27 I Was Just Playing (1/2)
An Xiaoning placed the finished cup of ginger tea on the table and sprung from her seat. ”Didn't you say that actions speak louder than words? Should I do just that and express my gratitude through actions?” she asked, draping her arms over his neck.
Jin Qingyan tightened his core and answered, ”Trying to please me?”
With a smile, she let go of him and said in response, ”Please you? In your dreams. I was just playing.”
”…”
”I was just thinking, should they decide to give me the sack tomorrow, I'll just tell them I'm your wife. Do you think they'll think twice about firing me then?”
Pretending not to mind her suggestion, Jin Qingyan replied sarcastically, ”You may gladly do so. At least I won't be the only one getting embarassed when the word spreads, about how my wife had experienced working behind the scenes of a TV production unit.”
”Right…”
——
The morning after, An Xiaoning returned to the production unit.
She arrived at the dressing room only to hear the makeup artist say, ”An Ning, you've been sacked. Here's your salary for yesterday.”
An Xiaoning watched as the makeup artist handed her 80 dollars.
Accepting the money, she asked, ”Why?”
Although she had already known the answer, more or less, she still wanted to ask for the reason.
”It was the co-director who personally informed me about the decision. I don't know why exactly, either.”
With a nod, An Xiaoning turned around and headed to the director's office. Upon seeing An Xiaoning, the director's assistant asked, ”What are you here for?”
”To look for the director, to discuss some matters.”
”Who are you?” asked the assistant. Realization hit after a moment, then he continued, ”Oh. You're the newly hired assistant makeup artist, right?”
”Yes, I only need two minutes of the director's time.”
”The director is not in right now.”
”Then, can I wait here for him? Just for a little while.”
Looking as if he had been put on a spot, the director's assistant murmured, ”Um…”
At just that moment, the director returned and entered, passing by An Xiaoning. ”Director, she's looking for you,” said the assistant.
The director raised his head and said, ”What's the matter?”
”Will you leave us here for a while?” An Xiaoning said cordially to the assistant.
”He's my assistant. You may just speak your mind, there's no need to be so secretive. Just what's the matter?” chided the director, who was rather nonchalant.
An Xiaoning continued to speak, ”Director, if you're sure you won't regret your decisions after hearing what I have to say, then it's fine by me. But I really have something important to speak to you about. Please take this seriously.”
Noticing how serious An Xiaoning seemed, though he was not sure what she wanted to speak to him about, the director let out a cough and said, ”Xiao Li, please go outside for a while.”
”Okay.”
The director's assistant then turned around and exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Standing opposite the director, An Xiaoning said, ”Director, I have something to ask of you. But I won't take your help for granted. I can tell your fortune.”
”Huh? Tell my fortune?” asked the director, who was bewildered at what he had just heard.