Chapter 21
Just before they left the stairwell, Shen Yishu casually switched off the lights.
The only illumination came from the glowing emergency exit sign overhead.
Ji Xiangyu was only two centimeters shorter than Shen Yishu. She bent her left leg slightly and placed it between Shen Yishu’s legs, pressing her back firmly against the wall for support. Then she lowered her upper body several centimeters until only her eyes remained visible.
It was difficult to keep her balance in that position, so Ji Xiangyu hooked her right arm around Shen Yishu’s neck for support. Half embracing and half clinging to her, she managed to hide herself completely within Shen Yishu’s arms.
The middle-aged man had exceptionally poor manners. Two out of every three sentences he spoke contained profanity.
A server in the corridor quietly tried to persuade the other guests to lower their voices, but her words were swallowed by the commotion, and no one paid her any attention.
Shen Yishu braced one hand against the wall and supported Ji Xiangyu’s elbow with the other.
From behind, they looked like an ordinary young couple whose passion had become too intense, forcing them to find a secluded corner to release it.
“I said I’ll go back later! Why do you keep rushing me?”
“She wants to learn painting? Her teacher only praised her because of me. What talent could she possibly have?”
“Ji Xiangyu said she has talent? Is there something wrong with Ji Xiangyu’s head? You actually believe anything she says? Even the awards she won were obtained through questionable means!”
What followed was even filthier.
Shen Yishu became both furious and heartbroken.
She had personally witnessed Ji Xiangyu’s acting ability on set.
As a complete newcomer, Shen Yishu had been effortlessly drawn into character by her. The director had praised Ji Xiangyu endlessly, proving that the admiration she received was not baseless boasting from her fans.
Moreover, Ji Xiangyu was kind and tolerant and did not place much importance on material things.
How could she possibly have done something underhanded merely to win an award?
Shen Yishu almost wanted to turn around and confront the man, cursing him to his face and telling him to stop looking down on others with his filthy eyes.
Only someone with a dirty heart would assume everyone else was dirty too.
Ji Xiangyu released an almost imperceptible sigh.
Had their bodies not been pressed so closely together that Shen Yishu could feel the rise and fall of Ji Xiangyu’s chest as she breathed, she would never have noticed it.
A cold hand covered Shen Yishu’s left ear.
Ji Xiangyu leaned close and whispered beside it, “Children shouldn’t listen to other people using foul language.”
Her voice was extremely low.
Her fragrant breath brushed Shen Yishu’s ear, and the distance between them was deeply intimate. Yet the calm words passed through her eardrum and settled in her heart like a clear mountain spring soothing scorched earth.
Shen Yishu did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Ji Xiangyu’s actions made it seem as though she were protecting a child who had not yet grown up.
Yet she had clearly listened to Shen Yishu say plenty of unpleasant things herself just moments ago.
“Why the hell are you crying? I work myself to death outside earning money, while the two of you do nothing but argue with me all day! Get lost!”
The call ended.
The man strode forward aggressively, lifting his head just in time to notice the two people embracing in the corner.
“Disgusting!”
He spat on the floor and was about to leave when he suddenly found the pair of eyes somewhat familiar.
He began moving closer for a better look.
Shen Yishu immediately pressed Ji Xiangyu’s head into her chest.
Looking over Shen Yishu’s shoulder, the man could see only the fluffy crown of the person in her arms and could not identify her.
Shen Yishu rarely became angry.
But once she did, her presence erupted like flames doused in oil, surging upward so fiercely that it frightened people.
“Get lost.”
Shen Yishu turned her head and deliberately lowered her voice, sounding like an enraged lion.
The darkness prevented the man from seeing clearly.
After Shen Yishu shouted at him twice, he assumed his guilty conscience had caused him to imagine things. Losing all desire to provoke trouble, he muttered under his breath and walked away.
Ji Xiangyu had suddenly been pulled tightly into Shen Yishu’s embrace, her face resting against the soft chest beneath her.
The young Alpha’s heartbeat was strong, while her furious voice rang beside Ji Xiangyu’s ears.
It was absolute, unmistakable protection.
Only after the middle-aged man’s voice gradually disappeared did Shen Yishu recover from her anger.
The hair beneath her palm shifted slightly.
Only then did Shen Yishu suddenly remember that Ji Xiangyu was still in her arms.
She immediately released her and retreated several steps.
“Are you angry?”
Ji Xiangyu patted her shoulder soothingly.
“Sister, aren’t you angry?”
Ji Xiangyu’s voice was calm, even more relaxed than when she had answered the phone earlier.
Hearing that, Shen Yishu’s anxious heart finally settled.
Ji Xiangyu shook her head, then remembered that Shen Yishu could not see clearly and said aloud, “I’m not angry.”
She merely believed Shen Yishu should never have been allowed to hear those words.
The Ji family’s filthy affairs were disgusting enough when discussed privately. Exposing them openly made them look even more repulsive.
She had thought that since Ji Wenhua had not seen her, he would not say anything too offensive.
It seemed she had still overestimated him.
“That man just now…” Shen Yishu asked tentatively.
“A relative,” Ji Xiangyu replied without explaining further.
Her relationship with Shen Yishu had not yet reached the point where she could openly reveal these ugly family matters.
“Are you still going to meet your family?”
Shen Yishu understood when to stop asking.
“Wait here for me,” Ji Xiangyu said.
Shen Yishu watched as Ji Xiangyu entered the corridor, which was illuminated by only a few dim lights.
Her long hair was loosely pinned behind her, and her slender shoulders and back remained perfectly straight as she calmly walked toward the filth waiting ahead.
“Sister!”
Shen Yishu called after her.
Ji Xiangyu turned around in confusion, assuming Shen Yishu would insist on accompanying her.
Shen Yishu pointed toward her back.
“There’s dust on your clothes.”
Ji Xiangyu: “…”
She had read slightly too much into it.
Shen Yishu released a relieved breath after seeing Ji Xiangyu brush the wall dust from her back.
After turning into the corridor, Ji Xiangyu did not immediately enter the private room.
Instead, she composed a text message.
The reason she had never acted against Ji Wenhua was simple.
His youngest daughter was only seven or eight years old. Every time she saw Ji Xiangyu, she sweetly called her Sister and often showed her the pictures she had drawn.
Ji Xiangyu genuinely believed the girl had considerable artistic talent.
Combined with the family’s wealth, pursuing art in the future should have been a smooth and promising path for her.
However, Ji Wenhua seemed completely uninterested in his daughter’s ability. From the way he spoke, he even appeared intent on suppressing her confidence.
A young girl without a father might be pitiful, but having a brainless father was sometimes worse than having none at all.
The small amount of company shares the Ji family head had gifted the girl at birth was enough to ensure she lived comfortably until adulthood.
Ji Xiangyu finished composing the message and rubbed between her brows.
Remembering the young girl’s bright laughter, she ultimately did not send it and returned her phone to her pocket.
When she reached the door, Ji Xiangyu pushed it open without hesitation.
Unlike the quiet corridor outside, the room was filled with commotion and the stench of alcohol.
Everyone was so drunk they leaned crookedly in their seats. Their laughter and curses were loud enough to make Ji Xiangyu’s eardrums ache.
She frowned.
Scanning the room, she found Ji Wenbin moving around and offering toasts to everyone.
Conversation at a drinking table was rarely pleasant.
Ji Xiangyu covered her nose and mentally blocked out the group’s voices before calling at a moderate volume,
“Dad.”
Only then did the people around the table notice that someone had entered.
Ji Xiangyu was famous both within the film industry and among the capital’s elite.
Almost everyone knew her.
The moment they saw her, they immediately restrained themselves. Those who had pulled up their shirts quickly lowered them again.
Ji Wenhua, who had been speaking on the phone in the corridor, also noticed her.
“Best Actress Ji, how have you been lately?” he greeted loudly.
“I’ve been fine. What about you?” Ji Xiangyu replied.
“I haven’t been doing well at all.”
Ji Wenhua now looked nothing like the man who had been furiously cursing moments earlier.
“My youngest daughter has been disobedient recently. Do you have time to educate her, Best Actress Ji?”
“I’ve been rather busy lately. Perhaps some other time.”
Ji Xiangyu glanced at him.
“Take her onto a variety show or something. Let her see the outside world instead of locking herself in her room all day.”
The more Ji Wenhua spoke, the more enthusiastic he became, completely forgetting that he had just accused Ji Xiangyu of obtaining her awards dishonestly in the stairwell.
“Mm.”
Ji Xiangyu nodded faintly.
“Best Actress Ji became successful at such a young age and won an award immediately after debuting. Heh, the little one in my family loves following Best Actress Ji around. It looks like she wants to become a Best Actress herself someday.”
Now that Ji Xiangyu had spoken to him, Ji Wenhua became increasingly intoxicated and began boasting loudly to the others at the table.
Ever since Ji Xiangyu had grown older, she had never treated him pleasantly.
He had no idea why she was suddenly willing to acknowledge him today, so he intended to seize the opportunity and show off.
Ji Xiangyu planned to walk around the table, greet her father, and leave.
However, Ji Wenhua suddenly appeared to remember something and called after her.
“Best Actress Ji, did you come up using the stairs?”
Ji Xiangyu turned around with an ambiguous smile.
She immediately noticed the slight panic on Ji Wenhua’s face.
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