Chapter 91: Other People
Although Mi Hongdou didn’t think there would be a time when she needed Ji Junxin’s protection, her words were still comforting. The gloom from the phone call dissipated, and she felt calmer. The unpleasant events from her previous life wouldn’t happen again, not to Ji Junxin, nor to herself.
Meanwhile, Ji Junxin, having just played the “domineering CEO,” realized the impropriety of their intertwined hands. Preoccupied with Mi Hongdou’s emotions, she hadn’t paid much attention. Now, with Mi Hongdou seemingly fine, her attention was drawn to their joined hands.
They had held hands before, after becoming close, but Ji Junxin had been oblivious to her own feelings then. Now, it was different. Having developed feelings for Mi Hongdou, the touch made her heart flutter. She had initiated the comforting gesture, and she was worried that pulling away now would upset Mi Hongdou. And Mi Hongdou’s hand was warm, the touch comforting and reassuring, she was reluctant to let go. But Mi Hongdou’s warmth spread through her, her breathing quickening, her face heating up, and she had to pull away.
Ji Junxin discreetly withdrew her hand, picked up the remaining half of the sticky rice roll, and took a bite, pretending she had just wanted to continue eating.
Mi Hongdou’s hand was empty, Ji Junxin’s touch gone, but the soft, delicate feeling lingered. She unconsciously remembered the warmth of Ji Junxin’s foot the night before… She picked up the soy milk and took a large gulp. The sweet, freshly ground soy milk, now slightly cool, calmed her racing thoughts.
She felt a little guilty. Ji Junxin, considering her a good friend, had acted without reservation, while she, harboring hidden feelings, had taken advantage… It was wrong! But she couldn’t help herself. Just being close to Ji Junxin, smelling her scent, made her heart itch, like a kitten’s paws scratching. Only physical contact, even the slightest touch, could soothe the itch.
Having a crush on someone of the same sex was much more pitiful than having a crush on someone of the opposite sex. The latter could at least dream of a future together. The former could only tell themselves to keep it hidden.
Compared to the torment of her secret crush, her father and sister were minor annoyances…
In the car, as the atmosphere eased, Mi Hongcai, whose call had been abruptly ended by Mi Hongdou, was furious. Her words were like invisible slaps, stinging his pride.
Mi Hongcai knew that this daughter was practically nonexistent. No shared time, no real connection. She had even returned all the child support payments, an act that practically severed their ties. He hadn’t tried to reconcile then. He was a businessman, and he hadn’t needed anything from her. Since she could return the money, she must not need anything from him either. With no mutual need, there was no need for further contact.
But although he thought this way, he hadn’t explicitly said it. And although Mi Hongdou was always cold and distant towards him, she was always polite. He hadn’t expected her to be so disrespectful this time, criticizing his infidelity and even implying that he had no right to interfere in her life. Although he didn’t care much about her, he wouldn’t tolerate his paternal authority being challenged. But before he could express his anger, she turned on Mi Yu, her icy tone startling even him, a seasoned businessman. And then she hung up.
His anger, not only unresolved, but amplified, Mi Hongcai’s face turned red, then purple, he clenched his phone tightly, then slowly released it.
“What happened? What did she say?” Mi Yu, although she had seen his anger, wasn’t afraid of him and just wanted to know about Mi Hongdou.
Mi Hongcai looked at his beloved daughter, remembering Mi Hongdou’s last words, and asked, “What did you do to Mi Hongdou on your eighth birthday?”
“It was Mi Yu’s eighth birthday, that girl was already eleven, what could Mi Yu possibly do to her?” Wang Bide interjected, her tone sarcastic. “You’re her father, you just lectured her a few words on the phone, and she’s already accusing our Mi Yu? Wasn’t it just a small injury she caused herself? If it was something serious, why didn’t she say anything then? Why bring it up now? If she doesn’t want to help our Mi Yu, just say it, we don’t need her, why slander our child?”
While Wang Bide was speaking, Mi Yu had already recovered from her initial panic at her father’s sudden question and now said with a pitiful expression, “Exactly, if she doesn’t want to help, just say it, why badmouth me in front of you? She just doesn’t want to help, and she’s trying to gain your sympathy! She’s just after our money! Dad, don’t be fooled by her!”
“Don’t talk nonsense, your father isn’t that foolish.” Wang Bide glared at Mi Yu, her seemingly reproachful tone lacking any real severity.
But Mi Hongcai fell for it. Mi Hongdou’s resolute words had caused him a moment of doubt. But now, looking at his pitiful daughter and his wife defending his authority, Mi Hongdou’s accusations no longer mattered.
Right, Mi Yu was only eight then, even if she wanted to harm Mi Hongdou, it would just be a childish prank, how could she cause a knife wound? And Mi Hongdou had admitted it was her own fault. It was just that her tone earlier had been so forceful that he had been momentarily swayed, how embarrassing. Mi Hongcai felt that he had seen through her and looked at Mi Yu apologetically. “I shouldn’t have asked, don’t be angry.”
Mi Yu was about to make a fuss when Wang Bide stopped her.
“What about the acting, what did she say?” Mi Yu asked, having overheard parts of the conversation but wanting more details.
Thinking about Mi Hongdou’s words, Mi Hongcai’s anger flared again. He gulped down the cold water and frowned. “She did lie to me last time. She wasn’t working as a designer, she was acting, probably in that… ‘Imperial’ something you showed me earlier.”
Too brief, that wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Mi Yu pressed, “Then Dad, talk to her about my situation, I’m already a sophomore, and I haven’t had any opportunities to join a crew… she’s an art student, how far can she go? It’s better for her to help me, and when I become famous, I’ll repay the favor.”
Mi Hongcai was silent. Mi Hongdou’s words, whether true or not, showed her clear dislike for Mi Yu, asking for her help was probably pointless.
Mi Yu, thinking that he was just embarrassed to ask, went to him and said coquettishly, “Dad, the crew she’s in has powerful backers, and big stars, if I could meet them, I wouldn’t even need her help to get an opportunity.”
Mi Hongcai looked at his daughter. Mi Yu resembled Wang Bide, a delicate and beautiful girl. Mi Hongdou, although also beautiful, was always cold and distant, lacking his younger daughter’s charm. He was tempted by Mi Yu’s words. The influence of celebrities was immense. If Mi Yu became famous, it would also benefit his business, which was why he had supported her pursuing acting. But…
“I don’t think she’ll help.” Although it seemed to undermine his authority as a father, Mi Hongcai still felt it was better to discourage Mi Yu’s unrealistic expectations. “You know I haven’t had any contact with them. To be honest, two years ago, when Mi Hongdou turned eighteen, she returned all the child support payments I had made over the years. In other words, she doesn’t want anything to do with us. And just now, on the phone, she said she wouldn’t help Mi Yu.” He omitted Mi Hongdou’s warning for Mi Yu not to cross her path, dismissing it as an angry outburst.
“She said she wouldn’t help before you even asked?” Mi Yu was surprised. “Did you ever tell her I was studying acting?”
Mi Hongcai thought about it, he couldn’t quite remember. “Perhaps…”
Mi Yu was disappointed and indignant. “She’s an art student, what’s she doing taking a spot in the entertainment industry? I’m a professional, and I haven’t even joined a crew yet, and she gets such a good role! I don’t know how she even got into the production, perhaps she was…”
“If she doesn’t want to help, then forget it. Our Mi Yu can make it on her own, she doesn’t need her, and hopefully, she won’t come begging us later.” Wang Bide quickly interrupted. After all, Mi Hongdou was still Mi Hongcai’s daughter, it wouldn’t be good for Mi Yu to be too harsh, in case Mi Hongcai sided with her.
“Right, she’s just a small-timer, she can’t make any waves.” Mi Hongcai slapped the table and said to Mi Yu, “Focus on your studies, and when you graduate, I’ll find a way to get you into a production, we don’t need her!”
Mi Yu’s face lit up, but before she could speak, Wang Bide tugged at her clothes.
“Yes, listen to your father, he’ll take care of it.” Wang Bide smiled at Mi Hongcai. “Look at your daughter, so happy that you’re willing to help her. She trusts you so much, don’t listen to that other girl’s nonsense.”
Wang Bide’s words soothed Mi Hongcai’s anger. “Yes, I don’t believe her, I only trust you two.”
“You only trust your daughter, not me.” Wang Bide said, feigning hurt. “Last time, I told you about my cousin, the deputy factory manager at the food factory, their business isn’t doing well, and he wanted to work for you, but you didn’t agree, you didn’t trust me.”
Mi Hongcai waved his hand dismissively. “It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you, I just think running a factory and running a business are different. Sigh, if you want him to come, then let him.”
“Then meet him first, see if he’s suitable, don’t just hire him because of me.” Although her words were polite, her eyes were smiling. “By the way, there are some tangyuan in the pot, haven’t you had breakfast yet? Go eat some.”
Mi Hongcai, rubbing his aching head, went to eat the tangyuan, leaving Mi Yu and Wang Bide in the living room.
As soon as he left, Mi Yu said to Wang Bide, dissatisfied, “Mom, why did you stop me? I’m already a sophomore, Dad finally said he would help me, I should have asked him to do it now!”
“Your father already agreed, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to pressure him later.” Wang Bide smiled smugly. “But he was still feeling guilty towards you just now, it was better to bring up your cousin’s matter than your acting career. Your father has a daughter outside, with our family’s wealth and status, we need someone on the inside, looking out for us. Someone to speak up for us.”
Perhaps even Mi Hongdou herself hadn’t expected that her firm rejection of Mi Hongcai and Mi Yu in this life would actually accelerate Mi Yu’s entry into the industry. Life was truly unpredictable.
Qiao Rubai also felt the same.
Having spent a long time composing her reply to Ji Junxin the night before, she had fallen asleep while waiting for Ji Junxin’s response. She slept through the night, and there was still no message from Ji Junxin.
Qiao Rubai wasn’t sure how Ji Junxin would react to her brief reply. It had been somewhat superficial, she had thought the complex question would require a longer discussion. But Ji Junxin hadn’t given her the chance.
Although curious about Ji Junxin’s thoughts, Qiao Rubai didn’t want to send another message. She wasn’t sure if she should help Ji Junxin understand her feelings. Helping seemed… cruel, but not helping also seemed… cruel… Since Ji Junxin wasn’t asking, perhaps it was better to let her figure it out herself, Qiao Rubai thought, slightly avoiding the issue.
She hadn’t expected Ji Junxin not to reply last night. But when she arrived at the company this morning, an even bigger surprise was waiting for her.
“You’re saying, there’s nothing unusual about Shen Zhu?” Qiao Rubai frowned, flipping through the thin file.
“Her identity, family, social network, nothing unusual.” A sharp-looking man in a suit sat opposite her. “But there is one anomaly. Three days ago, the afternoon the crew finished filming the palace scenes and were preparing to move to the estate, Shen Zhu, who’s usually inseparable from Xiao Zhang, disappeared for a while. We found out that she was at a cafe in Shudian, meeting a man, but the cafe doesn’t have security cameras, so we could only get a description from the staff: a man in his forties. We haven’t identified him yet. But we did find out that later that afternoon, Shen Zhu went to a bank, we’re certain she deposited money, but we’re still investigating the amount.”
Qiao Rubai closed the file and smiled. “This is enough to confirm that there’s something going on.”
“Should we continue investigating the man’s identity and the amount deposited?” The man asked considerately.
“Yes, of course,” Qiao Rubai slammed the file on the table. “I want to know who he is and what he’s planning!”
The sound was loud, but the man, used to clients’ reactions, remained calm. “And the other matter, the continued investigation on Lu Gaoshi, we found that she has been meeting frequently with Jiang Dingyi, mostly at restaurants and tea houses, just the two of them. Their conversations, which we monitored, didn’t involve Qiong Yu or Miss Ji, just… a romantic relationship between two middle-aged people. They seem to be getting closer, perhaps because Jiang Dingyi’s wife has incurred more gambling debts, and Lu Gaoshi has given him almost two million yuan.”
“She gave him more money?” Qiao Rubai suddenly realized something she had overlooked. “Based on Lu Gaoshi’s salary and savings, covering the gambling debts once or twice wouldn’t be a problem, but this is a lot of money. Where would she get so much money? Can you find out?”
“It will take some time,” the man replied.
After the man left, Qiao Rubai remained deep in thought.
She had initially thought that Lu Gaoshi was just helping Jiang Duo get close to Ji Junxin to win Jiang Dingyi’s heart. But now, it seemed there was more to it.
She still hadn’t found any leads on Mi Hongdou’s and her own deaths in her previous life, and now Lu Gaoshi and Shen Zhu’s situations seemed to be developing further. She was in the entertainment business, why did she feel like she was becoming a detective! And these were things she couldn’t even discuss with Yang Lianyi, it was frustrating!
But there was sweetness amidst the bitterness.
Ji Junxin, having decided to hide her feelings and be a good friend, even after the film ended, found that the remaining half of the sticky rice roll no longer tasted bitter.
The sauces, the egg, the sausage, the sticky rice, it was delicious! It was a pity there was only half left… Ji Junxin savored each bite, even missing the part she had eaten earlier without tasting it.
Compared to unrequited love disguised as friendship, separation seemed even more bitter.
Nothing was more frightening than separation, no more contact, no longer knowing the other person’s joys and sorrows, only their image on a screen… Ji Junxin didn’t dare to dwell on it, or even this remaining deliciousness would turn bitter.
The rice roll wasn’t large to begin with, and the earlier half, eaten without enjoyment, was as if she hadn’t eaten at all. The remaining half, instead of filling her up, only whetted her appetite.
Mi Hongdou, seeing Ji Junxin’s gloomy expression as she sipped her soy milk, remembered her unusual behavior this morning. Although she suspected she might be fooled again, she couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Why so unhappy?”
“Sigh…” Ji Junxin finished her soy milk, her gaze distant. “I was wondering why we didn’t bring the stuffed dates, I could finish them all in five minutes.”
Mi Hongdou: “…”
So, her earlier worries… had been for nothing.
Just as Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin were discussing whether to go and freeload breakfast from Jiang Lingling, a call from Director Pan made the decision for them.
On their way to the director’s tent, Ji Junxin looked confused. “Why did Director Pan ask you to bring scissors? And told you not to bring anyone else?”
“We’ll find out when we get there.” Mi Hongdou had a hunch, but she thought she was probably overthinking.
“But he said no one else.” Ji Junxin followed closely. “Is it okay for me to go?”
Mi Hongdou looked at her, amused. “Then don’t go.”
“…” Ji Junxin didn’t stop, just hummed softly. “I’m not ‘anyone else’.”
Heh… that little “else”… Although she didn’t look at Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou’s eyes softened.
Yes, you’re… definitely not just anyone else…
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