Yan Yan - Chapter 25

Chapter 25 – Hotel

Hearing the waitress’s words, Su Yan felt guilty and was about to go and see Bai Xingfan’s situation, but suddenly felt that if she saw him in such a way, he would be embarrassed.

‘He is such a cold and noble person, he must love face very much.’ She thought as she looked in the direction that the waitress showed and went back to their table with a troubled heart. She thought that she would pretend she didn’t know anything.

About ten minutes later, Bai Xingfan came back. The slightly opened collar of his shirt was stained with water, and the sleeves were pulled up, revealing his wrists. Su Yan looked at his expression and saw that he was a little pale, and his usually paled lip seemed to be transparent. ‘Could it be that he vomited out all the contents of his stomach?’

“Drink some tea.” Su Yan pushed the barley tea towards Bai Xingfan as he sat down.

Bai Xingfan looked down at the white cup filled with yellow tea and suddenly pursed his lips tightly.

Su Yan knew that he was embarrassed, so she kindly persuaded him, saying, “It’s okay, it’s a normal reaction; don’t be ashamed.”

Bai Xingfan took a deep breath and picked up the teacup. “Thank you, Miss Su.”

Su Yan: ‘Why do I feel that his “thank you” was not sincere at all? But for the sake of you being vomited on because of me, I don’t care!’ 

While Bai Xingfan was drinking the barley tea, Su Yan took out a drink from the takeaway bag and asked him, “Do you want to drink this? It’s delicious.”

“No,” Bai Xingfan said after putting down the teacup. His lips were stained with a thin layer of tea, making them bright and moist.

Su Yan took out a strawberry milkshake from the bag again and asked again, “Drinking something cold may make you feel better.”

Bai Xingfan: “Drinking tea is enough.”

“Oh, okay.” Su Yan didn’t force him anymore, shook the milkshake vigorously, then opened the straw packaging, inserted it into the strawberry milkshake cup, and took a sip.

‘Mmm…so delicious!’ Su Yan was very satisfied. In summer, this kind of cold drink should be drunk, no matter whether it has creamer or essence.

Bai Xingfan saw that she was only drinking but not eating and couldn’t help but frown. “Drink less and eat more.”

Su Yan let go of the straw in her mouth, plausibly saying, “How much essence and milk essence can there be in this cup? It’s impossible to make people stupid.”

Bai Xingfan said helplessly, “It’s too cold.”

“Oh.” Su Yan pushed away the cup, picked up the chopsticks again, picked up a piece of shredded cabbage, and sighed. “Actually, I haven’t  drunkt his for a long time.”

“So you want to be sick because you are greedy?” Bai Xingfan asked arrogantly.

Su Yan: ‘You really don’t need to be so strict. You are embarrassing me!’ She couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Bai Xingfan already knew the answer and asked with a smile, “Since you like it, why don’t you drink it?”

Su Yan sighed and told the truth, “Because it’s too cheap.” She explained, “When I was in college, I often drank this brand because it was available on campus, so I bought it every three days, but after graduating from college, there were fewer chances to buy it.” Most adults don’t care about the price of a cup of milk tea when they are shopping with friends. Basically, your friends will treat you this time, and you will treat them next time. My friends invited me to drink expensive drinks, so how can I buy them cheap ones?” She sighed again. “This is the same as not using cheap lipstick after graduation. It’s not that I don’t want to use it, but it does not conform to the social outlook of adults. I deeply remember that there was a party in our dormitory after graduation. After dinner, everyone took out lipstick to touch up their makeup. Others either used Givenchy, Chanel, or Armani, and I was the only one who took out an unremarkable cheap lipstick. At that moment, I felt that I was extremely naïve. And then I realised that after graduation, the cheap price can only be used for myself, and the luxury needs to be used for others.”

Bai Xingfan was noncommittal. “Why do you care so much about other people’s opinions?”

Su Yan was stunned for a moment and understood the real meaning of Bai Xingfan’s question. “Whatever the other people’s opinions, Bai Xingfan and I will never be suitable.”

She sighed softly. “Because I don’t live at the top of society. If I was born into an upper-class family, then no matter whether I use cheap or luxury goods, others will think that I should be taken for granted and even feel that I am down-to-earth, but I don’t have such a good background, and I don’t have such a good mentality to despise other people’s eyes and opinions, so I can only try my best to package myself as a shining person, work hard to make money, buy bags and lipsticks, and don’t let others look down on me.”

However, Bai Xingfan did not agree with Su Yan’s idea. If everything was done to cater to the eyes of others, then living was too tiring, just like his mother. When he was young, he often heard his mother say, “You are the grandson of Bai’s family. If you don’t work hard and make progress, others will laugh at you and your parents!” His mother had lived in the eyes of others all her life and even used this thinking mode to imprison his growth trajectory, so he couldn’t accept this kind of thinking at all.

“No one will look down on you; only you will look down on yourself.” He didn’t know whether he was speaking to Su Yan or his mother.

Su Yan sighed again and kept telling herself in her heart, ‘Don’t be tempted; it’s impossible.’ 

“If you were me, you would understand.” Her tone was calm and frank, without any teasing or sarcasm. “Our family is from the countryside, and I only came to Dongfu when I was fourteen.” She had never mentioned anything about her childhood to Bai Xingfan before, and this was the first time. “My classmates called me a village girl and laughed at my dress and accent.”

Su Yan’s self-esteem was damaged during her adolescence. Even though so many years had passed, she still felt a sense of shame from the bottom of her heart when she mentioned it again. In other words, the unbearable experience in junior high school seemed to have been imprinted in her soul, and every time it was mentioned, it was still fresh in her memory, as if it just happened today. So she was very afraid of being laughed at again.

“Has anyone ever laughed at you like that?” She had already guessed the answer when she asked the question—it must be no. He was born into a rich, upper-class family. Who would dare to laugh at him?

“Why not?” Bai Xingfan replied.

Su Yan was startled and looked at him in surprise.

“Before she married my father, my mother was a young actress,” said a composed-looking Bai Xingfan. “She wasn’t really well-known at the time, and her profession was considered a low-level occupation at that time.” She was pregnant with Bai Xingfan first, and then she married into the Bai family. He wasn’t sure if his mother did it on purpose, but he did become a stepping stone for his mother to marry into a wealthy family; otherwise, his grandparents would never agree. “There are many people who are jealous of her, and there are many people who laugh at her. When I was younger, many of my friends would claim without hesitation that I was the son of an actor.”

Su Yan opened her mouth slightly, her expression full of disbelief.

Bai Xingfan didn’t change his face. “My mother doesn’t mind if people say she is an actress, so she has been working hard to get rid of this title all her life. I am one of the beneficiaries of her efforts. But my father, I, and my younger brother never cared about her origin; only she cares.”

Su Yan could probably understand Bai Xingfan’s thinking mode now, but she could also understand his mother. Sometimes, a sense of inferiority and cowardice were engraved in the bones because the birth couldn’t be changed and the growth experience couldn’t be changed.

She thought, ‘It’s not that we don’t want to abandon the worldly vision; it’s that we can’t do it. It’s great that we can grow upward, so don’t ask us to grow towards the sun.’ 

In the final analysis, it was the gap in origin and class that led to differences in ideas and thinking patterns. No one was right, but no one was all right. Therefore, an ordinary girl should not daydream or be tempted; it was her best self-protection.

After realising reality once again, Su Yan decided to change the subject. “Do you need to order something more?” she asked. “I feel like you’re not full.”

Bai Xingfan didn’t say anymore and replied, following her words, “No, I don’t have much appetite.”

“Then I will pay the bill.” As she spoke, she picked up her mobile phone and scanned the QR code to pay.

While doing the payment process, Su Yan was still thinking about how to say goodbye to Bai Xingfan, and luckily she got a message from the assistant surnamed Yang. [Ms. Su, are you busy? Sorry to bother you. The film crew has reserved a presidential suite for you at the Dongan Hotel. When you have time, I will help you move your things.]

The Dongan Hotel was a five-star hotel near the film and television city.

Seeing such a message, Su Yan was stunned instantly. ‘They have changed their attitudes towards me very fast. Ms. Su? Didn’t you just call me “Xiao Su” just a few hours ago? 

Before Su Yan had time to reply, another message came. [What happened this morning was all a misunderstanding. I hope Mr. Su will just ignore those things. Director Wu is also very guilty now, and that is why he didn’t contact you this time. We will communicate with the actors, and the filming will never deviate from the original script until you are satisfied!]

Su Yan: “…”

The sudden attitude change was really shocking. But she also knew that this respect was not for her, but for the man sitting opposite her. Staring at the WeChat message for a while, she bit her lip in confusion and then looked at Bai Xingfan shyly. “Well, Mr. Bai, can you do me a favour?”

‘Why did you suddenly become so polite?’ Bai Xingfan wanted to laugh. “What’s the matter?”

“I… will continue to stay in this group for another three months, so can I trouble you to take care of me during these three months?” Su Yan was very embarrassed to ask such a favour, but she had to bite the bullet and ask; otherwise, she may lose the right to speak about the script again. Since Teacher Li recommended her to the team, she had to stay no matter what happened and also didn’t want the painstaking effort of her and other members of the screenwriting team to be in vain.

Bai Xingfan could understand what she meant and also understand her worry. “Yes.”

Su Yan let out a long sigh of relief and said, “Thank you, Mr. Bai!”

Bai Xingfan: “Then, can Miss Su treat me to dinner again?”

Su Yan: “Of course!” ‘Isn’t it just a meal? I can afford it! And what will change after a meal? will be still Su Yan, and he will be still Bai Xingfan.’ 

Bai Xingfan’s eyes rolled slightly, and his smile was gentle. “I’m waiting for Miss Su’s invitation.”

Su Yan smiled and said, “Okay. I want to go back to the set, you…” Before Su Yan finished speaking, she was interrupted by a phone ringing, and the caller ID was Teacher Li. She immediately grabbed her phone from the table and said to Bai Xingfan, “Sorry, I have a call.”

A few minutes later, she hung up the phone, looked at Bai Xingfan timidly, and said, “Well, can you not change Director Wu? Will it be a problem for you?”

The purpose of Teacher Li calling her just now was to persuade her to calm down, and she said, ‘No matter who you are, you can’t do things too badly.’ Su Yan was not stupid; of course, she understood this truth. She would get help from Bai Xingfan this time, but he couldn’t cover her for the rest of her life, so she couldn’t act recklessly this time. Although she was still a little angry, as a human being, one must learn to endure.

Bai Xingfan was noncommittal. “Are you sure?”

Su Yan sighed and told the truth. “Actually, in this crew, Director Wu’s right to speak is not the highest. The relatives of the sponsors asked him to change the script. So he has to listen unless he doesn’t want to be in this circle anymore. Although he’s a little bit judgmental, his business ability is still good, and he has produced several blockbuster dramas. Changing directors will have a great impact on the entire crew.”

Bai Xingfan: “Who is the relative of the investor?”

Su Yan: “…” ‘You really know how to focus!’ 

She was helpless. “It’s not important! Even if it is very important, I can’t tell you, or I will offend people.”

Bai Xingfan sighed softly and said, “If they bully you again, just tell me, and I will take care of them.”

Su Yan couldn’t help but feel warm in her heart. “Got it.”

“Do you want to go back to the set now?” Bai Xingfan asked.

Su Yan nodded. “Yeah.”

Bai Xingfan: “Let them pick you up.”

Su Yan’s eyes widened. “Huh?”

Bai Xingfan: “How can there be any reason to go back after being angry?”

Su Yan understood well. It was a matter of aura. If she went back by herself, her aura would weaken in an instant, like a local dog who ran away from home and then walked back in disgrace. In this way, she won’t be able to deter them. “Then I have to wait until they come here to pick me up?” she asked.

Bai Xingfan: “Tell them you’re at Dongan Hotel.”

“Okay!”

Five minutes later, the driver came to the entrance of the restaurant to pick up Bai Xingfan and Su Yan. After arriving at the Dongan Hotel, Bai Xingfan took her to the cafe on the first floor and ordered a set of afternoon tea for her.

When it was less than five minutes past two, Su Yan received a call from Director Wu, who said on the phone that he had arrived at the entrance of the Dongan Hotel. Su Yan glanced at Bai Xingfan and asked for his opinion. Bai Xingfan signaled to her to let Director Wu come in, and Su Yan did so.

In less than a minute, Director Wu came, followed by the second female lead, Lin Yiran, and her screenwriter. The three of them stood beside the table and looked at Su Yan and Bai Xingfan anxiously. Lin Yiran even gave Su Yan a smile on purpose, muttering, “Teacher Su…”

Su Yan didn’t dare to say anything and looked at Bai Xingfan. He also didn’t speak, so it was a little bit awkward. After a few seconds passed, Su Yan also felt very embarrassed thinking about this situation, so in order to resolve the embarrassment, she said, “Everyone, sit down.” But after saying that, she found that the atmosphere seemed even more awkward because no one listened to her. So she asked Bai Xingfan for help with her eyes.

Bai Xingfan finally opened his mouth, and said with a cold voice, “If it wasn’t for Yanyan, who kept begging me for you just now, I would never have changed my mind.”

Director Wu immediately stated, “It was my fault this morning, I was impulsive. Here, I sincerely apologise to Teacher Su. Sorry.”

Lin Yiran also hurriedly said, “I am wrong; I am ignorant; I hope Teacher Su can forgive me! ”

Her screenwriter, surnamed Wang, also apologised repeatedly. “I… This morning I used improper words and offended Teacher Su. I hope you don’t worry about a villain like me.

Su Yan: “…” ‘Is this the legendary saying that turning faces is faster than turning books?’

Bai Xingfan: “Don’t think you can bully Yanyan because she is young. I can’t protect her all the time, but I will never allow her to be bullied.”

Su Yan glanced at Bai Xingfan, and although she knew that his words were just a joke to scare others, she was still a little moved in her heart.

Director Wu hurriedly said, “I understand! Don’t worry, Mr. Bai, this kind of thing will never happen again!”

Lin Yiran also promised. “I will not change the script again! I really know that I made a mistake.”

Su Yan: “…” ‘I didn’t expose you; you did it yourself!’ 

Bai Xingfan was not stupid; he looked up at Su Yan with a questioning expression. Su Yan sighed helplessly, shook her head slightly, and replied with her eyes. ‘Don’t worry about it.’ 

Bai Xingfan said while frowning at them. “Remember your promises. If there is another time, just wait for another career.”

Director Wu and Lin Yiran nodded and bowed. “I know, I know!”

After the three of them left, Bai Xingfan personally sent Su Yan back to the crew, and before leaving, he explained to her, “I still have some things to deal with in the afternoon, and I will contact you when the work is over.”

Su Yan replied, “Ok. I will contact you later. Well, we don’t know what time the filming will end here, so go rest first after you finish your work.”

“Alright.”

After Bai Xingfan left, Director Wu and the others approached Su Yan again and said a good word. Su Yan was not a fool either; she replied with some sarcasm, and then everyone turned their hostility into friendship.

The content of the afternoon shooting was all reshooted, and they followed the original script in a regular manner. The second female did not dare to add scenes casually and showed her attitude by dismissing the screenwriter she brought. But even so, Su Yan couldn’t completely relax her vigilance, so she still had to keep an eye on her.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, a white nanny car suddenly drove into the crew. At that time, Director Wu was giving a lecture to the actors. The assistant surnamed Yang quietly approached Su Yan and said with a smile, “Teacher Su, Boss Bai has arranged a nanny car for you. You can sit in the car and revise the script in the future; the car is comfortable and cool, and the outside is too hot.”

Su Yan: “…”

Yesterday afternoon, she was still curled up on a small plastic stool in the open air, revising the temporary script. Sure enough, there was no place in the world that was more realistic than Vanity Fair.

………

At 8:30 in the evening, filming work finally came to an end. When everyone was packing up and preparing to leave, the first female lead suddenly came to Su Yan and thanked her. Su Yan was a little embarrassed and didn’t know how to respond. After all, she had a conflict with the director to protect her own script, not to fight for the rights of the heroine.

Su Yan could only pretend to be confused and pretend to understand.

After getting off work, the director arranged for a car to take Su Yan back to the dilapidated small hotel to pick up her luggage, and then sent her to the Dongan Hotel. This was the first time Su Yan had lived in a presidential suite. It was on the top floor, and the entire film and television city could be seen from there.

After entering the room, she started running around the room, looking here and there like a curious baby, and she didn’t forget to take pictures with her mobile phone. After staying in a broken hotel for a few days, the satisfaction of this presidential suite in her heart was not generally high. After seeing enough, she dragged her luggage to the bedroom, then undressed, went to the bathroom, filled the bathtub, and took a shower.

Before going out this morning, she put on a thick layer of sunscreen. The hot weather made her sweat all over, and the sweat and sunscreen mixed together, not to mention how sticky it was. After taking a shower, she soaked herself in the big bathtub and closed her eyes comfortably.

‘Really, so comfortable.’ 

After soaking in the water for a while, she fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, the water in the bathtub had turned cold, and she immediately came out of the water, only to realise that she hadn’t taken towels and pyjamas.

Fortunately, there were bath towels and two sets of bathrobes made of silk and cotton for customers in the bathroom.

After Su Yan dried her body with a towel, she struggled for a while between the dark green silk bathrobe and the white cotton bathrobe and finally chose… a bath towel. Still not used to wearing the clothes provided by the hotel, she just wanted to wear her pajamas, so she wrapped herself in a towel and left the bathroom.

The suitcase was placed beside the bed, but just as she walked out of the bathroom, the bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. The moment she met Bai Xingfan’s eyes, Su Yan was stunned, and her mind went blank.

Bai Xingfan also froze, looking at Su Yan in shock and astonishment, but he reacted quickly, retreated quickly, and closed the door.

The moment the door closed, Su Yan heard his order, suppressing his anger. “Get dressed and come out to see me.”

End of chapter 25

Have a nice day!