CH 60

That night, Xiang Wan seemed unusually to have something on her mind.

Yu Zhou had noticed her unusual behavior when she got off the phone, so she informed Peng Xiangzhi before going back home with Xiang Wan first.

Once home, the two quickly cooked up some sour and spicy noodles to eat. After taking a short nap, they washed off the sweaty and sticky feeling caused by the spice before settling onto the couch.

The movie channel was showing a classic film called “The Truman Show”. Truman lived in a fake world that was broadcasted live. All relationships and emotions were carefully designed false ones, but his name was “Truman”.

“Good morning, good afternoon and good night,” Truman cheerfully said.

Yu Zhou glanced at the TV before opening her mouth to speak.

“Xiang Wan, I think this won’t work.”

“What won’t work?”

“You and Su Chang. You may not know the current public opinion online, but I think this cannot continue like that.” As the evil shippers began to go crazy and the antis also gradually grew insane.

“At least for what happened yesterday, can we find a way to clarify it?” She looked at the control room shown in the movie.

Xiang Wan was not too concerned about public opinion, but seeing Yu Zhou’s distressed expression, she asked, “How can we clarify it?”

“I think we should do a live streaming in a couple of days.” Yu Zhou thought about it while saying, “You can host it and interact with your fans. Hmm…we can just chat at night and say that you’re currently staying at my house.”

They didn’t need to clarify things explicitly, but they can provide another possibility to the fans who believe the rumors wholeheartedly.

After all, Xiang Wan’s first Weibo post was a repost of Yu Zhou’s, but this aspect of their relationship may have been overlooked by many people.

Since Yu Zhou wasn’t as well-known.

Xiang Wan thought for a moment. “I don’t know what to say.”

“To others, I don’t really have a lot to say.”

Yu Zhou said. “Pick some questions that interest you, if you really don’t know what to say, just look at me and I’ll pick up from there.”

“Alright,” Xiang Wan said.

After a brief silence, she turned her head towards Yu Zhou and whispered, “Today, Miss Su came to talk to me.”

“Talk about what?” Yu Zhou was a bit surprised.

“She said she wants to sign me and wants an eight-year contract.”

“Eight years? That’s such a long time,” Yu Zhou was shocked.

“Miss Su explained that it involves earlier training when studios sign new voice actors, so the contract length will be longer, but she hasn’t set a high termination threshold, so I don’t have to stay for the entire eight years.” Xiang Wan recalled Su Chang’s words and repeated them.

The model of Su Chang’s studio is different from a regular voice studio. The contract is an all-encompassing contract specific to the new entertainment environment, which includes training planning and negative public relations crisis management. It is more geared towards new talents in the entertainment industry without strict breach of contract terms and the freedom is relatively high.

Yu Zhou understood as she glanced at Xiang Wan. “Judging by your tone, you want to go, but you’re hesitating.”

“Are you afraid she only signed you because of personal relationships?”

Yu Zhou thought if it was her, she would first think Su Chang was doing charity work.

After all, as a top voice actress in the industry, being signed by Su Chang means exposure and resources. However, she and Xiang Wan didn’t have any of that.

Xiang Wan shook her head. “Miss Su’s studio is just starting so she’s recruiting.”

“She signed me because she needs me.”

Su Chang’s eyes told her so, and Xiang Wan never doubted that she was a worthy signing.

Just like when she earnestly told Yu Zhou that she would earn a lot of money, she also believed that her signing would not be a loss for Su Chang’s business. Xiang Wan needed an opportunity and a platform; she would remember this “favor” given by Su Chang and then move to a higher level, and pay her back.

That way, Xiang Wan could become a true collaborator and not be protected, standing in the same position as Su Chang.

“You can think like that, that’s good.” Yu Zhou was impressed with her thoughts.

“But don’t you like me?” Yu Zhou glanced at her and quickly corrected herself, “Uh, a little bit.”

“She’s my ex-girlfriend after all. When she is your boss, won’t it be awkward? Actually, you can wait, maybe there will be other studios that will sign you.”

“It’s not very likely,” Xiang Wan said. “My education is a problem that we’ve been pondering for a long time, but Miss Su has a solution.”

“What solution?”

“She said she’ll arrange tutoring for me, let me prepare for the College Entrance Examination and go to school.”

As she said this, the WeChat beeped, it was Ms. Zhao who called for a video call to see Yu Zhou and Xiang Wan.

Yu Zhou reluctantly played with her hair before answering the call, and then let Xiang Wan say hello to Zhao.

Ms. Zhao looked at them while squinting her eyes. “Oh my goodness, have you lost a little bit of weight, Guaiguai? Have you two been eating well in the cold weather?”

“She didn’t lose any weight,” Yu Zhou said. “We just finished eating.”

“Why do your expressions look so serious? What are you talking about?”

Yu Zhou looked at Xiang Wan for permission to speak. Xiang Wan nodded, so Yu Zhou proceeded to tell her about Su Chang wanting to sign her as well as her plans to take the college entrance examination.

“Studying is good, studying is good,” Ms. Zhao exclaimed, disregarding the matter of signing a contract. “Listen to me Guaiguai, Auntie has told you before. You don’t have to be in a rush to make money as a voice actress. Treat it as a hobby first, and you can always consider it as a career later. Look for a major. Auntie can help you with some recommendations too, choose one that you like, you don’t really need to be a voice actress in future.”

“I don’t know if actors nowadays are too lazy to memorize scripts, or does working as a voice actor really earn a lot? Many kids want to be in this field, but Auntie thinks it’s not very stable. Of course, if you can do it like Changchang, it’s a different story. But it’s difficult, isn’t it? Auntie thinks it’s better to be stable. Look, being a doctor or a teacher can be very respectable and have benefits like summer and winter vacations, that’s also good.”

She just used these as examples since she wasn’t really sure if Xiang Wan had the capability to become a doctor or a teacher.

“Kids, don’t think that these are just adult arrangements or something. You might think it’s not freedom and won’t listen, but I’m telling you, many arrangements are made to secure your freedom and choices in the future,” Ms. Zhao concluded.

Yu Zhou rarely agreed with Ms. Zhao, but this time, she did.

Yu Zhou, Ms. Zhao, Su Chang and Peng Xiangzhi, all wanted Xiang Wan to go to school, not to force her or control her life, but to help her understand the logical and unspoken rules of modern society.

We compromise to obtain autonomy. We are ruled to gain the right not to be ruled.

Xiang Wan’s options were limited right now, so she needed to broaden her horizons to reach various fruits. She was capable of reaching higher places.

But sometimes, Yu Zhou felt tired for Xiang Wan. It seemed like she was growing too fast under pressure, so Yu Zhou wasn’t sure if Xiang Wan was happy with it.

Regardless, Xiang Wan seemed willing to grow.

After all, she came from a place where she had no choices. She didn’t find it difficult to choose one or two because the choice for her before was zero.

Hmmm, not the zero in top and bottom[1].

After ending the call, Yu Zhou sat on the couch, holding her face while gazing at Xiang Wan. Everyone understood the logic behind the situation, but Xiang Wan seemed to be thinking about something else.

“Do you feel like you understand the inequality of the world when she talks to you?” Yu Zhou tentatively asked.

“the inequality of the world?” Xiang Wan furrowed her eyebrows.

“As for when you said that the two of us couldn’t help with your degree, but she could, it made me feel quite upset,” Yu Zhou said.

“I just feel like other people are so capable like they have everything, just like when playing a battle royale game[2] and you see someone wearing top-level equipment. It’s not fair – some people start off with a full set of equipment while others start with just a dog.”

The game jargon was lost on Xiang Wan, who only vaguely understood what was being said.

“Of course, I understand that others have worked hard and may have experienced a lot to get where they are now and to feel comfortable when speaking with you, but sometimes, you can’t help but notice the differences between you.”

“It’s like the day I went to her house to see her cat. If we had just chatted online or met in a recording studio, or just went out to eat, I would have felt like we were the same kind of people. We look alike, one nose and two eyes, and she doesn’t have any airs.”

“But when I went to that small community, it was different. I’m not the kind of person who cares about money or status, really, I’m not, but when I got there, I really felt cramped, like I didn’t belong. I felt like the people who lived there were from a completely different world than me, and the security guard could tell I didn’t belong there just by looking at me.”

She smiled and didn’t say anything else.

So this feeling was called the inequality of the world?

Xiang Wan shook her head. “I didn’t feel that way. I’m just thinking about whether I really love this job and whether I want to spend the next eight years with it.”

“After all,” she smiled suggestively, “I’ve only been alive for eighteen years.”

Hey, what’s so great about being young? Yu Zhou stared at her.

“Although Miss Su gave me a way out, no regrets about placing a chess piece. I don’t like to go back on my decisions.”

As she said this, she exuded the aura of a true young lady. The faint star that had always surrounded her suddenly shone with sharp edges, dazzling and blinding.

Oops, I was narrow-minded, Yu Zhou reluctantly admitted to herself. How could a true young lady like her feel the inequality of the world? Usually, she was the noble one.

But her curiosity was piqued again – did Xiang Wan really have no thoughts about Su Chang?

“I have to gossip a bit,” Yu Zhou said, holding her hands as leaning forward. “I often hear you mentioning Su Chang and admiring her appearance. I can’t quite understand why, although we modern women do not engage in that kind of competition for love. Do you really have no dislike for her? So do you really like me? Maybe we can start with this aspect and clarify your feelings.”

Xiang Wan looked at Yu Zhou with her mischievous look returned.

“Miss Yu seems to have forgotten.”

She addressed Yu Zhou as Miss Yu.

“Ah?”

“In the Li Dynasty…” Xiang Wan approached her with an insinuating tone. “A man could have three or four wives and concubines.”

Damn, Yu Zhou’s scalp was tingling. She instinctively wanted to make a chest-protecting gesture.

Your Li Dynasty was really wild. Her brain was once again contaminated by NSFW content and out of control.

Xiang Wan looked at her enjoying her defeat; when she saw Yu Zhou’s face turning white, she finally breathed and laughed out loud.

“A relationship can involve more than two people is the education I have received since childhood. Same as what I told you last time, there is a limit to feelings, it has influenced me to some extent so I won’t be extremely vicious for love.”

“However, it does not mean that I do not hope for mutual feelings and unique and steadfast love.”

Xiang Wan said seriously.

The educational environment that she did not agree with still affected her, making her not so eager for love. The hidden expectation in her heart has also been ripened by the atmosphere of equal love in modern society, gradually revealing itself.

Expectations were hidden in her heart. The girl pursed her lips and did not stubbornly gaze at Yu Zhou.

After talking for a while, Xiang Wan suddenly thought of something before saying to Yu Zhou: “I have a private message and want you to help me decide.”

Her voice was soft and a little girlish.

Yu Zhou was still quite accustomed to her innocent and juvenile appearance, so she smiled and asked her: “What is it?”

“I received a message this evening about an offline event for a voice actor. They listened to my short drama series and liked it very much, so invited me to attend.”

“Wow, are you able to attend offline events now?!” Yu Zhou was very surprised.

But Xiang Wan was a little unhappy.

“What’s wrong?”

Xiang Wan raised her lips slightly. “You haven’t made the ‘Nice!’ gesture for a long time.”

“Are you childish? If I say it and then do it, wouldn’t it be silly?” Yu Zhou poked Xiang Wan’s forehead with her eyes.

“Do you want to go?” Yu Zhou asked.

“I want to, but…”

She met Yu Zhou’s gaze as she said, “It’s in Qing City.”

Qing City…Yu Zhou felt a little hesitant. It wasn’t too far away, only half an hour by high-speed train.

But the key issue was that Xiang Wan had never left Jiang City before, let alone taken a high-speed train.

“Don’t worry,” Yu Zhou made up her mind. “I’ll go with you.”

Xiang Wan curved her eyes and smiled.

“When should we go?” Yu Zhou asked.

“Let me see,” Xiang Wan opened her private message and carefully searched through it. “On December…18th.”

“Okay, then give me that person’s WeChat ID and I’ll talk to them, see if they’re reliable. If they are, we’ll set things up and I’ll buy the tickets as soon as possible.”

“Okay,” Xiang Wan replied warmly.