A Washed-up Movie Queen's Divorce Strategy [Rebirth] - Chapter 9

In City C’s November, the air turned suddenly cold following an autumn rain. People began changing into sweaters, thick coats, and even down jackets. Ji Chenli had joined the crew yesterday; when she woke up in the production’s hotel this morning, she shivered from the chill. After brushing her teeth and washing her face with cold water, she let out a resigned sigh.

The worst thing about filming was working “out of season.” Filming summer scenes in the winter was particularly annoying. Ji Chenli was naturally sensitive to the cold; just thinking about it made her want to retreat.

After washing her face and applying basic skincare, she put on a thermal base layer. Feeling that wasn’t enough, she added a thin knit sweater before finally donning a fleece-lined coat to head out. Inside the hotel, the air conditioning was running full blast so she didn’t feel much, but once she stepped out of the lobby, she shriveled her neck against the cold.

“Sister Chenli, it’s only November. Is it appropriate to bring out your mid-winter gear already?” Feng Cai, who was waiting on a public sofa in the lobby, couldn’t help but laugh when she saw her outfit. “What are you going to do when it actually starts snowing?”

“I don’t care. I need to be warm now.” Ji Chenli ducked into the car waiting at the entrance and told the driver to crank up the heater.

“Sister Chenli is right. There’s nothing wrong with wearing more layers; it’s all about staying warm.” Feng Cai followed her into the car, not forgetting to flatter her.

The set was not far from the hotel. To make it in time for makeup, Ji Chenli had to get up before six. There were few cars on the road. By the time they arrived, even the staff members were sparse. After greeting everyone, Ji Chenli scurried into the dressing room and shut the door tight. Although there was no air conditioning inside, it was much better than waiting in the freezing wind.

Half an hour later, the makeup artists, stylists, and other staff arrived. After a few pleasantries, Ji Chenli changed into her costume and began her transformation. Just as her makeup was nearly finished, someone entered the room.

“Hey, Sister-in-law!”

A sudden shout from the doorway caused the busy, noisy dressing room to fall silent. Every eye turned toward the door to see who had made the call.

Startled by a dozen pairs of eyes staring at her, Ming Yan gave a sheepish laugh and apologized as she walked to the back of the room to stand behind Ji Chenli.

The first scene was a school scene. Ji Chenli had already changed into a loose, oversized blue-and-white tracksuit. However, she had a slender, graceful figure; on her, the outfit looked tall and fresh rather than ugly. The stylist had pulled her hair into a high ponytail with a few wisps of hair framing her forehead. With light makeup, she radiated a youthful, innocent vibe.

Ming Yan admired her in the mirror for a moment and let out a cheeky whistle. “Oho! Sister-in-law, dressed like this, you really look like a high schooler. It makes me a bit embarrassed.”

Ming Yan was the other lead in Out of Reach. She was already an A-list actress who had starred in several female-centric dramas; she had her own independent dressing room and stylist. She didn’t share a space with Ji Chenli, but she had come over after getting ready to visit this “Sister-in-law” she had only met a few times. She was also dressed in a high school uniform.

Her look for the film featured short hair, with dark bangs falling softly over her forehead. Wearing “no-makeup” style cosmetics and standing behind Ji Chenli, she looked as clean as a young girl just coming into her own—except for the mischievous expression on her face, which gave her the look of a little delinquent. In the movie, she played a top-tier “good girl,” but in person, she acted like a little hooligan.

Ji Chenli was not a stranger to Ming Yan. Ming Yan was Ming Lang’s younger sister and, in the previous life, had also been the second lead in this movie.

Born of the same mother, the sisters had diametrically opposite personalities. Ming Lang was cold, indifferent, and kept people at a distance. Ming Yan, however, was socially gifted and smooth; she got along with everyone on set, from the director to the errand boys.

Back when Ji Chenli was at the Ming house in her previous life, Ming Yan was probably the only one who treated her with any friendliness—at the very least, she would nod and say hello. Furthermore, they had to film together for at least three months, seeing each other constantly, so Ji Chenli’s attitude toward Ming Yan was relatively warm.

“Sister-in-law, do I look good in the uniform?” Ming Yan did a quick twirl behind her and grinned at Ji Chenli in the mirror.

“You look good,” Ji Chenli nodded. “Are you finished with makeup?”

“Mhm. Sister-in-law, have you read the script? This is my first time doing this kind of genre. I’m really afraid I’ll mess up and get scolded by Sister Qinglan.” Ming Yan stuck out her tongue. This blatant “acting young” didn’t feel out of place on her at all; instead, it was quite endearing. Even the silent makeup artist stole a giggle.

“Just call me by my name. That title… it’s too awkward.” Ji Chenli had finished her makeup. After adjusting her hair in the mirror, she turned and reached out a hand to Ming Yan. “On set, we are all colleagues. Let’s have a good collaboration for the next few months.”

“Happy collaborating.” Ming Yan shook Ji Chenli’s hand with a smile. She looked about fifty percent like Ming Lang, especially her eyes—the outer corners drooped slightly. When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents; when she didn’t, her gaze was sharp and unapproachable. But because Ming Yan loved to smile, her eyes were almost always curved.

Ming Yan held Ji Chenli’s hand without letting go. Checking her surroundings out of the corner of her eye and seeing no one paying attention, she leaned in close to Ji Chenli’s ear and whispered, “Chenli, do you know the second half of the saying ‘Nothing beats a dumpling’?” She finished with a wink.

(Note: The full proverb is “Nothing beats a dumpling, and no one is more comfortable than one’s sister-in-law.” In Chinese slang, “comfortable” can have a sexual connotation, implying a taboo attraction to a brother’s wife.)

The remark was way out of line. Ji Chenli’s expression immediately soured. Ming Yan burst into laughter, patting Ji Chenli’s shoulder. “Chenli, you aren’t actually angry, are you? I’m joking! Calm down, calm down. Speaking of which, you’re really getting the better of me—you’re clearly two years younger than me, yet you’ve ended up as my elder…”

While they were talking, someone else entered the dressing room. Ming Yan’s eyes lit up as she recognized the newcomer. “Xinyuan!”

It was Han Xinyuan. She was as poised and elegant as in Ji Chenli’s memory. She stepped forward to hug Ming Yan and then smiled at Ji Chenli. “Miss Ji, long time no see.”

Ji Chenli didn’t have Han Xinyuan’s level of grace. In her past life, she had viewed Han Xinyuan as a mortal enemy. Even though that “love rival” dynamic was gone in this life, having been hostile for so long, it was impossible for her to suddenly act like nothing was wrong. Consequently, Ji Chenli responded to the greeting with a mere “hmpf” through her nose—hardly a greeting at all.

Sensing the tension, Ming Yan laughed and changed the subject. “Xinyuan, weren’t you planning to go abroad to recuperate? Why did you suddenly come to the set?”

“I was so bored staying idle that I was afraid my old illness would flare up. I finally found a job to pass the time—look, I found a cameo role in your crew.” Han Xinyuan didn’t seem to mind Ji Chenli’s attitude. She smiled and patted Ming Yan’s shoulder. “A-Yan, not bad! In that uniform, you really look like a high schooler. Dressed like this at the gates of No. 1 High School, you’d definitely charm all the little girls!”

Ming Yan laughed and cursed, “Get out! They’re all minors! Am I that much of an animal?”

It was clear that Ming Yan and Han Xinyuan had a very good relationship—not the casual banter Ming Yan shared with everyone, but a deeper bond. When they stood together, they formed a magnetic field that no one else could break into.

Ji Chenli had no desire to involve herself with them. Seeing them chatting enthusiastically, she interrupted, “Ming Yan, Miss Han, I’ll leave you to your chat. I’m heading out first.”

“Wait!” Han Xinyuan called out to her. “Miss Ji, can we talk?”

Ji Chenli forced herself to maintain a smile. “Sorry, I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

“Just five minutes. I won’t waste your time.” Han Xinyuan walked over to Ji Chenli and led her out of the dressing room, while instructing Ming Yan: “A-Yan, you go ahead. See you on set!”

“Okay, but hurry up! I can’t be the only one getting scolded by Sister Qinglan!” Ming Yan called out after them. Han Xinyuan waved a hand, though it was unclear if she heard.

Because it was a school scene, the set was located at a university next to a small river. Since it was Saturday, the area had been cleared of people. It was exceptionally quiet. Han Xinyuan and Ji Chenli walked along the cobblestone path of the riverbank for over a minute, yet Han Xinyuan showed no sign of speaking.

Ji Chenli didn’t know what Han Xinyuan was up to and grew impatient. She stopped walking. “Miss Han, there’s no one here. Speak your mind and don’t delay the filming schedule.”

Han Xinyuan also stopped and sat on a bench by the riverbank. She smiled and said, “Ji Chenli, I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you and Ming Lang on your marriage.”

“No need for congratulations. We’re already in the process of divorcing.” Ji Chenli sat on the other end of the bench.

“Really?” A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Han Xinyuan’s eyes, but she immediately asked in disbelief, “Didn’t you just get married?”

At this stage, Han Xinyuan wasn’t as unreadable as she would be seven years later; she wore her emotions on her sleeve. Seeing her uncontrollable joy, Ji Chenli let out a short laugh. “Miss Han seems quite happy.”

How could she not be? The most annoying stumbling block was gone. From now on, Han Xinyuan and Ming Lang could live happily ever after. Ji Chenli only hoped this “jinxed” couple would stay far away from her—out of sight, out of mind.

“Miss Ji, you’ve misread me.” Han Xinyuan pulled back her expression and gave a polite smile. “Miss Ji, regardless of the circumstances, you saved my life. I should treat you to a meal sometime.”

“We’ll see.” Compared to a meal, Ji Chenli would rather Han Xinyuan stay as far away as possible. She didn’t want to hear any more nonsense. She rose listlessly. “Enjoy your seat, Miss Han. I need to get back to the set.”

As she walked away, she thought for a second and added, “Rest assured, Ming Lang and I are truly divorcing. It won’t get in the way of your love.”

She turned to leave, but before she got far, Han Xinyuan called out again, “Miss Ji!”

Ji Chenli looked back.

“Thank you for giving A-Lang back to me.”

Ji Chenli smiled, turned back, and walked away with her hands in her oversized uniform pockets.

The word “giving back” was well-chosen. Only now did Ji Chenli completely understand that in no lifetime had Ming Lang ever belonged to her. In her past life, she had been too obsessive and had forced herself into someone else’s love story. In this life, everything was returning to the right track. It was for the best.