Chapter 3
"After you rest for a couple of days, move out," He Yi said.
"Move where?" Ji Nian didn't really care where she moved. After all, she wasn't originally in this profession. She had studied at the teachers college at her university and came out to be a music teacher, just getting by day to day.
"You don't have money now, and neither do I. But I have to bring on other new talents that the company has arranged," He Yi said.
"You're not going to take care of me anymore..." Ji Nian was stunned.
"When I have time I will certainly take care of you, sister. I need to make money too. The company has arranged for me to bring on new talents. They've already given up on you," complexity filled He Yi's eyes.
"Oh, but I don't really know how to find an apartment..." Ji Nian's face was filled with loss. Having just arrived, she only knew He Yi.
"Find a cheap one. You're going to have to learn to take care of yourself these days. I probably won't have time to see you for a long time," He Yi said, sadness in her eyes as well.
In fact, she saw Ji Xiaonian completely as a friend. She was also the one who had brought Ji Xiaonian into the industry, so she felt differently towards her.
"Ok, that's fine. I'll WeChat you if I don't understand something," Ji Nian said with a smile.
"Remember to wear a mask when you go out. We're at the peak now. Don't be afraid of anything, just be afraid of Cheng Liran fans recognizing you and beating you up," He Yi couldn't help reminding her.
"Ok," Ji Nian replied.
After speaking, He Yi immediately left with her bag. The spacious room instantly became quiet. Ji Nian blanked out for a bit, lowering her head to drink soup. Suddenly, she felt somewhat afraid. Her nose turned sour and tears flowed out.
After adapting for two days, Ji Nian still didn't know if she could go back. With her current body, she had the figure and the looks. Other than the flaw of being deep in debt...
On that side, ever since she was young her parents had divorced. They each started their own families and no one took care of her. When she was little she would feel confused about which family to go to for New Year's. Later when she grew up, she came out to be a primary school teacher. It had been years since she'd contacted them.
And in these past few days, through her layers of exploration, she already knew the original owner's general circumstances. Ji Xiaonian debuted at 19 years old with a high school education. Because she was good-looking, she auditioned to be a trainee and was noticed by the company, so they gave her to He Yi, a new agent, to train.
In the two years since her debut, she had mostly just been a model for photoshoots, and had acted as supporting female roles three and four in several web dramas, all unimportant characters of course.
The only time she became popular was because her relationship with Cheng Liran was exposed, which let people know that such an unknown actress existed.
She didn't really understand why she was in a relationship with Cheng Liran, about the contract lover business. There were no clues about it on her phone or anything suspicious in the house.
Today was the day she moved. Over the past couple days, she had sold all the luxury goods through social platforms, only keeping some clothes and skirts.
After signing the lease termination agreement with the landlord and checking that there was no damage in the villa, she got her deposit back, which was two months of rent, adding up to around 70,000 RMB.
Added to the money from selling luxury goods, she had 200,000 RMB cash on hand, but! She needed to pay back debts! Ji Nian looked pained as she made a mobile transfer to an account. She heard it was to pay back Cheng Liran for damages.
Because she had obstinately made a scene at Cheng Liran's company, damaging his image and losing him two endorsements, they sued her for huge damages adding up to 6 million RMB.
He Yi had specially called to tell her that whenever she had money, she needed to pay back Cheng Liran first. The company's 4 million RMB in damages could be paid back slowly. Capitalists were just like that, finding all sorts of ways to make you pay while not knowing what exactly you are paying for. Added up it was over 4 million.
At this moment, Cheng Liran, who was in talks for a collaboration, suddenly heard a payment notification from his phone.
At the dinner table, everyone was silent for a bit. Cheng Liran embarrassedly laughed and picked up his phone to mute it, while sneakily checking to see who had transferred him money. He saw a cartoon avatar and a transfer note saying "still owe you 5.805 million RMB," he was stunned. It was her.
"Who was it?" the woman sitting next to him wearing a white dress laughed and asked.
"It should be a business partner," Cheng Liran answered with a smile.
"Oh? Which business partner would unexpectedly transfer you so little money?" the director next to him asked doubtfully.
Cheng Liran smiled and said, "This account seems unfamiliar. I'll have to go back and confirm who exactly it is."
"Hahaha," the director laughed.
At this moment Ji Nian had just taken the subway and bus to arrive at her new place. The sight in front of her made her involuntarily gasp. With her current economic ability, moving from a villa to the urban village was quite... a big difference.
This was a local person's house on the outskirts of the capital city, a small building they had constructed. The décor was simple. It seemed most of the tenants here were migrant workers, almost 3 hours away from downtown by bus and subway.
The landlady was a local auntie. Seeing a girl wearing a simple white t-shirt and jeans with white shoes, such a casual outfit, yet even with a mask on, she still gave off a particularly stunning aura.
"Ah, you're that young girl I spoke to on the phone!" When the landlady saw her carrying two luggage cases, she came up and asked.
"Auntie, hello. I'm the one who contacted you," Ji Nian politely replied.
"Tsk, so pretty with fair skin too," the landlady auntie looked at her with a smile. "Auntie hasn't rented to such a beautiful young girl before!"
Ji Nian was somewhat embarrassed, scratching her head with an awkward smile.
"Let auntie take you upstairs to see. Us women don't know if you girls can get used to it," the landlady auntie said with a laugh.
"Auntie, I'm not picky," Ji Nian replied, following behind.
There was no elevator here. Ji Nian first left her luggage downstairs, asking an elderly man sitting on the first floor to help keep an eye on it.
Following the landlady auntie, they arrived at the third floor. Opening the door, Ji Nian was stunned again. This really was a farmer's house. Quite simple...
It was a studio apartment with a bed and a wardrobe. The bed frame was made of wood with no mattress, just a mat laid on top. There was a table and a large window, so at least the lighting wasn't bad. A very small kitchen was blocked off by a glass door. But the floor was cement...
Ji Nian was taken aback. There weren't even tile floors! She comforted herself. No need to panic. It just meant she didn't need to mop the floors.
"This room was previously lived in by a married couple. They kept it clean. Look, they even left the water heater and air conditioner! The room is small and can't fit a washing machine. As a young lady you can wash clothes by hand," the landlady auntie explained.
Ji Nian consoled herself that she had lived in all sorts of environments when she first entered society. Although here was a bit run down, it was enough for one girl to live in.
"Auntie, I don't have money on me. Can I pay first month's rent upfront?" Ji Nian asked. Normally rental places required paying first and last month's rent upfront.
The landlady auntie thought for a bit. "No problem."
"Then let's sign the contract," Ji Nian said with a smile, eyes curving into crescents even with her mask on.
With one look the landlady auntie liked this girl. Her temperament was clean and even though her looks were covered, you could sense she was an exceptionally beautiful girl.
"Sure! The contract is prepared in advance. Let me find it," the landlady auntie said, rummaging through her bag. "Here, here. Young lady take a look." She reached out and handed it over.
Ji Nian took it and looked through the contract. Seeing no issues, she picked up a pen and signed her name.