MQSP - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Baiye squatted in front of the wheelchair, thoughtfully massaging Xinran's calves. "The doctor said you'll be able to walk normally after a few more days of practice, so no slacking off these next few days, okay?"

Hearing Baiye's tone, like she was coaxing a child, Xinran smiled faintly. "Okay."

"Xiao Ye, you're studying acting, right?"

"Yes! Oh, right, I even filmed a TV series with Auntie Lin! Unfortunately, it's a same-sex theme, so they can't find a way to broadcast it. It's never been aired, and Auntie Su is worried sick about it."

"I want to see it." Her daughter was the center of her life now, and she was eager to know everything about her.

"Huh? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen it either. I want to see it too. I'll go ask Auntie Su!"

"Mm."

"Mother, have you ever acted in one of Auntie Su's shows?"

Xinran frowned, thinking back. "When I met her, she was just an intern, not yet a director."

"Oh. Hey, then how did you meet Auntie Lin?"

"She… was on a film set. She was playing bit parts on set."

"The first time I saw her, she didn't seem very sharp. She looked a bit simple and honest, kind of clumsy."

"Pfft…" Baiye stifled a laugh and glanced over at Lin Yuqing, who wasn't far away. She seems sharper than a monkey now!

"She wasn't very noticeable back then, but she was very serious about acting. Even when playing bit parts, she wanted to be the most dedicated extra."

"I noticed her because I saw her collecting discarded scripts to study them, and she would secretly practice acting behind the scenes. Although her acting was terrible—completely unwatchable—that kind of dedication was rare. After that, I started to look out for opportunities for her and brought her into the industry. Because of that, she trusted me completely."

Baiye nodded. "It just goes to show that good deeds are rewarded. Mother, you helped Auntie Lin back then and made her career, and now you've been repaid by her. She even took care of your daughter's marriage~" She winked playfully, preening for Xinran.

Xinran was helpless against her and just smiled resignedly. Baiye was right. The three best things she had ever done in her life were falling in love with Bai Yilan, having such an adorable daughter like Baiye, and forming deep friendships with Lin Yuqing and Fang Yi.

"Mother, tell me more about when you and Auntie Lin first met."

Gu Xinran frowned. "Are you asking about me, or about your Auntie Lin?"

"Aiya, both~ You're both the people closest to me!" The little one hugged Xinran's arm, acting cute.

Xinran smiled. After so many years, she had long forgotten what it felt like to have her daughter act cute with her. In her memory, every time Baiye wheedled, she definitely had some ulterior motive—like wanting snacks, wanting to go out and play, or wanting to buy a toy. Or, she had made Yilan angry and wanted Xinran to be her backup. She'd been a little schemer since she was a child!

But she never expected the little one would still love acting cute so much after growing up. Lin Yuqing was really getting a bargain.

"Mother? Mother!" Seeing Xinran spacing out, Baiye called to her twice.

"Hm?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"About when you were little."

"When I was little? Was I really cute?" The little one grinned, cupping her cheeks with her hands.

"Yes, very cute." Xinran smiled and stroked Baiye's cheek.

"Tell me about it."

"Mm."

Xinran thought for a moment. "I remember, it was when you were four. You loved sweets, especially candy and the frosting on cakes. But Yilan wouldn't let you eat too much, only one piece of candy a day. So you'd secretly complain to me when we talked on the phone. Every time I came home for the weekend, I would secretly buy you lots of candy and hide it in the house. That was our little secret; Yilan never knew."

"But one time, you little thing, you were too greedy. You ate so much in one go that your throat got scratchy and you lost your voice. Yilan was frantic."

"So our little secret was discovered later?" Baiye asked with a grin.

Xinran shot her an exasperated glance. "Yes, and you sold me out. Yilan found a huge stash of candy in the closet and gave me a harsh scolding. She even had Fang Yi dock my allowance." As she spoke, Xinran still felt wronged and shot an indignant glare at Fang Yi, who was just looking over and was taken aback by the look.

"Hehe~" The little one was overjoyed. "I did such a heartless thing when I was little!"

"Aiyo, there were so many. When have I not taken the fall for your mischief?"

"Heh, what else?"

"Hmm… let me think…"

"Right, that one weekend, Yilan went out, and it was just the two of us at home. I was taking a nap with you, and I fell asleep. I had no idea what you were up to. When Yilan came back, she found that the frosting on the half-eaten cake in the fridge was gone, licked completely clean. The moment you saw things were bad, you decisively tattled and said I ate it. You even dragged her into the bedroom to look at me. Only later did I realize you had smeared frosting all over the corner of my mouth!"

"Hehehe~"

"You're still laughing? Yilan could tell at a glance that it was your doing. That time, you really made her angry. She said you had lied, that it was a matter of principle and couldn't be tolerated. She was angry for several days. After that, you never dared to lie again."

Baiye's pretty face flushed. "Well… I do learn my lesson!"

"Learn your lesson? Yilan banned you from eating cake for half a month. Would you have learned your lesson otherwise?"

"Aiya~"

Xinran chuckled lightly. This little one had really given her a hard time when she was young.

"What are you talking about that's so amusing?"

"Auntie Fang, Mother is telling me stories about when I was little."

"Oh, perfect. I haven't heard them either. Tell me too while you're at it."

"No way. It's all embarrassing stories about my mischief. You can't listen." Baiye quickly raised her hand to cover Xinran's mouth.

"Mm." Xinran nodded.

"Hmph, stingy." Fang Yi feigned a huff.

"By the way, Auntie Fang, can we watch that TV series Auntie Su filmed? Mother wants to see it, and so do I!"

"The one you acted in with Lin Yuqing?"

"Yes!"

"It should have been edited long ago. I'll go ask for you." Fang Yi immediately stepped aside and dialed Su Yu's number, her efficiency on full display.

"Are you tired? Do you want to go back and rest for a bit?" Lin Yuqing asked.

"I'm fine. I haven't been in the sun for a long time. Let's stay a little longer."

"Mm." Lin Yuqing pushed the wheelchair, accompanying the two of them as they got some fresh air in the courtyard.

"What are your plans for the future? You can't just spend every day watching over me."

The two exchanged a look. They really hadn't thought about it.

"Do you plan to just keep running away like this?"

The two of them couldn't help but lower their heads.

"Xiao Ye."

"Hm?"

"Don't you want to go back to school? Fang Yi told me what happened there. Are you going to give up your university life just because others were unkind? By doing this, are you punishing them, or yourself?"

"I…" Baiye opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to refute it. She admitted she didn't want to face those ugly expressions. Ever since she went traveling with Auntie Lin, she had been running away. She knew it perfectly well but pretended others hadn't noticed.

"And you. Are you satisfied with just one Movie Queen award? Do you have any work you can be proud of? Have you left behind a classic worthy of being celebrated?"

Lin Yuqing was silent for a moment. "Baiye should go back to school. As for me… to be honest, for all these years, I haven't known what I was holding on for. This industry has left me completely disheartened. With none of you around, I was all alone. I couldn't find the courage or the meaning to keep going."

"Besides, I've come out now. My fans have all abandoned me; there are hardly any left. I'm finished in this industry. After this, I might go into business, or maybe become a screenwriter and write our story."

"Now, the center of my life is my family—it's you all. It's no longer about work and empty fame."

"Go into business?" Gu Xinran was skeptical of her business acumen. She's not going to lose her entire life savings, is she?

"Auntie Lin, do you know how to do business?"

"I'll learn! Aren't there two big bosses around? I'll go learn from their experience."

"…I was talking about Jiang Boyan."

"Pfft, look at you, what a coward!" Baiye was laughing at Lin Yuqing, not noticing that the expressions on the other two had suddenly turned strange.

"Hey, Auntie Jiang hasn't been here for a few days, has she? I haven't seen her since Mother woke up. Is she sick?" Baiye asked, puzzled. Auntie Jiang had been so anxious when her mother was in a coma, coming to watch over her every day and often working around the clock. Why had she disappeared now that her mother was awake?

Lin Yuqing lowered her head. She also knew about Jiang Boyan betraying Xinran. To be precise, everyone knew except for Baiye.

Although Lin Yuqing had suspected that someone among them had betrayed Xinran, she had never thought it would be Jiang Boyan. Or rather, she hadn't wanted it to be any of them, because Xinran had treated them all with genuine sincerity, and they were all close friends. But when Jiang Boyan confessed that day, Lin Yuqing was furious, resentful, and at a complete loss. Everyone else was angry too, but after the hitting and the yelling, it didn't change anything. Seeing Jiang Boyan's guilt-ridden appearance, no one felt good about it.

In the end, it was Lu Qing who stated her position. She couldn't forgive Jiang Boyan, but she couldn't lie to herself, either—she still loved Jiang Boyan. So, she was willing to atone with Jiang Boyan and make up for the mistake she had made.

Jiang Boyan said she would treat Baiye as her own daughter and take full responsibility for the rest of Xinran's life. As long as Xinran asked, she would do everything in her power to satisfy her every need.

Jiang Boyan was deeply moved by this, but she didn't want Lu Qing to live with the same guilt she did, so she declined Lu Qing's kind offer. Recently, she had been liquidating her assets, planning to donate everything to the disaster area to fund reconstruction efforts. It was a way of accumulating some good karma for herself.

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