Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 69
by Little PandaAmusing Ourselves to Death
Manager 06
Queen
Qin Yuyan couldn’t explain why she ran to the nearby store to buy water when she saw that person frowning and walking out, that kind of helpful thought appeared abruptly, and by the time she came to her senses, she had already handed over the water.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
That person expressed thanks and took the water from her hand.
“Sis, what are you doing?”
Qin Susu called out, looking very confused.
“Well… I’ll go first?”
“Goodbye.”
It was too awkward to introduce themselves at this moment, Qin Yuyan said so, and Xin Lan responded accordingly.
Though it was a normal conversation, Qin Yuyan walked two steps, looked back at Xin Lan once, until Qin Susu called out again, only then did she walk towards her.
Xin Lan held that bottle of water and summarized this mistake, wrong time wrong place, the awkward atmosphere was about to overflow, but at least they had met once, so when they meet at the next banquet, Qin Yuyan wouldn’t be completely unfamiliar with her.
She hailed a taxi, gave her address, and closed her eyes for a rest.
On Qin Yuyan’s side, Qin Susu was still criticizing her unusual behavior.
“You disappeared in the blink of an eye, in the blink of an eye, you know! And where did you get that water?”
“Bought it from the store next door.”
Qin Yuyan responded somewhat absent-mindedly.
“Do you really know her?”
“I can’t remember, but she feels very familiar.”
Qin Yuyan shook her head, suppressing the stirring in her heart.
Qin Yuyan got in the car, and as the car drove further away, that inexplicable emotion also disappeared.
“Maybe I really have seen her somewhere before, but let’s not talk about this anymore. The thing I ordered should be ready now, I hope it won’t disappoint me, it’s the main gift I’m presenting to grandmother.”
The cool air from the car’s air conditioning blew, and following Qin Susu’s words, Qin Yuyan turned her thoughts to the upcoming banquet.
After returning home, Xin Lan sent a message to An’an, tossed her phone aside to take a shower, and wearing pajamas, made herself a bowl of hangover soup.
After drinking the hangover soup, Xin Lan looked at her schedule for a while, then fell asleep.
Cheng Zhi hadn’t reached the point where he could handle things independently yet, so Xin Lan had to follow along to socialize when he shot commercials.
Sitting in the car, Xin Lan felt that being a manager was like being an old mother hen.
For instance at this moment, she looked at Cheng Zhi and issued a soul-searching interrogation.
“Have you gained weight?”
Cheng Zhi’s eyes widened, with an expression of disbelief.
Cheng Zhi: “Really? Have I gained that much? I only gained one jin [斤 | jīn | Chinese weight unit ≈ 0.5kg]!”
Xin Lan raised her eyes: “More than one jin, cameras already make you look fatter, if you don’t want to look like a middle-aged person putting on weight in front of the camera, go lose weight as soon as you finish filming today.”
Cheng Zhi wailed: “Sis, I’m only twenty-one! I’m not middle-aged yet!”
Xin Lan silently stared at Cheng Zhi, and upon receiving this death stare, he successfully fell silent.
“I’ll lose weight, must lose weight, I definitely will lose weight!”
Amid Cheng Zhi’s playful antics, they quickly arrived at the filming location.
The original host had quite good eyes for talent, even though Cheng Zhi looked carefree, he had a certain spiritual quality, even when he NG’d [NG | Not Good | filming term for failed take], watching him didn’t make people angry.
In this industry, talent and hard work are equally important, but opportunity is even more important.
After Cheng Zhi finished filming the commercial and returned to the company car, Xin Lan handed him two scripts.
Cheng Zhi was excited when he saw the scripts, taking them like treasures.
“Look at these two yourself, choose which type you want to act, but neither one is 100% yours, understand?”
Cheng Zhi’s excitement diminished slightly as he nodded.
That’s how the circle works, one role inevitably has many people fighting for it, having roles predetermined is a privilege only for those with high status or background, not everyone can just walk through an audition as a formality.
After actors receive scripts, they study hard, and it’s common for the role not to belong to them after audition, but they can’t stop studying because of this.
During the return journey, the car was very quiet, Cheng Zhi was reading the scripts, while Xin Lan was busy with various contacts.
【Xing Tu Agency Small Team (6)】
【Bei Xi】: @Xin Lan-jie, heard you’re also interested in Miss Qin?
【Xin Lan】: Mm, what, want to compete with me?
【Bei Xi】: Aiya, how could I? I can barely manage what I have now. Just got news that the Qin family matriarch’s birthday celebration has invited many people, you could go take a look
【Chen Yi】: Seems like you can’t get in without an invitation
【Bei Xi】: Just find someone to bring you in, though the old madam sings traditional opera, not everyone in her family does
When Xin Lan met Qin Yuyan, Ling Jiu’s scan had already listed out all her family background.
Madam Qin was an opera performer, as was her late husband, both were well-known figures in the circle. The old madam had three sons – the eldest wasn’t influenced by art and went into business, but the second and third sons were influenced. However, the second son didn’t perform opera but went into pop music, entering entertainment circle as a singer, becoming a king-level [天王 | tiānwáng | superstar] figure, while the youngest son loved painting and became a famous artist. The elderly couple didn’t force their children to learn opera, as long as disciples inherited their legacy.
The eldest son’s wife was the daughter of a famous real estate tycoon, they had a son and daughter – the son went into business, the daughter learned opera from grandmother, now also a famous figure in the circle.
The second son’s wife was a national goddess of that era, they had two sons and a daughter – eldest went into politics, second into business, and the youngest daughter is Qin Yuyan.
The third son’s wife was a chief editor of a famous weekly magazine, they had one daughter, who was the Qin Susu that Xin Lan saw that day.
You could say the Qin family was an enormous clan, with connections in business, politics, painting, opera, music, and entertainment.
No wonder in the original plot Shen Yun abandoned the original host to pursue Qin Yuyan.
Even if not for Qin Yuyan’s personality and looks, just for this background, it was worth Shen Yun’s effort.
Qin Yuyan’s good background also meant she wouldn’t be easily moved.
Xin Lan’s phone vibrated twice, calling her mind back.
【Bei Xi】: Lan-jie, I heard Fanxing’s Dong Shuyu is determined to get Miss Qin.
【Xin Lan】: Whoever gets her depends on their ability.
A shining future star, who wouldn’t want to get their hands on that.
In terms of experience, Fanxing Entertainment’s Dong Shuyu was above the original host.
Dong Shuyu had been in the industry for over ten years, had produced two Best Actresses and one Best Actor, the original host had to bow respectfully and call her Sister Dong, but that doesn’t mean Xin Lan would give way.
The original host was polite, but she isn’t.
【Bei Xi】: To be honest, your disadvantage is bigger than hers, you still have two people under you, while she’s not managing anyone now, just focusing on Qin Yuyan alone.
【Bei Xi】: Plus she has wide connections, heard she even knows Qin Yuyan’s father, King Qin.
【Xin Lan】: Bit troublesome
【Bei Xi】: Many want to sign her, but not many can compete with you, but having two people under you is a bit of a hindrance, after all resources are limited, and you still have Shen Yun
【Xin Lan】: I have my plans, thanks
【Bei Xi】: No need to be polite, I didn’t come to you just to talk about this, tomorrow my Yin Xuan and your Shen Yun will be on the same variety show, okay to stir up some heat then?
【Xin Lan】: Shen Yun’s only going on once, is it necessary to stir things up?
【Bei Xi】: Can create some topics, Lan-jie, let me ride on your coattails, you know it’s just this once
【Xin Lan】: Fine, I’ll tell Shen Yun to cooperate
【Bei Xi】: [hug.jpg]
Xin Lan thought about it, Bei Xi manages a four-member boy group, Yin Xuan is the C-position [C位 | C wèi | center/main position], previously this group was hot for a while on web variety shows, now they’re on a downward trend, while Shen Yun is currently at her hottest, her recent leading role drama’s popularity pushed her to new heights, if managed well it could only get better, no wonder they want to ride on even just one variety show episode.
Bei Xi told her the news she heard, so she should reciprocate.
In these few days, besides that one sentence, it was her first time chatting with Shen Yun on WeChat, directly and concisely explaining.
She originally wanted Zhou Qinqin to relay the message, but thinking of Shen Yun’s personality, she might not comply, so she decided to tell her personally.
Shen Yun replied quickly, with an obviously unwilling attitude.
【Shen Yun】: You want me to create buzz with a man?
【Xin Lan】: Or do you want to do it with a woman?
【Shen Yun】: I refuse
【Xin Lan】: You don’t have the right to refuse
【Shen Yun】: Why not?
【Shen Yun】: Even if we’re creating CP [CP | Character Pairing] buzz and rumors, shouldn’t it be with someone of similar status? Plus he’s a singer
【Xin Lan】: This is my arrangement, unwilling?
Shen Yun pulled at her lips, how could she say she’s unwilling, she didn’t want Xin Lan to hold another grudge against her.
【Shen Yun】: Understood, I’ll cooperate well.
Amid the busy preparations, Madam Qin’s birthday banquet arrived.
Xin Lan met Yuan Xiaoyuan at the agreed place, Yuan Xiaoyuan wore a blue evening gown, hair coiled at the back, revealing delicate collarbones, white and slim.
When she saw Xin Lan, she called out “Lan-jie” very formally.
Xin Lan smiled at her, complimenting that she looked beautiful, saying Cheng Zhi was quite blessed.
If not for liking Cheng Zhi, Yuan Xiaoyuan wouldn’t need to be so formal before her, acting like meeting parents.
But in the industry, managers are indeed half-parents to artists, worrying about everything, especially image and relationships.
The car was driven by Yuan Xiaoyuan’s driver. Since it was for attending a banquet, Xin Lan dressed formally today, wearing a black off-shoulder evening gown, hair falling loose, covering her exposed back.
Xin Lan only realized when putting it on that An’an had brought a V-neck backless dress, fortunately it didn’t open all the way up from the hips, just a section at the waist, her long hair falling down barely covered it.
The banquet venue was the Qin family mansion, Chinese architecture, looking very grand and imposing.
Many luxury cars were parked at the entrance, Xin Lan followed Yuan Xiaoyuan in, walking all the way to the main hall.
It seemed many people had already arrived, servants receiving gifts stood before the main hall, Yuan Xiaoyuan gave a small jade Buddha, while Xin Lan gave a pair of jade ruyi [如意 | rúyì | traditional ornamental scepter].
Familiar people chatted with each other, the banquet hall filled with glamorous guests, Xin Lan saw some famous singers among them, both retired and currently popular.
“Lan-jie, someone I know has arrived, I’ll go say hello first, you look around yourself, if I see Fifth Miss Qin, I’ll try to chat and help bridge between you two.”
Yuan Xiaoyuan’s mother was a disciple of Madam Qin’s junior fellow apprentice, so there was a connection but quite distant, therefore Yuan Xiaoyuan followed others in calling her Fifth Miss Qin, as Qin Yuyan ranked fifth among her generation in the Qin family.
Xin Lan nodded, took a glass of wine from a servant, and searched for her target.
LP: Re-translated on February 08, 2025
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