After Being Scummed – Chapter 52

What am I here for?

Zuo Jingyou embraced Yin Bai’s waist, lightly tapping her shoulder twice with her chin before releasing her grip. She patted Yin Bai’s slender waist a few times and looked up at her with a smile, saying, “Alright, welcome to Linzhi, Yin Bai.”

Yin Bai snorted but remained silent. Zuo Jingyou moved away from her embrace, leaving warmth behind, and the cold once again crept in.

Yin Bai lowered her gaze, watching as Zuo Jingyou turned to face Xu Ruofeng. She couldn’t help but think that it would have been better if the hug had lasted a bit longer.

Just as she entertained this thought, Xu Ruofeng, holding a camera, quickly approached Zuo Jingyou. He looked at Yin Bai inquisitively and asked, “Who is this? Why not introduce her?”

Zuo Jingyou chuckled lightly, standing to the side, and began introducing Yin Bai, “This is Director Yin from the Galaxy Film and Television.”

Upon hearing Zuo Jingyou’s introduction, Yin Bai immediately extended her hand to tidy up her slightly disheveled clothes. She tapped the ground with the cane she held in the hand with her phone and cleared her throat. Then, she reached out her hand towards Xu Ruofeng and said, “Hello, I am Yin Bai.”

Xu Ruofeng shook her hand, gently holding Yin Bai’s hand with a radiant smile on her face. “Director Yin, I’ve heard so much about you. Hello, I am Xu Ruofeng.”

The two shook hands briefly, and Xu Ruofeng stared at Yin Bai’s incredibly beautiful face, as if a treasure hunter was fixated on a treasure god. Her eyes gleamed as she said, “I heard from Jingyou that her previous movie was saved from a crisis thanks to Director Yin’s investment. Director Yin is truly Jingyou’s benefactor!”

Upon hearing this, Yin Bai was momentarily stunned, wondering how Zuo Jingyou’s senior, just like Zuo Jingyou herself, could only speak in sugar-coated compliments.

Although Yin Bai wanted to be wary of the enemy’s sugar-coated compliments, when Xu Ruofeng spoke like this, she couldn’t help but raise the corners of her lips. She made an effort to suppress her amusement, responding in a very courteous manner, “Oh, not at all. It’s Teacher Zuo who is truly talented!”

If it weren’t for recognizing Zuo Jingyou’s script at first sight, Yin Bai wouldn’t have been able to rationally analyze and invest a significant amount of funds when her feelings towards Zuo Jingyou were still extremely complex.

Xu Ruofeng wholeheartedly agreed with Yin Bai’s statement, nodding and saying, “I also believe Jingyou is a very talented person. That’s why I want to collaborate with her on a film this time.”

“Director Yin, if you’re interested, how about we discuss the possibility of collaboration when we have the chance?”

“As for the funding for this film, I think we may need some assistance from Director Yin.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Bai turned her head to glance at Zuo Jingyou beside her, her face full of confusion: What’s going on? Is she here to ask for investment?

Meeting Yin Bai’s puzzled gaze, Zuo Jingyou raised her eyebrows and smiled.

She then turned her gaze to Xu Ruofeng, sighed lightly, and said helplessly, “Alright, Senior Sister, if you want to collaborate with Director Yin, it’s not the right place to discuss it here.”

“It’s windy here; let’s go back and talk.”

Xu Ruofeng, carrying the camera, grinned and agreed, “Sure, sure. Let’s go back first. If you’re free tonight, Director Yin, I’d like to treat you to dinner, and we can continue our discussion?”

Originally, Yin Bai came with great momentum to assert her presence, but seeing the enthusiastic attitude of the other party, she nodded gently and said, “Sure.”

After exchanging greetings at the entrance, Yin Bai followed Zuo Jingyou indoors. Xu Ruofeng walked alongside Zuo Jingyou, warmly greeting Yin Bai, inquiring about her schedule and how long she planned to stay in the Tibetan region.

Yin Bai answered each question, and it wasn’t until Xu Ruofeng and Zuo Jingyou warmly escorted her to the door of her room that Yin Bai furrowed her brow. She lifted her hand, placing the oxygen mask over her face, took a deep breath of oxygen, and leaned against the wall to think clearly for a moment. Should she go along with this or not?

After all, Xu Ruofeng seemed to have no connection with Zuo Jingyou whatsoever!

With a belly full of questions, Yin Bai entered her room. Holding the oxygen tank, she sat on the sofa inside, watching Zhang Yu bustling around the room, sinking into contemplation.

Why did she rush into these deep mountains and forests from far away?

Just because of a photo, she worried that her friend might be abducted—how old is she mentally?

Why… does she have such great vigilance against Xu Ruofeng, someone she doesn’t know, without understanding how close Xu Ruofeng and Zuo Jingyou are?

Is it just because at the celebration banquet, Zuo Jingyou appeared so intimate with Xu Ruofeng?

Just because of this, does she have to hold onto extreme caution, even if it means clutching an oxygen tank, and come here to assert sovereignty?

Wait… assert sovereignty? Is there really such a strong possessiveness between friends?

Yin Bai, holding onto the oxygen tank, took a deep breath, allowing her chaotic mind to temporarily clear. She looked at Zhang Yu, who was packing her luggage, and said, “Zhang Yu, do you think I should see a psychologist?”

Zhang Yu, puzzled, turned her head and asked, “Boss, haven’t you not gone for several years? Is there something wrong with your emotions recently? I think you seem fine.”

Just fine? Is that it?

No, Yin Bai was sure that something must be wrong with her. Her current state was akin to madness.

After pondering for a moment, Yin Bai forced herself not to dwell on bigger concerns. She took another breath of oxygen, rallied her spirits, and cheerfully said, “Forget it, since we’re here, let’s have a good time following Teacher Zuo!”

After saying this, Yin Bai, accompanied by Zhang Yu, eagerly awaited Xu Ruofeng’s treat for dinner.

The sky on the plateau seemed to darken slowly. Even in winter, at around six in the evening, the sun still hung in the western sky.

When Zuo Jingyou knocked on Yin Bai’s door, it was Zhang Yu who answered. Not seeing Yin Bai, Zuo Jingyou asked, “Where’s your boss?”

Zhang Yu stepped aside and pointed to the window behind her, saying, “There she is, over there.”

At this very moment, Yin Bai was sitting on the sofa next to the bed, cradling her phone and holding an oxygen tank, playing.

The lingering light of the sunset streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow on Yin Bai. It draped a layer of red-orange haze over her, as if she were wrapped in a translucent veil.

Zuo Jingyou stood at the doorway, folding her arms, watching Yin Bai embraced by the sunset. For a moment, she felt like the other person was someone who had walked out of a dream, not a real presence that should be here.

Perhaps at this moment, Yin Bai wasn’t real; she had just stepped out of a dream.

With these thoughts, Zuo Jingyou hesitated for a moment, then spoke, disrupting this dreamlike moment, “Yin Bai…”

Zuo Jingyou called out, and the dreamlike figure sitting by the window turned her gaze, holding the oxygen tank, and looked straight at her.

In that moment of eye contact, Zuo Jingyou found a sense of reality. She smiled gently and said, looking at Yin Bai with soft eyes, “I’ve come to take you to dinner.”

Yin Bai, sitting by the window, grabbed the cane by her side, stood up crisply, and walked towards Zuo Jingyou, cheerfully calling out, “Let’s go!”

Zuo Jingyou stood at the doorway, folding her arms, watching Yin Bai with her back to the sunset, leaning on the cane, limping towards her. Suddenly, in her mind, she recalled that morning six months ago when Yin Bai had walked towards her in the same manner, facing the faint morning light with her back turned.

She thought, all of this started with Yin Bai…

Who could refuse?

So, as Yin Bai approached, Zuo Jingyou smiled, gracefully took off Yin Bai’s oxygen tank, held the hand that wasn’t holding the cane, and said naturally, “Let’s go. Tonight, I’ll treat you to the best yak meat hot pot here!”

When Yin Bai realized that her cold hand was being held, she was stunned for a moment. She lowered her gaze, watching as Zuo Jingyou held her hand, feeling the warmth transmitted through it. She hesitated for a while but didn’t pull her hand away.

It seemed… the feeling of someone taking the initiative to hold hands wasn’t bad at all.

As long as it was Zuo Jingyou, she didn’t mind the physical contact at all.

With these thoughts, Yin Bai followed Zuo Jingyou and happily went to have dinner.

Xu Ruofeng hosted the dinner, and the venue was the restaurant next door. In the chilly weather, the group split into two tables and gathered around the hot pot to joyfully cook and eat the beef.

As Yin Bai couldn’t handle too spicy food, Zuo Jingyou had a pot of barley tea prepared for her on the side, using it for rinsing.

While Yin Bai dipped the beef covered in spices and chili oil, she listened to Xu Ruofeng talking about the movie they were planning to shoot, “I want to make a story about a Tibetan girl…”

“Initially, I wanted to make a documentary about Tibet. Last year, when I was collecting material in the Tibetan region, I met a very warm and generous Tibetan girl…”

Yin Bai picked up a piece of beef with her chopsticks, dipped it in her bowl filled with barley tea, and curiously asked, “And then?”

Xu Ruofeng scooped up a spoonful of beef, placing it in Zuo Jingyou’s bowl, and chattered on, “She works as a guide locally. When we were in the Tibetan region, she took us around everywhere. She knew we were making a movie, so she shared a lot about herself…”

“Such as?”

Xu Ruofeng poured a cup of barley wine, took a sip, and exclaimed, “This wine is really potent!”

Seeing her reaction, Zuo Jingyou chuckled and asked, “Is it very spicy? Let me try?”

As Zuo Jingyou spoke, she reached over, took Xu Ruofeng’s wine glass, and lightly sipped from it, squinting slightly, “It’s really spicy, but it’s really delicious.”

Yin Bai, sitting across from them, widened her eyes at this sight!

Are they actually sharing the same cup?

After taking a sip, Zuo Jingyou looked at Yin Bai with a smile and said, “It’s quite tasty. Yin Bai, do you want to try?”

Yin Bai shook her head frantically, munching on the beef in her mouth, and mumbled, “I get altitude sickness, can’t drink alcohol!”

Darn it, sharing the same cup? Are you two doing a ceremonial cup exchange?

Yin Bai grumbled in her heart, and the little speaker in her mind began to buzz incessantly. She swallowed a piece of beef, forcing herself not to mind this matter, and looked up at Xu Ruofeng, saying, “And then? What happened to that girl?”

Xu Ruofeng began to delve into the main topic, “She talked about her childhood… In the Tibetan region, the status of women is not high, but she worked hard in her studies and was always the most outstanding child in the village.”

“But before she could grow up, she was sold to a man for… “

“Her father sold her to a man for a cow…”

“Later, she had a child, and for the sake of the child, she worked hard…”

“But her husband wasn’t good to the child… For the sake of the child, she struggled to get a divorce, allowing her husband to end up in prison…”

Yin Bai intermittently pieced together the story of a simple and kind Tibetan girl from Xu Ruofeng’s words. She felt that this movie probably wouldn’t do well at the box office, but knowing that the subject was a living person, Yin Bai couldn’t help but ask Xu Ruofeng, “And then? What happened to this girl?”

Xu Ruofeng smiled, raised her wine glass, took a sip, and sighed. Looking into Yin Bai’s eyes, she said, “Later, she died, on the day her child got into college… She died in a big fire…”

“She told me before that she wanted her name to be remembered, wanted to be made into a movie. So, I’m giving it a try, see if I can fulfill this movie.”

Yin Bai pinched her finger, took several deep breaths, and in her mind, she weighed the pros and cons. She thought this was a movie that would absolutely not have box office success, but… Xu Ruofeng’s talent might still be able to win awards.

Yin Bai picked up the oxygen tank beside her, covered her face with it, and took several deep breaths of oxygen. After a while, when her brain cleared slightly, she looked at Xu Ruofeng and asked seriously, “How much money do you need?”

“As much as you need, I have as much!”

Because some things couldn’t be measured with money. In life, there are many times when one cannot always weigh the pros and cons.

For these things, Yin Bai was willing to foot the bill.

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