Chapter 28: Irony Part 2

Jiang Qin’s hands trembled at her sides. She gripped the bedsheet tightly, her head growing dizzy again. Zhang Zhilan noticed the change in her face. “Dizzy again?”

She thought it was low blood sugar again, but they hadn’t moved much.

Jiang Qin swallowed her painful breath. “Zhilan, I want some water.”

“I’ll get it.” Zhang Zhilan quickly grabbed a disposable paper cup from the bedside table and rushed to the water station. Jiang Qin watched her bustling figure return with the cup, lean in close, and hold the warm water to her lips.

If the person Ruoning liked had parents like this…

She might be able to accept it.

“It’s hot—drink slowly.” Zhang Zhilan said.

Jiang Qin took a small sip, like swallowing a calming pill. Her color visibly improved, regaining some flush. After finishing the cup, she said, “Thanks, I feel much better.”

“Do you live alone usually?” Zhang Zhilan frowned. “What if you faint suddenly?”

Jiang Qin said, “My daughter installed cameras at home before, saying she was worried I’d faint.”

Zhang Zhilan nodded. “You need someone around.”

Jiang Qin said, “It’s gotten better these past two years. I had her take them down—felt weird having them in the house.”

Zhang Zhilan laughed. “I wouldn’t like it either.”

As they finished chatting, noise came from outside. Zhang Zhilan’s friend had arrived to visit Jiang Qin and take her home.

Jiang Ruoning didn’t see Jiang Qin’s update until she finished shooting the final set. She felt slightly relieved. Because of her own delay, the work had run long, so Jiang Ruoning bought afternoon tea and little cakes for everyone. They had all just said verbally that it was no big deal, but when they saw the cakes and tea, their happiness was visibly obvious.

Zhao Miaomiao also grabbed a little cake and offered it to Jiang Ruoning. Jiang Ruoning waved it off and picked up a cup of iced tea from the table, taking a sip. She saw Wu Jie approach and heard her say, “We’ll reshoot a few shots for the last set.”

Jiang Ruoning hummed in acknowledgment.

Wu Jie asked her, “How’s your mom doing?”

“On the road,” Jiang Ruoning said. “She and her friend ended early and are heading back.”

Wu Jie nodded. “What time will she get to Shangjing?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Around nine-thirty or ten.”

Wu Jie said, “Then…”

Jiang Ruoning saw her hesitate and took another sip of iced tea. “What’s up?”

Wu Jie said, “Director Li just called me. She wants to set up a dinner. She knows you’re just wrapping up here.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded. If she had to rush to Jiang Qin’s side, Wu Jie would definitely help turn it down politely. But now that her mom was heading home on her own, Jiang Ruoning said, “Let’s go then.”

Wu Jie patted her shoulder. “You’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Ruoning knew Wu Jie was pushing hard for the Fengshang endorsement deal. She had no reason to hold things back, especially since Jiang Qin’s situation wasn’t serious anymore. After finishing all the shots, Jiang Ruoning called Jiang Qin. Jiang Qin said she was in the car, chatting with her friend, and told her not to worry. Jiang Ruoning hung up and asked Wu Jie, “Should we go back to change clothes?”

Wu Jie said, “Either way works. The hotel’s right near your place anyway.”

Her place?

Jiang Ruoning asked, “Which hotel?”

Wu Jie said, “Tianyue.”

Tianyue was right near Jiang Ruoning’s neighborhood, just two streets over. It wasn’t as upscale as Liming, but before Liming came along, Tianyue had been quite famous. Its food and drinks were legendary, and many dishes were still internet-famous check-in spots. Jiang Ruoning had gone there alone a few times herself—she loved their sauced duck and always ordered it.

Zhao Miaomiao leaned in and asked Jiang Ruoning, “Ning-jie, are you heading home?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Yeah, to change clothes.”

It was conveniently nearby.

Zhao Miaomiao volunteered, “Then I’ll drive you.”

Wu Jie said, “I’ll head to the hotel first.”

The three split up. Jiang Ruoning and Zhao Miaomiao drove back to the neighborhood. Once in the car, Jiang Ruoning fiddled with her phone and saw the photo Jiang Qin had sent her—a streetlamp flashing past the car window, a streak of light.

Jiang Ruoning gazed out the car window, lost in thought, she didn’t know what about. She only snapped back when they passed Tianyue Hotel.

Tianyue Hotel’s third floor held the restaurant and private rooms, the first and second floors were for entertainment, and everything above the fourth was guest rooms. Shi Sui had scheduled Du Youran for eight-thirty. She sat in the car and heard Jiang Nuan say, “It’s eight-thirty. Aren’t we going in yet?”

Shi Sui glanced at her watch. “Wait five more minutes.”

Jiang Nuan didn’t know who she was waiting for until, five minutes later, a familiar face walked into Tianyue Hotel. Jiang Nuan was surprised. “Lin Wei?”

She looked at Shi Sui. “What’s she doing here?”

She wasn’t here to cause trouble, was she?

Shi Sui said, “She’s here to talk business with Wu Mao today.”

Jiang Nuan knew a bit about it. Lin Wei had unusually dropped her pursuit of Shi Sui and Ying Jinan, turning instead to collaborate with Wu Mao Studio. It didn’t fit her usual style, so Jiang Nuan had suspected some trick and stayed on guard. But Lin Wei seemed to have genuinely given up, and for a moment, Jiang Nuan wondered if she’d turned over a new leaf.

She hadn’t expected to run into her today.

Jiang Nuan worried, “What a coincidence. What if we bump into Ai Wen and the others?”

Shi Sui’s expression didn’t change. Her gaze stayed fixed on the entrance. Jiang Nuan glanced at her face and suddenly understood. “You planned this?”

She’d deliberately chosen this place.

She wasn’t worried about them running into each other.

She was worried they wouldn’t.

Jiang Nuan asked Shi Sui, “You don’t like Ai Wen?”

Shi Sui finally acknowledged her. “I don’t like any of them.”

Jiang Nuan got it. Her phone vibrated.

Ai Wen stood in the hallway, calling Jiang Nuan. It was past the agreed eight-thirty, and they still hadn’t shown. They were the invited guests, yet here they were, sitting awkwardly. Ai Wen’s expression wasn’t great. Luckily, the usually impatient Du Youran hadn’t lost her temper this time, or Ai Wen’s head would explode.

While Du Youran was in the bathroom, Ai Wen hurriedly called Jiang Nuan.

As soon as it connected, her tone was ingratiating. “Assistant Jiang, have you arrived?”

Jiang Nuan said, “Yes, yes, sorry about that. We just got stuck at the door because of a car accident—traffic jam held us up a bit.”

Her tone was so sincere that Ai Wen couldn’t find fault. She even reassured her. “No rush, no rush. Take your time, you and President Shi.”

She hung up, her lips twitching.

She used to pull this exact excuse on others. Back when she managed Jiang Ruoning, she’d been on top of the world—flattered everywhere she went, leveraging her good relationship with Ye Yu. Plenty of people gave face. To cozy up to Ye Yu, she’d even started rumors, leaking intimate details herself.

She’d entered this circle to get famous.

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with her methods.

Jiang Ruoning, on the other hand, had been so high and mighty. God forbid Ai Wen disturb Ye Yu again—she’d even argued with her once and canceled the backup dance for Ye Yu.

Truly ungrateful.

So many people were dying to work with Ye Yu, yet she’d thrown away her own chance. Ai Wen rolled her eyes thinking about Jiang Ruoning when she heard someone call from behind, “Ai Wen?”

The voice was familiar—too familiar. Ai Wen’s body stiffened.

She turned slowly.

Sure enough, it was Lin Wei. Ai Wen gripped her phone tightly, stunned for a second before greeting her. “President Lin, what brings you here?”

Lin Wei found the question odd but just smiled. “Dinner.”

Ai Wen said, “Us too.” She added awkwardly, “Dinner with friends.”

Dinner with friends, and they picked here?

Lin Wei didn’t call her out. She nodded. “See you around then.”

Ai Wen breathed a sigh of relief. “See you.”

She returned to the private room just as Du Youran came back and quickly pulled her to sit. “I just ran into Lin Wei.”

Du Youran frowned. “What’s she doing here?”

Ai Wen said, “No idea. Said it’s for dinner.”

Du Youran glanced at the door. “She didn’t suspect anything?”

Ai Wen shook her head. “Shouldn’t have. I said we were dining with friends.”

But her tense, unnatural expression had already given her away. After parting from Ai Wen, Lin Wei had her assistant check who was in Ai Wen’s private room. Ai Wen had no idea. She sat in the room, repeatedly glancing outside.

Shi Sui and Jiang Nuan waited five more minutes before getting out of the car. At the entrance, Shi Sui heard someone call her. “President Shi?”

She turned and saw Wu Jinsheng, surprisingly.

Jiang Ruoning’s manager.

Wu Jinsheng was also surprised to see Shi Sui. She was standing at the entrance waiting for Jiang Ruoning. From afar, she’d seen someone step out of a car. It was too far, and the parking spot wasn’t well-lit, so she’d only caught a tall figure about Jiang Ruoning’s height. She’d thought it was her and taken a couple steps closer before recognizing her.

“President Shi, what a coincidence,” Wu Jinsheng said. “Here for dinner too?”

Shi Sui’s surprise didn’t seem feigned, though she quickly regained her composure. She glanced behind Wu Jinsheng but didn’t see Jiang Ruoning. Her emotions shifted—whether to relief or tension, she couldn’t say. Then Wu Jinsheng suddenly grinned and called behind her, “Ningning!”

Jiang Ruoning, afraid of being late, had rushed home to change and hurried over with Zhao Miaomiao. She got out of the car at the hotel entrance but couldn’t find her phone at first. She rummaged in her bag while following Zhao Miaomiao’s steps forward. When she heard Wu Jie call her name, she finally spotted her phone in a side pocket. She sighed in relief, smiled, and prepared to greet Wu Jie. But as she looked up, she saw the back of Shi Sui’s head.

When had she become so familiar with Shi Sui?

Just a glimpse of the back of her head, her silhouette—she knew exactly who it was.

Wu Jinsheng saw she hadn’t moved and stepped forward, pulling Jiang Ruoning right in front of Shi Sui. She said to Jiang Ruoning, “This is the general agent for Less, President Shi.”

Then she smiled at Shi Sui. “This is Ruoning. President Shi, you must know her.”

Shi Sui lowered her eyes.

Jiang Ruoning had changed into a light blue elbow-length midi dress and white sneakers. Her hair was tied to the side, draping over her right shoulder, giving her a gentle, elegant air. Shi Sui extended her hand proactively and said softly to Jiang Ruoning, “Hello.”

Jiang Ruoning stared at Shi Sui’s outstretched hand—distinct knuckles, long, slender fingers. Just the past two nights, that hand had intertwined tightly with hers.

Her face darkened. Wu Jie nudged her arm. Jiang Ruoning glanced at Wu Jie, who gestured for her to shake quickly, her expression full of anticipation and hope. Jiang Ruoning clenched the hand at her side, then took Shi Sui’s. She said, “Hello.”

Hello?

What was so hello about it?

How ironic.