A Washed-up Movie Queen's Divorce Strategy [Rebirth] - Chapter 26

Han Xinyuan glanced at her phone and, seeing it was time, went to the bathroom to wash off her face mask. Coming back out, she smiled and asked Ming Yan, “What made you suddenly ask about that?”

“Nothing… just…” The expression on Ming Yan’s face was slightly unnatural. “Look, you’ve clung to my sister since we were kids and haven’t really spent time with anyone else. You always say you like her, but what exactly is ‘liking’ someone, anyway? Why are you so certain it has to be my sister?”

Han Xinyuan hadn’t expected Ming Yan to ask this. She went blank for a moment; she had never actually thought about it.

Liking—or loving—wasn’t it just an instinct? From the second Ming Lang held her hand years ago and said she would protect her for a lifetime, Han Xinyuan had regarded Ming Lang as her private property. Ming Lang was supposed to be hers. Even seeing Ming Lang say two words to someone else, regardless of gender, would make Han Xinyuan miserable for half a day. If that didn’t count as “liking,” what did?

But when Ming Yan asked what liking was, Han Xinyuan didn’t know how to organize the words to answer. She could only mumble vaguely, “It’s like how I feel about your sister—that’s what liking is.”

Ming Yan laughed. “And what exactly do you like about her? After all these years, I feel like your ‘liking’ for my sister isn’t much different from how I feel about her, except you’re clingier.”

“Isn’t that just it? You’ve seen the difference yourself, so why ask me?” Han Xinyuan found the loophole in Ming Yan’s words and breathed a sigh of relief, playfully turning the tables. “You’re asking me about feelings? Between the boyfriends and girlfriends you’ve dated, you could probably form an entire army battalion. You mean to tell me you don’t know what liking is?”

“Get out,” Ming Yan joked. “I was just making friends and having fun. Is that the same as you?”

Ming Yan loved to play. Her parents pampered her, and Ming Lang was too busy with work to watch her constantly. Once she became an adult, the supervision lessened even more. Naturally, Ming Yan mixed with a crowd of “fair-weather friends” of all genders. When things got close, some would suggest taking the next step. Ming Yan would figure “why not try,” and as long as they were good-looking, she didn’t care if they were male or female. To outsiders, it looked messy, but those close to her knew she had boundaries. Most of it ended at a superficial level, and she’d break up with them in two weeks or a month. It was rare for her to even hold hands. So while she seemed liberated, she was actually quite conservative. Before Xie Qinglan went abroad, the two often hit the bars together, and Ming Yan was frequently teased by her for this. She hadn’t expected even Han Xinyuan to join in.

“It really is different. I’m not as fickle as you,” Han Xinyuan smiled.

They were still young, and the conversation soon drifted elsewhere. After some playful bantering, Ming Yan asked again, “But in all these years, have you never thought about trying with someone else? What if you don’t actually like my sister? Wouldn’t that be a huge waste?”

“I don’t want to,” Han Xinyuan rejected the idea without a thought. “Among all the men and women out there, no one is better than Ming Lang.”

Seeing her stubbornness, Ming Yan lost her temper and could only mutter to herself, “I wonder what this thing called ‘love’ truly is…”

“Love?” Han Xinyuan laughed. “Love is wanting that person to only look at me, only listen to me, only think I’m good, and be willing to die for me.”

She thought for a moment and added, “Ideally, I’d lock her up—lock her up for a lifetime—so that I’m the only one in her world. That way, she can never escape.”

Han Xinyuan curled her lips into a smile, her white teeth looking sharp under the light. Ming Yan felt a shiver run down her spine. She thought: If this is truly love, then love is a bit too terrifying.

The mountain weather was unpredictable; even the forecasts were unreliable. The night before, the search result clearly showed today would be sunny, but when Ji Chenli woke up at 5:30 AM and looked out the window, raindrops were battering the glass with a loud patter-patter. It was a torrential downpour. She thought: Looks like filming will be delayed. Sure enough, she soon received a work-stop notice from the staff. Ji Chenli yawned, preparing to crawl back into bed for a nap.

But there are always those who lack the sense to avoid disturbing a person’s morning rest. Just as Ji Chenli’s head touched the pillow, there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Ji Chenli asked irritably.

The person outside didn’t speak but kept knocking persistently. Annoyed, Ji Chenli threw her pillow, put on her slippers, and went to open the door. “Stop knocking! I’m dead!”

The door opened to reveal Han Xinyuan, perfectly made up and dressed. She had originally been preparing to film her reality show, so she wore a fresh, natural “no-makeup” look that made her skin look flawless. Dressed in sharp sportswear and a baseball cap, she looked healthy and energetic. In contrast, Ji Chenli was wearing pink cartoon cotton slippers bought at a supermarket sale, baggy pajama pants with a nearly spent elastic band, and a faded cotton T-shirt. Her face was dull from lack of sleep and her hair was a mess. She wasn’t as stunning as Han Xinyuan to begin with; in this comparison, the gap was even wider.

Of course, Ji Chenli had the silk camisole nightgowns Feng Cai had prepared, but she found those things uncomfortable to sleep in and had long since stuffed them away.

“Is there something?” Ji Chenli asked, leaning lazily against the doorframe with a yawn.

“I was so worried about A-Yan’s health yesterday that I think I left my wallet here. I wonder if it’s around?” Han Xinyuan gave a sorry smile and playfully stuck her tongue out, radiating a “girl next door” charm.

Ji Chenli scratched her head and remembered that she did have it. That wallet had been a gift from Ming Lang to Han Xinyuan; Ji Chenli had a great memory and remembered everything clearly. “It is. I’ll get it for you.” Ji Chenli had been too tired yesterday and planned to have Ming Yan return it today, but before she could see Ming Yan, Han Xinyuan had come knocking.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you so early, it’s just…” Han Xinyuan lowered her head bashfully, her face flushing slightly. “It’s just that that wallet is very important to me.”

Ji Chenli watched Han Xinyuan’s solo performance and couldn’t help but laugh on the spot. “Hey, it’s just the two of us here. Who are you acting for?”

“Miss Ji, it really is important to me…”

“I know, and I didn’t say I wouldn’t give it back?” Ji Chenli leaned against the doorframe, amused. “Wait here.” She moved to close the door.

“Miss Ji!”

“What now?” Ji Chenli felt helpless. “Han Xinyuan, I surrender this round. It’s early morning and I just want to sleep; I don’t have the energy for a battle of wits with you.”

“Can… can I come in to talk?” Han Xinyuan glanced around.

Ji Chenli understood. The entertainment industry was a place where gossip grew wild. This entire floor was occupied by two production crews. It seemed quiet, but behind the doors, who knew how many people were pressing their ears against the wood waiting for “inside info.” In a small guesthouse like this, one could imagine the soundproofing.

“Come in.” Ji Chenli stood aside to let Han Xinyuan in, then shut the door with a thud, leaving those “ears” on the other side.

Since Han Xinyuan was here, Ji Chenli’s nap was ruined. she recalled where she had put the wallet—had she tossed it onto the shoe cabinet at the entryway? She checked, and there it was. She handed it to Han Xinyuan. “Here, your wallet.”

“Thank you.” Han Xinyuan took it, gave Ji Chenli a grateful smile, and quickly flipped it open. “Thank heavens, the photo isn’t lost.”

Ji Chenli ignored her, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water on the TV stand, and took a sip.

“Aren’t you curious, Miss Ji?” Han Xinyuan asked.

Ji Chenli asked in confusion, “Curious about what?”

“Curious about what the photo is.” Han Xinyuan specifically brandished the open wallet in front of Ji Chenli’s eyes. Ji Chenli laughed again.

If the Ji Chenli of the past had seen that photo, she truly would have been jealous to death. The photo showed a teenage Ming Lang and Han Xinyuan; Han Xinyuan was piggybacking on Ming Lang, her arms around Ming Lang’s neck, smiling radiantly. It was as ambiguous as could be.

Ji Chenli merely mocked Han Xinyuan in her heart for being too young. Without the years of fighting Ji Chenli had endured, Han Xinyuan really hadn’t mastered her craft yet. How could she just blatantly shove the photo in front of Ji Chenli’s face? That was so ineffective. It should have been a “casual accident”—for example, spilling a water cup, wetting the wallet, and then Han Xinyuan, fearing for the photo, would quickly pull it out to dry it in front of Ji Chenli while wiping it with concern. The more important something is, the more casually it should be displayed to the enemy; that has impact.

“It looks nice,” Ji Chenli smiled. “Miss Han looks better with straight hair; it has more character.” She pointed at the straight-haired girl in the photo, and then at the current Han Xinyuan with her chestnut wavy curls.

“You!” Han Xinyuan’s move failed. She took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth with a smile, “Miss Ji is indeed sharp. No wonder A-Lang likes you so much, even going as far as sending her long-time friend abroad and ruining her career for you.”

She really hasn’t mastered her craft. The Han Xinyuan from seven years in the future would never speak like this. Ji Chenli sighed; she felt no sense of accomplishment bullying a young girl like this. She gave a magnanimous smile. “You flatter me, Miss Han.”

“Ji Chenli!” Han Xinyuan snapped, her face flushing with anger. “You’re a promise-breaker!”

Ji Chenli pleaded innocence. “How am I a promise-breaker?”

“You said you would leave Ming Lang!”

“…I didn’t say I wouldn’t leave her, Miss.” Ji Chenli was exasperated. “Miss Han, I swear, I truly do not like Ming Lang one bit—not a single shred, not a tiny speck. Once this movie is done, we’ll divorce. I won’t delay you for a second!”

“You’re lying! Ming Lang clearly… clearly…”

At the mention of Ming Lang, Ji Chenli felt her own anger rising. If that little President had just kept hating her like before and signed the divorce papers, wouldn’t everything be simple? But she insisted on dragging this out, hurting everyone.

“If she dares to refuse the divorce, I’ll chop her up myself!” Ji Chenli said resentfully.

“Don’t you dare!” Han Xinyuan grew angry. “Ji Chenli, you’re a shameless woman. What right do you have to look down on Ming Lang?”

Ji Chenli burst into laughter. “Wait, I’m looking down on Ming Lang—shouldn’t you be happy about that?”

Han Xinyuan’s expression stiffened. It took her a long time to squeeze out: “I really don’t know what A-Lang sees in you!”

“…” Miss Han, can we stop acting out a palace drama? I just want to catch up on my sleep. Is that really so hard?