The assistant said, "Everything is almost arranged. We just need the actors to join the crew next month. The costume fitting photos have also been taken."
Luo Fei: "Mm, Nanwei needs to perform well for me."
Without Liang Qiao, he had initially intended to dote on Shen Tingyu because her face resembled Jiang Mian.
However, Shen Tingyu proved to be incapable and was nowhere to be seen.
Fortunately, his company had plenty of beautiful young actresses, and Nanwei could fill in.
As they spoke, Nanwei pushed the door open and entered.
The assistant wisely withdrew.
If Liang Qiao were present, she would have recognized this as the woman she had seen flirting with Luo Fei at the film festival.
Luo Fei looked up, "You're becoming more casual, not even knocking before entering my office."
Nanwei pouted, "What? Are you hiding a woman in your office? Afraid I'll see her?"
She casually sat on Luo Fei's lap, her voice sweet, "I missed you! So I came to find you. I'll be joining the crew next month, and you won't see me then. Will you miss me?"
Luo Fei loved her coquettish demeanor. Hearing this, he reached out and lifted her face, "Of course, I'll miss you, so I'll visit you often."
Nanwei giggled twice, "Afei, I'm liking you more and more."
"How has my useless brother been recently?"
"How else? He does whatever I tell him to. Didn't your father ask him to submit a proposal? He's too busy trying to please me to do any work. Your father will definitely scold him then, which will be taking revenge for you." Nanwei blew a puff of air onto his face.
The fragrance was intoxicating, and Luo Fei became flustered.
He reached under her skirt, in a good mood, "Good job, have fun with that useless man for me..."
"Oh, I missed you and came specifically to find you. Don't mention others. You don't care about me at all."
"How could I not? If I didn't care, would I have gotten you the Aris endorsement?"
"Aris used to be Liang Qiao's endorsement. I don't care about others'."
"Really don't care?"
"Mmm... no, I do... I care about you the most..."
...
Seattle Bar.
In a private room.
Lu Cong still couldn't help but exclaim, "Is Nightwing really your brother?"
Chang Qin was much calmer, looking at Ji Zhixiu, "Have you investigated?"
Ji Zhixiu nodded slightly, "I have. Genetically, he is."
Chang Qin: "Let's just hope he's not another Luo Fei."
Lu Cong poured a glass of wine, "I saw the pictures online. He really looks a bit like you. Congratulations, Brother Xiu, you gained such a big brother out of nowhere."
Only someone as carefree as him would say that.
Chang Qin gave him a look.
Ji Zhixiu swirled his wine glass, unconcerned, "Just a stranger."
Lu Cong grinned, "You can't say that. What if he's had a filial affection for you since childhood? If you ask me, your grandfather's actions back then were not decent. A child is innocent! If my father dared to cheat, my sister would castrate him first."
Logically, they shouldn't comment on the affairs of elders.
However, given their lifelong friendship, they didn't hold back.
Chang Qin nodded, "Yes, you can't choose your origin."
Ji Zhixiu glanced at them, "Hearing this, you seem quite sympathetic towards him."
Lu Cong pouted, "You're such a powerful person, you don't need sympathy."
The strong never need pity or sympathy.
Chang Qin spread his hands, "Indeed, and this matter didn't leave any trauma for you."
"It didn't for me, but it was huge for my mother," Ji Zhixiu said calmly.
"Since you're all grown up, if Auntie really can't go on, then get a divorce. After the divorce, I'll have my mother find her a new spring," Lu Cong said enthusiastically.
Chang Qin laughed, "You're talking about finding a stepfather for Xiu in front of him. That's truly wicked."
Ji Zhixiu: "It's not possible to divorce."
Lu Cong sighed, "Alas, marriage is a grave. Fortunately, I haven't stepped into it."
Chang Qin mocked, "Do you even have the chance to step into it?"
Lu Cong shook his head repeatedly, "Playing around is one thing, but marriage is a separate matter."
Ji Zhixiu raised an eyebrow, "Is your sister not rushing you anymore?"
Speaking of which, Lu Cong smiled, "My sister is pregnant. My mother keeps a close eye on her at home, so she has no time for me."
That's why he had returned from traveling abroad.
It was better in China, where everything was his territory.
Chang Qin: "You must be overjoyed."
"That's right. Come, let's drink. Drown all sorrows in wine," Lu Cong raised his glass.
...
The news on the internet gradually subsided, quickly replaced by other major scandals.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mian considered it and called Nightwing, but no one answered.
She went to his company, and Ye San gave Jiang Mian his home address.
She knocked on the door for a long time before Nightwing finally appeared.
The moment he opened the door, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he leaned against the doorframe, smiling obviously, "Why are you here?"
Jiang Mian raised an eyebrow, "You're not letting me in?"
"I thought I was dreaming," he stepped aside, "Please come in."
Jiang Mian followed him inside, "I haven't seen you go to the company in a long time."
Nightwing bent down to pick up a floor cushion and threw the leftover yogurt bottles on the coffee table into the trash can, then casually said, "Too lazy to go. What would you like to drink?"
"Orange juice."
Nightwing gave an OK gesture, "This handsome guy will serve you himself."
He took two oranges from the refrigerator and put them into the blender, then leaned on the counter, "Why did you come to find me personally?"
"You didn't answer my calls."
Nightwing was taken aback, "I think I ran out of battery playing games last night and forgot to charge it."
A moment later, fresh orange juice was squeezed out.
Nightwing walked around the counter, came to the sofa, and handed it to her, "Try it."
Jiang Mian took a sip, "It's very sweet. I have something I want to ask you."
"Ask away. I'll tell you everything I know—" he lay down lazily, sitting opposite her, his attitude very cooperative.
"You... knew for a long time that Ji Zhixiu and I were married?"
Nightwing thought for a moment, "I knew he had a young wife. I only realized it was you when I first met you."
"Why were you in the Shen family's backyard then?"
"Oh..." he answered slowly, "Would you believe me if I said I went to join the fun?"
"Okay, I just wanted to see Ji Zhixiu."
He had just returned from abroad and heard that Ji's business was developing very well under Ji Zhixiu's management.
He was always one to join in the fun, so he wanted to take the opportunity to see his "brother" whom he had never met.
"I thought you would ask if I was responsible for what's happening online," he said drawlingly.
Jiang Mian held her cup, "I don't think it was you."
Who would expose their own scars and have outsiders discuss them? Nightwing wasn't that kind of person.
Nightwing chuckled, genuinely happy, "Good sister, you're so smart. It really wasn't me."
Jiang Mian sighed, "I haven't finished asking. I want to know what you were doing on the set of 'Nine Heavens Immortal'? I also specifically asked the director about your role. He said you paid him to sneak you into the crew, and then you asked him to delete your scenes. And you also took over 'Blooming Flowers'..."
Nightwing tutted, "Would you believe me if I said I had no ulterior motive?"
"No."
"What ulterior motive could I have? I have no interest in the Ji family."
"Then what are you interested in?"
"I'm interested in you." His mouth spoke faster than his heart, blurting it out.
Followed by nervousness. After a moment of tension, Nightwing pressed his tongue against his lower jaw and thought, what was there to be afraid of?
He said it, so he said it. But why was his heart so uneasy?
Jiang Mian was stunned and subconsciously avoided his gaze, "Stop messing around."
Nightwing gave a self-deprecating smile. When he lied, people always took him seriously.
When he told the truth, no one believed him.
He shrugged, "Okay, this is just me. I do whatever comes to mind."
Jiang Mian put down the empty cup, suddenly not wanting to ask anymore, "I'm going back. 'Nine Li' is about to start filming, and I have to be busy reading the script."
Nightwing stood up, "I'll see you out."
He escorted Jiang Mian to the door, "Did you drive?"
"Mm."
"Drive safely."
Jiang Mian stopped and looked at him, her expression serious, "Go back. You take care too."
Nightwing's lips curved into a smile, "Okay."
To get some warmth from her was worth it.
He knew clearly that Jiang Mian would probably not be the same with him as before.
Ji Zhixiu, how could he be so lucky?
Why did his heart feel so uneasy?
He watched Jiang Mian drive away.
Even though it was July, Nightwing felt unusually cold.
Not far away, Jing Yiyi's body was stiff.
She had never seen Nightwing smile so beautifully at anyone. It was a smile different from his usual demeanor.
It was a genuine, heartfelt happiness.
She had also never seen him look at anyone with such tenderness...
No, she had seen it once.
Before, at the bar, Nightwing had once called a woman and spoken very gently and familiarly.
Could it be this woman?
A woman's intuition told Jing Yiyi that Nightwing liked her.
The moment Nightwing turned around, he saw Jing Yiyi. He crossed his arms, "Miss Jing, not working and running to my place every day?"
Jing Yiyi hid the braised duck, which she had queued for an hour to buy, behind her back, and forced a smile that was uglier than crying, "I have something I want to ask you."
"Ask away," he said casually.
"Do you have someone you like?"
Heaven knows how much courage it took for her to ask this question!
Nightwing, not sensing her unusual emotions, nodded, "Yes, what's wrong?"
"No, nothing..."
Jing Yiyi suddenly felt like a complete idiot.
Because she was worried about Nightwing, she worked tirelessly every day after work and then took time to find him, bringing him all sorts of delicious food.
And the result? She only found out now that he had someone in his heart.
She was so sad, her heart filled with unspeakable bitterness. Jing Yiyi felt that if she didn't leave now, she would start crying in the next second.
She took two steps forward, shoved the packed braised duck into his arms, and choked out, "I bought this for you."
After saying that, she was about to retreat and leave.
Nightwing quickly grabbed her arm, puzzled from the bottom of his heart, "This isn't like you. You come here every day these past few days and insist on sitting inside, but why are you leaving today?"
The less he said, the more wronged Jing Yiyi felt.
She couldn't help but lose her temper, "It's none of your business!"
"You're throwing a tantrum for no reason. What did I do to upset you?" Nightwing tutted, "You're not cute at all."
Jing Yiyi could feel that Nightwing's mood was good, likely because that woman had just visited.
The thought made her feel even worse.
Tears welled up uncontrollably.
Nightwing looked incredulous, quickly released her hand, and took a step back, "Don't frame me, I didn't do anything to you."