Chapter 99: Is She Mocking Me For Being A Love Brain? (Guest appearance by Teacher Wen)

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

Gu Jinrong's sudden announcement of retirement from the circle stirred up a wave of nostalgia within the industry. Various platforms were filled with her images, voice, and works as a tribute to the past.

The way things are going, makes it seem as if the person has already passed away.

Gu Jinrong herself, who was being "remembered" by everyone, was so dumbfounded by this situation that she simply did not go online for a long time.

This, however, has brought bitterness to Shen Qingzhi, who continues to develop in the entertainment industry.

Actually, Gu Jinrong's withdrawal from the circle has a slight advantage for Shen Qingzhi – now, she won't be mocked by Gu fans anymore.

Because Gu Jinrong's Weibo account with over a hundred million fans has now been deactivated, a group of heartbroken Gu fans constantly comment on Shen Qingzhi's Weibo, hoping that she will bring her wife out of retirement.

Regarding this, Shen Qingzhi expressed significant pressure: I am just her wife, not her, so why should I interfere with her life choices?

Besides, there's nothing wrong with being a chef. My wife's cooking skills have improved recently.

She doesn't have to tire herself running around, and even her mental state has improved.

Although that's the case, sometimes Shen Qingzhi sees the dense comments under her Weibo posts and still shows them to Gu Jinrong for a glance.

"So many people are thinking of you. Do you feel guilty for withdrawing from the circle?" 

Gu Jinrong chuckled, "When I act, I'm responsible to the audience; when I cook, I'm responsible to the diners. Why should I feel guilty?"

"Actually, what many of them miss is not me, but a spiritual support. Now that I have left, there will be new spiritual support in the future."

The reality proves Gu Jinrong's words to be true. The entertainment industry undergoes rapid changes, and in just three years, the landscape within the circle has experienced a new wave.

After winning the Golden Deer Award, Shen Qingzhi starred in another movie and a TV series the following year, both receiving very positive responses.

Just when everyone was betting on whether she would become the youngest double grand slam winner in the film and television industry of China, she discovered her newfound interest.

It turns out, that besides being an actress, becoming a director and overseeing every detail of a project from its embryonic stage and witnessing its growth, is also a very interesting thing.

People who become famous at a young age are confident, or they are influenced by their wife's free and easygoing temperament. When Shen Qingzhi discovered her new hobby, she did not hesitate to drop everything and pursue it.

She took a year and a half break, went to M Country, and enrolled in the Directing Department at Mingtian University, renowned as the cradle of the International Dollywood Awards.

Shen Qingzhi, risking the cost of a long-distance relationship with her wife, studied there tirelessly, and promptly returned to China upon completion. However, at that time, Gu Jinrong was too busy at a state banquet.

Shen Qingzhi:..

Wasn't the agreement to be relaxed and comfortable, doing what she likes? Why is she still so busy?

Fortunately, such grand events are rare each year. This time, Gu Jinrong is helping colleagues out of goodwill, and it's not a frequent occurrence.

When the two returned home in the evening, it had been three months since their last meeting. Now, a short separation is better than a marriage, the two, both around thirty years old, ignited like a blazing fire sparked from dry wood.

The fire burned throughout the night, so much so that when Shen Qingzhi woke up the next day, her calves were still trembling.

Are all the spoon stirrers these days so powerful?

However, despite the trembling, essential tasks cannot be neglected.

She returned to China to direct her first film, “Appetite and Desire"

Even though she took a year and a half break and her traffic is not as high as before, she has continued to maintain connections with people in the circle.

Just with the gimmick of "Shen Qingzhi's first directorial film", people paid attention and responded. The team was set up smoothly, and even a small supporting role was named.

The leading actress is a newcomer discovered in university, with limited acting experience. However, her attractiveness and temperament perfectly match the cold and stunning chef character in the movie.

At first, everyone found it difficult to understand that the film's leading actress was not recruited from the acting department, but from the finance department.

However, after seeing the profile pictures of the lead actress, everyone unanimously acknowledged and accepted the choice.

At first, Shen Qingzhi was very satisfied with the leading actress, after all, she personally approved the selection. The girl was beautiful, spirited, and had insightful opinions on acting.

However, later on, she discovered that this girl was indeed too opinionated. A newcomer daring to challenge the director on set, who gave her the courage?

"Wen Jin, didn't I tell you before? The character of Gu Qinghe is cold on the outside but warm-hearted, not genuinely cold. Don't look at other actors as if you're examining a corpse!" Shen Qingzhi held the script in one hand, sweating profusely under the June sun.

"But Director Shen, in the early stages, Gu Qinghe is solely devoted to culinary arts and doesn't pay much attention to other matters. Her eyes are most passionate only when cooking, making her seem like a different person. And what I'm doing is not looking at a corpse, it's looking at plants and trees."

The young actress scolded by Shen Qingzhi was in her early twenties. Faced with the director's criticism, she remained calm and explained her perspective with composure.

With many crew members watching nearby, Shen Qingzhi felt a bit uneasy. "Don't nitpick your words here. Whether it's looking at a corpse or looking at plants and trees, the current Gu Qinghe's eyes are too indifferent. Being cool-faced doesn't mean lacking emotions!"

A confused expression appeared on Wen Jin's face, and it was then that Shen Qingzhi realized that maybe it wasn't Gu Qinghe with a lack of emotions but Wen Jin.

Shen Qingzhi had also considered changing the cast, but for the moment, she couldn't find a more suitable candidate. At night, she could only go home and cry to her wife.

“Wuwuwu. Why is directing a movie so difficult nowadays? That new lead I found, she's petite but has quite a temper. She challenges me every day. I'm starting to think I might get a heart attack before the movie is even finished!"

Shen Qingzhi, who was orchestrating things on the set during the day, was now curled up in a ball in her wife's arms.

Gu Jinrong sat on the sofa, cradling her little girl in her arms. With one hand, she gently massaged the rounded earlobes, speaking in a soft and soothing tone.

“If she's annoying yet Qingqing is reluctant to replace her, there must be something special about her “

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

Shen Qingzhi groaned softly, closed her eyes, and clung to her wife like a koala. "Speaking of something special, when I first saw her, I thought she was about sixty or seventy percent similar to you. Now thinking about it, I must have been blind!"

“Is that so…How about we change her then?" Gu Jinrong deliberately coaxes her wife.

"Not changing! I refuse to believe I can't train a lead actress!" Shen Qingzhi declared determinedly.

***

The next day, on the film set…

“Cut! Wen Jin, a person has collapsed beside you. Can you show some reaction? Focusing on cooking doesn't mean losing all your senses!" Shen Qingzhi held a small fan, taking a few deep breaths to prevent herself from roaring on the spot.

"I just reacted. My ears moved. I practiced it yesterday. If you don't believe me, you can check the close-up shots." After the scene, Wen Jin spoke slowly and even moved her ears to prove that what she said was true.

Ears...moved?

Shen Qingzhi zoomed in on the monitor and reviewed it again, couldn't laugh or cry: Who's the director here? You have so many ideas every day.

But this time, compared to before, it was not a big problem. Shen Qingzhi decided not to argue with the young girl.

“Okay, okay, that's it for the morning. Let's wrap it up and eat."

The film crew had someone dedicated to box meals. While they couldn't be considered delicious, they excelled in being rich in nutrition.

Shen Qingzhi went to get a meal box. When she got it, she realized something was wrong. Today's meal was too exquisite and rich.

Before she could fully comprehend, a crew member tapped her shoulder and said, "Director Shen, Gu-jie is here."

Shen Qingzhi looked up when she heard the words and saw Gu Jinrong walking from the crowd.

Today, Gu Jinrong was dressed in a light khaki trench coat, paired with a simple white shirt, making her appear a few years younger than usual.

Although she has been out of the entertainment industry for three years, she is still shining brightly and easily becomes the center of attention when standing in the crowd.

Most people on the film crew knew Gu Jinrong, and at this moment, they tactfully made way, not wanting to interfere with the love between the director and her wife.

Shen Qingzhi, who had been acting serious all morning on the set. Now, holding onto the director's authority, she gazed at her wife approaching step by step, and then at the speed of light, she dragged her to the rest area and hugged her.

"Wife, I miss you so much. How come you found time to come over today?"

Gu Jinrong opened the meal box, pinched Shen Qingzhi's right cheek with one hand, and said, "I came to improve your diet. You've lost weight in recent days."

"Lost weight?" Shen Qingzhi extended her arm to inspect herself but couldn't discern any noticeable changes.

She took the chopsticks handed over by Gu Jinrong, picked up a piece of bacon, and tasted it with satisfaction, squinting her eyes.

"Still, my wife is the best. I knew something was up with the rich meal today. But making so much, isn't it tiring?"

"Not tiring at all. The portion you have is the one I prepared. The others are all taken care of by Xiao Jun and the others."

Seeing her wife's delightful appearance, Gu Jinrong couldn't help but take out her phone and snap a picture.

"Why are you taking pictures again?" Shen Qingzhi instinctively used a tissue to wipe her mouth.

"My wife eats so well, of course, I have to take more pictures. After all, you're the lifelong endorser of our restaurant. You made a promise to me back on that variety show, and now there's no turning back." Gu Jinrong carefully examined the photos, and then satisfactorily put away her phone.

"I never said I wanted to go back on my word," Shen Qingzhi scratched her face with one hand, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, I've retired and moved behind the scenes. Does being an endorser still have any effect now?"

"Of course, it still has an effect. Every time the head chef sees the endorser’s picture, she will be inspired to create even more delicious dishes." Gu Jinrong's voice was steady and gentle, making her words oddly convincing.

These roundabout sweet words are quite touching.

Shen Qingzhi happily finished her lunch with sweet words. She was about to cuddle with her wife for a while but…she heard Gu Jinrong say, "By the way, is that troublesome lead actress from your team around right now?"

"She should be in the next rest area. Do you need to find her for something?"

"I just want to meet the person who makes my Qingqing talk about her all the time when she comes home."

***

Wen Jin had just put away the tableware in her rest area when she heard a knock on the door.

Standing at the door was an elegant and friendly elder sister. Wen Jin had not paid much attention to the entertainment industry before, but she still recognized the person before her.

The legendary actress Gu Jinrong, the one actress she admired the most over the years.

Wen Jin politely invited her into the room. The other person had a gentle smile, but her words commanded an unexpected respect. 

"You've been in the crew for about half a month, right? Shall we have a chat?"

This chat lasted half an hour.

Shen Qingzhi peeked a few times at the door, only able to see the two of them talking with their mouths moving.

To maintain the director's authority, she wasn't accustomed to displaying affection in front of others on the set. So, she endured and refrained from interrupting.

Until Wen Jin stood up first, opened the door, and left.

She rushed in with a quick stride, hugged her wife, and swung her arms, "What were you just chatting with her about?"

"Nothing much, we just exchanged some acting experiences. You should have fewer arguments with her in the future.”

Shen Qingzhi expressed doubts about this. That little brat had been angry with her for half a month, but her wife could talk her out of it in half an hour?

Facts have proven that this is indeed the case!

During the subsequent filming process, Wen Jin seemed to have found a breakthrough, her entire demeanor becoming more vibrant, and she rarely talked back to Shen Qingzhi.

At most, when they lock eyes occasionally, her eyes are filled with a vague... tolerance?

Shen Qingzhi suspected that she might be seeing things. She was being tolerated by a kid six years younger than her!

The filming process went very smoothly, which was a good thing.

But when Shen Qingzhi discovered that this success was not because of her ability to convince others with her virtue, but rather because of her wife's support, she couldn't help but feel dramatic.

When Gu Jinrong came to deliver food again, she found Shen Qingzhi holding onto her arm and not letting go in the resting room, like a clinging vine.

"Why didn't she listen to me no matter what I said before, but as soon as you spoke, she listened? Wuwuwu, my wife is too charming. I'm feeling threatened, what should I do?"

Gu Jinrong rubbed her wife's head and was about to comfort her when there was a sudden knock on the door of the rest area.

Wen Jin entered the room and calmly picked up the mobile phone she had left behind. As she passed by Shen Qingzhi, she stayed silent for a few seconds before being unable to resist speaking.

"Director Shen, don't worry. Not everyone is like you, putting love above all else."

After she finished speaking, without waiting for Shen Qingzhi's response, she left like a gust of wind and closed the door thoughtfully.

Shen Qingzhi:?

"What did she mean just now? Is she indirectly mocking me for being a love brain?"

"How could that be?" Gu Jinrong held her wife in her arms and kissed her, "She was praising you for your sweet temperament."

***

"Appetite and Desire" was successfully completed, ranking third at the box office that year after its release, and the entire team was nominated for six Golden Deer Awards.

This is quite a dark-horse achievement for a new director and a new leading actress.

Good news: After creating the record for the youngest nominee for the Golden Deer Best Actress, Shen Qingzhi has now achieved the accomplishment of being the youngest nominee for the Golden Deer Best Director.

Bad news: Her previous record as the youngest nominee for the Golden Deer Best Actress has been broken, and it was broken by the female lead she personally brought into the industry.

However, this time being their first debut for film and television, the “Appetite and Desire” crew had many nominations but few awards.

Shen Qingzhi was still very happy, treating the entire cast to a feast from her own pocket.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone was somewhat intoxicated.

Shen Qingzhi, having had a bit too much to drink, started singing loudly at the table. Fortunately, Gu Jinrong arrived just in time, or else the impression she would leave with the entire crew the next day might be indelible.

On a chilly night, Gu Jinrong stood at the hotel entrance, using a scarf to wrap Shen Qingzhi snugly.

Shen Qingzhi hugged her wife and groaned, refusing to let go.

At this moment, many staff members have been picked up by relatives and friends. Wen Jin is standing not far away, looking the most sober.

The drunk Shen Qingzhi is indeed a bit noisy, causing her to have to turn her head and glance several times, but she is caught in the act by someone.

"What are you looking at? You can't fall in love with my wife. Mm... you can't fall in love with me either!" At this moment, Shen Qingzhi's face was flushed like a big peach.

While Gu Jinrong walked forward with her wife in her arms, she looked apologetically at Wen Jin who was next to them.

Wen Jin nodded clearly, looked at the backs of the two people who were gradually leaving, and sighed lightly, "Actually, Director Shen, sometimes I envy you."

Shen Qingzhi, though in a drunken haze, had good ears and thought that others were envious of her having such a good wife.

My wife is so perfect, I envy myself so much, hehe.

It's now 9:30 in the evening. High school students next to them just finished their evening self-study. Commuting students are coming out of the school gate one after another.

Wen Jin stood in the middle of the road and was bumped directly by a girl passing by with her companion.

"Sorry, sorry, did I hurt you?"

The soft and tender voice sounds very cute, but the person who got bumped is currently too busy to appreciate it.

Wen Jin pulled her scarf higher around her neck, a bit concerned about being recognized.

Fortunately, the other party was confused enough and had no other expression on her face except worry.

"It's okay." Wen Jin faintly uttered two words from her mouth, but the other person continued to stare at her intently as if trying to assess any injuries beneath the thick coat.

The two stood still for a moment until the companion called out, "Ruanruan, let's go."

The girl called "Ruanruan" hesitated for a moment, tore out a page from her notebook, and wrote down her phone number.

"I'm sorry, I have to go home at this time, or my grandma will worry. This is my contact information. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, just give me a call, and I'll take responsibility.

The person had already walked away, and Wen Jin glanced at the paper with the phone number, casually tossing it into the nearby trash bin.

It was just a bump, there's nothing to take responsibility for.

What's been happening to me lately? Ever since joining Director Shen's crew, I keep encountering single-celled organisms.

Forget it. Gu-jie once said, 

‘Those who express emotions directly are the purest. For actors, the simplest emotions are sometimes the most difficult to portray. Learn to cherish every pure person around you, and feel every pure emotion.’

Therefore, it is better to complain less in the future.

Author’s Note:

The wind and water take turns to turn. At this moment, Qingqing is still crying because of Teacher Wen, but one day she will regain her place again. Clenching fists!

Okay, the full text is over here, no more, no less than 99 chapters. I wish Queen Gu and Qingqing a long life~

It’s not easy to finally finish this article. Thank you all for accompanying me all the way. I hope to see you again next year (although it’s still difficult)I haven’t decided which article to write yet).

By the way, I would like to advertise the radio drama next door, "My CP Rumor With The Movie Queen Has Gone Viral". It has just been launched on Manbo. Wen Xiang Ruan Yu has a super CP feeling. If you are interested, you can go and listen to it.

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T/N:  Fifth project done!!! 🥰🌻🎉

Started: Jun. 24, 2023

Finished: Jan 17, 2024

Thank you for reading with me, I hope this edited MTL gave you a better reading experience. Apologies for the mistakes and erratic schedule. 😅🙏🙇🏽‍♀️🌻🌹

See you on the next project. Check out the INDEX for other stories, if you haven't yet.