Against the Light - Chapter 157
Chapter 157: No Dating Before Twenty
"Hey, by the way, what was your name again?" Qu Qi asked.
Lin Yuqing was silent for a moment. "That's not important."
"??"
"Mm. Why did she want you to break Lin Yuqing's legs?"
"I don't know either. Anyway, whenever that person is mentioned, she gets furious. I guess they must have had some kind of feud in the past," Qu Qi guessed.
Lin Yuqing silently took a deep breath. A bold guess was forming in her mind. She turned her head to look at Gu Xinran inside the room, who was sitting at her desk, flipping through documents.
To be so concerned about me… could it be because of Xiao Ye?
Could it be that she also came from that world!?
Gu Xinran waved them over. The two entered the room, and Lin Yuqing lowered her head, suppressing her inner excitement.
"What path do you want to take in the future? Do you have any ideas yourself?" Gu Xinran asked Lin Yuqing.
Lin Yuqing nodded. "I want to be an actress."
Gu Xinran mulled it over for a moment. "Go get Fang Yi." She turned her head to look at Qu Qi.
"Okay." Qu Qi took her leave.
Lin Yuqing looked puzzled but said nothing, standing obediently with her hands by her sides, waiting for Fang Yi to arrive.
Before long, the office door was pushed open.
"Sister Ran, you were looking for me?" Fang Yi walked in, glanced at Lin Yuqing standing to the side, found her somewhat familiar, and gave her a couple more looks.
Lin Yuqing took a deep breath, raised her head to look at her, and gave her a slight smile. "Hello, Fang Yi."
"No manners. Call me Sister."
Lin Yuqing smiled faintly.
"Sister Ran, what are your instructions?" Fang Yi asked.
"You've learned quite a bit from Qu Qi during this time, haven't you?"
"Huh?"
"From now on, put aside your current work and be her agent."
"What?" Fang Yi was startled, pointing at herself. "Me? An agent? For her?"
"Hey, I don't mean to look down on you, okay? It's just that I've never been an agent before. I don't have any experience." Fang Yi realized her tone was a bit off and quickly waved her hands at Lin Yuqing to explain.
"Learn as you go," Gu Xinran said nonchalantly, looking at the two with a smile in her eyes.
In her past life, Fang Yi had been her agent. After she was gone, Fang Yi had been depressed for a long time. It wasn't until she met Xiao Ye that she pulled herself together again and protected her. After Xiao Ye returned to her family, Fang Yi became Lin Yuqing's agent, staying with her for over a decade.
So this time, when Lin Yuqing said she wanted to be an actress, Gu Xinran's first thought was to have Fang Yi continue as her agent to support her.
"No, Sister Ran, I… Why don't you reconsider? I really don't know the ins and outs of the industry!"
Seeing Fang Yi's flustered state, Lin Yuqing couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're not a kid anymore. It's time you learned to take care of people. Otherwise, how will you take care of your partner in the future?"
"I-I don't have a partner! I'm lucky if I can take care of myself, let alone someone else! You're overestimating me."
"It's settled," Gu Xinran said, ignoring Fang Yi.
"Hey! I protest!"
"Protest denied." Gu Xinran saw a stamp nearby, picked it up, and slammed it on the desk with a thwack, making the decision final.
"Go on. First, show her around the company, introduce her to people, and come to my lounge after lunch." With a wave of her hand, Gu Xinran shooed them away.
The two left the office and walked out side by side. Fang Yi kept scratching her head, feeling that the whole situation was incredibly awkward.
"Oh, right, I still don't know your name." While waiting for the elevator, the two unconsciously met each other's gaze, and Fang Yi had a flash of inspiration and started a conversation.
Lin Yuqing was silent for a moment before stating her full name.
"???"
"You're Lin Yuqing!?" Fang Yi looked shocked. "I've been running big data searches for so long, looking for you for two years without finding anything. I thought it was just a name Sister Ran made up on the spot. I can't believe you're a real person!"
After speaking, Fang Yi took half a step back, lowered her head, and tilted it to look at her legs.
"…My legs are still here." Lin Yuqing realized what she was looking at, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
"How strange! Sister Ran clearly ordered us to break your legs on sight, but she forgot about it herself. Hey, do you think I should go remind her?" Fang Yi blinked curiously.
"…" Lin Yuqing was at a loss for words and pouted.
"Hey, what's with that look? No matter what, I'm your agent now, so you should show me some respect, right? Other artists treat their agents like they're worshiping their ancestors." Fang Yi pushed up a pair of non-existent glasses.
Lin Yuqing glanced at her. "Oh."
"?? Hey, what kind of attitude is that!"
"Would you mind growing your hair out?" Lin Yuqing asked suddenly.
"Huh?" Fang Yi scratched her short hair. "Is my hair bothering you?"
"No, you'd be more than ten times more beautiful with long hair. Believe it or not?"
Fang Yi was clearly taken aback for a moment, then shot her a disdainful look. "You say that as if you've seen it before."
But I have seen it!
The two toured the company. Fang Yi had a new identity. Although she'd verbally rejected it and acted disdainful, the moment she mentioned that she was now an agent with a subordinate to manage, she couldn't help but feel a little smug. She led Lin Yuqing around, greeting everyone.
After lunch, the two went to Gu Xinran's lounge, and Gu Xinran led them out.
Before long, Fang Yi stopped the car and poked her head out. "Hey, Sister Ran, isn't this Sister Lan's house? What are we doing here?"
Fang Yi looked curious. The two of them were currently living at Xinran's place, so this house was basically vacant. Although someone came to clean it every week, no one had actually lived here for a long time.
"From now on, Xiao Qing will live here."
"What!?" Fang Yi was shocked, her eyes as wide as quail eggs. "She's living here??"
Lin Yuqing was also overwhelmed by the favor. "Me?"
"Mm."
"Wait a minute, Sister Ran, you're being too biased! How can she get to live in a place like this right after joining the company?"
Gu Xinran chuckled lightly. "I'm putting her on a pedestal now so she can earn more money for me in the future." She knew about Lin Yuqing's acting skills, but she didn't know if she had inherited her acting talent in this life. However, with proper training, she was confident that in time, she could cultivate Lin Yuqing into the next superstar.
"So, have I not been earning you enough money?" Fang Yi said huffily.
"Alright, stop complaining. This car is yours."
"Huh? But this is your car."
"Mm, it's assigned to the two of you. Make me proud."
Surprised, Fang Yi gave Gu Xinran two thumbs up. "Generous!"
Gu Xinran glanced at her. "Go on up and take a look. No one's lived here for a long time, so see what's missing." After speaking, she had Fang Yi park the car and led the two upstairs.
At Shi Qing's villa.
The little one had her arms around Shi Qing's neck, clamoring to be held by her grandma. "Grandma, Xiao Ye missed you so much!"
"Is that so~"
"Mhm, did Grandma see Xiao Ye on TV?"
"Yes, Grandma turns on the TV every day to wait and watch Xiao Ye."
"Hee~"
"Th-th-then did Grandma see my Auntie?"
"Hmm? That camerawoman?" Shi Qing frowned slightly.
"Mhm, my Auntie is so, so pretty!"
"Is that so? Then have her come over some other day so Grandma can see."
"Okay!" The little one immediately nodded.
Ye Nan washed some fruit and brought it over. Seeing the grandmother and granddaughter having so much fun, she couldn't stop smiling. "Xiao Ye, time for strawberries."
"Ah, I want Grandma to feed me!" After saying that, the little one opened her mouth wide.
Ye Nan picked a bright red strawberry that looked very sweet and brought it to the little one's mouth, watching as she took a big bite and chewed with relish.
"You little thing, how are you getting better and better at being spoiled?" Ye Nan said with a smile, gently scraping her little nose.
"Hee~" Xiao Ye giggled, a little embarrassed by the comment. She turned and hugged Shi Qing's neck, burying her face in her shoulder to hide.
As evening approached, Bai Yilan and Gu Xinran returned to Shi Qing's residence one after the other.
After the family of five finished dinner, Xiao Ye accompanied the two elders for a walk in the courtyard, while Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan cleaned up the kitchen inside.
"Is everything settled?" Bai Yilan asked.
"Mm, I had her move into your house and arranged for Fang Yi to stay with her."
"Does she have memories of her past life?"
Gu Xinran frowned, recalling for a moment. "It's hard to say. She was a little surprised when she saw Fang Yi, but she explained it by saying she'd seen Fang Yi on TV. I observed her afterward, but there was nothing else strange. I don't know how to ask, either. After all, this kind of thing is so fantastical, I might scare her if I bring it up. We can only wait and see."
"Actually, if you ask me, it doesn't matter if she has them or not. Look at your daughter—the moment she sees her, she wants to be attached at the hip. You can't even blame Xiao Qing for this," Gu Xinran couldn't help but complain.
"Hiss! Isn't she your daughter too?" Bai Yilan was wiping a rolling pin and poked her with it upon hearing her words.
"Hey, talk is talk, don't get physical." She exasperatedly snatched the 'weapon' from her hand.
"Don't let Xiao Ye see her anymore. I don't want my Little Milk Bun to be snatched away at such a young age," Bai Yilan said, displeased.
"You'll have to ask Xiao Ye if she agrees to that. What will you do if she throws a tantrum?"
"What will I do?" Bai Yilan snatched the rolling pin back, raised it, and glared.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? The child is so young, you're not really going to use that on her, are you?"
"What are you thinking? If you let Xiao Ye see her again, this stick will land on you. Just you try me!"
"I…" Gu Xinran was speechless. This was too difficult!
"Okay, okay, put it down first. Oh, right, didn't you go see those experts this afternoon? What did they say?" Originally, there was supposed to be a video conference last night with the parenting experts invited by the guests and the show's crew to give feedback based on their observations of the families over the past two days. But because Lin Yuqing suddenly came down with a fever, the family of three had taken her to the hospital and couldn't participate in that part of the discussion. So, Yilan had made a special trip to consult with those experts this afternoon.
"They said Xiao Ye lacks a sense of security and that we should have more physical contact with her, like stroking her hair, kissing her, or hugging her, and encourage her more. She's very sensitive, so we need to pay close attention to her emotional changes and resolve any issues promptly. Xiao Ye has a good memory; she might remember things that we've forgotten. We need to communicate with her more and guide her to express her inner thoughts. Most importantly, if we promise her something, we must follow through and not break our word, as it would hurt her feelings."
Gu Xinran nodded.
"Oh, and the teachers also praised Xiao Ye for being very smart, considerate, caring, and especially kind. They said we've done a great job raising her."
Hearing Yilan say this, Gu Xinran couldn't help but feel a little proud, a smile spreading across her face.
"I also told the teachers that Xiao Ye is a bit timid and shy around strangers. They suggested we take her out more often, maybe travel, to see the customs and cultures of other places. It would both broaden her horizons and increase her knowledge. We need to try to let Xiao Ye step out of the protective circle we've created for her."
Gu Xinran took note of everything.
"So, make some time this year, and let's take Xiao Ye on a trip."
"Okay, no problem." Gu Xinran immediately nodded in agreement.
"Mommy, what secrets are you two talking about?" Xiao Ye poked her little head in, looking at them with a grin.
The two exchanged a smile.
Bai Yilan put down the rolling pin and walked over to pick Xiao Ye up. "Finished your walk with Grandma?"
"Mhm!"
"Mommy, can Xiao Ye sleep with Grandma tonight?"
"Of course. Grandma hasn't been able to hug her Little Milk Bun for a whole week."
Xiao Ye giggled and patted her little tummy. "Then Xiao Ye will let Grandma hug her as much as she wants!"
"Okay, such a good girl."
The two helped Xiao Ye with her bath and then dropped her directly onto Shi Qing's bed.
"Goodnight, Mommy!"
"Mhm, goodnight, baby."
They each gave the Little Milk Bun a kiss before leaving.
The two returned to their bedroom. Gu Xinran stretched and hugged Yilan, who was undressing, from behind, pulling her into a full embrace.
"Hey, what are you doing!" Bai Yilan, halfway through undressing, was startled by the sudden action and lightly patted her.
Gu Xinran chuckled, sticking to her like a plaster. She hugged her and swayed gently, burying her face in her shoulder and nuzzling against her.
"Finally, no little third wheel."
"Hmm?" Bai Yilan raised an eyebrow, sensing a hidden meaning in her words.
"Mhm, I haven't been able to hug my 'Little Milk Bun' in a long time either~" Gu Xinran said with a mischievous smile, her wandering hand giving a naughty squeeze.
"Tsk! You rogue!"
"Heh." Gu Xinran wrapped her arms around Yilan's waist, fell onto the bed with her, and pulled the covers over both of them.
The week flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for the show's recording again. That evening, after finishing dinner at Shi Qing's house, they left.
In the car, the little one was pressed against the window, looking outside and happily swinging her little feet.
Bai Yilan was driving and glanced in the rearview mirror. She saw that Xiao Ye's face was filled with an unconcealable smile. It was strange—in the past, whenever they left her grandma's house, the little one would always cry and fuss, clinging to her grandma's neck and saying she didn't want to leave. But today, she was perfectly well-behaved, leaving without any tears or tantrums.
Gu Xinran also noticed the little one's unusual behavior. She poked her fair little ankle. "Xiao Ye? Why are you so happy? You won't see Grandma again tomorrow, you know. Aren't you sad?"
"But I can see Auntie tomorrow!" Xiao Ye blinked her big, beautiful eyes, looking at Gu Xinran with anticipation.
"Uh…" Gu Xinran looked troubled. She subconsciously glanced at Yilan and saw the smile on her face instantly vanish.
"Ahem." Gu Xinran secretly made a 'shushing' gesture at Xiao Ye, signaling for her to stop talking, but Xiao Ye didn't understand at all.
"Mama, the doctor said Auntie was malnourished before. Can we make yummy food for Auntie tomorrow, okay?"
"Huh? You even remember that?" Gu Xinran looked surprised. That was about a week ago, wasn't it? Xiao Ye must have only heard her mention it once, and she remembered it until now?
"Don't even think about it. Your Auntie won't be coming tomorrow," Bai Yilan snorted coldly.
"Ah? Why? Isn't Auntie better yet? Mama!" Xiao Ye hurriedly hugged Gu Xinran's arm.
"Ah? Uh…"
"Why can't Auntie come? Mama? Why?" Xiao Ye blinked, a layer of mist welling up in her big eyes.
"Hey, Auntie is fine, she's all better. She, uh, has other work commitments."
"She doesn't like Xiao Ye anymore, does she?" Xiao Ye pouted and sniffled.
"No, no."
"Wuu…" Xiao Ye whimpered softly. With a blink of her big eyes, two large tears rolled down. She didn't dare to cry out loud, looking utterly heartbroken.
Bai Yilan was also stunned. She never expected the little one to suddenly start crying.
"There, there, baby, don't cry. How could Auntie not like you? Xiao Ye is so good and cute, Auntie likes you very much." Gu Xinran quickly pulled her onto her lap and wiped her tears, but they fell like pearls from a broken string, impossible to wipe away completely.
"Good girl, Xiao Ye, stop crying. Auntie can come, she can come. Mama was just teasing you."
"Gu Xinran!" Bai Yilan silently gritted her teeth.
Xinran waved a hand at her.
"No more crying, okay? If your eyes get all swollen from crying, you won't look pretty when you see Auntie tomorrow."
That actually worked. The little one immediately stopped crying, though she continued to sob pitifully.
"Will Auntie come?"
Gu Xinran opened her mouth, felt a strange, chilly draft, and the word 'yes' got stuck in her throat.
"Ahem. Well, you'll find out tomorrow, won't you?"
"Mama can't lie to Xiao Ye." Xiao Ye pouted, the tip of her nose red and teardrops still clinging to her eyelashes. She blinked her big eyes at Gu Xinran, who completely lost her resolve.
"Okay, okay, Mama won't lie to Xiao Ye."
Only then did Xiao Ye wrap her arms around Gu Xinran's neck, resting her little head on her shoulder and snuggling against her dependently.
Bai Yilan rolled her eyes dramatically, feeling like her heart was bleeding.
Before long, they arrived home. Gu Xinran looked down and saw that the little one had already fallen asleep in her arms. Gu Xinran carefully carried her back to her room, changed her into her pajamas, and patted her for a while. Once she was sound asleep, Gu Xinran got up and changed into her own pajamas.
After changing, Gu Xinran didn't hear any movement from Yilan and decided to check the living room. The moment she pushed the door open, she saw Yilan sitting on the sofa, holding a rolling pin… Their own rolling pin was much longer than the one at Shi Qing's house, nearly the length of her entire forearm!
Gu Xinran silently swallowed and tried to close the door as quietly as possible. However, Yilan whipped her head around, shooting a death glare at her. Gu Xinran froze, not daring to meet her sharp, murderous gaze.
Bai Yilan pointed to the floor in front of her with the rolling pin.
Exasperated, Gu Xinran ruffled her hair and walked over with utter resignation, standing obediently before her.
"I was wrong, I was wrong. But Xiao Ye was crying so hard back then, I… I really had no choice. Didn't the experts say that Xiao Ye is sensitive and delicate, and we can't hurt her young heart?"
"Don't use the experts to pressure me."
"But…"
"I don't care. I'm telling you right now, my daughter is not allowed to date before she's thirty!" Bai Yilan commanded domineeringly.
Gu Xinran was stunned, then found it both funny and frustrating. She sat down beside her. "Thirty…"
"Who told you to sit? Stand up!"
"Fine." Gu Xinran stood up resignedly. "Yilan, thirty… isn't that a bit old? Think about yourself—you were already a mother at thirty. Not letting Xiao Ye date is a bit much."
Bai Yilan frowned and thought about it. It did seem a bit excessive.
"Then twenty-nine."
"Pfft…"
"One year makes no difference. Don't you want to see Xiao Ye get married and have children early, and give us a granddaughter to hold? Just like us and Mom. Look at Xiao Ye and her grandma sitting together now—they don't look like a grandmother and granddaughter at all. You could even say they look like mother and daughter."
"!?" Bai Yilan's eyes widened, and the rolling pin in her hand slammed heavily onto the floor.
"Your daughter is still in diapers, and you're already thinking about a granddaughter? Gu Xinran? What kind of mother are you?"
Gu Xinran froze, stunned for a long moment, then started laughing at her own thoughts. Right, that does seem a bit…
Suddenly, the sound of a child crying came from the room. The two immediately fell silent, not daring to breathe. They both listened intently for a moment, and when the crying didn't stop, they rushed into the bedroom.
The two sat on either side of Xiao Ye, patting her gently. "Good girl, baby, Mommy's here. Don't be scared."
"Wuu, Auntie Lin, wuu, don't forget me…" the little one mumbled in her sleep.
"What did she say?" Bai Yilan didn't hear clearly.
Gu Xinran frowned and sighed.
"She said, 'Auntie Lin, don't forget me.'"
Yilan was stunned.
"Yilan, let's just let nature take its course. In their past life, the two of them also went through many hardships before finally finding happiness. But after only a few happy years, Xiao Qing got Alzheimer's. Xiao Ye still remembers her, still knows that's her Auntie Lin, and still remembers to love her. This kind of fate can't be severed. If they can really continue their story in this life, just like us, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"
Seeing Xiao Ye crying so hard she could barely breathe, looking utterly heartbroken, Bai Yilan's heart ached. She quickly picked her up. "Good girl, Xiao Ye, it's okay, it's okay. She won't forget. Your Auntie Lin won't forget you. There, there."
"Your Auntie Lin will come be with you tomorrow. You'll get to see her tomorrow," Bai Yilan coaxed softly.
After speaking, she glanced at Gu Xinran. "She's not allowed to date before she's eighteen." She pouted slightly, saying it as if in a fit of pique.
Gu Xinran chuckled lightly. "No, not before she's twenty!"
Comments
Post a Comment