Chapter 90: Protecting You
For Mi Hongcai, he hadn’t seen his ex-wife, Wang Linyue, since their divorce when Mi Hongdou was three. Immediately after the divorce, he married Wang Bide, who was very strict and didn’t allow him to see his ex-wife. Mi Hongdou was young then, and if Wang Linyue didn’t bring her, he couldn’t see her. So, he rarely saw Mi Hongdou when she was little. And with Wang Bide quickly giving birth to Mi Yu, his new daughter always by his side, he naturally paid less attention to the daughter he rarely saw, even gradually reducing their phone calls.
When Mi Hongdou was seven or eight, no longer needing her mother to accompany her, Mi Hongcai took her out, only to realize how distant they had become. He had wanted to spend more time with her, to build their relationship, but his new wife and young daughter demanded his attention, so it was mostly just wishful thinking. Then, on Mi Yu’s eighth birthday, Mi Hongdou’s first visit to his new home ended with her injuring her shoulder, and their contact became even less frequent.
Occasionally, late at night, Mi Hongcai would think about their strained relationship and sigh. But most of the time, with his new family, he rarely thought of Mi Hongdou.
However, not thinking of her didn’t mean he could accept her disrespect towards him, her father.
When his repeated questions were met with Mi Hongdou’s icy retort, “Didn’t you also tell my mother you would spend the rest of your life with her?” Mi Hongcai exploded like a gas tank.
“How dare you speak to me like that! I’m your father! It’s not your place to comment on our matters! Have you forgotten about filial piety!” Mi Hongcai’s face was livid. “Do you think lying to me was justified?”
Compared to the furious Mi Hongcai, Mi Hongdou was much calmer. Or rather, not calm, but cold…
While Mi Hongcai continued ranting, the chauffeured car arrived at the set, parking in a secluded spot away from the usual parking area. The driver quickly got out and waited nearby.
The driver Qiao Rubai assigned to Ji Junxin was carefully chosen, not only for his driving skills but also for his discretion. Hearing Mi Hongdou’s earlier words, he knew he shouldn’t overhear this conversation. Although he wasn’t Mi Hongdou’s driver, seeing her close relationship with Ji Junxin, he had to be considerate. Having reached the set, he parked in a quiet spot, waiting for Mi Hongdou to finish her call.
Bai Tang glanced at the driver, grabbed her bag, and was about to get out. She looked back and saw Ji Junxin sitting next to Mi Hongdou, her face full of concern for Mi Hongdou, who clearly wasn’t in a good mood. Ji Junxin didn’t seem to be getting out. Bai Tang quickly left the car.
The night before, Jiang Lingling’s assistant had walked with Bai Tang to get the car. During the short walk, she had subtly given Bai Tang some advice. Bai Tang, always clever and meticulous, although not fully understanding why the assistant repeatedly told her not to be too curious or interfere in anything between Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin, kept it in mind.
Even after a satisfying meal, the assistant wasn’t one for idle chatter. Bai Tang thought about it later that night. From the gingerless vinegar to the stuffed dates Mi Hongdou gave Ji Junxin, she could sense the closeness between them. Having spent most of her time at Mengguan for training, and only a few days with Mi Hongdou, Bai Tang felt that she should indeed follow the assistant’s advice: observe more, speak less, and she would eventually understand the situation and how to act.
Like now, Mi Hongdou’s earlier words were clearly about a family matter, a complicated one. Judging by her tone, it wasn’t something she wanted to share. Bai Tang felt awkward. Fortunately, they had arrived, and the driver got out, so she followed. And Ji Junxin staying in the car was a clear sign of their closeness.
Mi Hongdou had only been on set for three months, had only known Ji Junxin for three months, and they were already close enough to share such personal matters? Bai Tang didn’t quite understand. Wasn’t the entertainment industry supposed to be a complicated place, full of backstabbing and fake friendships? … But Ji Junxin didn’t seem like that kind of person. Bai Tang remembered Ji Junxin’s genuine concern for Mi Hongdou before she got out of the car, a look of… protectiveness…
Bai Tang’s observation was accurate. Ji Junxin had watched as Mi Hongdou, usually so cheerful and optimistic, became cold and distant after answering the phone, a change that made her resent the person on the other end. Mi Hongdou’s cold silence, until her icy retort, “Didn’t you also tell my mother you would spend the rest of your life with her?” made Ji Junxin realize that it must be her father.
During the fried meatball night, Mi Hongdou had briefly mentioned her parents’ divorce, not going into details, but it was enough for Ji Junxin to imagine the situation. In her mind, with Mi’s mother being so kind and Mi Hongdou so gentle and capable, the father who abandoned them must be a terrible person. Now, seeing the guarded and distant Mi Hongdou, Ji Junxin’s heart ached.
Having to be so guarded against your own father, she must have been deeply hurt. Ji Junxin thought of her own family. Although there was no betrayal or abandonment, the indifference also hurt.
Who wouldn’t want a loving family? But it was fate. Looking at Mi Hongdou, her lips pressed together, her expression strained, Ji Junxin felt a pang of empathy.
Mi Hongdou had almost reached her limit.
Preoccupied with Ji Junxin’s unusual behavior this morning, she hadn’t been in the mood to deal with Mi Hongcai’s call. She had only answered to prevent him from bothering her mother. She had just wanted to clarify things, but Mi Hongcai, as if having found her weakness, kept questioning her relentlessly, which was incredibly annoying. Her earlier retort had been the harshest words she had ever said to him, but saying them made her feel a little better, she could now endure his voice for a few more minutes.
After Mi Hongcai’s rant about respect, filial piety, and her earlier lie, Mi Hongdou finally sighed and said, “Okay, you did contribute to my birth. Even though you didn’t raise me, teach me, and we don’t have a relationship, you’re still my elder. I lied to you last time, I admit it, I’m sorry. Now that I’ve apologized, is there anything else?”
“What kind of attitude is that!” Mi Hongcai, enraged by her words, exploded again. “Is that how your mother taught you?”
If before, Mi Hongdou had tolerated him to prevent him from bothering her mother, now that he had crossed the line, there was no need for further restraint.
Mi Hongdou’s expression turned icy, her voice laced with sarcasm as she said, “How my mother raised me is none of your business. Since you never cared before, don’t expect to control me now. Focus on your precious daughter, how well do you think you raised her? Ask her if she remembers what she did to me on her eighth birthday. I didn’t hold it against her, considering it repayment for you bringing me into this world. I know both last time and this time, it was Mi Yu who instigated you, right? Tell her not to use me. Even if she wants to be an actress, she better pray she doesn’t run into me. That incident from back then, I might just return the favor one day!”
Without waiting for a response, Mi Hongdou, having said her piece, hung up.
So, after being reborn, it was still better to settle scores, holding grudges was unsatisfying. Mi Hongdou leaned back against her seat and sighed. Before she could even finish her sigh, a hesitant hand reached out and gently covered hers.
It was a hesitant hand, pausing and retracting several times during its short journey, its eventual landing on Mi Hongdou’s hand betraying Ji Junxin’s inner conflict.
Ji Junxin’s hand, warm and soft, resting lightly on hers, brought a burning warmth.
Mi Hongdou looked at the small, delicate hand on hers, patted it gently with her other hand, and turned to Ji Junxin. “What’s wrong? Did I scare you?” Her voice was warm and gentle, as if afraid of startling the person beside her.
She must be scared, why else the hesitation? … A bitterness welled up in Mi Hongdou’s heart. There were still unresolved resentments from her previous life, and she still had this side to her, the side she showed to those she disliked. Someone as pure and innocent as Ji Junxin probably wouldn’t like this side of her.
But she hadn’t gotten out of the car to continue the call, hadn’t she deliberately let Ji Junxin witness this other side of her? Mi Hongdou didn’t understand herself. She had wanted to hide her feelings for Ji Junxin, to just be a good friend. But sometimes, she couldn’t resist these self-destructive acts, wanting to reveal herself completely, regardless of the consequences. A self-destructive tendency, a deep contradiction.
Mi Hongdou didn’t understand that it was precisely her efforts to suppress her feelings that caused these unconscious rebellions, her thoughts no longer rational.
Mi Hongdou’s words startled Ji Junxin, whose heart had been racing from holding her hand. “What? Why would I be scared?”
“Don’t you… find me a little scary when I’m like that on the phone?” Mi Hongdou’s tone wavered between her usual gentleness and the earlier coldness.
“No.” Ji Junxin’s answer was firm. She also noticed Mi Hongdou’s unusual behavior. She forced herself to focus, her voice calming. “No matter what happens, I’ll always support you.”
Ji Junxin’s tone was steady, her expression sincere, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Mi Hongdou, her hand tightening slightly, as if to convey her resolve.
Facing Ji Junxin like this, Mi Hongdou gradually relaxed, her frown softening, the coldness fading, the defensive wall crumbling.
“You…” Mi Hongdou’s expression softened, and she looked at the serious Ji Junxin, unable to help but smile. What a fool.
“I’m serious!” Ji Junxin, seeing Mi Hongdou’s smile, thought she didn’t believe her and squeezed Mi Hongdou’s hand. “I mean it!”
“Okay, okay, I know, I know.” Mi Hongdou’s smile widened, she squeezed Ji Junxin’s hand back, then her smile vanished, and she said with utmost sincerity, “Then, from now on, please take care of me.”
Mi Hongdou’s sudden change of expression and her intense gaze stunned Ji Junxin for a moment. Then she nodded seriously. “Okay, I’ll protect you.”
Now it was Mi Hongdou’s turn to be stunned. She had just said that because she found Ji Junxin’s serious expression adorable, it was just a tease, why this sudden seriousness?
The Ji Junxin in front of her now was someone she had never seen before, her expression resolute, her gaze firm, as if she had made a solemn vow. It wasn’t a battlefield, why this air of unwavering protectiveness? … Ji Junxin’s grip tightened slightly, a slight pain Mi Hongdou didn’t mind. She could feel that Ji Junxin’s “protect” wasn’t just empty words.
A sudden warmth bloomed in her heart, like the sun melting the ice and snow of a harsh winter, thawing the frozen ground. Mi Hongdou fought back tears. How could she deserve such sincerity? She had hidden feelings for Ji Junxin, her kindness just… a selfish desire… How could she accept such a genuine response? She had planned to stay by Ji Junxin’s side, to be a good friend, but at this moment, she wanted to retreat, she felt… unworthy…
At the same time, Ji Junxin also had a realization. She liked Mi Hongdou, and if they interacted too much, her feelings would be revealed. Rather than having Mi Hongdou find out and be disgusted, it was better to distance herself after filming ended. Less contact, a fading relationship, perhaps she could move on. Even if she couldn’t, it was better than being exposed, better than seeing Mi Hongdou’s disgust. Unable to be together, and with their separation imminent, Ji Junxin found everything bitter.
But her earlier promise couldn’t be broken. If she said she would protect Mi Hongdou, then she would. Her acting skills were well-regarded in the industry. To protect Mi Hongdou, she couldn’t distance herself, so she would hide her feelings and be a good friend! Ji Junxin thought resolutely.
Thoughts and feelings could change in an instant. Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin’s sudden shifts in perspective might not lead to the paths they envisioned.
Ji Junxin, seeing that Mi Hongdou’s expression had returned to its usual calmness, asked the question that had been on her mind, “You have a younger sister? What did she do to you on her eighth birthday?” Even without her promise of protection, she would still have asked. It didn’t sound like a pleasant memory, she didn’t want to hear about Mi Hongdou’s unhappiness, but she also didn’t want to be helpless if Mi Hongdou was in trouble.
Mi Hongdou looked at Ji Junxin, not wanting to burden her with her family drama. But Ji Junxin’s expression was insistent. Seeing Mi Hongdou’s silence, she even poked her hand gently as a prompt.
Not just her unwavering gaze, but her fingers poking her palm, it was incredibly distracting. Mi Hongdou’s heart, even her body, felt… strange. She couldn’t resist and gave in. “Yes, after my father and mother divorced, he quickly remarried. I have a half-sister, three years younger than me, named Mi Yu. We’ve only met once, she should be… a sophomore in college now.”
“She bullied you on her eighth birthday?” Ji Junxin, dissatisfied with Mi Hongdou’s vague answer, pressed, her tone unusually forceful.
“…” Mi Hongdou unconsciously touched her left shoulder, still not wanting to scare Ji Junxin. “She just… tripped me with a few other kids.”
Mi Hongdou had downplayed it, but Ji Junxin’s eyebrows furrowed in anger. “She was only eight, and already so scheming! How terrible! Which knee did you injure? Was it bleeding? Does it still hurt?” She reached for Mi Hongdou’s knee.
“…It was… bleeding… it was many years ago, it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Mi Hongdou stopped Ji Junxin’s hand. The old wound didn’t hurt, but Ji Junxin’s grip on her hand did. Ji Junxin’s emotions could be gauged by the strength of her grip, it was interesting.
If Jiang Lingling were here, she would definitely comment on the fact that they were still holding hands.
“So you said your sister, no, you said Mi Yu wants to be an actress, to follow in your footsteps, what did you mean?” Ji Junxin asked, a barrage of questions.
“She’s studying acting, and she wants to be an actress. She seemed to have seen me when we were filming the estate test shoot. Later, when my father asked, I lied and said I wasn’t filming. She probably saw the trailer this time, and my father called to interrogate me.” Mi Hongdou couldn’t tell her about how she had helped Mi Yu in her previous life, and just mentioning this life’s events, she was worried that Ji Junxin would think she was heartless.
“Hmph. Scheming against you at such a young age, and now she wants your help?” Ji Junxin’s reaction was much stronger than Mi Hongdou expected, mostly anger. “You were bleeding! It was your knee, what if it had been your face? She did such a terrible thing, and she still has the nerve to ask for your help?” From Mi Hongdou’s tone, her relationship with her father was clearly strained. Mi Hongdou must have been bullied by Mi Yu without anyone defending her. Ji Junxin imagined the tiny Mi Hongdou being bullied by a group of children, falling and injuring her knee, bleeding and crying helplessly, and her heart ached. If there were no feelings between them, then they should just cut ties, why do such a terrible thing! Even a child, she couldn’t forgive! A cruel child wouldn’t grow into a good person! Ji Junxin quickly judged Mi Yu’s character.
“No, I won’t help her, I already refused.” Now it was Mi Hongdou’s turn to calm Ji Junxin down.
Ji Junxin took a deep breath. “But you were right, she better not enter this industry, and if she does, she better pray she doesn’t run into us. There are so many ways to make someone suffer in this industry, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.” Her gaze darkened, her demeanor changing.
“Pfft…” Although Ji Junxin’s words were serious, her tone world-weary, Mi Hongdou couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” Ji Junxin pouted, her voice returning to its usual coquettishness. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no, no… you’re right.” Mi Hongdou suppressed her laughter, her eyes crinkling. “I just think… you sound like a domineering CEO.”
“Hmph.” Ji Junxin imitated Jiang Lingling, raising her chin, and patted Mi Hongdou’s leg with her free hand. “A domineering CEO protecting you!”
Mi Hongdou: “…”
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