Substitute Lover [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 81

“What’s wrong?” Ji Fan asked in surprise.

On the dining table, the scallion and fish fillet porridge was still hot, and steamed green vegetables were served on a square white porcelain dish; the presentation was quite good.

“My hand slipped,” Jiang Cha explained haltingly.

Ji Fan lowered her eyes to look at the chopsticks Jiang Cha had dropped on the floor, her gaze gentle: “Be careful.”

Jiang Cha’s expression went blank for a moment.

She bent down to pick up the chopsticks, went to the kitchen to wash them, and then returned to her seat.

She felt a wave of anxiety.

“Let’s continue the previous topic,” Ji Fan said softly.

“What topic?” Jiang Cha tried to move past it.

Ji Fan lowered her eyes, seeming embarrassed, unsure how to begin. She stirred the porridge with her fair, slender fingers, paused for a moment, and said softly, “How we used to interact.”

Although she had amnesia now, she could discern who was good to her and who was distant or had ulterior motives. She trusted Jiang Cha completely; whatever Jiang Cha said, Ji Fan believed. Like a drowning person desperately clinging to a straw, everything she wanted to know about her past came from Jiang Cha.

Jiang Cha cleared her throat.

“You really want to know?”

Ji Fan nodded quietly.

Jiang Cha looked at her spotless eyes, clean as a blank sheet of paper, and for some reason, a thought suddenly popped into her head.

She wanted to tease Ji Fan a little.

This thought startled even herself.

Jiang Cha was very conflicted.

Like a small animal testing the edge of mischief, she was partly afraid, but also couldn’t resist the subtle curiosity in her heart, constantly wanting to scratch her lightly and see her reaction.

Jiang Cha struggled for a moment, then, after some thought, said evasively, “In short, just listen to me.”

Ji Fan hummed in assent.

She showed no sign of resistance whatsoever.

Jiang Cha hadn’t expected Ji Fan to adapt and accept the “fact” that she was a bottom so quickly.

From that day on, she truly acted as if she were in love for the first time, bewildered and nervous. Looking at Jiang Cha, she always wanted to do something but restrained herself from doing anything. Their relationship seemed to return to a state of innocent romance. When they were together, Jiang Cha didn’t have the habit of initiating, and Ji Fan also held back, only occasionally attempting to hold her hand.

Even just holding hands, she was still impossibly nervous.

Having amnesia was indeed very inconvenient.

Three or four days had passed since she returned home. On Monday morning, it was time to go to the company. Ji Fan received a flurry of messages from the Vice President and the Finance Manager first thing. During her time away, a pile of things needing her review and signature had accumulated, leaving a thick stack of files on her desk.

Now, her worry wasn’t the mountain of work, but rather—

She couldn’t recognize any of the executives in the company.

Names and faces didn’t match.

Yet, she had to pretend to know everyone and appear completely competent.

The matter of her amnesia absolutely couldn’t be leaked. Those in high positions were always under scrutiny, with countless power struggles—complex and dangerous. If people with malicious intent knew she had amnesia, it would inevitably cause problems.

Coincidentally, Jiang Cha had just finished filming the variety show and the movie. She was in a gap period and relatively free, so Ji Fan brought her along.

When they got out of the car and entered the company building together, they were greeted by the stares of the front desk ladies.

The front desk staff looked momentarily surprised.

Then, they showed a smile that was unexpected yet understandable.

A long line was waiting outside the elevator. Ji Fan linked arms with Jiang Cha, standing calmly among the crowd of office workers, looking very composed.

“Good morning, Ms. Ji.”

Someone greeted her.

Ji Fan glanced at the person, a young man wearing glasses, a plaid shirt, and jeans.

Why was he only greeting her? What about Jiang Cha?

He really lacked tact.

The person next to him, observing the situation, immediately provided the correct example: “Good morning, Ms. Ji, good morning, Mrs. Ji.”

Only then did Ji Fan nod.

Since they got married, this was the first time they had come to the company together. Everyone observed quietly, curious: The news of their divorce was just headlining a while ago. Are they really back together now?

Ji Fan had only been gone for a few days, but people in the company had already noticed something was wrong, and various versions of gossip had spread, starting a murmur of whispers early in the morning.

For example:

“Ms. Ji hasn’t been to the company recently. Is she fighting a divorce lawsuit with her wife?”

“No, no. I heard she went on vacation to rest.”

“Seriously?”

“I heard their relationship is on the rocks. Maybe they really are busy with the divorce.”

“Yeah, the news already said so.”

There were also counterarguments:

“No way. If I were Ms. Ji, I definitely wouldn’t divorce.”

“Why?”

“Because…” The person smiled sheepishly and whispered, “Ms. Jiang is so beautiful. If they divorce, it might be hard for Ms. Ji to find someone else.”

As soon as the person finished speaking, he felt a chill down his spine. He turned around and saw his boss standing behind him.

Ji Fan merely glanced at him and then walked away.

The air immediately became quiet and frosty.

“Ms. Ji.”

The Finance Manager was waiting in her office and handed her a stack of documents.

Ji Fan glanced at it and set it aside. Jiang Cha’s voice came through her Bluetooth earpiece.

“The Finance Manager, Liu Sheng. Hired a year ago…”

Ji Fan nodded slightly: “Manager Liu.”

The man’s face lit up, as if he had been highly regarded, and he immediately stood up straight: This was the first time Ms. Ji had called him that! She used to just use “Hey” for all greetings.

In the office, a one-way mirror partitioned off a lounge. Jiang Cha stayed inside, responsible for relaying the names, personalities, and positions of everyone who entered the office, based on Ji Fan’s previous records.

Whenever someone entered, Jiang Cha would speak a few sentences to help Ji Fan remember.

After finally sending a group of people off, the office was empty. Jiang Cha stretched and stepped out. Ji Fan looked up from the documents, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Cha sat on the soft sofa outside, resting as she asked.

Ji Fan paused, and asked politely, “May I kiss you?”

Jiang Cha: “…”

Her red lips parted. Just as she was about to say yes, there was a knock on the office door.

Another person entered: “Ms. Ji, here are this year’s financials…?”

The person blinked.

The atmosphere seemed off.

Ji Fan’s expression wasn’t good, but she merely supported herself on the table and rubbed her forehead: “…Go on.”

Jiang Cha retreated back to the lounge.

They finished work late, and it was past eleven when they left the company.

The road was dark and empty. Only a small cat darted through the low bushes, letting out a faint meow before disappearing.

The night breeze was pleasant, sweeping over them gently. The atmosphere was quiet yet ambiguous.

Jiang Cha stopped her.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Cha looked at her and whispered, “You can kiss me now.”

Ji Fan lowered her eyes.

Their eyes met.

In an instant, it was like a chemical reaction had started. A crackle of electricity seemed to fill the air. Jiang Cha’s cheeks felt warm. She wanted to look away, but her eyes couldn’t move; she stared at Ji Fan, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

Ji Fan put her arm around Jiang Cha’s waist, lowered her head, and moved closer inch by inch.

Some things must be rooted in deep memory. Ji Fan was still a little clumsy, her lips pressed against hers to kiss her, but her movements were cautious and gentle, starting shallow and going deeper, slowly kissing her as if savoring a taste.

The kissing and hugging went on for over an hour before they knew it.

After a while, Ji Fan suddenly let go of her.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Cha asked.

Ji Fan leaned against a small banyan tree nearby, breathing slightly, and said softly:

“I… my legs feel weak.”