The Film Empress White Moonlight Wants To Be A Salted Fish - Chapter 19

“No, I’m just a little tired. I’ll be fine after resting,” Wen Shiyan said. Her head had suddenly hurt a moment ago, but she felt better after lying down.

Lu Yiran looked at her with suspicion. “Alright, you rest then. I won’t bother you.” Lu Yiran gently closed the door as she left.

Wen Shiyan covered her eyes with her hand. She had a strange feeling that she had forgotten something.

Lu Yiran found Director Zhang. “Director Zhang, is there anything to eat now?”

“Mealtime hasn’t started yet, but I have canned porridge prepared,” Director Zhang said, handing the cans to Lu Yiran. “Yiran, could you please distribute these to Shiyan and the others?”

Although it was still summer, the porridge was cold. Thinking of Wen Shiyan’s discomfort, Lu Yiran wanted to warm it up.

However, when Lu Yiran returned to their accommodation, she found that there was only warm water, not hot water. Lu Yiran found a staff member and learned that there was no hot water at their current lodging.

Helplessly, Lu Yiran mustered up the courage to go to a nearby villager’s house to borrow water. After Lu Yiran called out, an elderly woman (a popo) came out. The popo said something, but Lu Yiran didn’t understand. She explained to the popo that she needed to borrow some hot water.

Despite some difficulty, Lu Yiran’s gesticulations eventually led to successfully borrowing the hot water.

Lu Yiran placed the porridge cans into the hot water. Once the porridge was warm enough, she distributed it to Xie Shuyao and the others one by one.

“Wen Shiyan, I’m coming in,” Lu Yiran said, pushing the door open with the porridge in hand. Wen Shiyan, who had been lying down, got up when she heard the movement and saw that it was Lu Yiran.

“Have some eight-treasure porridge. This is all there is,” Lu Yiran offered the porridge to Wen Shiyan. Wen Shiyan took it, and the warmth of the can in her hand spread to her heart.

“Thank you,” Wen Shiyan said, then began to sip the porridge little by little. Since Lu Yiran had nothing else to do, she sat on the bed and watched Wen Shiyan. It had to be said that when Wen Shiyan was quiet and not giving her a hard time, she was as beautiful as a painting. Just looking at her was enough to lift one’s spirits.

As she drank her porridge, Wen Shiyan felt an intense gaze on her. She looked at Lu Yiran: “Why are you staring at me?”

“Who’s looking at you? You’re so self-centered,” Lu Yiran sat up on the bed, let out a “hmph,” and left.

“How strange,” Wen Shiyan watched Lu Yiran’s departing back, feeling a bit puzzled.

Lu Yiran was outside familiarizing herself with the nearby roads when she suddenly bumped into Qin Mo, who was walking toward her.

“Miss Qin, are you also out for a walk because you’re bored?” Lu Yiran asked.

“Mhm. Yiran, you don’t need to be so formal. Just call me Qin Mo. After all, I’m your fan,” Qin Mo smiled at Lu Yiran.

Lu Yiran didn’t respond to that. “Want to walk together?” Lu Yiran asked politely, but to her surprise, Qin Mo accepted.

Lu Yiran regretted making the offer. She had intended to keep her distance from the strange Qin Mo.

Along the way, the two were silent. Lu Yiran quietly quickened her pace and finally returned to their accommodation with Qin Mo.

“Well then, Qin Mo, I’ll be going now,” Lu Yiran said, quickly taking her leave.

Qin Mo stood there for a long time without moving, looking thoughtfully at the spot where Lu Yiran had just stood.

Back inside the house, Lu Yiran saw Wen Shiyan standing by the window, looking out.

“Aren’t you feeling unwell?” Lu Yiran said, walking over to Wen Shiyan and following her gaze downward. She ended up seeing Qin Mo.

“I’m fine now,” Wen Shiyan stepped away from the window and sat down on a chair.

“I was worried we’d have nowhere to stay and be homeless, but I didn’t expect to have this building,” Lu Yiran said half-jokingly.

The house they were in, though small and somewhat rundown, was two stories and stood out amongst the low, single-story village houses.

“Director Zhang and the others got permission and paid for its construction a year ago, but it wasn’t extensively renovated. Once we leave, it will be finished and made available for the villagers to use freely.”

As the two chatted, their conversation shifted to Wen Shiyan’s previous movie.

“Speaking of which, Wen Shiyan, do you know when the movie will be released?”

“Around winter, I think,” Wen Shiyan had wanted to invite Lu Yiran to the premiere, but remembering that she would be with the film crew at that time, and considering Lu Yiran’s strained relationship with some members of the crew, which the media would surely sensationalize, she decided against it.

In the evening, Director Zhang invited all the villagers to come together for a meal. Lu Yiran watched the staff members take box after box out of the trunk and realized that their trunk was completely full of food.

At the table, the village elder (cunzhang) became emotional while speaking, eventually shedding tears. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said, “I thank you all on behalf of everyone in the village.”

Recording was set to begin the next day, so no one from the film crew drank any alcohol. Although the village elder was disappointed that the crew couldn’t taste their fine wine, Director Zhang promised her that they would definitely have a good taste after the recording was complete.

After dinner, some of the villagers continued to drink. Lu Yiran hadn’t had a drop of alcohol, but the fragrance of the wine was intoxicating, and soon, she felt her head becoming a little fuzzy.