Chapter 22

Jiang Xian was instantly choked by a mouthful of steak. Why bring up her younger sister out of nowhere?

One had to know that her younger sister was also the second female lead in the original book, the female lead’s lover. She was an extremely vicious person. She lived in a world that never saw daylight, and in the darkness, she was the female lead’s blade. She had taken care of many, many people for the female lead, without ever letting the female lead be stained by even a speck of dust.

Their relationship was a little like that one… the relationship between Ryoji and Yukiho in Journey Under the Midnight Sun.

So one could imagine what kind of existence the second female lead was.

“You have a younger sister?”

Jiang Xian pulled herself back from her thoughts, pretending to be calm as she acted like she was making casual conversation.

Jing Lian stirred her pasta. Just as she brought the noodles to her mouth, she gave a soft “Mm.”

“Biological?” Jiang Xian asked vaguely.

Jing Lian slowly chewed the noodles in her mouth. Only after swallowing did she say, “Different fathers, different mothers.”

“So you’re not on the same household register…” Jiang Xian knowingly asked anyway, then added, “What does she look like? Is she pretty?”

At this question, Jing Lian put down her knife and fork, pulled out a napkin, wiped the corners of her mouth, and began telling Jiang Xian about her younger sister.

“She’s somewhat similar to you. Similar height, similar hair, similar build. If one looks carefully, even your facial features are somewhat alike. But…”

When she spoke of her younger sister, Jing Lian’s eyes were filled with soft light. Then her tone suddenly shifted, and she looked at Jiang Xian.

“But what?”

Jing Lian lowered her lashes, which trembled like butterfly wings. Her voice was cold and clear. “Her personality is gentle, and her skin is fair. Overall, she’s prettier than you.”

Jiang Xian was so angry she laughed. She turned her chair around to face Jing Lian directly and pointed a Read on BaiLianTales finger at her own nose. “Hey? Look carefully. Someone like me is considered beautiful even in the entertainment industry, and you’re saying there’s someone prettier than me? Then why hasn’t she come out to show her face?”

Jing Lian already understood Jiang Xian’s arrogance and narcissism very well. She would not look down on her because of those words. She only said, “Not everyone needs to go out to work and show their face in public.”

That was true. Children from wealthy families focused on their own family businesses. Why would they need to go into the entertainment industry to sell their singing and smiles?

“Besides,” Jing Lian said softly, “she can’t speak, and her eyesight isn’t good either.”

This returned to what she had said just now about her disabled but determined younger sister.

Jing Lian pressed her lips flat. She did not become sad because of it, but instead carried a rare hint of a smile. “So I often take care of her, and I like taking care of her very much. We depend on each other.”

Jiang Xian had no such intentions toward her in the first place, so facing Jing Lian’s biased affection for someone else, not even the slightest ripple rose in her heart. She even had a bit of a show-watching expression. But because of her character setting, she had no choice but to summon the strength of an ox and perk herself up.

“My hand is disabled too. Take care of me a little.”

After saying that, she raised her left arm with disabled-but-determined [Read on BaiLianTales]spirit and stretched it toward Jing Lian, asking for her signal.

The moment Jing Lian heard her acting so shameless, her originally endlessly gentle eyes filled with coldness. She glanced at Jiang Xian faintly, not even giving her a full, direct look.

Jiang Xian knew at once that she had been disliked again.

Jing Lian immediately stood up. “I’m done eating. Take your time.”

She lifted her foot and walked toward the spiral staircase, heading upstairs to wash up and sleep.

Because Jiang Xian’s arm was injured, and she could not delay the recording of Hear Your Voice, the program team arranged for her to livestream from home.

Early the next morning, Fuling and Yoyo brought the recording equipment to the villa. The cameraman and makeup artist also arrived in full force. Jiang Xian had only just woken up before they started helping her wash, dress, and prepare today’s script.

Yoyo was especially thoughtful. She handed the script to Jiang Xian and said respectfully, “Sister Jiangjiang, since the teams were already divided during the last recording, today’s competition will be a battle between groups. It just so happens that your team members have been matched against Teacher Cao Lin’s team members. So this time, it’s a match between you and Teacher Cao.”

Jiang Xian held the A4 paper, lightly tapping it with her index finger. Her yellow gemstone ring became even more dazzling beneath the fill light. The corner read the original at bailiantales.com of her mouth could not help curving. She was matched against Cao Lin again. Last time, she had already tormented Cao Lin until she was covered in wounds. Xie Yu had already reminded her not to deliberately make enemies, since it would do her no good.

This time, now that they were matched again, she no longer had the same anger from before. In her heart, she thought that if she could let her off, she would let her off.

Everyone was still friends. In the future, they would have to meet each other often.

At ten in the morning, the recording began. The makeup artist gave Jiang Xian big waves, a three-seven side-parted fringe, and blue teardrop makeup. Wearing a blue sequined gown, she sat on a red chair. The spotlight fell on her and projected her onto the large screen at the program venue. Her entire body glowed softly, like a domineering queen ascending her noble seat and appearing in person.

The only flaw in this beauty was that her left hand was in a cast and hanging from her neck.

The venue had originally been quiet. When Jiang Xian’s image was projected on the screen, the place instantly boiled over. The formerly silent audience seats were like a calm sea suddenly rising into towering waves. The audience was excited, surprised, and concerned. The host asked about Jiang Xian’s condition on behalf of the audience, and Jiang Xian smiled as she extended her right hand in greeting. “A small accident happened, but it’s nothing serious. I’ll recover fully after resting for a month.”

Everyone expressed sympathy and concern for her injury. The director, mentors, audience, host, and her contestants all told her to rest properly.

After some simple greetings, they began the main topic.

At first, everything went especially bailiantales.comsmoothly. Jiang Xian also did her best to appear as though she respected others, polite and humble.

The program reached the segment where the two groups faced off and the mentors exchanged harsh words.

The camera cut to Cao Lin, signaling for her to speak first.

Jiang Xian propped her chin in one hand, her posture very relaxed and elegant.

Then she heard Cao Lin say, “Teacher Jiang truly is disabled but determined. Even though you couldn’t come to the venue in person, you’re still continuing to support and lift up your contestants.”

Hearing such an aggressive statement, Jiang Xian lifted her thick brows. All right, then. It seemed Cao Lin had no intention of letting her off. She had chosen precisely the sore spot to jab.

The entire venue went into an uproar. Whether it was the villa staff or the on-site staff, everyone felt the cold arrow Cao Lin had released. In an instant, the relaxed program atmosphere became tense and drawn like swords.

If Cao Lin was the one who had started the provocation, then Jiang Xian was the one who would shoot the arrow. Sorry, but with the atmosphere already built up to this point, if she did not raise her blade and fight back, did Cao Lin think she was Hello Kitty?

“Teacher Cao, long time no see. Why do you look so much older? Especially when you smile, the wrinkles at the corners of your eyes could trap mosquitoes. Is it time [unauthorized copy]for you to get some sheep placenta injections?”

When she attacked people, she never explained herself. Instead, she found an opening in the other person’s sore spot. Even if there was no opening, she would make one up.

What older female artists feared most was being called old. As soon as Jiang Xian shot this arrow, it seemed to pin Cao Lin directly to the mentor chair. Cao Lin’s face flushed red, then turned white. After freezing for a while, she turned to look at Teacher Li Jie. “Do I have wrinkles?”

“Yes.”

Naturally, Jiang Xian did not give anyone else the right to speak. She answered with absolute certainty. “They’re very obvious. Is the pressure from filming this show too great? Are you too tired? You need to pay attention to rest.”

Just like that, the two began exchanging verbal blows like children playing house.

Even as the program progressed smoothly, Jiang Xian did not forget to criticize Cao Lin and her contestants whenever she found the chance.

To a contestant who struck flirtatious poses, she said, “What are you dancing? If your body itches, go take a bath.”

To a contestant playing bass, she said, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’d arrived at the scene of a car accident. Which crash course did you sign up for three months ago before rushing onto the stage to pollute my ears?”

To a quiet, petite contestant, she said, “Louder. Your voice is like a mosquito. Buzz, buzz, buzz. I can’t hear you.”

Sure enough, all three contestants looked embarrassed, and some were even scolded until they cried.

Jiang Xian naturally did not care in the slightest and smiled at Cao Lin with the look of someone who had succeeded.

Outside the recording room, Jing Lian happened to pass by the corridor. From afar, she heard Jiang Xian’s voice coming from the room. Jiang Xian was arrogantly scolding people again. Every word poured into Jing Lian’s ears, making her feel inexplicably familiar.

She stopped and listened for a while, silently shook her head, then turned and followed Xiao Ya downstairs.

The driver took the two of them to the largest nearby supermarket. The supermarket had very few people, and only VIP members could enter.

The two walked through the fresh food section. The mall seemed empty and quiet.

Jing Lian walked in front, while Xiao Ya pushed the shopping cart closely behind her. “Miss Jing Lian, why are you in the mood to Read on BaiLianTales come out to the supermarket today?”

Jing Lian usually did not talk to people, nor did she give responses to what others said. She seemed to be speaking only to herself as her jade-white hand picked up a long piece of pork bone. “This.”

Xiao Ya put it into a bag herself and continued following behind her.

When they reached the vegetable section, Jing Lian picked up a yam as thick as a wrist and placed it into the shopping cart.

Xiao Ya’s eyes lit up. “Miss Jing Lian, are you going to make yam and pork bone soup to help Boss replenish her body?”

Jing Lian said, “We’re still missing ginger and angelica.”

Xiao Ya smiled. “I didn’t expect you to be this considerate.”

Jing Lian lifted her head and looked into the distance. “Over there.”

The two each spoke their own words. Xiao Ya followed her while looking at her with a smiling expression. “With this thoughtfulness from you, [stolen content]Boss will definitely be very happy.”

This time, Jing Lian did not ignore her words. She stopped, her face calm. “Whether she’s happy or not, what does that have to do with me?”

It was the same coldness and distance as always.

Xiao Ya stopped speaking, but in her heart, she did not blame her. Miss Jing Lian was sometimes the same as Miss Jiang—a hard-mouthed but soft-hearted person.

Although the two appeared vastly different on the surface, in essence, they arrived at the same destination through different paths. It even gave them an inexplicable couple-like feeling.

After returning to the villa, Jing Lian rarely entered the back kitchen. Everyone looked at her in surprise. Under Xiao Ya’s reminder, the kitchen was cleared out and left for Jing Lian to operate.

At the kitchen doorway, three or four people stacked their heads high like a human pyramid and whispered among themselves.

“She knows how to make soup?”

“She’s personally making soup?”

“She isn’t planning to poison Boss, is she?” Auntie Wang could not help growing suspicious.

Xiao Ya coughed. “She doesn’t have that much courage.”

The words of the group buzzed nonstop like bees. Jing Lian, who had originally been washing the yam, finally could not keep listening. Only then did she turn her head and cast a helpless glance at the heads peeking through the crack of the door.

The people immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

The kitchen quieted down. Jing Lian patiently washed the pork bones, blanched them, and cut the yam. For a moment, there was only the sound of water and the chopping board in the room. Finally, she placed the blanched bones and yam into the pot, brought it to a boil over high heat, then simmered it slowly over low heat.

White steam gurgled from the vent in the pot lid. The fragrance slowly wafted over, and the room was covered in a layer of heat, steaming Jing Lian’s cheeks red.

One hour later, the bone soup was ready.

Jiang Xian’s program recording also ended.

After one episode, even though it was clearly a singing program, her throat was half dry from all the talking.

The kitchen had already prepared lunch for the group of them. The dining location was the long rectangular table on the first floor of the villa.

Jing Lian was very reserved and did not like meeting outsiders, so naturally, she did not join Jiang Xian in eating with those unfamiliar makeup artists, cameramen, assistants, and so on.

She did not know what to say, was never interested in other people’s affairs, and did not like others trying to pry into hers either.

So she ate alone in her second-floor room.

Hearing the laughter and noise downstairs, she calmly closed the door, shutting that disturbance outside.

Just as Jiang Xian sat down, Xiao Ya came running over and leaned close to whisper beside her ear.

“Miss Jing Lian said she doesn’t like eating with others, so she won’t come down.”

Jiang Xian naturally knew this. She nodded. “Remember to serve her pork liver soup.”

She was still thinking of replenishing Jing Lian’s qi and blood.

Xiao Ya nodded with a smile. “Oh, right.”

She pushed a bowl of soup in front of Jiang Xian and lifted the lid. A rich aroma of bone soup rushed over. Faint oil droplets floated on top. Jiang Xian could not help taking a sip. The soup was extremely fresh and delicious, neither too rich nor too thin. “This soup is good.”

“Miss Jing Lian made it.”

“Ah?”

Jiang Xian lifted her head. She had scooped a spoonful of soup and brought it to her mouth, but before drinking it, she stopped. “What?”

“She personally made it for you.”

For a moment, it felt as if cotton had struck Jiang Xian’s chest, soft and gentle. She quickly drank another two mouthfuls and carefully savored it. Her cooking skills were truly not bad.

The meal had only just begun when Jiang Xian told the staff that she was going upstairs to eat.

She had Xiao Ya set another serving in Jing Lian’s room, then gracefully followed her upstairs, not forgetting to tell Xiao Ya to bring that pot of pork bone soup.

When she arrived outside the door, Jiang Xian covered her mouth and cleared her throat. She knocked. Without waiting for Jing Lian to answer, she pushed the door open a crack.

Jing Lian was sitting properly at the round wooden table. Hearing the sound, she looked toward Jiang Xian.

Jiang Xian walked in with a smile and openly pulled out a round stool, sitting beside her.

The table before Jing Lian was filled with dishes, but she had not yet touched a drop or bite. Only those eyes looked at Jiang Xian in confusion. “What?”

“I came to eat with you.” Jiang Xian smiled.

Jing Lian was cold as always. “I don’t need your company. You should go accompany your colleagues.”

Jiang Xian still did not speak. In her heart, she thought, How could someone be like this? Her mouth was this hard, yet her heart was that soft.

Before long, Xiao Ya brought Jiang Xian’s meal inside and placed two bowls of pork bone soup to the side. Then she quietly slipped out, leaving the world to the two of them.

Jiang Xian deliberately picked up the covered bowl and drank in exaggerated mouthfuls, not forgetting to praise it. “I wonder who made this. How can it taste this good?”

Seeing that she had come, Jing Lian picked up her chopsticks and began eating. Hearing Jiang Xian making noise beside her ear, she could not help saying, “Eat quietly. Be careful not to choke.”

Jiang Xian leaned closer and stared at her face, trying to find a crack in her expression. But she did not find any flaw. Instead, she discovered that Jing Lian’s skin was so tender it seemed it would break with a puff of air, her thick lashes lowered, making her look pitifully lovely. Jiang Xian could not help teasing her. “You even know how to make pork bone soup. How considerate.”

Jing Lian did not deny it. She merely glanced at her with both eyes. “Don’t overthink it. I simply don’t want to owe you…” She paused for a moment, then lifted a pair of meaningful eyes, seeming to smile yet not smile. “What you eat nourishes what it resembles. Since your hand is injured, naturally, you should eat pork bones.”

After saying that, she lowered her head and silently ate.

At first, Jiang Xian did not react. When she finally did, she suddenly choked on a mouthful of soup. “Are you calling me a pig?”

In the blink of an eye, a month passed, and Jiang Xian’s birthday banquet arrived.

July 30th. The sun shone brightly.

The banquet venue was in front of the private beach outside the villa.

On the thousand-square-meter lawn, tables and chairs had already been arranged. The tables were filled with drinks and food. In the middle of the seating area, a red carpet was laid across the ground. At the end of the red carpet was a backdrop five meters long and three meters high. It displayed a personal photoshoot of Jiang Xian. The photo had low color saturation. She wore a black-and-white outfit, her head slightly lowered, her curly hair lazily covering her eyes and outlining the lines of her side profile beautifully.

The invited guests were all big names Jiang Xian knew from within the industry, including but not limited to her manager, her exes, and the staff involved in the current variety show recording.

Whether they hated her or liked her, regardless of the time or occasion, they insisted on appearing in front of her.

Among them, two women carrying Chanel and Hermès bags held champagne and [stolen content]freely moved between the dining tables.

One said, “I heard this show became wildly popular. It’s really all thanks to Jiang Xian’s poisonous mouth.”

The other woman’s voice was sharp. “Isn’t that right? People these days are under so much pressure, their bodies all tense like sacks. They urgently need an opening to pour out their bitterness. Jiang Xian is that knife. She slices open people’s chests, and all their pent-up resentment leaks out from the wound. Naturally, people feel refreshed.”

“I didn’t expect you to be so cultured. I’m deeply impressed.”

The woman swirled the red wine glass in her hand and leaned enchantingly beside her. “If I weren’t, how could I have taken down that crude brute Jiang Xian back then?”

The two looked at each other and were giggling when suddenly, someone walked over from the front. Her style could not be called exactly identical to theirs, but there was no difference at all: socialite style, Chanel-style clothes, Hermès, big waves, large chest and full hips, spider-spirit-like long lashes, also carrying champagne.

“Sixth Sister, Seventh Sister.”

The one speaking was Jiang Xian’s eighth girlfriend, Xu Wan. The two she greeted were Jiang Xian’s sixth and seventh girlfriends.

Ever since Xu Wan rose to position, Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister had unauthorized copy gone from opposing each other fiercely to becoming good girlfriends.

When the two saw Xu Wan, they rolled their eyes at the same time and turned to leave.

“Hey, wait for me.”

Xu Wan stepped forward to stop them, a smile piled on her face as she began exchanging pleasantries.

“What? You broke up?”

Hearing Xu Wan say that she had broken up, the two gossip-loving onlookers glanced at each other. Their hearts softened, and they pulled Xu Wan into their camp again.

“What does her new girlfriend look like?”

“Is she pretty?”

“Does she have a good figure?”

They chattered endlessly.

“You’ll know once you see her later,” Xu Wan said, twisting her mouth with a snort.

The venue was bustling. Managers, directors, mentors, contestants, and others from the industry all played their respective roles, flattering the powerful, putting on airs, clinking glasses, and chatting merrily.

Suddenly, someone entered from the rear right. From afar, everyone sensed a noble and dazzling figure rush into the scene. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing, held their breath, and looked toward the end of the red carpet.

Jiang Xian wore a black feathered strapless evening gown and silver high heels. Her hair was pinned high, revealing the lines of her neck. A custom pink-white gemstone necklace was set off by her wheat-colored skin, making it look lavish and gorgeous. As she walked, her three-seven side-parted bangs naturally floated, adding even more depth to her features.

“Damn, she’s really beautiful.”

Someone in the crowd cursed softly, unable to hide the envy in their heart.

Jiang Xian naturally did not hear it. She strode forward and hugged her manager, Xie Yu, in greeting.

By coincidence, the moment she shifted her body, a petite figure appeared behind her. It turned out that Jiang Xian had not walked over alone just now, but with another person. It was only because Jiang Xian was too tall and had happened to cover her completely. Looking at them now, even if she was not leaning against Jiang Xian, there was still the illusion of a little bird depending on a person.

She wore a pure white French-style cotton dress, the two pieces of the collar folded over like lotus leaves. The skirt fell to her ankles, and she wore white socks and small white shoes. The makeup on her face was so light it was almost nonexistent. She had not even put on lipstick. Her frame was slender, as if one gust of wind could make her run away. Her face was expressionless, and the aura her whole person gave off was exquisite and reserved.

“Her name is Jing Lian.”

Jiang Xian introduced her to Xie Yu, one arm lightly wrapping around Jing Lian’s waist. When her arm touched Jing Lian’s body, Jing Lian instinctively arched her back and took half a small step forward in tiny steps.

Xie Yu lowered her head to look at her, taking the little girl in with one glance. She only felt her eyes brighten. This girl was indeed different from the girls Jiang Xian had dated before.

And she still looked extremely resistant. Could Jiang Xian have secretly tricked her from somewhere?

Although Jiang Xian had not directly said that Jing Lian was her girlfriend, on an occasion like this, the two of them had both come from the villa. Perhaps they had woken up in the same bed. Their relationship went without saying.

Everyone stretched their necks curiously to examine the girl before them. Their gazes were like blades, [Read on BaiLianTales]scrutinizing her from all angles without a blind spot, before reaching one conclusion.

She was a beauty with no blind spots from any angle.

“That’s her.”

Xu Wan rolled her eyes and instantly set down the champagne in her hand. The glass struck the table hard, splashing three drops of champagne-colored wine onto her clothes. This behavior was very crude, and when a passing waiter saw it, she smiled awkwardly and hurriedly pulled out a napkin, wiping herself at random.

Her gaze passed through the crowd to look at the two of them. She saw Xie Yu smiling and chatting warmly with Jiang Xian. Before long, Xie Yu pulled Jiang Xian to a quiet corner, leaving Jing Lian alone beside the dining table.

Alone?

Xu Wan lifted a brow. Thinking back to last time, when Jing Lian had used schemes and tricks to trick her into the swimming pool, she was so angry her teeth chattered.

This time, she had to turn the situation around.

Not only her, even Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister beside her were unauthorized copy urging her on. “Go over and join the fun.”

Jing Lian was unfamiliar with everyone and had no interest in socializing. She sat alone at the dining table, having just speared a purple grape with her fork and bitten it between her teeth.

Someone patted her shoulder. Before she had time to swallow, she turned around.

Xu Wan froze. Jing Lian was like a little sprite. She was reluctant to eat the grape she was holding between her lips. With it in her mouth, her red lips looked luscious and delicate, making her appear pitifully moving.

So this was how she usually seduced Sister Jiangjiang, wasn’t it?

She acted like a green tea bitch, but in bed, she must be extremely seductive. Otherwise, how could she hold Sister Jiang in place?

Thinking this, Xu Wan showed a smile on her face. “Hi, long time no see.”

The grape in Jing Lian’s mouth fell down into her palm. Her brows and eyes lowered as she asked, “Who are you?”