Extra 7
Xiao Nan stopped the car by the side of the road and looked at the girl.
Yu Yao continued to persuade her, saying, “Since I have already starred in a movie like 《Secret》, why should I want to return to being a mere idol? Yes, this is very lucrative, but I feel that what matters most in the entertainment industry is a person’s capabilities and projects, isn’t that so? Feng Jing taking on the Fleur1The brand of cream FJ pretended to buy for his sis when trying to get in touch with JY, Chapter 8 endorsement highlights what the problem is. I want to continue pursuing my studies. When I return, I can naturally change my career path. You don’t want to see me forever walking the moe2cute path, do you?”
After a long time, Xiao Nan finally restarted the car. She looked directly at the road ahead as she asked. “Where do you want to go?”
“London Art.”
Xiao Nan glanced at her. “You don’t have a crush on Feng Jing3He studied Masters in Acting at the University of Arts in London.. assuming it is the same Uni, do you?”
“… How is that possible, he is getting married to his girlfriend.”
Xiao Nan sighed. “I will go back to the company and try to convince President Li.”
“Thank you, Nan-jie!”
Xiao Nan smiled. “Don’t be too happy, the entrance exam for London Art is difficult, you may not pass.”
“I’ll do my best. Feng Jing passed the test before, didn’t he? I will learn from him.”
When Yu Yao arrived at the sets, she couldn’t wait to find Feng Jing. Perhaps because of yesterday’s news, when everyone saw her, they had subtle expressions. But although it was strange, everyone still greeted her as usual. No one came to ask her about Weibo.
She walked to the dressing room where Feng Jing had already arrived. After she told him that she wanted to go to London Art, he was momentarily stunned.
“You can really learn a lot in London Art if you have a chance in the future, you can also take part in a drama. You’ll have a new understanding of acting after that.”
“OK, I will definitely try if I have the chance.”
After chatting for a while, filming started. The director originally thought that because of the incident yesterday, Yu Yao’s condition would not be the best, but things were beyond his expectations. She performed particularly well, and he could see that she was more serious than ever. Although she was devoted to filming, she typically wasn’t proactive enough. But today was different, she took the initiative to ask Feng Jing many questions, listening to the answers very carefully.
The director was delighted. At break, he even went to tell her, “You’re so young, there’s still a long way to go. Don’t be overwhelmed by the difficulties in front of you.”
She smiled at him and said, “I understand. Thank you, Director Guo.”
“Keep working hard, I’m confident in you.”
After the male and female leads had incidents one after another, the filming of 《Secret》 finally became smooth. As for Yu Yao, Xiao Nan had successfully persuaded the company president and set about the preparations needed for her to study abroad.
Meng Xingchuan hadn’t seen Yu Yao since the last episode of the variety show was recorded. Negative remarks about her on Weibo had lessened, but after the apology post, she stopped updating.
It was Feng Jing who posted a photo of Yu Yao wearing a cashier’s uniform during filming. It was a stark contrast to the smoky makeup punk in the previous photo.
It could have been because previously when Feng Jing encountered some issues, she had made an effort to help him, and his fans on Weibo gave a high rating to the candid photo. They all said that Yu Yao’s acting skills were good and brought life to the character. Meng Xingchuan scanned Feng Jing’s Weibo for a while, and finally couldn’t help sending him a WeChat.
【Lao4People may address close friends and relatives by their social status or relationship to one another, e.g. ‘big sister’, or ‘second brother’. Such terms often indicate closeness and endearment. For example, someone may refer to friends around the same age or younger than themselves as ‘Xiao’ (small), e.g. Xiao WANG. A person from an older generation may be called ‘Lao’ (old) – e.g. Lao WANG. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/chinese-culture/chinese-culture-naming Meng: I saw your Weibo. You have a good relationship with Yu Yao.】
【Lao Feng: I have already said that my best buddy is Yao-jie. [Smile]】
【Lao Meng: Does she know you treat her as a brother?】
【Lao Feng: What are you exactly trying to say? Are you jealous about us being so close?】
【Lao Feng: Of me or her?】
【Lao Meng: ………】
【Lao Meng: I only care about you, [smile]. I saw the negative news about Yu Yao a while back. Is she better now, did it affect her work?
【Lao Feng: Thanks for caring, she acts better than you.】
Meng Xingchuan: “——”
Plastic Flower Brothers! Plastic Flower Brothers! Plastic Flower Brothers! Plastic Flower Brothers!
【Lao Feng: I heard Yu Yao say that she is going to study abroad】
Meng Xingchuan was surprised. Study abroad? Why did she tell Feng Jing and not me?
… But it doesn’t make sense to tell me, we aren’t real lovers, it was all just an act.
He looked at her WeChat avatar and set the phone down without sending anything.
❆
And yet, Yu Yao did receive a message on WeChat. It was not Meng Xingchuan but her older brother Zhao Jie.
【Brother: Yao Yao, are you free tonight? Come to the bar.】
【Yaoyao: What’s up, brother? I may be off of work at eleven.】
【Brother: We found the person who broke the news about you, it was your high school classmate.】
Yu Yao froze for a moment.
【You didn’t do anything to them, right?】
【Brother: Rest assured, I won’t mess around.】
【Yaoyao: OK, I’ll see you after I finish.】
Ever since the news broke, the reporters stalked her more studiously. Xiao Nan chided her for going to a bar after she finished her work, but still drove her there. Yu Yao often came here and was familiar with the place, so she wore a mask and a wide hat, covering herself tightly before she walked in.
Zhao Jie and his brothers were sitting inside a private room. There was a woman seated on the sofa next to them, looking pale.
Although they hadn’t seen each other for many years, Yu Yao recognized her at first glance.
“Shu Ying?”
Shu Ying froze, silently watching Yu Yao come in.
Zhao Jie said, “She said that you were good sisters in high school.”
“Yeah, then we stopped because of a man.”
A few brothers at the side were interested in this story.
“What kind of man can be so charming?”
“No charm, just that Shu Ying is blind.”
Shu Ying: “——”
Melon Eaters: “Oh, so this is a story of plastic sisters?”
Yu Yao ignored their ridicule and sat down beside Shu Ying. “Why did you send my high school photo to the marketing account? You hated me for so many years?”
Before Shu Ying could say anything, the melon eaters sitting next to them interjected again.
“She’s not resentful, she’s jealous. She just can’t endure you being so well off! This is how so-called plastic sisters are. I hope you’re well, but you can’t live better than me.”
This time Yu Yao did not ignore them, she turned to look at them. “Why do you understand so well? Is there a young girl living in all your hearts?”
The melon eaters went silent.
“There is no why, I just don’t like you.”
Yu Yao raised her eyebrows. “You haven’t liked me for so many years. Breaking the news only now – you are indeed patient.”
Shu Ying pursed her lips but said nothing in reply.
Sitting to the side, Zhao Jie said, “She did it for money. I checked her account and found a large remittance recently, but the money was transferred to someone else a few days ago.”
The melon eaters once again made a strong appearance. “It sounds like she has a sugar baby.”
Shu Ying’s face paled.
Yu Yao looked at her and laughed out loud. “After all these years, you still have such horrendous taste.”
Shu Ying looked her in the eye as she spoke grudgingly, “It’s because someone has been asking about you. I happened to have a picture in my hand, and he was willing to pay for it. So I sold it to him. Now I’m in your hands, just tell me what you want. “
Yu Yao eyed her for a while before saying, “In fact, I want to thank you. If it weren’t for the trouble you caused, I might not have known what I really want.”
“Hah,” Shu Ying sneered, “are you ridiculing me?”
“If it makes you feel better, you can consider it as me ridiculing you.”
“Why are you acting all so fussy now? So devoted to pretending to be a Miss Goody Two Shoes? Just say what you want.”
Yu Yao said, “I said, I’m grateful to you, so I won’t do anything to you. Just call the person who received the money to pick you up here, and I will let you go.”
Shu Ying looked at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? Ask him to come, so you can catch him?”
Yu Yao laughed out aloud yet again. “Why catch him? I’m not interested in him, I just see that it’s so late now, and it’s not safe for a girl to go home alone. As long as he comes to pick you up, I’ll let you go.”
Zhao Jie added, “You’d better not find just anyone, I have a picture of that person.”
Shu Ying’s hand holding the mobile phone froze. She did think of randomly calling a male colleague to pick her up. But at Zhao Jie’s words, she hesitated again. Since they could catch her, they must have his picture.
She stared at her phone motionlessly, but Yu Yao was not in a hurry. Finally, she made up her mind and dialed a number.
The phone rang for a long time before it was picked up. The person on the other end of the phone was very impatient: “Why are you calling so late?”
“I’m at the bar in Qingnan Alley,” Shu Ying said, “can you come and pick me up?”
“Ah? Can’t you just come back yourself?”
“I drank some wine, and now I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable.”
“My goodness, uncomfortable after having some wine. Aren’t you a bit too delicate? I’ve already gone to bed, I’ll just find a cab to pick you up.” With that, he hung up.
Shu Ying listened to the phone beeping, and her heart sank.
Yu Yao looked at her from the side: “What, he won’t come to pick you up?”
Shu Ying put down her phone and looked back at her unwilling to back down. “You want to shame me?”
“I just think you are a bit ridiculous. In high school, you stopped being friends with me for a man. Now, for another man, you sent my high school photo to a marketing account. But these two men, one used his girlfriend and the other wouldn’t even pick you up, what do you really see in them, huh?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Then why do you still have my high school photos? Just waiting for the day you can expose me and make a fortune with them?”
When Yu Yao signed the contract with Xiao Nan, she deleted all those photos. What Shu Ying had in her hands were the ones she shot with her mobile phone.
Shu Ying pursed her lips tightly and looked away.
Seeing that she refused to speak, Yu Yao turned to Zhao Jie. “Brother, have someone drop her back.”
“OK.”
The melon eaters watching the show were upset.
“Yao-jie, she posted those pictures of you, and you’re just going to let it be?”
She glanced at Shu Ying and said, “Isn’t she miserable enough, being with such a rubbish man?”
❆
Just one more Extra to go, and we will be done with Midnight Cinderella. It did take us a long5So long that some of our team even became adults while some graduated while to wrap up this short book. We had many people working on this alongside the rollercoasters that life threw at us. Nonetheless, we are here now. A big shout out to my dear friend Pepps/Misty, who resolved all the hiccups promptly.
And now… last but not the least… As always, totally, and sincerely grateful for all your patience, love, and support. Truly means a lot! 💓💛💜💗💙💚