CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 144: THE FEMALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER OF THE SPIRITUAL SPRING SPACE

"Auntie, our production team really has the utmost sincerity in wanting to rent your inn for filming. Is there really no way you can accommodate us?" Lian Lan showed her usual pitiful and vulnerable expression again. She didn’t know when it started, but whenever she asked for a favor, she would intentionally put on this aggrieved look as if anyone who refused her was being heartless.

"Ye Zi, I’m begging you, this play is really important to me, you don’t want to see me let down the director, right?" Seeing Madam Shen frowning, Lian Lan turned her persuasive efforts to Ye Qiu, "Even if you don’t treat me as a friend, can you please consider this as a last request from a classmate? Please help me convince Auntie!"

Lian Lan’s words were almost tantamount to morally blackmailing Ye Qiu. If Ye Qiu helped her, it would merely be out of classmate camaraderie. If not, it meant Ye Qiu was heartless and cruel, making it a lose-lose situation.

Listening to this, Ye Qiu suddenly laughed. When she wasn’t smiling, she resembled a reclusive fairy, beautiful but untouchable, causing the tourists who had just entered the inn to be astonished by this family’s beauty. The other three were all right, often smiling, but Ye Qiu, although gentle in demeanor, was never seen with much emotional fluctuation.

Therefore, her smile was so stunning that all the tourists present couldn’t snap out of it. My god! She’s too beautiful! There were often posts on Weibo exalting how pretty various young actresses were, but in their view, none compared to even a tenth of this young proprietress. She was the epitome of natural beauty, a true Heavenly Immortal. If she became a celebrity, she would definitely become a sensation.

In comparison, the classmate beside the young proprietress, who was to be the actress, appeared quite plain.

"Lian Lan, you clearly knew that we had rejected your production team’s assistant director from the get-go. But the way you just spoke, it sounded like you promised the director that you would persuade us? You didn’t know this inn was family-run by us before you came here, so why were you so confident?" Ye Qiu asked with a faint smile.

"I..." Lian Lan was at a loss for words.

Ye Qiu continued, "Just like that time you borrowed my Jade Pendant as a prop for the production, you knew very well it was a keepsake from my grandfather, yet you promised the director you could borrow it before getting my permission. I trusted you because you were my classmate and good friend, so I lent it to you, but what happened in the end? You assured me you would return it in perfect condition, yet it ended up broken. Now it’s the same situation, so why should I believe you?"

The tourists didn’t know such an incident had occurred. Seeing how tongue-tied Lian Lan was, they realized the truth and shook their heads at her.

Initially, they thought offering a few rooms was no big deal and an opportunity to earn some extra money, so why not? However, now it seemed clear that this actress lacked integrity and was prone to making unreliable promises. What vulnerability and injustice? She was simply absurd and lacking in basic decency!

"I..." Lian Lan was so flustered by Ye Qiu’s rebuttal that she felt extreme humiliation.

Why didn’t Ye Qiu have any regard for her own reputation? Knowing she intended to be an actress, why couldn’t Ye Qiu give her some face?

Indeed, she had broken the Jade Pendant, but she apologized, and she had agreed to compensate. So why couldn’t Ye Qiu let it go? It’s possible that she was still at a loss, naive she was at the time, never thinking to have the pieces appraised. Who knew if they were truly worth a hundred thousand?

"You’re the young proprietor of this inn?" Suddenly, a male voice came from behind Lian Lan. Hearing this voice, Lian Lan stiffened, turning in disbelief. Why was Director Yi here? Had he heard their conversation?

Blaming Ye Qiu and the others, why didn’t they warn her someone was approaching? Why didn’t they just accede to her request?

"Director Yi? What brings you here? Did you just arrive?" Lian Lan asked cautiously.

However, Director Yi was not concerned with her at the moment; his eyes shone bright as he looked at Ye Qiu, seeing the very image of the female innkeeper he envisioned—carefree, leisurely, and beautiful.

Liu Qingqing watched with amusement at the scene unfolding and muttered softly to Cao Lu.

"I am Yi Anhe, the director of ’Legal Beauty.’ Do you have an interest in acting? I have a role that’s perfect for you," Director Yi asked excitedly. "The role matches you well too. It’s a female innkeeper—no need for acting skills, your natural self is enough to carry it."

Upon hearing these words, Lian Lan froze and looked at Director Yi in astonishment. Wasn’t that her role?

"I hope to shoot the next few days of scenes at your family’s inn. If that’s possible, we just need to use one guest room, and the compensation would be extremely generous," Director Yi said, the offer getting more enticing as he saw her interest piqued.

The tourists around were also looking on with excitement, thinking how suitable the young proprietress was for the entertainment industry, destined for stardom.

"I..." Ye Qiu had no ambition for acting and was about to refuse, with Lian Lan eagerly awaiting her response.

But before she could, Liu Qingqing interrupted her, "Ye Zi, agree to it. We’re on summer break and have nothing else to do, might as well take it as an experience. If there are no spare guest rooms, that’s also fine. The director mentioned only needing one, right? I can share a room with Lu Lu, that way it’s solved, isn’t it?"

"That would be great. Young proprietress, please agree," Director Yi implored with anticipation.

Lian Lan’s heart raced as she stared nervously at Ye Qiu, hoping for a rejection. You like being a chef, don’t you? Hurry up and decline Director Yi!

But for some reason, seeing Lian Lan’s anxious expression, Ye Qiu suddenly changed her mind. Speaking quietly with few words, she dashed Lian Lan’s hopes: "Okay then!"

"Ye Qiu, didn’t you dislike acting?" Lian Lan asked incredulously.

"Yes, but I see Director Yi is quite sincere, so I want to give it a try. Is there a problem?"

Of course, there was a problem!

Lian Lan felt inward resentment but couldn’t show it in front of Director Yi; she couldn’t let her carefully cultivated image crumble.

"Director Yi, what about me?" Lian Lan looked at Yi Anhe with an expression full of bewilderment and grievance.

Yi Anhe only then noticed her, feeling awkward. Lian Lan was an actress he had personally selected, but he had just replaced her role in front of her. What was he to do? Nevertheless, the young proprietress indeed suited the role in his drama more than her.

Since the young proprietress’ role couldn’t be changed, he could only assign her another role. After all, they hadn’t signed a contract, and he could compensate her later.