Chapter 70

“So, Aunt Cheng, are you taking this drama or not?

The woman didn’t even glance at her. “Why are you so sure I’ll take it?

Xiaoman grinned. “I just think you’d probably really like the script, and… wasn’t this director someone you’ve always admired too?

“Turn it down.

Xiaoman froze. She clearly hadn’t expected that answer. “Why? Didn’t you say…

“The schedule doesn’t work, and…

The woman cut her off, sounding a little helpless. “Didn’t you see the look on A-Lai’s face just now? If I take this role, she’ll probably get so jealous she’ll die.

“Sister A-Lai wouldn’t do that, would she?

Xiaoman opened her mouth, still wanting to say more, but when she caught the expression on the woman’s face, she swallowed the rest of her words.

She knew that once the woman had made up her mind, she wouldn’t change it easily.

“Oh. Fine then.

Xiaoman sighed regretfully. “I’ll go tell them. But really, are you sure you don’t want to think about it a little longer?

“Xiaoman.

Jiang Lai pushed the door open and came in, taking the script from Xiaoman’s hands. “Wait a second; let’s look at it again.

“Sister A-Lai, Aunt Cheng said she’s not taking it.

“It’s okay. I’ll talk to Aunt Cheng again and give you an answer in a bit. And…

She winked at Xiaoman. “Xiaonan bought some snacks and tea. Want to go try them? I just had some myself. They’re from that trending shop, and they’re really good.

Xiaoman caught the message in her eyes and made an “OK” gesture before slipping out of the room. Just before closing the door, she poked her little head back in through the crack. “You two can relax; I guarantee no one’s barging in again this time.

After Xiaoman left, Jiang Lai finally turned to the woman. “Why aren’t you taking that role? Didn’t you say you wanted to try a different style?

“But you don’t like it, do you?

“Why are you putting my preferences first?

The woman’s hand paused as she drew her eyeliner. She looked up at her. “I just feel like ever since the two of us got together, I’ve been stuck on set the whole time, and we haven’t really spent much time together.

“Just because of that?

Taking the comb from the woman’s hand, Jiang Lai gently smoothed through the ends of her hair.

“Partly.

Cheng Shuyang glanced at the script; her eyes lingered a little longer on the female lead’s name before she looked away. “If we shoot down south, it’ll take more than three months. I’m afraid I won’t make it back in time for your runway show. Didn’t you say… that competition was very important to you?

“You don’t have to think about me.

Meeting the woman’s slightly puzzled eyes, she smiled softly. “Really, I mean it.

There was a hint of wavering in the woman’s voice. “But if that’s the case, then the two of us won’t see each other for a very long time…

“It’s fine. I’ll come visit you on set.

Jiang Lai crouched down a little, resting her cheek lightly against the woman’s leg. “I just want you to choose what you like, not what you think I like. It should depend on whether you want it.

The woman stroked the ends of her hair again and again, gently, as if soothing a frightened kitten.

“I thought you’d be angry.

Jiang Lai lifted her head and looked at her, her eyes bright. “You’re my girlfriend, but before that, you’re also an excellent actress. I can’t selfishly take away your career; just like you can’t indulge me without limits.

The woman said nothing. She only bent down and kissed her forehead, careful and solemn.

“Okay. I’ll take it.

A breeze slipped in through the crack in the window, flipping through the pages of the script on the table until they finally came to rest on the last page.

——————

In the days that followed, the woman rested at home for a while before returning to set, and Jiang Lai also had to pack up and go abroad for closed-door pre-competition training.

The day she started filming was very nice. Just as she opened the car door and got in, Jiang Lai sent her a message.

It was a photo.

The girl was standing in the airport, lifting one hand to make a “V” sign toward her; the caption read: “Wishing Aunt Cheng a smooth start to work. I’ll be waiting for you when I get back from abroad!

She curled her lips into a smile and put her phone away.

She was just about to tell the driver to set off when she saw someone she very much didn’t want to see right now appear in the rearview mirror.

“Hello, Aunt Cheng.

Her gaze dropped to the suitcase behind Yu Tian, and she could feel a vein twitching at her temple.

“What are you doing here?

“I heard Xiaoman had something going on at home and took temporary leave, so I thought I’d come be your temporary assistant and help you…

“No need.

Her tone was firm as she refused Yu Tian. “If your agent found out you came to be my assistant, she’d probably be furious.

“She won’t be!

Yu Tian cut in immediately. “I already told Sister Zhang I was coming to be your assistant, and she agreed.

“Yu Tian, I really don’t need it.

“Aunt Cheng…

Yu Tian’s eyes suddenly reddened. “Are you still mad at me because of what happened last time? But I already explained it. That slap—I really didn’t mean it, and I already apologized to A-Lai. She’s already forgiven me…

The woman’s head hurt from her crying; unfortunately, the driver kept urging her from the front. She had no choice but to let Yu Tian get in first.

Perhaps because of the slap incident last time, Yu Tian had restrained her temper quite a bit, and even the little familiar gestures she used to make toward her were gone.

After all, they had known each other for years, and Cheng Shuyang couldn’t be too cold toward her. Still, thinking of her own vinegar-jar of a girlfriend, she couldn’t help pressing at her temple. If Jiang Lai found out, who knew what kind of scene she’d make again…

With the mindset that she should report it proactively, the woman honestly told Jiang Lai everything.

By the time Jiang Lai saw the message, she had already gotten off the plane. It was too late; nothing could be done about it now. But the woman repeatedly stressed that she would keep her distance from Yu Tian, and only then did Jiang Lai finally let some of her worry go.

At the same time, a man not far away walked straight toward her, his attitude very polite. “Miss Jiang Lai? I’m here on Master Li’s special instruction to pick you up.

“Then thank you for the trouble.

Master Li was Li Yan, Jiang Lai’s current mentor, a world-renowned designer and a truly formidable figure.

Only after becoming his student did Jiang Lai gradually come to understand Master Li’s temperament, and the relationship between master and disciple slowly thawed. As for Jiang Lai’s occasional “rebellion” or disobedience, he never held it against her.

This closed-door training was also something Master Li had taken the initiative to arrange, with the goal of helping Jiang Lai win the competition and secure her footing internationally.

The car slowly stopped outside a small house. Jiang Lai looked around curiously; Master Li was lying in a rocking chair with his eyes closed.

She suddenly got a mischievous idea and was just about to sneak up on him when the man’s voice pinned her in place.

“If you dare scare me, I’ll give your competition spot to your senior sister this time.

Although she knew Master Li was joking, Jiang Lai still couldn’t help pouting.

“Teacher, you can’t do that.

“All right, stop looking so wronged.

The old man stood up from the chair. “The tools and drawing paper are all ready for you. Go study on your own, or you won’t get dinner tonight.

“Huh? No way, Teacher. I just got here; are you really going to do this to me?

Master Li clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the workshop, his tone carrying unquestionable authority. “When I was apprenticing under my master, it was much harder than this. You’re nowhere near that yet.

Jiang Lai dragged her suitcase along and followed miserably behind him. “Teacher, I just finished working…

Then she pleaded sweetly, “Let me rest for one night. I promise, tomorrow—I’ll definitely study properly tomorrow!

The man was not Cheng Shuyang, so naturally he did not fall for that. He rejected her without the slightest mercy.

“Fine then…

Seeing there was no room for negotiation, she could only accept her fate.

“A-Lai.

The man sighed, his tone serious. “For this competition, you have to take it seriously. It will be a great help to your future career development.

“I know. Thank you, Teacher.

It wasn’t until midnight that Jiang Lai finally dragged her exhausted body back to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, wishing she could fall asleep the very next second.

But one glance was enough to see an incoming call on her phone screen from a woman. She roused herself and quickly called back.

On set, Yu Tian was busy helping the woman pass water to her. Before the makeup artist could even step in to fix the smudged makeup, Yu Tian had already helped the woman touch it up herself. Her thoughtfulness made the other actors envious.

Qin Li, who had been called in for a cameo on short notice, was also full of curiosity and couldn’t help asking the woman, “Teacher Cheng, did you change assistants again?

“No, she’s just curious about the set. She came along to look around.

“Oh…

Qin Li nodded. “Then what about A-Lai? She didn’t come with you this time?

At the mention of Jiang Lai, the corners of the woman’s mouth lifted slightly. “Mm, she has a competition recently, so she’s busy. She went abroad for training.

“I see. I thought I’d get to see her this time. What a pity.

As Qin Li spoke, she sounded genuinely regretful.

The woman was just about to say something else when her phone, placed not far away, rang. Yu Tian had just reached out to take it, but the woman snapped at her to stop.

“Don’t touch it. I’ll get it myself.

Yu Tian froze where she stood, watching as the woman answered the call and her voice immediately turned gentle.

Her eyes rolled, and she took a bottle of water over to Qin Li, who was busy nearby. “Teacher, here’s some water.

“Okay, thank you.

Qin Li looked a little surprised, but still took it. “As expected, everyone around Teacher Cheng is very polite.

Yu Tian keenly sensed a loophole in the woman’s words.

“Teacher, may I ask something? What do you mean by ‘everyone around you is very polite’?

“Well, besides you, A-Lai is too. She’s very polite. Last time I worked with Teacher Cheng on that costume drama, A-Lai even came to visit on set. Such a thoughtful little girl.

“Really? A-Lai and Teacher Cheng do have a pretty good relationship.

“Yes; so good that people would think they were really dating.

Qin Li had meant it as a joke, but Yu Tian took it to heart.

Their relationship was really that good?

Thinking back to what she had seen, an idea suddenly surfaced in her mind, and even she was startled by it.

Could it be that the two of them… were really together?