Lin Zhi smiled and said, "Little friend, Sister Nan doesn't praise people easily, so you'll have to work hard."
The term "little friend" sounded rather ambiguous to Jiang Lai. If it weren't for last night's absurdity, Jiang Lai wouldn't have thought much of it, but...
She turned her face away, staring awkwardly at the numbers on the elevator screen: "Ah... I will."
Nan Moxi looked at Jiang Lai's ears, which were gradually turning red, and thought to herself: Is Lin Zhi's charm so irresistible that even a girl in her early twenties can't resist it?
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Author's Note:
Jiang Lai: Can you call me "little friend" again? qwq
Lin Zhi: Little friend~
Chapter 7
Jiang Lai never expected to get into Lin Zhi's car today. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Lin Zhi's profile; she was focused on driving.
Just five minutes earlier, her agent, Nan Moxi, had asked her to get into Lin Zhi's car under the pretext that it was on her way. Lin Zhi was clearly taken aback, but out of respect for Nan Moxi, she had no choice but to agree.
Jiang Lai reminisced about her legendary experiences over the past few days. First, she was recruited by the company's CEO, and then she met Lin Zhi, one of the founders, at a ramen shop and even had a relationship with her. No one would believe this experience even if it were written into a novel.
Lin Zhi: "You seem very uncomfortable."
Jiang Lai awkwardly twitched the corner of her mouth, thinking to herself: Can I really feel at ease?
Seeing that Jiang Lai didn't speak, Lin Zhi didn't press her. After crossing two traffic lights, Jiang Lai spoke up and tentatively asked, "Sister Lin, are you a lesbian?"
Lin Zhi had guessed that she would ask this question, and replied in a calm tone, "No, I was just with a friend."
Jiang Lai: "Is it because you're heartbroken and in a bad mood?"
Lin Zhi felt a pang of sadness, her thoughts having been exposed: "Who told you that?"
Jiang Lai truthfully replied, "It was Kevin. It was my birthday that day. I asked him when you went to the bathroom."
Lin Zhi pursed her lips and remained silent. Jiang Lai thought she was angry, since not many people would like to tell strangers about a breakup.
"Sister Lin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ask. I just felt that we were in the same boat."
"Feeling the same pain?"
"Yes, that was the day I broke up with my boyfriend. Five years had passed, and it ended just like that. If I hadn't seen her buying a diamond ring with that man, if I hadn't heard her say those disgusting things to me, I probably wouldn't have believed that she would betray me."
Inside the dark car, Lin Zhi caught a glimpse of the glistening tears in her eyes. For some reason, seeing her cry made her feel a pang of sadness.
Lin Zhi handed a tissue to Jiang Lai, who thanked her and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Jiang Lai sniffed, her face flushed, and said, "She...she said the reason she cheated on me was because I'm frigid, but I'm definitely not. I just thought the first time was very important. Now it seems I was overthinking it."
Lin Zhi took a breath, recalling that unpleasant response, and a wave of nausea washed over her again: "Excuse me for asking, is she a man or a woman? If it's inconvenient..."
"A woman."
Jiang Lai didn't hesitate at all, and Lin Zhi didn't expect her to be so frank. The breath she had been holding in her chest slowly dissipated.
"Does Sister Lin dislike homosexuals?"
"Oh, no, I'm just surprised by your honesty. Honesty is good, but you can't be this honest in front of the media in the future."
Jiang Lai nodded: "I neither admit nor deny it."
Next, the two of them started talking non-stop, and the topics came up like a flowing river, including X's indifference.
Before they had finished talking, Jiang Lai had already arrived at her destination. She was a little reluctant to unbuckle her seatbelt and lingered on the car door after getting out.
She enjoyed chatting with Lin Zhi, as if the anger simmering in her heart could dissipate. But after today's parting, she didn't know when she would see Lin Zhi again. Nan Moxi had agreed to let her participate in Director Yu's film, which meant that she would have to leave for the next city in half a month, and she didn't know how long it would take to return.
Lin Zhi is not her agent, and moreover, Lin Zhi is one of the founders. It's a pipe dream for Jiang Lai to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.
Unless Dad acquires the thriving business...
Jiang Lai thought about it for a moment, and since she had decided to hide her identity and work hard on her own, she would not use a single penny or any resources from her family.
Seeing that Jiang Lai was holding onto the car door and not closing it, Lin Zhi reminded her, "Jiang Lai? What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Lai snapped out of her daze and stammered, "Sister Lin...it's not too late yet...would you...like to come up and sit for a while?"
Her voice grew softer and softer, but fortunately Lin Zhi could still hear it.
She thought for a moment, then turned off the engine and removed the car key.
"Let's go, I'm not too busy lately."
Jiang Lai was still confused even after Lin Zhi walked up to her. Lin Zhi raised her hand and waved it in front of her eyes: "What's wrong? Don't you have anything decent to offer me at home?"
Jiang Lai's ears turned slightly red, and she quickly led Lin Zhi upstairs: "There's a jar of Zhuyeqing tea that my father brought back for me from S Province, but... will drinking tea tonight cause insomnia?"
Lin Zhi stepped into the elevator and subconsciously pressed the button. It happened to be Jiang Lai's floor, and the latter stopped pressing the button: "You weren't drunk that day?"
Lin Zhi bit her lip. The atmosphere in the elevator was a little awkward. It wasn't until the elevator doors opened again that Lin Zhi thought of what to say: "My home is also on the tenth floor."
Jiang Lai looked at Lin Zhi's upright and unyielding expression and was half-believing and half-doubting.
Jiang Lai opened the door and placed a pair of slippers in the entryway. Lin Zhi took off her shoes and put on the slippers.
Lin Zhi's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the bathroom, as if she could see the shameful bathtub and the intoxicating kiss.
Lin Zhi suddenly shivered, inwardly cursing herself for being so wanton.
Jiang Lai took the tea set out of the cabinet and placed it on the table. As soon as she poured in hot water, the fragrance of Zhuyeqing tea instantly filled the air.
Lin Zhi didn't know much about tea, but her mentor did. Through her exposure to tea, she could tell that the tea set Jiang Lai had brought out was quite expensive.
Jiang Lai didn't know how to brew tea, but her parents liked it and insisted on giving her a tea set. She clumsily poured a cup of tea for Lin Zhi and handed it to her with both hands.
"I don't know how to brew tea, so please bear with this."
Lin Zhi smiled and took the tea, sipped it, and the fragrance of the tea exploded in her mouth, refreshing her heart and soul: "It's good tea. This tea set alone must be quite expensive, right?"
"They are my parents. They love drinking tea and insisted on cultivating my taste."
Lin Zhi nodded without saying anything, and the atmosphere between the two became subtle once again.
Jiang Lai rubbed her hands together, then hesitated and said, "In the car, I confessed so much to you, but you only comforted me."
Lin Zhi's eyes were curved, and she looked approachable and unassuming. She seemed to be waiting for Jiang Lai to continue.
Jiang Lai is usually a straightforward and frank person who says whatever she wants, but now that she has met Lin Zhi, she is very hesitant, as if she is worried that her next words will hurt Lin Zhi.
After all, his pitiful appearance at their first and second meetings had already deeply impressed Jiang Lai.
"I'd like to hear your story, and if possible, I can offer you some advice."
Lin Zhi chuckled and put down her teacup: "Aren't you also a pitiful person who got dumped? How can you comfort me?"
Jiang Lai's eyes were resolute, shining like obsidian: "I've moved on."
This statement was partly true and partly false. What she longed for was the memory of the past, the girl with a bright smile and a high ponytail, not the madwoman she was now, driven only by desire.
Lin Zhiping smiled and said, "Is it because we slept together? I'm sorry, I'm straight, and... I'm frigid. Maybe you're lying, but I'm telling you the truth. That night was my first time. It was because of the alcohol. If I were sober, I would never do it again."
Lin Zhi knew that saying these words might be a bit presumptuous, but she had to make it clear to Jiang Lai that this was the reason she agreed to come up and sit down. It wasn't her style to be vague, but it would be better if Jiang Lai didn't have such thoughts in mind.
It's not that she can't accept same-sex relationships, it's just that she can't get over her previous failed relationship. Even if she does date someone in the future, it won't be the actress Jiang Lai who is about to debut.
Jiang Lai hadn't originally thought this way, but after Lin Zhi brought it up, she felt inexplicably disappointed. She picked up the steaming tea and took another sip, her throat bobbing.
A little dry...
"Sister Lin."
Her voice sounded aggrieved, and Lin Zhi wanted to ruffle her hair and comfort her.
"What's wrong?"
“If you hadn’t told me, I would have forgotten about that night long ago. We’re both adults, you don’t need to think so much. I really want to give you some advice.”
Lin Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. Her fingertips, which were gripping the teacup tightly, turned slightly white. Perhaps it was because Jiang Lai was young or something else, but Lin Zhi felt no distance from Jiang Lai.
She recounted her past with Cheng Anan in detail, like an audiobook, which made Jiang Lai feel distressed.
After listening, Jiang Lai roughly understood why Lin Zhi didn't hate Cheng Anan anymore; it was really difficult to say who was right and who was wrong in their relationship.
"Cheating is wrong. If he really loved you, he wouldn't care about your frigidity. Besides, it's not like it's incurable. He's a complete scumbag. Sister Lin, it's better to break up!"
Lin Zhi nodded blankly, and after a long while, she realized that Jiang Lai had sat down next to her and was holding her hand.
The two of them acted like best friends.
"Thank you." Lin Zhi withdrew her hand. "But I still hope this matter can be left as it is."
Jiang Lai looked at her with heartache: "But it's your youth..."
Lin Zhi shook her head: "No, my youth was not wasted. I gave my youth to the company."
Jiang Lai straightened up and hugged Lin Zhi, gently stroking her back: "Sister Lin, don't be sad. I'm willing to be your safe haven and protect you when you can't withstand the storms."
Lin Zhi's body stiffened slightly, and a blush crept up her ears: "Thank you... thank you."
"I'm serious."
"If you really want to protect me, you'll have to be even better than Qi Chuan."
Jiang Lai knew Qi Chuan; he was Lin Zhi's only artist, and his commercial value was enough to support half the company.
"I don't want to become Qi Chuan, I want to surpass Qi Chuan."
Every newcomer is full of confidence, but how many can actually climb out of the murky waters of the entertainment industry? Lin Zhi didn't want to shatter her beautiful dream.
"Then you must work hard."
"I will."
"So we're friends...friends who can confide in each other?"
Lin Zhi smiled and said, "Okay."
After Lin Zhi left, Jiang Lai lay on the bed lost in thought. She regretted the vow she had made on a whim; she still didn't have that much confidence in herself.
However, it's true that Lin Zhi is protected; no one can bully Jiang Lai's friend!
"ah!"