Chapter 58: Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Couple. (This is likely the person Teacher Liu confessed to.)

Qin Lan escorted Jiang Yan to the door.

"Get some sleep, and Ye Wei will drive you home tonight."

Jiang Yan held onto the door with one hand, hesitating as she asked, "Teacher Qin...would you like to come in and sit down?"

Qin Lan was silent for two seconds, then went inside and closed the door.

The two removed their makeup and changed clothes. Jiang Yan took a blanket from the closet, and Qin Lan drew the curtains.

"Go to sleep. I'll stay here and watch you sleep for a while before I leave." She dragged a chair to the bedside, plopped down, and started playing games.

Jiang Yan obediently lay down, the blanket covering her chin.

A few seconds later, she whispered, "Aren't you tired?"

"I'm exhausted, after all, I just got beheaded," Qin Lan said casually.

Jiang Yan tentatively asked, "Would you like to come up and rest for a while?"

Qin Lan slowly moved her eyes.

After staring at each other for a moment, she raised her hands in surrender, kicked off her slippers, and lay down.

The two men stood respectfully on opposite sides, separated by the Chu-Han border, as if separated by an insurmountable chasm.

Jiang Yan was filled with nervousness, and it took her a long time to muster up the courage to ask, "Would you like to do it?"

No one responded for a long time.

Her rapid heartbeat gradually subsided, and she thought Qin Lan didn't want to answer. Just as she was feeling disappointed, she suddenly heard even breathing beside her.

Jiang Yan was startled, turned her head and saw that Qin Lan was fast asleep, hugging a blanket.

She was both annoyed and helpless, wishing she could kick him off the bed. She sat up in anger and stared blankly at the wall. After a while, she reluctantly lay back down, this time domineeringly snatching half of Qin Lan's blanket and squeezing herself into her arms.

"You pig!" she complained, and it took her a long time to fall asleep.

When she woke up, the room was still dark, and Qin Lan was still sleeping soundly.

Jiang Yan couldn't sleep and stared blankly at the ceiling.

She pulled back the blanket a little to breathe, and with that movement, she felt Qin Lan was all around her.

Jiang Yan quickly started sweating, and, unable to bear it any longer, lay down beside her, calling her softly, "Qin Lan, Qin Lan?"

Qin Lan's breathing was completely still, even more steady than that of a dead man.

Jiang Yan felt increasingly hot as she lay there, and her lower body was burning up as well. She twisted her body, and her chest accidentally brushed against Qin Lan's arm, causing her to gasp in surprise.

She couldn't take it anymore, so she reached for a wet wipe by the bedside, wiped Qin Lan's hands, and then buried herself under the covers.

More than ten minutes later, Qin Lan gradually woke up, only to find that her hands were slippery, squeezing, and unbearably hot.

She opened her eyes groggily, her fingertips unconsciously curling slightly: "Huh? Where am I?"

Jiang Yan cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face: "It hurts—"

"?"

Qin Lan turned her head and was immediately terrified. The person next to her was covered from the waist down with a blanket, but his chest was exposed. He was holding her arms and burying himself in the blanket, his whole body convulsing violently.

Qin Lan tentatively moved her fingertip, and Jiang Yan began to sob and tremble.

She was so frightened she dared not move: "Am I really that much of a beast?"

How could someone sleep and still have sex with another person?

Jiang Yan was even angrier, and in a fit of rage, she pushed her out: "You—you get out of here! Get out right now!"

Qin Lan gradually understood what was happening and exclaimed in utter shock, "You... you're holding my hand..."

Jiang Yan sat up, her face flushed, but her voice was stubborn and cold: "Yes, it's all my fault for being horny, it has nothing to do with you, okay?"

Qin Lan: "?"

She was a little confused, but seeing Jiang Yan's embarrassed and annoyed expression, she couldn't help but soften her tone: "...Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Do you think I can wake you up?" Jiang Yan laughed in exasperation. "You're sleeping like you're glued to the screen. I—uh—"

Qin Lan pressed her down on the bed and lowered his head to nibble at her: "Now that you're awake, you don't need to move yourself."

Jiang Yan's eyes quickly welled up with tears again.

At Longcheng Railway Station, Lu Xi stood at the exit with a travel bag on her back.

Only after boarding the bus did she dare to send Yu Jintang a message with her ticket information.

By the time Yu Jintang saw her, she had already boarded the bus, and it was too late to go back.

She didn't dare look at her phone the whole way, until she unlocked the screen and saw the new message. Her heart skipped a beat, and she tapped on it with trembling hands.

Sister Yu: [Someone is coming to pick you up. The car's license plate ends in 8765; it's a black Audi.]

Lu Xixin calmed down and felt a little happy. He quickly looked up and got into the car.

Yu Jintang's car took her directly to the hotel. The waiters were decorating the auditorium, and the sound system was being tested.

Yu Jintang sat on the steps, her legs stretched out wide.

"elder sister."

Lu Xi forced a cheerful expression and ran over in small steps.

Yu Jintang looked up and smiled, "Why did you come all by yourself?"

Lu Xi's heart was pounding: "I...I miss my sister."

Yu Jintang looked at her neckline, reaching out as if to straighten it for her, but finding he couldn't reach, he beckoned, "Lower your head a little."

Lu Xi obediently lowered her head. Yu Jintang straightened her collar and then gestured for her to stand up: "Go inside. We'll have dinner later. Old Qin and the others are wrapping up filming today, and they'll be partying until very late tonight. If you're tired, you can go back to the hotel early. I'll have someone take you back tomorrow morning."

Can't I stay for a couple more days?

Lu Xi was a little disappointed, but still mustered up the courage to say, "Today is Saturday, so there's no school."

"Go back early." Lu Xi sensed the refusal. "Or you can stay until tomorrow. There are quite a few famous historical sites in Longcheng. I can have someone take you there."

Lu Xi stood there awkwardly for a while, then decided to try again: "Then, could you perhaps...?"

"cannot."

A strange voice interrupted her, and a hot and alluring woman walked out, a cigarette between her fingers: "Little friend, you're late. She has an appointment for tomorrow, and that's me."

Yu Jintang turned around and looked at her speechlessly: "Why are you everywhere?"

Lu Xi, an observer, saw it more clearly than anyone else; her sister didn't speak to her in that tone.

Yu Jintang treated her like a child, but treated Xiahou Cheng as a special person.

"Xiahou Cheng is everywhere," the woman said casually, glancing at Lu Xi's increasingly pale face. "Get in line."

Lu Xi, not knowing where the courage came from, suddenly spoke up: "But I was here first."

The two adults opposite her looked at her in surprise.

Lu Xi, in a fit of despair, declared: "I met my sister first, and I played with her first."

Xiahou Cheng nodded: "Oh, that doesn't stop me from fighting and snatching."

Yu Jintang: "Alright, Lu Xi, you go inside and rest for a while. I need to go see the guests. Teacher Chengcheng, if you don't have anything to do, go sweep the table or water those tablecloths. You'll be busy later."

Xiahou Cheng lazily raised his hand and touched his brow: "Yes, Director."

She watched Yu Jintang leave, then greeted Lü Xi, saying, "We should finish the task your sister left behind."

The moment the words "the two of us" popped into Lu Xi's mind, she froze on the spot. The woman she had just thought was incredibly hot and stylish suddenly crawled on all fours, leaped onto the table, and started sweeping it. Then, in the blink of an eye, she grabbed a huge spray bottle and began spraying everywhere.

Lu Xi was stunned, completely unaware that someone was walking up behind her, and exclaimed, "Hey, look, that kid in front looks a bit like Lu Xi!"

"Remove the 'something'," another voice said. "Little Lu Xi? What brings you to Dragon City? Did you come alone?"

Lu Xi forced a smile before daring to turn her head: "Sister Qin, Sister Jiang..."

"Ah, Xiahou, that area isn't clean yet." Qin Lan pointed to the corner of the windowsill.

Xiahou Cheng, wearing enormous headphones, was dancing the second measure of a waltz: "What did you say???"

Qin Lan pulled off her headphones: "I said that area wasn't cleaned properly!"

The music from her headphones was so loud it made her hands ache.

Xiahou Cheng: "What did you say?!"

Qin Lan let go: "Alright, this one's deaf."

＊

Once most people had arrived, the wrap party officially began. The crew had finished filming three important roles in one day, so the party was exceptionally grand. The investors and producers were all present. After Yu Jintang and the three actors finished their speeches, everyone took turns toasting each other, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Liu Lu was extremely excited, her face flushed from drinking. She repeatedly thanked Director Yu for giving her the opportunity to act in such a wonderful script. Holding Yu Jintang's hand, she talked for a full half hour, recounting how her first role was snatched away from her in the entertainment industry, how her subsequent roles were lukewarm, how she fell to rock bottom, and even had to take on minor roles. Although she had come to terms with it over the years, she had always harbored a magnificent dream in her heart...

When she got emotional, she burst into tears, and Yu Jintang also cried loudly, tears and snot streaming down her face.

"Sister Liu Lu, I totally understand you. To be honest, I also filmed quite a lot of things during my university years, including commercials and scripts. Those commercials were such a flop, I can't even bear to admit that they were the products I carefully nurtured..."

The two cried their hearts out, but were eventually persuaded to stop and started laughing through their tears.

Yu Jintang pulled out a third pack of tissues from Xiahou Cheng's pocket, wiping her face as she asked Liu Lü, "Hey, Teacher Liu, you've had it so tough all these years. Have you had any source of support? I don't mean any offense, but seeing how you've persevered despite all the pressure you've faced, I feel for you... it's truly admirable..."

Liu Lü had lost her mind by this point and was blurting out whatever came to mind: "Teacher Yu, let me tell you, if it weren't for Actress Feng, I would have been completely ruined all these years ago. I would be finished, you know? You know that!"

Yu Jintang was also a bit drunk and asked in a daze, "Feng...Feng Yinghou? Which Feng Yinghou?"

Liu Lü punched her shoulder: "You don't know Feng Yinghou?! She's the actress who played Wu Zetian! Wu Zetian acted in our production, yes, that's right... I got to where I am today because of my spiritual faith in Feng Zetian. I'm not afraid of any suppression. I firmly believe that I can become someone like Feng Yinghou!"

Yu Jintang sobered up: "Chengcheng's godmother?"

Xiahou Cheng popped out from under the stool: "Teacher Tangtang, you called me?"

Yu Jintang started searching for Feng Manhong in his contacts: "Where...where is Feng...where is Feng Manhong?"

Xiahou Cheng pointed to it for her: "Here it is."

Yu Jintang's hand trembled, and the phone call was made.

Before she could hang up, Liu Lü suddenly yelled, startling her so much that she dropped her phone on the table.

"Yes! Today I'm going to make a big splash! Why should I be a supporting actress and extra my whole life! I just love Actress Feng! I just love Feng Manhong! I fell in love with her the first time I saw her movie when I was fourteen! She's so beautiful, so pretty, so mature! I just love women like that! It's not just being a fan, it's a woman's love for another woman... It's a pity, a pity, a pity that the only time I worked with her in a movie, I was just a dead extra on the ground... Now I finally have the chance to appear on the same screen as her, even though she's the mother-in-law and I'm the daughter-in-law! Even though we don't have a single scene together! But I accept it! This script is so good, I wanted to act in it anyway! I'd act even without pay! I love this job so much, this profession, I consider acting my life! Just give me food, as long as I can continue, continue, continue acting like this, and still see her..."

The auditorium was completely silent.

Yu Jintang's mouth was open, but Xiahou Cheng manually closed it.

It took her a while to pick up her phone, and she said timidly, "I accidentally called..."

"Who are you calling?" Liu Lü tried to peek at her sideways.

A hand reached over and pressed the speakerphone button.

About two seconds later, Feng Manhong's voice, tinged with laughter, came out: "It must be Teacher Liu's confession target."

That night, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law couple became a sensation online.

＊

Yu Jintang drank the most tonight. However, she always has a high tolerance for alcohol, but her stomach was a little upset, so she went to the bathroom and vomited.

She washed her face and looked up at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were a little red, but her expression was very clear.

She came out and waved to the flustered figure, regardless of whether the woman could see her: "Hey, come here."

Lu Xi paused in his movements.

She slowly walked over, her heart pounding like a drum: "Sister, how are you?"

"I'm drunk, go get me some hangover soup."

Lu Xi was a little flustered: "Let me help my sister to rest."

"Aren't you going to get me something to sober up?" Yu Jintang asked her, still tipsy.

Lu Xi stammered, "Sister, you've had too much to drink. You should rest."

Yu Jintang smiled gently: "Then what about your mother?"

Lu Xi's eyes widened suddenly: "You?!"

Yu Jintang straightened up and held out her hand: "Where's the poison I was supposed to get?"

Lu Xi took two steps back: "You knew all along?"

Yu Jintang glanced at her.

Number 4750 wished Yu Jintang dead and the film crew to disband, so he orchestrated a "chance encounter" to gain Yu Jintang's trust by having Lu Xi, who was gay, infiltrate the crew and find an opportunity to feed Yu Jintang some rat poison.

Unexpectedly, Lu Xi fell in love with Yu Jintang. Her conscience forced her to choose between Yu Jintang and her mother. In the end, she didn't want to hurt Yu Jintang, so she kept delaying. This time, because Number 4750 issued an ultimatum, she had no choice but to come to Longcheng.

Lu Xi cried out in anguish, "But I... I can't hurt you!"

“But your mother is in his hands,” Yu Jintang said. “What else can you do?”

Lu Xi's eyes darted away.

Yu Jintang narrowed his eyes, immediately stepped forward and grabbed her collar: "What are you doing?"

"No..." Lu Xi instinctively tried to dodge, "I..."

Yu Jintang said sternly, "You didn't want to hurt me, but you were worried about your mother, so what did you do?"

Lu Xi, in a fit of desperation, shouted, "So I had no choice but to drug her! Otherwise, they would kill my mother! If something happens to the crew, filming can't continue, and at least they'll be somewhat satisfied!"

"Xiahou Cheng?" Yu Jintang's eyes turned terrifying. "What medicine?"

She had already begun to imagine Xiahou Cheng struggling and begging for pleasure.

Lü Xi: "Rat poison."

It's been diluted.

Yu Jintang gasped and ran away.

She rushed into the hall, shoving aside seven or eight people who were staggering about, and frantically looked around. Xiahou Cheng! Xiahou Cheng! Xiahou Cheng! Where has that damned woman gone off to have fun again!

I glanced up casually and saw Ms. Xiahou Cheng sitting on the archway, holding a small cake in her hand and putting it into her mouth.

Yu Jintang shouted, "Xiahou Cheng!"

Startled, Xiahou Cheng dropped the small cake on the ground: "Teacher Tangtang, why are you calling me by my full name? Ouch, my little cake!"

This stupid woman was still thinking about food even at this moment!

Yu Jintang placed her hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and turned to meet Qin Lan's eyes.

She blinked quietly, then bit open the blood pack, closed her eyes, and fainted.

"Dao Yu!!!"

Xiahou Cheng was also stunned. He jumped down from the door frame and then used his Dragon-like Movement Technique to dart to Yu Jintang's side, calling out, "Teacher Tangtang! Teacher Tangtang!"

Lu Xi, who had followed, turned pale. Qin Lan, regaining her composure, immediately pulled Jiang Yan to protect Yu Jintang, preventing her from being trampled to death by the anxious crowd.

She pretended to pry open Yu Jintang's eyelids and then tested her breath. Good heavens, a whole breath of hot air sprayed onto her hand.

Qin Lan straightened up: "Call an ambulance!"

Jiang Yan: "We're on our way."

Qin Lan: "Everyone, don't panic! The person is still alive. It's probably alcohol poisoning plus a stomach hemorrhage! Get him to the hospital immediately!"

When the ambulance arrived, it took away Yu Jintang and Xiahou Cheng, while Qin Lan stayed behind to see the others off.

She first saw off the investors and producers, calmed the other actors and crew, and then announced that filming would proceed as scheduled the next day. She would temporarily take over as director and coordinate the crew's work. The assistant director would be responsible for professional matters such as filming.

After everyone had been seen off, Qin Lan and Jiang Yan got into the car and went to the hospital.

Jiang Yan had already sensed something from her reaction: "Is Teacher Yu alright?"

"Nothing's wrong." Qin Lan fastened her seatbelt. "Her acting is so-so. If it were me, I could at least pull off a pale face."

Jiang Yan stared at her: "You were so cool just now."

Qin Lan blushed and awkwardly looked away.