A Washed-up Movie Queen's Divorce Strategy [Rebirth] - Chapter 39

Ji Chenli had been bedridden in the hospital for over a month. By the time she could finally walk, it was late spring. Young girls on the streets were already wearing short skirts and sandals—a completely different season from when she first entered the hospital.

Being able to walk meant she was mostly recovered. Ji Chenli had a strong aversion to hospitals; she had been clamoring to be discharged for two weeks, only stayed because Tao Yuan had managed to persuade her. After pestering the doctors and nurses for half a month, the attending physician finally gave the green light yesterday. Ji Chenli was ecstatic, and the medical staff was equally relieved—thank heavens this “ancestor” was finally leaving.

March is the rainiest season in C City. The rain had been continuous for a month, leaving the sky perpetually foggy. On the day of her discharge in late March, near the Qingming Festival, it was logically supposed to be a peak rainy period. Yet, remarkably, the rain stopped. The long-lost sun peeked out from behind thick clouds, casting a warm glow. As Tao Yuan packed Ji Chenli’s clothes, she smiled. “It seems bad luck is leaving and good luck is coming. Even the heavens are happy you’re being discharged. It rained for a month, and finally, it’s cleared up.”

Ji Chenli opened the window and took a deep breath. The air after the rain was a fresh mix of soil and grass. She felt she had truly escaped the past and gained a new life. Feeling refreshed, she laughed. “Sister, bad luck is all gone this time. Don’t worry, from now on, we’ll always have good luck.”

“Let’s hope so.” Tao Yuan folded the last piece of clothing, put it in the suitcase, and patted her hands. “Alright, Chen-chen, let’s go home!”

“Okay, home!”

Since Ji Chenli had stayed for a long time, there were many small items. Tao Yuan organized two large suitcases and dragged one in each hand. Ji Chenli wanted to help, but Tao Yuan flatly refused. “Your injury isn’t fully healed yet. Don’t cause trouble for me. Go on, press the elevator button.”

Seeing that Tao Yuan was about to lose her temper if she insisted on helping, Ji Chenli shrugged helplessly and walked ahead to call the elevator.

The doors opened, and two people stepped out. Seeing Ji Chenli, they greeted her with excitement. “Sister Chenli! You’re all better?”

Ji Chenli looked up to find Feng Cai and Fang Shi coming to visit. Her discharge was a last-minute decision, and she hadn’t notified anyone. If they hadn’t coincided perfectly, these two girls would have come for nothing.

As survivors of the earthquake who had narrowly escaped death, Ji Chenli was very happy to see them. “Xiao Cai, Director Fang? Why are you here?”

Feng Cai giggled and hooked her arm into Ji Chenli’s. “Haven’t seen you in so long, we missed you! Director Fang is a busy person now; I had to fight to get time with her to visit. I didn’t expect you to be checking out already! Good thing we’re early, or we would have missed you.”

During her two months in the hospital, Ji Chenli couldn’t do anything. She spent her days eating, sleeping, and scrolling through her phone, so she was well-informed about their recent success. Feng Cai was managing a “Newcomer King” from a hit talent show, and her schedule was booked through next year. Fang Shi, after recovering from the earthquake, had directed a low-budget film with an investment under 30 million using only newcomers. Surprisingly, it earned nearly 500 million at the box office. Fang Shi’s name had spread, and she had become famous overnight. Both were in the prime of their careers, yet Ji Chenli was sincerely happy for them.

Unable to stand for too long, she leaned on Feng Cai and teased Fang Shi: “Director Fang, if you have any good scripts in the future, remember the people under our Xiao Cai, okay? We’re all earthquake survivors; it wasn’t easy to make it through.”

Fang Shi’s face turned slightly red. She silently walked over to Tao Yuan and took over one of the suitcases. Ji Chenli continued to tease: “Director, this won’t do. How can you survive in the industry with such thin skin? Xiao Cai, tell her, what is the first rule of this industry?”

“Be shameless!” Feng Cai replied with a grin.

“Correct, you have a future.” Ji Chenli nodded and glanced at Fang Shi. “Great Director, did you hear that?”

Fang Shi’s face grew even redder, and she hid half a step behind Tao Yuan. Having just graduated, she looked quite fresh and innocent. Tao Yuan had met her once when Ji Chenli first returned to C City; she saw a shadow of a younger Ji Chenli in her and felt protective. Seeing her shy, she stepped in to mediate. “Alright, alright, look at how old you two are, picking on a young girl. Miss Fang, ignore them. Let’s go.” She pulled Fang Shi into the elevator. Ji Chenli and Feng Cai shared a look and burst into laughter, following behind.

Stepping out of the hospital gates, Ji Chenli took a deep breath and exhaled sharply, clearing out the gloom of the hospital. She draped an arm over Tao Yuan’s shoulder and smiled. “Home!”

Tao Yuan, Fang Shi, and Feng Cai looked at each other and smiled, saying in unison: “Home!”

Before they could reach the car, another vehicle drove up from a distance and parked nearby. The driver’s door opened, and a massive bouquet of fiery red roses emerged first. Then the driver stepped out—a beautiful woman with a refined aura, wearing sunglasses and leaning against the car door. She gave Ji Chenli and the group a standard eight-tooth smile.

“…” The group looked at each other. Feng Cai shook her head helplessly. “What is this Second Miss Ming doing? Proposing?”

Tao Yuan didn’t recognize Ming Yan and asked in surprise, “You know her?”

“Yes, she’s President Ming’s sister. But I suspect she’s here for Sister Chenli.”

Hearing the connection to Ming Lang, Tao Yuan immediately sharpened her gaze. Seeing Ming Yan walking over with the roses, she instinctively stepped half a pace in front of Ji Chenli, glaring at Ming Yan aggressively.

“Sister-in-law, congrats on being discharged!” Ming Yan gave an informal grin and shoved the roses into Ji Chenli’s arms.

Ji Chenli looked at the bouquet, then noticed the curious gazes of strangers passing by. She couldn’t stand being stared at like a circus monkey. With a grim face, she shoved the flowers back at Ming Yan. “I’ve already divorced your sister. Please call me by my name in the future, thank you.”

“I know. My sister has been depressed for a month over this. Every time I see her, her face is so dark I’m scared to go home,” Ming Yan stuck out her tongue. “Chenli, these flowers aren’t from my sister.”

Feng Cai, ever curious, asked, “Then who are they from?”

Ming Yan winked at Feng Cai. “Take a guess.”

“Guess my foot.” Ji Chenli was determined to sever ties with the Ming family. She bypassed Ming Yan, pulled Tao Yuan and Fang Shi toward the car, and called out to Feng Cai: “Xiao Cai, let’s go. My sister made her specialty salt-baked chicken; everyone’s eating at my place today!”

At the mention of food, Feng Cai’s eyes lit up. She gave Ming Yan an apologetic smile and hopped into the car. “Alright! Thanks for the invite, Sister Tao Yuan!”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Seeing the car start, Ming Yan grabbed onto Ji Chenli’s window. “I’ll tell! The flowers weren’t from my sister! They were from Xinyuan!”

“Han Xinyuan?” Ji Chenli frowned. “Isn’t she in the Northwest?” Why would Han Xinyuan send her flowers? And such gaudy roses at that. Was she here to flaunt?

Ji Chenli thought it over and felt she understood. Of course, now that Han Xinyuan finally has what she wanted and can be with Ming Lang, she must have come to gloat. Having fought with Han Xinyuan for so many years in her past life, Ji Chenli felt she understood the motive perfectly.

Even though Ji Chenli now treated Ming Lang like a hot potato she couldn’t wait to throw away, having Han Xinyuan provoke her so blatantly made her feel unpleasant. She snatched the bouquet from Ming Yan and threw it onto the ground. She sneered, “I know your sister and Han Xinyuan are like a tortoise and a bastard—a perfect match. You guys go live your happy lives together in your little circle; just don’t annoy me.”

“Xiao Cai, drive.”

“You got it!” Feng Cai stepped on the gas, and the car roared away.

“…” Ming Yan was left in a cloud of exhaust fumes, her makeup covered in a thin layer of dust. She angrily called Han Xinyuan. “Xinyuan, I delivered the flowers for you.”

“Really? What was Ji Chenli’s reaction?” Han Xinyuan’s voice was full of anticipation.

“She called my sister a tortoise.”

“Huh?” Han Xinyuan was confused. What did this have to do with Ming Lang? “And?”

“She called you a bastard!” Ming Yan thought she was doing a good deed by delivering flowers and checking on her former sister-in-law. She hadn’t expected to be publicly embarrassed. Her face was pale with rage. “Don’t ask me for help with your business anymore! My sister scolds me enough; now even Ji Chenli is stepping on my nose? You all think I’m an easy target, right? I’m done! I’m going to the Cape of Good Hope to find my mom!” (Ming’s parents were currently in Africa).

Han Xinyuan was even more bewildered. Why the sudden anger? And what do tortoises and bastards have to do with anything? It was a pity her filming was delayed; it was supposed to take three months, but now four seemed unlikely. Otherwise, she would have flown back to C City to get to the bottom of this.

In Feng Cai’s car, Ji Chenli and Fang Shi sat in the back while Feng Cai and Tao Yuan chatted happily in the front. Feng Cai was socially adept and had a likeable face; she had Tao Yuan in high spirits within minutes.

In contrast, the back seat was quiet. Ji Chenli leaned her chin on her hand, staring out the window. Fang Shi kept stealing glances at her. After a long while, she summoned the courage to ask: “Is it true?”

“What?” Ji Chenli turned to look at her.

“The… divorce with President Ming.”

“Of course it’s true.” Ji Chenli gave a soft smile.

“That’s great!” Fang Shi said excitedly. Noticing Ji Chenli’s bewildered expression, she realized she’d lost her composure. She cleared her throat. “I mean… cough… congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

Fang Shi asked again, “So you don’t plan to stay in the entertainment industry?”

“You figured that out too?” Ji Chenli said admiringly. “Impressive, Director Fang. No wonder they say the industry is a giant vat of dye; even our upright Director Fang has learned to read faces and minds. Tsk tsk, scary.”

“No!” Fang Shi hurriedly defended herself. “It was what you said to Miss Feng in the hospital… I guessed!”

“Alright, I’m teasing you. Don’t worry, your face is turning red.” Ji Chenli stopped joking. “I entered the industry at twenty. After all these years, I’m tired. Besides, acting wasn’t my true ambition. I plan to rest for a while.”

“Then what about Out of Reach?”

Seeing Fang Shi’s serious, innocent face, Ji Chenli wondered how long that pure expression could last in this circle. She couldn’t help but pat Fang Shi’s head. “I said I’m retiring, not that I’m disappearing right now. We’ll take it one step at a time. I signed a contract, after all; I can’t afford the breach-of-contract fees.”

Most of Ji Chenli’s savings from the past two years had been given to Tao Yuan for the orphanage. Tao Yuan had saved some for her, but the rest of Ji Chenli’s cash had been spent on medical bills. While insurance covered some, the long stay in a VIP room was not covered.

“Oh.” Fang Shi nodded gloomily. “Can I still visit you in the future?”

Ji Chenli smiled. “Of course. You’re welcome anytime.”

Fang Shi’s mood instantly improved, giving Ji Chenli a guileless smile. But Ji Chenli felt an inexplicable jolt in her heart.

She knew this look—it was the expression of a fool in a one-sided infatuation. Ji Chenli felt she needed to find a time to talk to Fang Shi properly, lest she fall too deep and Ji Chenli becomes a second Ming Lang.

Feng Cai’s car arrived at the orphanage amidst laughter. None of them noticed a car following them the whole way. Once the four entered the orphanage, the car parked at the gate. Ming Lang stepped out and leaned against the entrance, listening to the mingled laughter of adults and children inside.

Ming Lang closed her eyes, trying to distinguish Ji Chenli’s voice. Ji Chenli laughed twice. Ji Chenli said three sentences. Ji Chenli…

Ji Chenli, Ji Chenli—her mind was full of her.

The old bamboo chair at the orphanage entrance had not been taken inside. Ming Lang sat on it. The chair was old and creaked. She remembered the day Ji Chenli sat here like a boss drinking tea from a chipped porcelain mug, bristling like a porcupine the moment she saw Ming Lang.

Tao Yuan was in the kitchen chopping vegetables, with Ji Chenli helping. Feng Cai and Fang Shi were with the kids, drawing and playing games. Tao Yuan suddenly remembered something and called out, “Beibei, go bring the chair back from the gate!”

“Okay!” Beibei, a little girl with pigtails, ran to the gate. She found someone sitting there. “Au… Auntie…” she said timidly.

Ming Lang turned. Her expression was too cold, causing Beibei to take two steps back in fright. Ming Lang dropped her guard, softened her expression, and even forced a small smile. “Do you need something?”

Beibei nodded. “I need the chair.”

Ming Lang stood up and moved aside.

Beibei picked up the chair and ran, but stopped halfway and turned back. This auntie looked fierce, but she was very beautiful—and she looked very sad. So Beibei moved the chair back to the gate. “Auntie, you sit.”

Ming Lang knelt down and patted Beibei’s head. “What’s your name?”

“Beibei.”

“Beibei, is Ji Chenli inside?”

“Oh, you’re looking for Sister Chen-chen? She’s here! I’ll go call her for you!” Beibei turned to run.

“No!” Ming Lang caught her. “Don’t tell her I was here.”

“Why?” Beibei was confused.

“Because… I did something that hurt her.”

Beibei felt that such a beautiful auntie looked very pitiful being sad. Copying Ming Lang’s gesture, she patted Ming Lang’s head with her chubby little hand. “Then Auntie, why don’t you apologize?”

Ming Lang smiled. “There are some things in this world for which an apology is useless.”

Beibei clearly disagreed. She shook her head and put her hands behind her back like a little adult. “Mama Tao said apologies only matter if they are sincere or not, not if they are ‘useful’ or not.”

Ming Lang found the child quite cute and wanted to find some candy or a toy, but she had nothing. She rubbed her nose awkwardly. “Go on inside. Your Mama Tao is waiting.”

Beibei hopped back into the house. Seeing her empty-handed, Tao Yuan asked, “Where’s the chair?”

“A beautiful auntie is sitting on it.”

Ji Chenli, who was trimming beans nearby, laughed. “So young and already such a fan of pretty faces? How beautiful is this auntie that you couldn’t move? More beautiful than me?”

Beibei remembered the beautiful auntie said she had done something bad to Sister Chen-chen. She wanted to tell her, but remembered the auntie’s request. She silently took a piece of candy and ran off to play with the other children.

Ji Chenli laughed. “What a little rascal.”