chapter 18 - xie ning's past

Xie Ning.

Zhuang Yan is familiar with this name.

When he’d just gotten back, he was bombarded with former classmates gossiping about Xie Ning and Xu Qing’s breakup.

Hearing all the stuff about being a white moonlight, a substitute, a player, made him annoyed.

Zhuang Yan almost blocked all of them.

He didn’t know much about Xie Ning. He was mainly annoyed at Xu Qing, and transferred some of the annoyance onto Xie Ning.

Xu Qing had pursued Zhuang Yan for two years in university, and Zhuang Yan had scolded him to his face, even finding someone to beat him up. But it was no use, as Xu Qing still stuck to him like glue.

Zhuang Yan felt as if this person really had nothing but his appearance.

That appearance of his wasn’t even the type Zhuang Yan liked.

Xie Ning was able to date and interact with a person like Xu Qing for four years...Zhuang Yan’s impression towards him wasn’t that great.

He wasn’t able to tell what kind of stupid cunt Xu Qing was for four years. What kind of problem did this Xie Ning’s eyes have?

But Yang Rui had recommended him, and it wasn’t good to draw conclusions about him when they haven’t even met yet.

Zhuang Yan thought about it and decided to ask Qi Rui some questions.

Qi Rui was surprised by Zhuang Yan’s sudden change in attitude, since he used to take on the attitude of avoiding it and not wanting to know.

Qi Rui: “Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in Xie Ning last time?”

Zhuang Yan glanced at him sideways. “I’m suddenly interested again.”

Qi Rui: “Alright, what do you want to ask? The love and hate between him and Xu Qing? I promise to tell you everything I know without reservation.”

Zhuang Yan asked, “Do you know what Xie Ning does for his job?”

“???”

Qi Rui was confused, and said, “No, but why are you asking this? Are you going to introduce him to work?”

Zhuang Yan: “Why do you care what I’m going to do with the information? Just tell me.”

Qi Rui stroked his chin. “I actually don’t know. I don’t know much about Xie Ning, and I don’t think he likes to socialize. He doesn’t communicate much with businessmen like us.”

Zhuang Yan furrowed his brows, and asked, “Then what was his major in university? You should know at least that, right?”

“That I do know,” Qi Rui said. “He was in the arts department, a famous person at the arts branch. Oh, right, he went to X University like you, me, and Xu Qing.”

The arts department. So that means it wasn’t someone who shared the same name, and it was likely that he was the person Yang Rui was recommending.

But, Mr. Rabbit was also from X University’s arts department.

He wondered how Xie Ning’s level was compared to Mr. Rabbit.

“Have you seen his drawings? How are his skills?”

Qi Rui was confused. “I don’t know him, so where would I go to see his drawings? But, I’ve heard he often won awards at art competitions, so his level should be pretty good.”

Zhuang Yan made a sound in response, lost in thought.

Qi Rui was curious, and asked, “Why? You want him to draw something for you?”

Zhuang Yan didn’t need to hide anything from Qi Rui, so he told him what was going on.

“So you’re saying that Yang Rui recommended Xie Ning as the art director for your new movie?” Qi Rui, after hearing this, was even more concerned than Zhuang Yan was.

Zhuang Yan nodded. “Yes, that’s why I came to ask you first.”

Qi Rui looked at him seriously. “I think for this matter, you can’t just look at his drawing level. That’s only on the surface. You should look for something that’s deeper.”

Zhuang Yan didn’t understand what he was talking about. “What’s deeper?”

Qi Rui, in high spirits, pulled him down to sit. “Did you know that Xu Qing has been looking around for news about Xie Ning?”

Zhuang Yan shook his head. “I didn’t.”

Qi Rui continued to gossip. “I heard he wanted to make up with Xie Ning, but Xie Ning seems to be hiding from him and doesn’t want to get back together.”

Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrow. “Did he finally realize what Xu Qing is really like?”

“Who knows?” Qi Rui spread his hands. “Right, didn’t Xu Qing also come looking for you, too?”

Zhuang Yan nodded. “I didn’t meet him.”

Xu Qing used QingFeng Media’s name to try to cooperate with Zhuang Yan, as well as to have a part in his new movie.

But Zhuang Yan had no intention of cooperating with him.

Xu Qing didn’t have much real talent, and actually lowered Zhuang Yan’s evaluation of QingFeng Media.

Additionally, compared to a long-established film and television company like WenXin, QingFeng Media can provide far less resources and connections.

The artists under QingFeng Media are talented, have many gimmicks, and many of them are traffic stars. However, there are not many strong actors with them, and the others did not fit the style of Zhuang Yan’s movies at all.

Qi Rui sighed, saying, “What do you think Xu Qing is actually thinking? On one hand, he wants to get back together with Xie Ning, and on the other, he’s trying to stick to you. Does he think he can get the best of both worlds?”

Zhuang Yan laughed coldly. “Who cares what he’s thinking? Just ignore him.”

Qi Rui put his chin on his hand. “Let me outline the relationship between you, Xie Ning, and Xu Qing right now. Those two are broken up now, right?”

Zhuang Yan: “That’s what you told me.”

Qi Rui continued, “During those four years when he and Xie Ning were dating, he slept with a good amount of little celebrities. There would be a different one on his bed every day, without repetition. He never even tried to hide it; everyone in the circle knows.”

Zhuang Yan frowned. Although they were both in the entertainment industry, he looked down on behaviors like Xu Qing’s.

“Back then, we all said privately that Xie Ning was probably hopelessly in love with Xu Qing, and could even resist the green hat on his head,” Qi Rui lamented.

This couldn’t even be called a green hat anymore. It was absolutely just a prairie on his head, one where you can put horses out to run around and frolic in.

Zhuang Yan didn’t think Xu Qing was that horse, though. The horse was too good for him.

Though Qi Rui’s words sounded very reasonable, Zhuang Yan still felt like something was off. “Didn’t you just say that Xie Ning wasn’t planning to get back together with Xu Qing? He doesn’t love him anymore?”

Qi Rui shook his head mysteriously. “This is something you don’t understand. Think about how they broke up. Because of you--Xu Qing’s white moonlight had returned, and he even used Xie Ning as your substitute. This is something that nobody can tolerate! Xie Ning can tolerate Xu Qing’s body cheating, but he definitely doesn’t want to become a substitute, so he refused to get back together.”

Zhuang Yan scoffed.

“Right now, you’re a thorn in Xie Ning’s heart. Think about it, if he really did become your new movie’s art director, you guys would have to see each other every day. Embarrassment aside, he would probably not be very happy about it.”

Zhuang Yan: “How come I’ve become a thorn? I haven’t even met him.”

“On the topic of feelings, why is there a need to meet? If the person you like has a lingering white moonlight in their heart, would you be able to accept it?”

Zhuang Yan seriously considered it for a short while.

If Mr. Rabbit had someone that he’d liked for several years and was unable to forget him…

Zhuang Yan was expressionless, but gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t. Even though the white moonlight was hypothetical, Zhuang Yan had an urge to beat someone up.

But then he had another thought. It’s just a white moonlight. He himself was so charming that he could definitely erase the white moonlight in Mr. Rabbit’s heart, little by little.

Qi Rui continued his analysis: “Even if he doesn’t mind, don’t forget about Xu Qing. He’s someone who went to find Xie Ning and cling to you at the same time. When you and Xie Ning are in a crew together, it would be so easy for him to get two birds with one stone and find the both of you.”

Zhuang Yan said, “My crew always forbids outsiders from disturbing us, so he can’t get in.”

Qi Rui calmly refuted, “That’s not for sure. What if he borrows Xie Ning’s name? Can you guarantee that Xie Ning won’t see him?”

Zhuang Yan really was afraid to guarantee that.

“To paint the worst picture, if Xu Qing were to make a fuss on site…”

Zhuang Yan’s face darkened as soon as he heard this. “He would dare to?!”

Qi Rui shrugged. “It’s just a possibility.”

But thinking back to how energetically Xu Qing stuck to Zhuang Yan back in university, the possibility that the fake scenario would become reality was quite large.

Qi Rui casually said, “Actually, I’m looking forward to the scene when the three of you meet.”

Zhuang Yan expressionlessly kicked him once. “You’ve said so much, but you just wanted to gossip with me about the love and hate between Xu Qing and Xie Ning, right?”

Qi Rui let out a laugh. “It’s because you never want to hear me gossip.”

“But there is some truth to what you just said.” Zhuang Yan rubbed his forehead. “I have no intention of getting involved in their mess.”

Truthfully, Zhuang Yan wasn’t very optimistic about Xie Ning. The vision he used to pick a boyfriend directly made Zhuang Yan doubt his aesthetic taste.

Zhuang Yan didn’t think he could get any sparks of inspiration from him.

Furthermore, he has Mr. Rabbit, a choice that still surprises him.

But Mr. Yang Rui was the one who recommended Xie Ning, and to refuse outright would equal to not giving him any face.

Qi Rui was shocked. “You actually have a day when you care about saving other people’s faces?”

Zhuang Yan glanced at him expressionlessly again. “Of course, it depends on the person. There’s no need to give face to someone like you.”

Qi Rui: “...You differentiate based on person?”

Zhuang Yan chuckled coldly as his response.

Since he couldn’t directly refuse, then he’d tactfully refuse.

Zhuang Yan returned the phone call to Yang Rui, and asked a couple questions about Xie Ning’s situation.

Yang Rui praised him without holding back. “He has a lot of talent, a solid foundation of skills, and can do many different styles. Out of all my students, he’s the one I’m most satisfied with.”

Zhuang Yan re-assessed Xie Ning’s level, and asked, “Then has he done any projects before?” He could use those as a reference.

Yang Rui shook his head. “He’s only missing some experience. He hasn’t been in a crew before.”

Zhuang Yan was startled again. “He’s a newcomer?”

This is the excuse to refuse him.

“He just entered the industry,” Yang Rui said. “But this isn’t a big problem. Didn’t you tell me that newcomers were fine, as long as they could withstand your teaching and adjusting? That’s why I recommended him to you.”

Zhuang Yan really did say this before, and he couldn’t take it back.

But if it’s about training and adjusting a newcomer, Zhuang Yan would still prefer Mr. Rabbit. After all, he’s a like-minded person and Zhuang Yan would be happier working with him.

He continued to ask, “Then have you told him about this yet?”

Yang Rui: “I haven’t told him yet. I’m still waiting for your response. If you’re willing, I can introduce him to you.”

Zhuang Yan laughed a little. “Why don’t you ask him for his opinion first?”

Yang Rui is a veteran. As soon as he heard the tone in Zhuang Yan’s voice, he knew that he wasn’t very satisfied.

This wasn’t very surprising.

Zhuang Yan is notorious for being picky. Yang Rui had heard his students complain before about how Zhuang Yan would suddenly change the art. But these were small matters. If something didn’t please his eye, he would return the draft to them and have them draw it again, saying that it didn’t meet the requirements that he wanted.

He’s the kind of person that would definitely be posted on an anonymous hate site. His student had considered posting him on there before.

Yang Rui didn’t know the matter between Xie Ning and Zhuang Yan, and thought that Zhuang Yan looked down on Xie Ning for being a newcomer.

Zhuang Yan continued to say, “He hasn’t been in a crew before, so he might not know how hard it is. You probably already know what my personality is like; everything must be perfect and as the script requires. It’s common for us to go up mountains and head into villages. Give him a heads up to let him know it’s my crew that he might be joining, and see how he responds.”

Yang Rui didn’t expect him to explain, and felt a little relieved. “Alright. I’ll explain it to him clearly.”

Zhuang Yan just said a bunch of stuff, but the most important point was to let Xie Ning know that the movie he might draw for is Zhuang Yan’s movie.

That way, Xie Ning would most likely refuse, and Zhuang Yan wouldn’t have to refuse Yang Rui.

When he hung up the phone, Qi Rui gave him a thumbs up. “Pretty good. You know how to speak well now.”

Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrow. “Of course. I’ve been overseas for so many years. There’s no person that I haven’t seen, and no sentence I’ve not spoken.”

Qi Rui asked, “If Xie Ning were to agree, what would you do?”

“Then I’ll meet him once.” Zhuang Yan didn’t care. “At that time, I’d have a lot of reasons to reject him. Our styles differ or his level isn’t high enough for me...giving Mr. Yang enough face is good enough. It’s not like we have to use Xie Ning.”

Qi Rui: “You’re still the best.”

Zhuang Yan chuckled. “Don’t pretend to be below me. I heard Wei Lang set up a gathering before the new year, and that I have to go?”

Qi Rui, after hearing this, perked up. “Meeting up before the new year is a tradition now. You can’t not give Wei Lang any face, so you have to at least show your face this time, no matter what. If worse comes to worst, you can just take a couple of sips of alcohol and then leave.”

“Alright.” Zhuang Yan replied happily this time. “But you need to make it clear to him that I won’t go to some random place. It has to be at least as good as Lan Zhai.”

Qi Rui said helplessly, “He knows you’re picky, so the place he reserved this time is exactly Lan Zhai. He’s almost begging for you to come.”

Only now did Director Zhuang wave his hand, confirming that he would go.

…...

At the same time, Yan Xi took a rare break to take Xie Ning out for a meal. They talked and ate, and somehow started talking about Wei Lang.

After hearing Yan Xi talk, Xie Ning said in surprise, “You mean, Wei Lang is organizing a gathering and invited me to go?”

----------------------------

Author’s Note: Congratulations to ZhuangZhuang for finally gossiping about NingNing and Xu Qing’s past, but unfortunately, it’s all wrong. (loving face) {T/N: an emoji, perhaps?}

Although NingNing only appeared in the end, he always lives on in the lines!

Translator's Notes:

traffic stars - celebrities with a very strong fanbase that can bring a lot of "traffic" to brands or endorsements

green hat - partner cheating :(