Chapter 84: Playing a Role

Jiang Jize sent a message on his phone and strode off, full of confidence. Tang Ziyu glanced at her phone: "Come to the dressing room." After reading it, she tossed the phone aside. "What a lunatic," she muttered.

Just because you say so, why should I go?

A while later, Jiang Jize returned, his face thunderous, and sat down beside the director without a word. The tension around him grew palpable; everyone was left guessing what had set him off this time.

Director Li called Bai Chenxi over to review the footage they’d just shot. But that wasn’t the point—the real issue was…

"Hey! What’s wrong with that ancestor of ours? He’s been wearing a scowl since morning. Wasn’t he just fine a bit ago?"

Bai Chenxi spread her hands. "How should I know?"

"How can you not? He turned like this right after talking to you. You’re responsible for getting him out of here. If you can’t, at least calm him down."

With that brooding storm god sitting there, even the most easy-going would be on edge!

Bai Chenxi pointed to herself. "How is this my fault? He was just fine when he left." Was this what it meant to get hit by a falling pot while sitting at home?

Director Li wasn’t about to listen to explanations. He hurried her along. "Go on, quick!"

Just as Bai Chenxi begrudgingly stood up, Jiang Jize suddenly left. Bai Chenxi looked back at Director Li, hands spread in exasperation. Surely this had nothing to do with her now!

Tang Ziyu had just stepped out of the restroom when someone grabbed her arm and dragged her forward.

She glanced at the figure from behind and only then lowered the fist she’d almost thrown.

Jiang Jize had barely come to a stop when she wrenched her arm free with force. "Jiang Jize, are you crazy?"

Irritated, Jiang Jize asked, "Why didn’t you come?"

She looked at him coolly. "Why should I? I think we’re done with each other, aren’t we?"

Jiang Jize ground his teeth. "Didn’t you know I was waiting for you?"

"So what if you wait? That means I have to go?"

He stared at her as if she were a stranger. When had the gentle, obedient girl in his eyes turned into this? Clearly, he’d let her grow too wild.

He looked at her, half-angry, half-amused. "Tang Ziyu, you’ve got guts now—daring to talk back to me."

Seeing his expression, Tang Ziyu didn’t even waste another word. She turned to leave.

As she tried to go, Jiang Jize grabbed her without thinking. She didn’t look back. "What now, President Jiang? Can’t bear to let me go? Don’t forget, your new flame is still sitting over there. Not everyone is as generous as I am."

Suddenly, Jiang Jize smiled, brimming with confidence. "Tang Ziyu, you’re jealous."

She turned, mocking. "Jealous? Do you really think that’s the right word for whatever’s left between us?"

For a moment, Jiang Jize’s face froze, but he stubbornly insisted, "You’re definitely jealous."

He closed in, using his height to bear down on her. "I know perfectly well what you’re thinking, Tang Ziyu. You can’t hide from me."

His words seemed to cut deep. She pushed him away, hard.

He was still reeling from being shoved when she exploded.

"You think you know me? Don’t flatter yourself. Everything you’ve seen was an act. The person standing before you now is the real me."

For some reason, Jiang Jize felt a pang of panic, as if the person before him no longer belonged to him. But he forced himself to say, "Real or fake, you’re still mine."

Tang Ziyu dropped her gaze, defeated. With the way they’d met, she’d never had the right to ask for anything more.

When Jiang Jize returned, his stormy face had turned vacant and lost. Bai Chenxi sidled up to Director Li and whispered, "See, Director? Has nothing to do with me."

Director Li glanced at her, smug after clearing her name. Was that really the point? The real issue was how to get this ever-moodier investor out of here before he caused any more trouble.

Director Li solemnly patted Bai Chenxi on the shoulder. "Good luck! Get that god out of here for me."

How did this become my problem? Bai Chenxi was promptly dispatched to Jiang Jize.

She greeted him awkwardly, "Mr. Jiang…"

He lifted his eyes lazily, but when he saw her, his gaze brightened. He greeted her warmly, "Miss Bai, please, have a seat."

Bai Chenxi sat down, uneasy. His mood changed so quickly—it couldn’t bode well.

Sure enough, Jiang Jize got straight to the point.

"Miss Bai, could you do me a favor?"

She eyed him warily. "What kind of favor?"

"Help me act out a scene."

Hearing it was her specialty, Bai Chenxi agreed readily. Acting was no big deal, after all.

Then she realized this was not that kind of acting. Jiang Jize murmured an apology, grabbed her hand, and gazed at her tenderly. "How are you? Are you tired?"

She snapped, "Tired? Let go of me! If it weren’t for the help you gave me last time, I’d have slapped you by now."

Seeing her genuinely angry, Jiang Jize hurried to explain. "Sister-in-law, don’t be mad—it’s all just for show."

So this was the kind of acting he meant. Wait, Bai Chenxi pulled her hand back. "You could’ve said so from the start. Are you not satisfied with the amount of gossip linking me already?"

"Sister-in-law, have mercy. Just help a brother out!"

"No." Bai Chenxi rejected him flatly. Was this a joke? She already had more scandals than she could handle. "Also, who are you calling sister-in-law? Watch your mouth."

Jiang Jize gritted his teeth. Sorry, brother—if your wife finds out, so be it.

"If you help me with this act, I’ll tell you something about Chu Muyun. I guarantee you don’t know it, and it’ll be worth your while."

What to do? The offer was too tempting. She wanted to say yes. But no—was she that unprincipled?

"I’ll do it." Fine, she really didn’t have any principles at all.

"You say first."

"You act first."

They stared each other down for a while before Jiang Jize gave in. "I’ll give you half up front as collateral, the rest after the job’s done."

She considered it. "Deal." What a swindler.

Jiang Jize scooted a little closer and began his story. "I met Chu Muyun while we were studying abroad. Back then, he was the campus heartthrob—though of course, a notch below me."

Bai Chenxi rolled her eyes inwardly. Who knew who was a notch below whom.

Jiang Jize continued, full of self-admiration. "The girls chasing after him were only a little fewer than those after me."

She couldn’t help interrupting, "Come on, can we be real for a second?"

Truly a pair—her talent for retorts matched his perfectly.

Jiang Jize cleared his throat. "Back on topic. There was a girl at school who pursued Brother Chu relentlessly. She was really something—looks, figure, personality, you name it. Even us, his friends, had to give her credit."

Noticing Bai Chenxi’s skeptical stare, he quickly amended, "Of course, Brother Chu didn’t care for her at all. Don’t get the wrong idea."

He glanced at her again. "Guess he just didn’t like that type. No matter how hard she chased, he never agreed."

He leaned in, deliberately piquing her curiosity. "Do you know what this girl did to win over Chu Muyun?"

Bai Chenxi asked eagerly, "What?"

Jiang Jize leaned back in his chair. "To find out what happened next, tune in next time."

She was ready to throttle him.

"Mr. Jiang, do you know what happens to people who only tell half the story?"