Chapter 14: Taking the Backdoor Openly

After her bath, Jiang Qingrou applied a thin layer of snow cream to her face and walked out humming a tune. Securing a spot in the troupe was within her expectations, but what made her even happier was getting to drink her mother’s chicken soup.

Eating had become one of her greatest joys since time-traveling here. Even if she couldn’t feast on meat every meal, her mother’s cooking was superb. Even vegetarian dishes like mapo tofu, hot and sour shredded potatoes, or vinegar cabbage stir-fry were incredibly flavorful. She was more than happy with those.

As Jiang Qingrou came out, drying her hair, she happened to bump into the three men of the family, who had just finished scheming on her behalf. She blinked, puzzled, and asked, “Why are you all just standing there?”

She noticed that their expressions seemed a bit… odd as she emerged.

Fresh from the bath, Jiang Qingrou carried a faint, clean fragrance, her face flushed a healthy pink. Gone was the heavy makeup from her performance—what remained was a soft, innocent beauty that made her look all the more delicate and lovable.

Seeing her like this only solidified the decision in the three Jiang men’s hearts: No way Rourou’s going to the countryside! She belongs in the city, pampered by us!

Jiang Qingrang laughed and said, “We were just waiting to welcome you, Rourou! Hungry, right? Come, sit down.”

Jiang Qingzhi quickly pulled out a chair for her, while their father Jiang Yuan beamed with pride, his face wrinkled with joy. Still got it—must be my genes!

Jiang Qingrou tilted her head, still confused. “I’ll go finish drying my hair.”

Jiang Qingrang rushed to say, “No need, just sit—Second Brother will do it for you!”

Jiang Qingrou pouted and clicked her tongue, “Tsk. Second Brother, didn’t we agree I’m grown up now? We should keep some distance.”

Jiang Qingrang finally remembered and muttered, “Right, right…” Then lowered his head in disappointment.

Jiang Qingrou didn’t say more. She just quietly went to her room.

As soon as the door closed, Jiang Qingzhi got a glare from their father. “Did you upset Rourou?”

Jiang Qingrang sighed. “How would I dare? It’s Rourou who told me not to be so touchy with her anymore—she said we need to keep our distance!”

He felt a little indignant, wondering if that gossiping Jiang Fei girl was spreading rumors again.

Jiang Qingzhi, however, said seriously, “Rourou is right. Men and women should keep a proper distance. She’s a grown girl now—you can’t be too close. People might talk, and it could ruin her reputation.”

Hearing that, Jiang Qingrang immediately said, “Alright then, I’ll be careful from now on.” Nothing is more important than Rourou’s reputation. If I have to suffer a little, so be it.

By the time Jiang Qingrou came out, hair dried, the whole family was seated neatly at the dinner table waiting for her—faces full of smiles, calling her over like a queen.

Jiang Qingrou was full of question marks. “What’s going on?”

Qi Fang waved her over affectionately. “Come sit by Mommy—I saved you a big drumstick!”

Jiang Qingrou swallowed a mouthful of saliva and rushed over happily. But as the meal began, she couldn’t help but notice how quiet it was—much more so than usual.

Chewing on the drumstick, Jiang Qingrou looked up uncomfortably. “What’s up with all of you? Something wrong?”

Qi Fang didn’t want to bring up the failed audition and risk upsetting her daughter. She was just about to brush it off when Jiang Yuan, feeling guilty, opened his mouth first:
“It’s nothing, Rourou. Life is long, one exam doesn’t mean anything. Dad believes you’ll find your way in the future!”

As soon as he finished, Qi Fang scolded him. “You old fool, what are you talking about?”

Only then did Jiang Yuan realize he had accidentally spilled the beans. He hurriedly waved it off. “Nothing, nothing! Just pretend your dad’s farting—I talk nonsense sometimes!”

He realized he’d jumped the gun—his daughter hadn’t said anything yet, and he was already offering comfort.

Jiang Qingrou couldn’t help but laugh at her father’s awkwardness. Now she knew exactly what they had been discussing earlier.

No wonder no one had asked about the results. They all assumed she had failed and were already trying to soften the blow.

Feeling playful, she said lightly, “It’s alright, Dad. Worst case, I’ll just go to the countryside. Labor is glorious, right?”

Jiang Qingrang immediately put down his chopsticks. “No way, Rourou—I mean—Big Brother would never let that happen!”

He elbowed Jiang Qingzhi. “Right, Big Brother?”

Jiang Qingrou looked at her eldest brother with some curiosity. He probably won’t agree yet, she thought. In the original script, she had to beg him for ages before he gave in—since helping her meant using backdoor methods, which he hated. He’s known to be principled and upright.

But to her surprise, Jiang Qingzhi said with a straight face, “Of course, Rourou. I’ll go pull some strings for you tomorrow. Don’t worry, it’ll all be through legitimate channels.”

If he had had any reservations before, they completely vanished the moment he saw his obedient little sister just now. Rourou was getting more sensible and well-behaved by the day—how could he possibly send her off to suffer?

Jiang Qingrou’s mouth opened in shock. Wow… Big Brother’s a real talent. “Pulling strings” and “legitimate channels” in the same sentence?

Still feeling mischievous, she quickly said, “Big Brother, don’t do that. I’ve thought it through—I’ll just go to the countryside.”

Everyone was stunned when they heard her say it out loud, and then immediately filled with heartache. Qi Fang grabbed her hand tightly—

“Rourou, don’t worry about your big brother. This is what he should do. You’re our precious girl — we absolutely can’t let you go off to the countryside!”

Jiang Qingrou looked at her mother, who was acting like she was already suffering in the countryside, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Looking around the table, no one was focused on eating anymore. They were all watching her with anxious expressions, as if she were leaving tomorrow.

Her heart felt warm, and she also wanted to laugh.

So actually, everyone in the family was secretly hoping her big brother would pull strings for her? At least in this matter, they were all united.

All of this was for her.

In her past life, she didn’t have family who thought of her like this. The entertainment industry had been full of scheming and backstabbing.

Now she felt a bit guilty for misleading them. Blushing slightly, she corrected herself, “Well, actually… I did get in. I just saw you all comforting me and thought I’d tease you a little…”

“Huh?”

All four of them, for once, had a perfectly synchronized reaction — eyebrows raised so high they could practically fly off.

Jiang Qingrang gave her a disappointed look, like she had just failed a great moral test. “Rourou, I can accept you keeping your distance from men and all, but you can’t go lying to us just to reject your big brother’s help!”

“Exactly, Rourou. It’s fine if you didn’t pass — if you didn’t, we’d just pull some strings fair and square!” Jiang Yuan added in a flustered tone.

Qifang gritted her teeth and made a firm declaration on her daughter’s behalf: “That’s it then! Tomorrow, your brother and I are going to the unit!”

Jiang Qingzhi chimed in as well, “Rourou, we’ll listen to you on anything else, but on this — you have to listen to me.”

Jiang Qingrou: “…”

Alright then. A salted fish flipping its life around isn’t enough — now she had to convince everyone else it had actually flipped over.

So she straightened up with a serious expression, stood, and solemnly declared:

“I really did get in. Fifth place. The official notice will arrive tomorrow!”

If she didn’t explain clearly now, she was afraid her brother might end up in prison for her one day.