Category: Reborn to Stew Soup (GL)

Chapter 76: Sticky Rice Rolls p2

Unhappy? Food was the answer. Mi Hongdou took a large bite of the glutinous rice balls.

“Hey…” Ji Junxin’s voice was weak.

Mi Hongdou, her cheeks puffed out, looked at Ji Junxin, whose expression had shifted from hesitation to despair.

“Can you… save a bite for me?” Seeing that the rice roll was already half gone, Ji Junxin finally spoke. “Just one bite… please…” Asking for food was embarrassing, and Ji Junxin blushed slightly, gently tugging at Mi Hongdou’s sleeve.

Mi Hongdou paused. “I’ll ask Bai Tang to buy you another one…” She took out her phone.

“No…” Ji Junxin stopped her. “Then forget it… it’s a long drive, and they’re probably sold out by now. I’ll have it tomorrow.” She retracted her hand.

…Shen Zhu was right, she should have checked the filling before eating, Mi Hongdou thought, holding the half-eaten rice roll, feeling conflicted.

“Eat quickly, it will be hard when it’s cold,” Ji Junxin said, repeating Mi Hongdou’s earlier words, her expression encouraging.

“…” Mi Hongdou brought the rice roll to her mouth, then noticed Ji Junxin staring at it intently. She moved it away, and Ji Junxin’s gaze followed. In this situation, how could she possibly eat it?

Mi Hongdou sighed. “But I’ve already eaten half of it, do you mind?”

“I don’t mind,” Ji Junxin answered quickly, then, embarrassed, looked away.

“I’ll buy you one tomorrow, okay?” Mi Hongdou still couldn’t bring herself to give Ji Junxin her half-eaten food. It was too pitiful.

“…” The anticipation on Ji Junxin’s face faded, replaced by a faint disappointment and resignation. “Okay.”

She looked so pitiful! Mi Hongdou’s heart ached. She wondered if she could stop filming and rush back to make her a fresh one…

Naturally, that was impossible.

After another moment of hesitation, Mi Hongdou couldn’t resist the pitiful little foodie and handed her the rice roll. “If you don’t mind…” Before she could finish, the rice roll was snatched from her hand.

“Thank you!” Ji Junxin quickly took the half-eaten… sticky rice roll.

Just as Mi Hongdou thought she would eat it immediately, Ji Junxin handed it back.

“…You eat first, just save the last bite for me.” Although reluctant, Ji Junxin resolutely returned the rice roll.

How could she only save one bite for such a pitiful creature? Mi Hongdou chuckled and put the rice roll back in Ji Junxin’s hand. “It has so much filling, I’m already full after half of it, you eat it.”

Ji Junxin held the rice roll, her face burning, but she still looked at Mi Hongdou suspiciously. “Are you really full?”

Mi Hongdou nodded seriously.

“Thank you!” Ji Junxin thanked her again, then happily took a bite. Sticky rice rolls should have fried egg, sausage, and pork tenderloin, with lots of sweet and spicy sauce and salad dressing, not this dry, pickled mustard greens, youtiao, and meat floss filling! Ji Junxin was so satisfied she almost cried. She had been craving glutinous rice balls for days, but either she had left too early, and the shop wasn’t open yet, or too late, and they were sold out. Or, while filming the estate scenes, there were other people in the chauffeured car, and she was too embarrassed to ask them to make a detour. Fortunately, there was Bai Tang… Bai Tang was such a good assistant!

Seeing Ji Junxin happily eating the half-eaten rice roll, Mi Hongdou felt both apologetic and embarrassed.

She remembered a time in her previous life when Qiao Rubai, on a whim, took her and Ji Junxin to a farmhouse restaurant in the mountains. Halfway there, they had a flat tire, in the middle of nowhere, and Qiao Rubai’s car didn’t have a spare. Fortunately, although the location was remote, they had cell service. After calling for help, they could only wait in the car. Before the flat tire, Ji Junxin had said she was thirsty and wanted to have a big pot of soup at the restaurant. Now, they were stuck. As they waited, Ji Junxin’s lips became dry, and Mi Hongdou, seeing Qiao Rubai’s half-empty water bottle, suggested that Ji Junxin have some. But Qiao Rubai chuckled and said that Ji Junxin was always a bit particular, she wouldn’t touch anything that someone else, even Qiao Rubai, had already eaten or drunk. Ji Junxin had smiled and agreed. After that incident, Qiao Rubai installed a small refrigerator in her car, always stocked with food and drinks.

Mi Hongdou glanced at Ji Junxin, who was happily eating. Did this… mean that in her heart, she was now closer to her than Qiao Rubai? Mi Hongdou didn’t dare to ask, but just the thought made her feel a strange sense of happiness.

Having finally eaten the glutinous rice balls she had been craving, Ji Junxin was happy, her earlier embarrassment from begging for food now gone. After a satisfying bite, she said to Mi Hongdou, a little embarrassed, “Have some soy milk… or… do you want to go back to Jiang Lingling’s table and have some more food?”

Since Ji Junxin had already taken the rice roll and eaten it, Mi Hongdou didn’t have to pretend to be full anymore. She pointed at the other half-eaten rice roll that Ji Junxin had put aside. “Give me that one.”

“…” Ji Junxin didn’t take the rice roll, shifted uncomfortably, and after a moment, mumbled, “I… already took a bite.”

“I know, I saw it.” Seeing Ji Junxin’s awkwardness, Mi Hongdou suddenly felt better. “Give me my pickled mustard greens, youtiao, and meat floss roll back.”

Snatching food from Mi Hongdou’s mouth had already been embarrassing enough. But giving Mi Hongdou her half-eaten food was beyond the limits of Ji Junxin’s shame.

As Ji Junxin hesitated, Mi Hongdou reached over, took the rice roll, and before Ji Junxin could stop her, took a bite. “Mmm… this one is so much better…”

Too late…

Ji Junxin stopped protesting, her face burning, and focused on eating. It was her own fault, her craving had gotten the better of her… Mi Hongdou had just eaten from the same rice roll… was that… an indirect kiss? The belated realization made Ji Junxin freeze, and she choked on the food, coughing.

“Hey, are you okay?” Mi Hongdou quickly patted her back. “Eat slowly, no one’s fighting you for it.”

Right… she had also eaten from the same rice roll, so she had also… indirectly kissed Mi Hongdou? The choking Ji Junxin coughed even harder, tears welling up in her eyes, but her thoughts continued to race.

The two in the car, having indirectly kissed, although embarrassed and overthinking, were heading towards happiness. But those outside the car weren’t so lucky.

Just as the assistant and Jiang Lingling were discussing Ji Junxin’s assistant, Shen Zhu, Mi Hongdou’s message arrived.

Take Shen Zhu to the breakfast table and don’t let her leave until she’s about to burst? Jiang Lingling, at first, didn’t understand. She hadn’t known how bad the breakfast was before, but now, having tasted it, she felt that calling it “ordinary” was a compliment. She herself found it difficult to swallow, how could she enthusiastically invite someone else to eat it? But after rereading the message and recalling Mi Hongdou’s earlier suggestion of trying the breakfast… So, Mi Hongdou knew the food wasn’t good, yet she still wanted Shen Zhu to eat it, to eat until she was about to burst? What grudge did she have against her?

Regardless of the grudge, Jiang Lingling loved a good show, especially since Mi Hongdou’s message also included “I’ll reward you handsomely later.” She wasn’t short on money, so what was the reward? Jiang Lingling excitedly started planning the menu in her mind, her gaze fixed on the girl getting out of the chauffeured car, waiting for her to approach so she could quickly complete Mi Hongdou’s task.

Who knew that the girl, after getting out of the car, just glanced at Jiang Lingling and then walked in another direction.

Honey-stuffed dates, cold jellyfish salad, boiled chicken, braised beef, pickled radish, rice cakes with dates… Jiang Lingling’s mental list of cold dishes wasn’t even finished when she saw her target walking away. This wouldn’t do! She hadn’t even started on the hot dishes, soups, and desserts!

“Go, quickly invite that Shen Zhu over here, tell her Mi Hongdou asked me to treat her to breakfast.” Jiang Lingling pointed at the retreating Shen Zhu and told her assistant to quickly bring her over. “Didn’t you say she talked to you earlier? Coax her, trick her, whatever it takes, just bring her here. And make sure she eats her fill.”

“…Eating her fill is one thing, but eating here? The food isn’t very good…” The assistant muttered, then quickly ran after Shen Zhu.

Hmph, where was that timid, easily bullied assistant! Now she was even making comments! Who did she learn that from! Jiang Lingling proudly raised her chin and quickly examined the breakfast spread. She had tried several dishes earlier. Since Mi Hongdou said “take good care of her,” she should choose the most… unique ones for Shen Zhu.

While her assistant was off fetching Shen Zhu, Jiang Lingling diligently selected a few of the more… interesting dishes she had tried. But looking at the amount, it didn’t seem like enough to make someone burst. But it didn’t matter, once her assistant returned, they could choose more “delicacies.”

Shen Zhu was also unlucky. She had tried to befriend Jiang Lingling’s assistant a few days ago, so now, when the assistant approached her enthusiastically, inviting her to breakfast, she couldn’t refuse. Actually, it wasn’t the assistant she was afraid of offending, it was Jiang Lingling, who was standing by the long table in the distance.

When the assistant first invited her, Shen Zhu had used the excuse of having already eaten. Later, the assistant brought up Mi Hongdou’s name, saying that Mi Hongdou had specifically asked them to invite her. Shen Zhu, who had just had a confrontation with Mi Hongdou, didn’t dare to refuse, but she also didn’t want to go. The clever assistant, seeing that mentioning Mi Hongdou had the opposite effect, changed her tactic and brought up Jiang Lingling. Jiang Lingling rarely treated people to meals, it was an honor to be invited, if she couldn’t bring Shen Zhu back, Jiang Lingling would think she was incompetent and might even punish her… The assistant’s performance was dramatic and even a little pitiful. Shen Zhu, however, felt a cold sweat. The assistant wasn’t just talking about being punished, she was implying that if Shen Zhu refused, Jiang Lingling, with her temper, would definitely remember it.

Although she hadn’t been close to Ji Junxin, Shen Zhu regularly came to the set. Gossip spread quickly among the crew, and she knew about Jiang Lingling’s retaliation against those who had tried to make things difficult for her. In Shen Zhu’s eyes, Jiang Lingling was rich, clever, and petty, definitely not someone to be offended. Now, with the assistant’s thinly veiled threat, how could she refuse?

So, the assistant successfully brought Shen Zhu back.

Jiang Lingling greeted them with a smile and enthusiastically introduced the breakfast dishes she had selected, dry and wet, meat and vegetables. The apprehensive Shen Zhu was pressed into a seat, and in the blink of an eye, a pile of food appeared in front of her.

“That’s… enough, enough…” Seeing Jiang Lingling reaching for a basket of steamed sponge cake, Shen Zhu finally spoke. “I’ve already had breakfast, it’s too much, I can’t finish it.”

“How can you not finish it? The dim sum portions are small, and the congee and soup are just small bowls. This isn’t even enough, I’ll get you more later.” Jiang Lingling, afraid of scaring her away with too much food at once, put down the sponge cake and stopped adding more for now. Even so, there were already two bowls of congee, one bowl of wontons, two bowls of rice noodles, a bowl of thin noodles, and seven baskets of dim sum in front of Shen Zhu.

Jiang Lingling didn’t leave, just looked at her intently. Even Shen Zhu, as clueless as she was, knew that she couldn’t leave without eating. She just hoped… that Jiang Lingling only wanted her to eat some, not all of it. Clinging to this last shred of hope, Shen Zhu hesitantly picked up a piece of steamed pork ribs with black bean sauce.

Salty, fishy, and tough… Shen Zhu was stunned after one bite.

“Delicious, right?” Seeing Shen Zhu’s struggle to swallow, Jiang Lingling quickly said, “I spent a fortune buying this restaurant a few days ago and specifically asked the chefs to make this breakfast. How is it? Isn’t it amazing!” Actually, it didn’t cost that much, she just wanted to exaggerate and intimidate Shen Zhu.

Shen Zhu looked at Jiang Lingling, shocked. What kind of taste buds did she have to say such a thing? It was practically inedible, what was amazing about it!

Facing Shen Zhu’s skeptical gaze, Jiang Lingling maintained her confident and smug expression. After all, she had been quite proud of this breakfast before tasting it. She would just temporarily forget about the actual taste.

Shen Zhu looked at Jiang Lingling for a moment, realizing that she was genuinely proud of the food, and couldn’t bring herself to spit out the pork rib. Doing so would be a direct slap in Jiang Lingling’s face. Shen Zhu knew that as a small-time assistant, if she offended Jiang Lingling, her chances of survival were zero. So she endured, swallowed the pork rib, and spat out a clean bone.

Jiang Lingling smiled, pleased that the food from her restaurant was appreciated.

Shen Zhu, now trapped, avoided the pork ribs and picked up a shumai. It looked like it was just made of rice, it shouldn’t be fishy… She carefully took a bite. The skin was hard, the rice dry, the flavor bland… it was like eating a three-hundred-year-old dried rice ball… Shen Zhu chewed with difficulty, wanting to throw down her chopsticks and leave.

But…

Jiang Lingling said excitedly, “Aiya, Shen Zhu, you have such good taste, this is made by the best dim sum chef in my restaurant, delicious, right? Eat more!”

The best dim sum chef… she hadn’t even met all the chefs in her restaurant, what a liar. The assistant silently hid her face.

Shen Zhu forced a smile and swallowed the ancient rice ball.

Jiang Lingling’s smile widened.

What a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the assistant thought, her gaze distant.

Chapter 76: Sticky Rice Rolls p1

Help you, help you… what exactly couldn’t she do herself that required Shen Zhu’s help? Mi Hongdou was incredibly annoyed, but she couldn’t express her displeasure directly.

“If Sister Ji needs anything, even if I have to gnaw off my own arm, I’ll be there right away,” Shen Zhu said with a bright smile. “Putting aside my role as her assistant, I’m her fan, a super fan. If my idol asks for something, I’ll do anything~”

Shen Zhu, with her baby face and slight chubbiness, said these sweet words with a smile, then intimately linked arms with Ji Junxin, swaying slightly as if acting cute and seeking praise.

Mi Hongdou could barely maintain her smile. What was wrong with this Shen Zhu? She had seemed normal before. She had mentioned being Ji Junxin’s fan, but after Lu Gaoshi left, she hadn’t been this clingy. This shameless fawning, Mi Hongdou frowned, it felt strange.

But as a fan, having uncontrollable urges to be close to your idol was understandable. Mi Hongdou could understand, but she didn’t want to.

Shen Zhu’s arm linked with Ji Junxin’s was incredibly irritating. Mi Hongdou quickly thought of a way to take her little foodie away. But it was difficult… what was her status? Just a colleague, perhaps a friend. Just a friend, she couldn’t interfere with Ji Junxin’s relationships, especially since… Shen Zhu was officially Ji Junxin’s assistant. Even if she clung to her constantly, as long as Ji Junxin didn’t mind, she had no right to interfere.

Mi Hongdou felt helpless. This was the awkward reality, her status never matching her feelings.

Just as Shen Zhu was feeling smug, and Mi Hongdou was heartbroken, Ji Junxin, seemingly uncomfortable with Shen Zhu’s closeness, although still saying gently, “There’s no need for such dramatic pronouncements, I still need you to be a good assistant,” subtly pulled her arm away.

She thought her movement was discreet and natural, but both Mi Hongdou and Shen Zhu, their attention fixed on her, noticed it clearly.

Now it was Shen Zhu’s turn to force a smile.

It felt like two concubines competing for the emperor’s favor, Mi Hongdou thought, amused.

Seeing Ji Junxin pull away from Shen Zhu’s embrace, Mi Hongdou felt a little relieved. Ignoring Shen Zhu, she asked Ji Junxin, “Have you had breakfast?”

“No.” Ji Junxin glanced at Mi Hongdou reproachfully, went to the back seat, retrieved an insulated bag, and opened it. “Waiting for you. Didn’t you say you would be back soon? … It’s been a while… Fortunately, Bai Tang prepared this insulated bag, otherwise, you would have to eat cold breakfast.”

Ji Junxin handed Mi Hongdou the warm glutinous rice balls and soy milk.

The warmth seemed to spread from her fingertips to her heart. Although Ji Junxin was complaining about her being late, seeing her slightly annoyed expression as she searched for a straw in her bag, Mi Hongdou felt a sweetness in her heart. Could it be… was she a masochist? … Mi Hongdou was startled by her own thought and quickly took a bite of the glutinous rice balls to calm herself down.

The sticky rice, fragrant and smooth, wrapped around a fried egg, sausage, and pork tenderloin, with both sweet and spicy sauce and salad dressing, it was a satisfying mouthful.

A hearty and delicious breakfast, it should have been a moment of pure bliss, but Mi Hongdou froze after one bite.

Ji Junxin found a straw, put it aside, and picked up her own glutinous rice balls, ready to eat.

“Wait…” Mi Hongdou, her mouth full, tried to speak, but could only make muffled sounds.

She wanted to stop Ji Junxin, but how could she be faster than a starving foodie who had been waiting for this breakfast for days?

Ji Junxin took a large bite, chewed with a satisfied expression, then looked at the sticky rice roll in her hand, puzzled.

By now, Mi Hongdou had swallowed her mouthful. Looking at Ji Junxin’s confused expression, Mi Hongdou was both amused and exasperated.

“It seems… we took the wrong ones…” Mi Hongdou looked at the filling in Ji Junxin’s roll – pickled mustard greens, youtiao, and meat floss – and showed her own, “Mine has egg, sausage, and pork tenderloin…”

Ji Junxin looked at Mi Hongdou’s roll with a heartbroken expression, trying to speak, “Mine…” but her mouth was full.

Mi Hongdou understood. Looking at the pitiful little foodie who had missed out on her desired breakfast, she smiled. “You can’t blame me, you handed it to me… I realized it was wrong after one bite and wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t speak with my mouth full. But even if I had stopped you, it wouldn’t have mattered, I had already taken a bite of yours, so you could only eat mine.”

The glutinous rice balls she had been craving for days… the glutinous rice balls she specifically asked Bai Tang to buy… Ji Junxin’s head drooped, her cheeks puffed out, she didn’t even have the energy to protest.

“It’s okay. We’ll ask Bai Tang to buy more tomorrow, we’ll have it again for breakfast.” Mi Hongdou couldn’t bear to see Ji Junxin’s pitiful expression. “We’ll have glutinous rice balls for breakfast every day this week, until you’re tired of it, then we’ll change, okay?” She comforted Ji Junxin gently, her tone unconsciously indulgent.

“Sister Mi ate Sister Ji’s glutinous rice balls!” Shen Zhu said, shocked. “Although they look the same on the outside, you can always take a small bite to check the filling before eating. Sister Ji, if you don’t like it, don’t eat it, I’ll go buy you another one. Egg, sausage, and pork tenderloin, right? How many do you want?” Shen Zhu’s attentive and caring demeanor made Mi Hongdou, who had just eaten Ji Junxin’s glutinous rice balls, seem like the worst person in the world.

Shen Zhu made a move to get out of the car, glancing at Mi Hongdou, then added, as if suddenly remembering something, “Sister Mi, which kind do you want? I’ll get you one too. This time, I’ll pack them separately and label them, so you won’t mix them up again.” She said the last sentence with a playful, innocent tone.

Heh… first subtly criticizing her, then undermining Bai Tang, and finally promoting herself. Mi Hongdou, a veteran of two lifetimes in the entertainment industry, could see through Shen Zhu’s act, despite her innocent expression and cheerful tone.

Just as Mi Hongdou was about to unleash her sarcasm, Ji Junxin swallowed the glutinous rice balls and stopped Shen Zhu, shaking her head. “No, no need, it’s a long drive, and we have to get our makeup done soon, there’s no time. We’ll have it again tomorrow.” She held up the sticky rice roll and smiled slightly. “Actually, pickled mustard greens, youtiao, and meat floss isn’t bad either.”

That smile was so forced… Mi Hongdou and Shen Zhu reached a strange consensus on this.

“Shen Zhu, have you had breakfast?” Ji Junxin suddenly asked.

How to answer this to gain more points? Did “yes” or “no” earn more favor? Shen Zhu quickly calculated and gave what she thought was a neutral, safe answer: “I had… a little this morning.”

Mi Hongdou couldn’t help but criticize Ji Junxin inwardly for wasting her limited concern on someone else. But Ji Junxin’s next sentence amused her.

“Just a little? That’s not enough. It’s so cold, you should eat more.” Ji Junxin pointed at the door. “Jiang Lingling has a table full of breakfast, enough for dozens of people. Why don’t you go have some?”

Shen Zhu, not expecting this, was stunned. Before she could figure out how to refuse, Mi Hongdou, with a bright smile, pulled her away from Ji Junxin and pushed her towards the door, saying gently, “Yes, yes, you should go eat more. Tell Jiang Lingling that I sent you, she’ll take good care of you.”

I don’t want to go… Shen Zhu looked at the two, who seemed to be very eager for her to have breakfast, feeling frustrated. After Ji Junxin urged her a few more times, Shen Zhu, unwilling to disobey and lose points, finally succumbed to Mi Hongdou’s enthusiastic pushing and got out of the car.

“Hey…” As soon as Shen Zhu got out, Ji Junxin turned to Mi Hongdou, about to speak.

“Wait…” Mi Hongdou, taking out her phone and typing, ruthlessly ignored her.

Ji Junxin bit her lip, looking dejected.

[Shen Zhu, Ji Junxin’s assistant, just got out of the car. Take her to your breakfast table and don’t let her leave until she’s about to burst. I’ll reward you handsomely later.] Mi Hongdou quickly typed and sent the message to Jiang Lingling. Heh, so good with words, then eat more… Mi Hongdou wished Jiang Lingling could keep Shen Zhu eating forever, but that was just wishful thinking. For now, a little suffering would be satisfying. Mi Hongdou felt a little mischievous, she must have learned it from Jiang Lingling.

After sending the message, Mi Hongdou, feeling relieved, took a bite of her sticky rice roll and looked at Ji Junxin. “What did you want to say earlier?”

“…” Ji Junxin glanced at the half-eaten rice roll and shook her head. “Nothing…” She took a small bite of her own.

Since Ji Junxin didn’t want to talk, Mi Hongdou had a question to ask: “Your assistant, Shen Zhu, she wasn’t this… enthusiastic before, what’s going on?” She asked casually, actually wanting to know why Shen Zhu had been so clingy earlier. But considering Ji Junxin’s obliviousness, she didn’t want to draw her attention to it.

“She told me earlier that she and Xiao Zhang, my assistants, haven’t had much to do. There’s been some gossip in the company, saying they’re just getting paid for doing nothing. So she asked me to give them more tasks. After all, they’re my assistants, they should be handling my daily affairs.” Ji Junxin explained honestly, then looked at Mi Hongdou, puzzled. “But I don’t have much for them to do. We’ve been so busy filming recently, sometimes we don’t even have time to eat, so since Bai Tang is here, I asked her to get us food, that’s all. But… Bai Tang is your assistant, is it okay to always ask her to buy food for me too?”

“What’s wrong with that? Is the food Bai Tang buys not good? Or do you want to eat something different? Eat separately?” Mi Hongdou’s voice was slightly sharp, her displeasure evident. “So next time I ask Bai Tang to buy groceries and cook, you won’t eat it?”

“That’s not what I meant…” Ji Junxin hadn’t expected such a strong reaction to a simple question and didn’t know how to explain.

Mi Hongdou looked at the slightly flustered Ji Junxin, sat next to her, and sighed deeply.

What an idiot, if that Shen Zhu was truly so enthusiastic, wouldn’t she have been clinging to you earlier? Your two assistants, they just relayed messages from the director, they weren’t exactly proactive. And if she wanted to do a good job, why be so clingy? … Something was definitely off, and only you, so oblivious, couldn’t see it.

But… she had been a bit harsh earlier. Mi Hongdou frowned and took a bite of the glutinous rice balls. She should probably appease her. It wasn’t worth fighting with Ji Junxin over someone like Shen Zhu.

As Mi Hongdou was thinking this, her sleeve was tugged. She turned and saw Ji Junxin looking at her hesitantly. Mi Hongdou sighed. “I was a bit harsh earlier. I just thought, since we’re eating together anyway, it’s easier for Bai Tang to buy it for both of us, rather than having two assistants buy separately…”

Her tone was gentler, with a hint of apology. But Ji Junxin still looked hesitant and pitiful, her hand still clutching Mi Hongdou’s sleeve.

“…” Mi Hongdou patted Ji Junxin’s hand. “Okay, okay, if you want your assistants to buy food, then let them. Eat quickly, the glutinous rice balls will be hard when they’re cold.”

She thought this would appease her. After making Ji Junxin happy, she would find some tasks for her assistants, keeping them away from Ji Junxin… Mi Hongdou thought, deciding that Jiang Lingling, with her endless schemes, would be her accomplice.

“…I…” Ji Junxin started to speak, then hesitated. Mi Hongdou sensed something was wrong and looked at Ji Junxin closely. Although she was holding her sleeve, her gaze was fixed on… the sticky rice roll in her hand.

“What’s wrong?” Mi Hongdou sensed something was off, but she couldn’t guess what Ji Junxin wanted to say.

“Nothing…” Ji Junxin shook her head and released Mi Hongdou’s sleeve.

Hmph, after chatting with Shen Zhu, she was now being evasive! There were things she couldn’t tell her anymore! Mi Hongdou’s annoyance grew. Ji Junxin had hesitated for so long and still hadn’t said anything, so Mi Hongdou decided not to ask.

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.

Chapter 75: A Pig Teammate p1

The world was vast… so vast that perhaps one could live a lifetime without meeting their soulmate. The world was also small… so small that perhaps that destined person was just a few steps away.

Mi Hongdou carefully examined the author’s page. There were about ten long novels, equally divided between romance and yuri. “The Kettle and the Heart” and “Spy Game” were categorized as romance. Mi Hongdou, not wanting to jump to conclusions, read a few chapters of each and confirmed that the films were indeed adapted from these novels. So, if both Pan Xiang and Jiang Lingling were telling the truth… Pan Xiang was the sophisticated, knowledgeable older sister with long, flowing hair whom Jiang Lingling adored?

This world was truly full of surprises.

“Are you sure you don’t want to have some breakfast here?” Jiang Lingling, seeing Mi Hongdou engrossed in reading, felt a twinge of displeasure and abruptly invited her again, wanting to interrupt her. It was like owning an adorable kitten and wanting to show it off to your friends, hoping for compliments. But… if your friends, while praising the kitten, reached out to hold it, you would feel a little unhappy. That was Jiang Lingling’s current mood. She couldn’t resist showing off her favorite author’s words, but she was also reluctant to share.

“No…” Mi Hongdou waved her hand dismissively, not noticing Jiang Lingling’s subtle emotions. Sharing reading materials between friends was normal. Jiang Lingling’s thoughts were so convoluted that even Mi Hongdou, with her two lifetimes of experience, couldn’t always keep up.

No longer trying to be gentle with the world, Mi Hongdou spoke more directly, “Jiang Lingling, besides fried chicken and chicken rolls, have you tried anything else from your restaurant? It’s really… um… not very tempting.” The kind-hearted Mi Hongdou still tried to be tactful.

Jiang Lingling raised an eyebrow and glanced at the table laden with seemingly delicious food. “Really? It looks quite good, I think it’s delicious.”

“I think, in life, you can’t just rely on imagination, you have to be realistic.” Mi Hongdou’s words had a double meaning. “If you keep imagining and building up expectations, you’ll be disappointed when you face reality.”

“Pfft…” Jiang Lingling chuckled. “You’re exaggerating. It’s just food, how can I be disappointed by food? If this restaurant’s food isn’t good, I’ll just buy another one, it’s not a big deal.” Jiang Lingling thought Mi Hongdou was just joking, and Mi Hongdou was speechless. Jiang Lingling, sometimes surprisingly perceptive, had noticed her feelings for Ji Junxin, but at other times… incredibly clueless.

Seeing that her subtle hints weren’t working, Mi Hongdou hesitated. After all, what Pan Xiang had told her involved Gu Tiansheng and Director Pan, she couldn’t just reveal it to Jiang Lingling. And Jiang Lingling was just fantasizing about her favorite author. Even if she couldn’t stop her, it shouldn’t be a problem, right? Mi Hongdou thought this and decided to give up on enlightening Jiang Lingling.

But…

She still asked, “Jiang Lingling, are you in a relationship?” Seeing Jiang Lingling’s expression change, she quickly added, “Just asking, I don’t have any intentions towards you.”

So, after all this time, suffering as a single dog, being constantly tormented by CPs, you really didn’t notice anything! Jiang Lingling’s heart was deeply wounded, adding to her earlier embarrassment. She decided to ignore Mi Hongdou for now.

So, Jiang Lingling just shook her head, her face full of displeasure.

In her previous life, Jiang Lingling came out seven or eight years later, so she hadn’t met that person yet. Mi Hongdou hesitated, but she couldn’t possibly be Pan Xiang, right? After all, Jiang Lingling’s admiration for the author was based on her writing and unrealistic fantasies, just a devoted fan, at most. Mi Hongdou looked at Pan Xiang, who seemed to be still a minor, she didn’t seem like Jiang Lingling’s type. So… it couldn’t be Pan Xiang, or Jiang Lingling would have been killed by Director Pan long ago, how could she have publicly come out?

After careful analysis, Mi Hongdou concluded that there was no real relationship between Jiang Lingling and the author, Pan Xiang. Which meant that Jiang Lingling could fantasize all she wanted, there was no chance of heartbreak. Mi Hongdou was relieved and mentally awarded herself a small red flower for her friendship.

But fate and love, how could they be accurately predicted by others?

“It’s okay, you’ll find someone eventually,” Mi Hongdou comforted the seemingly dejected Jiang Lingling.

Jiang Lingling scoffed. “Look who’s talking, you and Ji Junxin haven’t made any progress either, and you’re telling me I’ll find someone?”

“I haven’t…” Mentioning Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou instinctively wanted to deny it again, but seeing Jiang Lingling’s knowing smirk, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. “…Hmph, mind your own business!” Unable to deny it, she could only resort to stubbornness.

Tsk, still playing tough… Jiang Lingling pointed at Mi Hongdou’s phone. “Mind my own business? And you’re asking me for information? If you’re so capable, why don’t you pursue her yourself, without reading guides?”

“Who said I’m researching to pursue her?” Mi Hongdou’s heart sank, her voice tinged with despair. “I’ve never thought about… being with her.”

Jiang Lingling almost dropped her chicken roll in shock. Fortunately, she caught it. Otherwise, she would be heartbroken. There were only two chicken rolls this morning, she had already eaten one, and if she dropped this half, it would be gone.

No, no, the chicken roll wasn’t important right now.

“You’ve never thought about being with her? Are you just playing with her? Mi Hongdou, if you’re that kind of person, we can’t be friends!” Jiang Lingling looked at Mi Hongdou with a condemning expression, practically accusing her of being inhuman.

Mi Hongdou was also shocked. “When did I say I was just playing with her? I mean, I’m not planning to let her know I like her, I’m not planning to be with her.” She glanced at Jiang Lingling. “But you were right about one thing, if you keep making assumptions about me, we really can’t be friends.”

“Why?” Jiang Lingling looked confused. “You clearly like her, why not let her know, why not be together? I think you two are a good match. Although… your names, you and your assistant Bai Tang, sound more compatible.”

“Jiang Lingling, can you stop making assumptions? Do you think there are so many women in this world who like other women? Look around, look at the bigger picture, same-sex relationships are rare. In such a small crew, there’s me, there’s you, that’s already enough.” Well, perhaps there was also Pan Xiang, who wrote so many yuri novels and whose sexual orientation was unclear, but Mi Hongdou was too tired to comment. “It’s not just about my feelings. Ji Junxin… she’s not…” Every word, although directed at Jiang Lingling, felt like a knife twisting in her own heart. The last sentence was especially difficult to say, but as soon as she said it, Mi Hongdou suddenly felt, yes, this was the truth, the painful truth she had to face.

Jiang Lingling was stunned by Mi Hongdou’s words. After a while, she asked, “How do you know I am? I don’t even know myself… and how do you know Ji Junxin isn’t?”

“…I just know.” Mi Hongdou stubbornly said, waving her hand, not wanting to continue this painful topic, and turned to leave. How could she not know? In her previous life, Jiang Lingling had joyfully and publicly come out, receiving her family’s blessings. And Ji Junxin had been with Zhang Zijing. Although it seemed that their relationship had been nipped in the bud by her and Qiao Rubai in this life, Ji Junxin was still… heterosexual.

Jiang Lingling opened her mouth, but this time, she didn’t call Mi Hongdou back. She was a little startled, not by Mi Hongdou’s words, but by the sudden sadness and exhaustion on her face.

No matter how much she liked Ji Junxin, how much she wanted to be with her, she wouldn’t force her… In Mi Hongdou’s eyes, Ji Junxin deserved a better fate. In this life, she would do her best to ensure that Ji Junxin had a good relationship, a good marriage, a happy family, and a lovely child… Mi Hongdou walked towards the chauffeured car, every step a stab of pain in her heart, but her steps were firm and resolute.

Wasn’t it said that eighty percent of people were bisexual, and another ten percent homosexual? That was ninety percent! Why was Mi Hongdou so certain that Ji Junxin belonged to the remaining ten percent? Jiang Lingling, holding her chicken roll, looked at her phone, she couldn’t understand.

So engrossed in this question, Jiang Lingling didn’t even consider why Mi Hongdou had so readily categorized her as part of the ten percent homosexual population.

Perhaps, stupidity was contagious.

Mi Hongdou left, leaving behind two unsolvable mysteries. Jiang Lingling watched her retreating figure for a long time, then turned and went back to the table laden with food.

She looked at the half-eaten chicken roll in her hand, then at the food on the table, then at her assistant, who had finished her steamed bun and was now eating congee, and after a moment of thought, walked over.

“Is it good?” Jiang Lingling asked bluntly, standing before her assistant.

The assistant swallowed the congee and hesitated, her face crumpling in a conflicted expression.

Jiang Lingling tapped the table. “Tell me the truth.”

The assistant sighed. “Since you asked, Miss Jiang, I’ll tell you… the steamed bun had thick skin and little filling, the dough wasn’t properly proofed, it was too dense, the filling was dry and bland. The vegetable congee had too many chopped stems, which were overcooked and too soft, it ruined the texture and tasted strongly of vegetables. They added dried shrimp, but the shells weren’t removed properly, and there wasn’t enough cooking wine, it tasted a little fishy.” She finished in one breath, glanced at the stunned Jiang Lingling, then quickly buried her face in her bowl and started eating, trying to minimize her presence.

A hand reached out and snatched the bowl away. Jiang Lingling sniffed the congee. It did have a slight shrimpy smell, but it couldn’t be as bad as her assistant described, right? “If it’s so bad, why are you still eating it?” she asked, puzzled.

The assistant glanced at the congee in Jiang Lingling’s hand, didn’t argue, but quickly went to the table, found an untouched bowl of congee and a clean spoon, and brought them back to Jiang Lingling.

Jiang Lingling hesitantly took a spoonful, blew on it, and ate it.

Then… she didn’t spit it out, of course, but her expression was slightly distorted.

After swallowing the strangely flavored congee, Jiang Lingling had to admit that her assistant had been very polite and reserved in her description. A bowl of vegetable congee, the stems not cooked properly was one thing, but why add dried shrimp? And if you added dried shrimp, why not add something to remove the fishy smell? It was incredibly fishy.

“It’s so disgusting, and you’re still eating it! Are you stupid!” Jiang Lingling repeated her earlier question, but this time, it wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

“It’s okay,” the assistant said calmly. “Yesterday’s stir-fried vegetables had half a box of minced garlic, the curry shrimp had the veins still in them, and the braised pork… was incredibly tough. Compared to those, this congee and steamed bun are edible.”

“…” Jiang Lingling was stunned. “It can’t be that bad. I sent a lot to Mi Hongdou, Ji Junxin, and even Director Pan yesterday. They didn’t complain.”

“Of course not.” The assistant looked at Jiang Lingling reproachfully. “I tried every dish yesterday before giving them the edible ones. And even those weren’t very good. As for what I ate… hehe…”

“You… why didn’t you tell me? I only had the fried chicken, and it was quite good.” Jiang Lingling was puzzled. “Why didn’t you tell me if it wasn’t good?”

The assistant was silent for a moment, then said, “Because after we moved to the estate, Miss Jiang, you were so happy about buying the restaurant, saying we could have food delivered from there, convenient and affordable, so clever. Seeing how happy you were… I didn’t want to ruin your mood by complaining about the food.”

Jiang Lingling was speechless. “But the food is so bad! If you don’t tell me, I might send it to other people, and then I’ll be the one being laughed at! Are you stupid!”

“…Miss Jiang, you promoted the chef who made you the chicken roll to head chef, and he has a discretionary budget. I’ve already suggested that he invite some skilled chefs from other restaurants to train them.” The assistant said seriously. “But it seems to have had no effect so far.”

“Of course not, culinary skills can’t be improved in just a few days!” Jiang Lingling put down her congee and picked up a shrimp dumpling. The taste was… incredibly ordinary, and bland.

The assistant, feeling defeated, lowered her head.

Jiang Lingling tried the steamed intestines with rice noodles, shumai, preserved egg and lean meat congee, and mashed potatoes with rice noodles… There were many flaws. They were edible, but truly ordinary, she didn’t even want a second bite. Thinking about the two baskets of shrimp dumplings she had enthusiastically given to Pan Xiang, Jiang Lingling felt a little sick.

But… looking at her pitiful assistant, she couldn’t bring herself to scold her. “Sigh, next time, just tell me. Hiring chefs to train them won’t improve the food quickly. Tell me, and I can find other solutions, like poaching chefs, or buying a new restaurant. We don’t have to eat this food anyway.” Jiang Lingling couldn’t bear to scold her, but she still had to make things clear.

“Mr. Dong said… Miss Jiang is busy filming recently, and I should learn to share your burdens.” The assistant’s face fell. “But I messed up again… will you fire me, Miss Jiang?”

“No.” Jiang Lingling smiled. “It’s okay, just remember to tell me these things in the future. I don’t need you to be super capable, just loyal. Like before, locking those troublesome actors in the bathroom, adding salt to their food, we worked well together, didn’t we?” Jiang Lingling said comfortingly.

The assistant cheered up a little. “Next time, we can put wasabi in their vegetables.”

“Yes, good idea.” Jiang Lingling smiled and nodded seriously. “See, you’re quite capable. Much better than Mi Hongdou’s assistant, Bai Tang. That assistant disappeared for months, at least you’re here helping me.”

The assistant thought about it and realized it was true. As an assistant, she was quite qualified. Her mood improved, and she and Jiang Lingling happily discussed whether to buy a new restaurant or poach some chefs.

Chapter 74: Not My Type p2

Jiang Lingling’s words were like a hundred thunderbolts, striking Mi Hongdou. She choked, almost fainting from anger. She didn’t know whether to ask Jiang Lingling why she thought she and Ji Junxin were a couple, or to criticize her for being so self-absorbed.

She just wanted to look at the world with gentleness, why was it so difficult! Mi Hongdou patted her chest, trying to calm down.

“Are you… okay… was I too direct?” Jiang Lingling asked with concern. “Should I… rephrase it more subtly?”

No! Mi Hongdou, speechless, turned away from this idiot, one hand on her chest, the other weakly raised in a gesture of “stop.”

Jiang Lingling mistook her trembling hand for sadness and felt a pang of guilt… “Xiaomi, you’re a good person, beautiful, talented, a good cook, and a good person, everyone likes you, anyone would be lucky to have you as their girlfriend.” Jiang Lingling earnestly listed Mi Hongdou’s merits, then changed her tone, “Although… I also want to be in a relationship. But… your type, the domesticated, homebody type, isn’t really my preference. If you really want to try… then…” Seeing that she had upset Mi Hongdou, Jiang Lingling didn’t dare to be too harsh. But the thought of trying a relationship with Mi Hongdou… she really wasn’t her type, it was a difficult situation.

Mi Hongdou, exasperated, laughed. “Jiang Lingling, that’s enough. Which eye of yours saw me liking you?”

Jiang Lingling seriously pointed at her right eye, then her left.

She wanted to hit someone! Mi Hongdou, her face furious, pointed at Jiang Lingling’s eyes. “I’ll gouge them out!”

Jiang Lingling quickly stepped back, shocked: “You’re turning from love to hate so quickly? You were just looking at me so gently! And now you want to gouge out my eyes! Mi Hongdou, don’t be like this! Can’t we still be friends!”

“We’re no longer friends!” Mi Hongdou put on a fierce expression. “I’m thinking about how to kill you and silence you!”

Tsk… Jiang Lingling wasn’t scared by Mi Hongdou’s fake fierceness, it looked too unconvincing. “I think we can still be friends. But if you think it will make you unhappy or sad, then forget it.” Jiang Lingling made a final attempt. “But you gave up on pursuing Ji Junxin, and you’re still friends, right? Is the difference between giving up and being rejected that significant to you?”

The mention of Ji Junxin calmed Mi Hongdou’s anger slightly.

Looking at Jiang Lingling’s serious expression, seemingly trying to maintain her pride but unable to hide her hurt feelings, Mi Hongdou sighed… although she didn’t understand Jiang Lingling’s logic, she clearly had to bring her back to reality.

“Jiang Lingling, I don’t like you, I’m not pursuing you, I don’t have any romantic feelings for you, and I’m not particularly interested in you.” Mi Hongdou’s expression was serious. “I’m being serious, do you understand?”

“So you’re just saving face because I rejected you?” Although Jiang Lingling didn’t find Mi Hongdou attractive, her eagerness to deny everything still hurt her pride.

Mi Hongdou almost choked again. She took a few deep breaths and replied seriously, “No, from the beginning, I’ve only ever seen you as a friend. I don’t know why you misunderstood, but I can assure you, it’s just a misunderstanding.” She paused, then, thinking that using Jiang Lingling’s logic might be more effective, added, “You’re really not my type either, really. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

So Mi Hongdou meant that she had been overthinking too much? Jiang Lingling felt like she had taken 10,000 points of damage.

“But your gaze just now, it was so gentle, just like how you used to look at Ji Junxin! Don’t you like me?” Her pride made her argue, she wasn’t being delusional!

It was all because of her gaze… Mi Hongdou, now calmer, sighed. “It’s my fault. I was just trying to look at the world with gentleness today… and you misunderstood.” It seemed she could no longer be gentle with this world!

Jiang Lingling looked at Mi Hongdou with disbelief.

Mi Hongdou, her expression serious, explained, “Really, I looked at everyone like that today. You can ask Ji Junxin… ask Bai Tang… and the driver who drove us here. Well, if they noticed.” She wanted to offer Jiang Lingling her heart as proof.

Why did she keep wanting to offer her heart as proof recently? It was tiring. But she had to clear up this misunderstanding, it was too ridiculous.

With so many witnesses, it would be too much to continue doubting. Jiang Lingling hesitantly asked, “So, I misunderstood?”

Mi Hongdou nodded vigorously: “Yes.”

Jiang Lingling narrowed her eyes: “So, you were really trying to be gentle with the world today?”

Mi Hongdou continued nodding: “Yes.”

Jiang Lingling smiled: “So, you really looked at Ji Junxin, Bai Tang, the driver, and me, with gentleness?”

Mi Hongdou nodded sincerely: “Yes.”

Jiang Lingling suddenly asked, “So you don’t like me, you like Ji Junxin.”

Mi Hongdou’s nod froze midway, the words caught in her throat. When they finally came out, they became: “I really don’t like you.”

“Tsk…” Jiang Lingling was displeased. “She’s not taking the bait.”

Jiang Lingling’s current tactic was the same as hers last night, but at least she had used fried meatballs as bait, Jiang Lingling was trying to get something for nothing. In her dreams. Mi Hongdou praised her own quick wit.

But before she could finish celebrating, Jiang Lingling continued, “Even if you don’t admit it, it’s okay. I’ve already seen through your feelings for Ji Junxin. I was wondering why you suddenly gave up on her and turned to me, you’re not that fickle. And…” she suddenly slapped her thigh, “I’m such an idiot! I was so focused on your strangely gentle gaze towards me that I forgot, you looked at Ji Junxin with the same gentleness today. So you really were trying to be gentle with the world today? Suddenly looking at the world with the eyes of a lover, Mi Hongdou, you’re definitely crazy!”

Jiang Lingling’s every sentence was full of flaws, too many to even address! Mi Hongdou didn’t know whether to be grateful that Jiang Lingling finally believed she didn’t like her or to argue about whether she was crazy. As for her and Ji Junxin… Mi Hongdou’s eyes dimmed, she wasn’t sure if Jiang Lingling was just randomly commenting or if she had actually seen through her.

If it were anyone else, saying she liked Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou would have dismissed it as nonsense. But it was Jiang Lingling, that was different. After all, in her previous life, Jiang Lingling had come out publicly, she was a lesbian. It was possible that she could see through her hidden feelings. So, had she been too careless? …

Mi Hongdou’s silence made Jiang Lingling feel a little embarrassed. She had insulted Mi Hongdou several times today… well, even if she truly thought Mi Hongdou was crazy, she shouldn’t have been so harsh. If you’re sick… you should see a doctor. Jiang Lingling sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called you crazy. But you’re acting so strangely today, are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?”

Mi Hongdou was shocked. Jiang Lingling’s earlier comments about her being crazy weren’t just casual remarks, she genuinely thought she was sick! Was she insane! Who was the woman who tamed her in her previous life? She was a savior of humanity!

Not wanting to argue with someone whose imagination could break through the heavens, Mi Hongdou waved her hand. “I’m really fine, I just wanted to be gentle with the world today, and now it’s clear that I was wrong. I’ll just be my usual straightforward self.” Especially with you… Mi Hongdou glanced at the chauffeured car in the distance and turned back to Jiang Lingling, saying seriously, “Anyway, the misunderstanding is cleared up now. I really don’t like you, and you really don’t like me, we’re still friends. To compensate for scaring you today, I’ll treat you to dinner when our schedules are less hectic…”

Before Mi Hongdou could finish, Jiang Lingling’s eyes, which had dimmed from her own delusional thoughts, suddenly lit up. “I want to eat pig…”

“Okay, pig it is. No ordering specific dishes.” Mi Hongdou quickly interrupted her, then added, “Anyway, the misunderstanding is cleared up. And don’t talk nonsense about me and Ji Junxin.” She felt a little guilty saying the last sentence, but she had to warn her.

“I wasn’t talking nonsense.” Jiang Lingling straightened up, her posture unwavering despite the mention of food. “I saw through you long ago. At that time, you probably didn’t even realize you had a crush on Ji Junxin. I was even thinking about giving you a hint. But then you seemed to have realized it yourself, so I didn’t interfere. So, how are things progressing between you and Ji Junxin?” Jiang Lingling asked, her eyes gleaming with gossip.

Mi Hongdou’s face was full of black lines. She couldn’t help but say, “Jiang Lingling, why are you so blunt? Like just now, saying I like you, you just blurted it out, don’t you think this kind of feeling between two girls…” Shouldn’t this kind of feeling be kept hidden deep inside? … Mi Hongdou stopped mid-sentence, remembering that Jiang Lingling had publicly come out in her previous life. There was no point in criticizing her.

In her previous life, watching Jiang Lingling’s public statement, Mi Hongdou had admired her courage. She was a successful businesswoman, thriving in the entertainment industry, and she had the courage to be open about her sexual orientation. But now, trapped in her own secret crush, recalling Jiang Lingling’s actions, besides admiration, she also felt… envy. Envy for her courage, and envy… that she could be with the woman she loved.

“What about feelings between two girls?” Jiang Lingling, of course, didn’t know what Mi Hongdou was thinking and just continued the conversation.

“Nothing…” Mi Hongdou shook her head, no longer wanting to argue.

But Jiang Lingling wouldn’t let her off the hook. She thought for a moment and seemed to understand what Mi Hongdou had wanted to say. Having missed the opportunity to enlighten Mi Hongdou earlier, she now had another chance to be her life mentor! Jiang Lingling was so excited that she practically vibrated with energy.

“Wait!” She took out her phone, typed something, cleared her throat, and said with a serious expression, “It is said that in this world, eighty percent of people are bisexual, ten percent are homosexual, and only the remaining ten percent are purely heterosexual. So, if one day, you find yourself developing feelings for someone of the same sex, don’t panic, don’t be afraid, you’re not abnormal, you’ve just met someone you like. Don’t be ashamed, don’t be cowardly, in this world, all love is equal. Don’t be afraid, learn to protect yourself, protect the person you like, and love bravely, you will find the most beautiful love in this world.” Jiang Lingling, in full life mentor mode, concluded, “Do you understand?”

“What do you even read? …” Mi Hongdou was speechless. “It sounds like… a motivational speech.”

“Tsk! I read yuri novels, of course!” Jiang Lingling said sarcastically. “You obviously don’t read! Uncultured! You’re a lesbian yourself, and you don’t even actively seek out information, you just secretly pine! Pine! Pine!”

Secretly pining offended you? Why don’t you find someone to secretly pine for! Mi Hongdou’s face was full of black lines.

Mi Hongdou resisted the urge to retort. Jiang Lingling seemed… experienced. Although she was often unreliable, she was still better than her, who, even after two lifetimes, only vaguely understood what yuri was, having never read any yuri novels, watched any yuri films, or… whatever.

The night before, before turning off the lights, Ji Junxin had suddenly said that her gaze was gentle… Mi Hongdou had tossed and turned all night, thinking that at this rate, she would be exposed. But she couldn’t bring herself to be cold and distant towards Ji Junxin. Especially after having hurt the little foodie with the fried meatball incident, she had just managed to appease her, the wound probably still fresh, she needed to make amends, to give her more love, how could she suddenly become distant? If she couldn’t control her gaze towards Ji Junxin, then she could only… Mi Hongdou thought that if she looked at everyone with the same gentle gaze, then perhaps Ji Junxin wouldn’t notice anything different when she looked at her. She thought this and did this. And then, early this morning, her plan was ruined by the self-absorbed Jiang Lingling.

Having caused such a mess, she could no longer be gentle with the world. That bowl of chicken soup earlier, for Mi Hongdou, whose knowledge of yuri was limited, had been barely palatable. Now, she hoped Jiang Lingling had some more practical advice. If she could learn something to resolve her current predicament, that would be great…

So, Mi Hongdou hesitantly reached out. “Then, can I… see what you were reading earlier?”

As soon as she said this, it was Jiang Lingling who became hesitant.

Jiang Lingling clutched her phone, not handing it over.

Mi Hongdou looked at her innocently, puzzled.

“Sigh… okay, okay, let you see.” After much hesitation, Jiang Lingling reluctantly handed over her phone, as if she was being forced to give up a piece of her flesh. “Here, this is a website called Jinjiang, and it has all kinds of books…”

Mi Hongdou stared at the green interface.

“This is my favorite author. The passage I read to you earlier, she wrote it.” Jiang Lingling hesitantly opened an author’s page. “She writes both romance and yuri. But many readers say her romance novels are more like pure love or yuri, not really romance. But she’s still a great author. Just take a look… and don’t try to steal her from me.” Jiang Lingling said seriously and took back her phone.

“I didn’t even see clearly…” Mi Hongdou felt like she had heard Jiang Lingling’s words somewhere before. Before she could react, Jiang Lingling took back her phone.

“Did you see the website? The author’s name?” Jiang Lingling asked, her tone a bit arrogant. “You can search it yourself, don’t use my phone. I have many secrets on my phone. And this author is amazing, don’t try to steal her from me!”

“Heh… as if she’s yours.” Mi Hongdou complained and took out her own phone, typing the website address.

“Hmph, although she’s not mine, I love her. I can’t stop wild fans, but I can stop the fans I recommend.” Jiang Lingling, watching Mi Hongdou type the author’s name, felt a pang. Another fan to share her beloved author with, how annoying. She shouldn’t have tried to be a life mentor.

Mi Hongdou slowly typed the author’s name and smiled. “I haven’t even read anything yet, and you already think I’ll become her fan?”

“Of course.” Jiang Lingling said proudly. “My goddess writes amazing stories, captivating plots, and profound life lessons. Just reading her work, you know she’s a smart, intelligent, elegant, and refined older sister with long, flowing hair!”

“Have you even seen her photo?” Mi Hongdou finished typing and pressed search.

“No…” This answer made Jiang Lingling slightly deflated, but she quickly recovered. “But I can tell from her writing that she’s definitely that kind of cultured, profound, and sophisticated older sister! Perhaps a teacher, or a white-collar worker… a little older than us, otherwise, she couldn’t write such deep things!”

Mi Hongdou had now successfully entered the author’s page.

…So, what were “The Kettle and the Heart” and “Spy Game” doing in her list of works!

Mi Hongdou showed her phone to Jiang Lingling. “These two are…?” she asked, pointing at the titles.

“Those are her novels, romance, but the readers all say they’re BL disguised as romance.” Jiang Lingling smiled and pointed at the film reel icons next to the titles. “See these icons? They’ve been adapted into films.”

“This author, the one you love, the profound, sophisticated older sister with long hair, a little older than you?” Mi Hongdou asked again, her expression conflicted.

Jiang Lingling nodded proudly.

Mi Hongdou looked towards the set, at Pan Xiang, who was sitting next to Director Pan, her hair in a bun, carrying a colorful backpack, looking youthful and energetic as she ate shrimp dumplings, the “little girl” Jiang Lingling had just mentioned.

Imagination… could really be deadly…

Chapter 74: Not My Type p1

With a shortened filming schedule, the daily workload increased. The most difficult scene to film was always the first one in the morning. The high-intensity filming, coupled with the frequent NGs, exhausted both the actors and the crew. Waking up early was a struggle, and even after waking up, they looked like they could collapse from exhaustion at any moment.

This had been going on for two months. They said it took twenty-one days to form a new habit. Although everyone was still sleepy every morning, they had gotten used to dragging themselves to the set.

Many envied the glamorous life and high income of actors, but few knew that a few seconds of footage on screen might be the result of an entire morning of NGs on set. There was no such thing as effortless success, only unseen hard work.

During the early palace scenes in Shudian, there were many love scenes between the emperor and the concubines, or scenes of the concubines scheming against each other, interspersed throughout the script. So, despite the tight schedule, Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou could sometimes sleep in. But the estate scenes were different. The young empress and Miao Qianye were the main characters, forget about sleeping in, almost eighty percent of the scenes involved them, they had no time to rest.

The two, who hadn’t slept well despite the comforting meatball soup and hot water bottles, dragged themselves out of bed when the alarm rang. Fortunately, they had returned early the previous afternoon and had a long nap, otherwise, they would definitely have dark circles.

They had to wake up early to make it to the remote estate location. When Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou arrived, the crew was already there, the hardest working group of all. Everyone looked tired. Mi Hongdou flipped through the script, saw that Jiang Duo was in several of the morning scenes, and understood the reason for their grim expressions.

The first person Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou saw upon arriving was Jiang Lingling. There was no way to miss her. She was surrounded by a table laden with food, waving at them enthusiastically. She was too conspicuous to ignore.

Having filmed together for two or three months and shared several meals, they were much more familiar with each other now. So, they walked over to Jiang Lingling.

“Have you had breakfast? Join me!” Jiang Lingling, holding a chicken roll, greeted them enthusiastically.

Mi Hongdou stopped by the table and saw several clay pots filled with wontons, noodles, and various kinds of congee. There were also steaming baskets, neatly stacked, with labels indicating their contents: steamed buns, dumplings, cakes, even sticky rice chicken, steamed pork ribs with black bean sauce, and chicken feet.

“Congee, soup, dim sum, take whatever you like.” Jiang Lingling patted the table laden with breakfast items. “This table is custom-made, it can heat the food, so everything is still warm.”

Mi Hongdou hadn’t noticed earlier, but now, looking closely, it was true… the table looked like a large stainless steel box, not an ordinary table.

“Lots of variety, help yourselves. Want some shrimp dumplings? I just gave Pan Xiang two baskets.” Jiang Lingling pointed towards the set. “There’s a lot, there should be several baskets left. Want to try some?”

“Pan Xiang? Didn’t she go back to Jiang City yesterday afternoon?” Mi Hongdou looked in the direction Jiang Lingling pointed and saw Pan Xiang next to Director Pan.

Jiang Lingling chuckled. “That little girl, she’s so unlucky. She was notified that there was something at school this morning, so she took Qiong Yu’s car back to Jiang City yesterday afternoon. But after driving for about an hour, the school informed her that it was postponed. So she had to drive back. Two hours wasted. Heh, that’s why I offered her shrimp dumplings earlier.” Jiang Lingling looked smug.

“…” Mi Hongdou forced a smile.

“Bai Tang bought us breakfast.” Ji Junxin, after examining the food on the table, pointed at the chauffeured car nearby, politely declining Jiang Lingling’s offer.

“Who’s Bai Tang?” Jiang Lingling was first shocked that Ji Junxin would refuse so much food, then surprised by the name. It sounded… strangely fitting with Mi Hongdou’s name, like a bowl of red bean soup with a sprinkle of sugar. Could it be… Mi Hongdou’s new girlfriend? Jiang Lingling looked at Ji Junxin sympathetically, then her speculative gaze landed on Mi Hongdou.

“Bai Tang is my assistant.” Mi Hongdou smiled at Jiang Lingling and explained gently. “She bought us glutinous rice balls and soy milk for breakfast. We were just taking a walk before going back to eat.”

Jiang Lingling’s expression was suspicious. “Mi Hongdou, you have an assistant? I thought you were always alone. Last time, it was that manager, Yang Lianyi, and now it’s this assistant, Bai Tang.”

Heh… it was all because of Yang Lianyi, who had been neglecting her for months, she didn’t even know what she was busy with. But it hadn’t been inconvenient. Mi Hongdou kept her complaints to herself and maintained a gentle smile towards Jiang Lingling. “Bai Tang was mostly at Mengguan for assistant training. She recently finished and came to work with me. I don’t have much for her to do, just helping me with errands and things.”

An assistant who was being trained at the company instead of working with the artist? Jiang Lingling looked at her own assistant, who was gnawing on a steamed bun in the distance. Shouldn’t assistants always be with their artists? A single dog couldn’t understand the CP life, which didn’t require light bulbs.

Something felt off… Jiang Lingling thought about Mi Hongdou’s words, but couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. So, she let it go and continued her enthusiastic invitation, “Just glutinous rice balls and soy milk is too simple, why not eat here? There’s so much food, there must be something you like.”

Mi Hongdou’s gaze lingered on the chicken roll in Jiang Lingling’s hand, and she asked with a smile, “Did your restaurant send all this breakfast?”

Jiang Lingling nodded. “Yes, I bought a restaurant, I have to make use of it.”

“Besides chicken rolls, have you tried anything else from your restaurant? I mean, dishes they actually make, not the ones I cooked.” Mi Hongdou’s gaze was patient and gentle.

“Let me think…” Jiang Lingling didn’t quite understand Mi Hongdou’s sudden change of topic, but she still thought about it and replied, “The first time, I had a chicken roll. The second time, yesterday at lunch, I had some fried chicken, and… a chicken roll. The third time…” She held up the half-eaten chicken roll in her hand.

A conversation with a chicken roll addict was truly exhausting. Mi Hongdou’s expression and voice were gentle. “Why don’t you try something else? Besides fried chicken and chicken rolls?” Thinking that she had subtly hinted at it, Mi Hongdou smiled at Jiang Lingling. “We’ll go back and eat our glutinous rice balls. Ji Junxin has been craving it for days.” She glanced at Ji Junxin and turned to leave.

Jiang Lingling froze, then suddenly realized what was off today!

“Mi Hongdou!”

Just as Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin took a few steps towards the chauffeured car, Jiang Lingling’s voice came from behind them.

Why… so enthusiastic?

They turned around.

Jiang Lingling waved at Mi Hongdou. “Mi Hongdou, come here, I need to talk to you.” Then she waved at Ji Junxin. “You go eat your glutinous rice balls, it won’t be good when it’s cold!”

Ji Junxin looked at Mi Hongdou hesitantly.

“You go ahead and eat, I’ll be there soon.” Mi Hongdou’s voice was soft and gentle, incredibly comforting to Ji Junxin.

Okay… Although she wasn’t happy about going alone, Ji Junxin obediently returned to the car.

Mi Hongdou walked back to the table, her gaze gentle, her expression friendly, waiting for Jiang Lingling to speak.

But Jiang Lingling, after calling her over, didn’t say anything, just walked around Mi Hongdou, scrutinizing her.

Mi Hongdou frowned, then relaxed, her gentle gaze following Jiang Lingling’s movements. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you wanted to talk to me?”

Mi Hongdou’s voice was calm and gentle, her words clear and measured, like she was reading aloud.

Jiang Lingling shivered uncomfortably. “Mi Hongdou, did you take the wrong medicine today?”

“…” Mi Hongdou’s lips twitched, but she maintained her smile. “No.”

“If you didn’t take the wrong medicine, then why are you looking at me like that!” Jiang Lingling suddenly jumped back a few steps and looked at Mi Hongdou warily. “Tell me, what are your intentions!”

That suffocating gentleness was usually reserved for Ji Junxin. Why was Mi Hongdou looking at her with the same gentle gaze today! Could it be… Jiang Lingling’s imagination ran wild.

“No intentions…” Mi Hongdou’s smile almost cracked. “If you have nothing to say, I’ll be going.” She smiled at Jiang Lingling and turned to leave.

“Wait…” Jiang Lingling jumped back, blocking her way. “Did something happen to you? Why are you looking at me so strangely? Do you have a problem? Tell me, and I’ll help you.” Mi Hongdou must have encountered something very difficult, a huge emotional blow, to be acting so strangely today! She had to save her! Jiang Lingling praised her own friendship.

“Nothing happened.” Mi Hongdou smiled patiently.

“…” Jiang Lingling was silent. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink… “Okay, if you need anything, you can always come to me.” She sighed and stepped aside, no longer blocking Mi Hongdou, and went back to her chicken roll.

“Hey…” This time, it was Mi Hongdou who called out to Jiang Lingling.

Jiang Lingling turned around.

“Is my gaze really that strange?” Mi Hongdou asked hesitantly, her expression no longer just gentle.

Jiang Lingling stopped and answered seriously: “Very strange.”

“…” Mi Hongdou’s expression was a mixture of confusion and anticipation. “What kind of strange? I mean, what do you think my gaze towards you is like?”

Jiang Lingling looked at Mi Hongdou with disdain. “Don’t think that just because you looked at me gently, I would have any ideas about you. You’re not my type.” All inappropriate feelings should be nipped in the bud. Jiang Lingling ruthlessly rejected Mi Hongdou. There was no possibility between them. She should go back to pursuing her little foodie!

Mi Hongdou was shocked: “Jiang Lingling, are you crazy!”

“No, I’m serious.” Jiang Lingling’s expression was firm. “Although Ji Junxin seems a bit slow, you can’t just give up so easily. I was rooting for you two, don’t change your target midway. And I really don’t like your type.” She looked at Mi Hongdou, whose face had suddenly turned pale, with concern and added, “I’m flattered to be your target. We can still be friends.”

Mi Hongdou, looking at Jiang Lingling’s serious expression, felt a mix of heat and cold, almost spitting out blood. … If she could spit blood, she would spit it on this narcissistic lunatic!

Chapter 73: Another Hug

The pillow was removed, revealing Ji Junxin huddled in the corner of the sofa, her eyes and nose red, tears clinging to her lashes, threatening to spill with every blink.

Mi Hongdou’s grip on the pillow tightened, leaving two dents in the fluffy surface.

“I…” Mi Hongdou tried to speak, but the single syllable came out strained and unnatural.

Ji Junxin’s lips trembled, her expression full of wronged vulnerability, as she silently looked at Mi Hongdou. She seemed to be holding back her tears after the pillow was taken away, a silent, unspoken sense of injustice more heartbreaking than any outburst.

That one look made Mi Hongdou’s heart clench, her mind go blank, her voice lost, as if she were no longer herself.

How could she, the one who had vowed to protect and cherish Ji Junxin, be the one to make her cry?

Nothing was more disheartening and self-reproachful than hurting the person you treasured the most.

Sadness and guilt almost made Mi Hongdou put the pillow back, as if by not seeing it, by not knowing, she could deny Ji Junxin’s sadness, deny her own unforgivable mistake. But she didn’t.

“I wasn’t lying…” Mi Hongdou steadied her voice, but her grip on the pillow trembled slightly. Avoiding the issue wasn’t an option, comforting the pitiful little foodie was the priority.

Mi Hongdou’s expression was patient and sincere, but Ji Junxin just looked at her silently, without responding. She pulled her knees closer, her arms, which had been clutching the pillow, now wrapped around her legs, her entire body curled up in the corner of the sofa.

Although Ji Junxin didn’t speak, her actions spoke volumes.

This defensive posture almost broke Mi Hongdou’s heart. Only those who cared would feel hurt, only those who had been close would erect defenses, Mi Hongdou knew this. But at this moment, she didn’t have time to rejoice in Ji Junxin’s implicit display of affection, because she knew that if she didn’t resolve this quickly, their newly formed bond might shatter, beyond repair. This wasn’t the ending she wanted…

Having experienced Ji Junxin’s cuteness and coquettishness, who would want to be just a food buddy!

“Listen to me…” Mi Hongdou put down the pillow and moved closer to Ji Junxin. “Do you remember, I told you before that I’ve liked you for a long time, that I’ve been your fan for a very long time? I remember, two years ago, a magazine interviewed you, initially to promote ‘The Battle of Jinzhou,’ which you were filming then. But when the interview was published, a third of it was about the local cuisine, and you even complained about the crew meals. It was probably just casual chatter between you and the reporter, but the magazine must have found it interesting and included it. That’s how your fans found out about your love for food, and your picky eating habits.”

Mi Hongdou’s voice was soft and gentle, her recounting of past events like a story. Ji Junxin, huddled in the corner, didn’t speak, but her gaze remained fixed on Mi Hongdou’s face, her expression serious, either listening intently or trying to determine whether Mi Hongdou was telling the truth. Only when “love for food, and picky eating habits” were mentioned did she shift slightly.

Pretending not to notice the faint blush on Ji Junxin’s face, Mi Hongdou continued, “My mother used to be a pastry chef, specializing in traditional Chinese desserts. She was very skilled. When I was young, my father ran a pastry shop, and my mother made the pastries. She was skilled, and he was good at business, so the shop quickly became successful. Then they divorced. My mother stopped making pastries after that and changed careers. When I grew up, I asked her why she gave up her passion and became an accountant. Guess what she said?”

Ji Junxin didn’t answer, her gaze now filled with… sympathy?

Mi Hongdou smiled and continued without waiting for a reply. “She told me that after the divorce, whenever she made traditional Chinese pastries, she would be reminded of the past. A person’s mood greatly affects their cooking. My mother felt that she could no longer make good pastries. She didn’t even want to eat them anymore. I thought what she said made sense. In this world, forcing things brings no happiness.” Mi Hongdou moved even closer, and Ji Junxin didn’t pull away. Mi Hongdou’s voice softened further, and she looked at Ji Junxin earnestly. “When you didn’t know me yet, when I found out that you loved food and were a picky eater, I thought, if one day, I could cook for you, and you happened to like my cooking, that would be wonderful. Do you remember, in that interview for ‘The Battle of Jinzhou,’ you mentioned saozi noodles, rou jia mo, braised mutton, guokui, and liangpi? I learned how to make them all. Now, I can make them all.”

Ji Junxin had a good memory, how could she forget something from two years ago? The magazine had indeed asked her many questions about “The Battle of Jinzhou.” Later, as the interview was ending, because the reporter was quite chatty and also a foodie, they talked about the food during filming. Unexpectedly, that casual conversation took up a significant portion of the published interview. Ji Junxin had been a little embarrassed about having her foodie nature exposed. But Qiao Rubai said it was fine, it might even attract some new fans. Ji Junxin rarely cared about things outside of acting, so since Qiao Rubai said it was fine, she let it go. She hadn’t expected… that small, casual mention to become something worth remembering for Mi Hongdou. She had even specifically learned how to make those dishes… By now, Ji Junxin’s heart had softened. All her embarrassment, feelings of being wronged, and unhappiness were gone.

Thinking about Mi Hongdou’s thoughtfulness and all the delicious food she had made for her these past few days, and she had become sad and upset, even giving her the cold shoulder, just because of a few teasing words… she had been so stubborn and silent, even making Mi Hongdou reveal her own painful past… she was terrible! The realization filled Ji Junxin with shame.

Her arms, which had been wrapped around her knees, slowly loosened, her hands reaching for Mi Hongdou’s clothes, wanting to grab the hem of her coat like she usually did.

Perhaps because she was too embarrassed, her movements were slow. Before her hand could reach Mi Hongdou’s coat, Mi Hongdou, who had been watching her expression, spoke again.

“So, what I said earlier about the empty meatball bowl, it was really just a joke. I like cooking for you, just the thought of making food for you, the thought of you enjoying it, makes me happy. I’m not lying…” Looking at Ji Junxin, who had clearly been crying, Mi Hongdou became anxious. And with this anxiety, sweet words tumbled out. All her reservations, her fear of being seen through, were gone in the face of Ji Junxin’s sadness. She pointed at the soup on the coffee table. “Words can lie, but food can’t, right?”

Yes… food can’t lie… Ji Junxin paused, her hand stopping mid-reach.

Three months ago, during the estate test shoot, Mi Hongdou had made egg fried rice, and she had eaten it all. Later, when Qiao Rubai asked her how it tasted… what had she thought then? That bowl of egg fried rice, just like the peanut candy before, had been special, as if she could feel the maker’s care through the food, the kind of heartfelt detail that made the food especially delicious.

“That peanut candy earlier, did you also make it for me?” Ji Junxin asked, her voice soft and slightly hoarse from crying, her eyes and nose still a little red, looking incredibly pitiful.

Peanut candy? Mi Hongdou paused. That was what she had brought when she first joined the crew… if it were any other time, Mi Hongdou wouldn’t have admitted it. Admitting it would mean revealing her special intentions from the beginning. But now was different, she wanted to show Ji Junxin her sincerity, to have her believe her, to stop being sad.

So, Mi Hongdou nodded.

As expected… a look of understanding dawned in Ji Junxin’s eyes. She had sensed it from that time. She loved the food Mi Hongdou made, not just because it was delicious, but because she could feel the care in every dish. Her gaze fell on the meatball soup on the table. What had Mi Hongdou said earlier? Lots of vegetables, just the leaves, not the stems she didn’t like.

If before, Ji Junxin thought that the meticulousness and care in Mi Hongdou’s cooking were just her passion for food, then at this moment, she started to think… perhaps, it was all for her? Although the thought made her happy, it seemed too good to be true…

Ji Junxin’s thoughts were a mystery to Mi Hongdou, who only saw her sitting quietly, her eyebrows furrowed, lost in thought.

“I really made it for you…” Mi Hongdou’s voice was a little shaky… She suddenly thought of Lu Gaoshi, she didn’t want to become someone Ji Junxin couldn’t trust, like Lu Gaoshi. She had never resented Ji Junxin for eating a lot, never…

Ji Junxin’s little tantrum and feelings of being wronged had been dispelled by Mi Hongdou’s repeated confessions. Now that she had calmed down, she could sense Mi Hongdou’s nervousness and anxiety. It was her own childishness that had caused Mi Hongdou so much worry, and she felt incredibly guilty.

“I know…” Ji Junxin’s hand finally reached Mi Hongdou’s coat and grabbed the hem. “I’m sorry…” She had wanted to apologize since Mi Hongdou started explaining. Now, saying it out loud, she felt even worse, like she had been terrible to Mi Hongdou, who was so sincere, while she had been so difficult. She might even drive her away with her behavior.

The thought of her own actions driving Mi Hongdou away, of her moving out, of them no longer being friends… Ji Junxin imagined herself alone in this room, and her heart ached, tears welling up from the imagined loneliness.

Mi Hongdou was stunned, seeing her cry just as they were about to reconcile.

Ji Junxin was softly sobbing, one hand covering her eyes, the other still clutching Mi Hongdou’s coat.

“Hey… hey… don’t cry, don’t cry… it’s my fault… don’t cry…” Mi Hongdou said, leaning forward to reach for the tissues on the coffee table.

As Mi Hongdou moved, Ji Junxin’s hand, still clutching her coat, was pulled along. With her hand suddenly empty, her heart also feeling empty, Ji Junxin cried even harder, leaning towards Mi Hongdou, her hands reaching for the pillow.

Both were reaching for something. Mi Hongdou grabbed the tissues and, as she quickly retreated, accidentally bumped into Ji Junxin, who was reaching for the pillow with tear-filled eyes.

So Ji Junxin, her nose bumped, cried even harder.

Mi Hongdou felt incredibly stupid! She almost had a meltdown! She threw the tissues aside and anxiously tried to pull Ji Junxin’s hands away from her face to check her nose. But just like with the pillow earlier, Ji Junxin wouldn’t let go.

“Let me see, let me see if it’s hurt… does it hurt? … Don’t cry, don’t cry… it’s okay…” Facing the crying Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou was at a loss, just trying to pull her hands away.

Ji Junxin was heartbroken. She had started crying because of her own imagined scenario, then felt embarrassed and tried to hide her face with the pillow, only to be bumped, how tragic. And Mi Hongdou kept trying to pull her hands away. She was already crying so uglily, her eyes and nose red, probably even her face… She had already been so difficult, and her only redeeming quality was her looks. Now, crying so uglily, if Mi Hongdou saw her, she would have no redeeming qualities left. She would definitely stop being her fan, would leave… Just the thought made Ji Junxin cry even harder. And Mi Hongdou kept pulling… Ji Junxin, unable to resist, let herself fall into Mi Hongdou’s arms.

Mi Hongdou’s hand froze, her rambling comfort also stopping. She sat there, frozen, unable to move.

The room fell silent, only Ji Junxin’s sobs could be heard.

Ji Junxin’s forehead rested against Mi Hongdou’s right collarbone. This position, the point of contact slightly sensitive, normally, Mi Hongdou would have jumped back, embarrassed. But now, she just sat there, frozen, feeling Ji Junxin’s warm breath and the hot tears falling on her skin.

She had almost persuaded her, they were almost reconciled, why did she suddenly apologize and start crying again? … Mi Hongdou looked down at Ji Junxin’s slightly disheveled hair and gently stroked it.

Ji Junxin in her arms suddenly cried even harder. Mi Hongdou could feel the dampness on her clothes near her collarbone.

Mi Hongdou felt a sense of unreality.

In her previous life, she had become food buddies with Ji Junxin through Qiao Rubai’s introduction, shortly after Ji Junxin was betrayed by Zhang Zijing and retired. At that time, Mi Hongdou had thought that if one day, Ji Junxin remembered the past and was sad and wanted to cry, she would be there for her, comfort her, and try to make her happy. But it never happened. During their four years of friendship, Ji Junxin had only cried once, after watching Jiang Lingling and Dong Yuannan’s videos. And before Mi Hongdou could comfort her, she had already wiped away her tears.

Mi Hongdou looked down at the pitiful little foodie crying in her arms. Regardless of the reason for her sadness, her actions now suggested that she wanted to be comforted.

Mi Hongdou, who had initially frozen from the surprise and embarrassment of Ji Junxin’s sudden embrace, gradually relaxed, her hand moving from Ji Junxin’s hair to her shoulder.

At this moment, nothing in the world was more important than comforting her…

All her reservations vanished, only her true feelings remained.

Mi Hongdou gently tightened her embrace, and Ji Junxin, who had been leaning against her, nestled closer. Ji Junxin’s face, no longer against Mi Hongdou’s tear-soaked collarbone, now rested on her shoulder, her tears falling on Mi Hongdou’s neck. Mi Hongdou could feel the brush of her lashes, a tingling sensation.

Ji Junxin’s soft, warm body was now in her arms, embraced by her. Mi Hongdou gently patted Ji Junxin’s back, her heart pounding… although this was a comforting gesture, would Ji Junxin find it too intimate? … Mi Hongdou had acted on instinct, but now she was worried.

Just as she was hesitating, Ji Junxin’s arms reached up and wrapped around Mi Hongdou’s neck, pulling herself closer.

Initiating a hug and having someone hug you back… the difference was significant… Ji Junxin’s movement made Mi Hongdou’s heart skip a beat, and her body felt weak. This sudden, strange physical reaction made her lean back against the sofa, using it to support herself and the little foodie in her arms.

Ji Junxin’s scent, a fruity sweetness, she always used shampoos and body washes with fruity fragrances. Mi Hongdou could usually smell it when they were close, but never this close. She unconsciously nuzzled Ji Junxin’s hair, suddenly wanting, so badly, to steal a kiss… just one. Mi Hongdou almost couldn’t control herself, her hand, patting Ji Junxin’s back, trembling slightly. If she missed this opportunity, she might never have another chance to kiss her. But reason prevailed…

Mi Hongdou’s body was warm. Wearing a nightgown and a thin jacket, and after crying for a while, Ji Junxin was cold. But nestled in Mi Hongdou’s arms, she felt much warmer. Warm and safe… It was as if this closeness was proof that their bond wouldn’t be easily broken. The hand on her back, also warm, chased away not only the chill but also the sadness in her heart. Crying in Mi Hongdou’s arms like this, Ji Junxin was embarrassed, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave. The inexplicable fear and uncertainty gradually dissipated in Mi Hongdou’s warmth, and Ji Junxin’s sobs subsided, only an occasional sniffle as she clung to Mi Hongdou.

Neither of them had ever imagined being this close, it was like a dream.

Mi Hongdou, her heart aching for the pitiful little foodie in her arms, thought selfishly, if only this dream could last forever.

But you couldn’t stay in a dream forever, just like dreams always ended.

Ji Junxin stopped crying, and Mi Hongdou also stopped patting her back. But they didn’t separate immediately, holding each other a little longer.

The silence after the crying, the prolonged embrace, it became a little awkward… Ji Junxin, always the more easily embarrassed one, although she still wanted to cling to Mi Hongdou, couldn’t take it anymore.

“Will you still make me fried meatballs?” Ji Junxin’s slightly muffled voice broke the silence.

“Yes,” Mi Hongdou said, knowing that this brief embrace was about to end. She gave Ji Junxin a final, gentle pat, a hint of sadness in her heart, but her voice was cheerful. “If I could, I would fry all the pigs in the world into meatballs for you.”

“Pfft…” Ji Junxin couldn’t help but laugh, then felt embarrassed. She had just been crying, and now she was laughing… how mortifying! Mi Hongdou was the worst! Ji Junxin, annoyed and embarrassed, playfully punched Mi Hongdou’s arm. “Smooth talker!” She quickly pulled away and went to the bathroom to wash her face.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Mi Hongdou leaned back on the sofa and touched the spot where Ji Junxin had just punched her. It was right over her heart… What a fool… Mi Hongdou smiled faintly.

In the bathroom, Ji Junxin washed her face repeatedly and even used a warm towel, but the redness from crying was still visible. She felt so embarrassed… She lingered in the bathroom, not wanting to go out.

Until Mi Hongdou’s voice came from outside: “The soup is reheated, if you don’t come out soon, it will be cold again.” Ji Junxin reluctantly left the bathroom, her head lowered.

She walked with her head down, sat down on the sofa with her head down, and decided to keep her head down until she went back to bed and turned off the lights.

The large bowl of meatball soup on the table was steaming again. Mi Hongdou ladled a full bowl for Ji Junxin and placed it in front of her. “I reheated it, the egg dumplings broke a little, but the taste should be fine, try it.”

Ji Junxin looked at the dumplings in her bowl. They had been intact when she first saw them in the pot…

“I’m sorry…” she whispered.

“It’s okay…” Mi Hongdou smiled. “The egg dumplings are honored to be eaten by you, they’ll forgive you.”

Why were you so smooth-talking now! Ji Junxin looked up, annoyed. “I wasn’t apologizing to the egg dumplings… I was apologizing to you.”

Mi Hongdou’s smile was gentle, her voice soft. “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have teased you. Will you forgive me?”

“It was clearly my…” Ji Junxin’s words were cut off by Mi Hongdou’s hand covering her mouth.

“It’s my fault, will you forgive me?” Mi Hongdou’s gaze was filled with apology, anticipation, and a lot of… friendship?

Ji Junxin, her mouth covered, was stunned by that gaze and nodded dumbly.

“Eat quickly, it will be cold soon.” Mi Hongdou removed her hand.

Ji Junxin pursed her lips, still wanting to apologize.

“You never have to apologize to me.” Mi Hongdou lowered her head and slowly ate her soup. “If one day, you have to apologize to me, it means I must have done something terrible. Do you understand?”

So, if she had to apologize, it meant it was Mi Hongdou’s fault? Ji Junxin was confused, what kind of logic was that? She might as well say that if she apologized, all the pigs in the world wouldn’t be turned into fried meatballs.

Although Mi Hongdou’s logic was strange, her tone was firm. Ji Junxin hesitated, then asked, “Are we… still friends?”

“Of course, I’m the friend who would turn all the pigs in the world into fried egg dumplings for you!” Mi Hongdou smiled and added another dumpling to Ji Junxin’s already full bowl.

“…” Ji Junxin was speechless. “You just said you would turn all the pigs in the world into fried meatballs!”

“I’ll make whatever you like,” Mi Hongdou said, as if wondering why she was being so nitpicky.

Ji Junxin was exasperated… but she couldn’t deny that both options, fried meatballs or fried egg dumplings made from all the pigs in the world, sounded… amazing…

The fried meatballs, having absorbed the soup, were less greasy and more refreshing, a different texture from when they were eaten fresh out of the wok. The egg dumpling skins, although slightly broken, were still delicious. Softer than the fried meatballs, but more fragrant than boiled ones, they were truly a delight. The stems of the dried mushrooms had been removed before slicing, rehydrated until plump and tender, their aroma even richer than fresh mushrooms. Combined with the bok choy leaves, it was a perfect match. A bite of meat, a bite of vegetables, a sip of soup, Ji Junxin couldn’t stop eating.

With Mi Hongdou’s occasional feeding, by the time Ji Junxin realized it, she had finished most of the soup. Although their earlier misunderstanding had been cleared up, she still couldn’t help but think about the empty meatball bowl and looked at Mi Hongdou cautiously.

Ji Junxin’s cautious demeanor made Mi Hongdou’s heart ache. What had possessed her to tease the little foodie about eating too much? She regretted it deeply.

Ji Junxin carefully observed Mi Hongdou’s expression. Hmm… she seemed gentle, not at all annoyed that she had eaten so much. Ji Junxin, relieved, finished the last of her soup.

So pitiful… Mi Hongdou felt a pang.

She had gradually figured out one of Ji Junxin’s characteristics. If Ji Junxin was hurt, she would need a lot of time and a lot of love to heal. Words were empty, only time could prove everything. And Mi Hongdou wasn’t afraid of waiting.

After the meal, neither of them mentioned the earlier misunderstanding, the explanations, the crying, or the hug. It was as if they had woken up, made soup, and quietly enjoyed it together. But what had happened was etched in their hearts, a mix of emotions, good and bad, still unclear.

After dinner, it was almost 2 AM. Although they had napped in the afternoon, they still had scenes to film the next morning. They quickly washed up and went to bed.

Ji Junxin took off her jacket, got into bed, and her first thought was, it’s so cold… not as warm as Mi Hongdou…

She turned over and said to Mi Hongdou, who had also just gotten into bed, “The bed is so cold…” Her voice was soft and whiny, like she was acting spoiled.

“Mine is a little cold too.” Mi Hongdou thought for a moment. “Don’t worry, I prepared two hot water bottles, wait, I’ll fill them up.” Being prepared was always good. Mi Hongdou mentally praised herself.

Without waiting for a reply, she got up, put on a jacket, and left.

Ji Junxin clutched the blanket, a hot water bottle was coming soon, but for some reason, she felt unhappy!

Heating water was indeed quick. When Mi Hongdou returned with two warm hot water bottles, she was greeted by the little foodie in the other bed, who, for some reason, seemed to be sulking again.

As Mi Hongdou tucked the hot water bottles into Ji Junxin’s bed and was about to turn off the lights, Ji Junxin suddenly spoke: “Your gaze towards me… is very gentle. What I said earlier, about it being mischievous and bullying, I was just trying to annoy you.” She burrowed under the covers.

Mi Hongdou’s hand lingered on the light switch… then she turned off the lights.

The room was plunged into darkness.

Although they had eaten their fill and had warm hot water bottles, neither Ji Junxin nor Mi Hongdou slept well that night.

Jiang Lingling also had a restless night.

Of course, it wasn’t because of some petty argument, or some crying and hugging. As a dedicated single dog, what kept Jiang Lingling awake was studying the script, preparing to deal with the scumbags the next day.

Jiang Lingling was also quite pitiful. She had spent the entire afternoon in makeup, waiting, only to be told that they couldn’t film the next scene because everyone was too full from the porridge. She had to remove her makeup and come back the next day. Jiang Lingling blamed Jiang Duo for this and, unable to immediately retaliate, was very frustrated. She was someone who acted on her impulses, both for revenge and for kindness.

However, this frustration was somewhat relieved when she reviewed the script for the next day’s scenes. According to Dong Yuannan, for the sake of their current shared interests, she couldn’t completely destroy Jiang Duo yet. But… a little “using public office for private gain,” as revenge for today’s forced porridge consumption, should be acceptable.

So, while Jiang Duo slept soundly, the light in Jiang Lingling’s bedroom stayed on until late at night…

Chapter 72: Fried Meatballs p2

Mi Hongdou stirred the meatballs with her chopsticks, pretending to let the paper towels absorb more oil, and waited. Ji Junxin still didn’t speak. It was rare… for the little foodie to be so restrained. Mi Hongdou couldn’t help but clear her throat and ask, “Want to try one?”

Ji Junxin fiddled with her clothes, bit her lip, and nodded repeatedly, her pitiful expression making Mi Hongdou’s heart ache.

It was just switching from boiled meatballs to fried ones, just setting a bait, why did it seem like she had bullied her? … Mi Hongdou couldn’t bear Ji Junxin’s pitiful gaze and quickly handed her a pair of chopsticks, then turned away to start the next batch of meatballs, practically fleeing. Forget about asking questions, Mi Hongdou couldn’t even bear to look at Ji Junxin, her heart aching.

Why did she feel so guilty, just for making some fried meatballs? Mi Hongdou thought, absentmindedly slapping the meat mixture between her hands, listening for any sounds from Ji Junxin.

Silence…

Was she angry because she hadn’t offered her the meatballs directly? Mi Hongdou, distracted, kept slapping the same portion of meat mixture, unable to form it into a ball. After a while, still no sound, she became anxious and couldn’t help but glance over.

Perhaps because Mi Hongdou’s movement was too sudden, Ji Junxin was startled and dropped the meatball she had just picked up, how pitiful.

But in Mi Hongdou’s eyes, it was a different scene. This person, her cheeks puffed out, startled by her glance, dropping the meatball from her chopsticks… wasn’t she just a chubby field mouse caught stealing food!

Mi Hongdou looked at the three meatballs left on the plate. She had fried more than ten! She looked Ji Junxin up and down. Okay, it seemed that she had indeed eaten them all, not hidden them anywhere.

“Eat slowly… aren’t they hot?” Mi Hongdou softened her voice, gently coaxing the little field mouse. “Eat slowly, there’s more.”

Mi Hongdou’s gaze was gentle and indulgent, as usual. Ji Junxin relaxed and resumed her usual… shameless foodie demeanor. “They’re not hot! Just blow on them!” She quickly picked up the dropped meatball, blew on it, and offered it to Mi Hongdou like a treasure.

Every time she told her to eat slowly, she would do this, did she think she would always fall for it? Mi Hongdou raised an eyebrow, then smiled and took the meatball. The outside was crispy and fragrant, the inside tender, juicy, and firm, just the right texture. The final high-heat sear had the same effect as frying them a second time.

Ji Junxin’s eyes shone as she looked at Mi Hongdou, waiting for her to finish the meatball and then asking expectantly, “How is it?”

How could it be anything but delicious, with her looking at her so expectantly, as if she had made it herself… Mi Hongdou nodded. “Well, it’s not that hot after blowing on it.” She knew what Ji Junxin wanted to hear. Even if it wasn’t hot, eating more than ten fried meatballs in such a short time was a bit much.

As expected, after Mi Hongdou’s reply, Ji Junxin beamed and reached for the bowl. “Then have another one, I’ll blow on it for you.”

A meatball blown on by her idol… she did want to eat it. However… Mi Hongdou looked at the two remaining meatballs and stopped Ji Junxin, taking the chopsticks from her hand.

Only two left, if she missed this opportunity, she would have to wait for the next batch.

Mi Hongdou quickly picked up a meatball, carefully blew on it, and held it to Ji Junxin’s mouth.

Only two left… Ji Junxin hesitated, a little embarrassed, but when her lips touched the warm, fragrant meatball, she surrendered.

Her cheeks puffed out as she ate.

While Ji Junxin was chewing, Mi Hongdou asked with a smile, “Is it good?”

Ji Junxin nodded vigorously.

“How does it taste?” Mi Hongdou continued.

“Um… the outside is crispy, the fried aroma is so good, and the meat inside is also delicious, not dry at all, tender and fragrant, not mushy, so good!” Ji Junxin’s eyes shone when talking about food.

Mi Hongdou tried to maintain her composure, not to be swayed by her idol’s sweet words. “So, you think these fried meatballs are delicious now, but will they still be delicious later, in a soup with vegetables, mushrooms, and egg dumplings?” Mi Hongdou asked casually, feeding the last meatball to Ji Junxin.

“Of course they will be delicious!” Ji Junxin said seriously. “Eaten fresh out of the wok, they’re crispy. In a soup, they’ll have a different texture. I think they’ll be delicious!”

“Then why were you staring at my face earlier?” Mi Hongdou quickly asked as soon as Ji Junxin finished. Hmph, first tempting her with food, lowering her guard, then chatting casually, making her comfortable answering her questions, and finally, the killer question, how could she not fall for it? Using complicated fried meatballs instead of simple boiled ones, did she think fried meatballs were so easy to get? ~ As Mi Hongdou had planned, Ji Junxin’s guard was down after a bowl of fried meatballs, and she had resumed her usual casual demeanor.

“I saw the young empress’s gaze towards Miao Qianye today, and I wanted to see what your gaze towards me is like.” The answer slipped out of Ji Junxin’s mouth, her mind probably still on the food.

Mi Hongdou: “…”

Ji Junxin: “…”

They looked at each other, shock evident in both their eyes.

Mi Hongdou was shocked by the reason for Ji Junxin’s staring. Ji Junxin was shocked that she had blurted out the truth.

Mi Hongdou felt her limbs go numb, her heart pounding, her mind almost blank. No… she couldn’t let Ji Junxin see anything… She bit her tongue, the pain bringing her back to reality. She didn’t have time to regret her own persistent questioning. Thoughts raced through her mind. Regardless of why Ji Junxin wanted to see how she looked at her, this wasn’t the time to find out. She had to get past this hurdle.

“Haha, what are you thinking about?” Mi Hongdou laughed, as if unable to contain herself. “Then tell me, what’s my gaze towards you like?” She hoped she could summon her best acting skills from both lifetimes.

Ji Junxin’s surprise and regret gradually faded amidst Mi Hongdou’s laughter, replaced by a slight annoyance. “Hmph, what’s so funny!” Ji Junxin stamped her foot. “I just wanted to see! You’re not missing any meat!”

“Okay, okay, I’m not missing any meat, I’m missing a bowl of meat.” Mi Hongdou pointed at the empty bowl, only the grease-stained paper towel remaining.

“…” Ji Junxin’s face flushed. “But… but I ate that whole bowl…” Her voice was weak and unconvincing.

“Yes, you did. But I also ate one.” Mi Hongdou nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She held up a finger. “Just one.”

“But… but you fed me two!” Ji Junxin fought for her last shred of dignity.

“Yes, I did… if I hadn’t fed you, would you have eaten them?” Mi Hongdou’s smile deepened.

Ji Junxin, defeated, fled back to the sofa, curling up and hiding her face.

Mi Hongdou wasn’t letting her off the hook. “Hey, don’t run away. You haven’t told me what my gaze towards you is like.” Her tone was teasing.

“It’s mischievous! A bullying gaze!” Ji Junxin’s muffled voice came from behind the pillow, laced with annoyance.

Mi Hongdou chuckled and, no longer teasing the pitiful little foodie, turned back to start the next batch of meatballs.

Now, her smile was gone, her expression serious and thoughtful. She had managed to fool the little foodie for now. Based on Ji Junxin’s answer, it seemed she hadn’t revealed anything suspicious yet. But it was still troublesome.

A person’s gaze was difficult to hide. Weren’t eyes the windows to the soul? This time, she had managed to deflect the question with teasing and change the subject. But what about next time? She couldn’t always use this method, could they still be friends then? And if she accidentally showed a too gentle gaze towards the little foodie… Mi Hongdou recalled the porridge scene. If she wasn’t careful, she might unconsciously show the same gentle and indulgent gaze the young empress had towards Miao Qianye. If Ji Junxin noticed… what would she think? Mi Hongdou didn’t even dare to imagine.

Why was this usually oblivious person suddenly paying attention to these things? Mi Hongdou felt a headache coming on. Pan Xiang, Director Pan, and… those romance novels on Ji Junxin’s phone, they were all bad influences!

But some things were beyond her control. Just like how Mi Hongdou, despite her unwillingness, couldn’t stop Ji Junxin from growing up. All she could do was fry another batch of meatballs, make a soup with vegetables and mushrooms, and add the egg dumplings and fried meatballs to the broth. She knew there was little she could do. She could only hope to work harder, do better, and stay by Ji Junxin’s side for a little longer.

Ji Junxin, curled up on the sofa, hiding her face with a pillow, didn’t understand Mi Hongdou’s dilemma. She was incredibly embarrassed… Mi Hongdou had always indulged her, making whatever she wanted to eat, even finding time to cook for her when she was busy. Ji Junxin had become accustomed to this care. Only after being teased by Mi Hongdou did she realize that she had been too presumptuous. Devouring a whole bowl of freshly fried meatballs… how shameless…

Ji Junxin felt too embarrassed to even be in the same room as Mi Hongdou… no, she couldn’t even face her anymore. She was mortified and also a little wronged. It was the meatballs’ fault for being so delicious! It was Mi Hongdou’s fault for always spoiling her! Now that she was spoiled, Mi Hongdou was criticizing her, waaaah… Ji Junxin was so embarrassed that she didn’t even want to stay in the room. But running away in the middle of the night seemed too childish. Torn, she could only bury her face in the pillow, like an ostrich.

The meatball soup was ready, and Mi Hongdou had made up her mind. She had to be more distant with Ji Junxin.

She placed the steaming bowl of soup on the coffee table, but Ji Junxin, still buried in pillows on the sofa, didn’t move. Mi Hongdou thought for a moment, picked up a magazine, and used it to fan the steam towards Ji Junxin. The pile of pillows seemed to move slightly, but Ji Junxin didn’t emerge.

Mi Hongdou didn’t dare to fan anymore. The weather was cold, the soup would cool down.

“Dinner’s ready,” she softly called out to the little foodie.

The little foodie didn’t appear as usual.

“It’s getting cold, it won’t be as delicious when it’s cold.” Mi Hongdou looked at the pile of pillows. Could she have fallen asleep?

Silence.

Could she really be asleep? … She would definitely catch a cold! Mi Hongdou regretted being so preoccupied with her own thoughts about how to interact with Ji Junxin that she hadn’t paid attention.

After another ten seconds, still no movement. Mi Hongdou walked over and sat down on the sofa.

The pile of pillows seemed to tremble.

So she wasn’t asleep? Mi Hongdou frowned, feeling… a sense of impending doom.

She hesitantly reached out and grabbed the pillow covering Ji Junxin’s face. Just as she was about to pull it away, Ji Junxin grabbed it too, and they were now in a tug-of-war. Mi Hongdou immediately let go.

Looking at Ji Junxin hiding behind the pillow, Mi Hongdou thought about what had happened. So, was she angry because she had teased her about eating all the meatballs?

Although Mi Hongdou had just been trying to change the subject with a joke, it seemed she had gone too far. The thought of Ji Junxin being angry with her made her panic.

“Hey… are you angry?” Mi Hongdou gently tugged at the pillow. “I was just teasing you. I made the meatballs for you, they were all for you.”

Silence.

“Don’t be angry. I was really just teasing you. I made them for you, why would I mind you eating a lot? … Come and have some soup, okay? There are delicious fried meatballs, and the egg dumplings, the skin is soft, the filling is tender. I added a lot of vegetables, just the leaves, not the stems you don’t like. And rehydrated dried mushrooms, and a sprinkle of white pepper before serving, it’s so warm and fragrant. If you don’t eat it soon, it will be cold, and it won’t be as delicious.” Mi Hongdou’s voice softened as she coaxed the little foodie, gently pulling at the pillow. It seemed to loosen a little, but… Ji Junxin still didn’t let go.

“I was really just kidding. I make all this food for you, to make you happy. Fried meatballs, you like them, I’m happy that you like them. I practiced my cooking just so you could eat it. I only want to cook for you, why would I mind you eating a lot? …” Even food wasn’t working… Mi Hongdou’s panic intensified, and her true feelings tumbled out.

“You’re lying…” The pile of pillows moved.

Mi Hongdou pulled again, and this time, the pillow was pulled away.

The hidden face, with its red eyes and pitiful expression, was revealed.

Chapter 72: Fried Meatballs p1

One was too few, two were too many, so one and a half eggs it was… Mi Hongdou, striving for the perfect flavor, cracked three eggs into a bowl. Half for the meat mixture, half for egg dumplings. As she calculated, she turned to get some seasonings and almost bumped into Ji Junxin, who had silently entered the kitchen.

Fortunately, Mi Hongdou had a firm grip on the large bowl. Despite the shock, the eggs were safe.

“What’s wrong?” Mi Hongdou, after recovering from the near-collision, looked at Ji Junxin, whose eyes were fixed on her, and asked, puzzled.

Ji Junxin, her hands behind her back, smiled. “Nothing, just looking around.”

What was there to see? … Mi Hongdou glanced at the counter. Ji Junxin had never shown any interest in watching her cook before, she would always wait until the food was almost ready to come and taste… perhaps she was just very hungry today? Impatient? Supervising her? Mi Hongdou thought about it and felt that, with Ji Junxin’s personality, it wasn’t impossible. So, she moved aside to get the seasonings, giving Ji Junxin a better view of the counter.

She added a pinch of salt, MSG, a tiny bit of sugar, and a spoonful of cold water to the eggs and whisked them until smooth. Next, she would pour half of the egg mixture into the bowl of minced meat. As she turned, she almost bumped into Ji Junxin again. She had just been by the counter, how did she get to the other side where the seasonings were? … Mi Hongdou finally realized something was off.

“What’s wrong? Are you that hungry?” She finally asked the question she had been wanting to ask.

“No.” Ji Junxin blinked innocently and shook her head. Still feeling something was amiss, Mi Hongdou walked back to the counter and poured half the egg mixture into the meat mixture. She looked up, and as expected, Ji Junxin had followed, her gaze still fixed on her. Mi Hongdou picked up the bowl of meat mixture, stirred it, walked to the seasoning area, and pretended to add cooking wine and a few drops of oil. She looked up again, and Ji Junxin’s gaze was still on her!

Mi Hongdou finally understood what was wrong… although Ji Junxin said she was just looking around, she seemed to be only looking at her…

“Is there something on my face?” Mi Hongdou tried to remain calm, meeting Ji Junxin’s gaze, and casually wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

Ji Junxin, not suspecting anything, walked over to Mi Hongdou and carefully examined her face, then shook her head. “No, your face is clean.”

“Then why are you staring at me?” Mi Hongdou pressed the issue. Having noticed something was off, she had to figure it out, or with Ji Junxin’s wild imagination, she wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Mi Hongdou’s sudden question made Ji Junxin freeze.

If someone took more than three seconds to answer, they were thinking of a lie, Mi Hongdou suddenly recalled reading this somewhere. It had been more than three seconds, and Ji Junxin still hadn’t answered. Mi Hongdou felt a sense of unease. She was just watching her casually, but why did she suddenly feel that if she didn’t figure out the reason, there might be trouble later?

“I’m… just looking around,” Ji Junxin mumbled, repeating her earlier words.

Mi Hongdou didn’t believe her. She had been following her around, and now that she asked, Ji Junxin’s gaze shifted to the corner, she wasn’t telling the truth. But Mi Hongdou hesitated. After all, her unease was just a feeling, was it appropriate to keep pressing Ji Junxin about it? … It seemed a bit… deliberate. Mi Hongdou frowned, conflicted.

Ji Junxin, not hearing a response, carefully glanced at Mi Hongdou and saw her frowning, seemingly unhappy. She knew that her attempt to brush it off had failed. She had come to the kitchen because she was curious about how Mi Hongdou looked at her, not to make her unhappy. Come to think of it, having someone stare at you would be uncomfortable… she had been too obvious… Ji Junxin mentally berated herself.

Now the problem was, after brushing off Mi Hongdou, she seemed unhappy. But telling the truth, saying “I just wanted to see how you look at me,” was too strange and embarrassing… So, after some consideration, Ji Junxin chose the most disarming lie, hoping to get away with it.

“Well… it’s because you’re beautiful, so I was looking at you…” Ji Junxin said with a sincere expression, but her slightly guilty tone had an unintentional hint of coquettishness.

Mi Hongdou was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, pointing at the sofa, “Go read your romance novels, you even sound like you’re reading one. If you speak your lines with that tone tomorrow, Director Pan will have a heart attack.”

What’s wrong with romance novels? You were also appeased by one. Of course, Ji Junxin only dared to think these words. Since she hadn’t been completely exposed, and Mi Hongdou wasn’t angry, she quickly retreated to the sofa.

Hmph. Mi Hongdou snorted inwardly. She didn’t believe that was the real reason. But… even though she knew it was a lie, hearing it from Ji Junxin… still made her heart flutter.

Mi Hongdou turned around, her back to Ji Junxin, and touched her chest. That coquettish tone, those sweet words… Her heart was pounding, and she didn’t have the energy to question the truth of those words.

Although Mi Hongdou had let it go for now, it was only temporary. Ji Junxin, to escape, had said something so provocative, which meant that her real reason was even more important. When it came to Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou was always persistent. And with that lingering feeling of unease, she wouldn’t let it go so easily.

However, their conversation had ended. If she brought it up again out of the blue, Ji Junxin would be even less likely to tell the truth. It would only make things awkward. Mi Hongdou thought about it and shifted her gaze to the minced meat on the table.

It was late, and she had originally planned to make plain meatballs with vegetables and mushrooms in a clear broth. Then, with the extra egg mixture, she decided to add some egg dumplings. But now… Mi Hongdou looked at the minced meat and smiled.

She peeled and minced the ginger, squeezed out the juice, and added it to the seasoned meat mixture with the egg. She stirred it until it became sticky, then set it aside.

Mi Hongdou rummaged through the cabinets, found the largest stainless steel ladle, washed and scalded it with boiling water, then dried it. Then, as she turned on the stove, she realized… it was an induction cooktop… Ji Junxin had really addled her brain. Mi Hongdou chuckled and put the ladle back.

She was used to using a ladle over an open flame to make egg dumplings. Now, without a gas stove, she had to use a pan…

She heated the pan, then turned the heat to low, added a small amount of oil, swirled it around to coat the bottom, and then added two or three spoonfuls of egg mixture, gently swirling the pan to spread it evenly, forming a thin crepe.

Although the range hood was on, the aroma of fried eggs still filled the room. Mi Hongdou listened carefully, there didn’t seem to be any movement from the sofa. Perhaps the temptation wasn’t strong enough yet. Mi Hongdou, unfazed, continued making the egg dumplings. Without her usual ladle, using a pan wasn’t as easy, and she had to be more focused.

The egg crepe in the pan had set. Next, the filling. She scooped some meat mixture with chopsticks and placed it in the center of the crepe, then used another pair of clean chopsticks to fold the edges of the crepe over the filling, enveloping it. Then came the crucial step: carefully flipping the dumpling to cook the other side. After a few more flips, when both sides were golden brown, one egg dumpling was done.

Mi Hongdou worked efficiently, quickly finishing one. The color was even, the aroma enticing, and it wasn’t broken, just… the shape was a bit strange, like a plump rectangle. As expected, without a ladle, the dumplings didn’t have the shape of dumplings… Mi Hongdou looked at the rectangular dumpling with a slightly regretful expression and started on the next one.

The aroma of fried eggs and meat filled the air. Ji Junxin, curled up on the sofa, sniffed repeatedly, feeling that the chips she had just eaten were already digested. Her stomach was rumbling. Normally, she would have rushed over to Mi Hongdou and begged for food. But today, having just lied to Mi Hongdou, she was too embarrassed. So, she could only stay on the sofa, occasionally glancing at Mi Hongdou, hoping that if she was lucky, Mi Hongdou would notice and call her over to taste the food.

Unfortunately, even with her longing gaze, it was useless. One egg dumpling after another was finished, golden brown and delicious-looking, but Mi Hongdou didn’t smile and invite her to try them, nor did she even look back.

Hmm… was she still minding the fact that she had been staring at her? Ji Junxin curled up even tighter, as if that would make her less hungry.

It was because of the extra eggs that Mi Hongdou had decided to make egg dumplings. But the egg mixture, one and a half eggs worth, was used up after just five dumplings. It was a good thing it was used up, making one dumpling at a time with a pan was too time-consuming.

After setting the finished dumplings aside, it was time for the meatballs.

She washed and dried her hands, greased her palms with a little oil, took a portion of the meat mixture, slapped it between her hands a few times to remove excess air, then rolled it into a ball and placed it on a plate. This was much faster than making egg dumplings, and soon, a plate of raw meatballs was ready.

She heated a large wok, dried it, and added a generous amount of oil. As she dropped the meatballs into the hot oil, the sizzling sound and the intensified aroma of frying meat, many times stronger than the egg dumplings earlier, reached Ji Junxin.

How could a hungry foodie resist the aroma of fried meatballs in the middle of the night?

Ji Junxin’s actions answered the question: don’t resist, knowing when to surrender was also a form of wisdom!

As Mi Hongdou had expected, even if Ji Junxin could resist the egg dumplings, she would succumb to the fried meatballs. The sizzling sound of meatballs in hot oil, followed by the rustling sound of a certain little foodie approaching, Mi Hongdou didn’t move or turn around, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her good mood.

Ji Junxin, still feeling awkward after their earlier interaction, hesitated. But her instincts were too strong, and she was drawn to the stove by the aroma of meatballs.

A wok full of golden-brown meatballs, their color deepening. Almost ready… Ji Junxin gulped slightly and glanced at Mi Hongdou, who was intently watching the wok, seemingly oblivious to everything else. She looked so serious while cooking… Ji Junxin took a step back. She didn’t know why, perhaps because she felt guilty, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask for a taste like she usually did…

Ji Junxin hesitantly retreated further, thinking she might as well go back to the sofa and wait. It wouldn’t be much longer.

Just then, Mi Hongdou lifted the slotted spoon, and the fried meatballs were out of the wok!

One by one, the golden-brown, fragrant meatballs rolled onto the plate lined with paper towels, forming a neat little pile.

They looked… so delicious… the outside must be crispy, the inside firm… Ji Junxin’s gaze was fixed on the meatballs, and she couldn’t move.

Mi Hongdou, seeing this from the corner of her eye, breathed a sigh of relief. The prey almost escaped before the bait was ready. Fortunately, the timing was perfect. As for frying them a second time… she would skip it today. After the final high-heat sear, the flavor should be good enough. Catching the prey was the priority.

Although Ji Junxin was captivated by the fried meatballs, she didn’t speak.

Chapter 71: Gazes p2

It was past 4 PM, and there was supposed to be another scene this afternoon, a scene of the concubines complaining to the empress and demanding a solution. Director Pan hesitated, after all, they were on a tight schedule, skipping a scene seemed like a waste of time. But looking at the disgruntled faces of the actresses, who were still full from the porridge, even Ji Junxin didn’t look very well. He thought for a moment. “Although the porridge wasn’t very good, don’t worry, there was nothing harmful in it. We did film too many takes, you should all go back and rest, just be back on time tomorrow.”

Director Pan waved his hand dismissively, and everyone was relieved, except for Jiang Lingling.

Jiang Lingling had been waiting for the next scene, the one where the concubines surrounded the empress. She had waited all afternoon, and now Director Pan was saying they weren’t filming it. She might as well have gone back earlier, wasting her time and makeup…

Hearing that the reason for skipping the scene was that everyone was too full from the porridge, Jiang Lingling mentally added another mark against Jiang Duo. After the Nan Tian incident, she had wanted to teach the Jiang family a lesson, but Dong Yuannan had stopped her. He said that “Imperial Secrets” was still filming, and they were all still partners. If Jiang Lingling couldn’t completely remove Jiang Duo from the production, it was better to wait patiently. After the film was released, and everyone moved on to other projects, there would be no conflict of interest, and Jiang Duo’s reputation wouldn’t affect the others in the crew. Jiang Lingling naturally trusted her godfather and hadn’t taken any action. Now, still during filming, she could only add another grudge against Jiang Duo.

Finishing early, Jiang Lingling enthusiastically invited Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin to the restaurant. Ji Junxin, who was about to burst from all the porridge, felt sick at the mention of a restaurant and politely declined. Since Ji Junxin wasn’t going, neither was Mi Hongdou, and Jiang Lingling lost interest in inspecting her property.

Watching the two leave together, Jiang Lingling felt a pang of loneliness. Spending a day with them only intensified her desire for a relationship.

Too full from the porridge, Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou returned to the hotel, washed up, and went to bed. The filming schedule had been intense recently, and they had woken up early this morning. Since they didn’t have to eat dinner, they happily decided to go to bed early.

But perhaps because they went to bed too early, Mi Hongdou woke up a little past eleven. She had only slept for a little over five hours, but she couldn’t fall asleep again, no matter how hard she tried: meditation, counting sheep, nothing worked. She checked her phone, still a little past eleven. It was frustrating, was she destined for a sleepless night? … She put down her phone, turned over, and looked towards Ji Junxin’s bed.

There seemed to be a flickering light. Mi Hongdou rubbed her eyes and looked again. It wasn’t her imagination. Was Ji Junxin also awake?

Mi Hongdou looked at the faint light, wanting to say something, but remained silent. This distance, this silent observation, was a subtle form of satisfaction. Perhaps one day, she wouldn’t be able to be this close. Then, remembering this moment would be a comfort. Mi Hongdou’s thoughts were a little pessimistic. Some people were destined to maintain a certain distance, like the space between two beds, like the gap between two people. The intimacy she craved, but could never have, she could only imagine in the darkness. Her thoughts ran wild, but her actions were restrained…

A sweet torment, perhaps.

Fortunately, after a while, the covers on Ji Junxin’s bed were pulled back, and the light from her phone, no longer obstructed, became brighter. Unsure of what was happening, Mi Hongdou quickly closed her eyes and regulated her breathing, afraid of being caught staring.

Darkness was indeed a good cover. Mi Hongdou’s slightly flushed face, hidden in the darkness, wasn’t noticed by Ji Junxin. She quietly got out of bed, tiptoeing out of the room.

The room was silent. Mi Hongdou carefully opened her eyes a crack. Darkness. After a moment, her eyes adjusted, and she could make out the shapes of the furniture. The covers on the bed next to hers were piled high, and she wasn’t sure if Ji Junxin had gotten up.

Just then, the rustling sound of plastic bags from the living room answered her question.

Could it be… another stomachache? … Thinking about the disgusting porridge this afternoon, Mi Hongdou frowned, listening to the rustling, and finally couldn’t stay in bed any longer. She sat up.

Putting on a jacket, Mi Hongdou didn’t bother turning on the lights, just using her phone’s flashlight. She got out of bed and shone the light on Ji Junxin’s bed. It was indeed empty, just the covers piled high.

It was January, and the weather was cold. Leaving the covers like this would let out all the warmth. After a brief hesitation, Mi Hongdou reached out and smoothed them out.

The fabric was soft and slightly warm. That was… Ji Junxin’s warmth. Mi Hongdou’s hand lingered on the covers, as if her body had made the decision to let her hand savor the warmth for a little longer. So soft, so warm, it must still carry Ji Junxin’s scent… Mi Hongdou’s hand trembled slightly. With the last of her rationality, she quickly smoothed out the covers and stepped away from the bed.

Her heart pounded, and her breathing quickened. She turned off her phone’s flashlight, clenched her trembling hand into a fist, and tried to calm down. In the darkness, she regulated her breathing, listening to the rustling of plastic bags outside.

Just an empty bed, and she was already losing control. A wry smile appeared on Mi Hongdou’s face, hidden in the darkness. Where was her path leading…

The darkness and the cold gradually calmed her down. The rustling continued, and Mi Hongdou chided herself for her earlier, almost creepy behavior, rubbed her face, turned on her phone’s flashlight again, and went out.

It was just a few steps from the bedroom to the living room. Soon, she saw Ji Junxin curled up on the sofa.

The living room lights were off. Ji Junxin, holding her phone in one hand and a bag of chips in the other, was munching happily.

Like a squirrel in winter, nibbling on the nuts it stored in autumn… That was Mi Hongdou’s first thought.

Ji Junxin hadn’t expected Mi Hongdou to be up. When the light from Mi Hongdou’s phone fell on her, she looked up, her expression slightly confused, her cheeks puffed out from the chips, like a field mouse caught stealing food. So, in Mi Hongdou’s eyes, the quietly munching squirrel instantly transformed into a startled field mouse.

“Are you hungry?” Mi Hongdou smiled, thinking that Ji Junxin’s stomach was hurting again and she had gotten up to take medicine. But it wasn’t the rustling of medicine bags, it was the sound of chip bags. Thinking this, she felt relieved. As long as she wasn’t unwell, it was fine. Mi Hongdou figured that Ji Junxin must have been too full from the porridge to eat dinner and had gone straight to bed, but now she was hungry. Come to think of it, Mi Hongdou also felt a little hungry.

Ji Junxin, embarrassed at being caught eating in the middle of the night, offered the bag of chips to Mi Hongdou. “Are you hungry? Want some?”

Mi Hongdou shook her head, walked over, and turned on the living room light. “Chips aren’t very filling, do you want something more substantial?” She added, “If you’re not sleepy.”

“I’m not sleepy!” Ji Junxin immediately replied. The lunch today had been ordinary, not satisfying at all. And the afternoon’s porridge and pickled vegetables were a tragedy, she had even had to force herself to eat so much of it. Now, with Mi Hongdou offering to cook, Ji Junxin’s heart was filled with fireworks, how could she be sleepy? Moreover… she had been too hungry earlier. She had woken up at eleven and couldn’t fall asleep again. After tossing and turning in bed for a long time, she finally gave up and came out to eat chips.

Mi Hongdou smiled at Ji Junxin. “Don’t eat the chips anymore, I’ll make you something, it’ll be quick.”

Ji Junxin looked at the chip bag reluctantly, then obediently put it away, sealing it with a clip.

“What are we having?” The little foodie, having put away the chips and washed her hands, asked expectantly.

Mi Hongdou opened the refrigerator and looked inside. “Hmm… there’s some minced meat, I can make some meatballs, with vegetables and mushrooms, how about meatball soup? Do you want rice? I can steam some, or if not, I’ll just make more meatballs.”

“No rice!” Ji Junxin said with a grimace. “I don’t even want to see rice or porridge for a while.”

She was even holding a grudge now. Looking at the pitiful little foodie, Mi Hongdou’s mood soared. “Okay, meatball soup it is.”

Taking out the minced meat, vegetables, and mushrooms from the refrigerator, Mi Hongdou glanced at Ji Junxin, who was watching her. “No need to watch me, I’ll be done soon, go sit on the sofa and play.” She glanced at Ji Junxin’s phone, which seemed to be still on, and smiled. “Are you reading romance novels?”

Ji Junxin blushed and ran back to the sofa, snatching her phone and covering the screen with her hand.

Oh, silence means yes… Mi Hongdou smiled at the slightly embarrassed Ji Junxin. “It’s okay, I used to read romance novels too, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” “Used to” meant back in middle school… there was no need to tell the already embarrassed Ji Junxin.

Ji Junxin’s face turned even redder. She opened her mouth slightly, as if wanting to protest, but then remained silent, seemingly annoyed.

Haha, so easily angered, so cute… Mi Hongdou, pouring the minced meat into a bowl and preparing to season it, wasn’t worried about annoying Ji Junxin. The meatballs would be ready soon, and no matter how angry she was, she could be easily appeased with food.

Ji Junxin glared at Mi Hongdou, who went off to cook after teasing her, feeling frustrated.

It wasn’t a romance novel! She roared silently.

She removed her hand from the phone screen, which displayed the end screen of the “The Empress Invites You to Dinner~” video. It was better for Mi Hongdou to think she was reading romance novels than to know that she had been watching this video and reading the comments all night… For some reason, Ji Junxin didn’t want Mi Hongdou to know.

Since Director Pan showed them the porridge scene that afternoon, something had shifted in Ji Junxin’s heart. She had rewatched the trailer tonight, initially wanting to see the new comments, but then she noticed details she hadn’t noticed before.

It was the young empress’s gaze towards Miao Qianye after handing her the fried rice, when Miao Qianye took the bowl but didn’t immediately eat. A look full of worry, concern, and an unspoken urgency… Ji Junxin hadn’t missed this look when she watched the trailer earlier, but after seeing the porridge scene this afternoon, she seemed to see more in that gaze. It was strange, why hadn’t she noticed it before? … It felt like something was constantly being updated, revealing more and more details. It was both novel and slightly unsettling.

Mi Hongdou’s grasp of the character was perfect, even her gaze could draw you into the scene. She was truly a talented actress. Ji Junxin came to this conclusion after watching the porridge scene and the trailer. She felt that there was more to it, but she couldn’t articulate it.

The hotel suite had an open kitchen. Ji Junxin sat on the sofa, just a few steps away from Mi Hongdou, who was busily cooking. A strange thought suddenly occurred to her… If the young empress’s gaze towards Miao Qianye in the drama was always affectionate, gentle, worried, even indulgent and expectant, then what was Mi Hongdou’s gaze towards her like in real life?

Ji Junxin was suddenly curious, even a little eager… She didn’t even understand why she felt this eagerness…

Mi Hongdou warmed the minced meat in a bowl of warm water, then stirred it, making it easier to season. She added salt, MSG, a little sugar, and a pinch of white pepper. Hmm… should she add one egg or two? One egg wouldn’t be smooth enough, but two might make it too loose… As she seasoned the meat and calculated the egg ratio, Mi Hongdou had no idea that her biggest fear was about to come true.