Chapter 29 – Truth or Dare

Ji Mian woke up groggily. Xu Zhixia was still sleeping soundly in her arms. They had a very wild night.

Ji Mian, however, felt happy.

Xu Zhixia let out a soft sound and rubbed against Ji Mian.

“Mian Mian, what time is it?”

“We only fell asleep at five in the morning,” Ji Mian chuckled. “It’s one in the afternoon now.”

Xu Zhixia gasped in disbelief, “It’s this late! That’s a first!”

“Last night was also our first time,” Ji Mian said with a smile.

Xu Zhixia gently hit her arm, “You’re so naughty.”

“Alright, let’s go eat breakfast. Oh, wait, lunch.”

Xu Zhixia nodded and offered to cook herself.

Ji Mian, however, declined her kind offer, having witnessed Xu Zhixia’s culinary skills—which were not just bad, but practically nonexistent.

During the group show back then, she cooked an extremely simple scrambled egg with scallions, but everyone who ate it couldn’t help but feel nauseous. What was that stuff?!!

Only the original host painfully finished it…

Ji Mian cooked a simple meal of two vegetable dishes and one meat dish, which Xu Zhixia ate happily.

Seeing her happy, Ji Mian was happy too, and the food tasted better than anyone else’s cooking.

Some time had passed since the Feng Xiang incident.

Ji Mian and Xu Zhixia were now preparing for the group reality show.

The other group members gradually returned. They were scheduled to live in a relatively underdeveloped rural village.

After receiving the news, Ji Mian visited the company.

In Boss Zhang’s office, a woman with long, flowing hair was smiling at her.

She knew without looking that it was Fang Ruoya.

“Aiya, I’ve been looking for you for so long, and you finally show up now,” Fang Ruoya said, immediately putting her arm around Ji Mian’s shoulder.

Ji Mian usually felt nothing, but since being with Xu Zhixia, she was increasingly uncomfortable with physical contact from others.

She silently pulled away.

Fang Ruoya was momentarily stunned. She asked, “Where have you been these past few days?”

Ji Mian replied simply, “I’ve been composing music at home.”

Fang Ruoya pouted: “Cut it out. I called you, and you ignored me.” Then, her eyes darted around, and she whispered teasingly, “You were filming in Dashan Village a while back, weren’t you! You even secretly asked me if you had feelings for Xu Zhixia. Was that true? Don’t lie to me~”

Fang Ruoya was too nosy!

Ji Mian twitched her mouth: “I’m not telling you.”

“That means it’s true!” Fang Ruoya guessed again.

Ji Mian sighed and opened the office door. Fang Ruoya had no choice but to follow her inside.

Boss Zhang and Xia Hui simply instructed them to watch their words and actions in front of the cameras.

After their brief talk, Ji Mian invited Fang Ruoya to lunch.

Halfway through the meal, Xu Zhixia texted, mostly saying she missed her.

Ji Mian naturally missed her too, but she couldn’t just leave mid-meal.

Fang Ruoya watched her staring at her phone and smiling foolishly, completely ignoring her. She asked, “What are you looking at? What’s so funny? Let me see.”

“No!” Ji Mian quickly shielded her phone against her chest, her face starting to turn red.

Fang Ruoya was shocked. She pouted: “Ji Mian! What’s wrong with you? You know what kind of relationship we have. What’s so funny that you won’t even show your best friend? That’s not cool.”

Ji Mian: “…”

“It’s nothing funny,” Ji Mian coughed.

“Then what is it?” Fang Ruoya had a good idea, guessing it must be some secret.

“Is it from your girlfriend?” Fang Ruoya asked slyly.

“That…” Ji Mian couldn’t believe Fang Ruoya was smart enough to guess that. This person was usually not very sharp.

“Think whatever you want!” Although Fang Ruoya was her good friend, this was a secret between her and Xu Zhixia. What if Fang Ruoya accidentally slipped up and told someone else? That would be disastrous.

Ji Mian shook her head hard. Fang Ruoya scoffed: “You don’t love me anymore, do you?”

“Of course not,” Ji Mian pursed her lips, “When did I ever love you?”

Fang Ruoya: “…”

Ji Mian returned to her house. Xu Zhixia had been waiting for a long time. Ever since staying at Xu Zhixia’s large villa, Ji Mian had given her a key to her own apartment.

Xu Zhixia was asleep on the sofa, quietly snoring.

Ji Mian felt a warmth in her heart. Just as she was about to pick up Xu Zhixia, the beauty in her arms stirred.

Ji Mian smiled: “Sorry, did I wake you up?”

Knowing Ji Mian was back, Xu Zhixia felt an extreme sense of security. She tightly hugged Ji Mian’s neck, pressing her face against Ji Mian’s chest, saying, “I’ve been in our home for almost two hours. I felt so lonely, but now that you’re back, I don’t feel lonely at all.”

Ji Mian pursed her lips and gently kissed her forehead.

“I’m home.” She placed Xu Zhixia on the bed.

Xu Zhixia still held her, refusing to let her go.

Ji Mian chuckled: “I need to take a shower~”

Xu Zhixia rubbed her face against Ji Mian’s, laughing: “Can you not go? Just hug me for a little while, and then you can go.”

Ji Mian would never refuse her beloved. She laughed: “I just ate lunch with Ruoya, and no one else.”

Xu Zhixia giggled: “Of course, I wouldn’t get jealous. How could you possibly abandon someone as excellent and charming as me?”

Ji Mian laughed out loud. She’s so confident.

A few days later, it was time to film the group reality show.

The production team arranged for all seven members to meet at a large hotel.

Ji Mian and Fang Ruoya arrived together, one in a blue gown, the other in a red gown, looking like a pair of rich sisters.

Shen Ai, who ranked fifth in the group, smiled and hugged them both.

After two years apart, they felt a sense of warmth.

Next, the other members appeared sequentially: Lan Ziqing (3rd), Lan Chu (4th), Shen Ai (5th), Fang Ruoya (6th), and Mu Linhe (7th).

Only the second-ranked member, Xu Zhixia, was missing.

Ji Mian sat upright in a chair as some dishes were brought out for everyone to sample.

No one knew that Ji Mian’s heart was racing. Xu Zhixia had texted her, saying she had arrived, but almost half an hour had passed, and there was no sign of her.

Fang Ruoya laughed, “Aiya, why isn’t our Movie Queen here yet?”

Lan Chu giggled, “She’s a Movie Queen. She has a lot of engagements. Let’s wait a little longer, everyone.”

Ji Mian grew increasingly uncomfortable. She looked at Fang Ruoya, who looked back provocatively.

“Sisters, I’m here.” Suddenly, a clear, cold voice floated down. Xu Zhixia walked down, dressed like a socialite in a long black dress.

Her long hair flowed, and her makeup was bright and enchanting. Even Ji Mian, who had seen Xu Zhixia many times, couldn’t help but sigh softly. She is truly beautiful.

Xu Zhixia secretly glanced at Ji Mian, then smiled and greeted everyone.

The others seemed more enthusiastic than before about Xu Zhixia, so they all stepped forward to shake hands.

Only after everyone else had greeted her did Ji Mian step forward.

Their two hands clasped. If this had happened before, it would have been mundane, but now, Ji Mian’s hand was slightly trembling.

Xu Zhixia raised an eyebrow: “Long time no see, Ji Mian.”

Ji Mian twitched her mouth, feigning indifference: “We just finished filming a drama together.”

Xu Zhixia laughed, and said coolly: “What a coincidence.”

Ji Mian: “…”

“Zhixia, sit down,” Fang Ruoya said with a smile.

Xu Zhixia sat naturally next to Ji Mian. They were seated by rank, so Xu Zhixia was very close to Ji Mian.

Ji Mian secretly sent a message.

—Be aloof, be aloof!

—It’s best not to talk to me.

Xu Zhixia pursed her lips. Such a bother, this woman!

Fortunately, her acting skills were excellent. She avoided even looking at Ji Mian. However, because she was so intimate with Ji Mian recently, she accidentally blurted out, “Mian Mian, can you help me pass the dish?”

The tone was soft and sweet, but not quiet, so everyone heard it. Everyone stopped talking, and [Read on BaiLianTales]a hush fell over the room.

The scene became deathly silent.

Ji Mian: “…”

Xu Zhixia laughed awkwardly, linked her arm with Lan Ziqing’s, and said, “I meant Qing Qing, can you help me pass the dish?”

Fang Ruoya glanced at Ji Mian, whose face was bright red. These two definitely have a secret!

Ji Mian went out to use the restroom. Seeing this, Xu Zhixia followed.

Fang Ruoya immediately got up and followed them.

Xu Zhixia washed her hands after using the restroom. Fang Ruoya came out to wash her hands too. Ji Mian was nowhere to be seen. Could it be that these two only went to the restroom?

Fang Ruoya touched up her lipstick and smiled: “How have you been lately, Zhixia?”

Xu Zhixia smiled: “I’ve been very ‘sexually’ happy. After all, I have an Alpha pursuing me who is always caring for me, and he’s very good-looking. It’s hard not to be happy.”

“I see. Zhixia, you’re not getting any younger. You should get married,” Fang Ruoya said casually, but inwardly she thought, Is the person pursuing her Ji Mian? Are they not together yet?

Xu Zhixia’s face instantly dropped: “Are you saying I’m old?”

Fang Ruoya: “…”

Ji Mian hid inside the restroom, listening to their conversation, and breathed a sigh of relief.

After dinner, the women changed into casual clothes and prepared to depart.

They boarded the large bus. Xu Zhixia, as before, sat in a seat by herself. But she wouldn’t allow Ji Mian to sit with anyone else and sent her a message specifically.

Ji Mian had no choice but to choose a single seat right in front of her.

Fang Ruoya chatted merrily with the others, but noticed the two of them were quiet, not talking to anyone.

She laughed: “Mian Mian and Zhixia, do you want to play a game?”

Ji Mian didn’t care. Xu Zhixia readily accepted.

Fang Ruoya suggested, “How about we play Truth or Dare?”

The others nodded enthusiastically. Ji Mian felt dread. She neither nodded nor shook her head.

Xu Zhixia, however, was delighted and smiled: “Yes, I love playing this game.”

Fang Ruoya took out a deck of cards and said, “We’ll each draw a card. Whoever draws the Heart is the loser.”

Due to the cameras being present, Ji Mian was forced to join the game.

By chance, she drew the losing card in the very first round.

Fang Ruoya asked, “Mian Mian, do you have someone you like?”

Everyone stared at Ji Mian, including Xu Zhixia.

This was Truth or Dare. Even if Ji Mian lied, Xu Zhixia wouldn’t be happy to hear it.

Ji Mian pursed her lips: “I guess so.”