Chapter 692: The True-Talk System of the Entertainment Industry (8)

"Have you eaten?" Xie Xiangyu casually took a bottle of Mineral Water out of the small refrigerator. "If not, I'll have your uncle bring back an extra portion; he's just about to go buy food."

Xie Yang parked the electric tricycle and walked in holding three portions of stir-fried rice noodles: "Uncle doesn't need to go buy any, I brought some."

Xie Xiangyu didn't stand on ceremony with her; she handed the water to Xie Yang while taking two portions of the stir-fried noodles, and she and her husband each ate one.

"Which place did you buy this from? It smells quite fragrant."

After taking a bite, she found it was even more fragrant!

The couple had been hungry for a long time, so they didn't have time to talk, shoveling the food into their mouths at a rapid pace.

They finished it in one go and still felt like they wanted more.

Xie Xiangyu was amused herself: "It's been a long time since I've eaten this fast!"

Xu Chengguang nodded: "This stir-fried noodle really tastes good! Which place is it from? I'll go buy some tomorrow too."

Xie Yang was only halfway through her own portion, and hearing this, she smiled and said: "I stir-fried it! Today is my first day setting up the stall, business has been pretty good!"

"..."

Looking at her niece's exquisite features and her palm-sized face with skin so good it seemed to glow, Xie Xiangyu thought she had misheard: "What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."

"Nini said she is selling stir-fried noodles, today is her first day setting up the stall, and business is pretty good." Xu Chengguang, thinking his wife really hadn't heard clearly, honestly repeated it for her.

Xie Xiangyu glared at her simple-minded husband, then turned to Xie Yang and said: "Haven't you always wanted to act? You've worked so hard these past few years and never changed your mind, so why are you backing out right before graduation? Are you discouraged because you haven't received any work lately? Or is your living money not enough? If you don't have enough money, you should have said so earlier. Your aunt is right here running a stall; although it doesn't make a profit every day, I still have enough to lend you some living expenses. How much are you short? I'll go get it for you right now."

As she spoke, she got up to go inside to count the money.

The money was in the crossbody bag on her back, but she always had to avoid the crowd when taking it out to count.

Xie Yang hurriedly stopped her: "Aunt, I'm not short on money. I've saved up the money I earned from the jobs I've taken. I just suddenly became obsessed with cooking recently, so I thought I'd try practicing at the Snack Street. Maybe I'll change my mind again in a few days."

"..."

She had studied in the performance major for three years. Although the art school diagonally across the street couldn't compare to those two famous undergraduate drama academies in the industry, it was still a professional art school. Her niece's grades had been at the top of her class since enrollment, and she had devoted herself entirely to acting during every winter and summer break. Now, right before graduation, she suddenly said she was obsessed with cooking and didn't want to act, but instead wanted to set up a stall at the Snack Street to sell stir-fried noodles. This...

It was as if a soccer player was about to take a shot at the goal, but suddenly turned their head and said they were obsessed with the cheerleaders' aerobics and planned to perform a routine first...

Xie Xiangyu didn't even know what to say.

But after all, she was an aunt by marriage, not the girl's own aunt. Their usual interactions were always polite and formal. Whether she chose to pursue acting or set up a small stall to sell stir-fried noodles, it was ultimately the girl's own business, and it wasn't her place to interfere or comment.

However...

"Have you discussed this with your mom and dad?"

The tuition for an art school was much more expensive than other vocational schools. Her cousin and his wife loved their child and insisted on supporting her pursuit of her ideals, tightening their belts to pay for her education. If it were any other family, they wouldn't be so open-minded; they would just pick a practical major.

Originally, seeing the child study hard for several years in university and get quite a few acting opportunities—even if they were all insignificant minor roles—it was considered a good start. After graduation, she would sign with an agency, and based on her looks and hard work, she would sooner or later climb from an unknown, bottom-tier minor role to a lead. The initial investment would finally see a return.

Who would have thought that this girl, right before graduation, wouldn't be focused on finding opportunities with film crews, but instead would pick up a spatula to sell stir-fried noodles? If she were the mother, she would be so angry she'd faint.

If you wanted to set up a stall to sell stir-fried noodles, you should have said so earlier! You could have done this after graduating high school and saved three years of tuition!

But these were all Xie Xiangyu's internal thoughts. On the surface, she couldn't say much, so she only told Xie Yang to ask for her parents' opinion.

Xie Yang did indeed intend to make a phone call home.

Firstly, she was about to graduate and had an income, so she didn't need her family to send her living expenses anymore. Secondly, she couldn't bear to throw away the clothes and daily necessities belonging to the original owner that she had brought from the dormitory, so she planned to mail them back, keeping only two suitcases with her own clothes and daily items.

Thus, she bid farewell to her aunt and uncle, rode the electric tricycle back to her rented room, packed the things she wanted to mail, and took them to the courier station.

After sending them off, she called Xie Yang's mother:

"Mom, I've found a job here at the Film and Television City. You don't need to send me living expenses anymore. You and Dad should eat better; don't be too frugal when buying groceries. I'll come home to see you after I finish this busy period. Also, I've mailed the clothes and books I'm not wearing for now back home. Keep an eye out for a courier call in the next two days."

Chen Cuishan was a warehouse keeper at a scissor factory. Aside from the low salary, the work wasn't busy. She was overjoyed to receive her daughter's call:

"You found a job? Right there in the Film and Television City? Which film crew is it this time? What number role are you playing? Never mind, Mom won't ask; I wouldn't understand anyway. In short, as long as someone asks you to act, that's fine. A small role is still a role, take it slow, it will get better in the future..."

"You still need to take living expenses; you haven't officially graduated yet! Besides, I heard from the landlady that the acting industry is no different from doing business; it requires a lot of initial investment. Only when you become famous will those endorsements come knocking. People rely on clothes and horses on saddles; you should buy yourself a couple of decent outfits..."

"... and you have to spend money on social interactions with the film crew. Anyway, your dad and I don't have many expenses lately, everything at home is fine, so don't you worry!"

She rambled on for a while before hanging up the phone.

Afterward, while working, Chen Cuishan was full of energy, and she felt incredibly strong when lifting boxes.

A colleague teased her: "Did you win the lottery? You're in such a good mood, you're working harder than before, aren't you afraid of straining your back?"

"Haha!" Chen Cuishan laughed heartily, "I'm happier than if I'd won the lottery! Our Nini found a job! And it's a job she likes. She's happy, so I, as her mother, am happy."

"You've finally come through the bitterness to reach the sweetness." The colleague was happy for her, "I heard that being an actor pays very well. You and Lao Xie can just wait to enjoy your daughter's success!"

"That's still too early!" Chen Cuishan waved her hand, "I heard from the landlady that this industry is very deep. Our family has no background and no money. How far Nini can go depends on herself; Lao Xie and I can't help. If it weren't for the fact that she truly loves this industry, I would never be willing to let her struggle alone in a foreign place."

"That's true."

The colleague had a daughter a few years older than Xie Meini who often talked about entertainment industry gossip. She knew that the circle made money fast, but it was also very deep, and it wasn't easy to do well.

But regardless, Xie Meini was beautiful.

She had heard from her daughter that the circle was all about looks, so maybe she really could make it.