Chapter 22: Here It Comes, This Big Surprise Is Finally Here
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5821232
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
After returning to the hotel, Qin Shiyue did not stay idle. She memorized the lines from the earlier parts of the script and mentally prepared herself to seek guidance from her love rival.
By evening, Qin Shiyue finished the dinner delivered by the hotel. She checked the time, and seeing it was almost eight o'clock, she felt it was the right time to visit Lin Qingyi.
"Which hotel is she staying at?" Qin Shiyue asked Fang Xinhua.
Although Baby Qin'er had said she would visit in the evening, Fang Xinhua wasn’t sure if she would really go, so she hadn’t asked which hotel Lin Qingyi was staying at. Now that Baby Qin'er seemed serious about visiting Lin Qingyi, it appeared she was truly determined to improve her acting skills this time.
"I'll ask Bai Wenxi." As Fang Xinhua spoke, she immediately sent a message to Bai Wenxi.
Three minutes later, Fang Xinhua received Bai Wenxi's reply.
"She’s at the Portman Hotel, about 800 meters from here. Do we need to drive over?" Fang Xinhua asked.
"Only 800 meters? Let’s just walk there," Qin Shiyue said. She felt she wasn’t getting much exercise staying cooped up in the hotel. A walk would do her good, and it was already nighttime, so there likely wouldn’t be many pedestrians who’d recognize her.
"Shall we go now?" Fang Xinhua inquired.
"Wait, I need to put on some makeup." Qin Shiyue had removed her makeup earlier when she returned to the hotel. Now that she was going to see her rival—her strong rival, one with both beauty and acting skills—she couldn’t lose in looks too. Her acting might not measure up, but she had to ensure her appearance was flawless. She resolved to present herself in perfect form before her rival.
Fang Xinhua was slightly taken aback. Why did this feel like someone carefully preparing for a date? Well, it was a rival, so losing face wasn’t an option. That said, she felt her Baby's looks were already stunning enough. Even bare-faced, Qin Shiyue wouldn’t lose out. Still, most women tended to feel more confident after applying makeup, and Fang Xinhua was happy to see her Baby appear even more beautiful and confident.
Fang Xinhua thought Qin Shiyue would go for a light makeup look and finish in ten or twenty minutes, but Baby made her wait for nearly forty minutes. Fang Xinhua couldn’t help but think, Isn’t this a bit too grand for meeting a rival?
"How is it? Pretty, right? Should we call Xiao Zhuang over?" Qin Shiyue asked somewhat uncertainly. She felt like something was still lacking and wasn't sure if she should summon her personal makeup artist to apply a more professional touch.
"No need. You’re already absolutely stunning," Fang Xinhua said with utmost certainty. Who was Baby Qin’er, after all? The reigning beauty, Little Boss Qin, who was born to thrive on this gorgeous face. A simple touch-up already made her look dazzling, with no need to gild the lily further. Besides, Fang Xinhua worried that if Xiao Zhuang really came over, they’d be tied up for another hour or so, and Baby Qin’er wouldn’t even make it out the door. Did Lin Qingyi shake Baby Qin’er’s confidence in her looks this much—someone who had always been so self-assured about her appearance?
"Are you sure?" Qin Shiyue checked herself in the mirror again. She thought she looked decent enough, but she felt she could be even more beautiful.
"Yes. It’s getting late. I read online that Lin Qingyi is very disciplined and follows an early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine. If we go any later, she might already be asleep." Visiting someone at night, after all, shouldn’t be too late.
"Then let’s go." Qin Shiyue, hearing what Fang Xinhua said, worried that her makeup would go to waste, so she decided to head out early. She thought for a moment and figured that Lin Qingyi had most likely removed her makeup by now. If she visited at this hour, she might catch Lin Qingyi bare-faced. Maybe Lin Qingyi’s bare face would look terrible.
No, Qin Shiyue suddenly recalled that when she was digging up dirt on Lin Qingyi, she’d seen a list of the top ten bare-faced goddesses. Both she and Lin Qingyi were on it. Lin Qingyi had ranked first, while she herself had only ranked second. At the time, she’d been furious, convinced the ranking was either made by Lin Qingyi’s fans or by blind people. Otherwise, how could they shamelessly create such a list?
Regardless, Qin Shiyue thought, her made-up self was definitely better-looking than a potentially bare-faced Lin Qingyi.
Feeling confident, Qin Shiyue lifted her chin slightly, looking like a victorious rooster, her steps filled with pride.
Fang Xinhua, watching Qin Shiyue in front of the makeup mirror, noticed her expression change several times in just a few minutes. She had no idea what Qin Shiyue ultimately thought of, but her demeanor suddenly became high-spirited. A confident Qin Shiyue, paired with her naturally striking looks, was like an erupting flame—breathtakingly beautiful.
Fang Xinhua immediately pulled out her phone and snapped several candid shots of Qin Shiyue’s beauty. She quickly posted them on Qin Shiyue’s official Weibo account. Her Baby Qin’er had risen to fame thanks to this face, so it was essential to regularly share stunning photos to keep up appearances. Fans would undoubtedly swoon over these pictures, and there was even a chance they could trend on hot searches.
When Bai Wenxi received Fang Xinhua’s message asking for the hotel address, she wondered if they were planning to visit her White Peacock. She hesitated for a moment and chose not to inform Lin Qingyi immediately. She thought it might be better to let Vase Qin’s arrival be a little surprise for her master. A surprise that arrived unannounced at the door could feel even bigger.
But Bai Wenxi waited and waited—nearly an hour passed, yet Vase Qin and her manager were nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t help but feel she had made a wise and heroic decision by not mentioning this to her master. Otherwise, given her master’s personality, if Lin Qingyi had silently anticipated Vase Qin’s arrival, only for an hour to pass without any sign of them, she would surely have been annoyed.
Bai Wenxi felt she was truly an angel. Not only did she spare her master from false anticipation, but she also salvaged Vase Qin’s image in her master’s eyes. How could she be this exceptional? Bai Wenxi silently gave herself a hundred thumbs-ups.
Just as she concluded that Vase Qin and her manager were unlikely to show up and were about to take a shower, she received a call from the front desk.
“Miss Bai, Miss Qin is here to see Teacher Lin…” The receptionist asked if Bai Wenxi would grant access.
“Alright, let them in,” Bai Wenxi decided, postponing her shower until after entertaining the Qin-Fang master and servant.
This was a five-star hotel, and Lin Qingyi was staying in the presidential suite on the top floor. The elevator required a keycard swipe at the front desk to access the top floor directly.
Although Qin Shiyue had spent the entire afternoon preparing herself mentally, she still felt inexplicably nervous after stepping into the elevator. If Lin Qingyi, that fake white lotus, refused her, it would be incredibly awkward. In hindsight, she should have let Sister Fang talk to her earlier in the day. In front of so many people, the white lotus would not have dared to refuse. But now, with no one else around, Qin Shiyue was uncertain about Lin Qingyi’s temperament. This woman was such a good actress that it was impossible to tell which version of her was genuine.
“Ding.” The elevator doors opened, and Qin Shiyue’s heart skipped a beat.
"Teacher Qin, Sister Fang, what brings you here?" Bai Wenxi seemed to have been waiting at the elevator door for some time. When she saw Qin Shiyue and Fang Xinhua, she immediately approached them with enthusiasm.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5821232
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Fang Xinhua noticed Bai Wenxi’s warm hospitality and thought her manner of welcoming guests was quite commendable, even waiting specifically at the elevator for her and Baby Qin'er.
"Shiyue has something she would like to ask Teacher Lin for help with. I wonder if Teacher Lin is available right now?" Fang Xinhua asked politely with a smile.
"My Teacher Lin usually goes to bed at ten. At this time, she should be free," Bai Wenxi replied, glancing at the time. It was nearly nine o'clock, so her master should have just finished her bath not long ago.
"I will go find her myself. Sister Fang, you can wait here," Qin Shiyue said, thinking that asking a rival for help was embarrassing enough. The fewer people around, the better.
"That's fine," Fang Xinhua nodded, thinking it would make the gesture seem more sincere. Baby Qin'er’s thoughtfulness had really improved lately.
Bai Wenxi thought to herself, here it comes—this big surprise is finally here.
Bai Wenxi and Fang Xinhua both watched Qin Shiyue walk away. For some reason, they both simultaneously felt like they were watching a sheep walk into a tiger's mouth.
Author's Note:
Lin Qingyi: "Baby, did you dress up just for me?"
Qin Shiyue: "Who else? Did I dress up at night for ghosts to see?"
Lin Qingyi: "Baby, do you know what you look like right now?"
Qin Shiyue: "What?"
Lin Qingyi: "A dish with all the color, aroma, and flavor. Delivered to my door at night—are you inviting me to savor it properly?"
Qin Shiyue: "I am here for serious business!"
Lin Qingyi: "Hello, my name is Serious Business."
Hahaha, I had fun writing this article.
Leave a proper comment, and you might receive a random red envelope!
