After Being Scummed – Chapter 46

Teacher Zuo is super awesome!

The movie, which lasted 120 minutes, tells a story from the late Qing Dynasty. At this time, the country was forced to open its doors, and even very conservative and traditional official families began to let their children learn Western culture. During this period, a certain minister hired a female gentleman who had returned from studying in the West for his daughter…

With the arrival of the female gentleman, this strictly conservative feudal family seemed like a stagnant pool hit by stones, creating new ripples.

The traditional and conservative high-ranking officials, while looking down on the female gentleman, also had to let their young daughters follow her to learn, in order to enhance their daughters’ marriage prospects and marry them into a good family, due to the trendy upper-class adoption of Western culture.

However, with the teachings of the female gentleman, the daughter, who had learned many new ideas, became increasingly rebellious. She gradually became unlike a proper young lady. This bird in the cage began to yearn for the freedom of the outside world. So, when her father happily planned to marry her to a prince, this daughter began her journey of rebellion…

She decided to escape and flee abroad. After enduring numerous hardships, this girl, who was like a bird in a cage, finally, with the help of her mother and the female gentleman, boarded a ship bound for England.

At the end of the story, it is the young lady who had already cut her long hair into a shoulder-length bob, dressed in a Western-style long dress, holding a white beret, standing on the deck, facing the sea breeze, looking up at the seagulls flying over.

As the seagulls glided across the sky, they left behind a carefree silhouette…

The movie ended, the lights came on, and sitting in the guest seats, Yin Bai raised her hands and applauded continuously. In no time, everyone around stood up and applauded in unison, expressing their admiration for this movie.

Zuo Jingyou stood up from her seat, wearing a smile amid the enthusiastic applause, and then she bowed slowly, thanking everyone present for their appreciation.

After the premiere, many people from the film industry attended the premiere banquet hosted by Zuo Jingyou.

At the banquet, Zuo Jingyou, who was both the director and played the role of the female gentleman in the film, greeted the guests, including her female students from the movie and the guests whose names she knew.

The person who played the female student in the film was the child star Ye Ran, who had just entered the film industry last year. She had previously acted as a mother-daughter duo with Zuo Jingyou, and they had a very close sisterly relationship.

Zuo Jingyou held Ye Ran’s hand, raised her wine glass, and reciprocated to the guests, accepting their advice or praise one glass after another, almost socializing throughout the evening.

Originally, Yin Bai, who wanted to go forward to offer her congratulations, but after seeing Zuo Jingyou busily engaging with the guests, she finally suppressed her desire for conversation. She took a step back with Zhang Yu, sat in a corner like an invisible person, quietly eating fruit, and waited until Zuo Jingyou had some free time.

After patiently waiting for Zuo Jingyou to release Ye Ran’s hand and take a break to get some refreshments, Yin Bai immediately rose with her cane and walked towards Zuo Jingyou.

But she had barely taken a few steps when she saw a woman wearing a loose white shirt and black wide-leg trousers walking straight towards Zuo Jingyou, saying, “Jingyou!”

Zuo Jingyou turned her head, looked at the source of the voice, and was somewhat surprised when she saw the newcomer. She said, “Senior Sister Xu, I thought you weren’t coming.”

Not far away, Yin Bai heard this conversation, immediately stopped in her tracks, sat down with her cane, and eagerly watched Zuo Jingyou, who was not far away.

The newcomer had shoulder-length medium hair and looked very sharp and agile. She was evidently familiar with Zuo Jingyou. She came directly in front of Zuo Jingyou and said with a smile, “This is my junior sister’s first film. How could I not come?”

The woman with medium hair crossed her arms, smiling, and said to Zuo Jingyou, “I watched the movie, but after it ended, I received a call and had to take care of something before coming to your banquet.”

Zuo Jingyou’s face lit up with a smile, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at the other woman. She asked, “Senior Sister, how did you find my movie?”

The woman smiled and gave a quite constructive review, saying, “The story is well-written, but the filming techniques and editing are a bit green. My favorite character in it is Mrs. Li, the mother of the female student. She started as a woman objectified under traditional male dominance, couldn’t stand some of the female gentleman’s behaviors at first, gradually influenced by the female gentleman’s ideas, and ultimately found her path to break free, just like her daughter…”

“Of course, the most important point is that I particularly like one of your design choices: the female gentleman in the entire movie is referred to as ‘Madam.’ without a name.”

The woman raised her thumb to Zuo Jingyou, showing her appreciation, and said, “Excellent!”

Zuo Jingyou smiled, her eyes curved with embarrassment, and replied, “Being praised by Senior Sister makes me very happy.”

The woman raised her hand and patted Zuo Jingyou’s shoulder, saying with great satisfaction, “You are very talented, and this movie will certainly achieve good results. Of course, I’m even more excited to see your future performances.”

Zuo Jingyou smiled with raised eyebrows and replied, “With Senior Sister’s encouragement, I won’t slack off.”

The woman smiled, sighed, and encouraged, “Keep up the good work, Jingyou!”

She lowered her hand and looked deeply into Zuo Jingyou’s eyes, saying, “I have a flight tonight, so I have to go. I’ll contact you again later.”

Zuo Jingyou understood her way of doing things and nodded, saying, “Yes, Senior Sister, take care on your journey.”

The woman thought for a moment and then said to Zuo Jingyou, “I had a project in mind earlier, and I’ve been wanting to collaborate with you. I’ll send you my email later. Take a look, and if you’re interested, please get in touch.”

Zuo Jingyou nodded and said, “Sure.” The woman took a glass of wine from a passing waiter, clinked glasses briefly with Zuo Jingyou, finished the drink, and then hurriedly left.

This person was like the wind, coming and going quickly.

Yin Bai, sitting in the corner with her cane, watched Zuo Jingyou standing in place, seeing the woman off. A strange feeling welled up in her heart.

It all felt a bit odd…

Yin Bai felt that this woman and Zuo Jingyou had a peculiarly close relationship…

Yin Bai pushed aside that slight discomfort in her heart, rose from her seat with her cane, and silently walked towards Zuo Jingyou. When Zuo Jingyou heard the sound of her cane, she suddenly turned around and locked eyes with Yin Bai.

Their eyes met, and Zuo Jingyou blinked at Yin Bai, somewhat embarrassed, and said, “Teacher Yin Bai… I thought you had already gone.”

Yin Bai paused her steps but continued to approach Zuo Jingyou with her cane, saying somewhat ambiguously, “Even as a busy person, you still noticed me?”

Zuo Jingyou smiled and said, “No matter how busy I am, I would never forget Teacher Yin Bai.”

Zuo Jingyou sighed and approached Yin Bai. She tugged at Yin Bai’s sleeve and leaned in close to her ear, speaking softly, “Friend, what do you think of this movie?”

Zuo Jingyou raised her gaze, her eyes looking gently at Yin Bai, and she spoke as if coquettish, “Just say some nice words; the not-so-nice ones can be left for those film people tonight.”

Yin Bai thought to herself, “These are my lines!”

She raised the corners of her lips, tapped her cane on the ground twice, and lowered her gaze, sincerely saying to Zuo Jingyou, “Bravo!“

Zuo Jingyou, in a soft voice, asked in return, “Really?”

Yin Bai nodded and said, “Of course, it’s absolutely fantastic and extremely captivating!” To make Zuo Jingyou believe her, she provided her reasoning, “From the content perspective, this is a very complete story. You know, a lot of the films currently in theaters can’t really tell a good story!”

“The core is also excellent. It brilliantly portrays the awakening of women and the national consciousness of that era, along with the changing times, showing the big picture through the small, which is very rare.”

“Even the role you played, like a tool in the form of a female gentleman, is unforgettable because of your superb acting. You’ve created a highly compelling character from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China.”

Yin Bai paused, lowered her voice, and gazed at Zuo Jingyou with tenderness in her eyes. “Your appearance in it is exceptionally beautiful. Whether in a suit, long dress, or qipao, you look stunning.”

“I used to think you were already very beautiful in your everyday life, but in the movie, you radiate even more charm, it’s very moving.”

When Yin Bai praised someone, she always looked at them with her beautiful gray-blue eyes, appearing focused and affectionate. Zuo Jingyou tilted her head and met her gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.

She glanced at Yin Bai’s seemingly affectionate eyes and involuntarily lowered her gaze, somewhat embarrassed as she said, “Really… I’m very happy that you can say that.”

Zuo Jingyou pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then looked up at Yin Bai with a slight smile and said, “With your words, I think no matter what reviews I see tonight, I’ll be able to feel happy.”

Yin Bai looked at Zuo Jingyou’s face, her gaze shifting downward and landing on her shoulder. After some hesitation, she raised her hand and gently patted Zuo Jingyou’s shoulder, encouraging her, “You’re very talented, don’t worry!”

“This movie is great, and you are great. You will receive the praise you deserve.”

Zuo Jingyou lowered her gaze, focusing on Yin Bai’s hand resting on her shoulder, her emotions feeling somewhat subtle.

She raised her gaze and looked at Yin Bai’s face. However, she noticed Yin Bai, one hand on her shoulder, the other on her cane, casually asking, as if nothing had happened, “Speaking of which, who was the lady you just spoke to? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.”

Zuo Jingyou looked at Yin Bai’s expression, which seemed to say, “I really want to ask, but I’ll pretend like I don’t care,” and it made her inexplicably want to laugh.

She smiled gently and explained to Yin Bai, “That’s Xu Ruofeng, she’s my senior sister and a documentary director.”

“She’s the one who directed the very popular 《Sons and Daughters of Xiangxi》 documentary.”

“Oh…” Yin Bai nodded thoughtfully, “A documentary director… no wonder I couldn’t remember her name… I’ll have to watch that documentary later!”

Yin Bai said it nonchalantly, but in her heart, she wondered why it was another director. Had she clashed with directors her whole life?

LP: Is Yin Bai finally gaining awareness for her feelings?! Seriously though, Yin Bai and Zuo Jingyou are basically flirting already! (￢‿￢ )