Huaiyu was also in a bad mood and could barely protect herself, let alone her. She blurted out without thinking:
"She started crying as soon as she arrived!"
Dandan was so frightened that she dared not let her tears flow freely. Dandan was also stubborn and felt very wronged. She felt that this was the worst thing that had ever happened to her in her life, and she spoke frankly: "When I got off the train, I twisted my ankle and hurt it."
She rolled up her trouser leg and saw a bruise; it was a wonder she had limped all the way here. Huaiyu felt a pang of heartache but managed to hold back: "We have something to do, really, you mustn't run around." After saying that, she added, very considerately, as if no one was listening: "I'll buy you some snacks, wait for me."
Dandan watched the three of them leave. Of the three, Miss Duan was closest to him.
He left as soon as she arrived. He actually ignored her because he "had something to do".
Dandan looked around. The alleyway houses were dormitories for artists. At this afternoon, most of them were probably out, or perhaps preparing to leave. Everyone had something to do, even the only person she was looking for had something to do. Only she felt utterly useless; coming to rely on them felt like a burden. —What could she possibly do? Cook or do laundry? Driven by a selfish desire and longing she couldn't control, she had become an unwitting, clingy person on this journey.
She was determined; she could afford it.
As long as Huaiyu can settle her down.
As long as she showed this sincerity, she managed to snag a pretty female celebrity who could easily take advantage of her. Oh, a female celebrity? Haven't she seen plenty of female celebrities? Maybe it's Huaiyu. Besides, she didn't really care; to be honest, that Miss Duan was probably in her early twenties. Dandan was quite relieved; she was much, much older than her. See, it didn't seem like it. Dandan reassured herself.
After leaving Huaiyu's house, it also took a stroll around the area. It first took a tentative step, then a few more, and then looked around back and forth, like a cat arriving in an unfamiliar place. Even its footsteps were light, as if afraid of being kicked by a naughty child, not entirely because it was injured.
There are small hotels in this area. There are catering services that prepare dinner and send people to deliver it to your door. There are printing shops and all sorts of signs that read "Lawyer" and "Doctor," mixed with "Little Peach Blossom Girl Su Tan" and "Zhu Lao Er's Magic, Specializing in Private Performances"... There are also lead sheet signs that read "Shanghai Star Film and Drama School." The area is noisy with people.
Dandan, curious, rushed forward to watch for a while, only to hear nothing but complaints.
"What, is it closed?"
"Moved? Moved to where?"
"We haven't received our filming fees yet. It was supposed to be paid on three holidays a year. If we had known, we would have preferred to pay 70 yuan in cash instead of 100 yuan on credit."
"Oh, the tuition has been paid, the internship is over, and now you're just leaving? What are we going to do?"
One girl was crying very hard:
"I've been scammed out of all my money!"
Crying loudly is definitely not "acting".
After some investigation, it turned out they were a group of young people who had been scammed out of their registration fees, tuition fees, and extras' fees—all dreaming of becoming stars. Dandan handed the girl a handkerchief, and the girl, wiping away tears, said, "I refuse to believe that I, Shen Lifang, can't become a star!"
Because they were grateful for Dandan's handkerchief, the two started chatting. They then learned that Shen Lifang was a year older than Dandan; she was nineteen. She said indignantly:
“I can sing and dance, I don’t believe I can’t become famous!” “Then the film and drama school is closing down, what are you going to do next?” Dandan asked curiously.
"Someone mentioned an 'actor training center' to me. I'm going to sign up tomorrow. I can be an extra right away. Big stars all start as small actors, right? I refuse to believe I can't become a big star!"
They keep saying "I don't believe it," which shows a complete lack of confidence, and they have to shout it out loud and clear.
When she learned that Dandan was from Beiping, she asked her just as many questions with curiosity, whispering affectionately in her ear:
"Is the person you're looking for your boyfriend?"
"What 'boyfriend'?"
Are you good to him?
Dandan readily nodded in front of a stranger—of course, she was relieved, knowing they would soon go their separate ways and never meet again. Therefore, she nodded, quite privately.
Is he good to you?
Without hesitation, even with her doubts, Dandan nodded again.
"You've settled in?"
"—There's another group of people. His master is there too."
After thinking for a moment, Dandan asked in return:
"Shen Lifang, do you have a boyfriend?"
“He used to be like that. But when he found out I wanted to be a star, he scolded me for being vain and ran away. He even hit me before he left.”
Do your family members know?
“They don’t care about me, they don’t have time. My mother works as a maid and comes back once a week. My father pulls a rickshaw, it’s very hard. The police often come to ‘steal his license’. He pulls every day, but the money he earns can’t even buy a few pounds of firewood and rice. He has to go to the Public Works Department to donate another license, otherwise he can’t even pull the rickshaw. How can they care about me?”
After chatting for a while, Fang realized that it wasn't about "being vain," but rather how a young woman could establish herself in Shanghai.
Shen Lifang and she got along quite well. Shen Lifang even wrote down her address for her and said at the end, "Your teeth are yellow. I'll send you Shuangmei brand premium tooth powder another day. I use it too. Goodbye, come watch me film sometime!"
Dandan smiled and waved.
By evening, everyone in the class had returned, and everyone knew about Dandan's situation. Seeing how reckless she was, and knowing she was a helpless woman with no parents, they took good care of her and treated her to a meal.
Huaiyu was just embarrassed; everyone was giving him face, but he was in dire need of help in his long term. Besides, perhaps he was being overly cautious, as the troupe leader's expression wasn't very pleasant.
Dan Danbai never expected that the person she had come to seek refuge with would be like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river—completely lost. Nor did she expect that the once-famous martial arts actor would stumble and fall because of a woman. No one told her, but with her intelligence, she vaguely guessed what had happened. "He's come at the worst possible time!"
Huaiyu tidied up her room and gave it to Dandan, then moved to Li Shengtian's room to squeeze in.
Faintly, one could also hear the conversation between the master and disciple, a disjointed exchange:
"What did the troupe leader say?"
"When he heard that the redemption contract would be offered at ten times the original price, he didn't object at all. In fact, he couldn't hide his joy."
"Are you deliberately trying to break away?"