Son, “Mom” Will Back You

Gu Nian mumbled a response. Biting off the noodles in her mouth, she said, "You two went shopping?"

Jiang Xiaoqing, "Yeah, everything at home had either gone bad or had expired and we ran out of snacks as well. We thought we'd make a grocery shopping trip –– so satisfying!"

Gu Nian nodded. Something occurred to her. She pointed at the instant noodles in her hand and said, "You two want instant noodles? I can make a couple more."

"No, no, no. We can't possibly have you do that," said Jiang Xiaoqing as she put down the large and small bags that she was carrying.

Qin Yuanyuan chimed in as well. "We were just saying how tired you must have been over the last month and that we should not disturb you from your rest."

"It's fine. I am fine now."

By the time the two had put away everything that they had brought back and returned to the living room, Gu Nian was already done eating. She asked, "What were you two talking about when you walked in? Xiaoqing seemed to be very emotional?"

"Oh right. We haven't told you yet!" Jiang Xiaoqing ran over, annoyed. "Let me tell you how shameless that Zhuo Yixuan was!"

Gu Nian paused when she heard that name. "What happened?"

"Didn't we just wrap up the filming on Demons? The production team posted a message on their official Weibo celebrating the wrap along with an interview on Zhuo Yixuan – she had the audacity to say that every single character in the script was her devotion! AND, she even said that she hoped others can tear off her past label with this new work of hers and remember this brand-new her. PEI!"*

Jiang Xiaoqing was so angry that her face was turning red. She even started rolling up her sleeves––

"What past label are we speaking of here? She was just referring to how she was Mengzhi in the past. So shameless. She was never Mengzhi and now she wants to step on Mengzhi's shoulder and for others to see the new her? New, my @$$! Was that her script? OOOOOHHHHHHH, this shameless woman is driving me insane!"

Gu Nian spaced out.

Qin Yuanyuan walked up to her, smiled, and comforted her. "Alright. Just relax. You've been upset over it our entire way back ever since you've read it."

Jiang Xiaoqing sat on the couch and tear at the pillow to let out her anger. "It's not that I want to be upset but I can't help it! I just can't! I wish Guru Mengzhi will appear right now, preferably in a very glorified way and crush her! Faceslap her until her face is swollen!"

"……"

Qin Yuanyuan looked at Gu Nian and gave her a helpless smile.

Gu Nian recollected herself, smiled, and said, "It's not as easy as you think."

"Huh?!" Jiang Xiaoqing turned her head right away.

Gu Nian walked over. "How do you know that Mengzhi would just shine if she reappears?"

"I……"

"Judging from what we know right now. The most reasonable assumption is that she hadn't been heard of again and is now just an ordinary person."

"That's not possible!" Jiang Xiaoqing rejected that idea without the slightest hesitation. "With Mengzhi's talent, she would for certain earn fame and accomplishment if only she puts her mind to it!"

Gu Nian chuckles and said softly, "Earn fame and accomplishment? It's not as easy as you think."

Jiang Xiaoqing said nothing else but one could tell from her look that she felt unreconciled and disagreed with that statement.

Gu Nian sat down on the couch next to her and said to her softly, "Take our circle as an example. How many people churn out scripts and stories day after day and, when they finally finish them, they have to beg for them to be read but are rejected or even met with mean words? How many started out with dreams but ended up barely able to make ends meet."

"……"

"And how many earned fame, riches, and glory even with the reputation of plagiarism?" Gu Nian patted Jiang Xiaoqing who had her head lowered. Smiling, she said, "It is difficult to become successful. It is even more difficult when one insists on their principles and bottom line when most just want to take the 'shortcut' to become 'successful'."

"……"

Jiang Xiaoqing struggled for a while before she looked up, unreconciled. "I know what you are saying and that is all the more why I wished Mengzhi would speak out."

"Speak out?"

"Yes, unlike the rest of us, she has talent and confidence. She could achieve what we can't. She can crush those shameless people with her glory. That would make the rest of us feel less angry and helpless."

"––"

Gu Nian was taken aback. Her hand froze on Jiang Xiaoqing's shoulder.

___

Translator's rambling:

PEI = spitting sound. Show of contempt toward someone or something.