BDB Chapter 47

Jiang Rao received a scattered order.

The male model she previously worked with had long gone to another production team, but the photographer Qin Han and makeup assistant Qiao Yan were assigned to her by the company she was affiliated with. Since she planned to leave, it was naturally impossible for her to just leave abruptly as she had done before.

Therefore, after making her decision, she took the time to inform Qin Han and Qiao Yan of her plan.

The adult world, though not as simple as in school days, was also not as overly emotional. 

The saying “all good things must come to an end” was a truth everyone understood.

Qin Han, having worked as a photographer for many years and shot almost a thousand models, responded with a soft hum and then left in disappointment.

Qiao Yan also understood this principle, but Jiang Rao was the only person she had met since entering the industry who was not troublesome, as well as the only one with such a perfect look—her bare face was better than her light makeup, and her light makeup better than heavy makeup. It was just that the camera tended to diminish her features, so Qiao Yan’s role was to use light makeup to make Jiang Rao appear as she did naturally in front of the camera.

She felt a sense of disappointment. “Jiangjiang, if I had your face, I would go all the way down this path. This industry is still in its exploratory stage, but even in peak season, you can earn at least eighty to one hundred thousand a month, and it will only increase in the future. It could be one of the most lucrative professions, right? Even at current rates, you could make at least seven or eight hundred thousand a year, if not a million. If I were you, I’d work hard to buy property, car, and live comfortably when I’m old—rent them out and keep a young hunk around. Just the thought is delightful!”

Jiang Rao looked at her with a smile. “It is quite delightful.”

But if she did that, even if she hid well and the male lead never found out that her soul was different from the dreams, when she wanted to keep a young hunk in her old age, he would definitely break her leg with his cane.

“So, Jiangjiang, why are you quitting? Are you planning to be with Li Group’s President, and he doesn’t want you in the public eye?” Qiao Yan asked, glancing around. Though no one was paying attention to them, she still lowered her voice, “I know it’s not very nice to say this, but Jiangjiang, relying on a man is not as good as relying on yourself. Relying on a man makes you, at most, a concubine who could be dismissed at any moment, but relying on yourself makes you a queen who can make him kneel and surrender!”

Although mobile internet wasn’t very developed that year, the internet was already mature, and gossip and motivational articles were starting to influence the younger generation on various forums.

Jiang Rao was amused by this talk of queens versus concubines. Seeing Qiao Yan purse her lips in frustration, she smiled softly, “I know.”

Her tone was soft, and her smile was soft.

Qiao Yan thought, oh no, with this sheepish look, she wouldn’t last more than two episodes in a palace drama, let alone be a queen. She’d better not be fooled by a man! Wealthy men were the best at sweet-talking!

But the next moment, she heard Jiang Rao say, “Qiao Yan, I’m going to film a movie. Not to be anyone’s canary, nor to marry anyone.”

Qiao Yan’s eyes widened. “You’re amazing, my Jiang! Keep in touch, my Jiang!”

Jiang Rao nodded, “I may not be able to contact you for half a month because I’ll be going to the deep mountains, where the signal won’t be very good.”

“Why are you going to a place like that?”

“Suffer first, then enjoy.”

After lunch ended, the shoot resumed as scheduled. Watching Qiao Yan ponder over her words, “suffer first, then enjoy”, Jiang Rao asked herself again while changing into her outfit.

Why go to a place like that?

Because the male lead would never follow her.

He was so busy, with millions at stake every minute. How could he possibly go to the mountains? There wasn’t even a way to hold a conference call there!

Although that day’s shoot still lasted until about 8:30 after informing Qin Han and Qiao Yan, Jiang Rao had already informed the company, and there was no need for her to show up at the shoot the next day.

She bought a ticket and, before noon, flew from Hangcheng back to City A.

From City A, she took a bus to the detention center in the suburbs.

There, she met all the main creators of this production, including Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang was dressed glamorously, wearing a makeup style Jiang Rao knew all too well, her seaweed-like long hair curled into large waves hanging over her chest, looking stunning and dignified.

By comparison, Jiang Rao, to make her flight more comfortable, was still wearing a cotton-linen dress with minimal makeup—looking every bit like a scheming green tea beauty.

However, after changing into the costume provided by the production team and getting a new look in the detention center room, the two of them transformed instantly.

Jiang Tang’s heavy makeup was removed, revealing not only prominent dark circles under her eyes but also visible fatigue. After special effects makeup, it perfectly matched Yanyan’s look after being arrested and detained following a village-wide fire.

Jiang Rao, on the other hand, put on a women’s suit and slicked her jet-black hair back completely.

Although Jiang Rao’s appearance leaned more toward a pure look, her features were far from plain. Plus, the suit fit her perfectly, making her look less like a little girl playing dress-up in adult clothes, and more like a young crown prince wearing a dragon robe¹—she even exuded the air of a social elite.

The purpose of changing outfits wasn’t to start filming at that moment, but rather to help them better get into character before shooting began, and to bring out the right emotions for taking promotional stills after listening to the stories of the “buyers and sellers” involved in human trafficking at the detention center.

As an outsider suddenly joining the crew, Jiang Rao thought she would certainly provoke resentment from the crew members, and few would be willing to talk to her. But after rejoining the group in this attire, a middle-aged female actor walking beside her asked, “How old are you, little young lady? Do you have a boyfriend?”

Jiang Rao was bewildered.

If it weren’t for the wrong time, place, and person, she would have thought she’d ended up in the candidate hall of a matchmaking show.

A middle-aged male actor behind the female actor then spoke up, “Give it a rest, Cai Miaomiao! Wanting a daughter-in-law is all well and good, but this little young lady’s face is clearly one that can make her famous across the country. Once this drama is filmed and aired, she’ll have no shortage of roles. Whether she has a boyfriend or not has nothing to do with you or the dear son you just acknowledged.”

The female actor rolled her eyes at the male actor, then turned back to Jiang Rao and said, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. Let me introduce myself, I’m Su He. If Director Feng doesn’t replace the cast, Old Wang and I will be playing the parents of you and Jiang Tang in the drama. It’s all for the sake of parental love, so, little young lady, do you have a boyfriend? My son is quite excellent.”

Jiang Rao pursed her lips. “I don’t have a boyfriend, but after filming this movie, I’m going abroad, so I don’t intend to get one. I’m sorry, senior.”

Su He waved her hand. “No problem, nothing to be sorry for. My son hasn’t graduated from college yet anyway. I have some photos of him saved on my phone, you can take a look after we’re done here.”

Jiang Rao had actually encountered many such elders before.

She knew they meant no harm, but they loved to worry about their children’s and relatives’ marriages, treating matchmaking as a major source of joy in life. But finding a partner and getting married was an individual matter; as long as personal principles remained firm, there was nothing these elders could do, after all, it wasn’t like they could tie the younger generation with a rope to force a relationship.

However, there was no need for her to show her firm stance because after the detention center experience and talking to those prisoners, it was already late. A few nanny vans took the actors to the city, and they were all left behind to take the stills, which went on until nine o’clock in the evening.

During this time, Jiang Rao’s phone remained off. When she finally finished everything and turned it on, she saw 36 missed calls; 35 from the male lead, and the last one from Qiao Yan.

She was just about to call Qiao Yan back when her phone rang again, as if Qiao Yan shared a telepathic connection with her.

The call connected, and Qiao Yan spoke anxiously, “Jiangjiang, are you okay? Why was your phone off? You’re not home yet at this hour—did you encounter a scam production crew?”

“No, I’m fine. I signed a legitimate contract, and the director isn’t unknown.”

“Oh, where are you now? What’s the name of the movie you’re shooting?”

Jiang Rao remained silent for a moment. “Why the sudden curiosity? You didn’t ask yesterday.”

There was silence on the other end too, and after some rustling noises, a man’s voice came through the receiver, “You are worthy of being my little sweetheart baby; clever, just like me! You figured it out right away that your friend was bribed by me.”

Jiang Rao found the male lead absolutely shameless.

Admitting it so frankly, but what did her cleverness have to do with him? And what kind of endearment was “little sweetheart baby”? Was it an upgraded version of “sweetheart”?

She hung up the phone in one swift motion.

However, he seemed to be used to her love of hanging up, and the phone rang again almost as soon as the call was disconnected.

Thinking that all 36 missed calls were either directly or indirectly made by the male lead, Jiang Rao couldn’t help but feel helpless.

After tonight, she had to buy a burner phone from a payphone, absolutely.

But right now, turning off her phone again was not an option; it was already late, and she had a knack for attracting trouble. Keeping her phone on was a safer bet.

And if she didn’t want to turn it off, she had to answer this call. Otherwise, even if she put it on silent, the vibration would buzz continuously, which would be unbearably annoying.

She had just walked out of the shooting location for the stills and was hailing a taxi to return to the hotel.

The streetlight stretched her shadow long, and she heard the person on the other end say, “Sweetheart, I miss you.”

Jiang Rao was exasperated. “Could you shut up? Or at least stop using that nickname when talking to me.”

“Alright, baby.”

Jiang Rao took a deep breath.

Fine, if it had to be “baby”; it was at least less greasy than the lingering “sweetheart.”

Hearing no response from the other end of the phone, Li Jueyan curved his lips into a smile and decided not to tease her anymore. “You agreed to take on Feng Ke’s film ‘Yanyan’?”

Feng Ke was someone on the male lead’s side, so Jiang Rao had never planned to hide this decision from him.

Her intention was to earn some quick money before going abroad and to have a space to relax due to communication barriers, allowing her heart—somewhat swayed by his persistence—to grow firm once again.

“Why did you suddenly want to act? To avoid me?”

Saying this, he instinctively tugged at the tie around his neck. “Jiang Rao, have you ever heard a saying?”

“What?”

“The best thing is always the one you can’t get.”

After another moment of silence from the other end of the phone, he chuckled. “Give it a try with me. Maybe once I’ve got you, I’ll lose interest. But if you keep running, keep hiding, keep dangling in front of me, leading me on…”

He paused for a moment, sighed, and his tone turned somewhat helpless. “Do you know how much I miss you and how much I like you after each of these moments?”

“Hmm?”

He uttered every word clearly, and that final “hmm”, spoken with a nasal tone, felt like a well-rehearsed spell, crafted to tug at one’s heartstrings.

The evening breeze blew.

Jiang Rao’s heart skipped an inexplicable beat.

——

1. ↩︎