Chapter 163: Very Expensive
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Near dinner time, A'cuo Rize finally came back in the dim light, just in time for supper. Baolai saw him, wagged its tail, and went to greet him.
Before, Xi Mo heard Ranla Changxiu say that A'cuo Rize went out with that friend to handle matters. Now only A'cuo Rize returned alone. Ranla Changxiu quickly asked, "Why did Miss Luo not come back with you?"
A'cuo Rize washed his hands and sat at the table. "She still has some things to do. She knew I must go with you tonight to attend the sacrificial ceremony, so she let me come back first."
"Shall I keep dinner for her? When we go out, if she comes back, she can still eat a little." Ranla Changxiu was very caring, as if worried that Miss Luo cannot get used to food outside.
"She will come back very late. She said there is no need to keep dinner, she will eat outside." A'cuo Rize said, "But you keep some snacks for her. I fear she will be hungry when she comes back so late."
"Alright." Ranla Changxiu chatted with A'cuo Rize while getting up to serve Xi Mo a bowl of soup. She said, "Miss Xi, when you go out tonight, are you also going to attend the sacrificial ceremony? If yes, we can go together."
"I will just stroll around the town." Xi Mo took the soup, thanked her softly, and replied in a low voice, "I'm not sure… if I’ll attend the sacrificial ceremony. You two go first."
Since she said so, Ranla Changxiu didn't invite her again to go together. After dinner, the two hosts were busy preparing to go to the sacrificial ceremony. Xi Mo went back to her room. She sent a message asking Ruan Yesheng if she had eaten. Ruan Yesheng was probably busy and didn't reply.
Xi Mo sat on the chair, waiting for Ruan Yesheng’s message. She waited a long time, but Ruan Yesheng didn't even send an emoji.
Xi Mo looked at the chat with Ruan Yesheng, and suddenly felt tasteless. She felt she was sick, actually waiting eagerly for Ruan Yesheng to reply to her. She wasn't used to this feeling. Ruan Yesheng didn't reply, and she was unhappy. She threw the phone on the table, deciding not to bother.
But after a while, she still couldn't help picking up the phone to check.
Instead, the group “Shanghai Sisters Who Love Each Other” sent a message first. Lin Tingshuang popped up, a bit excited: “Xi Mo, you're on hot searches again.”
Lin Tingyu followed: “And it’s number one.”
Xi Mo glanced at it, and at first didn't care much.
She often appeared on hot searches, already numb to it. Maybe Lu Qingming even bought her the hot search.
Although with her level and traffic, she was a frequent guest on hot searches, in truth, no matter how famous a star is, it's impossible to always occupy hot search resources. After all, the platform needs to make money. The number of hot searches is limited. Some are content that the state requires to be posted. For example, if it's related to poverty relief propaganda or promoting local economic development, the platform can't take money. And some are hot social events that the platform puts up by itself to attract discussion traffic.
The rest of those precious spots must be bought, and Xi Mo was no exception. The platform and Xi Mo had a mutual benefit. Xi Mo brought the platform a huge amount of traffic, and at those times the hot search could go up for free. But sometimes, to guarantee her exposure, Xi Mo’s company had to buy hot searches from the platform.
Stars rack their brains to buy hot search topics, but it’s always the same old things. Either dating, or breaking up. Either denying dating, or denying breaking up. Or someone lost weight, someone cried. Half the entertainment circle had cried on hot searches. That’s how good they are at crying.
No one even knew who set this rule.
Xi Mo at first couldn’t be bothered to check. But then Lin Tingshuang sent another screenshot.
She glanced at it and found it was actually that ugly sweater rope piece she knitted before. Back then, Shen Qingbie even pulled it out of the basket and looked at it carefully with Ruan Yesheng. Somehow, someone took a close-up photo of that embarrassing thing and posted it online.
Then Lin Tingshuang sent another picture. It was a candid shot of her sitting in the yard knitting.
Xi Mo: “…”
She quickly opened her phone to check the night’s hot search ranking. She saw she really was hanging at number one. The hot search had just the words: Xi Mo Knitting Sweater.
Clicking in, Xi Mo felt she was about to suffocate. There were several photos of her knitting, including the close-up of the sweater rope piece. From the background of the photos, you could see it was on the variety show filming set. Ruan Yesheng and Shen Qingbie and the others appeared in different angles too. But the shots weren’t very clear, so they didn’t look like they were taken by the production crew.
Xi Mo was speechless for a while. People were too free, how could such a boring thing also get on hot searches.
The hot search “Xi Mo Knitting Sweater” was even more ridiculous than “Xi Mo Cried.” Before, once, Lu Qingming promoted her movie. In it, she had a crying scene she acted especially well. It was a highlight of the whole film, very moving. So Lu Qingming bought her a hot search “Xi Mo Cried.” After all, half the entertainment circle had cried on hot searches. If Xi Mo didn’t, it wouldn’t look right. Old mother Lu Qingming wouldn’t agree, he had to arrange it.
Because of this, Xi Mo ignored Lu Qingming for several days. She thought he couldn’t come up with a better hot search name, had to go with the crowd.
This time, Xi Mo also suspected the knitting hot search was bought. She quickly asked Lu Qingming: “Did you buy me the knitting hot search?”
Lu Qingming replied in seconds: “I didn’t. The pictures were posted online by media. As for whether they worked with the show crew to stir up the variety show’s heat, I don’t know. Anyway, the buzz is good now. Lots of people are already watching Zhang Zhiyin’s variety show. They think you’re also one of the guest stars, all waiting eagerly.”
Xi Mo was unhappy: “I didn’t say I would join a variety show.”
Lu Qingming said: “They can say what they want. The more they spread it, the better it is for us. Anyway, this hot search didn’t cost money.”
Xi Mo didn’t need to think to know what the haters would say: “If I don’t clarify, who knows how they’ll twist it. I only had a bit of screen time, staying in the NPC’s house, showing up as a passerby. It doesn’t count as being a guest star. When the show airs, they’ll say it’s false publicity again.”
Lu Qingming stayed calm: “We won’t make any official statement. The show’s guest posters don’t have you either. You’re not a guest star anyway. Let them say what they want. Haven’t they said plenty over the years already?”
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Of course Xi Mo understood this logic, she just thought those people were annoying.
Lu Qingming said: “I’m really surprised you agreed to let the production crew film you, and without even asking for filming fees. Do you know how much your screen time is worth? You gave the crew a big bargain for free, and even let them ride a hot search.”
He wasn’t blaming her. He let Xi Mo make her own choices, he just couldn’t figure it out.
Xi Mo stayed silent, not explaining this to Lu Qingming.
After a while, Lu Qingming sent another message: “Did you agree to let the production crew film you for free because you’re paving the way for Ruan Yesheng?”
Xi Mo: “…”
Lu Qingming deserved his name. He hit the nail on the head right away: “I just analyzed it. Your knitting hot search blew up. The biggest winner, besides the production crew, is Ruan Yesheng. The guests on this show all have pretty good traffic. Shen Qingbie is even beyond words. Only Ruan Yesheng’s resources aren’t great right now. She used to be popular, but that’s long gone. Not many fans left. Her new drama is shot but hasn’t aired. Now with this hot search tied to you, her exposure suddenly shot up.”
Xi Mo looked at her phone, read Lu Qingming’s words, and felt an odd bit of joy. She didn’t even realize she was smiling: “My knitting hot search actually counts as blowing up? Yesheng’s attention has gone up a lot?”
Lu Qingming said: “See for yourself.”
Xi Mo paused the chat and clicked into the hottest Weibo under the hot search to look at the comments. This Weibo was the source of the hot search. It had many photos, besides her knitting scenes, Ruan Yesheng and the others also showed up.
This hot search’s main character was Xi Mo, so the front rows of comments were all about her, mostly people laughing.
“Hahahahahaha not a fan, but why is this so funny? Xi Mo has that aloof flower temperament, yet she’s sitting in a yard knitting. It’s just wrong hahahahahaha!”
“Hahahahaha honestly speaking, she’s pretty, but her sweater is really ugly! I can’t stand it!”
“Hahahahaha I never thought one day I’d see Xi Mo knitting! Am I really seeing this? Is Xi Mo actually a guest star on the variety show? When the show airs I’ll watch it to death!”
“Hahahahaha goddess really is a breath of fresh air! Even knitting can get on hot searches. This is too funny!”
Of course, the haters also jumped to the front: “The queen actually joined a variety show? It’s over, it’s over. The queen’s high-class persona has fallen from the altar. She actually joined a variety show. Her class dropped straight down. She would be better off filming another movie.”
“The queen’s movies take too long. How could they compare to the fast money of variety shows? This is her first variety show, right? With this gimmick, the production crew must’ve spent a fortune. But I advise the queen not to touch variety shows. Variety show stars are low. Focus on movies.”
Shen Qingbie’s fans wouldn’t be outdone either.
"Ahhh this is Qingqing's new variety show recording site! Me and My Dear Friends Season 2! In Season 1, Qingqing also went as a guest. It was both heartwarming and hilarious, I strongly recommend Season 1, the score is so high! Not saying more, I’ll go watch Season 1 again, waiting for Season 2!"
"Xi Mo and Shen Qingbie appear in the same variety show? Exciting, fight, hurry fight!"
Fans of girl group Eos8 also came without invite.
"Wuwuwu look at our sister! Stunning Li Siran, can be sweet, can be cool, also so fierce!"
"Gu Cen! Gu Cen! Number one dancer of the group! Best Gu Cen! Come see pretty sister’s photos!"
Below, comments were accompanied with Li Siran and Gu Cen’s photos, with heavy filters, smoothening their skin making it appear snow white.
Then some people got annoyed: "Even your girl group fans come here to manipulate comments?"
Girl group fans have scary battle power, and shot back right away:
"This counts as manipulation? You people always stick fan circle labels, say it’s manipulation. Please, isn’t our girl group sister in this show? We comment under, what’s wrong with that?!
Xi Mo didn't care much about the noise, she mainly looked at the hot comments about Ruan Yesheng. Sure enough, like Lu Qingming said, Ruan Yesheng’s hot comments were at the front, and most were very friendly. For now Ruan Yesheng was not popular, she had not touched anyone’s profit cake yet, so she had little hate.
"This looks like Ruan Yesheng’s first variety show? So looking forward, she’s really so pretty."
"I admit I came just to see a beauty! Last time at the ‘Sui Ting’ press conference I saw Ruan Yesheng’s performance, so-called beautiful like morning glow, beautiful like light mist, that’s exactly Ruan Yesheng, right?"
"It’s me! I must recommend Ruanruan great beauty’s old movie 'Sound of Steps' again! You won’t lose, you won’t be fooled, you will only gain an amazing face, amazing figure, amazing acting!"
Some comments were very simple, clearly from old loyal fans:
"Ruanruan, keep going, we’ll support you forever. You are our light."
Xi Mo kept reading and used her alternate account to like each Ruan Yesheng related comment one by one.
Her mood became much better, she didn't even see the ones blackening her, only looked at those about Ruan Yesheng. More and more people were noticing Ruan Yesheng, this hot search was really worth it. Even if now most people were shallow, only attracted by Ruan Yesheng’s beauty in the photos, later they would understand, Ruan Yesheng was such a talented good actress.
Xi Mo felt happy and decided to forgive Ruan Yesheng for not replying to her.
She chatted with Lu Qingming for a while, then happily looked at more Ruan Yesheng related hot search. When she saw that photo where Ruan Yesheng and Shen Qingbie were crouching by the chair and looking at the sweater rope block she was knitting, she remembered something and sent a message to Feng Tangtang.
"Feng Tangtang." Xi Mo typed, "Did Yesheng give you a hand-knitted sweater before?"
"Yes, Sister Xi." Feng Tangtang rarely got a message from Xi Mo, she was nervous. "Sister Xi, why are you asking? Did… something happen?"
Xi Mo: "Nothing. I want to see photos. Are you home, can you take a picture of the sweater she gave you?"
She wanted to see how beautiful Ruan Yesheng’s knitting was. Ruan Yesheng was skillful, and her fashion sense was stylish. If the sweater was knitted by Ruan Yesheng, it must be very nice.
Soon Feng Tangtang sent the photos over.
Xi Mo: "…"
She stared in a daze.
The sweater was photographed laid out on the bed. On the bed were five sweaters neatly spread out, all in different styles.
Each one did look very pretty, clearly made with care, but Xi Mo’s face instantly turned cold.
Xi Mo replied to Feng Tangtang: "Does Yesheng have too many hands? Knitting so many sweaters for you?"
Feng Tangtang felt the displeasure in her message, and became even more cautious. "…No, Sister Xi. It’s that Ruanruan and I knit sweaters for each other to wear. I knitted her five, that’s why she knitted me five too."
Xi Mo: "Do you have too many hands?"
Feng Tangtang: "…"
Feng Tangtang almost got scared to death. Sister Xi surely wouldn’t cut off her hands, right?
Fortunately, Xi Mo only said a few more words to her then stopped. Feng Tangtang finally breathed out.
Downstairs, Ranla Changxiu came knocking, and said to Xi Mo: "Miss Xi, A’xiong and I are going to the sacrificial ceremony. If you also go, you can come find us to play."
"Alright." Xi Mo nodded.
After the two left, Xi Mo checked the time. It was about right. She carefully stuck one strand of hair in the door crack, marked the spot, closed the door, and left A’cuo Rize’s house.
She didn’t know if there were still cameramen following beside Ruan Yesheng. Ruan Yesheng hadn’t replied to her messages. Xi Mo held back for a long time, but in the end still decided to call her.
The call connected after a while. Ruan Yesheng’s voice carried joy, she said: "Xi Mo."
"Do you have a cameraman near you?" Xi Mo asked.
"There was earlier. Our group was filming a bit." Ruan Yesheng said: "Now there's none, I walked away. Have you eaten?"
"I ate."
Ruan Yesheng asked her: "Where are you? At Uncle A’cuo’s house?"
Xi Mo said: "No, I came out."
Ruan Yesheng was overjoyed, and quickly set a place to meet. She said: "Then let’s meet."
"Alright." Xi Mo’s lips curved a little, but her answer carried no obvious emotion.
Tonight was the sacrificial ceremony. The town was lively, the noise unending, figures swaying everywhere. Xi Mo walked fast through the crowd, and finally arrived at the meeting spot, under a quiet tree. From far away she could see the blazing bonfire.
The bonfire was where the sacrificial ceremony took place. Most people were heading that way, and the production crew was there too.
Through the hazy night, Xi Mo saw a graceful figure waiting under the tree, and she quickened her steps.
Ruan Yesheng also saw her, and almost ran over. The firelight in the distance faintly spread over, burning the night, and falling into Ruan Yesheng’s smiling eyes.
Xi Mo looked at Ruan Yesheng who ran up to her, assessing her calmly.
"There’s no one here, and no camera, you can rest assured." Ruan Yesheng took her hand and led her under the tree. The tree’s shadow covered them, like a secret tryst.
Ruan Yesheng’s heart also felt like a tryst, nervous yet full of joy.
"When do you need to go back to filming?" Xi Mo asked.
"I can probably talk with you for ten minutes." Ruan Yesheng lowered her head to glance at her watch.
Xi Mo said blandly, "Big busy person. I send you messages and you don’t reply."
Ruan Yesheng froze, sensing the displeasure in her tone. She looked down at her phone and saw Xi Mo had indeed sent her messages earlier, but she was busy filming and hadn’t checked.
She quickly apologized, then let out a laugh, coaxing: "It’s my fault, I didn’t reply in time. To make it up, I’ll add five more minutes. I’ll send Zhiyin a message."
"No need." Xi Mo stared at her. "I was just wandering around. You said to meet, so I came to say a few words with you."
"You didn’t come to join the sacrificial ceremony?" Ruan Yesheng was a bit surprised. "You said you came out, I thought you came for the ceremony. Even if you don’t want to be filmed, you can still attend. The production crew won’t shoot you without your permission. Zhiyin said so, she keeps her word."
Xi Mo didn’t speak, just looked into Ruan Yesheng’s eyes.
In Ruan Yesheng’s eyes faintly fell the distant bonfire’s glow, dazzling, like a flame burning into the heart.
"I really didn’t expect you’d agree to let them film you this afternoon." Back then the filming was too rushed, it wasn't convenient to talk. Now when Ruan Yesheng recalled those scenes, it felt like a dream.
"They were too attentive. Arranged the guesthouse, and gave other care." Xi Mo said, "I couldn’t refuse."
"Thank you." Ruan Yesheng looked radiant. "I took a moment to check my phone earlier and saw you on hot search. Now many people are waiting for this variety show. Everyone in my group is grateful for your sweater-knitting hot search."
Xi Mo: "…"
After a while, she looked at Ruan Yesheng, her voice carrying some pride. "Hot searches are expensive."
"Thank you for letting us ride your hot search for free." Ruan Yesheng of course saw her little thought, and instantly smiled and played along, even linking arms with her.
Xi Mo glanced at the hand Ruan Yesheng wrapped around her arm, then said: "I’m very expensive. Very very expensive."
"I know you’re very expensive. Very very expensive." Ruan Yesheng looked at her without blinking.
In her heart, Xi Mo was the most dazzling diamond in the world. The most precious star in her heart.
She knew she couldn’t reach that brilliance. At least she could admire her from afar, and do her best to move closer, step by step, toward her light.
Even if it meant shortening the distance just a little.
"I’m this expensive." Xi Mo gave a cold snort. "But this afternoon’s filming, I didn’t take any filming fee from the crew. Not a single cent, not even a gift. Such a heartless production crew."
"So pitiful?" Ruan Yesheng smiled with narrowed eyes. "The crew is too much."
She was smart, and faintly understood Xi Mo’s meaning.
Is Xi Mo asking her for a gift?
Author's Note:
Xi Mo: "I want Yesheng to give me hand-knitted sweaters, more than Feng Tangtang, at least six. But I can’t say it."
Ruanruan: "I really want to give myself to her, but I’m afraid she won’t accept me."
Please rate and leave comments~
