Chapter 3: I Can’t Film Your Scenes (3)

“Contact the Main God and ask.”

“I already told her when you realized you had no Points. The Main God said she could lend you fifty thousand Points for now.”

Koukou said it. Yao Lan had claimed she could manage without Points, but Koukou knew its owner too well.

Yao Lan: “…”

“She’s so stingy, even when we’re saving her daughter,” Yao Lan sighed.

“Can you blame her? She’s worried you’re just trying to shake her down for Points,” Koukou said matter-of-factly.

“She’s not charging interest, right?”

“No. I asked.”

“Good.” Yao Lan felt a lot better. Fifty thousand Points wasn’t that much to her. She glanced at Ji Ruanqing. Right now, the girl was basically a walking fifty million Points. Yao Lan just didn’t know how many pieces Ji Ruanqing’s Soul Fragment had been split into.

Ji Ruanqing was still waiting for Yao Lan to say something. Who knew she’d just start spacing out?

“Don’t tell me I hit a nerve.” Ji Ruanqing narrowed her eyes and studied Yao Lan.

“I was wondering if I could teach at Yuan Chan’s daughter’s school,” Yao Lan said evenly.

Ji Ruanqing: “…”

“Yuan Chan’s daughter goes to an elite private school. Getting in there as a teacher would be pretty tough, wouldn’t it?” Ji Ruanqing tipped up her Coke bottle, found it empty, and set it on the table.

“Don’t worry.” Yao Lan looked perfectly calm. “Let’s go once we’re done eating.”

“Okay.”

They left the restaurant. Ji Ruanqing looked around. “Want to go shopping? It’s been ages since I bought clothes.”

“Clothes at the mall are so expensive.”

“We can look, at least.” Ji Ruanqing grabbed Yao Lan by the wrist. “So how are you going to get into Yuan Chan’s daughter’s school?”

“They’re hiring teachers right now. I have a middle school teaching certificate.”

“As if a teaching certificate is all they’d ask for.” Ji Ruanqing rolled her eyes. “Schools like that usually require at least a master’s degree. And they generally only hire people who went to 985 or 211 universities for both undergrad and grad school.”

“You know a lot about this.”

“Because I considered it too.” Ji Ruanqing sighed and rested her chin in her hand. “Then I realized I wasn’t qualified. With your education, you wouldn’t even make it past the initial screening.”

Of course, their university was no slouch—in fact, it was excellent. But that was by entertainment-industry standards. Middle schools had no use for their major. Besides, neither of them had gone on to grad school.

“Oh, her daughter’s school just added a theater elective.”

“Could I apply too, then? Is there even a teaching certificate for that? Probably not, right? Why would they suddenly add a class like that? And hasn’t the school year already been going for two months? Why are they only hiring a teacher now?”

“It starts next semester.” Yao Lan was already getting a headache from all the questions.

“That’s weird,” Ji Ruanqing repeated.

Of course it was weird. Yao Lan had bought a Setting Card and used it to add an inconsequential detail to the novel: a certain elite private school now offered a theater elective, and she would become its teacher.

One card cost five thousand Points. Way too expensive.

“Yeah, it is weird.”

“Can you two even afford those dresses over there?”

Both women stopped. Yao Lan turned around to see Lin Xi standing a short distance away, one arm around a woman with flawless makeup. His grin was irritating enough on its own. He was wearing sunglasses, but Yao Lan could still imagine the look in his eyes.

Honestly, Lin Xi was pretty good-looking, but for some reason his face just screamed, Punch me.

“Get down on your knees and bow to me, and you can pick anything you want. How about it?” Lin Xi’s grin grew even more obnoxious.

“Yao Lan.”

“Hm?”

“My foot’s itching.” Ji Ruanqing rolled her ankle, then looked at the woman in Lin Xi’s arms. “Sis, is he any good? I nearly put him out of commission with one kick back in the day. Didn’t that affect your user experience?”

Yao Lan glanced at Ji Ruanqing, a little surprised. She really had a sharp tongue.

“Tsk, tsk,” Koukou couldn’t help saying. “You really can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Lin Xi’s face turned livid. The woman beside him froze, staring at him in disbelief, her expression turning strange.

“Don’t listen to her nonsense. I’m more than capable!”

Lin Xi raised his voice. People walking past turned to look, their expressions like they were watching a monkey.

“Wow, Director Lin Xi! I’m such a huge fan of yours. Your movies only get a 2.6, but you’re my idol!” Ji Ruanqing shouted at the top of her lungs.

Lin Xi: “???”

Then she grabbed Yao Lan and ran.

“Lin Xi? Who’s that?”

“Look him up.”

“Oh, so he’s the one who made that awful movie.”

“Was he just bragging about being good in bed?”

“Doing that in public? Have some shame…”

“His family’s pretty rich.”

“No wonder they let him make so many terrible movies.”

…

The woman Lin Xi had his arm around looked mortified. “Young Master Lin, we should get out of here.”

Lin Xi had sunglasses on. She didn’t. She was already regretting coming out with him.

“I’m dying. Did you see his face?” Ji Ruanqing leaned against the wall, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

“Calling him your idol? You don’t mind getting your hands dirty, do you?” Yao Lan stood beside her, watching.

Ji Ruanqing rested an elbow against the wall. “Whatever. I only had to put up with him for a second. He’ll probably be trending in a minute.”

“Still want to shop?” Yao Lan asked.

Ji Ruanqing’s smile faded a little. Then she suddenly leaned close to Yao Lan’s face. Yao Lan didn’t move or even blink. She only looked back at Ji Ruanqing, her eyes holding little of the emotion one would expect from a human being.

“You’re no fun today.” Ji Ruanqing stepped away and turned to leave.

“Am I? I’ve always been no fun.” Yao Lan followed behind her.

Ji Ruanqing was silent for two seconds. “Forget it. Shopping’s no fun now. Let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

“Tsk.”

“She really is sharp,” Yao Lan said.

“She’s a mission-taker, after all. Even without her memories, her instincts are still there,” Koukou said dismissively. “Are you sure you don’t want to act a little closer to her? Be a bit more affectionate.”

“Want some milk tea? My treat.” Yao Lan caught up to Ji Ruanqing and gave her a warm smile. “There’s a shop right over there.”

“No, I’m too full.” Ji Ruanqing waved her off. “Send me the school’s job listing when we get back. They’re not only hiring one person, are they?”

Yao Lan sighed and bought another Skill Card. She hadn’t wanted to bring Ji Ruanqing along, or work with anyone else, so she’d only put down one opening.

“Two. You can come with me.”

“Okay.” Ji Ruanqing smiled, her steps growing lighter. “Then let’s check out the mall over there. We shouldn’t run into anyone annoying this time.”

“Sure.”

“If you’re bored, you can head back first. I’ll be fine on my own.” Ji Ruanqing watched Yao Lan closely.

That was what she said, but Yao Lan knew perfectly well that if she actually left, Ji Ruanqing might start pouting right there in the street.

“I’m not bored. I’ll stay with you.”

“Good.” Ji Ruanqing looked pleased.