Chapter 55

In an apartment in a certain residential complex between the northern third and fourth ring roads.

It was late at night.

Leng Xiang was still scribbling furiously on the carpet, lying on her stomach to write. After writing for so long that her wrist ached from propping herself up, she got up to stretch her wrist and casually picked up her phone.

She opened WeChat and glanced at it, her fingers pausing.

There was a missed call in WeChat, from Jiang Sisi about ten minutes earlier.

What was Jiang Sisi calling her for in the middle of the night?

Leng Xiang called back.

…

At the KTV.

Jiang Sisi stared at the incoming call screen on WeChat, hesitating whether to answer.

The phone kept vibrating, and before she knew it, someone nearby caught a glimpse of her screen out of the corner of their eye.

“She called back! She called back!”

Everyone’s attention was instantly drawn to Jiang Sisi’s phone.

“Pick up, Director Jiang! Hurry up and pick up—she called you back!”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Since when were these people so gossipy?

The deputy director was at the card table, on the verge of losing this round. When he suddenly saw this development, he tossed his cards aside, muddled the game on the table, jumped up from the table, and shouted at Jiang Sisi, “Old Jiang, pick up! If you don’t, you’re chicken, and I won’t respect you anymore!”

This dead fatty was cheating at cards himself and now trying to shift the blame.

Jiang Sisi: “…”

If I don’t make this dead fatty’s life hell this year, I’ll take your last name.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, with everyone staring, Jiang Sisi had no choice but to slide to answer.

Someone egged her on: “Speakerphone! Speakerphone! Speakerphone!”

Jiang Sisi tapped the speaker button, and Leng Xiang’s voice came through from the other end.

Leng Xiang: “Hello?”

Jiang Sisi coughed and said, “Xiangxiang.”

Leng Xiang let out a soft “Mm” and asked, “What’s up?”

She paused, then added, “Why’s it so noisy over there?”

No one was singing anymore, but the KTV was still playing background music.

Jiang Sisi: “We’re at a KTV having fun. I lost a card game just now and had to take a punishment. I drew a big dare card.”

Jiang Sisi gave a short laugh. “It told me to call a random person from my WeChat contacts, and I happened to draw you.”

Leng Xiang: “Oh, like that.”

She sounded a bit disappointed.

The eavesdroppers nearby let out a huge chorus of boos, deeply disappointed.

Someone mouthed silently: Where’s the confession?

Jiang Sisi shot them a glare and continued talking to Leng Xiang.

Jiang Sisi: “What are you doing right now?”

Leng Xiang: “Doing homework. Aren’t those forty-eight pages of assignments and twelve books from you?”

It didn’t sound like resentment—more like a complaint, even with a hint of subtle sweetness.

Oh my.

Little bubbles popped in Jiang Sisi’s heart.

Jiang Sisi chatted with Leng Xiang as if no one else was around. The others exchanged glances but didn’t dare interrupt.

But the deputy director wasn’t just fat—he was bold too, always eager to stir things up.

The deputy director shouted into the phone: “Xiangxiang, Jiang Sisi wants to confess to you!”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Leng Xiang’s grip tightened on her phone, her eyes widening.

Her heart suddenly raced.

Leng Xiang: “What?”

Jiang Sisi’s voice came through the line, and she laughed again, the slight uptick at the end making it sound soft and tingly.

Don’t laugh like that.

Jiang Sisi was pretending to be calm, looking pretty composed.

Jiang Sisi: “Nothing, it’s just the dare. It said to confess to a random person I called. We’re just messing around.”

Leng Xiang: “…Oh.”

A touch of inexplicable disappointment.

The deputy director seemed about to shout something else, but Jiang Sisi swiftly shoved a piece of watermelon into his mouth.

The deputy director made muffled “mmph mmph” sounds, unable to speak.

Suddenly, the line went quiet, neither of them speaking.

Jiang Sisi: “Do you want to come over and join us?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself.

What are you doing? She lives in the southern third or fourth ring—she’s up in the northern third ring. A cab would take half an hour, an hour if there’s traffic.

Jiang Sisi glanced at her watch.

It was almost eleven.

She wanted to say something to brush it off, but she heard Leng Xiang agree without hesitation.

Leng Xiang: “Sure.”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Leng Xiang: “Where is it?”

Jiang Sisi: “The KTV next to Black Pool Bar, room 306.”

She actually agreed to come.

…

Song Limo arrived first. She stormed in looking furious, but as soon as she entered the room and saw the crowd, her expression turned cold and indifferent.

She nodded politely at everyone, sparking a wave of hushed squeals.

Wherever Song Limo went, she was a goddess.

Someone quickly vacated the seat next to Jiang Sisi for her.

The makeup artist nervously ran over with a little notebook, trembling: “Goddess! Wuuu, I’ve been a fan for years! Really, years!! Can you sign this for me?”

Song Limo looked at Jiang Sisi: “Did you hire this kid recently?”

Jiang Sisi nodded: “Started last year. Used to be a pediatrician.”

Song Limo signed it and smiled at the makeup artist: “Hi.”

The makeup artist clutched her notebook and nearly fainted.

Song Limo and Li Guchuan were regulars at Jiang Sisi’s crew, occasionally dropping by for cameos with just a scene or two.

Once Song Limo settled in, the initial excitement faded, and everyone went back to singing and playing cards.

Jiang Sisi asked: “Aren’t you the type who hates going out? You said you don’t like people staring at you like you’re a monkey. What made you come out in the middle of the night?”

Song Limo: “Don’t even get me started.”

Jiang Sisi asked curiously: “What happened?”

Who could make Song Limo this mad?

Song Limo said: “That little rascal at home is starting elementary school this year, and Yi Ling’s debating which school to send her to.”

“I say, does it even need thinking? Keep her close—who’s gonna take care of her? Who’s picking her up and dropping her off?”

Jiang Sisi said coolly: “You, obviously. You don’t go out much except for filming.”

Song Limo pointed at herself: “Me?”

Yeah, right—Song Limo wished she could send the little rascal as far away as possible. No way she’d take care of her.

Song Limo: “Yi Ling wants to spend proper time with the kid, but we don’t have the time. Aunt Wang went back to look after her daughter-in-law. Elementary school lets out at three in the afternoon. She works, I work—who’s picking her up?”

Jiang Sisi patiently asked: “So what do you think?”

Song Limo: “Send her far away. Do you know the criminal investigation captain Zhou Xiucheng?”

Jiang Sisi: “Heard of him.”

Song Limo: “His family and the Qu Family are longtime allies. The Zhou family lives in the Military District Compound, which has an elementary school inside—safe, reliable, good education. Much easier.”

“So I mentioned it to Yi Ling.”

Jiang Sisi: “And then your little princess got mad? Kicked you out?”

Song Limo: “She said I don’t care about the kid, that I’m cold and emotionless.”

Jiang Sisi: “You’re pretty cold to everyone except your little princess.”

Song Limo thought for a moment: “No, I need to figure something out.”

…

Leng Xiang carefully picked out her outfit—a pink sweater with a white down jacket over it, her hair in a bun, and light makeup.

She took a cab along the ring road and arrived at the KTV entrance forty minutes later.

She followed the signs to room 306, knocked, and pushed the door open.

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing.

Leng Xiang scanned the room and immediately spotted Jiang Sisi in the middle of the sofa.

And Song Limo next to her.

Song Limo narrowed her eyes.

The deputy director swaggered over and slapped Leng Xiang on the back, nearly making her stumble.

The deputy director announced to the crowd: “For our non-crew friends, let me introduce— this is Leng Xiang, the female lead in Old Jiang’s new film, top billing, amazing actress. Everyone, give her a welcome!”

The room erupted in enthusiastic applause, especially loud from the crew members.

Leng Xiang looked around awkwardly, her body tense, instinctively stepping back a little.

A few years ago, rumors flew that she’d seduced an Excellence Media executive to climb the ladder, and after a spat on set blew up on Weibo, black material came at her from all sides. Almost all her fair-weather friends distanced themselves, afraid of getting tainted.

It had been a long time since she’d faced a crowd like this.

Some were from the crew—she recognized them but hadn’t really talked much, not close.

Others she didn’t know.

Most looks held curiosity and speculation, but they were friendly and kind.

Her tense body relaxed a bit.

She smiled at everyone: “Hi, everyone.”

Someone whispered to another: “I heard she’s cold, stubborn, hard to approach. But she’s such a nice girl— so pretty.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Yi Jing sat next to Jiang Sisi, staring straight at Leng Xiang: “Yeah, she’s really pretty.”

Jiang Sisi glanced at Yi Jing and shoved him, signaling him to make room for Leng Xiang.

Yi Jing snapped out of it and scooted over.

Leng Xiang sat down next to Jiang Sisi.

Everyone resumed singing and playing cards.

Song Limo stared at Leng Xiang for a long time, until Leng Xiang sat on the other side of Jiang Sisi. Finally, it clicked.

Song Limo: “I remember you.”

Leng Xiang looked over at Song Limo.

Back in the day, she hadn’t liked Song Limo much. Young and hot-headed, she’d picked a one-sided online feud with her, only to get roasted by Jiang Sisi on her show until she couldn’t show her face.

…

After spending so much time with Jiang Sisi lately, she’d almost forgotten about it!

Ever since Jiang Sisi gave her the Never the Same series, she’d watched it all, then gradually caught up on Song Limo’s other works.

After seriously bingeing Song Limo’s entire filmography, her fondness shot straight to the top.

No wonder Song Limo had billions of fans, unrivaled in the industry.

She’d been too young back then—who could win a battle against that?

Leng Xiang tensed up a bit when Song Limo called her out.

Did Song Limo remember who she was?

Song Limo looked at her, then at Jiang Sisi beside her, and finally said to Jiang Sisi: “I remember a few years ago, we had late-night snacks together one night. You said you’d gotten into an online fight. Was it over her?”

Leng Xiang: “…”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

There was such a thing?