Transmigrated into the Film Emperor’s Death-Seeking Fiance

Chapter 53 – Zhao Qiang’s Private Meeting with Jiang Mochen in the Dark Night

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I’ve decided to make some changes with formatting for names and titles in this chapter, so please bear with me as I go back to previous chapters and change things.
Also, thank you for your patience.
Finals are not fun.

Yan Qingchi was really close to wrapping up his role—so close that he only had three scenes left.
But the scene numbers of these three scenes were too distant.
As a result, after he shot his first scene, there were two consecutive days where he wasn’t scheduled to shoot a scene.
Since he had nothing to do, Yan Qingchi went on the internet and searched several episodes of the variety show Come fight! Friend! to get a rough understanding of it.

Come fight! Friend! was a show where teams competed against one another.
There were ten regulars on the show who were split up into two teams.
Each team had five members: three guys and two girls.
Only the team captains stayed the same each week, with Sun Xun and another popular male celebrity Chen Xuanlang assuming these roles.
The teammates were assembled via randomly drawing lots.
In the game, everyone wore a wooden plaque with their name written on it.
If their plaque was snatched, they would fail and be eliminated on the spot.
At the end of the game, whichever team has more members left won.
The winners received medals whereas the losers had to draw1 a punishment mission.  

This variety show seemed very simple; however, based on the comedic interactions between the regulars as well as the intensity when they fight to snatch each other’s wooden plaques, it became the most popular variety show in the country at this time.
Furthermore, the ten regulars on the show had all really let themselves be known to the public thanks to this show2.
But, for personal reasons, one of the regulars—Guan Jingshen—had signed a contract with the production team for just the first six episodes of this season.
This meant that the production team needed to find a new person to take his spot for the latter six episodes.
It was precisely because of this reason that Yan Qingchi had the chance to be a substitute.   

Actually, this opportunity wouldn’t have fallen upon a rookie like him.
After all, it was a very popular variety show—many management companies had their sights on this piece of fat meat.
It was just that Guan Mei had a wide social network within the industry; she knew the show’s director, so she learned of this matter before the others and she directly recommended Yan Qingchi.
As a newcomer, Yan Qingchi 1) had no popularity, and 2) had no works attributed to his name.
Originally, he wouldn’t have been within the production team’s candidacy consideration.
However, in order to let Yan Qingchi appear on this variety show, Guan Mei made his appearance fee super low.
At the same time, she promised that if the production team agreed to sign Yan Qingchi on, then Jiang Mochen—as Nan Cheng’s male top gun3—would also appear for two episodes for a discounted price4.

It could not be said that this bargaining chip (JMC) was not generous.
During its first season, Come fight! Friend! had invited Jiang Mochen, but he declined the offer.
Since his debut, his career path had been one of pretentious style5.
Excluding appearing on variety shows that were promotional in nature to promote his movies and television works, Jiang Mochen usually did not go on variety shows.
But now, as long as they signed Yan Qingchi on, Jiang Mochen would appear for two episodes—and for a discounted price too.
It could not be said that this didn’t appeal to the production team.

In the end, the director made the decision: they will sign him on! Once they signed Yan Qingchi on, it would be for six episodes.
Furthermore, Jiang Mochen would appear for two of those six episodes.
This meant that Yan Qingchi would only appear by himself for four episodes.
If he did well, then she would give him more screen-time; if not, then she could just give him less screen-time.
In any case, their TV ratings, view counts, and topicality were all high.
One Yan Qingchi wouldn’t have a major impact.
Thus, the director obliged with Guan Mei’s request6 and signed Yan Qingchi on for the latter six episodes.

After Wu Yuan learned about this matter, he immediately called Jiang Mochen, asking, “Were you the one to give Guan Mei the idea? That you would participate in two episodes for a discounted price?”

Jiang Mochen admitted it readily, “I had told her before to accept a competition-type variety show for Yan Qingchi.
She expressed that she had already been trying to do that, but the other party was still considering it.
I asked about the situation and thought that if he could appear on this variety show, it would be a great help to him.
So, I had Guan Mei do as she saw fit.
If things came down to it, she could use me as a bargaining chip.
Anyway, since our people already have this intention, there is no reason to yield this variety show to others.”

“You are really generous and selfless.
Do you know how much your average appearance fee for reality and variety shows is? All that has been squandered for his sake!”

“Just consider it as a promotional activity for Lost.
Anyway, my discounted price is also not cheap.”

Wu Yuan was speechless, “Forget it.
You’re the boss.
It’s fine as long as you yourself are happy (about it).
But rein it in a bit.
It’s fine this time, but if you bind yourself in a 2-for-1 deal7 again for Yan Qingchi, do you believe that your fans will DM8 me and rebuke me again that the company should value you, not waste you?!” 

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Jiang Mochen was displeased, “What do you mean ‘bind myself in a 2-for-1 deal’? How could you word it like that? This time is because he just debuted, so he doesn’t have any popularity or representative works yet.
But you just wait.
Once this variety show airs, he will have his own spot in this circle.
At that time, he won’t need me to help him anymore.” 

“Oh? Then I look forward to it.”

“Alright, go do your work.” Jiang Mochen said, hanging up the phone.

Of course, Yan Qingchi did not know about any of this.
Neither Guan Mei nor Jiang Mochen told him.
So he only watched the first couple episodes of the variety show and pondered over what kind of style it would be when he went. 

When it was night, Yan Qingchi was about to go find Jiang Mochen to ask him for Sun Xun’s contact information so that he could chat with Sun Xun about this variety show.
Yet, he had just opened the door—he hadn’t even made it out the door yet—when he caught sight of Zhao Qiang standing in front of Jiang Mochen’s door.
She was wearing a windbreaker that complemented her figure very well and exposed her fair, slender lower legs.
She was also wearing a pair of black high heels.
There was an indescribable hinted appeal in her appearance.     

She knocked on the door and Jiang Mochen opened it.
Then, she entered.

Yan Qingchi glanced down at his phone.
It was almost 11PM. What did Zhao Qiang need to find Jiang Mochen for at such a late time? He hadn’t seen her holding a script.

He thought about it and retreated, closing his door.
He planned to go find Jiang Mochen after Zhao Qiang left.

Jiang Mochen hadn’t expected to see Zhao Qiang when he opened the door.
He had thought it would be Yan Qingchi; after all, Yan Qingchi had sent him a Wechat message earlier that he would come find him at night.

But Zhao Qiang said that she had something to talk to him about, so Jiang Mochen still opened his door and let her in.

Zhao Qiang followed him into the room.
She sat on the sofa with her head down as if she was somewhat afraid to look at him head-on.

“”

Seeing this, Jiang Mochen poured her a cup of water, “What is it?”

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Zhao Qiang raised her head to look at him.
She was very pretty.
Her brows and eyes were exquisite.
On top of that, she had a simple and elegant look with makeup.
She looked extremely enchanting.
She sat on the sofa with her two hands unwittingly clasped and her pearly white teeth biting her lower lip, seeming to hesitate on how she should say it.

Perceiving this, Jiang Mochen did not rush her.
Instead, he simply sent Yan Qingchi a Wechat message: 【Zhao Qiang came to find me for something.
Don’t come over first.
Come over after she’s gone.】

Yan Qingchi replied: 【Mn.
I saw her just now, so I didn’t go find you.
You handle it first.】

After Jiang Mochen read the reply, he locked his phone and set it back on the table as he waited for Zhao Qiang to speak.

After a long while, Zhao Qiang finally uttered the purpose of her visit.
She said, “Jiang Mochen, it just so happened that you don’t have a girlfriend right now, and I don’t have a boyfriend either, so, can you be in a fauxmance9 with me?” She swiftly supplied, “Of course, I know that this is equivalent to having you help me, and it benefits me more.
So, you can state your requests.
No matter what they are, I will accept them.
Likewise, during this time that I am in this fauxmance with you, I will also fulfill my obligations as your girlfriend.”

As she spoke, she rose up and lightly pulled open the belt of the windbreaker.
To Jiang Mochen’s astonishment, she was wearing a muted purple spaghetti straps nightgown10.   

Jiang Mochen instantly turned his head around.
In a cold voice that carried some fury, he told her, “Wear your clothes properly.”

“Jiang Mochen, I…”

“If you want to continue this conversation, then wear your clothes properly or else I will call your manager over.”

Zhao Qiang had been forcing herself to forget her shame as she came to find him, said these words, and did this action.
Now, hearing him say this, she felt extremely chagrined.
She bound her clothes once more and tied the belt properly.
Then she took her seat again on the sofa.
Her nose was somewhat burning11, but she held it in, not letting herself cry.   

Only then did Jiang Mochen turn his head to look at her, “Is this what you came to find me today for?”

“”

Zhao Qiang nodded.
Her shoulders were sort of shaking.
She hung her head, her long hair falling down.
She appeared lovely and pitiful. 

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“Is this your own intention or your management company’s?”

“Both.” Zhao Qiang answered him.

In the very beginning, it had been her manager who suggested it, saying that this could help boost her popularity up a level; at the same time, Jiang Mochen had a lot of resources on his hands.
If she could really be in a fauxmance with him, he might give her some of his own resources.
At first, Zhao Qiang did not agree to it.
But afterwards, she saw Jiang Mochen appear in two consecutive trending searches.
She saw that the threads related to Jiang Mochen in the discussion forum were always the ones with the most activity.
Even Yan Qingchi, a newcomer who had nothing at all, would be mentioned from time to time in the discussion forum because he had a good relationship with Jiang Mochen.
Having seen all of this, it was inevitable for her heart to be somewhat swayed. 

And the final straw that broke the camel’s back was that her female lead role in her next movie which her manager had already reached an agreement on (with the production team) had been intercepted by someone in the past two days.
The person who intercepted her role was another popular actress.
The other party was younger than her and had more means than her management company.
Zhao Qiang was discontented about it, but what could she do? These years, her popularity was what it was.
Although she was called an ‘one-tier floret’12, no matter if it was her resources or her popularity, she was at the bottom of the one-tiers.
Was she popular? Compared to the actors who could only play supporting characters or only stay in the television drama circle, she could travel across the two large tectonic plates13 of television and film—of course she was popular.
Yet, compared to other contemporary actresses, she wasn’t as popular. 

The entertainment industry was the place for those in their youth, especially for actresses.
If she continued with these average results, after a couple more years, she might have to go play the supporting character to someone else’s lead role.
Or, she would still play the female lead role, but she could only act in a couple low-production television series that would be challenging to be transmitted through the cable TV network14. “So,” Zhao Qiang thought, “I might as well take the risk.” As long as Jiang Mochen was willing, then she could earn more popularity and resources from the hyping of their romance.
As long as Jiang Mochen agreed to be in a fauxmance with her.
But, why would he agree? Zhao Qiang mulled over this for a very long time.
She knew that he did not lack money nor did he lack people who liked him.
Then, what she could give, seemed to be herself. 

She hesitated for a very long time before she finally came before his door.
She knocked on the door and prepared to offer herself up.
But, Jiang Mochen rejected her.

All of Zhao Qiang’s sense of shame exploded at this moment.
She sat on the sofa like she was sitting on a pincushion.

Jiang Mochen, seeing how she kept her head down and didn’t dare to look at him, did not ask any more questions.
He merely said, “Go back.
I will act as if today’s matter did not happen.
If there’s a second time, I won’t be this courteous.”

Zhao Qiang nodded.

She got up and said “I’m sorry.” She headed out with her head down, not daring to look at him.  

Seeing how timid and trembling she was, Jiang Mochen couldn’t help beginning to give her pointers, “Zhao Qiang, never proactively try to find those who are stronger than you and propose an unsolicited15 collaboration, because you never know whether you are a tool that can be used or a weak, helpless lamb.
You must be prepared for the worst when you do things.”  

Zhao Qiang stilled.
She unwittingly lifted her head and was met with Jiang Mochen’s stern expression.
She stared at him.
After a long time, she finally nodded, “Thank you.”

“Go back then.”

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“Mn.” Zhao Qiang turned around and left. 

Up until a very long time afterwards, Zhao Qiang would always remember what Jiang Mochen had said to her on this day.
She was still ambitious, still wanted to attain even higher levels of popularity, and still longed to have even better products to her name; but she became more prudent and careful.
She cherished herself.
As she bobbed up and down in the entertainment circle, this circle that could not be considered big nor small, she met many people and experienced many things.
She watched as someone made one wrong step after another; she tried her hardest to pull them back, but she was still unable to keep that person from walking towards the mud.
She was incomparably glad that she had met Jiang Mochen when she first walked down the wrong path, and incomparably glad that the one whom she had chosen at that time had been Jiang Mochen.

At her weakest, most disoriented time when she was forcing16 herself to make the wrong step, he used the coldest and most detached words to reject her.
But he also used the warmest and most gentle tone to cause her to have a realization.   

He was the haughtiest nobleman in the entertainment circle, but he was also the most gentle guide in this circle. 

The author has something to say:

Part of the setting for Come fight! Friend! is inspired by the show Running Man, but the character personas have nothing to do with Running Man.
Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental! None of the characters in this novel are based upon anyone in real life.
They’re all made up from my imagination, so please do not overthink it.
[covers face] 

As for Zhao Qiang, she won’t develop any romantic feelings for Jiang Mochen.
She is merely grateful that Jiang Mochen forewarned her, so she thinks that Jiang Mochen is a very good person and that she had been very lucky.
She doesn’t have any other notions.
Don’t worry.

Footnotes

the kind of “draw” like a “draw in the lottery”.
I reckon that there is an assortment of punishment missions in a bucket or something and the losers have to select one at random. Might come back to this later.
Raw:  这个综艺看起来很简单，然而却凭借着常驻嘉宾之间的搞笑互动以及争抢木牌时的激烈，成为了现下国内最红的综艺, 里面的十个常驻嘉宾也凭此狠刷了一把存在感。 a person who is the best or one of the best in a particular field; the top-ranked person in a group (in this case, JMC is the top-ranked person among the artists in the company) To be accurate, “friendly price” because it is a price for a buyer who is a friend Basically focused on cultivating a brand reputation.
JMC is known for his works; he does not do much for things outside of work To be more accurate, the director “sold Guan Mei’s some face”–essentially doing something in consideration of Guan Mei. Not exactly what Wu Yuan said but this is the gist of what he said.  武原无语，“算了，你是老板你自己开心就好，只不过你悠着点啊，这次还罢了，要是下一次你为了燕清池又把自己捆绑销售，你信不信你的粉丝又要私信骂我了，又要让公司重视你不要消费你！”  Direct message/private message a fake romance, usually between two celebrities, used to generate publicity, to gain press coverage Visual example:   (from this source) ”sour” (just that her nose felt tingly before she was about to cry) basically A-list female celebrity 横跨电视电影两大板块 Raw: 上星 (on the star).
TV station slang.
Baidu link here. 自以为是 (zìyǐwéishì) -to believe oneself infallible (idiom) / to be opinionated.
In this case, I interpreted it as JMC saying that ZQ had proposed this when he didn’t want it (so she assumed he did and he’s telling her not to do that). 他在自己最迷茫无措、挣扎着踏错步的时候，用最冷漠的话语拒绝了她，却又用最温暖的语气点醒了她。