How To Deal With Being Transmigrated As The Scumbag Ex-Wife - Chapter 26

26: Shortlisted for the Main Competition

It was a rare fine day on Saturday, with temperatures not too high and a clear blue sky stretching endlessly without a single cloud.

To pick up Zhizhi, Yu Qingjia deliberately woke up early. By the time she finished washing up and went downstairs for breakfast, Mrs. Yu was in the garden trimming flower branches.

In the past, Mrs. Yu enjoyed shopping, spa visits, and afternoon tea with her friends. But as her two children grew up, she gradually became enamored with gardening. She tended to the garden herself, and it was breathtakingly beautiful all year round.

“Where are you off to now?” Mrs. Yu noticed that Xiao Shao wasn’t following her and frowned slightly. “Why didn’t you bring Xiao Shao along?”

She was worried about her daughter getting into trouble again, which was why she had assigned Xiao Shao as her assistant. Why wasn’t she taking her along?

Sipping her porridge lightly, Yu Qingjia explained, “I’m going to pick up a little friend to spend time with her.”

Mrs. Yu’s furrowed brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on her well-maintained face. “Ming Yin’s daughter, right?”

Ignoring her mother’s suggestive look, Yu Qingjia took a couple of bites and asked seriously, “Mom, what do you think I should do with her?”

She had been thinking for days about what to do with Little Milk Bun, but having never taken care of a child this age, she couldn’t make up her mind.

Mrs. Yu put down her pruning shears and thought for a moment. “I need to think about it. When your sister was young, she just followed your dad around and didn’t have any particular interests. As for you, you either ate or slept. Taking you out to play just meant you’d sleep somewhere else.”

Yu Qingjia: “…”

Her mother used to say she loved taking photos and playing with a camcorder when she was little. Now she was being described as a little pig.

“It depends on what the child likes. Cater to her interests.” Mrs. Yu said with a serious nod.

What did Zhizhi like?

She loves strawberry cake!

Seeing Yu Qingjia’s thoughtful expression, Mrs. Yu asked, “Have you figured it out?”

“Maybe.” Yu Qingjia said hesitantly. “Are there strawberries available now?”

Mrs. Yu smiled faintly. “If you want them, there will be. If you need some, I can have Housekeeper Zhang buy them.”

Yu Qingjia looked at her hesitantly, and Mrs. Yu said sincerely, “If you mind, I can go out and won’t disturb you two.”

“We’ll see.”

Mingyue Building

As the headquarters of Mingyue, this place saw its fair share of celebrities. Yu Qingjia didn’t come here often, but the receptionist had seen her a few times, always accompanied by Assistant Lin, so she wasn’t stopped.

Just as Yu Qingjia was about to enter the elevator, she heard a somewhat familiar male voice say, “We’re here to discuss contract renewal with Manager Jiang.”

She was certain she hadn’t heard this voice before, but it felt familiar to her body. Out of curiosity, Yu Qingjia glanced toward the reception desk and saw a man in a suit speaking to the receptionist. He looked ordinary, around thirty years old.

—Cheng Zi’s agent.

Before Yu Qingjia could process it, the man’s name and identity popped into her mind.

Following her gaze, she looked back and saw a stylish woman standing in the lobby, flanked by two bodyguards. She appeared low-key but was actually quite ostentatious, wearing oversized sunglasses that covered most of her face.

Even with only half her face visible, Yu Qingjia recognized her.

Cheng Zi, a popular actress who had long competed with the original host. They had debuted in the same TV drama, with the original host, as the daughter of Tianyue’s chairman, naturally playing the female lead, while Cheng Zi was the third female lead. When the drama became a hit, the original host’s popularity soared far beyond Cheng Zi’s. Despite Cheng Zi’s better acting skills, she couldn’t compete with the original host’s looks and family background. Only after being poached by Huayue did Cheng Zi get her big break.

Ninety percent of Cheng Zi’s fans were the original host’s haters. After Cheng Zi rose to fame at Huayue, they relentlessly bashed the original host and Tianyue, claiming Tianyue failed to recognize talent and chose to promote a “wooden” actress instead. They cheered Huayue as a fair and just company.

Whether Huayue was truly fair, Yu Qingjia didn’t know, but Tianyue never forced its artists to do things against their will.

The two had been rivals for a long time until Yu Qingjia transmigrated six months ago and switched to directing, ending the conflict with Cheng Zi.

Sensing her gaze, Cheng Zi looked up toward the elevator, but the doors slowly closed, giving her only a fleeting glimpse of the person inside.

Cheng Zi’s hand, resting by her side, slowly clenched, and her breathing became uneven.

Her agent approached and said, “Alright, Manager Jiang is waiting. Let’s go.”

Cheng Zi quickly regained her composure, nodding softly. “Okay.”

When Yu Qingjia reached the president’s office, she heard an excited little voice shouting, “Xiao Yu will come! I made a promise with Xiao Yu!” Smiling warmly, Yu Qingjia knocked lightly and pushed the door open.

Wearing a bright yellow round hat, Zhizhi stood on a chair in front of the desk, her hands propped on the table, facing away from the door. She had a cute pink bunny backpack on her shoulders.

Ming Yin, seated behind the desk, looked slightly surprised to see Yu Qingjia. Her dark eyes glanced at her daughter before she said, “Looks like you two made plans.”

Zhizhi turned around in delight. “Xiao Yu, you’re here!”

Seeing Yu Qingjia, Zhizhi eagerly wanted to rush over but realized she was still on the chair. She squatted down, stretching her legs toward the floor, but her height wasn’t enough, and her red leather shoes couldn’t reach the ground. Yu Qingjia quickly stepped forward and scooped her up into her arms.

“Xiao Yu!” Zhizhi giggled, wrapping her arms around Yu Qingjia’s neck and enthusiastically kissing her face twice. In her excitement, her little round hat fell off and hung behind her.

Holding the soft, milk-scented baby, Yu Qingjia said to Ming Yin, “I’ll take care of Xiao Lizhi today. You can focus on work.”

Ming Yin, still seated, hesitated as she looked at them. Understanding her concern, Yu Qingjia added, “Don’t worry, I’ll take her to my place to play.”

“Xiao Yu’s house?” Zhizhi looked at her curiously, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ming Yin’s brows furrowed slightly before relaxing. She looked at her daughter and said, “Don’t cause trouble for Xiao Yu, okay?”

Zhizhi raised three fingers solemnly. “I’ll be good and won’t be naughty.”

Ming Yin nodded slightly and turned to Yu Qingjia. “Thank you for your trouble.”

“No trouble at all.” Yu Qingjia said with a smile, kissing Zhizhi’s soft cheek. “Let’s go.”

“Bye, Yinyin!” Zhizhi, nestled in Yu Qingjia’s arms, waved at Ming Yin. Seeing her mother gesture, she nodded seriously.

Don’t worry, Yinyin, I’ll stick close to Xiao Yu!

After the big and small duo left, the office fell silent. It wasn’t until a sound from the computer snapped Ming Yin out of her thoughts. Her gaze shifted to the screen, and she suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

When Zhizhi started kindergarten, she hadn’t felt this strongly. Now, she was reluctant to let her go.

After much consideration, Yu Qingjia decided to take Zhizhi straight to her home.

Wearing cute little slippers specially bought by Assistant Lin, Zhizhi ran “tap tap tap” into the living room, her big, curious eyes looking around. When she saw the blooming garden outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, her eyes lit up, and she excitedly stood on the steps outside the window. “Wow, Xiao Yu’s house has so many flowers! So pretty!”

Mrs. Yu, who was trimming branches in the garden, heard the little voice and curiously stood up. She saw a little girl in a light green dress standing on the steps, her tender yellow hat making her skin look even softer and cuter. She was so adorable that Mrs. Yu wanted to scoop her up and kiss her.

Startled by the sudden appearance of a beautiful lady among the flowers, Zhizhi’s eyes widened. “Ah, the flower turned into a person!”

Her childish words made Mrs. Yu laugh uncontrollably.

Carrying the pink bunny backpack, Yu Qingjia walked over and saw her mother chatting kindly with Zhizhi.

Mrs. Yu: “You’re Zhizhi, right? I’m Xiao Yu’s mom.”

Zhizhi’s brows furrowed as she pondered how to address Mrs. Yu. Just as Yu Qingjia was about to suggest “Grandma,” Zhizhi nodded in realization. “Then you’re Grandma!”

Mrs. Yu froze for a second before her eyes softened with a warm smile. “Yes, yes, I’m Grandma.” She subtly glanced at Yu Qingjia.

This girl said there was nothing going on, yet the child was already calling her Grandma.

Yu Qingjia: “…”

Seeing Yu Qingjia about to speak, Mrs. Yu said, “Zhizhi wants to call me Grandma. Why do you care so much?” As if Zhizhi calling her Grandma had nothing to do with Yu Qingjia and was simply because they hit it off, and Yu Qingjia was overthinking it.

Yu Qingjia pursed her lips. With both of them already using the term, if she insisted on correcting Zhizhi, she’d seem like the bad guy.

Despite promising to give them space, Mrs. Yu seemed to forget her morning words. She sat on the sofa with a teacup, smiling as she watched Yu Qingjia play with Zhizhi.

At first, Zhizhi was a bit shy, but she soon got so excited she lost herself, running wildly in the garden. The garden was filled with her clear, joyful, childish giggles.

At lunch, Mrs. Yu even ate an extra half bowl of rice, charmed by how adorably Zhizhi ate.

By seven in the evening, when Ming Yin came to pick up Zhizhi, Mrs. Yu reluctantly ruffled the child’s hair.

Zhizhi looked up expectantly at Mrs. Yu. “I had so much fun today. Can I come back again?”

“Of course, you’re welcome anytime,” Mrs. Yu said, beaming, no trace of her usual refined, elegant demeanor. She looked like a kind neighborly elder.

“Yay!” Zhizhi bounced excitedly and reached out. Mrs. Yu, thinking she wanted a hug, leaned down, only for Zhizhi to kiss her cheek, her sweet, milky voice saying, “Thank you, Grandma!”

Ming Yin froze, instinctively looking at Yu Qingjia, who shrugged helplessly and glanced at Mrs. Yu.

Understanding the hint, Ming Yin pursed her lips, a faint smile in her eyes. She ruffled her daughter’s hair and said, “Alright, Zhizhi, it’s time to say goodbye.”

“Okay, bye Xiao Yu, bye Grandma!”

After watching the familiar black business car drive out of the parking area, Yu Qingjia turned to talk to her mother about not dating, only to see Mrs. Yu smiling warmly. “Oh, Zhizhi is so adorable. She’s willing to call me Grandma, fulfilling my wish for a granddaughter.”

Yu Qingjia: “…”

What could she say?

On the other side, Ming Yin patted Zhizhi’s head and said helplessly, “Why did you call her Grandma?”

Zhizhi blinked. “Xiao Yu is Mommy, so Mommy’s mom is Grandma, right? Grandma even praised me for being smart!”

Ming Yin looked thoughtfully at the little yellow hat, as if recalling something. She asked, “Did you complete the task I gave you?”

Zhizhi, who had been happily swinging her legs, froze. She let out an anxious “Ah!” and held her face in distress. “I forgot.”

Ming Yin: “…”

As if to prove her competence, Zhizhi puffed out her chest. “But Xiao Yu didn’t make any phone calls today and played with me the whole time. So did Grandma.”

No phone calls?

If it were a new relationship, wouldn’t they at least contact each other throughout the day?

The thought crossed Ming Yin’s mind, but she dismissed it. If it were her, she wouldn’t constantly cling to a partner either.

She couldn’t be sure yet.

Seeing her mommy deep in thought, Zhizhi seized the chance to say, “Grandma said I can come play often, so I can stick close to Xiao Yu!”

Ming Yin’s gaze sharpened, and she smiled faintly. “We’ll see.”

Zhizhi wasn’t discouraged. She held her face, swaying happily.

Yinyin will definitely agree. Grandma loves me!

After Look Up was edited, Yu Qingjia was very satisfied with the final cut. If she worked on a similar-paced film in the future, she’d be willing to collaborate with this editor again.

Once editing and post-production were complete, the film was submitted for review. After obtaining the public screening permit, Yu Qingjia began preparing for Look Up’s promotional activities.

Due to the lengthy post-production, it was mid-June by the time Look Up was submitted for review.

Summer blockbusters had already started hitting theaters, with the overseas hit Super Cute Pets 2 leading the pack. It grossed over 100 million yuan on its opening day and surpassed 300 million in three days, a veritable box office juggernaut. Under its spotlight, other films barely made a ripple, including February 19th, which had trended online for potentially clashing with Look Up but was now largely ignored.

Online discussions were dominated by reviews of Super Cute Pets 2. Even though its ratings dropped due to a shallow plot, it couldn’t stop its box office dominance.

Seeing this, Manager Zhang from the production department quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Yu Qingjia hadn’t rushed to release it in the summer. Even a project like Star Making Plan wouldn’t have stood a chance against this pressure and would likely have been crushed.

After careful consideration, Yu Qingjia and the creative team decided to skip the summer slot and release after the Kyoto Film Festival, hoping to generate buzz and curiosity among domestic audiences.

This wasn’t without precedent. In Yu Qingjia’s original world, an underdog film had won big at a festival, turning a movie that initially couldn’t break even into a box office champion.

“I really thought you’d go head-to-head with Zhou Jin.” Yu Qingyi said, glancing at a document before looking at Yu Qingjia, who was engrossed in a movie on the sofa.

“Hm?” Yu Qingjia, slow to react, paused the movie and turned to Yu Qingyi. “What about Zhou Jin?”

Yu Qingyi pursed her lips and repeated, “I said, I thought you’d go up against Zhou Jin.”

She was actually looking forward to that showdown. Zhou Jin was too arrogant, and among those poached by Huayue, he was the most insufferable, always stirring up trouble.

“Of course I’ll face him.” Yu Qingjia said, glancing at Yu Qingyi in surprise. Seeing her puzzled expression, she explained, “If I’m not mistaken, Zhou Jin will submit February 19th to the Kyoto Film Festival, and I’m planning to attend it too.”

Yu Qingyi was taken aback at first, then asked, “How do you know he’ll do that?”

Yu Qingjia smiled. “His only film with three major awards was Will and Sincerity, which he didn’t even direct himself. Of course, he wants a project to prove his ability, and the Kyoto Film Festival is the perfect opportunity.”

“Then how are you sure he’ll join the Kyoto Film Festival? This is his fourth film.” Yu Qingyi said, genuinely confused. Why was she so certain Zhou Jin would participate?

Yu Qingjia frowned, pausing for a moment before saying, “You didn’t know? Zhou Jin submits every film to festivals, but he’s never been shortlisted.”

Yu Qingyi: “…”

Perhaps Yu Qingyi’s glare was too intense, so Yu Qingjia cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Anyway, I’ve seen February 19th. Honestly, it’s much better than his previous films.”

Yu Qingyi’s expression turned serious. Zhou Jin improving after leaving Tianyue wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

Though she’d say she wished him well, if he actually succeeded, Tianyue would be the one feeling bitter.

Yu Qingjia rubbed her chin lightly with her finger. “But he went overboard this time. The shots are too crowded. A film needs appropriate empty space to have charm. His approach loses that.”

Yu Qingyi’s expression remained grim. “So he’s still improved?”

“Hm?” Yu Qingjia snapped back, realizing her sister’s concern. She shook her head. “No, it’s the same old him.”

Yu Qingyi’s gaze turned dangerous. “Then why did you say it’s much better than his previous films?”

Yu Qingjia let out an “Oh” and said helplessly, “That’s because the editor this time was skilled. It has little to do with him. His films always have pacing issues, but this editor compensated for that, which is why I said it’s better than his previous work.”

As long as it wasn’t about Zhou Jin himself, Yu Qingyi relaxed, her expression softening.

Yu Qingyi signed a document and asked, “By the way, Dad said you brought Ming Yin’s daughter home to play recently?”

“Yeah.” Yu Qingjia replied casually. “What about it?”

Yu Qingyi gave her a smile. “Dad said he wants to hear her call him Grandpa.”

Yu Qingjia: “…”

Dream on.

A week after February 19th’s release, its box office just broke 100 million. It wasn’t a stellar result, but it was enough to recoup costs. Still, the investors were disappointed. They had hoped Look Up would release in the summer to recreate the box office showdown between Beacon Beauty and Star Making. They didn’t expect February 19th to earn massive profits, but who didn’t want more attention?

But Looks Up hadn’t announced a release date, disappointing both February 19th’s team and eager netizens.

“What’s wrong with Second Princess? Where’s her usual efficiency?”

“Is Yu Qingjia chickening out? Not releasing at such a prime time??”

“Honestly, not releasing now is smart. My feed is flooded with Super Cute Pets 2. No one’s watching other films. You’d have to be crazy to release now.”

“February 19th is such a trash film and still got over 100 million? First time a movie made my eyes hurt. What’s with all the flashy nonsense? Waste of my money!”

“I don’t know if Look Up is bad, but February 19th is definitely garbage. Just another pretentious, fake-artistic moan-fest.”

These were comments left in Zhou Jin’s Weibo comment section. Apparently feeling the heat wasn’t enough, Zhou Jin personally replied to a comment calling February 19th trash:

“@ZhouJin-WillAndSincerityV: That just means you didn’t understand it.”

This got some support:

“This is a rare good film with so many metaphors. Don’t bash it if you didn’t get it.”

“Shut up if you haven’t done your research. Understand it before you criticize, idiots.”

“I thought the movie was easy to understand and pretty good. Why call it trash?”

“If your IQ is too low to get it, don’t call the movie bad. Blame your brain.”

Such extreme remarks, implying that those who called February 19th trash were just too dumb to understand, sparked outrage among netizens.

“I’m done. A movie gives you a superiority complex? Look in the mirror.”

“This rhetoric makes it sound like some masterpiece. Less than 200 million at the box office, audiences don’t even care. What are you bragging about?”

“Tch, February 19th is supposed to be thought-provoking? Is Zhou Jin a philosopher? Is he worthy?”

“Wow, if February 19th is so amazing, I hope it sweeps the Big Three. If it doesn’t, the judges must be idiots for not appreciating such a ‘masterpiece’ /doghead.”

The argument didn’t last long before Look Up finally announced its release date, it would hit theaters in late July.

Before this could shift attention, another headline about February 19th topped the news:

“February 19th Shortlisted for Kyoto Film Festival, Zhou Jin Says He’s Been Waiting for This Moment.”

Netizens who had called February 19th trash were stunned. Could such a bad film really get into a Class-A festival? Did they miss something?

Before February 19th’s supporters could celebrate, another piece of news followed:

“Look Up Shortlisted for Kyoto Film Festival’s Main Competition, to Compete with 12 Films for Seven Awards.”

Netizens then realized something was off about the earlier news.