Chapter 16 looks suspiciously like an affair.
In the afternoon, after parting on bad terms with Zhang San, Jiang Jiaoming lay in the hotel working on the Spring Festival film schedule.
The pre-sales for the Spring Festival films will begin the day after tomorrow, and he browsed through the online public opinion.
The three trailers released have all received positive feedback, and the clips are very popular in lower-tier markets. The short videos have already garnered over seven million likes.
There's no need to be too nervous with the theaters. The competition during this year's Spring Festival season isn't too fierce. The film that Zaiying invested in is a series IP, and with a prequel, there's no worry about audiences not coming to the theaters in the early stages. The difficulty lies in the first week of release, when there will inevitably be a deluge of negative publicity.
Most films released during the Spring Festival season are decided within a week. If they were to release "Brilliant Past" during the Spring Festival season in the future...
Liang Kongxiang will have to withstand immense public pressure.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Jiaoming?" Zhang San rang the doorbell and immediately knocked on the door, calling out, "Are you there?"
There was a series of knocks on the door.
Jiang Jiaoming glanced at the door, closed his laptop, got out of bed expressionlessly, and opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, Zhang San stood there as straight as a pole, stammering and peeking his head into the room from left to right: "What...what are you doing?"
"Can you stop talking nonsense?" He kicked the door shut and went inside. "What else can you do besides work?"
"Whoa!" Zhang San dodged to the side, slipped in, patted his pants, and glared at his back: "You have quite the temper."
Jiang Jiaoming glanced back at him, the meaning of which was self-evident.
"What if I just said it offhand?" Zhang San raised his hands in surrender: "I apologize, okay, young master? I've found you a really good way to make amends."
Zhang Bingjie is a complete liar; what reliable compensation method could he possibly have? Jiang Jiaoming ignored him and turned on his computer to check the ticket subsidy plan.
"You don't believe me?" Zhang San chuckled and slammed his hand on the table, announcing, "I've arranged a get-together for you! I've invited Xiang Hang and Liang Kongxiang. I told Liang Kongxiang you'd treat her to a late-night snack, and she agreed."
Jiang Jiaoming paused, his hand moving across the document, and frowned: "Who asked you to invite me?"
He's put it on again, huh?
Zhang Bingjie rolled his eyes inwardly: "Just tell me if you're going or not."
“I’m not going.” Jiang Jiaoming refused decisively.
"Why don't you go? Liang Kongxiang doesn't mind, why should you?" Zhang Bingjie had gone to great lengths to organize this gathering, and he was determined not to let him off the hook.
Besides, he also wanted to know what Jiang Jiaoming looked like when he was in love. He really couldn't guess. Before, he and Liang Kongxiang seemed perfectly normal, but now, they looked like they were having an affair.
"Why should I treat them to a meal?" Jiang Jiaoming asked slowly, scrolling through his mouse.
“You’re being stingy,” Zhang Bingjie said, criticizing his lack of vision. “They’re the two of them making money for you, what’s wrong with having a late-night snack?”
But Jiang Jiaoming refused to go, complaining that he was annoying and troublesome, and kicked him out, even threatening to change rooms.
This infuriated Zhang Bingjie.
It's like a dog biting Lü Dongbin.
After Zhang Bingjie left, Jiang Jiaoming planned to take a shower and go to sleep.
My phone vibrated again; it was a message from Zhuang Yexue.
She asked Jiang Jiaoming if he would attend the roadshow.
Whether he goes or not doesn't affect her roadshow. Jiang Jiaoming really couldn't understand why Zhuang Yexue was asking so many unnecessary questions.
He didn't answer as usual, put on some instrumental music, took his phone, went to take a shower, and then went to bed for a nap.
I glanced at the time before going to bed; it was only 5 p.m.
I slept quite a long time. Not only were the streetlights on outside, but there were no pedestrians either. The streets were deserted. I checked my phone and sure enough, it was midnight.
Sleeping next to Liang Kongxiang last night was really uncomfortable. I only managed to doze off for a short while after dawn, and before I could fall asleep, Liang Kongxiang woke up.
His ex-girlfriend was sleeping next to him; anyone who could remain indifferent was faking it. He remembered being quite far away from her, and he didn't know how he woke up to find his arms around her waist.
He guessed it was just a habit.
Jiang Jiaoming washed his face, and the phone rang, buzzing on the sink.
He turned over, and there was Zhang Bingjie again.
"Hello?" Zhang Bingjie was clearly outside. The cold wind was blowing through the microphone, and his voice trembled. He seemed to curse the damn weather before asking, "You're really not coming? I'm telling you, I'm already in the private room. I sent you the location on WeChat."
Jiang Jiaoming hung up the phone, glanced at his location, and then brushed his teeth in front of the mirror.
Why should we have to go?
He spat out the water and wiped his mouth with a towel.
Liang Kongxiang doesn't care about him, so why should he care about which man covets her?
He twisted open the toothpaste tube.
Why was Xiang Hang concerned about when Liang Kongxiang would return to the film crew?
He applied toothpaste to the toothbrush, absentmindedly put the toothbrush in his mouth, slid it left and right before realizing something was wrong. He took it out and stared at the toothbrush full of foam.
I watched it again.
"..."
After rinsing his mouth briefly, Jiang Jiaoming changed his clothes and went out in a huff.
He wandered aimlessly through the streets.
There were few pedestrians on the road. The dim streetlights shone on the white stripes of the zebra crossing, and Jiang Jiaoming's shadow was imprinted on them. He walked through one white stripe after another until he reached the other side of the street.
The rectangular, colorful sign surrounded by neon lights stood out brightly in the night. He stood downstairs for a while. It was only 1:30 a.m.
He squatted at the narrow stairwell, and occasionally a drunk man with a large belly would pass by him. The smell of alcohol made Jiang Jiaoming frown.
Actually, Jiang Jiaoming is tall and strong, so it's quite funny to see him huddled up at the bottom.
He calmly gazed at the streets, which resembled pools of yellow water. The soft light shone on the outskirts of Gongtai City, where smoke filled the air, and lovesick men and women, along with drunkards, were the products of the night. He squatted there, coldly observing the surrounding scenery.
My phone vibrated again; I knew without a doubt it was Zhang San.
Jiang Jiaoming ignored it, and later tried to turn off the message notifications, but then saw Zhang San's words. In his frustration, he typed "get lost".
I don't understand what I'm here for.
Is it too hot indoors? Why do you have to come out and enjoy the cool breeze?
He silenced his phone, but when he looked up, he met Liang Kongxiang's surprised face.
She didn't know when she had already stood in front of Jiang Jiaoming. It seemed she had just seen him; the initial surprise vanished in an instant. She regained her usual composure, but surprisingly, she didn't look away or take another step forward.
Beside Jiang Jiaoming was a dimly lit, narrow staircase. He squatted there, calmly tilting his head back and staring at her intently.
The two were separated by a step. Liang Kongxiang didn't take the first step, and they just stared at each other silently for a few seconds.
"Why are you squatting here?" Liang Kongxiang asked as she walked over.
The overlapping images made Liang Kongxiang feel somewhat dazed. After all, her dream that morning was too real, and she couldn't help but think of that night when the snow was falling heavily.
Her voice softened considerably, as if this were yet another dream woven for her by heaven. A dream as thin as a cicada's wing, so fragile that it would shatter at the slightest touch, its fragments flying away with it.
Jiang Jiaoming's cold face revealed no emotion. After she walked in, his eyes lowered, and his gaze fell on the gaps between the bricks: "Let it get some fresh air."
Liang Kongxiang nodded, then thought for a moment and said, "Let's go inside, it's cold outside."
Jiang Jiaoming looked at her again for a while, then got up.
When squatting, the collar is tightly wrapped around the neck, but when you stand up, it's like a leaky cabin, with the wind immediately rushing in from all directions, from the neck to the soles of the feet, making you feel cold and sinking straight down.
"Wrap yourself up," Liang Kongxiang handed him a scarf, a white cashmere scarf, "It's still warm."
"No need." Jiang Jiaoming glanced at it and refused, then walked upstairs, where the motion-activated light turned on.
“Friend, aren’t we?” Liang Kongxiang didn’t retract her hand.
Jiang Jiaoming looked at her, his steps on the stairs suddenly stopped, he turned around as if he suddenly remembered something, changed his mind, took the scarf and wrapped it tightly around his neck, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he laughed: "You have such bad interpersonal relationships, being friends with your ex."
Liang Kongxiang ignored those words.
The two walked upstairs in silence, then turned left to the private room Zhang Bingjie had mentioned. Jiang Jiaoming seemed to feel hot and pulled at his scarf, but didn't take it off. He simply straightened it, revealing his Adam's apple, which hadn't fully healed.
Just as Liang Kongxiang caught a glimpse of the red wound, Jiang Jiaoming pushed open the door.
"You're only just arriving?" Zhang Bingjie patted the seat next to him and began to greet them, "Come on in, I've been waiting for you. Have a seat."
The waiter started serving the dishes, and Zhang San complained, "Xiang Hang and I have been talking for almost an hour, and we were almost ready to say that if you don't have children, neither will I."
The room was very warm. Liang Kongxiang took off her trench coat and hung it on a chair. She smiled when she heard Zhang San's words.
“This is especially delicious,” Zhang San said, pointing to the steamed fish after Liang Kongxiang sat down. “It has a flavor you can’t find anywhere else. Try it.”
Everyone started eating, but Jiang Jiaoming only poked at the fish head with a lack of interest. Zhang Bingjie casually asked, "Aren't you hot? Wearing a coat is one thing, but you're also wearing a scarf."
The sentence that Liang Kongxiang hadn't seen wearing a scarf all day at work was left unsaid, since there were outsiders present.
"Eat your food." Jiang Jiaoming had no interest in chatting. He took off one end of his scarf and casually hung it behind the chair.
This young master's temper has flared up again, and Zhang San can't afford to lash out at him right now. Xiang Hang smiled and said, "It is indeed cold outside."
“That’s just how the weather is in Gongtai,” Zhang San chewed on a piece of fish. “The three of us are all from Gongtai, we’re used to it. Where are you from?”
During the casual conversation, Zhang San didn't intentionally show his familiarity with Jiang Jiaoming and Liang Kongxiang, but Xiang Hang keenly noticed, "The climate where we live is relatively mild, and it's the same all year round. Speaking of which, you, President Jiang, and Kongxiang are from the same hometown. No wonder."
"No wonder what?" Jiang Jiaoming asked, unscrewing the water bottle.
"They look like old acquaintances," Xiang Hang said.
Jiang Jiaoming glanced at Liang Kongxiang, a very calm look.
“It’s an old classmate.” Liang Kongxiang smiled.
This really surprised Xiang Hang. He held his chopsticks for a long time without picking up any food. After a while, he said, "The incident at the last awards ceremony caused quite a stir online. I thought you guys really didn't know each other."
He only realized what he was talking about after he finished speaking.
Logically speaking, if someone really wanted to investigate the relationship between Liang Kongxiang and Jiang Jiaoming, it's impossible that no alumni from the same high school would come forward to refute Jiang Jiaoming's claim of "not knowing each other at all." It seems there's only one reason.
But why would he deliberately hide his relationship with Liang Kongxiang? Is there some kind of conflict? It doesn't seem like it...
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” Zhang San said, holding his hand to his mouth and leaning closer to Xiang Hang, “the three of us have known each other since high school, but it’s true that we haven’t seen each other for many years.”
"So what if we've met?" Jiang Jiaoming leaned back in his chair, not looking at Liang Kongxiang, and whether he was jokingly echoing Zhang San's words or something else, it was unclear. "Teacher Liang is so popular, you can't avoid running into her anywhere."
Liang Kongxiang just smiled and said, "Popularity is all superficial; polishing your work is the key."
"You're being modest," Xiang Hang said with a half-hearted smile.
Xiang Hang did have some ulterior motives at first. After all, this was Liang Kongxiang. Not to mention her looks, even without considering her inner qualities, her face alone should be enough to make him swoon. Moreover, after getting to know her, he found that Liang Kongxiang always had a mysterious aura, yet she was not easy to approach, and he could never quite figure out the meaning behind her smile.
As time went on, Xiang Hang realized that he seemed to be paying too much attention to her.
Whether the dinner was arranged unintentionally or intentionally to give him a warning was unclear. This prompted him to quickly pull back from the brink and end things before his feelings became too obvious.
The meal lasted until after 3 a.m., and Jiang Jiaoming paid the bill.
The stairwell was deserted; even the drunkard was asleep, wrapped in his thick cotton-padded coat.
Jiang Jiaoming, with a scarf draped over his arm, asked Xiang Hang as they went downstairs, "Shall we go back together?"
He glanced at Jiang Jiaoming's arm and waved his hand, "I drove too, so I didn't want to make anyone else come." He could tell that Jiang Jiaoming and Zhang Bingjie didn't want him to interfere with their reminiscing, so they walked away, saying, "Be careful."
"Okay, drive slowly too." After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang San got into the driver's seat.
Liang Kongxiang was the last to go downstairs. In front of her was the tall and burly Jiang Jiaoming, who completely blocked the way. She had wanted to politely say goodbye to Xiang Hang, but she couldn't find the opportunity.
Actually, it's only a kilometer from here to the hotel, not far, but since we both know the truth, there's no need to pretend we don't know each other. Liang Kongxiang thought, acting all day long must be exhausting.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Jiaoming walking towards the back seat, and wondered whether it would be better to sit in the front passenger seat or sit in the back together.
"Get in." Jiang Jiaoming opened the back door of the car.
Liang Kongxiang hesitated for only a second before getting in without being polite. The car was stuffy, so she habitually rolled down the window a little.
"Does it smell?" Zhang San lowered all four windows a little.
"No, I'm used to it."
"Like this." Zhang San looked in the rearview mirror and saw that Jiang Jiaoming and Liang Kongxiang were sitting obediently in the back seat, with a deep gap between them, as if anyone would fall into the abyss if they moved a little closer to the other.
Watching others argue over relationships is so interesting. Zhang San deliberately asked, "Jiaoming, you really aren't planning to go home for the New Year?"
"Hmm." Jiang Jiaoming rested his elbow on the car window, turned his face away, and stared out the window, responding casually.
"Doesn't your dad pressure you to get married?" He immediately asked, "Hey, doesn't Kong Xiang's family pressure her?"
"I'll lock her up..." He stopped halfway through his sentence.
Silence fell over the car.
Zhang Bingjie chuckled, glanced back at Jiang Jiaoming, and said sarcastically, "That's right, it really has nothing to do with your dad." He deliberately emphasized the words "your dad" in a teasing tone.
“My family doesn’t pressure me,” Liang Kongxiang said.
"Your family is quite open-minded," Zhang San said. "We've arrived."
Just to be on the safe side, Zhang San and Jiang Jiaoming didn't get off the car with Liang Kongxiang; the two groups entered the lobby one after the other.
As soon as Liang Kongxiang entered, she bumped into Gao Ling, who was coming downstairs in her pajamas to pick up her takeout. Gao Ling's eyes lit up when she saw Liang Kongxiang, and she immediately ran up to her: "Sister Kongxiang, why are you still out so late?"
"I had dinner with a friend," she smiled, and as we entered the elevator together, she glanced at the takeout box in her hand: "Are you hungry?"
Liang Kongxiang and Jiang Jiaoming exchanged a glance through the crack in the door that was about to close. Soon, someone pressed the button to open the door.
Liang Kongxiang looked up along that hand and saw Gao Ling.
The door slowly opened.
Five steps away, Jiang Jiaoming stood still without any expression.
Yesterday she was so confident that she didn't regret breaking up, but now she knows to open the door and wait for him to come upstairs together.
He gazed at Liang Kongxiang, who stood in the elevator with a detached expression.
What is she pretending for?
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Author's note: It'll still be midnight tomorrow.
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