I Want to Become the King of the Silver Screen [Entertainment Industry] Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Mapo Tofu

While Jiang Yin and Chen Dan were discussing Han Lingran, Han Lingran happened to be talking about them with someone else.

“Aran, you should ease up a bit. Jiang Yin is having such a tough time, why do you have to make things difficult for him?” He said to a young man in a blue cap, but despite his words, his expression was completely different, showing an unmistakable sense of schadenfreude.

“He’s really unlucky,” another plain-looking young man beside him chuckled, “Not only did he get rejected when he tried to cling to a big shot, but he also almost drowned. It’s just too hilarious. What do you guys think made him come up with this move? What a talent.”

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“That’s true. Given his status and position, if he’s looking for someone, he’ll definitely choose someone from his own circle.”

“But Zhao Dashao’s character is really good. Jiang Yin, on the other hand, not only did Zhao Dashao save him and send him to the hospital, but he also gave him a role as compensation. If Zhao Dashao didn’t have such high standards, I’d consider pursuing him myself.”

A shadow crossed Han Lingran’s eyes, and he interrupted their conversation, his patience wearing thin, “Enough, I called you here to find out if you’ve heard any news about Jiang Yin on the set, not to hear you praise Zhao Yansen!”

The young man’s expression stiffened, and he hastily said, “We did hear something. They say he’s doing a great job in this drama. Even Teacher Zhang Ningli praised him. It’s true, she said it herself, and many people heard it. We don’t know what kind of luck he’s had.”

“What else?” Han Lingran was impatient. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

The young man leaned closer and whispered, “I have a friend who’s working on that set. He said Jiang Yin gets along well with Zhao Dashao’s younger sister, and Zhao Dashao even talked to him personally. It looks like they have a good relationship.”

Han Lingran’s grip on the beer bottle tightened, and jealousy and disgust flashed in his eyes.

He knew it all too well. It was always like this!

As long as Jiang Yin was around, whenever they went out, everyone’s attention would be focused on him first. Even during auditions, if Jiang Yin succeeded, he failed. People who had met him together would overtly or covertly inquire about him, including Wang Dafu, and even Zhao Yansen—

He had also expressed his feelings to Zhao Yansen, but he had left so mercilessly, without giving him the slightest chance.

Why should Jiang Yin be treated better? Just because he had almost drowned?

But hadn’t he not drowned in the end?

Might as well have drowned back then!

He thought maliciously.

His two companions looked at his contorted face, exchanged a glance, and revealed a hidden disdain. It wasn’t as if they didn’t know what he was thinking, how could Zhao Dashao, who couldn’t even fancy Jiang Yin, fancy you? He didn’t even know what kind of person he was. He wanted to keep a reputation even after becoming a whore. If it weren’t for his generous spending, they wouldn’t bother.

The two of them spoke insincerely:

“Ah, why get angry over unrelated people? Even if Zhang Ningli praised him, what does it matter? You don’t know Jiang Yin’s acting skills. I think maybe Zhang Ningli is just teasing him. Didn’t she always like younger men?”

“Exactly, you’ve taken over his role. What is there to fear? He can just take whatever roles are left in the future. Maybe he can’t handle the blow and will leave the industry.”

Fool! They thought roles were so easy to grab!

Han Lingran sneered in his heart. The company had originally wanted this role, he just took the opportunity to fight for it. But thinking of the price he had paid, a faint pain emerged somewhere beneath him. He regretted approaching that person, although Wang Dafu was a bit low, he wasn’t as cunning, and he listened to him.

However, when he thought of the disappointed look on Jiang Yin’s face, a sense of satisfaction surged in his heart, overshadowing the pain.

He said, “Thanks, I’ll cover the drinks tonight. Play however you want, and continue keeping an eye out for me. Let me know if there’s any news over there.”

“No problem.”

“I knew Han Ge would be generous.”

The two people beside him immediately smiled with joy.

****

• Braised pork belly, Mapo tofu, eggplant and green bean stew, dry pot cauliflower, sweet and sour fish…

Dish after dish emerged from the kitchen, and Jiang Yin’s mood soared to an extreme high. 

After helping Jiang Ai settle her luggage at Jinrong Residence, they hurriedly came to Chen Dan’s house. Without even tidying up, a succession of delectable dishes, each with its own colors, aromas, and flavors, graced the table.

“Big Sister Ning, you’ve worked hard. Please have a seat first,” Jiang Ai said sweetly, holding Chen Dan’s wife, Ning Xinyi’s arm.

Chen Dan immediately wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead and carefully placed a chair behind his wife. He respectfully assisted her to sit down, saying, “Madam, please take a seat.”

Ning Xinyi replied, “The Emperor is also seated, everyone is seated. No need to be formal.”

Jiang Yin thought to himself, “Your relationships are quite tangled.”

Chen Dan wiped his nonexistent forehead sweat and explained, “Lately, palace dramas are really popular, and your sister-in-law likes to watch them. I have no choice.” Ning Xinyi shot him a glance, and he hurriedly added, “I like them too, I really do!”

“Alright, we’re all family here, no need to be formal,” Ning Xinyi invited, “Go ahead and taste, let us know if anything tastes off. I’m counting on you familiar folks to be honest. Chen Lao only knows how to say ‘good, good, good’ all the time. Ask him what’s good about it, and he can’t come up with a single word for half a day.”

Jiang Yin didn’t hesitate either. Chen Dan regarded him as a younger brother, and Ning Xinyi treated him the same way. When he initially came to shoot advertisements, he lived in Chen Dan’s house. After signing with his company, he occasionally stayed over with Chen Dan. However, as he grew older, got busier with filming, and Ning Xinyi’s secret recipes became popular, he visited less and less often.

“Take it easy,” Jiang Ai’s tone turned cold as she reminded him, “Although this meal doesn’t count, I’m keeping track of the calories for you. How much you eat now, you’ll have to work off later!”

Jiang Yin sighed inwardly, feeling like he hadn’t adopted a younger sister, but a mother. However, thinking about the fate of his real mother, he silently erased that comparison from his mind.

“All this food can’t satisfy your appetite,” he retorted instinctively. Despite saying this, he still only picked up two pieces of braised pork belly with his chopsticks.

Okay, he admitted that he lacked self-control when it came to eating. With a new role to film soon, he really should cut down a bit. Oh well, it seems that technological advancement isn’t all beneficial; high-definition cameras make you look instantly plumper on screen. How many celebrities have been driven to the brink of death by the desire for a slimmer figure?

As he thought about this being his last meal before going on a diet, Jiang Yin ate with extra caution, even chewing each grain of rice carefully.

The tender and sweet braised pork belly, the rich and fragrant eggplant and green bean stew, the full-bodied dry pot cauliflower…

But what astonished Jiang Yin the most was the Mapo tofu.

With just one spoonful, it was as if he had bitten into an explosion. His taste buds shattered instantly, surrendering in disarmament. Numbing, spicy, hot, fragrant, crispy, tender, and fresh—so many flavors converged into a single dish. It was stunning beyond description, leaving his soul restless.

Mixing the Mapo tofu with rice was especially divine, both in terms of texture and flavor.

If it weren’t for Jiang Ai’s watchful eyes on the side, Jiang Yin felt he could have mixed another two bowls and eaten them.

After finishing the meal, Jiang Ai went to help Ning Xinyi with the dishes. Chen Dan pulled Jiang Yin aside and lowered his voice, “I forgot to ask you, did you tell Xiao xin about the incident in the water?”

Jiang Yin’s grip on the grape tightened slightly, “No.”

He knew that Chen Dan wasn’t just talking about the water incident. If it was only about falling into the water, there wouldn’t be much to worry about. The focus was on why he fell into the water. If Jiang Ai found out that he had tried to cozy up to a financial backer, it would undoubtedly trigger a major earthquake.

“It’s hard to keep secrets.” Chen Dan was also worried, “I think it’s better for you to find a chance to explain to her. It’s better for her to hear it from you than from someone else. Trust me, I have more experience in matters like this than you do.”

Jiang Yin nodded sincerely, “I can tell.”

Chen Dan: “…”

But Jiang Yin did seriously consider Chen Dan’s words. After returning home, he confessed everything to Jiang Ai. After all, she would eventually find out, so it was better to say it in person. Besides, he could use this incident to help Jiang Ai accept his changes.

Indeed, Jiang Ai became very angry, “No wonder you suddenly started behaving more sensibly. So it’s because of this. Jiang Xiaoyin, you have guts to dare to do something like this! Have you forgotten how you promised Mom and Dad when you cried and begged to drop out of school and take this path?! What was the reason I insisted on chatting with you every night in the week before my college entrance exam? I had already planned to study media and communications after entering university and come help you when I graduate. And yet, you went and sought, sought, sought…”

The girl couldn’t even say the words “financial backer,” and her eyes turned red as she wiped them, covering her eyes as she squatted down.

Jiang Yin stood rooted in place.

His heart felt both sour and bitter. No one had ever cried for him like this, let alone cried because of him.

At this moment, he suddenly envied the original self. They looked the same, had the same name, yet the other Jiang Yin had family members who loved and cared for him like this. He, on the other hand, had nothing.

“I’m sorry.” He crouched down, willing for the first time to bear the mistakes of his original self, and sincerely said, “I really know I was wrong. I swear I’ll never do something like this again in the future.”

“Don’t touch me!” Jiang Ai was still angry, wiping her tears away and waving his hand. She mumbled, “Do whatever you want. I can’t control you!”

Jiang Yin smiled and sidled up to her, just like when he used to annoy her as a child and then coax her.

Perhaps the original self’s speculation was correct. They might truly be connected in this life and the past. No, there was no ‘might,’ they just were.

Jiang Ai wasn’t the kind of person who caused trouble for no reason and acted unreasonably. On the contrary, she had been sensible since childhood. While they looked like siblings in appearance, their interactions were more akin to that of an older sister and younger brother. This time, she had truly been angered to react this way. After being coaxed by Jiang Yin for a while, she gradually calmed down.

Then she pulled Jiang Yin aside and spoke earnestly, pouring out her heart.

“You’re only nineteen, don’t rush it. There are plenty of celebrities in the entertainment industry who struggled for ten or eight years before becoming famous. You’re not urgently in need of money. Let’s take it step by step and progress slowly and steadily.”

“Look at those popularity-driven stars who were jumping around happily a couple of years ago. What’s the situation now? Even discerning people can tell that relying solely on popularity doesn’t work anymore. Those who are famous now are those with acting skills. Audiences aren’t blind. Relying on looks won’t take you far in the long run. You still need real talent. If you have acting skills, you can still become popular even in your forties or fifties. Look at Ning Zhao who’s recently become popular.”

“You do have a talent for acting. Seriously, don’t rush. With your appearance, if you diligently study acting, you’ll definitely become famous. Don’t listen to the nonsense that Han Lingran and the others spout. They’re just jealous of you. They’re not putting in the effort themselves and want to drag others down with them.”

…

The girl chatted incessantly, as if she wanted to dissect and pulverize the essence of these teachings for him.

Jiang Yin found her words both heartwarming and amusing.

Lying down that night, he resisted but couldn’t hold back any longer. He turned over and retrieved art supplies and paints he had secretly purchased from Chen Dan. Quietly, he painted a picture for Jiang Ai.

Calligraphy, chess, musical instruments, and painting were the only things he excelled at. During the difficult days of his previous life, he could only find solace in his art.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t show her this painting for now. Jiang Yin admired it for a while, then carefully put it away after it dried. He planned to wait until he had the opportunity to learn how to paint properly before presenting it to her.

**********************