How To Deal With Being Transmigrated As The Scumbag Ex-Wife - Chapter 28

28: If I Don’t Win an Award, Why Am I Even at the Film Festival?

“Xiao Yu, you’re here too!” Xiao Lizhi strained on her tiptoes, trying to peek further out the window, but her height limited her to just her head above the sill. Pouting briefly, her face lit up with a sweet smile upon seeing Yu Qingjia. “We’re so fated!”

Seeing Xiao Lizhi so eager to chat, Yu Qingjia felt both delighted and amused. Leaning on her own window, she grinned at the girl. “Xiao Lizhi’s here too, huh? Where’s Mommy?”

“Yinyin’s out working. Sister Xiao Mang’s playing with me.” Xiao Lizhi said, her pout returning briefly. But seeing Xiao Yu across the way, she perked up. “Can I come play at your place?”

Sister Xiao Mang?

Yu Qingjia mused, smiling. “Sure, tell Sister Xiao Mang, and I’ll come get you.”

“Uh-huh!” Xiao Lizhi wanted to nod, but her chin was stuck, making her face even rounder. Unfazed, she turned and darted into the room.

Closing her window, Yu Qingjia stepped out and knocked on the next room’s door.

After a moment, the door opened, and a soft little bundle rushed out, hugging her leg and cooing, “Xiao Yu~”

“Zhizhi!”

The young woman who opened the door saw Zhizhi latch onto Yu Qingjia’s leg and reach to pull her back, but Yu Qingjia had already scooped her up. Looking up, the woman’s eyes widened in shock. “Miss… Miss Yu!”

Yu Qingjia nodded politely. “I’ll take good care of Xiao Lizhi. If you’re worried, you can call Ming Yin and tell her I’m taking Zhizhi to play.”

“Are we going out to play?” Xiao Lizhi asked excitedly, eager to explore since Yinyin was too busy to join her.

The young woman, aware of Yu Qingjia’s close ties with President Ming and seeing Zhizhi clinging to her, nodded hesitantly. “Alright, then.”

“Put on a hat first—it’s sunny out.” Yu Qingjia said, freeing a hand to pinch Xiao Lizhi’s chin, still red from pressing against the window.

The young woman hurried to grab a hat. Xiao Lizhi, tickled by Yu Qingjia, squirmed and giggled brightly in her arms.

Three small hats were brought out, and Xiao Lizhi reached for a round one with sunflowers. The young woman helped her put it on.

“Thank you, Sister Xiao Mang!” Xiao Lizhi beamed. The woman smiled back. “Have fun!”

“Bye, Sister Xiao Mang!”

…

Without Xiao Lizhi, Yu Qingjia had planned to nap and explore the lively festival scene at night. But now, with the little girl in tow, she’d take her around instead.

As they entered the elevator, Yu Qingjia saw a familiar figure hurrying toward it. Xiao Lizhi pressed the open button, and the doors slid back.

The newcomer, with delicate features, was Pan Xing.

Spotting the adorable girl, Pan Xing assumed she was a stranger’s kid and was about to say thanks when she recognized Yu Qingjia.

“This…?” Pan Xing glanced at the child, then at Yu Qingjia, puzzled. “Director Yu, where’d you pick up this kid?”

Whose pretty, cute girl was this, is she just handed to Yu Qingjia?

“This is Ming Yin’s daughter, Xiao Lizhi.” Yu Qingjia said, bouncing the girl in her arms. Xiao Lizhi smiled sweetly. “Hi, sister! I’m Ming Shenli, nickname Zhizhi.”

Pan Xing’s eyes lit up. So this was the four-year-old Ming Shenli! Last time, when Zhizhi sent Yu Qingjia a cake, Pan Xing only saw a pink bunny-like figure from behind. Now, seeing her face, she thought, no wonder she’s President Ming’s daughter—so beautiful, the prettiest kid she’d ever seen.

Such a lovely child melted anyone’s heart, and Pan Xing was no exception. She smiled. “Hi, Zhizhi. I’m Pan Xing.”

Xiao Lizhi blinked her big, dark eyes. “Like the twinkling stars?”

“Pfft…” Pan Xing burst out laughing at her adorable expression. “Yup, like the stars.”

Yu Qingjia couldn’t resist pinching Xiao Lizhi’s nose, asking Pan Xing, “Where are you headed?”

Pan Xing rubbed her stomach. “I’m starving, going to the restaurant. Manager Zhang said it’s pretty good.”

Her words made Yu Qingjia realize she was hungry too. She kissed Xiao Lizhi’s soft cheek. “Are you hungry? Wanna eat?”

Xiao Lizhi’s eyes sparkled, and she nuzzled Yu Qingjia’s neck. “Yes!”

“Are you guys going to the restaurant too?” Pan Xing asked, her gaze lingering on Xiao Lizhi.

Such a cute kid drew eyes everywhere.

Yu Qingjia nodded. “Yeah, let’s try it. We’ll check out local specialties in a couple of days.”

Xiao Lizhi got more excited. “Xiao Yu, I wanna go too!”

Promising to take her along, the elevator reached their floor, and they headed to the restaurant together.

Tied closely to the festival, the hotel offered local dishes and global cuisines for international guests. Xiao Lizhi loved the fragrant foods and, with Yu Qingjia’s encouragement, ordered plenty. Luckily, portions were small, and with Yu Qingjia sharing, nothing went to waste.

Compared to Xiao Lizhi’s array of small plates, Pan Xing’s vegetable salad looked stark.

Not that Pan Xing didn’t want more, but with the red carpet looming, her first at an A-list festival, she wanted to look her best.

Halfway through, Yu Qingjia got a call from Ming Yin, who’d finished work and learned Yu Qingjia had taken Zhizhi out.

Hearing Ming Yin would join them soon, Yu Qingjia said, “Alright, good.”

Hanging up, Xiao Lizhi, nibbling a chicken wing, paused curiously. “Who was it?”

“Your mommy.” Yu Qingjia said, ruffling her hair. Xiao Lizhi beamed. “Yinyin’s coming to find us?”

“Yup.” Yu Qingjia turned to Pan Xing. “Just eating that?”

Xiao Lizhi glanced at Pan Xing’s bowl of veggies and fruit, frowning. Holding up her half-eaten wing, she said, “Sister Xiao Xing, no meat? This is yummy!”

Watching Xiao Lizhi’s stuffed cheeks, Pan Xing swallowed hard. “No, I’m good with this.” Catching Yu Qingjia’s smug grin, she bristled. “Director Yu’s not worried about looking too round on camera?”

They were both women, both walking the red carpet, why didn’t Yu Qingjia care?

“I’m not an actor.” Yu Qingjia said, spreading her hands sympathetically. “People judge a director’s work and talent, not their looks.”

Pan Xing stabbed a chunk of veggies, chewing fiercely as if it were meat.

Yu Qingjia leisurely speared a juicy grilled piece, dipped it in sauce, and ate elegantly, smiling at Pan Xing.

Pan Xing: “…”

She hadn’t realized Yu Qingjia could be this infuriating!

…

Ming Yin arrived at the restaurant and saw Zhizhi eating happily by the window, Yu Qingjia smiling at the woman across from her, their ease and familiarity unmistakable. Her eyes flickered, and she quickened her pace.

As if sensing her, Xiao Lizhi spotted Ming Yin and waved. “Yinyin!”

Yu Qingjia and Pan Xing turned toward Zhizhi’s gaze, making Ming Yin pause and purse her lips.

She recognized the woman—Pan Xing, Yu Qingjia’s ex-wife and the lead in her two films.

Her certainty wavered—

Was Yu Qingjia really not getting back with Pan Xing?

Oblivious to Ming Yin’s thoughts, Yu Qingjia greeted her with a smile. “What a coincidence! You’re in Kyoto too, why didn’t you tell me?”

Ming Yin pulled a chair to sit beside them, her tone natural. “I just got here a few days ago. And now you know, right?”

Her gaze flicked to Pan Xing. When Pan Xing met her eyes, Ming Yin nodded coolly. “Good afternoon, Miss Pan.”

Pan Xing quickly returned the greeting, sensing a faint edge in Ming Yin’s coolness but unsure why. They had no personal ties, except through Xiao Yu…

A spark of realization hit Pan Xing. Glancing at Yu Qingjia, obliviously feeding Xiao Lizhi, then at Ming Yin’s softened gaze—whether for Zhizhi or Yu Qingjia—she hid a smile and said, “I’m full. You guys take your time. I’m heading back.”

Yu Qingjia saw nothing odd, Pan Xing’s small salad was nearly gone, and nodded casually. Xiao Lizhi looked up, chirping, “Bye, Sister Xiao Xing!”

“Bye, Zhizhi.”

Once Pan Xing left, Ming Yin moved to sit across from Yu Qingjia. Seeing the array of dishes, she smiled gently. “You’re really set on making Zhizhi chubby.”

Yu Qingjia blinked, recalling her earlier promise. Looking at the plates, she laughed. “No worries, we’ll burn it off playing later. I’ve got nothing urgent during the festival.”

Before the judging started, they could explore, watch festival films, or soak in local culture. Yu Qingjia had planned to see the other twelve Main Competition films, but with Xiao Lizhi, that might not happen.

Sipping juice from a cup that nearly hid her face, Xiao Lizhi swung her legs contentedly. “I’m full!” She looked at Yu Qingjia eagerly. “Are we going out to play?”

Before Yu Qingjia could answer, Ming Yin spoke first. “Mommy will take you out. Xiao Yu just arrived, she’s tired.”

The unexpected words warmed Yu Qingjia’s heart. She started to say she was fine, needing to digest anyway, but Xiao Lizhi nodded seriously. “Okay, Xiao Yu, go sleep. I’ll find you tomorrow!”

Ming Yin stood, wiping sauce and oil from Zhizhi’s face, and said to Yu Qingjia, “Rest up. The flight was long.”

With both insisting, Yu Qingjia didn’t argue. “Alright, have fun.”

As Asia’s only A-list international film festival, Kyoto drew countless tourists yearly, with the Main Competition as the focal point.

This year, thirteen films made the Main Competition, with Look Up as the only Chinese-language entry. Already under scrutiny due to Yu Qingjia, its festival entry—yet to release domestically—drew domestic reporters and critics eager to see if it would win big or go home empty-handed. They flocked to the festival, snapping up Look Up tickets.

The Main Competition also had an Audience Award, voted by viewers. The thirteen films screened during the festival, and the highest-voted won. Look Up ranked fourth, not top-tier but respectable, given the elite competition.

The frontrunners were Japan’s Mother and South Korea’s River Reflection. After watching them, Yu Qingjia mulled over her thoughts.

Lost in reflection, she overheard a man nearby say, “Look Up is a fine work, but winning an award will be tough. Takeshi Furushiro’s Mother and Moon-ji Park’s River Reflection are exceptional, with deeper artistry and human exploration. Look Up falls short there.”

“So, you think the Sakura Award will go to Mother or River Reflection?”

“Correct, that’s my take.”

Yu Qingjia nearly laughed. He wasn’t entirely wrong, but Mother’s forced twist and overdone elevation made its characters flat. River Reflection had stunning visuals, fast pacing, and twisty plots, a classic industrial product, but its director’s shallow artistic depth was a fatal flaw.

Not that spectacle-heavy films couldn’t be artistic, but the director’s skill and lens control were lacking.

She agreed winning was tough, every shortlisted film was excellent—but to say Look Up couldn’t match those two? She disagreed.

Glancing over, she saw it was Zhou Jin, being interviewed by a film channel with a cameraman recording.

Talk about enemies meeting!

Hoping to slip away before the reporter noticed, Yu Qingjia stepped forward, but the reporter, as if with radar, spotted her and hurried over, beaming. “Director Yu, wait! We’re from the film channel. Can we interview you?”

The channel was tied to state media, so Yu Qingjia had to play nice, smiling politely. She glanced at Zhou Jin, who glared fiercely before storming off.

Unbeknownst to them, the interview was a live Kyoto Film Festival broadcast, and their reactions were seen clearly by netizens—

“Ugh, Zhou Jin talks big, but he’s just sour. Never misses a chance to shade the Second Princess.”

“You don’t know, directors choose their section. Zhou Jin probably feared missing the Main Competition, so he picked Directors’ Focus to fool domestic audiences. Who’d guess Second Princess’ film would hit the Main Competition? He’s probably fuming.”

“Almost made me sick. Look Up’s the only Chinese film shortlisted, and he’s still playing petty games, small-minded.”

When Yu Qingjia appeared in the frame’s corner, the live chat exploded, covering the screen.

“Second Princess! It’s the Second Princess!”

“Hahaha, caught badmouthing! Don’t talk behind our backs, it’s awkward.”

“Second Princess has such a class, not even mad at Zhou Dog.”

“Don’t let her go, bro, interview her!”

Luckily, the reporter seized the chance. “You just came from the theater. Which films did you watch?”

Glancing at the camera, Yu Qingjia said calmly, “Mother and River Reflection, the top contenders.”

“We noticed that too. Any thoughts after watching?” the reporter asked, smiling sincerely.

Yu Qingjia thought seriously. “Both are excellent, hard to rank.”

The reporter smiled. “How confident are you against them for an award?”

Yu Qingjia feigned thought. “At least one award, I’d say.”

The reporter perked up. “Sounds like you’re very confident!”

Yu Qingjia’s expression turned odd. “If I don’t win an award, why am I even at the film festival?”

Reporter: …Couldn’t you humbly say you’re here for film exchange?

The live chat went wild with laughter:

“Hahahahaha, I’m dying, is the Second Princess this cute?”

“Director Yu’s inner monologue: Why’s this reporter asking dumb questions? /disdain.jpg”

“Too real! Why else come if you don’t think you’ll win? Sightseeing? /dog head”

“That’s the vibe! This is the Second Princess who swore she’d quit entertainment if Star Making Plan didn’t hit a billion!”

Ultimately, awards weren’t up to Yu Qingjia or Zhou Jin. Netizens were more curious about Look Up’s quality. Some climbed the firewall to check foreign media and critics’ reviews, finding glowing praise—

“An outstanding film, the must-see of this festival. The director’s character portrayal and lens control are remarkable, don’t miss this high-caliber work!”

“The plot is gripping, emotions perfectly balanced. The director’s lighting mastery is a lesson for others. Surprisingly, this director also made Star Making Plan, proving her commercial and artistic prowess.”

When shared on Weibo, netizens were proud yet baffled—

Is Yu Qingjia that good?

A director with no film background, making a movie in under six months that got into an A-list festival’s Main Competition with high foreign praise? Each point seemed unreal; together, it was fantastical.

But with Star Making Plan’s 1.7-billion box office as proof, no one dared call Look Up trash.

Some netizens insisted Yu Qingjia’s entry was due to capital manipulation, the praise orchestrated by Tianyue. Though they knew Tianyue lacked such power, they clung to the conspiracy to soothe their insecurities.

Under these translated reviews, snarky comments appeared:

“These reviews are so fake. Even Han Yan couldn’t get this praise, Yu Qingjia? Laughable.”

“Tianyue has no self-awareness. Yu Qingjia deserves this hype? I liked her work a bit on Star
Making Plan, but now I’m turning anti. /bye”

“Hahaha, the translator’s so earnest—it’s pathetic. Who believes this obviously fake stuff?”

Yu Qingjia’s supporters were stunned:

“Look Up making the festival is huge, and people are dragging it down? Just for attention?”

“Japan’s Director Hailyu Yabanagi tweeted that Yu Qingjia’s talent is boundless. Yet you’re doubting Look Up? Bunch of idiots.”

“Keep being salty. Can’t admit there are geniuses out there while you’re just bitter, useless haters.”

Hailyu Yabanagi, a renowned Japanese director and last year’s Kyoto Main Competition judge, had a loyal domestic fanbase.

When fans learned he’d praised Yu Qingjia, some couldn’t believe it, checking his tweet themselves—and it was true!

His fans rallied behind Look Up, not just as the only Chinese entry but also trusting Yabanagi’s judgment and integrity.

But Huayue’s hired trolls and Yu Qingjia’s haters fueled the feud, escalating it with more voices joining.

Look Up supporters argued against dragging it down and urged cheering for its success, especially if Yu Qingjia won.

Opponents simply wanted to tear her down, targeting anything tied to her.

The debate peaked when the Directors’ Focus judging ended, and February 19th, trashed as garbage, won a Special Attention Award!

Yu Qingjia, unfazed, focused on the upcoming Main Competition judging.