Divorce Application - Chapter 11
Chapter 11: Happiness
The talk show in the evening was relatively niche. Currently, reality shows were all the rage, with variety programs about escape rooms, outdoor adventures, and farm stays taking up most of the market.
However, this talk show had been around for a long time. It was known for its depth and attitude and had a steady viewership. Both big and small celebrities were quite willing to appear on it once or twice. They would talk about seemingly ordinary things, but it was all actually to build their persona.
Liu Sinan quickly scanned the questions. Since they had been discussed in advance, there was no difficulty; all she had to do was follow the script.
Qiqi called Liu Sinan after arriving at the hospital, saying he couldn’t get into the private hospital. Only then did Liu Sinan remember that she was still stuck inside and couldn’t leave.
She hesitated for a moment and then called Li Jinping.
This time, the phone rang for a long time. Just when Liu Sinan thought Li Jinping wouldn’t answer, the call connected.
Li Jinping’s voice came through, calm. “Is something wrong?”
Liu Sinan softly said, “Mhm,” and clutched her phone, her voice a little pleading. “I… I have work tonight. Can I be discharged from the hospital?”
Li Jinping’s voice didn’t change. “That’s your business. You decide.”
“But,” Liu Sinan said, sounding a little anxious and wronged, “the doctors won’t let me leave. They all listen to you. Can you talk to them? I’ll only be out for a few hours and will be back soon.”
Li Jinping glanced at the sky outside. If the show’s recording went smoothly, she could come back tonight. If it didn’t, she’d probably have to stay up late.
She subconsciously began to consider which company the talk show’s director and host belonged to, how professional the recording was, and whether they would work until three or four in the morning.
She could talk to the company’s boss and have them change the recording to tomorrow morning. She could eat a light meal before the recording and still make it back for her IV drip.
Wait. She couldn’t interfere with Liu Sinan’s life anymore.
Li Jinping’s thoughts were abruptly cut short by herself. She said expressionlessly, “Whatever you want.”
Not long after, a young nurse from the hospital led Liu Sinan out and she got into Qiqi’s car.
Qiqi was a young boy with a mushroom-cut hairstyle. He was probably a distant relative of Lan Qi’s. He had started working for Lan Qi right after he graduated from high school. He was quick-witted and had a very good personality.
“Boss, are you sick?” Qiqi glanced at the hospital in the rearview mirror.
Liu Sinan nodded. “Don’t tell Lan Qi. Just say you picked me up from home.”
Qiqi was very obedient to Liu Sinan. Liu Sinan also trusted him greatly. Ever since the little boy became Liu Sinan’s assistant, he had seen Liu Sinan as his goddess, even putting Lan Qi, his boss, on the back burner.
For the show that evening, she temporarily removed the splint on her wrist and replaced it with an elastic bandage, hidden beneath her long sleeve.
After arriving at the studio, Liu Sinan’s personal makeup artist started her makeup.
The makeup artist first applied a layer of foundation and then checked for flaws under the lights.
In truth, there wasn’t much room for the makeup artist to do with Liu Sinan’s face. Her natural features were already incredibly delicate. If done incorrectly, the makeup could ruin her natural beauty.
On top of that, ever since she became a model, she had started controlling her sugar intake. She had maintained a high-protein, high-fiber diet for so many years, which kept her skin in its youthful prime.
After finishing her makeup, the artist couldn’t help but say, “Ms. Liu, you’re the most disciplined person I’ve ever met.”
Liu Sinan was stunned for a moment. She smiled, shook her head, and didn’t say anything.
Disciplined?
She couldn’t believe a word like that was being used to describe her.
The makeup artist saw Liu Sinan’s surprise and affirmed, “A person’s level of discipline is most easily revealed through their skin and eyes.”
“Ms. Liu must have a fixed routine for her sleep and diet.”
Sleep routine? Yes, probably.
Ever since they got married, Li Jinping had adjusted her work intensity, rarely letting her stay up past midnight.
Even when she was out recording a show, she would call to check in on her.
Her eating habits weren’t as good as the makeup artist suggested, though.
She could never quit drinking. Although she wasn’t an alcoholic, her alcohol tolerance was low. A small glass of baijiu would go to her head, and for red wine, it was only half a glass.
It was probably a bad habit she developed in the past. The feeling of being slightly tipsy allowed her to temporarily forget all the unpleasant things in life. Even after being married for so many years, she couldn’t completely quit.
But besides that, she had no requirements for food.
What she ate, how much she ate, or whether it tasted good or not, didn’t matter.
When the time came, the director of the show called her. After the host had finished cueing the show’s flow, Liu Sinan went on stage.
She first greeted the audience. This kind of talk show had a live audience, but they were usually people the show had hired.
The host had already warmed up the crowd. After Liu Sinan arrived, she sat diagonally opposite the host.
There were two couches on the stage, one on each side, and they both had a comfortable seating posture.
The host was a familiar face, often hosting various programs, and had a very friendly demeanor.
“After watching the MV just now, I’m sure you’ve already guessed who our guest is this evening without me having to introduce her. She’s sitting across from me, the person everyone is very familiar with and loves, Ms. Liu Sinan.”
The camera panned to Liu Sinan, who smiled at the camera and waved, “Hello, everyone. I’m Liu Sinan.”
“The theme of this episode is ‘My First Half of Life.’ Don’t let Ms. Liu’s young looks fool you; she has actually been in the industry for…”
The host smiled and drew out her sentence. Liu Sinan quickly chimed in, “It’s been nine years since my first commercial.”
“That’s right, Ms. Liu is only 25 years old,” the host said, listing Liu Sinan’s awards over the years. “Besides the modeling industry, she has also made significant achievements in the acting world.”
If Liu Sinan’s physical attributes made her a natural for the modeling industry, then her story-filled face and the life and grace in her eyes gave her a VIP ticket to the acting world.
Li Jinping never invested in useless projects. She funded a script tailored for Liu Sinan and invited a famous domestic director to collaborate. The film, which starred Liu Sinan as the lead in her debut, won countless awards both at home and abroad after its release.
Unlike other celebrities, the film was even more popular overseas than it was in China.
“The film, ‘The Lost Manor,’ mainly tells the story of Ella (the female protagonist) and her life as a wanderer in the United States. Ella is a maid who grew up in the manor, but she gets separated from it in a heavy fog and is never able to return.”
When talking about the film, a small light flickered in Liu Sinan’s eyes.
“Ella and the manor are actually metaphors for all displaced people. The manor is located in the American countryside, but after Ella loses her way, she’s unable to fit into life in the countryside, get along with the animals on the farm, or live in the city.”
“She encounters obstacles everywhere she goes and searches everywhere. She asks many people, but they all say they’ve never heard of that manor.”
Liu Sinan’s interpretation of art was always a captivating and detailed narrative. Not only was she incisive, but she could also use simple words to draw the audience into the world of art.
The host was thoroughly enjoying the conversation with her. You could tell that her attitude, which had started out politely distant, had now become one of appreciation and ease.
The interview was going very smoothly. The host glanced at the script, about to wrap up, when she suddenly saw the director holding up a sign.
At the same time, a voice came through her earpiece, “Ask her one more question.”
“The theme of this episode is ‘My First Half of Life.’ We also recently heard about some news regarding Ms. Liu’s marriage. Now that you’ve gone through the ‘first half of your life,’ and are at this point, what profound life insights have you gained?”
The host hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question as the director had instructed.
After asking, she had already decided that if Liu Sinan chose not to answer, she could just edit the question out later. She was mainly afraid that Liu Sinan would suddenly get angry, as this was a question that had not been communicated in advance.
To her surprise, Liu Sinan didn’t get angry, nor did she immediately refuse to answer.
Her gaze went blank for a moment. The folds of her clothes were lit up by the lights, and everything around her became quiet.
Liu Sinan cleared her throat, looked up at the camera, and her peach blossom eyes, which looked as if they had been soaked in water, gently blinked. “I hope that everyone can find their own happiness.”
“No matter what difficulties you encounter, don’t lose the strength to seek happiness.”
“Because once you’ve experienced it, you’ll know that it is the most wonderful thing in a person’s life.”