Chapter 023: Why Are You Blushing?

Jiang Yao struggled to sit up, but the man's grip only tightened around her.

"You—"

Her words were cut off by He Yunqing’s silencing gesture.

Jiang Yao pursed her lips, her wide eyes darting about He Yunqing’s face, uncertain of his intentions.

The man simply pressed Jiang Yao’s head down, making her cheek rest against his chest.

Jiang Yao was caught in an awkward limbo, unable to move or stay still, forced to quietly feel the warmth radiating from the man's chest.

"Yunqing, your scene is next," the director called out from a distance.

He replied with a cool, indifferent hum.

Only after the director walked off did He Yunqing slowly release Jiang Yao.

Her face was flushed red, like a ripe apple.

He Yunqing raised his brows, his tone laced with teasing ambiguity. "Why is your face so red?"

Jiang Yao irritably covered her cheeks with both hands. "None of your business!"

He Yunqing’s smile grew from faint to unabashedly mischievous. "Isn’t it because of me?"

Jiang Yao straightened herself, vigorously ruffling her hair. "Stop saying nonsense, it’s just—just—the weather’s too cold, my face got red from the chill."

"Oh." He Yunqing nodded knowingly.

Jiang Yao extended a hand toward him. "The ring, give it back."

"What ring?"

He Yunqing folded his arms, watching her with leisurely amusement.

"Don’t play dumb. The wedding ring. Hand it over."

He Yunqing chuckled. "Miss, a wedding ring isn’t something you can just ask a man for."

Jiang Yao stamped her foot. "You—"

He Yunqing had already stood, removing his thick coat and leaving only a thin shirt.

He turned to leave, pausing mid-step to glance sidelong at Jiang Yao. "And, even if you like someone, you shouldn’t touch them so freely."

Jiang Yao’s mind buzzed with confusion.

Watching He Yunqing’s retreating back, she grew so frustrated she began banging her head against a pillar.

"He Yunqing, He Yunqing, He Yunqing..."

With each knock, she called his name, as if the pillar before her was He Yunqing himself.

"Yao," came Ye Yiyi’s voice.

Jiang Yao snapped out of her daze, rubbing her sore forehead. "Yiyi, I’m coming."

Ye Yiyi cradled a cup of ginger tea, sipping gently. "Yao, you should go ahead soon, don’t wait for me."

Jiang Yao took off her coat and wrapped it around Ye Yiyi. "What’s wrong? Are you staying late?"

Ye Yiyi shook her head. "No, there’s a dinner later. Some investors want to treat a few of us actresses."

"Actresses?"

"Yes," Ye Yiyi paid it no mind.

Jiang Yao frowned. A dinner inviting only actresses—no matter how she thought about it, it felt odd.

"I’ll go with you. You eat, and I’ll wait outside," Jiang Yao declared.

Ye Yiyi knew she couldn’t win against Jiang Yao and nodded. "Then bundle up, don’t catch cold."

The Red Diamond Restaurant was a place of meticulous standards.

Non-paying guests weren’t allowed to linger inside.

Jiang Yao waited alone outside the entrance for Ye Yiyi to finish.

Snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.

Soon, a thick layer gathered.

Jiang Yao stamped her feet and rubbed her hands, moving constantly to keep warm.

Her head felt heavy; she suspected she was coming down with another cold.

Across the street, a Maybach rolled to a quiet stop.

The car’s interior lights were off.

He Yunqing sat inside, watching the small figure "dancing" in the snow across the road. His large hand clenched tighter around the steering wheel.

Jiang Yao, clad in wine-red clothing, her jet-black hair fluttering in the cold wind, snowflakes settling on her like a sprite descended to earth.

A faint smile tugged at the man's lips.

He reached for the door, about to step out, but saw Ye Yiyi emerging from the restaurant.

Jiang Yao heard footsteps and turned, rubbing her ears.

But it wasn’t just Ye Yiyi who came out.

Ye Yiyi’s neck was draped with the thick arm of a middle-aged man. Both seemed to have drunk quite a bit; the cold wind made their steps unsteady.

"Ye Yiyi," Jiang Yao called softly.

Ye Yiyi’s gaze was dazed. Hearing Jiang Yao’s voice, she steadied herself and looked over. "Yao, you’re still here? Go home, I’m not going back tonight."

The man beside Ye Yiyi belched, tapped her cheek, and laughed. "That’s right, we’re not going back."

Jiang Yao’s frown deepened. She strode over and pulled the man’s arm off Ye Yiyi’s shoulder, drawing Ye Yiyi to her side. "Sorry, sir. My friend’s had too much to drink. I’ll take her home."

She addressed the man directly.

He swayed a moment, then steadied himself, shifting his gaze to Ye Yiyi behind Jiang Yao and changing his tone. "Miss Ye, is that so?"

Ye Yiyi was silent for a couple of seconds, then waved her hand. "No, I’m fine. Let’s go."

"Ye Yiyi!" Jiang Yao glared angrily.

Ye Yiyi seemed not to hear, still trying to follow the man.

Jiang Yao hoisted Ye Yiyi up and set her down firmly, then turned to the man. "Sir, no matter what, I won’t let you take her tonight. Sorry for the inconvenience."

She made a gesture inviting him to leave.

The man, now less drunk, shot Jiang Yao a threatening look, then got in his car.

The vehicle drove off, disappearing into the snowy night.

Ye Yiyi, fallen in the snow, stood up, tears streaming down her face as she glared at Jiang Yao. "What are you doing, Jiang Yao!"

"I should be asking you! What are you thinking?" Jiang Yao retorted furiously. "You know perfectly well what he wants to do by taking you away!"

Ye Yiyi wiped her tears. "Yes, I know. But so what? That third female lead did nothing but spend one night with the investor, and she stole my role. Do you know how many coffees I bought her these days, how many times I tied her shoes? She spat her chewed gum into my hand! In the play, I’m her maid. Outside, am I her maid too?!"

Jiang Yao looked at Ye Yiyi’s aggrieved face and slowly approached, gently embracing her. "It’s alright, Yiyi. I understand."

Ye Yiyi pushed her away. "No, you don’t. If this keeps up, when will I ever be able to protect you, Yao? I want to protect you..."

Jiang Yao saw Ye Yiyi’s flushed face, tears suddenly falling from her eyes.

"Ye Yiyi, listen to me. As long as you still have a choice, be a person with dignity. No matter how hard it gets, don’t let yourself become anyone’s plaything," Jiang Yao wiped her tears, pointing to her own nose, "Don’t be like me, never!"

She revealed her own wounds, unreservedly exposing them to the world.

Not far away, He Yunqing, who had already stepped out of his car, witnessed the entire scene...