Chapter 34: An Unconventional Casting

When Jiang Wenting heard that Yi Lan agreed to go to the northwest with her for filming, she was very happy.
The two spent a day preparing at home.
Jiang Wenting used simple, easy-to-understand language to give her a crash course on the entertainment industry.

Yi Lan was a quick learner.
After Jiang Wenting explained that filming was essentially bringing stories from scripts to life, she felt even more confident.
She asked Jiang Wenting about the general plot of “Beauty’s Bones.”
On the third day, the two went to meet Zhou Jing.

Jiang Wenting dressed Yi Lan in all black: wide-legged Yamamoto-style trousers paired with a daoist robe-style shirt.
The shirt had embroidered patterns and tasseled ties cinching the waist.
Combined with her naturally cool and aloof demeanor, the entire outfit exuded a sense of cool swagger amidst its relaxed casualness.

Jiang Wenting had also deliberately curled Yi Lan’s long, straight black hair slightly, making her appear even more in line with a “werewolf” aesthetic, both inside and out.

The first time Zhou Jing saw her, she was utterly stunned.

Jiang Wenting introduced: “Hello, Teacher Zhou, this is my friend Yi Lan.
“I brought her here to meet you.”

Zhou Jing seemed not to hear, her fox-like eyes scanning Yi Lan up and down.
Finally, she asked with uncertainty: “Is this your girlfriend Yi Lan?”

Jiang Wenting: “…”

She helplessly explained: “Not my girlfriend, Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Jing ignored her completely, exclaiming: “The difference between this and the person with the water gun is simply too great!”

Jiang Wenting: “…”

Yi Lan, seeing the woman in front of her staring, couldn’t help but frown, a faint, imperceptible hint of anger coloring her sharp eyes, just like a little wolf when it’s annoyed.

Zhou Jing was amused.
She said: “Like, so much like!
“It’s you!”

Jiang Wenting, hearing this, felt excitement welling up from her heart: “Really, Teacher Zhou?”

Zhou Jing nodded: “Mm.
“Earlier, when Ms. Shen mentioned it, I thought she was joking.
“But today, seeing her in person, I truly understand what she meant by ‘suitable’.”

She looked at Yi Lan, then at Jiang Wenting, hesitating for a moment before asking: “Physically, can she handle it?”

Before Jiang Wenting could speak, Yi Lan spoke first: “Possibly.”

Her voice was as cold as a clear spring, her tone revealing an undeniable resolve.
The imposing aura forged from years of battle on the battlefield was now on full display.
Even a seasoned director like Zhou Jing was deeply impressed.

The few of them briefly discussed the role in “Beauty’s Bones.”
After finalizing the upcoming arrangements, it was already time for lunch.
Zhou Jing cordially invited the two to have lunch together.
Jiang Wenting, worried that Yi Lan’s body might not handle it, declined.
After reaching the underground parking lot, she called Shen Jinglan and told her that they had passed the audition for the “wolf girl” role.

Shen Jinglan gave a faint “Mm,” as if all of this was completely within her expectations.
She said: “I’ve made an appointment with Director Huo from Yunyi.
“When you’re free, take Yi Lan over for a check-up.”

“Director Huo?” Jiang Wenting was startled at the name and asked: “Is it Director Huo Ji?”

Shen Jinglan: “Mm.”

Jiang Wenting had been doing a lot of research lately.
She knew that Huo Ji from Yunyi was internationally renowned.
Thousands of people tried to get an appointment with her daily, but only dozens of slots were available.
She had been thinking of asking someone to inquire about this doctor recently, but Shen Jinglan had already done it before her.

“Thank you, Lan Jie,” Jiang Wenting expressed her sincere gratitude.

Shen Jinglan heard the gratitude in her voice and explained calmly: “We were high school classmates; we had a good relationship back in school.
“It’s just a matter of saying hello.
“You don’t need to feel any pressure.”

Jiang Wenting gave a nasal “Mm,” a warmth welling up in her eyes.
Now, in this world, she also had friends she could truly rely on.
Although a good portion of this relationship was due to Beiye, she still felt a warmth in her heart.

Shen Jinglan didn’t know what to say.
The phone was then picked up by Beiye: “Jiangjiang, so when are we taking Yi Lan to see the doctor?”

Jiang Wenting sniffled and asked: “Is tomorrow possible?”

“Of course!
“I’ll ask Shen Jinglan to tell her classmate,” Beiye said, then asked, “Oh right, Jiangjiang, do you have plans tonight?
“We two are coming over to scrounge for food.”

Jiang Wenting said no.
Beiye rattled off a list of dishes, all her favorites.
The two chatted idly for a few sentences.
After hanging up, Jiang Wenting’s excitement seemed impossible to hide any longer.
She turned, suddenly pulling the person beside her into a hug, resting her chin on Yi Lan’s left shoulder, her voice thick with emotion as she expressed her joy.

“Yi Lan, Lan Jie got an appointment with Dr. Huo from Yunyi.
“Tomorrow, we’ll take you to see her, okay?”

Her heart pounded with excitement, surging and throbbing.
As if that wasn’t enough, she hugged Yi Lan tighter: “Dr. Huo Ji from Yunyi is very famous.
“Let her examine Yi Lan.
“Congenital heart disease isn’t an incurable illness; it can definitely be cured!”

The person constrained in her embrace was slender, her thin shoulders bearing the weight of Jiang Wenting’s words.
Tears, unbidden, rolled down.

Yi Lan didn’t speak.
Her physical response was merely to silently feel, to feel this care and concern.
In her heart, vaguely, she thought: ‘If Jiang Wenting in the previous life had just cared a little, it would have been enough.’

Perhaps she did care, otherwise, at the very end, she wouldn’t have unhesitatingly used her own flesh to shield those arrows.

But it really hurt, seeing those arrows, it hurt; watching her loved one gush blood, it hurt.

‘Jiang Wenting, she left all the unbearable pain to me, and then simply died.
‘Now, this sudden concern binds her, restricts her, making even her revenge feel so full of guilt.’

What exactly was she, Yi Lan?
A plaything?

“Jiang Wenting,” the person embraced in her arms began to struggle, her voice a calm one that she was trying to maintain even if it meant grinding her teeth, “Let me go.”

After Jiang Wenting released her, she quickly composed herself.
Her peach blossom eyes were studded with stars.
She said: “Yi Lan, I’m so happy!”

So happy, so happy that in this world, she had friends who genuinely cared about her.
Happy that Yi Lan, whom she had known for less than a month, was quietly filling the void in her heart, giving her pale life a faint bond, making her feel like a person.

“Cough, cough, cough~”

A light cough broke the two’s emotions.
Jiang Wenting looked back to see Zhou Jing, in a fitted long dress, standing with her arms crossed by a pillar.

She laughed awkwardly: “Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Jing’s lips curved, dimples at the corners of her mouth, her fox-like eyes watching Jiang Wenting with a half-smile: “Tingbao, that’s not very honest, is it?”

Jiang Wenting’s toes curled in embarrassment: “Teacher Zhou, I…”

“Shhh,” Zhou Jing placed her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.
Her deliberately lowered voice drew the teasing to its extreme: “No need to explain, Tingbao.
“Teacher Zhou understands, Teacher Zhou understands it all!”

A thin blush crept onto Jiang Wenting’s cheeks.

Zhou Jing silently observed her, then made an unhurried turn: “However, Tingbao, an artist needs to be a little mindful of her image outside.
“You can’t be surrounded by fans and spray water everywhere with a water gun like last time, alright?”

Jiang Wenting’s ears also turned red.
Nervousness mixed with shyness made her voice tremble slightly as she spoke: “I’m sorry, Teacher Zhou, I…”

Zhou Jing maliciously enjoyed the sight for a few seconds, then reminded her with a smile: “Hurry back, don’t stay here!”

Jiang Wenting didn’t even know how she managed to pull Yi Lan into the car.
By the time the two arrived home, it was already past lunchtime.
Jiang Wenting ordered two claypot rice dishes through a mobile app to make do, and spent the afternoon preparing dinner.

Beiye and Shen Jinglan smelled the aroma of food as soon as they reached the hallway.
The two entered the password and found the dining table laden with abundant food.

Jiang Wenting was still busy in the kitchen, with Yi Lan helping out.
Their coordination was effortlessly.
They didn’t even notice when Beiye was peering through the glass door.

Beiye tapped on the door, chewing on a cup of milk tea.
Jiang Wenting and Yi Lan turned at the sound, seeing Beiye with her eyes curved, smiling mischievously.

Jiang Wenting had almost forgotten about the incident at noon, but Beiye’s reminder made her suddenly uncomfortable again.

Beiye squeezed through the door crack, smacking her lips: “Tsk tsk tsk!”

Jiang Wenting, having been teased twice in one day, her cheeks slightly flushed, pretended to be calm: “What?
“Are you crazy?!”

The other party ignored her completely, her dog-like eyes scrutinizing the two of them back and forth.
Jiang Wenting, unable to bear it, urged her: “Hurry up and get out, don’t interfere with my cooking!”

She pushed Beiye out the door, and the glass door slammed shut and locked.
Beiye pressed her face against the glass, banging on it a few times, but Jiang Wenting didn’t open it, continuing to busy herself with a ladle.

She called out: “Yi Lan?”

Yi Lan also ignored her.
Beiye leaned against the door for a while, found it boring, and chewed on her straw as she went to the living room to complain to Shen Jinglan: “Wifey, I was kicked out for shipping them, boohoohoo~”

Shen Jinglan smiled, her lips curving.

Beiye buried her face in Shen Jinglan’s arms, holding her milk tea cup, making Shen Jinglan’s body lean back.
Beiye released the milk tea straw from her mouth, looked up at her, her eyes wet, pouting coquettishly: “Not happy, want a kiss from wifey!”

Shen Jinglan cooperatively lowered her head, placing a fleeting kiss on Beiye’s lips.

The girl shook her head: “Not enough!”

Shen Jinglan lowered her head again, deepening the kiss.
The scent of milk tea diffused on their tongues, thick and sweet.
When Jiang Wenting and Yi Lan came out carrying soup bowls, they saw the two embracing and kissing.
Noticing their arrival, they didn’t stop.

Yi Lan’s eyes widened in surprise.
Jiang Wenting seemed somewhat used to it.
She carried the soup, walked around the two, and gave a light cough.

Beiye again seized the moment, taking a few more sips from Shen Jinglan’s tongue, then stopped, the corners of her eyes flushed.
Shen Jinglan, meanwhile, calmly tidied Beiye’s hair, glanced at Yi Lan, then at Jiang Wenting, who was busy arranging dishes at the dining table, and said coldly: “You’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Wenting didn’t act as reserved as usual: “What are you talking about, Lan Jie?
“I’m sorry for interrupting your kissing.”

Shen Jinglan turned her head slightly, her unchanging gaze falling on Yi Lan, then turning to Jiang Wenting: “Isn’t this just demonstrating for you two?”

Jiang Wenting: ‘That’s it!
‘Both of them are so shameless!’

The brief interlude ended.
The few of them sat down to eat.
Beiye and Jiang Wenting chattered animatedly.
Shen Jinglan occasionally interjected a word or two.
Yi Lan was like a quiet gourd, not participating in any of their conversations, sitting upright on a small stool, seriously eating her rice.

When she was about eighty percent full, Beiye couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with Yi Lan: “Yi Lan darling, how did you feel seeing Teacher Zhou with Jiangjiang today?
“Were you nervous?”

Yi Lan, whose name was called, looked up, gazing at her with the expression one might give a fool.

Beiye let out a puff of laughter, a few grains of rice escaping her mouth.
Shen Jinglan handed her a tissue.
As she wiped, she said to Jiang Wenting with a chuckle: “Jiangjiang, your girlfriend is like a block of wood!”

Jiang Wenting rolled her eyes: “You’re the one like a block of wood.
“Our Yi Lan is very smart!”

She now had an immunity to the term “girlfriend.”

Beiye ignored her, continuing: “Really, the first time I saw her, I thought Yi Lan was like a block of wood!”

As if to prove something, she even took out her phone, pulled up Yi Lan’s information from her friends list, and showed it to Jiang Wenting: “Here, look, this is my nickname for her when we first added each other on WeChat!”

Jiang Wenting saw the glaring “Big Block of Wood” and protested: “Change the nickname back!”

Beiye stuck out her tongue like a silly child: “No, no, I won’t change it!”

Jiang Wenting: “Then don’t eat the food I made!”

Beiye opened her mouth: “Ah, I’ll spit it out for you!”

Jiang Wenting pushed her, and the two began chasing each other around the living room.
Shen Jinglan watched the two make a commotion, and for once, she teased Yi Lan: “Childish.”

Then she asked: “Are you still used to living here?”

Yi Lan: “Mm.”

Her peripheral vision continuously followed the two who had run from the living room to the balcony.

Shen Jinglan noticed, and explained in a cold voice: “They grew up together, and are very good friends.
“Jiang Wenting went through a difficult period, being abused by the Jiang family, and lived at Xiao Ye’s house, the place you two visited last time.”

Yi Lan’s gaze was startled at the word “abused.”
She looked at Shen Jinglan.

Shen Jinglan: “That old lady, Jiang Wenting treats her like family, which is why she thought of putting you at their house.”

She was a woman with strong personal boundaries, yet at this moment, she still chose to use such direct language to explain for her friend.
Rather than an explanation, it was more of a comfort.
She also didn’t want Yi Lan, burdened with illnesses, to live every day in the terror of being abandoned.

Of course, Yi Lan wasn’t stupid.
She just… she just instinctively lost her composure when facing Jiang Wenting.
Just like at this moment, even though hatred resided in her heart, hearing from Shen Jinglan that Jiang Wenting had been abused by the Jiang family, that fragile yet resolute heart felt as if it was being clutched in someone’s hand, aching terribly.

“Ah ah ah, Wifey, come save me…”

Beiye’s wailing interrupted the two’s conversation.
Shen Jinglan gave a pointed glance at Yi Lan, who was frozen in thought, then put her hands in her pockets and walked towards the balcony.