Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 83
by Little PandaAmusing Ourselves to Death
Manager 20
Queen
Xin Lan gave a perfunctory encouragement to Qin Yuyan, patting her shoulder.
Even though it was just a shoulder pat for encouragement, Qin Yuyan felt very happy about it.
When they met Zhang Haishan and Song Qing, Xin Lan went up to greet them.
Zhang Haishan and Song Qingβs attitude was much warmer than during their first dinner meeting. After all, though twenty million wasnβt much for a film, it had helped them out of their urgent predicament, preventing them from being strapped for resources.
βDirector Zhang, this is our Qin Yuyan. Please take good care of her.β
Xin Lan stepped aside slightly, and Qin Yuyan immediately greeted them.
Zhang Haishan looked her up and down, thinking that extremely beautiful girls often werenβt good at acting, but he wasnβt one to judge by appearances β whether itβs a mule or a horse, you have to take it for a run to know [ζ―ι¨Ύεζ―馬εΎζεΊδΎζΊζΊζη₯ι | shΓ¬ luΓ³ zi shΓ¬ mΗ dΓ© lΔ chΕ« lΓ‘i liΕ« liΕ« cΓ‘i zhΔ« dΓ o | Chinese idiom meaning true ability is revealed through testing].
βOf course Iβll take care of her, but you know what I said beforeβ¦β
Zhang Haishan trailed off hesitantly.
βYes, I remember. How could I put you in a difficult position? If you think sheβs suitable, keep her. If not, weβll pack up and leave. The money can stay with you as my investment; I wonβt take it back.β
Xin Lan said with a bright smile, making Zhang Haishan sigh in relief.
He had been worried that if he wasnβt satisfied with the person Xin Lan brought, she might take the money back. But Xin Lan was so understanding. Twenty million wasnβt a small sum for a talent agent, and he had asked around in the industry β Xin Lanβs family wasnβt one of those wealthy elite families.
Listening to their conversation, Qin Yuyan felt confused.
What money? What investment?
Had Xin Lan invested in this film?
It felt like Xin Lan had used money to secure an audition opportunity for her.
Qin Yuyan encouraged herself, feeling confident about the role. She absolutely wouldnβt disappoint Xin Lanβs expectations or waste her money.
Qin Yuyan went in for the audition while Xin Lan waited at the door.
She replied to some messages on her phone, arranged schedules with her assistant, checked on how things were going with Cheng Zhi, and just as she was finishing up, the audition room door opened, and Qin Yuyan walked out with Zhang Haishan.
βAs expected of Manager Xin, everyone under your management is top-notch.β
Zhang Haishan gave a thumbs up, showing his complete satisfaction.
He was amazed at how Qin Yuyan transformed once she began performing. Nowadays, it was rare to find such a young actor with such spiritual presence [ιζ°£ | lΓng qΓ¬ | artistic aura/talent], and even rarer to find one who wouldnβt just rely on their looks but actually focus on acting well.
Xin Lan hadnβt been worried to begin with, and Zhang Haishanβs words confirmed it was a done deal.
Qin Yuyan, standing beside Zhang Haishan, winked at Xin Lan, momentarily captivating her heart.
βSince youβre satisfied, letβs have a pleasant cooperation. When do we start filming?β
βIn two days.β
βThat soon?β
βYes, almost all roles have been cast. We just needed to carefully consider the female lead, but now thereβs no need for further competition, so the sooner we start, the better.β
βAlright, where will we film?β
βLiucheng [ζ³ε | liΗ chΓ©ng].β
Liucheng was a county-level city under this municipality, about sixty kilometers away from here.
βAlright, Iβll give Yuyan your contact information later. Please notify her about the specific time.β
βSure, see you later.β
Zhang Haishan could barely hide his joy, almost wanting to summon everyone to the set and start filming immediately. But his rationality prevailed, knowing he needed to properly prepare the location first. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He waved at Xin Lan and Qin Yuyan before turning back into the room theyβd just left.
βSince filming starts in two days, we wonβt go back, right?β
Qin Yuyan said while matching Xin Lanβs pace, cleverly emphasizing the word βwe.β
Xin Lan hadnβt planned to leave so soon anyway. This was Qin Yuyanβs first time joining a production since signing the contract, so she naturally needed to stay through the whole process, only leaving after Qin Yuyan was settled into the crew.
Besides, it wasnβt time for Shen Yunβs audition yet, so there was no rush.
Seeing Xin Lan nod, Qin Yuyan felt a little excited.
βLetβs have Tuzi [ε ε | tΓΉ zi | literally βrabbitβ] book you a room next to mine.β
Tuzi was Qin Yuyanβs assistant, whom Xin Lan had introduced to her yesterday β an efficient and cheerful young woman.
Qin Yuyan didnβt have the courage to suggest sharing a room with Xin Lan. Anyone could tell that Xin Lan would never agree to that, and it would be awkward to even mention it.
βOkay,β Xin Lan nodded in agreement. βDo you want to go back to the hotel and rest, or shall we go out for a while?β
Xin Lan had no urgent matters to attend to and had some free time, naturally arranging her schedule according to her artistβs preferences.
βLetβs go out for a while and then have lunch. This city should have some attractions β Iβll look up some travel guides.β
Qin Yuyan made this suggestion, and Xin Lan naturally agreed to accompany her.
The city had quite a few attractions, but the closest and most famous was a temple that was said to be particularly efficacious [ι | lΓng | spiritually powerful].
Perhaps because it was holiday season, the number of tourists had increased, making public transportation especially crowded.
Many people were queuing in front of the subway, and Xin Lan and Qin Yuyan were practically pushed onto the train by the people behind them.
When the doors closed, the subway car was packed completely full, without even a sliver of space remaining.
Xin Lan held onto the handrail in front of her to maintain her balance, while Qin Yuyan was behind her, reaching for the same rail.
From the side, it looked as if Qin Yuyan was half-embracing Xin Lan.
Initially, Qin Yuyan had been worried about how uncomfortable the crowded transportation would be, but now she was completely delighted. Fortunately, Xin Lan was in front of her, otherwise her secret smile would have been visible.
Such a natural, legitimate, and unavoidable opportunity for intimacy β she really wouldnβt mind having more of these.
Xin Lan, being so perceptive, was naturally aware that her back was pressed against Qin Yuyanβs chest, appearing as if she was being half-embraced due to the crowdβs pressure.
She knew Qin Yuyan was secretly pleased, but there was nothing to be done in this situation. Even if she tried to lean forward to create some space, the crowd would just push them together again.
So the best response was to pretend not to notice, preventing the atmosphere from becoming too ambiguous.
Moreover, the subwayβs air quality wasnβt great. During this hot summer, in such crowded conditions, everyone was inevitably sweating profusely. The sealed compartment had no wind flowing through from outside to circulate the air, so it was filled with the strong smell of sweat.
Most troublesome was that Xin Lan couldnβt identify which person in the crowd had body odor, that faint yet persistent smell near her nose. In comparison, Qin Yuyanβs fresh fragrance became particularly pleasant.
In this situation of oneβs secret joy and the otherβs tacit permission, Xin Lan and Qin Yuyan arrived at their destination station.
After leaving the crowded train car, Xin Lan finally felt much better.
Qin Yuyan, on the other hand, was somewhat reluctant to part, though she didnβt dare show it on her face.
Being one of the more famous attractions, the temple had very prosperous incense offerings.
The crowds coming and going included men and women, old and young, creating a very lively atmosphere.
Not far from the temple entrance, there were many street food vendors, making Qin Yuyanβs mouth water.
βThere are too many people now. Why donβt we visit the temple later and check out the food stalls first?β
Xin Lan naturally went along with her suggestion, following her to a candy figurine [η³δΊΊ | tΓ‘ng rΓ©n | traditional handmade sugar candy art] stand.
The vendor was an elderly man who was concentrating intently on the piece in his hands. Seeing customers approach, he looked up and smiled at them.
βThese are ten yuan each, these are fifteen. I can make custom ones too. Would you young ladies like to take a look?β
The candy figurines included shapes of small animals, and characters like Sun Wukong [ε«ζη©Ί | sΕ«n wΓΉ kΕng | Monkey King] and Zhu Bajie [θ±¬ε «ζ | zhΕ« bΔ jiΓ¨ | Pig Demon], all looking remarkably lifelike.
βCan you make human figures? Of me and her?β
Qin Yuyan pointed to herself and Xin Lan.
βSure.β
βThen please make both of us.β
Qin Yuyanβs eyes sparkled with happiness.
Since candy figurines couldnβt be made instantly, Qin Yuyan paid and placed the order, then took Xin Lan to look around at other stalls.
After browsing all the surrounding stalls, they returned to the original stand to collect their candy figurines.
The elderly vendor had made them in a cute chibi style [Qθη | qiΕ« mΓ©ng bΗn | cute and adorable cartoon style]. Though not exactly identical, one could still see the resemblance.
Qin Yuyan happily accepted them, handing her candy figure to Xin Lan while keeping Xin Lanβs chibi version for herself.
βIt would be cruel to eat oneself. Why donβt I eat yours, and you eat mine?β
Qin Yuyan said with a straight face, thinking she had hidden her little scheme well.
Xin Lan, who had already seen through everything, paused briefly before nodding.
After all, as a twenty-eight-year-old adult, she could hardly say βI want to eat the candy figure of myself, so letβs switch back.β
While eating their candy figures, they entered the temple. People were kneeling and offering incense inside. The magnificent temple appeared solemn and dignified, with the central deity statue radiating an awe-inspiring presence that naturally commanded reverence.
Qin Yuyan threw their trash in the garbage bin and tilted her chin toward Xin Lan.
βShall we pray together and throw the jiao [η | jiΗo | divination blocks]?β
Throwing jiao means divination [εθ | wΓ¨n bΗ | seeking divine guidance]. People here believed they could communicate with deities through throwing jiao to receive divine instructions. They would come to throw jiao when undecided about matters or seeking answers. This templeβs reputation for efficacy grew because the divination results were quite accurate.
Xin Lan initially wanted to say she didnβt believe in such things, but facing Qin Yuyanβs gaze, she couldnβt bring herself to say it.
How strange β when meeting this personβs eyes, it became difficult to refuse things.
Throwing jiao requires sincerity β one must first light candles and offer incense while kneeling, then explain to the deity the reason for divination, and finally, with hands clasped in prayer, throw the blocks to the ground.
When throwing jiao, one raised and one flat is called sheng jiao [θη | shΓ¨ng jiΗo | sacred blocks], indicating the deityβs approval or affirmation. Two flat blocks are xiao jiao [η¬η | xiΓ o jiΗo | laughing blocks], suggesting the matter needs further consideration. Two raised blocks are nu jiao [ζη | nΓΉ jiΗo | angry blocks], indicating the deityβs disapproval. Important matters should be asked three times.
After following the steps, Xin Lan cleared her mind and asked a question.
Will I find someone to walk through life with?
She threw the blocks β the answer was sheng jiao.
Xin Lan was somewhat surprised, thinking it might be coincidence. Though she herself thought it impossible, despite such thoughts, she still held a glimmer of hope and threw them two more times.
The results were all sheng jiao.
LP: Re-translated on March 03, 2025
It’s extremely interesting she’s asking those questions and haply woth the result.
Just love Yanyan already girl ….