Chapter 35(1)
The next morning, Shen Qiao dragged her huge suitcase to the airport to take the plane.
In the taxi, the driver recognized her and asked for an autograph, Sheng Qiao then wrote “Happy New Year”. There were still a few days to go before New Year’s Eve and despite the cold, there were still a lively and festive atmosphere in the freezing weather.
There was no fans who sent her off during her private trip as everyone was in a hurry running to their warm homes. And so was Sheng Qiao, it was already afternoon when she arrived.
She told Mother Sheng in advance that she was coming back so as soon as she entered the door, she smelled the pungent aroma of rice. Although Mother Shen was in a wheelchair she had long since adapted to it after so many years and all the tools in house were specially tailored to fit her height.
Sheng Qiao jumped over and gave her a big hug as she smiled sweetly and shouted.
“Mom, I’m back, did you miss me?”
Mother Shen stroked her hear and kissed her face again as she pointed to the TV.
“You can be seen every day.”
Under the TV cabinet was an old-fashioned DVD player which was no longer sold in many placed but Mother Sheng has been using it. She bought all of her daughter’s TV series at the town’s video store and repeatedly played them at home every day for an unknown number of times.
Everyone in town knows that the woman who sells insoles in a wheelchair loves to watch TV shows.
The bed covers have been replaced with new ones, it was clean and spotless. Sheng Qiao spread the suitcase to pack out her clothes.
“I said I can clean the room by myself after I’m back, but you did it.”
She took two padded jackets out of her suitcase and carried one in one hand.
“Does it look good?”
Mother Sheng took a look and knew she bought it for herself. But thought that it was a little too old fashioned for her daughter and realized something.
“I’ve told you not buy, you little girl.”
She said these words but the delight in her eyes could not be hidden. Sheng Qiao helped her try on the clothes, they all fit her mother will and most importantly it was warm.
Mother Sheng looked around in the mirror and asked her again.
“Is it expensive?”
“It’s not expensive, I bought it at a discount.”
Mother Shen then felt relieved.
The next morning Sheng Qiao had to go out of the buy vegetables and was wrapped like a penguin and since everyone was dressed in a hat and mask she didn’t feel strange. She bought some stuffing for dumpling and three kilograms of dumpling skin. After breakfast she sat in the living room while making dumpling and watching a play.
What was play on the TV was actually one of Huo Xi’s play.
It was an historical drama made two years ago, when it was first broadcasted the fans have watched it on computer, mobile phone and iPad for the ratings to go up. She also watched it over and over again many times.
Huo Xi’s acting skill were not considered perfect but every year it was improving and was already considered a good actor in the eyes of netizens.
Even after watching it a hundred and eighty times that she even remember the next line, her interest was never gone even until this moment.
Mother Sheng who saw her daughter wrapping the dumpling while reciting the line,
“What kind hero are you? A warrior who steals chicken and pets?”
The next line was faster than the protagonist.
“I’m not embarrassed with you but just thinking of the past teacher’s love, you only think I dare not execute the sword?”
“Even the tone of voice was the same.
“Hahahah it hurts! Don’t say farewell today cherish each other! Green mountains do not change, green water flows forever!
Mother Sheng: “…”
Is she being silly because of filming?
After wrapping the dumpling and putting it in the refrigerator, Sheng Qiao pointed to the handsome child in the picture.
“Does he looked good?”
Mother Sheng said.
“Good looking, all celebrities are look good.”
“He’s different, he’s the best looking!”
Mother Sheng looked at it carefully for a while.
“En, it’s better than those next to him.”
She looked at her daughter’s smitten eyes.
“Do you like him?”
“En! He’s exceptionally nice, good character, has good three outlooks in life, all in all he’s good at everything.”
Mother Sheng gave her a blank look.
“How long has it been? It will soon change again.”
Sheng Qiao: “??”
What do you mean?
Mother Sheng was still wrapping dumplings.
“I think the one before is better, this one looks too young. Is he about the same age as you?”
“He is three years older than me, he is twenty eight.”
“Ohhhhh that’s good looking, he look so young.”
Sheng Qiao came over and picked up the dumpling skin as she asked deliberately.
“The one before, what did I tell you about it?”
Mother Sheng laughed and patted her.
“You little girl, you’re still young and yet you already forget. Last time you said that someone is like a moonlight that no one could match it.”
Sheng Qiao: “…”
Moonlight??? Meng Xingchen??!
Crap.
At lunch, Sheng Qiao ate absent-mindedly. After eating she quickly took our her phone and carefully checked the call records, WeChat records and Weibo records.
None, there was nothing.
Her contact with Meng Xingchen only stops at the moonlight in the address book he was not even added in WeChat.
After going through the video cabinet except DVD of Sheng Qiao’s dramas, all others were Meng Xingchen’s drama. From his debut to his Brandian award to his nomination for the Golden Horse—every single one of them.
Sheng Qiao sat on the floor and held her head.
Moonlight,
He was her moonlight.
My world where the sun does not shine in, it was cold and dark with only the moonlight giving the only light.
New Year’s Eve, the family welcome the new year with firecrackers. In remote towns, firecrackers were not controlled so near twelve o’clock she could already heard explosions around that Sheng Qiao could not hear the comical sketch she was watchinhg.
Finally, she simply pushed Mother Sheng out to see the fireworks.
The street was full of children scurrying on the streets, and all the houses were lit up. Sheng Qiao was infected by the atmosphere and also ran to buy a few boxes of fireworks to put at the door. As the second hand gradually pointed the twelve, she took out her mobile phone and clicked on Huo Xi’s WeChat write down Happy New Year. The moment the New Year bell rang the four words flew to the person she loved with all her sincerity and love.
It was her first year away from her parents and brother.
It was also the first year she spent with her new mother.
This year her world was turned upside down and she could only go forward.
***
Chapter 35(2)
After returning home, Sheng Qiao sent a big red envelope in the management group. Everyone was still awake so immediately after she sent the red envelop everyone made a fuss until the latter part of the night before they went to bed. The next day she sleep in and didn’t want to get up, Mother Sheng didn’t wake her up too.
In a few moments the roll-up door was slammed and someone called out to her.
“Xiao Qiao! Xiao Qiao! Your mother is in trouble!”
Sheng Qiao somersaulted and had no time to wear her shoes as she immediately put on her coat and rushed out.
Mother Sheng fell when she went to take out the garbage, it had been snowing for a few days so the ground was slippery not to mention she was in a wheelchair, the wheel skidded for some reason. She lost control all the way and hit the railing then turned sideways
Mother Sheng was taken to the hospital in town by a neighbor, Sheng Qiao then hurriedly got dressed and rushed over.
The doctor was treating Mother Sheng when she arrive, the injury was not big since she was wearing thick clothes due to winter so she only had small abrasions but her leg that usually hurt in winter would be more painful due to the accident.
Looking at Mother’s Sheng uncomfortable appearance on the wheelchair Sheng Qiao was really distressed and remorseful. Mother Qiao was taken care by Father Qiao and Qiao Yu, also usually there were nannies at home but mother Sheng was different, she was alone.
How did she get used to it after all these years?
Sheng Qiao didn’t say anything during the treatment and when the doctor left she followed her and asked.
“Can my mom’s leg fitted with prosthetic leg?”
“Certainly possible.”
“How much is it?”
“It’s impossible to say since there are cheap ones and expensive one. Ten thousands to hundreds of thousands, depending on your own need and we can’t match it here you have to go to the city hospital.”
Ten thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Sheng Qiao was thinking about their own bank balance, and for the first time felt what it’s like to lack money.
She couldn’t even giver her mom a cheap prosthetic leg. Qiao Yu’s legal fee were just collected symbolically but it was not cheap for her. There were a lot of expenses in the capital, she has to rent a house again when the house expires year after.
She wanted to take care of her mother in the capital, at least she needs to rent a house with convenient access, safe and spacious property space. Since she would be often out to shoot movies and programs she has to find a nanny to feel at ease. If she wanted to settle down she has to buy a house she also needs a car for transportation.
Which all were heavenly price for her now.
How could she be so poor!
It wasn’t long before Mother Sheng came out on her own, rocking her wheelchair. Seeing her in the hallway with red eyes she called her out softly.
“Qiao Qiao, we’re going home.”
Sheng Qiao put away the negative emotions.
She pushed Mother Sheng and together they went home. It was snowing lightly but the town the hospital was not far from home so she walked slowly in the show while pushing her mother’s wheelchair through the fine snow on the ground, leaving a long traces.
Mother Sheng wanted to make her happy and talked all the way on purpose, but Sheng Qiao was still silent. After arriving home, she took out the contracts that were pressed at the bottom of the box.
One by one she go over it again.
Finally her eyes fell on Zhongxia’s contract.
The voice of the exquisite and tall man in Gucci with perfume still lingers in her ears.
“….the point will determine the final height, since you have to choose to start over you might as well, choose the best platform…”
They could give her the best resource with highest terms and most money.
It’s pressure and it’s opportunity.
She could no longer change back to her old self.
Since she had decided to continue in the circle, she should not think about ease and stability. There was no popular artist who has come all that through peacefully, behind their glamorous and brilliance was unknown hardships and efforts.
She need to be strong.
She must be strong.
Only then would she not be helpless when someone she cares about needs help.
Sheng Qiao tore up the contract documents of other companies, leaving Zhongxia. But she did not take the initiative to call Zhongxia.
The New Year continues.
By the sixth say of the first month, one day before the Spring Festival’s legal holiday Sheng Qiao began to receive calls from various agents and uniformly she replied to them, giving them an accurate answer on the eight day.
On the afternoon of the seventh day of the first month, she waited for a call from Zhongxia.
The man named Bei Mingfan smiled and wished her a happy new year before he asked.
“How is Miss Sheng thinking?”
Sheng Qiao was unperturbed.
“I’m not going to lie, your company is needed within my intention.”
Bei Mingfan also did not interrupt knowing that she had more to say next.
“But cooperation is between the two sides. Some of the previous styles of Zhongxia are not very suitable for me, which makes me hesitate.”
“I wonder which style Miss Sheng is talking about?”
“Mr. Bei I won’t go around with you anymore. The condition you have given are indeed the most in line with my heart. Thank you for your trust and support but I also have several conditions, if Mr. Bei can promise I can sign with you at any time.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I’m not an actor from a professional background, my acting skills still need to be hone. I hope the company could find a senior teacher who has passed the acting skills to guide me.”
“I can promise you this one.”
“Although I have junior high school degree I have been studying privately over the years but I don’t know much about this area of domestic education upgrading and I hope the company can help me arrange the appropriate exams.”
“Miss Sheng has a good heart to learn, this is natural.”
“After signing I hope the company will not use the speculation of cp to boost popularity. Mr. Bei should know the methods used by Xingyao on me a few years ago, I’m really afraid of these.”
“We are different from Xingyao, we don’t need to use others to boost popularity so no need to worry.”
“One last thing, I don’t want the company to set up a persona for me. What I am is what I am.”
Bei Mingfan smiled.
“Miss Sheng is already very pleasant, we won’t do anything anymore.”
Not likeable, she was like this before the variety show she attended which could be a dangerous move if she really was they think she was. But seeing the true her, the whole network of passers-by had a new view of her and became her fan one after another. Moreover she did not rely on the company and just turn the side alone.
This was also the reason why he was satisfied at Sheng Qiao.
Bei Mingfan was surprisingly good at talking which surprised Sheng Qiao. And since the request she made were reasonable and it was not unexpected that he would agree.
“I will add these conditions mentioned by Miss Sheng to the contract. I don’t know when Miss Sheng will come back?”
“I have a flight this evening.”
“Then I’ll send a car to pick you up tomorrow morning at nine o’clock and I’ll see you at the office.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, Sheng Qiao began to collect the luggage. Mother Sheng did not say anything and just made a table of good food, after eating Sheng Qiao was leaving for the airport.
Mother Sheng prepared some things but Sheng Qiao did not want to bring them.
She half-kneeled in front of the wheelchair, she hugged Mother Sheng and whispered.
“Mom wait for me for a while longer, I’ll pick you soon and go to the capital.”
This was a statement that Mother Sheng has been waiting for six years.
***
Chapter 35(1)
The next morning, Shen Qiao dragged her huge suitcase to the airport to take the plane.
In the taxi, the driver recognized her and asked for an autograph, Sheng Qiao then wrote “Happy New Year”. There were still a few days to go before New Year’s Eve and despite the cold, there were still a lively and festive atmosphere in the freezing weather.
There was no fans who sent her off during her private trip as everyone was in a hurry running to their warm homes. And so was Sheng Qiao, it was already afternoon when she arrived.
She told Mother Sheng in advance that she was coming back so as soon as she entered the door, she smelled the pungent aroma of rice. Although Mother Shen was in a wheelchair she had long since adapted to it after so many years and all the tools in house were specially tailored to fit her height.
Sheng Qiao jumped over and gave her a big hug as she smiled sweetly and shouted.
“Mom, I’m back, did you miss me?”
Mother Shen stroked her hear and kissed her face again as she pointed to the TV.
“You can be seen every day.”
Under the TV cabinet was an old-fashioned DVD player which was no longer sold in many placed but Mother Sheng has been using it. She bought all of her daughter’s TV series at the town’s video store and repeatedly played them at home every day for an unknown number of times.
Everyone in town knows that the woman who sells insoles in a wheelchair loves to watch TV shows.
The bed covers have been replaced with new ones, it was clean and spotless. Sheng Qiao spread the suitcase to pack out her clothes.
“I said I can clean the room by myself after I’m back, but you did it.”
She took two padded jackets out of her suitcase and carried one in one hand.
“Does it look good?”
Mother Sheng took a look and knew she bought it for herself. But thought that it was a little too old fashioned for her daughter and realized something.
“I’ve told you not buy, you little girl.”
She said these words but the delight in her eyes could not be hidden. Sheng Qiao helped her try on the clothes, they all fit her mother will and most importantly it was warm.
Mother Sheng looked around in the mirror and asked her again.
“Is it expensive?”
“It’s not expensive, I bought it at a discount.”
Mother Shen then felt relieved.
The next morning Sheng Qiao had to go out of the buy vegetables and was wrapped like a penguin and since everyone was dressed in a hat and mask she didn’t feel strange. She bought some stuffing for dumpling and three kilograms of dumpling skin. After breakfast she sat in the living room while making dumpling and watching a play.
What was play on the TV was actually one of Huo Xi’s play.
It was an historical drama made two years ago, when it was first broadcasted the fans have watched it on computer, mobile phone and iPad for the ratings to go up. She also watched it over and over again many times.
Huo Xi’s acting skill were not considered perfect but every year it was improving and was already considered a good actor in the eyes of netizens.
Even after watching it a hundred and eighty times that she even remember the next line, her interest was never gone even until this moment.
Mother Sheng who saw her daughter wrapping the dumpling while reciting the line,
“What kind hero are you? A warrior who steals chicken and pets?”
The next line was faster than the protagonist.
“I’m not embarrassed with you but just thinking of the past teacher’s love, you only think I dare not execute the sword?”
“Even the tone of voice was the same.
“Hahahah it hurts! Don’t say farewell today cherish each other! Green mountains do not change, green water flows forever!
Mother Sheng: “…”
Is she being silly because of filming?
After wrapping the dumpling and putting it in the refrigerator, Sheng Qiao pointed to the handsome child in the picture.
“Does he looked good?”
Mother Sheng said.
“Good looking, all celebrities are look good.”
“He’s different, he’s the best looking!”
Mother Sheng looked at it carefully for a while.
“En, it’s better than those next to him.”
She looked at her daughter’s smitten eyes.
“Do you like him?”
“En! He’s exceptionally nice, good character, has good three outlooks in life, all in all he’s good at everything.”
Mother Sheng gave her a blank look.
“How long has it been? It will soon change again.”
Sheng Qiao: “??”
What do you mean?
Mother Sheng was still wrapping dumplings.
“I think the one before is better, this one looks too young. Is he about the same age as you?”
“He is three years older than me, he is twenty eight.”
“Ohhhhh that’s good looking, he look so young.”
Sheng Qiao came over and picked up the dumpling skin as she asked deliberately.
“The one before, what did I tell you about it?”
Mother Sheng laughed and patted her.
“You little girl, you’re still young and yet you already forget. Last time you said that someone is like a moonlight that no one could match it.”
Sheng Qiao: “…”
Moonlight??? Meng Xingchen??!
Crap.
At lunch, Sheng Qiao ate absent-mindedly. After eating she quickly took our her phone and carefully checked the call records, WeChat records and Weibo records.
None, there was nothing.
Her contact with Meng Xingchen only stops at the moonlight in the address book he was not even added in WeChat.
After going through the video cabinet except DVD of Sheng Qiao’s dramas, all others were Meng Xingchen’s drama. From his debut to his Brandian award to his nomination for the Golden Horse—every single one of them.
Sheng Qiao sat on the floor and held her head.
Moonlight,
He was her moonlight.
My world where the sun does not shine in, it was cold and dark with only the moonlight giving the only light.
New Year’s Eve, the family welcome the new year with firecrackers. In remote towns, firecrackers were not controlled so near twelve o’clock she could already heard explosions around that Sheng Qiao could not hear the comical sketch she was watchinhg.
Finally, she simply pushed Mother Sheng out to see the fireworks.
The street was full of children scurrying on the streets, and all the houses were lit up. Sheng Qiao was infected by the atmosphere and also ran to buy a few boxes of fireworks to put at the door. As the second hand gradually pointed the twelve, she took out her mobile phone and clicked on Huo Xi’s WeChat write down Happy New Year. The moment the New Year bell rang the four words flew to the person she loved with all her sincerity and love.
It was her first year away from her parents and brother.
It was also the first year she spent with her new mother.
This year her world was turned upside down and she could only go forward.
***
Chapter 35(2)
After returning home, Sheng Qiao sent a big red envelope in the management group. Everyone was still awake so immediately after she sent the red envelop everyone made a fuss until the latter part of the night before they went to bed. The next day she sleep in and didn’t want to get up, Mother Sheng didn’t wake her up too.
In a few moments the roll-up door was slammed and someone called out to her.
“Xiao Qiao! Xiao Qiao! Your mother is in trouble!”
Sheng Qiao somersaulted and had no time to wear her shoes as she immediately put on her coat and rushed out.
Mother Sheng fell when she went to take out the garbage, it had been snowing for a few days so the ground was slippery not to mention she was in a wheelchair, the wheel skidded for some reason. She lost control all the way and hit the railing then turned sideways
Mother Sheng was taken to the hospital in town by a neighbor, Sheng Qiao then hurriedly got dressed and rushed over.
The doctor was treating Mother Sheng when she arrive, the injury was not big since she was wearing thick clothes due to winter so she only had small abrasions but her leg that usually hurt in winter would be more painful due to the accident.
Looking at Mother’s Sheng uncomfortable appearance on the wheelchair Sheng Qiao was really distressed and remorseful. Mother Qiao was taken care by Father Qiao and Qiao Yu, also usually there were nannies at home but mother Sheng was different, she was alone.
How did she get used to it after all these years?
Sheng Qiao didn’t say anything during the treatment and when the doctor left she followed her and asked.
“Can my mom’s leg fitted with prosthetic leg?”
“Certainly possible.”
“How much is it?”
“It’s impossible to say since there are cheap ones and expensive one. Ten thousands to hundreds of thousands, depending on your own need and we can’t match it here you have to go to the city hospital.”
Ten thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Sheng Qiao was thinking about their own bank balance, and for the first time felt what it’s like to lack money.
She couldn’t even giver her mom a cheap prosthetic leg. Qiao Yu’s legal fee were just collected symbolically but it was not cheap for her. There were a lot of expenses in the capital, she has to rent a house again when the house expires year after.
She wanted to take care of her mother in the capital, at least she needs to rent a house with convenient access, safe and spacious property space. Since she would be often out to shoot movies and programs she has to find a nanny to feel at ease. If she wanted to settle down she has to buy a house she also needs a car for transportation.
Which all were heavenly price for her now.
How could she be so poor!
It wasn’t long before Mother Sheng came out on her own, rocking her wheelchair. Seeing her in the hallway with red eyes she called her out softly.
“Qiao Qiao, we’re going home.”
Sheng Qiao put away the negative emotions.
She pushed Mother Sheng and together they went home. It was snowing lightly but the town the hospital was not far from home so she walked slowly in the show while pushing her mother’s wheelchair through the fine snow on the ground, leaving a long traces.
Mother Sheng wanted to make her happy and talked all the way on purpose, but Sheng Qiao was still silent. After arriving home, she took out the contracts that were pressed at the bottom of the box.
One by one she go over it again.
Finally her eyes fell on Zhongxia’s contract.
The voice of the exquisite and tall man in Gucci with perfume still lingers in her ears.
“….the point will determine the final height, since you have to choose to start over you might as well, choose the best platform…”
They could give her the best resource with highest terms and most money.
It’s pressure and it’s opportunity.
She could no longer change back to her old self.
Since she had decided to continue in the circle, she should not think about ease and stability. There was no popular artist who has come all that through peacefully, behind their glamorous and brilliance was unknown hardships and efforts.
She need to be strong.
She must be strong.
Only then would she not be helpless when someone she cares about needs help.
Sheng Qiao tore up the contract documents of other companies, leaving Zhongxia. But she did not take the initiative to call Zhongxia.
The New Year continues.
By the sixth say of the first month, one day before the Spring Festival’s legal holiday Sheng Qiao began to receive calls from various agents and uniformly she replied to them, giving them an accurate answer on the eight day.
On the afternoon of the seventh day of the first month, she waited for a call from Zhongxia.
The man named Bei Mingfan smiled and wished her a happy new year before he asked.
“How is Miss Sheng thinking?”
Sheng Qiao was unperturbed.
“I’m not going to lie, your company is needed within my intention.”
Bei Mingfan also did not interrupt knowing that she had more to say next.
“But cooperation is between the two sides. Some of the previous styles of Zhongxia are not very suitable for me, which makes me hesitate.”
“I wonder which style Miss Sheng is talking about?”
“Mr. Bei I won’t go around with you anymore. The condition you have given are indeed the most in line with my heart. Thank you for your trust and support but I also have several conditions, if Mr. Bei can promise I can sign with you at any time.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I’m not an actor from a professional background, my acting skills still need to be hone. I hope the company could find a senior teacher who has passed the acting skills to guide me.”
“I can promise you this one.”
“Although I have junior high school degree I have been studying privately over the years but I don’t know much about this area of domestic education upgrading and I hope the company can help me arrange the appropriate exams.”
“Miss Sheng has a good heart to learn, this is natural.”
“After signing I hope the company will not use the speculation of cp to boost popularity. Mr. Bei should know the methods used by Xingyao on me a few years ago, I’m really afraid of these.”
“We are different from Xingyao, we don’t need to use others to boost popularity so no need to worry.”
“One last thing, I don’t want the company to set up a persona for me. What I am is what I am.”
Bei Mingfan smiled.
“Miss Sheng is already very pleasant, we won’t do anything anymore.”
Not likeable, she was like this before the variety show she attended which could be a dangerous move if she really was they think she was. But seeing the true her, the whole network of passers-by had a new view of her and became her fan one after another. Moreover she did not rely on the company and just turn the side alone.
This was also the reason why he was satisfied at Sheng Qiao.
Bei Mingfan was surprisingly good at talking which surprised Sheng Qiao. And since the request she made were reasonable and it was not unexpected that he would agree.
“I will add these conditions mentioned by Miss Sheng to the contract. I don’t know when Miss Sheng will come back?”
“I have a flight this evening.”
“Then I’ll send a car to pick you up tomorrow morning at nine o’clock and I’ll see you at the office.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, Sheng Qiao began to collect the luggage. Mother Sheng did not say anything and just made a table of good food, after eating Sheng Qiao was leaving for the airport.
Mother Sheng prepared some things but Sheng Qiao did not want to bring them.
She half-kneeled in front of the wheelchair, she hugged Mother Sheng and whispered.
“Mom wait for me for a while longer, I’ll pick you soon and go to the capital.”
This was a statement that Mother Sheng has been waiting for six years.
***
