Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Blacklist

Jing Xiaoyan was stunned, rooted to the spot. It was the first time she saw rejection in Jiang Yumian’s eyes, and it was directed at herself.

She carefully opened her mouth: “Mianmian.”

Jiang Yumian turned away. She couldn’t bear Jing Xiaoyan’s hurt expression, afraid of softening her stance.

The live broadcast ended, and the group headed back to the hotel on the bus. Jing Xiaoyan pursed her lips, following closely behind Jiang Yumian, not daring to approach her directly.

Xiao Feng saw them come out and quickly walked over. “Sister, the broadcast is over. Should we go back now?”

Jiang Yumian’s steps paused for a moment, but she quickly walked onto the bus as if she hadn’t heard.

Jing Xiaoyan’s gaze only retracted after Jiang Yumian boarded. “I’ll go to the hotel with them first. It won’t take long.”

Xiao Feng was momentarily stunned, then nodded. “Okay, our car will follow behind. Director Wu just messaged me. He knows you came for the live broadcast and said we can eat dinner before heading back. They need some time to prepare the equipment.”

Jing Xiaoyan looked towards the bus again, then nodded. “Please thank the director for me.”

Jiang Yumian sat by the window near the door. By just tilting her head, she could see Jing Xiaoyan talking to her assistant. She lowered her eyes, gently hooking her fingers, and couldn’t help but wonder if her words just now were too hurtful.

She closed her eyes, then couldn’t resist turning to look out the window. Her eyes dimmed. The person was no longer there.

Jiang Yumian sighed softly. Suddenly, there was a sound at the bus door.

“Xiaoyan, are you coming too?” Zhang Yan looked at Jing Xiaoyan, who was boarding after him, with a look of surprise.

Jing Xiaoyan looked into the bus, and in one glance, met Jiang Yumian’s gaze as she looked up.

Their eyes met. Jing Xiaoyan’s heart skipped a beat. Seeing Jiang Yumian casually look away, her heart ached heavily.

Zhang Yan blocked the middle of the aisle and reached out, trying to pull Jing Xiaoyan to him. “Xiaoyan, sit with me.”

Jing Xiaoyan frowned and backed away, speaking flatly, “Excuse me.”

Zhang Yan looked back at the empty seat next to Jiang Yumian, his eyes flashing. “You still have to go back to film tonight, right? We can discuss the script…”

Jing Xiaoyan furrowed her brow, not wanting to hear him continue. Her face flushed with anger, and her tone was sharp. “Move!”

Everyone in the bus immediately looked over. Chu Qianyun frowned. They were sitting in the back row. She looked at Zhang Yan, whose back was to them. He was quite something to make Jing Xiaoyan publicly impatient.

Su Mumu glanced at Jiang Yumian, whose head was still turned towards the window. She guessed she was probably even more unhappy. She nudged Ling Yisong with her foot.

Why him again…

Ling Yisong pulled a long face, forcefully tugged Xie Yunhuan next to him, and pushed him out of his seat.

Xie Yunhuan twitched his mouth and resignedly stepped forward to pull Zhang Yan away, giving him some face. “You’re sitting here, right? I’ll sit with you. I get dizzy easily sitting in the back.”

The bus finally started moving.

Hearing the movement next to her, Jiang Yumian turned her head. Her gaze lingered on Jing Xiaoyan’s face for a second before moving away. Jing Xiaoyan was just about to say something, but Jiang Yumian had already closed her eyes, her lips pressed together, as if she were going to sleep.

In contrast to the silence on their side, Lin Xi and Luo Cheng on the opposite side of the aisle were whispering, occasionally glancing their way.

Jing Xiaoyan leaned gently against the seat back, her gaze fixed on Jiang Yumian’s hand resting casually on her lap. After a moment of silence, she reached out and carefully covered her fair hand.

Her fingers clenched slightly. Jiang Yumian’s hand was a little cold. She wanted to warm it for her, but the hand was quickly pulled away.

Stuffing her hand into her pocket, Jiang Yumian opened her eyes. Her look towards Jing Xiaoyan held displeasure. She quickly leaned towards the window and closed her eyes again.

Feeling disliked, Jing Xiaoyan lowered her head, looking a little defeated. She didn’t move anymore.

It wasn’t until the bus stopped that Jiang Yumian finally opened her eyes. She exchanged a glance with the person next to her. Noticing the grievance in Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes, she stood up immediately, afraid to look any further.

Jing Xiaoyan stood up too, moving to the side of the aisle to let Jiang Yumian pass.

She followed all the way until the elevator door opened. Jiang Yumian walked out two steps, then quickly stopped. She turned around. Only Jing Xiaoyan was behind her.

Seeing her look at her, Jing Xiaoyan quickly stopped, softly saying, “Mianmian.”

Jiang Yumian pursed her lips, coldly dropping a sentence. “Stop following me.”

After speaking, she turned and left. She pinched her room card and found her room. The person behind her was still following. As she swiped the card and entered the room, Jing Xiaoyan squeezed in as well.

Jiang Yumian stood with her back to her, sighing softly. “Close the door.”

Seeing that she hadn’t kicked her out, Jing Xiaoyan quickly closed the door.

“I’m sorry, Mianmian.” Jing Xiaoyan reached out, grabbed the sleeve of Jiang Yumian’s clothes, and gently tugged, her voice slightly trembling. “I didn’t mean to lie to you.”

Jiang Yumian pulled her hand away, turned to look at her. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not a serious relationship anyway. She can be anyone. I don’t care.”

Jing Xiaoyan was momentarily stunned. She opened her mouth: “Mianmian.”

Jiang Yumian raised her hand to interrupt her. “I let you in only because I didn’t want to hear you knocking on my door.”

Then she pointed to the door, her voice cold. “Now, get out.”

Jing Xiaoyan reached out and hugged her, holding Jiang Yumian tightly in her arms. “If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be angry. Mianmian, I’m sorry. I won’t lie to you again.”

Jiang Yumian pursed her lips, forcefully pushing Jing Xiaoyan away, her tone hostile. “There is no ‘again’ for you and me. Get out yourself if you don’t want to lose face!”

Although she heard the anger in Jiang Yumian’s voice, Jing Xiaoyan couldn’t help but feel her eyes sting. She had never imagined Jiang Yumian would dislike her. She truly couldn’t accept it.

She staggered backward from the push and leaned against the door.

Jiang Yumian’s eyes flickered. She took a worried step forward. Seeing Jing Xiaoyan look up, she quickly retreated, her heart aching suddenly at the sight of those tear-filled eyes.

Jing Xiaoyan walked forward, looking at the frozen Jiang Yumian. She still reached out and hugged her. Her eyes were hot, and she whispered in a trembling voice, “Mianmian, please don’t say that.”

The corners of Jiang Yumian’s eyes were damp. She gently pulled away from Jing Xiaoyan’s embrace, turned her back, and wiped her eyes.

More than her own feelings of being wronged, she didn’t want to hurt Jing Xiaoyan. She couldn’t bear to see her cry because of her.

Jiang Yumian calmed down, finally retracting her sharpness, and softened her tone. “Go ahead. I’ll give you time to explain clearly.”

Then she added suddenly, “Besides this matter, tell me all the other things you lied to me about.”

Jing Xiaoyan looked confused. “Mianmian, I didn’t lie to you about anything else.”

Jiang Yumian sighed softly. “You know everything, don’t you, Cousin?”

Being called that suddenly stunned Jing Xiaoyan. She opened her mouth, then quickly reacted. “Mianmian, I told you that day, and seeing you had no reaction, I thought you already knew.”

Her voice was fast, and her explanation was hurried. “Mianmian, I shouldn’t have hidden this from you, but we are not biological. We’re not blood-related.”

Jiang Yumian watched her in silence. “It’s fine if we’re together, but what about your elders at home? Did you consider their feelings?”

Jing Xiaoyan furrowed her brow. She didn’t understand. “What does us being together have to do with them?”

Hearing her words, Jiang Yumian chuckled softly. “Get out. Let’s not talk anymore.”

Jing Xiaoyan wanted to say something more, but Jiang Yumian had already opened the door and pushed her out.

Jiang Yumian looked at her. “Just go. Don’t waste your time here, and don’t delay each other’s work.”

Staring at the closed door, Jing Xiaoyan was still confused. Why had the focus of the matter suddenly shifted?

But now Jiang Yumian seemed completely unwilling to listen to her explanation. There was no point in lingering here.

Jing Xiaoyan took a light breath, reached out, and knocked on the door. “I’ll do as you say. I’ll focus on my work. Can I come find you after you finish recording the show?”

There was no response from inside the room. Jing Xiaoyan waited for a while, then knocked on the door again. “Mianmian, I’m going back now.”

Half an hour after Jing Xiaoyan left, her phone received a few messages.

Jiang Yumian had taken her phone back from Lu Zhi and transferred all the money from this period to Jing Xiaoyan.

Jing Xiaoyan stared at her phone, lost in thought. She knew that if she didn’t accept the money, Jiang Yumian might get even angrier. She hesitated for a long time, but finally clicked “Accept.”

Sister: “I’m sorry, Mianmian. I’ll come find you.”

The message didn’t go through. She had been blocked by Jiang Yumian.

She switched accounts to check and, sure enough, her other WeChat account was also blocked by Jiang Yumian.

Calling her resulted in the same. Every possible way to contact her was now on Jiang Yumian’s blacklist.

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