Chapter 44: Amplify
Jiang Mi remembered that Yan Wei hadn’t replied to her message that night. She hadn’t eaten and had gone to bed very early, but strangely, she was very tired when she woke up in the morning.
She held the breakfast Zhao Jia had prepared, still having no appetite.
It was as if she had been cursed by something, losing most of her interest in life.
How could this be?
How could this be?
On the way to the set, Jiang Mi asked herself many times. So was this a dream, or was it real?
So which parts were real, and which were fake?
That was the next day.
Yan Wei was rarely late, but when she arrived, Jiang Mi didn’t see her. She was holding her script and listening to Jiang Qu explain the scene, lost in thought.
She was truly lost in thought. For a moment, she had entered Liang Yongping’s world, imagining the scenes in the script…
“Yan Wei is here. Do you want to take a break or what?”
Hearing that name, Jiang Mi felt as if she had been pricked by something. She only looked up after a couple of seconds. She knew Yan Wei was looking at her, and when she looked over, she did indeed meet Yan Wei’s eyes.
There was no difference.
She felt that, for Yan Wei, a few months ago, the day before yesterday, yesterday, and today were all the same.
There was no difference.
This time, Jiang Mi didn’t smile. She didn’t even want to force it. She looked away from Yan Wei’s face and heard Yan Wei say, “No need. Let’s start.”
Jiang Mi then stood up, handed the script to Zhao Jia, took another sip of water, and then let the makeup artist touch up the pale makeup on her lips that belonged to “Liang Yongping.”
The state of being “ashen-faced” didn’t require any brewing at all.
She nodded at Jiang Qu—she was ready.
For the next few days, the figures of Qin Shui and her “girlfriend” became a regular sight on the streets.
That blatant intimacy, always carrying a scorching heat, drilled into Liang Yongping’s ears from various cracks. Sometimes, an unintentional glance would catch them returning together.
The bouquet of flowers in Qin Shui’s arms was particularly flamboyant. The delicate petals and full colors had once appeared on Yongping’s windowsill in the same vibrant way—but now, it was like a silent slap, hitting Yongping’s increasingly withered heart.
For two consecutive days, the food prepared in the kitchen was always cold. Bai Xiao’s words became more and more unpleasant, and the out-of-control pushing and pulling became more and more frequent. But Yongping was like a boneless person, letting herself be tormented.
That day, some unknown force drove her to the second floor. As she passed by a half-open door, the low laughter of Qin Shui and her girlfriend came out like a dense cluster of fine needles. She had no intention of listening, but the words clearly drilled into her ears:
“Isn’t it love you feel for that Liang Yongping downstairs?”
The room was silent for a moment.
What she heard was the woman’s familiar voice, “You’re overthinking it. I’ve never loved her.”
Yongping’s legs suddenly went weak, and her back slammed heavily against the cold wall.
In that instant, the dam that had been holding back for so long suddenly burst, scalding hot. She didn’t remember how she got downstairs. Her vision blurred as she crashed through the door and locked herself in.
The moment the door closed, Jiang Qu’s call of “Cut” landed at the same time.
Jiang Mi was still squatting on the ground. Zhao Jia came forward and patted her back. Feeling the vibration in her palm, she was slightly surprised. This seemed to be the first time she had seen Jiang Mi so sad after getting out of character.
She stayed by her side in silence, waiting for Jiang Mi’s emotions to ease.
Jiang Mi actually didn’t know what was wrong with her.
It was just that her heart was so stuffy and uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
Suddenly, a palm landed on the top of her head. In Jiang Mi’s slightly stuffy breath, she still smelled that faint scent, the scent of brandy and rose.
Jiang Mi’s eyes were buried in her knees. In her ear was that cool and calm voice, “Jiang Mi, it’s all fake.”
Yan Wei was comforting her.
She knew.
But…
But…
An untimely, sad chill welled up in her heart.
She knew deeply that Yan Wei would not understand where her empathy came from. Was it “Liang Yongping’s” unrequited love, “Liang Yongping” not understanding “Qin Shui,” or “Qin Shui” not understanding “Liang Yongping.”
If Yongping and Qin Shui’s “love” was fake, an act, a fiction, their story was a huge bubble.
Then, the warmth of the palm on her head at this moment, the sweet air, and even the secret palpitation in her heart, could they also be fake?
Once this thought was born—
It became a knife that was always hanging over Jiang Mi’s throat, reminding her.
The following days were a kind of invisible gray.
For several consecutive days, Jiang Mi and Yan Wei had no contact.
This day was just a day in June. Jiang Youshu’s routine greeting call came. Jiang Mi held the receiver, and the early summer sunlight outside the window danced in the shadows of the trees, so bright that she squinted slightly.
Time was like an hourglass.
On the other end of the line, Jiang Youshu was chattering about her return in July. The words “home” and “end” tapped on Jiang Mi’s heart.
“You don’t sound very energetic. Is work too tiring?”
Jiang Mi shook her head on this end of the line. “I probably didn’t sleep well yesterday, but it’s okay. Lao Jiang, how’s your health? Eat less cold things.”
“Just take care of yourself. Yuying called me and said she’s coming over in a few days.”
“My own. She might also need to adjust recently. Don’t ask her about work.”
Jiang Youshu said, “Don’t worry, sweetie. Mom misses you. I can still see Jiang Hu occasionally, but you’ve been gone for months. If you’re coming back, let me know in advance so I can prepare early…”
Jiang Youshu started chattering on the other end again.
Jiang Mi responded in a low voice.
After hanging up the phone.
Jiang Mi sniffed.
After this drama is finished, it’s natural that she and Yan Wei will part.
And after they part? They will each return to their own predetermined tracks. The things that are tiring even now will probably make it impossible to even see each other after the distance is lengthened.
At that time… it will probably really become as Zhao Jia said.
At that time, everything will be over.
Jiang Mi took a deep breath, her lips curving into a smile. It’s okay. Everything will pass.
There’s nothing in this world that can’t be overcome.
Suddenly, her phone lit up abruptly. She glanced at it, and Yan Wei’s name popped up on the screen. Jiang Mi’s heart skipped a beat in panic.
She was silent for two seconds.
She opened it.
A few short words: [Come to my break room.]
**
The door closed silently behind her. The break room was so quiet that only a low hum could be heard. The afternoon sun slanted in through the window and finally landed on the table next to Yan Wei.
Jiang Mi saw a long sword.
“Sit.” Yan Wei’s voice was flat, her chin pointing to the stool next to her. She was leaning on the long sofa, her posture seemingly relaxed, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Mi’s face inch by inch, and finally landing under her tired eyes.
Jiang Mi looked away from her face, her gaze sweeping over the food on the table, some cakes and cut fruit, and then, it stopped on the low table next to it.
There was an unopened glass of juice there. It was the one she had asked Zhao Jia to give out today.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, Yan Wei said, “I was a little busy today.”
Jiang Mi didn’t say anything.
Yan Wei said, “Have something to eat.”
Jiang Mi paused, turned her head, her gaze filled with confusion and inquiry.
“You haven’t been very energetic these past two days.”
Yan Wei’s words sounded like an explanation.
Silence settled in the air, with some weight, pressing on Jiang Mi’s breath.
A few seconds later, Jiang Mi said, “I’m not very hungry.” Her voice was as flat as ice. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
Actually, her tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried a sense of detachment that made Yan Wei anxious.
“Jiang Mi.” Yan Wei’s voice was not loud, but it nailed her to the spot.
Yan Wei’s voice was a little dry, finally breaking the distance she had deliberately maintained. She called a halt, her brow furrowed slightly. “There’s been some family trouble these past two days.”
Jiang Mi stopped and turned back to Yan Wei, her questioning gaze on her slightly annoyed face. “What’s wrong?”
She herself might not have noticed the concern in her words.
“It’s nothing worth mentioning.” But Yan Wei’s answer was very decisive. She seemed to be resisting a deeper inquiry.
But in this resistance, a hint of imperceptible turmoil flashed through—she thought of Jiang Mi’s unanswered message.
[Yan Wei, I don’t like this. I really don’t like it.]
As if she were being forced into a corner by this annoyance, and as if she were in a hurry to grab onto something, Yan Wei took two steps forward, suddenly reached out, and grabbed Jiang Mi’s wrist, which was close at hand.
The moment their skin touched, the two days of strangeness were suddenly torn apart. The real and slightly warm touch was so familiar it was startling.
Yan Wei’s hand slid up Jiang Mi’s warm wrist, slowly tightening, and pulled Jiang Mi forward until their breaths were almost entangled.
“Hold me.”
Her voice carried a hint of submission that even she herself hadn’t noticed, but her eyes were rolling with something more complex and sharper—perhaps it was grievance, perhaps it was unwillingness, perhaps it was an agitation that she herself couldn’t distinguish.
Jiang Mi looked down at her, letting that craving pull her. She silently submitted to this sudden intimacy and also wrapped her arms around Yan Wei’s waist.
When the familiar silhouette was completely pressed against her, a near-sigh of suffocation seized Yan Wei’s breath.
Jiang Mi could clearly feel the slight trembling of Yan Wei’s body, and the not-so-calm heartbeat deep inside her soft body.
The next second, Jiang Mi closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the suppressed emotion that had settled in the bottom of her eyes had turned into a raging storm.
She suddenly grabbed Yan Wei’s chin, her thumb rubbing hard against that soft skin with an irresistible force.
Suddenly, she moved closer, and the distance between the two of them instantly shortened to a dangerous point.
The milky pheromones almost wrapped around Yan Wei. Yan Wei’s body subconsciously tensed, her breath hitching…
So comfortable.
The itchy feeling all over her body. She was craving Jiang Mi’s intimacy.
Just as Yan Wei thought that the kiss was really going to land, Jiang Mi suddenly let go. The arm that was holding Yan Wei’s waist also withdrew at the same time.
Jiang Mi took a step back and quietly looked at the momentary astonishment and dissatisfaction in Yan Wei’s eyes.
Her eyes were as calm as the deep sea, yet there was an undercurrent.
“Yan Wei.” Jiang Mi’s voice was not loud, but every word was like a soft needle, accurately piercing Yan Wei’s heart. “Let’s not even talk about the fact that we have no relationship. Even if we do have a little something. I won’t become an object that you can dispose of at will—coming to me when you’re in a good mood, and treating me like a trash can when you’re in a bad mood…”
Jiang Mi’s gaze was locked on Yan Wei. It wasn’t even cold. On the contrary, this state was even more glaring in Yan Wei’s eyes.
She said word by word, “Remember this ‘unhappy’ feeling you have now. Because in my case, it’s at least ten times amplified.”
