MY - 3

The rotating lights flashed, scattering colorful fragments.

All surrounding sounds seemed to vanish, the air still.

Lu Nandu looked at Jiang Xi.

Jiang Xi didn’t avert her gaze, meeting his eyes calmly.

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, or perhaps just the dim light, but a trace of helplessness seemed to flicker in Lu Nandu’s eyes.

His left hand was hidden behind his back; the cigarette was gone.

This time, Jiang Xi saw it clearly, but there was no ripple of emotion in her eyes.

Lu Nandu had always been a heavy smoker. When they were together, Jiang Xi didn’t particularly like him smoking and often forbade it. During that period, Lu Nandu smoked much less.

So, he still remembered that she didn’t let him smoke.

Jiang Xi lowered her gaze, expressionless from beginning to end, lost in thought.

Lu Nandu’s gaze remained fixed on her.

The next second, Jiang Xi looked up, no longer at Lu Nandu, and walked towards the restroom.

________________________________________

Inside the restroom, Jiang Xi calmly washed her hands.

She hadn’t expected to see Lu Nandu again, thinking their last encounter was just a coincidence.

Jiang Xi looked up. In the mirror, her hair was slightly disheveled on her cheek, her complexion pale. After a few seconds, she straightened up and left the restroom.

________________________________________

As soon as she exited, a person was leaning against the wall.

Lu Nandu stood with his hands in his pockets, his back slightly curved against the wall. The man’s shirt collar was a bit messy, and there was a hint of redness in his eyes.

Jiang Xi was momentarily stunned when she first saw him but quickly regained her composure, walking past him without stopping.

The next second, her hand was seized.

Jiang Xi couldn’t move. The grip on her wrist was so strong it felt like it would crush her.

Neither of them spoke first. Someone walked by in the corridor, looking at them strangely.

After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Xi was the first to speak: “Let go.” Her voice was exceptionally cold.

Lu Nandu didn’t move.

Jiang Xi tried to twist her arm to pull free.

Lu Nandu tightened his grip, as if afraid she would run away.

Jiang Xi finally showed a flicker of emotion, but when she turned back, she met his gaze.

Lu Nandu held her hand tightly, his eyes still as beautiful as before.

They were very close, so close that Jiang Xi could see her reflection in Lu Nandu’s eyes. She averted her gaze, intending to leave.

Lu Nandu wouldn’t let her: “Jiejie.” His voice was slightly hoarse.

Jiang Xi froze for a moment, her innermost feelings touched.

She seemed to see again the boy who, eight years ago, was aloof in public but would cling to her every minute in private.

Making everyone forget that he was also the one most skilled at playing with emotions.

He always knew her weakness, wearing an innocent sheepskin in front of her.

Jiang Xi spoke: “Don’t call me that.”

Jiang Xi didn’t want to see the expression on the person behind her.

Lu Nandu still didn’t let go, a hint of dimness flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing in the end.

“Let go,” Jiang Xi said again, her tone flat.

After an unknown amount of time, the person behind her released her hand.

Without the pull, Jiang Xi’s arm dropped limply to her side. She didn’t look back, walking straight out of the corridor.

________________________________________

Ji Yuanzhou returned from the dance floor and didn’t see Jiang Xi.

Her drink on the bar was only half-finished, so she probably wasn’t drunk. Ji Yuanzhou didn’t go looking for her.

Jiang Xi returned from the restroom. Ji Yuanzhou was sitting at the bar, drinking and waiting for her.

She asked Ji Yuanzhou, “Aren’t you afraid I’d disappear?”

Ji Yuanzhou was still in his work attire, holding a drink in one hand, exuding a sense of weariness.

She curled her lip: “You’re not me; you won’t run off with a man.”

Jiang Xi smiled.

“Still drinking?” Ji Yuanzhou asked her.

Jiang Xi shook her head: “No more, let’s go.”

After paying the bill, they left the bar. It was nearing midnight, and pedestrians on the street were sparse.

The dim streetlights elongated and shortened their shadows as the autumn wind swept fallen leaves across the ground.

Jiang Xi was only wearing a thin dress. Ji Yuanzhou was dressed more warmly than her and gave her his small suit jacket, which Jiang Xi draped over her shoulders.

Neither of them had driven, so they stood outside a convenience store, waiting for a ride.

The ride-hailing car was still some time away. Ji Yuanzhou pulled out a cigarette pack: “Smoke?”

Jiang Xi suddenly remembered Lu Nandu hiding his cigarette in the bar.

She was expressionless, and after a few seconds, she lazily gestured with her chin towards the “No Smoking” sign hanging nearby: “It’s forbidden.”

“Good eye,” Ji Yuanzhou put away the cigarettes.

The concrete ground was still damp from rain. Occasionally, cars crossed the street, carrying drunkards from the bar.

At one point, Ji Yuanzhou spoke: “Did you run into someone?”

Jiang Xi wasn’t very surprised. The bar was so small, if she met him, Ji Yuanzhou should have seen him too.

She nodded: “Yes.”

“That’s why I didn’t go looking for you earlier,” Ji Yuanzhou said, “He must have blocked you, right?”

Jiang Xi gave a helpless laugh: “You really know me.”

“It’s just the usual stuff between men and women.”

After many years, this was the first time Jiang Xi had talked about Lu Nandu with Ji Yuanzhou; normally, she would avoid the topic.

Their relationship had been good in high school, so Ji Yuanzhou knew about her messy affair.

Ji Yuanzhou chuckled: “He’s certainly turned out to be quite presentable.”

Jiang Xi knew she was talking about Lu Nandu.

“Back in high school, he was a good-for-nothing slacker every day,” Ji Yuanzhou said, “and you still fell head over heels for him.”

Now, he was young, successful, handsome, and wealthy, making him even more enchanting.

Ji Yuanzhou had always disliked meddling, whether with outsiders or friends.

But today, she added one more sentence: “So many years have passed, you should have grown a little wiser.”

Perhaps the bystanders of that year no longer remembered those events, but Jiang Xi remembered every detail, remembered how she was tricked and fell into a carefully designed trap.

The wind rustled the hair by her cheek. She said, “We’re not kids anymore; it won’t be like before.”

Ji Yuanzhou didn’t reply, just smiled.

The ride-hailing car arrived quickly, and they both got in.

________________________________________

It was another cloudy day.

Jiang Xi drove to the company, getting caught in rush hour traffic. By the time she arrived, it was past nine.

Today, Jiang Xi was dressed in a white short T-shirt, jeans, and a black leather jacket. As soon as she entered the elevator, she received a message from her manager, Tong Yun.

• Come to my office when you get to the company.

Jiang Xi turned off her phone and put it back in her pocket, taking the elevator straight up.

The door to Tong Yun’s office was ajar. Jiang Xi stopped outside, raised her hand, and knocked.

No one answered inside.

“Sister Tong Yun,” Jiang Xi knocked again.

Still no answer, she pushed the door open. The office was empty.

Jiang Xi didn’t go into the office, waiting outside.

Tong Yun returned quickly. Seeing Jiang Xi standing in the corridor, she asked: “Why don’t you go in and wait?”

“Just arrived, it’s fine.”

Tong Yun entered the office first, instructing: “Close the door.”

Jiang Xi closed the door.

Tong Yun sat down behind her desk, gesturing to Jiang Xi: “Sit.”

Jiang Xi sat down opposite her.

Tong Yun tossed a contract over, leaned back in her chair, and clasped her fingers in front of her: “Take a look.”

Jiang Xi looked up at her, pressing her fingertips on the contract and pulling it closer. The contract was for an endorsement signed by another female celebrity from the same company with a renowned brand.

“Just signed this morning,” Tong Yun said.

Jiang Xi didn’t flip any further, placing the contract back on the table.

“Do you know where this resource came from?” Tong Yun asked slowly.

Jiang Xi leaned back in her chair and smiled: “How would I know?”

Tong Yun’s face was expressionless: “Director Li, the one you met at the Via Hotel a few days ago.”

Director Li, who had asked her if she was free after the wrap-up party in front of the elevator that day. Tong Yun must have known about this because Director Li told her.

Jiang Xi remained silent.

“What you’re unwilling to do, there are plenty of people in this industry who are willing; you’re not the only one,” Tong Yun tapped the contract on the table with her fingertip, “This is an example.”

Her tone was flat: “What’s the result?”

“The result is that you achieve nothing, while others climb to the upper echelons.”

Tong Yun’s words left Jiang Xi no chance to reply.

Jiang Xi wasn’t planning to say anything anyway; Tong Yun had scolded her many times before.

“Your own conditions aren’t bad. If you become a bit smarter, resources will naturally come your way.”

Jiang Xi looked up: “Smarter?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. You’re the smartest, aren’t you?” Tong Yun said, “Others are smart in finding the right paths, but you’re too clever for your own good.”

Jiang Xi shifted her gaze.

Too smart, too clear-headed, completely unmotivated by personal gain.

“If you didn’t enter this industry to become famous in the first place, then why did you enter entertainment?”

Tong Yun added: “There’s no need.”

Once in this industry, no one wanted to be unnoticed, no one wanted to be obscure.

Jiang Xi barely spoke throughout.

Tong Yun probably didn’t want to say more either, she sat up straight and began to handle business: “The production crew wants you back for some reshoots. Go pack your things and head there tomorrow. You can leave now.”

Jiang Xi stood up.

________________________________________

Just as she was about to leave the office, Tong Yun called out to her: “Jiang Xi.”

Jiang Xi stopped.

Tong Yun didn’t look at her, her pen not stopping: “Being aloof won’t feed you. That kind of thing is useless and worthless.”

Jiang Xi lowered her gaze then raised it again, and without looking back, left the office.

________________________________________

Jiang Xi only left the company after attending a dialogue class there.

She hadn’t been out for several hours. The weather had changed; dark clouds loomed, and heavy rain poured down, with wind swaying the trees.

Jiang Xi took the elevator to the basement to get her car. As the car pulled out of the parking lot, large raindrops hammered on the roof, making a continuous drumming sound.

The windshield became a curtain of water. The wipers worked rhythmically. As she exited the company gate, the security guard uncle told her to drive carefully.

The heavy rain wouldn’t stop anytime soon, making driving more difficult than usual.

Halfway, her car got stuck at a traffic light. A junction ahead was flooded, and cars were blocked from entering.

Jiang Xi wasn’t in a hurry. She slowly followed the car in front, the traffic moving sluggishly forward.

The traffic only thinned out once they reached the suburban highway.

A gray-white demarcation line appeared on the horizon, the rain showed no signs of lessening. Cars sped past, splashing water everywhere.

There were pedestrians with umbrellas on the sidewalk. Jiang Xi slowed down.

Midway, a message popped up on her phone. Jiang Xi glanced at it; it was the crew’s schedule sent by the production manager.

She retracted her gaze.

And just in those two seconds, as she looked down, a child wearing a raincoat ran out from the sidewalk.

When Jiang Xi looked up, it was too late to react. She yanked the steering wheel sharply to the right.

A car was passing on the right. Just as she was about to collide, Jiang Xi quickly adjusted the steering wheel.

Tires screeched on the concrete, two harsh braking sounds.

Jiang Xi’s body was jolted back against the seat by the seatbelt. Even though there wasn’t a direct collision, she still felt a scraping sound on the side of her car.

The mischievous child who had just run across the road had already darted into the residential area, oblivious to the trouble caused. Jiang Xi withdrew her gaze, unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and got out with an umbrella.

The asphalt road was covered with a thin layer of water. Jiang Xi’s pants were soaked as she walked around to the front of the car.

The other black car had a long scratch on its side.

The mark wasn’t shallow. Jiang Xi had a bad feeling and looked at the other car’s emblem.

Maybach.

Indeed, it was expensive. Jiang Xi frowned.

Through the car window, Lu Nandu was in the back seat, dressed in a suit.

The man clipped the documents on his lap together, withdrawing his gaze from her.

“Qin Jin, go handle it.”

“Yes.”