The room was filled with a commotion.
Ji Yan had been popular for so many years in the industry, and there were few people in the company who were not his fans. Either they called him "Yan Shen" or "Big brother." Wensoft, could even discern a few people calling out "Husband" and "Baby."
Thinking of what Xiaomai had just briefed her about fan circles in the car, she couldn't help but smile a little. However, no one else noticed her expression.
But ever since Ji Yan entered, he had been staring at her. Of course, he noticed her smile. While being stared at by so many people didn’t make him frown, the sight of Wensoft's smile did.
"Why are you here?"
Nacy was afraid something might happen and, after snapping out of it, she greeted him with a smile and tried to lead him outside, with a tone that was assertive and forceful, "Come with me first, don't disturb people working."
But who was Ji Yan?
He was the young master of the Ji family in the west of the city, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had never bent to anyone's will, even after so many years in the entertainment industry, he never learned to flatter and compromise. He always did whatever he wanted, and even had a few public confrontations during interviews. Not to mention a mere photography gig.
He effortlessly shook off Nacy's hand and walked straight toward Wensoft.
Who would have thought that he had such intentions?
Even when Wheat saw him coming, she just stayed by his side, hands propping up her chin, tilting her head, purely resembling a devoted girl seeing her idol, and kept muttering, "Ah, Yan is coming, he's looking at me, he's looking at me!"
"I can't take it anymore, I'm suffocating."
"Sob, honey, please don't emit your charm anymore, Mom can't take it."
Again with the honey and the mom, it was amusing to hear.
But obviously, now was not a time to laugh – Ji Yan's cold face was almost in front of her. If she still couldn't figure out why, then there was no need for the brain that had been studying hard for so many years.
She wasn't afraid.
Though Ji Yan had a bad temper, he was not the kind of person who would physically harm a woman.
He was definitely here at the company with such an overbearing attitude because Su Lanlan had said something to him. But knowing that woman, she probably just cried a few times and then said something vague.
As for the rest, it was naturally left open to interpretation, so even if something happened in the end, she could still walk away as if nothing happened and say, "Ah, how could this happen? I didn't say anything."
A sarcastic smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Wheat's bright apricot eyes stared directly at Ji Yan without avoiding them.
"Ji Yan," Nancy caught up, grabbing Ji Yan's arm to stop him from advancing.
This was Soft's first time shooting promotional photos, and there were many staff members watching nearby. If anything damaging to Soft's reputation spread, how would she proceed with the promotion?
She hated Su Lanlan, who caused trouble, to death, and had to keep a smile on her face.
Fearing that others would see something, she had to keep her anger in check, and said with concern, "Okay, I know you want to see Soft working, but it's not finished yet. Even if you want to watch, don't disturb her."
As she spoke, she lowered her voice, saying in a tone only the two of them could hear, "I won't hold you accountable for coming back without permission."
"But if you…" before she could finish speaking, Ji Yan interrupted, "Get out."
His cold voice filled the room, causing the onlookers to pause. When they regained their senses, the photographer furrowed his brows. He had worked with Ji Yan many times and knew his temper and background.
He used to admire Ji Yan.
Although the young man was a bit cold, his work was impeccable. But this was his workplace, and Ji Yan's behavior was just too overbearing.
However, Ji Yan seemed to either not notice or not care about others' attitudes.
He turned his head, his eyes hidden beneath the baseball cap, casually scanning the crowd. His eyes were not attractive, but they were bright, and when the slightly drooping inner corners swept over everyone, it was like a sharp sword.
The thin lips hidden behind the black mask curled up slightly.
His voice was light but not to be questioned, "Get out, don't make me say it a third time."
"You!" The photographer's expression darkened, almost erupting.
Nancy had to consider Ji Yan and placate the photographer, afraid that he might just walk away when his temper flared up. This was a well-known photographer in the industry, and she planned to have him help with Soft's promotion later to increase her visibility.
It couldn't be destroyed like this.
Wheat finally noticed that something was wrong. She put away her silly smile, looked at Ji Yan, then at Soft.
From her understanding of Ji Yan, his anger level was at least at level 4 rage at the moment, and it seemed to be directed at Soft. So what had happened between these two? She looked at this and then looked at that, thinking about the issue she had been struggling with in the car a moment ago.
She didn't expect that the decision of standing or not standing by her sister and the issue of betrayal hadn’t been made yet.
The two main characters were already at odds. One was her longtime crush, and the other was her new superior. Wasn’t she in a difficult situation? Just as she hesitated about whether to step forward and stand in front of Soft.
Soft, who had been sitting quietly, finally made a move.
She glanced at Ji Yan, knowing that if she didn't heed him today, this shoot would not be able to continue. She cursed Su Lanlan several times in her heart, but her face did not show any expression. She turned to Nancy, who looked minuscule beside her, and said, "Nancy, I'll talk to him."
"You take Brother Li and the others out to rest for a while."
Nancy hesitated, worried that Soft couldn't handle Ji Yan's temper.
"It's okay." Soft smiled at her, then nodded to the photographer, hinting an apology, "Brother Li, we’ve been shooting all afternoon, and everyone is tired. You guys go rest on the side, have a cup of coffee, and eat some cake."
"Wheat," she called out, "you go make arrangements."
"Ah," Wheat paused, but when she met Soft's gaze, she quickly responded, "Okay, I'll do that right now.”
With things at this point, Nancy had no other choice. She had to comply with Soft's words and led the photographer and the others out to rest.
When everyone had left, Soft slowly put away her smile and turned to Ji Yan. She looked at him for a while and asked in a calm tone, "Did Su Lanlan send you?"
Ji Yan frowned. His expression was not good, and his tone was even worse. Instead of answering Soft's question, he coldly said, "You pushed her down the stairs.”
His tone was flat, without a hint of doubt.
It was clear that he already believed Su Lanlan's nonsense.
Soft looked at him and said with no emotion, "I said I didn't, do you believe me?" Without waiting for Ji Yan to speak, she continued, "Do you plan to push me down the stairs too, to send me to the hospital? Or do you intend to use your influence to prevent me from making my debut?"
Ji Yan frowned.
He didn't think so, but if it was really done softly, his voice turned cold, "Go apologize to her."
Apologize?
Sulanlan didn't want her to apologize at all.
Wen Soft felt amused in his heart, and a mocking smile truly appeared on his face.
Ji Yan looked at the smile on her face, his eyes cold, his voice also completely chilled, his voice was very pleasant, with a kind of clear taste, but at this moment it was like the cold wind in midwinter, bone-chillingly, "What are you laughing at?"
Laughing at your stupidity.
Sulanlan said whatever she wanted.
But she also understood that people in love are all the same. In the beginning, she treated Lin Qinghan the same way, didn't she? Shaking her head, she shook the image of that person from her mind and refocused her gaze on Ji Yan.
Clearly immersed in the circle for so many years.
But the young man in front of her seems to be no different from before, even with a mask, it's hard to conceal his appearance. He has a naturally noble face, with aloof and sharp eyes, looking very high-class.
Although this guy has no conscience, but at least he is Ji Xi's cousin. Wen Soft had no intention of arguing with him, and held out her hand to him, "Phone."
Phone?
Ji Yan looked at her, a rare look of confusion in his eyes, "What for?"
Wen Soft's tone was plain, "You want the truth, I'll give you the truth."
Originally thought it would take a few more words, but Ji Yan just looked at her for a while, then unlocked the phone and handed it over to her. Wen Soft took the phone, somewhat surprised. She thought that with Ji Yan's deep affection, the screen saver must be Sulanlan's.
Unexpectedly, it was actually a default screensaver image.
Opening the contacts, Sulanlan's number wasn't even starred, and even the note was just plain "Sulanlan".
Wen Soft raised her eyes, looked at Ji Yan suspiciously, said nothing, and directly called Sulanlan's number, and even turned on the speakerphone thoughtfully.
Very soon.
The call was answered.
"Ah Yan, what's wrong?" On the other end of the phone, came Sulanlan's century-old gentle voice, no, it should be even gentler than usual.
Ji Yan didn't speak, just stared at Wen Soft, waiting for her to give him the so-called truth.
Wen Soft also didn't care about Ji Yan, speaking plainly into the phone, "It's me."
There was a three-second silence on the phone before Sulanlan's voice came through, "It's Wen Soft sister, why are you using Ah Yan's phone to call me? You"
Wen Soft couldn't be bothered with the small talk, and completely ignored Sulanlan's questions, and straightforwardly asked, "Ji Yan came to the company and said I pushed you down the stairs. I'm calling now to ask you, Sulanlan, did I push you down the stairs that day?"
Sulanlan never expected that Wen Soft would directly call her, and straightforwardly ask "did I push you down the stairs" on the phone.
She didn't know if Ji Yan was by Wen Soft's side, or if there were other people present.
She didn't even have time to react.
Having seen Wen Soft being mistreated in Lin's family, and always being cautious, she had long forgotten what kind of temper Wen Soft used to have. The little princess of the Wen family, once a top socialite in the city, how could she be a doormat?
She has always been proud at heart.
Before, she was only careful and flattered for Lin Qinghan. Now that she has left Lin Qinghan, she no longer needs to suffer for others' sake.
But this kind of Wen Soft really caught Sulanlan off guard.
Yesterday, she had her agent call Ji Yan to tell him about her being in the hospital. She knew that Ji Yan's level of concern for her would certainly bring him back immediately. Sure enough, this morning she saw the trending topic of #Ji Yan airport#.
From Country T to the city, a 12-hour journey, he came as soon as he said, without bringing any bodyguards or assistants.
Later.
Ji Yan came to the hospital and asked her what happened.
Of course, she wouldn't tell him the truth. She just lowered her head and said helplessly, "I went to Lin's house before, and had some conflict with Wen Soft sister. It wasn't intentional on her part, it was my carelessness."
She knew Ji Yan's temperament.
Sure enough.
Ji Yan heard this and angrily left.
She didn't know what Ji Yan was going to do, but whether it was Ji's young master's identity or Yan's status, it was not something the current Wen Soft could resist. Even if Ji Xi could represent Ji's family to protect Wen Soft, but in the entertainment industry, it's still Ji Yan who has the final say, right?
Didn't Wen Soft want to debut?
Let her experience the horror of the entertainment industry.
But now——
What to do now?
She couldn't think of a way to solve it. If she said "no," how would Ji Yan think of her? But if she said "yes," who knows if Wen Soft would have other tricks waiting for her?
Not hearing Sulanlan's voice, but hearing the breathing on the other end of the phone, even if it was muffled, she could hear the heavy breathing. Ji Yan had been watching coldly all this time, but as time passed, and Sulanlan hadn't given a reply, his frowning eyebrows began to furrow slightly.
He was about to speak.
But Wen Soft spoke first, "If Miss Su has forgotten, then I don't mind helping you remember what happened that day."
The words had not yet been finished, Su Lanlan spoke, not as gentle as before, but with some urgency, "It was an accident that day, I have nothing to do with Wen Ruan, I fell because my high heels weren't stable."
Probably realizing that her tone was too urgent.
Su Lanlan waited for a while, and then returned to her previous voice, saying, "Wen Ruan, is Yan next to you? I have something to say to him."
"Misunderstanding" resolved.
Wen Ruan was too lazy to care about what the two of them were going to do, and directly handed the phone to Ji Yan.
She was still sitting on a chair at this moment, the wooden high bar stool, her feet couldn't reach the ground directly. For filming, she was wearing a dress and high heels, the tips of the high heels were touching the ground.
She originally wanted to avoid and let the two of them talk.
But she had been sitting for an afternoon, her legs were numb, and before her feet were stable, she went forward.
The shooting location was a high platform.
If she fell wearing high heels like this, even if she didn't become disabled, she would have to lie in the hospital for a few days.
Oh no.
The first thought in Wen Ruan's mind was that she probably couldn't finish today's shooting.
The imagined pain did not appear, instead, she was led into a warm embrace. There were only two people in the room now, her and Ji Yan. So, she quietly opened her eyes a little, and sure enough, Ji Yan's very high-end face was now the distance of one finger away from her.
"Hey, Yan, what's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?" Su Lanlan was still talking on the phone.
Blinking.
Wen Ruan withdrew her thoughts, and after her shoe soles were stable on the ground, she struggled out of Ji Yan's embrace, nodded at him, moved her lips, and said, "Thank you."
After that.
She didn't pay attention to Ji Yan anymore, and went straight out, thoughtfully leaving space for Ji Yan and his Su Lanlan.
Su Lanlan was still talking on the phone, sounding anxious, as if afraid that Ji Yan would ignore him because of this matter, he sounded on the verge of tears.
But Ji Yan seemed as if he hadn't heard Su Lanlan's voice at all. He stared blankly in the direction Wen Ruan left, thinking of the clear candy scent on her when they touched, not sweet or greasy, like his favorite lemon candy.
The door was closed.
He withdrew his gaze and looked at his fingers, there was still some lingering warmth there.
Until Su Lanlan shouted a few more times on the other end of the phone.
Ji Yan snapped out of it, furrowed his brow, looked at the name displayed on the screen, and said in a flat tone, "Got it," then hung up the phone—