Chapter 20: Flustered

It snowed again.

Fortunately, this snow came late and the plane was not delayed.

On the way from the airport home, Ning Ke wore an eye mask, feeling sleepy.

Thanks to a certain someone, she had been upset for a long time last night and had not slept well.

An Yu was scrolling through her phone when she came across something unpleasant. She showed Xu Jian first, then called Ning Ke: “Sister, looks like Tang Xi bought some dirt on you again.”

“Oh,” Ning Ke reacted flatly, not surprised at all. She took the phone and glanced at it. “Still the same old stuff.”

The so-called “dirt” was that she had supposedly been some big shot’s mistress early in her career, banned after being caught by his wife, or that she had had ambiguous relationships with various men… boring stuff.

The ban was real—but it was because she had gotten physical with that power broker, nearly breaking his nose.

The ambiguity was laughable; she did not even remember what those men looked like.

Xu Jian twirled a pen, playing the role of a frivolous young master, a smile curling at his lips: “Tang Xi’s playing the same old tricks again. Keke, don’t worry. I’m close to finding out who’s behind her. When I do, she’ll have made her own bed.”

Ning Ke hummed, saying nothing.

After days of rushing around, she was a bit drained. She leaned against the car window, watching the snow fall outside.

There had been so much snow this winter.

Before the new year, it had fallen on and off for over ten days. A few days around the holiday it had stopped. Today it had started again.

What a heavy snow.

It drifted down—like feathers, like willow catkins—spinning and turning, covering everything in a blanket of white.

Ning Ke tilted her head back slightly, watching the snowflakes fall.

She suddenly said: “Stop the car. I want to get out.”

Xu Jian braked: “Want to walk? Have Little Yu go with you.”

Ning Ke: “No need. I’m almost home. Just send my luggage tomorrow.”

She did not take an umbrella as she got out of the car.

The Bentley followed at a distance behind her for a while. Seeing she truly did not intend to get back in, it turned away and left.

Ning Ke walked through the heavy snow, thinking of Yan Yunzhi again.

Thinking of that time Yan Yunzhi had been tending her plants in the heavy snow, her lashes trembling with every breath.

Strange. Why did she think of her even when walking?

Because… it was snowing again.

“It’s snowing again.”

Yan Yunzhi stood by the window and pushed it open.

The streetlights along the road were already lit.

The wind and snow urged late-night wanderers home.

Lu Yanshi advised her: “Your health isn’t good. Don’t stay in the wind too long.”

Yan Yunzhi walked back to the living room: “I know. I just opened the window for some fresh air.”

Sister Lu walked over: “Mr. Lu, coffee.”

Lu Yanshi and Yan Yunzhi were old classmates. In middle school, he had gone to the Yan residence to discuss math olympiad problems with her. Sister Lu had once thought they might end up together—after all, over the years, Yan Yunzhi had stayed single and Lu Yanshi had stayed single too. Then Yan Yunzhi had suddenly married Ning Ke, and Sister Lu had never brought up those inappropriate thoughts.

Lu Yanshi took the coffee: “Thanks.”

He was tall and lean, wearing a gray shirt and a British-style vest, with a refined smile. He sipped the coffee: “Mm, just like the taste back in the UK.”

“I rarely drink it, so I can’t judge the flavor,” Yan Yunzhi got to the point. “What do you think of the matter I asked you about?”

Lu Yanshi looked helpless: “Please, Azhi, I’m not a lawyer who handles public figures’ reputation issues. You’re putting me on the spot again.”

Yan Yunzhi: “Then ask someone for me. The insults on those forums are too ugly.”

Lu Yanshi teased: “So protective of your young madam?”

Yan Yunzhi did not answer: “If it’s slander, I’m prosecuting. Yanshi, help me handle this.”

Lu Yanshi chuckled: “You’re rarely this persistent.”

As they talked, the fingerprint lock beeped and the door opened.

Ning Ke stood outside, snow on her shoulders, snow on her hair.

She looked at the person standing in the living room—a man in a shirt and vest. She knew him.

He had grown up with Yan Yunzhi.

He was still single.

Ning Ke: “Lawyer Lu.”

Lu Yanshi recalled the painful memories of being forced by Yan Yunzhi to write out historical event summaries for this young lady, and his smile turned wry: “Miss Ning.”

Ning Ke nodded at him, brushed the snow off her shoulders, and did not greet Yan Yunzhi—did not even look at her. She walked straight past her.

Yan Yunzhi watched her until her figure disappeared around the stairway corner, then looked away.

Lu Yanshi: “Upset? Not going to appease her?”

Yan Yunzhi thoughtfully lowered her eyes and shook her head: “Let’s finish talking first.”

Lu Yanshi’s smile faded: “About the equity matter you asked me about earlier—I’ve thought it through carefully.”

…

Ning Ke stood on the balcony, looking downstairs.

She watched Yan Yunzhi walk Lu Yanshi out. The snow was already deep; every step left a deep footprint.

The car was parked outside the gate.

Lu Yanshi opened the door and got in. Yan Yunzhi did not leave, talking to him for a long while before waving goodbye.

Winter days ended early; it was only 6:30pm.

The person stood under the warm yellow glow of the streetlight, her back view elegant and gentle.

Ning Ke turned and went back to her room.

Next time, she would tell Yan Yunzhi: she did not like people coming to the house. If she had business, talk outside—office, café, park, anywhere—just do not bring it home.

Sister Lu knocked on the door: “Miss Ning, come down for dinner!”

She had been busy in the kitchen and had not noticed Ning Ke coming home. Nor did she understand why she had gone straight upstairs. However much she was watching her figure, she could not skip dinner!

Ning Ke knew Sister Lu had made many dishes.

On the way back, she had sent photos on WeChat, asking one by one which dishes she liked. Ning Ke, at her wit’s end, had picked a few.

After changing into loungewear, Ning Ke opened the door: “Coming.”

Sister Lu smiled at her: “That’s right. Go on down—Azhi is waiting for you. She hasn’t eaten either.”

“Why didn’t Lawyer Lu stay for dinner?”

“Him? He came to discuss work matters with Azhi. He never mentioned dinner.”

As Ning Ke reached the living room, Yan Yunzhi walked in from outside. Ning Ke sat down without greeting her.

Yan Yunzhi pulled out a chair and sat across from her: “What’s wrong? Did work go well?”

Ning Ke gave three words: “It was fine.”

Sister Lu blinked, sensing the strange tension between them. Did they fight?

Why else would Miss Ning not talk to Azhi the moment she returned?

Ning Ke might as well have “I don’t want to talk” carved on her face, her expression cold.

Yan Yunzhi did not ask again.

Neither of them spoke, and the living room was so quiet that Sister Lu’s muttering in the kitchen was clearly audible: “Oh dear! Where did my vinegar go? Where’s this sour smell coming from?”

Ning Ke bit her chopsticks and immediately turned to look at her.

Sister Lu was startled by her look: “What’s the matter?”

That look—as if Sister Lu had exposed some shameful secret of hers and was about to be silenced.

She had just accidentally knocked over a bottle of vinegar!

Ning Ke saw the vinegar bottle in her hand, and her expression shifted. She lowered her head and continued eating.

Yan Yunzhi observed her expression and said gently: “Yanshi came over today to discuss work with me. His office is being renovated, and I don’t like going out, so I asked him to drop by if he was passing through.”

Ning Ke: “Oh.”

Still that indifferent attitude.

Yan Yunzhi continued: “But on reflection, I think I should arrange to meet outside from now on. It’s better not to invite outsiders home—even familiar friends.”

Ning Ke’s lips relaxed a little; her expression was no longer so tense: “It’s fine. I don’t mind… do as you like.”

Yan Yunzhi’s lips curved: “I know you don’t mind. But this is our home, and I didn’t mention it to you in advance. I’m sorry. I’ll respect your opinion more in the future.”

Ning Ke was embarrassed by her solemn tone, her ears growing warm: “Why apologize? I said it’s fine.”

She put down her utensils: “I’m full. Eat slowly.”

Her figure left hurriedly, but it was clearly livelier than before.

Yan Yunzhi watched her back, smiling deeply.

“What a shame about my bottle of vinegar—more than half spilled,” Sister Lu came out holding the bottle. “Miss Ning is done eating? Azhi, what are you smiling about?”

Yan Yunzhi stood up and patted her shoulder: “Sister Lu, starting this month, you’re getting a raise.”

Sister Lu was a bit embarrassed: “Didn’t you just raise it at the start of the year? Raising it again… is that okay?”

Yan Yunzhi smiled: “It’s fine. Three thousand more a month.”

Sister Lu: “!”

That worked!

On the morning of the ninth day of the new year, Ning Ke caught up on sleep at home.

After lunch, she rushed out again—there had been a change in plans. She had a screen test today.

The role had originally been scheduled for tomorrow morning, but the director had other arrangements and changed it suddenly.

It was rare to come across a proper drama script. Ning Ke cherished the opportunity. She had already familiarized herself with the script and role, and she was determined to land it.

The script was called Without Her.

It was a Republican-era drama. The female second lead Ning Ke was auditioning for was named Shen Guhong—a ruthless female police officer, a spy. She had killed many people, done many bad things. She stopped at nothing, had no moral limits—a complete madwoman.

In the end, she completed her undercover mission and died.

Her epitaph read: “A life that doesn’t chase the light isn’t worth living.”

The scene Ning Ke was testing today was the moment Shen Guhong killed her own comrade to complete a mission.

The director was Director Zhang, who had worked with her before on a public service VCR. He nodded at her: “Make it quick.”

Ning Ke: “I can start anytime.”

Time was tight, so she did not change clothes and went straight in.

It was a small world. The supporting male actor was none other than Chen Xian, who shared a manager with Tang Xi. Ning Ke had been attacked by his fans plenty of times.

Chen Xian frowned when he saw her, but Ning Ke had entered character the moment she stepped in. She only looked at him indifferently—that was not her gaze, it was Shen Guhong’s: looking down at him like an ant.

Chen Xian was angered by her gaze, but since it was an audition, he suppressed his rage and tried to adopt a provocative pose fitting the character, though pain hid in his eyes: “Kill me, then, you heartless scum, a lackey serving corrupt officials! Pah!”

Ning Ke remained expressionless, but the instant he said “pah,” she whipped a gun from behind her waist, raised her right leg, and planted her black boot firmly on Chen Xian’s chest, saying leisurely: “Curse some more.”

Chen Xian was stunned.

For a moment, he could hardly tell whether that gaze belonged to Shen Guhong or to Ning Ke herself.

Ning Ke tilted her head, looking at him with indifference.

Observing his anger, his shock, his scrutiny.

Chen Xian regained his composure and tried to find his emotional state again.

But Ning Ke did not give him time.

Her expression was cold, her gaze sweeping by, except for a trace of moisture glimmering at the corner of her eye.

Bang. She pulled the trigger!

“Cut!”

Director Zhang walked over and said to Ning Ke: “Not bad. The role is yours.”

Ning Ke only then emerged from the character’s emotional state, blinking before smiling: “Thank you, Director Zhang!”

Director Zhang smiled at her, then turned to Chen Xian with a disgusted look: “You can go. Go home and practice your acting some more.”

Chen Xian’s face was ashen: “Director Zhang, can you give me another chance? I wasn’t in the right state just now. Director Zhang…”

Director Zhang had a short temper. He waved his hand: “Next!”

Chen Xian clenched his teeth, shot Ning Ke a gloomy look, snorted coldly, and walked out.

Ning Ke paid him no mind. As long as she got the role, nothing else mattered.

After that audition scene, the back of her clothes was soaked with sweat. When she went outside, the north wind hit her, making her shiver.

Having secured the role she wanted, Ning Ke was in the best mood possible and treated the staff to hotpot.

On the way back, Ning Ke listened to music, replaying the audition scene in her head.

An Yu was managing her Weibo when she received many @mentions. Clicking in, it was Chen Xian’s fans @-ing Ning Ke with insults.

“That pretty face again? Can’t survive without clinging to people?”

“Stay away from my brother! Trash!”

“Get lost, get lost, get lost!”

Ning Ke took An Yu’s phone and clicked in for a look. His staff had probably stirred the pot, getting his fans to imagine a scene where their brother had been pestered by her again after an “accidental” encounter at the set. Sure enough, touching this sticky candy brought nothing good.

Xu Jian called quickly: “Keke, you’re on a negative trending topic, promoted to one of the top spots. No need to guess—Tang Xi’s manager bought it. It’s revenge with one stone hitting two birds.”

Under the trending topic, the two fanbases were fighting.

Ning Ke’s fans were furious—they had not worked together in ages, and he was forcibly tying himself to her again.

“Trash is clinging again? Hehe, do you have no idea how long it’s been since we worked with your ugly brother?”

“Struggling lately, huh? You gotta leech off others?”

“Get lost, get lost. Who wants to ship such an ugly pairing? Our Kezhi CP is a thousand times better!”

The third comment quickly went viral.

Ning Ke’s solo fans had mixed feelings. As hardcore solo fans, they hated CP fans most. But at this moment, they had to admit… shipping a beautiful woman with another beautiful woman was far better than shipping a beautiful woman with an ugly man!

But the public opinion was not under control.

The other side was premeditated—they had bought plenty of paid trolls in advance. Combined with so-called passersby leaking photos of the afternoon audition, the topic circled back to the usual dirt: sleeping around, affairs, cheating.

Xu Jian was anxious: “We can’t handle it right now. Someone paid a lot of money for it.”

Ning Ke: “It’s fine. Let it sit for now. It’s not new material anyway.”

Xu Jian: “I’ll keep watching. I’ll notify you the moment anything changes.”

Ning Ke: “Thanks, Brother Jian.”

With Xu Jian watching over it, Ning Ke did not take it too seriously for now.

Usually she would be angry, but today there was something good to celebrate, and she did not want to ruin her mood.

When she arrived home, Yan Yunzhi was on the phone by the window. Ning Ke changed her shoes at the entrance and overheard her lower her voice: “Handle it today.”

Yan Yunzhi turned and saw her, then hung up.

Ning Ke asked: “Am I interrupting you?”

Yan Yunzhi: “No. How did the audition go this afternoon?”

Ning Ke’s eyes curved. She raised a hand, crossing two fingers: “Nailed it.”

The way she smiled was rarely this charming and radiant—she was clearly in high spirits. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging.

Yan Yunzhi: “Not surprising. Your acting has always been underestimated.”

Ning Ke had to admit the words were gratifying. She smiled at her: “I went out for hotpot. Going up now.”

Back in her room, she flopped heavily onto the bed.

Then she realized her mistake—she had overeaten tonight, and now she was stuffed.

Ning Ke was always strict about her figure. She never lay down when she was full. Not in the mood to exercise today, she decided to go downstairs for a walk.

Downstairs, Ning Ke saw Yan Yunzhi sitting on the living room sofa. She asked: “Why are you here?”

Yan Yunzhi pointed at her still-dripping hair, then at the hair dryer beside her: “The one in my room broke. So I came down. You?”

Ning Ke, for once, spoke pleasantly: “The hotpot was good and I ate too much. Came down to digest.”

“Are you free?” Yan Yunzhi tilted her head to look at her. “My hand hurts a little. Could you dry my hair for me?”

Ning Ke immediately thought of what Sister Lu had said on the phone—Yan Yunzhi had cut her hand.

But she had no standing to ask about it, so she did not.

“Ask Sister Lu to do it,” Ning Ke instinctively refused, then paused before asking: “What happened to your hand?”

Yan Yunzhi was not surprised by her refusal: “A couple of days ago, I was trimming flowers and accidentally cut my left hand with scissors.”

Ning Ke: “Let me see.”

Yan Yunzhi said okay and readily raised her hand, placing it on her knee, palm up. Below the web of her left thumb, there was a not-quite-shallow wound, quite long, with a dark red scab.

Ning Ke did not touch her hand. Instead, she bent down, leaning close to examine the wound with focused, cautious attention.

…It must hurt a lot, right?

Yan Yunzhi saw her posture, her smile like a spring breeze passing by, her eyes soft and warm.

Ning Ke soon noticed she was watching, eyes smiling gently—at what, she did not know.

She sat up straight and glanced back at Yan Yunzhi.

Still smiling?

A grown woman, and she had cut herself with scissors.

Clumsy.