MY - 13

Jiang Xi: “Where did you get that news?”

She and Lu Nandu had met a few days ago at a crew dinner, and Tong Yun wasn’t present.

“How many eyes are on Lu Nandu?” Tong Yun said, “Don’t worry about me not knowing the news.”

Jiang Xi couldn’t be bothered to confirm and just hummed.

Tong Yun also decided not to bother with her anymore: “Whatever you want.”

She continued: “I called for another reason, too. The drama you’re currently airing is in its promotional phase. There’s a show recording in a few days; get ready to go.”

Jiang Xi hadn’t participated in any variety shows since her debut two years ago. She asked: “What show?”

Tong Yun named a variety show, then flatly asked: “You know why the show invited you, right?”

Jiang Xi certainly knew.

In the entertainment industry, fame reigned supreme; only those with buzz had a name, even if supporting actors were just background for shows.

She casually asked: “Is Cen Wanzhe going too?”

“Yes,” Tong Yun said, “The show wants to leverage your CP buzz by inviting both of you. His company also intends to promote it, so you two should cooperate.”

Jiang Xi had just showered and was a bit sleepy.

She didn’t answer Tong Yun’s question: “Anything else?”

Tong Yun: “Nothing else. Just remember what I said.” As always, she was strong and indifferent.

With that, Tong Yun hung up. The busy signal sounded in her ear, and Jiang Xi wasn’t surprised.

She put down her phone, tossing it onto the table beside her.

________________________________________

A few days passed quickly, and Jiang Xi flew to another city.

The show needed rehearsals, so after landing, she went straight to the TV station.

After the rehearsal, it was dinner time. Jiang Xi pushed her luggage out, ready to find a hotel first.

The city lights were coming on, the streets were bustling with traffic, and crowds thronged.

Jiang Xi stood by the roadside hailing a taxi when someone called her name.

She turned around, and Cen Wanzhe’s manager walked over: “Not coming to dinner?”

Just now, after the show rehearsal, a few of the former cast members suggested dinner, and everyone was preparing to go to a private room.

Jiang Xi smiled: “Not very hungry.”

Cen Wanzhe’s manager and Tong Yun were two different types: one was amiable like a spring breeze, the other decisive and efficient.

Seeing Jiang Xi still with her suitcase, he said: “Find a place to rest first. You still need to eat. You’re already photogenic enough.”

Jiang Xi smiled, not explaining further.

Cen Wanzhe’s manager, however, chuckled: “But you don’t look like someone who would diet for the camera; you just don’t like crowded places, right?”

Jiang Xi: “More or less.”

Her car hadn’t arrived yet, so she chatted idly: “Aren’t you two going either?”

“No,” Cen Wanzhe’s manager nodded, “Wanzhe also doesn’t like crowds. He just got back from an event abroad yesterday and is going back to adjust to the time difference. He’s waiting for a car to take him back to the hotel now.”

Cen Wanzhe’s popularity was high recently, with variety shows and a new drama airing simultaneously, gaining him many fans, so his schedule was naturally busy.

They chatted for a few more minutes, then Jiang Xi’s car arrived first: “I’ll get going then.”

“Okay, see you.”

Jiang Xi’s daily life was bland and uninteresting. This recording gave her over ten hours of free time, and she stayed in the hotel without going out.

Since childhood, Jiang Xi wasn’t unsociable, and she had quite a few friends. During university, though no one pursued her romantically, she still had many female friends.

Later, after studying abroad for three years, she gradually developed her current personality.

The next day, after the show recording, Jiang Xi didn’t linger in that city and quickly flew back to the crew.

For the next few days, Jiang Xi continued filming with the crew.

________________________________________

One morning, she woke up to several missed calls from Tong Yun on her phone.

Being a manager was tough; Tong Yun was still handling artist affairs in the early hours of the morning. All of Tong Yun’s calls had come in after midnight.

Jiang Xi had an early scene today; it was now a little past 5 AM. She called Tong Yun back, and the call was answered quickly.

Even when faced with issues, Tong Yun remained exceptionally calm: “Awake?”

Jiang Xi hummed, her voice slightly nasal from just waking up.

Tong Yun said: “Did you see the news online?”

Jiang Xi hadn’t looked at her phone since last night and rarely paid attention to online news.

She asked: “What news?”

Tong Yun guessed she hadn’t seen it, so she wasn’t surprised and said: “Don’t worry about what news it is yet, just answer my question first: were you and Cen Wanzhe together that night of the variety show recording?”

Jiang Xi frowned slightly: “No, that’s not true.”

“Okay,” Tong Yun said, “Cen Wanzhe probably has a girlfriend. He was with his girlfriend that night and was photographed, but the photos aren’t clear. However, the girl’s physique is similar to yours, so many fans mistook her for you two.”

Jiang Xi vaguely understood what the online news was about. She massaged her temples: “Quite a coincidence.”

“But some people have raised doubts,” Tong Yun said, “Their company is currently doing public relations.”

Jiang Xi knew Tong Yun wasn’t just calling to tell her this, so she asked directly: “What do I need to be aware of?”

Tong Yun told her: “It’s rare for you to be this cooperative.”

Then she told her: “Both of you are currently in an upward phase, mostly with CP fans. If this matter explodes, you’ll also suffer losses. Your popularity isn’t high enough to gain the upper hand, and you still have another drama to air in the future. So, their side and our side have agreed to cooperate for a win-win situation. You don’t need to deny or admit anything. In the future, if the media asks you about this, just don’t answer.”

Jiang Xi leaned against the headboard, and after hearing the general outline, she asked: “What about the company?”

“The company won’t admit it either; they’ll remain silent. After a while, no one will investigate it.”

As long as they didn’t admit it, everything else was manageable.

Jiang Xi hummed.

After hanging up, she didn’t look at the online news. She got up, washed up, and went out.

________________________________________

Today, Jiang Xi only had morning scenes, leaving her with almost a full day of free time. In the evening, she received a call from Ji Yuanzhou.

Answering the phone, Jiang Xi asked: “Why are you calling me at this hour?”

Ji Yuanzhou: “What, am I not allowed to call?”

Jiang Xi was amused by her: “No overtime?”

“How can I work overtime if I’m not in Beijing?”

“Not in Beijing, so you’re on a business trip, huh.”

Ji Yuanzhou chuckled on the other end: “So, in your eyes, I only have work, right?”

Jiang Xi also laughed: “Did you say that yourself or not?”

“Yes,” Ji Yuanzhou admitted, then added, “But this time, not being in Beijing isn’t for work. I’m at Jiangcheng airport; come pick me up.”

Jiang Xi laughed: “I guessed as much.”

Ji Yuanzhou: “Quite clever, aren’t you?”

Jiang Xi got up, opened her closet, and pulled out an outfit: “You find a place to sit first. It’s a bit of a distance for me to get to the airport, so you’ll have to wait for me.”

“No need to come to the airport,” Ji Yuanzhou said a place name, “I’ll wait there.”

Jiang Xi raised an eyebrow: “Did you do your research?”

Ji Yuanzhou: “Yeah, here for tourism.”

“Alright, I’ll be there.”

Jiang Xi had already showered and slipped into a dress before heading out. It was an hour later when she arrived at the street Ji Yuanzhou mentioned.

Twenty minutes earlier, Ji Yuanzhou had sent her a location pin for a bar.

That woman truly couldn’t live without alcohol.

The car stopped in front of the bar. Jiang Xi got out. As she pushed open the door, strong music assaulted her.

Jiang Xi didn’t ask where Ji Yuanzhou was and quickly spotted her back.

She was leaning against the bar, chatting with a man.

Since Ji Yuanzhou had called her over, she clearly didn’t intend to spend the night with the man.

Jiang Xi walked over. Ji Yuanzhou’s conversation with the man was just reaching its latter half, ambiguous and suggestive.

Ji Yuanzhou had her back to Jiang Xi. The man saw Jiang Xi first, and Ji Yuanzhou turned her head, following his gaze.

Seeing Jiang Xi, she smiled, then turned back to the man: “My friend is here.”

The man understood her meaning and didn’t insist. He raised his wine glass as a salute, a gentle smile on his lips: “Alright, hope we get a chance to drink together again sometime.”

In this fast-paced era, seeking pleasure seemed like a material indulgence, a mutual exchange with no deep emotions involved. People took what they needed and went their separate ways.

However, a stranger coincidentally encountered in another city, how could there possibly be another chance to drink together? Everyone knew it, but no one said it.

The man had already walked away. Jiang Xi sat beside Ji Yuanzhou and smiled: “You really can attract men wherever you go.”

Ji Yuanzhou turned to face her: “You flatter me.”

Jiang Xi also ordered a glass of wine, swirled it, and asked her: “Why are you here now?”

“Didn’t I say last time I’d come visit you on set?” Ji Yuanzhou said, “If I didn’t come soon, you’d have already wrapped up filming.”

Jiang Xi took a sip of wine, resting her head on her hand, and chuckled: “You’re really worth tens of thousands a day now.”

Ji Yuanzhou: “You’re overestimating me.”

The two chatted and drank, wasting several hours. By the time they left the bar, it was almost midnight.

Jiang Xi went to the restroom, leaving a step behind Ji Yuanzhou.

As she exited, Ji Yuanzhou was chatting with two girls who looked like high schoolers. Jiang Xi wondered what she could possibly be discussing with these teenagers.

As she got closer, she heard what they were saying.

The two high school girls were probably drunk, and their drunken words were just typical student worries, different from adults, given their age.

Hearing her own name mentioned in the conversation, Jiang Xi paused, then very discreetly did not approach.

She heard Ji Yuanzhou tell the two girls: “They’re not what you think they are.”

One girl said: “Why not? I think they are.”

Ji Yuanzhou smiled, saying nothing. She turned and saw Jiang Xi. She stopped talking to the two young girls and walked towards Jiang Xi.

“You’re quite popular now,” Ji Yuanzhou teased her, nodding towards the two high school girls, “They were just talking about you.”

Jiang Xi laughed: “Drinking gave you delusions?”

“Not a delusion,” Ji Yuanzhou said, “They were talking about you and that male actor with the surname Cen.”

The two walked forward together. Ji Yuanzhou said: “Girls are good at this age.”

The world was simple, without social pressure, and they hadn’t yet experienced the cold realities of human nature.

Jiang Xi asked her: “Are you having problems at work?”

“Everything’s fine,” Ji Yuanzhou said.

Ji Yuanzhou’s hotel was nearby. The two walked to the intersection: “No need to see me off. Go back early. I can catch a taxi here.”

Jiang Xi hummed: “I’ll find you tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

The two parted ways at the intersection, and Jiang Xi took a taxi back to the film set.

________________________________________

Huahong Group Headquarters.

Lu Nandu had just finished dealing with business and was leaning back in his chair, frowning at a message on his phone.

Qin Jin pushed the door open, walked to the desk, and placed a document down: “Mr. Lu, please review this contract.”

Lu Nandu’s gaze shifted from the screen, and he took the document.

He flipped through the document, scanned it, then signed it at the bottom, and handed it to Qin Jin.

As Qin Jin was about to leave with the document, Lu Nandu called out to him.

He named an entertainment company: “Contact a manager named Tong.”