I Love Her Because She’s Dim-Witted And Filthy Rich - Chapter 45.1

Time sailed into the new year, flying past rapidly.

Later, looking back on that period of time, Duan Bainian only felt it was incredible. Everything went so smoothly, as if a hand were pushing things along in the dark. For the first time, she believed that there truly was such a thing as a turn of fortune.

In early April, Shadow finished filming. In mid-August, it passed the SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television) review.

In early September, Shadow was successfully sold at a film and television investment fair and a contract was signed with X Television Station.

At the time, it was estimated that it would be broadcast around May of the following year. Unexpectedly, at the end of September, due to a new policy issued by SARFT, the TV drama that was originally supposed to take over the time slot could not be aired as scheduled. Shadow “picked up the leak” and was broadcast as a replacement during the National Day holiday.

Then, Duan Bainian watched herself gradually become famous. Perhaps she still couldn’t compare to those “traffic stars,” but she finally had the power to choose scripts, rather than laboring as she did before just to fight for a supporting role in a play.

Her various endorsements and announcements began to increase, and historical IP dramas with their own built-in traffic began to seek her out.

At the end of November, she seamlessly transitioned into a historical IP drama crew that came with its own traffic. The film and television drama was titled Clear Dream of the Starry River, and the filming location was Hengdian.

Regarding Duan Bainian’s rise in popularity, Su Miao was both happy and unhappy.

The happiness was naturally because Duan Bainian had become famous; she sincerely felt that Duan Bainian should have been famous long ago.

The unhappiness was because, since Duan Bainian became famous, she had been incredibly busy, often running from one end of the country to the other. They only met once every ten days or half a month, and even when she returned to Beijing for a day or half a day, she would have to leave again. There was simply no time to accompany her.

This time, when Duan Bainian joined the crew, it was another half a month without seeing each other. Having endured until mid-December, after Su Miao finished her role as the third female lead in her movie, she hurried to Hengdian in high spirits.

Revisiting the old place, every bit and piece of her past with Duan Bainian flooded into her mind. The red bricks and green tiles that once seemed plain and ordinary now looked incredibly pleasant.

When she arrived at the film set, Duan Bainian was filming.

Su Miao took a few photos of Duan Bainian in costume with her mobile phone and joyfully posted a Weibo.

“Came for a set visit, waiting for Duan Bainian to take me out for grilled fish!”

When the scene ended, Duan Bainian turned around and saw Su Miao. A flash of joy crossed her eyes. “Didn’t you say you’d arrive tomorrow? Why did you come today?”

Su Miao grinned. “I wanted to see you sooner.”

Duan Bainian couldn’t help but curl her lips upward. “What do you want to eat tonight? I can probably finish work around eight or nine o’clock, and I’ll take you out then.”

Su Miao said, “Eat grilled fish! I really miss that grilled fish shop!”

Duan Bainian rubbed Su Miao’s head. “Alright. I have to go over the next scene now. Go play for a while by yourself. If you get bored, let Guan Jing take you out for a stroll. I’ll call you when I finish work.”

On such a cold day, Su Miao didn’t want to go out at all. But waiting on the set was indeed boring, and as she waited, she grew sleepy. She called Guan Jing over, found a rest room for herself, and fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

She was later woken up by Duan Bainian.

Su Miao opened her eyes dizzily. “Hmm? What time is it? Are you finished?”

Duan Bainian had an apologetic face. “That… it’s already past nine o’clock, but my scenes for today aren’t finished yet. I probably won’t be able to take you for grilled fish. How about… you go eat something yourself and then go back to the hotel to rest? I’ll take you tomorrow instead?”

Her heart full of joy for the grilled fish had come to nothing, and Su Miao was naturally quite reluctant.

But after all, filming was important. She slumped her face and sighed, “Then let’s wait until tomorrow.”

Duan Bainian was amused by Su Miao’s appearance. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take you tomorrow.”

However, the next day, Su Miao still didn’t get to eat grilled fish. Not only the next day, but for the next four or five days, she didn’t.

Clear Dream of the Starry River was a female-centric drama, and the crew was rushing the schedule. Duan Bainian was busy from morning to night. Sometimes, when catching up on night scenes, she was almost working around the clock without any time to rest.

For the first two days, Su Miao was still looking forward with wide eyes for Duan Bainian to have some free time to take her to that grilled fish shop from before. After waiting for two days, Su Miao understood: Duan Bainian didn’t even have time to sleep, let alone have time to take her for grilled fish.

Every day was spent watching Duan Bainian apply makeup, recite lines, film, eat, and sleep. In a whole day, they only had a moment before bed to say a few whispered words. It was really meaningless for Su Miao to stay.

Actually, she could understand; they were both in the entertainment industry, and that’s how it was when things got busy. But emotionally, she still couldn’t accept it, and it hurt quite a bit. After all, she had come from so far away to visit the set, and they didn’t even have time for a meal of grilled fish.

After thinking it over, on the afternoon of the fifth day, she returned to Beijing. It was meaningless to stay anyway; she might as well wait until Duan Bainian finished filming.

As soon as she landed, Su Miao went to the pet shop without stopping. The last time she went into a crew to film, it took about a month, and Ergou (Two-Dog) was left at the pet shop for boarding.

Not having seen her for a month, Ergou was a bit shy. He looked at Su Miao for a long time before coming over to rub against her calf.

Su Miao asked the pet shop owner, “Why do I feel like he has no energy? Has his eating been normal lately?”

The pet shop owner joked, “You left him here for a month all of a sudden. Ergou probably thinks he’s been abandoned by you. How can he have any energy?”

Actually, thinking about it, Su Miao felt she had really wronged Ergou. She and Duan Bainian simply had no time to accompany him. When she wasn’t with a crew, it was fine, but if she also went to film, Ergou could only be put in a pet shop. She had thought about taking him home for her mother to look after, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she was rejected by He Aizhi.

Guiltily, Su Miao took Ergou back to Duan Bainian’s apartment and opened a can of food, but Ergou sniffed it, licked it twice, and stopped eating.

Su Miao distressedly touched Ergou. “What’s wrong with you? Are you uncomfortable?”

Ergou rubbed against Su Miao’s calf. “Meow~ Meow~”

Su Miao picked up Ergou. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to leave you at the pet shop for so long. It won’t happen again. In the future, if I go to film, I’ll take you with me to the crew, okay?”

By the second day, Ergou was even more listless. He lay on the sofa all day, only occasionally using the litter box, and his stool was soft.

Su Miao was a bit worried—had his stomach been ruined from being in the pet shop for too long? She took Ergou to the pet hospital.

Upon examination, it was said to be feline distemper (Panleukopenia).

Su Miao became anxious. “He has always been healthy, how could he get feline distemper?”

The pet doctor said, “Didn’t you say he was boarded at another pet shop for a long time? There are so many small animals in pet shops; there’s no telling who he caught it from. You caught it early, so there’s a high probability he can be saved. Hurry and pay the fee to get the medicine; he needs injections.”

Su Miao was in a daze. In the past, when she went to the hospital herself, she was either taken by He Aizhi or by Duan Bainian. Taking a cat to the doctor was a first for her, and she had no idea what to do.

She paid the fee in a muddle and confusedly placed Ergou into the doctor’s arms.

Watching Ergou struggling and howling desperately because of the injection, her heart was about to break.

She wanted to coax Ergou not to be afraid, but she didn’t know how to speak.

In her panic, she thought: It would be so good if Duan Bainian were here.

Thinking of this, she sent a WeChat message to Duan Bainian: 【Ergou has feline distemper and is getting injections. I’m so scared!】

By the time the injection was finished, Duan Bainian still hadn’t replied. Su Miao was somewhat disappointed but also understood that Duan Bainian was busy filming and it was normal not to have time to check messages.

The doctor helped Su Miao put Ergou into the cat bag and instructed, “No water or food for these two days. Remember to bring him here at this time every day for an IV drip. Also, add my WeChat; if the cat has an emergency, remember to contact me.”

Su Miao responded absently and carried Ergou back to the apartment on her back.

At night, He Aizhi called. “Didn’t you return to Beijing? Why aren’t you coming home?”

Su Miao said listlessly, “The cat is sick, I have to take care of it. You don’t like cats, so I can’t exactly bring a cat home.”

He Aizhi told Su Miao to watch out for the cold and then hung up the phone.

After hanging up, Su Miao held Ergou, stroking him over and over. “Good Ergou, you must get well soon. I’ll never leave you at a pet shop for boarding again. Get well quickly, okay?”

Things went against her wishes. During the night, Ergou was vomiting and had diarrhea, with faint traces of blood in his stool.

Su Miao hurriedly contacted the doctor and sent Ergou to the hospital again overnight.

It wasn’t until Ergou was back on an IV drip that Duan Bainian finally called.

“I just finished work and only just saw the message. How is Ergou now?”

Hearing Duan Bainian’s voice, Su Miao suddenly felt as if she had found her backbone and began to cry. “Ergou is passing blood, vomiting and having diarrhea, and has no energy at all. I just gave him an injection this morning, and now he’s back at the hospital for another one! Duan Bainian, can you come back to Beijing now? I’m so scared!”

Duan Bainian was silent for a moment and didn’t speak.

Su Miao froze for a second, then realized. Duan Bainian’s crew was very busy; if she were to leave the set now, a round trip would take at least two days. The crew wouldn’t even know how much progress would be delayed. It really was a bit unreasonable to ask.

Su Miao sniffed. “I know, it’s fine. I’ll take good care of Ergou.”

Duan Bainian sighed slightly. “Don’t worry too much. They say a cat has nine lives; Ergou will definitely be fine. If you have any problems, remember to tell me anytime.”

Su Miao agreed and hung up the phone.

Because Ergou had to stay for observation, Su Miao didn’t go home at night either. She found a stool and sat beside Ergou, trying her best to comfort him.

Even after the IV, Ergou was still not very energetic. Su Miao lightly touched Ergou; usually, Ergou would come to rub her hand, but now there was no movement.

Su Miao’s tears fell with a pitter-patter.