The Fourteenth Star
“Treat you… to a meal?”
Almost immediately, Jiang Chuyi remembered the promise she made before. When the BloodXGentle members helped promote “Blades of Reflection” through a live stream, she had promised to treat them to a meal when they returned to China.
After a moment’s hesitation, she agreed, “Didn’t I say I would treat you guys to a meal for that live stream thing before? Perfect timing.”
As she was pondering, Jiang Chuyi thoughtfully added, “What do you guys like to eat? Any dietary restrictions?”
Zong Ye didn’t say a word.
Was the signal bad again?
Jiang Chuyi said hello in confusion.
After a while, his voice finally came through the receiver, “Anything is fine. Pick what you like.”
“Okay.”
…
…
The hotpot soup base was boiled. Chen Yi could tell at a glance that Jiang Chuyi was distracted.
When she picked up a tofu skin for the third time, Chen Yi finally couldn’t hold back and said, “What’s wrong with you now? Still haven’t figured it out?”
Jiang Chuyi bit her chopsticks, confused, “What?”
“Look at you, all preoccupied.” Chen Yi sighed and tossed the ladle in her hand. “Spit it out. What happened this time?”
“Nothing happened. I’m just thinking about where to treat someone to a meal.”
“Treat who to a meal?” Zhao Guangyu stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and mumbled, “You sure have a lot of plans.”
“Why do you care so much?”
Jiang Chuyi propped her chin with one hand, pondering whether to invite Xin He along.
With the recent turmoil not yet settled, she definitely had to pick a safe location to treat them to a meal.
On a whim, she opened her contacts, found Qin Tong’s assistant Jin Qing, and sent him a message asking if there were any places with good privacy where she could treat some friends to a meal.
Jin Qing: “I know a Japanese head chef who will be coming to Shanghai for an exchange in a couple days. He’s expected to stay for about half a month. If you need, I can make a reservation for you in advance.”
Jiang Chuyi: “Okay, thanks! I’ll go confirm my friends’ schedules in a bit. I’ll message you once it’s booked.”
Jin Qing: “Got it.”
Jiang Chuyi: “By the way, Brother Qing, how has the teacher’s health been lately? I want to go visit him sometime soon. Is that convenient?”
Jin Qing: “His health is alright. Teacher Qin will be happy to see you.”
Jiang Chuyi: “Okay.”
“Can you stop playing on your phone while eating?”
Hearing Chen Yi’s cold tone, Jiang Chuyi guiltily put down her phone and flashed a smile. “I had something to take care of. I’ll eat properly now, no more phone.”
Jiang Chuyi stood up slightly and put some braised meat into Chen Yi and Zhao Guangyu’s bowls, diligently saying, “Eat this, it’s delicious.”
Chen Yi: “…”
She then asked with a grin, “By the way, are you guys thirsty? Do you want any drinks? I’ll go grab some from the fridge for you.”
Zhao Guangyu: “…”
He choked a bit. “Xiao Yi, don’t be like this. You’re scaring me.”
Chen Yi stared at her glowing, lively face, as if seeing through everything. She chuckled and said, “What? Did you make up with a certain big celebrity?”
Jiang Chuyi’s smile instantly froze.
Zhao Guangyu was completely lost, always out of the loop. “Which big celebrity? What making up?”
Jiang Chuyi’s confidence faltered as she muttered, “It’s not like that.”
Chen Yi glared at her. “Fess up. Is the person you want to treat to a meal Zong Ye?”
Under her stern gaze, Jiang Chuyi nodded very slowly and carefully. Then, she solemnly added, “It’s not just him.”
Zhao Guangyu spat out his food, as if he’d gone deaf, incredulously asking, “What Zong? Which Ye?”
Jiang Chuyi fell silent again.
Zhao Guangyu raised his voice a bit, “The bassist of BloodXGentle? You’re treating him to a meal?”
Jiang Chuyi slowly nodded again.
Zhao Guangyu excitedly asked, “Can family and friends come along?”
Jiang Chuyi numbly looked back at him, “What do you think?”
Zhao Guangyu couldn’t hide his disappointment. He made an “oh” sound. “Then can you ask Zong Ye if he can help me get an autograph from Ji Kai?”
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
Chen Yi was speechless. “We’re celebrities ourselves. Can’t you have some class and not be like an ordinary fan asking for autographs? It’s ridiculous.”
Jiang Chuyi immediately nodded in agreement, echoing, “Right, right.”
“How can we compare to them?” Zhao Guangyu was unfazed. “BloodXGentle’s autographs are worth a lot. When we have no gigs in the future and can’t make it, we can sell them on Xianyu. Maybe we can even make some money.”
Hearing his lowbrow remarks, Chen Yi held her head powerlessly.
Zhao Guangyu realized belatedly and looked at Jiang Chuyi, “You didn’t film this movie for very long. How did you get so close with a top celebrity so quickly?”
“Not just close.” Chen Yi chimed in, “She’s already upgraded to rumored girlfriend status.”
Zhao Guangyu made an “ah” sound. “When did this happen? I’m behind the times.”
“Okay, okay, okay, stop. No more.” Jiang Chuyi made a stop gesture, interrupting their back and forth. “I’m just treating him to a meal. Do you have to make such a big deal?”
“Who was the one acting like a dead salted fish just now?” Chen Yi glanced at her resentfully a few times, disgruntled. “So it turns out my consoling you for half a day wasn’t as useful as a phone call from him.”
“That’s really not it.” Jiang Chuyi pursed her lips.
“Don’t blame me for not warning you. It’s fine to know Zong Ye, but don’t get too close.” Chen Yi’s tone turned serious. “His fans are known for being crazy. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself.”
“I understand.” Jiang Chuyi sighed, sincerely pleading, “You don’t need to worry about me. I know my limits.”
“What limits do you have? I can see you’re totally smitten with Zong Ye and can’t find your bearings.” Chen Yi continued eating. “Forget it. I can understand you. If I could secretly date a top star, I’d probably be willing even if I got cursed at by ten thousand people.”
“You’re getting more and more ridiculous.” Jiang Chuyi’s tone was resolute, as if she wasn’t feeling guilty at all. “I’m not having a meal with him alone this time. What dating? He’s at the peak of his popularity. I know my place.”
…
…
Since Jiang Chuyi had witnessed how packed BloodXGentle’s schedule was, she messaged Zong Ye the next day to confirm the time.
Still in the same respectful tone.
Jiang Chuyi: “Teacher Zong Ye, I booked a private dining place with very good confidentiality, but it requires a reservation in advance. When would be convenient for you?”
After a while, Zong Ye sent a voice message.
Jiang Chuyi clicked to listen.
His voice was very gentle, “How old are you?”
Jiang Chuyi was a bit confused, not understanding the leap in topic. She replied by typing: “I was born in ’97.”
Zong Ye: “I’m only a year older than you. We’re the same generation. Being so formal doesn’t seem quite appropriate.”
Jiang Chuyi thought to herself.
He’s so particular. Isn’t she just expressing her respect for him?
Zong Ye: “I’ll be back in Shanghai next Saturday. The plane lands at 8:30 PM. Is that time okay?”
Jiang Chuyi: “Okay, no problem.”
Zong Ye: “See you next week.”
Seeing those words, Jiang Chuyi’s heart skipped a beat.
It was probably the influence of Chen Yi’s nonsensical words. She actually felt his tone had a feeling of a couple secretly meeting up…
*
Perhaps Jiang Chuyi’s despondent, self-isolating attitude last time had a bit of a deterrent effect on Gao Ning. She unprecedentedly turned down a few variety show invitations for Jiang Chuyi.
In the past, Gao Ning would have jumped at the chance for these exposure opportunities. But at this juncture, inviting Jiang Chuyi on a show – everyone knew what it was for.
Gao Ning chattered to her on the phone, “We need to cherish this bit of popularity and not waste it casually. However, we indeed can’t afford to provoke Zong Ye’s fans. Let’s quit while we’re ahead and lay low for a few days. Don’t challenge their bottom line again.”
“At least you know to quit while you’re ahead.”
“I know. Sigh, don’t be angry.”
Jiang Chuyi’s tone turned serious, “I’m just upset that you never discuss things with me before doing them. If you want to hype things up, at least respect my wishes, okay?”
“Okay, okay, my bad. Is that not enough?”
Hearing her admit her mistake, Jiang Chuyi finally felt a bit more at ease.
“Do you know that you and Zong Ye recently have a CP topic with quite high popularity?”
Jiang Chuyi’s heart tensed up again, “What?!”
Gao Ning immediately said, “I swear, this time it really wasn’t us behind it. It’s all spontaneously organized by netizens! The eyes of the masses are discerning!”
Jiang Chuyi frowned, not in the mood to joke with her, “What CP topic?”
“It’s called something like ‘Yi Jian Zong Qing’ I think.” Gao Ning casually said, “If you’re interested, go search for it yourself.”
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
“There’s another thing. I’m currently discussing a script, a joint production by Xun Fei and Hua Rui. It looks good. I’ll send you the name later. Take a look these next few days and ideally do some homework on it. You might have a chance to try for the second female lead role. That producer is something else. I had to drink with him at least three times before I got him drunk.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chuyi’s heart ached. She couldn’t bear to lose her temper anymore. “Drink less. Take care of your health.”
“Oh, so you do care about me?”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Gao Ning was the biological granddaughter of Qin Tong’s younger brother. Her family had some connections in the entertainment industry, making her a third generation star. But in the past two years, she had argued with her parents over issues like sexual orientation and career plans, almost leading to estrangement. In order to prove herself, she insisted on striking out on her own. The industry was treacherous, but Gao Ning was stubborn and faced everything head-on, never saying a word to her family no matter what happened.
After Gao Ning switched careers to become a manager, through Jin Qing’s introduction, the first actress she signed was Jiang Chuyi, who had already faded into obscurity beyond the 18th tier.
Jiang Chuyi had also watched step by step as Gao Ning let go of her former unruly temperament, had her edges smoothed out by reality, and became shrewd and calculating, humbly begging people everywhere for resources, forcing smiles and bowing.
Jiang Chuyi slowly sighed, “I wasn’t intentionally lashing out at you before either. I was just really angry that you don’t trust me. Sister Ning, if I act steadily and don’t rely on hype, who knows, maybe I’ll have my day to shine too.”
“Why are you suddenly being so affectionate? You don’t want to make money for me anymore?” Gao Ning was alert.
“No… I just want to say, I can understand your feelings, but I’m still an actress after all. That popularity is all fleeting. Acting well is the key. Let the work speak for itself. I don’t want to let Teacher down after he placed his hopes in me.”
“But I’ve also said many times, times are different now.”
Gao Ning paused and stopped joking with her, “There are so many good actors now. You want to act well, but so what if you have the ability? If you don’t have any popularity or fans, can’t get endorsements, can’t pull investments, no one will take you seriously. Nowadays it’s all about making quick money using popularity. I’m telling you, only when you truly become a star will you have the freedom to choose your roles.”
In this arena of fame and fortune, there were too many things beyond one’s control. Obscurity was the greatest sin. Jiang Chuyi understood that too.
But Jiang Chuyi was occasionally disappointed in her current self. She felt she used to be very pure, only wanting to act in good films. She didn’t know when she had slowly started to change.
Perhaps the moment she chose to go with the flow, she had already begun to lose herself.
*
Jiang Chuyi had nothing to do these past few days, so as per Gao Ning’s instructions, she stayed home and studied the novel that the script was based on.
In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday.
First thing in the morning, Jiang Chuyi got up and washed her hair, thinking about what to wear today.
She lifted the curtain and glanced outside. Shanghai had been overcast and cold for more than half a month. The city had begun to snow heavily, a rare sight.
Jiang Chuyi rummaged through her closet and found a cream-colored woolen long dress. She then agonized over the outer coat.
After much selection, she finally chose a long gray coat.
Looking at herself from all angles in the full-length mirror, Jiang Chuyi felt her outfit looked quite understated and artistic.
She felt satisfied.
Around three in the afternoon, the trees and roads were covered in a thin layer of white snow. Jiang Chuyi sent Zong Ye a message on WeChat.
Jiang Chuyi: “The restaurant is in the old town area of Yangpu. It’s a private kitchen I reserved. The location might be a bit hard to find. Let me know when you arrive and I’ll come down to meet you.”
Zong Ye: “I’m not too familiar with Yangpu. Send me the address and I’ll come pick you up so we can go together.”
Jiang Chuyi didn’t think too much of it and shared her neighborhood’s address with Zong Ye, “Then tell me when you’re almost here. I’ll wait for you at the entrance.”
The afternoon passed in a flash.
Jiang Chuyi did some light makeup and sprayed on perfume two hours in advance. Originally she had also put on false eyelashes, but after some thought, she took them off.
The clock in the living room ticked slowly. It was 8:40… he should have landed by now, right? Jiang Chuyi glanced at her phone every few minutes, afraid of missing any messages.
She waited like this until almost ten o’clock when her WeChat dinged. Jiang Chuyi immediately picked up her phone.
Zong Ye: “I’m here.”
What?!
He was already here?!
Jiang Chuyi sprang up from the sofa, fumbling to find her purse and scarf. As she was putting on her shoes, she hurriedly sent him a voice message, “You’re here already? Why didn’t you message me in advance? Wait a few minutes, I’ll be right there.”
The more critical the moment, the more likely things would go wrong. Jiang Chuyi anxiously waited for the elevator.
It felt like an eternity before the elevator finally reached the first floor.
With a ding, as soon as the doors slid open, she dashed out.
The winter night wind was very cold, with light snow still drifting down. The wind stung her face. Jiang Chuyi didn’t care about any of that and ran all the way out of the neighborhood.
By the time she was nearing the entrance, she was already out of breath from running.
A black sedan was parked by the roadside. Snow fell silently as the street lamps cast a dim yellow glow. Tiny snowflakes swirled and landed on his shoulders and hair. Zong Ye stood alone, wearing a very formal light gray suit. His hands were tucked into his suit pants pockets as he quietly leaned against the passenger side door, like a noble young master who had escaped a banquet midway to wait for his lover.
Jiang Chuyi was breathing heavily, her heart pounding from running.
She went around the car and walked up to him, slowing her pace. She looked around nervously and said, “Hurry and get in the car. Don’t get photographed.”
Due to their height difference, Zong Ye’s dark lashes lowered as he stared at her.
After a few seconds, he straightened up unhurriedly, his elbow propping against the car body.
Jiang Chuyi glanced inside the car, puzzled. “How come it’s just you? Where are the others?”
“The others?”
Zong Ye casually caught her dangling scarf.
His pristine cuff brushed past her ear. Jiang Chuyi immediately froze, not daring to move an inch.
The tip of her nose seemed to catch that bitter fragrance of dried orange blossom mixed with citrus again.
They had a fleeting contact.
Zong Ye smiled faintly, unperturbed. He withdrew his hand, his gentle eyes curving. “I forgot to tell you, they didn’t have time today. I’m the only one free.”
Sure he’s the “only one” that’s free 🙄🙄