Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 71
by Little PandaAmusing Ourselves to Death
Manager 08
Queen
The astonishment in Xin Lan’s heart was greater than her joy.
These almost ambiguous words left her unable to react properly. According to the situation, this was only her second meeting with Qin Yuyan.
It would be normal if she had ulterior motives and acted intimate to build a good relationship, but why was Qin Yuyan…
Ling Jiu: Could it be that your charm is so powerful that she fell for you at first sight and couldn’t help herself?
Ling Jiu lifted her head from the network, just happening to hear this conversation.
How gay.
Xin Lan denied this possibility in her heart – how could it be possible without any reason?
Ling Jiu: Nothing’s impossible! This happens all the time. Host, you’re super beautiful when you’re not fierce!
Xin Lan: Are you saying I look ferocious when I’m fierce?
Ling Jiu: No no, you’re super handsome when you’re fierce, shockingly handsome.
Ling Jiu: You know, Host, even my first host, who was absolutely perfect, had many people fall for them at first sight. Maybe Qin Yuyan has just been conquered by your charm!
Xin Lan: You mean my charm when I was drunk and about to vomit at our first meeting?
Ling Jiu: For beautiful people, crying is pitifully beautiful, falling in water is like a lotus emerging from water, anger is genuine personality. If you’d followed our face-slapping strategy, you would have conquered the world by now, Host!
Xin Lan remained noncommittal. She didn’t deny that being beautiful was useful, but given Qin Yuyan’s background and status, it shouldn’t be like this.
If she had made Qin Yuyan take a liking to her, for example if Qin Yuyan simply liked being friends with good-looking people, then she would be happy about that.
“The managers at Xingtu are all very responsible, like myself, so after meeting me, do you feel Xingtu is more worth considering than Fanxing? If that’s really the case, then I’m honored.”
Xin Lan said half-jokingly, her words weren’t referring to herself as a person, but to Xingtu Entertainment that she represented.
Xin Lan’s words broke the ambiguous atmosphere. Qin Yuyan felt something was off, but also felt nothing was wrong.
It was because she had an inexplicable fondness for Xin Lan that her heart was wavering.
“Yes, it’s because of you. Actually, even if you were at Yangyan, I would still consider it.”
Qin Yuyan blinked, her words bringing back the ambiguous atmosphere that Xin Lan had just dispersed.
At this moment, the moon hung over the willow branches, and with no clouds blocking it, silver-white light filled the entire garden.
“Do I have a face that looks very trustworthy?”
Xin Lan laughed despite herself, but was frowning inside.
She only wanted a cooperative relationship, or friendship, even best friends would be fine, but nothing involving romance.
“You have a familiar feeling about you,” Qin Yuyan smiled faintly, sensitively noticing Xin Lan’s mood had dropped and changed the subject, “Should we discuss business here?”
Actually, the curve of Xin Lan’s smile hadn’t changed at all, but Qin Yuyan just felt that Xin Lan wasn’t particularly happy right now.
Because of the change in topic and the dissipation of the ambiguous atmosphere, Xin Lan’s mood clearly improved.
If possible, she didn’t want to emotionally manipulate Qin Yuyan, even if it was carefully calculated, because manipulating people’s feelings inevitably felt uncomfortable, especially when the other person hadn’t done anything wrong.
She hoped for a cooperative state that could naturally develop through effort.
This was an important element, but not a necessary one.
“I’m naturally willing to discuss other things if you want.”
Xin Lan and Qin Yuyan stood face to face in the garden. There were many flowers, but in summer, there were also many mosquitoes.
Xin Lan waved her hand, driving away the mosquitoes in front of her.
“I didn’t consider well – although the garden environment is private and convenient for talking, there are too many mosquitoes. Let’s go back to the hall.”
Xin Lan nodded, and they walked back along the path just as they had come.
“Speaking of which, if you want to sign me to Xingtu, what benefits would you offer?”
Qin Yuyan hadn’t lost her rationality to the inexplicable emotions in her heart; the conditions that needed to be considered still needed to be considered.
“What kind would you like?”
Xin Lan gave the initiative to Qin Yuyan, letting her make requests to see if she could satisfy them.
“I hope you don’t mind if I make a comparison.”
“Please.”
“Dong jie said if she signs me, she’ll only manage me alone.”
One-on-one meant that all resources obtained would be used on one person, maintaining an absolute position in the manager’s heart.
Privately speaking, Qin Yuyan hoped Xin Lan would only manage her, so she could devote all her attention to her.
“Sorry, I can’t do that at the moment.”
Xin Lan’s expression was apologetic, but her tone was firm.
How could she control Shen Yun if she went to someone else’s management?
Qin Yuyan was stunned, as if she hadn’t expected such an answer.
“Is my attitude a bit too much? After all, I’m the one who hopes you’ll come under my management,” Xin Lan said with some self-mockery, looking at Qin Yuyan with utterly serious eyes, “But I have my reasons why I must do this. However, I can guarantee that if you come under my management, you’ll definitely be the most important one in my heart.”
Qin Yuyan turned her head to look at the path as if thinking, but actually, she was hiding her wildly beating heart.
She would definitely be the most important one in her heart…
No, no… Qin Yuyan struggled to control her lips from curling upward.
But why did Xin Lan have reasons she had to do this?
Good relationships with artists? Sense of responsibility? Superior’s orders?
“Who are you managing?”
“One male and one female, Cheng Zhi and Shen Yun.”
“Shen Yun? I’ve heard of her.”
Qin Yuyan didn’t know Cheng Zhi, but she had heard of Shen Yun.
Being named as one of the Four Young Actresses, she must have had a hit drama that made her popular.
Shen Yun’s previous urban romance drama 《If You Are Well》 had made her famous. Although Qin Yuyan wasn’t deeply involved in the circle, she still kept up with the trends.
“With Shen Yun under you, why do you still want to sign me?”
Qin Yuyan asked puzzledly, trying hard to ignore the discomfort in her heart.
Shen Yun’s potential should be quite good. If properly cultivated, even if she couldn’t reach the big screen position later, she could still maintain popularity on the small screen.
Transitioning from big screen to small screen could be smooth, but small screen to big screen would likely hit walls.
“You can shine, while she is destined not to.”
Xin Lan said decisively, stopping her steps to lock eyes with Qin Yuyan.
That bit of discomfort in Qin Yuyan’s heart was immediately soothed, but she told herself to maintain composure on the surface. However, once she spoke, the joy in her voice couldn’t be hidden.
“You’re so sure about me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell her you’re putting her down like this?”
“Not afraid.”
They were almost at the hall when Xin Lan responded softly.
Qin Yuyan tilted her head slightly, not letting Xin Lan see the smile on her face.
“Let me think about it then. How about we exchange contact information first?”
“Of course, but my phone is with my assistant.”
And An’an was waiting outside the courtyard.
Evening gowns couldn’t possibly have pockets or such things, and Xin Lan hadn’t brought any clutch when she came in.
“I’ll go get mine, wait for me a moment.”
“Alright.”
As Qin Yuyan walked toward her room, Xin Lan stood in place. When a passing server with a tray went by, she took a small plate of pastries.
This kind of banquet wasn’t meant for focused eating, and Xin Lan didn’t plan to do so either, just taking a small plate of pastries to fill her stomach a bit.
The sound of high heels mixed with the music approached. Xin Lan looked up to see Dong Shuyu standing before her.
Dong Shuyu was thirty-seven, no longer young, and in the manager circle, she was considered a senior figure.
Setting aside Qin Yuyan’s attitude toward her, Xin Lan felt her chances against Dong Shuyu weren’t high.
In this kind of comparison, even a fool would know which to choose.
Though Xin Lan spoke of certainty, she was just doing her best.
She would work hard to secure the best resources for Qin Yuyan, improve her time efficiency, and reasonably arrange everything for her, but she wouldn’t spend excessive time slowly trying to win Qin Yuyan over.
In Xin Lan’s view, this was unnecessary and useless. When an artist signs a contract, they will definitely choose what benefits them.
What use was playing the friendship card? Could friendship make her more popular?
“Dong jie.”
Xin Lan put down her small fork, took a napkin to wipe her lips, and greeted Dong Shuyu.
“Xiaoxin, it’s been a long time since we last met.”
Dong Shuyu wasn’t dressed like a thirty-seven-year-old, with alluring red lips. Though her looks weren’t exceptional, she made up for it with her bearing.
In this circle, you had to call those older or more experienced “jie”.
That “Xiao” in Dong Shuyu’s address was meant to establish dominance over Xin Lan.
Xin Lan didn’t mind, giving Dong Shuyu a slight eye-smile.
“It has been a long time. Dong jie’s skin care is quite good, not much different from half a year ago.”
They were competitors, and since the other party intended to put her down, Xin Lan wasn’t so noble – she returned the subtle mockery.
If she called her little, she’d just imply she was old.
“Right? My husband compliments me too. Xiaoxin, even when work is busy, don’t forget to take care of your own matters. At this age, even if you look good, you’re just leftover cabbage.”
Dong Shuyu responded with a smile, appearing composed though they both knew what they were thinking.
“No need for your concern about that. Just worry about Fanxing, no need to reach so far.”
“I’m just concerned that when you reach my age without someone to rely on, you might feel lonely,” Dong Shuyu gave a light laugh, changing the topic, “I saw you walking with Yuyan earlier, seemed to be having a nice chat?”
“Dong jie has such good eyesight. Yuyan is very nice, we get along well.”
“Indeed, we all know how good Yuyan is. I’ve specially cleared my schedule just waiting for her. I heard you’re already managing two people, must be quite busy. Shen Yun’s momentum is strong lately. If you take on another one, it might be hard to balance things fairly.”
Xingtu Entertainment and Fanxing’s relationship wasn’t good to begin with, with multiple instances of resource-grabbing and poaching. So the poor relationship between their managers was normal, especially now with Xin Lan and Dong Shuyu competing. It would be strange if they spoke nicely to each other.
“Perhaps Dong jie’s hands are shaky with age. My hands are quite steady.”
Xin Lan placed her plate on the server’s tray, took a glass of wine, and set it on the small table.
Dong Shuyu frowned imperceptibly – this was a tough one.
Verbal sparring wouldn’t help; it would depend on Qin Yuyan’s choice.
Dong Shuyu looked up, just in time to see Qin Yuyan approaching.
“Dong jie.”
Qin Yuyan greeted.
Before Dong Shuyu could exchange a triumphant look with Xin Lan, she heard Qin Yuyan wave her phone at Xin Lan.
“Ah Lan, give me your phone number.”
LP: Re-translated on February 12, 2025
Welp mc is still very against a relationship, but I feel like she really just doesn’t want to get into a relationship she knows she’ll have to abandon at some point, so sadly I think it’s unlikely she’ll get together with female lead even in this world … she’ll probably realize she can love someone here and have her suspicions about female lead and it won’t be until the last world they get together … we’ll see I guess.