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    After Being Scummed

    After Being Scummed – Chapter 89

    by Little Panda

    We are here to fulfill your dream.

    Just as they were speaking, that screenwriter, wearing a backless, bright red evening gown, walked gracefully towards them.

    Hearing the other party’s footsteps, Ye Can quickly turned her head and called out to her: “Lin Zixi, over here.”

    Lin Zixi heard her voice, smiled, and quickly came over to take a seat. Lin Zixi sat down next to her daughter, reached out and rubbed her daughter’s head, then looked past Ye Can and Yin Bai, her gaze landing on Zuo Jingyou’s body: “Miss Zuo, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect we would be so fated this time, to be able to sit so close to you.”

    As Lin Zixi spoke, she extended her hand towards Zuo Jingyou: “Hello, I am Lin Zixi.”

    Lin Zixi was several years older than Zuo Jingyou, and was also a senior in the circle. Zuo Jingyou stood up and shook her hand in return: “Hello, Teacher Lin.”

    The two exchanged pleasantries for a while. Lin Zixi really liked Zuo Jingyou’s performances, and Zuo Jingyou had also seen the shows she had collaborated on with Meng Zhiqiu and Jiang Yue. Before long, the two of them were chatting away.

    It was just that with so many people in between, it was always a bit inconvenient. Zuo Jingyou turned her head and said to Yin Bai beside her: “Yin Bai, how about we switch seats?”

    “Okay.” Yin Bai was obedient, getting up with her cane to switch places with Zuo Jingyou, making it more convenient for her to chat with Lin Zixi.

    Lin Zixi also turned her head and looked at Ye Can: “Cancan?”

    Ye Can gave a cold snort, then unwillingly got up and exchanged seats with Lin Zixi. As she moved, she was still mumbling something under her breath like, you really don’t love me anymore, I just knew you’ve taken a fancy to this woman, you praise her every day but don’t praise me anymore…

    After she finished speaking, she even hugged her own daughter in an extremely exaggerated manner, crying like a child: “My good treasure, Ah Fu’s​1 heart is so bitter.”

    Little Chuchen had no choice but to raise a hand and pat her head, coaxing her like a little adult: “Mother, don’t be so affected and exaggerated, you still have me.”

    Lin Zixi turned her head to look at this perversely childish appearance of hers despite her age, couldn’t help but raise a hand to tap her on the head, and chided her: “Stop fooling around!”

    Ye Can turned her head and looked at her aggrievedly.

    Lin Zixi covered her forehead and said to Zuo Jingyou with some helplessness: “This one from my family has a child’s temper, her mouth is full of nonsense, but there’s really no ill intent. If she says anything that makes you unhappy, please don’t take it too much to heart.”

    Zuo Jingyou smiled faintly: “It’s alright, Boss Ye is actually very easy to talk to.”

    At the side, Yin Bai heard Zuo Jingyou praise Ye Can and also let out a snort. Ye Can heard the other party snort at her, she turned her head to look at Yin Bai and viciously snorted back.

    The two adults were hurting each other using kindergarten methods. Zuo Jingyou glanced helplessly at Lin Zixi and asked in a very low voice: “Is there some misunderstanding between Boss Ye and Director Yin?”

    Lin Zixi moved closer to her and replied softly: “It’s not really a misunderstanding, it’s just that this one from my family is childish. At an auction a few years ago, she insisted on competing with Director Yin for an antique. The two of them kept raising the price, and in the end, made Director Yin spend double the price to buy a pair of matching rings.”

    Ye Can had sharp ears, and upon hearing this, she immediately jumped up: “What do you mean I’m childish, it’s clearly her who is petty. Didn’t I just snatch a painting, a vase, and a necklace from her at the beginning? She actually bid on the matching rings I had my eye on. She doesn’t even have a partner, what does she need rings for, is she reasonable or not!”

    Okay, Zuo Jingyou could be considered to have understood now. These two were a good match for each other​2, six of one and half a dozen of the other​3.

    Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, tapped the ground a few times—tok, tok, tok—and said with a wide smile: “It hurts a lot, doesn’t it? You hate me a lot, don’t you? When you were snatching my things, why didn’t you think a day like this would come? Do you think the world revolves around you? Does everyone have to go along with you, Ye Can?”

    “The next time I see you at an auction, I’ll still dare!”

    Ye Can was furious, glaring at Yin Bai through gritted teeth: “You… you… you…”

    Yin Bai said with a gentle smile: “What me… me… me… ah, little stutterer…”

    “You’re the stutterer, you cripple!”

    Yin Bai held both hands up in front of her chest and said: “Cripple rebounds!”

    Ye Can was speechless for a moment. She held one hand up before her chest, imitating the Ultraman​4 she had watched with her daughter a few days ago, and struck an attack pose: “Behold my stuttering light wave, ah, you’ve been hit!”

    Yin Bai still had her arms crossed in front of her chest, and said with a grin: “Light wave attack is ineffective!”

    Watching the two of them go back and forth, their verbal sparring unforgiving, using up every trick from the kindergarten playbook, Zuo Jingyou finally understood that these two didn’t actually hate each other at all.

    At the very least, Yin Bai didn’t hate Ye Can.

    After all, when Yin Bai hated someone, it was in the manner she treated Lu Qing. She appeared polite and distant, but in reality, she couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge them.

    Towards Ye Can… it felt more like she was teasing a cat.

    It really was strange, since Yin Bai was clearly the cat usually.

    Thinking this, Zuo Jingyou looked towards Lin Zixi. Lin Zixi couldn’t be bothered with them, and just moved closer to Zuo Jingyou to tell her in a low voice: “The two of them see each other once or twice a year, and it’s almost always like this when they meet.”

    “It’ll be fine in a little while.”

    In any case, Ye Can never came out on top and would always run home to cry to her about how Yin Bai was like a bronze wall and iron bastion​5, impervious to all persuasion​6.

    Oh… she understood. These two could be considered a pair of old nemeses.

    Zuo Jingyou stopped paying attention to Yin Bai and Ye Can’s kindergarten-level squabbles and instead turned to chat with Lin Zixi about some movie-related topics.

    This year, Lin Zixi had collaborated with Meng Zhiqiu on a movie, and this time she was nominated for Best Screenwriter. Zuo Jingyou had been busy all year, so she expressed her regret that she hadn’t seen the movie yet, but said she would definitely watch it later.

    As the two chatted about this, Lin Zixi said: “I feel that tonight’s award will definitely belong to 《Dawa》.”

    They were talking about the Best Original Screenplay award. Hearing this, Zuo Jingyou quickly said humbly: “I also hope the award can go to Dawa, but with my screenwriting ability, I still wouldn’t dare to compare myself with Teacher Lin.”

    “But you tell stories well, you’re someone who is exceptionally good at telling stories.”

    The two started chatting. Lin Zixi was someone who was very good at conversation. She seemed to be a fan of Zuo Jingyou’s films, talking about everything from her first movie to the recent Dawa, and expressed that she was very much looking forward to collaborating with her.

    Seeing that the two of them were getting along so well, Ye Can couldn’t be bothered to argue with Yin Bai anymore. She craned her neck and asked Yin Bai in a low voice: “That auction at the end of February, did you receive an invitation too? Are you going?”

    Yin Bai nodded and said: “Yes, I received it. Why, if I go, will you go?”

    Ye Can, holding her child, said somewhat awkwardly: “Of course, don’t I have to go and snatch your things?”

    Speaking of which, Ye Can held her daughter and said to Yin Bai very smugly: “This time I’m bringing my precious princess. Hehe, you don’t have anyone you can bring, right?”

    Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, said with a wide smile: “Oh, I’m sorry, but I actually do, and two of them at that.”

    Ye Can was greatly shocked: “Where did you abduct two children from?” She never saw the other woman when she wasn’t all alone, feeling like an isolated island. She felt that apart from herself who would go up and stir things up, probably no one else dared to get close to Yin Bai.

    What a miserable person, Ye Can thought.

    As it turned out, this kind of miserable person, a person with no wife or children, now not only had a girlfriend, but also had children?

    Yin Bai saw the look of surprise on her face as she had wished, smiled, and said mysteriously: “It’s a secret. If you come, you’ll find out.”

    This was, in their few exchanges, a rather subtle invitation.

    Ye Can mumbled, alright, alright, then I’ll reluctantly make an appearance.

    The two of them were like men who had secretly agreed to go fishing behind their wives’ backs. After their brief exchange, they said no more, staying by Zuo Jingyou and Lin Zixi’s side to listen to them chat about movies, occasionally chiming in with a few words.

    As they were talking, Lin Zixi extended an invitation to Zuo Jingyou: “I have a script on hand with an all-female cast, a bit like Eight Beauties Picture​7. If Teacher Zuo is interested, how about we exchange contact information and discuss a collaboration?”

    “Of course.” Zuo Jingyou readily agreed, bringing up her WeChat for Lin Zixi to scan the code.

    Seeing that the two had exchanged contact information, Ye Can started to speak on Lin Zixi’s behalf: “Miss Zuo, this movie is invested by our Guangcan​8. You know our Guangcan has no shortage of money. If you participate, I will give you the best possible pay.”

    Zuo Jingyou smiled faintly and said her thanks.

    Not to be outdone, Yin Bai at the side also said: “Our Galaxy has no shortage of money either. If the investment isn’t enough, Teacher Lin can consider our company’s investment, you know.”

    “I’m super rich~”

    Hey, how did it come to this again!

    Ye Can mumbled her retort: “Hmph, I’m super rich too~”

    Alright, alright, you two are the rich ones. Lin Zixi couldn’t be bothered with her and continued to chat with Zuo Jingyou.

    Soon, the awards ceremony began. After a few opening performances, the evening officially got down to business.

    The first awards to be presented were for supporting actresses. After interspersing a few less weighty awards, it soon came to “Best Screenplay”.

    On the big screen, clips from the five nominated screenplays’ films were played one by one, including Zuo Jingyou’s 《Dawa》 and Lin Zixi’s work from last year.

    At the same time, the overhead lights also shone on each of the nominated screenwriters. As the camera swept past the faces of Lin Zixi and Zuo Jingyou, Lin Zixi turned sideways and said to Zuo Jingyou with great certainty: “I bet it must be your work.”

    Zuo Jingyou shook her head and said: “Teacher Lin thinks too highly of me.”

    Lin Zixi’s gaze went past Zuo Jingyou to Yin Bai, and she asked with a smile: “Director Yin, who do you think will win this award?”

    Yin Bai replied with a grin: “Is there even a need to ask? Of course it’s Zuo Jingyou’s!”

    At the side, Ye Can protested: “Hey, hey, hey, why not ask me! If you ask me, it’s definitely Lin Zixi’s!”

    Lin Zixi turned her head and shot her a glance: “What you say doesn’t count. It only counts if Director Yin says it.”

    Lin Zixi turned her eyes back to Zuo Jingyou and said: “Director Yin is a person favored by fate, so this time, if she says it’s Teacher Zuo, it will definitely be Teacher Zuo, you know.”

    “Besides, a story like 《Dawa》 deserves to win an award.”

    Zuo Jingyou let out a laugh and said helplessly: “Teacher Lin, you make it sound so mysterious. It’s not like Director Yin can really just open her golden mouth​9 and make me win the award.”

    “All of this still depends on the jury.”

    Lin Zixi smiled slightly: “Is that so? If Dawa wins tonight, then Teacher Zuo will have to treat me to dinner.”

    As Lin Zixi’s voice fell, the award presenter on stage, holding the card, read aloud: “She is the eagle soaring freely over the plateau. She told us a story like this: life is not about what one is born to be, but what one pursues.”

    “I announce that the winner of Best Screenplay is—”

    “《Dawa》, Zuo Jingyou!”

    As the words fell, the host on stage, with tears welling in their eyes, said: “You came to fulfill Dawa’s ideals, and we are here to fulfill your dream.”

    In an instant, applause erupted from all sides, rushing towards Zuo Jingyou like a landslide​10.

    Zuo Jingyou blinked her eyes, still unable to quite process it… She had actually, truly won the award.

    LP: Re-translated on September 01, 2025

    TOC

    Footnotes

    1. 阿父 (āfù): 阿父 (āfù). An informal and affectionate term for “father”. The prefix 阿 (ā) is often used before kinship terms or names to create a familiar tone.
    2. 棋逢對手 (qí féng duìshǒu): A chengyu (four-character idiom). Hanzi: 棋逢對手. Pinyin: qí féng duìshǒu. Literally “in chess, one meets a worthy opponent”. It metaphorically means to meet one’s match in a conflict or competition.
    3. 半斤八兩 (bàn jīn bā liǎng): A chengyu (four-character idiom). Hanzi: 半斤八兩. Pinyin: bàn jīn bā liǎng. Literally “half a jin and eight liang”. In the old Chinese system of weights, one jin (斤) equals sixteen liang (兩), so half a jin is exactly eight liang. The idiom means that two things are of the same quality or level, with no significant difference between them; six of one and half a dozen of the other.
    4. 奧特曼 (Àotèmàn): 奧特曼 (Àotèmàn). The Chinese transliteration of “Ultraman”, a popular Japanese science fiction character and media franchise.
    5. 銅牆鐵壁 (tóng qiáng tiě bì): A chengyu (four-character idiom). Hanzi: 銅牆鐵壁. Pinyin: tóng qiáng tiě bì. Literally “bronze wall and iron bastion”. It describes something that is impregnable, impenetrable, or a very strong defense.
    6. 油鹽不進 (yóu yán bù jìn): A chengyu (four-character idiom). Hanzi: 油鹽不進. Pinyin: yóu yán bù jìn. Literally “oil and salt cannot enter”. It metaphorically describes a person who is stubborn, obstinate, and impervious to reason or persuasion.
    7. 八美圖 (Bā Měi Tú): 八美圖 (Bā Měi Tú). Literally “Picture of Eight Beauties”. This is likely a reference to the 2002 French film “8 Women” (original title: “8 femmes”), which features an ensemble cast of eight female characters in a murder mystery setting.
    8. 光燦 (Guāngcàn): 光燦 (Guāngcàn). The name of a company. The characters literally mean “bright and brilliant”.
    9. 金口一開 (jīn kǒu yī kāi): A phrase. Hanzi: 金口一開. Pinyin: jīn kǒu yī kāi. Literally “golden mouth once opened”. It describes a person whose words are considered so valuable, authoritative, or prescient that what they say is taken as fact or inevitably comes true. It implies a Midas touch for speech.
    10. 排山倒海 (pái shān dǎo hǎi): A chengyu (four-character idiom). Hanzi: 排山倒海. Pinyin: pái shān dǎo hǎi. Literally “to push over mountains and overturn seas”. It describes something with overwhelming force, momentum, or power, like a landslide or a tsunami.

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