It was already afternoon when the assistant brought in a new cup of coffee.

A pure white square mug, slightly warm to the touch.

This was her third cup of the day.

Ji Fan was wearing a pure white, dark gold-patterned mid-length double-breasted suit, paired with a black shirt, with the top button undone. Her thick, long curly hair was gathered to one side, revealing her slender white neck and the silver earrings on her earlobes.

She was wearing a short straight skirt, covered by the white suit, just covering the top of her thighs, making her look very young.

The coffee was placed gently on the table with a soft *click*.

Out of the corner of her eye, she curiously glanced over and saw what Ji Fan was browsing.

And then she almost dropped her jaw.

Ms. Ji was watching a drama?

This was a once-in-a-lifetime sight!

Sometimes, when she was in the next office, munching on potato chips while watching a drama, and was caught red-handed by Ji Fan coming in, Ji Fan would have a complex expression: disdain mixed with contempt, and contempt mixed with a hint of superiority.

She used to say one thing over and over again: There’s nothing uglier or more boring than Chinese TV dramas. Only people who don’t work hard like you like them.

As a result, she was secretly watching a drama herself?

But then she understood.

On the screen, a girl in a white silk qipao flashed past.

With her black hair pulled back, bright eyes and white teeth, and soft white skin, she smiled sweetly and innocently, like an elf who had flashed by.

That person was Jiang Cha.

The Mrs. Ji who had just been officially announced a few days ago.

Ji Fan didn’t notice the assistant looking at her at all, but was simply engrossed in staring at the screen.

Her dark pupils were exceptionally soft.

Like a sea in the dead of night, the emotions in them rose and fell for a moment, but it was hard to see clearly.

Probably because she didn’t watch dramas often, she didn’t know that the video’s barrage could be turned off, so it was always on.

The assistant thought this was bad.

The protagonist of this drama was Jiang Cha.

She played the female lead, a sickly, delicate little flower. In today’s popular social trend of strong women, even Luo Yan knew to only take on roles of female elites, but Jiang Cha, oblivious to it, had taken on this drama that was so bad it was ridiculed to the sky.

The plot was incredibly cheesy and outdated, and her character was unlikable, and her acting was even more unlikable.

As soon as Jiang Cha appeared, the barrage started firing.

[Jiang Cha is here again]

[Her acting is eye-burning, but she is really beautiful]

[D-list!]

[Ugh!!!]

[Go watch Luo Yan’s movie to relieve your embarrassment]

The next second, Ji Fan’s beautiful long eyebrows furrowed. Her dark eyes seemed to freeze, devoid of any smile.

Then, her thin lips moved very slightly at the corners, and her gaze turned cold. A contemptuous smile.

This was a common smile for Ji Fan.

The assistant had been following her for several years and was all too familiar with it.

She blinked, feeling that this video company might get into trouble very soon.

Ji Fan took a deep breath, looked at the abusive words on the screen, her gaze becoming increasingly cold, and her slender fingers tapped furiously on the keyboard. Suddenly, she felt a gaze fixed on the screen.

Only then did she pause and notice the assistant beside her.

Ji Fan lifted her eyelids and glanced at the assistant indifferently, “Is there something?”

“I… I brought you some coffee.”

Ji Fan looked away again.

Her slender, white fingers pinched the cup, blew away the foam, and took a gentle sip.

“What do you think of Jiang Cha’s acting?”

Ji Fan suddenly looked up and asked softly, “Be honest.”

A soul-searching question!

The assistant felt embarrassed, because she had also joined the crowd in ridiculing Jiang Cha’s acting. But how could she have known that she was Mrs. Ji back then?

She blinked.

This was the boss’s wife, how could she tell the truth?

She couldn’t praise her too much, it would seem insincere, she had to praise her, but subtly.

“Many people watch the dramas that Ms. Jiang has acted in, and they are very famous.”

This was the truth.

The dramas that Jiang Cha acted in were all prime-time dramas on certain TV stations, from soap operas to palace intrigue dramas. They had a large audience, and people enjoyed watching them.

Ji Fan’s expression softened a bit, clearly pleased by her response.

“I was asking about her acting skills,” she said.

She stared quietly into the assistant’s eyes, the diamond on her earring sparkling slightly.

“Well, we’re not professionals, we can’t really tell,” the assistant replied.

It was the truth.

Some things are quite subtle. If no one points them out, people won’t notice. But if a few negative comments appear, a large group of people will follow suit.

It’s called “setting the pace” or “influencing public opinion”.

It’s because of groupthink.

So, it’s strange to say, although the assistant herself had joined in on the criticism of Jiang Cha for a long time, she actually couldn’t see what was wrong with Jiang Cha’s acting.

Ordinary people watch TV and surf the internet, just to relax.

Watching Jiang Cha’s drama to relax, and then joining in to criticize her, is double the relaxation, double the fun.

They don’t know each other, and it’s not a big deal if a celebrity is mocked online.

“Alright, you can go out and close the door,” Ji Fan said.

The assistant left and gently closed the door for her.

Ji Fan seemed to have shed a layer of her cold exterior, and her expression became very soft. Through the screen, her fingertips touched her eyes, her nose, and her lips.

She missed her so much.

Hmm.

They were supposed to meet tomorrow.

They would see each other tomorrow.

••••

Night fell, quiet and still.

Jiang Cha was alone in her newly moved home.

She had bought a pomelo, eaten the pulp, and peeled the skin into segments, placing them on the cabinet to absorb formaldehyde.

It was a method her mother had taught her.

As if in response to her thoughts, her phone rang. On the screen, a single character: Mom.

She swiped to answer.

“Hello?”

“Is Chacha asleep?”

“No.”

Jiang Cha held her script, spread it across her lap, chatting while writing and scribbling.

Jiang Cha was an only child. Although her family wasn’t wealthy when she was young, she had grown up spoiled. Her family loved her dearly. Even after she started working, they would call her every night to check on her. Her mother would talk to her about everything from remembering to bring in the laundry when it rained to encouraging her to keep up the good work in acting. Then, changing the subject, she lowered her voice and said:

“Chacha, let that person you’re with answer the phone.”

She was referring to Ji Fan.

Jiang Cha: “…”

Jiang Cha said calmly, “She’s not home.”

“Oh,” her mother said. “She must be busy with work. That’s normal for someone who makes big money—”

Before she could finish, her father’s voice came through the phone:

“It’s been half an hour! Say less, your daughter is annoyed!”

Jiang Cha laughed and hung up the phone.

Bored, she switched to various apps.

She found a post on the forum that had new replies.

“Where’s the OP! Why haven’t you updated?”

Jiang Cha looked at the post, her finger hovering over the delete button several times before finally deciding not to.

There was no need.

She would leave it there as a constant reminder to herself of how foolish and easily deceived she had been.

Jiang Cha replied under the post:

“We’ve already broken up, everyone can go now.”

Then she exited the interface.

••••

Jiang Cha tried to get an early night and was up at seven the next morning.

They had an appointment at nine.

She prepared herself and arrived early.

The door to the studio was slightly ajar, and there was already someone inside.

Jiang Cha knocked politely.

“Come in.”

It was Song Baiwei’s voice.

When she saw Jiang Cha, she smiled lightly and said, “So early, Xiao Jiang?”

Jiang Cha lowered her eyes and smiled softly, “Director Song is even earlier.”

The assistant looked up and laughed, “Director Song is always so early.”

Song Baiwei had been working in the arts for a long time. She used to be a photographer, spending all night fiddling with her equipment in the studio. Now that she’s a director, her biological clock has adjusted, and she’s no longer a night owl. She goes to bed early and gets up early.

Her skin was in great condition, showing that she took good care of it. It was tender and white.

Song Baiwei boiled the water on the tea table, warmed a pot of bamboo leaf green tea, and poured a cup for Jiang Cha. Jiang Cha was flattered and thanked her repeatedly.

It’s interesting to say that some directors, although very famous, are not at all pretentious, but instead give people a very humble feeling.

Song Baiwei was like that.

Her eyes were very bright, always full of inspiration, a bright and lively kind of brightness.

She had a kind of ethereal quality, as if she had no worldly, utilitarian thoughts, but simply pursued what she loved.

There was no prejudice in her eyes, no distinction between high and low.

People who interacted with her were easily impressed by her tolerant and understanding temperament.

Such a person seemed more suited to a deep mountain temple.

She was too pure, untainted by the world.

“How do you feel, are you confident?”

They had just arrived, and Song Baiwei’s assistant director was opening the blinds for her. The morning sun instantly illuminated the room.

Jiang Cha took a deep breath and wanted to say yes, but couldn’t.

“…”

Actually, she wasn’t very confident.

“It’s okay,” Song Baiwei smiled gently. “Just relax and do your best.”

Jiang Cha pursed her lips and nodded seriously.

“It’s my fault,” she handed Jiang Cha a book and said softly, “Originally, the role was set for you.”

“It’s okay!”

Jiang Cha shook her head repeatedly, blinked, and said awkwardly, “Director Song, I’m grateful that you’re willing to let me play this role.”

Jiang Cha lowered her head to look. It was a hard white cloth-covered book with dark gold Chinese characters on the cover: 《The Combination of Cold and Warm: Analyzing Camel Cigarettes》.

Before she could look at it, the door was knocked again.

A calm knock.

One by one.

It was too familiar.

Jiang Cha’s expression instantly turned cold.

“Come in.”

Ji Fan pushed open the door and looked inside calmly.

Jiang Cha was sitting quietly on the sofa, holding a cup of water, sipping it quietly.

She was wearing a light green thin blouse and beige slacks.
She had a checkered overcoat draped lightly over her, a thin one, with a light brown base and light green plaid. Feeling the heat, she hadn’t buttoned it up, and it was wide open, revealing her graceful curves.

Her long black hair was loose, and her hair quality was very good, naturally soft and thick, like a splashing waterfall.

Her sleeves were slightly rolled up, and she was wearing a thin silver watch on her wrist, which added a touch of coolness to her gentle temperament.

Ji Fan stood at the door, her gaze fixed on her, her fingers curling up.

That feeling of uncertainty, and a bit of fluster, came back again.

---

T/N: Ha! Ha! You deserve to be treated like trash. A seven-year itch, indeed.