Blooming

“What did you say? The other female lead backed out with only three days left before filming starts?” Li Lan sounded stunned. “Does Director Yang know about this? What did she say?”

Qian Chu shook her head. “There’s still no response from Director Yang’s side. Heguang Tongchen is the biggest investor; they should be the ones to figure out a solution.”

Li Lan said, “Even so, they’ve already wasted a lot of time. The whole crew is waiting to start filming, and now they have to change the lead at the last minute... just thinking about it gives me a headache.”

Still, this was something Yang Huayi had to handle first. Li Lan could only worry by association.

Zhu Qing listened from the side, a little tense. After Li Lan hung up, she asked, “Will it affect your work?”

Li Lan shook her head. “Probably not. Yang Huayi values this film; she’ll find a way.”

Zhu Qing asked in confusion, “Why did the other female lead drop out?”

Li Lan guessed, “She’s a third-tier actress with formal training. By rights, this script should be the best one she could get right now. I can’t think of any reason she’d back out.”

Replacing actors at the last minute was common. Investors often had their own people they wanted to push through. If your status wasn’t high enough and your backing wasn’t strong enough, being replaced was completely normal.

As for actors dropping out, that mostly happened when a more famous actor gave up a project because of scheduling conflicts. Third-tier actors, on the other hand, usually took whatever work came their way and rarely walked away from it on their own.

When Yang Huayi chose cast members, she also picked actors who fit the roles, aside from pushing her own people like Yu Ling. She knew the most profitable movies had to be good movies.

Soon, Qian Chu called back.

“It was Yu Ling stirring things up. She got into a fight with that person, and that person broke a leg. They’ll need at least three months to recover,” Qian Chu said, her disdain obvious. “She’s really gone a little crazy.”

Hearing that name again, Li Lan felt almost detached from it.

She had thought Yang Huayi would keep her buried for a while. How was she still bouncing around causing trouble?

“What did Director Yang say?” Li Lan asked.

Qian Chu’s tone turned a little strange. “From what Director Yang means, she doesn’t seem to want to deal with this. The director is the one panicking; he has no idea what to do.”

Yang Huayi wasn’t getting involved?

Wasn’t this the film she valued? She was just going to leave it alone?

After hanging up, Li Lan still couldn’t figure out what felt off.

Zhu Qing said, “After the variety show you filmed with Qi Yao aired, the evidence Yu Ling provided actually helped you. Did she want to show goodwill and get back into this script?”

Li Lan frowned deeply and slowly shook her head. “Hard to say. But I’m not agreeing to it.”

“Why do Qi Yao and Yu Ling keep haunting us?” Zhu Qing wrinkled her nose. “Doesn’t Qi Yao’s boss at MeiYu Media do anything about him?”

Li Lan said, “Qi’s way of doing things is very similar to Yang Huayi’s; she’s not the type to dither. If Qi Yao keeps causing her trouble, I doubt she’ll keep protecting him. Besides, new faces enter the entertainment industry every year. There are plenty of boys waiting for a chance. Qi Yao will be pushed out soon enough.”

They didn’t talk about work after that. Zhu Qing suddenly remembered something and hesitated. “I need to go out this afternoon... to meet two people.”

Without even looking up, Li Lan said, “Go ahead. Do you need me to come with you?”

In a slow voice, Zhu Qing said, “Probably not. I’ll go by myself.”

Li Lan looked up and smiled at her. “All right. Be careful.”

Li Lan didn’t ask further. Zhu Qing hesitated for two seconds, as if she wanted to say something, but after thinking for a long time, she still said nothing.

Today Li Lan cooked and made Zhu Qing a lunch that tasted quite good.

In the afternoon, after Zhu Qing went out to meet someone, Li Lan called Yang Huayi.

Yang Huayi’s meaning was very clear: “The company’s upper management had a meeting. The film’s budget has been cut. Those old fossils want me to focus on pushing the company’s own artists.”

Li Lan didn’t object. After all, there was a distinction between close and distant; Yang Huayi naturally had to tilt resources toward her own company. What Li Lan wanted was Yang Huayi’s solution, since this was a film she had always insisted on having Li Lan make.

Yang Huayi sounded slightly tired. “Besides, they’re not very satisfied with how I handled Yu Ling. Take Qi Yao as an example; he’s trash, but Qi is willing to smooth things over. Trash can still jump around in front of the camera and make money for the company. They think Yu Ling can keep making money too.”

Li Lan frowned. “Qi Yao still has resources?”

“Speaking of Qi Yao, I have to thank you. You ruined his public image again,” Yang Huayi said. “No idea what stupid thing he did this time, but Qi locked him up and took his phone away. For now, he can’t cause any trouble.”

Li Lan curled her lip. “He brought it on himself.”

Yang Huayi said, “Anyway, I’m planning to have the director think of something about this. If it really doesn’t work, I can invest personally.”

Since it was a company decision, Li Lan thought about it and said, “Then it’d be better if I invested.”

Yang Huayi was a little surprised. “You?”

“This script isn’t exactly a huge production, but you need to understand: once a crew starts moving, it becomes a money pit every single day. It’s not just filming; the editing, production, release, and publicity afterward all have to be handled.”

Li Lan mentally calculated her savings and nodded. “I know.”

Yang Huayi didn’t sound convinced. “I’m advising you to think it over carefully. Three million is the minimum; five million is the cap. Do you even have that much saved up?”

Li Lan considered it. “If I sell the house, maybe.”

Yang Huayi laughed mockingly. “You really are a gambler. Fine, I’ll personally put in two million. You cover the rest.”

Li Lan’s eyes shifted. “Okay.”

When Qian Chu learned that Li Lan wanted to invest on her own, she got so anxious she practically shot upright.

“No way. Absolutely not!”

Li Lan said in a low voice, “Listen to me first.”

“I’m not listening! Do you know how much risk there is?” Qian Chu was so agitated she forgot her manners and blurted out, “Director Yang is too shameless. She says she’ll withdraw funds and then just does it. I always thought she was pretty reliable because she meant what she said!”

“She’s a businesswoman,” Li Lan said softly. “So am I. A businesswoman has to gamble; a businesswoman has to chase profit.”

Qian Chu slapped the table hard, making it crack loudly. “You don’t need to chase this kind of profit! Just take roles one by one, work according to the schedule I give you, and make money steadily. That’s so much safer. Why are you trying to rush ahead for quick success?”

In the entertainment industry, getting a project off the ground involved countless complicated steps. If there was a problem with the script, if funding was pulled midway, if a competing drama aired at the same time, if an actor had a scandal, all of that could affect the release; some productions even ended up permanently shelved, with all the investment going straight down the drain.

That was why there were so many actors in the industry, but so few directors who could actually carry a show.

Qian Chu said, heartbroken, “You’ve only just entered the entertainment industry. Don’t touch these cakes. Isn’t it fine to just work honestly? If you do that for a few years, you’ll...”

Li Lan said, “Too slow.”

Qian Chu froze.

Li Lan lifted her head and said sharply, “I said, too slow.”

“This film is a good opportunity for me. I trust Yang Huayi’s eye for projects; this movie will definitely make money,” Li Lan said, word by word. “I want the movie released. I want to make a lot of money in a short time!”

Qian Chu stared at her in shock. “Why?”

Li Lan’s brows and eyes sank. For an instant, her expression darkened, but very quickly she returned to normal. “No reason. I just want quick money; I want to retire early, leave the industry early, and live the life I want. Is that not allowed?”

Qian Chu frowned tightly. “But you’re only thirty. Your prime as an actress has just arrived; you still have at least seven or eight years. Why are you in such a hurry?”

Li Lan said nothing more. Her tone softened a little. “Don’t worry too much. Yang Huayi is investing too, so the risk isn’t that great.”

Seeing that she couldn’t be persuaded, Qian Chu left in anger.

Just then Zhu Qing came home and ran into Qian Chu as she was leaving.

“What’s wrong with her? She looks furious,” Zhu Qing said.

Qian Chu had always obeyed Li Lan to the letter; it was rare for her to argue back, let alone show that kind of emotion.

Li Lan came over, took Zhu Qing’s bag from her, and leaned against the entryway with a smile. “Nothing. Just some work matters.”

Zhu Qing was in a good mood. Seeing Li Lan smile, she grinned too. “Haha, did Qian Chu dump another mountain of work on you?”

“This time, no. I wanted to invest in the movie, and she didn’t agree,” Li Lan said lightly. “But what she says doesn’t count; what I say does.”

Zhu Qing had no possessiveness at all over Li Lan’s money. If she wanted to invest, then invest; if she wanted to toss it around for fun, then toss it around. After hearing that, she didn’t react much. She just smiled and said, “Boss Li is domineering.”

Li Lan noticed the smile lines around Zhu Qing’s eyes and found it odd. “Why are you so happy today?”

Zhu Qing’s smile widened. “Mm! I met two people today. Guess who?”

Pretending not to know, Li Lan poured her a glass of fruit tea. “Who?”

Zhu Qing gulped down half a glass in one go and pointed at herself. “My parents.”

Li Lan raised a brow. “Your parents? They came to find you?”

“Mm. Did I never mention this to you before? When I was very little, my family had money. But later, it seemed like they didn’t have any anymore, so my parents dumped me at a childcare center. I survived by working for the childcare center. After they left me there, they would occasionally send some living expenses, but gradually even that stopped. I haven’t had any contact with them for many years.”

Li Lan said unhappily, “If they abandoned you when you were little, what are they coming to find you for now?”

Zhu Qing soothed her, “Don’t be angry. They can’t do anything to me.”

“Actually, today was my second time seeing them. The first time was when I ran into them on the street. They started being snide and sarcastic right away, and even blamed me, saying I was living the good life. What right did those two have to judge me? So I had security throw them out. After that, I thought they were here to ask for money. But then they contacted me again and said they were leaving Haishi, that they wouldn’t make trouble for me anymore; they just wanted to see me one last time before they left.”

Li Lan suddenly understood and asked casually, “So they’ve already left?”

Zhu Qing nodded and smiled. “Mm. They were very nice this afternoon. They apologized to me, and they also wished you and me a hundred years of harmony, saying we should live our lives well together.”

Seeing the unburdened smile on Zhu Qing’s face, the corners of Li Lan’s brows and eyes curved softly. Her little white teeth showed in a brilliant smile.

“As long as you’re happy,” Li Lan said gently. “It’s a pity I didn’t get to meet Uncle and Auntie.”

Zhu Qing waved a hand. “No need to meet them. I actually don’t have much feeling for them. I just feel a little wistful, since they still owe me an apology.”

“And do they still have feelings for you?” Li Lan asked softly.

Zhu Qing thought for a long time, then smiled in relief. “No.”

“So certain? Not even your mother?” Li Lan said.

Zhu Qing’s smile faded a little, but she remained calm. “I instinctively wanted to believe they had their reasons; I wanted to believe my parents would love me. That kind of instinct can’t be controlled. But as long as my brain isn’t broken, if I think about it for just two more seconds, I know their behavior absolutely wasn’t love. When I look in their eyes, I can indeed see worry and guilt, but human nature is complicated. They can feel sorry toward you while doing things that hurt you. Love can’t be judged by what they say; you have to look at what they do. Helpless love makes it impossible to tell whether it’s truly helpless or simply hypocritical.”

Li Lan hadn’t expected Zhu Qing to see through it so clearly.

After two seconds of silence, Li Lan felt a little uneasy inside.

She didn’t want Zhu Qing to feel like she had never been loved by her family, so she played nice with the Zhu parents; she even agreed to give them money so they would apologize to Zhu Qing and disappear from her life.

But those wounds had already been carved in. Zhu Qing’s happiness was built on top of ruins.

“I’m very happy right now,” Zhu Qing said. She stood up, then lightly settled into Li Lan’s arms and wrapped her hands around Li Lan’s neck. “I can say goodbye to the past now.”

She kissed Li Lan’s lips tenderly and whispered, “Now you’re the most important person in my life. With you here, I can stop caring about everyone else.”

On that stretch of ruins, Zhu Qing stubbornly and brilliantly bloomed into a field of flowers.

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The author has nothing to say today.