Chapter 26: I'm Your First Choice
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5821232
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
"What do you mean?" Qin Shiyue clearly could not easily trust Lin Qingyi anymore. She felt that this woman was full of bad intentions and up to no good. However, Lin Qingyi's change of tone made Qin Shiyue stop in her tracks. Her focus on improving her acting still made her hold on to a faint hope for this matter. Of course, if Lin Qingyi dared to take advantage of the situation to mock or humiliate her again, she would make sure Lin Qingyi knew that even a cornered rabbit could bite.
Seeing that Qin Shiyue's anger had subsided, Lin Qingyi realized there was room to speak. It seemed this vase was truly concerned about improving her acting skills.
That was all that mattered.
"Or is it that you just casually said you want to improve your acting, but didn't really take it seriously? Can't handle a little setback?" Once Lin Qingyi was sure that Qin Shiyue wouldn't leave immediately, she let go of her hand. Her tone and posture returned to their usual casual and composed manner, with a hint of mockery. But it was undeniable that, when Qin Shiyue had been about to storm out in anger, Lin Qingyi had actually panicked for a moment.
Lin Qingyi wore a "I knew you were just saying it" expression, which only infuriated Qin Shiyue further. She could not tolerate being looked down upon by Lin Qingyi. When facing Lin Qingyi, Qin Shiyue seemed to transform into a spring, ready to leap high at the slightest pressure.
"Of course I wasn’t just casually saying it. Otherwise, would I still be standing here to be humiliated by you?" Qin Shiyue retorted angrily. Thinking back on what had just happened, she still felt regret deep inside, regretting coming to find Lin Qingyi tonight. Recalling Lin Qingyi’s words, the fire in her chest burned even more fiercely. She wished she could turn it into actual flames, to burn Lin Qingyi, and bring them both to ruin.
Lin Qingyi thought for a moment. As Qin Shiyue's rival, for her to come seeking help from herself was indeed not an easy thing. Perhaps she had indeed gone a little too far just now.
"Of course, I also need to test your determination. What if you're just acting on a whim? I don't want to waste my time and energy. Only if you're truly committed to change, will it be worth my time and effort, isn't that the logic?" Lin Qingyi quickly found a reasonable explanation for her earlier actions, hoping to prevent the vase from getting even angrier.
When Qin Shiyue heard this, she realized there was nothing wrong with what Lin Qingyi said, and her anger subsided considerably.
"If I were just acting on a whim, would I come to find you?" Qin Shiyue repeated the same words again, her anger lessened but not completely gone. It felt like her coming to seek help from Lin Qingyi was a great injustice.
Once was enough; after hearing it twice, Lin Qingyi was no longer happy. This woman sure had a lot of resentment toward her.
"What’s wrong with me?" Lin Qingyi raised her eyebrow and asked, casting a flirtatious glance at Qin Shiyue, unleashing her charm. She felt that if Qin Shiyue saw her as pitiful, it was already a great honor for her to allow the vase to see her. She wasn't someone just anyone could see. What she found curious was how such a perfect person like herself appeared in the vase's eyes.
Moreover, Lin Qingyi was convinced that asking her for help was the wisest and most brilliant decision Qin Shiyue had ever made. Clearly, the vase didn't have the proper awareness of that.
At this moment, Qin Shiyue was immune to Lin Qingyi’s flirtatious expression, as she had already received her dose of the preventative vaccine, which had its own effectiveness period.
"You are so fake, all surface and no substance. On the outside, you look like a pure lotus, but inside you're arrogant and narcissistic. You look down on others, thinking you're so exceptional, so good, and that everyone else is a piece of shit..." Qin Shiyue was halfway through, when she realized she shouldn’t describe it like this, or else wouldn’t she be calling herself a piece of shit too?
However, at this moment, she really didn’t want to keep pretending to be plastic sisters with Lin Qingyi anymore. If things worked out, fine, but if not, she would part ways. She didn’t want to keep enduring this woman’s condescending attitude.
Though the vase's words were crude and unrefined, her understanding of herself wasn't entirely wrong—it was somewhat accurate. Lin Qingyi was a bit surprised; this vase actually had a decent sense of judgment about her.
"Since I'm such a terrible person, why would Little Boss Qin still want to ask me for help?" Lin Qingyi placed her hand on Qin Shiyue's shoulder, smiling sweetly as she asked.
Qin Shiyue, now having some PTSD from Lin Qingyi's constant intimate gestures, quickly moved her body away from Lin Qingyi's touch.
"You think I want to ask you for help? I was originally going to ask Movie Queen Liu for help, but she's overseas filming and couldn't make time. She highly recommended you to me. You said you'd help me before, and since you happened to be nearby filming, that's why I came to you. As for you, you're not much of a person, but your acting skills are pretty good. Maybe you could offer me some help." Qin Shiyue decided to spill the truth. Since she had already insulted the woman, she might as well tell her everything. After saying all of this, she felt much more relieved.
"Little Boss Qin doesn't seem that smart after all," Lin Qingyi frowned slightly after hearing this, thinking to herself that she had expected this vase to suddenly become insightful for once, but as always, she was still foolish and unable to recognize what's valuable.
"I admit I'm not as cunning as you, otherwise, I wouldn't be here," Qin Shiyue replied, feeling the sparks of anger reignite after Lin Qingyi's comment about her being dumb.
Perhaps because of Lin Qingyi's status as a love rival, Qin Shiyue felt especially hurt when Lin Qingyi hit on her shortcomings.
"I'd prefer to hear that I'm your first choice. A smart person would say that," Lin Qingyi remarked, feeling that she should be Qin Shiyue's first choice. How could she be the fallback option? This stupid woman had no sense of tact in her speech.
"Heh, I'm not like you, so fake," Qin Shiyue suddenly felt that whether Lin Qingyi would help or not didn't matter. The frustration she had been holding in because of Lin Qingyi was finally pouring out.
"Little Boss Qin, this is not how you ask for help," Lin Qingyi reminded the vase. When asking for help, there should be a certain attitude, but acting arrogant and spreading slander like this, that won't work.
"Who knows if you'll help or not? What if I put on a show, acting like a fool, and you still won't help? Wouldn't that be a huge loss for me?" Qin Shiyue continued to snort and question. However, she was somewhat surprised by Lin Qingyi's reaction. Despite her harsh words, Lin Qingyi wasn't angry at all? Was her temper really this good? Qin Shiyue always thought that Lin Qingyi's good temperament outside was probably just a facade.
"If I were willing to help, would you pretend to be a fool for me to see?" Lin Qingyi remarked. She found it quite amusing to watch the vase perform with such poor acting skills, playing a game of fake kindness. It was quite entertaining. Right now, she seemed like a fire-breathing dragon, ready to scorch her.
Qin Shiyue felt that Lin Qingyi’s words didn't sound right. She thought to herself, I don’t want to keep pretending to be a fool. But hearing her words, it seemed like she was willing to help?
"Then, do you want to help or not?" Qin Shiyue asked, her tone softer. She still hoped Lin Qingyi would help.
"I can help, but shouldn't Little Boss Qin offer some benefits in return?" Lin Qingyi thought to herself that she never did anything without profit. Playing the role of a saint was not her style. Some give and take seemed more reliable.
"What benefits?" Qin Shiyue thought to herself, I knew this woman wouldn't be so kind. She’s already thinking of benefits before even doing anything.
"I haven't thought of anything yet. After all, I don't lack anything. Once I come up with something, I'll ask Little Boss Qin for it." Lin Qingyi pondered for a moment but couldn't think of anything she wanted, so she decided to let Qin Shiyue owe her first. The feeling of having this woman owe her seemed pretty good.
"You should set the terms first, or who knows if you'll ask for too much," Qin Shiyue thought to herself that she wasn’t stupid and wasn’t going to make promises without clear terms.
"When the time comes, what I want will definitely be something Little Boss Qin can afford. Besides, I haven’t asked you to sign anything. If I do end up asking for too much, you can always refuse. Of course, I believe Little Boss Qin isn’t the type to do that," Lin Qingyi said with a firm tone.
"You're sure you're not going to make me sign anything? Then I'll definitely back out when the time comes," Qin Shiyue deliberately contradicted Lin Qingyi.
"If Little Boss Qin wants to back out, then go ahead," Lin Qingyi responded, seemingly unconcerned.
Qin Shiyue thought to herself, This woman trusts me that much? She decided she would back out, just to make Lin Qingyi feel like she had misjudged her, though that wasn’t really her character.
"Fine then," Qin Shiyue reluctantly responded, agreeing to Lin Qingyi's terms. If the woman's demands were too unreasonable, she could always refuse since there was no written agreement. Of course, within her abilities, she would definitely agree to her.
"Give it to me," Lin Qingyi extended her hand toward Qin Shiyue once they reached an agreement.
"What?" Qin Shiyue was completely confused, wondering what the woman wanted.
"The script," Lin Qingyi said as if it were the most obvious thing. However, it was clear that Qin Shiyue hadn't brought the script.
Ah! Before leaving, she had been so focused on her appearance that she completely forgot to bring the script. But Qin Shiyue hadn't expected Lin Qingyi to act so efficiently. She had just agreed to help, and now she was already asking for the script. It seemed like this woman was quite dependable when it came to doing things.
"Wait for me," Qin Shiyue said, immediately opening the room door and rushing out to find Fang Xinhua. She thought her reliable manager might have an electronic copy of the script.
Lin Qingyi had planned to tell her that she could give it to her tomorrow, but the other person was already gone. Lin Qingyi checked the time on her phone; it was almost 10 PM, and her sleep time was approaching. She had an ominous feeling that her regular routine was about to be disrupted.
Fang Xinhua and Bai Wenxi were both managers in the same circle, so they had quite a bit in common. The two of them knew a lot of entertainment industry gossip, so they exchanged various pieces of news. Just as they were indulging in the gossip, the hotel room door suddenly opened.
Fang Xinhua and Bai Wenxi exchanged a knowing glance and simultaneously stopped eating melon.
"Sister Fang, please send me the electronic copy of our script," Qin Shiyue said, her tone anxious and tinged with excitement.
It seemed that Movie Queen Lin had agreed to guide Baby Qin'er. Fang Xinhua immediately opened her phone and sent the electronic file to Qin Shiyue's phone.
With the electronic copy in hand, Qin Shiyue rushed back to Lin Qingyi's room.
After Lin Qingyi had agreed to help, Qin Shiyue felt as though some acting talent was brewing within her body. She could hardly wait to bask in the feeling of being immersed in acting.
Fang Xinhua thought that if the two popular actresses wanted to avoid suspicion, they could have invited her and Bai Wenxi along. Guidance on acting shouldn't require a private session, after all, it's not some secret martial arts technique that can't be shared.
Seeing Qin Shiyue quickly close the door again, Fang Xinhua suddenly realized her idea might have been too much of a third wheel. Maybe they just preferred one-on-one guidance, and avoiding suspicion wasn't a concern. Actually, it's quite normal for women to have intimate relationships; if she could teach acting, maybe she'd also teach those "bedroom secrets." If that's the case, her Baby Qin'er would turn out to be quite accomplished.
Fang Xinhua also thought that if Baby Qin’er and Lin Qingyi were together, Baby Qin'er would have the advantage. This was definitely not her own opinion; even Qin Shiyue's fans felt the same way, thinking that their Little Boss Qin had climbed up to Queen Lin’s level. This was evident from the "Qin Lin Qing Shi" CP Chaohua, where the CP fans had a smug feeling that Qin Shiyue was the one benefiting. This made Lin Qingyi's fans furious.
However, Fang Xinhua thought Lin Qingyi wasn't at a loss either. A beautiful, well-bred, pure-hearted, and wealthy woman like Baby Qin'er was hard to find anywhere else.
"If 'Qin Lin Qing Shi' becomes a thing, how do you think Teacher Lin's fans will react?" Fang Xinhua curiously asked Bai Wenxi.
"They'll scold your Baby Qin'er first, then reluctantly accept reality. They might even start a new CP Chaohua, making my Teacher Lin the top and your Baby Qin'er the bottom. By then, it’ll probably turn into a battle over who’s the top." Bai Wenxi seriously thought it through before giving her prediction.
"Who do you think is more top?" Fang Xinhua continued to ask.
"That must be my Teacher Lin. Even the name carries a '1';* it's a sign of fate," Bai Wenxi naturally stood united with her fanbase. With a name like Baby Qin'er, it was a losing battle—clearly destined to be a "bottom."
*not so sure about this, either 林 (Lin) kinda looks like 1 or the 意 (yì) in Lin Qingyi sounds like 一 (yī) which means 1. In Chinese gay lingo 1= top 0=bottom
"That’s not necessarily true," Fang Xinhua countered. Though she also felt that Baby Qin'er was more likely to be a "receiver", she had to uphold her artist's image. In private, who could say for sure who’d be the top or bottom once the doors closed? So it's okay to lie with her eyes open.
"Do you really think your Baby Qin'er could compete with my Teacher Lin?" Bai Wenxi asked smugly, her tone brimming with pride.
"In bed, it’s not about brains but stamina. My Baby Qin'er’s stamina is pretty good. Besides, what if Movie Queen Lin prefers to just enjoy herself?" Fang Xinhua said, refusing to back down.
Bai Wenxi thought for a moment and actually found Fang Xinhua's point quite reasonable. Her White Peacock was selfish and narcissistic, only caring about her own enjoyment while making some silly Baby Qin'er work hard. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this possibility wasn’t small.
"We might be overthinking it. Maybe they're just simply exchanging tips on acting," Bai Wenxi said, but she didn’t even believe her own words. Her Teacher Lin had never been that kind of good person. Teacher Lin's usual style should be like this: "None of my business, don’t bother me, I’m very busy, busy combing my feathers."
When Qin Shiyue returned to the room, she saw Lin Qingyi already waiting for her in front of the sofa. Lin Qingyi was leaning on the sofa, looking lazy and relaxed. She looked different from before. Qin Shiyue thought to herself, this woman is really something, it feels like she could change at any moment. Her acting is really good. Qin Shiyue suddenly felt proud to have such a famous teacher. It seemed like a good teacher would produce a good student.
"I'll add you on WeChat and send you the script," Qin Shiyue said. She sat next to Lin Qingyi and gently pushed her, asking for her phone.
Lin Qingyi thought to herself, if Bai Wenxi were here, she would definitely know that she hated looking at electronic files because they hurt her eyes. Although she didn’t want to look at an electronic file, Lin Qingyi unlocked her phone and handed it to Qin Shiyue.
Qin Shiyue took Lin Qingyi's phone, quickly added her as a friend, and sent the script's electronic file to her.
"Take a look quickly. How do you think I should act?" Working on this project made Qin Shiyue feel excited, with a sense of hope and urgency that she could do it right away.
Lin Qingyi had mild farsightedness, so she was used to wearing glasses when reading scripts. She calmly stood up to get her glasses. She thought, it's so late, and she still has to work hard. This vase really owes her a big favor. It felt like even offering her body wouldn't be enough to repay the huge debt of gratitude she owed her.
After Lin Qingyi put on her frameless silver glasses, she really started to seriously read the script Qin Shiyue gave her.
Qin Shiyue thought Lin Qingyi was dangerous. Just by wearing glasses, her entire demeanor changed again—elegant, capable, and sharp, especially with her serious expression. That famous charm of a woman who’s serious became evident.
Qin Shiyue once again felt like she might be too starved for women, leading to the "sow looks like Diao Chan"* effect. No matter how she looked at it, this woman seemed quite charming. But a little voice inside her seemed to protest, saying: Lin Qingyi cannot be compared to a sow. That’s an unjust comparison. Lin Qingyi is simply beautiful. Look at how long and captivating her slightly lowered lashes are…
*The complete phrase was: After 3 years being in the military (mandatory military training), a sow will be as beautiful as Diao Chan. Meaning after being deprived or seldom seeing the opposite sex, anyone will look beautiful.
Diao Chan is one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, known for her beauty and her role in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
When Qin Shiyue saw Lin Qingyi's lashes move slightly, she quickly looked away, afraid Lin Qingyi would catch her staring. Feeling guilty, she grabbed a cushion from the sofa. She thought to herself that she couldn’t keep looking at her rival, or she would end up helping her rival.
Lin Qingyi had never acted in an idol drama, but from the script's lines, she found many of them awkward. It felt like the male and female leads were living on another planet. Moreover, she could tell that the female lead's character was tailored specifically for Qin Shiyue. This vase didn't need any acting skills; all she had to do was play herself. With a script like that, Qin Shiyue could perform it that well—there really was no one else like her.
"How is it?" Seeing that Lin Qingyi had been looking at the script for a long time without reacting, Qin Shiyue couldn't hold back her anxiety and asked.
Lin Qingyi lifted her gaze to look at Qin Shiyue, took off her glasses, and placed the phone on the table. After watching a few episodes, she had figured out most of the issues.
"How far have you guys gone in the drama?" Lin Qingyi asked.
"Episode three," Qin Shiyue answered truthfully.
"This script is quite suitable for you. It's completely tailored to you, but some of the lines are too awkward, and some plot points and logic don't quite make sense. I'll find a reliable screenwriter to straighten the whole script out. After the revisions, you should be able to perform much more smoothly," Lin Qingyi said. "If the lines aren't awkward, the performance will feel more natural. If the logic is reasonable, it won't break the immersion."
"Revise the script? Won't they think I'm being difficult?" Qin Shiyue asked with concern, thinking that if she made changes to the script, the screenwriters, director, and even the whole crew would probably not be happy about it.
"You've been on a week-long break. Isn't that already being difficult?" Lin Qingyi said and smiled teasingly.
"My state wasn't right before. I performed badly. Out of a sense of responsibility, I didn't want to ruin the show, so I temporarily stopped filming. It wasn't about being difficult," Qin Shiyue quickly defended herself. Even though she was indeed famous and had a big reputation, she never acted like a big shot.
"Most people don't care to hear the reasons; they care about the results. They don’t care why you stopped work. The fact is, you really did halt production for a week, delaying the filming schedule for the entire crew. In other people’s eyes, that’s just being difficult," Lin Qingyi said. She thought it was a good thing that the vase suddenly had ambition, but others wouldn’t be as understanding as she was.
Qin Shiyue felt uncomfortable hearing Lin Qingyi say this, but she couldn’t argue with her words.
"Then I’ll just admit I was being difficult," Qin Shiyue said reluctantly. Deep down, she knew Lin Qingyi wasn’t wrong. To the crew, they probably already thought she was acting like a big shot.
"If you don’t want to give others something to talk about, you need to think about the consequences beforehand," Lin Qingyi said. She found herself acting out of character. She rarely lectured others, but when it came to this vase, she couldn’t help but speak up. What surprised her was that Qin Shiyue actually listened. She had assumed Qin Shiyue would never admit to acting like a big shot so easily.
Qin Shiyue felt even more upset hearing this. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this woman was implying she acted without thinking. But then, a thought crossed her mind—this woman seemed way too focused on her.
"How did you know I stopped filming for a week?" Qin Shiyue asked. Had her break become such common knowledge that even Lin Qingyi was aware of it?
"This circle isn’t that big. What secrets could there be? Besides, you’re filming right next door. Would it be so hard to overhear a gossip or two about you?" Lin Qingyi countered.
"I thought you wouldn’t bother with such gossip, since it has nothing to do with you. Turns out, you’re quite nosy," Qin Shiyue said with a surprised expression, as if amazed Lin Qingyi would pay attention to gossip. She thought to herself, I knew it—she’s not as perfect and indifferent as she seems on the surface.
Lin Qingyi glanced at Qin Shiyue indifferently and didn’t respond.
She truly didn’t listen to other people’s gossip. Lin Qingyi had a habit of automatically filtering out information that had no value to her. But anything related to Qin Shiyue seemed to bypass her filter and make its way to her ears.
Lin Qingyi simply cast a glance at her, showing no interest in Qin Shiyue’s dramatic reaction.
Lin Qingyi’s indifference made Qin Shiyue feel a bit childish and dull. She quickly adjusted her expression and reflected on herself briefly. Since Lin Qingyi was already willing to help her, she thought she shouldn’t keep trying to find faults with her.
“If I change the script, won’t people think I’m acting like a big shot, messing with the script and lines at will?” Qin Shiyue asked worriedly.
“You’ve already acted like a big shot once; doing it again doesn’t make much difference. What you need to think about now is what result you want the most.” Lin Qingyi believed one should prioritize their actions, though she doubted Qin Shiyue would understand this concept.
"Of course, it’s to improve my acting skills, make this drama great, and leave everyone in awe," Qin Shiyue said, her goal clear and firm.
"For that result, everything else is just a means to an end. With your status and background, you have the power to change the script. Even if they call you a big shot again, it’s harmless. You’re already criticized enough; a bit more won’t make a difference. Sometimes, black paint can be a protective color. Once you achieve the result you want—like showing real improvement in your acting and gaining audience recognition—you can wash away all the accusations of acting like a big shot. Those criticisms will instead prove how serious and hardworking you were."
Most people are result-oriented, so as long as Qin Shiyue achieved her goal and won the audience's recognition for her acting, the process would simply be stepping stones along the way.
Qin Shiyue listened to Lin Qingyi's analysis and felt it made so much sense. Exactly—if her acting skills truly improved and won the audience's approval, then the notion of being a big shot wouldn’t exist. It would all serve as proof of her efforts to change. Once she figured it out, Qin Shiyue felt like rolling up her sleeves and throwing herself into work with full force.
"Did you used to be in pyramid schemes or something? I feel like my brain’s been brainwashed by you—I’m kind of fired up now," Qin Shiyue said, thinking Lin Qingyi really had something special. Not only was she beautiful and skilled in acting, but she was also smart. This is bad—it is starting to feel like she couldn’t compete.
Lin Qingyi rolled her eyes at Qin Shiyue again. Pyramid schemes? This woman really has no sense of words.
“It’s late, I should go to bed. Come back another day.” Lin Qingyi glanced at the time. Without realizing it, it was already half-past eleven, and her beauty sleep was overdue by an hour and a half.
Qin Shiyue was reluctant to leave. As someone seeking mentorship, she felt like she hadn’t even started practicing the basics, let alone learned any techniques, and was already being sent away. But in just two days, she’d be back on set, and she was desperate to learn something before then.
“I’ll start filming again in two days. I just want to improve my acting a bit over the next couple of days. Two days later, I want to amaze everyone. You understand what I mean, right?” Qin Shiyue looked at Lin Qingyi with an expectant expression, Give me a couple of emergency tricks!
“You want to take one bite and instantly get fat? You’re quite greedy. Since you’ve already paused filming, why not extend it a bit longer?” Lin Qingyi couldn’t help but let out a soft snort after speaking. Even if the vase begged a deity, it wouldn’t be granted this quickly.
“If I delay filming any longer, they’ll start revising the script and adding scenes for the supporting roles. How can I let that happen?” Qin Shiyue shared her current dilemma with Lin Qingyi.
“Have your sister step in. They wouldn’t dare.” After all, they needed to coax Qin Shiyue, this popular female star, to complete the show, and offending Qin Shilan was out of the question.
"I also want to stand on my own, not always ask my sister for help. Besides, I promised them I’d start filming again in two days, so it wouldn’t be good to go back on my word. Plus, the script needs to be revised later, and I don’t want to go too far," Qin Shiyue said.
"Oh, Little Boss Qin really surprised me," Lin Qingyi teased, thinking that after being called a vase for so many years, Little Boss Qin actually has a sense of shame.
Being teased by Lin Qingyi, Qin Shiyue felt her face heat up, and a mix of embarrassment and annoyance washed over her.
"Are you incapable? If you can't, just say so. I won’t laugh at you," Qin Shiyue used a provocation.
"If I’m incapable, then I truly apologize to Little Boss Qin for your provocation. Fine, I’ll have someone revise the script overnight and come back tomorrow night to go over the scenes for the day after," Lin Qingyi replied. Everything could wait until tomorrow; after all, she needed to get some sleep. If it weren’t for the vase’s good looks, she would have kicked this woman out for interrupting her beauty sleep.
"Tomorrow night, right? I’ll come over earlier then. I won’t disturb Teacher Lin’s rest any longer," Qin Shiyue said, her tone light with a hint of cheerfulness, now that Lin Qingyi had agreed to guide her acting tomorrow night. She could finally head back with peace of mind.
Lin Qingyi could feel Qin Shiyue’s happiness at that moment, and her lips couldn’t help but curl up, thinking to herself that fools were indeed easy to please.
"Have Bai Wenxi come in." Before Qin Shiyue was about to leave, Lin Qingyi called for her manager to come in. She needed to hand over the task of revising the script to Bai Wenxi.
Bai Wenxi couldn’t hold back a yawn. As Lin Qingyi’s manager, she kept her schedule in sync with Lin Qingyi, to maintain the best work condition.
It was almost midnight, and working overtime so late was truly not Lin Qingyi’s style. Bai Wenxi was now even more certain that her boss had fallen for someone’s beauty. Staying up late for a pretty face, it was clear now—beauty is indeed a curse.
"Feeling tired?" Fang Xinhua noticed Bai Wenxi yawning continuously, thinking to herself that it's rare for modern people to have such a healthy and regular routine.
"I'm fine," Bai Wenxi replied while forcing herself, thinking that as a responsible manager, she must stay awake as long as her boss isn't sleeping.
"Here." Fang Xinhua took out a delicate and cute candy tin and handed it to Bai Wenxi.
"What is it?" Bai Wenxi asked.
"Strawberry-flavored mint candy, to help you stay alert."
"Is this for your Baby Qin'er?" Bai Wenxi took the tin, poured a strawberry-flavored mint candy into her palm, and glanced at the candy brand before returning the tin to Fang Xinhua.
"Yes, it's specially prepared for her." Fang Xinhua explained, "I don't like candy, but when Baby Qin'er gets tired or has nothing to do, she often has one, so I keep some on hand."
"Sister Fang is quite thoughtful." Bai Wenxi said as she popped the candy into her mouth. A rich strawberry flavor and a refreshing sensation spread across her mouth, and it was quite invigorating.
"Sister Fang?" Fang Xinhua thought to herself that one candy could work wonders. In no time, Bai Wenxi had called her 'Sister Fang,' and the sudden closeness made her feel a little uncomfortable.
At that moment, the hotel room door opened again, and Qin Shiyue came out once more.
"What can I do for you, Teacher Lin?" Bai Wenxi asked proactively.
"I've sent you the script for the vase role. Find a reliable screenwriter right away, and revise it. The lines need to be natural, the logic must be sound, and it needs to be done quickly. It would be best if it's finished by 7 PM tomorrow, as we'll need it for tomorrow night and the day after." Lin Qingyi assigned Bai Wenxi the task of reworking the script.
"No problem, I'll contact a screenwriter right away." With Lin Qingyi's reputation as the leading actress, finding a reliable screenwriter to revise the script overnight wasn't difficult.
"There's nothing else for now. I'll go rest. I might sleep in two more hours tomorrow morning," Lin Qingyi glanced at the clock, it was nearly midnight.
"Okay, rest well. I'll head out now. By the way, I had a casual chat with Miss Qin's manager just now and got two pieces of information that might interest you. Would you like to hear them?" Bai Wenxi asked before leaving.
"Go ahead," Lin Qingyi thought to herself that Bai Wenxi never spoke unnecessarily. Since she thought it might interest her, there might indeed be something worth hearing.
"First, Fang Xinhua calls Qin Shiyue Baby Qin’er. Second, Qin Shiyue loves XX's strawberry mint candy. That's all," Bai Wenxi briefly shared the two pieces of information about Qin Shiyue.
"That's it?" Lin Qingyi looked at Bai Wenxi in disbelief. Was there any need to mention this specifically?
She regretted the thought she had just had and decided to lower Bai Wenxi's score. This woman wasn’t always so succinct—this was exactly an example of unnecessary talk!
"I understand. You're not interested in this," Bai Wenxi thought as she saw Lin Qingyi's expression of disdain. She wondered if she had misread the situation. Was Lin Qingyi really not eyeing the beauty? But lately, her actions didn’t seem to add up.
"Bai Wenxi, you're overthinking my thoughts," Lin Qingyi said. Bai Wenxi's only flaw was that she often overestimated her own understanding. She seemed so certain that Lin Qingyi had some ulterior motive towards the vase, but could she possibly be interested in that vase? Was she really going to bring it home to arrange flowers?
"I'll reflect on it. I won’t disturb your rest," Bai Wenxi said before leaving Lin Qingyi’s room.
The superficial evidence showed that White Peacock’s attitude toward the person was clearly very special, yet she strongly denied it. Why was that? Was it because she rarely dated and was shy, so she didn’t want to admit it? It seemed White Peacock’s style of dating was like this—she complained with her mouth but her actions spoke differently.
Bai Wenxi suddenly became concerned about their future. One day, if White Peacock’s words said "no" but her body was being honest, would Blue and White Porcelain be able to get this duplicity?
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5821232
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Bai Wenxi left, while the woman who was "complaining with her mouth but acting differently" murmured another nickname of a certain vase.
"Baby Qin'er?" Ha, this woman’s nickname sounded a bit silly, but somehow it was also cute in a silly way. Lin Qingyi couldn’t help but think about the time she teased Baby Qin'er, remembering her blank expression. Her lips curved into a smile again.
Even though she was a bit silly, she was really pretty. When she got mad, she looked like a fire-breathing dragon. She liked strawberry flavor—maybe she also liked pink. Lin Qingyi couldn’t help but picture Qin Shiyue in pink and found it funny. She thought Baby Qin'er might just be a Peppa Pig, after all, Second Brother* was also…
*Zhu Bajie - an anthropomorphic pig, a character in Journey To The West.
On the way out of Lin Qingyi’s hotel.
"What did you two talk about? You were in there for so long. Did she teach you acting?" Fang Xinhua asked curiously.
Qin Shiyue thought about Lin Qingyi, that woman, who had touched her hair and even stroked her face. She had stood there blankly at the time, and thinking back now, Qin Shiyue felt annoyed at her own lack of composure. She decided she had to find a chance to fight back, to tease that woman in return, and settle the score for being bullied both last time and this time.
"She just helped me look over the script and said to find someone reliable to revise it, so it would feel more natural for me to act." Qin Shiyue didn’t mention the small incident to Fang Xinhua, only talking about the serious parts.
"Revising the script, huh!" Fang Xinhua’s tone carried a hint of difficulty. Revising it wasn’t impossible, but if word got out, Baby Qin’er’s reputation as a diva would be solidified.
"My most important goal is to improve my acting skills..." Qin Shiyue roughly repeated what Lin Qingyi had told her to Fang Xinhua.
"Lin Qingyi said that?" Fang Xinhua immediately recognized this wasn’t something Baby would say. The reasoning behind it was clear and logical.
"Do you think she’s right or not?" Qin Shiyue felt Lin Qingyi made a lot of sense, but she wasn’t very smart and worried about being tricked by her. After all, that woman had teased her twice already. She didn’t trust her much, so she wanted Sister Fang to analyze it for her.
"She’s right about everything, but..." Fang Xinhua hesitated.
"But what?" Qin Shiyue looked at Fang Xinhua expectantly, wanting to hear her opinion.
Fang Xinhua thought that the premise of clearing Baby’s bad reputation was that her acting skills truly improved. But what if they didn’t? All of this would just be empty talk. However, seeing Baby Qin'er's expectant gaze, Fang Xinhua couldn’t bring herself to say it. She didn’t want to dampen Baby Qin'er's enthusiasm. After all, Baby seemed genuinely motivated this time, even putting aside past grievances to seek advice from Lin Qingyi. She figured she should have a little confidence in Baby Qin'er too. Even if it didn’t work out, it wouldn’t matter—bad could always get worse. Lin Qingyi’s words were right: sometimes, being painted black could also serve as a protective color.
"It’s fine. Let’s have them help us revise the script. The shows she’s acted in are reliable, so the screenwriters she works with must be reliable too," Fang Xinhua decided to fully support Baby.
"Mm, I think so too," Qin Shiyue nodded in agreement. "By the way, are those people saying I’m acting like a big shot again?"
"A production this big usually can't hide much, so the news about your strike on the show got out. The other side is trying to fight for the XX variety show on Orange Channel, so they took the opportunity to buy marketing accounts and intentionally smear you." However, I’ve already managed to suppress it. These small disturbances are nothing to our Baby Qin'er. She’s been through worse, and I’m used to handling it by now.
"Then why didn’t you tell me?" If Lin Qingyi hadn’t said she was acting like a big shot, she wouldn't have known that she was being smeared again.
"You’ve already had enough trouble with this show. I don’t want to bother you with these small things. I’ll handle it," Fang Xinhua felt that it wasn’t a big deal.
"Sister Fang, you're so great," Qin Shiyue was touched. She felt like she was really being well protected.
"Fool, we’re one. If you’re well, I’m well," Fang Xinhua said like an elder, reaching out to rub Qin Shiyue's head.
"Sister Fang, do you really think I can make it?" Qin Shiyue looked at Fang Xinhua, her tone very serious. After all, Sister Fang had been with her for so long. Whether she could make it or not, Sister Fang knew best.
"As long as you try your best, that’s enough," Fang Xinhua replied instantly. Her words had a double meaning: it both meant that trying your best was enough and that trying your best would make it possible. Both were the best encouragement for Qin Shiyue at this moment.
Qin Shiyue nodded. This time, she really wanted to give it her all and try.
Author's Note:
Qin Shiyue: Stop giving me nicknames! I’ve tolerated "Vase", I’ve tolerated "Baby Qin'er", I’ve tolerated "Blue and White Porcelain", but "Peppa Pig" is where I draw the line!
Lin Qingyi: Then let’s go with "Vase." Arranging flowers is such a beautiful thing!
Finally finished writing this 10,000-character chapter. I feel like I’ve been emptied out.
To celebrate the opening of my VIP, there will be small red envelopes for comments with more than 5 words and above!
