Starlet Taotie Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Unlimited Ice Cream
Although Jiang Tao insisted she wasn’t injured, everyone was still uneasy and insisted on sending both her and Tang Yuxia to the hospital for a full check-up.
After settling the aftermath, Director Zou rushed over to the hospital.
Even though he had already seen the footage recorded by Zhang Ce and the others, he was still worried there might be hidden injuries.
“Tang Yuxia’s ankle sprain isn’t serious. A bit of spray and two days of rest will do. But she’s a little overly frightened, so we prescribed some calming medication. It’s best to also arrange some psychological counseling for her…”
Director Zou nodded repeatedly, then asked carefully, “And… what about Jiang Tao?”
The doctor picked up Jiang Tao’s medical report and frowned deeply.
Director Zou’s heart instantly sank. “Is her condition very serious?”
He was already mentally searching for the best orthopedic and cosmetic surgery hospitals in the country.
The doctor declared with a stern expression, “All test results are completely normal. Not even a single scratch on her skin. Going forward, please do not occupy valuable medical resources like ambulances for cases of this nature, alright?”
Director Zou: “……”
He looked at the examination report in disbelief.
Truthfully speaking, she was a bit too healthy.
But no matter what, this was good news.
Director Zou walked briskly toward Jiang Tao’s hospital room.
The moment Jiang Tao saw him, she sprang up from the bed, eyes shining brightly. “Can I eat wild boar now?”
Director Zou: “……”
Jiang Tao frowned and took a step back, compromising, “Fine. If there’s no wild boar, then the luxurious feast will do.”
Director Zou: “……”
Jiang Tao narrowed her eyes, her expression turning slightly dangerous. “Don’t tell me… even the luxurious feast is gone?”
Director Zou shuddered and snapped back to reality.
Whatever explanation he had prepared instantly took a detour in his mouth. “I’ll go buy it right now.”
“That’s more like it.” Jiang Tao nodded, then quickly added, “But this is only compensation for the wild boar. You’re not allowed to deduct my original luxurious feast.”
Her small, calculating, and slightly stingy expression made Director Zou laugh out loud.
Whatever inexplicable fear he had felt earlier completely vanished.
Like an indulgent father humoring his daughter’s unreasonable request, Director Zou coaxed, “Alright, alright, it won’t count. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
He opened a food delivery app. “Take a look, what do you want to eat?”
Jiang Tao quickly tapped away, selecting several restaurants she found appetizing. “One of everything from each of these restaurants.”
Director Zou’s fatherly smile froze on his face. “What did you say?”
…
Tang Yuxia had been thoroughly frightened this time. Whenever she closed her eyes, she could see the ferocious wild boar charging straight at her.
But in front of her, there had always been that slender figure shielding her, giving her an overwhelming sense of safety.
Although the doctor had originally advised her to rest, she still insisted on coming to see Jiang Tao.
When she entered the hospital room, she saw Director Zou was also there.
However, compared to when he had visited her earlier, Director Zou now looked hollow-eyed and unsteady on his feet.
Tang Yuxia panicked. “Jiang Jiang, are you alright?”
Jiang Tao burped. “I’m fine, I’m just craving some…”
Director Zou’s hand tightened protectively around his wallet. “You two chat, you chat. I’ve got something to do, I’ll head out first!”
And just like that, he left in a hurry.
After he was gone, Tang Yuxia handed over a luxurious fruit basket her manager had bought, gratefully and guiltily, “Jiang Jiang, thank you for saving me.”
Jiang Tao had just been thinking about some post-meal fruit.
She hadn’t expected this human to be so considerate. Overjoyed, she said, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”
Tang Yuxia felt even more ashamed.
She had previously treated Jiang Tao so poorly. If it were anyone else, even after saving her, they would probably have taken the opportunity to mock her.
But Jiang Tao had been so magnanimous!
She was clearly a kind, generous, and warm-hearted girl.
Yet she had mistaken her for a scheming bitch obsessed with building a persona.
The more Tang Yuxia thought about it, the worse she felt.
She said seriously to Jiang Tao, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely repay you!”
Jiang Tao, who had just lifted her head from the fruit basket, went, “Huh?”
Her expression was blank and confused, completely different from the calm and steady look she had when facing the wild boar.
Tang Yuxia couldn’t help but burst out laughing, the tension in her chest finally easing.
She gave Jiang Tao a solemn bow, then limped out the room with the support of her manager.
…
When Tong Tong heard that her jie had an encounter with a wild boar, she rushed to the hospital in a panic—only to see her jie happily hugging a fruit basket and eating away.
Tong Tong: “……”
No matter the situation, she never forgets to eat. As expected of her.
When they went to handle the discharge procedures, Tong Tong noticed a group of people escorting a chubby man wearing sunglasses into Tang Yuxia’s hospital room.
She nudged Jiang Tao. “Jie, don’t you think that guy looks kind of familiar?”
Jiang Tao looked up. “Foie millet?”
(TLN: Kinda hard to translate this pun, but basically 熟 means both ‘familiar’ and ‘done cooking’/ripe to eat’.)
Tong Tong: “……”
Just let it go.
She remembered her original purpose for coming. “Jie, Sun ge took an ice cream commercial gig for you.”
Jiang Tao: “Not going.”
Tong Tong: “As their spokesperson, you’ll be given unlimited ice cream.”
Jiang Tao: “Right this instant, we’re leaving right now to shoot it! Immediately!”
Tong Tong: “……”
…
Tianxue Ice Cream was a privately owned company in Southwest Province. In its early years, it had been quite famous and was a childhood memory for many locals.
Unfortunately, due to its careless packaging and poor marketing, it gradually faded out of the mainstream market.
Having taught a painful lesson, the company had resolved to make a comeback. They even specially hired a so-called ‘genius’ advertising director, Ji Qing.
And this Ji Qing, as coincidence would have it, was one of the supporting male leads in this novel.
In his youth, Ji Qing had suffered a major blow and nearly taken his own life. He was saved and encouraged by the female lead, Su Yingxue, who was still a child at the time, reigniting his will to live.
Later, he became a well-known advertising director in the entertainment industry. However, he never forgot the girl who had once helped him. After Su Yingxue entered the industry, he had always been silently supporting her behind the scenes. Several of the female lead’s breakout commercials were even directed by him.
He never expected that this time, the female lead of this advertisement would actually be Jiang Tao.
If not for professional ethics, he would have terminated the contract on the spot.
During the early communication stage, his expression had been extremely unpleasant. He didn’t even take off his sunglasses, but it only highlighted his pale, sharp jawline.
His assistant then explained the concept of the advertisement.
A 15-second commercial, but Jiang Tao would have nearly thirty costume changes. From the 1980s all the way to the present day, she would appear in constantly changing outfits while eating the same ice cream that never changed.
The purpose was to emphasize that the ice cream’s quality remained consistent over time. But for Jiang Tao, who would be filming it, the workload of thirty costume changes was no small matter.
On top of that, because Ji Qing was extremely busy, they were only given two days to complete the shoot.
Tong Tong’s face turned pale after hearing the concept.
“Not only that,” Ji Qing turned to Jiang Tao, slightly hooking down his sunglasses with one finger, revealing a pair of narrow eyes filled with mockery. “Miss Jiang, I hope you understand that I have very strict requirements for the quality of my commercials. To make it more convincing, you must actually eat it. Do you understand?”
Jiang Tao: “!”
Ji Qing coldly regarded her.
She must be very unwilling.
After all, female celebrities practically starve themselves to maintain their figures. How could they possibly eat high-calorie ice cream for real?
However, Jiang Tao looked at him with sudden delight, her expression almost moved to tears. “Really? That’s great!”
“Director Ji, you’re such a good person!!”
Ji Qing: “???”
Completely bewildered after being inexplicably handed a good person card, Ji Qing watched as Jiang Tao happily went off to get her makeup and costume done.
“…Is she mocking me?”
“No, no!” Tong Tong quickly and sincerely explained, “Director Ji, you’re just too professional. This commercial is basically tailor-made for our jie!”
Ji Qing: “!!”
Damn it, how is Jiang Tao’s assistant even more sarcastic than her?!
His dislike for Jiang Tao deepened even further.
During filming later, he would make her understand just how unwise it was to offend a director!
Soon, Jiang Tao changed into her first outfit: two braided pigtails, a 1980s-style floral dress. Her skin was fair and delicate, and her almond-shaped eyes held a hint of anticipation and excitement.
She perfectly embodied the state described in the commercial script.
The criticism Ji Qing had on the tip of his tongue somehow got stuck.
In the end, he could only let out a cold snort. “Bring out the ice cream. Get ready to start.”
This shot was a simple five-second scene: Jiang Tao walking from the opposite side while eating ice cream.
“Action!”
Jiang Tao bit into the ice cream, curiously looking around as she walked. But she had only taken a single step when she suddenly heard Ji Qing shout, “Cut!”
Ji Qing stuck his head out from behind the monitor and yelled, “I told you to bite the ice cream! Not swallow it in one go!!”
Jiang Tao: “Oh.”
“Again.” Ji Qing sat back down irritably. “Xiao Zhao, give her another one.”
Jiang Tao took the ice cream and started again.
This time, she took one step.
“Cut! You’re giving off the wrong feeling! Change it!”
“Cut! Wrong! Eat it again!”
“Cut!”
“Cut!!”
…
Just that one shot alone took Jiang Tao over a dozen takes, and an entire small box of ice cream was completely used up.
Only then did Ji Qing finally declare it passed.
Jiang Tao’s lipstick had almost been completely eaten off.
Leaning back in his chair, Ji Qing said half mockingly, half advising, “Miss Jiang, if you really can’t handle this, I suggest you terminate the contract…”
“Why would you have that misconception?” Jiang Tao looked at him in confusion.
Ji Qing let out a cold snort.
Still stubborn to the end.
But his attitude had, unknowingly, softened compared to before.
His strictness and perfectionism were well-known in the industry. At the same time, he also held the deepest respect for actors who were truly professional.
Before today, he had assumed Jiang Tao was an arrogant, difficult celebrity with no professional ethics at all.
But today, his perception of her had completely changed.
Not only was she professional, she also had remarkable talent.
He hadn’t explained anything in detail, yet she had managed to grasp the core of such a highly conceptual creative direction: the love for ice cream remained unchanged no matter how the times evolved.
That kind of smooth, satisfying collaboration was something he had never even experienced with Su Yingxue.
Ji Qing let out a soft sigh.
What a pity, such talent wasted on someone with poor character.
…
After a full day of filming ended, Jiang Tao rubbed her stomach. “Wuwuwuwu~ I’m so hungry!”
Tong Tong: “……”
If I hadn’t personally watched you eat that much ice cream, I might’ve actually believed you!
Jiang Tao dragged Tong Tong straight into a convenience store.
In this place full of food, Jiang Tao was like a mouse falling into a rice barn, her face full of pure, unadulterated happiness.
She picked up a full basket of snacks, planning to eat her fill before going back.
Just as she was happily devouring her food, someone approached them.
A girl wearing a baseball cap and a mask hesitantly walked over. “Um… are you Jiang Tao?”
Tong Tong immediately stood up on guard. “Who are you?”
The girl quickly pulled down her mask. “My name is Li Xi. I…I was just watching a show you were in, and I really like you! I didn’t expect to run into you here!”
A fan!
Tong Tong froze in surprise.
Li Xi hadn’t expected Jiang Tao to look even better in real life than on screen. The sudden close-range beauty impact almost made her forget to breathe.
She hurriedly took out a piece of chocolate from her bag. “T-This is for you!”
She even knew about Jiang Tao missing the final chocolate on the show—she was definitely a real fan!
Jiang Tao immediately broke into a sweet smile. “Thank you!”
Li Xi was so excited her voice trembled. “Can…Can I take a photo with you? I…I can trade more chocolate for it!”
Tong Tong immediately refused. “No!”
Her artist was currently bare-faced, her hair casually tied up, and there were even two sesame seeds stuck near the corner of her mouth since who-knows-when.
If such a sloppy photo got out, how would they ever sell her as a world-class beauty again?!
“Don’t listen to her!” Jiang Tao immediately leaned into Li Xi’s camera and struck a peace sign.
She had her own simple logic of exchange.
She had worked so hard filming the show and only got a few boxed meals in return. Now all she needed to do was take a photo with a girl, and she could get a piece of chocolate. Such a deal was a no-brainer.
Tong Tong: “……”
TL Note: As you may have noticed from the previous chapters, we have a new editor on board. Ladies and gents, please welcome Luna!! ( ๑ ˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و ♡ She’s currently on vaca, so the following chapters will just be with bwth’s proof. Once she comes back, these chapters will revised, it’s mostly small grammatical errors and stylistic choice (bwth’s got our backs xD), so don’t worry, please keep enjoying the read~
