Chapter 103: Fragmented Memories

Bai Chenxi watched as the two walked off one after the other, a knowing smile spreading across her face. She said casually, “I saw nothing, I know nothing.”

But as the wrap-up banquet was nearing its end and they still hadn’t returned, Bai Chenxi couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild.

No way—they were bold enough to not come back at all? Tang Ziyu’s bag was still there; maybe she should take it back for her and cover for the two of them while she was at it.

“Chenxi!” Mi Mu’s call snapped Bai Chenxi out of her thoughts.

“Mi Mu!” Bai Chenxi greeted warmly. “Happy wrap-up! Let’s keep in touch after this!”

Happy? This might be my last role—how could I possibly be happy?

Mi Mu put on a forced smile but didn’t explain why. She just said, “Sure, let’s keep in touch.”

Bai Chenxi noticed Mi Mu’s expression but assumed she was simply sad about the wrap. They chatted for a while, yet Bai Chenxi never asked a single question.

Inwardly, Mi Mu scoffed at Bai Chenxi’s lack of insight. Looks like I’m the only one who really cares. She hugged Bai Chenxi tightly, her voice trembling, “I… I don’t know if I can act anymore.”

Concerned, Bai Chenxi wiped away her tears gently and asked, “Don’t cry. What happened? Tell me slowly.”

Mi Mu sobbed out that because of Meng Ling’s incident, the company had shelved her.

“How can your company do that?” Bai Chenxi exclaimed indignantly, as if the company had done this to her.

Mi Mu subtly steered the conversation, “I was never valued by the company anyway. Even my role in ‘Beauty’s Tragedy’ was something I auditioned for secretly. The company thought the role was already cast, but they let me take it in the end.”

“Not every crew holds open auditions. I’m just a small-time actress, unlike you with so many projects and connections with directors. I probably won’t get any roles in the future.”

While Mi Mu spoke, she glanced at Bai Chenxi, who seemed thoughtful but said nothing, only offering comfort: “It’s okay. There’s always a way.”

Bai Chenxi glanced at her phone, reassured Mi Mu a few more times, then hurried off, not even noticing Xia Yan calling her.

Watching her leave, Mi Mu thought bitterly, “It’s all just surface acting. That’s fine—I can use you without guilt now.”

When Bai Chenxi arrived at the hotel, it was Jiang Jize who opened the door. Seeing his messy hair, the disheveled room, and Tang Ziyu lying there, Bai Chenxi couldn’t help but wonder.

“What’s going on here…” Bai Chenxi hesitated, wondering if her timing was off.

Rarely showing a flash of insight, Jiang Jize caught Bai Chenxi’s gaze as it darted between the two of them and the chaotic room, then understood the situation.

“Don’t misunderstand, sis-in-law. She got drunk and made a mess,” he explained.

Bai Chenxi eyed Jiang Jize skeptically. Wasn’t Tang Ziyu sleeping soundly over there?

Just then, Tang Ziyu, who seemed fast asleep, suddenly called out, “Jiang Jize, Jiang Jize. I want some water.”

Jiang Jize responded and went to pour her a glass. His glance back before leaving seemed to say, “Now do you believe me?”

Bai Chenxi watched in fascination as Tang Ziyu bossed—or rather, tormented—Jiang Jize.

Surprisingly, Jiang Jize didn’t resist at all. No harsh words, no complaints—he simply endured.

Bai Chenxi had thought from his earlier demeanor that he might be a domineering man, but clearly, she was mistaken.

What Bai Chenxi didn’t know was that the obedient Jiang Jize had learned this behavior through bitter lessons.

Harsh reality had taught him resistance was futile; the only way was to give in until she tired herself out. He never even considered walking away.

After Jiang Jize finally settled Tang Ziyu down and started to leave, Bai Chenxi stood there stunned: “No wonder my sister Tang is so formidable.”

He fixed his tousled hair and checked his watch. “Sis-in-law, she’s asleep now. Please take good care of her.”

Thanks to Lan Tian’s persistent efforts, Bai Chenxi had developed an automatic mental block against the word “sis-in-law.”

She asked, “What about you? What are you doing here?”

Jiang Jize dodged, “I have some things to take care of.”

Of course, that was just an excuse.

He simply didn’t want Tang Ziyu to know he had taken care of her all night—let her enjoy that pride. Besides, once she woke up, she wouldn’t remember anything.

He reminded seriously, “Sis-in-law, when she wakes up, don’t mention that I was here.”

Seeing Jiang Jize’s awkward expression, Bai Chenxi nodded without asking further.

As Jiang Jize left, Bai Chenxi hesitated: “Are you sure she won’t wake up?”

The earlier scene had left her uneasy. If she had to endure that again, she wasn’t sure she could handle it.

“No worries. She won’t wake up until tomorrow morning,” Jiang Jize assured her, and only then did Bai Chenxi feel at ease.

Tang Ziyu woke early with a splitting headache. Glancing around the room, she realized someone must have brought her here.

She couldn’t believe she had gotten so drunk she’d lost consciousness and silently scolded herself for drinking out of stubbornness.

Just as she stepped out of the bedroom, Bai Chenxi came in, greeting her cheerfully, “Good morning! I just bought breakfast. Want to eat together?”

“You? You were the one who brought me here last night?” Tang Ziyu was surprised to see Bai Chenxi, especially since they hadn’t spoken much after wrapping up the shoot.

Their relationship had even been somewhat delicate at the start.

“Yes!” Bai Chenxi said awkwardly, quickly changing the subject. “I got some congee and snacks. See what you want to eat?”

“I’ll eat anything,” Tang Ziyu replied, taking the food and saying, “Thank you!”

“No big deal. No need to thank me!”

Bai Chenxi waved it off, but Tang Ziyu continued, “I mean for last night—thank you for bringing me back. I got drunk and hope I didn’t cause you any trouble.”

Bai Chenxi said she hadn’t, but inwardly thought: You weren’t a bother—it was Jiang Jize who had the hard time.

She asked gently, “Are you sure you don’t remember anything?”

Tang Ziyu shook her head. “No, I usually just pass out after drinking, no one can wake me up. Thanks for taking care of me.”

Looking at Bai Chenxi’s petite frame, a little soft but clearly not strong, Tang Ziyu thought it must have taken a lot of effort to bring her back.

“No trouble at all. You just went straight to sleep.”

Bai Chenxi’s inner voice protested: You didn’t just go straight to sleep—you probably wore Jiang Jize out!

They hadn’t talked much before, so after some polite small talk, they sat quietly eating breakfast.

Tang Ziyu glanced at her phone, her pupils constricting. Then she looked at Bai Chenxi: “Bai Chenxi, you really were the one who brought me back last night?”

Bai Chenxi’s heart skipped a beat, and she dropped her spoon into her soup.