Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 21.2

Chapter 21.2: Respect

Jing Xiaoyan looked at Fu Leyi’s busy hands, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: “Give me a style that leans a bit cooler.”

Fu Leyi paused her movement, looked at her suspiciously, and finally nodded without saying anything more.

Considering that someone was still sleeping in the room, the two of them remained completely silent, deadly quiet.

Jing Xiaoyan lowered her eyes and played with her phone, seeing the few extra messages, and tapped to open them.

11:30 PM, not asleep yet?

Jing Xiaoyan glanced over at the bed. She didn’t expect Jiang Yumian to stay up for another hour after she fell asleep.

Sea Sponge has Baby: “Sister, are you asleep? The live stream is at nine tomorrow, will you watch it?”

“Sister, wait for me for three days, oh. I’ll have time to reply to your messages after three days. They’ll be collecting phones again tomorrow.”

“I don’t know what the production team is going to film. They haven’t leaked any information, but I think it might be individual competition since they’ve already handed out rewards.”

“It should be fun. You have to watch, oh. I definitely won’t embarrass you.”

“I originally wanted to trick Jing Xiaoyan, but she’s too nice to me, and she’s a good person. She won’t even lie to me, so I feel bad about trying to trick her.”

“I’ll think of a way to trick Luo Cheng. I don’t know the others well.”

“Sister, are you asleep, oh? Are you really asleep, oh? You actually went to sleep without saying goodnight to me, oh~”

Jing Xiaoyan tightly pursed her lips. Jiang Yumian said she wouldn’t lie to her…

What should she do now? She was planning to confess to her soon. She really was in a pickle.

Fu Leyi frowned and reminded her softly, “Relax a little, don’t be so tense.”

Jing Xiaoyan’s expression softened. She lightly hummed in acknowledgment, feeling incredibly distressed inside.

Jiang Yumian had slept for about half an hour. She was probably aware that there were people in the room, so she wasn’t in a deep sleep. She was already awake, but lying there with her eyes closed, collecting her thoughts.

She had been awake for so long and hadn’t heard them chatting. Jiang Yumian slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling on Jing Xiaoyan’s face—a very beautiful profile.

She watched for a long while, her eyelids blinking slowly, lost in thought.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Jing Xiaoyan subtly turned her head and looked over.

Their eyes met.

Jiang Yumian’s eyes fluttered slightly. She quickly smiled, breaking the silence in the room, and complimented generously, “So beautiful.”

Her voice was lazy, having just woken up.

Jing Xiaoyan’s lips curved upward, “Go back to sleep, it’s still early.”

Fu Leyi also looked over at the sound. She hadn’t expected to see Jiang Yumian in this state the first time she met her. Afraid that Jiang Yumian would be embarrassed, she glanced once and then quickly returned her attention to the work at hand.

Jiang Yumian rubbed her eyes and shook her head, “I’m not sleeping. I’ll get up and wash up.”

She slowly threw off the blanket and sat up, noticing that Jing Xiaoyan was looking at her. She lowered her head to straighten her slightly messy pajamas. When she looked up again, the gaze on her had already moved away.

Fu Leyi took a moment to look at Jiang Yumian, who was already up: “I’m almost finished here. Come over when you’re done washing up, and I’ll do your makeup.”

Jiang Yumian wasn’t modest and simply nodded in agreement.

It was finally over. Jing Xiaoyan moved her neck, got up, and sat on the other side, giving Jiang Yumian space.

She looked in the mirror. When her expression was neutral, her eyes became much sharper. Fu Leyi was indeed very talented.

“You should rest too.”

Jiang Yumian hadn’t come out yet, so it was a good time for Fu Leyi to relax.

Fu Leyi waved her hand, looking excited, “I can finally work on other female celebrities’ faces. I’m tired of only doing your makeup.”

Jing Xiaoyan: “…”

She was exaggerating. She had helped others before and had been hired by many celebrities in the industry countless times.

When Jiang Yumian came out, to avoid awkwardness, Jing Xiaoyan actively waved her over, motioning for her to come.

Fu Leyi looked at Jiang Yumian’s face. The contours of her face were clear, and the lines were very soft, perfectly suited for a gentle and confident style. She was confident she could satisfy her.

She was eager to start but glanced at Jing Xiaoyan, who was sitting nearby and not moving. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Jiang Yumian and asked, “What style do you want?”

Jiang Yumian paused her gaze, turned to look at Jing Xiaoyan. After Fu Leyi’s work, Jing Xiaoyan’s cold and detached feeling was incredibly strong and appealing.

Thinking of something, she raised an eyebrow and smiled: “I want a cuter style. The adorable style, oh.”

Fu Leyi paused her hand. A sweet girl?

It seemed doable.

Jing Xiaoyan looked up at her.

Jiang Yumian didn’t move, but it felt as if she heard a faint scoff from Jing Xiaoyan, and she couldn’t help but smile.

They had about an hour. Once they finished their makeup and changed clothes, it would be just about right.

By the time Jiang Yumian and Jing Xiaoyan changed clothes, the others were probably ready too.

As Jiang Yumian walked out, she took another look at her and Jing Xiaoyan’s outfits. They were both wearing black and white spliced hoodies with black cargo pants. The matching was the same, with only slight differences in style. They looked so much like couple outfits.

But Jing Xiaoyan didn’t say anything, so she just mumbled to herself. The others were probably wearing the same thing. She was likely influenced by Jing Xiaoyan’s confession and subconsciously thought of it that way.

The production team’s bus was parked outside the door. They were perfectly on time, stepping onto the bus exactly at nine o’clock. Everyone inside had already arrived.

Jiang Yumian’s thought was correct. Everyone was wearing the same color scheme.

She quietly swallowed. Because of Jing Xiaoyan’s confession, now no matter what she did, or even if she did nothing, she would think of it in that way.

“Wow~” The people in the bus cheered in unison. “Wow, absolutely stunning!”

Jiang Yumian chose a seat at the back and sat down with Jing Xiaoyan, completely unreservedly raising her hand: “Low-key, low-key. I know I’m the prettiest.”

It was just commercial mutual flattery. It was the same everywhere.

Su Mumu wouldn’t let her have her way, turning around to look back: “I was talking about Sister Xiaoyan, who was talking about you.”

Jing Xiaoyan had a smile on her face and responded without much humility: “Mianmian is beautiful too.”

Jiang Yumian felt a little shy being complimented by her, especially since she meant it sincerely.

Chu Qianyuan and Lin Xi looked at Jing Xiaoyan simultaneously. Did everything they said yesterday mean nothing?

Lin Xi lightly coughed, interrupting their conversation, and waved to the director: “Director Lu, we haven’t had breakfast yet. Where are we going now?”

Lu Zhi was looking at the live stream’s reaction. A large number of viewers poured in, making it incredibly laggy.

She gave a perfunctory reply, “On the way to eat breakfast.”

Saying it was the same as not saying anything.

Jiang Yumian sized up Lin Xi, then looked at Luo Cheng next to her. One was a music producer, and the other was a singer. These two were actually quite compatible.

Although she wasn’t sure if they were in that kind of relationship, Jiang Yumian wouldn’t say anything carelessly, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t secretly ship them.

She looked up, her gaze moving to the two guys in front. These two guys, forget it. They were all sisters…

But they were not within the range she wanted to get involved with. Fans fighting was scary.

She touched her chin. Thinking about it this way, if they were grouped up later, wouldn’t she only be able to pair up with Jing Xiaoyan?

Jing Xiaoyan, not knowing what she was thinking, withdrew her gaze, adjusted her mic, and handed the sunglasses hanging on her collar to Jiang Yumian.

She asked casually, “Do you still want them?”

An attentive person could tell that these sunglasses were the pair Jiang Yumian wore yesterday, which she had borrowed from Jing Xiaoyan.

Jiang Yumian took them, looked at them, and then turned to look at Jing Xiaoyan.

The sunlight outside the window was just right, shining fully on Jing Xiaoyan’s face.

Her fair and flawless face, clear enough to see the fine hair, and her hair, which was illuminated by the sun, seemed to be plated with a layer of dazzling golden light.

Jiang Yumian opened her mouth, stunned.

“Quick, quick, did you screenshot it, did you screenshot it!”

“Ahhhhh, so beautiful, so gorgeous!”

“That moment was dappled with sunlight, like a goddess!”

“The one above speaks well. I have no culture, I’m just ahhhhh! Sister is absolutely stunning!”

“Jiang Yumian is acting out my feelings. She was stunned, and I was stunned too!”

“This scene is truly stunning, woohoohoo, my big star!”

“There’s a sense of powerlessness, like my wife is stuck in the phone and I can’t get her out, woohoohoo.”

“In my next life, I want to look like this too!”

“Mianmian, let’s switch. I’m stronger than you. I’ll drool.”

“If this scene isn’t in the show next week, Director Lu, I’m going to keep scolding you. Closing the live stream yesterday was already too much. This is your chance to redeem yourself, remember that!”

Outside the live stream camera, Jiang Yumian clearly saw the affection in Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes. It was too intense. Even though it was only for a moment, she successfully caught it.

The bus insensitively turned a corner. The sunlight that was on Jing Xiaoyan’s face moved to her body. Jiang Yumian came back to her senses, realizing her lapse in composure. She turned her head and returned the sunglasses to Jing Xiaoyan.

“You wear them. They suit your demeanor.”

Jing Xiaoyan nodded, acting as if nothing had happened, but the smile in her eyes couldn’t be hidden. She simply put on the sunglasses to cover it up, then took them off a few seconds later.

Lu Zhi sighed deeply, leaning back somewhat dejectedly. She turned to look at Jing Xiaoyan. Because of her, the comments section had exploded, and the live stream was lagging again.

She was exasperated.

She really hadn’t expected so many people to flood in on the first morning. It seemed like yesterday’s warm-up effect was too good.

“I clearly feel everyone’s enthusiasm. I’m going to close the live stream for a bit because the live stream room has crashed several times. Our backend technical team is working on it.”

After Lu Zhi finished speaking, she ruthlessly closed the live stream.

Chu Qianyuan looked up, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Zhi was a little helpless, “Nothing much. If you all restrained your beauty a little, it would be better. Next time I’ll give you all ugly makeup.”

Lin Xi, as always, summarized: “What does that mean? The live stream room was overwhelmed by beauty?”

Lu Zhi twitched her mouth: “Your phones haven’t been collected yet. Why don’t you check the trending searches later?”

She didn’t even need to guess that the trending topic would soon be about their show’s live stream crashing. A bad start. She was furious.

“Never mind. Xiao Gu, go collect their phones.”

Everyone who was about to open their phones: “…”

Jiang Yumian secretly glanced at Jing Xiaoyan again.

Those clear eyes had returned to normal, showing no extra emotion. She was probably deliberately restraining herself, afraid that Jiang Yumian would overthink it.

Although she had made it very clear, Jiang Yumian felt a headache coming on. Being liked by such an excellent person, it was hard not to feel pressured.

The second before her phone was taken away, Jiang Yumian sent a “bye-bye” to her good older sister. Right after she sent it, a message instantly popped up on the phone she was holding out.

Jing Xiaoyan’s heart jumped. She quickly flipped the screen over and turned to look at Jiang Yumian, feeling nervous when she saw Jiang Yumian looking at her too.

Seeing Jing Xiaoyan so nervous, Jiang Yumian was a little bewildered. She moved to the side, wanting her to relax.

After the phone was taken away, Jing Xiaoyan still looked at her nervously.

She was a little confused, “What’s wrong?”

Hearing her question, Jing Xiaoyan let out a huge sigh of relief. A flood of explanations had flashed through her mind, and she was terrified.

She decided this matter needed to be confessed early.

Jing Xiaoyan shook her head, a glimmer in her eyes. She pretended to be calm: “Nothing, nothing. I was just, it was too close just now.”

Jiang Yumian coughed awkwardly: “Oh, then, I’ll move further away.”

Luo Cheng, who was completely ignored on the other side: “…”

Although she felt the atmosphere between the two of them was a little strange, she had to speak: “Mianmian, you’re sitting on my clothes. Move away from me first.”

As soon as she said that, Jiang Yumian didn’t move away. Instead, she squeezed closer to Luo Cheng and hugged her arm.

Luo Cheng slowly blinked, looking down at her embraced arm. What was this all about?

Jiang Yumian smiled fawningly: “Good Luo Cheng, let’s discuss something, okay?”

Luo Cheng twitched her mouth. Looking at her like this, she definitely wasn’t up to anything good.

“What do you want to say?”

Just as Jiang Yumian was about to speak, the person on the other side tugged at her hem.

Jing Xiaoyan stared directly at Jiang Yumian’s hand, feeling incredibly sour inside. She decided that when she got her phone back, she would tell her on WeChat not to hug others casually.

Jiang Yumian turned to look at her, noticing her gaze. The hand hugging Luo Cheng subconsciously loosened a little. This person wouldn’t…

She coughed softly: “I, I’ll talk to Luo Cheng first.”

Luo Cheng leaned over, poking her head out to look at Jing Xiaoyan. What was going on now?

Jing Xiaoyan looked at her, and without thinking, said: “Don’t listen to her brainwash you. She wants to trick you out of fifty of your hundred yuan. She wants to turn your red bill into a green bill.”

Jiang Yumian opened her mouth, looking at Jing Xiaoyan incredulously. She never thought Jing Xiaoyan would expose her!

Luo Cheng emphatically scoffed, ruthlessly pulled her hand away, and pushed Jiang Yumian away, making her sit back down properly. The push made her lean over, bringing her much closer to Jing Xiaoyan.

Jing Xiaoyan smiled contentedly, even thoughtfully steadying Jiang Yumian, helping her sit up straight.

Luo Cheng pointed at Jiang Yumian, narrowed her eyes, and laughed: “You little Jiang Yumian, I knew you were up to no good.”

Jiang Yumian pouted and didn’t bother to explain. She simply gave up, admitting: “Fine, Mumu doesn’t have any money anyway. She can keep me company.”

Su Mumu leisurely turned her head: “Mianmian, I’m sorry, oh. I have sixty.”

Chu Qianyuan didn’t dare not to give it and even gave her an extra ten yuan.

Jiang Yumian’s face fell. She turned around, her gaze lingering mournfully on Jing Xiaoyan.

Jing Xiaoyan smiled. She was about to impose some conditions and then split half with Jiang Yumian, but Lin Xi, who had been watching the whole spectacle, spoke up.

“Mianmian, I have two hundred here. If you call me ‘older sister,’ I’ll give you fifty. How about it?”

Lin Xi enjoyed the drama. Since Jing Xiaoyan wasn’t thinking clearly, she decided to get involved and make the scene messier.

Jiang Yumian blinked. Her wealthy older sister didn’t allow her to call others “older sister.” Her eyes quickly lit up. She said to Lin Xi: “Forget calling you ‘older sister,’ how about I call you ‘Mom’!”

She said sweetly: “Mama Lin Xi~”

That one word startled Lin Xi. She couldn’t help but swear internally. She bit her tongue. How could Jiang Yumian say anything like that!

Jing Xiaoyan’s face turned black. She turned sideways to stare at Lin Xi, looking displeased.

The others looked at them, smirking.

Lin Xi looked disgusted, pulling a hundred yuan from her pocket: “Take it, take it! Stop calling me that! I’m afraid your mom will beat me!”

She was more afraid that Jing Xiaoyan would kill her.

Jiang Yumian smiled sweetly, looking at the money in her hand, and looked at Lin Xi again, clearly greedy: “Calling you ‘older sister’ is fifty. Calling you ‘Mom’ is a hundred. If I call you again, will you give me your other hundred too?”

Lin Xi clasped her hands together and bowed to her: “You are my ancestor. Stop calling me that. Go trick someone else.”

Jiang Yumian nodded obediently, turned to look at Jing Xiaoyan, and looked at her with a knowing smile, reaching out directly: “Older sister, fifty.”

That single ‘older sister,’ coupled with the hundred Lin Xi just gave, directly put Jing Xiaoyan on the spot. She had to give it now.

Jing Xiaoyan sighed deeply, took a hundred yuan out of her pocket, and was about to hand it to her but quickly pulled it back: “I don’t have a fifty. I’ll owe you.”

Jiang Yumian scoffed lightly. Let her trick her.

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