Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Moments

With the lesson from Su Mumu, Jiang Yumian no longer dared to casually ask others what they thought. She decided it was better to go back and think for herself.

It was almost midnight when she got home.

After arriving, Jiang Yumian reported to both Jing Xiaoyans, then took a shower in the bathroom, changed into pajamas, and immediately fell asleep.

Because she was so exhausted the day before, she slept in and didn’t wake up until noon the next day.

Jiang Yumian sat on the bed for a long time, feeling a little overwhelmed. The total time she spent at the company wouldn’t even cover the duration of an internship.

If she were an intern at the company and was late for an entire morning during her internship, she would be finished, right?

She scratched her head and opened her phone, finding many messages on WeChat.

Mom: “I requested a leave of absence for you today. I guessed you wouldn’t be able to get up. Take a day off at home.”

Seeing this message, Jiang Yumian breathed a huge sigh of relief. Her mother was indeed thoughtful.

She had just flexed her calves, and they felt heavy and sore. It was definitely going to be uncomfortable.

But since she could rest for a day, she felt relieved and continued reading.

Mom: “I’m not at the company either. Xiao Zou will contact you if anything comes up.”

Mom: “Oh, Jing Xiaoyan is taking classes for the next two days—dog training classes. Auntie will bring her back in the evening.”

Mom: “Your aunt is coming over for dinner tonight. Be prepared.”

Jiang Yumian tilted her head. The world has changed. Dogs need to go to class now?

And her aunt. She had thought her aunt was staying at home yesterday, but figuring it was already past midnight, she didn’t want to disturb her, so she didn’t go say hello.

And now she was being told her aunt wasn’t there?

Where did her aunt go if she wasn’t staying at home when she returned?

Jiang Yumian thought about it for a moment, then dismissed it. It was their adult business, she shouldn’t interfere.

Sponge Baby: “Mom, how long is Jing Xiaoyan’s class?”

Sponge Baby: “Where did you go since you’re not at the company today, and when are you coming home?”

After replying to her mother, Jiang Yumian opened her Sister’s chat window.

Sister: “Morning, Mianmian.”

Sister: “You’re probably still asleep. Remember to eat breakfast when you wake up. I’m going to be busy with work, so I won’t be checking my phone later.”

Sister: “It’s almost noon, is Mianmian still not awake?”

Sister: “If you don’t wake up soon, breakfast will turn into lunch.”

Sponge Baby: “Just woke up. I’m going to wash up. I’ll eat right after. I’ll take pictures of the food Auntie made today for you later.”

After replying, Jiang Yumian was a little anxious to switch WeChat accounts and chat with the thick-skinned Jing Xiaoyan. She wondered how her audition went.

But she still had some messages to reply to. Jiang Yumian sighed. Why did it feel like she was reviewing imperial decrees?

Zou Xian: “Morning, absent worker.”

Zou Xian: “The company’s newly developed app has been sent to you. Download it and take a look. There’s nothing much today. Chairwoman Jiang said she’ll give you a project to lead after you finish recording the show.”

Zou Xian: “Oh, right, probably because everyone thought you’d be in the office today, three people have sent you flowers so far. Secretary Yang in the office temporarily put the flowers on the coffee table for you.”

Zou Xian: [Image]

Zou Xian: “Little CEO Jiang’s love life is flourishing~”

Sponge Baby: “Hey…”

Sponge Baby: “Tell Secretary Yang not to accept any flowers sent to me in the future.”

Jiang Yumian felt a headache coming on. With Yin Xiangyu setting the precedent, others followed suit, and the flowers arrived even before she did.

She sighed softly. Thank goodness Jing Xiaoyan didn’t know. Otherwise, with her easily triggered possessiveness, she might show up at her house.

After replying to a few unimportant messages, Jiang Yumian switched accounts and immediately looked for Jing Xiaoyan. Seeing that Jing Xiaoyan hadn’t sent her any messages, she felt a little disappointed, quite lost.

She opened the group chat and saw that not many people were talking. Everyone went their separate ways after the show.

Jiang Yumian aimlessly scrolled through the work WeChat account that no one else but Jing Xiaoyan contacted her on, and finally clicked on Jing Xiaoyan’s profile picture to see if she had posted any new moments.

And she actually had.

And it was posted only ten minutes ago, a very fresh moment.

Jing Xiaoyan: Lunch is Peking roast duck. Feels a little greasy [Image]

Jiang Yumian opened the image and looked at it for a few seconds. After hesitating, she liked Jing Xiaoyan’s post.

Then she exited her moments, waited for a minute, and Jing Xiaoyan still hadn’t contacted her. Jiang Yumian took a shallow breath, put down her phone, and decided to wash up first, then come back to check.

Jiang Yumian washed up very quickly this time. She simply applied some toner and lotion. Hearing her phone ring, she hurried to the bedside.

She picked up her phone and raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t Jing Xiaoyan, but Sister An.

Why was Sister An calling her?

She forcefully tapped the screen to answer.

Jiang Yumian deliberately asked, “Hello, who is this?”

An Zhiying coughed guiltily. “Mianmian, it’s me.”

“Ah? Who’s Mianmian? They all call me Little CEO Jiang now.”

An Zhiying: “…”

Knowing Jiang Yumian was doing it on purpose, she coughed again. “Alright, alright, Little CEO Jiang, is that better?”

Jiang Yumian snorted softly. It had been a long time since she had spoken to Sister An. She suddenly felt a little sad, her eyes stinging. She patted her forehead, holding back her emotions.

She let out a loud snort. “You only call when you need something. What do you want by suddenly contacting me?”

An Zhiying: “It’s true. Avv Red Carpet has invited you. Many celebrities will be present. It’s at the end of this month. Will you go?”

Jiang Yumian blinked. Why was she suddenly talking to her about work?

“Sister An, I’m almost retired from the industry. Why would I walk the red carpet? Besides, aren’t you not managing me anymore?” Jiang Yumian snorted again, saying deliberately, “Could it be that your two new artists are hard to manage, and now you remember how good I was?”

The reply from the other end was quick, as if she didn’t understand the sarcasm in Jiang Yumian’s words. She replied earnestly, “It’s a little difficult to balance both, but they’re not that hard to manage.”

Jiang Yumian: “Hehe.”

Sister An: “Hehe what? They are genuinely good. Don’t doubt it. I brought Meng Qiushu for an audition here today and ran into Jing Xiaoyan. Jing Xiaoyan even complimented her acting, saying she was more suitable for the role than herself, and then directly recommended her to the director. I think it’s a done deal.”

As soon as Jiang Yumian heard Jing Xiaoyan’s name, she became instantly alert. She quickly processed what Sister An had said and frowned.

“You mean Jing Xiaoyan didn’t get the role she was auditioning for?”

Sister An: “It’s not that she didn’t get it. She recommended Qiushu. I figure first, she thought Qiushu’s image was very suitable for the role. Second, she probably spoke up because she knew I was your manager and Qiushu was an artist from our company.”

Jiang Yumian couldn’t help but say, “Is she an idiot?”

Sister An: “How can you call her an idiot? She’s so smart. She effortlessly did us a favor.”

Jiang Yumian raised an eyebrow. That made sense.

“Mhm, her Jing Xiaoyan is the smartest. Go manage the talented female artist praised by Jing Xiaoyan and work hard. I’m hanging up if there’s nothing else.”

“Don’t! I haven’t finished yet. Are you going to the red carpet or not? If you go, I’ll arrange for you to appear with Jing Xiaoyan.” Sister An finally let out this last sentence when she heard Jiang Yumian mention hanging up.

Jiang Yumian lightly clicked her tongue. “So Jing Xiaoyan’s favor was used here, huh? Did she ask you if she could walk the red carpet with me?”

Without waiting for Sister An to respond, she muttered softly, “Why didn’t she ask me herself? You’re not managing me anymore. If Jing Xiaoyan hadn’t asked you, you wouldn’t have even told me about the red carpet.”

Sister An coughed awkwardly. “Nonsense. I was planning to tell you anyway. Walking the red carpet isn’t much trouble, and Jing Xiaoyan approached me because she knew I was your manager and coincidentally ran into me.”

Jiang Yumian pouted. “Got it. You can arrange it. It’s fine for me to go and have some fun.”

She paused, then added, “Manage your two new artists well. Give them any useful resources. They are under the same manager, after all. They shouldn’t be struggling more than half as much as I did.”

And she even let Jing Xiaoyan do her a favor. Honestly.

Sister An couldn’t help but laugh. “Understood, Little CEO Jiang.”

Hearing her intentionally use that title, Jiang Yumian blinked uncomfortably and quickly said, “Hanging up, hanging up.”

After hanging up, she reopened WeChat.

She refreshed it a few times.

Well, Jing Xiaoyan still hadn’t contacted her.

Surely she had finished her roast duck by now?

She held her phone and waited a bit longer. Finally, she reopened Jing Xiaoyan’s moments and canceled the like.

Hmph.

She took her phone downstairs. Auntie had just finished cooking her meal—two dishes and a soup, all her favorites.

Jiang Yumian switched accounts and took a picture of the food on the table, sending it to her Sister.

Sponge Baby: “Auntie made my favorite Yellow Braised Chicken and stir-fried yellow beef, and a mushroom and pork ribs soup.”

Sister: “Looks very appetizing. I want to eat it.”

Jiang Yumian chuckled softly. So she was online.

Sponge Baby: “I’ll eat it for you.”

Sister: “Okay. I ate something a little greasy for lunch and didn’t have much. Mianmian, eat more. Eat my share too.”

Reading her message, Jiang Yumian almost burst out laughing. No wonder Jing Xiaoyan posted that moment! And now she was deliberately saying this, trying to make her suspect they were the same person.

She wondered if Jing Xiaoyan would still have misled her like that if she had known it would lead to this situation.

Sponge Baby: “What a coincidence today. You, Mumu, and Sister Yunyun all said you ate something too greasy. Jing Xiaoyan also complained about it in her moments, haha. Did you all fall into an oil tank?”

Sister: “That’s quite a coincidence…”

Jiang Yumian grinned. Hahaha, so satisfying.

She wasn’t in a hurry to eat anymore. She first went to mock Jing Xiaoyan to Su Mumu, and also reminded her not to accidentally reveal the secret, just in case Jing Xiaoyan was so childish as to actually ask her and Chu Qianyun.

Su Mumu: “You should stop teasing her after a few days. Seeing how much effort she’s putting in, it’s not easy for her.”

Sponge Baby: “You’re saying she’s not easy now? Didn’t you say yesterday that she was practically ready to sleep with me?”

Su Mumu: “Ahem, that’s because she knows how to pursue someone and is proactive enough. You wouldn’t believe how little effort Sister Yunyun put in when she was pursuing me.”

She had always heard them complain that Chu Qianyun didn’t know how to pursue people. Seeing Su Mumu bring it up herself, Jiang Yumian was a little curious. “For example?”

Su Mumu: “Her way of pursuing me: liking my moments.”

Jiang Yumian blinked. Liking a moment? That’s it?

Su Mumu: “When she saw I didn’t react, she would even unlike it, saying she didn’t want to humiliate herself.”

Jiang Yumian was about to laugh but quickly realized something and couldn’t laugh anymore. She wondered if Su Mumu had installed surveillance on her phone.

Jiang Yumian muttered to herself, “It’s still different. I wasn’t pursuing Jing Xiaoyan either…”

Su Mumu: “Tsk, she argued with me just now, saying she wanted to talk to me but didn’t dare to be too proactive, afraid I’d see her as a sycophant. It’s hilarious. She thought liking a post was being proactive, and talking to me was being a sycophant. She might as well have just openly admitted she was pursuing me.”

Jiang Yumian: “…”

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