Chapter 44: No Friends for Fools
“It hurts…” Ji Junxin gripped Mi Hongdou’s hand tighter, her watery eyes blinking, tears threatening to spill.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t be afraid, we’ll go to the hospital right away, right away!” Mi Hongdou panicked, carefully supporting Ji Junxin, unsure whether to call for help, take her back to the backstage area and call an ambulance, or drive her to the hospital herself. But where was the nearest hospital?
Just as Mi Hongdou was about to burst into tears from anxiety, Jiang Lingling, dragging her heavy skirt and an equally heavy heart, finally reached them.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Lingling saw Mi Hongdou’s distressed face, muttering incomprehensible words, looking anxious and helpless. Ji Junxin, however, was being supported by Mi Hongdou with a smile on her face.
Yes, a smile.
“It’s nothing.” Seeing Jiang Lingling approach, Ji Junxin immediately straightened up, no longer feigning a stomachache.
What the hell! How could she suddenly recover like that! Was she trying to appear strong in front of others? Mi Hongdou felt her own anxiety and heartache intensify, her heart almost stopping. Compared to saving face, her health was clearly more important, and she didn’t even need to care about someone like Jiang Lingling! At this moment, with her attention solely on Ji Junxin, Jiang Lingling was no different from a pebble on the side of the road. How could she be concerned about her and forget about Ji Junxin’s stomachache? “You…” Mi Hongdou pulled Ji Junxin, wanting to take her to the hospital. But just as she spoke, Ji Junxin pinched her arm, not too hard, not too gently.
Mi Hongdou looked at Ji Junxin questioningly. Ji Junxin winked at her with a smile, as if trying to convey a message. However, the anxious Mi Hongdou couldn’t receive it!
Jiang Lingling, watching the two, one smiling politely, the other hesitating to speak, exchanging glances and silent messages right in front of her, felt a little irritated. “You two talk, I’ll go take care of things with Director Pan.” Jiang Lingling showed Mi Hongdou the circled script and tactfully left.
“How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere else besides your stomach? Can you walk? I’ll help you back to the backstage area and see if any of the crew members know where the nearest hospital is… or should we call an ambulance…” Mi Hongdou had long forgotten about their plan to catch the adulterers. Fortunately, Jiang Lingling’s interruption had brought her back to her senses, allowing her to think and plan properly. But once again, Ji Junxin interrupted her.
“Um… heh… I’m fine…” Ji Junxin gave an awkward smile and released Mi Hongdou’s hand. “I just… wanted to ask Director Pan for some time off. I was trying to see if I could convincingly fake a stomachache…” Ji Junxin was a little embarrassed. She had originally intended to use Mi Hongdou as a gauge for her acting, and she was a little amused when she saw the little empress being fooled. But seeing how worried and anxious Mi Hongdou became, she felt guilty.
“So your stomach doesn’t hurt?” Mi Hongdou’s mind, which had been racing with how to get Ji Junxin to the hospital as quickly as possible, couldn’t process these words for a moment, and she didn’t even retract her hand.
“It doesn’t hurt…” Ji Junxin felt guilty.
“…” Mi Hongdou breathed a long sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good.” She awkwardly withdrew her hand and realized that her palms were sweaty, and her back seemed damp as well.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The usual harmonious atmosphere was gone, replaced by an indescribable awkwardness.
Finally, Mi Hongdou spoke, “You want to ask for time off? What for? And you even had to fake a stomachache for Director Pan?”
“Um… I have something to do back in Jiang City.” Ji Junxin replied vaguely. Although her friendship with the little empress had grown rapidly this past month, she couldn’t just tell her about Qiao Rubai’s suspicion that Lu Gaoshi was having an affair with Jiang Duo’s father and was helping Jiang Duo gain her favor without any proof. But if she saw it with her own eyes this time, then…
This explanation naturally didn’t dispel Mi Hongdou’s doubts, but she was always considerate of Ji Junxin’s feelings and didn’t press further.
But… “Oh no!” Mi Hongdou suddenly thought of Jiang Lingling, who had gone to see Director Pan a while ago.
“Hmm?” Ji Junxin didn’t understand.
Mi Hongdou also had something she couldn’t tell Ji Junxin right now. One of them had just gone in complaining about a stomachache, and the other couldn’t use the same excuse to ask for time off. Mi Hongdou smiled wryly. “That… Jiang Lingling, she also seems to have a stomachache and wants Director Pan to adjust today’s schedule so she can go back to Jiang City to get her medicine.”
“Ah… she also has a stomachache? No, she has a stomachache.” Ji Junxin guiltily removed the word “also.”
“Wait, I’ll go check.” Mi Hongdou quickened her pace and walked towards the set.
However, no matter how fast she walked, she couldn’t be faster than Jiang Lingling, who was eager to watch the show. Seeing Jiang Lingling squatting next to the director’s chair, saying something, and Director Pan smiling, Mi Hongdou knew that the “pig’s feet strategy” had succeeded.
As expected, Director Pan looked up, saw Mi Hongdou hesitating, and waved her over. She could only brace herself and walk over.
“Xiaomi, we’re adjusting today’s schedule, moving the afternoon scenes forward. We’ll start filming soon, is that okay with you?” Director Pan said, flipping through the script and pointing to the afternoon scenes.
The familiar script, the familiar handwriting and circles… Mi Hongdou glanced at the crew members who were changing the set, then at the smug Jiang Lingling, and shook her head silently.
Jiang Lingling, clutching her stomach and squatting next to the director’s chair, winked at Mi Hongdou, looking a little smug. Director Pan saw it all. This child, still acting, her acting was so bad. Who would have such uncontainable joy and excitement when having a stomachache? She looked like a high school senior who had just been given a two-day weekend with unlimited access to shopping, movies, and amusement parks. If it weren’t for the braised pig’s feet… hmph, Director Pan snorted softly.
Ji Junxin’s skill in speed-walking while dragging her skirt clearly wasn’t proficient enough. By the time she arrived, everything was almost settled. Director Pan repeated what he had just said to Mi Hongdou. Although many of the afternoon scenes involved Jiang Duo, she was just a supporting character, and several of those scenes were with Ji Junxin. If that was the case, Jiang Duo couldn’t leave, but neither could Ji Junxin.
“I… I have something to do this afternoon, I want to go back to Jiang City.” Ji Junxin remembered the message Qiao Rubai had sent her more than ten minutes ago, just when Jiang Lingling called Mi Hongdou away. Qiao Rubai had asked her to watch a show that night, to gain a true and complete understanding of Lu Gaoshi. After being warned, how could Ji Junxin not see through Lu Gaoshi’s petty tricks these past few days? But she still couldn’t let go of the years of friendship between them. However, Lu Gaoshi’s actions had become increasingly excessive recently, and Ji Junxin knew that she needed to face the truth.
Director Pan frowned, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Lingling and Ji Junxin, then at Mi Hongdou. He spoke slowly, “Then, is Xiaomi free this afternoon?”
“No! The little empress is going back to Jiang City with me this afternoon.” Jiang Lingling quickly answered, either not seeing the meaning in Director Pan’s eyes or having maxed out her “fearless” attribute.
You’re everywhere! Director Pan glared at Jiang Lingling. All three of them wanted to leave this afternoon, no one would believe it wasn’t planned. “If you all leave this afternoon, then who will act? How are we supposed to film?” Director Pan was getting angry.
Now, everyone could see Director Pan’s displeasure. Jiang Lingling glared at Ji Junxin. She and Mi Hongdou were helping her catch the adulterers, and after finally bribing Director Pan with the braised pig’s feet, what was Ji Junxin doing throwing a wrench in the works?
Mi Hongdou felt that the best solution was for her to stay, and let the other two do whatever they wanted. But before she could say anything, Director Pan went off to take a call with a dark expression.
“What are you going back to Jiang City for this afternoon?” Jiang Lingling, whose hard-won leave had been ruined, was a little blunt with Ji Junxin.
“…” Ji Junxin pursed her lips and didn’t answer.
“How about I stay this afternoon?” Mi Hongdou thought that the whole “catching them in the act” plan was foolish. Wouldn’t it be better to just record it?
Jiang Lingling was even more unhappy and said something only Mi Hongdou could understand: “I won’t let you see the recording.”
“Then are you still making the fried rice?” Mi Hongdou knew how to hit where it hurt too.
Jiang Lingling’s eyes widened. “Hey, you already promised me, you can’t go back on your word. If you do, I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Mi Hongdou rarely confronted anyone like this.
I’ll tell Ji Junxin that you have a crush on her. Even though you might not realize it yourself, you’re secretly in love with her! Jiang Lingling was always invincible in direct confrontations. Now, provoked by Mi Hongdou, she lost some of her reason and was about to blurt out something she shouldn’t have. Just then, Director Pan returned after his call.
His expression was no longer dark, but his gaze towards the three of them was ambiguous.
“Alright, the three of you can leave now. You don’t have any scenes today. Be back at the set before noon tomorrow.” Director Pan said, slapping the circled script back into Jiang Lingling’s hand.
“Why? What about today’s scenes?” Ji Junxin blurted out subconsciously.
Director Pan, who was about to leave, stopped, turned around, looked at the three of them, and snorted.
Jiang Lingling was speechless. He had just given them permission to leave, why was she still asking? It was like the last second of winter break, the teacher was almost out the door, and a student asked why there was no winter homework. How could she be friends with someone so foolish!
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