Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 74
by Little PandaAmusing Ourselves to Death
Manager 11
Queen
Xin Lan was unaware of the flame war [撕逼 | sī bī | internet slang for intense online argument] between Ling Jiu and Shen Yun. She put down her phone and went to the bathroom.
After blow-drying her hair, she glanced at the wall clock – it was 11 PM.
She walked onto the balcony and suddenly felt the stuffy heat.
The original host’s home was in an upscale residential complex, on the thirty-seventh floor, offering a panoramic view of many landscapes below.
Xin Lan only looked for a moment before returning to her room, her mind occupied with plans for Shen Yun and arrangements for Qin Yuyan.
Back in her room, when she picked up her phone, she found many messages.
The topmost was from Bei Xi, expressing gratitude.
【Bei Xi】: Thanks for Shen Yun’s cooperation tonight. I heard about what happened at Madam Qin’s banquet – you’re really something!
【Bei Xi】: Everyone’s saying you’ve got it in the bag. Being able to snatch someone from Dong Shuyu – impressive! Share your techniques, won’t you?
【Xin Lan】: There’s no special technique, perhaps Miss Qin and I just clicked.
【Bei Xi】: OK OK, exclusive secret formula, I get it, I get it. By the way, I heard 《Xiao Man》[小滿 | xiǎo mǎn | “Small Fullness”] is casting next month. You’ll need to consider carefully.
【Xin Lan】: OK
In recent years, IP dramas [IP劇 | IP jù | adaptations of existing intellectual property] have become hugely popular, emerging as a trend in the film and television circle. IP dramas come with built-in popularity, making them easier to promote.
Xin Lan looked it up – 《Xiao Man》was a workplace novel, with decent popularity. As long as the lead had good looks and wasn’t awkward at acting, with a well-known TV station and video platform promotion, high ratings wouldn’t be difficult.
Bei Xi’s suggestion to consider carefully probably stemmed from concern about balancing between Qin Yuyan and Shen Yun. If this opportunity arose, Xin Lan would definitely give it to Shen Yun.
Qin Yuyan hadn’t established a fixed character image yet, and with the drama casting next month, counting filming, completion, editing, censorship review, and broadcast, it wouldn’t air until next year at earliest. Xin Lan didn’t know about the other roles in the drama, but this was undoubtedly an idol drama [偶像劇 | ǒu xiàng jù | drama focusing on young, attractive stars].
Xin Lan hoped to add “powerhouse actor” [實力派 | shí lì pài | actor known for strong performance skills] before Qin Yuyan’s name.
Shen Yun hadn’t sent her any more messages, but Qin Yuyan had sent a good night.
Xin Lan sent a good night back and checked the messages in her group chats.
They were just information exchanges, some useful, some not.
Qin Yuyan, holding her phone, only let out a breath when she saw the reply.
She pressed her hand against her chest, feeling her heartbeat.
“My choice won’t be wrong.”
“Good night.”
She muttered to herself as she turned off the room lights.
A new day began, and Xin Lan immersed herself in busy work.
It was already the 23rd of the month. Bei Xi had mentioned casting next month but hadn’t specified when. Other scripts had been delivered to Xin Lan; she set them aside for screening.
She saw an interesting web drama with an appealing script, inviting Shen Yun to play the female lead.
This was impossible, of course. Given Shen Yun’s current status, she couldn’t possibly take a female lead role in a web drama – after all, web dramas had limited influence compared to television dramas.
Xin Lan thought for a moment and had An’an contact the production team to see if they needed a male lead.
After screening a pile of scripts, Xin Lan was busy taking calls. When she finally had a moment to relax, she saw that Qin Yuyan had sent her a message a few minutes ago.
【Qin Yuyan】: Are you available? Want to have a meal together to discuss the contract details?
【Qin Yuyan】: Why do I feel more anxious than you [covering face.jpg]
【Qin Yuyan】: Are you busy right now?
【Qin Yuyan】: I’ll stop bothering you then
Xin Lan replied briefly and pushed open the door to Xu Fang’s office to discuss Qin Yuyan’s matters.
“Well done,” Xu Fang said, rotating in his executive chair while raising his eyebrows at Xin Lan, “to think you secured her so quickly. Truly worthy of being my capable general.”
Facing Xu Fang’s curious gaze, Xin Lan responded with a smile, not revealing how she had won Qin Yuyan over.
In truth, she hadn’t expended much effort – Qin Yuyan had been quite proactive. As Ling Jiu had said initially, who knew such good fortune existed.
Xin Lan took out the company’s S-tier contract and discussed some modifications with Xu Fang.
“Aren’t these terms too generous?”
Xu Fang knew that if Qin Yuyan was promoted well, she could bring him considerable profit, but some aspects of the contract, such as project selection, seemed too lenient.
“After all this time together, can’t you trust me? You know what kind of path I want to create. If we take on all sorts of miscellaneous projects, we’ll inevitably lose divine rank [神格 | shén gé | elevated status].”
Xin Lan watched Xu Fang twirling his pen while looking directly into his eyes.
“If I can’t trust you, who can I trust? With our relationship, right? Even years later, I’m not afraid of you going independent [單幹 | dān gàn | to work independently; start one’s own business] with someone else.”
Xu Fang said with a smile, getting straight to the point.
Xin Lan understood this was both Xu Fang’s concession and his condition for exchange.
When many celebrities have grown strong enough wings, they choose to establish their own studios and work independently, after all, being your own boss is always more comfortable than working for others.
Take contracts for example – some companies’ exploitation is indeed severe. For minor celebrities at the bottom, a nine-to-one profit split is common practice, with the company taking the lion’s share [大頭 | dà tóu | major portion], leaving only a small portion for oneself. Even Xin Lan’s best S-tier contract was only a six-four split.
Xu Fang worried that if Qin Yuyan or Shen Yun became successful, they might start their own business and poach Xin Lan away, which would be a major loss for him.
“You’re worrying needlessly. I was trained by you personally – unless I can’t work anymore, I absolutely won’t be taken away from Xingtu.”
Xin Lan responded with a smile, giving a definitive answer.
She wasn’t yet clear which branch the plot would end on, but it would be within seven years. Whether she chose to leave or not only depended on how quickly she executed her revenge. If done quickly, leave quickly; if slowly, leave slowly – either way wasn’t an issue, so agreeing straightforwardly wouldn’t matter.
Xu Fang stopped twirling his pen and took out the seal to stamp it.
With this, negotiations with Xu Fang were settled.
Xin Lan secured the contract, patted her clothes, and left Xu Fang’s office.
After arranging the dining location with Qin Yuyan, Xin Lan changed her outfit, removed her high heels, and drove herself to the agreed location.
The place Qin Yuyan chose was a Cantonese restaurant [粵菜店 | yuè cài diàn | restaurant specializing in Guangdong cuisine], with elegant decorations and private rooms, offering excellent privacy.
Xin Lan took the document folder to the private room, where Qin Yuyan was already seated.
Qin Yuyan was dressed very low-key today, in a simple white shirt and jeans, with her sleeves rolled up to reveal attractive wrists. Seeing Xin Lan arrive, she gave her a broad smile.
“I’ve prepared the contract and it’s already stamped. Would you like to look at it first?”
Qin Yuyan had meant to say there was no rush, but upon hearing Xin Lan say it was already stamped, she changed her response.
Xin Lan moved closer, passing over the document folder. As she drew near, she caught the fresh, sweet scent on Qin Yuyan.
She couldn’t immediately identify which brand of perfume it was, but the fragrance was quite pleasant and suited the young lady.
Qin Yuyan examined the contract thoroughly, and the more carefully she read, the more pleased Xin Lan became.
If she had just glanced over it carelessly before making a decision, that wouldn’t have been like the Qin Yuyan who had deliberated over this matter for so long. Caution was never wrong.
Qin Yuyan was delighted with the contract; the benefits and relaxed terms listed exceeded her expectations.
Many benefits could actually be offered by Dong Shuyu’s side as well, but regarding the degree of freedom, Qin Yuyan believed that wouldn’t be possible.
Qin Yuyan had always been clear-headed about things. She knew if she went to Fanxing, she would face a scene of non-stop busy work. Since she wasn’t interested in immersing herself in the fame and fortune circle, there was no need to exhaust herself like that. Xin Lan being able to secure this for her was undoubtedly excellent.
“Very satisfied.”
The smile on Qin Yuyan’s face was unconcealed; anyone could see her happiness.
“Shall we sign now? Or would you like to think more?”
“There’s nothing that needs changing, let’s sign now.”
Qin Yuyan was straightforward, asked Xin Lan for a pen, signed her name on both copies of the contract, and kept one copy.
“Don’t you need to consult with your family?”
Xin Lan smiled as she took back her copy of the contract and put it in her bag.
“Ah Lan, I’m already twenty-four.”
The two chatted for a while, the atmosphere very harmonious.
While things were pleasant here, Shen Yun was about to explode.
She had learned that Xin Lan was definitely going to sign Qin Yuyan, and had even gone to discuss it with the CEO.
She had been holding onto some extravagant hopes, such as Qin Yuyan not choosing their company, but now it seemed to be set in stone.
She still couldn’t understand how Xin Lan could be so heartless.
The successive events and changes in Xin Lan’s attitude formed a heaven-and-earth difference from before.
How could someone change so suddenly?
Shen Yun wanted to pour out her grievances, but didn’t dare message Xin Lan anymore.
She wasn’t a fool – she could see that Xin Lan didn’t care about her at all anymore, so acting cute and complaining would be useless.
Thinking of Qin Yuyan made her feel terrible.
Her discomfort was Xin Lan’s comfort.
Hearing Ling Jiu’s live report, Xin Lan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
This was just the beginning. As time went on, Xin Lan would make Shen Yun taste what it meant to be in heart-wrenching agony.
She would support Shen Yun on one side while supporting Qin Yuyan on the other, letting Shen Yun watch the comparison, watch herself enjoy some resources yet still fall short of Qin Yuyan, then gradually withdraw, leaving her panicked and suffering, finally beyond redemption.
For some scumbags, breaking their legs and arms brings satisfaction; for others, you must watch them be forced step by step to the cliff’s edge until their psychological defenses collapse and they completely lose their minds.
After finishing dinner, Xin Lan took Qin Yuyan to the company.
Qin Yuyan sat in the passenger seat, watching Xin Lan who was focused on driving.
Her profile was exquisitely beautiful, carrying a sharp kind of beauty.
This person had a contradictory feeling about her, Qin Yuyan thought.
A complex combination of introversion and extroversion coexisted in her. When you looked at her, you’d find her beautiful and mysterious, with a somewhat unapproachable air that could pierce, but sometimes when you looked, it wasn’t like that at all – she would just gaze at you plainly, without other emotions.
You could feel her confidence radiating from within; sometimes her attitude, rather than being described as calm, was more like being unmoved.
Like a queen who had removed her magnificent robes and changed into casual attire, concealing her identity while standing among the crowd, so you saw her composure and extraordinary grace.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Xin Lan stopped at a red light and met Qin Yuyan’s gaze.
She had been staring for several minutes; Xin Lan had noticed from the start.
“I was thinking about work. Should I start taking bookings right away?”
Qin Yuyan said, her words not matching her heart.
Because you’re beautiful to look at.
LP: Re-translated on February 16, 2025
please take care of yourself translator, we’ll wait for you >:)
please take care of yourself translator, we’ll wait for you >:)
Take care TL-san 🤍🤍🤍
Take care TL-san 🤍🤍🤍