Ji Xinxin had been filming abroad for some time, and wasn’t supposed to return for another half month, yet Ling Chuxia received a call from her in the afternoon, asking to be picked up at the airport.
Although puzzled, Ling Chuxia immediately applied light makeup, changed her clothes, and headed out with her handbag.
Taking a taxi to the airport, Ling Chuxia followed Ji Xinxin’s instructions and found the most secluded restroom, where she met her in one of the stalls.
Ling Chuxia eyed Ji Xinxin, who was practically wrapped up like a mummy, and couldn’t help but gape, "Xinxin... what are you doing?"
Ji Xinxin curled her lips, seemingly unconcerned about her spoiled image, "What else could I be doing, hiding from paparazzi, of course!"
Ji Xinxin always did things in a high-profile manner and never avoided paparazzi. Ling Chuxia never imagined there would come a day when Ji Xinxin would need to hide from them.
"By the way, weren’t you supposed to be filming? Why did you suddenly come back? And how come you’re alone? Where’s your assistant?"
Ji Xinxin didn’t answer, just crossed her arms and looked disgusted, "Can we leave this godforsaken place before we talk?"
Ling Chuxia immediately shut her mouth, laughed softly, "Alright."
The two left the airport without trouble and went to their usual coffee shop. As soon as they sat down, Ji Xinxin ripped off the scarf around her neck, the hat on her head, and her sunglasses, throwing them onto the chair, and fanned her cheeks with her hands, "I nearly suffocated. Get me a glass of ice water, quick!"
The waiter acknowledged and hurriedly went to prepare the ice water.
Ling Chuxia observed her flushed cheeks, her curiosity intensifying, "Did you really need to go to such lengths? You’ve never been afraid of paparazzi before."
"I had no choice! My mom wanted me to go on a blind date. I hung up on her several times, but she called me last night, saying she’d kill herself if I didn’t go, so I had to take the earliest flight back."
Ling Chuxia immediately understood. The haughty Heavenly Empress, afraid of neither heaven nor earth, had only one weakness: her mother. Threatened with death, how could she not return? Given her personality, she probably didn’t even tell her assistant, after all, who would want to divulge such an embarrassing story?
Ling Chuxia calmly looked at Ji Xinxin’s stunningly beautiful face, which, even in disarray, didn’t lose any of its charm, and couldn’t help but curl her lips, "Your mother really worries too much. Why would someone like you need a blind date?"
Ji Xinxin let out a cold huff, a slight coolness flickering in her eyes, "She’s only thinking of her own benefit."
Ling Chuxia knew a bit about Ji Xinxin’s family situation and didn’t feel it was right to say more, so she slightly lowered her eyes.
Ji Xinxin didn’t want to continue this topic either. She glanced at Ling Chuxia and naturally shifted the conversation, "You look much better since I last saw you. How have you been lately?"
Ling Chuxia thought about her recent days, smiled, and replied, "I’m doing quite well."
Ji Xinxin didn’t quite believe her. Ling Chuxia seemed to have changed over the past three years, swallowing any pain or fatigue silently. Dealing with a husband who never came home, facing a domineering mother-in-law—how could she be doing well?
Ji Xinxin didn’t want to talk further, instead clutching her stomach and complaining of hunger, "It’s almost time for lunch, join me for a meal. I haven’t had a decent meal in ages, the food overseas is really inedible."
But Ling Chuxia’s face suddenly showed difficulty.