Against the Light - Chapter 159
Chapter 159: Little Sweetheart
【Today's Deep Dive: A currently popular parent-child show has unexpectedly made a camerawoman famous. Thanks to a submission from an enthusiastic netizen, this reporter was shocked to discover that this so-called camerawoman has an unknown, hidden identity! Her car is this year's new model, with a starting price of over a million! Her residence is in Yujing Villa, a villa district in the city center where an inch of land is worth an inch of gold! The pictures are the proof. Dear readers, judge for yourselves~】
Below the text were several photos of Lin Yuqing sitting in a car, getting out of a car, and her car driving into the Yujing Villa district.
【??? What does this mean? Is this some rich second-generation kid pretending to be a camerawoman? What for?】
【The evidence is solid, but I'm very curious about her motive.】
【Wait, wait, wait!! Why do I remember Ran Zai having a car just like this?】
【Holy crap, that is Xinran's car. What's going on!!!】
【Is it what I think it is? She's… she's keeping a mistress right under her wife's nose?】
【!! No wonder Xiao Ye said she'd met that auntie and liked her a lot. Could it be that Gu Xinran often takes Xiao Ye to see her!!】
【??? Are you all insane? Who has an affair and brings their kid along? And brings the mistress right under their wife's nose? And lets the entire country witness it? Are you that bold, or has your brain short-circuited? At least use your brain when you're spreading rumors, okay?】
【I checked. The car is indeed Ran Zai's, but the idea of her keeping a mistress is too ridiculous. I'll wait for an explanation.】
At home, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan had just coaxed Xiao Ye to sleep and were about to enjoy some warm, private time together when both of their phones rang at the same inopportune moment.
They picked up their phones, immediately switched them to silent, and glanced at the Little Milk Bun. Thankfully, she hadn't been disturbed.
"Strange, why would Qu Qi be calling me so late?"
"This is from Auntie Ye."
The two exchanged a look, then went to the living room to take their respective calls.
"Lin Yuqing is being attacked by netizens," Qu Qi said.
"How so?"
"Someone dug up information about her car and house, saying you bought them for her and that she's your mistress. And you, really, why did you give her the car? I drove that car when I took you to the gala before. Now the netizens are treating it as solid proof!"
Gu Xinran was stunned, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. What was all this nonsense?
"Then let's release the news. We've already signed Xu Yi's team anyway."
"Releasing the news isn't a problem, but I don't know what kind of stories the netizens will spin about you two. Even if they don't target you, she's going to get cursed out for a while."
"Why?"
"Jealousy, of course. She's just a minor camerawoman. On what grounds can she suddenly fly up the branch and become a phoenix? Why would such a good thing happen to her? Who would believe there isn't something fishy going on?"
Gu Xinran's heart sank. She knew that although Qu Qi's words were harsh, they were realistic and reflected the mentality of most of the drama-loving netizens right now.
"If you ask me, now is definitely not a good time to promote her. It would be better to let her lie low for a while, which would also give her time to polish her acting skills. Then, when the opportunity arises, she can amaze everyone," Qu Qi suggested.
"What do you mean, let her lie low for a while? Shelve her?"
"For now, don't let her make any public appearances. There's so much new gossip online every day, maybe the netizens will forget about this after a while. Then we can properly promote her."
"Does she have any commercial activities right now?"
"Not really. There's a film that needs a supporting actress. I recommended her for an audition, but given the situation, she'll probably be rejected before she even gets to try out."
"Just listen to me on this. The netizens' eyes are all on you right now, so let's just go with the flow. Even if we try to force-promote her now, it won't work."
"Let me think about it."
"Alright, you think it over. I'll release the news first to explain things, so you don't get dragged into this."
After saying that, Qu Qi hung up.
Gu Xinran clutched her phone and turned to look at Yilan, who had also just ended her call.
"Was it about Xiao Qing?" Gu Xinran asked.
"Yeah. Auntie Ye saw it somewhere and said Xiao Qing is your mistress." Bai Yilan pressed her forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"These people are really good at making things up," Bai Yilan sighed, sitting down on the sofa and rubbing her neck.
Gu Xinran walked up behind her and started massaging her shoulders.
"What did Qu Qi say?" Yilan asked.
"She said people online are all cursing out Xiao Qing and suggested I shelve her for a while. Once this blows over, she can make public appearances again."
Bai Yilan frowned upon hearing this. "What is there to curse about? Nothing even happened."
Gu Xinran was just as helpless. Who could argue with that?
In the early hours of the morning, Qu Qi posted on Weibo, publicly announcing that Lin Yuqing and the entire Xu Yi team had signed with Heart Entertainment, stunning countless netizens.
The onlookers immediately began to question on what grounds Lin Yuqing could be signed. Was there really nothing shady going on here? And so on.
Meanwhile, fans of Gu Xinran and Heart Entertainment braced themselves and offered their congratulations, stating that they trusted Ran Zai's judgment and so on.
The comment section under the studio's Weibo post was a chaotic mess.
Gu Xinran briefly scanned the comments. It was just as Qu Qi had said; the netizens had a huge reaction to Lin Yuqing suddenly being signed by Heart Entertainment. Feeling powerless, Gu Xinran stopped paying attention.
The next morning, the moment Gu Xinran opened her eyes, she called Fang Yi to ask about Lin Yuqing's situation, only to be told that the two of them were on their way to an audition.
"Sister Ran, don't worry. Her ability to handle pressure is surprisingly strong. She's completely unaffected by all those rumors online." Fang Yi seemed to be driving, her tone very relaxed.
Gu Xinran was a little surprised to hear that. "Well, keep an eye on her. Don't let anyone bully her."
"Hey, don't you worry. I didn't learn taekwondo for nothing," Fang Yi said confidently.
"Okay, I'm hanging up," Gu Xinran said.
"What's wrong?" Bai Yilan looked at her. Her expression was a bit grave.
"Fang Yi said Xiao Qing is insisting on going to the audition."
"Have you ever seen her act?" Yilan asked.
Gu Xinran shook her head.
"This should be her first audition, right? How can she be so confident? To dare to charge forward at a time like this." Bai Yilan was puzzled.
Gu Xinran frowned in thought, then suddenly heard the little one whimpering.
"What's wrong, baby?" Yilan lay on her side next to Xiao Ye, patting her gently.
"Itchy, Mommy, woo…"
Hearing this, Bai Yilan grabbed her little arm to take a look. The poor thing had been bitten by a nasty mosquito yesterday, and a large welt had swollen up on her arm. She had been complaining about the itch all night and hadn't slept well, nearly scratching her arm raw.
"There, there. Mommy will rub it for you."
"That mosquito was so vicious. Should we take her to the hospital?" Gu Xinran also leaned in for a look. The bite was red and hard, and the swelling had almost spread across her entire forearm.
"Huh? Is this a rash?" Gu Xinran looked closer and noticed some red spots appearing around the swollen area.
The two of them immediately grew tense.
Bai Yilan called a doctor she knew to ask about it. After learning that the little one might be having an allergic reaction to the insect bite, they immediately woke her up, dressed her, and took her to the hospital.
At the film set, Lin Yuqing and the others had been waiting for their audition for two hours.
She wasn't anxious at all, sitting there quietly. The other young actresses, however, couldn't sit still. They gathered in a circle, chattering and gossiping.
"Hey, hey, look. That one, that's Gu Xinran's mistress, see her?"
"Hiss, she's quite pretty, though. Gu Xinran has pretty good taste."
"No way. Didn't Xinran already remarry Teacher Bai? And they have such a cute daughter. Why would she do something like this?"
"Well, you can know a person's face but not their heart. But I have to say, this Gu Xinran is really bold. To be so blatant about it, that's just arrogant."
"Hey, they already clarified on Weibo that she's just a newly signed artist at their company. You don't have to be so nasty, do you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, sis. Any random camerawoman can become an artist now?"
"Exactly~"
Nearby, Fang Yi heard their hushed discussion and shot them a displeased glare.
"Hey, you all so bored you've got nothing better to do?" Fang Yi snapped.
The group was clearly taken aback. They exchanged glances and looked at Fang Yi. "Who's that?"
"I don't know. Is she the assistant the company assigned to that camerawoman? Look at her smug face, acting all high and mighty. She really thinks she's someone important."
"Right? What gives her the right to boss people around here?"
"?"
Hearing this, Fang Yi instantly exploded. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to go over and teach them a lesson.
"Stop." Lin Yuqing lifted her eyelids and called out to her.
Fang Yi froze and turned to look at her.
"Come over and sit down. Don't pay them any mind."
"? I can't stand it!"
"You have to." Lin Yuqing glanced at her, her eyes holding a firmness that brooked no argument.
"We can't cause any more trouble for Xinran," Lin Yuqing said in a low voice.
Frustrated, Fang Yi took several deep breaths to calm herself down.
Seeing her like this, the group of actresses chatted even more cheerfully.
In the distance, Bai Yilan and Gu Xinran had just arrived.
They had just taken Xiao Ye to the hospital and happened to pass by the film studio on their way back. They thought they would stop by to check, not expecting that Xiao Qing's audition hadn't even started yet.
"What are they talking about?" Bai Yilan saw Fang Yi's angry behavior and then looked at the huddle of young actresses.
"Nothing good, that's for sure. It's about time these people were taught a lesson." Gu Xinran's eyes narrowed, her expression displeased.
"Mommy, is that Auntie Lin?" Xiao Ye pointed at Lin Yuqing in the distance.
Gu Xinran glanced at her and smiled helplessly. My dear baby, you can spot your Auntie Lin in a crowd from so far away. Isn't that something else!
"Mama, I want to see Auntie Lin!" Xiao Ye hugged Gu Xinran's neck, pointing in Lin Yuqing's direction.
"Alright, alright, let's go see Auntie Lin. Auntie Lin is about to audition. We can go cheer her on, okay?"
"Okay!"
"Hey, you're up. Get ready to audition." The assistant director ran out and shouted. Just as she finished speaking, the director and staff members walked out of the room.
"Let's just do it here. Be quick, we don't have much time." The assistant director called out and randomly pointed at someone. "You first. Act according to the script. No dawdling, one minute per person."
The young actress who was called was stunned for a moment. She looked around at the crowd that had gathered and immediately panicked.
"Damn it, what kind of production is this? Are they this casual about casting actors? Do they think they're picking out pork at a market?" Fang Yi couldn't help but curse from the side.
Hearing this, Lin Yuqing couldn't help but smile faintly.
This girl, still the same fiery temper.
The first actress was caught so off guard that she couldn't react in time. Her lines came out haltingly, and she was immediately met with ridicule from the crowd and was instantly passed over.
The people after her immediately felt the pressure skyrocket. Auditioning in front of a large crowd was one thing, but the slightest poor performance would immediately draw jeers and mockery. Wasn't this too disrespectful?
Someone immediately argued with the director.
"Director, can't we be a little less casual with the auditions? And you're letting all these people watch?"
"? When you're filming, there are just as many people watching you. What, you can't act when people are watching? Can you do it or not? If you can't, then get lost. Don't waste my time here."
"I…"
"Next, hurry up."
Fang Yi let out a soft chuckle. The person the director had just berated was one of the ones who had been mocking Lin Yuqing earlier.
"Hehe, satisfying~" Fang Yi said, nudging Lin Yuqing and winking at her.
Lin Yuqing shot her a helpless glance.
"Hey, can you do this? If not, let's just leave. I don't think this is a very professional production. That director is way too arrogant," Fang Yi asked.
Lin Yuqing didn't respond, only giving her a steady smile.
Fang Yi raised an eyebrow and studied her for a moment. Fine, then.
Before long, it was Lin Yuqing's turn.
Lin Yuqing walked to the center of the space and bowed slightly to the director. "Hello, Director. My name is Lin Yuqing."
"Less talk, let's begin."
Lin Yuqing nodded, closed her eyes for a moment to center herself, and when she opened them again, the look in them had changed dramatically!
The character she was auditioning for was a deeply loyal and righteous heroine who used her own body to block the enemy's silver spears and iron cavalry, ultimately dying tragically under their weapons.
The audition scene was the character's most glorious moment.
Her gaze swept over everyone before her. Her hair seemed to move without any wind, her aura fully unleashed. It was as if a vast army stood before her!
Gu Xinran, who had been walking over, suddenly stopped. She quickened her pace, stopped near the crowd, and found a good angle to carefully observe Lin Yuqing's acting.
The more she watched, the more pleasantly surprised Gu Xinran became.
"Strange, her acting is very polished. This is beyond just talent," Bai Yilan remarked, already seeing Lin Yuqing in a new light after just one glance. How could a newcomer possibly possess such a powerful presence?
Amid her surprise, Gu Xinran was also very puzzled. A moment later, she raised an eyebrow, a bold guess faintly forming in her mind.
Just as Gu Xinran was thinking, she suddenly felt her collar get a little wet. She looked down and immediately rolled her eyes.
"Quick, quick, help me wipe it." She quickly called Yilan over.
Bai Yilan had been engrossed in watching Lin Yuqing's performance. Hearing the call, she turned around and couldn't help but be amused. She quickly took out a tissue, wiped the drool from the corner of Xiao Ye's mouth, and then wiped Xinran's collar.
Xiao Ye paid Bai Yilan no mind at all. She tilted her head and continued to gaze at her Auntie Lin with shining eyes, thinking that the Auntie Lin before her was both beautiful and captivating!
"Xiao Ye? Baby, we can look, but let's not drool, okay? Are you trying to do the laundry for Mama?"
"Xiao Ye?"
Gu Xinran called her several times, but the little one completely ignored her.
Gu Xinran sighed and tapped Xiao Ye's little head.
"Huh?" The little one looked at her with a blank expression.
"No more drooling!"
Hearing this, Xiao Ye grinned, giggled, and buried her face in Gu Xinran's neck, covering her face with both hands. She was actually feeling shy.
Meanwhile, Fang Yi was also utterly astonished, her smile nearly reaching her ears. A surprise, what a wonderful surprise! This person could actually act, and her skills were leagues above those other people!
At this thought, Fang Yi quickly scanned the crowd for the people who had been making snide remarks earlier. Sure enough, she saw that every single one of them had an awful look on their face, which made her feel even more satisfied!!
A short while later, Lin Yuqing finished her performance. The director still hadn't snapped out of it.
Lin Yuqing bowed slightly to her, showing the utmost courtesy.
"Director, my performance is over."
"Ah? Oh, not bad, not bad. No, it was excellent. What's your name? Which company are you from?"
"My name is Lin Yuqing. I'm a newcomer just signed by Heart Entertainment. Please feel free to point out any shortcomings," Lin Yuqing said with a modest smile.
The director looked her up and down, nodding frequently. "Good, very good. The role is yours." She made the decision on the spot.
Lin Yuqing didn't show much surprise. After all, this role wasn't very challenging for her. She would have been surprised if she hadn't gotten it.
"Director, we haven't even performed yet. You have to at least give us a chance, right?" The people waiting in line behind Lin Yuqing protested in dissatisfaction.
The director glanced at them. "Heh, I can tell just by looking that none of you can compare to her. Dismissed." With a wave of her hand, she announced the end of the auditions.
"She's just a little camerawoman, on what grounds!"
"Exactly, this director is too arbitrary!"
"Hey, hey, hey, have you all said enough? Her acting skills are right there for everyone to see. Are you blind or brainless?" Fang Yi couldn't hold back any longer and started firing back.
"Tch, she's just relying on her backer, you think…" The actress was speaking when her open mouth suddenly couldn't produce any sound. She stared dumbly at Lin Yuqing, whose cold, sharp gaze seemed to want to pierce right through her! It was terrifying!
Lin Yuqing's aura was fully unleashed as she stared coldly at the actress. Sweat instantly beaded on the woman's forehead. She didn't dare to move, and even the people around her felt an inexplicable, oppressive atmosphere.
"Auntie Lin!" a milky voice called out.
With that sound, the formless aura suddenly vanished. The people around them simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging glances, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Lin Yuqing retracted her gaze and looked toward the source of the voice, seeing the Little Milk Bun running toward her on her short little legs.
In that instant, Lin Yuqing's heart melted. She subconsciously bent down and picked the Little Milk Bun up.
Suddenly being held by Lin Yuqing, Xiao Ye was a little surprised, then she giggled.
"Auntie Lin, you're so pretty."
"Really?"
"Mhm! Super, super pretty!" Xiao Ye's eyes shone. After speaking, she licked her lips and wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, as if afraid she would drool on Lin Yuqing.
Lin Yuqing was completely charmed by this small gesture and gave her a beautiful smile. "Why is Xiao Ye here?"
"Um, Mama took Xiao Ye to the hospital."
"Hmm? Is Xiao Ye sick?" Lin Yuqing raised a hand to touch her forehead.
Xiao Ye shook her head and held up her right hand. "A mosquito bit Xiao Ye's hand and made a really big bump!"
Lin Yuqing was slightly alarmed. She carefully rolled up the little one's sleeve and saw a cloth sachet tied around her wrist. If she sniffed closely, she could smell herbs, likely for repelling mosquitoes.
She pulled the sleeve up further and indeed saw that a large part of the little one's arm was swollen and had turned a dark red. She frowned immediately and examined it carefully.
"Does it hurt?"
"No… ah, yes it hurts, of course it hurts!" Xiao Ye nodded with a serious expression.
Lin Yuqing frowned slightly. Didn't you just say 'no'?
"But if Auntie blows on it for Xiao Ye, it won't hurt anymore!" Xiao Ye blinked her big eyes at her, stating her intentions directly.
Lin Yuqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Is that so?"
"Mhm!" Xiao Ye held up her little arm, looking at her expectantly.
"Okay, Auntie will blow-blow for you." Lin Yuqing mimicked her way of speaking, also using reduplicated words.
Xiao Ye giggled, looking incredibly happy.
Lin Yuqing supported her arm and blew on it gently. Xiao Ye watched her with a beaming smile, the word "happy" practically written on her face.
"Mama said that autumn mosquitoes are really strong, so Xiao Ye can't get bitten!"
"Uh-huh."
"Is Auntie afraid of mosquitoes?" After asking, Xiao Ye lowered her head and started untying the herbal sachet on her wrist.
"What is Xiao Ye doing?" Whenever Lin Yuqing spoke to the little one, her tone became incredibly gentle.
"This is an herbal sachet. It can chase away mosquitoes. Xiao Ye will give it to Auntie, then Auntie won't get bitten by mosquitoes! Getting bitten by mosquitoes hurts a lot!" Xiao Ye said while working hard to untie the sachet.
Lin Yuqing was taken aback, then a warmth spread through her heart. She pressed down on her hand. "Xiao Ye should wear it. Auntie isn't afraid of mosquitoes. Xiao Ye is still little, you have to protect yourself."
Xiao Ye scratched her little ear. "But, but, Auntie has to protect herself too!"
Lin Yuqing stroked her little head. "Auntie will protect herself."
"Mmm."
Looking at the little one's adorable appearance, Lin Yuqing desperately wanted to plant a big kiss on the fragrant, soft Xiao Ye. However, before she could act on this thought, she was interrupted by a sharp gaze.
Lin Yuqing followed the feeling and saw Xinran squinting at her. And next to her, Yilan's expression was even darker, her eyes looking as if she wanted to tear her to shreds. It was terrifying…
"Gulp." Lin Yuqing silently swallowed.
"Huh? Auntie, you're drooling too!" Xiao Ye's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Is it because you saw Xiao Ye?" she pressed.
The corner of Lin Yuqing's mouth twitched. She managed to squeeze out a reasonably pleasant smile. Um…
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