Chapter 40
Breakfast actually included two bowls of Enxima and several dim sum pastries. As Xia Linxia ate, she glanced at Ji Fengxue opposite her and said, hesitating, "Little Snowflake?"
"Cough, cough, cough." Ji Fengxue drank some milk to calm herself. "Stop calling me that." She felt quite embarrassed.
"It seems my memory from last night wasn't wrong." Xia Linxia was so amused she was shaking her legs. "If you dare call me Xiao Bao to my face again, I'll expose your 'Little Snowflake' nickname."
"Oh? What if I call you that in private?" Ji Fengxue gave her a meaningful look. "Like now, Xiao Bao?"
"Hmph, Little Snowflake!" Xia Linxia said indignantly.
Ji Fengxue took a bite of a shrimp dumpling. "Xia Xiao Bao."
"Ji Little Snowflake!"
They looked at each other and then burst into laughter.
Sunlight streamed in from outside, casting two figures through the floor-to-ceiling window. One was smiling radiantly, the other with a gentle smile in her eyes.
After breakfast, Ji Fengxue repeatedly confirmed with her if she still felt dizzy.
Xia Linxia waved her hand dismissively. "I'm fine. I was taken to all sorts of banquets when I was in school, so don't worry."
"Then I'll be going back now," Ji Fengxue said, walking towards the door.
"Okay, I have band practice this morning. After last night's collaboration and a drink, I feel like we'll be able to create some amazing sparks!"
Ji Fengxue paused as she was putting on her shoes and asked casually, "Sparks? What kind of sparks?"
"Sparks that will ignite the whole venue, of course!" Xia Linxia stood beside her, watching her put on her shoes. She then glanced at the slippers discarded nearby and pursed her lips. "How about I get you a pair of shoes?"
"What, are you trying to board my old ship with new shoes?" Ji Fengxue teased.
"Get out of here," Xia Linxia said, playfully pushing her.
However, Ji Fengxue had just put on her heels and was bending over to fasten them. With the push, she let out a surprised cry and stumbled backward, her foot slipping out of her shoe.
Xia Linxia, with quick reflexes, grabbed her by the waist, finally steadying her at the last moment. She braced herself against the wall with one hand, holding Ji Fengxue securely in her arms.
Ji Fengxue looked down at her bare foot, then slowly raised her head to meet Xia Linxia's eyes. "Look at what you've done. I almost ended up in a wheelchair."
Xia Linxia scratched her head apologetically, then realized they were only inches apart. With a slight lean forward, their noses would touch. She quickly let go and turned away awkwardly.
Ji Fengxue, however, pulled her hand. "Didn't you say you wanted to give me shoes? I think it's necessary to accept this gift, otherwise, you'll ruin a pair of shoes sooner or later."
She looked back in surprise. "Tsk, you're the first person to openly extort me like this."
"So, are you giving them to me?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Your auntie isn't short of money," Xia Linxia said.
Ji Fengxue smiled in satisfaction.
Leaving Xia's house and walking downstairs, she took a breath of fresh air, a smile involuntarily appearing on her lips. She took out her phone to call Chen Nian, but suddenly remembered something important!
She seemed to have... asked Chen Nian to wait downstairs last night...
"Oh, you actually remembered to call me?" Chen Nian said faintly on the phone, her tone as cold as a midwinter's day.
"I forgot, sorry." She felt guilty for half a minute and asked, "Where are you now?"
"Of course, I'm downstairs! Do you think I'd dare to wander off without your orders? If anything happened to you two drunkards, I'd have to rush up immediately," Chen Nian grumbled.
"I'm coming right over."
She jogged towards the parking lot. As soon as she got into the car, she saw Chen Nian with dark circles under her eyes. "Did you sleep in the car last night?"
"What else? You scared me to death," Chen Nian yawned. "But I only waited for an hour. Seeing as you didn't respond, I just fell asleep."
"I'll give you a raise," Ji Fengxue immediately transferred money to her. "I'll drive. I'll take you back first."
"Then I won't be polite."
Chen Nian got out of the car and moved to the passenger seat, dozing off against the backrest. When they reached a traffic light, she slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to ask, "Did anything happen between you two last night?"
A long silence followed.
"Others might be hesitant to pry into such private matters, but I can't. I'm your agent," Chen Nian said.
Ji Fengxue knew this, but she just didn't know how to answer for a moment.
By the time the car stopped downstairs from Chen Nian's place, Chen Nian was still lying there motionlessly, as if silently protesting.
Ji Fengxue then carefully said, "What you're thinking, none of that happened."
Chen Nian sat up abruptly, looking at her with surprise and joy. "Really? You're not lying to me? You'd better tell me the truth so I can prepare other work in advance."
"It really didn't happen. She just had a nightmare and wanted me to stay with her," Ji Fengxue said, then fell silent again.
After all, Chen Nian had been with her for many years. Seeing her expression, she knew something was wrong. "Then what are you anxious about?"
"...Actually, something else happened," Ji Fengxue said, hesitating.
"What is it?"
Ji Fengxue suddenly rummaged through the drawers and her bag, found a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff. She held it between her fingers, staring blankly at the glowing tip.
"I have a bad feeling," Chen Nian said, seeing the situation, she felt her guess was correct.
Ji Fengxue took another puff, opened the window, and looked outside, her back to Chen Nian. "You said last night that it's normal for me to have bad thoughts when I'm drunk."
"Mhm."
"But I'm very clear-headed now..." Ji Fengxue exhaled a puff of smoke, shrouding her emotions, and gave a self-deprecating smile. "Even when I'm clear-headed, those thoughts are even stronger."
Chen Nian was silent for a moment. "You know she's..."
"I know. She's straight, and definitely not the type I've always liked. I also know I've been hurt before and am even afraid of dating again," Ji Fengxue interrupted her, pausing for a moment, her tone inexplicably light. "But I can't control it."
It was like an arrow loosed from the string, unable to turn back, with only that single red target in her sight.
Chen Nian sighed. She had never been able to stop or persuade her in such matters.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. How many people are competing for Director Chen's new film?" Ji Fengxue stubbed out the cigarette and brought up work.
Chen Nian casually listed several big-name actors. "The competition is quite fierce. You must seize this meeting opportunity since you've finally secured a script."
"Don't worry, I've got this."
After resting at home for two days, she received a call from Xing Baifeng, who said the cooperation talks were almost finalized and she needed to return to the company immediately to handle other matters.
Ji Fengxue set off for the airport. The moment Xing Baifeng saw her, she smiled. "You're not still mad at me for complaining to your little girlfriend last time, are you?"
Ji Fengxue raised an eyebrow. "You're not usually one to gossip."
"But she's different. She's your girlfriend. What's wrong with her knowing?" Xing Baifeng took the coffee from her hand and sat down on a sofa. "You have good taste this time. You seem much happier with her than you were with Xiao Yuran."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, you were happy one moment and angry the next that night, just like when you were in school," Xing Baifeng sighed. "You have no idea. When I met Xiao Yuran with you before, it was like a diplomatic meeting. Her expression was so serious and boring, not interesting at all."
Ji Fengxue smiled faintly. "Yuran doesn't need me to worry about her. She knows what to say and what not to say."
Xing Baifeng nudged her shoulder and said with a laugh, "No wonder you were so angry that night. You were jealous because Xia Linxia was getting too close to me, weren't you?"
Ji Fengxue didn't answer.
They chatted about work for a while longer. Before boarding, Xing Baifeng said with a smile, "I'm leaving. I don't know when we'll see each other again."
"Then we'll meet whenever we can," Ji Fengxue also smiled. As an adult, friends become fewer and fewer, and you have to cherish every one you have.
"Okay, try to sleep early too. Insomnia isn't good for you," Xing Baifeng advised.
"Don't worry, I've found a sleep aid."
"Xia Linxia, right? That's so like you, sending me dog food as a gift even when parting." Xing Baifeng burst into laughter. "You two should be good to each other. I hope next time I come back, it's both of you picking me up."
"Mhm, I hope so too," Ji Fengxue said vaguely.
After seeing Xing Baifeng off, she went home and spent a whole day reading the script. She liked the play more and more.
On Saturday evening, she packed her bags and went out. Chen Nian opened the car door for her and instructed as she drove, "Director Chen doesn't like people being late, so let's get there early. You remember he likes spicy food, right? I've packed a box of mints in your bag. Eat a couple before the meal."
"Okay."
They chatted as they headed to a private dining restaurant.
Director Chen was her benefactor. The film that won her the Best Actress award five years ago was directed by him. However, Director Chen hadn't filmed anything since then and had been focusing on scripts. Many people were eyeing his new project.
While waiting, she glanced at the news online. The finals of "National Singer" were about to begin. Netizens were eagerly guessing who would be this year's King of Singers, anticipating the contestants' groundbreaking performances, and wondering which big stars would be invited to perform as guest singers.
"Who else is in the guest lineup for 'National Singer'?" she asked Chen Nian.
Chen Nian gave her an exasperated look and listed several names, all renowned powerhouses in the music industry. Only Xia Linxia, a popular idol, seemed out of place among them. The show's good reputation stemmed from its lack of traffic stars, inviting only legendary figures with sentiment and status or low-key dark horses.
It was easy to imagine the pressure Xia Linxia would face as a guest performer in the finals. If she didn't perform well, she would be the first to be criticized.
As if thinking of something, she opened her WeChat Moments and, as expected, saw Xia Linxia's latest post.
[Xia Xia]: The makeup artist asked for my opinion on what hairstyle I wanted. I said to do a rainbow color. She said I had great ideas, but could I put my legs down from the vanity table first.
Ji Fengxue couldn't help but smile. Seeing Chen Nian glare at her, she lowered her head and typed a reply. After deleting and revising several times, she finally replied with just two official words: "Good luck."
Xia Linxia immediately messaged her privately: [What are you doing?]
"Eating," she replied.
Just then, Xia Linxia called. She got straight to the point: "What are you eating? Your girlfriend is going on stage tonight, and you're not coming to show your support?"
Ji Fengxue asked with a chuckle, "How should I show my support?"
"Hold up a fan sign!" Xia Linxia giggled. "The movie queen holding a sign for me, just thinking about it is awesome."
"I..."
"Do you have something else to do? If so, it's fine. I won't be nervous anyway. I really, not at all! NERVOUS! Hmph!" Xia Linxia's voice rose as she spoke, unsure if she was saying it for Ji Fengxue to hear or for herself.
Ji Fengxue smiled faintly and checked the time. "What time is your performance?"
"The schedule says 10:10 PM," Xia Linxia said. "Are you coming?"
"Yes."
"Aow aow aow! Remember to hold up the sign!"
After ending the call, she explained to Chen Nian, who was looking at her resentfully, "Director Chen isn't arriving immediately, is he? We can just finish our meal early."
"Easier said than done," Chen Nian rolled her eyes. "What if he wants to drink?"
"Oh, right. Then you should leave quickly. I'll say I'm driving and can't drink," Ji Fengxue said, unceremoniously ushering her out. Chen Nian, annoyed, ordered a meal and put it on Ji Fengxue's tab before squatting back in the car.
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