Jiang Ning already had a headache and finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Can you stop with the ‘dog’ talk? When did I ever say that about you?”
Xi Yue: “Right now, you make me feel like you’re treating me like a dog.”
Jiang Ning simply couldn’t communicate with Xi Yue.
But Xi Yue’s unreasonable pestering actually gave Jiang Ning a rare sense that this man was just like the young man from six years ago.
Jiang Ning turned her face away, her expression stiffened by her emotionless words. “If you insist on thinking that way, there’s nothing I can do. Stay away from me, and you won’t have that illusion.”
Jiang Ning’s dismissive words were practically tangible.
Xi Yue flared up instantly upon hearing them, springing to his feet and turning to leave.
Given Xi Yue’s personality, he should have finally been driven away by her anger.
Jiang Ning breathed a sigh of relief, struggling to set an alarm for an hour later, planning to tidy herself up after waking up.
Fatigue, the effects of alcohol, and the mental strain of dealing with Xi Yue quickly drained what little energy Jiang Ning had left.
In less than a few minutes, she fell back into a deep sleep.
What she didn’t expect, however, was that Xi Yue, who had been so angered by her, still hadn’t left.
After a while, he returned with a pharmacy shopping bag.
This time, Jiang Ning was sleeping deeply, her exhaustion clearly visible.
Xi Yue didn’t try to wake her again.
He simply stood by the bed, watching Jiang Ning.
Xi Yue’s silhouette seemed frozen, even the curve of his hair hanging down was motionless.
There was no sound in the room, only the occasional roar of late-night vehicles passing by on the road outside the hotel.
After what felt like an eternity, Xi Yue spoke almost inaudibly, with a hint of sadness.
“I never said I didn’t want to be your dog.”
This time, Jiang Ning was truly asleep and didn’t respond to Xi Yue’s words.
Xi Yue remained silent for a moment before setting down the bag of medicine.
Even after what Jiang Ning had said, he dutifully helped clean her up and change her clothes.
This time, he didn’t seem like a dog.
More like a grandson.
…
An hour later.
The alarm went off.
Jiang Ning pressed her throbbing temples, forcing her eyes open.
She lay sprawled on the bed, taking a moment to recover.
When she was fully awake, she realized her body felt clean and refreshed, without any stickiness or discomfort.
Jiang Ning opened her eyes and looked down at herself.
She was already wearing a clean, soft nightgown, her skin fresh and clearly tended to.
Jiang Ning stared at the ceiling for a long time, lost in thought.
After a while, she slowly sat up.
In her line of sight was a medicine bag on the bedside table, containing everything from hangover remedies to ibuprofen for post-drinking headaches.
Jiang Ning stood up silently and walked out.
The entire hotel room had been tidied up, clean and organized. The clothes had been washed, dried, and neatly hung back in the closet.
Jiang Ning took out her phone and noticed a friend request on WeChat.
[This is Zhou Ran.]
Jiang Ning accepted and sent a message first.
[About that night, I’m sorry.]
Zhou Ran replied quickly.
[It’s fine. We are indeed in a matchmaking relationship.]
[Thank you.]
He could probably guess why Jiang Ning had said what she did that night. Before she had a chance to be honest with Jiang Jintao, he was more than willing to help her.
The faint glow from the screen cast a soft light on Jiang Ning’s face, which, despite its delicate beauty, could not conceal her exhaustion.
She turned off the screen and went to the fridge to grab a glass of ice water to clear her head, only to find that the junk food she had stocked up on was gone, replaced by a pile of bland but healthy snacks.
Even the trash she hadn’t had time to throw out had been taken away.
It didn’t take much thought to figure out who had done all this.
Jiang Ning hadn’t eaten much during the dinner earlier. She took out a piece of bread and mechanically chewed on it in front of the fridge.
A dull ache throbbed in her head, but she didn’t take the medicine Xi Yue had bought for her. Instead, she let the pain seep into her, dense and relentless.
After a few bites of bread, Jiang Ning went to the bathroom to wash her hands.
She couldn’t even be bothered to turn on the light, drifting through the spacious suite like a ghost.
The sound of running water filled the silence, flowing gently into her palms and spreading to the jagged scar on her wrist.
The soft stream of water was so light, yet it seemed to evoke the memory of blood flowing from her body.
The scattered fragments of her thoughts were finally pulled back by the reflexive pain from her nerves.
As she washed her hands, she glanced at the mirror above the sink.
The reflection in the mirror showed a calm face, with upturned eyes that resembled an exquisite brush painting, meticulously crafted by an artist, outlining unparalleled beauty.
But beneath the radiant exterior lay a soul that was decaying and withering away.
Under her gaze, the calm reflection in the mirror seemed to gradually lift the corners of its stiff lips, revealing a sinister and gloomy smile.
Like a siren in the mirror, luring souls into its depths.
She heard the siren whisper.
Look.
Your affection and dependence only bring endless trouble to others.
No one would spend a lifetime with someone who’s mentally ill.
If she could, she truly wished there were such a thing as a mirror siren—one that could swallow her whole and replace her in this reality.
…
Even before the variety show began filming, trouble had already struck.
The paparazzi following Xi Yue had captured him, and in the process, Jiang Ning had also been caught in the frame.
The director had originally intended to keep Xi Yue’s participation in the show under wraps, planning to buy a major trending topic when the show premiered.
But now, a free trending topic had arrived, no purchase necessary.
#Xi Yue attends Escape Challenge guest dinner.#
#Xi Yue carries a female guest from Escape Challenge into a hotel room#
#Xi Yue, suspected romance.#
Three trending topics, each one explosive.
The paparazzi had indeed been diligent with their shutters, capturing so many incriminating photos that they could practically be counted frame by frame.
There were shots of Xi Yue entering the private room with the director.
And then, later that night, Xi Yue carrying a female guest into the hotel.
Her face was buried in Xi Yue’s chest, and though it wasn’t visible, fans were all amateur detectives.
By comparing details like Shen Yiqiao’s figure, it was clear it wasn’t her.
That left only Jiang Ning, who hadn’t yet made a public appearance.
The production team had no choice but to reveal Xi Yue’s guest status ahead of schedule, explaining that Jiang Ning had simply had too much to drink, so Xi Yue had kindly escorted her back to the hotel.
The explanation only made things worse. Once it was given, Xi Yue’s fans erupted in outrage.
With so many people from the production team around, why did it have to be Xi Yue who escorted her?
Everyone knew that in the four years since his debut, Xi Yue had maintained a spotless reputation, never once getting involved in any scandals.
Would Xi Yue voluntarily escort a female guest?
That was simply impossible!
The only plausible explanation was that Jiang Ning had stubbornly insisted on Xi Yue escorting her, then used the paparazzi’s photos to hitch a ride on his fame for a massive boost.
Jiang Ning wanting to make a comeback is fine, but for fuck’s sake, don’t come leeching off our Xi Yue!
Disgusting.
Isn’t she desperate for a comeback and attention?
Come on then, we’ll give her all the attention she wants.
Hashtags like #JiangNingShameless and #UglyLeech immediately trended as Xi Yue’s massive fanbase unleashed a torrent of abuse, a spectacle truly breathtaking in scale.
Jiang Ning, with her ancient 2G internet habits, knew nothing about it.
It wasn’t until the next morning when Xi Yue called her that she found out.
Worried about her condition, Xi Yue didn’t mention the online attacks, only saying that paparazzi photos had gone viral, causing misunderstandings about their relationship.
Xi Yue: “I wanted to discuss with you first, see how we should handle this.”
Jiang Ning had just woken up, her mind still foggy.
It took her a while to process what had happened.
“I see. Could you help clarify things for me?”
Xi Yue’s voice came through gritted teeth: “I meant you should open the door. I’m waiting outside your apartment so we can discuss this in person.”