After Being Scummed – Chapter 36
by Little PandaOld love, gone with the wind!
Yin Bai truly hadn’t expected Zuo Jingyou to be a completely different person when she was sick compared to her usual self. As Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, led her faltering steps outwards, Zuo Jingyou stumbled along behind her, dazedly asking, “Are we really not going anymore? Teacher Yin Bai, where are you taking me?”
Yin Bai gripped her burning hand and patiently said, “We’re going to the hospital.”
Zuo Jingyou was puzzled. “Why go to the hospital?”
Yin Bai was so anxious she kept sighing, but facing this version of Zuo Jingyou, she couldn’t bring herself to scold her. She could only whisper softly to Zuo Jingyou, “To get you treated. Teacher Zuo, do you know you have a fever?”
Zuo Jingyou blinked, her voice incredibly soft. “I know, but it’s not serious. Or… have you decided to forgive me?”
Yin Bai turned to look at Yang Yi, her expression clearly saying, “Your boss is this delirious, how could you let her out?”
Yang Yi put her palms together, her entire face screaming, “Please, please!”
Yin Bai could only sigh, soften her voice, and coax Zuo Jingyou as if she were a child, “If you’re willing to see a doctor, I’ll reluctantly forgive you.”
Zuo Jingyou stopped talking and obediently followed Yin Bai, getting into the car with her to go to the hospital.
Perhaps because she hadn’t slept all night, on the way to the hospital, Zuo Jingyou sat next to Yin Bai in the back seat, closed her eyes, and dazedly fell asleep. Seeing her with eyes closed, looking like she was precariously swaying and might wake up at any moment, Yin Bai simply reached out and pressed Zuo Jingyou’s head onto her own shoulder, letting her lean against her to sleep more comfortably.
With a head resting on her shoulder, Yin Bai felt a significant weight on her body. However, she didn’t mind this feeling; instead, a sense of indescribable reassurance welled up inside her as she leaned against Zuo Jingyou.
The thought that someone would insist on keeping their appointment with her even while sick warmed Yin Bai’s heart immensely. This feeling—that someone she cherished also held her in their heart—was truly wonderful.
Thinking this, Yin Bai coughed lightly and called out in a low voice, “Yang Yi…”
Yang Yi, who was sitting in the last row with Zhang Yu, heard her name and immediately straightened up, saying very professionally, “Director Yin, what are your instructions?”
Yin Bai asked her in a low voice, “How did your boss end up like this?”
Yang Yi sighed and explained to Yin Bai, “Post-production work has been too busy lately. She wasn’t feeling well a while ago, and last night after eating hot pot, she was sent to the emergency room in the middle of the night. She only had an IV drip1 and hadn’t fully recovered from the fever when she ran out of the hospital.”
Yin Bai’s fingers unconsciously tapped the handle of her cane. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “As an assistant, you should have stopped her and made her take care of her health.”
Yang Yi said guiltily, “You’re right.”
Yin Bai asked again, “Does she not have a personal assistant for daily life matters?”
Yang Yi exclaimed “Ah?” in surprise, somewhat unsure why Yin Bai was asking this, but she still answered honestly, “No, we’re all work assistants.”
Yin Bai thought to herself, Maybe I should lend Zuo Jingyou a personal assistant. She turned her head, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Zhang Yu in the back row, who was still playing on her phone, and secretly felt that Zhang Yu would be quite suitable.
After the journey, once they arrived at the hospital, the group quickly settled Zuo Jingyou onto a hospital bed and got her back on an IV drip. Zuo Jingyou was already muddled, and after receiving the IV, her body was weak. Under Yin Bai’s gentle reassurance, she soon fell asleep.
Perhaps due to her illness, Zuo Jingyou looked much thinner than usual. Her dark hair was spread out, strands covering the side of her face, making her skin appear even paler and her chin more slender.
Yin Bai sat by the bedside, watching Zuo Jingyou lie quietly in bed, sleeping on her side with her eyes closed. For some reason, she felt that Zuo Jingyou at this moment was like a fragile, exquisite piece of porcelain, so delicate it might shatter with the slightest touch, and a dull ache spread in her heart.
She looks so mature, how could she do something so willful? What a worrisome little girl.
Thinking this, Yin Bai felt she should make some plans for her good friend. Yin Bai glanced at Zhang Yu, who was by the window, talking on the phone in a hushed voice and handling business, and beckoned to her.
Zhang Yu had sharp eyes. She immediately ended the call, trotted over to Yin Bai, and asked very sycophantically2, “BOSS, you needed me for something?”
Yin Bai stood up with her cane, lowered her voice, and said to her, “Let’s talk outside.”
Zhang Yu immediately followed her out of the hospital room. Seeing that Zhang Yu hadn’t closed the door, Yin Bai pointed to Zuo Jingyou’s room door with her cane and said, “Close the door.”
“Oh, oh, oh…” Zhang Yu reached out, grabbed the doorknob, and closed the door with a creak. Although the sound wasn’t loud, it was enough to startle someone from their sleep.
Yin Bai reached out and tapped Zhang Yu’s shoe, saying unhappily, “Gently. This is a hospital. Are you afraid you won’t wake the patient?”
Zhang Yu sheepishly withdrew her hand and said in a low voice, “Sorry, sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
Zhang Yu stood close to Yin Bai, looking at her expectantly with a smile. “Boss, if you have something to say, let’s talk about it now.”
Yin Bai walked several meters with her cane, only stopping when she reached the corner near the elevator. She then coughed lightly and said, a little embarrassed, “Um… Teacher Zuo has been very busy with work lately… Her movie is scheduled for release in October, and the editing is almost done, but the promotion and distribution afterwards is the main event.”
“She’ll be constantly on the move, and she’s not very good at taking care of herself, plus she doesn’t have a personal assistant…”
Zhang Yu quickly understood her intention and winked at Yin Bai. “BOSS, do you mean you want me to go and assist Teacher Zuo?”
Yin Bai nodded. “Yes, I was thinking of lending you to her. After all, you’re reliable.” Yin Bai tapped her cane on the ground, hesitating slightly. “Besides, I don’t know if I’m being a bit nosy doing this. But seeing her like this today, I’m not very reassured.”
Yin Bai paused, looked at Zhang Yu seriously, and asked, “Do you think I should discuss it with her first? And I also need to ask you, this assignment would be for about half a year. Are you willing?”
Zhang Yu clutched her chest, looking at Yin Bai with an expression like a doting mother whose heart was about to melt, and said with great relief, “BOSS, you’ve really changed so much! You’re so thoughtful now, considering so many things. You’re not like an overbearing CEO3 at all!”
Seeing her expression, Yin Bai frowned and took a step back with her cane. “Why are you looking at me with such a creepy expression? I’m discussing something with you. Hurry up and answer, don’t say irrelevant things.”
That kind of “doting mother looking at her child” gaze really gave one goosebumps4.
Zhang Yu shot Yin Bai a playful glare and sighed dramatically. “Aiya, I have no objections. I’m your employee anyway, business trips are a common occurrence5 for me. Besides, following Teacher Zuo, I can meet many celebrities. I couldn’t ask for more!”
Yin Bai said with a deadpan expression, “Oh! So following me doesn’t let you see more celebrities? Then I’m truly sorry!”
Zhang Yu gave her a wink and said reproachfully, “BOSS, don’t say that. At least you pay me a very good salary, right? I’m willing to go on the business trip, but whether Teacher Zuo is willing to accept me, that’s up to you.”
Zhang Yu sighed, her tone earnest and thoughtful. “Teacher Zuo is not an easy person to persuade. Boss, you need to think carefully about what stance you’ll take to convince her.”
Zhang Yu felt that her boss really liked Zuo Jingyou too much, to the point of even lending her out. It seemed she truly valued Zuo Jingyou a lot!
Yin Bai leaned on her cane and muttered softly, “What other stance could it be? Isn’t it just that as a friend, I’m very worried about her?”
Zhang Yu thought about it and agreed it wasn’t a problem. She started giving Yin Bai advice6, “In that case, BOSS, when you talk to her later, just explain your reasons clearly, let Teacher Zuo weigh the pros and cons, and then present me. For example, I don’t have many other strengths, but I’m good at finding food. I definitely won’t let Teacher Zuo end up in the hospital with gastroenteritis7 again!”
Yin Bai thought it made a lot of sense, nodded, and huddled together with Zhang Yu, discussing it in hushed tones.
Just then, the elevator doors not far away opened, and two people in high heels emerged, their steps clicking—da da.
Hearing the footsteps, Yin Bai had a feeling and looked up in the direction of the newcomers.
Yin Bai immediately spotted the woman walking in front. She was wearing a gilded gold ruched dress, a pair of sunglasses, and had snow-white skin, dark hair, and lips as red as blood.
Even though the woman was wearing sunglasses, Yin Bai recognized her at a glance. Her body reacted faster than her mind; without thinking, Yin Bai blurted out, “Xiao Nian!”
Xiao Nian, who was walking towards her, heard the call and turned to look at Yin Bai. Upon seeing Yin Bai standing at the corner with Zhang Yu, Xiao Nian took off her sunglasses and frowned at her. “Boss Yin? What are you doing here?”
Xiao Nian subconsciously sized her up and asked uncertainly, “Are you… sick?”
Yin Bai shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
Leaning on her cane, she looked Xiao Nian up and down. Seeing that Xiao Nian looked well and didn’t seem sick, she asked, “You look like you’re in good health. Why are you at the hospital? Don’t tell me you’re sick?”
More than a year had passed. Xiao Nian was already married. Even if Xiao Nian had harbored much resentment, it had mostly dissipated.
Xiao Nian hadn’t expected to meet Yin Bai today, nor to converse with her like a friend who was both a stranger and familiar. She looked into Yin Bai’s beautiful gray-blue eyes and saw no trace of bitterness, dissatisfaction, or lingering affection, and for some reason, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Nian softened her voice and explained, “No, I’m just here to visit someone.”
Yin Bai realized. “Are you here to see your mother? Has your mother been transferred to this hospital?”
When Yin Bai first met Xiao Nian, Xiao Nian was going through the biggest storm of her life. Her father had gone bankrupt, accumulated tens of millions in debt, and absconded with the money. Her mother, unable to bear the burden, had attempted suicide by jumping off a building but accidentally fell and became severely paralyzed.
The young Xiao Nian had no choice but to shoulder her father’s debts and care for her critically ill mother, struggling to survive8 in the colorful but corrupting “big dyeing vat”9 of the entertainment industry.
Once, when she was almost tricked by her manager and taken to a rich man’s bed, Yin Bai intervened and saved her. The young, rebellious head of a conglomerate had plenty of money, and money was precisely what Xiao Nian lacked. Yin Bai mistakenly believed Xiao Nian was selling herself for money, so she spent a lot of money to “buy” Xiao Nian to her side.
From then on, Xiao Nian owed a huge debt. For many years, she had to use all her energy, everything she had, to repay this debt.
But she also knew that some things could never be fully repaid.
Xiao Nian looked at Yin Bai’s face, seeing none of the obsessive intensity from that day, and the weight on her heart seemed to lighten a little. She gave a rare smile and said casually, “No, the hospital Mom is in is very good. I’m here to see someone else today.”
She observed Yin Bai’s expression and asked curiously, “By the way, you haven’t said why you’re at the hospital. Don’t tell me you’re here to visit a patient too, like me?”
As far as Xiao Nian knew, Yin Bai didn’t seem to have many friends. She could even be certain that, before this, Yin Bai had no relatives or friends, aside from herself, whom she would personally visit in the hospital.
To her surprise, Yin Bai nodded very seriously. “Mm, yes, I brought a friend over. She has gastroenteritis; she’s sick.”
Xiao Nian was stunned for a moment, then smiled after a while. “Is that so? Then I wish your friend a speedy recovery.”
Yin Bai tapped her cane on the ground and said, “Mm, you too.”
Xiao Nian glanced at her and, after some hesitation, said, “Yin Bai, the coral you sent that day was beautiful. I liked it very much. Thank you.”
Yin Bai immediately knew what red coral Xiao Nian was talking about—it was the congratulatory gift Yin Bai had sent on her wedding day. Yin Bai smiled. “I’m glad you like it. Well, I’ll go back to my friend now. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, tugged Zhang Yu’s sleeve and quickly walked away with her.
Xiao Nian watched her retreating figure for a while, sighed softly, and turned to her assistant. “Let’s keep going too.”
Xiao Nian walked away, her high heels clicking—da da da.
Hearing the sound of high heels fading into the distance, Yin Bai stopped, looked at Zhang Yu, and asked eagerly, “How did I do just now? Did I seem magnanimous, like I completely don’t care about her anymore?”
Zhang Yu nodded. “Yes, it seemed like you’ve let go. If you weren’t saying this now, BOSS, I’d almost believe you’ve already forgotten Teacher Xiao.”
Yin Bai’s lips curved downwards as she said with a hint of helplessness, “How could I possibly forget her?”
After a moment of melancholy, Yin Bai took Zhang Yu’s hand and said cheerfully, “Never mind, let’s not talk about Xiao Nian. Let’s rehearse how we’ll talk to Teacher Zuo later!”
“Okay, BOSS.”
Old loves and all that, just let them go with the wind!
LP: Re-translated on June 04, 2025
Footnotes
- 挂了水 | guà le shuǐ | Literally “hung water.” A common colloquial term for receiving an intravenous (IV) drip, typically saline or medication.
- 狗腿 | gǒutuǐ | Literally “dog leg.” Slang for a sycophant, toady, or bootlicker; someone who fawns on others for personal gain. Describes behavior that is overly eager to please a superior.
- 霸总 | bàzǒng | Short for 霸道总裁 (bàdào zǒngcái), meaning “overbearing president/CEO.” A popular trope in Chinese romance fiction and dramas, referring to a wealthy, powerful, often arrogant male lead who is possessive and domineering in love.
- 起鸡皮疙瘩 | qǐ jīpí gēda | Literally “to get chicken skin bumps.” Means to get goosebumps, often from cold, fear, or a cringeworthy/creepy feeling.
- 家常便饭 | jiāchángbiànfàn | Literally “home-style cooking” or “simple meal.” An idiom meaning a common occurrence, routine, or nothing out of the ordinary.
- 支招 | zhī zhāo | Literally “to support with a move/trick.” Means to give advice, offer tips, or suggest a plan/solution.
- 肠胃炎 | chángwèiyán | Gastroenteritis, inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhea.
- 摸爬滚打 | mō pá gǔn dǎ | Literally “to feel, crawl, roll, and hit.” An idiom describing the act of struggling, toiling, or gaining experience through hardship, often in a tough environment.
- 大染缸 | dà rǎngāng | Literally “big dyeing vat.” A metaphor for an environment (like the entertainment industry, or society in general) that is complex, corrupting, and where it’s easy to be “stained” or lose one’s original nature.
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