OMG!!
It was over!
Why wouldn’t her finger listen to her? Jiang Ruoning sat in the car, tossed her phone aside, and slapped her left hand with her right. She hit hard, and the back of her hand instantly turned red.
So embarrassing.
More embarrassing than borrowing a sanitary pad in the bathroom.
But she didn’t even know what she was embarrassed about. She just felt that picking up her phone right now would be utterly shameful.
Jiang Ruoning squinted, groped for her phone, and peeked through a slit in her eyelids. On the screen was a new message from Shi Sui: [What’s wrong?]
What was she supposed to say?
That she accidentally tapped it?
So fake!
But she had no better excuse.
Jiang Ruoning bit her lip, held her phone, and glanced at herself in the rearview mirror with her peripheral vision.
Her face was way too red.
Jiang Ruoning touched her cheek and found it burning hot.
Why was she so shy?
Her mom hadn’t even agreed to her dating yet.
Jiang Ruoning felt as if a basin of cold water had been dumped over her. Cool air blew from the AC vent, and she—and her heart—calmed down completely.
Shi Sui stared at that pat message in silence.
In the past, whenever Jiang Ruoning had nothing to do, she loved poking her—on QQ, on WeChat. Several times when they were upset with each other and neither spoke up, in the dead of night, her phone would vibrate. She’d open it to see Jiang Ruoning poking her avatar.
She had asked Jiang Ruoning back then, “Why poke my avatar?”
Jiang Ruoning had gritted her teeth: “Because you’re pissing me off!”
She’d acted cute: “Then hit me.”
Jiang Ruoning had laughed in exasperation: “Fine, I’ll hit you!”
The next day, she waited at the school gate and offered her face. Jiang Ruoning’s hand had brushed lightly over her cheek, bringing a faint fragrance.
Shi Sui watched as her message sank without a trace. She couldn’t help but make a call.
Jiang Ruoning was waiting at a red light when she saw the caller ID. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. It was just the second time this number had called, yet she was so sensitive. Jiang Ruoning racked her brain for the right words as the car’s Bluetooth rang insistently. In the end, she couldn’t hold back and answered.
A warm, smooth voice came through immediately: “Hello.”
She wondered what it would feel like if she called her name in that voice.
It had to sound amazing.
Back at the airport, she’d thought it was a voice actor.
Shi Sui waited half a moment with no response and prompted, “Jiang Ruoning?”
She said it!
It really did sound good.
The voice wasn’t cold and crisp, but it was clear and extremely pleasant. Jiang Ruoning savored it before coughing. Luckily, no one was in the car to see her cheeks slowly flushing red again. Shi Sui heard her voice and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Jiang Ruoning said, “I just opened the window and got choked by the wind.”
She wasn’t good at lying.
But with no one around, who would notice?
Jiang Ruoning slowly let out a breath of relief.
Shi Sui asked, “Are you driving?”
Jiang Ruoning: “Yeah, waiting at a red light.”
Shi Sui sat on the sofa, tilting her head to look at the chandelier overhead. She’d picked this style herself. The house had come fully furnished, but later they’d replaced everything except the fixtures. Jiang Ruoning hadn’t liked the curtain colors or the thick leather sofa—it felt cold lying on it—so they’d switched to fabric.
Very durable.
Now, lying on it felt the same as before.
It gave her an instant illusion.
As if they were still the same as before. She almost blurted out, Ningning.
Shi Sui bit the tip of her tongue.
The sharp pain jolted her awake.
Shi Sui’s tone was faint: “Which red light?”
Jiang Ruoning didn’t suspect anything and glanced beside her: “Around Central Road.”
Shi Sui said, “Central Road, that four-way intersection?”
Jiang Ruoning laughed out loud: “How did you know?”
Shi Sui said, “I still remember there’s a barbecue place there.”
“Xiao Yun BBQ?” Jiang Ruoning asked. “Is that the one?”
Shi Sui paused: “Yeah, that’s it.”
“I’ve been there with friends,” Jiang Ruoning said. “Didn’t expect you’d gone too.”
Shi Sui said, “I used to go a lot when I was in school.”
With Jiang Ruoning, Qin Zheng, and Yun An. They’d call it Xiao Yun BBQ, and whenever they sat in the shop, they’d tease Yun An: “Is this your barbecue joint?”
Yun An would just look at them without complaint.
Later, they got familiar with the boss lady, and every time they went, she’d comp them drinks—a bottle of iced cola. Jiang Ruoning drank fast and would always eye hers eagerly. Except during her period, Shi Sui would hand her own drink over.
Jiang Ruoning said, “By yourself?”
Shi Sui’s voice came haltingly: “With… friends.”
Jiang Ruoning: “The food there is good. How about I treat you there the day after tomorrow?” She pursed her lips after saying it: “If you don’t mind.”
Shi Sui said, “Of course I don’t mind.”
“Okay, I—” Jiang Ruoning had originally wanted to say she’d bring a friend too, but realized this was their first proper meal out together. Bringing someone else might not be great, even if she was treating. What if Shi Sui felt uncomfortable?
This person might not have that initial strong impression anymore, but she didn’t want to risk any awkwardness.
Shi Sui’s voice was warm: “What?”
Her tone was even, giving no hint of emotion.
Jiang Ruoning: “Nothing, I just wanted to ask what you like to eat.”
Shi Sui said, “I’m not picky.”
As soon as she said it, she remembered traveling with Jiang Ruoning. Jiang Ruoning wanted to try everything, but couldn’t finish, so they’d share. They hadn’t been together long then. When Jiang Ruoning leaned close to eat, her ear tips were red. She’d often make small talk: “Is it good?” “I want to try that too.” “Do you want some?”
“I’m not picky,” she’d replied back then.
After breaking up all these years, she’d realized she was picky after all.
Picky for the foods Jiang Ruoning loved.
Shi Sui closed her eyes.
Jiang Ruoning teased, “You’re that easy to please?”
Shi Sui said, “Yeah, I’m easy. Even instant noodles would do.”
Jiang Ruoning immediately objected: “Instant noodles don’t count. No nutrition.”
Shi Sui lowered her gaze: “Okay, I’ll listen to you. No more next time.”
Listen to her? No more next time?
Wasn’t that too intimate?
Jiang Ruoning’s face heated up. She made an excuse: “I’m driving, gonna hang up.”
Shi Sui said, “Okay.” Right before disconnecting, she added, “Drive safe.”
Jiang Ruoning touched her earlobe, feeling it tingle.
It wasn’t even whispered in her ear—why tingle?
So useless, too useless. The first twenty-something years of her life wasted. She’d dated before, so how could a simple well-wish make her fall for her own imagination? Good thing no one saw her like this—it’d be mortifying!
Jiang Ruoning suppressed her upturned lips, her mood soaring. Before, during her period, these were her worst days—work disrupted, body uncomfortable. After shoots, she’d just want to lie on her bed or sofa at home.
For the first time, during this time, she felt like going clubbing.
Jiang Ruoning’s body swayed lightly with the in-car music, her fingers tapping the steering wheel rhythmically. As soon as the car entered the garage, she got a message from her assistant Zhao Miaomiao: [Ning-jie, you home yet?]
Jiang Ruoning locked the car, slung her bag over her wrist, held her phone in one hand, and replied: [Just got home. What’s up?]
Zhao Miaomiao: [Wu-jie just called me to pick you up tomorrow.]
Jiang Ruoning: [Got it.]
Tomorrow night, dinner with Fengshang’s rep.
After sending the message, she noticed Zhao Miaomiao’s side showing “typing…” but no new message came even after she reached her door. Jiang Ruoning couldn’t resist: [Anything else?]
Zhao Miaomiao replied instantly: [No.]
Jiang Ruoning had cultivated patience since entering the industry—plenty of it. She could outlast Zhao Miaomiao. Sure enough, another message came: [Just that you’re trending online again.]
Jiang Ruoning: [With who this time?]
Zhao Miaomiao: [Miss Ye.]
Jiang Ruoning: [Ye Yu?]
Zhao Miaomiao: [Yeah, pics from abroad.]
These paparazzi were so dedicated, chasing shots overseas. Ye Yu had been doing a concert tour abroad. Jiang Ruoning had a show last week nearby, and Ye Yu had asked her to bring some documents back for Zhou Man, so they’d met up. No dinner even, and still got photographed.
Did they plant a camera on her?
Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips.
Zhao Miaomiao fumed: [Definitely Ai Wen and them!]
No need to guess. Tomorrow’s dinner with Fengshang’s rep—if it went well, she might collaborate with the brand. Her old company and Ai Wen feared that most. Rumor was, the newbie Ai Wen managed had tried dining with Fengshang recently but got politely turned down—no meeting even.
Dropping scandals at key moments to hike signing risks was their old company’s MO.
Jiang Ruoning gripped her phone, her good mood evaporating.
Zhao Miaomiao comforted her: [Ning-jie, don’t worry too much. Wu-jie’s already suppressing it.]
Jiang Ruoning sent a smiley, exited the chat, and logged into Weibo on her alt. Two trends still up—who knew how much Ai Wen spent. They had black fans, CP fans, solo fans scrapping, but eighty percent were Ye Yu’s fans. Hers survived in the crossfire.
Amid the heated barrage, her fans timidly professed: [Ningning’s outfit looks great.] [Ningning’s figure is amazing!!]
Jiang Ruoning rubbed her forehead.
How were her fans this cute?
Jiang Ruoning was about to like a fan comment from her alt when a WeChat notification popped at the top: Shi Sui asking, [Home yet?]
Her hand jerked, nearly liking a black fan’s post.
She exhaled, waited two prim minutes, then replied: [Just got home.]
Shi Sui: [Time to rest?]
Jiang Ruoning: [Not yet.]
She flopped on the sofa, legs kicked up, toes tracing arcs in the air. Jiang Ruoning pouted and sent: [Bad mood.]
As soon as it sent, she withdrew it.
Why treat Shi Sui like Qin Zheng?
Spilling everything.
She withdrew fast, but Shi Sui had seen it. Shi Sui tilted her head; the webpage on her computer was what Jiang Nuan had just sent—Jiang Ruoning and Ye Yu’s scandal. Jiang Nuan had questioned, “You think there’s really something between them?”
She’d sat at the computer a long time before messaging Jiang Ruoning.
And saw her unhappiness.
Even though she withdrew.
Shi Sui pretended nothing happened: [What’d you withdraw?]
Jiang Ruoning: [Nothing, going to shower.]
She set her phone down, dragged herself off the sofa, then wilted back. After lying there a while, she finally got up, grabbed pajamas from her room, showered, blow-dried her hair. Over an hour later, she emerged to two missed calls from her agent.
Jiang Ruoning’s heart skipped. Instinct said the Fengshang meeting tomorrow was in trouble.
But surprisingly, the agent called not about dinner, but: “I’ve handled the online stuff.”
Jiang Ruoning: “That fast?”
Not that she was a huge star whose news was hard to bury—mainly Ye Yu.
Fanbases weren’t the same scale. Any tie to Ye Yu before took two or three days to die down. Ai Wen must’ve timed it on Ye Yu’s clout, right at this juncture.
The agent was puzzled too: “While I was suppressing, someone else was helping.”
Jiang Ruoning: “Who?”
Agent: “Maybe Ye Yu?”
Jiang Ruoning wasn’t sure: “Possibly.”
Agent: “Anyway, don’t worry. Rest well tonight.”
Jiang Ruoning relaxed, melting into the sofa. Half-lidded at the agent’s words: “Got it, Wu-jie.”
After hanging up, she set her phone on the coffee table. The sofa bed she’d bought unfolded into a full bed—1.2 meters wide even closed, perfect for lounging. She spent sixty percent of her home time on it.
More comfy than her actual bed.
Jiang Ruoning rolled over, grabbed the phone again, opened a webpage—closed it. Opened Weibo—closed. Short videos—closed. Back and forth.
Finally, WeChat.
Her gaze lingered on Shi Sui’s avatar, finger hovering.
A long moment.
Exit!
Close!
