Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 70
by Little PandaAmusing Ourselves to Death
Manager 07
Queen
There were too many guests, Xin Lan didn’t find her target first, but instead saw someone she knew.
A familiar producer came to greet her, after chatting for a while, took her to meet other people.
This was a rare opportunity, Xin Lan asked Ling Jiu to keep an eye on Qin Yuyan’s location, and followed the person making introductions.
Qin Susu was adjusting the edges of her formal dress when she inadvertently caught sight of a profile.
“Hey, sister, look, isn’t that the person you thought looked familiar that day?”
Because that person was quite good-looking, with distinctive features, even though Qin Susu only glanced a few times, she remembered and recognized that profile.
The moment Qin Susu spoke, Qin Yuyan instinctively looked in that direction, seeing that figure.
The light fell on her body, Qin Yuyan was on the second floor, they weren’t far apart, Qin Yuyan had good eyesight and could clearly see that person’s fair and rounded shoulders, and beautiful profile.
The surrounding sounds suddenly fell silent, in that moment she could only hear her own heartbeat through her eardrums.
After returning that day, a figure had also appeared vaguely in her dreams, with a voice saying something to her, she half-understood, but after waking up, she couldn’t remember anything at all.
She remembered that face, but didn’t know the name.
Originally thought it would be like passing by in a crowd, ending without beginning, but unexpectedly there was a chance to meet again.
When meeting again, strange feelings arose in her heart once more.
It was strange, but not unwelcome.
“She’s here, maybe she’s someone our family has met before, you’ve seen her before, so you remember, just can’t recall where, that’s why she seems familiar.”
Qin Yuyan thought it was possible, because she truly couldn’t remember where she had seen her before, but just had an inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness.
“Mama is calling us, stop looking for now, anyway she’s a guest here, we can always ask for her contact information if you want to get to know her.”
Qin Susu felt her last words were actually redundant, seeing how her sister was staring, she definitely wanted to get acquainted.
What was so special?
Qin Susu curiously looked a few more times, feeling this person was quite beautiful and assertive, if it was a handsome guy Qin Susu could understand, but no matter how pretty a meimei was, there was no need to stare like that.
Qin Susu was puzzled, linking arms with Qin Yuyan to find their mama.
The banquet quickly officially began, because the elderly lady studied opera, catering to her interests, tonight her disciples also took the stage to sing and perform for her birthday celebration.
This scene was actually quite incongruous, while it was normal to have opera performances in a Chinese mansion, below were many people wearing formal dresses and suits watching, inevitably creating a sense of temporal distortion and grotesqueness.
Opera is something different people understand differently, outsiders might not be interested, but know it has a kind of beauty, every gesture and expression carries grace.
Actually, many of the celebrities present couldn’t understand or appreciate it, but everyone knows how to maintain face, each holding wine glasses, applauding the performance on stage, which could be considered hosts and guests both enjoying themselves.
For the elderly lady’s birthday celebration, naturally it proceeded according to the elderly lady’s preferences.
Disciples and descendants offered birthday wishes in succession, Xin Lan saw among them the person she wanted to see.
The elderly lady was advanced in age, with declining energy, unable to handle too much excitement, after thanking all the guests who came, she was helped down to rest.
At this point, the first half of the banquet came to an end, and another kind of high society gathering formally began.
Xin Lan’s purpose was very clear, holding red wine she approached her target.
But obviously, she wasn’t the only one who wanted to get to know Qin Yuyan.
Qin Yuyan was surrounded by many people, today she wore a wine-red dress that complemented her fair skin, her hair was coiled at the back of her head secured with a wooden hairpin [ζ¨η°ͺ | mΓΉ zΔn | traditional wooden hair accessory], with a few strands of fine hair curled at her temples, exuding a hint of mature femininity.
This was different from her screen image, in her early years she debuted as a child star, and later when she acted she still showed her youthful side, when appearing on variety shows compared to others, she emanated a unique youthful elegance different from others.
Now her attire was graceful and poised, revealing another kind of beauty.
Before long, Qin Yuyan saw Xin Lan holding wine and leaning against a small platform outside the crowd watching her, their eyes suddenly met, Qin Yuyan’s lips curved up slightly, Xin Lan nodded to her, counting as a greeting.
Qin Yuyan had no interest in continuing to chat with others around her, using the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom, she walked out of the crowd.
Xin Lan kept watching her, seeing her heading to the bathroom, she put down her wine glass and followed.
In the bathroom, Qin Yuyan was washing her hands, but her peripheral vision was watching the door.
She should have seen her eye signal just now, right?
Qin Yuyan felt uncertain inside, what if Xin Lan hadn’t seen her eye signal?
Should she go out and signal again?
No, if going out then just directly find her.
How should she start a conversation?
How should she say the first greeting to make it not so awkward?
Meeting again… no, that would seem too familiar.
What a coincidence, didn’t expect to see you here… no, that’s too deliberate, this is clearly her nainai’s [ε₯Άε₯Ά | nΗinai | paternal grandmother] birthday banquet.
While Qin Yuyan’s mind was in chaos, she heard the click-clack sound of high heels.
Her heart tightened, it was indeed that person.
That person came to her side, Qin Yuyan’s body imperceptibly stiffened for a moment.
Say something!
Qin Yuyan urged herself internally to quickly start a conversation, but inexplicably, her mouth seemed like it was sealed by something, unable to squeeze out even one sentence.
“Thank you for the water last time.”
Xin Lan looked at Qin Yuyan’s profile and thanked her.
“You’re welcome,” Qin Yuyan hurriedly responded, then paused, “That day, did you know my identity?”
Qin Yuyan hadn’t thought about this before, but her expressions were too natural, both the greeting and thanks, making it not hard to imagine that on the day they first met, she actually already knew who she was.
“You’re the little goddess the entire entertainment circle has been waiting to grow up, how could I not know who you are.”
Xin Lan said with a smile, making Qin Yuyan feel somewhat embarrassed.
“Those are all media exaggerations, you saying this makes me very embarrassed.”
Qin Yuyan’s ears grew slightly warm from Xin Lan’s teasing.
Many child stars are very good-looking when young, some media would say the entire entertainment circle is waiting for them to grow up, expecting the little goddess to become a great goddess, but if they grew up ugly, they would definitely be dragged out to rehash old news.
“I’m not exaggerating, you really are outstanding.”
Xin Lan dried her hands, showing a smile to Qin Yuyan.
“Let me formally introduce myself, I’m a manager at Xingtu Entertainment, Xin Lan, Xin (θΎ) with ‘stand (η«)’ and ‘ten (ε)’, Lan (ε²) as in ‘mountain wind’.”
Xin Lan extended her hand in a handshake gesture.
“Qin Yuyan, I think you must have already thoroughly researched my information before coming.”
Qin Yuyan returned the handshake, their hands separating immediately after contact.
Qin Yuyan wasn’t stupid, Xin Lan was a manager, even if she had no intention of signing her, she would definitely have investigated her background thoroughly.
“I hope you don’t find it offensive, this is my essential preparation work.”
The two spoke while walking out of the bathroom.
The hall was quite crowded, not an atmosphere suitable for private conversation, Qin Yuyan led Xin Lan toward the direction of the garden.
The Qin family mansion had many flowers and plants, this garden especially, even before stepping in, they could smell the flower fragrance.
“It’s not offensive, I’m just a bit surprised that you’re a manager.”
“Why, doesn’t it suit me?”
“If you told me you were a CEO, I would find that more believable.”
For no particular reason, Qin Yuyan felt this person should be someone with a powerful presence, a queen who commanded others from above, not a manager who takes orders from superiors and has to worry about artists.
“I wish that too.”
Xin Lan raised her eyebrows, there was no choice, this role was not up for selection, if possible, she also wanted to wash her hands of it, directly become a CEO, then use the power of capital to exert pressure.
But doing this would take far too long, status wasn’t like money, not so easily obtained, if wanting to do it that way, the time, energy, and money spent would be dozens of times more than now.
Of course, there was an even more convenient path.
But Xin Lan would not go rely on sugar daddies, that kind of wanting to soar high by paying with one’s body wasn’t what she wanted.
The last person who tried to force themselves on her, the grass on their grave was already ten meters tall.
“So for today’s banquet, can I understand that you came for me?”
“Of course, without a doubt.”
Setting aside everything else, just hearing this conversation, one might think it was some heart-racing, deeply romantic love talk.
In fact, Qin Yuyan’s heart was indeed beating faster, although she knew Xin Lan didn’t mean anything else.
“Actually, people have approached me before about this kind of thing.”
Long ago, companies had already proposed wanting to sign contracts with Qin Yuyan, but she didn’t agree, because she still needed to study then, and she also didn’t want to live a life of running around for appearances day and night.
Once signing with a company, one had no choice but to follow arrangements.
Her parents felt the same way, after all, they were both former artists, they understood very well to what extent the entertainment circle exploited artists, unless reaching a very high level, one couldn’t escape that busy life.
So they hoped Qin Yuyan would consider carefully, not make decisions too quickly.
“Yes, you’re in high demand.”
Xin Lan spoke directly, looking at Qin Yuyan with admiration in her eyes.
The industry’s three giants, Xingtu, Fanxing, and Yangyan Entertainment companies would definitely extend olive branches to Qin Yuyan, including those second-tier and even smaller companies, they also had this intention.
Qin Yuyan was truly too easy to manage and package, once packaged and launched, she would be a walking money tree.
“Regarding Xingtu, just now someone from your company approached me.”
“Who?”
It was very normal for other managers in the company to have ideas, but Xin Lan hadn’t paid much attention to competitors, so she wasn’t too concerned.
“Didn’t remember who.”
Qin Yuyan thought for a moment and said, there were many people talking just now, she was eager to see Xin Lan, absent-minded, didn’t really listen to who was saying what.
“My father actually suggested I sign with Fanxing, he said if I really plan to walk this path, going to Fanxing would be good, because Dong jie had approached him, and also talked with me.”
The Dong jie in Qin Yuyan’s words was naturally Dong Shuyu.
“So have you decided to go to Fanxing?”
“Before meeting you, that’s what I was thinking.”
LP: Re-translated on February 10, 2025
Thanks for the chapter! Small error in the middle, some sentences are repeated or mixed up when they’re meeting in the bathroom.
Thanks for the chapter! Small error in the middle, some sentences are repeated or mixed up when they’re meeting in the bathroom.