114 - Crazy! Criticizing the Prime Minister for Being a Servant

Chapter 114: A New World [But he's so handsome.] [Master, please don't be angry. I'll learn how to make more delicious food to nourish Master... she's too thin...] [Master's body cannot withstand more battles.] This isn't her fault! Ning Song Wu, often seen in front of the camera, has a fair complexion, with long and handsome eyebrows and eyes, often adorned with a polite and aloof smile. Yet her gaze is cold as ice, emitting a forbidding aura. Cold yet beautiful, even the most challenging dark red deep V gown looks as if it belongs on her. As a budding actress on the rise, she isn't very famous yet and can only see Ning Song Wu from afar at major events, watching her skillfully navigate through the crowds. Even with ten brains, she wouldn't have guessed that Teacher Ning would dress like this in private. She really didn't dare to recognize her just now. Hurriedly, she stood up and grasped that mildly cool but distinctly jointed hand, a dimple forming at the corner of her mouth, "Hello, Teacher Ning, I'm Ran Fan Yin." Gripping her hand abruptly increased in strength, shaking it fiercely a couple of times, leaving Ran Fan Yin slightly astonished, prompting her other hand to join in. Despite the sunglasses, she shouldn't be able to see Ning Song Wu's eyes, yet she could inexplicably feel her gaze drop to her two hands. After pausing for a moment, the other hand joined in as well. Ran Fan Yin felt even more flattered. But they were now standing in an odd posture, with both hands tightly clasped together and their bodies gently leaning forward as if still shaking hands. The more she looked, the stranger it seemed. If a paparazzi were to take a photo right now, they might end up as hot news in ten minutes. "Teacher Ning, why don't we sit down first?" she cautiously suggested. Ning Song Wu's gaze flickered up and down briefly and she softly responded, "Alright." Ran Fan Yin felt somewhat uneasy, lightly rubbing her hand under the table as her mind raced. Was Teacher Ning not wanting to see her? These sunglasses are so big! She looks so much better in person than she does on screen. They would soon be filming together for three months, and she was thrilled. Her parents disagreed with her acting career, let alone her getting close to Teacher Ning. Such poor judgment. But those scattered thoughts vanished the moment Ning Song Wu took off her sunglasses, leaving her staring at those slightly reddened eyes, a tremor running through her heart. Could Ning Song Wu be here to settle a score? Yesterday's incident couldn't have upset her enough to make her cry, right? Could they still work together? Ning Song Wu's throat moved slightly as she softly inquired, "Miss Ran, may I ask how you designed that smile?" Ran Fan Yin's brain felt like it was about to overheat. So, so the situation was that Teacher Ning apparently stayed up watching her show, not only watched but also cried—cried until her eyes were swollen, so much so that she had to come out like this to meet her. And she didn't just come to meet her, but humbly sought her advice on the design... Oh. My. God. Some illusions were shattered thoroughly. Ran Fan Yin, unsure of what expression to adopt, wanted to laugh but deemed it inappropriate to burst into laughter at this moment. She was worried that the person opposite might mistakenly think she was being mocked, so she held back her smile, taking a few deep breaths before saying, "Teacher Ning, should we order some food first?" Ning Song Wu composed herself, nodding lightly before handing the menu to Ran Fan Yin. Initially, she hadn't planned to head out with red eyes but decided against hiding them with an enchantment spell. Last minute, she retrieved the sunglasses from her car, removed the enchantment, and entered like this. It seemed effective so far. She extended her spiritual sense a bit; this young lass was trying to conceal her face with the menu, also hiding the unstoppable smile at the edges of her lips. Quite amusing. Wasn't there a lack of distance now? Usually, people maintained a certain distance from her. Although she didn't want that distance, it was hard to express that. When she put pride aside, it brought unexpected rewards. As for replicating this method? Maybe not. She only felt like teasing Ran Fan Yin because her round face was adorable. Others? Perhaps not. Adorable people deserve such subtly preferential treatment. She sensed the corners of that one's lips rising higher, reaching a peak, as she raised a hand and pulled out the menu, nonchalantly taking it from her, "Let me have a look as well." Her gaze subtly took in that face—its suddenly straightened corners of the lips and solemnly arranged face—cuteness accentuated. Now Ning Song Wu wanted to laugh. She, not particularly constrained, openly curved her lips. With just the blush-tinted lip balm adding a touch of color, the smile further enhanced her beauty. Ran Fan Yin was a bit dazed, daring to openly admire her—after all, Teacher Ning seemed to be quite genuine, surely she wouldn't mind her, right? Surely not. "Have you decided what to eat?" Ning Song Wu ordered two of her own choices before handing the menu back. Ran Fan Yin quickly gathered her thoughts and expressed her own preferences. The waiter took the menu and left, leaving just the two of them in the corner. "Now then, Miss Ran, can you talk about that smile?" "Teacher Ning, you really watched it, huh." The show wasn't exactly a hit and wasn't well-produced, with only one particularly standout scene—her opening and closing smile. If Teacher Ning had really watched it... that would be an immense honor. Having just sent Li Ke'er a note about picking her up next week, Zhao Si Ping's phone call came through. She took a few deep breaths, bracing herself for a potential scolding, and then answered, with a slightly youthful voice, "Dear Sister Zhao, what's up~" "What do you think is up? Alright, cut the cutesy voice. It's a matter of force majeure; I'm not going to scold you. What flight did Er Mao book for you?" "My assistant booked one for the day after tomorrow. You'll see me by the evening then; happy?" Zhao Si Ping pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling somewhat helpless about this person's personality. "Just right, Director Fang needs to shoot an MV here. Interested?" "Send it to me and I'll have a look." "My point is you should take it. Fang Qing is one of the directors for the Twin Dreams production; it's always good to curry some favor." "Aww, just send it to me, okay?" "Alright, check your email. Let me know by the day after you reach home. Director Fang isn't in a hurry." After hanging up, Ran Fan Yin finally let out a long sigh, the persistent smile on her face gradually turning bitter before vanishing. She didn't necessarily want to blend into others' lives or prove how hard her life was to earn anyone's acknowledgment. After all, as He Xi said, someone would always back her up, and to some people, she's merely a visitor down on Earth to experience life. Maybe that's precisely it. Yet, she genuinely wanted a few friends. She really thought He Xi, who shared food with her, showed concern for her work, and chatted with her, could be a friend. If it weren't for setting up the Twin Dreams scenario, she wouldn't want to expose things she'd hidden for so many years. This current distance isn't what she desires. On careful reflection, Ning Song Wu, who knows the most, actually treats it the most lightly, caring for her like a junior colleague. Teacher Ning is indeed wonderful. Currently, Ning Song Wu herself is unaware her devoted fan is silently awarding her lots of brownie points in her mind. Her mood isn't particularly good, not solely due to the matter with He Xi, but also because she hasn't slept in her own bed for two days. Whose upstanding person sleeps on a hotel floor every day? She turned over, grumbling, "Lin Xin Ran, can't you hurry back on a cloud?" "If you're so tired, why don't you take a cloud ride back?" Lin Xin Ran glared at her. Ning Song Wu resigned herself, turning over again, determined to face the wall in contemplation. Never again; she would no longer let this woman on her bed. The silence stretched for a while before Lin Xin Ran sighed softly and asked, "Ning'er, how do you think we cultivators walking the Mortal World Path stabilize our Dao hearts?" "Those words coming from you are quite surprising." "I'm serious." Today's incident had quite an impact on them all. While Ran Fan Yin, unaware of the full truth, might only feel sad briefly, those who encountered the life history were having a hard time. That infant, having been passed through numerous owners, experienced numerous lengths of three years, which is why its resentment was so deep, even injuring people while still in infant form. "Soul nurturing isn't uncommon, but I really felt heartbroken today," Lin Xin Ran sighed. "Experience human life's myriad forms before carving out a personal path. Isn't that the essence of the Mortal World Path?" "...Indeed." A phone call interrupted their musings. Ning Song Wu glanced at it, pressing to answer. "Song Wu, are you having fun in B City?" Su Yue's gentle voice came through. "It's alright. Why do you ask?" "There's an MV shooting opportunity here, directed by Fang Qing, inviting both you and Ran Fan Yin. Scheduled for filming a week and a half before your magazine work. Interested?" Ning Song Wu pondered for a moment, "Yes." "Aren't you going to review the content?" "No need. I trust the scripts you've filtered." Ning Song Wu spoke candidly, while Su Yue listened happily. They chatted briefly before ending the call. "What's up?" "A new job, making money," Ning Song Wu said briskly. Lin Xin Ran gave her a thumbs-up quietly, "You're really not tired, huh." "It's not immediate, the shoot is scheduled for the week after next, so I can rest for a few days," she replied, forwarding the notes Su Yue sent her to her assistant, asking for a schedule to be worked out. "Senior sister, I really will live more frugally this time," Lin Xin Ran promised. Ning Song Wu paused in reading the contract, snorting softly, "I don't believe it." After a moment, she added, "And there's no need, it's not like we're that short on money." The night gradually deepened, but neither of them seemed inclined to rest; in the dark room, only two pairs of eyes remained open. It was quite eerie. "By the way, do you have any leads on the Treasure Bowl?" Lin Xin Ran turned over and started chatting again, dragging the other into her conversation. The Treasure Bowl was a relic from their sect, and though it was called a bowl, it was actually a small cauldron, round and plump. Its real name was long forgotten as it became known for gathering spiritual energy to aid cultivation. It had grown a consciousness and legs a few years ago and escaped the warehouse. It probably got spooked by Lin Xin Ran, who was crazily selling artifacts to raise a child back then, and ran away overnight. "No leads, it's a palm-sized thing and impossible to find." ~ The conversation drifted along with spills and pauses as they stared at the empty ceiling, dragging mundane topics from their equally void hearts. Suddenly, Ning Song Wu wondered what she might discuss if Miss Ran were here. * On the day of her departure, B City experienced a slight drop in temperature. In the north, it's normal for temperatures to fluctuate in May, but after recent events, Ran Fan Yin couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive, silently adding an extra layer. It turned out to be just right on her way to the airport, not cold at all. Her fingers lingered over the pouch at her chest briefly. Although Teacher Ning hadn't mentioned it, someone as skilled as her couldn't be an ordinary person, right? That pouch might have protected her these past few days. She determined to protect that little thing even better! As Er Mao managed the self-check-in, she stood aside with her bag, daydreaming in a less crowded spot, head tilted upwards pondering life. "Ran Fan Yin." Whoa, was that Teacher Ning calling her? Snapped out of her daze, she lifted her head to see a woman striding towards her in a long coat, with a backpack slung over her shoulders. Her long hair was tied back into a ponytail, gently swaying with her steps. How cool, how cool, how cool! "Got captivated, huh?" From afar, Ning Song Wu spotted her, and upon approaching saw her stare fixed straight on her, silly as can be. With a playful smile, she teased, "Wipe that drool off." "Huh?!" She hastily raised her hand to wipe non-existent drool from her mouth, only realizing she’d been teased by Ning Song Wu moments later. Her cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head, embarrassed to meet Ning Song Wu's gaze. Teasing her quite amused Ning Song Wu further brightening her mood, she asked in a warm tone, "Finished work early, what do you plan to do next?" "Head back to N City, I've got a friend visiting. What about you, Teacher Ning?" "I randomly picked a city last night, planning to travel for a few more days." "What about Sister Lin?" "She went back to N City. She's got work to do." "Is her work like this time?" Ran Fan Yin's eyes suddenly shone, filled with admiration even more than when she'd first seen Ning. "No, she also has regular work." Ning Song Wu's tone cooled slightly. However, the little one evidently didn't catch the shift in tone, her admiration not diminishing in the slightest, further intensifying instead. A faint pang of jealousy touched Ning Song Wu's heart as she gazed at the little one's face. She hesitated a moment before lifting her hand to ruffle Ran Fan Yin's head. Indeed, such a good feel to ruffle! Lin Xin Ran wasn't kidding! Ran Fan Yin stood there, stunned from being ruffled, frozen in place. At that moment, if people could emit steam, her head might have already been billowing with white clouds. Not wanting to see her quietly ‘smoking’ anymore, Ning Song Wu tactically changed the subject. "Fang Qing's MV, I've taken a look. It's good, you should consider taking it." "Huh? Teacher Ning, you received an invitation too?" The woman raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised, "Didn’t anyone tell you this is a duet MV?" "Sister Si Ping just said to take a look in the coming days and update her after getting home. I planned to check it out on the plane." Ning Song Wu held down her hand reaching for the tablet, lightly coughing, "You can check it out on the plane. But, Fang Qing has this habit of shooting something small before the main shoot to see the leads' chemistry, so there's no rush. She'll wait for you." "Is that so? I shouldn't make Director Fang wait too long then; I'll make sure to check quickly!" Ning Song Wu's eyes curved into a smile, "Isn't this the arrangement you set up? Shouldn't you have done some research on the directors?" "Oh, my parents funded it, really. They only approved the budget, and all the work was handed over to Hua Rui's people. I'm just a small actress in this circle, no other identity." "Oh? The folks at Hua Rui kept talking to me for a long time, clearly unwilling to give up until I accepted. That was your doing, wasn't it?" Ran Fan Yin turned her head slightly, whispering, "Yes, it was." "Thank you." "What?" Ran Fan Yin was a bit startled, another hand landed on her head softly ruffling, "I said, thank you." For a moment, Ran Fan Yin couldn't figure out if that gentle 'thank you' was more enchanting or if the touch of Teacher Ning's hand on her head was. Stammering for what seemed like ages, she finally responded, "You're welcome, Teacher Ning." One sentence, and both laughed, the fading distance between them practically vanishing. "Nice texture," Ning Song Wu noted quietly. Miss Ran began to feel a bit braver now; she still had a trace of shame left, but wasn't blushing all the way to her neck. Trying to maintain her composure, she stepped back a few paces, bowing lightly, "Teacher Ning, I'll head off first. See you later, Teacher Ning, goodbye, Teacher Ning." Her words perhaps weren't as calm as she hoped. "See you later." Watching her small figure run off into the distance, Ning Song Wu lifted her phone and snapped a picture. Truly adorable! No wonder she has so many mom fans! Ms. Ning suppressed her urge to join the mom-fan ranks, collecting herself for a moment, though the warmth in her hand was a reminder of that round little head’s touch. It's all Lin Xin Ran's fault for always talking about being someone's mom-fan. Returning on an early morning cloud to the welfare center, Lin Lady sneezed violently. Qian Duo Duo: "Master, have you caught a cold?" Lin Xin Ran glared at him, "Hope for better things." "Then should we look over the accounts for the past few days?" “Duo Duo, my head kind of hurts. It's probably the fatigue from confronting that demon the other day. Why don't you check by yourself, or with your junior martial uncle?" "..." Ning Song Wu gave a nod, "Originally, I only intended to watch your scene, but after I did, I decided to watch the beginning and the end of the show as well." "Oh, thank you, Teacher Ning! That smile, well..." Ran Fan Yin scratched the back of her head, a bit shy, "On the shooting day, while I was sitting there brewing my emotions, I suddenly felt it was a moment to smile, not cry, so I went with a smile." Ning Song Wu nodded in understanding, relating to having fleeting inspirations herself which were sometimes difficult to articulate afterward. She was about to switch topics, but Ran Fan Yin suddenly became earnest, gripping her chopsticks and straightening in her seat, "Teacher Ning, after watching it, do you think there was a better way to portray it?" "From a retrospective standpoint, I think not. I compared it to my own thought process. If it had been me, I might have gone with the original version, which was bleak, abandoned, lonely, and desolate. But somehow, I felt that wouldn't suffice. Your relieved smile—its impact was unparalleled and irreplaceable." "Yet, I feel there's a sense of regret. I think it could be even better." "What do you think could be improved?" Ning Song Wu was intrigued. At home, her incompetent fellows and unreliable senior sister only watched dramas ineptly wailing. To them, performance quality didn't seem to matter. Colleagues kept to themselves, maintaining a professional distance, making such in-depth exchanges rare, even about issues tied to one's livelihood. The two delved into this topic for quite a while, pausing only when dishes arrived, resuming once no one was nearby. By the end, they were comrades in shared regret, shaking hands fiercely yet again. By the conclusion of the meal, Ran Fan Yin was nearly dazed, and Ning Song Wu noted her absent-mindedness, asking, "How do you plan on getting back, Miss Ran? I could give you a ride." "No need, I drove." She was nearing excitement-induced exhaustion; any more, and she might not need sleep tonight. Even after they parted ways, leaning on her steering wheel, she took several deep breaths to calm herself, pondering over the day's events. She had thought Ning Song Wu was unreachable, but today's meeting revealed a warmth in her, even engaging in discussions related to acting. Not guidance, but genuine discussion. She had even seen Teacher Ning noting down a few ideas she thought were good in her memos. Oh my god. Ran Fan Yin's inner self screamed silently, her imaginary figure running in joy, with an unwavering heat in her heart. Her phone pinged with a notification, two messages. Ning Song Wu had snapped a screenshot of the notes and sent it to her, annotating: Since these are your thoughts, record them. You might use them someday. Oh my god! Ran Fan Yin clutched her chest, feeling her heart race so rapidly that she began to hear a slight buzzing in her ears, urging her to quickly respond to Ning Song Wu's message. She considered sending "Thank you, Teacher Ning," but it felt too formal. She wanted to use a more playful name but feared it would be too forward. After much hesitation, she settled on, "Thank you, Teacher Ning," and followed it with several emojis. Almost immediately, Ning Song Wu replied with, "You're welcome," accompanied by several emojis as well. Looking at the emojis, Ran Fan Yin subconsciously pressed her lips together. Private exchanges with Ning Song Wu were so different from what she had imagined; she had never considered that such exchanges would feature emojis. Her heartbeat quickened; she turned off her phone, taking several deep breaths, her hands still trembling slightly. After calming down for a while, she started the engine to leave, but the unexpectedly ringing phone shattered the peace within the car. Feeling an onset of telephone anxiety, Miss Ran was reluctant to pick up the call as the phone buzzed insistently on the passenger seat. But she had to answer it. Zhao Si Ping's calm voice came through, "Fanfan, did you meet Ning Song Wu?" Why was she asking this? "What's going on?" "Paparazzi snapped photos and have already sent them to me." The words, tinged with irritation, felt like a bucket of cold water dousing Ran Fan Yin completely, her grip on the phone trembling as the earlier joy evaporated without a trace. This wasn't just about her; if these photos got out and were spun maliciously, it could affect Ning Song Wu's reputation as well. Her voice quivered, "Sis, how much are they asking for, I'll..." Zhao Si Ping broke into laughter, "Relax, I've also forwarded the photos to Su Yue. If it was with someone else, I might have a headache, but since it's with Ning Song Wu..." Even over the phone, Ran Fan Yin could sense the smirk in her tone, "Let's just let Su Yue handle it. Good luck to those paparazzi trying to get anything from her." "Sis, you sound like you're quite familiar with Teacher Su." "Don't call her Teacher!" Zhao Si Ping retorted sternly, "Alright, did you have fun today? If so, go home and get a good night's sleep. Remember, you have a shoot tomorrow afternoon." Miss Ran sighed, affirming with an "Mm." On the other side, Su Yue sent the photos to Ning Song Wu for judgment. Ning only saw the message after finishing her work at the orphanage in the afternoon, while sitting down to dinner. "Can it wait? I need to take a closer look at the photos." Su Yue replied promptly, "Yes, I've mostly dealt with it. Take your time. But have you and Miss Ran been under surveillance lately?" "Maybe, but it's alright. I'll handle it slowly." "Alright, take your time. But next time, be a bit more cautious." She opened the photos and saw the first one capturing her and Ran Fan Yin holding hands in an oddly conspicuous manner. She didn't expect the paparazzi to have caught that. It was quite amusing. No wonder Ran Fan Yin couldn't suppress her smile; Ning Song Wu herself struggled as well. A few individuals crowded around, aware of their presence, but Ning Song Wu made no attempt to hide, casually showing the photos to the group. "Junior Master, you look like you're about to start a fight or something." "No, it's more like a sworn sibling ceremony." "What do you guys know? This obviously looks like a future Master’s Spouse situation — the storybooks I've been reading recently started just like this." The kids chattered among themselves, but the one who mentioned the book was abruptly picked up by Lin Xin Ran, who had been standing behind them unnoticed for a while. "Master, I'm sorry." "Apologies won't cut it." Lin Xin Ran spoke sternly, though her gaze couldn't help but drift to the screen. After observing for a while, she patted Ning Song Wu's shoulder with exasperation, "Junior Sister, don't end up as devoted friends rather than lovers!" Ning Song Wu's face darkened several shades instantly. 【Hopefully, it’s not that lunatic currently?】 【That's a relief, it's Elder Meow Meow.】 【Master, retreat now!】 This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)