The Martial Arts Stunt Double of the Entertainment Circle – Chapter 27
by Little PandaThe Qiao Family Home kept to a strict routine—nothing extra going on, and by nine-thirty everyone was getting ready for bed.
Since Gu Min hadn’t woken up yet, Qiao Chunyi continued sharing the master bedroom with her, while the two sisters slept in Tuoba Yan’s room.
Qiao Chunyi was first to shower in the apartment’s only bathroom, changing into pajamas before heading back to the bedroom.
Tuoba Yan went second. Impatient as ever, she emerged before long wrapped in a bath towel, still dripping wet. Tuoba Jiao caught a glimpse of her older sister’s luminous shoulders and long, straight, pale legs—and shot up as if she’d been pricked in the behind, bolting into the bathroom.
Tuoba Yan was a little bewildered. She unwrapped the towel—underneath, her underwear was all in place. She pulled on her little yellow duck cotton pajamas, gathered the clothes that had been drying on the balcony all day, and folded each piece neatly back into the small wardrobe.
Tuoba Jiao came out of the bathroom, her cheeks flushed rosy from the steam, her long hair still slightly damp, beads of water she hadn’t fully wiped off rolling down her tender, fair skin—yet she’d already hurriedly changed into her underwear and nightgown.
This sweet, obedient little picture perfectly fulfilled her past-life fantasies of having an adorable younger sister. Tuoba Yan couldn’t stop staring, growing more satisfied by the second. Tuoba Jiao grew fidgety under the scrutiny, pretending not to notice as she went about toweling her hair dry.
Only then did Tuoba Yan realize she’d forgotten to tell her where the hair dryer was. Neither she nor Qiao Chunyi was in the habit of using one. She took the dryer box down from atop the sink counter, brought it back to the bedroom, plugged it into the bedside outlet, and began drying Tuoba Jiao’s hair.
Tuoba Jiao secretly breathed out a contented sigh. Her older sister’s home was so wonderful—if only she could stay here forever.
But her sister had her own life to live. Even if Mom divorced Tuoba Xiu, they couldn’t just keep freeloading here indefinitely. The thought made Tuoba Jiao’s spirits sink.
She had escaped from the Tuoba Residence with her mom yesterday, and she truly never wanted to go back. That warmthless “home”—no matter how hot the underfloor heating burned in winter, Madam’s attitude always sent chills through Tuoba Jiao’s heart. The only time Madam put on a kind, amiable face was when Li Guanting came over to visit. It was exhausting.
Tuoba Jiao had considered asking Li Guanting for help, but immediately crossed that idea out with a big red X. It was true that Tingting was the Li Family’s only daughter and would one day inherit the family business and fortune—but right now she was merely a first-year high schooler. Taking her in for a while was one thing, but what about Mom coming along too? Would the Li Family really go to the mat against the Tuoba Family for the sake of their future heir’s friend?
The answer was no.
Tuoba Jiao valued Tingting deeply as a loyal, genuine friend, and she didn’t want to put her in a difficult position.
Tuoba Jiao sat obediently while Tuoba Yan dried her hair. Once it was fully dry, she climbed into bed and burrowed under the covers, leaving only a fluffy little head poking out, gazing up at Tuoba Yan with wide, earnest eyes.
Tuoba Yan switched off the main bedroom light. A small bear nightlight glowed in the corner, so it wasn’t too dark—enough for her to make her way to the bed smoothly. The two sisters lay side by side, face-to-face, and after gazing at each other for a few seconds, both broke into silly grins. Tuoba Yan patted her younger sister’s shoulder:
“Go to sleep.”
When Gu Min woke, it was already past four in the morning. She stared at Qiao Chunyi’s sleeping face, scarcely able to believe this was real. She quietly raised a hand, touched Qiao Chunyi’s nose, then immediately snatched it back.
She was sharing a bed with Senior Sister Qiao.
Gu Min’s lips curved into a secret smile—but within seconds, the smile faded. Her mind churned back through all that wretched mess, and shame and humiliation flooded her. Tears spilled out beyond her control. She sniffled, turned away from Qiao Chunyi, and put more distance between them.
The pillowcase was soon soaked. Gu Min wept silently, at a complete loss—until a warm hand settled on her shoulder from behind and pulled her back into an embrace. “What are you crying for?”
Gu Min cried even harder, her whole body trembling, biting down to keep from making a sound.
Qiao Chunyi sighed and sat up. Gu Min gave a panicked sob and seized her wrist, looking like a skinny stray dog that had been kicked—her eyes full of grievance and fear.
Qiao Chunyi tucked Gu Min’s hand back under the covers and folded the blanket edge snugly, saying helplessly, “You’re a grown woman—how do you still not know how to take care of yourself? Lie still. I’ll make you something to eat.”
She slipped on her slippers, pushed the door open as gently as she could, and went to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, took out a carton of milk, and poured it into a cup. After a moment’s thought, she opened the sugar canister and added a spoonful, then set the timer on the microwave.
Qiao Chunyi carried the warm milk back to the bedroom. Gu Min lay obediently without moving, her eyes fixed on the doorway—they lit up the moment she saw Qiao Chunyi come in. Setting the cup of warm milk on the nightstand, Qiao Chunyi said, “Drink the milk in a bit. I’m going to make breakfast.”
Qiao Chunyi cracked three eggs into a bowl, beat them with chopsticks, added a pinch of salt, and mixed well. Then she sliced the leftover mantou1 from the night before, coated the slices in the egg mixture, and pan-fried them over low heat. In no time, she had a large plate of hot, fragrant fried mantou slices. She set four or five slices on a small saucer and brought them to Gu Min.
Gu Min had sat up, but she hadn’t touched the cup of milk. She was staring at it, lost in thought.
“Why aren’t you drinking it?” Qiao Chunyi set down the small plate.
Gu Min said quietly, “I haven’t drunk milk since sixteen years ago.”
Qiao Chunyi stared at her in astonishment. Gu Min gave a self-mocking smile. “If I hadn’t drunk that cup of milk back then and gotten so dizzy, I never would have ended up in your bedroom.”
Qiao Chunyi nearly knocked the plate over. “What did you say?!”
“Qiao-jiejie, I’m not someone who covets wealth and status.” Gu Min closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that nearly spilled over. “The first time we met wasn’t at the Tuoba Residence. Maybe you’ve forgotten by now. That girl crying on the rooftop—it was your words that gave her the courage and confidence to change herself.”
Qiao Chunyi stood frozen, listening to Gu Min recount the past. She vaguely remembered there had been a plain, countrified girl hiding on the rooftop crying—if Gu Min hadn’t said it herself, she never would have believed they were the same person. Then their reunion three years later. The glass of milk specially prepared for her at the dinner table. Tuoba Xiu’s leering eyes. The room at the end of the hallway…
Gu Min’s tears had nearly run dry. She spoke with venom:
“…I want to kill Tuoba Xiu and Jiang Guilan. I’ve wanted to kill them every single moment of every single day all these years. But what about Jiaojiao? Whether I succeeded or failed, Jiaojiao wouldn’t be able to show her face in society—she’s my daughter… Qiao-jiejie, I’m sorry. But I never betrayed you. I truly didn’t.”
By the end, Gu Min was on the verge of collapse. She thought: Senior Sister Qiao must be furious. Would she think she was lying to shift the blame?
But Qiao Chunyi grasped Gu Min’s hand. She looked up in surprise—Qiao Chunyi looked ready to explode:
“Don’t be afraid. The kitchen knife is sharpened good and proper. If that conscienceless piece of dog filth dares show his face here, I’ll hack him out the door even if it means prison. I’m not scared of that Old Hag either. What kind of trash do they think they are—just because their family has a little stinking money, they think they can do whatever they please. Truly, what kind of mother raises what kind of son. Let me tell you, Gu Min—I see through them now. Those two only care about themselves!”
Qiao Chunyi comforted Gu Min for a good while, a fire of rage banked in her chest. She truly couldn’t fathom it—how could anyone in the world be so shameless? It was Tuoba Xiu who had committed the sin, yet he’d sworn up and down that he’d mistaken Gu Min for her, vowed he’d been seduced, and washed his own hands clean as a whistle. Oh, sure—everything was Gu Min being shameless and scheming. Gu Min had taken the abortion money he gave her and still gone crying to his mother… fuck that!
And this person had once been her own husband! Qiao Chunyi was so sickened she nearly threw up.
The four of them ate breakfast together. Both Qiao Chunyi and Tuoba Yan had to head out—the former had taken leave yesterday and absolutely had to go to work today, while the latter had her first martial stunt scenes to film and couldn’t get out of it. They warned Gu Min over and over: don’t go out, and don’t open the door for anyone. Gu Min and Tuoba Jiao both promised.
Just what they’d feared. Gu Min and Tuoba Jiao were helping tidy up the apartment when they heard someone knocking at the door.
Gu Min signaled her daughter to keep quiet, then crept to the front door. Another round of knocking. She looked through the peephole—it was Tuoba Xiu!
Tuoba Xiu was dressed to the nines in a suit and tie, looking every bit the respectable gentleman2. Gu Min gnashed her teeth in hatred. She went back to the kitchen and grabbed a kitchen knife. Tuoba Jiao was terrified—she seized her mother’s wrist and hissed, “Mom, what are you doing!”
“I’m just holding it for self-defense. I’m not opening the door.” She still couldn’t gauge Tuoba Xiu’s intentions, so naturally she wasn’t about to open up.
Sure enough, Tuoba Xiu knocked once more, then turned away in disappointment. Gu Min watched through the peephole as he descended the stairs. Only then did she let out her breath. Mother and daughter practically slumped to the floor, shaken and furious.
But Gu Min couldn’t figure it out—what had Tuoba Xiu come here for?
The author has something to say:
Mother Gu: Don’t stop me, let me hack this bastard to death!
A Certain Tang: Aunt Gu, I know you’re furious, but this guy’s still useful. Let’s hack him in a few days.
Mother Gu: What use is he?
A Certain Tang: Advancing the plot! Like grazing old pastures3 with Mama Qiao and getting his face slapped, that sort of thing…
Mother Gu (enraged): He dares come harass Senior Sister Qiao?! Just see if I don’t finish him off!
—
Mother Gu, guarding Mama Qiao’s territorial rights, will be pretty badass about it too _(:з」∠)_
Footnotes
- 馒头 | mántou | Steamed wheat buns with no filling, a staple breakfast food across northern China; here sliced, dipped in egg wash, and pan-fried—a common homestyle morning dish.
- 人模狗样 | rén mú gǒu yàng | Literally 'human on the outside, dog on the inside'—a colloquial idiom for a despicable person who puts on a respectable appearance; here used with bitter irony for Tuoba Xiu's sharp business attire.
- 吃回头草 | chī huí tóu cǎo | Literally 'grazing old pastures again'—from the proverb 'a good horse doesn't graze old pastures,' meaning to return to a former lover or spouse; here used playfully for Tuoba Xiu pursuing Qiao Chunyi.
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