Chapter 524: Wen Ming 14
Tan You pulled Liuu Yize away, leaving Jiang Hua to sigh and slump onto the sofa. Old Huang tossed him a cigarette. "You’ve really fallen for Wen Ming? She made herself very clear. Don’t go overboard."
"Am I the kind of person who doesn’t know when to stop?" Jiang Hua rolled his eyes. "I just find it... novel. In all these years, this is the first time someone’s been so unimpressed by me."
"Really?" Old Mo opened the window. "I think Wen Ming’s attitude toward you is pretty good."
"You don’t get it. She doesn’t see me as a man," Jiang Hua lit a cigarette. "In her eyes, I’m just a very ordinary friend. Her gaze never lingers on me."
"I get it," Old Mo patted his shoulder, hiding a smile. "But that’s not so bad. Think about it. Isn’t it a rare experience to have someone see you so purely, just for who you are?"
"It just feels like a failure." Jiang Hua ran a hand through his hair. He knew this way of thinking wasn’t right, but he couldn’t help it.
"Mr. Jiang just feels thrown off balance. You’re clearly interested in her, but she’s completely oblivious," Li Junfei said with a chuckle. "But then again, who you like is your own business. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
"It only becomes two people’s business when the feeling is mutual."
Jiang Hua shot Li Junfei a look. "Teacher Li seems to have a lot of insight on the matter now."
Old Yan chimed in, "Old Jiang, you should just give up now. A guy like you will only end up hurting people. Besides, with a heart of stone like Teacher Wen’s, trying to romance her is an insult to her. She’s like a fairy floating in the sky; she’s not going to descend into the mortal world."
"I get it all. I’ll sort out my feelings." Jiang Hua coughed. "I’m off. I won’t be coming to the company for a while. I need to go out and find some inspiration."
The office door closed. Old Mo shook his head. "Old Jiang... it really makes you sigh. Of all the people to like, why’d he have to pick her? She has a true heart of iron and stone; she won’t be moved by things like this."
Old Huang said, "It’s good for Old Jiang to hit a wall. Just think, if he’s unlucky in love, won’t the songs just keep flowing?"
"You’re... on another level!" Old Yan gave a thumbs-up. ’How had he not thought of that?’
Tan You was unaware of the conversation between Jiang Hua and his friends. She was busy herself. Although the end of the year was approaching, no one from Wen Ming’s hometown had contacted her.
’Wen Ming’s life is quite tragic, when you think about it,’ Tan You reflected. ’Her parents basically cut off contact after the divorce, and she wasn’t that close with her maternal grandparents back home, either.’ With that in mind, Tan You made a call, mainly to wire money to Wen Ming’s grandparents.
Although the old couple was cold toward Wen Ming, they had raised her for many years, and that kindness had to be repaid. Since Tan You wasn’t going back in person, the money, at least, had to be taken care of.
’In the end, any problem that can be solved with money isn’t a real problem.’
As soon as the money was transferred, Tan You thought for a moment and called Wen Ming’s grandmother. "I sent you twenty thousand yuan. I’m busy with work over the New Year and can’t get away, so I won’t be coming back."
Her grandmother sounded very disappointed. "You’re not coming back again this year? You haven’t been back in years."
Tan You said, "I’m busy here, I really can’t get away. Use the money I sent for you and Grandpa to get a check-up. Spend the rest on good food and drinks. And don’t you dare give any of it to Liuu Yan."
"If you give her the money, I’ll stop sending you any more."
Her grandmother was taken aback by Tan You’s tone. "I won’t give it to her, alright? Why are you being so fierce? You need to take care of yourself out there. And you and Little Qi, are you two doing okay? Bring him home for a visit when you have time."
Tan You froze for a second. She just remembered she hadn’t told the old couple that Wen Ming and Qi Ying had divorced. But she didn’t say anything, just hummed in agreement. "I’m doing well, and so is he. We’ll talk about visiting some other time."
"Just take care of yourselves at home."
After all, Wen Ming had never been very close to her grandparents. After exchanging these pleasantries, Tan You didn’t know what else to say and finally used being busy with work as an excuse to hang up.
Her grandmother sighed, thinking about the money Tan You had sent. "Wen Ming sent money. She wants us to go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow."
Her grandfather took a drag from his long-stemmed pipe. "Then let’s go. It’s not easy for her out there. Taking care of ourselves so we don’t become a burden is the best way to help her. All alone out there..."
Her grandmother said, "If you think about it, she hasn’t been back in five years. I wonder how Little Qi is treating her. She moved to another province... I wonder if she’s doing okay."
"That’s enough," her grandfather said, taking another puff from his pipe. "If you miss her that much, just give her more calls."
Tan You felt she had fulfilled her duty and didn’t contact Wen Ming’s hometown again before the New Year. Lately, she’d been busy preparing songs for Liuu Yize’s new album. As for her own album, that would be pushed to April.
During that time, Old Yan and the others invited her to hang out, but Tan You didn’t go. They were all a bunch of guys. If she was around all the time, they wouldn’t be able to have fun freely, and she’d feel out of place herself. It was better to just stay comfortably at home.
But she didn’t expect to receive an uninvited guest even at home.
It was now after the New Year, but most people hadn’t officially returned to work yet, spending their time visiting family and friends instead. Tan You was holed up in her little snail shell of a home, feeling quite comfortable on her own.
"Mr. Cheng?" Tan You was a little surprised. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Cheng Ming seemed a bit reserved. "My apologies, Teacher Wen. It’s rude of me to visit so suddenly. I do have something to discuss with you, but I felt it would be awkward to look for you at your company."
Tan You raised an eyebrow. "Then come in and we’ll talk."
After serving tea, Tan You sat cross-legged on the floor opposite Cheng Ming. "If I recall correctly, Mr. Cheng and I have only met once, at the awards ceremony. I wonder what brings you here?"
Cheng Ming pushed his teacup aside. "Teacher Wen, this may be a bit forward of me to ask, but I was wondering if you have any intention of developing a career in the acting world."
Tan You tapped her fingers on the table, instantly guessing Cheng Ming’s purpose. "Mr. Cheng, are you looking for a script?"
Cheng Ming hadn’t expected Tan You to be so direct. He froze for a moment before nodding quickly. "That is indeed what I mean. For years, I’ve only been playing bit parts, never any standout roles."
"I’ve been in movies and I’ve released albums, but I haven’t had a stellar performance in any area." He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "So now, I’m thinking of taking a gamble. That’s why I’ve come specifically to seek your guidance, Teacher Wen."
He had been thinking about what Tan You had said to him. She called him a natural-born actor, but what good is a great actor without a great script? So, Cheng Ming had come to Tan You to try his luck.
"’Seek your guidance’ is too strong a phrase; I don’t deserve it," Tan You said with a smile. "But we can certainly discuss things. Mr. Cheng, have you always been developing your career here, or on the mainland?"
Cheng Ming’s heart skipped a beat. "I usually spend most of my time on the mainland, and about a third of my time here."