Chapter 27: Sandpaper p1
The blue light of the weather forecast faded from the phone screen. Jiang Mi leaned against the car window. Two wispy cloud shadows fell on the windshield. Looking up at the sky, it wasn’t too gloomy.
The traffic flowed around the main bend. The scenery was the same as the first time she had come to Huai City. The only difference was that in just over a month, the surrounding greenery was no longer a tender color.
Jiang Mi bit her straw, not drinking seriously, but playfully stirring the soy milk at the bottom of the cup. Zhao Jia laughed at her, “I’ve noticed that every time you’re about to film a kissing scene with Yan Wei, you become strange.”
Jiang Mi: “…”
Sometimes, it was just so strange. She clearly wasn’t thinking about it, but there were always unexpected things around her that would bring this person into her mind.
Jiang Mi feigned displeasure and glanced at Zhao Jia, chiding her for overthinking. “Actually, I’m more worried about apple. She was in a really bad state last night.”
Zhao Jia turned her head. “What happened?”
The iced water cup in Zhao Jia’s hand had been held for too long, and a layer of mist had formed on the outside. When she wiped it, water droplets rolled down. Jiang Mi saw the water droplets being wiped away by a paper towel, and her mind was filled with the image of apple crying at the dinner table yesterday.
“I won’t tell you the private details, but I want to ask you, if she wants to terminate her contract with Chen Qiao, will it be difficult?”
“That depends on the contract.”
Zhao Jia thought of Chen Qiao’s usual tactics. Stars had their own circles, and their managers also had their own ways. To be honest, Chen Qiao’s reputation was very average. She was disorganized and often opportunistic, but what was most taboo about her was that she was somewhat unscrupulous.
“Chen Qiao has been in this industry for so many years. She has a firm grasp on things like contracts. To put it bluntly… Mimi, if apple really has this idea, it’s almost impossible to achieve.”
After hearing this, Jiang Mi let out a long sigh at the window. The wind blew in, making her hair tremble slightly.
“We still have to find a way.”
“This is a matter between two people, after all. Are you sure apple really wants to leave?”
Zhao Jia reminded her, “I suggest we see how apple is doing first. What if the two of them are just having a small fight and make up in a few days? Your situation will become very awkward then.”
Jiang Mi nodded. She didn’t want to overstep her bounds. She knew that what Zhao Jia said was also reasonable. She just wanted to think ahead for apple.
She said, “I’ve never seen apple like that.”
“If, and I mean if, apple really wants to terminate the contract and is willing to disregard the consequences, then if you want to help her, we can think of a way. I won’t refuse.”
Zhao Jia’s palm landed on Jiang Mi’s arm, comforting her. “We’re almost at the set. What you need to do now is to prepare well for your work. You know, today’s scene is really important for you.”
Jiang Mi nodded. The damp wind blew into her respiratory tract, carrying a rusty smell that only came before rain.
Of course, today’s scene could not have any accidents.
Because she had already failed this scene many, many times.
And today, she couldn’t lose to Yan Wei either.
Jiang Mi looked down at the time and sent a WeChat message to apple.
[Good morning, get up and have a warm breakfast. The weather is especially nice today~ So happy!]
Before long, apple replied.
[Good morning, Mimi.]
[Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.]
[You have to take good care of yourself too, don’t be too tired.]
**
It was just past seven when they arrived at the set.
Although the morning temperature was a bit chilly, the air was refreshingly different from other times. Inhaling it into your lungs could wake you up immediately.
Jiang Mi and Zhao Jia walked towards the break room together. At the door, just as they were about to enter, a sound suddenly came from next door.
She subconsciously looked over and saw Bai Qiu coming out with red eyes.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Mi was taken aback. After the door closed, she asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”
Bai Qiu’s tears had been wiped clean, but her expression was clearly still aggrieved. She said, “I’ve been fired.”
“What happened?” Both Jiang Mi and Zhao Jia were very surprised.
Bai Qiu felt that she had been wronged. It was hard for her to accept that she had been fired for such a small mistake. When Surui told her yesterday, she was really bewildered. She had been doing a good job, so why was it so sudden?
Later, Surui asked her to think about whether she had done anything to make Yan Wei unhappy. She really couldn’t remember anything. She had been sleepless all night, and until this morning, she suddenly remembered—
Before filming that day, Yan Wei had suddenly given her a very small trinket to keep. She remembered putting it away in her bag. Later, when Yan Wei asked about it after they were done, she found that it had disappeared at some point.
But Yan Wei hadn’t said anything at the time…
She had rushed over this morning to explain to Yan Wei that she really hadn’t done it on purpose. She really cherished and liked this job.
But after listening, Yan Wei had only said faintly, “You can go after you’re done.”
Bai Qiu looked at Jiang Mi and didn’t tell her these things, just sniffed and said, “I lost Teacher Yan’s things, but it’s indeed my fault.”
“What things?” During this time, Zhao Jia had gotten to know Bai Qiu quite well. She said, “Where did you lose it? Maybe you can still find it.”
Bai Qiu shook her head. “It’s been a few days. It was a very small thing. It’s probably long gone.”
Jiang Mi’s nerves twitched. She asked, “What did it look like?”
“I don’t remember clearly. It was a small trinket.” Bai Qiu pursed her lips. “I looked for it on the set, but I couldn’t find it. Mimi, thank you for taking care of me recently. I might not be able to see you often in the future. I wish you all the best.”
She didn’t want to be seen in such a disgraceful state either.
Bai Qiu walked past Jiang Mi. Just as Jiang Mi was about to say something, Zhao Jia coughed lightly and then led her into the break room.
The door closed.
Zhao Jia said, “What are you doing? You can’t meddle in Yan Wei’s affairs.”
“I wasn’t trying to,” Jiang Mi said helplessly.
She was just thinking, could the small trinket that Bai Qiu mentioned be the same one she had given to Yan Wei?
If so, then it meant that her gift wasn’t deliberately thrown away by Yan Wei, or lost by Yan Wei…
Jiang Mi took a light breath. The sourness that had filled her heart, like a balloon about to explode, was slowly released.
“By the way.”
Zhao Jia interrupted Jiang Mi’s thoughts. “About the anti-fan, Surui said that DK’s people will handle it, so we don’t have to worry about it.”
“How did they handle it? I heard she’s still a minor?” Jiang Mi came back to her senses and asked.
Zhao Jia shook her head. “They didn’t say. I’ll ask again today. But to be honest, although you were very unlucky in this matter, it really is a blessing in disguise. I heard last night that Qin Yao’s side was going to have a meeting to deal with it. I got a tip that they’re probably going to terminate her contract. I guess Yan Wei’s side must have put pressure on them, otherwise the company wouldn’t have made a decision so quickly, and so ruthlessly cut down a cash cow. And have you seen Weibo? Your Weibo followers increased by more than ten thousand overnight. I can only say that you’ve really met a benefactor.”
Although she was suspicious of Yan Wei’s initial intentions and always believed that Jiang Mi’s relationship with Yan Wei was too close and not good for Jiang Mi, she had to admit that it was indeed good to have a strong backer.
They might not have been able to achieve such a result with all their efforts.
Not getting too close was one thing, but it was also necessary to have a good relationship.
Zhao Jia thought for a moment. “Should we invite Yan Wei to a meal?”
Jiang Mi: “…”
“You don’t want to, or is it not appropriate?”
“No, my dear sister,” Jiang Mi said. “Don’t you think we owe a few too many meals lately?”
They still hadn’t paid back the one they owed Shen Ruoxi.
Zhao Jia: “Isn’t your sister Yan Wei? You even hid it from me, what neighbor-sister?”
Jiang Mi retorted, “If I had known earlier that Yan Wei was the neighbor-sister, back then—”
“Back then what?” Zhao Jia squinted, looking like she wanted to get to the bottom of it.
But Jiang Mi suddenly stopped. She turned her head back to the window. “Nothing.”
If she had known earlier that Yan Wei was the neighbor-sister, she would have been more careful when they first met, so as not to offend her at their first meeting. Maybe their relationship would have been more relaxed after that?
Seeing that she was being tight-lipped and wouldn’t say, Zhao Jia shrugged. “Alright then, but I have to ask you, how did you end up owing so many favors… If it doesn’t work out, we can just eat together.”
After she said it, the more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a good idea. “Hey, you know, it’s really feasible. Eating together can also promote feelings, and we don’t have to worry about being photographed and having rumors spread.”
What Zhao Jia said was definitely the most convenient, but it was still difficult to implement, and not sincere enough.
“Isn’t it a bit too lively?” Jiang Mi: “And isn’t it disrespectful? People will think we’re trying to save trouble.”
“Are you stupid? If you invite them one by one now and get photographed, what will the other people on the crew think? What will the fans think? They’ll think you’re a player, privately contacting them separately.”
Zhao Jia said, “Ruoxi is fine. She’s a social butterfly, and her fan base understands her quite well. The main thing is Yan Wei’s fans. They already look down on you as the second female lead. At this juncture, do you want to be flamed to death?”
The best thing would be to wait until the work is released. When everyone sees that Jiang Mi is not just a pretty face and their impression of her improves, it would be more reasonable to talk about having a meal alone then.
“But you don’t have to think so much. What if Yan Wei says it’s not necessary? Then it won’t be so troublesome,” Zhao Jia added.
Having a meal is so troublesome.
But Jiang Mi didn’t want to have a meal alone with Yan Wei at this time, so she was more receptive to Zhao Jia’s suggestion. But… would Yan Wei agree to have a meal with her and Shen Ruoxi?
“We’ll talk about it then.”
**
