Extra 8
Shu Ying was sent back, and Yu Yao returned to her residence in Xiao Nan’s car.
The news online about the disintegration of her persona had already died down, and on the day that the production of 《Secret》 ended, Yu Yao finally posted another message on Weibo.
【Yu Yao V: Done filming, hope everyone will like this character [picture]】
It may have been because she had been absent on social media for so long, that the moment she appeared, all the fans lurking in her Weibo came to comment.
【Yao Yao, you finally came back! I thought you were going to abandon this account, qq.】
【Such beautiful pictures! Looking forward to the film! #Secret done filming#】
【How many things happened, this film’s finally done [laughing crying]】
【I‘m a new fan, got teased by the picture on Weibo, aha ha ha ha ha ha】
【Yao Yao, just ignore what those people say, we will always support you dear [kiss]”】
【Hah, stupid fans are always terrible】
【Some people are really weird. Why do they wait here every day when they don’t even like our Yao Yao? [Smile]】
【I saw a picture of you on Mr. Feng’s before, so gorgeous! Kiss!】
【Nowadays, it’s so easy to be a celebrity, the fans’ money is fairly easy to cheat.】
Seeing the rising number of comments, Yu Yao logged out of Weibo. The company had just applied for London Art on her behalf, and the interview was due to start soon. Currently, she didn’t want to be distracted and waste her energy on these insignificant things.
❆
For work reasons, Meng Xingchuan and Yu Yao’s Weibo were mutually followed. When he refreshed Weibo, he was taken aback.
Her Weibo had been quiet for a long time. And he, like the fans, thought that she would not use the app anymore. Seeing her update today, it should be her way of saying everything was okay, right?
He gave her a thumbs-up on Weibo.
Meng Xingchuan liking Yu Yao’s Weibo post didn’t create any ripples. Rather, it was news about Feng Jing’s wedding that suddenly spread across the internet like wildfire. His wedding with Jiang Ran was scheduled for early May, and they were rushing with preparations.
Meng Xingchuan reckoned that when they said they were rushing the preparations, they were really rushing it. Unexpectedly, just about three days later, he saw in his friends’ feed picture of Feng Jing and Jiang Ran travelling to an island.
🙂
🙂
The scenery was very beautiful. Meng Xingchuan watched them show off their love for two days in their WeChat moments. Just as they thought that this was it, they were completely blindsided and killed.
Feng Jing posted a photo of the proposal on his Moments, a very romantic photo of diving in the sea!
【Lao Meng: … Can’t stand it, I really want to toss you out of my circle of friends [smile]】
【Lao Feng: [cool] Yao-jie helped me come up with this, isn’t it great?】
【Lao Meng: ……… Goodbye】
【Lao Meng: You guys are really in frequent contact [smile]】
【Lao Feng: Compared to you, it is frequent [smile]】
【Lao Meng: Very good, I will send a screenshot to your wife now.】
【Lao Feng: You don’t have my wife’s WeChat. [Smile]】
Meng Xingchuan: “——”
If it weren’t for the fact that his friend was abroad, he would have rushed to their house to beat him.
This photo of Feng Jing shared in his circle of friends was soon exposed on Weibo. Feng Jing specially asked Meng Xingchuan if he did it. The latter only responded with “heh”.
Naturally, it caused another sensation on Weibo. Celebrities from all over came out to congratulate. Some people did not know Feng Jing at all, they just wanted to take advantage of the hot topic. Meng Xingchuan sneered at them and then followed suit.
After he forwarded the Weibo post and sent a blessing, he found that Yu Yao also retweeted, and said that she would be the bridesmaid at the wedding.
Bridesmaid?
Meng Xingchuan was stunned for a moment. Has Feng Jing even selected the bridesmaids? Why haven’t I heard from him at all!
He indignantly to Feng Jing’s WeChat.
【Your bridesmaids have all been chosen? You didn’t even notify me?】
【Lao Feng: Why, you want to be a bridesmaid?】
【Lao Meng: … Of course, I will be a groomsman!】
【Lao Feng: The bridesmaids were decided by Jiang Ran. Because she was not sure if Yu Yao would like to be one, she asked her in advance.】
【Lao Meng: All right, I accept your explanation.】
Feng Jing couldn’t help laughing.
【Lao Feng: Bridesmaids and groomsmen have to try outfits and do rehearsals later, don’t forget to come.】
【Lao Meng: Rest assured, brother will not drag you down [cool]】
Feng Jing and Jiang Ran’s wedding rehearsal was scheduled for the last week of April. Meng Xingchuan wore a tailored suit and appeared on time. The venue was still being set up, but it could be seen that it would be very beautiful. He looked around the venue, but only found three bridesmaids.
Yu Yao was missing.
“What are you looking at?” Feng Jing walked over and looked at Meng Xingchuan with a gaze that was somewhat teasing.
“What are you looking at?” Feng Jing came over with an indescribable joking expression.
Meng Xingchuan was inexplicably embarrassed. He coughed and asked, “Why is there one bridesmaid less?”
“Yu Yao can’t come over as she is attending the interview abroad today.”
Meng Xingchuan was stunned. “Interview? Is that the course you told me before?”
“Yes, she applied to London Art.”
Meng Xingchuan pursed his lips, “Oh, London Art is pretty good.”
“It is.” Feng Jing patted his shoulder and said, “If you don’t work hard, people will go further and further away.”
With that, he turned and left, leaving Meng Xingchuan no chance to refute him.
❆
The wedding was held in May. Many celebrities came to the wedding, and Yu Yao, who had not been seen for a long time, finally appeared.
Before the wedding officially started, the groomsmen, bridesmaids and the new couple were together taking photos. Meng Xingchuan’s eyes frequently swept towards Yu Yao, but he never found a chance to talk to her.
It wasn’t until the ceremony was over and everyone started to have their meal that he had the opportunity. Yu Yao found Meng Xingchuan standing under a tree and walked over to him, a glass of wine in hand.
Meng Xingchuan was also drinking. When he saw her approaching, he choked.
She laughed at him and leant against the trunk. “Why you are so excited? It’s inauspicious to have someone die at a wedding.”
“——” He coughed a few more times before saying, “It’s not so serious.”
With a smile hanging on her lips, she raised her glass and tapped it against his, making a soft clinking sound, crystal clear.
“What were you doing looking at me all the time when we were taking the picture just then?”
Unknown as to why, when Meng Xingchuan was in front of Yu Yao, he was always befuddled and flustered. At this time, he was also a bit anxious but pretended to be calm. “When did I look at you?” he retorted.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“No.”
Yu Yao took a sip of wine as she eyed him. “Then I have something to tell you, I will be going abroad next month.”
Meng Xingchuan froze. “You passed the interviews?”
“Yes, Feng Jing helped me a lot, and I plan on studying hard.”
“Well… that’s good.” He also took a sip of red wine. “How long are you going to study for? The entertainment industry is so fast-paced, your fans won’t wait for too long.”
“What about you?”
“——what?”
“Will you wait for me?” she asked.
If Meng Xingchuan was anxious before, now he was a total mess. Yu Yao’s aura was too strong, he was like a little daughter-in-law1He was like a little wife or a petite wife). 媳妇 means daughter-in-law, but men can call their wives that (as a term of endearment to his wife and family) in front of her, suppressed with no strength to fight back.
Yu Yao witnessed the entire process of his ears turning white to red. Suddenly, she pulled him down by his tie and raised her head to kiss his lips.
Meng Xingchuan: “!!!!!!”
He, Meng Xingchuan, a big man measuring 1.8 meters tall, was kissed by a lady in such a way in broad daylight???
Yu Yao quickly let go. She peered at his completely red face and turned away with a chuckle. Just after taking a few steps, she took something small from her bag and threw it to the guy, who was still in a daze. “Right, this is the gift I bought for you when I went to Japan last time.”
He stared at her back as she walked away before glancing down at the gift in his hand.
A Sailor Moon keychain.
Meng Xingchuan: “——”
Feng Jing! Feng Jing must have told her!
Due to this incident, Meng Xingchuan blacklisted Feng Jing for ten full days, after which he secretly added him back.
❆
Yu Yao’s formalities for going abroad were complete. The day before she left, she announced the news on Weibo and posted the response from London Art.
This time, Weibo exploded again. Netizens had different opinions as if they knew better than Yu Yao herself about why she was going to study abroad. There were also many who were not optimistic saying that Feng Jing could return with a bang after a year in seclusion2Social seclusion, being silent on social and other media but not her.
The entertainment industry always treated female stars harsher than their male counterparts.
This was also clear to Yu Yao herself, but as she said on Weibo, people couldn’t work non-stop all the time. They must find time to stop and recharge themselves.
No matter what outsiders thought, she still went abroad as scheduled. After leaving the country, she was more diligent than ever in posting to Weibo. When she just arrived, there were plenty of things to adapt to. The unpalatable meals in the UK, the grumpy landlord she met, and the scoldings she received during class every day. She chronicled them all on Weibo.
When there was no class, she would go out with her classmates. Exotic buildings and scenery were also collected like scrolls of art.
This type of daily blog that shared her life abroad unexpectedly attracted a lot of fans. The number of fans steadily rose every day, sometimes she even became a hot topic.
The way she dressed and the way she spoke started changing too, but no one was surprised. It was quite natural as if Yu Yao was born to be like this.
Meng Xingchuan registered another account and spent the whole day among her fans, giving her Weibo likes, comments, and reposts. There was one time she responded to his comment, and he discovered the excitement of being noticed by his idol.
He reflected deeply on himself.
In a flash, her one-year of study abroad came to an end. Before the graduation ceremony, she returned home to attend the Taurus Awards ceremony.
This time, 《Secret》was nominated for more than ten awards, including Best Actress.
She had not participated in the film’s promotion as she was out of the country. So, this ceremony was the first time she appeared in front of the media after leaving.
On the red carpet, the host naturally grabbed the chance and asked a lot of questions, the camera flashes at the scene never ceased.
Yu Yao’s seat was next to Feng Jing and the director. When the director saw her, he was stunned. “Yu Yao, I haven’t seen you for a year, you’ve changed so much. You really look like an international superstar!”
She smiled and greeted them before the ceremony began. The Best Actress award was the second to last in the line-up. Yu Yao wasn’t nervous until the very moment.
This was the first time she was so close to this award. This film was undoubtedly the peak of her acting skills in the five years since her debut. With director Guo, who knew how to show her most beautiful side, and Feng Jing, a hero who quickly brought her into the play as well as the excellent script of Xing Xin and the foundation of the character, everything was just right.
However, the past year’s study also gave her a new understanding of acting. She could see her own inadequacy when she watched the performance. If she acted now, she would do better.
Alas, there were no such possibilities. With bated breath, she watched the award presenter on the stage and finally heard her name leaving his lips.
❆
After the awards ceremony, she met Meng Xingchuan in the car park. He seemed to be intentionally waiting for her.
She stood there for a while, then smiled at him as she walked over. “Bishounen Warrior3Reference to Sailor Moon. Bishounen means beautiful youth?”
Meng Xingchuan was stunned. “How do you know my account?”
Yu Yao grinned and asked by way of reply, “Were you waiting for me here?”
“Um … uh.” Meng Xingchuan looked a little uncomfortable. “Congratulations on your award.”
“Thank you.”
Meng Xingchuan rubbed his head and asked, “What are your next plans? You’ll be soon done with your studies.”
“Yeah, I will be returning to China for good next month.” As she had last time at Feng Jing’s wedding, she suddenly neared him. “I have a drama at hand, I wonder if you are interested in picking it up?”
Meng Xingchuan blinked and asked, “What role?”
“My hero.”
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With this, we officially come to the end. If you wish to see more Chestnut works or any other books, do let us know on Discord. We will pick them up and finish them ASAP—promise.
This is Larkspur signing off on behalf of the entire Midnight Cinderella team… 〜〜Muah〜〜💓💛💜💗💙💚