Substitute Lover [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 73

“I don’t think that’s right,” Ji Fan raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, “If she’s your girlfriend, then what’s my relationship with her?”

She looked at Jiang Han with scrutiny, her gaze carrying suspicion.

Jiang Han said, “Are you really amnesiac?”

She carefully observed Ji Fan’s expression.

Ji Fan gave a faint “Mm” and lowered her head to read.

When she said this, her clear, black-and-white eyes were clean and calm, like a lake—you could see straight through them.

She seemed to genuinely have amnesia.

If she were faking it, given her former temper, hearing that Jiang Cha was her girlfriend should have made her very angry.

But now, her gaze held regret, pity, and annoyance…

But no anger.

Jiang Han cleared her throat, deciding to quickly explain things to her while Jiang Cha was gone.

“Actually, she is your—”

Just then, the door creaked open.

Ji Fan was sitting by the window, chatting with Jiang Han while slowly flipping through the storybook on the table. Hearing the sound, she raised her eyes from the dense rows of small English text.

The girl at the doorway had long hair and was carrying a bag of freshly bought fruit.

She was wearing a periwinkle slip dress, a slightly fluffy, soft tulle skirt, but her waist was slender. A thin, pure white cotton cardigan was draped over her delicate shoulders, making her look very gentle.

She seemed to have traveled a distance and was a little tired. Fine sweat beaded on her forehead, and a faint blush colored her snow-white cheeks.

The girl who arrived was none other than “Jiang Cha.”

Jiang Han: “…”

The words “She is your wife” were stuck in her throat and left unsaid.

Awkward.

Jiang Cha placed the bag of fruit on the light-colored small round table and then pushed the window open for ventilation.

The cool breeze carried the leaves and rushed inside.

She smoothed her long hair, which had been slightly tousled by the wind, behind her ear, bent down, moved a small round stool, and sat next to Ji Fan. Familiarity guided her as she picked up a pear from the plastic bag on the table.

“Want some?” Jiang Cha held the small, delicate pear, and without waiting for Ji Fan’s response, answered her own question: “It should be right to eat more fruit after surgery.”

Jiang Cha then washed the pear and sat by the table to start peeling it. The room instantly became quiet, with the crunch-crunch sound of the knife being particularly clear. Jiang Cha’s fingers were fair and slender, very small, with tips faintly tinged with pink, incredibly delicate.

The hand quickly held the fruit knife, speared a piece of pear flesh, and gently offered it to Ji Fan’s lips.

Ji Fan: “…”

Her lips parted, she took a bite, and said, “Thank you.”

Jiang Han noticed a suspicious blush spreading to the tips of her ears.

Biting the pear, Ji Fan turned her head and looked at Jiang Han, her eyes holding a strange emotion.

It seemed to be shyness, or something else.

The meaning was: She is feeding me fruit, do you mind?

Jiang Han lightly coughed, wanting to speak but holding back.

A little later, a knock came at the ward door. Jiang Han saw the tall, blonde doctor standing there, asking her to step outside, seemingly to discuss something.

She guessed it was about post-operative recovery instructions.

Jiang Han then got up and left the room.

The explanation was unfortunately delayed once again.

The ward was very quiet, with only the two of them remaining.

“When can you be discharged? Did the doctor say?”

“It mainly depends on how your body recovers after the craniotomy. If there are no infections or other complications, it should be about ten days.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Cha thought for a moment and asked, “Well, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Nothing else, just… washing up is a bit inconvenient. The doctor said you generally can’t shower until about five days after the stitches are removed following a craniotomy.”

Jiang Cha nodded and said, “Why don’t I help you?”

Ji Fan: “?”

What exactly was their relationship?

What kind of relationship could be intimate enough for one person to help the other wipe their body?

She desperately wanted to ask, but every time she was about to open her mouth, she swallowed the questions down.

She worried the answer wouldn’t be what she wanted.

Perhaps relatives.

Perhaps close, ordinary friends.

Jiang Cha fetched the hot water, soaked the towel in it, and then quietly closed the door, locking it.

The soft light from the window shone in, illuminating her eyes and her icy, jade-like nose tip.

Ji Fan was half-reclining on the bed. The buttons of her light blue, loose hospital gown were all fastened, covering her collarbone completely. Her smooth long hair was down, the ends slightly curled but not messy. Her hair covered her chest, her neck was long and slender. In the light, her skin was like snow. Curled up like this, her thin frame hidden in the loose garment, she possessed an unexpected beauty.

Jiang Cha wrung the towel until it was half-dry and asked:

“Who was taking care of you before?”

“Mary, the hospital caregiver.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Cha lowered her head, wrung the towel, and asked casually, “Did she help you wipe your body?”

“No.”

That’s good.

Jiang Cha whispered, “Take off your clothes. The door is locked.”

Ji Fan didn’t move, just looking at her with some nervousness.

“Or should I help you?”

“…”

Ji Fan didn’t answer, and Jiang Cha took it as her assent. So she sat by the bed, leaned slightly over, her slender index finger trembling slightly as she undid the first button.

The line of her collarbone gently rose and fell in the light and shadow, sometimes bright, sometimes dim.

Then, her finger moved gently to the second button.

Ji Fan suddenly lowered her eyes, and a faint blush appeared on her smooth white earlobes.

“Wait,” Ji Fan’s clear eyes turned away, avoiding Jiang Cha’s gaze, and she said softly, “Is this… okay?”

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Cha was a little confused. Didn’t she know their relationship? Even with amnesia, she didn’t need to be so formal.

“It’s nothing,” Ji Fan’s thick, long eyelashes lowered, effectively hiding her momentary awkwardness, “You can continue.”

But Jiang Cha stopped her movement.

She looked at Ji Fan’s flushed earlobe and couldn’t help but lower her head and smile softly.

“What is it?” Ji Fan asked.

Jiang Cha leaned in and gently kissed her cheek.

Just then, click.

The door was unlocked from the outside, and Jiang Han’s eyes widened as she looked at the two’s suggestive posture.

Ji Fan had one button undone, and Jiang Cha’s finger was still resting on her second button.

They were so close, their breaths were intertwined.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Ji Fan explained, “She just wanted to help me wipe down…”

Jiang Cha was confused, “Misunderstand what?”

Jiang Han’s gaze darted between the two, and she cleared her throat awkwardly.

In that instant, she understood what was happening.

She looked down and couldn’t help but laugh, “I wanted to explain earlier. Jiang Cha is your wife, not mine.”