Ji Lanruo was almost out of patience when Song Xingjia finally replied, "Okay."
Ji Lanruo breathed a sigh of relief, as long as it was okay.
She sent over one-fifth of the amount, and the next payment would be made when her finances were more stable.
Then she called Jiang Mian again. Jiang Mian had just woken up, her voice still laced with a hint of seductive charm.
Ji Lanruo twitched her lips. "I guess your President Ji didn't go easy on you last night?"
Jiang Mian cleared her throat to change the subject. "What new challenge do you have today?"
Ji Lanruo took out the script, which was covered in scribbles. "What do you think Jiang Yuer's feelings are for that regent?"
She then sighed, "It would be great if you were here, we could rehearse together."
Jiang Mian said, "I'm not there, but I know someone who can definitely rehearse with you."
Ji Lanruo's body trembled. She quickly asked, "Who, who?"
Jiang Mian replied, "Song Xingjia, he told me a couple of days ago that he's currently in Hengdian. What a coincidence, you are too."
Ji Lanruo immediately said, "No!"
She thought to herself, what's a mere coincidence, they had just bumped into each other.
Jiang Mian had long sensed that something was amiss between her and Song Xingjia, but she had never had the chance to ask.
Seeing Ji Lanruo's strong reaction now made her even more curious. "What happened between you two?"
Ji Lanruo stammered, "Nothing!"
She didn't want to talk about those old, irrelevant matters. Anyway, she didn't like Song Xingjia anymore!
Jiang Mian said slowly, "Okay, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. But I want to say that besides Actor Song, there's probably no one else who can help you. You live so close to each other, if you went to him every day for guidance, wouldn't progress be easy?"
"Besides, with Actor Song's help, even if you don't get the role of Jiang Yuer, you'll still make great progress."
"Think about it carefully, don't let the opportunity slip away."
After hanging up the phone, Ji Lanruo collapsed onto the bed, feeling like life was meaningless.
If she went, she would lose all face, and that old man Song Xingjia might not even help her.
If she didn't go and lost the audition, she would have to use her own money to make Yu Rongrong the lead actress.
Just thinking about spending her own money to promote the person she hated the most made Ji Lanruo want to die.
Moreover, and most importantly, it was too embarrassing!
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Someone help me!"
The little assistant, carrying two large bags full of groceries, had just entered the room when she heard a wail.
She patted her chest, startled. She thought a thief had broken in, but it turned out her boss was having a fit.
Ji Lanruo suddenly sat up from the bed. No, she couldn't just wait to be defeated!
The little assistant took out two cans of fruit wine from the shopping bag, opened one, and handed it to her. "Ruoruo, what's wrong again?"
Ji Lanruo took it weakly and took a swig. "Feifei, I have a question for you."
The little assistant sat down on the carpet. "Please, go ahead."
"If, I mean, hypothetically, you confessed to a man you liked in the past, and were rejected, and he said he only saw you as a sister..."
Feifei blurted out, "Scumbag!"
"No, no, no, he's not," Ji Lanruo quickly said.
"Then what?" Feifei looked up, confused.
"He's just..." Ji Lanruo faltered. "Never mind, it's not important."
"Then what do you want to ask?" Feifei tore open a bag of potato chips.
Ji Lanruo asked, "If you absolutely had to ask him for something now, would you go?"
Feifei said indifferently, "Yes."
Ji Lanruo asked, "Why?"
Feifei replied, "You said you absolutely had to ask him, so of course you'd go. Think about it, is it more serious if you don't ask him, or if you do ask him?"
Ji Lanruo fell into thought.
If she didn't go to Song Xingjia, no one would help her, and she would be eliminated from the audition and be mocked.
If she went to Song Xingjia... that man, at most, would reject her? She would only lose a little bit of face.
It was better than not being able to act anything at the audition.
Ji Lanruo understood.
Losing face in front of Song Xingjia alone was better than losing face in front of so many people.
She took out her phone and opened WeChat.
Seeing this, Feifei patted her butt and sat up. "You've had an epiphany."
Ji Lanruo nodded seriously. "I've had an epiphany. One shouldn't make things difficult for oneself."
She opened the chat window and carefully organized her words: "Actor Song, can I ask you for a favor?"
Song Xingjia replied instantly: "4120"
Ji Lanruo: "???"
Song Xingjia: "Come to my room and say it."
"Huh?" Ji Lanruo stared at the conversation on her phone in shock. This man was actually asking her to go to his room?
What did he mean?
Or had this man changed after three years of not seeing each other?
Ji Lanruo walked out in a daze. She had to go, even if they were talking about it.
Feifei looked up. "Ruoruo, where are you going?"
"I'm going to..." Ji Lanruo turned her head. "I'm going to find reinforcements. You wait here for me."
Feifei nodded blankly. "Oh... okay..."
Ji Lanruo walked out with mixed feelings. Only when she got outside did she realize that Song Xingjia was on the same floor as her.
It made sense, Hengdian was just that big, and they were familiar with the places they frequented.
Ji Lanruo walked to the door and knocked while lost in thought.
The door was opened quickly.
Ji Lanruo's heart suddenly relaxed.
Song Yan opened the door.
Three years had passed, and Song Yan looked no different than he did three years ago.
Seeing Ji Lanruo, there was obvious joy in his eyes. He stepped aside. "Miss Ji! Please come in!"
Ji Lanruo was also very happy. She also liked Song Yan as a friend.
She nodded. "Long time no see."
As soon as Song Yan saw her, he couldn't help but start chatting. "It's been three years, Miss Ji, you've become even more beautiful! I didn't expect you to be in the same industry as our President now!"
Ji Lanruo nodded vaguely. "Am I famous in your Hong Kong City?"
Song Yan scratched his head. "You are, somewhat. Everyone praises your beauty."
Ji Lanruo understood. It seemed like it was the same everywhere; everyone knew she was just a pretty face.
Song Yan comforted her. "It's okay, let our President guide you, Miss Ji's acting skills will definitely improve quickly."
Ji Lanruo walked inside. Song Xingjia's suite was obviously much larger than hers.
She asked quietly, "When did you guys come to Kyoto?"
Song Yan replied, "The President has been overworked lately, and an old ailment from filming relapsed, so he came to Kyoto to see an old Chinese doctor who treated him before."
He continued, "Hengdian had rain yesterday, and it got worse, so the President hasn't left his room until now."
Ji Lanruo silently grumbled: No wonder he asked her to come, he was feeling unwell.
Reaching the inner bedroom, Song Yan stopped. "You go in, Miss Ji. I still have some things to handle."
Ji Lanruo nodded. "Okay."
In the spacious inner bedroom.
Song Xingjia was changing his clothes.
Hengdian had entered the plum rain season.
He had originally planned to meet an old friend, but now, this rain made him very uncomfortable.
The air was already humid, let alone the old ailment that had flared up along with it.
When Ji Lanruo entered, she saw this scene of a handsome man undressing.
Her head felt hazy.
The man's back, with its smooth, firm, and powerful lines...