Substitute Lover (GL) - Chapter 6

The forwarded Weibo post quickly garnered countless excited comments from fans:

“Living Teacher Song! [Crying] [Crying]”

“Teacher Song finally posted on Weibo! It’s been years!”

“It shows that Jiang Cha’s looks are really top-notch, haha.”

“Does this mean that the next movie will have Jiang Cha in it?”

••••

Of course, “Teacher Song” wasn’t actually a teacher.

Song Baiwei, a female director.

Dedicated to art, she remained single.

Song Baiwei debuted as a photographer at the age of 21 and won the highest domestic photography award at 23. Since then, she has moved between the art, fashion, and entertainment circles, and her works are renowned for their intense and flamboyant style.

Five years ago, she decided to cross over into directing and filmmaking. Two years later, she released her debut film, “Night Hunter,” which was nominated for the Berlin Film Festival, and she quickly gained a reputation in the domestic film industry.

Even though she was so famous, she was only in her early thirties.

Jiang Cha had a deep impression of her films. She had carefully watched each one, from the dialogue to the set design, without missing a single detail, making her a devoted fan.

Due to her experience in the art world, every scene in Song Baiwei’s films was impeccably beautiful. If you paused at any random point, the set design, art direction, and music were all exquisite.

The Song family was a family of collectors, with a high level of appreciation for art. Growing up in such an environment, Song Baiwei’s films featured paintings, objects, and sculptures by renowned artists. Such sets were comparable to exhibitions and were rarely seen in ordinary films.

And yet, a director of such a higher caliber than herself was actually willing to repost a Weibo post praising her?

It was unbelievable.

The phone rang suddenly.

Jiang Cha came back to her senses and glanced at the screen.

It was Yang Yan.

“I just got the news that Director Song is interested in having you in her new film. The audition is the day after tomorrow. I’ve sent you the script and materials on QQ.”

Jiang Cha bit her lip and widened her eyes.

Acting in a Song Baiwei film?

This was something she had always dreamed of.

“Why would they choose me?” Jiang Cha still couldn’t believe it. “I’m known as a box office poison.”

“Who knows?” Yang Yan chuckled. “Maybe it’s because you’re pretty.”

What kind of reason was that? Jiang Cha laughed and hung up the phone.

Jiang Cha wondered whether she should tell Ji Fan.

In the past, whenever she saw something beautiful, like a tree in bloom, snow falling, or a sunny day, Jiang Cha would want to take a picture and show it to Ji Fan, asking her if it was pretty.

She always thought of her first when she saw something beautiful.

But this time, Jiang Cha hesitated.

She had just been so cold and indifferent towards her.

Jiang Cha wasn’t without self-esteem. She was only so eager because that person was Ji Fan.

After hesitating, she finally sent a question.

—”Are you coming home for dinner tonight?”

Since it was a question, she had to answer yes or no.

••••

In a private villa by the lake.

Third floor, by the window.

A floor-to-ceiling window offered a view of the shimmering lake in the distance. Bathed in the setting sun, Ji Fan’s side profile, with its fine hairs, was clearly visible.

A waiter knocked on the door, quietly observing the woman who had been sitting alone for a long time.

Who was she?

Could she be a celebrity as well, since she was having dinner with the actress Luo Yan?

She was so beautiful, it was quite possible.

The actress had left nearly half an hour ago, but she was still sitting there leisurely, sipping tea and looking out at the lake. Her elegant profile appeared melancholy in the setting sun.

The woman was slender, and her deep blue, wide-collared shirt complemented her temperament. Her slightly rolled-up sleeves revealed a silver wristwatch. Sitting there silently, she somehow stood out from the other guests.

The waiter slowly approached, handing her the bill, and whispered, “Excuse me, cash or Alipay?”

Ji Fan came back to her senses, pulled out a black card from her wallet, and handed it to her.

Luo Yan had sought her out, undoubtedly to attract investors.

She was playing the leading female role in Song Baiwei’s new film.

Over the years, their interactions had been limited to investments, and Ji Fan had never been able to refuse her requests. Just like how she could be cold to anyone else but never to her.

She sighed, picked up her bag, went out, and got into the car.

Her phone screen lit up.

Ms. Jiang—

[Are you coming home for dinner tonight?]

Ji Fan simply glanced at it and turned off the screen.

Then she took a small box out of her bag.

In the rearview mirror, the reflection showed the woman’s long, bony hand. Her fingers were twisting a box, her gaze fixed on it, silent.

It was a deep blue box with a wide silver satin ribbon tied in a bow. Opening the package, there was a square velvet ring box, matte white, with a pair of rose gold diamond rings embedded inside. The ring was a half-hollow olive leaf, delicate, with a small hexagonal diamond set in the center.

Two rings.

They were meant to be a pair.

Ji Fan picked up the ring, opened the car window with one hand, and reached out to throw it away. Closing her eyes, the wind chilled her hand, and she frowned and retracted it.

She sighed and finally put the ring back in the box untouched.

“Ms. Ji, are we going home or…?”

The driver had been working for Ji Fan for several years and was very good at reading people. At this moment, Ji Fan’s expression in the back seat didn’t look good at all.

Ji Fan closed her eyes wearily and shook her head, “I want to be alone.”

The driver turned the steering wheel and changed direction.

••••

Jiang Cha familiarly took a cotton cloth from the hook, wrapped the handle of the earthenware pot, and took out the simmering clear soup. She went out and placed it on the table. Scooping up a spoonful with a wooden spoon, she filled a bowl. A few pieces of pork ribs and corn, and carrots that had been cooked until they were slightly mushy, were cooked to perfection.

Corn, carrots, pork ribs, and a sprinkle of light green scallions on top gave off a fragrant aroma.

Jiang Cha sat at the dinner table. She had cooked a whole table of dishes, and there were two bowls of soup.

She waited quietly and patiently. As the sky grew dark, the soup had long since turned cold.

Ji Fan hadn’t come home.

It was so late, and she hadn’t replied to her message.

She probably had forgotten that she was still waiting here. Or maybe she knew but didn’t care.

Jiang Cha was silent for a moment, with no appetite. She poured out all the rice, dishes, and soup.

A whole plate of steamed mandarin fish and a whole pot of pork bone soup.

When she turned on the tap to wash the dishes, her hand slipped, and the bowl shattered. She looked at the mess on the floor, slowly squatting down, feeling hopeless and helpless.

For the first time, she managed to extract a sliver of rationality from her one-sided infatuation. She wondered, how did Ji Fan see her?

As someone who could be summoned at will and dismissed just as easily, someone she was tired of dealing with, and someone who constantly bothered her on WeChat?

Her phone dinged. Yang Yan had sent over the script materials, along with a photo and two sentences.

—”I saw a ghost today. I went out to eat and ran into Luo Yan.”

—[Image]

—”Is that some unknown actress sitting opposite Luo Yan? She’s so beautiful, she has such a queenly air about her.”

Why didn’t she come home? Why didn’t she reply to her messages?

Because Ji Fan and Luo Yan were having dinner together.

They knew each other.

Jiang Cha stared at the cold, gleaming sunstone earring dangling from the woman’s earlobe, her heart ached, and her fingers turned icy cold.

A/N:  Let’s dive into the crematorium!

(By the way, Jiang Cha and Ji Fan are not married yet. They are in a sugar mommy-sugar baby relationship.)

T/N: Let this scumbag Ji suffer as much as Jiang suffered, both physically and mentally!