Substitute Lover [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 86

A small spot of crimson stained the snow-white sheet, the blood spreading faintly. Ji Fan looked at it, her gaze calm, but her earlobe slowly turned red and hot, as if feeling the heat. She felt awkward for a moment, quite ill at ease, unsure whether to admit that it hurt quite a bit or to pretend indifference.

“I’m fine.”

Ji Fan chose the latter.

She was still thinking about what Jiang Cha had said about her involvement in Blind Youth and being replaced mid-way.

Jiang Cha meant that she was originally cast as the lead actress in that movie, but was later replaced by Luo Yan? Why was she replaced?

And why did Jiang Cha think she was the one who replaced her?

A crucial point suddenly dawned on her.

She remembered the look in Jiang Cha’s eyes when they got married that day.

There was deep disappointment in her gaze.

Even hatred.

Even now, recalling those tear-filled eyes made her heart ache.

On that day, it seemed to be Luo Yan…

“If it hurts, shouldn’t you put some medicine on it?”

A soft voice sounded in her ear, carrying a hint of pleasure.

Ji Fan snapped out of her thoughts, slightly startled.

Jiang Cha didn’t know what she was thinking, looking at her intently, her eyes sparkling.

Eager to proceed.

Ji Fan’s expression was still cool, but Jiang Cha noticed the slight blush on her earlobe amidst the dark hair. Ji Fan’s ears were very sensitive. In the past, if she gently pinched her ear with her fingertip, her ear would instantly turn crimson, looking both cute and vibrant.

Jiang Cha reached out, slipped her hand through her hair, and pinched it again.

“It’s really hot,” she chuckled softly, “What are you thinking, hmm?”

Jiang Cha leaned in, her eyes shining, and continued to offer herself, “I’m worried about infection. Let’s put some anti-inflammatory cream on it.”

This dialogue had occurred before, except back then, Jiang Cha was the one in pain, and Ji Fan was the one saying these words.

Now the roles were reversed.

Medicine?

Ji Fan was startled, her thick, long eyelashes drooped, and a slightly curled strand of hair slipped from behind her fair ear, resting on her slender, pale shoulder. Her expression was a little unnatural. She simply pressed her slender, pale fingers to her lips and cleared her throat.

“No need. It’s not serious.”

Her voice was very soft, almost airy, suggesting embarrassment. This was extremely rare. Jiang Cha found it amusing and couldn’t help but want to see her display this slightly shy expression again, so she asked, “If it doesn’t hurt, is it comfortable then?”

Ji Fan: “…”

She picked up the small scent diffuser refill bottle again with her fair fingers. The light, clear liquid was mixed inside the glass bottle. White tea, freesia, with a hint of mint—it smelled pleasant. Ji Fan tightened her grip on the bottle, and a subtle shift occurred in her lowered gaze.

Jiang Cha didn’t notice and didn’t stop in time, continuing:

“Then it was comfortable. I didn’t lie to you, did I?”

“If you find it comfortable, do you want to try again?”

Ji Fan raised her long eyebrow, “Try again?”

“Mm. After all, we haven’t done it in so long. Doing it suddenly like this might hurt and cause bleeding. But it won’t later.”

Jiang Cha felt her logic was self-consistent: after all, she had read that the layer of connective tissue filled with blood vessels would automatically repair itself if left untouched for a long time.

Ji Fan burst out laughing.

She tilted her head, her earring swaying slightly, and looked at Jiang Cha with a deep gaze: “You want to go again?”

“Mm. Why not?”

The moment Jiang Cha’s voice fell, her fingertips felt warm. Ji Fan grabbed her hand and pulled her onto her body. With a gentle roll, she pinned her down.

Ji Fan pressed tightly against her. Her bathrobe was already loosely closed. As she leaned over, it instantly fell open on one side. Her shoulder was half-exposed, and their warm skin pressed together, soft and alive.

Jiang Cha constantly tried to push her away and struggle.

A faint body fragrance suddenly surrounded them.

Her long, smooth, curly hair cascaded down. Ji Fan lowered her head, looking at her with bright, dark eyes. Jiang Cha’s pupils contracted slightly, and fine sweat beaded on her soft, pale temples. She reflexively clutched the sheet, but her gaze was fixed on Ji Fan’s red, slightly upturned lips.

A layer of warm, fine sweat appeared on the back of her neck. Jiang Cha held her breath slightly.

Ji Fan lowered her head, slowly inching closer.

Her lips softly pressed onto Jiang Cha’s. Ji Fan kissed her playfully, very lightly, like a small fish playing in the water, constantly teasing her without deepening the kiss. The person beneath her lightly hummed, hooking her jade-like arms around Ji Fan’s neck to demand a kiss, the corners of her eyes faintly red, her gaze filled with infatuation.

Ji Fan leaned close to her ear and softly commanded, “Call me Big Sister.”

Jiang Cha: “…”

Her red lips were pressed against Ji Fan’s, who then bit her lip hard.

Like a punishment.

Jiang Cha’s cheeks flushed, and she looked at her and whispered, “Big Sister.”

Ji Fan kissed her warm forehead and said, “Call me that from now on.”

The kiss continued its descent.

A warmth spread over her slender, delicate neck. Ji Fan gently bit her carotid artery, leaving a tooth mark. Ji Fan continuously kissed her, the fine, dense kisses carrying an undeniable gentleness, pulling her like silk threads, making her sink deeper and deeper.

…

They had been playing like this all day, and it was now evening.

The aerial pool cast shifting light and shadow. The silhouette of a tree, which had bloomed, fell onto the window glass.

“What kind of tree is that?”

Jiang Cha pointed to the shadow on the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window was a lush green garden, and further beyond, a shimmering lake, scattered with shattered gold.

“White camellia.”

Jiang Cha snuggled against her. Her neck was damp with sweat, and their warm bodies clung intimately, yet it inexplicably brought a sense of peace and relaxation. Ji Fan’s fair, long fingers ran through Jiang Cha’s hair, absently stroking her long hair, her expression serene.

“How do you know?”

“It’s my garden. Wouldn’t I know what’s planted in it?”

The double camellia blossoms heavily weighed down the branches, densely packed. The flowers reflected the deep blue sky and the lake of shattered gold. The black silhouette trembled gently on the window frame, incredibly beautiful.

“Wait.”

Jiang Cha looked at her suspiciously, tilted her head, frowned, pushed on her thin shoulder, and sat up, a little dissatisfied: “How do you know I’m younger than you?”

Ji Fan just looked at her quietly.

Jiang Cha shook her head repeatedly, “Did you remember?” Jiang Cha stared at her, “You definitely remembered.”

“The marriage certificate has our birth dates. I’ve seen it. I wouldn’t be so ignorant,” Ji Fan said.

Jiang Cha was still suspicious.

“Then why—”

She wanted to ask, Why were your techniques in that certain matter exactly the same as before, not rusty at all?

Ji Fan lowered her head, smiling without speaking.

Jiang Cha observed her expression and understood. She felt sure Ji Fan had remembered, but she didn’t mind—

After all, pretending to have amnesia and acting were not tiring for her.

Ji Fan was simply uneasy.

If she recovered her memory, would Jiang Cha bring up the divorce again?

Once the past was brought up again, it was like a heavy mountain pressing down, suffocating her.

Jiang Cha smiled softly, kissed her earlobe, “It’s okay, amnesia is amnesia. You’re cuter when you have amnesia.”

Ji Fan: “…”

She clenched her fingertips, pursed her lips slightly, and suddenly felt maddeningly jealous.

Why was Jiang Cha so good to the “her” who had lost her memory?

This thought was sudden, and she herself felt inexplicable, even a little ridiculous.

Ji Fan looked at the person next to her, lying very close.

Jiang Cha turned and kissed her collarbone.

The soft kiss, carrying dependence and a subtle affection, entwined her like dense, fine threads, like a hot spring.

In that instant, Ji Fan once again thought about a lifetime.

This thought had occurred more than once, especially frequently lately.

She wanted to be with her forever, no matter what happened.

But the past had caused her so much pain. Jiang Cha could only be completely unguarded with the self who had lost her memory. But so what? Could the past be completely erased just because of amnesia?

Seven or eight years of Jiang Cha’s youth were given to her, and she hadn’t truly received any compensation.

What could she give her?

Ji Fan wrapped her arms around Jiang Cha’s soft waist, lowered her head, and kissed her smooth forehead, deep in thought.

“That movie Blind Youth, was Jiang Cha initially cast as the lead actress?”

10 p.m., in Ji Fan’s office.

She called Jiang Cha’s agent, asked her special assistant to leave, and while holding a cup of tea, she pinched her forehead, trying to calm herself down. But the more she asked, the closer she seemed to get to the truth—

The injustice Jiang Cha suffered was greater than she thought.

The phone line was silent for a moment, and then a soft sigh came through: “Yes. The director chose her right away. She has a great aura. She was selected with just one look.”

So that was true.

If she was selected based on her own merits, how could she be so casually replaced halfway through?

Ji Fan frowned, her fingertips instinctively tightening, and she asked, “Then why was she replaced by Luo Yan later?”

“You don’t know this?”

Yang Yan laughed, “The signature of the甲方 (Party A) representative on the contract is your name.”

The sentence was light, but Ji Fan instantly froze, as if she had been shot with an arrow. A huge gash opened in her heart, and her face turned pale.

“As a normal person would understand, the biggest investor who replaced her and put Luo Yan in the role was you.”

Ji Fan frowned deeply.

It was night. She looked up and saw the moon next to her desk, hanging brightly in the distant sky—a cold crescent moon, like a dagger, suddenly stabbing into her eyes. Ji Fan lowered her gaze. The moonlight felt heavy, pressing down on her and making it difficult to breathe.

Yang Yan noticed her sudden silence and added, “But something is strange. Jiang Cha later said that the handwriting on that signature didn’t look like yours.”

Ji Fan’s pale fingers tightened, and she said coldly, “Bring me the contract.”

It was very late when the contract was delivered. Ji Fan flipped to the last page under the bright desk lamp and saw the signature.

It was indeed not her signature.

She knew whose handwriting it was with one look.

Her brother’s imitation.

Ji Fan pursed her red lips, tossed the contract onto the desk, her eyes like cold stars.

These past few days, Ji Fan had been as obedient as before for the most part, her eyes clean and clear. However, she was completely different in certain situations.

In her words: Since she was always the bottom before, it wouldn’t be too much to be the top a few times after amnesia, right?

Jiang Cha looked at her spotless eyes and didn’t know what to say, so she simply let her have her way.

Ji Fan had been exceptionally busy these days, always working late. She seemed to be secretly busy with something, but Jiang Cha didn’t ask, because she was no longer as suspicious as she used to be.

Suspicion stems from a lack of security, but now it was different.

A few more days passed, and Jiang Cha suddenly received a call from Yang Yan, who was very excited, saying she had secured an endorsement deal with a high-end luxury brand.

Securing a high-end luxury endorsement wasn’t easy, especially for someone as young and inexperienced as she was.

Countless people were jealous.

Negative comments flooded the internet, unanimously claiming that Jiang Cha was unworthy.

The spokesperson for this luxury brand was originally Luo Yan.

Her contract had expired, and she was supposed to renew it, but for some reason, Jiang Cha was suddenly informed that she would be replacing her as the ambassador. Previously, she had only endorsed light luxury perfumes and the like. This was her first time with a high-end luxury brand, so it was indeed unusual.

Before she could figure out what was going on, someone figured it out for her.

As soon as the press release about the luxury brand switching ambassadors was out, Luo Yan’s fans were immediately enraged and indignant, offering various explanations:

“Maybe the person who made the change is face-blind. They got the two confused.”

“My Luoluo’s contract expired, right? She was too lazy to renew it, and the brand wanted someone who looked similar to replace her, so they chose Jiang Cha.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“It’s because Jiang Cha’s endorsement fee is cheaper.”

The topic kept circling back to praising Luo Yan’s acting and putting down Jiang Cha.

“The blind girl that Luoluo played was truly stunning.”

“Exactly, some celebrities will never be able to learn that in their entire lives.”

“Looking similar is just an imitation (Dong Shi’s imitation).”

“The blind girl was absolutely amazing.”

“Actually, I personally think her later acting doesn’t compare to how she was when she first debuted.”

“Right, right, right. When she first debuted—”

…

Jiang Cha didn’t read in detail. The comments weren’t great, with many saying she wasn’t as good as others, although some expressed support. Jiang Cha’s index finger trembled slightly, and she closed the page.

It affected her state of mind.

Peace of mind was more important than anything else.

The endorsement photoshoot was in the morning. Jiang Cha carried her bag out, only to unexpectedly run into Luo Yan around a corner on the set.

She was wearing a light coffee-colored blazer, a white shirt, and a pencil skirt. Her long hair was neatly tied up. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, scrutinizing Jiang Cha. Jiang Cha didn’t care and simply glanced at her. When their eyes met, Luo Yan curved her red lips and offered a smile.

A purely superficial smile.

But the hostility in her eyes was completely undisguised.

A man wearing a staff badge came over and said something to her. Luo Yan nodded slightly and left with him, presumably for a work matter.

Jiang Cha only glanced at her receding figure.

They were completely different people.

When she accepted certain things, she truly became much more free-spirited.

She was wearing a periwinkle tulle dress, the gauze so fine it looked like a thin mist surrounding her. Her lips were vermilion, her skin snow-white, her eyes like stars, and her dark hair was like a cascading waterfall of ink, giving her a detached, cool aura that seemed to transcend the mundane world. She stood gracefully in front of the camera, tilted her head slightly, and lowered her gaze.

The lens zoomed in for a close-up of her face.

Her dark, ebony hair fell down, one side tucked behind her ear, the other scattered casually. Her delicate neck was fair and long, adorned with a string of white pearls, and a thin chain with a dark gold gleam hung from her translucent, fair earlobe, changing its luster as she slightly raised her chin.

Incredibly beautiful.

The earrings were called “Ever Chaine d’Ancre,” their design inspired by a ship’s anchor chain, possessing an inherent sense of balance.

“Click—”

The photographer finished the shot and thought it was good. He signaled, and the director looked at the monitor and gave an OK sign, indicating satisfaction.

After the shoot, she left the set. Turning a corner, she suddenly bumped into someone’s embrace.

“Be careful.”

The person supported her waist.

The familiar cold fragrance was intensely rich, crisp and cool, like cedar, sandalwood, and agarwood mixed together, reminiscent of a forest dampened by rain. Jiang Cha barely steadied herself, but her gaze caught her collarbone.

One button of her white shirt was undone, revealing a flat, delicate, white, and translucent collarbone, like jade.

A heat emanated from her waist, invasive and compelling.

Ji Fan held her waist but didn’t let go, her raven-feather eyelashes fluttering down, concealing a heavy gaze.

She looked at Jiang Cha, leaned in, and gently pecked her ear with her red lips.

The kiss slid to her cheek and then lingered on the corner of her lips.

The warm touch was subtle, yet palpable.

“Someone’s here…”

Jiang Cha pleaded softly, her cheeks flushed, “Please, this isn’t right.”

“No one is here.”

Ji Fan kissed her forehead and said softly, “I pushed back a meeting to come see you. And this is how you treat me? Hmm?”

Jiang Cha lowered her head, resting her chin on Ji Fan’s shoulder, and chuckled softly.

Suddenly, the sound of high heels came from behind them—the sound of a woman hastily leaving and walking into the distance.

Jiang Cha looked up just in time to see the back of the woman in the light coffee-colored blazer.