.

This made him feel even more grateful to the system. Without it, even if he stubbornly pursued his dream, he might never succeed in stepping into the entertainment circle at all.

Since the system chose him, he had to cherish this opportunity and make the most of it.

However, he also had to remember that he was nothing without it. As such, he had no right to be complacent or arrogant. Even if he one day stood on the brightest peak, he must never look down on those still struggling in the mud.

Not only that, he should lend a helping hand where he could.