MQSP - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"Oh, Baiye, why are you buying food at this hour? Didn't you eat lunch?"
"I'm getting it for my roommate. I saw you here and wanted to say hello. Are you just eating now?"
"Baiye? What a nice name, I like it!" Su Yu chimed in, her weakness for pretty faces on full display.
Baiye glanced at her. She didn't recognize the woman, but since she was with Teacher Lu, she must be an elder. "Hello," she said, nodding at Su Yu with a smile.
The formal address struck a nerve. Su Yu clutched her chest dramatically. "Oh, don't call me that. I'm not much older than you, I just look it."
Lu Qing rolled her eyes, unable to stand Su Yu's improper behavior.
"Baiye, if you have things to do, you should go ahead."
"Okay, I'll be going then."
"Alright."
"Wait!" Su Yu wouldn't have it, quickly stopping her.
"Um, Student Bai, are you a performance major?"
"I…"
"It doesn't matter if you're not. Are you interested in acting!?"
Lu Qing tried to stop her but couldn't, glaring daggers at Su Yu.
Su Yu paid her no mind, or rather, didn't even see her glare, her attention completely focused on Baiye.
"I'm a first-year student in the Performance Department."
"Yes!" Su Yu's eyes lit up, and she familiarly pulled Baiye down to sit beside her.
Baiye was clearly baffled by Su Yu's overly enthusiastic gesture. "You are…" She kept turning her head to Lu Qing for help.
"Ah, let me introduce myself. I'm a director. My surname is Su. You can call me Su Jiejie."
"Uh… okay…"
"Hey, I said that's enough…" Lu Qing tried to intervene, but Su Yu waved her off.
"You just mentioned… acting?"
"Yes, yes, yes. I was wondering if you're interested?"
"May I ask what kind of production it is?"
"It's…" Su Yu was about to speak but paused, glancing awkwardly at Lu Qing, only to find the latter sipping her water, completely ignoring her.
"Um…" Su Yu hesitated for a moment. She didn't know why she was suddenly hesitating. Maybe it was seeing such a serene girl and not knowing how to lead her astray? Or perhaps she didn't want to see a look of disdain or contempt on her face?
After a moment of internal conflict, Su Yu pursed her lips. "It's… a television series with a same-sex theme."
As expected, the moment she finished speaking, Baiye was visibly stunned. Then, all three of them fell silent, and the atmosphere grew awkward. Su Yu sighed inwardly. Is homosexuality really that hard for people to accept?
Baiye took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Alright, you don't have to say anything. I know it can be hard to accept. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't want to act in it. You have a great image and temperament. If you debut in a proper production, your future will be limitless," Su Yu said preemptively.
"Really?" Baiye's eyes seemed to sparkle as she stared intently at Su Yu.
"Really. Trust my judgment."
"No, I mean, a same-sex theme? Really?"
"…???" Su Yu clutched her head, her brain suddenly unable to process.
Even Lu Qing, who had just started to relax, was dumbfounded.
"What? A same-sex theme… Y-Yes, really…" Su Yu answered, stunned.
"Hey, wait, no… you're… interested?" Su Yu's excitement was palpable, like someone who'd just spotted an oasis in the desert. She had seen all sorts of reactions to the word "homosexual"—disgust, aversion, avoidance—but this eager, almost excited look was a first.
"Baiye, this is no joke." Lu Qing's brows were knitted into a tight knot. How had she never realized this student was so open-minded?
"Ah, right, maybe you misunderstood. Let me say it again. I'm filming a television series with a same-sex theme. I still need two more girls, and the female lead is still vacant. Of course, I guarantee there won't be any overly explicit scenes in the show; we're focusing on the plot. Did you understand this time?"
"I understood. If it's not overly explicit, I'd like to try," Baiye said, nodding decisively.
Su Yu was shocked. She'd never met an actor who was so easygoing, and one she'd taken a liking to at first sight, no less!
"Baiye, you… can accept homosexuality?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled.
Baiye pursed her lips. "I just feel that love is a beautiful emotion. It shouldn't be obstructed by anything."
"But this is ultimately a niche viewpoint. You have good potential. If you follow a normal career path, your future will be limitless. You shouldn't ruin your prospects now."
"Teacher, I don't think this is ruining my future. I'm… just doing what I want to do," Baiye bit her lip, surprisingly insistent.
"You have ambition!" Su Yu slapped the table. "I love girls like you who dare to face their inner selves. That settles it, I want you for the role!"
"But… I've never acted before. I have no experience at all. I'm afraid I'll ruin your work…" To Baiye, acting was sacred and definitely not something to be taken lightly. But this so-called director had only just met her and was already saying she wanted to cast her. Wasn't that a bit too rash?
"Don't worry. No experience is fine. As long as you have the heart for it, that's enough!" Su Yu was dead set on casting her.
"Baiye, I think you should really reconsider," Lu Qing advised, her expression grave and serious.
"Hey, hey, hey! If you're not going to help me, at least don't hinder me."
"Teacher, it's okay. Let me try. I want to learn more about this industry. Maybe I won't even pass the audition."
Lu Qing was conflicted. Gu Baiye was her favorite student, outstanding in every way, and she had high hopes for her. But now, right under her nose, she was about to head down the wrong path! And yet, Lu Qing couldn't bring herself to persuade her to give up, because Lu Qing herself was a lesbian.
"Alright, let me get your number. I'll notify you about the audition," Su Yu said, pulling out her phone and fiddling with it.
"Okay, thank you."
"Don't mention it. I already told you, just call me Su Jiejie." Su Yu was overjoyed. What a huge find! She couldn't help but size Baiye up a few more times. Hmm, with a cute face like this, if she became Lin Yuqing's wife… hey, wouldn't that be letting that old fellow off too easy?
Baiye said goodbye to them and left.
"Hehehe, not bad, not bad at all. This year's students are really something," Su Yu grinned from ear to ear.
Lu Qing was a little annoyed but couldn't show it. She decided she would have to find Baiye for a private chat later.
Su Yu wandered around the campus a bit more and found two other students who caught her eye. After some persuasion, they agreed to come for an audition. All in all, it was a fruitful trip. She thanked Lu Qing profusely and then headed home.
Just as Gu Baiye returned to her dorm, her phone rang. She glanced at it, and a trace of joy inadvertently appeared between her brows.
"Ooh, is that your boyfriend? You look so happy," her roommate teased, taking the food from her hands and contentedly starting to eat.
"Of course not," Baiye said with a small smile, then turned and ran to the end of the hallway to answer the call by the window.
"Auntie Xiao Zi."
"Yeah, Xiao Ye. Are you busy this weekend? If not, how about coming home for a couple of days?"
"Hmm?"
"Yeah, you know who. That fellow misses you. I'm already at the usual spot. I'll wait for you. Come over as soon as you're done."
"Okay, I'll be right there!" Baiye's heart leaped with joy as she happily hung up the phone.
Xia Xiaozi smiled to herself, already picturing Baiye's delighted expression.
Ten minutes later, Gu Baiye jogged all the way to the parking lot, slightly out of breath. She spotted Xia Xiaozi's car at a glance and hurried over.
Xia Xiaozi saw her too and opened the car door for her.
"Auntie Xiao Zi!" Baiye's cheeks were flushed, and she was still panting slightly.
Xia Xiaozi thoughtfully handed her a pack of tissues. "Why were you running? It's not like I wouldn't wait for you."
"I was afraid you'd wait too long."
Xia Xiaozi smiled, tucking a stray strand of Baiye's hair behind her ear before helping her fasten her seatbelt.
"Is Auntie Lin home?" she asked, looking at Xia Xiaozi with eyes full of anticipation.
"No, she's on set. I'll take you home first, then go pick her up from the set." Xia Xiaozi glanced at her. What a little devotee. Her eyes light up whenever Lin Yuqing is mentioned.
"Then… I'll cook dinner tonight. Can we go to the supermarket first?"
"Of course. We'll go wherever you say," Xia Xiaozi said with an indulgent smile. "By the way, haven't I told you? When no one's around, you should call me Auntie! 'Auntie Xiao Zi' is too formal. And after I've doted on you so much since you were little."
"Okay, Auntie."
"Tsk, put some feeling into it. Why does it sound so flat?"
"Huh?"
"Like how you say 'Auntie Lin.' Three parts excitement, three parts anticipation, three parts apprehension, and one part… tsk, that's indescribable." Xia Xiaozi shot a sidelong glance at Baiye, watching as the girl's pretty face rapidly turned red.
Xia Xiaozi didn't know why Baiye was so attached to Lin Yuqing. That woman was fierce and serious, yet every time her name was mentioned, Baiye would enter a state of obvious excitement, her happiness written all over her face. It had gotten to the point where Xia Xiaozi enjoyed teasing her about it. And every time she did, Baiye would blush, as if by law.
"Auntie, did you tell Auntie Lin that I got into Chuan Ying?" Baiye asked, a little apprehensive. She really wanted to tell Lin Yuqing about her conversation with Director Su today, but the thought that she had applied to the film academy behind Lin Yuqing's back made her feel guilty.
"Ah, no, I didn't dare. You better not let it slip either."
"Mm… okay…" Baiye nodded, swallowing the words she was about to say. She wanted to tell Xia Xiaozi, since Auntie Xiao Zi was very supportive of her studying acting, but nothing was set in stone yet. It was better to wait until there was some progress. Otherwise, she'd just be getting her hopes up for nothing.
"Um… I still want to find a chance to explain things clearly to Auntie Lin. I feel a little… keeping it from her all the time."
"I get it, but… can you think of a foolproof plan that preferably doesn't get me involved?" Xia Xiaozi was a total coward. When her boss got angry, she really, really couldn't handle it.
"But… when the school was collecting family information, I put you down in the guardian section…"
"…"
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