After Being Scummed – Chapter 66

I’m Actually a Very Willful Person Too~

Yin Bai’s high-profile confession of love brought Zuo Jingyou not only a trending topic, but also far more attention than usual at the banquet.

Although Yin Bai was a famous big spender in the industry, winning her favor was also a very difficult thing. In the past, everyone knew she had a preference, and would more or less try to get close to Xiao Nian in order to get Yin Bai’s attention.

            

Now that Yin Bai and Xiao Nian had been separated for several years and she had a new love, some filmmakers who wanted to get investment turned their attention to Zuo Jingyou.

Therefore, at the dinner party after the awards ceremony, Zuo Jingyou was even more in the spotlight than the several directors and actors who had won awards.

Zuo Jingyou socialized for a whole evening and finally found a chance to catch her breath, finding Yin Bai who was hiding in a corner eating a fruit platter with her assistant, Xiang Qiu.

            

On such occasions, Yin Bai rarely came forward to socialize. Most of the time, she would hand over the people she needed to entertain to Zhang Yu, and could dismiss people with just a single sentence: “Contact my assistant.”

Zuo Jingyou, who had been pestered all night, let out a light laugh when she saw her leisurely enjoying dessert and eating a fruit platter, and teased: “Teacher Yin, you’re so leisurely~”

Yin Bai, holding a fork, looked up at her and said: “Of course, I don’t have to socialize~”

            

She reached out, pulled out the chair next to her, and patted the back of the chair to signal for Zuo Jingyou to sit down: “Rest for a bit first. If you’ve already greeted all your acquaintances, we can go back in a while.”

Zuo Jingyou nodded and said okay.

Yin Bai scooped up a spoonful of dessert, handed it to Zuo Jingyou, and said with a beaming smile: “Ah… come on, Teacher Zuo, have something sweet to replenish your strength.”

            

Zuo Jingyou bent over with a smile in her eyes, lowered her head and took Yin Bai’s spoon into her mouth. When the tip of her tongue touched the sweet cake, Zuo Jingyou gave her evaluation: “It’s very sweet, quite delicious.”

Yin Bai nodded and said with great agreement: “It is very delicious, but compared to the cake Teacher Zuo makes, it’s still a bit lacking!”

Zuo Jingyou looked at her softly: “You want to eat the cake I make?”

            

“More than that!” Yin Bai counted on her fingers, greedily listing a bunch: “I want to eat Teacher Zuo’s pudding, Teacher Zuo’s sweet and sour pork ribs, Teacher Zuo’s stewed soup, Teacher Zuo’s fish…”

“In short, I just want Teacher Zuo to cook for me!”

Zuo Jingyou looked at her greedy puppy-like appearance, reached out and pinched her cheek, and coaxed her with a smile: “Then after we go back, I’ll make it for you?”

            

Yin Bai nodded emphatically and said happily: “Okay, my friends are going to eat their mom’s cooking too!”

“Okay, okay, your friends get a share too!”

After being busy for a month, Zuo Jingyou also felt that it was time for her to go home and spend time with her daughter.

            

Xiang Qiu, sitting opposite Yin Bai, felt a bit stuffed seeing the two of them showing off their affection so unscrupulously. What to do, such a delicious cake, it’s suddenly not fragrant at all!

No wonder her colleague would rather go socialize recently than stay by the boss’s side. When these two are in love, they are really too cruel to single dogs!

Of course, this dog food not only choked the single dog Xiang Qiu opposite them, but also the married Lu Qing.

            

Lu Qing, who was looking for Zuo Jingyou’s figure to find an opportunity to talk, was holding a champagne glass and saw the scene of Yin Bai feeding Zuo Jingyou from not far away. She suddenly felt that perhaps Yin Bai was not as cold and unfeeling as she appeared on the outside.

Perhaps in places she didn’t know, she had also doted on Xiao Nian like this. It wasn’t as she thought… that Yin Bai didn’t cherish Xiao Nian, but just treated her like a canary in a gilded cage…

But these were all things of the past. No matter what kind of person Yin Bai was, it was no longer important, because Xiao Nian ultimately chose her and would spend the rest of her life with her.

            

Such a thought flashed through Lu Qing’s mind, but she quickly suppressed these personal emotions, remembered her proper business, and finally walked towards Zuo Jingyou.

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Yin Bai, who was chattering away to Zuo Jingyou about what dishes she wanted to eat, looked up and saw Lu Qing holding a wine glass, and her heart immediately skipped a beat…

What is this person here for again?

            

Zuo Jingyou noticed that Yin Bai in front of her had stopped talking, her gaze fixed straight behind her. So she followed Yin Bai’s line of sight and turned her head, looking at Lu Qing who was walking towards her, and greeted her with surprise: “Director Lu?”

Lu Qing smiled slightly, raised her glass and greeted the two: “Chairman Yin, Teacher Zuo…”

Yin Bai gave a noncommittal nod, raising her hand to bite her fork, thinking, what is Lu Qing doing here for no reason? Could it be for a movie, like last year? No way, she’s been looking for Zuo Jingyou for a year for this, and Zuo Jingyou still hasn’t replied?

            

Just as Yin Bai’s thoughts were running wild, Lu Qing pulled out a chair and sat down beside them, looking at Zuo Jingyou very seriously and said: “Regarding that movie, I still want to fight for it with Teacher Zuo. Can Teacher Zuo talk with me one more time?”

Yin Bai, at the side, was nonchalantly poking at her fruit platter, but secretly, she raised her full attention, focusing on Lu Qing, wanting to hear what on earth she was going to say to Zuo Jingyou!

A movie? Is it really still about last year’s matter?

            

Zuo Jingyou also didn’t expect Lu Qing to still be thinking about this matter. She had clearly and formally rejected her, but Lu Qing still hadn’t given up. Zuo Jingyou sighed and looked at Lu Qing, saying: “Director Lu, I already explained it clearly to you last time. I have seriously studied your script, and I have also seriously studied the character information… But… the role of Ms. Lin, I don’t think I can interpret it very well…”

Lu Qing put down her wine glass and looked at Zuo Jingyou very seriously, saying: “But I believe that among the actresses of the same age group, there is no one more suitable for this role than you, Teacher Zuo. I am truly looking forward to collaborating with Teacher Zuo once.”

Zuo Jingyou gave a faint smile: “Thank you for your undeserved praise, Director Lu, but this role is very difficult to grasp well, and I don’t think my current self can interpret it accurately. Why doesn’t Director Lu consider more outstanding actresses? For example, Teacher Jiang Yue, and Teacher Meng Zhiqiu…”

            

Lu Qing pondered for a moment, seeming to see Zuo Jingyou’s determination. She hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zuo Jingyou and said: “Can you tell me the reason why you don’t want to act in this movie? I believe a person with your insight would certainly not miss out on this role.”

“Is the schedule not suitable? I can wait for Teacher Zuo’s schedule… As for the salary, I can also give Teacher Zuo a generous remuneration. Although this movie is self-funded and self-directed by me, the production will definitely be a major production…”

“The script is exquisite, you have witnessed my standard, and the production team is reliable. I really can’t think of why you would turn down this movie.”

            

Lu Qing frowned, an obvious look of confusion appearing on her face.

Zuo Jingyou looked at her with a faint smile, her tone still gentle: “Just as Director Lu said, this production, this team, and this script, this role are all things I can’t refuse. But I also know that I am not competent for this role, so I have to refuse with a heavy heart.”

Lu Qing pressed her lips together and said with a frown: “But Teacher Zuo, you don’t look at all like you’re refusing with a heavy heart. Or is it that, in our team, there is someone you don’t want to work with?”

            

Someone she doesn’t want to work with?

Yin Bai turned her head, glanced at Zuo Jingyou, and had the same confusion in her heart.

Zuo Jingyou shook her head and said with a light laugh: “There’s no such thing. I really do want to collaborate with Director Lu, it’s just that this time is really not suitable. It is precisely because I look forward to this story that I hope a senior with more exquisite acting skills will interpret this outstanding woman. This is my sincere blessing for Director Lu, and also my expectation for this movie.”

            

“Since Teacher Zuo is so expectant of this role, why not try collaborating with me? Perhaps there will be an unexpected effect?”

Although the corners of Zuo Jingyou’s mouth were still curved in a smile, the smile in her eyes had already faded: “I have a good self-awareness of my own abilities. I don’t believe I can have an outstanding performance and explosion in this role… So, Director Lu should still find someone better.”

This time, Zuo Jingyou’s refusal was quite blunt.

            

Lu Qing understood the determination in her words. After thinking for a moment, she no longer insisted and had to say: “Since that’s the case, then let’s cooperate next time we have the chance.”

Zuo Jingyou directly took Yin Bai’s champagne glass and raised it in a toast to Lu Qing: “Then I’ll wish Director Lu’s movie great success at the box office and countless awards in advance~”

“Thank you~”

            

Lu Qing took a sip of wine, raised her eyes to glance at Yin Bai who was busy eating at the side, and finally left with her wine glass.

As she was leaving, a thought couldn’t help but rise in Lu Qing’s mind: Perhaps Zuo Jingyou refused her not for herself, but for Yin Bai.

If Zuo Jingyou is really dating Yin Bai, she might really do this kind of thing… After all, she and Yin Bai can’t stand the sight of each other… Zuo Jingyou, loving the house and its crow, it’s not strange for her to do such a thing.

            

Although she hasn’t had much contact, Lu Qing more or less understands a bit of Zuo Jingyou’s true nature. This person seems to speak nicely to everyone, but is actually quite true to her feelings.

Yin Bai, at the side, waited until she saw Lu Qing walk far away from the corner of her eye before she quickly put down her fork and looked at Zuo Jingyou excitedly, asking: “What movie did Lu Qing ask you to act in?”

Zuo Jingyou smiled and explained to her: “A Republican-era movie​¹, the protagonist is that very famous Lin Qiu. Lu Qing wants to film her very legendary life…”

            

The Republican era again?

Yin Bai couldn’t help but mutter: “Lu Qing really likes to film the Republican era, those stories that happened in turbulent times. But she films them quite well, several of her works have been both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.”

“Her script should be good, and she’s famous for being good at filming women. You would definitely be very beautiful under her lens. Why did you refuse her, is it because the script is bad?”

            

Zuo Jingyou sighed and looked at Yin Bai helplessly, saying: “Because someone once told me very angrily that she favors me, so she won’t associate with anyone who makes me unhappy.”

“Since I’ve received such a profound love, of course I have to repay her in the same way.”

Yin Bai’s eyes widened as she looked at Zuo Jingyou: “Just because of this? Just for this reason, you’re going to miss out on a possibly great movie?”

            

“What else?” Zuo Jingyou looked at her softly, a smile in her eyes: “Good movies are hard to come by, and so are partners.”

“Yin Bai, I’m actually the same as you, a very willful person, you know~”

“In my heart, your happiness is extremely important.”

            

Yin Bai knew that Zuo Jingyou cherished her, but when she truly felt such favoritism, she still found it difficult to suppress her excitement.

She grabbed Zuo Jingyou’s hand and said very seriously: “Teacher Zuo, let’s go back right now~”

To hell with her banquet, to hell with her socializing, right now she just wants to hold her lover and go wild with her!

            

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LP: Are they doing it everyday?!

Re-translated on July 22, 2025

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