Severe Yuan

The other day I was standing on the street, contently drinking my milk tea when a short Chinese woman who looked like her name was Glenda handed me her phone. I took it without hesitation and read the text message that read,

"Do you want to be in a film? You make some severe yuan!"

I giggled.

Being a foreigner in China makes you a minority and a celebrity rolled into one. Kind of a freak show slash rock show. I've heard about foreigners getting "severe yuan" from acting in commercials, photo shoots and movies. But this was the first time I've ever been approached.

I handed the phone back to Glenda and said, "Bu xie xie." "No thanks."

I continued sipping my milk tea.