A Billion Stars Can’t Amount to You - Chapter 500-507
Her sudden touch made He Jichen’s body tremble as he instinctively looked down at her fair hand around his wrist.
He stared unwaveringly at her tender fingers for a moment before his eyes looked up and landed on her delicate neck. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t make a sound, but he clearly felt her fingers around his wrist start to tremble after he spoke.
All of a sudden, an intense worry entered He Jichen’s heart. There were hints of anxiety when he spoke: “Xiao Yi, what’s going on?”
She still said nothing, but a single tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.
Isn’t everything okay now? We just ate, so why’s she upset again after I came back from throwing the trash out?
Even though the rims of her eyes had turned red several times throughout the day, He Jichen’s heart still ached to see her like this now.
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He spoke again with a more anxious voice, “Didn’t I say it’s all sorted? Why’re you crying again?”
He Jichen wanted to crouch down when he said this, but Ji Yi held onto his other hand. She cried, “He Jichen…”
He Jichen hurriedly stopped everything he was doing. He turned his head and looked over at Ji Yi.
She lowered her head, deep in thought.
She didn’t speak again, but he patiently waited for her.
After some time, she cried his name again in a low voice: “He Jichen…”
But this time, she didn’t stop and continued by asking, “…Why did you do it?”
She asked so abruptly that He Jichen didn’t know how to react. He furrowed his brows, bewildered and speechless.
“He Jichen, did I create a big mess of things and cause a huge amount of trouble?”
He Jichen heard this and instantly understood what she meant by “Why did you do it?”
He pursed his lips. Before the word “no” could escape his mouth, the sound of her voice traveled into his ear again.
“You don’t have to tell me; I know I got into so much trouble. It was all my fault since I wasn’t careful. I fell from the platform and ruined everything…”
“…Director Lin was right. I made the company suffer immense losses. You should terminate my contract. The board of directors was right – you definitely have better artists to choose from. Whether it’s the Jiang Xinxin people mentioned or Lin Siyi, they’re all better than I am…”
“He Jichen, everyone at YC thinks I’m not worthy enough to stay here. Even I think I’m not worthy. Why do you still want to keep me?”
The more Ji Yi spoke, the more unbearable it felt. It was so bad that the left side of her chest started to ache.
She knew her heart ached for He Jichen and how unworthy she was for him.
“Why would you rather fire director Lin, rather erupt in a fit of rage in the conference room, rather fight with the board of directors, rather use YC which you single-handedly established, as a bargaining chip… just to keep me?”
Ji Yi really didn’t want to cry, but as she said this, she just couldn’t control her emotions and cried aloud.
Her voice became agitated because of her overly emotional state.
“Why did you do it? He Jichen, why did you do it?”
He was slightly dazed as he heard her speak one line after another.
Why did I do it?
Ah, because I like her… I like her so much that I’m willing to lose everything for her and give her everything.
His silence intensified her need for answers as she couldn’t help but start to pull at his arm. “Say something, He Jichen! Why did you do it? Why?”
Ji Yi was a little forceful as she shook He Jichen’s body, which brought him back to his senses.
He lowered his head and stared at the fluffy top of Ji Yi’s head and moved his lips. “Because…”
He spoke quietly, but she heard him. He abruptly fell silent.
She raised her head and her wet eyes met his gaze.
He stared back at her silently for a few seconds and continued by saying, “…You’re willing to trust me.”
“Because I said I’d never only come to you when you’re famous or turn and leave you at your lowest point.”
Those simple and familiar words made Ji Yi suddenly remember that night at Hangzhou’s West Lake hotel during the shooting of “Three Thousand Lunatics.”
That night was when he signed her with YC.
Promises were always touching.
That night, when he told her those same words, she was so emotional that she welled up with hot tears. With barely a moment’s contemplation, she signed with YC.
But now, she realized that he had been trying hard to fulfil the touching promise he made to her…
Even though they stopped talking for almost a year after what happened in Shanghai that night, he never forgot his promise to her.
He put her up on Weibo’s hot searches and set up lots of jobs for her. Even if she messed up everything, he still chose to stand by her side…
The tears in Ji Yi’s eyes poured out more fiercely and seized her heart. The guilt she had felt all afternoon suddenly broke free. “Sorry, He Jichen. I’m truly sorry…”
“…I didn’t mean it. I never imagined that things would turn out like this. I really never imagined things would go down like this… Sorry… He Jichen, I’m really sorry…”
As she repeatedly said “I’m sorry,” a piercing pain struck He Jichen’s heart over and over again.
He willingly did those things for her; what’s more, he actually liked that she got into trouble because it gave him a legitimate reason to appear by her side.
But liking her make trouble was one thing – he didn’t like her blaming herself like this.
“…I never imagined that I’d make so much trouble for you. I’m sorry…”
When she said “sorry” again, He Jichen reached his fingers out and touched her lips. “Xiao Yi, you don’t have to say sorry to me because ever since I found out about what happened, I’ve never blamed you.”
I never blamed you… Those four words made Ji Yi’s body tremble softly. Her tears were like endless strings of pearls streaming down her face.
There was a lot she wanted to say, but she didn’t know what he should say. She stared at He Jichen’s moving lips when all of a sudden, she got this unknown urge to free her hands from his wrist. She reached both arms out and hugged his waist.
He Jichen’s back tightened as his entire body froze on the spot.
He felt like it was all a dream; a surreal illusion.
He didn’t dare move as he was afraid her arms would disappear from around his waist.
Ji Yi didn’t know what had gotten into her either. She just suddenly really wanted to hug him.
She buried her face in his chest where she felt the warmth of his body through his clothes.
That warmth made her feel oddly at peace as the complex and raging emotions she had all day gradually settled down.
It was silent in the office. Ji Yi kept up her one-sided hug for a long time. The tears in her eyes gradually disappeared.
Because she had cried so violently, she hiccupped every now and then.
She was a little uncomfortable from holding that pose for so long, so she shifted slightly as she adjusted her position.
Her shifting alarmed He Jichen, who hadn’t moved an inch from the very start.
He held his breath and continued to stand like that for a while. Then he gently raised his hand and touched her back.
His touch validated that she was actually hugging him.
His fingers trembled slightly for a moment then he pressed his hand into her back.
The warmth of his palm travelled through her shirt, into her skin, and infiltrated her heart. Her head couldn’t help but lean closer to his body and her arms around his waist tightened.
Her affectionate and cute actions softened his heart into honey. The sweetness travelled from the corners of his mouth to the very depths of his heart. He couldn’t help but secretly increase the force through his palms and he sealed his body to hers.
They hugged like this for who knew how long as Ji Yi calmed down completely.
She didn’t want to leave his arms, so seeing that he didn’t push her away, she figured she might as well lean into him.
Ji Yi wasn’t sure just how long she stayed frozen like that for as she remembered how she stepped on a round object during yesterday’s live recording.
She wasn’t clear if her speculations were right, and what’s more, she had no evidence, so she couldn’t just blurt it out. However, she really wanted to tell He Jichen.
Ji Yi contemplated it for a short while then eventually said, “He Jichen?”
“Mhm?”
“Yesterday…” Still a little angry, Ji Yi paused for a moment then quietly said, “…Qian Ge called me.”
“… She told me a lot of things, mostly teasing me… But she did say something really weird to me. She said that as long as she, Qian Ge, works in showbiz, I should quit dreaming of ever making it some day…”
As she said this, Ji Yi felt He Jichen’s body tense up. Then she heard him say with a cold voice from above: “Then what happened?”
“Then I asked if she had anything to do with me tripping, but she didn’t give me an answer… It’s not just that, but I thought it was really weird that the Taiwanese artist didn’t turn up yesterday. Most importantly, when I stepped down from the platform, I stepped on a round object. That’s what I slipped on…”
“Yesterday when I saw Qian Ge, I was already really careful and had my guard up, but something bad still happened…”
As she said this, Ji Yi remembered she didn’t have any evidence. Afraid that He Jichen would think she was just making up excuses, her head shot up and she stared at He Jichen’s chin. “…I’m not trying to make excuses for causing all that trouble yesterday. I’m telling the truth…”
Ji Yi didn’t even manage to finish her sentence when He Jichen said, “I believe you.”
Those simple words and his clear voice made Ji Yi suddenly lose her voice as she looked up at He Jichen.
The room was silent for a while before Ji Yi said, “You… believe me?”
“Yes, I believe you,” repeated He Jichen with no hesitation at all.
Ji Yi’s eyes heated up as she instinctively stared back at He Jichen. She buried her face into his body once again.
He Jichen reached his hand out and stroked Ji Yi’s long hair. “Xiao Yi, don’t worry. This matter won’t end like this, but you don’t need to think about anything or do anything. All you need to do is get better and calm your mind to focus on shooting your next series. Leave everything else to me. One day, I’ll help you get revenge for everything you’ve suffered and more!”
Ji Yi’s heart warmed up for a moment and it felt like something was lodged in her throat, preventing her from speaking.
She silently leaned into his body for a while then tightened her hug.
He sensed her subtle movements and couldn’t help but hug her a little tighter.
It was dark outside as they hugged each other more tightly.
…
After what happened the day before, Ji Yi hadn’t slept all night. In the morning, she hadn’t gotten the chance to shut her eyes as she had been back and forth since Zhuang Yi took her to the office.
She’d already cried out all her pain and spoke all her suppressed feelings; she even got some much-needed comfort from He Jichen. She felt so relaxed that she unexpectedly fell asleep in He Jichen’s embrace as she couldn’t fight her exhaustion and sleepiness.
It was already late and Ji Yi was deep asleep. He Jichen was afraid he’d wake her up if he took her back home, so he carefully scooped her up from the wheelchair and took her into the lounge.
He took a long time just trying to pull her arms away from his waist. He took no more than two steps with her in his arms when her arms wrapped around his neck again.
He laid her on the bed and removed her hands from his neck. Ji Yi’s brows started to gently furrow. He was afraid to wake her up, so he didn’t dare make any sudden movements. Instead, he simply laid by her side gently and softly and held her in his arms all night long.
–
As He Jichen and Ji Yi slept all night in each other’s embrace, Han Zhifan and Cheng Weiwan were just ten meters away at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was their first time meeting each other since he was discharged.
Cheng Weiwan had stayed by Han Zhifan’s side throughout his stay in the hospital.
The day after he was discharged, Han Zhifan had to go on a business trip to Hong Kong.
When he returned, it was already five in the afternoon.
On his way back from the airport, he gave Cheng Weiwan a call.
It was inconvenient at the time – Cheng Weiwan was in a meeting at YC – so she declined his call.
Before she could reply to Han Zhifan with a text, Han Zhifan’s text came through first. He asked to meet up with her that night at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Cheng Weiwan replied with “okay” then added, “I’m in a meeting” before putting her phone back into her pocket.
After the script meeting was over, it was already six in the evening.
Cheng Weiwan wasn’t in a hurry to leave the meeting as she typed up all the ideas she’d gotten from the meeting on her laptop.
After she finished work, it was already dark outside. She closed her laptop and pulled out her phone from her pocket. She glanced at Han Zhifan’s text message on the lock screen.
“See you at nine at the Four Seasons Hotel, room 1002.”
After he sent that text, he probably realized he forgot to leave some additional instructions, so he added, “The room key is at the front desk. Just give them your name then head right up…”
After the ellipsis, there were a few more words, “…Don’t worry, Wanwan. I won’t do anything to you.”
If this had been in the past, Cheng Weiwan would never go on a date with Han Zhifan at a hotel, but things were different now. He saved her life.
She would never have believed that she would be in such a situation had he arrived a little later that night.
Cheng Weiwan stared at the text from Han Zhifan on her phone screen for a while. Then she put her phone away and carried her laptop out of the conference room.
To make her commute to YC easier, Cheng Weiwan rented an apartment close to the office.
After she made it back home and dropped off her laptop, she called a taxi and headed for the Four Seasons Hotel.
Following the instructions given by Han Zhifan, Cheng Weiwan walked up to the front desk and gave her name. After they verified her ID, she collected the room key and headed upstairs.
After she swiped the key to open the door, Cheng Weiwan stepped into the room. However, before she could put the card into the electricity slot, she caught sight of a candle glowing on the table in the living room.
Cheng Weiwan was confused for two seconds. Without turning the lights on, she walked straight to the living room.
When she got closer, she realized that under the light of the candle was a birthday cake.
On the cake was a line of words written in chocolate: “Wanwan, happy birthday.”
Han Zhifan asked to meet me here just to celebrate my birthday?
Just as Cheng Weiwan was feeling bewildered, the bedroom door opened.
Cheng Weiwan turned her head at the sound to see Han Zhifan stepping out, holding a gift box.
“Wanwan, I only found out your birthday was yesterday from one of your readers’ comments on Weibo today. I also found out that since your mum passed away, no one has celebrated your birthday…”
Han Zhifan walked towards her as he spoke. “Even though I’m a day late… Happy birthday!”
As he said this, Han Zhifan opened the gift box and handed it to Cheng Weiwan.
Inside was a pink diamond necklace. Under the candlelight, it had a bright, piercing light.
“Do you like it?” asked Han Zhifan softly with raised brows.
Cheng Weiwan let out a tender “Mhm.”
Han Zhifan didn’t say anything but took out the necklace from the gift box. After he walked up to Cheng Weiwan, he gently helped her put it on.
As he fastened the necklace, Han Zhifan swept Cheng Weiwan’s long hair aside. He carefully fixed her hair after the necklace was secure then he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to face him.
He stared at the necklace above her chest for some time before his eyes met hers. “Beautiful.”
Cheng Weiwan didn’t say anything as she stared into Han Zhifan’s eyes with an unusual glow.
Han Zhifan stared back at Cheng Weiwan for some time before taking a slight step forward. He lowered his head and kissed the space in between her brows.
His soft touch made Cheng Weiwan’s body tremble slightly but she didn’t avoid him.
That was when Han Zhifan gradually lowered his lips to Cheng Weiwan’s, gently sealing them into a delicate kiss.
It was silent in the room with the faint sound of them kissing.
After kissing for a while, Han Zhifan reluctantly parted from Cheng Weiwan’s lips. He lowered his head to touch her forehead, looked down at her bright red lips then asked softly, “Can I?”
Cheng Weiwan’s fingers trembled with his question as her eyelids shot up and met Han Zhifan’s before she lowered them again.
Han Zhifan continued to stare at Cheng Weiwan for quite some time before he moved to seal his lips with hers again. “Wanwan, can I? Tonight, can I have you?” asked Han Zhifan before their lips touched.
Han Zhifan’s gentle breath grazed Cheng Weiwan’s lips. The soft, tickly sensation stifled Cheng Weiwan’s breathing as her eyelashes quivered endlessly.
It was like her pressure points had been hit. Apart from clutching onto her sleeve tightly, she stood on the spot, not daring to move an inch.
She still hadn’t replied when her face gradually started to flush.
“Wanwan…” Han Zhifan spoke again with a tender murmur, like one between lovers. “…Are you not saying anything because you haven’t thought it through?”
After Han Zhifan said this, he waited for a while. Seeing as Cheng Weiwan still didn’t reply, he added, “Don’t worry, Wanwan. I can wait for you…”
With that, Han Zhifan moved away from Cheng Weiwan’s lips and reached out to lovingly stroke her long hair. He turned his head and glanced at the cake beside them. “Let’s cut the cake…”
As Han Zhifan’s voice fell, Cheng Weiwan lifted her eyes and shot a glance at the man in front of her.
She clearly saw a hint of disappointment between his brows.
She felt a tinge of pain from something pricking her heart.
Han Zhifan took a step back and put some distance between himself and Cheng Weiwan. He turned around, walked over to the dining table and bent over. He didn’t have time to pick up the box of cutlery when Cheng Weiwan suddenly cried, “Han Zhifan.”
Han Zhifan turned his head.
The swaying candlelight accentuated his unusually slim silhouette.
Cheng Weiwan stared unwaveringly at his face for a while before she moved her lips again, “Do you… really like me?”
Han Zhifan wasn’t in a hurry to reply, but his gaze was transfixed on Cheng Weiwan for a while. He put the knife and fork back onto the table then walked up to her.
He stared at her eyes for a few seconds and shook his head. “No.”
Cheng Weiwan was stunned.
Han Zhifan’s voice quickly traveled into her ears: “I don’t really like you – I love you.”
I don’t really like you, I love you… These words were like a hammer pounding at Cheng Weiwan’s heart, making her heart race.
She had written many romantic stories, but she had never had her own love story.
She had just one dream, which was to love only one person.
All these years, she stayed single because she was waiting for the one and only love of her life.
She had waited for so many years. Was her wait finally over now?
“Han Zhifan, all I’ve wanted in my life was to be in love and love a man. Do you get it now?”
“What a coincidence.” Han Zhifan looked sincere like he was going to make a promise. “All I want in my life is to be in love and love a woman.”
Cheng Weiwan didn’t speak again but she took a step forward. She tip-toed and kissed Han Zhifan on the lips.
Han Zhifan was completely stunned for a few seconds before he reached his hand out and domineeringly pushed Cheng Weiwan’s head forward, kissing her deeply.
Her body slowly melted in his embrace.
His hand around her waist started to wander over her clothes and up her body.
His palms scorched her body, burning her incessantly.
She instinctively raised her hands and grabbed his shirt.
Her small movements made his brows twitch. The next second, he forcefully tore off her clothes.
He put her down on the sofa beside him and with his head down, he nibbled on her fair skin.
His lips and hands were all over her soft body, exciting her like never before.
Having never experienced this before, her body trembled violently because she was nervous and terrified.
“Zhifan…”
Han Zhifan suddenly stopped moving as his gaze fell upon Cheng Weiwan’s tightly shut eyes. Her fragile look made her appear helpless yet particularly captivating.
In that split second, he wasn’t sure what was going on with him as his heart softened in his chest. He ac-actually wanted to let go of her…
No, you can’t!
Since he found out she was Cheng Weiguo’s daughter, he had been waiting for this very moment.
He put so much thought into getting onto her good side and pleasing her. He went so far as to even play out the frightening scene of the hero saving the damsel in distress.
I can’t give up just like that!
What’s more, he promised over Lili’s dead body that he would definitely avenge her suffering!
Lili… As her name flashed across Han Zhifan’s mind suddenly, the image of his eighteen-year-old self fruitlessly screaming to wake the girl lying in the pool of blood flashed before his eyes…
The pain drained Cheng Weiwan’s face of blood and her body turned a little stiff.
Seeing as she didn’t cry out in pain, she was probably shy. All she did was bite on her bottom lip.
As he watched the lovely, pitiful look on her face, Han Zhifan pursed his lips and looked away. Then he started to recklessly and cruelly warm her soft body without mercy.
–
Waking up the next day, He Jichen took Ji Yi out first to eat breakfast then he took her back home.
It was ten in the morning and He Jichen had an early meeting, so he didn’t stay at the Ji family’s house for long. Instead, he politely bid Ji Yi’s mum and dad goodbye then headed back to the office.
Even though Ji Yi took care of He Jichen for ten days when he was in the hospital, that didn’t improve the relationship between the two of them. However, this time, their relationship seemed to improve a lot more after He Jichen patiently stayed with her from afternoon till the evening after she was hurting over the botched recording.
However, when Ji Yi and He Jichen parted, neither of them contacted the other for a while.
Because of Ji Yi’s leg injury, she couldn’t go outside; all she could do was play games with Tang Huahua like she did during her summer holiday.
She and He Jichen got into contact again because she complained about being hungry while playing games with Tang Huahua. Tang Huahua immediately sent her a photo of a big plate of crayfish on Weibo with the words: “My mum just cooked dinner for me.”
Ji Yi replied to Tang Huahua with a “disdainful” emoji then rubbed her empty belly. The more she thought about it, the more she thought about how mean Tang Huahua was, so she took a screenshot of their conversation. Then she put it up on Moments with a comment: “Where’s the true love they speak of? It’s all a lie…”
It was already late at night. Aside from her close friends on WeChat, there was no one else online on her Moments, so ten minutes after posting that photo, no one liked or replied to it.
Ji Yi didn’t think much of it. After Tang Huahua ate and drank, Ji Yi immediately continued their game.
After the match ended, an unknown number popped up on Ji Yi’s phone, pulling her back to the home screen.
It’s the middle of the night. Who could be calling?
Ji Yi hesitated for a few seconds before picking up.
“Hello, I’m here to deliver your takeout. I’m outside your home, could you please open the door?”
Takeout? I didn’t order anything… Ji Yi was stunned and figured they must’ve gotten the wrong number. Just as she was about to hang up, the doorbell rang.
Ji Yi maneuvered her wheelchair out of the bedroom.
She took a glance at the security monitor on the wall of the entrance to see that there really was a young man standing there to deliver food.
Since it was inconvenient for Ji Yi to move around, the delivery guy kindly placed the food on the living room coffee table before he left.
Ji Yi opened the bag and casually took a glance inside to see that it was all crayfish. She instinctively pulled out her phone and sent Tang Huahua a message: “Huahua, did you order takeout for me?”
Tang Huahua instantly replied: “You wish!”
Ji Yi took a photo: “I’m being serious. I’m not joking with you.”
Tang Huahua: “It really wasn’t me.”
If it wasn’t Tang Huahua, who was it?
Ji Yi stared at WeChat with her brows furrowed. Then she saw that there was a notification on her Moments.
She hurriedly clicked it and saw that there was a “like” on the picture she posted half an hour ago on Moments. It was from He Jichen.
Don’t tell me. He Jichen saw my post on Moments and ordered the crayfish?
Ji Yi thought about it for a moment then opened up her chat with He Jichen. “The err… crayfish. Did you order it?”
He Jichen was still awake. He was probably on his phone because he quickly replied: “Mhm.”
It really was He Jichen who ordered the crayfish… Ji Yi’s heart warmed and after a short while, she typed again: “Ah, thank you!”
He Jichen replied quickly again. However, his message was unrelated to hers: “How’s your leg?”
“A lot better.” After Ji Yi pressed send, she tapped on the keyboard for a while: “I went to the hospital this afternoon for a check-up. The doctor said the sprain has already started to heal.”
“Mhm.” He Jichen sent another message. Just as his first message, it was just a single word.
He probably realized he was being overly boring, so he sent another message three seconds later with two more words: “Then that’s good.”
At the moment, Ji Yi didn’t quite know how to reply to He Jichen. She figured she might as well change the subject: “Why’re you still up so late?”
“Just got home.”
“Did overtime?”
“No, I had a dinner which just ended.” He Jichen sent two consecutive messages. “Eat the crayfish while it’s still hot.”
“Mhm, mhm,” replied Ji Yi then she put on the gloves. As she ate the crayfish, she took off the gloves every now and then to reply to He Jichen.
The two of them chatted about tedious things, but they managed to keep the conversation going till two in the morning before they both said “Goodnight.”
