Sheng Chenjin dodged her attempt to get his attention with a ruthless move, striding into the coffee shop and heading straight for Ji An and Shi Xinxin’s table.
“Why is Ji An taking so long on a phone call…” Shi Xinxin grumbled. Just as she was about to get up to tell Ji An that she was leaving, she saw Sheng Chenjin approaching.
He was dressed in casual black attire, his cheeks flushed, and he was walking with large strides towards her table. He looked so awkward, like… a spoiled little boy, but also, very cute.
Cute… The word popped into Shi Xinxin’s mind before she realized it. She froze for a moment, then let out a light chuckle. Sheng Chenjin, seeing Shi Xinxin’s smile, stopped in his tracks. The blush on his face deepened, and he murmured, “So cute.”
Sheng Chenjin’s voice was very soft, almost inaudible if one wasn’t listening closely. Of course, Ji An heard it, but Shi Xinxin didn’t. She had only seen Sheng Chenjin’s lips move, but she didn’t know what he had said.
“What did you just say? Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.” Shi Xinxin looked directly at Sheng Chenjin and politely created a distance between them.
“It’s nothing.” Sheng Chenjin calmed himself down, turning his head away to regain his usual cool demeanor, but no one knew what was going through his mind.
Ji An, seeing the two of them fall into silence, interjected, “Ahem, let me introduce you.”
“You two aren’t strangers, so I won’t waste words.” Ji An looked at both of them, their gazes fixed on him. He placed a hand on Shi Xinxin’s shoulder and said, “This is Shi Xinxin, a new artist signed to our company. Chenjin, you’ll have to help her out a lot in the future.”
“And on the other side is our Best Actor, Sheng Chenjin.” After Ji An finished speaking, Sheng Chenjin was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. He looked at Shi Xinxin, who was extending her hand towards him, and clasped it. “Welcome aboard.”
The moment Sheng Chenjin’s hand touched Shi Xinxin’s, she withdrew hers, offering a polite smile. “Thank you, I look forward to your guidance.”
Sheng Chenjin felt an emptiness in his heart, as if something had slipped away, sensing the distance in Shi Xinxin’s words.
The orange sunlight bathed Shi Xinxin’s house, making it look like it was enveloped in a giant spotlight from afar. The fatigue of the day melted away the moment she saw her home, her defenses and mask dropping.
“Ding.” Shi Xinxin’s phone rang. She turned off the engine and answered. Wen Xiaoxiao’s voice came through, a hint of joy mixed with professional seriousness.
“Congratulations, the collaboration was successful.” Wen Xiaoxiao’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she scrolled through photos on her phone, the light from the screen reflecting in her pupils, showing images of models.
“You found out so quickly? I just got home.” Shi Xinxin opened the door, kicked off her heels, and sank into the comfortable sofa. The cozy atmosphere allowed her to shed her pretense and break into a happy smile.
“My work today was light. I’ll contact you again after I’m done.” Wen Xiaoxiao saw her assistant walk in and ended her brief conversation with Shi Xinxin.
Stretching out her limbs, Shi Xinxin felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen. She rolled over, trying to ignore it. Ji An was her boss now, and Sheng Chenjin was her colleague.
The thought of Sheng Chenjin brought a slight smile to Shi Xinxin’s lips. However, her abdominal discomfort persisted. She got up to confirm her suspicion. Indeed, her period had arrived, unpleasantly.
She changed into simple, loose clothing and wrapped a warm scarf around her abdomen. Her makeup-free face looked a little pale. Shi Xinxin lay comfortably on the soft, warm bed, trying to ease her discomfort.
Her phone rang at that moment. Seeing Ji An’s number, Shi Xinxin felt a twinge of nervousness. This was the first call after their collaboration, and she felt a mix of joy and slight anxiety. She picked up the phone and answered immediately.
“President Ji.” Shi Xinxin mustered some energy, trying to make her voice sound less languid. Ji An, watching a variety show featuring Shi Xinxin and Sheng Chenjin on video, began.
“You’re one of our company’s actors now. The variety show you were on recently did very well. I’m hosting a party and have invited you and Wen Xiaoxiao.” Ji An thought about Sheng Chenjin’s usual arrogant demeanor and felt genuinely worried for him at times.
“Xiaoxiao and I? When?” Shi Xinxin unconsciously placed her hand on her warm abdomen, her slightly pale lips parting, unsure how to refuse.
“Tonight, at…” Shi Xinxin didn’t know how to express her thoughts, but her period was making her feel truly unwell.
“President Ji, I’m feeling a bit unwell today, so tonight…” Shi Xinxin struggled to explain to Ji An, but her body was truly uncomfortable. The dull ache in her abdomen felt like it was protesting, and it pulsed a few more times.
“I’ve already informed Wen Xiaoxiao. Let’s all go together tonight!” Ji An interrupted before Shi Xinxin could finish. He thought she was going to refuse and didn't want to give her the chance.
“Okay.” Ji An hung up after hearing Shi Xinxin’s agreement. Shi Xinxin looked at herself in the mirror. Her thick, dark eyebrows were perfectly sculpted around her eyes. Her pale cheeks and lips had a slightly worn look. Shi Xinxin felt very hesitant.
Sheng Chenjin would certainly be at Ji An’s party. Moreover, Ji An had just mentioned that her recent variety show had performed well, and Sheng Chenjin was also in that show. Shi Xinxin splashed some warm water on her face, still undecided.
She tied up her hair, applied a simple skincare routine, and a light foundation that made her complexion look less pale. She applied a nude lipstick to her perfect lips, giving her a gentle and serene appearance.
She felt very tired and didn’t want to do anything else. Looking at her almost bare face in the mirror for a moment, she felt that this look resembled her past, naive self.
“Ding dong.” The doorbell suddenly broke the silence. Shi Xinxin let down her long hair and went to open the door. Wen Xiaoxiao walked in directly.
Her neat short hair and exquisite suit exuded professionalism. Her strong aura was accentuated by her vintage-colored lipstick. In comparison, Shi Xinxin appeared naturally serene.
“Are you ready?” Wen Xiaoxiao looked Shi Xinxin up and down, her loose loungewear surprising her. Wen Xiaoxiao wondered if Shi Xinxin really intended to wear that to the party.
“Not yet, I’m still debating whether to go.” Shi Xinxin closed the door. Wen Xiaoxiao noticed something was amiss. Shi Xinxin’s appearance was not much different from her usual bare-faced look, but her overall spirit was not good. Wen Xiaoxiao habitually observed Shi Xinxin’s eyes and subtle details, and she seemed to have an answer in mind.
“There’s still plenty of time, it’s still early!” Wen Xiaoxiao took out brown sugar ginger tea from a drawer and made a cup for Shi Xinxin. She knew Shi Xinxin had to attend Ji An’s party.