Eldest Senior Sister Goes Down The Mountain To Become An Idol - Chapter 5

The jobs the original body had come into contact with before were all short-term temporary work, and she had not accumulated any useful experience.

Xu Yi had already lived for more than ten thousand years before, and after that, she had fallen asleep for more than twenty thousand years. If her memories were an entire ocean, then the original body’s memories, which did not even span twenty years, were like a cup of water. Once poured into the sea, they basically vanished without a trace.

Fortunately, Xu Yi’s divine sense was powerful, so she could barely make use of the original body’s memories to survive in this world.

Finding work, however, was rather difficult. When people asked what special skills she had, Xu Yi thought hard for a very long time before finally squeezing out one sentence: “My sword is very powerful.”

“What the hell?”

“Aside from the sword, I also have quite a bit of research in the two paths of divination and formations.”

“…”

“My medical skills are also decent. I have also once cultivated the Dao of alchemy and artifact refinement.”

“…Go, go, go. We don’t hire student girls here. Go look somewhere else.”

Xu Yi walked out of that door and could still hear the boss and the boss’s wife whispering inside, “She looks kind of silly. Is there something wrong with her head?” “Maybe she didn’t pass the college entrance exam and took too big a blow. Acting all strange and neurotic. Poor thing. Such a pretty young girl too.”

After running around for an entire day, Xu Yi still did not find a single job willing to let her work. With a face full of worry and confusion, she returned to the shared apartment.

He Xiaojing had already finished work and come back. After showering, she changed into loose, comfortable pajamas and sat in the living room holding half a watermelon, scooping it up with a spoon. When she saw Xu Yi return, she quickly waved for her to go get the other half of the watermelon from the fridge.

“I should’ve treated you to a meal yesterday, but I got so busy I forgot. Let’s eat watermelon first. It’s chilled, so it’s really refreshing. I ordered takeout too, and it’s super abundant. Let’s eat together later.” He Xiaojing was warm and generous, leaving Xu Yi somewhat unable to cope. She had never interacted with people like this before. In the past, all social interactions had been properly arranged by the sect. She only needed to focus on cultivating. Because of that, she now seemed incredibly stiff whenever she dealt with others.

Xu Yi opened the fridge and looked at it curiously, not knowing how this thing produced cold air.

Seeing her standing in a daze in front of the fridge, He Xiaojing asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like watermelon?”

“No.” Xu Yi carried the watermelon over and sat beside He Xiaojing. She picked up a spoon and copied her movements as she scooped some to eat. After just the first bite, the sweet taste of watermelon spreading over Xu Yi’s taste buds made her starry eyes brighten a little, and her movements while eating the watermelon sped up quite a bit.

“It’s good, right? On my way back from work, I specially took a detour to the little market at the entrance of East Street to buy it. Every evening, a big truck brings loads of watermelons there to sell. They’re sweet, big, and super cheap. If you like them, I’ll bring you some whenever I have time.”

Xu Yi did not know whether she should refuse or thank her. She liked eating it, and if He Xiaojing could help her bring some back, that would also be quite nice. But He Xiaojing was not her immortal servant. She had no reason to make the other person do things for her.

After a brief hesitation, Xu Yi refused. “Thank you. There’s no need to buy any for me. It would trouble you too much.”

“Aiya, it’s such a small thing.” He Xiaojing ate happily, then lowered the air conditioner temperature. She asked Xu Yi, “Were you busy outside today?”

“I wanted to find work.” Xu Yi thought again of how she had been rejected one after another all day. Even the foreman at a construction site would not take her on to move bricks. She was the dignified first disciple of the Cangyun Sect’s sect master, Eldest Senior Sister Xu Yi, who had grown up under everyone’s admiring gaze. How sorrowful this day was.

“Do you have any requirements for work? Do you want me to help you? When I was studying, I also worked part-time while going to school. I have a lot of experience with part-time jobs.”

“I don’t have any requirements. I want to earn more money.” Xu Yi had not even gathered enough for her tuition yet.

He Xiaojing looked her up and down, especially at that face dyed with worry. The more He Xiaojing looked, the more envious she became, and her heart could not help turning a little sour.

“Sigh, you’re so good-looking. Why don’t you come with me to the production crew tomorrow and give it a try? There was a drama today where one actress felt she didn’t have enough scenes and wanted the director to add more. The director disagreed, and the two of them started arguing. In the end, the actress refused to act. The director is in a hurry to film the later scenes and is looking everywhere for someone. Do you want to try? I think your appearance really suits the role. Maybe you’ll catch the director’s eye.”

“Acting. Can I do that?” Xu Yi did not understand acting. She had been born into an upright, prestigious sect, and from childhood to adulthood, she had carried a body full of righteous integrity. Whatever kind of person she was, she did things accordingly. She had never even spoken half a lie, let alone changed faces in front of others and acted.

“Don’t worry about whether you can or not yet. Just go and try. Although there aren’t many scenes, it’s at least a role that shows your face and has lines. What if you succeed? The pay for that would be much higher than what you’d earn from working hard at a regular part-time job.”

Xu Yi was somewhat moved and agreed along the flow of the conversation.

He Xiaojing directly said something in the group chat to the extras coordinator who usually brought her to act, telling her that she would bring someone over tomorrow. After things were settled over there, the takeout happened to arrive too.

The two of them enjoyed a beautiful meal. Xu Yi deeply felt how advanced this world’s development was. Aside from their short lifespans, mortals seemed no different from immortals, and they even understood better than immortals how to enjoy life.

Night deepened. He Xiaojing returned to her room early to rest, but Xu Yi paced in the living room. In the end, she still made up her mind to search for Miss Gu once more. Only this time, she brought the little stones out onto the balcony and borrowed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, hoping the result would be a little more accurate.

Xu Yi was currently setting up the array, while Miss Gu, whom she longed for day and night, was once again rushing to the airport.

Xiao Ye was dragging her suitcase with a body full of exhaustion, looking like she barely had the strength to continue. After they got off the plane this morning, they had been surrounded by fans. Fortunately, there had happened to be another female celebrity present at the time. Seeing that things on their side had become a complete mess, that female celebrity had very kindly sent bodyguards over to help resolve the situation.

After boarding the plane, Xiao Ye had nothing to do and started cursing Hongsheng again. “Even a production team’s donkey isn’t as busy as you. You flew over this morning to save someone’s show, and now you have to fly back to keep working. Sister, your body can’t handle this.”

“Let’s endure it a little longer.” Gu Yueyue had no other way. Her contract was still in effect, and besides, she herself urgently needed money. Being a little busy was still fine. It was better than having no work and no one paying attention to her.

“Sister, hurry and sleep for a while. Once we land later, we have to go straight to the film studio. Old Yao shoved another TV drama at us.” Xiao Ye looked through the electronic script. “A costume xianxia drama. The role is the leader of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance. There aren’t many scenes either. She appears when the war between immortals and demons starts, and once that war ends, this character wraps filming.”

Gu Yueyue, however, let out a breath of relief. For the first time in a long while, she felt a little relaxed. “As long as I can act, that’s good. Let me see the script.”

“No. You should sleep first. I’m afraid you’ll collapse before you even make it to the set.” Xiao Ye took out an eye mask for her and urged her to hurry and rest. “Do you know how terrible you look after taking off your makeup right now? You have no energy at all. If you keep going like this, those gossip media outlets that earn dirty money might start spreading rumors that you’re taking drugs or raising little ghosts.”

Gu Yueyue put on the eye mask and was startled by what Xiao Ye had blurted out. “You can’t casually say things like that. Be careful someone overhears it and starts making things up from rumors.”

Xiao Ye stuck out her tongue and shrugged. “I know, I know. I have a sense of propriety. Sister, hurry and sleep.”

Perhaps because she was too tired, the moment Gu Yueyue relaxed, she sank heavily into a dream. Layer upon layer of mountains rose green and lush, with pavilions and towers, a cold moon, and a solitary shadow. She seemed to be within it, yet also drifting outside of it.

“Family Head, people from the Cangyun Sect have arrived.”

“Cangyun Sect? What are they here for?”

“I heard they want to form a marriage alliance with our Gu family.”

“Heh, they certainly know how to scheme. Who came? Forget it. In any case, it won’t be her. Invite them to leave.”

“Yes. This subordinate will handle it immediately.”

Gu Yueyue drifted outside the scene, but within this dream, she grew increasingly anxious and worried. She did not know when it had started, but she would have these kinds of dreams. What was difficult to tell others was that in her dreams, she had fallen in love with that clear, moonlit woman. Only, after waking, all her memories would become very blurry. They were clear and bright only while she was dreaming.

At this moment, she watched as the person she admired descended the mountain to ask for marriage, only to be driven away by the family servants instead.

“Family Head, Senior Sister Xu has already left.”

“Who did you say left?”

“The first disciple of the Cangyun Sect’s sect master, Eldest Senior Sister Xu…”

Gu Yueyue could not hear that person’s name and became especially anxious. But then, in the next second, she saw that family head who had been leisurely drinking alone under the moon suddenly become like a little bird escaping its cage. Dressed in red, she flashed away beneath the moon, leaving behind only an afterimage.

Gu Yueyue woke from the dream again. Xiao Ye sat beside her, scrolling through Weibo while covering her mouth and laughing with little giggles.

“Sister, you’re awake?” Xiao Ye put away her phone and teased her, “What beautiful dream did you have? I saw you smiling the whole time after you fell asleep.”

Gu Yueyue could no longer remember what she had dreamed. She rubbed her aching brow. “What beautiful dream? I’d already thank heaven and earth if I didn’t have nightmares. Are we almost there?”

“Mm. Almost. Later, we’re going straight to the production crew.”

The sky had brightened. Xu Yi looked at her array in disbelief. Her soul, which had just returned to her body, was still immersed in shock. Miss Gu… why was she flying again?

There was movement from the living room. He Xiaojing had already woken up. When she saw Xu Yi on the balcony, she was slightly surprised. “Morning. Since you’re up, that’s perfect. Hurry and get ready. I’ll take you to the production crew. On the way, I’ll tell you about that role.”

He Xiaojing mistakenly thought Xu Yi had woken early for the sake of work. In reality, Xu Yi had not slept at all.

The two of them busied themselves for a while. Half an hour later, they rode the little electric scooter and rushed fiercely toward the production crew.

As He Xiaojing parked the little scooter, she asked her, “You understood everything I told you, right?”

“Mm.” Xu Yi nodded, indicating that she understood.

This was a costume xianxia drama. The role she needed to fight for was the eldest senior sister of an upright cultivation sect. That actually suited her original identity very well.

He Xiaojing hurriedly brought her all the way to the production crew. Sister Liu, the extras coordinator, was already leading a group of extras and assigning tasks.

“Sister Liu, I brought my friend over.” He Xiaojing helped introduce them. “Sister Liu, this is my friend, Xu Yi. Xu Yi, this is Sister Liu, Liu Yuan. She usually takes very good care of me on set, just like my own elder sister. Hurry and greet her.”

“Hello, Sister Liu.” Xu Yi followed He Xiaojing and called her Sister Liu.

Meanwhile, Sister Liu’s eyes were fixed tightly on Xu Yi’s face, then slowly moved to her body. “I say, little sister, with looks like yours, it would be way too much of a waste for you to work as an extra. You should debut directly.”

Xu Yi did not understand the meaning behind her words, so she could only cast a pleading look toward He Xiaojing.

He Xiaojing picked up the conversation and smiled. “Sister Liu, our Xiao Yi is still studying.”

“She’s still studying?” Sister Liu felt it was a pity and clicked her tongue. “I’ve been here for so many years. What kind of beautiful actors haven’t I seen? But someone with a special aura like Xiao Yi really is rare. If she has the heart to develop in the entertainment industry, becoming popular would only be a matter of time.”

“Sister Liu is right. I also think her appearance is very good. It’s just…” He Xiaojing pulled Sister Liu aside and said quietly, “The little girl is wholeheartedly focused on studying, and her personality is cold and indifferent. She isn’t suitable for our circle. It’s just that her family situation is rather difficult, and she’s worried about tuition. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought her here to trouble you.”

Sister Liu also had a child studying at home. Hearing that Xu Yi was wholeheartedly focused on studying, the way she looked at Xu Yi gained a few more traces of concern.

“This personality really isn’t too suitable. In this circle, who isn’t a clever smooth-talker?” As Sister Liu spoke, she suddenly laughed. “Actually, there really is one person who isn’t a clever smooth-talker, just a stubborn fool with one track mind. She came over early this morning.”

“Who?” He Xiaojing asked curiously.

“Who else could it be? The one playing the leader of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance.” Sister Liu lowered her voice by He Xiaojing’s ear. “Gu Yueyue. Tell me, with such good conditions, and she even won Best Actress on TV last year, but in the end, she’s been controlled by her company until the worse she does, the worse things get. This person’s brain just isn’t flexible. She’s stubborn and foolish, dead loyal to Hongsheng. If I were her, I would’ve found a new backer long ago and kicked Hongsheng aside.”

“That’s true. Sister Liu is still the amazing one. You see everything so clearly. Then, about our Xiao Yi…”

“All right, don’t worry. Just hand her over to Sister. Sister guarantees that I’ll definitely help her gather enough tuition before school starts.”

“Eh, thank you, Sister Liu.” Seeing that she had agreed, He Xiaojing also let out a breath of relief. She called Xu Yi over and instructed her a few times. “Just follow Sister Liu and work. I still have work this morning, so I can’t accompany you. Sister Liu is straightforward and generous. You don’t need to be afraid while following her. Just do your job properly.”

Sister Liu smiled and patted He Xiaojing’s shoulder. “Stop putting a tall hat on me. Hurry and go do your own work.” It could be seen that she was in a very good mood.

Xu Yi did not understand these exchanges of favors and human relationships between people. Whatever they told her to do, she would do it. As long as it did not go against the laws of the Heavenly Dao, it was all within the range she could accept.

“All right. I’ll take you to meet the director. Be a little quick-witted.” As Sister Liu spoke, she thought again of how that role itself was a proper immortal maiden from a prestigious upright sect, so serious and rigid that she was almost old-fashioned. Then she said, “Forget it. Just be like this.”