Chapter 115: The Age of Yuri p1
On the day of the premiere, Mi Hongdou left Shudian in the morning and arrived in Jiang City around noon. Without even going home, she was taken directly to Mengguan, given a boxed lunch, and then started preparing for the evening’s event.
The usually unreliable Yang Lianyi was present throughout the entire process. However, she was already dressed in an elegant evening gown, lounging on the sofa with a restless little girl in a pink princess dress, looking more like a guest of honor than a manager.
Well, at least she was present. Mi Hongdou, who had been abandoned in Shudian for months after being dropped off by Yang Lianyi, thought that the little girl was still very cute. Here, have a pudding.
Since learning about the premiere in Jiang City, Mi Hongdou had been planning to make some treats for Ji Junxin. It’s been a while… I’m afraid it will be awkward… I need to bribe her with food.
Unfortunately, the filming schedule for “Divorce, So Be It 2” was incredibly intense, long hours and no breaks. She knew they were rushing to finish so she could join the upcoming reality show, so despite the exhaustion, Mi Hongdou didn’t complain. Her hardworking and uncomplaining attitude earned her praise from the crew.
Even with the late nights and the early morning call time for the premiere, Mi Hongdou still managed to make some pudding before leaving.
During the filming of “Imperial Secrets,” she had borrowed Jiang Lingling’s kitchen to make crème brûlée for Ji Junxin. But the kitchen torch seemed to have scared Ji Junxin, who had explicitly forbidden her from using such a dangerous tool again. Although Mi Hongdou felt it was safe and convenient, she hadn’t used it since.
The purpose of making food was to bring joy. The torch was just a tool. If it made Ji Junxin worry, then the food wouldn’t bring her happiness. Mi Hongdou wasn’t a chef striving for culinary perfection, but just someone who wanted to make the person she liked happy. So, the puddings she made were the plain kind, without the crispy caramelized sugar crust.
Despite the limited time, she still made several flavors: the classic egg pudding, mango pudding (mangoes being in season), strawberry pudding (to preserve the last of the season’s sweetness), and banana pudding (Ji Junxin’s favorite).
She packed the puddings in small glass jars, sealed with brown paper and tied with twine, resembling miniature versions of old-fashioned yogurt bottles.
It was August, and the weather was hot. The puddings, chilled for an hour, were packed in a cooler with ice packs for the journey back to Jiang City.
Seeing the adorable Yang Miemie, rolling around on the sofa like a pink ball in her pink dress, Mi Hongdou asked Bai Tang to give her an egg pudding.
Hearing “egg pudding,” Yang Lianyi, who had been dozing off, sat up abruptly and peered into the cooler Bai Tang had just opened.
Bai Tang had only taken out one egg pudding, as instructed.
Just as Bai Tang was about to close the cooler, Yang Lianyi coughed. “Where’s mine?”
Bai Tang stopped.
Mi Hongdou, who was having her hair done, looked at Yang Lianyi. “I didn’t make one for you.”
“There are more than ten in there…” Yang Lianyi was stunned. “And none for me? Who are they for? Do you even remember I’m your boss?”
“They’re for cute people.” Mi Hongdou pointed at the little girl still rolling on the sofa. “Like her.”
Yang Lianyi looked at her niece, then at Bai Tang, who was holding the pudding jar and slowly closing the cooler, gritted her teeth, and picked up the little girl, placing her on the floor.
“Fine! I’ll roll!” She threw herself onto the sofa and rolled around a few times.
So, when Qiao Rubai entered, she saw Yang Lianyi, in an elegant evening gown, rolling around on the sofa without any semblance of dignity, everyone in the room, including the little girl standing by the sofa, staring at her, dumbfounded.
“So, am I cute enough now?” Yang Lianyi, after a few rolls, mindful of her carefully styled hair, sat up and, feeling that her rolling wasn’t as dedicated as Yang Miemie’s, gave Mi Hongdou what she thought was an adorable look.
It was, however, a purely seductive glance… Even Mi Hongdou, who knew about Yang Lianyi’s natural charm, was startled. Actually, she had been startled the moment Yang Lianyi started rolling. That wasn’t what she meant! It was just a polite refusal, couldn’t she understand?
Qiao Rubai, standing at the door, ignored by everyone, looked at the slightly disheveled Yang Lianyi, who was giving Mi Hongdou a seductive smile, and felt a throbbing in her temples.
Yang Lianyi! What are you doing!
“Ahem…” Qiao Rubai, unable to bear Yang Lianyi’s almost exposed shoulder, coughed loudly.
Everyone’s attention shifted to the door.
Yang Lianyi quickly adjusted her dress and hair, as if nothing had happened, and gave Qiao Rubai a warm smile. “You’re here.”
Qiao Rubai’s frustration dissipated instantly.
“You… come with me.” Your clothes are a mess! Qiao Rubai gestured to Yang Lianyi, suppressing her annoyance.
Yang Lianyi hesitated, giving Mi Hongdou a meaningful look.
Mi Hongdou, trapped by the hairstylist, understood and said to Bai Tang, “Give her another one.” Yang Lianyi had gone this far, Mi Hongdou had to surrender.
So, Yang Lianyi happily took two jars of pudding and left with the little girl.
Qiao Rubai had come to take Yang Lianyi to the cinema. This premiere was also the official announcement of the partnership between Qiong Yu and Mengguan. It was an important event.
But perhaps… only Qiao Rubai was taking it seriously.
As soon as they got in the car, Yang Lianyi started opening the pudding jars, complaining that the bottles reminded her of old-fashioned yogurt, she suddenly craved yogurt.
Qiao Rubai, holding the little girl, couldn’t help but ask, “You rolled around on the sofa… just for a small jar of pudding?”
“What else? Did you think I was having a seizure?” Yang Lianyi struggled with the twine. “Don’t you think Mi Hongdou’s definition of ‘cute’ is a bit strange? What’s so cute about rolling on a sofa? But a jar of pudding for a few rolls is a good deal. She’s been stuck in Shudian, filming day and night, no time to cook, I haven’t had her food in ages.”
“…” Qiao Rubai was speechless. A jar of pudding for a few rolls… do you think you’re a pet? Acting cute for treats! So, my next priority is learning to cook from Mi Hongdou?
Bai Tang had given Yang Lianyi two jars, egg pudding and mango pudding.
Yang Lianyi opened the egg pudding first, intending to give it to the little girl. But as soon as she removed the paper lid, the sweet aroma filled the car.
“It’s too cold, you can’t eat it yet, let me check the temperature.” Yang Lianyi dodged the drooling Yang Miemie and took a spoonful herself.
The classic egg pudding, the smooth texture from the repeated stirring and straining, it practically melted in her mouth. The aroma of egg and milk filled her senses, it was so delicious! The sweetness was perfect, not too much, not too little, she couldn’t stop eating!
Yang Lianyi savored the pudding, not wanting to speak, afraid of losing the lingering flavor.
“Hey, give her some too,” Qiao Rubai said, holding the restless little girl, who seemed about to pounce on Yang Lianyi.
“It’s still cold, eat slowly.” Yang Lianyi gave the little girl a small spoonful, then held the jar up to Qiao Rubai. “Want some? Mi Hongdou made it.”
It did smell good… Qiao Rubai glanced at the small jar, now almost empty after two spoonfuls, and shook her head. “I’m fine, save it for the child.”
Yang Lianyi retracted the jar. “Okay, then let me try some more for her.” She took another spoonful.
Qiao Rubai turned Yang Miemie away slightly, not wanting her to witness such cruelty.
“If you had rolled around too, we might have had three jars,” Yang Lianyi said after swallowing the pudding, her tone slightly regretful.
Although she knew Yang Lianyi was unpredictable, this was… too much! Qiao Rubai looked away, she couldn’t imagine herself rolling around on a sofa.
So, because the pudding was always “too cold,” Yang Miemie only had a few bites, and Yang Lianyi ate most of it.
The premiere started at 8 PM, the audience admitted at 7:15 PM, and the actors would enter at 7:30 PM.
Mi Hongdou’s chauffeured car arrived at the designated parking area a little after 7 PM. Ji Junxin’s car arrived around 7:15 PM.
Unlike during filming in Shudian, back in Jiang City, as celebrities, their movements were more restricted, especially for events like this premiere, with so many fans. They had to follow the organizers’ arrangements to avoid chaos.
A small section of the underground parking lot was cordoned off for the celebrities, their cars would be brought up later, after the audience was seated. This area was secured and guarded, offering some privacy.
Ji Junxin’s car parked near Mi Hongdou’s. Mi Hongdou, seeing only security guards around, thought about going over to say hello. But… it had been a while, perhaps a text message first.
Ji Junxin’s phone buzzed. The sender was just a number, a familiar number.
Some people, you could delete their names, but not your memory of them. What was a name when you had the number memorized?
[I see your car, is it okay for me to come over?]
Ji Junxin, glancing at her parents sitting beside her, typed a reply, saved Mi Hongdou’s number again, and pressed send. After this break, she felt she had finally detached from the role. And she was happy to find that her feelings for Mi Hongdou… were still as strong!
So, it was genuine, not just the influence of the drama, Ji Junxin was both happy and worried.
[My parents are here, not convenient right now.]
Mi Hongdou, who had been about to get out of the car, stopped, her hand still on the cooler. Although Ji Junxin’s reply made sense, she felt a pang of disappointment.
Ji Junxin was also feeling conflicted. She didn’t understand why her parents, who had never supported her acting career and rarely showed any interest in her life, suddenly wanted to attend the premiere. She had been happy initially, after all, she was always sensitive about her relationship with her parents, even now, she still craved their approval.
But now she was in a dilemma. She was afraid that after not seeing Mi Hongdou for so long, she might inadvertently reveal her feelings… if her parents noticed… it would ruin the premiere.
She needed to be more careful, to better control her emotions, before introducing Mi Hongdou to her parents, Ji Junxin thought.
She had considered going over herself, but seeing her parents, so out of place and uncomfortable, she couldn’t bring herself to leave them. It wasn’t like they would never see each other again, she could endure this.
As they waited, more cars arrived, and the time for the premiere drew closer.
They finally met inside the cinema. The actors were all seated together. Mi Hongdou didn’t see Ji Junxin’s parents, they must have gone to the audience seating area. The seats were arranged according to the actors’ roles, and Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin were separated by Zhang Zijing, which annoyed Mi Hongdou. Qiao Rubai was so unreliable!
Qiao Rubai, who was sneezing nearby, felt wronged… she didn’t have time to micromanage the seating arrangements.
Mi Hongdou had been looking forward to this premiere, but she hadn’t been able to see Ji Junxin beforehand, and now they weren’t even sitting together. Later, when they were called on stage, although they stood together, with so many people watching, and having to answer the host’s questions about filming, they couldn’t chat.
By the end of the Q&A, as the film started, Mi Hongdou could only console herself with the thought that there would be another opportunity after the screening.
The film started. Miao Qianye’s life unfolded before Ji Junxin like a painted scroll.
Watching a film and acting in it were two completely different experiences.
After the month-long break, facing Miao Qianye again, Ji Junxin felt much calmer, just a faint sense of nostalgia for the character she had poured so much emotion into. However, most of her attention was now on Qin Muxue, played by Mi Hongdou.
The person I like, she’s amazing! Whether portraying the Empress’s authority or the young bride’s shyness, her acting was so convincing…
A little too convincing… During the wedding scene, seeing Mi Hongdou in her red dress, smiling shyly at Zhang Zijing, Ji Junxin frowned. Although she knew Mi Hongdou wasn’t interested in Zhang Zijing, seeing them like this on screen still made her unhappy!
She angrily threw a few popcorn kernels into her mouth, then, remembering that this was the premiere, with so many media present, even munching quietly wasn’t appropriate… she reluctantly let the popcorn melt in her mouth, the sweet, milky flavor slightly soothing her annoyance.
She had watched Mi Hongdou film that wedding scene, the repeated NGs, but she hadn’t felt this angry then. Love was truly a strange thing.
On screen, Zhang Zijing and Mi Hongdou, playing the emperor and empress, their early interactions were full of love, which annoyed Ji Junxin, and she had the urge to throw popcorn at Zhang Zijing!
But as the film progressed, from the palace to the estate, whether because of Ji Junxin’s focus on Mi Hongdou or the editing, although the supposed main characters were Ji Junxin and Zhang Zijing, it seemed that she and Mi Hongdou shared the most screen time. Zhang Zijing’s scenes were also plentiful, but his presence felt… bland, forgettable, just a plot device, lacking any real charm.
The estate and battlefield scenes were intercut, with more emphasis on the estate. And although the estate scenes were about their struggles for survival, they were more captivating than the grand battle scenes.
Ji Junxin, watching the young empress caring for the pregnant Miao Qianye, couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.
Hmph, unlike now, not even a single text message in weeks!
Ji Junxin’s inner complaints abruptly stopped during the birthing scene.
On screen… Miao Qianye looked like she was really giving birth. Only Ji Junxin knew what had actually happened! The thought of the entire audience witnessing her reaction, hearing her moans, made her incredibly embarrassed!
She couldn’t bear to watch, her head lowered during the short birthing scene, but the sounds from the screen still made her blush.
Mi Hongdou, you’re so annoying!
Just as Ji Junxin was squirming in her seat, wanting to disappear, her phone vibrated.
She checked it, her embarrassment instantly replaced by a serious expression.
The movie continued, but Ji Junxin, who had been looking forward to the premiere, no longer paid attention. She started typing on her phone, bending over to shield the screen from the people around her.
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