Substitute Lover [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 80

“Stop?”

Ji Fan’s hand was still on her waist, the soft touch palpitating like the tenderest bud on a willow leaf in spring. Her arm embraced her, and her fingertips stroked her back—thin and smooth, with a delicate layer of sweat covering the fine downy hair.

The light was like a mist, softly spilling down.

A flush spread across her smooth cheeks, and a stray lock of hair on her forehead was damp, clinging to her profile. She looked like she had just been pulled out of red wine, with a slightly tipsy, enchanting air. Her eyes were gentle, the corners slightly red, and her soft eyelashes were lowered. It didn’t look like a refusal; it looked like seduction.

“Why?” Ji Fan leaned close to her ear, gently kissed her cheek, and looking at her, asked softly, “Don’t you like this?”

Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful, like a clean lake, clear and soft, with long eyelashes that cast a misty shadow under the lamp. Jiang Cha had always loved her eyes the most—bright, clear, and very expressive. When meeting her gaze, Ji Fan’s quiet and focused look was worth a thousand words.

Since her amnesia, a quality of spotless cleanliness, like reflecting fine snowlight, had been added to those eyes.

Excessively pure and translucent.

Jiang Cha looked at her, stunned and distracted, and couldn’t bear to say anything harsh.

“I don’t dislike it, it’s just…” She paused, calmed herself down slightly, and had an idea. She nestled her chin in the hollow of Ji Fan’s shoulder, rubbing intimately, satisfied like a small animal. Then she tilted her head and said softly, “You need to be a little obedient.”

Obedient?

“What do you mean?” Ji Fan asked.

Jiang Cha looked up, her long, curled eyelashes lifted, and she said quietly and seriously, “You can’t touch me inappropriately.”

“I didn’t,” Ji Fan denied.

“Don’t take off my clothes, and don’t let your hands wander,” Jiang Cha explained in soft, fragmented whispers, stepping off the bed and looking for her slippers. “You’re a bottom, a pillow princess. You shouldn’t be so aggressive.”

As she spoke, she felt a little guilty. Jiang Cha’s voice grew quieter and quieter, and her head lowered, her long hair covering her profile and hanging over her chest.

Ji Fan watched her quietly, a flush of heat rising in her cheeks.

A beam of light in the bedroom followed her, illuminating her profile.

This look was beautiful, unexpectedly beautiful.

Her hair was dark and soft, draped over her thin, jade-like shoulder. Her small, white ear tip peeked out between the strands—a flash of white, like an elf. Jiang Cha was nude, the soft, full, snow-white mountains of her chest covered by her long hair. Her curves were fluid and lovely, like an elf in the forest.

Naked, she fumbled and searched in the wardrobe for a new set of pajamas, then went to the bathroom to shower again before lying back in bed.

“I’m clean now, it’s your turn.” After saying this, Jiang Cha turned over, hugged a pillow, clamped her soft long legs around it, and in a moment, her breathing became steady, and she fell asleep unguardedly.

She was lying on her side, one button of her pajamas undone, revealing her collarbone, which was covered in lingering vermilion hickeys and finger marks that trailed down.

“…”

Ji Fan’s breathing hitched as she watched, and her earlobes felt hot. She had to lift the long hair that covered her ears to let the heat dissipate.

She climbed out of bed, washed the wet underwear, hung it on the balcony, and took a shower. Only then did she slowly calm down and feel more comfortable.

The next morning, a ray of sunlight jumped onto Jiang Cha’s eyelashes. Her long lashes trembled, and she opened her eyes. Jiang Cha felt something heavy on her waist. She looked down and realized Ji Fan was in her usual sleeping position: her long legs wrapped around her waist, hugging her as she slept soundly.

They were so close that she could count her eyelashes—one, two, so dense, so long.

Her gaze moved down.

Her pajamas had thin straps. From her collarbone to her full, white chest, there were hickey marks.

They were light crimson, faintly colored, like winter sweet blossoms blooming in the snow.

Whose doing was this?

It seemed to be hers.

Jiang Cha instantly woke up, remembering the absurd things she had done last night, feeling surprised and embarrassed.

Her cheeks flushed, burning intensely.

She touched Ji Fan’s lips with her fingertips. They were a more vibrant color than usual from kissing for too long. What happened last night? She actually almost ravished Ji Fan. Thinking back more carefully, she remembered she had drunk alcohol again at the dinner party.

And it was baijiu (white liquor).

Alcohol was a marvelous thing. Jiang Cha reviewed her memories and realized her pattern was quite obvious and traceable.

Whenever she drank, she would inexplicably lead Ji Fan to bed.

Strange.

Jiang Cha shook her head, glanced down, and found that Ji Fan was still sleeping, not yet awake. She was probably physically weak after the surgery, and last night’s activity had exhausted her. She kissed the person’s forehead, put on her slippers, tied on an apron, and started cooking breakfast.

The breakfast was light. As she was bringing it out, her phone rang. Jiang Cha answered the call, asking in a good mood, “Hello?”

“Xiao Jiang?” It was Song Baiwei on the other end, her voice soft and patient. “The final cut of the film is ready. I’ll send it to you. Take a look first.”

Jiang Cha’s eyes widened suddenly, a little surprised.

Generally, only the director, producers, and post-production staff get to see the final cut; actors usually have to wait until the release.

But Director Song was showing it to her in advance.

Jiang Cha pursed her red lips, feeling flattered, and thanked her repeatedly.

It usually takes two to three months from the completion of filming to the release of a movie. After post-production is done, they have to wait to schedule screenings and grab slots. In addition, they have to take the filming permit and the finished film to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television for review. If approved, a public screening permit is issued; if not, they continue to edit and revise until it passes.

However, this film might not follow that process.

She had heard Song Baiwei mention before that she planned to submit it to this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. Based on her past experience, winning an award wouldn’t be a big problem.

At major film festivals, such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice, films are typically awarded before they are released. The rules clearly state that the film festival must serve as the global premiere of the film, and the film must not have been distributed through any other channels beforehand.

If submitted for judging and competition, it cannot have its premiere in mainland China.

It can only win the award first and then be released.

Song Baiwei had won awards before, and her films happened to suit the tastes of the judges. She frequently won the Golden Bear and Best Director awards, and her skill level was basically very stable.

The director winning an award was definitely not an issue.

But as for Best Actress…

There had only ever been one recipient.

This film had dual female leads. Who would the award be given to? In terms of seniority, Jiang Cha couldn’t compete with Luo Yan. As for acting skills, she couldn’t judge. After all, being in the middle of it, the participants are often biased; she couldn’t make a completely rational self-assessment.

She admitted that her foundation was weak, but she couldn’t help but hope: Perhaps she had improved in this film?

What would the jury think?

Who performed better, her or Luo Yan?

She had no idea.

Jiang Cha didn’t know who the Best Actress award would be given to, and she no longer speculated. All she could do was perform the role well, to a degree she was satisfied with. Everything else was beyond her control.

If she was satisfied, and the people who liked her were satisfied, that was enough.

A rustling sound came from the bedroom; Ji Fan was awake.

The dining table was on the first floor, next to a rotating, carved wooden staircase, light in color, extending upwards step by step. Jiang Cha looked up and saw a glimpse of a fair, slender ankle through the gaps in the wood grain as Ji Fan slowly descended the stairs.

She was wearing a white-based pajama set with black trim. The pant legs were a bit short, cut at the ankle, hanging just above her feet.

The pajamas were clearly not her size.

This set of pajamas belonged to Jiang Cha.

Ji Fan turned and walked downstairs, her hair pulled up at the back of her head. The feather-white pajamas emphasized her clean, crisp aura, thin waist, and long legs.

Although the pants were too short, the slightly smaller white top fit perfectly. The cut was excellent, perfectly outlining her beautiful shoulder line and slender waist. One button at the neckline was undone, revealing a patch of fair skin. The sexy collarbone reflected a transparent halo, and the faint crimson marks on her collarbone were hickeys from Jiang Cha’s sucking last night.

Remembering the events of last night, she suddenly lowered her eyes, unable to look directly at Ji Fan for a moment.

“You’re awake?”

She pushed the small bowl toward her, looking down, and said, “Eat. It’s getting cold.”

Ji Fan took the small bowl, looked down, and said thank you.

All morning, Ji Fan was incredibly quiet, only lowering her head to eat, nibbling on the greens in small bites. The expression in her lowered eyes was very obedient. Jiang Cha couldn’t help but look at her repeatedly, unable to figure out what was wrong.

After a long while, Jiang Cha finally asked, “Is something bothering you?”

Ji Fan looked up, then lowered her eyes again, and coughed lightly, “No.”

Jiang Cha said “Oh,” and picked up a piece of lettuce for her, saying, “Eat.”

Though quiet, Ji Fan seemed to have something she wanted to say but was holding back.

Five minutes earlier.

Ji Fan lifted her head from the pillow and picked up her phone, which was being bombarded with a string of messages.

The messages were from the same person.

The name was “Xu Qingzhu.”

Xu: Heard you’re back? How was the surgery?

Ji Fan stared at the person’s profile picture, lost in thought. Who is this? She couldn’t remember at all.

Ji: Surgery successful.

Xu: Then you should have reported in to say you were safe. I almost thought you died in a foreign land.

The tone was more intimate than usual. Who could it be?

Ji Fan pinched her brow. Only then did she remember that Jiang Cha had told her she had a childhood friend named Xu Qingzhu, and that she was the one who informed Jiang Cha about her cerebral hemorrhage. The fact that she knew about her condition immediately meant that her former self trusted her very much.

Therefore, her relationship with her must have been very good.

There was no need to hide the amnesia from her.

Ji: I have amnesia.

Xu: ???

Ji: I don’t remember anything at all. I’m sorry.

Xu Qingzhu seemed to be judging the authenticity of her words, hesitating. The message box kept showing “typing,” but nothing was sent.

Ji: It’s real amnesia.

Only then did Xu Qingzhu believe her, realizing she wasn’t joking. She replied: It’s good that you’re alive.

The two chatted for a while longer. Xu Qingzhu was still very surprised, repeatedly asking what she remembered and what she knew now. Ji Fan told her everything she knew and asked if there were any omissions that Jiang Cha had forgotten to tell her.

Xu Qingzhu hesitated.

There were indeed omissions.

Such as her deceased mother, the divorce agreement, and the will.

She chose to remain silent.

Let her remember on her own. There’s no rush with these things.

Seeing no reply, Ji Fan assumed there were no other omissions and felt relieved. Just as she was about to get up, she suddenly remembered what Jiang Cha had told her last night and couldn’t help but ask one more question.

Ji: Jiang Cha said I’m a pillow princess.

Ji: Is that true?

Pillow princess?

Which fairy tale princess was this? What did it mean?

She didn’t understand, so she wisely searched for the term.

Lying bottom.

Ji Fan was a bottom???

Xu Qingzhu had a mouthful of lemon water and almost spat it out before she could swallow.

She didn’t know this! Oh my god, this was shocking. Ji Fan was a bottom? Xu Qingzhu finally managed to swallow the water, covered her face, and couldn’t stop laughing until her face hurt.

It turns out you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Some people act all high and mighty on the surface, but in reality, tsk.

She hadn’t expected little Jiang, who looked soft and weak, and completely like a bottom, to actually be the top.

Her face hurt from laughing. After a while, she calmed down and replied to Ji Fan.

Xu: If she said so, then it is.

Xu: Jiang Cha is an honest kid and wouldn’t lie to you. That little sister is very gentle and kind; you should treat her well.

Ji Fan replied “Mm.”

She thought, No wonder Jiang Cha was unhappy when we were halfway through last night.

Was I too aggressive?

At the dining table.

The faint, clear light illuminated the room, and a floral scent permeated the air. Jiang Cha lowered her head, eating quietly.

Ji Fan’s clear, black-and-white eyes watched Jiang Cha quietly, a strand of dark hair sliding down her shoulder.

Her gaze was nervous and slightly tentative.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Cha noticed her unusual behavior and asked again.

A flush appeared on Ji Fan’s fair earlobe. Her fingertips curled up, and she asked softly, “Yesterday, was I not good enough?”

“…”

“Tell me what to do right, and I can change.”

Jiang Cha froze, and her chopsticks clattered to the floor, startled.