Transmigrated into the Film Emperor’s Death-Seeking Fiance

Translator: Daed

Editor: Lynn

Yan Qing Chi was quite surprised. He got down from the bed and walked over. He opened the door to see Jiang Mo Chen standing there.

He made way for him. Jiang Mo Chen walked in.

“You really came?” Yan Qing Chi said with distaste.

When Jiang Mo Chen heard this, he felt rather uncomfortable1, “Your distaste is about to overflow.”

“Oh, is it that obvious? I’ll try to control it next time.”

Jiang Mo Chen sighed, “Yan Qing Chi, I came to find you for official business.”

Yan Qing Chi leaned back against the wall, “Speak.”

“Regarding the matter of me going to meet Yuan Ming Xu today, I didn’t tell you clearly and even told you a lousy lie to deceive you. I apologize, this was my bad. But the events afterwards of Yuan Ming Xu posting a Weibo post and @’ing me, as well as buying the marketing accounts to go on the trending searches, I did not know about. I didn’t go on Weibo today, so I didn’t see it. When I found out and made my manager get rid of the trending search; as well as making the marketing accounts delete their Weibo posts, it was already rather late. I had no intention of making you feel uncomfortable. If I tacitly permitted it or collaborated with him in the publicity stunt, I would reblog and comment after he @’ed me, not let him act a one man’s show by himself.”

Yan Qing Chi chuckled, “That’s all?”

“You know about the past between me and Yuan Ming Xu now, right?”

Yan Qing Chi nodded, “I know.”

“I don’t care how other people explained it to you, but there is one thing that I must tell you. There has never been any actions that crossed the line between me and him, nor did we ever confirm any relationship. I did hint at it to him, but he did not reciprocate. The two of us have always interacted with one another as friends.”

Yan Qing Chi gave a grunt, expressing that he got it.

“Before, Yuan Ming Xu was not popular, so he bound me to appear on trending searches several times. He had even sent a manuscript. At the time, I agreed to it. This resulted in both teams becoming used to it afterwards. His team was used to binding my name, and my team turned a blind eye. That’s why today’s trending search was only gone after I found out. However, this won’t happen again after today. Aside from you, I will no longer have a two-person trending search with someone else.”

“Okay.”

“What else do you want to know?” Jiang Mo Chen asked him.

Yan Qing Chi looked at him, “Why didn’t you tell the truth that day?”

“Because I didn’t know how to tell you about the matter between Yuan Ming Xu and myself. And I didn’t want to mention it at that kind of time. So I thought that since I wasn’t going to do anything that wronged you, I would quietly meet him and quietly put an end to things. I hadn’t expected for him to tell the whole world.”

Yan Qing Chi laughed, “If he hadn’t bought this trending search, were you going to keep it from me forever?”

“Yes.” Jiang Mo Chen was candid, “Because there was no need. I met with him to make things clear, to tell him not to proactively seek me out in the future. It wouldn’t affect me or us. I did not want to create any unpleasantness with you because of it.”

Yan Qing Chi thought about it, “That’s understandable.” he said, “But I do not like people deceiving me. The occasional lie in life between lovers for events and interests? That’s for the events and interests. To hoodwink someone on something like this? That’s deceit.2 Jiang Mo Chen, I am not a person who likes to constrain others, nor do I like to hold trivial things over others. So, even if on that day, you told me about the situation between you and Yuan Ming Xu, and told me that you were going to meet him, I wouldn’t stop you. This is the first time, and I hope that it’s the last.”

Jiang Mo Chen looked at him, nearly blurting out that there was yet another reason why he hadn’t been honest with Yan Qing Chi. And that was that he didn’t know whether he wanted Yan Qing Chi to stop him or not after he (YQC) knew about it. Even up to this moment, he still didn’t know. Hence, he also didn’t dare ask.

“Thank you.” Jiang Mo Chen said, “But there won’t be a next time. I’ve already told him clearly that from today onwards, the two of us will no longer have any ties, whether it be in life or work.”

“So thorough?” Yan Qing Chi asked.

“I do not wish for today’s matter to happen a second time. Believe it or not, I am very satisfied with the current status of our marriage. I do not want much of these unnecessary misunderstandings between us.”

Yan Qing Chi had not expected him to say this. He chuckled, “Okay.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” Yan Qing Chi said, smiling.

Jiang Mo Chen coughed, “I said, ‘thank you’.”

“I know, I said—” Yan Qing Chi had gotten half-way when he suddenly processed it. He raised his eyes and gazed at him, asking him with uncertainty, “You’re saying ‘thank you’?”

Jiang Mo Chen grunted.

Yan Qing Chi suddenly laughed. He looked at Jiang Mo Chen, who sported a self-conscious expression, and felt that the displeasure that had accumulated in the afternoon completely dissipated in this instant.

“Are you coaxing me?” He asked.

Jiang Mo Chen did not speak.

Yan Qing Chi was displeased, “Hey, I’m asking you. What are you supposed to say at this time?”

Jiang Mo Chen looked at him. The solemn expression he had because he was apologizing slowly relaxed at this time. His eyes unknowingly carried some mirth in them; his helpless tone was mixed with some fondness and indulgence. He said, “Yes, yes, yes, you’re right, you’re right, you’re right, my dear you are absolutely right.”

Yan Qing Chi was instantly delighted; his slightly curved eyes and brows were extremely spirited. When Jiang Mo Chen came to find him to explain, he was appreciative; when Jiang Mo Chen told him that it wouldn’t happen again, he thought that the other man was promising3; but now, he felt very happy—not because Jiang Mo Chen was coaxing him, but because the man actually always placed the things between them in his heart.

Seeing him finally smile (genuinely), Jiang Mo Chen’s heart that had been in the air for a night finally settled down. He looked at the smile on Yan Qing Chi’s face and only thought that it was very good like this.

The two of them were very good like this.

“Then this chapter of ours is considered flipped?”

Yan Qing Chi nodded.

“Put your hand out.”

Yan Qing Chi put his hand out, mystified. Then he watched as Jiang Mo Chen fished around in his pocket and finally took out a handful of candy, placing it on his palm——It was the kind that he had eaten before; the candy that He Yu had used to coax the person he liked in the movie.

Yan Qing Chi raised his eyes to look at him.

Jiang Mo Chen said warmly, “Treat you to some candy.”

After a couple more days, when the outdoor scenes in the school and the neighborhood were pretty much done, the production crew finally transitioned indoors to proceed filming. The very first scenes they shot were the ones in Meng Luo’s house. Yan Qing Chi finally became busy after being idle for so long.

The first scene that the two shot was the scene of Meng Luo and He Yu’s dialogue at the very end. Liu Meng changed the script, changing the plot where Meng Luo would be apprehended by He Yu into Meng Luo poisoning himself and killing himself off. She thought that this was more befitting of Meng Luo’s persona.

Yan Qing Chi had no objections to this. Jiang Mo Chen, however, unconsciously glanced at him after he heard of it.

“What was that look for?” Yan Qing Chi asked him after Liu Meng was gone.

Jiang Mo Chen looked at him and thought that he truly had good luck, “Do you know a (personality) complex that the nation’s people have?4”

“What?” Yan Qing Chi asked.

“Death complex5.” Jiang Mo Chen said, “Any character whose persona has a compelling characteristic, as long as they die in the end, everyone will see that character through lenses that raises their good points and screens their flaws. Liu Meng probably likes this character a lot. Otherwise, she wouldn’t prefer for him to kill himself pridefully than have him go to jail and taste failure.”

Yan Qing Chi thought about it and asked him, “Do you think that Meng Luo is the kind of person who would give up after one failure?”

Jiang Mo Chen arched an eyebrow, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Liu Meng had told me before that she wanted to change the script, to change Meng Luo’s ending. So we’ve discussed about it before. In the character persona that Liu Meng has created, Meng Luo is intelligent, silent, adept at enduring and yet also proud and aloof, cold and detached. She thought that Meng Luo was someone whose bones were very cold; not many things can catch his eye. So, there was no way that he would accept going to a place like prison. To him, that was a form of failure.6 But, I didn’t think he was someone like that,” Yan Qing Chi said, serious, “What Liu Meng focused on was that he was prideful, but I was more of the belief that someone as intelligent as him would definitely know how to most protect himself, to turn the tables and make a comeback7. Even if he was arrested and imprisoned, he would absolutely have a way to get out in the shortest time possible and dictate this world once again. He was so adept at disguising himself and enduring—he’s already endured for half a lifetime—how could he surrender to this world so easily?”

“Did you tell Liu Meng this?”

“I did, but Liu Meng said that this wasn’t the Meng Luo she wanted. She hoped that Meng Luo was a Queen of the Night8: only blooming once in the lightning and flint (stone)9, taking people’s breaths away, and then wilting. In this way, the charisma of his persona would be optimized. In this way, the viewers would be shocked, leading them to remember and discuss him.”

Jiang Mo Chen chuckled, “Do you know why you two would have differing opinions on this?”

“Everyone has their opinion. It’s very normal.”

“That’s not all.” Jiang Mo Chen said, “You are purely standing from Meng Luo’s standpoint to analyze this persona. You saw the Meng Luo you thought of. But Liu Meng is an experienced screenwriter, so she habitually considered his persona from the standpoint of the movie, the viewers, and even from the standpoint of the charge to the awards10 and the ticket sales. Certainly, Meng Luo could be arrested as you say; however, compared to the shock value of him killing himself in front of He Yu, being arrested seems relatively bland. It loses the impact that shocked people while also making them feel that it was a pity. Liu Meng had planted such a big plot twist. She would definitely hope that the benefits of this plot would be maximized. So, she gave up Meng Luo’s arrest and chose to make him give the last blow, becoming a loser at the same time that he was a winner.”

This was the first time that Yan Qing Chi knew of this kind of interpretation. He unconsciously commented, “Then she sure took a lot of trouble to do that.”

“That’s why she’s an award-winning screenwriter.”

“You’re also extremely incredible. You seem to know everything.”

“That’s why I also won an award.”

“You really aren’t abashed,” Yan Qing Chi gave him a judging look.

Jiang Mo Chen smiled slightly, “It’s the truth.”

Speaking of this, Yan Qing Chi was reminded, “I was looking at Weibo two days ago. Don’t you have a piece this year that’s being submitted to an overseas film festival?”

“I do have one.”

“Will you be able to win an award this time?”

“Do you think that winning awards is like eating, able to be received at every meal?” Jiang Mo Chen sighed, “I’ve been nominated for the Golden Gui Awards four times. The first time was when I debuted. I had worked with a senior (in the industry). The senior’s acting skills were very good. They taught me a lot, so I was very fortunate to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor and win the award. After that, I was nominated for the Golden Gui Awards twice as the male lead, but I didn’t win any awards. Up until last year, I finally won “Film Emperor” (Best Lead Actor). I still don’t know what will happen this time at the overseas film festival.”

“Then I can only wish you good luck.”

Jiang Mo Chen smiled, “Let’s not talk about me. Let’s talk about you. I had Guan Mei contact a variety show for you. When this film’s over, I reckon you’ll be off to record for the show.”

“Variety show?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, Sun Xun is a regular in it. I’ve given him a heads-up. He’ll take care of you.”

Yan Qing Chi recollected this name for a moment. It was one of the four friends whom Jiang Mo Chen had brought him to meet that day. He was briefly mentioned in the novel. He had a professional background11 and decent acting skills. Early in his career, his popularity was average. Afterwards, because he had worked with Jiang Mo Chen in a movie, the movie’s ticket sales blew up. His persona was also very brilliant, so he directly flew up the ranks to become a first-tier actor. He also became good friends with Jiang Mo Chen because of that time they worked together. Yan Qing Chi remembered that the novel said that he was someone with a more gentle temperament. That was good.

“What kind of variety show is it?” He asked.

The corner of Jiang Mo Chen’s mouth quirked, “It suits you a lot. It’s a competition of skills through games12.”

Yan Qing Chi instantly thought of what he had said that day——’we can let Guan Mei pick up a variety show for you’, “You really went through with it.”

“Variety shows are a quick way to attract fans. At the same time, it’s very cost-effective13, since it doesn’t take up the time that you are shooting your scenes and you can earn money. You get the best of both worlds. So why not do it (if it makes you happy)?”

“You are truly a capitalist through and through. Each pore is permeated with the corruption of money!14”

“Didn’t you already know that?” Jiang Mo Chen did not think of it as a disgrace. On the contrary, he thought of it as an honor, “Don’t worry. You have half of my assets.”

As soon as he heard that, Yan Qing Chi promptly opened the voice recording function on his phone, “Say that again.”

Jiang Mo Chen: “…”

The author has something to say:

Yan Qing Chi: Genuine unexpected distribution of candy!

Chapters 7/14.

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Footnotes

To be more accurate, he had complex emotions, but I thought “uncomfortable” would be enough for this.生活情趣中偶尔骗一骗，那是情趣，这种事上欺瞒，那就是欺骗了。孺子可教 – something along the lines of “this child can be taught”. Baidu link here.“你知道国人有一个情结是是什么情结吗？” “死亡情节。” 在柳萌的人设里，孟落聪明，沉默，善于忍耐，却又孤傲冷漠，他觉得孟落是一个骨子里很冷的人，对很多事情都看不上，所以他不可能接受自己去监狱那样的地方，那对他而言，是一种失败。逆风翻盘. Baidu link here.一朵昙花 – Queen of the Night cereus flower. Baidu link here. Some info about the flower here. I don’t know if the author meant this flower that blooms only for one night (though the plant has other flowers that would bloom on other nights), or if she intended to make the metaphor of fireworks? Honestly, I got thrown off by the lightning and flint bit.电光火石中只开一次The film crew are aiming for the film awards (something like the Golden Gui Awards, Oscars, Grammys, etc).He received proper training.竞技比赛游戏型性价也非常高. Baidu question and answers here.每个毛孔都渗透着金钱的腐朽