Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Guilty Conscience

Launch party?

They were about to film the show, and they were having the launch party today?

Jiang Yumian was silent for a long time. Finally, she couldn’t resist liking her moment, then returned to the group chat. Knowing she was online, she directly mentioned Jing Xiaoyan, asking if she wasn’t going to the program recording tomorrow.

She really felt too awkward to message Jing Xiaoyan privately. Their last encounter was a bit awkward, and she hadn’t appeased her yet. She didn’t know if Jing Xiaoyan was still feeling wronged.

Someone quickly replied in the group, but it wasn’t Jing Xiaoyan. She still hadn’t appeared.

Ling Yisong: Sister Xiaoyan’s movie starts filming tomorrow. Her scenes are very important, so she won’t be coming to this episode.

Luo Cheng: Seriously, Mianmian? Your info is so behind. Even I knew that.

Lin Xi: That’s right, that’s right. Jing Xiaoyan, come out and speak. Stop pretending to be dead. If you pretend any longer, even after you’re dead and your body is cold, people might not even know.

Lin Xi: What kind of brat should I be today.jpg

Xie Yunhuan: That’s right, that’s right.

Jiang Yumian: Hey, hey, hey…

Jing Xiaoyan: …

Jing Xiaoyan: I’m at the launch party here, not looking at my phone much.

Jiang Yumian rested her chin on her hand. Seeing her suddenly reply, her eyes lit up. But she only sent these two messages, which made her feel antsy. Why doesn’t she send a few more to chat?

She was staring at the screen waiting when a private message popped up. Jiang Yumian instantly straightened up. It was Jing Xiaoyan.

Jing Xiaoyan: Mianmian.

Jiang Yumian bit the tip of her tongue. Seeing those two words, she suddenly felt nervous and fluttery.

The way she said the name sounded as if Jing Xiaoyan was calling her right next to her ear.

Before she could reply, the other side sent her another message.

Jing Xiaoyan: I’m a little sad.

Jing Xiaoyan: Mianmian, you really don’t pay any attention to me.

Even across the screen, Jiang Yumian felt like she could see Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes, definitely the kind that would droop down, looking wronged.

These three messages made her feel incredibly guilty.

Mianmian: It’s not that I don’t pay attention. I’ve been too busy recently. My manager isn’t taking me, and my assistant and I have been busy at the company. I’m not up to date on the latest industry news.

Mianmian: And… you haven’t talked to me either.

Jing Xiaoyan couldn’t help but laugh.

She was just about to send a message saying Jiang Yumian hadn’t talked to her, when Jiang Yumian beat her to it.

Jing Xiaoyan: So you were waiting for me to talk to you.

Her comprehension skills are amazing…

Jiang Yumian propped up her head, feeling a little regretful. Why did I explain so much to her? She’s taking an inch for a mile.

Mianmian: Stop being so narcissistic…

Jiang Yumian snorted a few times. She felt Jing Xiaoyan was a little different on the phone compared to in person.

Jing Xiaoyan: But I was waiting for you to talk to me.

Ahh! This person!

Jing Xiaoyan: I won’t see you for a long time. I miss you a little.

Ahhh!

Jiang Yumian panicked, throwing her phone onto the desk. She pinched her heating, disobedient ears. Her cheeks were tinted a light red by Jing Xiaoyan’s sudden words.

She realized what the difference was. Jing Xiaoyan was bolder across the screen. She dared to say anything. Seriously shameless!

In front of her, she acted so well-behaved, but now she was so, so, shameless!

Jiang Yumian patted her face, picked up her phone again, and checked if Jing Xiaoyan had sent anything else. But the other side was being “honest,” probably waiting for her reply.

Mianmian: Hurry up and eat your food. Don’t let your mouth run wild. Stop playing on your phone.

Mianmian: I have to go to work.

She covered her face and replied seriously. Now she remembered Jing Xiaoyan was still at the launch party.

Jing Xiaoyan: You…

Mianmian: ?

Jing Xiaoyan: It’s nothing. I won’t be able to eat much. They want me to drink and try to get me drunk, but I’m not very good at drinking, so I came out to play on my phone to hide.

Jing Xiaoyan: But there are only two private rooms on the second floor of this restaurant. Our room is right at the corner of the stairs. Anyone who comes out can see me secretly playing on my phone. It’s annoying.

This…

She must be doing it on purpose…

No, with her current status, which director is so clueless? Who would still bully her into drinking now?

Jiang Yumian tapped the phone screen. She had reason to suspect Jing Xiaoyan was deliberately feigning misery to make her worry.

Even a big-shot director wouldn’t force the lead actress, whose scenes start the very next day, to drink, would they?

Jiang Yumian thought for a long time, then casually replied, If you can’t drink, drink less. You still have scenes to shoot.

After replying, she changed her contact name. This seemingly well-behaved, wronged little puppy in person was a schemer on the phone!

Little Dog Jing: Got it. You’re the only one who cares about me.

Mianmian: …Can’t you tell I’m just being polite?

Little Dog Jing: Don’t be shy.

Jiang Yumian: “…”

Jiang Yumian decided to ignore her. She tidied up her desk, left the office, and entered the elevator, pressing the floor for her mom’s office.

Upstairs, she knocked on the door and stuck her head halfway in.

“Mom!”

Jiang Jiyu looked up at her, seeing her sneaking around, and said irritably, “Come in and talk. Why are you suddenly here?”

“I want to leave work early. I have to record the show tomorrow.” Jiang Yumian opened the door and walked in, sitting directly on the office sofa next to Jiang Jiyu.

Mom didn’t even look up, her tone perfunctory. “Oh, go ahead.”

Seeing the tablet standing on the coffee table, it was the variety show they recorded, which just aired this afternoon. The viewership was very high. Jiang Yumian also watched it during her lunch break. The complete story was mostly the same as their understanding. The production team used animation to perfect the entire story and showed the fates of the villains.

“Mom, are you just watching this now?” Jiang Yumian reached out and tapped the tablet, looking at the progress bar. It had only been a few minutes since the start. “Why are you also slacking off at work?”

As she spoke, she was about to fast-forward it for her. It was two hours long. If she didn’t fast-forward, she wouldn’t finish it before the end of the workday.

But before she could tap it, her hand was slapped away.

Mom frowned. “Don’t mess with it.”

Jiang Yumian obediently said, “Oh.”

Two minutes later.

Mom turned her head. “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”

Wasn’t she in a hurry to record the show? Why was she still here watching the variety show with her?

“I want to observe whether you’re here to watch me or Jing Xiaoyan.” Jiang Yumian blinked, looking serious.

Mom rolled her eyes at her. “I’m here to see how you stick to Jing Xiaoyan.”

She snorted again. “And to see how you call other people ‘Mom.’ You sound so sweet.”

Jiang Yumian forced a smile. She hadn’t expected Lu Zhi to include the part where she called Lin Xi “Mom” in the behind-the-scenes footage. Her trending topics with Lin Xi were almost surpassing those with Jing Xiaoyan now.

Now her mom was talking to her about this. Oh, this is exciting.

“Just say you’re jealous…” She pouted, and deliberately blinked.

Mom slapped her face and pushed her away. “Aren’t you leaving? Do you want to stay and eat with me?”

Jiang Yumian shook her head. “I won’t go home to eat with you. My flight is a red-eye. I have something to do later.”

Then she added, “I just wanted to ask you a question.”

Mom nodded. “Ask.”

Jiang Yumian cleared her throat. “If I were a little good-for-nothing, the kind with no prospects, would you be worried that I might ruin the company later, making it impossible for you to enjoy your later years?”

Mom frowned. “I’m old, not dead. I’d let you ruin the company?”

Jiang Yumian exclaimed, grabbing her mom’s arm. “I’m just giving an example.”

The arm in her embrace was pulled away after less than two seconds.

“I’m not worried. If that day really comes, it would definitely be after I die that you ruin the company. Besides, if your mom were really dead, would I still worry about these things?” She paused, then slapped Jiang Yumian’s face again. “I’m only worried about what will happen to a little good-for-nothing like you after your mom is gone.”

Jiang Yumian blinked, her eyes sparkling. She continued to press. “Then do you think I’m spoiled by you now?”

Jiang Jiyu looked at her inexplicably but still cooperated with her words, scrutinizing her up and down. “Spoiled or not, I haven’t seen any signs yet.”

Jiang Yumian smiled. “Hehe.”

Seeing her expression, Mom finally couldn’t hold back. “Although I don’t expect you to achieve much, why do you look so dazed? Did you hurt your head?”

Jiang Yumian grabbed the hand that was tapping her head like a stone, smiling brightly. “Mom, you keep watching. I’m leaving!”

With that, she rushed out quickly. Judging by her demeanor, she seemed quite happy after their conversation.

Mom was speechless…

Jiang Yumian walked to the company parking lot, found her car, opened the door, and got in. She knew how to drive, but rarely did. The past few days were the most frequently she had driven.

She checked the rearview mirror. A car was reversing. She decided to wait for them to leave before going herself, then took out her phone to report to her good sister.

As a digital pet, she was extremely dedicated. She would send updates on what she ate for her three meals, when she went to work, and when she got off work. She would even occasionally report when she went to the bathroom.

The other party would patiently reply to each one.

“Sister, I’m off work now.”

“I found out Jing Xiaoyan is near my company. Hehe, I’m going to check it out, and run into her by chance. I’ll scare her to death!”

Jiang Yumian sent the voice message, a cunning smile on her face. She wanted to see how Jing Xiaoyan was being “forced” to drink.

She also wondered if she had drunk anything, or if she was drunk. She hadn’t seen what Jing Xiaoyan looked like when she was drunk.

First Love Sister: Getting off work so early today?

First Love Sister: From your voice, you sound quite happy about running into her by chance.

Sea Cotton has Baby: I’m off work early because I have to film the show. I want to rest before leaving.

Jiang Yumian licked her lips. Sister, you don’t understand. I’m just going to scare her. I wonder if she’ll feel guilty when she sees me.

She didn’t know if Jing Xiaoyan would feel guilty, but she certainly felt guilty now.

She touched her face. She was just going to join the fun and grab some food. She nodded after thinking, Yes, that’s it.

She also wondered if Jing Xiaoyan would be happy to see her. She probably would, right…

First Love Sister: Okay, if you think it’s fun, then hurry up. If you don’t go now, they might have finished eating.

Jiang Yumian thought it wasn’t a big deal. It was only a few minutes’ drive. And they had just started eating. With a whole table, it would take at least an hour, plus chatting. She wasn’t in a hurry.

Remembering that the sister said her voice sounded happy, Jiang Yumian pressed the phone. “By the way, why don’t you send me voice messages anymore? I feel like I haven’t heard your voice in so long, I’m almost forgetting it. I have to go listen to Jing Xiaoyan talk to remember what your voice sounds like.”

Jiang Yumian sent this voice message, eagerly waiting for the reply.

Although going to find Jing Xiaoyan wasn’t just for this reason, it was true that she hadn’t heard her talk for a long time. She hadn’t heard her voice since the filming began.

When she called, wanting to chat via voice, the sister would either reply much later or hang up, saying she was busy.

Since they were both busy with work, she didn’t ask her to play games, so she had no excuse.

She really was starting to forget what her voice sounded like. She only remembered it was very similar to Jing Xiaoyan’s, but after so long, thinking back, she couldn’t really recall it. It felt like it might not be that similar after all.

She was too lazy to flip through the old chat records. It was only one or two messages anyway. She wasn’t some pervert running through the chat history just to hear a voice. She’d just ask the sister to send a voice message directly.

First Love Sister: I’ll call you when I have a chance. I’m busy right now. You hurry up and go.

Sea Cotton has Baby: Okay. Why are you more anxious than me?

First Love Sister: …