Ji Mingshu quickly noticed the bug in her screenshot. Thinking Cen Sen wouldn’t see it so promptly, she hastily withdrew both the image and her “learn from this” message, attempting to pretend nothing had happened.
But less than thirty seconds after her withdrawal, a series of messages appeared in the chat box:
Cen Sen: [What heavenly fairy has descended to Earth?]
Cen Sen: [It’s not the dress that’s haute couture, you are]
Cen Sen: [Our little canary baby’s display of beauty and consumption is truly fascinating.]
Ji Mingshu: “…”
Without exclamation marks, these flowery compliments coming from Cen Sen’s pitch-black profile picture seemed like cold, mocking mechanical copies. Ji Mingshu momentarily couldn’t tell if he was trying to showcase his memory or his learning ability.
Cen Sen: [Does my imitation look good?]
Ji Mingshu: […]
She understood now—this dog of a man wanted to show off both 🙂
He probably didn’t repeat the last sentence because he thought his writing technique was good enough, deliberately leaving a blank space for unlimited imagination.
She put down her phone and said to the store clerk with a forced smile: “I’m sorry, I don’t want the tie clip anymore.”
Thanks to Cen Sen’s offensiveness, Ji Mingshu showed no restraint during the next three days of Haute Couture Week, leaving her graceful card-swiping presence wherever she went.
Designers who were normally aloof around celebrities actively invited her for photos, expressing how much they’d missed her; executives made time in their busy schedules to invite this distinguished guest from China to lunches and dinners; as for fashion shows, needless to say, invitations for anything other than front-row seats never even reached her hands.
Gu Kaiyang, though accustomed to this young lady’s luxurious lifestyle, couldn’t help but comment enviously—wuwuwu, money really lets you do whatever you want tvt!
Gu Kaiyang had arrived in Paris with the magazine team. As the newly promoted deputy editor, she had many decisions to make and couldn’t separate from the group to act independently.
After the Haute Couture Week events concluded, they still had some additional photo shoots planned, requiring one more day’s stay. After all, the group’s stingy image never faltered—it seemed like not taking enough photos during a trip to Paris would be like losing a hundred million.
Ji Mingshu had originally planned to take Gu Kaiyang back on her private jet, but since Gu Kaiyang couldn’t get away and the plane was due for maintenance anyway, she simply sent the plane for servicing while staying one more day in Paris to return with Gu Kaiyang.
Although they were returning together, Gu Kaiyang still had to work with colleagues on the plane and didn’t upgrade her seat.
By coincidence, in first class, Ji Mingshu encountered Jiang Chun again.
Jiang Chun had lost weight since their last meeting, her once rounded chin now just a point. She wore a simple white t-shirt and long jeans, traveling without makeup. Though somewhat haggard, she had gained a certain pitiable charm.
Ji Mingshu pulled her sunglasses down slightly and was somewhat surprised after clearly seeing Jiang Chun’s small face.
She had noticed before that Jiang Chun’s features were fine, but this was the first time she had seen her without makeup. So her name wasn’t wrong—wasn’t she just a standard pure beauty?
Ji Mingshu had always appreciated beautiful women. Usually cold and indifferent toward Jiang Chun, she now condescended to initiate conversation: “Miss Jiang looks like she hasn’t recovered from her heartbreak.”
Jiang Chun: “…”
Seeing Ji Mingshu, Jiang Chun didn’t switch to her usual combative state, nor did she immediately bite Ji Mingshu as she had in the hotel lobby.
She leaned back completely in her seat, her whole body emitting a strange dejection that said, “OK, this abandoned woman doesn’t care how you humiliate her.”
When the flight attendant came to serve drinks, Ji Mingshu slightly raised her chin toward Jiang Chun, “Please bring this young lady a meal, and a Midsummer Breeze cocktail, thank you.”
Jiang Chun remained curled in her seat with no reaction.
The flight attendant looked at her, then at Ji Mingshu, momentarily unsure whether to comply.
Ji Mingshu smiled, “We know each other, go ahead.”
The flight attendant paused slightly, feeling her heart suddenly accelerate.
This was a bit too beautiful, wasn’t it? That smile completely redefined the terms “bright eyes and white teeth” and “stunning beauty”!
After leaving composedly, the flight attendant asked colleagues in the galley: Was that beautiful woman in first class some kind of celebrity? Why didn’t he recognize her? Was it because she wasn’t famous? But how could someone so beautiful not be famous?
Soon, the meal Ji Mingshu had ordered for Jiang Chun was served.
The flight attendant also brought Ji Mingshu a small dessert, saying it was a new item for her to try.
Ji Mingshu graciously tasted it.
Jiang Chun, however, remained listless, as if she had no intention of eating.
Ji Mingshu didn’t pay much attention—her family didn’t own the Pacific Ocean; Jiang Chun could eat or not as she pleased.
Silence fell around them. Jiang Chun gazed out the window, a picture of melancholy.
Ji Mingshu finished her dessert and flipped through some magazines.
She had already read all the fashion magazines provided on the plane, except for Gu Kaiyang’s “Zero Degrees.” “Zero Degrees” was a men’s magazine, and as she wasn’t the type of dutiful wife who handled her husband’s wardrobe, why should she read it?
She covered a yawn, put on her eye mask, and prepared to sleep.
Outside the window, the sky was bright blue, clouds below like large patches of cotton candy stuck together, the light thin and warm, with faint golden sunlight visible in the distance.
After a good while without hearing the sound of pages turning, Jiang Chun glanced sideways and discovered that Ji Mingshu had put on an eye mask and was resting. Something stirred in her mind, and she glanced at the food and drink, unconsciously licking her lips.
She hadn’t eaten properly for three or four days. It was one thing when food wasn’t in front of her, but with it right there, her attention was drawn to the aroma, and her depression began to dissipate.
She very lightly picked up a sandwich, glancing at Ji Mingshu again.
Though Ji Mingshu didn’t move, she wasn’t sleeping soundly.
Somehow, she dreamed of the scene where Jiang Chun caught Yan cheating, except the people were replaced with her and Cen Sen.
In the dream, Cen Sen was even more thoroughly despicable than Yan, directly grabbing her wrist and pushing her out, watching her fall to the ground, not bothering to give her even half a glance.
Beside them was a group of plastic sisters from their circle, watching her in embarrassment. Someone mockingly said: She should endure it properly, serve tea and water to the mistress in the future, otherwise Cen Sen would throw her out.
—Ji Mingshu was angered awake.
She tore off her eye mask, gulped down half a glass of water, trying to calm herself, telling herself it was just a dream; meanwhile, she couldn’t help cursing Cen Sen, that dog of a man, for not leaving her in peace even in her dreams.
She put down her water glass and inadvertently glanced sideways, coincidentally catching Jiang Chun secretly eating a sandwich.
Perhaps starving had made her foolish; Jiang Chun had taken a big bite at once. Before she could swallow, Ji Mingshu’s sudden movement startled her, causing her to choke, the sandwich stuck in her throat as she covered her mouth and coughed violently.
Ji Mingshu watched as Jiang Chun coughed until her face turned red, searching for tissues while drinking to swallow, and suddenly burst into laughter.
Jiang Chun, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, bristled immediately, “What are you laughing at? It’s just eating some food! Cough! Cough cough cough!!!”
Ji Mingshu’s mood strangely improved. She rested her chin on her hand, looking at Jiang Chun, and asked: “Do you realize you’re a bit cute?”
“…”
Jiang Chun looked at her as if she were mentally ill.
Ji Mingshu racked her brains for a comparison, “Like a penguin that’s never left Antarctica, suddenly not afraid of the cold and able to live in the subtropics… but still clumsy?”
Is there such a penguin?
Jiang Chun paused for two seconds, finally understanding, “Are you saying I’m provincial?”
“No, provincially cute.”
Jiang Chun: “…”
Well, thank you for the compliment.
She rolled her eyes impatiently, sat up straight, and simply ate her food with righteous confidence.
The flight from Paris to the capital took eleven hours. Bored, Ji Mingshu occasionally teased Jiang Chun for entertainment.
At first, Jiang Chun was very reluctant to engage with Ji Mingshu, but her previously cultivated melancholy had completely dispersed. Seeing Ji Mingshu watching a variety show she also followed, she unconsciously joined the conversation.
“I think Pei Xiyan is quite handsome.”
“I think so too,” Jiang Chun couldn’t help agreeing. “Both handsome and unique, he’ll be extraordinary when he grows up.”
“And emotionally intelligent, too.”
Jiang Chun nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes, I even specifically watched the variety show he did with his mom when he was little. I don’t really like his mom, but he was so cute since childhood, so cool.”
“Right? I think so, too.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, this flight is scheduled to arrive at the capital’s International Airport in fifteen minutes, with a ground temperature of 36°C. Ladies and gentlemen…”
By the time they were about to land, the dejection that had been on Jiang Chun’s face when she boarded was completely gone. She was radiant, her eyes sparkling with hearts, even stopping Ji Mingshu from watching at increased speed, saying that her baby’s divine looks must be appreciated frame by frame.
Ji Mingshu was speechless and simply tossed the tablet into her lap.
Ji Mingshu’s luggage had been sent back to China a day in advance; she only carried a small carry-on.
After disembarking, she had intended to meet with Gu Kaiyang, but Gu Kaiyang’s magazine had an emergency requiring an immediate return for a meeting. She could only walk out with Jiang Chun, kindheartedly educating her about the duty-free shops along the way.
Jiang Chun had never known there were so many nuances to selecting items. At first, she walked alongside Ji Mingshu, listening as they went, but later, somehow, she transformed into Ji Mingshu’s luggage pusher. She proactively found a cart, put both their suitcases on it, and took charge of pushing it forward.
At the exit, the airport crowd gradually became dense.
Ji Mingshu was still analyzing why a certain bag was classic when her voice suddenly paused, her steps slowing.
Jiang Chun, quite naively, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ji Mingshu pressed her stomach, her brows slightly furrowed.
“Does your stomach hurt?” Jiang Chun looked around and pointed in a direction, “There’s a restroom over there.”
Sweat beaded on Ji Mingshu’s forehead as she hurriedly walked toward the restroom.
She wore very high heels, and walking so quickly made the backs of her feet burn and go numb.
Entering the restroom, Ji Mingshu’s vision blurred momentarily.
Jiang Chun, who had followed, exclaimed softly: “How can there be so many people!”
At least seven or eight people were queuing ahead, and this was possibly the smallest restroom in the airport, with only four stalls, one being accessible.
After waiting two minutes, the line hadn’t moved at all.
Jiang Chun had planned to ask Ji Mingshu if they should look elsewhere, but seeing Ji Mingshu’s completely desperate expression of someone who couldn’t hold it anymore, her eyes darted, and a bad idea came out: “Why not use this one? No one’s there anyway.”
She pointed to the men’s restroom nearby.
Ji Mingshu gave her a “Are you crazy?” look.
But Jiang Chun was particularly enthusiastic, even running in to scout the area, “Really, no one’s there. I’ll keep watch at the door for you.”
Ji Mingshu felt that her brain might have short-circuited, too, because hearing Jiang Chun say this, she felt a trace of wavering deep inside.
With the waves of intense pain in her stomach, the wavering grew stronger.
Finally, she couldn’t resist any longer, put on her sunglasses with difficulty, and said in a low voice to Jiang Chun: “Keep watch for me, we’ll keep in touch via WeChat.”
Jiang Chun, as if receiving some important mission, nodded solemnly.
Three minutes later, Ji Mingshu finally realized what a stupid thing she had done.
Jiang Chun: [You can’t come out now, a man has gone in.]
Five minutes later.
Jiang Chun: [It’s over, a tour group just arrived. Wait a bit longer, don’t make any sound.]
Ji Mingshu: […]
I really shouldn’t have trusted you.
Just as Jiang Chun’s intelligence report arrived, a group of men came rushing in. Awkward sounds rose and fell near the urinals, and a man stopped outside her door, knocking violently, “Bro, are you constipated? Been in there so long, did you fall into the pit?”
“…”
The stall was cramped and narrow, filled with strange odors. Ji Mingshu’s ears, neck, and face all turned red.
She silently closed her eyes, momentarily unable to recall what she had done wrong to end up in such a tragic situation, trapped in a men’s restroom and unable to make a sound.
Her mind was blank, and she didn’t know what to do to escape this embarrassingly suffocating situation.
Most wretchedly, after five minutes, her legs were numb from squatting, and her phone automatically shut down, meaning she had unexpectedly lost contact with her informant outside the door.
The last message from the informant before losing contact was—”Why don’t you just rush out? No one knows you anyway.”
Ridiculous!
For over twenty glorious years, Ji Mingshu had always believed that meals could be skipped, but face could not be lost!
Even if she suffocated in this toilet, she absolutely would not risk being labeled as “that beautiful woman is so perverted she uses the men’s restroom” by running out while people were still there!
Stubbornly squatting for a long while, time passed second by second. Ji Mingshu didn’t know how many times she had silently endured knocking on the door, but her lower body had completely lost feeling.
After a long time, the restroom suddenly fell silent.
Ji Mingshu’s little heart revived, thinking that finally, no one was outside.
But as she tried to stand up, there came another knock on the door: “Knock knock knock.”
Utterly hopeless 🙂
She squatted on the ground, hugging her knees, burying her head, making not a sound.
“Ji Mingshu, open the door, it’s me.”