Chapter 17: "Look closely, I'm in so much pain because of you."
That morning, Yu Jintang received a strange phone call.
Qin Lan, contrary to his usual behavior, hesitated and rambled on with her for a long time before finally asking if she could sign someone.
The Yu family started by opening a hotel, but later her eldest sister, Tulip, took over the business, and her father retired. Not wanting to be idle, the old man went into venture capital, and after his youngest daughter studied directing, he entered the entertainment industry. According to Qin Lan, the Yu family also invested in a well-known media company, whose flagship executive is three-time Golden Horse Award-winning actress Feng Manhong.
Jiang Yan's current entertainment company has a terrible reputation; it's notorious for forcing its artists to drink with customers. After the 419 incident, Qin Lan's opinion of Jiang Yan changed, and she wanted to help her switch companies.
Yu Jintang didn't understand but carried it out. That evening, he replied that Jiang Yan had agreed, on the condition that she bring her current agent.
"Wang Zihan?" Qin Lan asked in confusion. "Bai Ai mentioned her to me. She's quite capable and good to the artists, but not to the point of having to take them under her wing."
Moreover, Jiang Yan almost got into trouble this time and she wasn't even there. Isn't that a serious dereliction of duty?
"Really?" Yu Jintang asked curiously, "But she insisted on bringing this person along, and her agent also wanted to go with her."
"Let her do as she pleases." Qin Lan was too lazy to interfere when she heard the other party's insistence: "Just sign the contract, I'll pay the penalty for breach of contract, and you don't need to worry about anything else."
Yu Jintang was eager to hear more gossip, but Qin Lan hung up the phone immediately.
Qin Lan racked his brains for a long time about how to compensate Jiang Yan, and finally dejectedly told his parents. Qin's parents said that as long as their child was happy, they would pay whatever it took.
Qin Lan stacked the property certificate in a pile, tucked the bank card inside, and had it delivered to Jiang Yan. The next evening, it was returned untouched: "Miss, she said it was all voluntary, please don't try to achieve something you don't want."
"She said I was trying to get something for nothing?" Qin Lan was puzzled. "Then what does she want?"
She immediately shut her mouth; Jiang Yan seemed to have said she wanted her.
Qin Lan listlessly slammed the property deed down and sat in the room, throwing a tantrum. Qin Zhiyang and Lan Yaqing walked over with smiles: "My little princess, who made you unhappy?"
"It's that woman again!" Qin Lan grinned coquettishly, "She didn't even open them to check, she just sent them all back."
Qin Zhiyang looked at the table full of bank cards in surprise: "You don't want any of them? Didn't you ask them what they wanted?"
Before Qin Lan could speak, Lan Yaqing tapped her forehead: "Yes, Mom told you that if you do something wrong, you should be brave enough to take responsibility. If this path doesn't work, we'll make it up to them in other ways."
Qin Lan hesitated for a moment before finally managing to say, "She said she wants me."
"Want you?" Qin Zhiyang looked at her in surprise: "Want you what?"
Want to date me or sleep with me...
Qin Lan couldn't bring herself to say it, and her whole face turned red.
Qin's father suddenly realized: "So she likes you."
"You blockhead," Lan Ya scolded him. "Otherwise, who would willingly let Lan Lan bully them like that, neither resisting nor asking for anything in return?"
Qin Lan was even less confident. This family was all very efficient; Qin Zhiyang had already started thinking about how to arrange the wedding. Lan Yaqing tapped him on the forehead and scolded, "You didn't even ask the child's opinion."
Qin Zhiyang glanced at her, puzzled. "I don't think Lanlan is unhappy at all; her face is all red. Besides, I'll just think about it first. It won't hurt to think about it."
"Who's blushing? Who's blushing? It's too hot!" Qin Lan jumped up. It was March, and the spring chill was still in the air.
Lan Yaqing pulled her hand and sat her down, first feeding her a piece of fruit: "Mom doesn't object to you being with her, but you have to bring her back for us to meet, and you also have to meet her parents. Now tell Mom, do you like that girl?"
"I..." Qin Lan hesitated for a moment, then sincerely asked, "What is 'like'?"
"Just tell me directly whether you want to date her or not," Qin Zhiyang said.
To fall in love with Jiang Yan, her destined nemesis?
who?
Her?
I can't accept even a little bit of that.
Qin Lan had never been in a relationship, but she had acted out many romantic scenarios and didn't find anything particularly happy about them. Especially kissing, holding hands while walking, or life-or-death situations—she didn't understand the romance in any of those.
She has no interest in dating anyone, let alone dating Jiang Yan.
Qin Lan refused: "It's impossible in this lifetime."
Lan Yaqing said helplessly, "Then tell your mother, what do you think of that child? Do you find her attractive?"
"Green tea, pretentious, white lotus." Qin Lan counted on her fingers: "She always likes to steal my things, trip me up in all sorts of ways, say all sorts of scheming things, making me really angry. Every word and every action is far beyond what ordinary people can expect, making you feel like she's just playing a prank. She never accepts what you give her, and she always does something inexplicable..."
Qin Zhiyang: "So it's Jiang Yan, the one you always mention."
Lan Yaqing: "...Fine, Lanlan, if you ever decide you don't want to work in the entertainment industry anymore, Mom will buy a temple and let you become a nun in style."
Qin Zhiyang and Lan Yaqing were both busy, leaving Qin Lan alone to worry about how to compensate Jiang Yan. After much thought, she realized that since Jiang Yan didn't want the money or the property certificate, she could only use resources. Moreover, she had to compensate her discreetly, not give it directly to her, lest Jiang Yan return it intact, making her feel guilty.
Qin Lan's parents had paved the way for her, preparing her to officially enter the film industry this year. Qin Lan, on a whim, switched her identity to Jiang Yan and secretly asked Yu Jintang to look after her.
She had done everything she could think of, leaving Qin Lan feeling somewhat lost and unsure of what else to do.
But a constant emptiness lingered in her heart, making her feel very uncomfortable. She kept remembering Jiang Yan's tears, and how she had turned her back to her as she put on the crumpled dress, her body red and swollen, softly pleading with her to be gentler…
Qin Lan's heart clenched; with her body so swollen, Jiang Yan must be in a lot of pain.
She quickly called the doctor, stammered out her description, and finally got a jar of ointment, which was said to be very effective... Then she went to find Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan was actually working; what a workaholic.
She clearly saw that Jiang Yan was walking very slowly.
Wearing a hat and mask, she deliberately lowered her voice and asked the young woman working at the filming location, "What happened to Teacher Jiang's leg?"
"Oh, they said he fell down. Teacher Jiang is so dedicated, working even with an injury."
This crazy woman is even being suspended by wires.
Wouldn't that hurt her terribly?
Qin Lan looked up. Jiang Yan was a very famous spokesperson, and she was afraid of being recognized, so she went back to her car to wait. About an hour later, Jiang Yan finished filming, and Qin Lan took out her phone and dialed the number she had called before.
She saw Jiang Yan stop, take the phone from her assistant, answer it, and then walk towards the corner.
"It's me," Qin Lan said. "Turn around, I'm in the black sedan to your left."
Jiang Yan immediately turned around and walked towards her, limping. Qin Lan's heart clenched at the sight, and she felt so ashamed that she wanted to disappear.
She opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.
"Is something the matter?" she asked, skillfully concealing the excitement in her voice.
"Here, take this. Use it once in the morning and once at night." Qin Lan forced a smile and handed her the bag.
Jiang Yan took the jar of ointment, examined it carefully for a while, and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Qin Lan coughed lightly: "That's all."
"You came all this way just to bring me medicine?" Jiang Yan smirked. "Why didn't you have someone bring it over?"
“You were at home yesterday, so it wasn’t appropriate for me to come over,” Qin Lan said. “I brought it in person… to express my sincerity and apology. I hurt you, and I have to find a way to make it up to you.”
Jiang Yan smiled on the lower half of her face, but her eyes were cold and lifeless: "But I didn't feel Teacher Qin's sincerity."
Qin Lan said in a rather submissive manner, "What do you think is sincere? Apart from dating or being friends with benefits, it can be done the way you want."
Jiang Yan still didn't look at her. She unscrewed the cap, hooked a little with her fingertip, and gently applied the ointment to Qin Lan's palm, slowly drawing circles.
She didn't say anything, but Qin Lan understood immediately.
Upon realizing this, Qin Lan shuddered.
When she came to her senses, she had already taken off her coat, washed her hands, and sat on the hotel bed.
Jiang Yan insisted on taking a shower. In some ways, her obsession surpassed even that of the pampered eldest daughter of the Qin family, who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She always presented herself in her best condition and couldn't accept the slightest flaw. Qin Lan had criticized her for her constant pretense for this. However, at this moment, she silently stared at her reflection in the frosted glass, a bitter smile on her face.
She removed the sterile hand mask and picked up the jar.
Jiang Yan not only blow-dried her hair, but also used a hair straightener to style it, making her long, straight black hair very beautiful.
She came out dressed impeccably, in a white shirt, pencil skirt, earrings, and necklace, making it impossible to tell what she was up to next.
Qin Lan's mind started to wander, wondering if she slept in a suit or dress. Did she wear pajamas or not?
Jiang Yan knelt down opposite her and smoothed her hair.
Qin Lan steeled herself, applied some ointment, and hesitated before saying, "You...lie down?"
Jiang Yan didn't speak, and leaned against the headboard.
Qin Lan remained silent for a long time, almost lacking the courage to face it, but in the end she still leaned over with a death-defying spirit, helping her return to nature in a paralyzed state.
Jiang Yan remained silent.
Qin Lan was going crazy. For the first time in his life, he hoped that she would say something, even a few words, just to break the tomb-like atmosphere...!
She dared not look, but how could she apply the medicine without seeing? In the end, she steeled herself and turned around, then opened her eyes with a deathly heaviness, pursed her lips, and reached out her hand, her muscles trembling—her fingertips finally touched Jiang Yan, and both of them felt as if they had been electrocuted.
Qin Lan was unable to calm down. Her eyes were filled with turbulent emotions, and her muscles began to tingle as she recalled that day.
After selecting the marble, the sculptor picked up his carving knife, but the first cut came without warning. She remembered Jiang Yan immediately covering her mouth, her face flushing red, refusing to even glance at him.
She was completely different from the Jiang Yan who was now sitting back, silent, with a calm look in her eyes.
The sculptor showed no mercy, nor was her technique particularly skillful; her marble could have been broken and destroyed, but Jiang Yan chose to show her a perfect work.
She went several times to get ointment to mend the damage to her marble. Finally, the striking color was no longer visible, but her heart pounded with even greater anxiety.
Jiang Yan also kept her head down, as if she wanted to observe, her expression silent.
Their body temperatures were rising, but the surrounding air remained icy cold. Neither of them had any romantic thoughts; it was as if they were performing some kind of ritual.
Qin Lan closed her eyes.
But you can see it more clearly.
Her marble, her work, such a perfect piece of stone, finely polished and refined.
It took her a while to open her eyes. Jiang Yan was still looking down, her alluring features filled with sorrow, as if nothing could be more painful than this moment. Qin Lan's heart sank. She withdrew her hand and took some more ointment.
Memories were fully awakened. The stone was warm to the touch, smooth and white. The sculptor's file rose and fell rhythmically, flowing along the stone's natural grain. The stone invited her to study more detailed designs, as if it had a life of its own, drawing her into the rhythm of her carving. She, too, felt the breath of the work.
She felt she was going crazy; she wanted to cleave the stone in two with a single stroke, to break it, to make it silvery, to make it bleed from within.
Qin Lan applied the ointment evenly, with unusual care.
She was almost too scared to move, frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.
She felt pain herself.
Jiang Yan suddenly straightened up, bent her knees, and picked up the medicine pot.
Qin Lan was caught between a rock and a hard place, and moved stiffly with the movement.
Jiang Yan pressed down on her wrist and smoothed her hair.
Qin Lan stared at her in horror. As she landed, her medicine jar fell to the ground.
"you--"
Qin Lan wanted to escape.
She was stuck in place, unable to move, and could only watch helplessly as the cool ointment had long since turned scalding hot.
Her work had developed a crack, right in the center. The marble was no longer a perfect piece; it had become extremely fragile, as if it would bleed if she carved another stroke. But her work wouldn't stop; she was determined to sculpt it to perfection.
He held Qin Lan's shoulder, his brows furrowed, and tears of pain welled in his eyes.
Is she in pain?
Suddenly, a drop of water hit her arm, scalding Qin Lan and making her shudder. Then more water droplets rolled down, and she quickly looked up to see Jiang Yan's silent, tearful eyes.
"Don't continue." Qin Lan's heart tightened: "Doesn't it hurt?"
But Jiang Yan just gripped her shoulders tightly, as if in a fierce manner. Her eyes were closed, and a strand of hair slowly slipped down her cheek.
The sculptor and the stone felt intense pain together, his heart being repeatedly squeezed, utterly bewildered and helpless. Jiang Yan looked up, shook her head, and tossed her tear-streaked hair aside, saying, "Look carefully, I'm in so much pain because of you."
Qin Lan's pupils twitched, and for a moment her mind went blank. Her bewildered gaze went over Jiang Yan's shoulder and stared blankly at the window.
As they ascended into the air once more, the clock seemed to slow down, allowing Qin Lan to fully experience the feeling of emptiness.
He fell hard again, shattering himself into pieces.
For three years, her tearful face had been etched into Qin Lan's mind, making her realize for the first time that someone truly and deeply loved her. So much so that he was willing to do anything for her, even if it meant hurting her.
Of all her suitors, Jiang Yan was the only one who hadn't confessed his feelings. He hadn't pursued her, hadn't given her any gifts, and hadn't showered her with sweet words. But at this moment, Jiang Yan's pain in Chuanxi made Qin Lan understand those unspoken words far more deeply than any flowers or chocolates others had placed on her table. Without her even realizing it, the door to her heart had quietly opened a crack.
But the person who came to knock on the door stopped, no longer showing her gentleness and smiles: "We don't need to see each other again, and we... owe each other nothing."
＊
Yu Jintang let out a sound like an animal that had been whipped, and couldn't help but punch her again.
"You're a complete beast." She cursed, then suddenly remembered something and panicked: "This matter absolutely cannot be leaked. If Jiang Yan's fans find out, you won't see the sun tomorrow even if you hide in the Pentagon."
Qin Lan lowered her eyes and said, "I'm begging you, Yu Guaiguai, please stop jinxing me, okay? Last time you just opened your mouth and Jiang Yan was brought to the film set."
Yu Jintang: "So you two broke off contact? Then why did she suddenly come looking for you again?"
Qin Lan then remembered that there was something she hadn't told her: "Just a few months ago, I accidentally drank some alcohol and ended up getting Jiang Yan drunk."
Yu Jintang asked with renewed interest, "Tell me in detail, has it been done?"
Qin Lan: "...I forgot."
Yu Jintang: "?"
Qin Lan: "I really forgot, I have a blackout."
Yu Jintang: "That shouldn't be the case. Didn't you quit drinking?"
"Have you forgotten?" Qin Lan asked with a troubled expression. "That time Yang Xingji came back, and then Song Man invited a few of us to drink. I thought I wouldn't spoil the fun, so I drank, and ended up drinking too much."
Yu Jintang remembered too. Three years ago, it wasn't just Jiang Yan who left, but also Yun Chui. The winter Qin Lan went skiing, Yun Chui and Song Man had a big fight. Song Man said harshly that she never wanted to see him again, and unexpectedly, Yun Chui really did leave.
And she's doing very well, currently traveling all over the world.
Song Man is just as tough as Qin Lan. She never says she regrets her actions, but she will occasionally invite them to eat and drink. Everyone knows that she misses Yun Chui.
In addition, Yang Xingji had spent several months in the closed training camp, and as soon as he came back, he clamored for food and drinks, so Qin Lan made an exception and drank alcohol that night.
"What does your being drunk have to do with Jiang Yan?"
Qin Lan sighed, "You guys insisted on playing games, and then there was a round I lost. The wheel said to call your crush..."
Yu Jintang exclaimed, then remembered, "Didn't you say you couldn't get through?"
"Yeah! She wouldn't answer my calls!" Qin Lan said angrily. "When I got angry, I drank even more, and then I completely blacked out."
Yu Jintang gave a thumbs up: "What a thoroughly exhilarating display of energy!"
Although Jiang Yan said she didn't sleep that night, Qin Lan still felt that something had happened. Otherwise, why would Jiang Yan suddenly come to the film crew where she was acting? And why was her attitude so good? It was completely out of character for her.
Qin Lan was prepared to be hated by her for the rest of her life.
Qin Lan can let bygones be bygones, but she still has to face what needs to be faced now.
"Someone tell me what to do?" she sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "I really don't know how to film a bed scene with Jiang Yan."
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Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm
I really dislike using metaphors in situations like this, so I'm genuinely out of ideas. Who knows how I'll change it later?
I didn't finish the salmon from yesterday, but I can eat it again today! Hehehe, so happy! Having fish to eat is the happiest thing! [Lucky Lotus][Lucky Lotus][Lucky Lotus]
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