A Washed-up Movie Queen's Divorce Strategy [Rebirth] - Chapter 25

There was only one decent-looking hotel near the filming site, which was naturally reserved for the creative team. The rest of the staff were arranged to stay in nearby guesthouses and small inns. After a bumpy ride, the car finally came to a stop. Ji Chenli nudged Ming Yan, who was leaning against her: “Ming Yan? Wake up, we’re here.”

Ming Yan had been dizzy the entire way and only managed to fall asleep by leaning on Ji Chenli. Woken up, she rubbed her eyes and sat up. Her lips were pale and her face lacked color; she looked sickly and weak, completely unlike the vibrant woman Ji Chenli knew.

“Are we there?” Ming Yan leaned her head back against the seat, holding her forehead weakly.

“We’re here. Do you want some water?” Ji Chenli massaged the side of her body that Ming Yan had been leaning on for the whole trip. Ming Yan looked thin, but she was surprisingly heavy; half of Ji Chenli’s shoulder had gone numb. She frowned and lifted her arm, hissing at the aching pain.

Ming Yan wasn’t polite; she simply reached her hand out to Ji Chenli, indicating she wanted water without even bothering to speak. Ji Chenli gave her an annoyed glare and kicked the back of the front passenger seat. “Xiao Zhang, pour some water for Ming Yan.”

Xiao Zhang was Ming Yan’s assistant, recently appointed. Compared to the celebrities Xiao Zhang had served before, Ming Yan wasn’t a difficult boss; she rarely needed assistance and was generous with pay. Xiao Zhang earned twice the salary of other assistants while doing much less, which had made her quite anxious—she hadn’t expected Ming Yan to run into such a major issue.

Xiao Zhang had been on edge the entire way, holding her phone and ready to call Ming Lang at any moment. Now that they had arrived, her heart finally settled. She was dazing off when Ji Chenli called out; she hurriedly fumbled to pour a cup of water and handed it to Ji Chenli. “Miss Ji, water, water…”

Ji Chenli looked at the clueless assistant and sighed. “What are you giving it to me for? Give it to your boss.”

“Oh, right!” Xiao Zhang realized. “Sister Yan, drink, drink some water…”

Ming Yan gulped down the cup of water. Her breath steadied, and color slowly returned to her face. Ji Chenli finally let out a long sigh. “Finally. This trip really exhausted me.”

Ming Yan was a few years older than Ji Chenli, yet she had to be taken care of by her. She felt quite embarrassed and gave a sheepish smile. “Sister-in-law, sorry for the trouble on the road…”

“Forget it. Go inside and lie down for a bit. Tomorrow will be much more tiring than today.”

This car was originally Ming Yan’s private ride; she had dragged Ji Chenli along to sit with her to get closer. Feng Cai was in the car behind them. She had already packed the luggage with Ji Chenli’s assistant and came over dragging several suitcases. “Sister Chenli, shall we head in?”

“You and Xiao Qian take the things in first. No need to wait for me.”

“Alright, I’ll go in and get your room ready for you.”

“Mhm, thanks for the hard work.”

“Sister Chenli, why are you being so polite with me?” Feng Cai laughed, and she and Xiao Qian each dragged two suitcases inside.

Ji Chenli and Xiao Zhang helped Ming Yan out together. Ming Yan’s legs were still weak, and Xiao Zhang wasn’t tall enough. Ji Chenli bit her lip and had to let Ming Yan lean most of her weight on her again, struggling toward the hotel lobby.

“Miss Ji, let me do it. This… how can I trouble you further…” Xiao Zhang followed behind anxiously.

Ji Chenli panted. “You… just get your Sister Yan’s luggage up first…” Looking at Xiao Zhang’s frail frame, Ji Chenli really couldn’t understand why Ming Yan hadn’t hired a strong assistant instead of this delicate young girl.

After confirming the room numbers, they took the elevator to the seventh floor. Just as they stepped out, Ji Chenli—panting and covered in sweat—ran straight into someone.

“Ming Yan? What’s wrong with you?”

Ji Chenli looked down and saw only a pair of high-heeled ankle boots. Hearing the voice, she froze for a second before looking up. It was indeed Han Xinyuan.

“Xinyuan…” Ming Yan forced a smile. “It’s nothing… just a bit of… motion sickness…”

“You call this ‘a bit’?” Seeing Ming Yan like this, Han Xinyuan didn’t have time to care about who had brought her up. She didn’t realize the person supporting Ming Yan was Ji Chenli. In her haste, she shoved her wallet into Ji Chenli’s arms, took Ming Yan from her without a word, draped Ming Yan’s arms over her shoulders, and hoisted her up by the buttocks—carrying her directly on her back!

“Which room are you in?” Han Xinyuan asked.

“703B,” Ming Yan said, looking at her room card.

Han Xinyuan smiled. “What a coincidence, right across from me.” She hitched Ming Yan up on her back and sped off like the wind, leaving Ji Chenli standing there clutching her aching lower back, gasping for air in pure shock.

Is… is this the Han Xinyuan she knew? What happened to being elegant? What happened to being a weak lady? Ji Chenli felt she had been lied to for years…

Ji Chenli twisted her waist and stretched her legs. Once she caught her breath, she took her room card and followed Han Xinyuan’s path toward her own room. Her room was 702A. Upon seeing it, she realized it was right next door to Han Xinyuan. Ji Chenli found it hilarious—what kind of ill-fated connection was this?

I’ll deal with it as it comes, she thought. She was quite open-minded and hummed a little tune as she swiped her card and entered her room.

The room was small, but it had everything from a TV to a computer. Feng Cai had already tidied the bed. The moment Ji Chenli entered, she collapsed onto the bed. Dealing with a wealthy young lady was more exhausting than filming.

She lay there for a while. The bed was warm and soft, and she was almost drifting off when Feng Cai called. “Sister Chenli, I’m at the restaurant. What do you want? I’ll bring it up.”

“Is there porridge?” Ji Chenli asked. She wasn’t motion sick, but after the bumpy ride, her chest felt stuffy. She just wanted some plain white porridge with pickles; she couldn’t eat anything else.

“Yes, and they have pickled radishes. Do you want some?”

“Yes, bring it up.”

Ji Chenli hung up and napped for a few minutes before there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was Feng Cai with the porridge, she went to open it barefoot. “That was fast…” She opened the door only to find it wasn’t Feng Cai, but Ming Yan and Han Xinyuan.

“Is something the matter?” Ji Chenli nodded politely, her hand on the doorknob, ready to close it at any moment.

“Sister-in-law…” Ming Yan was used to the title and couldn’t change it easily. She glanced at Han Xinyuan beside her and corrected herself mid-word, nearly biting her tongue. “Chenli, I came to thank you.”

Han Xinyuan also said, “Miss Ji, thank you for looking after Ming Yan the whole way. It must have been hard.”

Ji Chenli nodded to indicate she accepted the thanks. “Anything else?”

“Chenli, won’t you invite us in to sit for a bit?” Ming Yan gave a dry laugh.

“The room is a mess and it’s not convenient. Ming Yan, you haven’t eaten all day. Go to dinner with Miss Han first. We’ll talk later.” With that, Ji Chenli moved to close the door.

“Wait!” Ming Yan was quick and stuck her hand in to block the door. Ji Chenli froze; if her reflexes hadn’t been fast, Ming Yan’s hand would have been crushed.

“What are you doing!” Ji Chenli snapped.

“Miss Ji, we don’t mean anything else, we just want to thank you,” Han Xinyuan said.

“I said no need!” Ji Chenli glared at her. “Can’t you understand plain speech? No need!”

Her tone was harsh, making Han Xinyuan look embarrassed. Ming Yan also grew unhappy. “Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Xinyuan and I don’t have any ill intentions.”

“Forget it, Ming Yan. let’s go.” Han Xinyuan tugged on Ming Yan’s sleeve and shook her head like a saint. Hearing Ming Yan accidentally call Ji Chenli “Sister-in-law,” she looked sad and lowered her head.

Ji Chenli felt like vomiting blood. You were just running around like a bull with a hundred-pound person on your back, and now you’re acting like a delicate flower?

“Miss Ming, Miss Han!” Feng Cai stepped out of the elevator with a tray. Seeing the two of them blocking Ji Chenli, she hurried over and stood in front of Ji Chenli protectively. “Miss Han, Sister Chenli has been traveling all day and is very tired. If there’s anything, let’s talk another day.”

The four of them reached a stalemate until Han Xinyuan compromised. She sighed, “Alright, Miss Ji, get some rest.” She pulled Ming Yan away.

Feng Cai loved gossip, and since the history between the Han and Ming families had been a major scandal, she understood the connection between Han Xinyuan and Ming Lang. She had been wary of Han Xinyuan and stood like a porcupine with its quills up. Once they were gone, she lowered her guard and asked Ji Chenli anxiously, “Sister Chenli, she didn’t do anything to you, did she?”

Ji Chenli laughed. “You think this is a movie? What could she do to me in broad daylight?”

“I’m just afraid you’ll be bullied!” Feng Cai brought the dinner into the room. “Sister Chenli, you don’t know—don’t be fooled by Miss Han’s delicate look. I heard she studied martial arts with the Ming family’s teachers since she was a child. She has the same master as President Ming and is quite skilled. Don’t go head-to-head with her.”

Ji Chenli had lived seven years longer than others; how could she not know this? She smiled. “I know. Worrying like this will make you age faster.”

“No need to be careful, I’m already aging fast,” Feng Cai lamented. “So Sister Chenli, please eat and sleep well so I can worry a bit less.”

Ji Chenli had received much care from Feng Cai lately. The girl was young but thoughtful; though a bit noisy, she was sincerely devoted. Ji Chenli felt moved. “Xiao Cai…”

“Stop! Don’t say those sappy things! Eat first!”

“…” Ji Chenli stared at her gloomily. “Could you at least let me finish being sentimental…”

C City, Ming-Han Headquarters.

Ming Lang had accumulated a lot of work during her days with the crew. After returning, she was so busy her feet barely touched the ground; she even ate and slept in her office. In the middle of the night, she finally found a moment’s peace. Calculating the time, Ji Chenli should have arrived. She picked up her phone to call her, but then set it down again.

C City was a city that never slept. The headquarters was in the business center; at 1:00 AM, the neon lights were still flashing and traffic was heavy. Ming Lang left the chair she had sat in for three days and stood by the glass wall, looking down at the ant-sized cars.

Suddenly, she thought of something. Terrified, she retreated several steps, only steadying herself by grabbing the armrest of the leather sofa. She shook her head while rubbing her temples. Her assistant walked in and rushed forward in alarm. “President Ming, are you unwell? Should I call Doctor Sun?”

“No.” Ming Lang let go of the chair and sat on the sofa. She closed her eyes while holding her forehead. “Is there something?”

“President Ming, Miss Han is also at Songhu Mountain.”

Ming Lang snapped her eyes open. “What did you say?”

“Miss Han is also at Songhu Mountain.”

Ming Lang bolted upright. “What is the date today?”

“T-Today?” The assistant was confused. “Today is… January 14th…” It wasn’t a special day—no holiday or festival.

“January 14th…” Ming Lang mulled over the date. She seemed to relax slightly and sat back down. “By whatever means necessary, have Xinyuan return immediately.”

“But…”

Ming Lang glanced at the assistant.

The assistant lowered her head. “I understand.” As she was about to leave, Ming Lang called out again, “Is there any free time in the next seven days?”

The assistant thought for a moment. “The board meeting in three days could probably be postponed.”

“Book a flight to Songhu Mountain for three days from now. The earlier the better.”

Songhu Mountain, Guesthouse Room 703B.

“Xinyuan, why did you suddenly decide to film a reality show? I heard they’re exhausting. I’m surprised you can handle it,” Ming Yan said casually, sitting cross-legged on the bed playing mobile games.

“Reality shows make it easy to get popular these days,” Han Xinyuan replied, lying next to her with a face mask on.

“It’s not hard for you to get popular,” Ming Yan laughed. “If you hadn’t turned down Out of Reach, you would have been famous soon anyway.”

Han Xinyuan gave a small smile but said nothing.

“Xinyuan, there’s no such thing as a coincidence in this world. Tell me, was having your show set at Songhu Mountain a pre-planned scheme?”

Han Xinyuan remained silent.

Thinking of the mess between these three people, Ming Yan’s scalp felt numb. “Xinyuan, I think you should forget it. She’s already married to my sister; what more do you want? Just think of what happened to Qinglan.”

“I don’t believe Ming Lang would use the same tactics she used on Qinglan against me,” Han Xinyuan huffed. “So what if she’s married? Can’t she get a divorce?”

Ming Yan suddenly remembered the words Ming Lang had said to her that day: “She doesn’t love me.”

Ming Yan didn’t know why Ming Lang said it so certainly. Moved by a thought, she asked, “Xinyuan, do you really love my sister that much?”