Chapter 13.
Xu Xinyi and Yi Yang had been secretly married for many years now and the two of them had always shared a tacit understanding that it would be better for both parties to keep it that way. For Xu Xinyi, the advantages of a hidden marriage far outweighed the disadvantages.
For instance, a married woman in the entertainment industry could not carelessly touch any of the new fresh meats.
“Sister Xinyi, you have been in the entertainment industry for so long, have you ever heard of this rumored star who is secretly married to CEO Yi?”
“Of course we have,” Anya cut in with a smile. “We’ve even met her before.”
“Wow, have you really met her? So this Weibo is telling the truth? Yi Yang is really married?”
“Sister Anya, tell me, which actress is so lucky as to marry CEO Yi?”
“Lucky?” Xu Xinyi glanced at the fresh meat who spoke and scoffed.
“Of course!” The fresh meat was in high spirits. “Yi Group has few competitors in the city, whether it’s in real estate or in other industries. The Yi Group’s market value and prospects are inestimable. And CEO Yi is able to manage the company so steadily despite his young age. Needless to say, he is also very handsome, so of course, any woman would be lucky to marry him.”
However, Xu Xinyi, the “lucky woman”, did not feel particularly lucky. On the contrary, after these young fresh meats said so many words about Yi Yang, her interest in them began to wane.
So superficial!
At the same time, another group of people who had come to the club to discuss business had just finished up and were now leaving. But suddenly one member of this new group of people’s footsteps stopped as they passed by the door of the room.
Two security guards, who were standing outside of the private room came up to the man who had stopped and asked, “Is something the matter, President Yi?”
Yi Yang lowered his eyes and was silent for a moment. Then he signaled them with his hands, his meaning was clear: ‘you leave first’.
With no other choice, the two security guards were kicked out.
–“No matter how handsome Yi Yang is, is he handsome enough to eat? How can one single Yi Yang compare with a hundred fresh meats?”
–“Superficial! People are too superficial!”
–“There are so many women who want to marry Yi Yang? Are they crazy? Who can stand Yi Yang’s dog temper?”
–“I wouldn’t want him even if he was free.”
The little fresh meat continued to ask, “Sister Xinyi, Sister Anya said you two met her. So who is the lucky actress?”
“Yes, Sister Xinyi, do you know who it is?”
“Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom.” Xu Xinyi really didn’t want to hear any more from these people, who were chattering on and praising Yi Yang, so she made up an excuse to leave.
Yi Yang, what was so good about that dog man? He was just born lucky. Bah! Count it as her bad luck to hear people nattering on about him wherever she goes.
After she opened the door of the room, Xu Xinyi’s feet suddenly froze. Her face changed abruptly as she was enveloped in a familiar icy aura. It was like an invisible hand wrapped tightly around her throat.
Outside the room stood Yi Yang. His black shirt was meticulous without a wrinkle, his tie was neatly tied at the collar, and he looked immaculate – just the same as when he had stepped out of the house this morning. He was lazily leaning against the wall.
The corridor was dimly lit so Yi Yang’s figure was obscured, half in the dark and half in the light, so Xu Xinyi could not see his face clearly. She could only see a pair of deep, cold eyes.
Xu Xinyi’s heart suddenly froze.
Yi Yang!
–“What is this dog man doing here?”
–“He didn’t come out to catch me on purpose did he?”
She gave a sidelong glance into the room.
–“Be calm! Xu Xinyi, don’t panic. This is not a big problem. “
Yi Yang raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Xu Xinyi with an unreadable gaze.
“What a coincidence.”
Coincidence, it really was a coincidence.
After two years of marriage, Xu Xinyi and Yi Yang had met only a handful of times but now all of a sudden they can randomly bump into each other just by stepping out of a room?
Heaven and earth can attest to the fact that this was Xu Xinyi’s first visit to a club like this, and this was also the first time she had met with those guys inside. But how could things happen so coincidentally? She happened to step out of the room at just the right moment to meet Yi Yang? Even though things would have been different if she had moved just a little bit slower or faster and opened the door a moment earlier or later?
Yi Yang, this dog man, was not spying on her, was he?
Xu Xinyi was in a panic.
–“Wait, why should I panic? I haven’t done anything wrong! I didn’t even touch a finger on those guys’ hands. I am upright and innocent!”
–“But thinking about it, wouldn’t it be better to have a misunderstanding here? Yi Yang, this dog man, has a reputation to uphold. Can he tolerate his wife fooling around behind his back?”
At this thought, Xu Xinyi was suddenly enlightened.
“What a coincidence, husband, why are you here?”
Yi Yang stared at her gloomily. “I was here on business. What about you?”
“I…” Xu Xinyi made a guilty face and fell silent.
As soon as she opened her mouth, the door behind her suddenly opened from the inside.
It was the guy who had been sitting on Xu Xinyi’s left. He strolled out with a wide smile before he spotted Yi Yang and Xu Xinyi staring at each other just outside the door and froze.
…this was awkward.
“Sister Xinyi, this is…?”
How could this little fresh meat not know Yi Yang? His eyes went all round immediately. He looked at Yi Yang and looked at Xu Xinyi as if he understood something. With his mouth open, he was too surprised to speak coherently, “Y-Yi. CEO Yi! “
Xu Xinyi spoke flusteredly, “Go in first. We have private matters to discuss.”
The little fresh meat reacted quickly and disappeared into the room.
–“Come on! Ask me who that man is! Then, get angry with me, suspect me of having an affair, point at my nose, and say, ‘How dare you go out and find a wild man? Forcing me to wear a big green hat? Divorce!'”
–“The next thing he will want to do is to divorce me! No matter who tries to persuade him, it will be useless!”
“Husband, let me explain…” Xu Xinyi paused to give Yi Yang the chance to interrupt and scold her.
–-“He’ll say, ‘I saw it with my own eyes. What else is there to say? Divorce!'”
Yi Yang wanted to speak but stopped. He reached up and rubbed at the veins that were suddenly popping out at his temple. “What are you doing here?”
“I just came to play with some friends. That’s all. ” Xu Xinyi’s eyes skipped around erratically and she dared not look at Yi Yang in the eye. She was secretive and hesitant, like she was hiding something, and all-in-all she appeared very suspicious.
“To play?”
“Just with Anya and some of her friends, Yi Yang, don’t get angry.”
–“Now quick! Get angry with me!”
Yi Yang’s expression was indifferent and he didn’t seem to care. “I’m not angry. You have your own social circle. I’m not interested enough in your private life to take notice of it, let alone interfere.”
–“…why doesn’t this dog man play his cards according to common sense?”
–“If you meet your wife in a private club with another man, without even asking a question, you won’t be angry? Is it that simple? Do you trust me so much?”
–“You don’t care if you’re wearing a green hat?”
Yi Yang pulled at his tie idly with one hand. His indifferent facial features seemed to suddenly be covered in a layer of frost. He gave Xu Xinyi a cold look and said, “If there’s nothing else. I’ll leave first.”
With that, he turned and was really ready to leave.
Xu Xinyi hesitated for a moment.
Between being with Yi Yang or listening to those fresh meats heaping praise on Yi Yang wantonly, she decisively chose the former. The latter was just too distressing!
“Wait…” Xu Xinyi stopped him. “I’ll go back with you. Just give me a moment and I’ll be right out.”
Then she turned around and slipped back into the room.
“Anya, I have to go now.”
Anya, who was surrounded by the three guys, was trembling with laughter from something they had said. Hearing Xu Xinyi, she smiled and replied. “What’s the matter? It’s still so early but you’re leaving?”
“I’m in a hurry. You go ahead and play without me.”
Anya got up, walked over to Xu Xinyi, and asked in a low voice, “What’s the matter?”
Xu Xinyi peeked at the guy she had just bumped into outside the door. “I met Yi Yang outside just now. That guy saw it too. Don’t let him say anything.”
Anya’s face turned a bit serious. “Don’t worry, I know what to do.”
“OK, then take your time here. I’ll go first.”
—-
Yi Yang’s car was idling in front of the door to the club. When Xu Xinyi came out, the doorman pulled the door open for her.
“Drive.” Yi Yang’s voice was icy.
The car slowly started to roll forward.
But what no one on the car noticed, was that in a square opposite the clubhouse, there was a man who photographed Xu Xinyi getting into the car.
There was an awkward atmosphere in the car.
“Yi Yang, please don’t misunderstand. Just now, they really were just a few friends.”
“I didn’t misunderstand.” Yi Yang replied coldly. Then he turned his head to look out of his window. His expression was unreadable and he seemed to be in no mood to say even one more word to her.
Xu Xinyi was happy with the quiet.
–“Well today was a disappointment.”
–“Forget it. Tomorrow I’ll go to the company and try to meet that newly launched male idol group. While I’m there, I can use “The Way of the Phoenix” as an excuse and see if I can get Han Xiao’s WeChat.”
Yi Yang’s gaze swept over, “Have you been very idle lately?”
“It’s been alright,” Xu Xinyi answered to break the awkward atmosphere. “I just finished filming my drama so I wanted to take two days off. I’ll go back to the company after that.”
“Don’t go back to the company in the next couple of days. Accompany me to a banquet.”
“A banquet? What banquet?”
This so-called banquet was the birthday banquet for Qin Yan, who was the daughter of one of the well-known families in City A. Their family were considered to be old family friends of the Yi family so the Yi family received an invitation. But Old Master Yi was in poor health so he gave the task of attending to Yi Yang.
What a coincidence! How fortuitous, thought Xu Xinyi, another chance to interact with that Qin Yan.
Xu Xinyi really just had too many things to say about this Qin Yan.
–“Yi Yang is a man worth 10 billion yuan and has already graduated with a master’s degree. Then this Qin Yan is a well-known designer and model, also with a master’s degree. They grew up together. Their talents and looks complement each other so perfectly. Is Yi Yang blind? Such a perfect girl and he can’t even see it.”
But it was precisely because of her talent and beauty that the original ‘Xu Xinyi’ felt so much envy. As long as there was Qin Yan to compare to, she always felt that she must not be outdone. So there had been repeated conflicts. Qin Yan was smart and beautiful, with a delicate appearance and a scheming heart. Every time ‘Xu Xinyi’ would fight with her, Qin Yan would silently counterattack and leave her defeated while not looking as if she had fought at all. By contrast, ‘Xu Xinyi’ who would stand up and fight in front of everyone, left a worse impression.
–“From the last time we met and she gave me that bracelet, I can see that she is very ambitious, with her eyes on the position of ‘Mrs. Yi’. Meanwhile Yi Yang clearly still has lingering feelings for her, even now after he got married. So I just have to add a lot of fuel to fire Qin Yan’s infatuation?”
–“Later, if things work out between Qin Yan and Yi Yang, I will give Qin Yan a big red packet when they get married. To thank her for taking over!”
Yi Yang’s eyes swept over Xu Xinyi coldly, as he saw the corners of her mouth rising with glee, he suddenly regretted.
This Xu Xinyi was a scourge.
So I’m aware that if I was a more professional translator I probably wouldn’t leave in these obviously grammatically wrong turns of phrase like “dog man”, or “fresh meats”, or “wearing a green hat” (though that third one is more just a Chinese idiom obviously) but that sort of “rough” and “crude” feeling to Xu Xinyi’s character was what got me interested in picking this story up in the first place so I plan to just leave them in like that as is.
Out of curiosity, what would be the correct way to translate those insults/slang? I personally don’t think there’s anything wrong with having transliterated lines here and there
Ehh, not being a professional translator or a particularly smart person I can’t say what “the correct way” to translate those things would be. It’s just my intuition as someone who has read a whole lot of English over the course of my life that makes me feel like leaving in stuff like “dog man” is incorrect.
I mean, as an easy example the line “Who can stand Yi Yang’s dog temper?” would almost certainly be “more correct” if I just translated it as “Who can stand Yi Yang’s terrible temper?”. As in, if I handed it over to one of my old English teachers, or an editor, or someone like that, they would probably suggest that sort of change.
I think it really works for the story though. Those rough parts are all her private thoughts and really contrast with the image she projects to others. I think the contrast is part of the appeal. Who thinks in perfect grammar? She sounds like a hooligan in her head while acting like a noble lady! I love it. 🙂
Strictly speaking, a professional translator would translate into the English (or other language’s) equivalent… But usually there’s no exact equivalent and so some of the meaning gets lost in translation. These days, though, some transliteration is being allowed since it’s starting to get acknowledged that some phrases and slang can only be best transliterated and later explained with a glossary afterwards.
Nah! Just leave your translation alone. “Who can stand Yi Yang’s dog temper?” has a refreshing feeling, letting the readers know how much Xu Xinyi feel about Yi Yang. In other words, it’s the way she thinks that has the interesting factor and seems to be a part of her character, calling Yi Yang all the interesting names. While “…terrible temper” seems bland and generic.
This little feud/game between them has been going for 13 chapters already. It was funny but come one author get on with it. Can’t you give ML a little more substance other than his icy persona? What’s his deal other than being mega rich and mega handsome? Did he have feelings for her? Why doesn’t he confront her about anything? He treats her like an unnecessary accessory, she curses him in her mind and then Repeat.
No no, translator-sama, it wouldn’t be the same without all those Chinese expressions, I actually prefer reading stories where they keep these little translations like that (and for a new Chinese translation reader, have the footnotes to explain it), it’s way more immersive! I’m Thai and I know that these little expressions can make the story feel way more Asian (The way it’s supposed to be expressed) than if it were all completely translated using proper English expressions.
So you’re doing an amazing job! Thank you for translating 😄
Thanks for the update ❤️
Thanks for the chapter.
I really like your translation style. It’s clear but also keeps the original flavour.
If “professional” means, stripping all culture from the text and completely anglisizing it, then please be “unprofessional”.
When will there be progression in their relationship..? QaQ i
I am agree with above comments, those chinese slang words aren’t meant to be translate in proper english because the novel will lost its charms and comedy effect.
Thank you!! I really like their dynamics! And it’s so hilarious that YY can her all the insults she’s throwing at him 😁
I knowww it’s not like Xu Xinyi actually harms or harbor malice towards the ML, she just curse him in her mind when she got annoyed. Is it really worth it to not divorce out of spite? The ML just keeps her and then get mad himself when she curse him in her mind
Masochist.