Chapter 57: Help Me with a Favor

It wasn’t just exhaustion; more than that, it was a kind of confusion without a clear direction.

The self she displayed on stage was perhaps a form of release. 

Jiang Cheng recalled the stage play she had watched before.

Zhou Qingying’s intensely expressive performance seemed to be conveying something.

Yet the two audiences she most wanted to see weren’t there.

In the end, she had to digest it all herself.

Sigh, mom it is, then. 

Jiang Cheng realized she really did have a bit of overflowing maternal love.

At the same time, she developed a deep curiosity about Ma Lijun. 

Just from her appearance on the program, it was hard to pinpoint where the similarity lay.

But after Zhou Qingying pointed it out, she felt like there was indeed a hint of that flavor.

A piece of oden was stuffed into Jiang Cheng’s mouth.

“Good, right?”

She chewed a couple of times and swallowed. Looking at Chen Ting’s expectant face, she couldn’t bring herself to say it wasn’t tasty.

But to be fair, it really was quite delicious.

Seeing Jiang Cheng nod, Chen Ting satisfactorily fed herself one too. 

Her eyes squinted as she ate, her baby-fat cheeks puffing in and out.

The two stood on the roadside and finished sharing a small portion of oden.

“How are you getting back later?”

“I’ll just call a ride myself.” Jiang Cheng checked the time; heading home now wouldn’t be too late.

“Then make sure to message me when you get home. I’ll probably sleep over at Yingying’s tonight.” 

Chen Ting said while reporting to her parents, “Uncle might not be back until who knows when.”

“Tingting, you’ll definitely be a good mom in the future.” Jiang Cheng sighed with emotion.

“Yeah, yeah… you’re not a bad mom yourself~” She smiled slyly.

“Okay, thanks for the compliment.” 

Jiang Cheng responded expressionlessly. 

She realized she seemed to have already accepted this subtle title.

Chen Ting accompanied Jiang Cheng to hail a ride, and the two chatted idly.

“Yingying’s heart knot ultimately has to be untied by herself.

The one who tied the bell must untie it, but the two who tied it don’t seem to care much.

“I’ll think of something.” 

Jiang Cheng felt that, no matter what, she had to arrange for Zhou Qingying to meet her mother at least once.

“Chengcheng…” 

Chen Ting patted Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

The called ride soon stopped by the roadside. Chen Ting watched Jiang Cheng leave.

She looked up at the pitch-black night sky, faintly glimpsing the moonlight peeking through the clouds.

Ever since getting in the car, Jiang Cheng had been searching Baidu for information on Ma Lijun. 

With her unique performance style, she had a certain fan base both domestically and abroad.

From the resume on the encyclopedia page, it was clear she truly loved performing and had been shining on that stage all along.

But correspondingly, her personal information was almost blank—even the fact that she had been married and had a child was barely known.

If Zhou Qingying hadn’t confessed today, she wouldn’t have connected the woman on the program to Zhou Qingying’s mother.

What should I do?

Jiang Cheng scrolled through her contacts; there were only a handful of saved phone numbers.

Would this be okay? 

Her finger hovered over that string of digits.

Forget it, whatever…

As the pleasant ringtone sounded, Wang Ziyue, who had just finished showering, was applying lotion to her face.

“Hello? Jiang Jiang?”

She glanced at the ringing phone and picked up without thinking.

“Sister.” 

The girl’s voice carried a hint of shyness.

This undoubtedly tugged at Wang Ziyue’s sensitive nerves. 

After sending that voice message, Wang Ziyue had thought the girl wouldn’t contact her for a while.

But unexpectedly, in less than three hours, she heard the girl’s voice again.

“Are you free right now?”

Jiang Cheng could hear slapping sounds from Wang Ziyue’s side, like patting her face.

“Free, free—I’m very free!” 

Wang Ziyue pulled out a wet wipe to clean her hands, then shifted into a more comfortable position lying on the bed.

“Uh, wait a moment for me.” 

Jiang Cheng lowered the phone, “Driver, could you stop at the intersection up ahead?”

The driver steadily pulled over to the roadside. Jiang Cheng thanked him, got out, and walked toward the park.

Cicadas chirping, wind blowing, waves of heat.

“Sister?”

The girl’s voice rang out again, and Wang Ziyue’s breathing grew a bit heavier.

“I just got out of the car. I’m now… uh, I can’t tell you where.”

Jiang Cheng remembered her mom’s instructions.

“It’s fine; we can just talk on the phone.” 

Wang Ziyue smiled. 

She now deeply understood that her favorability with Jiang Xiaoyue was close to negative.

“Mmm… there’s just something I want to trouble you with.”

“No trouble at all.” 

Wang Ziyue agreed readily.

“You’re not even going to ask what it is?” 

Jiang Cheng laughed. 

She sat on a bench, swinging her legs while watching the dim light from the old streetlamp.

“Do you think there’s anything I can’t handle?”

Wang Ziyue was like a peacock spreading its tail.

“Uh… now that you mention it, there really doesn’t seem to be~”

When asking for a favor, sweeten the mouth a bit.

“Good that you know. Sister will always find a way for your matters.”

“That’s a bit of a shame, then. This time, it’s not my matter.”

“A friend’s matter still falls within the scope.” 

Wang Ziyue responded quickly.

“Mmm~ I see.”

Jiang Cheng felt like she was an idol drama heroine acting coquettish in front of her lover, as if any wish could come true.

She covered her face; heat seeped through her somewhat cool palm.

“Actually, it’s still about Yingying. She just told me all her troubles, and I… really want to help her.”

“Told you? Where?”

“At her house…”

“Huh?!”

“Is that so strange?” 

Jiang Cheng frowned. 

It was just going to a friend’s house; why was Wang Ziyue’s reaction so big?

“Just you alone?”

“There’s Tingting too. I don’t even know the way—how could I go by myself?” 

Jiang Cheng muttered softly, then thought of something. 

Before her words finished, she immediately followed up, “Are you jealous?!”

Finally catching Wang Ziyue’s weakness, Jiang Cheng felt a bit excited. 

Usually, Wang Ziyue was too composed in front of her, so guessing the other’s thoughts correctly made her especially thrilled.

“Yes, I’m jealous.” 

Wang Ziyue responded frankly, without the shyness Jiang Cheng had imagined.

“Tch… then I’ll continue.”

“Sister is listening.”

“I want you to help contact someone. Uh… her name is Ma Lijun. She’s recently in the city for a performance.”

“Lijun? Which characters?”

“The ‘li’ from Mount Li, the ‘jun’ from fine jade.”

Why does that sound a bit familiar? Wang Ziyue tried to recall the name but drew a blank.

Mom should be familiar with these artists; I’ll ask her later.

“Alright, I’ll handle this for you.” 

Wang Ziyue’s tone was confident.

The stone in Jiang Cheng’s heart settled.

“Thank you, Sister.”

“When thanking someone, you should show some sincerity, right?”

“Don’t be too greedy.” 

Jiang Cheng thought of the afternoon’s events, her voice unconsciously rising.

“Sigh, I can’t even get a little benefit…”

Wang Ziyue was just saying it casually. 

As she was about to hang up, she suddenly heard the girl ask her.

“Sister, when is your birthday?”

“My birthday? That’s still a while away… in December.”

“December what day?”

“Twenty-second.”

“What a coincidence…” Jiang Cheng muttered, and Wang Ziyue heard it clearly.

“You too, the same day?”

“Two months later than yours.”

“Mmm… pfft—your birthday is quite special.”

“That’s it, then…”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but sigh. Was this heaven telling her she couldn’t be the “1”? 

Clearly, she always got first place in exams…

“I’m heading home now, so I won’t talk anymore.” 

Jiang Cheng stood up. 

She had sent a WeChat to her mom when getting in the car earlier; if she lingered longer, a call would probably come.

“Okay, good night, Jiang Jiang.”

“Good night, Sister.”

The two bid each other farewell. 

When Jiang Cheng got home, her mom was waiting in the living room.

“Did you go to the park again?”

“Uh… Mom, how did you know?”

Jiang Cheng was still thinking of how to explain when her mom pointed to a leaf on her shoulder.

“Every time you take that path, leaves end up on your clothes.”

“Oh oh… hehe.” Jiang Cheng grinned foolishly.

Jiang Xiaoyue, meanwhile, leisurely continued staring at her.

“And?”

Her gaze was very gentle, but Jiang Cheng felt prickles on her back.

“I just talked on the phone with Wang Ziyue for a bit. There’s a favor I need her help with…”

“Can’t Mom do it?”

“It’s not something I need… it’s to help Zhou Qingying. There’s some family stuff…”

“Alright then. You were the one who called her.”

“Yeah.”

Jiang Xiaoyue stared at her a while longer, then waved her hand: “Hurry and go shower. Your hair is full of dust.”

Jiang Cheng slipped away in relief.