Chapter 27

Jiang Zhaolie and Qin Yao were originally scheduled to return ten days later, but something unexpected came up at the company, so the two of them booked the fastest afternoon flight back on the spot. On the way back to the office, Jiang Zhaolie missed Yu Sui'an so badly that she used the excuse of “I left something at Yu Sui'an's place and forgot to bring it back,” and successfully talked the driver into turning the car around to head to the film studio.

Jiang Zhaolie's excuses were as clumsy as ever, but Qin Yao didn't call her out on it.

Not only did she not call her out; the moment Jiang Zhaolie got out of the car, Qin Yao opened her door and stepped out alongside her. Qin Yao offered no explanation for why she was following, but Jiang Zhaolie filled in the blanks herself: Qin Yao must be unhappy about her contact with Yu Sui'an, so she wanted to keep an eye on her and make sure she didn't spend too long with Yu Sui'an.

So the two of them walked into the hotel where the crew was staying, one after the other, then side by side.

Jiang Zhaolie asked for Yu Sui'an's room number and knocked for ages with no answer, so she had no choice but to try her luck at Xu Chun's place to see if Yu Sui'an was discussing the script with Xu Chun. Who would have guessed Yu Sui'an really was at Xu Chun's?

But… after Jiang Zhaolie walked closer, she noticed the snow-white bathrobe Xu Chun was wearing, then noticed Jiang Banxia standing with her arms crossed and no expression, and finally turned her hesitant gaze to Yu Sui'an. “What are you all… doing, discussing the script?”

Not in their rooms, but standing brazenly at the door in a group of three, as if afraid nobody would notice.

Xu Chun's gaze flicked to Qin Yao, then she shrank back and snapped at Jiang Zhaolie, “What are you doing here?” Her own situation was already a mess; she hadn't even sorted out that side of things and now she had to deal with this side too. Just thinking about it made Xu Chun feel utterly exhausted.

“I'm looking for Suisui.” Jiang Zhaolie didn't seem bothered by Xu Chun's unwelcoming attitude; after all, Xu Chun had never given her a kind look. Jiang Zhaolie walked toward Yu Sui'an. “Suisui, do you have time now?”

She stared at her expectantly, but the other woman didn't look as delighted and welcoming as she had imagined. Instead, her brow furrowed slightly, as if displeased that Jiang Zhaolie had shown up without warning and disrupted her plans and schedule. “I'm discussing the plot with Sister right now.”

Yu Sui'an spoke honestly, her tone flat and even, not a hint of joy in it.

Jiang Zhaolie's heart, full of hope, plummeted straight into an ice cellar. A chill rose from her hands and feet, freezing her whole body. Jiang Zhaolie felt at a loss, unable to understand what she had done wrong this time to upset her.

While she was busy reflecting, Xu Chun unceremoniously showed her the door. Turning her gaze to Yu Sui'an, she said neither too fast nor too slow, “Since you have other things to do, we'll talk about the script tomorrow.”

Xu Chun wished Jiang Zhaolie would just take Yu Sui'an and leave so she could seize the time to cultivate her relationship with Qin Yao. But Yu Sui'an had the nerve to look conflicted. “But…” she said quietly, “I have to start filming this scene at five tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Banxia couldn't stand Yu Sui'an's pitiful act the most. She eyed her coldly from the corner of her eye. “Why didn't you come ask me? I happen to have time; I can explain it to you.”

“Banxia.” Jiang Zhaolie couldn't help calling out to her, somewhat displeased. “What do you know about it? You've never acted or taken any acting classes.”

Jiang Banxia raised her eyelids. “Then let them stay, and let Xu Chun teach her how to act with total dedication and meticulous care.”

How could that be allowed? Jiang Zhaolie instinctively wanted to refuse, but only Xu Chun could help Yu Sui'an right now. Jiang Zhaolie thought for a moment. “When she teaches Suisui, we can just watch from the side.”

Xu Chun: “???”

She wanted to kick Jiang Zhaolie flying on the spot.

Xu Chun stared at Jiang Zhaolie expressionlessly for a moment, then pushed off from the doorframe she'd been leaning against, paused, and finally fluttered like a butterfly—“swoosh”—straight into Qin Yao. “Sister, look at her! Is there any such thing as being so shameless as to force your way into someone's home?!”

“And I'm still in my pajamas, I haven't even tidied up!” Xu Chun openly badmouthed Jiang Zhaolie. “My room isn't even cleaned up, clothes and pants are thrown all over the floor, and there are some script contents that can't be leaked, all left in plain sight without any precaution…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Zhaolie already felt Qin Yao's sharp gaze turn toward her, full of piercing scrutiny. Jiang Zhaolie was inexplicably speechless. Mom, why are you taking Xu Chun's side again? Aren't I your own daughter?

An indescribable discomfort welled up in Jiang Zhaolie's heart. Qin Yao's voice cut through her thoughts, flat and composed: “Hurry up and get your things and go.” She glanced down at the watch on her wrist. “You have five minutes.”

Qin Yao's time limit was tight. Jiang Zhaolie started to panic; she no longer cared about Yu Sui'an's thoughts or opinions. She grabbed her wrist and headed for Yu Sui'an's own room. “Suisui, I have something to say to you.”

After Yu Sui'an struggled briefly without breaking free, she forced the gift box in her arms into Xu Chun's hands. “Sister, keep these pastries. If you don't accept them, I'll be very sad.”

With that, regardless of whether Xu Chun was willing, she tossed the thing into her arms and stopped caring. Jiang Banxia's cold gaze fell on the gift box in her arms once more, looking very much as if—were such behavior not impolite—she would snatch it on the spot and throw what Yu Sui'an had given into the trash right then and there.

Xu Chun held the gift box feeling as if she were holding two scalding hot potatoes. She couldn't accept it and she couldn't throw it away. In the end, even after Yu Sui'an was led away by Jiang Zhaolie, she still hadn't decided how to deal with the thing.

But Qin Yao rarely showed her face, and Xu Chun suddenly remembered her own plans. She hurriedly invited her warmly. “Sister, come sit in my room and rest for a bit first.” Then she looked at Jiang Banxia, who was radiating cold air from head to toe like an air conditioner, and moved her lips. “You come in and sit too?”

Jiang Banxia didn't stand on ceremony with her; she lifted her right foot and walked in.

Xu Chun looked at Qin Yao. Qin Yao nodded. “Alright.” After saying that, Qin Yao took a jewelry box out of her bag and handed it to Xu Chun. “For you.”

Huh?

Xu Chun stared blankly at the light green Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry box in Qin Yao's fair palm, not taking it for a moment. “This is too precious, Sister.”

Qin Yao giving her a gift was completely beyond her expectations. In Xu Chun's impression, Qin Yao had many things to busy herself with every day, many official matters to handle, and it wasn't the New Year or any special holiday; there was no reason for the other woman to bring her a gift. Most importantly: strictly speaking, the two of them weren't even close.

But the other woman offered no explanation, only saying, “Once you're done with things here, I'll set a time with your grandfather. About breaking off the engagement—we'll sit down, both sides, and talk it over.”

Jiang Banxia, walking ahead, couldn't help but glance back at Qin Yao, then her gaze fell on Xu Chun's face with a hint of something obscure and unreadable.

Both families had agreed to break off the engagement?

The corners of her rosy lips curved upward almost imperceptibly, and Jiang Banxia's steps seemed to grow lighter.

Xu Chun's room really wasn't tidied up much. She straightened things in the living room a bit, got two bottles of water from the fridge for the two of them, then went back to her room to change into loose clothing. She would have liked to wear loungewear, but after thinking it over carefully she decided it wasn't quite appropriate and gave up on the idea.

While she was behind the closed door tidying herself up, Jiang Banxia and Qin Yao exchanged a glance, and Jiang Banxia spoke first. “President Qin, it's been a long time.” She had met Qin Yao a few times, back when she was still young. The first time she saw Qin Yao, she had thought this sister was stunningly beautiful, so beautiful it left her speechless. Later, when she saw Qin Yao again, she still felt the same—so beautiful that she, who had been praised since childhood, always felt an invisible sense of inferiority in Qin Yao's presence.

Jiang Banxia's impression of Qin Yao hadn't changed even now; it was just that compared to the memory of that person with skin whiter than snow and bold red lips, flamboyant and dazzling, Qin Yao today was much more restrained and much more elegant, like a jewel in the Louvre, precious beyond measure.

Qin Yao returned a gentle smile befitting an elder. “You've grown up.” Her expression was much warmer than before. “And you've become even prettier than when you were little.”

Jiang Banxia felt a rare touch of embarrassment, but her mood was quite good. “President Qin is the one who's beyond compare in my heart.”

The two chatted about this and that, while over on the other side, after Jiang Zhaolie had pulled Yu Sui'an some distance away, the hand in her palm suddenly wrenched free with force. She stopped in her tracks, startled. “What's wrong?”

She didn't understand, and even thought she might have gripped too hard and hurt her. She wanted to step closer to check, but Yu Sui'an dodged away. Yu Sui'an lifted her eyes, her clear almond eyes fixed straight on Jiang Zhaolie. “Zhaolie, I need to film right now.” Her voice couldn't help but betray a faint thread of irritation and disappointment. “I'm very tired.”

The exhaustion on her face was not feigned. Jiang Zhaolie was instantly at a loss, not knowing how to make her happy. “How about we go back to your room and rest first.” Jiang Zhaolie tried to take her hand again. “Didn't you say you have to get up at four or five tomorrow morning to film…”

The hand she reached out was left empty once more. Jiang Zhaolie stared blankly, her eyes full of bewilderment. “Suisui?”

“I was originally planning to discuss the script with Sister and run lines.” Yu Sui'an took a deep breath, trying hard not to let her emotions show too much. “Do you know how hard it is for me to ask Sister for guidance when she usually avoids me?”

“I finally managed to grab the chance just now, but…” Yu Sui'an abruptly stopped, biting her lip tightly, then took a deep breath. “Sorry, I'm a bit out of control right now.”

Jiang Zhaolie's heart, which had already fallen into an ice cellar, sank to the bottom once more. After a long silence, she spoke hoarsely, “Sorry.” She said softly, “I shouldn't have come looking for you without telling you first. Sorry.”

“I won't do it again. Can you forgive me this once?” she asked pleadingly, but the response she got was Yu Sui'an's silence.

The light in Jiang Zhaolie's eyes dimmed instantly. Just as the two stood at an impasse, Yu Sui'an suddenly spoke. “Actually, Sister is very fragile. Next time you see her.” Her tone was unclear. “Don't make her angry again.”

Jiang Zhaolie's dejected mood instantly turned into a face full of question marks: “?” What did that mean?

Now not only was her mother taking Xu Chun's side, but even Yu Sui'an had joined forces with Xu Chun? What methods had Xu Chun used on her mother and Yu Sui'an when she wasn't paying attention?

Was she some fox spirit from a past life who had a grudge against her, specializing in bewitching the people around her and seducing their hearts?

Jiang Zhaolie suddenly felt a breath stuck in her chest, neither going up nor coming down, suffocating her.

After issuing her mild warning, Yu Sui'an left, heading in the direction of Xu Chun's room—no doubt wanting to go back and continue discussing the script with her. Jiang Zhaolie's fingers instinctively curled into a fist, and after a brief hesitation, she followed.

She was going to see just what methods Xu Chun was using to seduce Suisui and her mother.

Xu Chun had only gone to change her clothes, and when she came out she discovered that the living room that had originally held two people now held four. Moreover, the moment she appeared, four pairs of eyes—eight eyes in total—all turned to look at her at once. The picture was as horrifying as horrifying could be. Her reflex was to retreat back into the room and shut the door. After a moment, she reopened it, only to find the number of people in the living room hadn't decreased at all. She even caught a trace of puzzled confusion in Qin Yao's eyes.

Xu Chun: “…”

Everyone was out there waiting, so she had no choice but to steel herself and walk out, pulling a stiff smile at Jiang Zhaolie. “Why are you all back again?” Please, just be human and do human things!

This place was already enough of a love battlefield.

Jiang Zhaolie stared fixedly at Xu Chun. “President Qin is still here. I came back to wait for her.”

Xu Chun was speechless. Fine, that reason… was airtight. She looked at Yu Sui'an, who smiled faintly. “I still want to wait until you're free, Sister, to find time to guide me a bit.”

Her eyelid twitched hard twice. Xu Chun wished she were a box-office poison. But the situation had already gone completely off the rails, so she threw caution to the wind. “In that case, then you can stay. Later, you, me, and Banxia—the three of us will have a good discussion.”

Perhaps it was Jiang Zhaolie's imagination, but she felt Xu Chun had put particularly heavy emphasis on those last few words, with a flavor of wanting to flay someone alive, pull out their tendons, and drink their blood.

Seeing her secretly gnashing her teeth, the curve at the corner of Qin Yao's lips deepened slightly. Jiang Zhaolie had already returned, so she rose. “We'll be going first.”

Xu Chun immediately lifted her head, gazing at her eagerly. “So soon?” She hadn't even gotten to say a few words to Qin Yao yet.

“There's still business at the company.” Qin Yao nodded, snuffing out Xu Chun's last shred of hope. Seeing her look so utterly bereft, Qin Yao thought for a moment. “Once things are settled in a couple of days, I'll come see you again.”

Xu Chun's whole body suddenly had strength again. Full of drive, with the vigor of a mountain and river, she said, “Okay!”

Jiang Banxia couldn't help but narrow her eyes, her gaze traveling up and down Xu Chun several times. Xu Chun shrank her neck. After seeing off Qin Yao and Jiang Zhaolie, she hurriedly changed the subject. “Let's take a look at the scene we're filming tomorrow first.”

Jiang Banxia saw right through her but didn't call her out. She propped her head up idly, her pair of peach-blossom eyes—delicate with a touch of imperiousness—settling on Yu Sui'an with a measure of hostility and pressure. Yu Sui'an refused to be cowed; her fair, slender face held a faint smile as she met the gaze without humility or arrogance, showing no fear of Jiang Banxia's threat whatsoever.

The smile at the corner of her lips gradually deepened, but the temperature in Jiang Banxia's eyes grew colder and colder. “You're not bad.” She spoke slowly. “But that's all.”

Yu Sui'an lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. “Thank you for the compliment.”

Jiang Banxia narrowed her eyes slightly, her captivating eyes full of an inexplicable smile.

Xu Chun looked left at one, right at the other, then finally played dumb and opened the script. “Stop chatting, the sooner we finish the sooner I can rest.” With that, she turned to Yu Sui'an with a complicated expression, her evasive attitude obvious. “In the future, if you have any questions, ask the other teachers in the crew more often.”

She said bluntly, “I need to study my own role too, so I'm afraid I won't have much spare time. Besides, the teachers in the crew are rich in experience; they've acted in more dramas than I've eaten meals in my whole life. Rather than asking me to teach you, you'd be better off being diligent and chatting with them more. They can help you far more than I can.”

Xu Chun's words were not the least bit tactful. After a brief moment of blankness, Yu Sui'an quietly lowered her eyes, and only after a long while did she reply, “I understand. I'm very sorry for causing you trouble all this time.”

The other woman looked very disappointed and hurt, but Xu Chun couldn't tell whether she was genuinely unhappy or just pretending. Either way, she didn't much care, so she naturally skipped past the topic and picked up the script.

Jiang Banxia squinted at Yu Sui'an for a long time, then suddenly broke into a brilliant smile. So that was it.

Xu Chun noticed Jiang Banxia smiling but didn't understand what she was smiling about, so she simply didn't bother asking. About two hours later, Xu Chun, battered and bruised, saw Jiang Banxia and Yu Sui'an off and began calculating whether she should quietly switch rooms when no one was paying attention.

But that plan of hers never came to fruition.

Time on a film set seemed to pass without any sense of it. This period was a rare stretch of incomparable calm that Xu Chun enjoyed. Since that day, Yu Sui'an rarely came to pester her to explain scenes anymore, and Jiang Banxia was off doing who-knew-what in private; apart from the times she needed to be on camera, she was almost nowhere to be seen from morning to night.

The internet was also calm, with no major news related to the cast, and even Jiang Zhaolie seemed so busy she couldn't spare a moment, rarely coming to make trouble for Xu Chun.

After finishing discussions about the final plot with the screenwriter and original author, Xu Chun returned to her nanny van. Filming was now more than half done; at the current pace, they'd probably wrap in about four months.

She raised a hand to scratch at her eyebrow, checking her agent's messages.

A while back, her agent had taken on a new variety show for her, one related to the workplace. The director was Director Guo from the dating show last time, so it would also use the same twenty-four-hour live-stream format. Before accepting the show, Xu Chun had confirmed with her agent repeatedly, “There's no Yu Sui'an this time, right?”

“No.” The agent didn't know what had happened during filming to make Xu Chun change her ways overnight and avoid Yu Sui'an like the plague, but it was a good thing, so there was a smile in her voice as she answered. “Because of what happened last time, Yu Sui'an lost several endorsements. Her agent was furious, running around like a madwoman picking fights with everyone, and offended Director Guo in the process. So Director Guo made it clear he'll never work with Yu Sui'an again in this lifetime.”

“Besides, I heard Yu Sui'an herself wants to keep acting. She probably won't be doing many variety shows going forward.”

Xu Chun nodded. That matched the original plot well enough. Yu Sui'an really did rarely appear on dating shows; the only reason she'd gone on one before was to use the live-stream program to thoroughly ruin Xu Chun's reputation, leave her unable to recover, and make her withdraw from the entertainment industry on her own, eliminating the threat she posed.

In Yu Sui'an's plan, taking on more sweet, fluffy dramas that matched her image and temperament was the fastest way to solidify her position, so she could later transition into the film industry, challenge herself with breakthrough roles to win acclaim, and climb step by step to the top.

Realizing that Yu Sui'an's career plan really didn't overlap with her own, Xu Chun happily agreed.

Today was the day to sign the new variety show contract. Her agent had specially driven over to pick her up, and only after she'd finished signing did the agent ask the question she was most curious about: “Have you and Yu Sui'an had a falling out recently?”

“No.” Xu Chun was puzzled. “Why do you ask?”

The agent smiled without answering. Xu Chun was utterly baffled but didn't take it to heart. On the way back, the agent driving her, she suddenly received a message from Jiang Zhaolie: 【How is Suisui… doing?】

And right after, she conscientiously sent a red packet over.

Xu Chun perked up at once. 【She's doing well, filming very seriously every day. I heard the teachers in the crew say she's diligent and eager to learn, hardworking and motivated, and her acting has improved very quickly. Everyone praises her to the skies.】

That was a good thing, but Jiang Zhaolie felt profoundly disappointed.

In the past few months, Yu Sui'an hadn't contacted her even once on her own initiative, and she herself was busy, watched by Qin Yao every day, completely unable to find time to visit the set. Every night when she finished work, she'd hold her phone and want to message Yu Sui'an countless times, but she was afraid Yu Sui'an might already be asleep and the phone's noise would wake her, so she gave up in the end.

She knew Yu Sui'an had been tired and busy lately, but Jiang Zhaolie didn't understand. Did Yu Sui'an really not like her at all?

They'd clearly been so close before. Every time Yu Sui'an saw her, those calm eyes would light up with a faint glow, soul-stirring and touching.

These past few months had been the most agonizing period of Jiang Zhaolie's life. Her mind seemed split into two camps: one urged her to follow her heart and message Yu Sui'an first, the other warned her not to lose herself and her dignity, not to go chasing after someone who couldn't care less with her warm face pressed to a cold backside.

Jiang Zhaolie wavered in this entanglement for months, until today she could hold it in no longer and, in inner torment, came to Xu Chun to fish for information.

Xu Chun hadn't been in touch with Jiang Zhaolie for a long time either. She propped her head up and thought about Jiang Zhaolie's purpose for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. 【You miss Yu Sui'an?】

Having her thoughts seen through, Jiang Zhaolie didn't deny it and admitted it openly. Jiang Zhaolie had assumed Xu Chun would also sense something off about Yu Sui'an and offer a couple of comforting words to poor her. But instead, Xu Chun blinked, and when Jiang Zhaolie looked down again at the new message on the screen, she nearly stormed off in a rage on the spot: 【Unfaithful!】

【Don't forget we haven't formally broken off our engagement yet! You have an engagement and you're thinking about another woman right in front of me. I'm going to tell Sister on you!】

Jiang Zhaolie: “…………”

【But I'm a kindhearted person by nature. As long as you now…】 Before Xu Chun could finish typing, she received a big red packet from Jiang Zhaolie. She narrowed her eyes and smiled contentedly. 【On second thought, Sister is so busy. I'd better not disturb her with such trivial matters.】

Jiang Zhaolie couldn't help but roll her eyes, and the anxious, dejected mood brought on by Yu Sui'an vanished by more than half.

After being angered by Xu Chun, Jiang Zhaolie suddenly found herself unable to understand. Why was Xu Chun always so carefree and lively, as if nothing in the world was worth worrying about?

She'd publicly broken off their engagement and humiliated her, yet Xu Chun had never cursed or hit her for it. When Shen Shutong posted on Weibo slandering and smearing her, she hadn't gotten angry either; she'd simply called the police and kicked the ball to them to handle. And then there was everything else that followed. In Jiang Zhaolie's memory, Xu Chun had always been emotionally stable. Even when unhappy, she'd just extort a good meal out of her, and then the matter was settled.

Unlike Yu Sui'an…

Her heart was like a needle at the bottom of the sea—impossible to guess, impossible to grasp. No matter what happened, she refused to talk to her about it, silently enduring it all alone, then letting both sides overthink and imagine all sorts of things. Most importantly, when she herself took the initiative to seek her out, Yu Sui'an seemed uninterested, lukewarm and distant toward her.

Because of work, Jiang Zhaolie had been mentally and physically exhausted lately. She no longer had as much time as before to go find Yu Sui'an and cheer her up.

The love Jiang Zhaolie imagined was this: the other person gentle and considerate, understanding and empathetic, able to provide her with emotional value—not requiring much, just enough to make her feel comfortable and relaxed. That would be enough.

She didn't ask for anything else. She just wanted, after finishing work, to be with that person and feel at ease, to not have to rack her brains over work matters anymore. That was all.

But even so, her wish hadn't come true.

Yu Sui'an's hot-and-cold attitude made Jiang Zhaolie utterly exhausted. She couldn't help but wonder: did the other woman no longer like her? Or was it really just that filming was so busy that she had no time to pay her any attention?

Xu Chun had no idea a rift had already appeared between the two female leads' feelings. She happily took the red packet Jiang Zhaolie had sent and treated the crew to milk tea, then ordered a bouquet of flowers online to send to Qin Yao, not forgetting to specially instruct the shop to handwrite a card—“To the most beautiful Sister Qin, the best there is.”

When Qin Yao received the flowers, Jiang Zhaolie was there too. Jiang Zhaolie was puzzling over how her mother, of all people, had a suitor sending her flowers, but when she walked over and looked closely, the signature read Xu Chun, and a mouthful of stifled anger lodged in her chest.

Using my money to play the generous host and make my mother happy again, is she?!

I've just been giving her too many red packets!

Every single day, instead of filming properly, she's fixated on coveting my own mother. Jiang Zhaolie thought expressionlessly: is she still planning to save up some big move and take brutal revenge on me one day?

She couldn't hold back and sent Xu Chun a message: 【You sent my mother flowers again?】

The phone buzzed. Xu Chun looked down and saw Jiang Zhaolie's accusation. After hesitating for a moment, she asked: 【…Then should I send a bouquet to Yu Sui'an for you too?】

Jiang Zhaolie: 【???】

Good grief, one mother isn't enough for you. Now you want to covet two at the same time!

TL Note:

nanny van (保姆车) = the luxury van celebrities use to travel, rest, and get styled between shoots.

love battlefield (修罗场) = internet slang for a chaotic, awkward romantic entanglement, often a love triangle.

a heart like a needle at the bottom of the sea (海底针) = an idiom for someone whose thoughts are impossible to fathom.

acting tumor (演技毒瘤) = slang for a terrible actor who ruins a production; translated here as “box-office poison.”