Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 90

Chapter 90: We’re Homeless

The drive was short. After parking the car, a waiter led them upstairs to the private room where the person was waiting for them.

“This must be Mianmian?” Jing Benyi looked up, smiling at Jiang Yumian. He gestured to the two seats in front of him. “Come and sit. I’m ashamed to say that as your uncle, I haven’t met you for so many years.”

Jiang Yumian looked up and met the gaze of the man looking at them. He was dressed casually and well-maintained. He didn’t look old at all, with no gray hairs visible. His features bore some resemblance to Jing Xiaoyan’s. She retracted her gaze and sat down with Jing Xiaoyan.

She replied with a polite and measured smile, “It’s alright. My aunt doesn’t genuinely like you anyway. We all know that. It’s better that you two separated.”

Jing Xiaoyan smiled, hearing Jiang Yumian distancing herself from him. Who was he calling “uncle”?

The man in front of her didn’t seem to care. He nodded, looked at Jing Xiaoyan, as if just remembering his daughter was there too.

Jing Xiaoyan looked at him, deliberately staying silent.

Jing Benyi retracted his gaze, picked up the teapot, and poured the tea. He looked at the tea water and said in a heavy voice, “Are you pretending you don’t know me?”

Seeing the man putting on airs, Jing Xiaoyan didn’t mince words. “Did you release those messages online?”

Jing Benyi smiled, put down the teapot, and handed each of them a cup of tea. He didn’t hide it. “It doesn’t matter if it was me or not. What matters is the result. You’ve seen how many people are cursing you. Do you want to be reviled every day, like your mother?”

Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes darkened as she looked at the teacup in front of her. Before Jiang Yumian could speak, she took the teacup and poured the tea out, placing the cup upside down on the table.

“There’s no need to compare me to her again. I came here just to tell you that my business has nothing to do with you. Don’t interfere in my life. Go back to your country and stay there.”

Hearing Jing Xiaoyan’s aggressive words, showing him no respect at all, Jing Benyi frowned and forcefully knocked on the table. “I’m your father! You are my only daughter! Do you think your business has nothing to do with me?”

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

However, Jing Xiaoyan was not intimidated by him. She reached out without changing her expression, grabbed Jiang Yumian’s arm. “Before, I was alone, and I had nothing to do with anyone. But now, I’m with Mianmian. I like her, and I only acknowledge her.”

Jing Benyi glanced at Jiang Yumian, sneered, and said emphatically, “Mianmian’s mother won’t allow you to be together. You can play around, but that’s it. You have only one choice now: come abroad with me. I’ll find someone for you to marry, and he will marry into our family.”

The disgust in Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes was unconcealed. “The person you call ‘finding someone’ is Zhang Yan?”

Jing Benyi nodded. “This was planned a long time ago. My return this time was to take you away. It’s time for you to learn something.”

He then gestured to Jiang Yumian, who was sitting upright on the side. “Mianmian is already taking over the company. You’re two years older than her, and you’re still not seeking to improve, wasting time in the entertainment industry. What does that look like?”

Although she knew Jing Xiaoyan wouldn’t listen to him, Jiang Yumian’s heart still jumped when she heard this. She turned slightly to look at Jing Xiaoyan. She wouldn’t let her leave.

Being lectured so rarely, Jing Xiaoyan glanced at Jiang Yumian, held her hand, gave her a reassuring look, and turned back to him. “You mean for me to go back and take over your company?”

Jing Benyi sneered, with an expression that said, it’s about time you came to your senses.

“Others would jump at the chance, and you’re wasting time here. I told you, you’re my only daughter, my only heir. Coming abroad with me is much better than messing around in the entertainment industry.”

Jing Xiaoyan pressed Jiang Yumian’s hand, signaling her to not get angry yet. She looked up at the man in front of her, her imposing manner unyielding. She asked directly, “If I don’t go and want to stay in the entertainment industry, how do you plan to deal with me?”

“Do you think the entertainment industry is as peaceful as you imagine?” Jing Benyi placed a business card on the table and tapped it hard with his finger. “I’m a shareholder in the company you signed with. If I hadn’t taken care of things, do you think you could have gotten such good resources? Do you think you could have made money on your own?”

“The little money you make from filming is nothing. Jiang Jinyu’s company can earn several times that from a single project. She simply looks down on your meager earnings. You are both still young. She won’t let you and Mianmian be together. In the end, she will make Mianmian do the same as her, finding a man who won’t threaten the company to marry into the family.”

Jiang Yumian’s eyelids twitched violently. Even though Jing Xiaoyan was trying to hold her back, she couldn’t suppress it anymore. She took a deep breath and raised her hand to interrupt him.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but I am right here. Don’t speak so definitively about my family’s affairs.”

Jing Benyi’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t expected Jiang Yumian to come. This rhetoric was something he had prepared long ago, and it was what was being said outside. He thought he was being quite clear.

Jiang Yumian had no intention of saving him any face. She said directly, “I think I should clarify the situation for you. My father didn’t marry into the family. He was simply serving in the military year-round and didn’t have time to come back to accompany my mother and me. As for my mother and I having the same surname, it was the will of the elders in the family and my father. Although my father passed away when I was young, in my memory, he always respected me. He never felt that because I was his daughter, I had to obey all his arrangements, nor did he constantly belittle me.”

After saying that, she glanced at the man’s ashen face. Jiang Yumian sneered, a look of contempt on her face. “You’re only remembering that Jing Xiaoyan is your daughter and that you’re a father now. So, may I ask what you were doing before?”

She sat up straight, mocking him with a malicious smile. “Oh, my apologies, I shouldn’t ask the obvious. You were busy ganging up with others to bully and suppress your own daughter, and then you left her when you realized you couldn’t use her.”

“Now you’re here acting like a good father. Are you okay?”

Jing Xiaoyan blinked, quite surprised by Jiang Yumian’s reaction.

Mama Jiang had raised Jiang Yumian very well. In the eyes of the company employees, besides being an actress, she was also a well-mannered and educated young lady. She only showed her temper in front of family and friends, but she would never be disrespectful, especially to elders she didn’t know. She was always very polite.

This kind of arrogant behavior, other than the first time she helped her bully someone, was rarely seen.

Jing Xiaoyan quietly watched Jiang Yumian, who was once again standing up for her, squeezing her hand. She felt very reassured.

Jiang Yumian had indeed thrown all the etiquette and manners she had learned out the window. She looked at the frowning man in front of her, launching into a tirade, as if she were the one who had been wronged.

“Don’t tell me you’re starting to get jealous of your own daughter because you failed to get together with my aunt.”

“Or is it that Jing Xiaoyan is with me, and you can’t stand that she’s out of your control?”

Half of Jing Benyi’s face twitched. Daring not to scold Jiang Yumian, he pointed at Jing Xiaoyan, venting his anger on her. “No wonder you speak so aggressively. It seems you really think you’ve climbed onto the Jiang family and your wings are hard!”

Hearing his unpleasant words, Jiang Yumian frowned slightly, wanting to continue arguing with him, but Jing Xiaoyan tugged her hand, stopping her.

Jing Xiaoyan glanced at the finger pointing at her and said directly, “Don’t talk to me in that tone, as if I’m being rebellious. Since you’ve never acknowledged my abilities, I’ll be direct. I did climb onto the Jiang family, and my wings are hard.”

Jing Benyi slammed the table forcefully. “Jing Xiaoyan!”

Seeing him furious, Jing Xiaoyan wasn’t doing much better. She continued to provoke him. “If you’re unhappy, continue to leak information online, continue to target me. Go ahead and say it, leak it. Extensively expose that Jing Xiaoyan’s mother was self-degrading and became someone else’s mistress. Say that Jing Xiaoyan is unfilial to her parents. Do you dare to say it? You don’t, because you care about your reputation. You think it will embarrass you.”

Sensing that her emotions were getting out of control, Jiang Yumian pursed her lips, her eyes full of worry. She reached out and grasped Jing Xiaoyan’s hand, holding it tightly.

She turned her head to look at Jing Benyi, whose face was flushed with anger. Not wanting to waste any more time, she stood up and stood in front of Jing Xiaoyan, blocking his view, and reached out to pour out her own cup of tea as well.

“We came here just to inform you that the decision regarding our marriage is solely ours to make. If you truly consider yourself a father, then stop these petty actions behind our backs. It’s quite disgraceful.”

Giving him absolutely no face, Jing Benyi stared at the two inverted teacups, his face darkening. He finally softened his tone. “That was just a reminder for her. Of course, I wouldn’t use such methods on my own daughter, but you two being together is ultimately wrong.”

Jing Xiaoyan’s long eyelashes trembled. She looked up at the person blocking her, the warmth in her palm soothing her heart. She smiled slightly and tugged at Jiang Yumian, then stood up.

Jiang Yumian hesitated for a moment, a little worried, but still stepped aside.

The two faced each other again, their distant gazes making them look less like father and daughter and more like enemies.

Jing Xiaoyan pursed her lip. “I believe you wouldn’t use rumors to destroy me, but not because I trust your character. It’s because I am indeed your daughter by blood. Doing so would only embarrass you further.”

Jing Benyi opened his mouth, wanting to refute her, but the words caught in his throat. He just frowned.

Seeing his reaction, Jing Xiaoyan let out a soft breath. “I don’t want to make things too ugly. I just hope we can go back to how things were: not interfering with each other. Stop talking about treating me as your heir. You just want to control me. For others, this might be a great opportunity, but it’s not for me. I don’t want it, and I’m not willing. You can think I’m hypocritical because I do have bigger capital backing me up. You can think that because it’s the truth. You can even think I look down on your company, because that is also the truth. I simply look down on it.”

Jiang Yumian gripped Jing Xiaoyan’s hand, secretly thinking that her girlfriend was quite adept at wielding power. Those two sentences were very damning, directly hitting him where it hurt. For someone who cared so much about his reputation like Jing Benyi, being looked down upon by his own daughter was quite humiliating.

It was a good thing she was here today, and it was a good thing her mother was so capable. Seeing the man in front of her looking so defeated, she felt great. She was best at borrowing power to intimidate.

Jing Xiaoyan took out her phone from her pocket. While texting her manager, she said, “I will terminate my contract with the entertainment company. Since you always believed that the money I made all these years was because of you, I’ll return all of it to you. It also happens that you haven’t spent much money on me since I grew up. Consider this the principal and interest repaid. From now on, we have no connection.”

Jing Benyi saw that she was serious and stood up in anger. “I’m just being objective. Your being together is fundamentally wrong. Now you want to cut ties with me? You’re a grown person. Can you calm down? Do you think she can stay with you forever? Jiang Jinyu won’t agree! What will you do when she no longer wants you?”

Jiang Yumian’s expression slightly froze. The person who had been restraining himself from getting angry at her was now pointing his finger at her. He must be furious.

Jing Xiaoyan slightly lowered her gaze, recalling her past. Her heart was full of bitterness. She forced a smile, and before she even started speaking the words she was about to say, her eyes couldn’t help but fill with tears.

She swallowed, trying to steady her slightly trembling voice. “Dad, I am calm. This decision was made when I was in high school. I don’t need you in my life anymore.”

“It’s been over ten years. I didn’t say anything for so long because I was giving us a chance. But the first thing you did after returning was to negate everything about me.”

Tears fell, and Jing Xiaoyan raised her hand to wipe them away. She quickly composed herself. The words that had been accumulating in her heart for so long were finally out. Now, her eyes were only filled with relief.

Although she kept saying it didn’t matter, it wasn’t important, at the moment of completely giving up on her father, Jing Xiaoyan was sad. She was feeling wronged for herself, shedding two tears for her former self.

The atmosphere in the private room suddenly fell silent. Jiang Yumian pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on their tightly clasped hands, deliberately avoiding looking at them.

Jing Benyi frowned and sat down, silently lowering his head and closing his eyes. “You two leave.”

Hearing him finally relent, Jing Xiaoyan took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

Jiang Yumian was full of heartache. She held Jing Xiaoyan tightly, their fingers intertwined.

Before Jing Xiaoyan could turn to leave, Jiang Yumian pulled her hand.

Jing Xiaoyan was slightly surprised and turned to look at her.

Jiang Yumian smiled at her, then turned to the man sitting down. “I like her. I won’t ever not want her. You probably won’t believe me, and Jing Xiaoyan might not believe me either, after all, no one knows what the future holds. But I’ve promised that I will love her as my family. Even if we don’t end up together, my home will always be her refuge.”

Jing Benyi looked up, his gaze lingering on their hands for a second. He remained silent.

Noticing his gaze, Jiang Yumian shook their clasped hands, smiling faintly. “You just came back from abroad, so you probably don’t know much about the industry. I like girls. My mother has already openly revealed it in the business circle. She’s very supportive. I will marry Jing Xiaoyan in the future. She has been my family since the moment we got together.”

After leaving the teahouse, Jing Xiaoyan kept staring at Jiang Yumian, still staring at her after getting into the car.

Jiang Yumian reached up and touched her neck, feeling very uncomfortable being stared at like this.

She urged softly, “Are you going to drive or not?”

Jing Xiaoyan blinked, leaned over the steering wheel, her face turned sideways, her eyes fixed on Jiang Yumian’s face, filled with smiles.

Seeing her staring even more brazenly, Jiang Yumian bit her lip. Noticing the smile on her face, she didn’t say anything to her. It was good that she was smiling. At least she was happy.

But Jiang Yumian couldn’t resist that gaze forever. Embarrassed, she turned away, resting both hands on the car door, her chin resting on the back of her hands.

Seriously. Who stares at her like that?

The back of her collar was grabbed by a hand. Jiang Yumian was pulled over, forced to turn around, the blush still lingering on her face.

Jing Xiaoyan’s eyes were shining brightly. “Mianmian, you’ve never told me that you love me or that you like me. I want to hear it. You said it to him today, so you have to say it to me too.”

Jiang Yumian turned her head to look out the window, very embarrassed. She reached out and pushed Jing Xiaoyan’s face away. “No.”

How could she ask for that? That’s too embarrassing.

Jing Xiaoyan pulled her hand down, tugging her closer, acting shamelessly. “I want it now.”

Jiang Yumian was pulled by her arm, leaning slightly. She looked up, met Jing Xiaoyan’s tear-stained eyes, and quickly retracted her gaze, her heart softening a little.

She moved her lips, hesitating. “Then… let’s go home and talk.”

Jing Xiaoyan wouldn’t budge. “I want you to say it now.”

Jiang Yumian’s mouth twitched. She had no choice but to take a deep breath, and whispered quickly, “Mhm mhm mhm, I love you.”

Jing Xiaoyan was very dissatisfied. “No sincerity. Say it again.”

Jiang Yumian gritted her teeth. “Jing Xiaoyan!”

Jing Xiaoyan was just as loud as her, stubbornly insisting, “Say it again!”

Seeing that she was determined to hear it, and she was even looking at her with a resentful gaze, as if she would be incredibly wronged if she didn’t say it.

Jiang Yumian lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on her lips. She quickly gave herself a way out. “Fine. Then kiss me. If you kiss me to my satisfaction, I’ll say it.”

Lips quickly pressed against hers. Jing Xiaoyan seemed even more eager than Jiang Yumian.

With her hand bracing against the center console, Jiang Yumian’s head was aggressively held by her. Her breath was fiercely stolen. She had to focus on breathing, completely allowing Jing Xiaoyan to kiss and nibble on her lips until her teeth accidentally knocked against her lip. Jiang Yumian let out a soft whimper, and the other person finally let go.

Jiang Yumian’s lips were numb. She was on the verge of tears from the physical reaction caused by the intense kissing. She leaned her head on Jing Xiaoyan’s shoulder, panting heavily, her chest constantly rising and falling. She was on the verge of suffocating.

Jing Xiaoyan reached out and cupped her chin.

Meeting her eyes at close range, Jiang Yumian looked up, her eyes misty. She wanted to scold her, but seeing her expression clearly, Jiang Yumian laughed softly as she caught her breath, indulging her. “Alright, I love you.”

She was kissed again after making the other person happy.

Jing Xiaoyan was smiling brightly. She couldn’t help but reach out and gently rub the top of Jiang Yumian’s head a few times.

Jiang Yumian cried out and dodged her hand, straightening her messy hair. Leaning back against the seat, she caught her breath and touched her lips again. She turned her head and warned, “Don’t kiss so urgently next time.”

She almost passed out from her kiss.

Jing Xiaoyan looked at her, smiling, and obediently said, “Okay.”

Jiang Yumian pulled on her seatbelt. “Alright, let’s go home.”

Jing Xiaoyan blinked, hesitated for a few seconds, and suddenly said, “We’re homeless.”

Jiang Yumian was stunned. “Huh?”

Jing Xiaoyan scratched her face. “I said I’d return everything to him, which means I’m penniless now.”

“Mhm… This is also the last time I’ll drive this car.”

Although she was broke, Jing Xiaoyan was actually quite happy that she had completely resolved this matter. All constraints were gone.

Jiang Yumian quickly realized. She nodded. It wasn’t a big deal, after all, her family had money.

But before she could offer comfort, she heard Jing Xiaoyan deliberately ask pitifully, “Mianmian, I’m bankrupt now. I can’t give you any pocket money. Will you still love me?”

Jiang Yumian was speechless. “Do you think I lack that bit of money from you?”

Jing Xiaoyan blinked innocently. “You don’t lack it?”

Recalling her own situation, Jiang Yumian’s eyelid twitched. “I lack it…”

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