Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Fortunate

“Put on your raincoats.”

Jing Xiaoyan pointed to the sprinkler system on the ceiling. Fine mist was already emerging, scattering a chilling coolness over everyone.

After they put on their raincoats, this “mist” turned into a drizzle, with visible water droplets on the raincoats.

Jiang Yumian was a little confused. “What’s this for?”

This “rain” was too sudden.

Su Mumu shook her head. “I don’t know. Let’s keep going back the way we came. At least it proves that our decision to go back was correct.”

It was “raining” all the way. It wasn’t until they re-entered Jiang Xiaomian’s room that they were no longer subjected to the “rain.”

However, the sight inside the room inevitably shocked everyone. The floor, bed, and desk were covered with blood-red crumpled papers.

They opened the papers on the floor and found that the words had become even more malicious. They had started to include personal attacks, with many curses wishing her dead.

“How could this be?” Chu Qianyuan frowned deeply. “Even if she was dating, even if her partner was a girl, the rumors in the school wouldn’t be this vicious.”

Where did all this malice come from?

Jiang Yumian’s face looked somewhat poor, and her voice suddenly changed, sounding subdued. “This looks more like a victim of cyberbullying.”

Her tone quickly returned to normal, as if she was very casual. “These comments are very similar to what I used to receive in my Weibo DMs. There were many even more malicious ones.”

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.

They were all public figures and couldn’t satisfy everyone. Being occasionally criticized was common, but Jiang Yumian’s case of being massively blackballed was the most severe. Fortunately, her family was assertive and protected her well.

If it were any other ordinary artist without a background who faced what Jiang Yumian did, being suppressed by capital and having fake scandals sold, they probably wouldn’t have had a chance to recover.

Luo Cheng patted Jiang Yumian’s head. She and Jiang Yumian met during that time. She also suffered some harm for supporting Jiang Yumian. Online netizens were quick to jump to conclusions, and many went to her Weibo to curse her.

The extent of the harm Jiang Yumian endured was imaginable.

“It’s all in the past,” Lin Xi said with a smile, reaching out to put her arm around Jiang Yumian’s shoulder. “Our CEO Mom is so capable. How could she bear to let you suffer?”

Jiang Yumian didn’t act coy. She threw the crumpled paper in her hand away, lifted her chin, and said proudly, “Don’t even mention it. Although my mom likes other people’s children more, she still cares about me the most.”

She finished speaking and waved at the camera. “Director Lu, cut this part out too. I can’t let the audience say I’m intentionally trying to gain sympathy. I’m not doing that.”

She never intended to hide her identity when entering the entertainment industry. She came because she liked it, and her mother let her do whatever made her happy, but she didn’t expect to encounter this kind of situation.

Chu Qianyuan couldn’t help but laugh. Knowing that Jiang Yumian didn’t want to talk about it, she changed the subject, teasing her. “Lu Zhi is probably going to scold you behind the camera. Cut this, cut that. Be careful, she might hold a grudge and release everything.”

Jiang Yumian pouted. “I don’t care.”

Everyone else couldn’t help but laugh.

These few sentences, however, struck a blow to the silently observing Jing Xiaoyan.

Jing Xiaoyan watched Jiang Yumian from behind them, hiding the distress in her eyes, and lowered her head to kick the crumpled papers on the floor.

She was too naive back then. Even though Jiang Yumian was well-protected by her family, she still suffered a lot. These comments were like blood-stained knives stabbing into her heart, suffocating her.

Especially since Jiang Yumian was so sensitive, she must have been very miserable at the time.

What was she doing then?

She was watching the drama unfold from a distance, seeing how Aunt Jiang fiercely stood up for her daughter. She thought this cousin was truly amazing, that she could still be so optimistic despite being cursed at so badly, and that she endured it all.

Then, she started to become curious about her life, seeing her posting positive moments on her Moments and Weibo every day. She became more and more curious, slowly wanting to get to know her, and finally, unknowingly fell for her.

But she never thought that Jiang Yumian also had a vulnerable side.

Jing Xiaoyan picked up Jiang Xiaomian’s diary from the bedside again, flipping through it seriously, so focused that she didn’t notice Jiang Yumian walking up to her.

Jiang Yumian bit her lip. Jing Xiaoyan hadn’t comforted her or said anything when she mentioned those things just now. Her current feelings were complicated. She didn’t want sympathy or comfort, but she was afraid Jing Xiaoyan would really ignore her.

She felt like Jing Xiaoyan was still angry and didn’t want to talk to her.

Jiang Yumian pondered for a long time. After much hesitation, she poked Jing Xiaoyan, who was earnestly reading the diary. Seeing Jing Xiaoyan look up at her, the words she had prepared suddenly seemed to be stuck in her throat. She couldn’t say anything.

Jing Xiaoyan was slightly stunned. Seeing her well-behaved face, the expression on her face softened. She asked gently, “What is it?”

“N-Nothing. I just wanted to ask why you’re still looking at this.”

Seeing her expression, Jiang Yumian couldn’t bring herself to ask if she was upset, and silently sighed in her heart.

Jing Xiaoyan closed the diary. Her gaze toward Jiang Yumian was sincere and gentle, and she said softly, “During Jiang Xiaomian’s hardest and most difficult time, she had her sister to protect her. I’m happy for her.”

She paused, then added, “During Jiang Yumian’s hardest and most difficult time, she had her mother to protect her. I feel fortunate.”

I feel fortunate that someone protected you during the time before I fell for you.

Jing Xiaoyan’s lips curled up slightly, and her eyes sparkled. She looked seriously into Jiang Yumian’s eyes, secretly telling her in her heart, “I will protect you well in the future too.”

Four eyes met.

The prolonged silence made the atmosphere feel strangely ambiguous. Meeting her gaze, Jiang Yumian felt as if she understood what Jing Xiaoyan wanted to say. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, and she softly hummed in acknowledgment.

“What are you two looking at?” Lin Xi suddenly leaned in, feeling that they were acting strangely. She was starting to get confused.

Jing Xiaoyan put the diary back, her voice full of amusement. “I was reasoning with her.”

Lin Xi raised an eyebrow. “Reasoning about what?”

Jiang Yumian was also stunned. When did she reason with her?

“Auntie definitely prefers her own daughter, but if you truly think Auntie prefers me, I wouldn’t mind calling her Mom.”

Jing Xiaoyan’s tone was full of teasing. After all, she was the “other people’s child” that Jiang Yumian mentioned.

Jiang Yumian moved her lips, not knowing what to say to her for a moment. After much effort, she finally managed to squeeze out one sentence: “You, you wish!”

Lin Xi looked at Jiang Yumian, who walked away exasperated by Jing Xiaoyan, and softly said, “Huh?” Then she looked back at Jing Xiaoyan. “Why are you teasing her?”

Jing Xiaoyan blinked. “I’m serious.”

Lin Xi was stunned, then clicked her tongue. “You are really shameless.”

They searched Jiang Xiaomian’s room again. After finding no more special clues, they decided to continue walking back.

Sure enough, the “rain” outside was still falling, seemingly heavier.

“Wait! Wait! I don’t want to walk at the back anymore!”

Xie Yunhuan, without shame, squeezed into the middle. The corridor where they were chased left a huge shadow in his mind. The thought of it still sent shivers down his spine.

Jiang Yumian walked in the middle with him. She looked at Xie Yunhuan curiously and couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, why are you so timid?”

The corridor was still dark. Xie Yunhuan shrank his shoulders timidly, turned his head to look at her, and retorted, “Aren’t you scared?”

He was probably the one most terrified today. He was scared right after waking up, then chased and forced to run. He was truly on the verge of being scared witless.

Jiang Yumian shook her head, her tone a little proud. “I was scared at first, but now that I know the Little Joker is Jiang Xiaomian, I’m not so scared anymore. Plus, I have Jing Xiaoyan blocking me.”

Xie Yunhuan looked back at Jing Xiaoyan, who was at the rear behind them. “But Sister is behind you now. No one is blocking you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the person next to him suddenly turned around and “rushed” into Jing Xiaoyan’s arms.

He blinked, dumbfounded. Seeing Jiang Yumian’s reaction, he stiffly turned back to look and was instantly terrified, his legs going weak. Why is that masked person standing at the door again!

Jing Xiaoyan stumbled back a few steps, looking down at the “cuddling” Jiang Yumian. Just now, she said she wasn’t afraid.

Ling Yisong and Su Mumu stood at the very front. They retreated a few steps, pressing against the wall. The truth proved that even knowing who they were, seeing those scary masks still instilled fear deep down.

The corridor, which only had rain, was quickly hit by a strong wind, as if pushing them forward.

The person in the pure white mask seemed to be holding a wooden stick. She walked toward them step by step.

The group retreated in fear, pulling their raincoat hoods back, only to find the way back was blocked by the gray clown.

Luo Cheng swallowed. “It’s Jiang Xiaomian.”

Lin Xi looked back at the person still walking toward them, her heart pounding. “What do we do?”

While they were struggling, Jiang Xiaomian also moved!

But she didn’t walk toward them. Instead, she pushed open a wall they had passed. There was actually a door there!

Jing Xiaoyan pulled Jiang Yumian and immediately decided, “Let’s go in too!”

The group quickly ran into the room Jiang Xiaomian had entered, heavily closing the door just as the masked person approached.

This room was very small. The eight of them felt incredibly crowded inside, and the floor was covered with red crumpled papers, even wet ones. It was “raining” inside as well!

“Where’s Jiang Xiaomian?” Luo Cheng panted, wiping the water droplets from her face.

The others were also a bit disheveled. Although the “rain” wasn’t heavy, the wind in the corridor was too strong, and the raindrops stung their faces.

“She must have left through another passage. The masked person is outside, so we probably can’t go that way.”

Jing Xiaoyan thought that Jiang Xiaomian was probably protecting them and deliberately leading the way.

“Whose room is this?” Su Mumu instinctively scanned the room. The “rain” here was actually heavier than outside. There was only a simple bed and a desk, both soaking wet.

The group searched around but couldn’t find any clues. This place was too sparse. There was nothing, but another door was very noticeable—it had a combination lock.

However, without clues, they had no idea how to open the lock.

Jing Xiaoyan unfolded a wet crumpled paper. It still contained those comments, the same as the ones in Jiang Xiaomian’s room, but there were more papers here.

She paused. “Could this be the sister’s room?”

Su Mumu quickly nodded. “It should be.”

Jiang Yumian grabbed the combination lock and looked at Jing Xiaoyan. “What was the date they became friends?”

Jing Xiaoyan looked at the diary the most, so she should remember. Regardless of whether it was the right code, they had to try it.

Before Jing Xiaoyan could answer, there was a sudden, violent knocking on the door!

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

It sounded like it was knocking on their hearts, extremely scary.

It was most likely the person in the pure white mask knocking.

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

Jing Xiaoyan quickly locked the door and braced herself against it. She urgently said to Jiang Yumian, “March 20th, try 0320!”

Jiang Yumian’s face was tense as she tried to unlock it. The rainwater hitting the combination lock made her accidentally slide past the numbers in her haste. After finally setting it, she pulled the door, but the code was wrong.

“It’s not that one!”

Jing Xiaoyan pursed her lips. The knocking made her head ache.

“Try 0425!”

Sliding the combination lock again, there was a click. Jiang Yumian’s face brightened. “It’s open!”

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