Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Maintaining Dignity

Seeing that they had almost finished eating, Lu Zhi decided to personally call and check in.

Noticing the cameraman suddenly handing over the phone, Jiang Yumian hesitated, put down her chopsticks, and put the phone on speaker.

She cleared her throat, “Hello?”

Lu Zhi: “Are you two eating well? I’m the director, Lu Zhi.”

Jiang Yumian and Su Mumu exchanged a meaningful glance, both remaining silent. Was he calling to condemn them?

Lu Zhi didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point, telling them about Jing Xiaoyan and Chu Qianyuan’s current situation.

Jiang Yumian swallowed, “So… they were locked up by you, and only when we arrive and release them can we get the reward?”

Looking at the still-boiling hot pot, both of them felt inexplicably guilty.

Lu Zhi smiled: “Yes, and there are twenty minutes left until the deadline.”

He then hung up the phone directly, staring intently at the monitor to watch these two lively characters.

Su Mumu awkwardly put down her chopsticks and turned to look at Jiang Yumian: “Should we… still eat?”

Jiang Yumian covered her face and pursed her lips. She had just been thinking about appeasing those two people on the way back to get a share of the reward. Now it seemed it would be much harder to appease them.

She pulled a tissue to wipe her mouth: “Ahem, I’m full. Should we go?”

Su Mumu also pulled a tissue and nodded: “Okay.”

She wondered how the audience in the live stream would mock them.

Jiang Yumian thought, wiping her mouth, that going back sheepishly now was so embarrassing.

“Ah, forget it.”

She tossed the tissue in her hand, abruptly pulled back Su Mumu, who was about to get up, and poured her a cup of coconut juice.

Su Mumu looked confused: “Not going?”

There wasn’t much time left now. It would take them about ten minutes to walk there.

Jiang Yumian shook her head and picked up her chopsticks again, picking out the ingredients still cooking in the pot.

“Let’s talk after we finish these. There’s still a bite left; don’t waste it.”

Su Mumu also picked up her chopsticks, but her movements were hesitant. Those two were still locked up.

She thought for a moment and couldn’t help but ask: “Are we really not going?”

Jiang Yumian shook her head: “No.”

She then analyzed the situation for Su Mumu: “If we don’t go now, the last two to arrive will just pick up the reward for free.”

“So, shouldn’t they thank us for letting them win?”

Su Mumu’s eyes lit up. She then picked up her coconut juice and took a sip, feeling justified: “That’s true. Instead of trying to trick Chu Qianyuan, it’s better to find the last two and cooperate to split the reward. Plus, we won’t have to appease them.”

Jiang Yumian nodded with a smile: “You’re truly worthy of being Mumu. I didn’t say that; you did, oh.”

On the other side.

Chu Qianyuan, watching the TV, was so angry her teeth ached.

She nudged Jing Xiaoyan’s arm.

“Can you forgive these two?”

Jing Xiaoyan turned to look at her. She didn’t know if she could forgive them, but she felt Chu Qianyuan would immediately cave.

Every time she saw Su Mumu, she’d immediately cling to her. Everything Su Mumu said was right. Not to mention, if Su Mumu appeased her with a few words, could she resist?

Sensing the disdain in Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes, Chu Qianyuan looked bewildered: “What’s with that look?”

Jing Xiaoyan clicked her tongue and answered her previous question: “We definitely can’t forgive them easily.”

Chu Qianyuan nodded: “Your Sis is not that easy to appease.”

As soon as she said this, Jing Xiaoyan couldn’t help but twitch her mouth. Su Mumu appeasing her with a few words would make her ecstatic. How was she “not easy to appease?”

Seeing Jing Xiaoyan watching the live stream without speaking, Chu Qianyuan patted her arm again, reminding her: “Let’s both maintain our dignity when they come.”

Jing Xiaoyan nodded, full of confidence: “Got it. I’m just afraid you won’t be able to maintain yours.”

Chu Qianyuan was about to retort when a knock suddenly sounded outside the door.

The two of them looked toward the door simultaneously.

Seeing no movement inside, Xie Yunhuan knocked again: “Sis! Are you in there!”

He had seen the camera outside, which was why he came looking. He figured they were locked in here. It was actually quite close to the lobby, just down the corridor and around a corner.

Jing Xiaoyan and Chu Qianyuan stood at the door. Jing Xiaoyan pointed outside: “Is that Xie Yunhuan?”

Xie Yunhuan pressed his face against the door: “Sis!”

Chu Qianyuan nodded and forcefully knocked back on the door: “Stop shouting! We’re here! Can you see if you can open the door from the outside?”

Xie Yunhuan twisted the doorknob. It wouldn’t open. He turned to look at the staff next to him: “Bro, do you have the key?”

The staff member nodded honestly. The director hadn’t told him to hide it, anyway.

Xie Yunhuan didn’t ask him for it. He pressed his ear to the door crack and spoke to the people inside: “Oh no, what should we do? Luo Cheng and I were the last ones to arrive.”

Jing Xiaoyan raised an eyebrow, tugged at Chu Qianyuan’s arm, hinting for her to stay silent, and spoke herself: “How about this: we cooperate. When Mianmian and the others arrive, we won’t go out, and we won’t accept their apology. You and Luo Cheng will successfully get the reward, and then we split it in half.”

She was learning from Jiang Yumian. It took her to realize that they could cooperate and split the reward in half.

Chu Qianyuan secretly gave Jing Xiaoyan a thumbs-up. Su Mumu and Jiang Yumian probably wouldn’t make it in time. They should secure a collaborator first and let those two heartless girls miss out.

Xie Yunhuan still didn’t know that he and Luo Cheng had become sought-after partners. Hearing Jing Xiaoyan’s suggestion, he suddenly felt that cooperation was possible.

Sensing his hesitation, Jing Xiaoyan curved her lips into a smile and continued: “Or how about this: if Mianmian and the others manage to get past you, we’ll split the reward with you after we get it.”

Given the current situation, it was impossible for Jiang Yumian and Su Mumu to make it.

This convinced Xie Yunhuan. This cooperation was quite safe; he’d get half either way.

Chu Qianyuan cleared her throat and chimed in: “The main thing isn’t the reward. We just want two partners. We are offering sincere trust for sincere trust. You’ll be right if you trust Sis.”

Xie Yunhuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “I think that works. I’ll go tell Luo Cheng.”

Jing Xiaoyan smiled triumphantly: “Great.”

After Xie Yunhuan left, Chu Qianyuan clicked her tongue and shook her head: “If he knew those two were still eating hot pot and didn’t plan to come over at all, he probably wouldn’t have been tricked by you.”

Jing Xiaoyan folded her arms and said casually: “Even if we didn’t trick him, Mianmian and Mumu would have.”

“Good, good, what a “sincere trust for sincere trust.””

“Those two are still eating. The sisters already intercepted their partners.”

“Hahahaha, when Luo Cheng and Xie Yunhuan watch the live stream tonight, I wonder if they’ll be able to sleep.”

“Luo Cheng & Xie Yunhuan: They make us look so clueless.”

“How could someone willingly offer themselves up, hahahaha.”

“LOL, the three of them are from the same company, so they’re old acquaintances.”

“I wondered why he called her “Sis” right away. Turns out it’s an acquaintance circle.”

“Good, good. An acquaintance circle is even better!”

“I’ll go see if those two have finished eating. They’re cutting it so close.”

When there were only ten minutes left, the staff knocked on their table and kindly advised: “Ahem, we’ve rested enough. It’s time to go.”

Jiang Yumian leisurely sipped her coconut juice: “No rush. Let the sisters stay locked up a little longer. We’re tired from eating. Let us digest for a bit.”

The staff member suppressed a laugh: “Well, Director Lu just said he forgot to tell you that, considering the two teachers locked in the dark room might be bored, your live stream is being shown to them in real time.”

Su Mumu’s chopsticks clattered onto the table, and the smile on her face froze.

“Since when has it been broadcasting?”

The staff member said gleefully: “Since you started eating.”

Jiang Yumian licked her lips and subconsciously lowered her head.

“Mumu, did we say anything outrageous?”

They had said everything they should and shouldn’t have. What was the point of asking now!

Su Mumu put a hand to her forehead. Thinking of their arrogant demeanor just now, her scalp tingled.

She lowered her head, trying to remain calm, and poked Jiang Yumian’s arm: “Are the people selling baked sweet potatoes and sugar-coated hawthorns still outside?”

Jiang Yumian bravely looked up: “Still there.”

Su Mumu stood up: “Go, let’s go…”

Seeing them finally leave, and even buying sugar-coated hawthorns and baked sweet potatoes, the curve of Jing Xiaoyan’s lips grew wider. Hmph, now they knew fear. Too late!

After reaching an agreement with Xie Yunhuan, Chu Qianyuan returned from the door and looked at the two people running on the live stream with surprise.

“Why are they running? Did they have a change of heart?”

Jing Xiaoyan nodded slightly, her eyes curving with a smile: “They know we’re watching them. They’re panicking.”

Chu Qianyuan sat next to her, also smiling: “Oh, they’re panicking now, are they?”

“I’d like to see what they plan to say when they see us.”

Jing Xiaoyan relaxed, hugging a cushion, her eyes fixed on the screen, a smile in her eyes. It had been several hours since she last saw them.

Chu Qianyuan didn’t forget to nudge her: “You have to hold firm. Scare them a little.”

Jing Xiaoyan slowly turned her head and finally couldn’t hold back: “Save that reminder for yourself. I don’t think you can hold firm.”

Chu Qianyuan resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Who was this person looking down on? They were live. Couldn’t she save her some face?

Jiang Yumian ran all the way, dragging her suitcase, finally stopping when she saw the main entrance.

The two of them stood with their hands on their hips, panting.

Su Mumu supported Jiang Yumian, bending over and panting: “Mianmian, I’m about to throw up.”

Jiang Yumian wasn’t much better, running right after eating.

She pushed her suitcase inward, raised a hand to rub her chest, looking uncomfortable.

Luo Cheng inside heard their voices and immediately rushed over, embracing one with her left arm and the other with her right: “Oh! Mianmian, Mumu, long time no see!”

Jiang Yumian patted the arm hugging her, then shoved the suitcase in her hand into Luo Cheng’s: “Long time no see, long time no see. You came at the perfect time. You watch our suitcases for now.”

Su Mumu followed suit, shoving her suitcase into Luo Cheng’s hand: “Luo Cheng, my dear, you’re beautiful and kind-hearted. We have something to do.”

Luo Cheng smiled sweetly at them: “What is it? Tell me about it.”

She wasn’t worried at all.

After teaming up with the two inside, she didn’t have to worry about blocking Jiang Yumian and the others. Now, she just wanted to see them panic and tease them.

Jiang Yumian had no idea about any of this. She purposely bent down: “Good sister, let’s talk after we go inside. I’m about to throw up.”

Luo Cheng waved her hand: “Alright, go on in.”

Just as Su Mumu was about to step inside, she saw two figures emerge from the corridor. They were the two sisters they had ditched.

Xie Yunhuan appeared out of nowhere, gloating: “Time’s up…”

With two people suddenly appearing in front of her, Jiang Yumian rigidly straightened up, awkwardly looking at Jing Xiaoyan, who was smiling at her.

When their eyes met, she couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned. Those eyes were truly beautiful when they smiled.

“Was the hot pot delicious?”

Jiang Yumian coughed, pursed her lips, and silently handed the sugar-coated hawthorn to Jing Xiaoyan.

Seeing that she took it, her eyes brightened. She winked at Jing Xiaoyan: “Good sister, please forgive me, seeing as I ran so fast I almost threw up.”

Before Jing Xiaoyan could reply, Chu Qianyuan, seeing this, also took a sugar-coated hawthorn and deliberately made things difficult: “Mumu, you know I don’t like sweets.”

Su Mumu gritted her teeth: “The inside is sour!”

Chu Qianyuan deliberately maintained her dignity: “But the outside is all sugar. Your apology is too insincere.”

She then nudged Jing Xiaoyan with her elbow: “Right?”

The person next to her didn’t respond.

She glanced down and saw the hands that were already clasped together. She was dumbfounded.

Betrayal!

Naked betrayal!

They had shaken hands and made peace so quickly! Was this the “maintaining dignity” she had agreed to?

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