Chapter 72, "The Great Melee of Broken Engagements": "Miss, Madam... has turned to ashes! Please accept my condolences!"
Amidst everyone's attention, Xiahou Cheng stood up: "The Great Battle of Broken Engagements, Act One, Action!"
"Setting: Campus; Character: Qin Lan, the eldest daughter of the Dikun Group!"
Qin Lan appeared with a head of red hair and wearing a school uniform.
He also had a baseball bat slung over his shoulder.
Yang Xingji couldn't hold back and burst out laughing on the spot.
Xiahou Cheng read aloud: "She was originally a rich heiress and the school beauty of Jinhai No. 1 High School. The men who pursued her lined up from the school gate all the way to France. And look, today another bunch of girls sent her love letters!"
Xiahou Cheng changed the subject: "But no one knows that this young lady is actually asexual!"
Everyone: ?
Before Qin Lan could react, Xiahou Cheng immediately shouted, "Extras, come forward and give them love letters! Qin Lan will reject them all!"
Part-time extras Yang Xingji, Anna, Feng Manhong, and Liu Lü rushed forward, each holding a love letter.
Qin Lan glanced at it with an air of domineering arrogance, smiled disdainfully, and strode away.
"Get out of my way, I'm not interested in you."
Very few people know the real reason behind Qin Lan's rebellious personality. Although she was born into a wealthy family, Qin Lan was not happy at all.
Xiahou Cheng recited with great intonation and emotion: "A gambling father, a mother who died young, a company full of intrigue and backstabbing, and her broken heart!"
Qin Lan almost lost her composure.
Jiang Yan was laughing hysterically, not even trying to hide from the cameras. Qin Lan could already imagine what the fans would say when the show aired—Jiang Yan mercilessly mocking her nemesis, and so on…
She stood there expressionless, trying her best to put on a broken and melancholy expression, as Xiahou Cheng continued reading:
"Qin Lan began to wallow in self-pity, skipping classes and exams. One day, in a dark alley, Qin Lan got into a fight with Yang Xingji, the cousin of the eldest daughter of the Tianyu Group. Relying on her superior numbers, Yang Xingji injured Qin Lan, who was fighting back!"
Yang Xingji hurriedly took the stage. It was her first time acting, so she was a bit flustered. Relying on her superior numbers (the crew lent her five staff members), she pinned Qin Lan to the ground and rubbed her against the ground.
Qin Lan bit open the blood pack, wiped it with her hand, and half of her body was covered in blood.
Xiahou Cheng: "Yang Xingji stepped on the girl's face and arrogantly asked, 'Do you submit?'"
Yang Xingji: "..."
Qin Lan had already settled down on her own.
Yang Xingji gritted his teeth, determined to take the plunge. He walked over and stomped down, the sole of his shoe hovering precariously over Qin Lan's face.
Now she truly resembled a spoiled and willful bully, even shrieking, "Do you submit? I'm asking you, do you submit?!"
Qin Lan's expression was stubborn and angry: "I refuse to accept this!"
"Yang Xingji ordered his men to give Qin Lan another beating before leaving triumphantly."
Yang Xingji led his men out of the room, and Xiahou Cheng gave Jiang Yan a signal to get ready.
Jiang Yan understood immediately.
Xiahou Cheng continued, "The dying Qin Lan lay there in the dilapidated and dirty alley, staring at the night sky in despair."
"At that moment, she heard a light footstep."
Qin Lan turned her head, trying hard to see who it was.
Her vision was blurry, but she vaguely sensed it was a girl. Jiang Yan shone her flashlight through the alley, then suddenly stopped, her voice trembling as she asked warily, "Who's there?"
"You're really on point, Teacher Jiang!" Xiahou Cheng exclaimed, letting the two of them improvise this part.
Qin Lan immediately picked up the act, her body twitching slightly.
The audience watched this scene with lustful eyes. The cameraman leaned closer to Yang Xingji and heard her whisper, "Give me a kiss, give me a kiss!"
Jiang Yan cautiously took a step back, holding up her flashlight and waiting for a long time. The light in the dim alley was too weak; she only saw "that thing" twitch weakly a few times, like some kind of dying animal.
Kindness quickly overcame her wariness, and Jiang Yan felt that "that thing" posed no threat to her. She cautiously approached and shone her flashlight on the despondent girl: "Are you alright?"
Jiang Yan's hand trembled, and she exclaimed in surprise, "It's a person! It's a girl!"
She quickly knelt down and gently brushed aside Qin Lan's long hair that was covering her face: "How are you? Are you hurt?"
Qin Lan let out a sob, the sound piercing Jiang Yan's heart.
Now she was not only deeply immersed in the role but also felt an absurd pang of heartache, wishing she could immediately hold Qin Lan in her arms. She looked around, acting while also waiting for Xiahou Cheng's instructions. Realizing that Xiahou Cheng had no intention of guiding her, she continued to improvise, tearing off her clothes with all her might.
It wasn't torn.
With another burst of strength, she tore her clothes open, revealing bulging veins on her arm. Yang Xingji gasped in shock, his mouth practically watering.
Jiang Yan wrapped her coat around Qin Lan, helped her sit up against the wall, and then squatted down herself, revealing her slender and strong back.
"Come on up, I'll take you to get your injuries treated."
Qin Lan barely opened her eyes, looking at the figure in front of her through the blurry world.
She shifted, struggling to climb onto him: "Can...you...carry me...?"
"Little girl, you're so strong!" Jiang Yan cheered herself on, as lively as a real high school student: "You have to keep going too, you must persevere!"
With a maternal smile, Xiahou Cheng finally spoke up to guide the conversation: "Jiang Yan wanted to take Qin Lan to the hospital, but the girl on her back refused. She didn't know that Qin Lan didn't want to go back to that cold and suffocating home, so she absolutely refused to go to the hospital."
"Jiang Yan couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she had to take Qin Lan to the clinic for treatment. After a simple bandage, she took Qin Lan back to her own home. She changed her dressing and bandaged her up. Something called ambiguity was taking root between the two of them."
Qin Lan lay on the sofa (bed) and slowly moved her arms.
Jiang Yan walked over happily, carrying a tray: "The medicine is ready! Drink it while it's hot. I added an extra piece of sugar, so it won't be too bitter. Try it!"
She sat down lightly next to Qin Lan, looking as beautiful as a sunflower in this small, dilapidated house, full of vitality even in its tranquility: "Try it!"
Seeing Qin Lan's disgusted expression, she scooped up a spoonful herself, slurped it twice, and brought it to Qin Lan's lips, her beautiful eyes gazing at her expectantly.
Yang Xingji gripped Liu Lü's sleeve tightly, making Liu Lü tremble. He muttered, "Throw away that broken spoon and kiss her!"
Liu Lü quickly turned her head and saw the girl with the injury still on her cheek stubbornly pursing her lips, but still obediently leaning over and taking the spoon in her mouth.
Jiang Yan immediately burst into laughter, and Qin Lan couldn't help but reach out and touch her bangs.
Both of them froze. Qin Lan, spoon in her mouth, her fingertips tugging at soft strands of hair, looked bewildered and innocent. Jiang Yan sat blankly opposite her, equally at a loss.
Xiahou Cheng exclaimed excitedly, "The atmosphere was just right, so Qin Lan, acting on instinct, leaned over and kissed Jiang Yan's bangs!"
A collective gasp filled the room; the production team was so excited they nearly fainted, as they filmed this scene with eight hundred cameras shooting in a surround-view format.
In the warm afternoon sunlight, Qin Lan, as if possessed, slowly moved closer. Jiang Yan also shuddered at the last moment and subconsciously closed her eyes.
Qin Lan's heart stirred, and he gently pressed the back of Jiang Yan's head, kissing the soft strands of hair on her forehead.
With a muffled thud, Yang Xingji fainted from shipping the couple.
After a good ten seconds, Xiahou Cheng finally managed to utter a sentence: "Spring has arrived, and love is budding."
"That's too straightforward," Liu Lü couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Feng Manhong sighed, "Actually, Chengcheng has already restrained herself quite a bit."
Xiahou Cheng reluctantly withdrew his gaze, closing his eyes with a look of rapture: "Qin Lan stayed here for a whole month. This house is old and cramped, but it made her feel a sense of security like never before. It was as if the love she lacked in her childhood was being compensated for in a gentle and passionate way overnight. The broken child was carefully mended by another young girl, and was given rich emotions and flesh and blood."
"The girls' feelings for each other grew stronger day by day. They did housework together, planted vibrant plants, shopped for groceries together, and studied together. Whenever she looked at Jiang Yan, her eyes were always filled with a happiness and love that she herself was unaware of."
Liu Lü smacked her lips a few times: "Teacher Xiahou is quite skilled. When he gets serious, he's a very charming person."
Feng Manhong said with a hint of pride, "Of course, otherwise the first drama wouldn't have become such a hit."
Yu Jintang listened for a while and then realized something was wrong; this scene wasn't in the script. Turning her head, she saw Xiahou Cheng with her eyes closed, swinging her legs and improvising. Her eyes widened immediately: "Are you improvising, Teacher Chengcheng?"
Xiahou Cheng smiled shyly: "As the saying goes, things come naturally and come out of my mouth. I have cultivated for ten thousand years and reached the pinnacle of my cultivation. This is just a trivial skill and not worth mentioning."
She turned her head and continued reciting her lines, but Yu Jintang couldn't take her eyes off her.
Qin Lan portrays suppressed deep emotions based on the plot.
Based on her years of acting experience, this happiness would soon be shattered by some external force, and their relationship wouldn't last. In the character's backstory, she's the eldest daughter of the Dikun Group, and one day she'll have to go back. Her gambling father will definitely make things difficult for her love, so she must restrain herself and endure it.
Xiahou Cheng's method was sudden: "Qin Lan and Jiang Yan's relationship quickly heated up. She trapped Jiang Yan in the narrow space between the wall and her arms, and said with restraint..."
"Don't move, woman! I can't guarantee what will happen if you move again!"
Qin Lan momentarily lost her composure, but her professionalism quickly pulled her back to normal.
She decided to throw caution to the wind and throw herself wholeheartedly into this absurd script.
"You're still young, so I won't touch you, but if you dare leave me, I'll take you right now!"
Yang Xingji came back to life and lay on the ground looking at the two people who were almost touching.
Jiang Yan's face twitched slightly, and she quickly got into character before the camera was pointed at her, looking shy and bashful.
Feng Manhong and Liu Lü exchanged a glance and silently lowered their heads.
They really don't understand the abstract concepts of young people.
However, this good fortune didn't last long...
Xiahou Cheng's tone changed, entering a sorrowful and profound world: "During her conversation with Qin Lan, Jiang Yan learned that Qin Lan was actually the eldest daughter of the Dikun Group... So what exactly is her past with the Dikun Group?"
"It turns out that Jiang Yan's mother used to be an employee of the Dikun Group. She participated in blood donation when the group's wife, Qin Lan's mother, was giving birth. Due to Qin Lan's continued postpartum hemorrhage, Jiang Yan's mother was forced to donate a large amount of blood, and ultimately bled to death..."
Jiang Yan's lips trembled as she stumbled back a step.
"What's wrong?" Qin Lan didn't notice anything amiss and was still enthusiastically introducing Jiang Yan: "My family is very wealthy, but my dad is too sick and definitely won't agree to you marrying into our family. I need to think of a way to persuade him..."
Xiahou Cheng continued to guide the conversation: "Jiang Yan didn't tell the truth, but that night, she couldn't sleep as she watched Qin Lan's back."
The two lay together on the sofa, Jiang Yan silently keeping her eyes open, a sliver of moonlight falling upon them.
Jiang Yan gazed at her for a long time before finally making up her mind. She wanted to leave this place, leave Qin Lan, leave this place that had once brought her immense happiness but now also caused her immense inner conflict! If she was destined not to be with Qin Lan, then she chose... to leave!
Jiang Yan quietly got up, walked past Qin Lan, and put on her shoes.
Qin Lan turned over groggily and hummed unconsciously twice.
After cursing Xiahou Cheng a thousand times in his mind, this person let loose and became quite mentally unstable.
Jiang Yan paused, silently gazing at Qin Lan's face.
Her sleeping figure under the moonlight embodies the tranquility of life, a life she so desperately longed for. In this ordinary world, there is the most beautiful love, and even simple tasks like washing clothes and cooking become joyful and fulfilling with their shared involvement.
She reached out lingeringly, gently tracing Qin Lan's features. His deep, captivating features, high and defined, were alluring even in his sleep, constantly stirring her heartstrings.
She quietly closed the door, taking only a schoolbag with her.
Qin Lan didn't hear the director's voice and "woke up" on her own when she felt it was about time.
Not seeing Jiang Yan, she assumed she was in the kitchen, so she wandered into the kitchen, calling out in a drawn-out tone, "Jiang—Yan—"
The camera was pointed directly at Jiang Yan, who was standing outside the set. She lowered her eyes and covered her face.
Qin Lan didn't see anyone, paused for a moment, then walked back to the living room from the kitchen: "Jiang Yan?"
She spun around in place for a while before finally noticing a sticky note on the table. She tore it off and held it up to her face to look at it, and the cameraman quickly zoomed in.
The paper only had five words: Let's break up.
Jiang Yan covered her face without moving, so the camera couldn't capture her expression. But this reaction itself was very marketable, so Lin Shu added two more camera angles for her.
Qin Lan stood frozen in place for a full half minute, her eyes wide with fury. She gripped the paper tightly and suddenly let out a mournful cry.
Xiahou Cheng inserts/introduction: "At this moment, Qin Lan was angry, confused, and heartbroken. Her life had been turned upside down overnight, and all the good things had left her. She roared and howled like a wild beast, completely unable to accept this absurd ending."
You fucking know how ridiculous this is.
While cursing her in his heart, Qin Lan unleashed his anger, spinning around in place and roaring at the air, "No! No!! Who allowed you to leave me?! Woman, you better not let me find you again!"
He spun around frantically at the same time: "Woman!! I command you to come back!!!"
He roared in despair, "Ha! You're pushing my limits!"
Song Man stared in disbelief: "This young lady is a future CEO!"
Yun Chui chimed in, "Has A-Man also read Tomato's novels?"
Song Man: "You've seen it too??"
Yun Chui said calmly, "I have some understanding of it."
Xiahou Cheng read in a low voice, "After being dumped, the young lady of the Dikun Group became even more self-destructive. But now, she has an even more important task to do, which is to find Jiang Yan, hold her tightly in her arms, and force her to say—'Let's get back together!'"
"Qin Lan returned home, summoned all the bodyguards, and ordered them to find Jiang Yan, the wife of the group's eldest daughter."
Qin Lan automatically continued her lines: "Within two days, I need all information about her! If I can't find her, I'll make you all pay with your lives!"
Anna, who had temporarily acted as a bodyguard, returned after making a quick round outside: "Miss, Madam, Madam, she..."
Qin Lan suddenly grabbed her by the neck, his voice urgent and furious: "Speak! I order you to tell me about her immediately!"
Anna's face turned pale with fright. Her acting was so good that Qin Lan, who was acting opposite her, was able to speak very smoothly: "Madam...she...already perished in the fire at the restaurant on Dongwan Road yesterday!"
Qin Lan roared in fury: "What did you say! What did you say?! Impossible! This is impossible! You dare to lie!!"
Anna feigned extreme fear, shocking Yun Chui: "Your subordinate, your subordinate swears with his life, that fire was huge, it made the headlines!"
She quickly swiped a few times on the iPad and handed it to Qin Lan.
Qin Lan stared at the iPad, her expression shifting from disbelief to shock and helplessness. A drop of water suddenly fell, leaving one unsure whether it was from pain or heartache.
She pushed Anna away, paced around the room blankly, and murmured, "She did it to save a little girl trapped under a beam... She was always so kind, so innocent..."
Qin Lan covered her face with her hands and sobbed, "Yanyan is the most innocent and kind girl I've ever met... She must have some unavoidable reason... How could she bear to leave me..."
"A movie queen, Lao Qin!" Yu Jintang exclaimed, her mouth agape.
“Miss, Madam… has turned to ashes! Please accept my condolences!” Anna said sorrowfully.
"Shut up! Shut up!!" Qin Lan roared, looking completely deranged.
Xiahou Cheng's voice rang out: "Qin Lan refuses to admit this fact. She swears that she wants to see Jiang Yan alive or dead! Otherwise, she will make everyone pay for Jiang Yan's death!"
"Didn't you say she had turned to ashes?"
Qin Lan lunged forward, grabbing Anna by the collar, her eyes bloodshot: "Go find her ashes! Otherwise, I'll make you all pay with your lives!!!"
Anna was terrified and ran away as fast as she could. As she left, the audio clearly recorded her muttering, "Crazy woman."
Anna circled the room once and came back up, trembling as she held up a small bottle: "Miss, that's all we have..."
Xiahou Cheng: "Qin Lan can't believe it, how could her Jiang Yan... be so little?"
Jiang Yan herself in the locker room: "?"
Xiahou Cheng said with a sorrowful expression, "The Jiang Yan I remember was sunny and always smiling, warming my entire life. Now, a living person has become a small bottle of ashes. How can she possibly accept that?"
Qin Lan stared at the small bottle, then took two steps forward as if in a daze, as if reaching out to take it, before suddenly waking up with a start: "You're lying to me! You dare to lie to me!! How could this be?? How could this be? Jiang Yan is still—still a young girl in the prime of her life, so innocent, so beautiful, and you're telling me she's just gone like that?"
Jiang Yan looked gloomy in the locker room, her teeth practically grinding to powder.
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Hehehe, the new cover arrived, and I love it more and more every time I look at it! Especially the red-haired guy on the left, he fits Qin Lan's character perfectly! Thank you to the artist, the graphic designer, and the screenwriter!
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