Chapter 12 (1/2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Jiang Jiusheng stared at the bottle of yogurt drink and at Shi Jin’s hand that was holding it.

All her fans knew that Sheng Ye could hold her own when drinking and that her other love was milk. She was crazy in love with all dairy products, especially yellow peach-flavored.

What her fans didn’t know was the other reason for her love for yogurt drinks—she smoked too many cigarettes.

Even the best cigarettes carried residual odors, so Mo Bing had decided to disguise these odors with the smell of milk. That was why Jiang Jiusheng had declared her “love” for yogurt drinks ever since she’d started smoking. What a life-saver. She had just run out of yogurt drinks, so she accepted graciously.

“Thank you.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Shi Jin noticed that Jiang Jiusheng liked to bite her straw when drinking. Licking her lips awkwardly, she asked, “Do you live alone, Doctor Shi?”

Stunned for a second, Shi Jin laughed. “I am single.”

Jiang Jiusheng was horrified. She had not asked intending to find out about his marital status. “I didn’t mean that,” she explained, then added, “These are duplex apartments. Do you live here with your family members?”

At the Silver Royal Manor, blocks seven and eight housed duplex apartments intended for multi-membered families. If she hadn’t needed her own recording studio, she would not have opted for this huge and expensive apartment.

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped in. Since it was an off-peak time, they were the only ones in the elevator going down.

Having pressed the button for level one, Shi Jin replied, “I don’t have a family. I live alone.”

It was stated as a matter of fact in a voice devoid of emotion. No family. A few simple words masking many suppressed and unspoken feelings. Jiang Jiusheng could not even begin to imagine the type of life experiences that had brought about such detached loneliness. She finally understood why this exceedingly good-looking man always appeared slightly standoffish. It was because he was lonely and sad.

After a long silence, failing to find the appropriate words, she simply said, “Sorry.”

Seemingly unaffected, Shi Jin replied, “It’s okay.”

The air was suddenly filled with pleasant piano music—Jiang Jiusheng’s ringtone. The caller ID displayed was Mo Bing. She turned around to take the call.

“I’m nearly there,” she said.

Over the phone, Mo Bing sounded mild, although she spoke quickly. “Have Qiao take you straight to the office. The ad shoot has been postponed.”

Lowering her voice, Jiang Jiusheng asked, “What’s happened?”

“Photos of you smoking in the ladies’ bathroom on the night of your after-concert party have been posted online. You are currently trending as the most-searched celebrity online.”

Although Jiang Jiusheng had always been low-keyed—and even though singers generally didn’t get as much exposure as actors—she did garner a lot of attention online as a frequently searched celebrity and somehow managed to get into the headlines quite often. She rarely participated in variety shows, and apart from the obligatory major music award ceremonies, she was almost never in the limelight. The 30 million fans milestone was also a first in the industry’s history.

Calmly and methodically, Jiang Jiusheng asked, “So what’s the situation now?”

“There were some derogatory remarks, as expected, but generally, the fans have been upbeat.” Mo Bing laughed—an unusual occurrence. “In fact, your smoking pose was so provocative that even I was tempted.”

Truth be told, no female artist in the industry could have looked as earth-shatteringly beautiful. Mo Bing had once seen Jiang Jiusheng playing the guitar with a cigarette in her mouth, and her whole being had exuded such wild abandonment that had she not been grounded in her core values, she would have been tempted to change sides.

“Just as well,” Jiang Jiusheng said lazily, as though nothing had happened. “I don’t have to hide the habit anymore.”