Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 81
by Little PandaAmusing Ourselves to Death
Manager 18
Queen
“Act out this scene for me, pretend I’m X.”
“Alright.”
Qin Yuyan nodded, closing her eyes to cultivate the right emotions.
When she opened her eyes again, she had transformed into a different person entirely.
The woman stood at the shop entrance, glancing at the setting sun in the sky. It was afternoon, and closing time wasn’t far off.
She lazily yawned, reaching for a cigarette from the counter inside. She held it between her lips without lighting it, staring into empty space with vacant eyes.
Footsteps approached from afar. She glanced overโit was an unfamiliar customer. Hastily removing the cigarette from her mouth, she swayed her hips and plastered on a smile as she went to greet him.
“Young master, you look unfamiliar. First time here? Would you like a foot wash or massage?”
She cast a coy glance at the man, her expression laden with suggestion.
The man looked at her with complicated emotions, finally letting out a sigh before softly calling her name.
Her smile froze as she recognized who stood before her. A light suddenly flickered in her eyes, but it extinguished just as quickly.
The embarrassment was unbearable.
She wished she could dig a hole and hide herself, never to appear before others again.
The panic and confusion lasted only a moment, and her joy was immediately suppressed by hatred.
She resented him for leaving without a word, resented that she needed him when he wasn’t by her side. But no matter how much blame she placed, those years had already passed.
Though only a minute had passed, it felt like half a century.
All emotions settled into indifference as she adjusted her hair and turned to walk back into the shop.
Qin Yuyan completed the turning motion, shook her head to break character, and turned to face Xin Lan.
“Was that not good enough?”
Today had actually been one of her better performances, being able to capture that feeling.
“Your expression when recognizing him was quite good, though a bit too intense. It’s fine though, just maintain that feeling. But that smile at the beginningโyou smiled too beautifully.”
“Too beautifully?”
“Watch me. Now you’re X.”
Xin Lan stood up, placing the script on the sofa.
Her head was initially tilted to one side, but when she heard footsteps approaching, she immediately turned.
Her previously empty and cold expression vanished, replaced by an alluring smile directed at the visitor.
Yet anyone could see the fatigue on her face, and when she smiled, a flash of impatience and disgust crossed her eyes, too quick to catch.
“Young master, you look unfamiliar. First time here? Would you like a foot wash or massage?”
She spoke naturally, as if she’d said these words countless times.
Her voice carried a cloying sweetness, like candy melting disgustingly under the sun.
The women in such establishments ranked at the bottom of the hierarchy, like chickens in a coop [้ๅ | jฤซ quฤn | metaphor for the lowest social status].
This had been her life for yearsโa dirty alley, cheap pink lights, a crooked and worn-out sign hanging overhead, and several women sitting on small sofas inside.
Watching her smile, one could only feel the filth and helplessness.
Qin Yuyan understood now why Xin Lan had said her smile was too beautiful.
“I understand. I’ll practice more later.”
Qin Yuyan nodded, suddenly thinking of a question.
“Ah Lan, your acting is so good, and you’re beautiful too. Why didn’t you become a celebrity instead of working as a manager?”
Qin Yuyan could clearly sense Xin Lan’s skilled acting, which was no worse than those veteran actors in the industry. With her looks, if she had become a celebrity, she would have been famous by now.
“I’m not interested in acting.”
Of course, Xin Lan’s acting skills had been developed gradually, and now she could effortlessly take on any roleโit just depended on whether she wanted to maintain the character.
As long as it didn’t disrupt the world order, it wasn’t a big deal.
After Xin Lan said this, Qin Yuyan naturally didn’t pursue the matter further.
Being a celebrity might not necessarily be better than being a managerโeveryone has different pursuits.
With the script’s concept in mind, Qin Yuyan’s tense nerves relaxed, and suddenly she felt hungry.
She had been immersed in the script since morning, and now it was already three in the afternoon. She had only eaten some bread for breakfast.
“I’m going to make something to eat. Ah Lan, would you like some?”
“I’ve already eaten. Haven’t you had lunch?”
Qin Yuyan shook her head.
“That won’t do. Next time, remember to eat your meals on time. Speaking of which, I’m preparing to arrange an assistant for you. Let’s start with one, and when you get too busy for one person to handle, we can add more. Is that okay?”
“Mm-hmm, I’ll go with whatever you arrange.”
“Do you have any requirements for the assistant?”
“No particular requirements, just someone reliable and trustworthy.”
“Alright, I’ll select someone to meet you tomorrow.”
The conversation seemed to have reached its natural end, with nothing more to discuss.
The air grew quiet for a moment. Xin Lan remained silent while Qin Yuyan quietly gazed at her.
Sunlight filled the room, and time’s flow suddenly seemed to slow down.
Qin Yuyan’s gaze made the atmosphere turn tender and somewhat ambiguous.
In that moment, Xin Lan thought of nothing, simply maintaining eye contact with Qin Yuyan in silence.
Perhaps a minute passed before Qin Yuyan broke the silence first.
“Do you have anything to do later?”
“Probably not.”
The great manager Xin was having a rare leisurely afternoon. All necessary arrangements had been made, no one under her supervision needed attention, and all necessary contacts had been made. She could freely dispose of her time.
“Why don’t you stay for afternoon tea?”
“Sure.”
After all, it wasn’t far from her home, just a few steps away, and it would be convenient to return home after afternoon tea.
Seeing Xin Lan’s agreement, Qin Yuyan happily went to prepare the ingredients.
“Feel free to look around my home if you’re interested.”
Qin Yuyan poked her head out from the kitchen, flashing Xin Lan a brilliant smile.
Xin Lan nodded, glancing at the house’s layout.
Qin Yuyan’s house had the same layout as hers, just symmetrically reversed in some places, but due to different decorations, it appeared remarkably distinct.
The original owner’s home had a common European design, grand and beautiful, but somewhat cold.
Qin Yuyan’s home was clearly thoughtfully arranged, featuring a forest theme, looking cozy and warm.
Xin Lan went to the balcony, which was filled with potted plantsโflowers, grass, and succulentsโall looking vibrant and alive.
Xin Lan found herself quite fond of it; people who knew how to live well gave off such a pleasant impression.
She walked from the balcony to the other side, where a room’s door stood open. Through the opening, Xin Lan spotted a corner of a bookshelf and figured it must be the study.
The study wasn’t very large, but its distinctive feature was its demolished outer wall, replaced with a glass panel, offering views of the bustling cityscape outside.
The remaining three walls were lined with bookshelves, with the wall near the door having narrower shelves. A large comfortable chair sat in the middleโpresumably where Qin Yuyan usually sat reading in the sunlight, which seemed delightfully comfortable just to imagine.
Xin Lan left the study after touring Qin Yuyan’s home, having only entered the study and respectfully leaving the other rooms unopened.
After the tour, one could only say that Qin Yuyan really knew how to live comfortably. Finally, passing by the kitchen, where Qin Yuyan was busy working in her apron, the air was filled with the fragrance of cream.
Beautiful, talented in acting, from a good family background, and skilled at cookingโit seemed impossible to find any flaws in Qin Yuyan, like a true goddess.
Thinking about how in the original plot she was snatched away by Shen Yun, it felt somewhat regrettable.
However, this time, she was the one Qin Yuyan liked.
Xin Lan pondered this with an inexplicably strange pleasure, though the feeling lasted only a moment before vanishing.
In the original plot, Qin Yuyan and Shen Yun’s relationship had a conclusion, but liking her would lead nowhere.
Xin Lan stared out the window, momentarily lost in thought.
Ling Jiu: Host, what’s wrong?
Ling Jiu felt inexplicably that Xin Lan seemed somewhat down, asking with concern while sitting cross-legged.
Xin Lan: Hmm? Nothing.
Just some emotions unknown to others and not worth sharing.
Whether anyone had pursued her in the villain worlds, Xin Lan could no longer remember clearly. Even her original world had become somewhat hazy.
She had long forgotten the faces of her comrades, and even her mother’s face had become blurred through her constant journeys.
Sometimes she would wonder who she really was from which period of time.
The constant fading of her memories from her journeys wasn’t just because those memories were unpleasant experiences from the villain worlds that could affect her personality, but also because she wanted to remember who she truly was.
Through constant traversing, the initial novelty had completely disappeared. It wasn’t that it became uninteresting, but sometimes, lying in bed in the so-called real world, she would contemplate the meaning behind all these actions.
Was it for eternal life?
Was it to experience different worlds, different lives, and meet different people?
Or was it to strive for those original hosts?
Perhaps it was all three combined.
At least Xin Lan found the Face-Slapping Department more interesting than the Villain Department. Occasionally changing environments wasn’t bad either.
She’d heard there was also a Destiny Department, specifically for being protagonists… Xin Lan’s thoughts drifted further until Qin Yuyan’s voice called her back.
“I just remembered I made frozen yogurt cheesecake this morning. Have some first, and when the pudding is done baking, I’ll bring it over.”
“Shouldn’t you eat something first to fill your stomach?”
Xin Lan noticed the cheesecake on the dining table, thinking of how Qin Yuyan hadn’t eaten lunch yet.
“I’m cooking pasta, it won’t take long.”
Qin Yuyan placed Xin Lan’s coffee next to the cake.
Xin Lan sat down, looking at the delicate small cake before her. The thick layer of yogurt cheese on top looked very appetizing, creating a special ambiance in this sunny afternoon.
Xin Lan scooped up a small piece with the silver spoon, contentedly narrowing her eyes as she tasted it.
Qin Yuyan busied herself in the kitchen like a diligent little bee.
Previously, when she made food and desserts for herself, it was always pleasant and relaxing, but now her mood was even better, carrying a sense of anticipation.
Watching Xin Lan sitting at the dining table, her smile grew wider.
Making food for someone you like was pure bliss.
Even if that person didn’t know her feelings, she still felt as if floating on clouds, light and airy.
She unconsciously hummed a song, a cheerful English tune.
The singing reached Xin Lan’s ears, making her turn her head at the sound.
Qin Yuyan was cutting something, and soon brought out a plate.
It was a plate of coconut milk jellyโwhite cubes coated in coconut shreds wobbled on the plate, much like their maker’s heart: sweet and soft.
LP: Re-translated on February 25, 2025
Very cute and I really wish we had gotten more of this early, this is the second to last world and just now mc is realizing this and seeing how nice it is to take a caring girlfriend from the scumbag protagonist, which is really what she should have really been doing all along, really feels like this was a nice concept that hasn’t really been utilized until now.
Welp … let’s enjoy it now I guess and really eoth mcs personality she couldn’t be falling in love in every world, she killed of those emotions here for that reason of her feeling sad she wo t be able to stay with this beautiful girl even if they do get together and mc isn’t the type to just want some happy memories, I guess she truly will fall in love with her and then be sad when she goes put, meet real world Yanyan and when she learns her name she’ll piece things together and they’ll have a real confession in the last world or just after coming out.
I’m so hungry rn
I’m so hungry rn