Chapter 54: Chapter 54 - Fifty-Four: Casting

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Yun Nan didn’t expect Shi Xiu to stay by Miss An’s side for the entire afternoon. She only realized that Shi Xiu hadn’t come to look for her for the entire afternoon when her work shift ended. ‘Sh *t, I forgot about her,’ she silently cursed.

When she rushed to Miss An’s workshop, Yun Nan was met with the sight of Shi Xiu attentively helping Miss An split and wind her embroidery threads. Shi Xiu was listening to Miss An’s lecture on fashion knowledge intently. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Noticing Yun Nan’s arrival, Miss An stood up and stretched. “Yun Nan, I’m exhausted!” she whined. “How about you give this little lady here to me; she can be my disciple.”

Yun Nan smiled and ignored her. She asked Shi Xiu, “Did you stay here the entire time? Don’t you want to go and take a look at the other areas?”

“It’s fun here!” Shi Xiu replied as she wound the threads.

Miss An remarked, “She has potential. I didn’t think her interest and patience would endure, but she proved me wrong. Yun Nan, where did you find this little gem?!”

Yun Nan saw that Miss An was actually serious about taking Shi Xiu on as her student and hastily said, “Don’t get any ideas. She’s my sister, not an employee. She’s too young for a job here.” That said, Yun Nan pulled Shi Xiu away from the embroidery threads, intending to leave with her. “That’s all for today; it’s time to go home.”

However, Shi Xiu turned around and told Miss An, “I can work here! I’m a college junior! I’m of age; I can work!”

Miss An smiled and bid her goodbye, “You’ll have to go through our boss first, but I’ll always welcome you!”

Shi Xiu was dragged out of the department by Yun Nan but it wasn’t long before she was skipping beside Yun Nan, asking, ‘Yun Nan, your studio is great! I love it here!”

“You can come as often as you like; you’re welcome here any day! Your brother mentioned you are studying fashion design?” Yun Nan suddenly recalled.

“That’s right, but what we learn in school is so different from what Miss An taught me. Miss An is literally a living fashion encyclopedia; I think she knows more than my professors,” Shi Xiu exclaimed.

Yun Nan found her comment funny and said, “Your professors’ job is to give lectures, whereas Miss An puts that knowledge into practice. Furthermore, she is an inheritor of our country’s intangible cultural heritage, so of course her lessons are different.” Shi Xiu once again marveled when she learned of that fact.

The two of them were chatting merrily when a person walked towards them. “Stop right there, Yun Nan! Aren’t you going to introduce my lovely new actress to me, hm?” A bespectacled young man stood before them, blocking their path with his arms spread.

Startled, Shi Xiu retreated slightly and half-hid herself behind Yun Nan. “Mika, can you not act like a mugger whenever you meet someone?!” Yun Nan teased. She then introduced the man to Shi Xiu, “This is Mika. He’s my senior and the casting director I told you about.”

Shi Xiu nodded. “I remember; the talent scout.” Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled at Mika.

Mika quietly studied her and murmured, “She’s perfect for the role of Xiao Yao in ‘4:30 P.M.’!”

Shi Xiu was baffled and turned to look at Yun Nan. Yun Nan nudged Mika and admonished, “Don’t get any ideas about her. She’s my sister.”

Mika was an experienced talent scout, and no rejection could stop his ardent search for the perfect cast. “Miss, can I interest you in a story?” he asked Shi Xiu directly.

Yun Nan reached out her hand to stop him and pulled Shi Xiu away. “Mika, it’s time to get off work, so go home and have dinner! I promise we’ll listen to your story next time!”

Mika refused to give way. Although Shi Xiu knew that Yun Nan was protecting her, she still felt that it was embarrassing for Yun Nan to reject someone else like this for her sake. Moreover, the person standing before them was obviously a nice guy. Hence, she nodded and said, “Alright, tell me your story.”

“Forget about the story! Look at the time!” Yun Nan chided. “You’ll get scolded by Grandpa if you don’t head home now!”

Hearing that, Shi Xiu was a little troubled. Mika stared at her with sparkling eyes, so Shi Xiu shook Yun Nan’s arm and gave her a pleading look.

‘ What am I going to do with you? Yun Nan thought. “Alright, fine. Mika, you have half an hour and not a minute more. You can tell your story, but you can’t persuade her to become an actress! That’s where I draw the line!” Yun Nan surrendered, but she also gave Mika a stern warning.

“No problem!” Mika replied delightedly. “No persuading whatsoever! None, zilch!” He wasn’t allowed to persuade Shi Xiu, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t offer advice and have her willingly sign up!

Mika politely gestured for them to follow him and stated, “Let’s go to the large conference room. Our two screenwriters are also there!” Shi Xiu readily agreed and left with Mika while a worried Yun Nan followed behind.

“Boss, you have to see this! It’s all over the Internet.” A young man rushed over and dragged Yun Nan away to look at the news. The young man was Xiao Gui. He was Fang Xi’s underling and was in charge of film promotion.

He dumped Yun Nan before a computer screen and urged her to look at a recently released article. The headlines read ‘The Yun Corporation’s investments in Yun Nan went down the drain when she left with the funds, causing immeasurable losses to the Yun Corporation, as disclosed by Yun Liu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family.’

Yun Nan frowned, ‘ What was Yun Liu up to this time?