Chapter 8: My Best Friend, Zhuang Shufei
403 Words
Morning's frenzy left Xiao Tongyu parched.
Years of extreme dieting weakened her stomach. Combined with skipped breakfast, upper abdominal pain now gnawed.
That morning at Imperial Hotel, she'd stood watching Ji Yunze dine - unworthy to share his table.
Merely his stress-relief toy.
Noticing her pallor, Su Rou whispered: "Tongtong, unwell?"
"Hunger pangs." Xiao Tongyu kept organizing Ji Yunze's upcoming business trip.
Slaving daytime, serving nighttime - unpaid overtime with physical damages. Why return those millions?!
Su Rou stealthily passed caramel cookies.
Xiao Tongyu accepted gratefully.
Knuckles rapped her desk.
"Caught snacking on duty, Secretary Xiao?"
A glamorous woman with chestnut curls loomed over them, oversized sunglasses failing to conceal celebrity allure.
Xiao Tongyu scoffed. "Your concern?"
The woman ripped off shades. "Since when so bold?!"
Su Rou gasped. "Zhuang Shufei?!"
Indeed - the current screen darling.
Xiao Tongyu hushed her. "When'd you return? Why here?"
Zhuang tapped Xiao's cheek with sunglasses. "Fresh off 14-hour flight to check on my beauty."
"My best friend Zhuang Shufei," Xiao introduced.
Su Rou marveled. "Your BFF's a star?! Does she know Qin Mengyan slapped you? She could avenge—"
Zhuang's almond eyes widened. "That b***h hit you?!"
Lunchtime approaching, Xiao dragged Zhuang away. "Lower your voice! Fear Ji Yunze?"
"Not his employee. Why fear?"
......
They settled in a secluded Western restaurant corner.
Between bites, Zhuang interrogated. "Explain Qin's slap."
Xiao shrugged. "She wanted Ji Yunze. I said he was busy."
"That cunt! Stealing my roles wasn't enough?" Zhuang dialed her agent.
Xiao stopped her. "Drop it. Not worth fighting."
Zhuang's expression screamed 'weakling'.
Their friendship began when overseas-raised Zhuang transferred sophomore year. Witnessing Xiao's solitary lunches, the martial arts drama fan adopted her.
"Classmate! Valentine's chocolate?"
Zhuang's presence illuminated Xiao's life.
Now, Zhuang devoured steak like starved beast.
"Fasting two months for this role!" She mumbled through stuffed cheeks.
"Paparazzi shots could trend."
"Dad'll delete them."
Zhuang suddenly remembered. "Guess who visited Dad?"
"Who?"
"Your precious Lin family."
"Borrowing money?"
Zhuang snorted. "Dad lends? I'll remain single till his deathbed!"
Xiao adored her reckless honesty.
"They summoned me recently."
Zhuang choked. "After your inheritance?"
"Lin Xiao proposed dating."
"Psychopath! You agreed?!"
"Play their lapdog again? Never."
Relieved, Zhuang resumed eating.
Xiao tied up hair, revealing neck marks.
Zhuang's fork clattered.
"Your neck..."
Blushing, Xiao cleared tableware preemptively.
"Shufei, stay calm. Don't scream."
"What?!"
"Ji Yunze slept with me."
Crash! Zhuang toppled off her chair.
- Writer
