Amusing Ourselves to Death Arc
Agent 25
“It’s not necessary to be so troublesome.”
Xin Lan instinctively resisted.
Once is enough, but now, in this situation, two, three, four, and five are all here.
“It’s not troublesome at all. Besides, isn’t it normal for a manager to have a key to their artist’s room?”
Qin Yuyan blinked her eyes innocently, appearing genuinely puzzled.
But Xin Lan was willing to bet that Qin Yuyan was definitely secretly amused.
“But isn’t this your private residence?”
“It doesn’t matter; I don’t need the company to arrange a place for me anyway. Besides, it’s so close to your place, so whether it’s private or not doesn’t matter. Let’s go inside after we finish eating?”
When Qin Yuyan said this much, Xin Lan naturally couldn’t refuse.
However, in her heart, she thought that even if she had the key, it didn’t necessarily mean she had to enter. So, having the key didn’t really matter.
Qin Yuyan’s cooking was absolutely delicious, and Xin Lan enjoyed her meal.
The red wine-braised oxtail had a slightly sweet taste, and the oxtail was tender and succulent, exuding a seductive red hue. When placed in the mouth, the aroma of the red wine spread throughout the entire palate, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
After finishing their meal, Xin Lan didn’t leave quickly. Instead, she discussed her upcoming work arrangements with Qin Yuyan.
“Tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock, you have an entertainment interview. Of course, it’s not a big one. You’ve just started, so don’t worry. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
“Yeah, I’m not in a hurry.”
Qin Yuyan’s eyebrows curved with delight because of the “we” that Xin Lan mentioned, and she was in an especially good mood.
After arranging Qin Yuyan’s schedule for the next week, Xin Lan left Qin Yuyan’s house.
(Originally translated on littlepandatranslations.com, let's go!)
She had the intention of boosting Qin Yuyan’s popularity through variety shows, but currently, there weren’t any suitable ones. If she became a regular guest, it would be too time-consuming, and for smaller shows, they wouldn’t help her gain fame. As for larger programs, it would be difficult to secure a spot, and there would be a lot of criticism. Xin Lan didn’t want to resort to controversy for fame. However, if they were invited, there were no high-profile projects for Qin Yuyan to participate in, which amounted to no use.
So, after thinking it over, they could only take it step by step.
Laying a solid foundation is crucial. If a celebrity’s foundation isn’t stable, they can easily fall apart.
And she intended to elevate Qin Yuyan to the pinnacle. She didn’t have much time and couldn’t afford decades to slowly cultivate her career. Therefore, she had to be meticulous, and everything had to be perfect.
Qin Yuyan only noticed Xin Lan looking at her but didn’t understand the depth of her intentions. She had prepared honey milk, poured it into a paper cup.
“It’s quite hot inside, but it’s still early now. By the time you go to bed, it should have cooled down. This is honey milk; drinking it before bed helps with sleep. However, it’s important not to drink too much as it can affect kidney function. So, I’ve filled it halfway for you. Remember to drink it.”
Qin Yuyan handed the paper cup to Xin Lan. The cup was unique, with a small bridge made of stiff cardboard over the top of the cup, making it easy to pick up without burning your hands.
Qin Yuyan was just too considerate, so considerate that Xin Lan didn’t even know what to say.
“Thank you, you’re too kind. You don’t have to go through all this trouble next time.”
That’s all she could say.
Thank you, no need to bother. Xin Lan had said these words to Qin Yuyan many times, and Qin Yuyan had replied many times as well.
“It’s just a small thing, no need to be polite. I don’t find it troublesome.”
Xin Lan smiled helplessly and left Qin Yuyan’s place with the honey milk.
Of course, before leaving, Qin Yuyan pulled her into her house and recorded her fingerprints.
Sitting at home, she stared at the milk in front of her and sighed.
What should she do?
It was so complicated.
She was, in fact, a straightforward person and wouldn’t hesitate to reject someone just because they liked her. But the problem was, she also had feelings for Qin Yuyan.
She looked into Qin Yuyan’s eyes and found it hard to be resolute.
Zero Nine didn’t know how to advise Xin Lan, so she decided to turn to a forum.
The forum was filled with anonymous posters, and no one knew who was behind each alias.
Question: The host rarely falls for someone, but in a limited time within the mission world, how do you all handle such situations?
1st comment: My host is the type to seize the moment. If she’s interested, she’ll act on it now. Who knows if there will be a chance later? Better not to regret it.
2nd comment: Same as the person above, my host doesn’t plan to settle down, but she’s great at pursuing those she’s interested in. She can win over someone’s heart in minutes.
3rd comment: My host is free from desires, and I’ve adopted a minimalist lifestyle along with her.
4th comment: My host has been in a similar situation, but he’s a highly responsible person. He felt it would be cruel to leave a girl heartbroken if it couldn’t last a long time, so he didn’t make a move. He left like that, and it’s been a long, long time. My host has gradually forgotten, but I still feel regretful.
5th comment: My host has also encountered this situation, but unlike the person above, in a new mission world, my host found someone she liked and who was a good match. I don’t feel regret. Our time is so long; we’ll eventually meet the right person. Uh, it seems like I’m going off-topic. Anyway, we AIs can’t intervene in such matters.
6th comment: I asked my host, and she suggests going with the flow and avoiding regrets.
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Zero Nine compiled the words of her fellow colleagues and simplified them to tell Xin Lan.
She heard a lot, but Xin Lan remained silent.
In truth, she understood all of this. After thanking Zero Nine, Xin Lan took a sip of the honey milk in her cup.
She took a shallow sip, and the warm, sweet liquid slid down her throat, bringing a sense of warmth.
She still felt that someone as warm-hearted as Qin Yuyan shouldn’t waste her time on her.
She was supposed to have a happy and fulfilling life.
Xin Lan stood up, took a shower, and then proceeded to work on her computer, organizing her schedule and plans according to her itinerary.
She recalled that Cheng Zhi had broken up with Yuan Xiaoyuan. On the day they separated, Cheng Zhi called Xin Lan and cried over the phone.
A young man in his twenties, crying like a dog on the other end of the line.
Cheng Zhi said, “Sis, I really liked her, but why couldn’t we make it to the end?”
Cheng Zhi didn’t mention anything like “if we hadn’t entered the entertainment industry” because both he and Xin Lan understood that if Xin Lan hadn’t recruited him into this circle in the first place, he might not have had the chance to meet Yuan Xiaoyuan, let alone be together.
The opportunity that brought them together and made them fall in love ultimately became the reason for their breakup.
Xin Lan responded to him, saying that life was like that—things didn’t always go as planned. Being together wasn’t solely based on liking each other.
For example, Cheng Zhi and Yuan Xiaoyuan, and herself with Qin Yuyan.
She wasn’t being pessimistic; she just believed that turning one-sided affection into something more mature required a sense of responsibility.
She didn’t want Qin Yuyan to be upset; she was the one she liked.
The day after Cheng Zhi’s tears, Xin Lan called Chu Chu to inquire about Cheng Zhi’s condition. Chu Chu mentioned that apart from some redness and swelling in his eyes due to staying up late, Cheng Zhi seemed to be in a better state than before.
Xin Lan was quite relieved.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for Shen Yun’s audition for the grand historical palace intrigue drama.
Shen Yun was well-prepared, but when she came out, she didn’t seem overly happy. She was worried that this time would end up like the last time, all joy and no substance.
That sense of shock, disappointment, and defeat from experiencing it once was enough. Shen Yun didn’t want to go through it again, so this time, she didn’t have high expectations. She sat in the passenger seat of Xin Lan’s car, quietly trying to make herself invisible.
Xin Lan wouldn’t play the same trick twice. She told Shen Yun that she had passed the audition, and when it was time to join the cast, Shen Yun was still somewhat incredulous.
Shen Yun was genuinely surprised because of the sense of stability she felt. That night, she slept well after a long time.
Shen Yun happily jumped into the pit, and Xin Lan expressed her joy as well.
She just enjoyed watching Shen Yun do something with excitement, only to feel the pain of disappointment when it didn’t work out in the end.
Xin Lan had already inquired about the upcoming drama. It seemed like a big-budget production that, even if it didn’t become a sensation, wouldn’t flop miserably. As long as it aired on a high-rated TV channel, there would be viewers. However, the production team had its complexities, with a risk of mishaps at any moment. Xin Lan had gathered information and knew that others were also watching closely, waiting for them to finish filming before causing trouble.
After Qin Yuyan’s relatively light workload for the past half month of endorsements, Xin Lan secured a new drama for her. Interestingly, it was also a palace drama.
However, unlike Shen Yun’s harem drama, Qin Yuyan’s script had a grander scale, involving the transition of dynasties, making it more epic.
The protagonist enters the palace as a court lady and, through a series of events, becomes the first female historian since the founding of the dynasty.
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Being a historian wasn’t an easy job. It required impartiality and integrity, recording the deeds of emperors and empresses. However, no ruler was without flaws, and every emperor hoped to leave a lasting legacy. Consequently, historians often met unfortunate ends.
The female lead, as a historian of utmost integrity, objectively records all the actions of the emperor. When the current emperor ascends the throne by killing his brother, despite being a wise ruler, he possesses a tyrannical temperament. Naturally, the female lead’s impartiality doesn’t endear her to him. Unfortunately, the female lead also happens to be exceptionally beautiful, which prompts the emperor to intentionally insult her.
Xin Lan reviewed the script and found it very promising. It immediately showcased the female lead’s talent and character, creating conflict without unnecessary delay. The emperor’s insult and his desire to send her to the harem only occur in the fifth episode.
Xin Lan let Qin Yuyan read the script and asked a simple question.
“Can you act it?”
“Yes.”
Qin Yuyan nodded.
“Is it just this bed scene?”
Qin Yuyan felt a bit conflicted. She knew, as a dedicated actress, that she should handle such scenes professionally even if she didn’t have a significant other. However, with Xin Lan right in front of her, she didn’t want to maintain that level of professionalism.
“We’ve discussed this with the director,” Xin Lan explained. “There won’t be any explicit content. It’s primarily about portraying the conflict. If there’s anything you’re uncomfortable with, we’ll talk about it, and I won’t force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
Xin Lan’s statement was affirmative, and her confidence was strong, much like when Qin Yuyan had seen her at the banquet.
TV dramas offer more intricate character development than movies because of their longer duration, but they can also make actors’ shortcomings more noticeable.
But Xin Lan felt that Qin Yuyan had no shortcomings at all; there was no problem.
In fact, Qin Yuyan was indeed living up to expectations. During the audition, she used her acting skills to impress everyone present.
The director immediately gave the green light, stating that she was the perfect choice for the female lead.
At this point, the filming on Zhang Haishan’s side was entering its final stages.
Qin Yuyan’s acting career was aligning with Xin Lan’s planned direction, just as she had anticipated.
She always had a strong sense of certainty, except when it came to Qin Yuyan’s feelings, or rather, her own feelings toward Qin Yuyan, which was an unforeseen variable.
“If you’re not busy, remember to visit the set.”
Qin Yuyan said with a smile, just like last time.