Chapter 75: A Pig Teammate p2
The relationship between artists and their assistants in the entertainment industry was quite interesting. Unlike managers, assistants were often like 24/7 nannies, taking care of the artist’s every need, food, clothing, sleep, everything, to make their lives easier and more comfortable. It was a tough job, like an ancient maid or servant. Lucky assistants would meet kind and easygoing artists. As for unlucky assistants, meeting artists who were nice in public but had terrible tempers in private, that was a true ordeal.
Jiang Lingling was a newcomer to the industry, and her assistant also lacked experience. Although it was an employer-employee relationship, they were more like friends most of the time. At first, it was Jiang Lingling who orchestrated the pranks, and her assistant nervously followed. But over time, they became partners in crime. It had to be said that the assistant’s transformation was due to Jiang Lingling’s bad influence.
And Bai Tang, in Mi Hongdou’s previous life, had been a good helper. But in this life, she had been sent to Mengguan for training by Yang Lianyi and then forgotten. If Yang Lianyi herself forgot, then fine, but Mi Hongdou, when she needed an assistant, should have mentioned it, and Yang Lianyi would have remembered. However, Mi Hongdou hadn’t said anything. After signing the contract, she went to Shudian, joined two crews, and started her happy life with Ji Junxin, without a manager, without an assistant, without even a chauffeured car. Life was so harmonious, she didn’t need a helper. And after Lu Gaoshi left, Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin became even closer, and she didn’t want to bring Bai Tang in. It was Yang Lianyi who suddenly remembered and sent Bai Tang and the chauffeured car to Shudian. But even with Bai Tang here, Mi Hongdou didn’t need her to follow her around like in her previous life. She just needed her to appear during working hours, buy breakfast, and occasionally get some groceries for the kitchenette. As for packing, cleaning, or tidying up, Mi Hongdou didn’t let Bai Tang do any of it, which was very different from her previous life, when she had heavily relied on Bai Tang.
In Mi Hongdou’s eyes, every moment with Ji Junxin was precious. During filming, there were many people around, having Bai Tang there wouldn’t make much difference. But after filming, it was best if it was just the two of them. “Imperial Secrets” was almost a third complete, which meant that her time with Ji Junxin, eating, living, and working together, was dwindling. Especially the living together part… after this film, she might never have this opportunity again, how could she not cherish it? So, the hotel suite, in Mi Hongdou’s mind, was their territory, and she wouldn’t let an assistant intrude. When Lu Gaoshi was around, she would often come to the suite, cleaning and tidying up, which annoyed Mi Hongdou, but she had to endure it since Lu Gaoshi was officially Ji Junxin’s manager. After Lu Gaoshi was fired, Ji Junxin’s other two practically nonexistent assistants didn’t dare to be as presumptuous and naturally didn’t come around often. So, the suite truly became their sanctuary.
The dynamics between Jiang Lingling, Mi Hongdou, Ji Junxin, and their assistants were quite interesting.
Jiang Lingling’s assistant was being trained as a professional prankster, and Bai Tang was becoming Mi Hongdou’s personal grocery shopper. As for Ji Junxin, she had two assistants. When Lu Gaoshi was around, they were just occasional background characters, mostly sent away by Lu Gaoshi. After Lu Gaoshi was fired, Ji Junxin only had one assistant’s number saved in her phone, and even then, she wasn’t used to asking them for help, usually handling things herself or with Mi Hongdou. So, the two assistants seemed to exist outside of Ji Junxin’s life. They appeared on set on time, but with Mi Hongdou around, they barely had a chance to even pour tea… They were becoming professional bystanders.
But even so, the two assistants didn’t plan to resign. This was understandable, who wouldn’t like a paid vacation? Ji Junxin didn’t mind, Qiao Rubai didn’t know, and Mi Hongdou was happy with the arrangement. Of course, Mi Hongdou was a little worried that when Ji Junxin went to other film sets without her, those two assistants might not be very helpful… but whenever she thought about not being on the same set as Ji Junxin, she became too sad to think further. So, she temporarily put this worry aside.
Anyway, for now, Ji Junxin didn’t need those two assistants, Mi Hongdou felt that she was enough.
Yes, Mi Hongdou had always thought this way, with her around, Ji Junxin didn’t need those two assistants, she and Ji Junxin could continue their happy, two-person world.
But when Mi Hongdou, who kept telling herself that Ji Junxin was heterosexual and they could never be together, returned to the chauffeured car, her heart aching after abandoning the unreliable Jiang Lingling, she was hurt again by the cheerful scene inside.
The car door was open, and Mi Hongdou heard Ji Junxin’s laughter, a carefree laughter different from her usual polite smile. Wondering what was so amusing, Mi Hongdou smiled slightly, her mood lifting. She was so easily influenced by Ji Junxin’s emotions. The heartache she had been feeling during the drive seemed to be soothed by Ji Junxin’s happy laughter.
But this comfort and ease quickly vanished after she got in the car.
Mi Hongdou’s gaze swept over Ji Junxin and Shen Zhu, who was sitting next to her, then landed on the strand of Ji Junxin’s hair in Shen Zhu’s hand.
“I heard your laughter before I even got in the car.” Mi Hongdou forced her gaze away from Shen Zhu’s hand, suppressing her rising displeasure, and asked with a smile, “What’s so funny?”
“It’s all Shen Zhu,” Ji Junxin said, still smiling, pointing at Shen Zhu, her voice still carrying a hint of laughter. “She said my hair smells like strawberry cream and asked if I would nibble on it in my sleep. I said I wouldn’t do such a silly thing. Then guess what, Shen Zhu said she once used a milk-scented soap, and after showering, she kept smelling like a cream cake. She thought it was cute and special, smelling like a cake. Then one night, she must have been hungry, she dreamt of being in a cake shop, all-you-can-eat, and then, hahaha… she woke up in pain, with her arm in her mouth. Isn’t that funny?”
Ji Junxin recounted the story and couldn’t help but laugh again. Shen Zhu also laughed heartily, not at all embarrassed about the story. Shen Zhu had a baby face and was a little chubby. Her laughter was cute and endearing. However, Mi Hongdou didn’t find it cute at all.
Mi Hongdou glanced at Shen Zhu’s hand, which still hadn’t released Ji Junxin’s hair, and forced a smile, unable to share their amusement.
This Shen Zhu was really quick. First, she had declared herself Ji Junxin’s fan and even gotten her autograph, and now she was boldly touching Ji Junxin’s hair. Mi Hongdou looked at Shen Zhu’s hand and wondered if slapping it away would be too abrupt. But it was hard to endure, really!
After Ji Junxin finished her story, Mi Hongdou’s forced smile faded, replaced by a cold displeasure. This undisguised change in expression was naturally noticed by Ji Junxin and Shen Zhu.
“Don’t you think it’s funny?” Ji Junxin asked, blinking at Mi Hongdou.
…With her holding your hair like that, how could she laugh? Mi Hongdou was incredibly annoyed, but she couldn’t express it to Ji Junxin, she couldn’t even slap Shen Zhu’s hand away, it was incredibly frustrating.
Before Mi Hongdou could speak, Shen Zhu smiled and answered Ji Junxin, “Aiya, Sister Mi probably thinks our conversation is too childish.”
…Mi Hongdou’s eyes narrowed slightly. What did she mean by “our”?
Shen Zhu’s words stung Ji Junxin. Was she… that childish in Mi Hongdou’s eyes? … She had happily shared a funny story, and Mi Hongdou not only looked serious but also seemed unhappy… Ji Junxin, still sensitive after the fried meatball incident, shrank back, feeling that she had annoyed Mi Hongdou again.
She glanced at Mi Hongdou pitifully, shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and fell silent.
Shen Zhu’s words were just a little strange, it wasn’t a big deal. But Ji Junxin’s expression… Mi Hongdou knew it too well! What was she thinking now? … Remembering Ji Junxin’s pitiful crying face the night before, Mi Hongdou’s heart ached.
She wanted to kick Shen Zhu out of the car and hug her little foodie.
Unable to endure any longer, Mi Hongdou walked closer, her face dark, and then, as if it were the most natural thing to do, took the strand of hair from Shen Zhu’s hand, brought it to her nose, sniffed it, carefully put it back, smoothed it, and then said seriously, “I remember your shampoo is a mixed fruit scent, people online say it smells like green apple, how can you smell strawberry?”
Ji Junxin also took a strand of her hair and sniffed it. “Eh, it does smell a little like apple, and… a bit of lemon?”
“Lemon… probably from the aromatherapy fruits in our room.” Mi Hongdou subtly guided her. “Your clothes also often smell like the fruits in the bowl, sometimes it’s just orange, when we don’t have lemons.”
Ji Junxin sniffed her sleeve and nodded in agreement. “Yes, my clothes also smell a little like lemon. So, the shampoo should be green apple scented. Haha, I haven’t really noticed, there are so many fruits in our room, it’s hard to tell what I smell like.” After exchanging a few words with Mi Hongdou, whose demeanor had softened again, Ji Junxin’s pitiful expression disappeared.
“Yes, you always smell like fruits. Apple, lemon, orange, the ones we usually use for aromatherapy.” Mi Hongdou smiled. “But not strawberry.”
Ji Junxin thought for a moment. “That’s right, we don’t use strawberries. Yes, my hair does smell like apple.”
So easily fooled… Mi Hongdou glanced at Ji Junxin, then turned her gaze to Shen Zhu. “So, Shen Zhu, your sense of smell isn’t very good. You mistook apple for strawberry. Perhaps that soap of yours was just ordinary soap. You should eat more at night, or you might… imagine things, right?” Mi Hongdou’s voice was gentle, but her words were sharp.
Something felt off about Shen Zhu, but Mi Hongdou couldn’t pinpoint it, so she could only subtly express her displeasure.
Shen Zhu was still smiling, but her smile was stiff.
Not an actress after all, still lacking in skill, Mi Hongdou thought.
Ji Junxin, oblivious, cheerfully added, “Yes, Shen Zhu, eat more at night, or if you bite your arm again, there will be no one to help me.”
Shen Zhu’s expression relaxed, and she glanced at Mi Hongdou, a hint of provocation in her eyes.
Mi Hongdou looked at Ji Junxin, exasperated.
Was this… the legendary pig teammate?
While the three in the car were lost in their own thoughts, Jiang Lingling and her assistant outside were also discussing a topic related to them.
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