Chapter 20: Justifiable Actions

As winter arrived, the nighttime rain grew colder. Even with a small window open, the chilly wind felt like sharp blades, biting at the skin.

There was a knock at the door. Jiang Xingxing quickly jumped down from her chair and ran to the door, opening it just a crack.

Outside stood a man wearing a thin white shirt, his originally neat tie hanging loosely to one side. He had come through the rain, looking a bit disheveled, but still managed a faint smile and made a peace sign at her through the gap in the door.

Trying to act cute.

Jiang Xingxing glared at him, annoyed, but she unlocked the door and let him in.

Shang Jie’s white shirt was soaked, clinging wetly to his body, faintly revealing the sensuous color of his skin. He was holding a large bouquet of bright, gaudy red roses.

“Every flower shop was closed, had to run quite far to get these. My apology.” He held the bouquet out to Jiang Xingxing. “What I said on the phone just now, that wasn’t my intention. You know that.”

Of course, Jiang Xingxing knew. From the moment that unfamiliar male voice started asking leading questions, she sensed something was off and knew his words were insincere.

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This was probably the scent of his future home.

“You.” He closed his eyes, nuzzling her with his nose, his voice tender. “So considerate, you never even throw a tantrum, making me want to comfort you.”

Jiang Xingxing couldn’t help but hug the back of his head, gently touching the damp nape of his neck. “Mr. Shang, I cherish your kindness to me very much. Although I don’t know when you’ll leave, the thought of our time together being so limited makes me not want to waste a single second being mad at you. I just want to make the most of it.”

Such a sweet girl.

He looked up at her. Under the light, her face was calm and gentle, her hair casually tied into a ponytail, with a few stray strands falling around her ears. Her eyelashes were thick and curled, and her lips were small yet well-shaped.

She wasn’t exactly the strikingly beautiful type, but there was a quiet, composed aura about her that set her apart from the usual crowd, making her the one and only Jiang Xingxing.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Jiang Xingxing felt shy, averting her gaze, her earlobes turning red.

Shang Jie smiled. “You’re beautiful.”

“Mr. Shang, stop teasing me. How am I beautiful?”

At most, she was just not ugly.

Shang Jie raised his hand, his rough thumb gently brushing her cheek. “What I like is the most beautiful.”

It was an illogical statement, but when he said sweet, teasing words like that, they never failed to strike a chord in her heart. Jiang Xingxing gave him a light push. “Go take a shower already, don’t catch a cold. I’ll go heat up some supper. I even bought beer, so I can have a drink with you later.”

Shang Jie casually pulled at a plastic bag on the table. “What goodies did you buy?”

Jiang Xingxing was caught off guard and tried to snatch the bag back, but Shang Jie had already taken out a box of condoms and waved it. “Hmm?”

Jiang Xingxing’s face instantly turned bright red. “That’s… not what you think.”

“Oh, it’s not what I think?” Shang Jie nodded thoughtfully. “So, you bought these… to blow up balloons?”

Jiang Xingxing: …

After his shower, Shang Jie changed into a clean shirt and joined her for dinner. Then, the two of them sat on the sofa to watch TV.

Shang Jie enjoyed watching game live streams, while Jiang Xingxing preferred movies. In the past, they often fought over the remote, but in the end, Shang Jie would always give in, grumbling a bit before patiently watching the movie with her.

Tonight, however, he was unusually quiet. Whatever she watched, he watched along with her.

The room was dark, with only the dim light from the TV casting a glow on his sharply defined face. From Jiang Xingxing’s angle, she could see his long, delicate eyelashes.

Jiang Xingxing asked, “Are you going back tonight?”

“Coming here was like breaking through multiple barriers and defeating six generals. Lawrence will definitely have someone keeping an eye on my mansion tonight.” Shang Jie’s expression showed a hint of impatience.

Jiang Xingxing curled up in the corner of the sofa, absentmindedly fiddling with the buttons on the remote. “Then you shouldn’t have come.”

“I promised you, and when I make a promise, I keep it,” Shang Jie said. “But I can’t stay long.”

“Better go back, don’t let him get more suspicious. I don’t want you to…” She tried to sound casual. “I’m still counting on you, the big boss, to make me famous.”

Shang Jie pinched her cheek gently, a faint smile on his lips. “Not even willing to sleep with me, but want me to make you famous? Dream on.”

Jiang Xingxing knew he was joking, and she pushed his hand away. “Just go, don’t waste time.”

“Come here and let me hold you.”

Jiang Xingxing hesitated but didn’t move. Shang Jie nudged her with his foot, insisting stubbornly, “Let me hold you.”

So Jiang Xingxing moved closer, unsure how he intended to hold her.

Shang Jie reached out, slipping his arms under her armpits and pulling her into an embrace from behind, resting his chin on her neck, his nose gently grazing her soft skin.

His warm breath tickled her, making Jiang Xingxing giggle.

Shang Jie’s hands rested on her front, lightly cradling her, not doing anything more.

He held her tightly for a long while before saying, “I don’t want to let go now.”

“What?” Jiang Xingxing turned her head.

“Making you my mistress—it’s not right or fair.” Shang Jie took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. “If one day I disappear, people will say you were just a woman used and discarded by Shang Jie, ruining your reputation. I don’t want that.”

Jiang Xingxing was touched by his care and thoughtfulness. “Thank you, Mr. Shang.”

“Especially…” He opened his alluring eyes, gently kissing her earlobe. “You’re still a baby, and I can’t bring myself to ruin that.”

Jiang Xingxing shivered at his bold teasing.

She wasn’t particularly concerned about being a virgin or not, unlike some conservative women who treated it as a bargaining chip for choosing a partner.

Jiang Xingxing didn’t believe her value was defined by that membrane symbolizing female chastity. As someone who had never been in a relationship, she just hadn’t had the chance. To her, sex was a beautiful thing, and she was willing to give herself to the man she truly loved if that time ever came.

Jiang Xingxing looked back at Shang Jie. His features were almost flawless, his handsomeness utterly captivating. Those affectionate, almond-shaped eyes reflected his deep infatuation with her, and no woman could resist the masculine charm radiating from him.

“Mr. Shang, if you want, we can start by dating,” Jiang Xingxing said. “Do you want to be in a relationship with me?”

Shang Jie smiled warmly, playfully pinching her round nose. “You think we’re not already dating?”

She was already sitting in his lap, in such an intimate position that it would be a bit much for them not to be lovers.

Jiang Xingxing shrugged. “Alright then.”

Alright, they were already a couple. They just hadn’t officially said it out loud yet.

“There’s actually a better solution,” Shang Jie brought up again. “Marry me and move into my house. Even if I leave in the future, whether to divorce or not will be up to you.”

“Mr. Shang, please, I haven’t even started dating you yet, and you’re already talking about marriage and even divorce.”

How absurd.

Shang Jie quickly said, “Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up again.”

He was always very obedient to his girlfriend. If she said one thing, it was one thing; if she said another, it was another. All he could do was comply.

They snuggled on the sofa for a while longer, and then Shang Jie said, “Don’t call me Mr. Shang anymore.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Since we’re officially a couple now, how about using a more intimate name?”

“Jiejie?”

Shang Jie: …

He rubbed his forehead. “Mr. Shang is just fine, thank you.”

Jiang Xingxing thought for a moment. It was true that “Mr. Shang” felt too distant, so she decided to change it. “How about ‘darling’?”

Shang Jie raised an eyebrow, seeming quite satisfied with this term.

“Time to head back.” He got up to leave, and Jiang Xingxing quickly grabbed an umbrella and walked him to the door. “Did you drive here?”

“No, driving would be too conspicuous. I parked at the mall’s underground lot and ran over.”

“It’s still raining outside.” Jiang Xingxing felt a bit concerned for her new boyfriend. “Wait until the rain eases up before you go.”

Shang Jie turned around, pinned her against the wall, and bit down on her lower lip, his breath hot. “My self-control isn’t that strong. If you keep asking me to stay, I might really not leave tonight. Are you sure about that?”

Jiang Xingxing stared at his handsome features, eyes wide, and nodded nervously. “Darling, take it slow. The roads are slippery when it rains; don’t slip.”

A faint smile curved on Shang Jie’s lips as he ruffled her bangs. “I’m off.”

“The umbrella!”

“Don’t need it.” The man waved casually, striding out into the rain.

Jiang Xingxing stood at the door, watching his figure disappear into the downpour. She felt a sudden warmth in her heart, touched—not just by his gentleness and consideration but by the vibrant, unrestrained energy he exuded.

They were clearly two very different people. How had they shared the same body all these years?

…

The movie “City of Daylight” ultimately cast Jiang Xingxing as the lead actress. Director Gu Ye was very satisfied with her, as it had been a long time since he had seen an actor with such solid skills. The only regret was… the pink scar on her forehead.

In the early scenes, Bai Qingqing was a pure university student, so the scar could be hidden with bangs. In the later scenes, as she became a dancer, makeup could be used to conceal the scar with a rose tattoo.

During filming, Gu Ye witnessed Jiang Xingxing’s outstanding performance many times, lamenting how unfortunate it was. If she had a normal face—not even necessarily a beautiful one—her impressive acting skills would have made her a breakout star.

What a pity.

Jiang Xingxing cherished this opportunity, striving for perfection in every scene. She had the fewest NGs among all the actors.

Qiao Qiao ended up as a minor supporting role, and the same fate befell An Man, who was initially slated to be the lead actress.

However, her acting was quite mediocre, which greatly displeased the director. So, after Jiang Xingxing’s audition, Director Gu Ye immediately decided to replace An Man with Jiang Xingxing as the lead.

As for An Man, she became a supporting actress.

An Man harbored intense hostility toward Jiang Xingxing. She couldn’t understand why someone like Jiang Xingxing, who had neither a background nor good looks, ended up replacing her as the lead actress.

Meanwhile, Qiao Qiao, who was also cast as a supporting actress, began fervently clinging to An Man, knowing that An Man had gained some fame over the past two years.

Egged on by Qiao Qiao, An Man’s resentment toward Jiang Xingxing only deepened. According to Qiao Qiao, it was either because Jiang Xingxing had slept with the director or had used some underhanded tactics to force the director into choosing her.

“We used to be extras in the same production. Jiang Xingxing loves sucking up to directors,” Qiao Qiao said.

“She acts like a pure, sweet white lotus, but she’s actually very cunning. We were all just extras, yet she managed to land a role with lines.”

“It was all thanks to how she cozied up to the director. Ugh, we wouldn’t stoop that low. Just thinking about it makes me sick.”

…

With Qiao Qiao’s words feeding her anger, An Man became convinced that Jiang Xingxing was inherently vile. For someone so disgraceful to steal her leading role was utterly unjust!

The accumulation of her pent-up anger finally drove An Man to act.

In the dressing room, Jiang Xingxing had just finished her makeup and was about to head to the set. Before she could get up, An Man suddenly grabbed a bottle of mineral water and doused her with it.

The water poured all over Jiang Xingxing’s head, soaking her carefully styled hair and smearing her makeup, leaving her looking utterly disheveled.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

It was already mid-winter, and the temperature in the film studio was several degrees below freezing. Today’s shoot was outdoors, and Jiang Xingxing was dressed in a traditional qipao, which offered little protection from the cold. She was already freezing.

The ice-cold water trickled down her head, chilling her to the bone, and her lips turned blue and purple.

The nearby crew quickly rushed over to intervene, but An Man tossed the empty bottle onto the table, pointing at Jiang Xingxing. “You filthy woman, this is a little lesson for you. You better remember it, or next time, it won’t be so easy.”

The dressing room fell silent. None of the actors dared to speak up for Jiang Xingxing because An Man had powerful backers, making her difficult to deal with. That was why she could act so arrogantly.

Jiang Xingxing shivered, her body trembling, looking like a drenched, pitiful kitten.

A kind colleague offered her a down jacket to cover herself, but Jiang Xingxing pushed it away. She stood up and walked straight over to An Man’s makeup mirror.

“Apologize.”

An Man continued painting her nails a bright red, arrogantly responding, “Apologize? You’re dreaming.”

Jiang Xingxing, pale from the cold, shakily grabbed two bottles of body paint from the makeup station—one blue and one red, used for skin painting by the makeup artist.

Without any hesitation, she poured both bottles over An Man’s head.

The paint was an oily substance that was difficult to wash off. It soaked right into An Man’s hair, covering her head entirely.

Caught off guard, An Man let out a loud, raspy squawk. “Are you insane?!”

Jiang Xingxing threw down the paint bottles and said coldly, “This is your lesson. Next time you act disgracefully, remember this.”

She repeated An Man’s own words, returning them to her word for word.

---

Sansukini: Somebody’s itching to get banned by the boss.

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