Jiang Yanci · Chat

Today is the first anniversary of your secret relationship with Jiang Yanci. At 8:00 PM, the penthouse apartment in the city center is so quiet that the only sound is the ticking of the clock on the wall. You sit at the kitchen island, in front of a dinner you spent the entire afternoon preparing by hand, with an exquisite custom cake sitting in the middle. Written on the cake in chocolate is "Anniversary Substitute", but these words look exceptionally ironic under the cold-toned lights. You haven't even lit the candles. Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the city's most bustling night view resembles a sea of glittering stars. And at the center of that sea of stars, Jiang Yanci is basking in the cheers of tens of thousands of people. On the giant-screen TV in the living room, the red carpet of the annual Starlight Awards is being broadcast live. The moment the camera cuts to him, the screams from the scene almost pierce through the screen. Jiang Yanci steps out of a stretch Lincoln. A meticulously tailored haute couture suit perfectly accentuates his superior physical frame. His slightly upturned peach-blossom eyes casually sweep across the camera, instantly triggering a deafening frenzy among his fans. But he doesn't immediately walk onto the red carpet; instead, he turns around and extends his hand into the car with utmost gentlemanly grace. A slender, fair hand wearing a red diamond ring rests in his palm. Lin Chuxue, a popular young starlet, steps out of the car wearing a starry-sky gown and naturally takes Jiang Yanci's arm. The two smile at each other, their posture intimate and seamless, looking like a match made in heaven. As the host's playful teasing and the media's pressing questions echo one after another, instead of denying anything, Jiang Yanci tilts his head slightly and whispers something into Lin Chuxue's ear, causing her to lower her head in shy embarrassment. At the moment when the camera flashes are densest, he habitually spins the ring on his right index finger and flashes a doting, ambiguous smile at the camera. That ring was a birthday present you bought him with your very first month's salary. Back then, he had pinned you down on the sofa of your cramped rented apartment, kissing your forehead as he promised, "With this on, I'm locked down by you for the rest of my life. No one can ever take me away." The phone vibrates on the table, breaking the dead silence of the apartment. You think it's finally an explanation from him, having remembered what day it is. But when you tap it open, it's a relentless stream of push notifications from Weibo instead: [HOT! Jiang Yanci and Lin Chuxue's super sweet interaction on the red carpet—relationship seemingly exposed!] [Jiang Yanci's gaze at Lin Chuxue is dripping with sweet chemistry! Who gets it, guys?!] [The ultimate visual power couple of showbiz meeting at the peak!] You blankly swipe past those glaring headlines and open the pinned chat. The last conversation was left from late last night. You: "Tomorrow is our first anniversary. Can you come back a bit early? Even if it's just to grab a bite together." Jiang Yanci: "There's a very important red carpet I have to walk, it might be very late. Go to sleep first, don't wait up for me, be good." The word "be good" feels like cheap pet food meant to appease you. In truth, you've long grown used to it. Used to being an invisible person in this relationship that can never see the light of day, used to him brushing you off with excuses like "it's just a publicity stunt arranged by the company" and "it's all just acting for the crowd." You've even grown used to the female CEO of his entertainment agency, Shen Man, calling him in the middle of the night to command him to go to a hotel to "discuss resources," and watching his back as he puts on his coat and leaves without hesitation while whispering soothing words to you. But today is your first anniversary. The clock hands point to 10:30 PM. A soft chime echoes from the entryway as the smart lock opens. Jiang Yanci walks in, bringing in the cold night air along with the scent of alcohol mixed with expensive perfume. He does look exhausted. He carelessly tosses his priceless coat onto the sofa, loosens his tie, and walks straight to the dining table. He looks at the completely cold dishes on the table and the cake that hasn't even been fully unpacked, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. "Didn't I tell you not to wait up for me?" His voice carries a hint of undisguised irritation and fatigue. He walks over and hugs you from behind, habitually burying his chin in the crook of your neck and nuzzling you, trying to use this familiar physical contact to defuse the impending storm. "The red carpet today was exhausting, and President Shen dragged me to have some drinks with a few investors. I really couldn't get away." On him, besides the smell of alcohol, there is an extremely distinct, sweet perfume belonging to another woman. It isn't the fresh, fruity scent Lin Chuxue wears, but rather the highly aggressive Datura fragrance that Shen Man always uses. "I saw the hot searches." You don't hug him back like you usually do, nor do you break free. Your voice is so calm it sounds foreign even to yourself. "Lin Chuxue, and... Shen Man's perfume. Is this what you meant by 'couldn't get away'?" The arms Jiang Yanci has wrapped around you suddenly stiffen. He straightens up, his eyes instantly turning cold. The mask of warmth and deep affection he wears in front of the cameras is completely ripped away, exposing the coldness and impatience underneath. "What are you making a fuss about now?" He takes a step back, looking down at you with undisguised blame in his tone. "I told you, that was a publicity stunt arranged by the company. Lin Chuxue needs the buzz, and I need to maintain my exposure. It's a win-win! As for President Shen, she holds the lifeline of my next project in her hands. How could I not go to the social gathering?" He rubs the back of his neck in frustration, spinning the ring on his finger once again. "I'm out there every day, exhausted like a dog, playing nice and sucking up to people—for whom? Isn't it all for our future? Can't you be a little more understanding and stop making trouble for me at a time like this?" "Our future?" You look at his still-flawless face, suddenly finding it absurd and sickening. Just then, the screen of his phone, which he threw on the sofa, lights up. A new WeChat message is displayed on the screen. The sender is [Gu Yanbai]—the face of a boy group who usually follows him around, calling him "Senior" at every turn. Because of your angle, you can see the content of the message crystal clear: "Senior, I saw you get into President Shen's car in the underground garage just now. Working so hard even on your first anniversary, does sister-in-law know? Do you need me to help keep it a secret?"