MY - 27

No matter how lively the online debate got, Jiang Xi didn’t take it to heart.

It was as if she’d merely watched a dull play, completely uninterested in delving deeper. She scrolled through two or three posts before putting her phone away.

Perhaps her reaction was within Tong Yun’s expectations; Tong Yun didn’t call her again, knowing it would be useless.

Jiang Xi hailed a taxi back to the hotel.

A black suit loosely draped over her, enveloping her entire body.

The car compartment was quiet and enclosed, cutting off the cold air outside. The car moved at a steady, unhurried pace. Jiang Xi felt a bit drowsy.

Soon, she arrived at the hotel. After washing up, it wasn’t yet midnight.

She sat by the window in her bathrobe, hands propped behind her, bare feet on the floor. The bathrobe was loose, revealing glimpses of her fair skin.

Jiang Xi made a call to Ji Yuanzhou.

Ji Yuanzhou answered quickly. Her voice, usually husky from cigarettes, was now unusually hoarse: “What makes you call me now?”

Jiang Xi: “Unemployed vagrant lately.”

Ji Yuanzhou chuckled muffledly, and the sound of fabric rubbing came through.

Jiang Xi listened silently, saying nothing.

After a while, the sound stopped, and a few seconds later, a lighter flickered.

Jiang Xi asked, “Are you dressed?”

Ji Yuanzhou chuckled: “Yeah, isn’t this the after-sex cigarette?”

Then she added: “I saw your news tonight.”

Jiang Xi had forgotten. She asked, “You have time to look at that?”

Ji Yuanzhou’s executive position was not easy, with numerous company affairs, leaving her with almost no free time.

Ji Yuanzhou chuckled, smoking, and coughed lightly: “My boss gave me the night off tonight.”

For some reason, her words carried a subtle hint of teasing, an ambiguous undertone that Jiang Xi could detect even through the phone.

She knew Ji Yuanzhou had someone by her side now.

But Ji Yuanzhou didn’t mind at all and told her, “Be careful in the future. You’re now someone with cameras constantly trained on you.”

Jiang Xi lazily said, “Not that serious.”

“But even if they stake you out, what can they find?” Ji Yuanzhou knew Jiang Xi extremely well. “There’s nothing juicy to dig up about you.”

In plain terms, her romantic life was boring.

“The most newsworthy thing they could capture would be tonight’s incident,” Ji Yuanzhou added, “before you get a boyfriend.”

The rumors between Lu Nandu and Jiang Xi would be her most talked-about topic, as Jiang Xi rarely interacted with male celebrities.

“Do you believe it?” Jiang Xi asked.

“Tonight’s incident?”

“Mhm.”

“It’s true,” Ji Yuanzhou paused for a second. “But you’re not together.”

Jiang Xi didn’t speak.

“Still couldn’t get over that hurdle?” Ji Yuanzhou seemed to have taken another puff of her cigarette.

Jiang Xi chuckled, as if thinking of something: “I never intended to get over it.”

How long can such a person’s feelings last? Perhaps the next step is another scheme.

Ji Yuanzhou merely chuckled, saying nothing else.

This version of Ji Yuanzhou gave Jiang Xi the illusion that she could see through her every thought. Their interactions had always been like this, and Jiang Xi didn’t mind being seen through.

“Do you know what I’m thinking?”

Jiang Xi chuckled, “I’m not a god, how would I know what you’re thinking?”

Ji Yuanzhou suddenly called out to her: “Jiang Xi.”

Jiang Xi waited for her next words.

Ji Yuanzhou seemed to have moved to a different spot to talk: “Clarity isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes, a lack of clarity might make life easier. But if one insists on absolute clarity, a clean break is the only true liberation.”

Jiang Xi listened to this passage very calmly. After a long moment, she curved her lips: “I know, no dragging things out.”

“Mhm,” Ji Yuanzhou said, “but being less clear-headed might make it easier.”

Jiang Xi remained silent.

Ji Yuanzhou chuckled: “Who can remain clear-headed their entire life? It’s too difficult. Moreover, people still dream when they sleep; most people aren’t that clear-headed.”

As her words fell, the door behind Ji Yuanzhou opened.

The sound of wind came through; Ji Yuanzhou was on the balcony. She said, “That’s all for now. It’s a bit cold outside. Come stay with me when you’re free after returning to Beijing.”

Jiang Xi joked, “I’d rather not; I don’t want to be kicked out.”

Ji Yuanzhou: “He wouldn’t dare.”

Jiang Xi knew that the man over there was never someone to be trifled with. She said nothing more to Ji Yuanzhou and quickly hung up the phone.

________________________________________

The next day, she flew back to Beijing at noon.

Jiang Xi slept in the hotel in the morning and on the plane in the afternoon, spending the entire day in slumber.

She arrived home just in time for rush hour, but luckily, she had no work to rush to. She sat bored in the car, in no hurry.

The car was stuck in traffic for half an hour, then drove smoothly all the way home.

While unpacking her luggage at home, her phone rang on the living room coffee table. Jiang Xi came out of the bedroom, bent down, and picked up the phone.

The screen showed an incoming call from Jiang Chi.

Usually, Jiang Chi wouldn’t call her at this hour, so Jiang Xi was a bit surprised to answer.

Jiang Chi called her “Jie.”

Jiang Xi asked, “Why the sudden call?”

“Oh, I can’t call you for no reason?” Jiang Chi chuckled after saying that. “Pick me up downstairs, the security guard won’t let me in.”

Jiang Xi hadn’t expected Jiang Chi to come over. She grabbed a coat and hurried downstairs.

Jiang Chi was tall with long legs, dressed in a long black trench coat. He had a good build and handsome features, though his demeanor was somewhat lazy. Many girls looked back at him as he passed.

Jiang Xi let him in: “Why did you come?”

“Came to see you.”

“Aren’t you busy with work?” Jiang Xi asked him.

“I’m on a business trip recently and just happened to have a day free.”

After the two returned upstairs, Jiang Chi handed her a bag. Jiang Xi couldn’t see what was inside and asked, “What is it?”

Jiang Chi: “Supplements, after all, you’re getting old.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Xi picked up a cushion and hit him.

“Damn,” Jiang Chi’s laugh was unhurried, “Go easy, if you cripple me, you’ll have to compensate yourself.”

“I’ll spare your life so you can go back and see your girlfriend.”

Jiang Xi knew Jiang Chi wouldn’t really buy her supplements. Indeed, the bag contained a large pile of snacks: “Where did you buy these?”

“Bought them at a convenience store on the way, but your stomach isn’t good, so you should eat less of this stuff.”

Speaking of food, Jiang Chi looked at her: “Have you ordered food yet?”

Jiang Xi: “...No.” She had completely forgotten about it after coming home.

Jiang Chi was speechless, tossing the whole bag of snacks to her: “Pad your stomach first.” Then he picked up his phone to order food.

Jiang Xi was a little unaccustomed to having someone accompany her, but it wasn’t unfamiliar. She and Jiang Chi grew up together. When they were little, she took care of Jiang Chi, and now it was her younger brother’s turn to take care of her.

She tore open a bag of potato chips, chatting with Jiang Chi as they ate.

Dinner arrived quickly. Jiang Chi ordered a lot of food. Jiang Xi couldn’t finish it all and ordered him not to leave any leftovers. Fortunately, boys have big appetites, and Jiang Chi ate the rest without any burden.

________________________________________

That night, the siblings played a few rounds of video games. Jiang Chi, having been busy all day, started getting sleepy before midnight and went to the guest room to rest quite early.

Jiang Xi usually didn’t go to bed late either. After Jiang Chi returned to his room, she felt a bit bored by herself and also went back to her bedroom.

Jiang Chi received a call at 3 AM; an employee informed him that there was a problem with a program.

His work was in the living room. When Jiang Chi came out of the guest bedroom, he saw this scene.

Jiang Xi wasn’t asleep. She was wearing a loose white slip dress with a long coat draped over her.

In the dead of winter, she was smoking on the balcony outside, her fingers, holding the cigarette, were dazzlingly white. The sliding glass door was closed; she didn’t know Jiang Chi had come out.

A few minutes later, Jiang Xi showed no intention of coming inside. Jiang Chi leaned his shoulder slightly against the wall, straightened up with a little force, and walked towards the balcony.

He leaned against the glass door, one hand emerging from his pocket, and gently tapped on the glass door with his knuckles.

Jiang Xi turned her head at the sound. After seeing him, she turned back and didn’t look at him again.

Jiang Chi straightened up, slid open the glass door, and walked out.

The air outside was cool, carrying faint wisps of cold wind. A few cigarette butts lay in the pot of dry earth at Jiang Xi’s feet.

Jiang Chi glanced at them, then leaned his back against the railing and asked her, “Can’t quit?”

Jiang Xi chuckled: “I’ve been smoking for years; it’s too much effort to quit.”

Jiang Chi ignored her question and asked something else: “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Jiang Xi lazily held the cigarette between her fingers: “I slept too much during the day, can’t sleep now.”

Given that he was Jiang Xi’s biological brother, Jiang Chi knew her affairs very well and said, “Because of Lu Nandu?”

If you can’t sleep, you can just stay in bed; there’s no need to come out and smoke.

Jiang Xi glanced at him, then looked away, saying nothing.

After a while, she suddenly thought of something and turned back with a smile: “You didn’t come here because of all that stuff tonight, did you?”

Jiang Chi met her gaze from above and also chuckled: “I just came to see you, no messy reasons.”

Jiang Xi smiled and turned back.

“So many years have passed, is he still the best?” Jiang Chi said.

Jiang Xi said nothing, asking him, “Do you think he’s good?”

Jiang Chi and Lu Nandu were friends. When Lu Nandu and Jiang Xi broke up, Jiang Chi punched Lu Nandu for the first time. But they didn’t fall out over it and remained brothers.

He thought for a moment and nodded, giving a definite answer: “He’s not bad. His personality is likable, even if he’s a bit wild.”

Jiang Xi took a puff of her cigarette and chuckled at him: “You don’t act like a straight man.”

Jiang Chi clicked his tongue: “That’s called being factual.” He would never speak falsely or belittle others just because of a bit of male chauvinism in his heart.

Jiang Xi was just joking.

After an unknown period, even Jiang Chi had almost forgotten the question he had just asked. She answered, “He’s not the best, not good at all.”

He was the one who caused her the most annoyance; how could he be good?

Jiang Chi turned his head and glanced at her.

Jiang Xi tonight was somewhat different from her usual self. Perhaps it was because people’s emotions are more susceptible to disturbance late at night; her usually calm and composed demeanor showed a slight crack.

Jiang Chi’s gaze fell on the sliding door. Jiang Xi’s back was stubborn yet lonely.

He finally asked, “Will you two get back together?”

Jiang Chi heard Jiang Xi chuckle. A few seconds later, her words dropped clearly, as if fate had settled.

“No.”

Jiang Chi had eyes similar to Jiang Xi’s. He watched her for a few seconds.

Just as Jiang Xi was about to put the cigarette back in her mouth, he raised his hand, took the cigarette from her, and extinguished it on the railing.

Jiang Xi looked at him, and he lifted his chin towards the flowerpot at her feet: “Look how much you’ve smoked.”

Then he threw the cigarette butt back into the flowerpot: “Smoke less.”

Jiang Xi also knew she had smoked a bit too much tonight. She didn’t insist on continuing, turned, and prepared to go inside: “It’s getting late, you should go to bed early.”

“I still have some things to deal with. You go to sleep first.”

Jiang Xi nodded: “Okay.”

________________________________________

Jiang Chi had important company matters to handle, so he left at noon the next day.

Jiang Xi saw him off at the airport, then returned home.

She had slept too much during the day recently, making it hard to sleep at night, as if caught in a vicious cycle. Jiang Xi was too lazy to adjust and went straight back to her bedroom to sleep after returning home.

She was woken up by a phone call from Tong Yun in the evening.

Waking up, Jiang Xi felt groggy and lazy, leaning against the headboard, listening to Tong Yun speak.

Tong Yun heard the slight nasal tone in her voice and immediately understood: “Are you sleeping?”

Jiang Xi hummed.

While others with no work would try to go out and have fun, Jiang Xi only stayed home and slept. Tong Yun told her, “You’re quite leisurely.”

Jiang Xi ignored her, only asking what the matter was.

“Get ready. I’m taking you to a banquet tonight.”

In the past, Jiang Xi rarely had the opportunity to be taken out by Tong Yun to meet people. Recently, because Jiang Xi gained a bit of popularity, Tong Yun began taking her out.

Jiang Xi understood the saying that “only popular people receive favor.”

She didn’t ask Tong Yun why she was taking her: “What’s the address?”

“I’ll pick you up. Just be downstairs before 7 PM.”

Jiang Xi hummed, with nothing else to say, and was about to hang up.

Tong Yun stopped her: “There will be many important figures at the banquet. Dress up a bit, don’t be perfunctory.”

At the mention of “important figures,” Jiang Xi didn’t know what she was thinking. After a long moment, she gave a very perfunctory hum, and then hung up the phone.

________________________________________

Getting up, washing up, changing clothes, and applying makeup, Jiang Xi then went downstairs.

As she reached the complex entrance, Tong Yun’s car arrived. Through the half-lowered window, she glanced at Jiang Xi.

In the faint light of the streetlamp, Jiang Xi stood in a strapless dress.

Her slender shoulders, a section of her fair swan-like neck, her facial features perfectly made up with appropriate light and dark tones, her hair loosely tied behind her neck, and elegant earrings.

Tong Yun was clearly very satisfied. After she got in the car, she said, “Although I can tell you just threw something on, I still have to compliment you on how beautiful you look tonight.”

Tong Yun had many beautiful artists under her, but those with outstanding looks and unique temperaments like Jiang Xi were rare.

A little styling made her exceptionally distinguished.

However, despite possessing such excellent qualities, Jiang Xi was one of the more disobedient artists under her wing, never utilizing her own resources.

On the way to the banquet, Tong Yun didn’t mention the rumors at all.

Jiang Xi also didn’t search for related news online, but she could probably guess the company’s attitude.

The entertainment industry had always been like this: clinging to the powerful, distancing from the weak. For someone with the status, reputation, and popularity of Lu Nandu, the company would naturally not issue a clarification immediately.

Moreover, Jiang Xi was just a minor artist within the company.

________________________________________

The banquet was star-studded, with some faces Jiang Xi had seen for two consecutive days.

Tong Yun didn’t bring just her; there were also one or two other popular artists under her. At first, she had the energy to introduce Jiang Xi to several seniors, but later she became too busy to cope, telling Jiang Xi to pay attention and know whom to greet.

Jiang Xi wouldn’t interrupt while she was instructing, but she didn’t truly take it to heart either.

The venue’s design and layout were thoughtfully executed. Jiang Xi held a glass and wandered aimlessly.

The indoor lights were brilliant, the wine fragrant, and the chatter lively.

After bypassing a quiet area, Jiang Xi unconsciously walked to the outdoor balcony. From inside, she could look out at the bustling city, with an excellent view, encompassing the entire imperial capital.

She walked to the edge of the balcony. The champagne in her hand was icy cold. Jiang Xi raised the glass and slowly took a sip.

A place without people made her feel comfortable.

After standing for an unknown period, the champagne in her glass was almost empty. Jiang Xi turned to go back inside and, upon seeing the person by the door, slowly stopped.

Lu Nandu was impeccably dressed in a suit. One hand held a wine glass, the other was in his pocket, leaning against the door, watching her.

He had been watching her for an unknown amount of time.

She knew Lu Nandu would be at an event like this tonight.

Seeing her look over, Lu Nandu instantly reined in his entire demeanor, standing straight up.

Indeed, he would act well-behaved in front of her, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Jiang Xi looked at him.

Lu Nandu also looked at her. Jiang Xi’s face was very calm. He couldn’t quite grasp her attitude towards him, not daring to approach rashly.

They stared silently at each other. A few seconds later, Lu Nandu watched Jiang Xi place her wine glass on a nearby table.

Her gaze returned to his face: “Come here.”

Lu Nandu was momentarily dazed. At this moment, Jiang Xi showed no disgust towards him, no cold words, giving him the illusion of seeing the old Jiang Xi.

If she uttered a single word, he would walk towards her without hesitation.

Lu Nandu walked towards Jiang Xi, finally stopping in front of her.

There was no light on the balcony, only a faint glow from inside. In the darkness, the outlines of their faces were soft. Jiang Xi looked up at Lu Nandu.

For a moment, both were silent.

After a while, Jiang Xi finally spoke.

“I remember it was you who said eight years ago that being with me was only for a purpose, wasn’t it?”

Hearing Jiang Xi’s words, the small flicker of hope Lu Nandu had harbored was finally shattered by Jiang Xi’s own hands.

What was he still hoping for anyway?

She clearly couldn’t possibly forgive him.

Even at such close proximity, Lu Nandu couldn’t discern the emotion on Jiang Xi’s face. She was very calm, so calm that a wave of panic began to rise in his heart.

Jiang Xi, however, seemed oblivious to his fear, continuing to pick at their raw wound: “I also remember, you were the first to say you didn’t like me, right?”

Lu Nandu’s chest ached, and he subconsciously began to protest: “Jiejie, I didn’t, it’s not—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Xi interrupted him: “Lu Nandu, what I’m about to say, you need to remember it firmly. Whenever you want to come find me in the future, just think about what I told you today.”

Lu Nandu knew that what he was about to hear would not make him feel better. He instinctively turned to leave.

However, Jiang Xi reached out and grabbed him: “Listen to me.”

Lu Nandu’s steps halted.