AITFYMIBP Chapter 3

TL: Hua

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Chapter 3: Soak wolfberries in a thermos mug

Lin Yanran’s biological clock woke him up promptly at seven in the morning.

After washing up, he boiled a cup of water for himself.

As he instinctively reached for a box of wolfberries to add to his water, he realized that the original owner’s home didn’t have any.

Old habits are hard to break. Since it was still early, Lin Yanran went to the supermarket downstairs to buy a thermos mug and some wolfberries.

When he paid, he saw his WeChat balance drop by another 150 yuan. For the first time in his life, Lin Yanran, who had never worried about money, felt a pang of pain.

The program team had notified him to arrive at 11 a.m., so Lin Yanran and Yingying left at 9.

The studio where the program was recorded was built in a relatively remote place where there was no subway, so the two could only take a taxi to get there.

This was his first time going to a recording without a private car. Yingying was extremely worried, fearing that Lin Yanran would be laughed at for taking a taxi to work.

But as she watched him remain completely at ease throughout the ride, she somehow stopped worrying as well.

“Brother, is there really no hope with the company? Ding Weikang disbanded your team last night…”

As an assistant, Yingying had also received a notice of termination, but unlike the others, she chose to stay with Lin Yanran through this difficult time.

Lin Yanran’s eyes showed a hint of gratitude. He decided to be direct with her. “I’m planning to terminate my contract with the company. They might sue me soon.”

Yingying had already guessed as much, but she was still shocked to hear him say it so bluntly. “Have you found a new company to sign with?”

“Not yet.” Lin Yanran shrugged. “I’m just taking it one step at a time.”

He looked at the young woman who was the only person willing to stay with him in his time of need. “You know my situation. There might come a day when I can’t even pay you a salary.”

Yingying thought Lin Yanran was subtly trying to get her to leave. She quickly shook her head. “It’s okay, brother. It’s really okay if you can’t pay me.”

This wasn’t just something she was saying; it came from her heart.

She remembered when she first joined the company and didn’t know anything. She accidentally broke something belonging to Ding Weikang.

He was furious and humiliated her in front of the entire team, threatening to fire her and demanding a 100,000 yuan payment.

In that moment, in her despair and tears, she had been on the verge of jumping off a building. But it was Yanran who handed her a tissue and helped her resolve the issue.

Remembering that moment, Yingying’s eyes welled up again.

She looked at Lin Yanran with gratitude and determination. “Brother Yanran, you were the only one who helped me back then. Now that you’re in trouble, how could I be so ungrateful?”

Lin Yanran didn’t know the full story behind her words, but from what she said, it was easy to guess that the original owner had shown her great kindness.

He smiled and patted Yingying’s head. “I was just teasing you. We’ll get through this. I’ll make sure to make enough money to pay your salary.”

Yingying nodded heavily. For some reason, she found the natural confidence he exuded incredibly reassuring.

The filming location was in the suburbs, and the ride was long. The talkative taxi driver in the front seat quickly struck up a conversation with them.

“Are you guys also going to see that survival show? I’ve taken so many trips there over the past couple of days. Even late at night, I get young girls going. There are so many of them.”

Lin Yanran was curious. “Are they going to be in the audience?”

The driver shook his head. “No, they can’t get in. They’re all trying to get exclusive, first-hand photos.”

Lin Yanran wasn’t a part of fan culture and didn’t know the terminology.

Seeing the puzzled look on his face, Yingying explained in a low voice, “The first three episodes were recorded in a closed set. No one was allowed in. But starting this episode, the audience can vote, so the program team is letting each trainee’s ‘fansite managers’ and unofficial photographers come to take pictures and post them. The girls the driver is talking about are probably there to take photos of the trainees going to and from the set to maintain their popularity with fans.”

The driver, seeing how knowledgeable Yingying was, joined the conversation again. “Yes, that’s it. I heard they become celebrities after the show ends.”

The driver glanced at Lin Yanran in his rearview mirror. “But I think you’re very handsome. Even better-looking than those celebrities. If you stood there, I’m sure those girls would take a few photos of you too.”

Lin Yanran chuckled. “I think none of those girls would want to see me.”

The driver, thinking he was being humble, laughed as well. “No way!”

A few minutes later, Lin Yanran arrived at the entrance of the filming location.

Through the car window, he saw the girls the driver had talked about.

They were gathered on both sides of the contestant’s entrance, nearly all of them with huge cameras.

Lin Yanran scanned the QR code to pay the fare and got out of the car, feeling a familiar ache in his heart as he saw his balance shrink again. If he had to take a taxi every day, his small bank balance would be gone in less than a month…

Just as he was thinking this, someone in the crowd shouted, “Isn’t that Yanran? Why is he taking a taxi?”

In an instant, all eyes turned to Lin Yanran. The fans, fansite managers, and photographers for all sixty trainees saw Lin Yanran getting out of a taxi, a thermos mug still in his hand.

A hubbub immediately broke out in the crowd.

“Damn, it really is Yanran…”

“Doesn’t he have a car?”

“He’s taking a taxi to work???”

“I heard he fell out with his company. I guess the company isn’t taking care of him anymore…”

“He fell out with the company and lost his car? That’s pathetic!”

After the initial shock, a quick-witted fansite manager started snapping photos of Lin Yanran and the taxi. A confused person next to her, who belonged to Xuan Yihan’s fansite, reminded her, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to take pictures of this…”

But she ignored them, continuing to take photos.

Seeing that the girls were all looking at him and taking pictures, Lin Yanran smiled and waved.

“Good afternoon, everyone. Did you get to see the trainees you wanted?”

The fansite managers: ?????

Is Yanran taking the wrong drug today?

However, you shouldn’t hit someone who smiles at you. Since Yanran had greeted them in such a friendly manner, some of the more outgoing fansite managers smiled and politely responded, “Hello, Teacher Yanran.”

Translator Note: In C-ent, people like to refer to celebrities, actors, singers, etc., as “teachers.”

As she spoke, the fansite manager’s eyes fell on the thermos mug with a beautiful ink-wash landscape painting design in Lin Yanran’s hand. “Teacher Yanran, is that a thermos mug?”

The question successfully drew everyone else’s attention to Lin Yanran’s mug.

He nodded, holding it up. “Yes, it is. It’s got wolfberries inside.”

The fansite managers laughed.

Lin Yanran smiled as well. “Wolfberries are great for your health.”

He knew perfectly well that none of these people were his fans.

Out of politeness, Lin Yanran said a few more words before waving to everyone. “I’m going in now.”

Just as he was about to leave, he turned back and said, “It’s windy out here, and the temperature is going to drop soon. Remember to put on some extra clothes.”

The fansite managers froze again. They looked at each other in bewilderment.

It was a very strange feeling to suddenly be cared for by someone you didn’t really like.

But not liking someone didn’t equate to hating them, especially since their favorite trainees had no quarrel with Yanran. Most of them waved goodbye to Lin Yanran as he left.

But soon, a sarcastic voice from the crowd yelled at Lin Yanran’s retreating back.

“Big star, why are you taking a taxi today? Where’s your luxury car? Does a taxi match your noble status?”

It was a fansite manager from Xuan Yihan’s team.

They were laughing loudly, their faces full of open mockery.

The other fansite managers present knew about the feud between Xuan Yihan and Yanran, but they hadn’t expected Xuan Yihan’s fansite manager to be so cruel to his face.

Many of them frowned, looking at her reproachfully.

But she didn’t seem to think she was doing anything wrong. Her face was filled with a smug, mocking smile.

The other fansite managers felt disgusted and worried for Lin Yanran.

A celebrity being mocked to his face like this would surely lose his composure. But if he got angry, this group would have even more material to work with…

While everyone was guessing what he would do, Lin Yanran turned around and gave them a relaxed smile. “It’s not abnormal to take a taxi to work when there’s no subway, is it?”

It’s not abnormal to take a taxi to work when there’s no subway, is it?

With a simple, casual joke, he completely diffused the awkward situation.

The other fansite managers couldn’t help but laugh.

The subway: Was that necessary?

Anything that happened at the filming location was almost immediately shared online.

These little moments were quickly spread through various channels by the fansite managers.

On Xuan Yihan’s fan page, the information that was shared was as follows: “A certain person just fell out with his company yesterday, and today he can only take a taxi to work. Who wouldn’t say this is pathetic? What goes around comes around.”

[He can’t even afford a minivan? This celebrity is so broke.]

[I just realized, that poor loser was probably jealous of our young master Hanhan.]

[We’re the flower of wealth and nobility in the human world. How can we be mentioned in the same breath as this loser]

Xuan Yihan’s fans secretly referred to him as “the young master” and “the flower of wealth and nobility in the human world.”

Although he tried to keep a low profile on the show, his eagle-eyed fans had already found out that his earrings, necklaces, and bracelets were worth at least six to seven figures.

While worshipping a wealthy celebrity, the fans also felt they were elevated.

Xuan Yihan’s fans naturally looked down on Lin Yanran for taking a taxi to work, and they mocked him for his “poverty.”

In other parts of the internet, the discussion about Lin Yanran was very different.

[He’s not wearing any makeup. Is this his bare face? He’s so handsome!]

[What is he holding in his hand? Is that a thermos mug??]

[Oh my god, he’s only 22, right? Why is he carrying a thermos mug around like my grandpa, hahaha.]

[Is this guy complaining about the show’s remote location? Hahaha. “No subway, so I have to take a taxi every time, thanks a lot.”]

[Is this guy trying to become a comedian?]

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After arriving at the program location, Lin Yanran was taken to a separate meeting room to speak with the director’s team.

The director spoke earnestly, discreetly informing him of the previous night’s decision so he would be mentally prepared.

Lin Yanran, being a smart person, naturally understood the director’s implied message.

“Thank you, Director. I appreciate your concern and the program team’s. I promise I won’t cause any more trouble this episode.”

Lin Yanran’s attitude was so cooperative and apologetic that the director didn’t say much else.

He patted Lin Yanran’s shoulder and consoled him, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. This next week will be tough, so you need to prepare well.”

Lin Yanran nodded. After discussing the program, he brought up the topic he wanted to talk about.

“Director, can I get reimbursed for my taxi fare to work?”

He had heard that the program team usually covered transportation costs.

The director, caught off guard by the question, was momentarily speechless. It wasn’t until he saw Lin Yanran pull up the e-receipts on his phone that he understood what he was asking.

“Yes, yes, of course… Just… talk to the finance department about it.”

In all his years in the entertainment industry, Lin Yanran was the first celebrity to ever ask for a taxi reimbursement…

As someone who was on the verge of starvation, Lin Yanran didn’t care about a little embarrassment. Relieved that he had solved a major problem, he let out a sigh and smiled, “Okay, I’ll send the e-receipts to the finance department later.”

The director looked at him, unable to hold back his question. “Are you really short on money?”

Lin Yanran nodded honestly. “Yes. I’m preparing to sue my company to terminate my contract.”

—

After his meeting with the director, Lin Yanran saw that the staff was getting busy.

All sixty trainees had arrived at the makeup room and were getting their hair and makeup done.

Yingying ran over to Lin Yanran, almost in tears.

“Brother, we didn’t bring our styling team today, so there might be a problem with your makeup.”

The original owner had his own styling team, but since he had a falling out with the company last night, and the program team hadn’t arranged a separate makeup artist for him in advance, he was stuck with the trainees.

Yingying, who hadn’t been in charge of this before, only realized the problem when they arrived.

With so many trainees, it would take a long time to get everyone ready. There were also very few makeup artists available. When she had tried to ask for help, the busy makeup artists either refused or told them to wait until the very end.

Seeing Yingying’s distress, Lin Yanran comforted her. “Don’t worry. We’ll find another way, or we can just wait. It’s okay; they’re busy.”

“But time is running out. We won’t have enough time if we wait for them to finish…”

Just as Yingying finished speaking, a deep, pleasant male voice came from behind Lin Yanran.

“My makeup artist is free. If you don’t mind, she can do your makeup.”

Lin Yanran turned around. The first thing he saw was a pair of dark, profound eyes.

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