Chapter 18: How Can The Fire Not Flare Up?
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5821232
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
"Do you need me to feed you?" Lin Qingyi saw that Qin Shiyue was still in a daze and made no move to take the ginger tea. Her red lips parted slightly, and her tone was as gentle as it could be.
It was only then that Qin Shiyue seemed to wake up from a dream. Again? Was this really how far her acting would go? Qin Shiyue felt she couldn’t keep up with her performance at all. She thought this was blatant humiliation. At this moment, her face turned ashen as she stared intently at the ginger tea in Lin Qingyi's hand. To her, it didn’t seem like a cup of ginger tea but a cup of poison.
Fang Xinhua lightly nudged Qin Shiyue with her body again. Even if their friendship was as fake as plastic, they still had to act out the roles of plastic sisters in the entertainment circle. The ginger tea had been brewed and placed right in front of her—short of being fed directly. There was no choice but to drink it. After all, Baby Qin'er had called her "sister" several times on Weibo not long ago. For those few "sister" acknowledgments, she had to drink it no matter what.
"Thanks!" Qin Shiyue finally took the ginger tea reluctantly, muttering a forced thank you. She unconsciously emphasized the word "thanks." If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have lied. On such a scorching day, she could have enjoyed a cold, refreshing strawberry smoothie. Instead, she was forced to drink steaming hot brown sugar ginger tea. How can the fire not flare up?
"Finishing the ginger tea would be the best way to thank me," Lin Qingyi said with a smile as she watched Qin Shiyue bring the ginger tea to her lips, her earlier displeasure completely gone. The "vase" had just been ungrateful, but now she was behaving properly. Why insist on being difficult? Was ginger tea really better than a strawberry smoothie?
As Qin Shiyue drank the ginger tea, she couldn't help but frown. It was unclear whether it was because the spicy ginger tea tasted bad or because of Lin Qingyi's words.
Under Lin Qingyi's gaze, Qin Shiyue had no choice but to drink half the cup of ginger tea before handing the cup to Fang Xinhua.
"I am quite surprised. Little Boss Qin puts so much effort into acting that I found it a bit moving, though you seem to overdo it a little," Lin Qingyi said, recalling Qin Shiyue's earlier, painfully awkward performance. She couldn't help but laugh softly. Lin Qingyi was hailed as a goddess by her fans, and it was no exaggeration—her laughter was especially pleasant to hear.
But to Qin Shiyue, it was like hitting the sore spot. The laughter was especially harsh. She forced a smile, knowing this woman would definitely mock her.
"Movie Queen Lin, please don't laugh at me." Qin Shiyue squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, feeling like her heart was being stabbed, almost to the point of bleeding.
"I've been filming in the film city recently as well. If you need anything, Little Boss Qin, you can come to me. I might be able to help a little." Lin Qingyi said generously. She believed that the vase, under her guidance, would make a huge leap in quality. As for why she had become so "helpful," Lin Qingyi thought it was probably because turning a pretty but useless vase into both pretty and useful was quite a challenging task.
However, Qin Shiyue clearly didn't feel Lin Qingyi's sincerity or enthusiasm. She took it as a fake, polite remark. Even if she had taken Lin Qingyi's words seriously, at this moment, she still wouldn't have wanted to ask Lin Qingyi for advice.
"Queen Lin, I appreciate your kind intentions, but there's no need for you to trouble yourself. I'm filming a common idol drama. I really can't delay Queen Lin's filming for an award-winning movie," Qin Shiyue said politely, though there was a hint of bitterness in her tone.
After her good intentions were repeatedly rejected, Lin Qingyi wasn't someone without a temper. Since the other person didn't appreciate it, she saw no reason to keep pushing. After all, it wasn't her who was being mocked for bad acting. She had thought this vase might have some ambition, but it seemed like a dumb vase was just a dumb vase, impossible to help.
"Since Little Boss Qin doesn't need anything, then forget it. Alright, I won't disturb Little Boss Qin's filming any longer. I'll leave now," Lin Qingyi said, putting her sunglasses back on. With the aura of a Movie Queen, she strutted away in her high heels from the set where Qin Shiyue was.
"I think there's no harm in asking Lin Qingyi for acting advice," Fang Xinhua suggested to Qin Shiyue after Lin Qingyi left. She felt that her Baby seemed to have hit a dead end in acting, unable to find any direction and just going around in circles. Lin Qingyi's title as Movie Queen wasn't given for nothing. Letting her give some guidance might actually help. After all, it couldn't possibly be worse than it was now.
"Heh, you think she can really help me? She's definitely not well-intentioned. She's just trying to take the chance to mock me," Qin Shiyue replied. She still held a grudge over the humiliation and ridicule Lin Qingyi had thrown at her that night at the ball, and she couldn't believe Lin Qingyi had any good intentions.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5821232
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
It indeed didn't seem like Lin Qingyi's style to offer guidance so enthusiastically and proactively. However, Fang Xinhua thought Lin Qingyi couldn't be as petty as Baby Qin'er said, just looking for a chance to throw someone down. After all, behind Baby Qin'er was President Qin. Lin Qingyi should at least show some respect and wouldn't deliberately make things hard for her. Fang Xinhua thought that it was probably just a casual, polite offer.
"Has Teacher Qin rested well?" Assistant director Zhang Cheng came over to ask once he saw that Lin Qingyi had already left.
Qin Shiyue's confidence had been crushed by Lin Qingyi, the final straw, and her mindset had collapsed. She didn’t feel like filming at all and was in a completely defeated state.
"It's my period, I'm not feeling well, I'll take a few days off," Qin Shiyue quickly used the same excuse she gave to Lin Qingyi to take a break.
Fang Xinhua thought the crew would definitely be displeased. After all, Baby Qin'er had already delayed a lot of the progress. If she took a few more days off now, they might even think she was throwing her weight around. However, Baby Qin'er really did need some rest to adjust her state.
"Ah... then Teacher Qin, please rest well," Zhang Cheng said. Although he was dissatisfied, he didn't dare to say anything. He thought to himself that encountering someone so high-maintenance meant he could only count himself unlucky.
Zhang Cheng turned around and spoke to Song Chengmu, whose face immediately darkened.
"Then let’s film someone else’s scenes," Song Chengmu could only suggest. What other option did they have? This vase-like lady, with her position and background, was untouchable, far more than other popular actresses who could easily be offended.
"Little Boss Qin doesn't appreciate it, and now you're unhappy?" Outside the set, Bai Wenxi asked tentatively.
"Heh, why would I feel unhappy for a stupid vase like her?" Lin Qingyi sneered in response. Qin Shiyue, treating treasures like grass, would eventually end up ruining herself.
"Then why did you suddenly become so kind? This isn't like your style at all," Bai Wenxi asked curiously.
"Life's a bit boring, can't I find some fun?" Lin Qingyi replied with a question of her own.
Bai Wenxi thought to herself, wasn't it said by someone, "All misfortunes stem from our inability to be alone, and only those who can happily be alone are truly mature people."
So, didn't that person always claim to be able to enjoy being alone? She, who would carefully groom herself every day, excessively narcissistic, would actually find it boring too.
Author's Note:
All misfortunes stem from our inability to be alone. — Schopenhauer
Bai Wenxi: "The great kind-hearted Lin is upset. It's rare for her to do a good deed, yet someone still doesn't appreciate it."
Lin Qingyi: Ha!
Qin Shiyue: Hmph!
Still 20 random red envelopes.
