Chapter 21 Poisoned Princess "Who made you unhappy, Princess?"...
Lan Jia was stunned for a moment, thinking of what Meng Cenjun had said to her yesterday.
"Then so be it."
She just hadn't expected him to grant her wish so easily.
Lan Jia looked lost, nodded blankly, and left alone.
Zuo Tai watched her retreating figure and sighed.
When I arrived at the film set, I ran into Song Qingqu. Coincidentally, he was wearing the same color T-shirt and shorts as Lan Jia, a denim crossbody bag, and a graffiti-patterned skateboard in his hand, looking every bit the youthful college student.
Upon seeing her, he smiled and said, "You look great today, unlike yesterday when you seemed unapproachable."
Lan Jia tried to smile, but her lips remained expressionless. Song Qingqu, ever observant, teased, "Who upset you, Princess? Or have you finally decided that life here is boring and tedious?"
"Nothing at all." She shook her head, thinking: Isn't this exactly what I've always wanted? What more could she possibly want?
Lan Jia took a deep breath and said, as if giving herself a mental suggestion, "I'm fine. I love my job here, and I'm going to stay."
"Okay, that's settled."
Suddenly filled with energy, she turned and walked up the stairs without looking back.
Song Qingqu shook his head helplessly and followed her upstairs.
Before even entering, they could hear a heated argument inside. Lan Jia and Song Qingqu exchanged a glance and decided not to rush in. Instead, they stood by the window in the hallway and listened quietly to what was happening.
Lan Jia strained her ears, trying hard to discern the truth, and finally figured out that the main characters in the incident were Xu Xinwen and Xiao Zhang. The cause was that Xiao Zhang was careless at work and burned the female lead's red costume. The damage was severe, and it would definitely not achieve the original effect after repair.
If it had been purchased, it could have been replaced immediately. Unfortunately, this dress was custom-made by Xu Xinwen for the female lead, and it took a lot of time to complete before filming began, being handmade stitch by stitch.
Xu Xinwen's emotions fluctuated greatly during her pregnancy, and Xiao Zhang, being young and hot-tempered, couldn't stand criticism. After hearing a few harsh words, his initial guilt vanished immediately, and he simply said that he would find a similar one to replace it, implying that she was making a mountain out of a molehill.
If it were anyone else, they would just find a substitute, but who is Xu Xinwen? He is known in the industry for his meticulousness and cannot tolerate any flaws. If there is even the slightest error in a design, it must be scrapped and redone.
Xu Xinwen intended to cultivate Xiao Zhang, but Xiao Zhang repeatedly made mistakes, and coupled with her attitude today, it went far beyond the level of being disappointed in someone who wasn't living up to their potential. Xiao Zhang had also long been fed up with her constant nitpicking and fault-finding.
In the sweltering heat of midsummer, the heat was like a sauna, and the anger was brewing fiercely. The two went from questioning and explaining to engaging in a heated argument, which exploded like hot oil. Xiao Zhang's face turned red, and he ripped off his work badge and threw it on the ground, shouting, "I quit!"
Lan Jia was inexplicably startled by the roar. Seeing that the person was about to rush out, she and Song Qingqu looked out the window simultaneously, pretending they weren't eavesdropping. Of course, she was certain that Xiao Zhang had seen them.
Song Qingqu's expression was intriguing, and he gestured with his lip towards her, "Let's go in now."
Lan Jia understood his implied meaning.
Even after the war ended, the air was still thick with the smell of gunpowder, and the other staff members dared not breathe, so the room was unusually quiet.
Xu Xinwen held the scalded dress in her hand, her brows furrowed as she looked around. Seeing everyone engrossed in their work, she felt a sense of unease. The filming schedule couldn't be delayed; with Xiao Zhang gone, no one could fill the vacancy, and the original workload had to fall on her twice as much. Remaking the dress would take an unknown amount of time, especially since the scene was about to be filmed.
Her gaze swept around twice before settling on Lan Jia, and she hesitated. Lan Jia's eyes lit up at this, eager to try, but she quickly looked away.
Xu Xinwen still held a prejudice against her, thinking that she was an experiential learner who would leave once she got bored.
Lan Jia was slightly disappointed, but she still mustered up the courage to volunteer and leaned closer to her to discuss: "Sister Xinwen, if you have too much work backlog, could you transfer some of it to me?"
"You?" Xu Xinwen's expression was stern. "Are you even managing your current workload?"
This shows a lack of trust in her abilities.
With a sincere smile, Lan Jia said, "I've mastered the parts you assigned me. Why don't you let me try the rest?" In fact, after being criticized by the director for a minor mistake yesterday, Lan Jia hadn't made any further mistakes in her work.
Hearing this, the other colleagues in the room glanced at Lan Jia with surprise. They had never seen such an enthusiastic worker, especially with such a difficult superior. They had all been keeping their heads down, afraid of being approached by Xu Xinwen, but now that Lan Jia had volunteered, they all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Xinwen is still considering it; she doesn't want an assistant who gives up halfway.
Seeing this, Lan Jia became even more sincere: "Sister Xinwen, why don't you try me out for a day before making a decision?"
After several rounds of persuasion, Xu Xinwen temporarily agreed to let her manage the female lead's costumes.
Song Qingqu exchanged a glance with her and showed an approving expression.
Ready to power on.
Today's filming took place indoors, depicting the daily life of a brother and sister.
Chen's father, an alcoholic, was a notorious and filthy man with a long history of feuds with his neighbors. Fearing being reported by someone with ulterior motives, Chen Xiaojing, who had been trafficked and was living illegally, could only hide in her home in the dark.
Without a household registration, she couldn't go to school. Moreover, Chen's father was always broke and would never allow Chen Xiaojing to receive an education. Chen Lan was a high school sophomore with excellent grades. He often tutored his classmates in exchange for pocket money. Of course, he was also fully responsible for his younger sister Chen Xiaojing's education.
That day, Chen Lan came home from school and took out a pile of books from his faded canvas schoolbag. There were textbooks and extracurricular books that he had borrowed for Chen Xiaojing.
After calling out twice in the living room without seeing anyone, Chen Lan went to the siblings' small bedroom and saw Chen Xiaojing expressionlessly swatting a large spider on the wall to death.
Hearing the noise, Chen Xiaojing turned her head and slowly broke into a surprised smile, "Brother, you're back?"
Chen Lan looked at her for a while and said, "Spiders eat mosquitoes, why swat it? Don't complain when you get bitten by mosquitoes at night."
She chuckled, "I'm scared."
In the summer, mosquitoes are venomous, and without a mosquito net at home, Chen Xiaojing's arms would swell up with several large welts in the middle of the night. While still half-asleep, Chen Lan would get up and patiently wipe the welts with soap and water.
Seeing that she was trying to evade the question, Chen Lan didn't say anything and brought the books in, since the bedroom was the only space where they could move around freely.
You leaped from the earth,
Flying higher and higher,
Like a cloud of fire,
Spreading its wings in the deep blue abyss,
Singing as we fly, singing as we fly, never stopping.
...
It is a poem that celebrates freedom.
In fact, Chen Xiaojing is smart and can learn anything quickly. Even though she is confined at home, she knows no less than her peers.
Having received an education, she is no longer numb, which has fostered a rebellious spirit. Why should she be the only one confined to this small space?
She crumpled the corner of her textbook in her hand, her eyes fixed on the word "Skylark," and said blankly, "Brother, I really want to leave. When can we escape?"
Chen Lan glanced at her, feeling bitter, and comforted her, "It'll be soon, Xiao Jing. In another year, when I go to university, let's fly far away together, okay?"
“A year is such a long time.” Chen Xiaojing said aggrievedly, “Brother, I want to leave now. I want to go out, I want to go shopping, I want to buy pretty dresses, I want to be like other kids my age, go to the arcade, go to the park, go to the aquarium, I want to see those beautiful jellyfish on TV, and pink dolphins…”
Chen Lan remained silent.
Chen Xiaojing's voice gradually softened as she stared at him: "Brother?"
Chen Lan lowered her head, concealing her sorrow, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "If Dad knew, he would beat us to death."
The thought of the culprit filled Chen Xiaojing with instinctive fear, but at this moment, her longing for freedom outweighed her fear.
She raised her voice and declared firmly, "I'm not afraid. It's better to be beaten to death by him than to be locked up here until I die!"
She pleaded with him again, "Brother, you know I've always listened to you and never caused trouble. This is the only wish I've ever had; please grant it to me, okay?"
Chen Lan remained silent.
Chen Xiaojing got anxious and shook his arm.
He didn't dare meet her expectant gaze, and only said, "Xiao Jing, can we wait a little longer?"
"We'll just sneak out once; we won't be discovered!"
"Xiao Jing, now is not the time..."
"You're always like this, making me wait every time!"
Chen Xiaojing shook him off, stood up angrily, and walked out.
Just then, the sound of a lock being opened came from the living room. The keyhole was rusty, and the lock was being opened with great force, making the iron door rattle loudly.
Upon hearing the familiar thunder, Chen Xiaojing hurriedly turned back.
The next second, they heard Chen's father yell at the top of his lungs, "Where are they? Where have they all gone? Don't they know I'm back for dinner?"
Judging from this, he must have lost money gambling outside and is now throwing a tantrum.
Chen Xiaojing looked at her with pleading eyes.
Chen Lan squeezed her hand reassuringly and walked out.
"Dad, I'll go cook right away."
"Where is that brat Chen Xiaojing?"
"My sister isn't feeling well, she should rest for the night."
"Not feeling well? You stay indoors all day without going out, and there's no wind or sun. How could you be feeling unwell? I bet you're just trying to be lazy again."
Chen's father spoke fiercely, then casually unbuckled his belt and headed towards the bedroom.
Chen Xiaojing leaned against the closed door, trembling all over, not daring to make a sound.
"Dad." Chen Lan hurriedly reached out to stop him, "I bought a bottle of wine, please sit down for a while, I'll pour you some."
He knew all too well that tobacco and alcohol were Chen's father's addictions, temporarily calming the restless spirit within him. He was the pillar of the Chen family, a dark cloud that had hung over them for sixteen years, and a perpetually insatiable beast. For the time being, they had no way to escape his clutches; the only thing they could do was to carefully maneuver around him, using every means to appease and feed him.
Even though they knew he would become even more violent and ferocious after he had eaten and drunk his fill, they were willing to accept even just a moment of peace.
It's too bitter, too painful; I'd gladly drink poison to quench my thirst.
Upon hearing that there was wine, Mr. Chen indeed stopped in his tracks, crossed his legs, and sat down at a folding table to wait for the meal.
Lighting a cheap cigarette, Chen's father sipped the wine that Chen Lan had bought with great remorse, while leisurely blowing smoke rings through his nostrils.
As Chen Xiaojing listened to the noisy martial arts movie sound effects in the living room, and occasionally heard the sizzling sounds of chopping vegetables in the kitchen, the popping of chili peppers and garlic in the pan, and the rumbling of the old-fashioned range hood, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.
Ashes littered the ground, and a faint sour smell lingered in the air. Chen's father sniffed around, then lifted his worn-out leather slippers high, took a look, and immediately spat angrily.
I stepped in dog poop somewhere.
No wonder I had such bad luck today.
"Chen Xiaojing, come out!"
Hearing his loud shout, Chen Xiaojing trembled with fear.
He couldn't refuse, or he'd get another beating, so he composed himself and shuffled to the living room.
"I've been calling you for ages and you still haven't come out. What are you pretending to be sick for? I think you're perfectly fine." Mr. Chen glanced at her sideways, kicked off his smelly shoes, and kicked them aside. "Go and clean these shoes for me."
The black and yellow filth on the soles of the shoes had been compacted and embedded in the grooves. Some of the leather on the edges of the shoes had peeled off, and a layer of sweat stains that had accumulated over the years floated on the inside. It was as if the shoes had been soaking in a stinking ditch for several years. Just looking at them would push one's physical limits.
Chen Xiaojing suppressed her nausea and was about to bend down to pick it up when a hand grabbed her arm.
Chen Lan placed a plate of stir-fried amaranth on the table and said to her, "Xiao Jing, go and bring the other dishes from the kitchen." After saying that, she expressionlessly took her shoes to the bathroom.
Chen Xiaojing glanced at Chen Lan, stunned, her eyes slightly stinging.
Chen's father was still recklessly puffing smoke, and she stood in the swirling secondhand smoke, suddenly feeling an endless sense of disgust.
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