"What’s up? Can I only reach out to you when I have something going on?"
Ji Xinxin hummed twice, but she put away her teasing tone, reverting to her queen-like demeanor, "I’m free this afternoon. I grant you permission to invite me for afternoon tea."
"You, you returned to the country? Weren’t you in Cannes?" Ling Chuxia was slightly surprised.
She’d been wanting to treat Ji Xinxin to a meal for some time, but the Heavenly Empress’s schedule was packed—shooting in Hengdian today, France Fashion Week tomorrow, then the Cannes Film Festival the day after. There hadn’t been a bit of time to spare for her, so Ling Chuxia could only wait until Ji Xinxin had time to schedule a meetup.
"Yeah, eleven hours ago I was."
Ji Xinxin was always headstrong, doing things just based on her own whims, so Ling Chuxia didn’t ask further.
Ji Xinxin continued, "What? No time? Is that jerk from your house around?"
How could he possibly be home...
He hadn’t been back in almost half a month...
Ling Chuxia instinctively shook her head and then realized that Ji Xinxin couldn’t see her shaking her head, so she quickly spoke, "No, I’m free."
"Good if you’re free; I’ll text you the time and place later. That’s it for now, bye!" Ji Xinxin succinctly finished and was about to hang up the call.
But Ling Chuxia involuntarily called out, "Wait."
Ji Xinxin paused her hand from hanging up and asked curiously, "What’s up?"
Ling Chuxia swallowed and steadied herself before seriously saying, "In the future, um... don’t call him a jerk so casually, it’s... not very nice..."
A second later, Ji Xinxin hung up unceremoniously, seemingly too lazy even to voice any disdain or critique.
Ling Chuxia took a shower, applied light makeup, tidied herself up, and headed out.
Ji Xinxin had arranged to meet her at a café, just an ordinary café with somewhat outdated decor, and its coffee and snacks tasted plain. It was hard to associate such a place with the mega-star Heavenly Empress Ji Xinxin. Yet, she had liked this café consistently throughout the year; as she put it, this place had a nostalgic feel.
As Ling Chuxia pushed the door open, she could immediately sense that aura of the Heavenly Empress. Ji Xinxin sat in a corner seat, legs elegantly crossed, appearing relaxed. Holding her coffee delicately, even the most ordinary café seemed to shine because of Ji Xinxin’s presence.
Ling Chuxia couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. She walked over slowly, pulled out the chair opposite Ji Xinxin, sat down, and softly said, "Xinxin."
Ji Xinxin remained in the same pose, only casting a casual glance at Ling Chuxia. Spotting Ling Chuxia’s same old style of dressing, she unabashedly frowned and directly commented, "Ling Chuxia, could you at least try to have a hint of femininity? If it weren’t for the two bits of flesh on your chest, I’d think you were a man. No wonder that jerk of yours is never home."