diymy Chapter 57: The Cat Who Was Stepped On
Chapter 57: The Cat Who Was Stepped On
When Yang Siwei said, "If not a hundred, then fifty," Liu Yifei's smile froze for a mere tenth of a second, so quickly it was almost as if the light had momentarily blinded her.
Almost instinctively, she picked up the glass of lemonade in front of her and took a big gulp.
The slightly sour and astringent liquid slid down my throat, but it couldn't dispel the sudden surge of emotion in my heart.
The feeling came out of nowhere, like you were walking quietly down the street when someone suddenly bumped your shoulder lightly from the side. It didn't hurt, but it startled you so much that your heart skipped a beat, and you were stunned for a while.
It's normal, even natural, that Jiang Yu is liked and inquired about by many people.
He was so young, yet he had already reached a height that many people could never achieve in their entire lives.
For a man like this to become a prime target in the entertainment industry, a place where fame and fortune intertwine with the hunting grounds of emotions, is more natural than the sun rising in the east.
Moreover... isn't the relationship between them simply that of a boss and an actor, or rather, a mentor who generously gave them a precious opportunity?
At most, there's an added layer of gratitude for his help when she was ill and for his subsequent handling of the scandal.
She tried desperately to mentally suppress that inappropriate emotion.
But that subtle bitterness in my heart is like a drop of dark juice that accidentally falls into a clear glass of water, slowly but steadily spreading. The color is not strong, but the trace is clear, and no matter how you shake it, you can't get rid of it.
She was startled herself, and her fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the water glass.
From which nook or cranny did this strange and awkward feeling emerge?
Because he personally selected and pushed him to be the actor in "Black Swan," he subconsciously developed a ridiculous, childish possessiveness that thought, "This is a treasure I spotted first."
As she put down the cup, she put all her acting skills into trying to make her smile natural again, her eyes crinkling as she echoed the sentiment in a lighthearted tone.
"Then Mr. Jiang should be careful when attending events in the future. Bulletproof vests may not be effective. You'll have to guard against 'sugar-coated bullets' flying from all directions."
However, even she herself felt that what she said sounded a bit dry, like lemonade without sugar, far less lively and vivid than when she talked about training, and even revealed a deliberate attempt to cover up the truth.
Fortunately, Jiang Yu seemed completely unaware of her sudden emotional turmoil. He simply smiled and shook his head, easily steer the conversation back on track.
"Alright, stop teasing me. This meal is on you guys. Let's get down to business. Lu Yang, the first official trailer and main poster for 'The Witch' will be released next weekend. You and the four microblogs should carefully review the online and offline timing, especially the connections with theaters and media. There can't be any mistakes. Wang Zhi, Yi Long, are you both familiar with your interview outlines? You need to know what you can say and what you should be vague about..."
His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly brought the slightly off-topic party atmosphere back to work.
Everyone stopped joking and started listening attentively.
.......
For the next hour or so, the gathering continued in a generally harmonious and pleasant atmosphere.
Liu Yifei sat quietly next to Yang Siwei most of the time, listening, occasionally chiming in with a few words or a smile and nod when the topic turned to her, and everything seemed normal.
Only Yang Siwei, sitting next to her, with her unique female sensitivity and the insight gained from years of experience in human affairs, vaguely sensed that the girl beside her seemed to be a little quieter than when she first arrived.
Her gaze would occasionally drift to Jiang Yu, who was talking or looking down at his phone. Her eyes would be quick, like a startled bird skimming across the water, touching and then moving away.
On the other side, Shu Chang, as Liu Yifei's best friend who knows her best, felt it even more clearly.
She saw Liu Yifei unconsciously stirring the little lemonade left in her cup with a straw, and noticed that she would straighten her back slightly when Jiang Yu spoke.
Shu Chang sighed silently to herself, then felt a little amused. Tsk, her silly girl probably didn't even understand what was going on.
As night deepened and the cups and plates emptied, the party came to an end.
Everyone got up, said goodbye to each other, and left the secluded bar.
"Yifei, Shuchang, how are you getting there? Do you need a ride?" Yang Siwei asked considerately.
"No need, Sister Siwei, our car will be here soon, it's very convenient." Liu Yifei shook her head, put her baseball cap back on, and the shadow cast by the brim made it difficult to see her expression at this moment.
"Be careful on the road, pay attention to safety." Jiang Yu nodded to them, his tone as calm and steady as ever. "Follow the training plan, don't rush, your health comes first."
"Okay, thank you, Mr. Jiang." Liu Yifei looked up at him.
"Goodbye, President Jiang; goodbye, Sister Siwei; goodbye, Director Lu, Wang Zhi, Yi Long, and Director Shen Ao." She said goodbye to everyone in turn, her voice regaining its clarity.
After watching the two girls get into the taxi and disappear into the traffic, Yang Siwei walked up to Jiang Yu, a lingering smile in her eyes, and teased him in a low voice.
"Mr. Jiang, it seems that with your understated yet luxurious image, you'll really need a bodyguard when you go out from now on. It's impossible to guard against them all. I found Yifei's reaction just now quite interesting."
Jiang Yu was taking out his car keys when he heard this. He glanced at her, his face expressionless, and as he opened the car door, he casually said, "You have sharp eyes. I'm leaving. I need to see the first draft of the Pacific Rim report tomorrow."
Yang Si shrugged slightly and smiled as he got into the passenger seat. Bosses are always so enigmatic.
On the other side, the taxi was driving smoothly on its way back.
Liu Yifei took off her hat, letting the cool evening breeze caress her cheeks, trying to dispel the turmoil in her heart.
Her mind, however, was like a broken radio, repeatedly replaying those few lines of conversation from tonight, so clear they were almost jarring.
Who are they?
"If not a hundred, then at least fifty..."
She sighed softly and pressed her forehead against the cold car window.
What's bothering you, Liu Yifei?
Shu Chang had been observing her for a while, and finally couldn't resist. Like a little squirrel that had discovered a secret, she came over, took her arm, and lowered her voice to a whisper, but couldn't hide her excitement and gossip.
"Sisi, tell me honestly, were you jealous just now?"
"Cough! Cough cough..." Liu Yifei choked on her own saliva, sat up abruptly, and her face turned bright red.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she was both embarrassed and flustered, almost babbling incoherently: "Changchang! What nonsense are you talking about! Why would I be jealous! I was just asking casually! Out of curiosity! Yes, is curiosity not allowed?!"
"Oh~~ so it's just curiosity~~" Shu Chang drew out the melody, her round eyes crinkling with laughter like a little mouse that had stolen some sesame oil. "But to be so curious that your smile vanished, you chug lemonade, and your face turned this red? Tsk tsk, this curiosity is rather unusual!"
"I was hot! It was stuffy in the bar!" Liu Yifei protested, reaching out to cover Shu Chang's mouth. "Don't say another word! If you do, I'm ignoring you! We're not talking for ten minutes!"
Shu Chang nimbly dodged, laughing even more heartily: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything. But, as your best friend, I have to remind you of something."
She dropped her joke, leaned closer, and said with a serious teasing tone, "A man like President Jiang, young and promising, good-looking and with a great physique, and most importantly, insightful, decisive, reliable, and protective of his own, is practically a moving diamond. Isn't it perfectly normal for him to be coveted and pursued? But then again..."
She shook Liu Yifei's arm and winked at her, "Opportunity always favors the prepared. Our Qianqian is in a great position now, with a head start, so she has a huge advantage! So, don't just feel envious, cheer up, girl!"
"Sing!!" Liu Yifei was truly exasperated this time, her face flushed red as if it were about to boil, and she reached out to tickle Shu Chang's itch. "You still dare to talk! I'll teach you to talk back!"
The two girls laughed and joked in the back seat, temporarily dispelling the awkward atmosphere inside the car.