Chapter 56: Angry
“Did you hear me?”
The cold voice was still echoing in her ear when the car door was pulled open.
Jiang Mi came back to her senses, her gaze meeting Mo Xi’s as she just got in. She forced a smile and said in a low voice to the still-connected phone, “Mo Xi is in the car.”
The other end of the line fell into a heavy silence.
“Give her the phone.”
Jiang Mi took a silent breath and handed the phone over, her fingertips slightly cold. “It’s Teacher Yan.”
The panic and worry in Mo Xi’s eyes instantly solidified, almost becoming tangible. She held her breath and carefully took the phone, holding it to her ear. In the dead silent car, she could vaguely catch the coldness seeping from the microphone:
“Who allowed you to find her?”
Mo Xi’s tears fell straight down, her voice a broken sob. “Sis… I’m sorry…”
The second half of her cry was deliberately left behind by Jiang Mi.
She silently moved towards the car window, pressing herself into the deeper shadow of the corner.
About a minute later, the one-sided trial was over.
Mo Xi handed the already-hung-up phone back, her voice hoarse, “Sister Jiang Mi, thank you… I’ll definitely pay you back the money in the future. Could you please take me to the university?”
Jiang Mi held the cool phone, slightly stunned. “Are you sure it’s okay for you to go back to the university now?”
“Mmm.” Mo Xi’s red and swollen eyes were filled with bitterness. “My sister said… not to trouble you. I’m sorry, Sister Jiang Mi… for making you worry.”
Jiang Mi shook her head and handed her two tissues. “It’s okay. I’m just worried if you’re okay. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No…” Mo Xi took the tissues, clenching and unclenching them. “I can’t go home… Mom’s been in a bad mood lately. I don’t dare to let her know. As for my sister’s place…” She pursed her lips and swallowed the second half of the sentence.
Jiang Mi was silent.
The words of comfort swirled on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t know how to comfort her, because her own mood was not that happy at the moment.
After watching Mo Xi’s figure completely disappear behind the iron gates of the campus, Jiang Mi gestured for Zhao Jia to drive to the hotel.
She looked at Zhao Jia in the driver’s seat, her voice tinged with an imperceptible weariness, “Jiajia, thank you for your hard work today.”
Zhao Jia looked at her through the rearview mirror for a moment and tentatively asked, “…Did you two argue?”
Jiang Mi shook her head.
After a few seconds of silence, Zhao Jia still offered some comfort, “Don’t take it to heart. Just communicate. Maybe she’s just afraid you’ll be tired.”
Jiang Mi hummed softly, her gaze on the flowing night scene outside the window. “I know. It’s okay, it’s okay.”
Jiang Mi knew that Zhao Jia was comforting her. She actually felt quite guilty. Was she the only one who had been working hard lately? Zhao Jia also woke up before dawn and went to bed in the early hours of the morning. She even worked more hours than her.
Even though she had a day off today, Zhao Jia still had work to deal with.
In addition to that, she had to trouble Zhao Jia with extra things.
And Zhao Jia had to comfort her.
Jiang Mi didn’t want Zhao Jia to worry too much about her either.
“I’ll go to the commercial shoot by myself tomorrow. You should rest too. You don’t have to follow me around. I’m quite familiar with the routine now anyway.”
Her tone was consultative, “You should take a day off too. You don’t have to run around. I’ve figured out the process there.”
“No.” Zhao Jia’s refusal was crisp and clean. “In the past, when there was no one proper watching you, those producers and venue staff would dare to be careless, treating you like a small role that could be easily dealt with. Slacking off and being perfunctory was common.” Her tone was firm. “Now, if there’s no one with you, what do you think they’ll do? They’ll immediately go back to their old ways. Because in their eyes, a ‘thirteenth-tier little artist’ is supposed to be easily fooled—’easy-going’ is equivalent to ‘easy to bully,’ understand?”
A strong sourness suddenly rushed up her nose.
Jiang Mi abruptly turned her head and looked at the rapidly passing street outside the car window.
The brilliant streetlights were repeatedly stretched in her eyes. She said, “…Thank you.”
The air in the car was stagnant, and time seemed to have been extended.
After a long time, she finally heard Zhao Jia’s voice, piercing through the silence, gentle and firm:
“Mimi, if you’re upset, don’t hold it in.”
Jiang Mi’s tone became light. “Mmm! I’m really fine.”
**
Back at the hotel, Jiang Mi took another shower and lay on the bed in the hotel bathrobe, scrolling through Weibo for a while. She saw the news on the hot search.
#ShenRuoxi’sRelationshipExposed#
#ShenRuoxiAdmits#
Jiang Mi clicked on the link. The photos were very blurry, two in total. One was of the two of them holding hands at dinner, and the other was of them kissing in front of a car.
The paparazzi had even dug up the other party’s identity—a newcomer who had just entered the industry.
The comments were like black paint dropped into water, a sea of black.
‘Are they worthy?’
‘As a three-year fan, I’m really disappointed this time.’
‘What kind of person is dating you?’
‘I can’t stand it. They’re not worthy at all, okay?’
The more Jiang Mi read, the deeper her brow furrowed. There were even more unpleasant comments. Someone in the comments had found a photo of the newcomer as a commoner and photoshopped it, writing the words “social climber.”
Someone took a screenshot and said that the newcomer’s Weibo had also been completely swamped.
They were all telling her to leave Shen Ruoxi.
The most excessive and chilling comment for Jiang Mi was—I know her mother’s home address.
Jiang Mi felt a chill.
It was a relationship between two people, but it had to be approved by so many people… was this normal? Or as an idol, did you have to have this kind of awareness?
She suddenly thought of Zhao Jia’s question to her.
“If one day your affairs affect your family, can you bear it?”
Jiang Mi wasn’t so sure. The only thing she was sure of was that she loved Yan Wei, and she was willing to bear it with Yan Wei.
Once a person makes a choice, they have to bear the consequences of their choice, right?
She also believed that if there was such a day, Jiang Youshu would also support her.
She would not back down.
But the premise of her recklessness was—that Yan Wei also thought so.
And on this point, Jiang Mi was not sure.
Her fingertips slid over the cold screen. The WeChat interface was silent.
The last message was still the one she had sent to Yan Wei: [I’ll take her home first. Contact me when you’re done.]
Jiang Mi tossed her phone away, letting it sink into the soft mattress.
Her gaze was unfocused on the pale ceiling. She tried to clear her mind, like wiping a dusty glass. Fragments of the script began to float in the void, the words intertwining, but her consciousness was like it was being flooded by a tide, sinking into darkness bit by bit.
…
Her waist suddenly tightened, as if it were being bound by a rope. A warm, damp touch, without any warning, pressed against her cheek and the side of her neck. Then, a scorching breath sprayed on her ear—
She was so startled that her whole body trembled. Her hand subconsciously pushed away, but the next second, she was locked in a firmer embrace.
“It’s me.”
That voice seeped into her eardrum, with a familiar slight hoarseness, but like a fine needle, it accurately pierced a certain part of her heart. Jiang Mi took a breath, and a secret, sharp pain spread.
Her thoughts instantly returned.
She had indeed given Yan Wei a room card, but Yan Wei had never used it.
Her hand fumbled in the darkness and finally touched the cold switch.
“Click—”
The sudden bright light made her subconsciously close her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her gaze met Yan Wei’s. Those eyes reflected the warm light of the overhead lamp, but they seemed to be covered with a thin layer of frost.
Her throat was a little dry. Jiang Mi found her voice, “…What time is it?”
“One,” Yan Wei replied.
The air was stagnant for a moment.
Jiang Mi silently met her gaze, trying to find a familiar shadow under the coldness.
A few seconds later, Yan Wei propped herself up and sat on the edge of the bed.
A hint of a faint tobacco scent, mixed with the light brandy smell on Yan Wei’s body.
Jiang Mi knew that Yan Wei smoked, but this smell seemed to have not been on her for a long time. Jiang Mi still asked, “Have you been smoking?”
“I didn’t have time to tidy up.” Yan Wei’s gaze landed on her face, paused for a moment, and then added, “I’ve been busy.”
Like an explanation.
It was as if even time had slowed down.
“Alright.” Jiang Mi’s voice was very light, with not much emotion.
The silence spread again, heavier, thicker than before. Jiang Mi lifted the covers and sat up. The rustling of the silk pajamas against her skin was particularly clear in the silence. She turned her head, her gaze on Yan Wei’s profile, which was outlined by the dim yellow light. She asked with some hesitation, “Are you staying here?”
“I’m leaving in two hours.” Yan Wei’s voice was steady and calm. “There’s a show in Paris.”
“Oh…” Jiang Mi subconsciously replied, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the corner of the blanket. “…So tiring.”
Yan Wei didn’t reply. She finally turned her head, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Mi’s face inch by inch, as if she were interpreting something. That scrutiny lasted for too long, so long that just as Jiang Mi was about to look away, Yan Wei finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of an imperceptible probing, “And then?”
Jiang Mi was taken aback. “And then? Are you referring to Mo Xi’s matter?”
The moment the words came out, she herself was shocked by how fake her deliberately maintained calmness was.
Her acting on set was so natural, but in front of Yan Wei, she always showed her weakness.
Yan Wei: “What are you angry about?”
Jiang Mi’s chest tightened slightly, as if she had been hit in a vital spot by that directness.
It was a rare meeting. She didn’t want the two of them to part on bad terms. When she spoke again, she tried to soften her voice. “I just…” She paused, searching for a more accurate expression. “I feel like you’re treating me like an outsider.”
A few seconds passed.
Jiang Mi said, “Even if it’s not because of our relationship, for the sake of the friendship between Auntie Mo and my mom, I had to get involved in that situation last night.”
Jiang Mi didn’t know which sentence had made Yan Wei unhappy. Her beautiful face changed slightly. “Don’t get involved in the future.”
Actually, Jiang Mi had no intention of getting too involved. In fact, if it weren’t for the special circumstances last night, it wouldn’t have been her turn to get involved.
All she had to say now was “I know, I won’t get involved in the future.” Just that simple sentence, and the matter would be over.
But Jiang Mi was uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
“Why?”
“There’s no why.”
Jiang Mi looked at her, and the grievance in her heart gradually welled up. She looked away from Yan Wei’s face. “I see.”
The atmosphere was tense.
Jiang Mi pursed her lips. She couldn’t stand this silence.
“Have you eaten tonight?”
“Mmm.”
“You… aren’t you curious about me at all?” Jiang Mi’s gaze carried a hint of stubbornness. “Don’t you have anything to ask me?”
Yan Wei actually did. When she was working and quiet, she would also think of Jiang Mi. It was just that she was too tired now. She had rushed over just to have a tender moment with Jiang Mi. It was that simple.
But it seemed that Jiang Mi was not happy about her appearance.
Every time she heard Mo Yun’s name from Jiang Mi’s mouth, it made her extremely resistant. She hoped that Jiang Mi was independent and would never get involved with Mo Yun.
The silence was only a few seconds, but it was so long it was agonizing.
Jiang Mi smiled. “Forget it. You must be very tired. Do you want to sleep here for a while?”
Yan Wei felt very annoyed.
She looked at the unnatural expression on Jiang Mi’s face. She had said that Jiang Mi couldn’t act in front of her. Jiang Mi was not so sincere in wanting her to stay.
“No.” She stood up and looked down at Jiang Mi. “Let’s talk about it when I get back.”
