Isn’t money good?

Chapter 40

Yan Shiqiu quickly calculated his current assets. Adding up everything, he had roughly 1.6 million yuan.

With a bit more effort, he should be able to buy back the painting before the end of the year.

This was good news.

After finishing his calculations, Yan Shiqiu felt somewhat better.

Regaining his spirits, Yan Shiqiu got up to wash up in the bathroom, then went to the kitchen to cook himself some tomato pasta. Only after eating did he call Fang Yuhua to discuss moving into the dormitory.

Fang Yuhua seemed to be outside, as various mixed noises could be heard in the background. “Why do you suddenly want to live in the dormitory?”

Yan Shiqiu gave him a brief explanation of the situation.

“I see.” He seemed to have moved to a quieter place, his voice becoming clearer. “I’m not sure if there are any empty suites left. Let me ask for you.”

Yan Shiqiu grabbed a tissue to wipe his hands. “Okay.”

Before long, Fang Yuhua called back. “I asked around. The last two-bedroom, one-living-room suite was given to Fu Baiqing. There are rooms available in the North District dormitory, but that area houses undebuted trainees, two people per room. Sharing with others wouldn’t be very convenient for you.”

This was quite awkward.

“…Shouldn’t everyone have their own houses? Why are the dormitories so full?” Yan Shiqiu slumped back onto the sofa dejectedly, poking at the cushions in frustration.

Fang Yuhua thought for a moment before answering, “Maybe the conditions are too good?”

Yan Shiqiu casually asked, “How good?”

“Great neighborhood environment and scenery, one household per elevator, hotel-style service management, convenient transportation, shopping district nearby, very convenient while also ensuring privacy and security. Six security guards work 24-hour shifts, and except for residents, everyone needs identification to enter.”

Yan Shiqiu was envious. These conditions were amazing!

He asked again reluctantly, “Really no rooms left?”

“None.” Fang Yuhua pondered for a while before saying, “How about this? You stay at a hotel for a few days while I quickly help you find a place. I’ll let you know once I find something.”

Yan Shiqiu sat up, crossing his legs, and pressed his temples. “Staying at a hotel is fine, but I have nowhere to put my things. Also, are good rental properties easy to find now? They need to guarantee both security and privacy, so how long will it take?”

Fang Yuhua sighed helplessly, “Even if it’s not easy to find, we have to try. As for the timeline, I can’t give you an exact number, only that I’ll do it as quickly as possible.”

“Fair enough.” Yan Shiqiu expressed understanding.

Fang Yuhua said, “Do you want to store your things at my place first? Is it a lot?”

Yan Shiqiu stood up and walked around, answering uncertainly, “Not too much, I think?”

Since he hadn’t organized everything yet, he couldn’t estimate accurately.

However, most of the original owner’s belongings were flashy and unsuitable for him. He didn’t plan to take them when moving. He’d sort them out later and donate what was useful.

Fang Yuhua hummed in acknowledgment.

“By the way.” Yan Shiqiu remembered Zuo Tan’s invitation and asked Fang Yuhua, “Are you free right now?”

“Do you need something?”

“Zuo Tan invited me to act in his stage play earlier. I wanted to discuss it with you.”

“Hold on.” Fang Yuhua seemed to be explaining something to someone. Half a minute passed before he spoke again, “I’m coming over to see you now.”

“Alright.”

Yan Shiqiu hung up, and thinking about not having a place to live, he sighed heavily again.

In any case, he should order some empty boxes first.

He chose a local shop, placed his order, then began organizing his belongings, planning to first sort out what he didn’t need.

He must have made quite a bit of noise while organizing, as Liu Xi called to ask what he was doing, saying he was disturbing her beauty sleep.

He had to tell her the truth.

After that, Liu Xi came over.

Liu Xi brought her own slippers, changed into them at the entrance, and asked directly, “Have you found a place? Where is it?”

Handing her a bottle of water and taking one for himself, Yan Shiqiu said, “Haven’t found one yet. I’ll stay at a hotel temporarily.”

“You’re going to stay at a hotel?” Liu Xi looked at him. “Won’t that be unsafe?”

Yan Shiqiu took a sip of water and smiled slightly, “It should be okay. I’m not famous now, and I only have a few fans. There shouldn’t be any crazy sasaeng fans blocking my door.”

Liu Xi said, “It’s not sasaeng fans. The person you need to watch out for now is Ye Peiyuan.”

“Hotels are public spaces with many people coming and going, plus surveillance cameras everywhere. He wouldn’t be crazy enough to attack me directly at a hotel, right?” Thinking about how Ye Peiyuan became murderous in the later part of the novel, Yan Shiqiu suddenly felt less certain. “Should I have Zhou Yu accompany me?”

Liu Xi was very dismissive, “Zhou Yu is too weak. He couldn’t even take one punch from me.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

That’s because you’re too strong!

“You could ask Ji Yunnian. He definitely has spare rooms.” Liu Xi suggested, then smiled meaningfully, “He would definitely be very willing to help with this.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

No, no. If the media found out, he really wouldn’t be able to explain himself no matter how many mouths he had.

Seeing his reluctance, Liu Xi asked again, “What about Wen Chen? He’s your cousin, couldn’t you stay at his place for a few days?”

Yan Shiqiu shook his head. “His mother is staying with him recently. It’s not convenient.”

Suddenly the doorbell rang, and Yan Shiqiu went to answer it.

Fang Yuhua was outside.

Yan Shiqiu found him a pair of slippers. After putting them on, Fang Yuhua entered and greeted Liu Xi.

Fang Yuhua first walked around the apartment, then sat in the single armchair. “When do you plan to move? I’ll have the moving company come over.”

“The day after tomorrow. I’ll organize things these two days.”

“Alright, I’ll book a hotel for you later.” Fang Yuhua added, “Room fees, food, and drinks will all go on the company account. Don’t worry about money.”

Yan Shiqiu was delighted, looking at him with bright eyes. “Really?”

Fang Yuhua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You really don’t hide your love of money at all.”

Yan Shiqiu sighed, “Because being without money really makes life difficult. I’ve experienced it.”

After hearing this, Fang Yuhua looked at him suspiciously.

Yan Shiqiu smiled without further explanation.

Boiling water to make tea, Yan Shiqiu poured cups for both Fang Yuhua and Liu Xi before speaking, carefully explaining Zuo Tan’s invitation.

Fang Yuhua held his tea. “What’s your preference?”

Yan Shiqiu sat up straight, looked directly at him, and followed his heart. “I want to try it.”

He wasn’t obsessed with acting, but he loved performing, especially acting opposite skilled performers. He really enjoyed that feeling of excitement and total immersion.

The stage of theater was very attractive to him.

Fang Yuhua rubbed the teacup, looked at him for a while longer, then said, “It would be good to hone your acting skills.”

Not expecting Fang Yuhua to agree so quickly, Yan Shiqiu was stunned for a moment. When he realized what happened, his face immediately lit up with joy.

Fang Yuhua smiled and shook his head, speaking slowly and deliberately, “Actually, a big reason I’m agreeing to let you act in this play is that given your current situation, you can’t get any good scripts yet. There are plenty of variety shows, but they’re only suitable for occasional appearances, otherwise you’ll be labeled as a variety show personality.”

Yan Shiqiu nodded, “I understand.”

“Good that you understand.” Fang Yuhua said. “I’ve turned down all the recent scripts sent to me. They’re either terrible or hastily made cash grabs. Your starting point with ‘Rivers and Mountains in Turmoil’ was high enough; don’t lower your standards now.”

“‘Rivers and Mountains in Turmoil’ is confirmed to air on satellite TV in early December. You won’t lack good scripts then, so be patient.”

It would be that soon. He thought he’d have to wait until next year for it to air.

Fang Yuhua set down his teacup, leaned back against the sofa, and placed his clasped hands on his abdomen in a relaxed posture. “Speaking of variety shows, Qingning TV contacted me two days ago wanting to invite you and Fu Baiqing as guest stars for one episode of their adventure variety show. It’s like a script kill with a horror theme. Are you interested?”

Yan Shiqiu was very interested. He needed money.

So he asked directly, “How much money?”

Fang Yuhua: “…”

After a long speechless pause, he still gave him a number.

Yan Shiqiu’s eyes immediately brightened. “I’ll do it, I’ll do it.”

Fang Yuhua: “…”

After seeing off Fang Yuhua, Yan Shiqiu returned to the living room to find Liu Xi also standing up. “I’ll leave too. Think carefully about my suggestion to ask Ji Yunnian for help.”

She waved and added, “If you decide to stay at a hotel, let me know which room you book. I need to book one too.”

Yan Shiqiu nodded. “Okay.”

He spent more than a day packing, finally finishing everything on the afternoon of the third day.

He called Fang Yuhua, and less than an hour later, Fang Yuhua and Zhou Yu arrived with the moving company.

He explained to Zhou Yu what should be donated, what wasn’t needed, and what should be temporarily stored at Fang Yuhua’s place. He also gave him the apartment keys, instructing him to return them to the landlord after the move. Then, pulling two suitcases and accompanied by Liu Xi, he went to the hotel with Fang Yuhua first.

Fang Yuhua had booked a suite with a balcony, plus a small reception area and study. Except for not being able to cook, it was actually quite comfortable to live in.

He asked Yan Shiqiu, “Are you satisfied?”

Yan Shiqiu had no complaints. “Mm.”

“I’ve already contacted real estate agents to look at places. You’ll stay at most two or three days, bear with it.”

Yan Shiqiu nodded.

“Also, the other lead for the MV has been decided. It’s Ji Yunnian.” Fang Yuhua suddenly dropped this bombshell.

Yan Shiqiu was so shocked he lost his voice: “!!!”

Fang Yuhua said quietly, “When I got the news yesterday, I knocked over my teacup.”

Still unable to process this, Yan Shiqiu randomly grabbed a pillow and kneaded it. After a minute, he finally spoke, looking completely bewildered. “What’s he trying to achieve?”

Fang Yuhua didn’t know either.

Yan Shiqiu felt quite melancholy. Thinking about the reaction of Ji Yunnian’s fans when the MV was released, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

Fang Yuhua looked at him. “Whatever his reasons for participating, for you it’s absolutely like a pie falling from heaven. It’s free publicity.”

Hearing this, Yan Shiqiu’s alert radar went off. “You’re not planning to create a CP out of him and me, are you?”

Before Fang Yuhua could answer, he immediately said, “Don’t even think about it, not even a tiny bit of such thoughts. You should know Ji Yunnian’s background and his fans’ fighting power.”

“…What are you thinking.” Fang Yuhua glanced at him. “Would I be crazy to create rumors between you two? It’s not like I want you to flop even faster.”

He curled his index finger and tapped the table. “What I mean is, with Ji Yunnian joining, it comes with built-in traffic. The MV will definitely be popular, and you’ll be seen and recognized by more people.”

After hearing this, Yan Shiqiu exhaled in relief. Fortunately, Fang Yuhua was rational.

“When will the MV be filmed?” He asked.

Fang Yuhua: “The day after tomorrow, filming location is in City B.”

—

Two days passed in a flash, and Yan Shiqiu arrived early at the MV filming location: a certain university.

After greeting the director, he was taken to the makeup room.

The makeup artist was a talkative girl who chatted with him while doing his makeup, and she had a sweet tongue, complimenting him with rainbow-colored praise from time to time.

Yan Shiqiu was very happy being complimented and kept smiling.

When Ji Yunnian entered the makeup room, he saw Yan Shiqiu smiling with curved eyes, looking very cheerful. He was infected by this and his lips curved upward too.

“What are you talking about?” He walked over and asked.

Hearing his voice, Yan Shiqiu looked up at him through the mirror, his tone rising cheerfully: “Good morning.”

Then he smiled and said, “Xiao Qiu is complimenting me.”

Ji Yunnian raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, “Complimenting you about what?”

The makeup artist interjected, “I was complimenting how good-looking Yan Yan is.”

Yan Shiqiu hummed twice and gave her a thumbs up, radiating happiness like pink flowers: “Good eye.”

Pulling over the chair beside him, Ji Yunnian sat down, propped his chin on one hand, and stared intently at Yan Shiqiu.

His gaze was too noticeable to ignore. Yan Shiqiu was confused by the staring, and when the makeup artist stepped away, he turned to ask, “Why do you keep looking at me?”

“Because I think you’re good-looking.”

Ji Yunnian’s eyes were filled with tenderness.