Let's Get Married on the First Day of Rebirth - Chapter 15

Though she considered herself well-seasoned by life’s ups and downs, Qu Ange couldn’t help taking a deep, angry breath as the realization hit her. Her expression turned sardonic, but her tone was noticeably milder than yesterday’s: “That’s great.” As if she hadn’t caught the underlying message at all.

Zeng Xuejia mumbled vaguely, “Brother Zhou wants you to come back first, so we can discuss this further.”

Hearing this, Qu Ange became even more certain that Zhou Yue was nearby. Her anger suddenly subsided probably because she was now confident of her eventual victory and she calmly replied with sincere-sounding platitudes, “I’ll definitely return as soon as possible.”

As for how long “as soon as possible” actually meant, that was naturally open to interpretation.

Zeng Xuejia pressed, “You have to come back tomorrow. C Station needs an answer by then.”

As a veteran in the industry, Qu Ange knew this was a lie. Big platforms didn’t work that efficiently but she still said, “Got it.”

After a few more perfunctory exchanges, she hung up and turned back to coax Xu Mi, only to find her looking at her with curiosity. Qu Ange thought to herself. Even when angry, Xu Mi can’t help being curious. So she explained, “An industry friend. Since I went viral online, they said The Human Observer invited me to join.”

Xu Mi had watched the show too. As a long-running variety program, it had high public recognition. Surprised, she asked, “Can you really go?”

Qu Ange shook her head. “I’m fighting to terminate my contract with the company. Why would they let me appear? They’re just dangling a carrot. Wait, does that make me the donkey?”

Though Xu Mi had never wanted Qu Ange to enter the entertainment industry, hearing this inexplicably made her angrier than anything else. She had been upset that Qu Ange had drifted away from her for the sake of fame, but she hadn’t realized Qu Ange wasn’t even living well in the industry. A pang of heartache rose in her chest, followed by guilt for feeling it. Torn, she asked, “What are you going to do now? You’re at odds with your company, still want to be an actress, and there’s the breach penalty. Are you really making money from stocks?” She couldn’t fathom why Qu Ange still seemed so carefree.

Qu Ange nodded. “Yeah, but trading stocks requires startup capital.”

Xu Mi looked her up and down. “So you do know that.”

“Of course, I know. I’m not an idiot. That’s why I can’t leave today. I need to borrow some money.”

Xu Mi was taken aback. “From who?”

“My parents.”

Xu Mi: “…”

In that moment, Qu Ange sensed Xu Mi’s opinion of her drop another notch. The way she was being scrutinized now felt like she was being sized up as societal trash.

But they were already married, Qu Ange thought smugly. What was done was done. Even if Xu Mi now realized she was a freeloading waste of space, it was too late to back out.

Wait, she wasn’t societal trash.

Anyone who mindlessly asked their parents for money to gamble on stocks definitely was, but she was a reborn soul. She knew exactly how to make a guaranteed profit. Borrowing from her parents just proved their close-knit family bond. And having returned from a decade later, she knew full well her parents were willing to support her financially.

Back when I first entered society, I always felt that since I was already an adult, I shouldn’t trouble my parents anymore. In my past life, even though I realized within half a year of signing the contract that it was a predatory agreement, I still pretended everything was fine and dandy just so my parents wouldn’t worry.

Truthfully, it was also out of stubbornness. My parents, who had spent their entire lives within the system, never approved of me venturing into the entertainment industry. They didn’t see it as a proper career. Back then, young and proud, the more they doubted me, the more I felt I couldn’t show any weakness.

At the time, I had all sorts of thoughts that my frugal parents had no money, that they, having never left our small town, wouldn’t understand, and that since I was an adult, I should take responsibility for my own choices.

I toughed it out for two whole years until the contract termination lawsuit made the news. That’s when my mother called me in tears, asking why I hadn’t told them sooner.

She took time off work to come see me and handed me a bank card with a million yuan in savings. She said our family wasn’t without money. My parents, with their stable jobs, had been saving for me all along, believing I should at least have something to fall back on, like a down payment for a home. They just hadn’t told me because they were afraid I’d stop working hard if I knew. That night, in my tiny rented apartment, Qu Ange cried with her mother until dawn. Heart-to-heart, she realized her parents loved her far more than she had ever imagined. It was she who had been too self-righteous all along.

Sometimes, life takes strange turns. As children, we rely on our parents. When we first grow up, we think our wings are strong enough to fly solo. But after walking that path for a while, we find ourselves circling back to the starting point, realizing that the comfort of childhood was far better.

So this time, Qu Ange decided not to take the long way around. She told her family early and relied on them to resolve the issue first.

Xu Mi, however, was clearly still in the phase where she believed one shouldn’t rely on their parents. She remained silent the whole way. When they arrived at Qu Ange’s neighborhood, she asked again, “You’re really asking your family for money?”

Qu Ange replied, “It’s just a loan. I’ll definitely earn it back and quickly.”

Xu Mi frowned. “How can you be so sure? Where’s this confidence coming from? You, you’re not getting scammed again, are you?”

Hearing that “again,” Qu Ange felt a little embarrassed. She coughed awkwardly. “Ahem… no, no.”

But Xu Mi’s words reminded her. She wasn’t a professional, after all. It’d be better if she could consult someone in the industry.

With just that thought, a candidate popped into her mind: the investment manager she would later collaborate with for four or five years. Their working relationship had always been good, and most importantly, Qu Ange knew this person was trustworthy and highly competent. Right now, the manager was probably fresh out of college. If she reached out now, she might even be considered a major client.

Preoccupied with these thoughts, she didn’t notice Xu Mi glancing at her with a furrowed brow. When they reached the building, Xu Mi said, “I’ll head home, then.”

Qu Ange snapped back to reality, shocked. “What? No! Stay at my place tonight. It’s our wedding night, after all.”

Xu Mi: “…” For some reason, hearing that made her feel intensely embarrassed.

Overwhelmed by embarrassment, she found herself momentarily speechless. Qu Ange seized the opportunity to rattle off like a machine gun: “It’s so late now. If we go back, your parents might have already finished dinner. But if we stay together, even if my parents have eaten, we can still cook for ourselves or go out to eat. Isn’t that perfect?”

Xu Mi replied, “That kind of thing doesn’t really matter.”

Without hesitation, Qu Ange clung to Xu Mi’s arm again and pleaded, “Please, Mimi, I have something big to do tonight, and I can’t do it without you by my side.”

Xu Mi’s eyebrow twitched. “Something big? Like borrowing money?”

Just as she said this, someone emerged from the stairwell. An aunt who had watched them grow up. The woman immediately greeted them warmly, “Oh, it’s Ange and Mimi! Just got back?”

Realizing that staying here would only lead to running into more familiar faces and that lingering with Qu Ange would only heighten the awkwardness Xu Mi exchanged a few pleasantries with the aunt before letting Qu Ange drag her upstairs.

Qu Ange’s father opened the door and, upon seeing them, looked surprised. “Your mom said you two were rushing to catch a train.”

Qu Ange replied, “I had to return the household register. Since we missed the train, we decided to stay the night.”

As they stepped inside, Qu Ange’s mother, holding chopsticks, eyed them suspiciously. “I’m starting to regret this. You really didn’t use the household register for anything weird, did you?”

Qu Ange pulled the register from her bag and handed it to her mother, brimming with confidence. “Here, take it. You can check tomorrow. The house is still under your name.”

Her mother snatched it and immediately headed to the bedroom. When she returned, she saw Qu Ange and Xu Mi already seated at the table with bowls of rice, Qu Ange eagerly serving Xu Mi dishes. Sitting back down, maternal instincts tingling, she couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. After dinner, Qu Ange swiftly cleared the table and washed the dishes, which only deepened her mother’s suspicions. She paced to the living room and exchanged a knowing glance with her husband.

He nodded. They were in agreement: Qu Ange was up to something.

Meanwhile, as Qu Ange scrubbed the dishes, she began to agonize. The plan had sounded great in her head, but now that it was time to act, finding the right words felt like an insurmountable hurdle.

Xu Mi, standing nearby with the dried dishes, finally couldn’t hold back. “Are you really going to ask your parents for money? Actually, I have some savings. If you need to borrow, maybe you could ask me instead.”