Lin Zixi realized that if she kept talking to Ye Can, she would surely be defeated by her chaotic logic and wealth of experience. Lin Zixi decided to shut up, denying Ye Can any further chance to chat. Once Ye Can’s hair was dry, she led her to Tong Lin’s car.
When they got in, Liang Yu had just finished her day of extra work and happened to run into Tong Lin waiting by the car. She was invited to join them.
After Ye Can climbed in and sat down, Liang Yu, tucked in the corner, looked at her with excitement all over her face. “Ye Can, I heard you shot the wrap scene with Qiuqiu today and even took a photo together, right?”
Liang Yu had been on Group B that day and hadn’t filmed with Ye Can and the others. But ever since Ye Can joined the crew, she’d gained quite a reputation. Everyone knew this newcomer had real talent and was a favorite of Director Hou Ming.
Ye Can herself didn’t feel much about it. She just nodded and said, “Mm.”
Liang Yu’s face lit up with envy. “That’s so great. When can I act alongside Qiuqiu like you?”
Lin Zixi, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but interject. “Are you a fan of Miss Meng Zhiqiu?”
Liang Yu nodded. “Mm.” But worried Lin Zixi might misunderstand, she quickly added, “I’ve been a fan of Qiuqiu for years, but I didn’t get into acting because of her.”
Though young, Liang Yu was a thoughtful girl. She said, “I’ve loved performing since I was little, so I wanted to pursue this path.”
Lin Zixi could see the sincerity in her eyes and felt compelled to advise her. “If that’s the case, why not fight for it with your parents and enroll in a proper film academy to study seriously?”
Liang Yu gave a wry smile. “If I could convince my parents, why would I have run away from home?”
She wouldn’t have made that choice unless she had no other option.
Lin Zixi sighed and said to Liang Yu, “If you’re really serious about this industry, do you mind if I ramble a bit?”
Liang Yu nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, go ahead, sis.”
Lin Zixi thought it over before saying, “In this business, most who achieve success come from formal drama school training. For those without it, they either have incredible talent and spark, or they’re exceptionally diligent, eventually carving out their own path.”
“The entertainment industry is brutal. Acting is an art, and art demands innate talent above all.”
In the dim light, Lin Zixi turned to the young girl in the corner and sighed softly. “Without talent, it’s just stagnant water for art.”
“You might get by for a while on your looks or some fleeting exposure, but without real skill or backing, you won’t go far.”
Lin Zixi paused, then continued to Liang Yu, “To be blunt, you’re prettier than average, but I’m afraid you might not be suited for this line of work.”
Liang Yu fell silent. She stared at Lin Zixi as long-buried anxiety surged mercilessly. After a moment, she joked, “Sis, are you trying to talk me into going home?”
Lin Zixi nodded. “Yes.” She went on, “You might get business cards from some shady agencies lately or down the line, but those just exploit your youth. I think you shouldn’t sign with them.”
With another sigh, Lin Zixi added, “Just consider me a busybody.” She’d seen too many people waste their prime years chasing “dreams” as an excuse.
After finishing, Lin Zixi looked at Liang Yu. “If this is your dream, why not fight for it properly—plan it out and make it happen?”
“Playing extras is absolutely not a good choice.”
“Plenty think you can become a master just by grinding extras long enough, but do you even know how to use extra work to improve your acting?”
“In this Film City, you’re just repeating the same generic deaths as faceless extras—most have no time to study acting, read books, or better themselves. They end up lost in the crowd.”
“That’s what extra work is for most people.”
Lin Zixi gazed at Liang Yu and concluded, “Those who rise to mastery from extras are the rare elites.” She posed the final question: “Do you think you can be one of those elites? Someone like Meng Zhiqiu?”
Life was always cruel, but dreamers were often naive. Some hid their fears and confusion behind dreams, while others were sincere and innocent in theirs.
Lin Zixi saw kids like Liang Yu every year. Usually, she minded her own business, but today, for some reason, she felt compelled to speak up.
She keenly sensed her emotions were off but couldn’t stop herself. Looking at the downcast Liang Yu, she said earnestly, “Liang Yu, think it over carefully. You’ve done a few days of extras now and met crew folks. Don’t they share little tips and tricks for the gig?”
“Hand down ‘wisdom’ from their experience?”
“Have you asked how many years they’ve been extras—and why they’re still extras?”
“Do you know what kind of talent it takes to share the screen with Meng Zhiqiu at Ye Can’s age?”
Lin Zixi kept going. “And even with Ye Can’s talent, do you know what it costs to get an extra scene added?”
“She’s just an extra too—no say in the crew. The director says jump, she jumps.” Pointing at Ye Can, Lin Zixi added, “On a winter night with temps at just 2°C above freezing, Ye Can wore a thin middle robe for a fight scene and got drenched in ice-cold water.”
Liang Yu whipped her head toward Ye Can, eyes widening in shock.
Ye Can blinked at Liang Yu’s stunned expression, utterly baffled. Why bring me up out of nowhere? Is this supposed to be a big deal?
Lin Zixi sighed. “Playing extras is never that simple. If you stick with it, you might face even worse hardships than Ye Can did today.”
“Dreams take effort, but not all suffering is necessary. I think you shouldn’t try it.”
She talked the whole ride, ending with a soft sigh. “Liang Yu, you’re young. You might think this is just nagging, but focus on school while you can.”
Her words touched Liang Yu somewhat. After a few days here, past the initial thrill, she’d realized acting wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed.
She sat in silence, processing her unease, then said to Lin Zixi, “Thanks for the advice, sis. I’ll think it through.”
Lin Zixi sighed inwardly, having said her piece. The ride passed quietly, and when they dropped Liang Yu at her hotel, she thanked them sincerely before getting out.
Ye Can watched Liang Yu’s retreating figure, mulling over Lin Zixi’s words. The more I think about it, the more it feels like she was really talking to me.
She scooted closer to Lin Zixi and nudged her. “Were you just using Liang Yu as an example to lecture me indirectly?”
Lin Zixi ignored her. Ye Can leaned in with a puppyish grin. “Let me tell you, I’m not like Liang Yu—she’s wasting time on a dream. I have no dreams; I just take the job for the money. Happy now?”
Lin Zixi rubbed her temple in frustration. “There are plenty of ways to make money—you don’t have to do something this grueling. Ye Can, I just don’t get why you insist on this.”
“And like I said before, I can support you. You don’t need to earn.”
Ye Can chalked up Lin Zixi’s attitude to overprotectiveness. After a thought, she said, “I like it.”
Lin Zixi’s temper flared. “You like it? So I just have to watch you suffer? No dreams, no ambition—why extras of all things?”
Ye Can looked at her like a pitiful mother fretting over her child and sighed. “Sigh, your mother-hen protectiveness is getting out of hand. No choice—in this world, extra work is all I can do right now.”
“If I have to give a reason, it’s the job that gets me closest to you.”
Lin Zixi’s mind blanked for a second. She paused, then said, “Fine. Once this role’s done, no more other crews. If you love extras so much, just do them on my sets.”
Ye Can went, “Oh.” So that’s what she was getting at. She wants me under her watchful eye.
Understanding dawned, Ye Can agreed. “Deal. I swear I won’t join any crew without you.”
Then, she hesitated and negotiated, “But since it’s your crew, can you hook me up with extras that have lines?”
Lin Zixi’s gaze softened as she looked at her. “Sure. After Xiao Can’s scenes wrap, I can give you two roles—one supporting, one lead. Want them?”
Lead and supporting? Not extras—how would I complete the mission? No thanks, no thanks.
Ye Can shook her head, turning it down. “Pass on lead and supporting. Extras only.”
Lin Zixi stared at her impassively. “That’s all I have—lead or supporting. You in?”
Ye Can, sensing her mood souring, backpedaled quick. “In, in, in—whatever you say.” Worst case, fail the mission and get chewed out by the Immoral God.
Right now, Lin Zixi’s feelings mattered more.
Though she desperately didn’t want Lin Zixi falling for her, Ye Can couldn’t help pouring everything into treating her well. Protecting this person had become an instinct etched into her soul. Even without the Immoral God’s prodding, Ye Can would give her everything.
![Us Outside of Time [Rebirth]](https://i1.wp.com/dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/rebirth.jpeg?resize=151,215 "Us Outside of Time [Rebirth]")
