144: Chapter 145 Leng Ba Called

At this moment, Jiang Jing, who had been busy all night, slowly opened his eyes. The soft, warm sensation on both his left and right sides made him unable to help but curl the corners of his mouth.

Li Xue was curled up on his left, sleeping soundly, her hair scattered messily across the pillow, with a few ambiguous red marks still visible on her fair shoulders.

Meanwhile, Li Ruonan lay on his right, breathing evenly, her complexion rosy, looking refreshed—a completely different person from the one who had been so nervous she fainted last night.

Jiang Jing sat up carefully, stretched, and felt refreshed all over.

"Mmm..." Li Xue hummed groggily, frowning as she shrank further into the quilt, her voice raspy. "...What time is it?"

"It's noon." Jiang Jing chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

Li Xue opened her eyes wide, struggling to sit up, but as soon as she moved, she hissed in pain and collapsed back onto the bed. "...Jiang Jing! Were you a beast last night?!"

Jiang Jing raised an eyebrow, looking innocent. "Someone was the one who initiated the provocation last night."

Li Xue was so angry she grabbed a pillow to throw at him, but the movement was too strenuous and pulled at her sore waist, making her wince in pain. "It's all Ruonan's fault! We agreed on a joint operation, but look at her, she fainted at the critical moment! Leaving me to take all the damage alone!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Ruonan's body visibly stiffened—she was actually already awake but was keeping her eyes closed, pretending to sleep.

Jiang Jing glanced at her with a knowing smile and deliberately raised his voice. "That's right, Ruonan's performance last night... was indeed a bit unexpected."

Li Ruonan's ears turned beet red instantly, and her fingers quietly tightened around the quilt.

Seeing this, Li Xue angrily reached out to pull at her quilt. "Li Ruonan! Stop pretending to sleep! Get up and explain yourself!"

"I won't!" Li Ruonan held onto the quilt tightly, her voice muffled and filled with shame. "I can't face anyone!"

"Ha! Now you know how to be shy?" Li Xue gritted her teeth. "Who was it that swore they would take the initiative last night? You even psyched yourself up, but as soon as I pulled Jiang Jing over, you just closed your eyes—and fainted?!"

Li Ruonan: "..."

Jiang Jing finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. He reached out, pulled Li Xue into his arms, and soothingly rubbed her waist. "Alright, stop being angry. Didn't you enjoy it quite a bit last night?"

Li Xue instantly bristled. "Enjoy my foot! I almost died, okay?!"

Hearing this, Li Ruonan finally couldn't help but peek out from under the quilt, her eyes shifting evasively. "Um... Xue'er, are... are you okay?"

Li Xue widened her eyes, looking at her in disbelief. "Li Ruonan! You actually have the nerve to ask?!"

Li Ruonan immediately buried her face back in, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz. "I'm sorry..."

Watching the two women's completely different states, Jiang Jing couldn't help but tease. "Director Li, you fainted quite conveniently last night, didn't you? And today you're looking quite energetic?"

Li Ruonan was so ashamed she couldn't find a hole to crawl into, curling up into a ball like a boiled shrimp.

Li Xue poked her back in exasperation. "Look at you! Where did your usual 'fight the world' attitude go? You always drop the ball at the critical moment!"

Li Ruonan's muffled voice came from under the quilt. "I... I was just too nervous!"

"Nervous to the point of fainting?!" Li Xue rolled her eyes. "Do you know how excessive Jiang Jing was last night? He—"

"Li Xue!" Jiang Jing suddenly covered her mouth and said with a smile, "Some details don't need to be described."

Li Xue pushed his hand away and said indignantly, "Anyway! Ruonan, you have to compensate me!"

Li Ruonan finally carefully revealed her eyes. "...How should I compensate you?"

Li Xue rolled her eyes, then suddenly revealed a sly smile. "Tonight—you be the main force!"

Li Ruonan: "!!!"

She immediately buried her head back in, her voice trembling. "No, no way! I'm not ready yet!"

Li Xue snorted coldly. "Then you'll just watch me get exhausted to death?"

Li Ruonan didn't say anything, but her body under the quilt was clearly tense.

Watching their interaction, Jiang Jing laughed until his shoulders shook.

He reached out and snatched away Li Ruonan's quilt, pulling her into his arms amidst her startled cry. "Director Li, avoidance doesn't solve problems."

Li Ruonan was stiff all over, her face red enough to drip blood, and she stuttered, "J-Jiang Jing! Let me go!"

Jiang Jing lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Last night's joint operation failed. Tonight... we'll re-strategize, hmm?"

Li Ruonan: "..."

Li Xue raised her hand from the side. "I apply to be the substitute tonight!"

Jiang Jing raised an eyebrow. "Denied."

Li Xue: "???"

Li Ruonan finally broke down, pushed Jiang Jing away, jumped off the bed, and rushed toward the bathroom. "I, I'm going to take a shower first!"

Watching her fleeing figure, Li Xue and Jiang Jing looked at each other and laughed out loud simultaneously.

Li Xue collapsed back onto the bed and sighed deeply. "Sigh, I really got a raw deal with this team-up..."

Jiang Jing leaned over, kissed her on the lips, and chuckled. "Don't worry, tonight... I will 'compensate' you properly."

Li Xue instantly became alert. "Wait! My waist is still sore!"

Jiang Jing had already stood up and was leisurely walking toward the bathroom. "Director Li, do you need me to help you scrub your back?"

A scream came from the bathroom from Li Ruonan: "NO! NEED!"

Seeing this, Jiang Jing had no choice but to go to the other bathroom.

After washing up, Jiang Jing walked out of the bathroom drying his hair, just in time to see Li Xue standing by the bed with her hands on her hips, lecturing Li Ruonan with an exasperated look.

Li Ruonan was sitting on the bed hugging her knees, her cheeks bright red, head lowered like a little punching bag, occasionally retorting in a small voice.

Jiang Jing couldn't help but laugh out loud—the reactions of these two were the complete opposite of their usual personalities.

The usually decisive and sharp-tongued Li Ruonan was now too shy to even lift her head; meanwhile, the usually sweet and soft Li Xue was currently like a fierce little chili pepper, pointing at Ruonan and "lecturing" her.

"Li Ruonan! Can you show some backbone!" Li Xue poked her forehead. "What a great opportunity last night! But look at you, dropping the ball at the critical moment..."

"I, I didn't do it on purpose!" Li Ruonan whispered in defense, her ears turning blood-red. "In that situation... who could handle it!"

"I handled it!" Li Xue widened her eyes. "Even though I almost died!"

Jiang Jing leaned against the doorframe, watching them bicker with great interest. Just as he was about to tease them, his phone on the nightstand suddenly rang.

He walked over and picked up the phone; the screen displayed the name "Leng Ba".

Jiang Jing raised an eyebrow and pressed the answer button. "Hello, Miss Leng Ba?"

A voice came from the other end of the line, intentionally lowered by Leng Ba, carrying a hint of nervousness. "Director Jiang~ I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

Jiang Jing chuckled. "No, what's up?"

Leng Ba's stuttering voice came from the other end. "D-Director Jiang! Um... I, I have a small request..."

"Hmm?"

Leng Ba seemed to take a deep breath and spoke very quickly. "My best friends came to visit me on set today, and when they heard you were coming to Hengdian, they wanted to invite you to a small gathering! I wanted to ask if you have time. They're all in the industry—there's Da Mimi, Nazha, Zhu Xudan, Li Xibing, Tong Liya..."

With every name she mentioned, Jiang Jing's eyes lit up a little more.

Good heavens!

They were all popular actresses!

And... he was the only man?

Jiang Jing's mouth couldn't help but curl upward. "Oh? That sounds very interesting."

Vague, suppressed laughter from several women could be heard from the other end of the line, and then Leng Ba asked cautiously, "So... are you willing to come?"