A Washed-up Movie Queen's Divorce Strategy [Rebirth] - Chapter 24

“Changed?” Ming Yan was puzzled. “No, how so?” She’s as strict as ever—no, even stricter. Ming Yan rubbed her knees, which still felt a faint, lingering ache.

“Don’t you feel she’s…” Ji Chenli thought for a moment. This wasn’t something she could explain to Ming Yan in a few words, so she waved it off. “Never mind, it’s nothing.”

Ming Yan thought to herself: If my sister has changed, she’s only changed in one way. Before the wedding, she was clearly sick to death of this Ji Chenli, yet after the wedding, she suddenly treated her like a treasure—untouchable and beyond criticism. It was as if she’d been bewitched.

However, Ming Yan didn’t dare say this to Ji Chenli. Having been lectured by Ming Lang, she was now genuinely wary of this sister-in-law who looked like an easy target. Ming Yan was an expert at reading the wind; back when Ming Lang ignored Ji Chenli, she let Xie Qinglan run wild while she watched the fun. Now that Ming Lang clearly cared for Ji Chenli, Ming Yan naturally showed her far more respect than before—at least, she didn’t dare look down on her anymore.

Thinking this, Ming Yan followed behind Ji Chenli and chirped flatteringly, “Chenli, don’t you worry. No matter how my sister changes, her heart that loves you will never change!”

Ji Chenli: “…”

These two sisters have such different personalities; I wonder which one is the mutation.

Ji Chenli assumed Ming Lang had visited the set on a whim and would leave the next day. After all, the Ming family managed much more than just a small film company; their assets involved real estate, shopping malls, film studios, and more. There were mountains of decisions waiting for Ming Lang every day; she couldn’t possibly waste time on one minor movie.

However, this time Ji Chenli was wrong. Ming Lang not only didn’t leave but seemed intent on following the crew. She stayed with the production for several days, eating and living with the staff, and surprisingly integrated quite well.

“Ugh, how much longer is that woman going to stay?” During lunch, Fang Shi squeezed in next to Ji Chenli with her lunch box, grumbling unhappily.

Fang Shi originally admired Ming Lang, thinking that letting a green newcomer like her direct such a high-budget film meant Ming Lang truly trusted her talent. But after the incident on Ji Chenli’s “birthday”—where Ming Lang forcibly interfered with crew affairs despite the director’s objections—Fang Shi realized that wasn’t the case at all. Ming Lang didn’t value her talent; she valued the fact that Fang Shi was a rookie who couldn’t resist her decisions. Furthermore, once Fang Shi realized the nature of the relationship between Ming Lang and Ji Chenli, her admiration evaporated. Now, she found the big boss more eyesore by the day.

“If you’re asking me, who am I supposed to ask?” Ji Chenli laughed. After that day, she had made an effort to have a heart-to-heart with Fang Shi. To be honest, Ji Chenli liked Fang Shi’s personality—she was stubborn and a bit of a stickler for rules, but she was earnest and lacked guile. Being friends with her was comfortable; at least you didn’t have to worry about a knife in the back. After talking things through, their relationship had actually become closer than before.

Fang Shi chewed on her rice and complained, “How is a big President so free? She’s here every day like a prison warden…”

“She’s the one paying, isn’t she?” Ji Chenli wiped her mouth after finishing her meal. “Accept your fate, little sister. Capital decides everything. In this era, talent has to compromise with capital.”

She patted Fang Shi’s shoulder with the air of an experienced elder giving a lecture. Fang Shi was amused despite her anger and swiped her hand away with a laugh. “No wonder you reek of money; it’s all from compromising.”

Ji Chenli tapped Fang Shi’s head lightly and laughed along. “Get out of here, you brat. When you’re broke, you’ll learn the meaning of ‘a single penny can stump a hero’.”

“…” Fang Shi only felt that Ji Chenli’s palm was cool and soft. That tap on her head felt unexpectedly gentle, and her face turned slightly red for no reason.

Not far away, Ming Lang watched Ji Chenli and Fang Shi huddled in their inconspicuous corner, laughing and talking. The way they swiped and pushed at each other looked exactly like flirting. The rice in her mouth felt like sand stuck in her throat, impossible to swallow.

“Sister, you’ve been here so long; isn’t everything okay at the company?” Ming Yan asked while eating. When Ming Lang didn’t respond for a long time, Ming Yan looked up and saw her sister staring at the sister-in-law, her chopsticks nearly snapping in her grip. Ming Yan gave a knowing smile, nudged Ming Lang with her elbow, and leaned in teasingly. “Sister, are you jealous?”

Ming Lang glanced at her, then returned her gaze to Ji Chenli, her lips pressed tight in silence.

Ming Yan continued, “Sister, what are you actually thinking? Before the wedding, you couldn’t stand her. After the wedding, you’re treating her like a holy relic, as if you’re terrified people won’t know how much President Ming pampers her wife. I’ve gotta say, you change faces faster than a Sichuan opera performer!”

Ming Lang just watched Ji Chenli and Fang Shi laughing, still saying nothing.

Since the wedding, Ji Chenli had never laughed like that with Ming Lang. Their interactions were always laced with vigilance and hostility; even her smiles were sarcastic and biting, which only made Ming Lang feel stifled.

“Sister, do you really like Sister-in-law?” Ming Yan asked again.

Ming Lang gave a quiet “Mhm.”

“Then what about Xinyuan? She’s followed you like a shadow since we were kids. I’ve seen with my own eyes how much she’s loved you all these years,” Ming Yan said. Since she grew up with Han Xinyuan, she naturally favored her. If not for this sister-in-law who appeared out of nowhere, Ming Lang and Han Xinyuan would be a match made in heaven in the eyes of outsiders.

Ming Lang glanced at the sister she had raised. “If I said Xinyuan’s status in my heart is the same as yours, would you believe me?”

“I’d believe it,” Ming Yan nodded. “But Xinyuan won’t. She’s loved you for so long; if you tell her she’s just a sister, she’ll have a breakdown.”

Ming Lang shook her head and gave a small smile that quickly vanished. “She doesn’t love me.”

She said it so certainly that Ming Yan was stunned.

“Fine.” Ming Yan put down her chopsticks in defeat. “Your business is a mess. I’d better stay out of it, or I’ll end up kneeling in the hall again.”

“By the way, Sister, Sister-in-law told me today that you’ve changed. I didn’t think much of it then, but thinking about it now… I feel like you really have changed.” Ming Yan scratched her head, but she couldn’t put her finger on exactly how.

Ming Lang’s eyes flickered. “What else did she say?”

“Nothing else, just that you changed.”

Ming Lang looked back at Ji Chenli and chuckled softly. “Speaking of changing… who hasn’t changed?”

“Sister, when are you actually going back to the company? The assistant sisters have complained to me so many times…” Before Ming Yan could finish, she saw Ming Lang already walking toward Ji Chenli without looking back. “Hey, Sister? Sister, give me a straight answer! Sister…”

On the other side, with Ji Chenli and Fang Shi:

“Don’t worry. Aren’t we heading into the mountains after two more scenes? There’s no power or internet there and the conditions are harsh. Even if you begged Ming Lang to come, she might not be willing.” Ji Chenli was comforting Fang Shi. Their city scenes were basically finished; the rest were location shoots. It wasn’t exactly the deep wilderness, but the roads were difficult. However, the scenery was beautiful, resulting in stunning shots. Ji Chenli had been there many times in her previous life.

“I hope so,” Fang Shi said gloomily. “Why is she, an outsider, messing around? She’s just causing trouble.”

“Who told her to be the boss?” Ji Chenli popped a piece of ice into her mouth, her cheeks shivering from the cold. This was why she hated filming out of season. Filming in winter meant your breath created white mist, which would be a continuity error for a summer scene. The only way was to hold ice in your mouth beforehand. Holding ice in the dead of winter made your facial muscles freeze stiff.

“Director Fang, I’d like to speak with my partner. Would you mind giving us some privacy?” Ming Lang walked up to them and said to Fang Shi. She specifically emphasized the word “partner,” clearly asserting her claim.

Fang Shi’s face darkened on the spot. “Sorry, President Ming, there are no family relations on set. Chenli and I are still discussing the scenes. Please leave.”

Ji Chenli sighed, thinking that Fang Shi really didn’t know how dangerous Ming Lang could be. Since she and Fang Shi were friends now, she didn’t want to watch her walk into a trap, so she found an excuse to send her away. She held up the script and said to Fang Shi, “Director, well… you’ve only told me about this section. You haven’t told Ming Yan about the changes yet, have you? Better go tell her now so we don’t delay the schedule.”

Fang Shi: “…”

Ji Chenli gave Fang Shi a meaningful look. Even as thick-headed as Fang Shi was, she caught on. “Fine, then… you be careful.”

Ji Chenli was amused. What did Ming Lang do to this kid to make her seem like an all-powerful demon in her eyes?

Fang Shi left resentfully. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like a cowardly director who could be ordered around by anyone.

You’re just bullying me because I lack seniority! Fang Shi thought irritably. Just you wait! I’ll direct a masterpiece like no one has ever seen and show you what it means to ‘not look down on a poor youth’!

“What are you eating?” Ming Lang asked Ji Chenli as she sat in Fang Shi’s former spot.

Ji Chenli was too cold to talk and simply handed the ice tray to Ming Lang.

“Why eat this?”

Ji Chenli crunched the ice in her mouth and swallowed. It felt as if her internal organs had been frozen. She opened her numbed mouth and said, “To prevent continuity errors.” She breathed out; indeed, the white mist was much less visible.

Ming Lang also took a piece of ice and held it in her mouth like candy, her eyes not even blinking as if she didn’t feel the cold at all.

“When are you leaving?” Ji Chenli asked.

“Are you really that unwilling to see me?”

Ji Chenli admitted that was part of it, but the more important reason was that she was being pestered to death by Ming Lang’s assistant.

That woman took every opportunity when Ming Lang wasn’t around to try to reason with Ji Chenli, saying how the company couldn’t function without Ming Lang, and how the family needed her. She begged Ji Chenli to persuade Ming Lang to go back to work. Ji Chenli’s head ached from it; she just wanted to get Ming Lang to leave so she could have some peace.

“Does it look right for a big President to loiter in our little crew?” Ji Chenli sneered. “It’s not like the Ming family went bankrupt and you’re unemployed, is it?”

She spoke with a hint of schadenfreude. Ming Lang found her sly smile unexpectedly endearing and laughed along. “Chenli, so you care about me that much.”

Ji Chenli’s smile vanished instantly. “You’re overthinking it.”

Regardless, Ming Lang didn’t stay with the crew for much longer. For one, her business truly couldn’t be delayed any further. For another, the crew was moving to a remote location for outdoor shots; it wasn’t realistic for Ming Lang to follow. In the end, Ming Lang left. Before she went, her assistant was so grateful to Ji Chenli she nearly knelt, which made Ji Chenli feel a bit embarrassed.

“Chenli, my sister is gone. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take care of you! Just tell me if you need anything! Don’t be formal!” Ming Yan was naturally friendly. Even if Ji Chenli kept a polite distance, she would still lean in to get close. As the saying goes, “one doesn’t hit a smiling face.” Given she was a wealthy young lady and a real star, Ji Chenli didn’t know how to refuse.

However, before Ji Chenli could enjoy being “taken care of” by Ming Yan, she ended up taking care of Ming Yan first.

The road into the mountains was very bumpy. As soon as they got off the plane, they hired cars to head into the wilderness. Ming Yan felt unwell and started getting motion sickness. Throughout the trip, she lay across Ji Chenli’s lap, whimpering. She looked pitiable. Ji Chenli, while caring for her, couldn’t help but find it funny—so much for taking care of others; it’s good enough if she doesn’t need to be taken care of herself.

“Sister-in-law… I feel sick…” Ming Yan whimpered.

“Lean on me and sleep for a bit. You won’t feel it once you’re asleep,” Ji Chenli said, supporting Ming Yan in her arms. She let out a sigh; she must have owed the Ming family in a previous life.

Finally, they reached their destination. The crew had booked several nearby guesthouses. Upon arrival, they discovered another production team was already there—it was a reality TV show crew. Talk about “adversaries meeting on a narrow path”—the only female guest on that reality show… Gah! Wasn’t that Han Xinyuan?