Once bitten by a snake, one fears the rope for ten years. She saw smiles as gentle as spring breeze, but eyes hiding ruthlessness, and she would be afraid.
After steadying herself, she barely looked up: “I think maintaining a normal cooperative relationship is enough.”
“But I don’t want that,” Yue Ding said softly, staring intently at Lin Xiaoman, his gaze like a snake tightly coiling around her, “For someone I like, I don’t want just a cooperative relationship.”
Lin Xiaoman felt suffocated by his gaze, like a drowning person in the deep sea.
“Be with me,” Yue Ding’s voice was like a devil’s whisper, extremely seductive, “I’ll definitely treat you better than that unsophisticated boy Ji Zhixian.”
Ji Zhixian.
In the deep sea, she saw him, tightly grasping her and pulling her out.
Lin Xiaoman woke up, her confused eyes suddenly becoming clear, looking at Yue Ding without hesitation: “I think you are far from him.”
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“Oh,” Yue Ding raised an eyebrow lightly, “I’m all ears.”
“Ding—” The elevator door opened.
Chu Daizi walked out, seeing Yue Ding and calling out happily: “Brother Yue, you’re here!”
“At least, he is more faithful than you.” Lin Xiaoman expressionlessly shifted her gaze and gracefully walked past Yue Ding.
“Brother Yue—” Chu Daizi saw the bouquet in Yue Ding’s hand and suddenly became shy, “You’re here, why bring flowers?”
Yue Ding did not answer, but stared at Lin Xiaoman’s back, the corner of his mouth curving.
Chu Daizi followed his gaze.
It was Lin Xiaoman again.
★ Chapter Thirty-Five: Concern
That night, Ji Zhixian did not return home. He often was not home due to work, and Lin Xiaoman was accustomed to it. Moreover, Lin Xiaoman had to go to H City for a signing event the next day, so she went to bed early.
The next day, seeing Qiao An’s schedule, Lin Xiaoman learned that the company had bypassed her and contacted Qiao An directly, changing the signing event to two days, with the remaining days being commercial performances. So when Qiao An saw her again, her attitude had turned cold.
After the signing event ended at noon, Lin Xiaoman met Qiao An in the dressing room, wanting to explain the commercial performance matter.
“About the commercial performance—”
Qiao An interrupted her: “I’ll give you only one chance. No explanations needed, and don’t waste my time.”
“I’ll handle things with the company.”
“It’s not just the company.” Qiao An looked directly at her, “I’ve never seen an actress who hasn’t even become famous yet causing so much trouble. Maintaining a good image is also something you should do. Although you have a good appearance and audience appeal, and even Director Ji thinks highly of you, I can only say you’re not suitable to be an actress, or rather, not the actress I need.”
Lin Xiaoman was stunned by the phrase “Director Ji thinks highly of you,” and before she could react, Qiao An had already left.
So this was how Ji Zhixian viewed her, despite always acting like “you’re not good enough.”
But it was just like something he would do, always saying one thing and meaning another.
Lin Xiaoman’s thoughts stirred, remembering Ji Zhixian’s previous words, and forwarded the previous Weibo posts related to Xiaobai to him.
When Ji Zhixian received the text message, he was in a meeting. After waiting for two days, as soon as he saw Lin Xiaoman’s name, he opened his phone, the corner of his mouth curving upward.
His usually cold subordinates looked at each other, thinking something good had happened.
“Has the company we’re acquiring agreed to compromise?” the man sitting below him asked carefully.
“No,” Ji Zhixian put away his phone.
Lin Xiaoman rarely contacted him, and although this time she seemed somewhat boastful, it was better than constantly refusing to contact him out of stubbornness.
It seemed the wild cat that had been wandering outside finally knew how to come home.
So, he should return home soon too.
Lin Xiaoman hadn’t waited for Ji Zhixian’s reply when she received a phone call from an unfamiliar number from A City. After hanging up, the number called again persistently. Lin Xiaoman answered and heard a voice that disgusted her: “Xiaoman, I heard you’re in H City.” It was Ji Yuan.
The number was probably from the company.
“Nothing, I’m hanging up.”
“I’m also in H City now.” Ji Yuan hurriedly said, “Why don’t we meet?”
“You know I’ll refuse.”
“Just a courtesy ask.” Ji Yuan’s voice still held some pleasure, “Since you don’t want to meet me, I’ll come see you. I’ll visit you this afternoon.”
Although Lin Xiaoman had always denied it online, some people still believed they were together, and the online buzz about them continued.
Ji Yuan had tasted the sweetness and was unwilling to let her go. Lin Xiaoman understood his intentions and didn’t want to waste words, directly hanging up the phone.
Xiaobai entered with a boxed meal, seeing her with a low and terrifying aura, and asked weakly: “What happened?”
“Ji Yuan said he’s coming to see me this afternoon.”
“What does that shameless dog want?”
Here is the edited article with irrelevant content removed:
Wei Qinghuan had just entered and heard Ji Yuan’s name, her anger instantly ignited, “Does he want to get beaten?”
Lin Xiaoman looked at Wei Qinghuan, gradually revealing a smile.
“Xiaoman, hiring someone to beat him will ruin your reputation,” Xiaobai hurriedly advised.
“Don’t worry, I won’t say it was Xiaoman who told me to do it,” Wei Qinghuan said loyally, patting her chest.
“Aren’t you worried about your own reputation?” Xiaobai asked.
Wei Qinghuan pondered for a moment: “I can wear a mask.”
“Let’s not think about such things in detail,” Xiaobai thought her manager was not having an easy time.
“Don’t tease him,” Lin Xiaoman’s expression relaxed slightly. “I have a plan that will let you avoid fighting but still make Ji Yuan uncomfortable. Are you interested?”
“Of course.
Although somewhat regretful, she would do anything to make that dog Ji Yuan uncomfortable.
Xiaobai, spread the word that Ji Yuan is coming to the book signing.
“Got it.”
Though she didn’t understand Xiaoman’s intention, Xiaobai knew Ji Yuan would definitely not have an easy time.
After all, for so long, she had never seen anyone gain an advantage over Lin Xiaoman.
In the afternoon, as Lin Xiaoman was signing books, sudden wild screaming erupted outside. Ji Yuan had arrived. Staff were maintaining order as he entered with flowers, holding a VIP ticket and answering a reporter’s questions.
Ji Yuan hadn’t expected reporters to be present, initially surprised, but thinking the publicity would only benefit him. He had previously gained fame by creating rumors with female celebrities. Among all the people he’d met, only Lin Xiaoman had brought him the most fans.
Though many people criticized him online, what did that matter? He had recently gained over a million followers, a significant breakthrough for someone who initially had only three million. Advertisers loved these numbers, and he might soon represent more prestigious products.
So he was happy to cooperate with the reporters’ questions.
“Yes, a friend invited me, and she gave me these tickets.”
“May I ask who this friend is?” the reporter asked loudly.
“She… you all know her,” Ji Yuan deliberately teased.
“Is it Lin Xiaoman?”
Ji Yuan smiled without answering and walked towards Lin Xiaoman.
Reporters immediately pressed: “Ms. Lin, are you aware that Mr. Ji is here for someone?”
Lin Xiaoman responded gracefully to the camera: “I’m as surprised to see Teacher Ji. We’re not close, and we don’t usually contact each other.”
Ji Yuan anticipated that Lin Xiaoman would deny their connection, but he had already called her, so she couldn’t easily deny it.
