Chapter 39- The National Goddess Raised by the Best Actor(18)

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Chapter 39

“Senior Ji.”

Ji Yang hadn’t yet reached his room when Xu Wan approached him, speaking in an unusually gentle tone. She carried a delicately wrapped gift bag in her hands.

As she got closer, Ji Yang raised his brows slightly, his gaze questioning, “What’s the matter?”

“About the incident online recently, I feel terribly sorry for causing you any trouble,” Xu Wan began, her expression tinged with regret. “I truly didn’t know that Ruier and you were in a relationship, and…” She looked at the bracelet in her hand, forcing a smile as if making a tough decision. She extended her hand with the bracelet.

“Ruier seemed upset about this incident and mentioned it to me. Although I genuinely love this bracelet, I feel it’s better to return it to you. Senior Ji, you’re such a wonderful person, and I don’t want to bring you any unnecessary troubles.”

Her tone was considerate and self-sacrificing, as though she were willingly stepping aside for the sake of their happiness.

So thoughtful. So understanding. Most men would likely be deeply moved, seeing her as an angelic figure.

Xu Wan looked at Ji Yang, her expression carrying a hint of reluctance and helplessness. “Senior Ji, you’ve given me so much—this gift and your help at work. I’ve always wanted to properly thank you. But now that you and Ruier are together, it’s not appropriate for me to interfere anymore. I hope you can forgive me.”

The implication was clear: I was ready to accept your pursuit, but since you’ve chosen Ruier, as a decent person, I won’t interfere.

Ji Yang’s gaze remained indifferent. He glanced at the gift bag before looking away. “Keep it. It was just something I picked up casually. No need for thanks. Besides, you’re Ruier’s sister.”

Xu Wan’s expression froze. She stared at him in disbelief, her outstretched hand hanging awkwardly. Unable to hold back, she asked, “Senior Ji, what do you mean? Was everything you did before just because I’m Ruier’s sister?”

She had always been confident in her understanding of men, especially Ji Yang, whose previous actions clearly showed interest in her. And now he was denying everything?

“Yes,” Ji Yang replied bluntly.

The color drained from Xu Wan’s face. She seemed to struggle to maintain her composure, asking in a strained voice, “And the resources you provided before…?”

“Ruier had just graduated. I didn’t want her jumping directly into this industry, so I didn’t arrange anything for her. As for the resources you mentioned, it was just a favor between friends,” Ji Yang interrupted, his dark eyes locking onto her. “I did it because you’re Ruier’s sister. But now I see you have a lot of prejudice against her.”

“I don’t!” Xu Wan denied instinctively, her tone firm and righteous. “I swear to the heavens, I’ve never targeted Ruier. She’s my only sister; I wouldn’t do such a thing!”

If it had been the old Ji Yang, he might have believed her. Her performance was impeccable, and she sounded earnest and convincing. But Ji Yang remained unmoved.

“Senior Ji, I really don’t have any bias against Ruier. But you clearly have bias against me.” Xu Wan looked pitiful, as if wronged and seeking justice.

“No bias,” Ji Yang replied flatly. He turned away, taking out his keycard and opening his room door.

“Senior Ji, you…” Xu Wan, seeing the door about to close, panicked and reached out, but Ji Yang dodged her. His brows furrowed. “If you have something to say, say it properly. Don’t touch me—I’m not used to it.”

Xu Wan was stunned. As one of the top actresses, she was used to men fawning over her. Even Ji Yang had once been one of them. Now, his sudden coldness and rejection felt like a slap to her pride.

The more unattainable he seemed, the more determined she was to claim him. Especially with Xu Ruier flaunting her relationship with him, every fiber of Xu Wan’s being screamed to take this man for herself.

“If there’s nothing else, please leave. I don’t want Ruier to misunderstand,” Ji Yang said icily, glancing at the hallway to signal her to go.

Xu Wan stood frozen, her face darkening with a mix of anger and humiliation. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose your relationship with Ruier?”

Ji Yang’s fans would undoubtedly turn on Xu Ruier, she thought, and while it might tarnish her own reputation slightly, the increase in her fame would be worth it.

“I’ll protect her,” Ji Yang responded firmly. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe.”

Xu Wan’s heart churned with jealousy and bitterness. She convinced herself that Ji Yang was using Xu Ruier to provoke her. Could he really have moved on so quickly just because she had played hard to get?

Did he want her to concede?

“Well then, I’ll leave you to it,” she said with forced calm, stepping back as Ji Yang began to shut the door.

Bang.

The door closed without hesitation, leaving Xu Wan standing there, her face pale and twisted with rage.

Did Ji Yang truly believe she couldn’t live without him? That she actually cared about Xu Ruier’s leftovers?

Her phone chimed. Glancing at the screen, her expression shifted, and a sly smirk tugged at her lips. With one last disdainful look at the door, she turned and walked away.

During the remaining days of filming, Xu Ruier expected Xu Wan to create trouble for her. Surprisingly, Xu Wan seemed indifferent, barely acknowledging her presence and acting as if she didn’t exist.

Xu Ruier found it puzzling but didn’t dwell on it. She focused on her relationship with Ji Yang, which had grown even sweeter. His constant doting had brought out a playful side of her she didn’t know she had.

When filming wrapped up, a celebratory banquet was held.

Among the attendees was an unexpected guest: Li Zhuo, the second son of the Li family.

Li Zhuo was infamous for his wild lifestyle. He was a regular in the entertainment and gaming circles, known for his hedonistic ways. Few dared to cross him, not because they liked him, but because the Li family’s influence made it unwise to offend him.

Even Director Xu Yuan wouldn’t dare to offend Li Zhuo. After all, his next production required investments from the Li family. In many cases, investors were treated like gods—money talked.

“This must be Ji Yang, right?” Li Zhuo sat at the main table and pointed at Ji Yang with a smirk, recalling something with a mocking tone. “Oh, yeah, the one who’s always playing cops, fighting and running around. Playing the hero, huh?”

To him, actors were just entertainers—playthings, really.

“And you’re the one who’s famous for being a spoiled brat,” Ji Yang replied casually, his expression unchanged as he shot back.

“You!” Li Zhuo’s face darkened. “What kind of tone is that?”

No one had ever dared to talk back to him like this before.

“If you’re allowed to speak, then so am I,” Ji Yang said, glancing at him indifferently.

Li Zhuo, taken aback, found the situation amusing. “You think you can talk down to me? My dad can’t even control me, and you think you can? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Ji Yang looked at him coolly. “I don’t think I can control you, but if I can’t even respond to your words, does that mean you’re uncomfortable?”

The corner of Ji Yang’s lips lifted slightly in a subtle sneer, which Li Zhuo instantly caught.

No one in the entertainment industry had ever disregarded him like this. Ji Yang was the first.

“You’ve got guts!” Li Zhuo barked, clenching his teeth.

Big deal? In front of real power, Ji Yang was nothing but an ant. Li Zhuo vowed to crush him—if not, he wouldn’t deserve his surname.

“You do, too,” Ji Yang replied nonchalantly.

Li Zhuo’s anger boiled over, and he was visibly livid. Director Xu Yuan hurriedly stepped in to mediate but was met with two harsh insults from Li Zhuo, leaving him embarrassed.

Sitting beside Ji Yang, Xu Ruier was a bundle of nerves, her gaze full of worry, but she didn’t dare speak up.

Meanwhile, Xu Wan stepped forward, her voice soft and gentle. “Come on, Young Master Li, how about a drink to ease the tension? I’ll toast to you. Today’s a happy occasion; let’s not let things escalate.”

Li Zhuo’s anger noticeably subsided as he glanced at Xu Wan’s delicate face. Taking the glass from her, he even took the liberty of brushing her hand, smiling roguishly. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Wanwan.”

This sparked whispers among the guests. People began speculating about Xu Wan’s relationship with Li Zhuo.

Xu Wan, maintaining her composed demeanor, smiled gracefully. As she downed her drink, her actions seemed straightforward, like someone merely trying to diffuse the situation, making it hard to read too deeply into her motives.

During the meal, Li Zhuo’s attention repeatedly wandered to Xu Wan. Though he tried to be discreet, his interest was evident. Xu Wan, however, feigned ignorance, remaining poised and unflappable.

This behavior drew envy from the other women present.

If Xu Wan managed to catch Li Zhuo’s eye, with a little boost from him, her future prospects would skyrocket. It was a dream scenario for many of them.

Meanwhile, Director Xu Yuan tried making small talk with Li Zhuo about investments. Li Zhuo, who knew little about the topic, gave vague responses while stealing glances at Xu Wan. The more he looked, the more captivated he became.

Xu Ruier, seated next to Ji Yang, was still shaken by the earlier confrontation. Seeing no one paying attention to them, she whispered anxiously, “Brother, please don’t argue with him anymore.”

Her voice was full of worry. Who knew what Li Zhuo might do?

“Don’t worry,” Ji Yang replied, unfazed.

“Brother!” Xu Ruier raised her voice slightly, then quickly lowered it, afraid others might hear. “You really shouldn’t act like this. You’ll get into trouble!”

Ji Yang turned to her, his eyes soft with amusement. “You’re that concerned about me?”

His nonchalant demeanor only made Xu Ruier pout, her brows furrowing in frustration. She was so flustered that her face turned red, and she struggled to find the right words.

Seeing her so worked up, Ji Yang chuckled. Under the table, he reached out and took her hand, placing it on his knee, gently squeezing it. Her soft, delicate hand felt like silk under his fingers.

Xu Ruier pretended to be upset and tried to pull her hand away, but in truth, she didn’t really want to.

“It’s not as serious as you think. Does the Li family really run unchecked?” Ji Yang’s calm voice reached her ears. “If I back down now, it’ll only embolden them. Li Zhuo is the least powerful member of the Li family. He has no real authority and only enjoys surface-level indulgences. If anything threatens their interests, he’ll be the first to be cast aside.”

Xu Ruier fell silent, mulling over his words, her gaze thoughtful.

“It’s the same with the Xu family. Xu Wan holds more value than you, so she receives more. Everything revolves around interests. If you want to change that, you just have to fight for it.”

Enlightened, Xu Ruier nodded firmly, her expression one of determination. She looked like a docile wife ready to follow her husband’s lead.

“Brother, you’re always right!” she said softly.

Ji Yang smirked, rubbing her hand gently. “That’s my girl.”