A Billion Stars Can it Amount to You

Chapter 11 - 20: He and I Can Never Happen

CHAPTER 11

"Xiao Yi... did you and He Dage know each other back then?"

All of a sudden, He Jichen stopped his hand in mid-air, about to knock on the door. After a few seconds, he heard Ji Yi say in a low, flat voice, "No."

...

In the dorm room.

Lin Ya's voice sounded full of regret, "Oh, I thought you and He Dage would've known each other... I really want to know what he was like in senior high..."

Ji Yi didn't respond.

Lin Yi continued to say, "But, Xiao Yi, He Dage's so fine, he must've been a popular guy right? At school, did you hear any stories about him?"

This time, Ji Yi wasn't as hesitant as before as she quickly replied, "I didn't really pay much attention to him."

"Oh, I see..." Lin Ya could tell that she wouldn't be able to find out anything about He Jichen from Ji Yi, so she shut her mouth in embarrassment and defeat.

The room was silent for a while. After Lin Ya finished putting on her makeup, she got up, as though something suddenly came to mind. She said, "Ah, right! Xiao Yi, He Dage invited me two days ago to go to his friend's party at Suyuan 1 tonight. There'll be a lot of big shots in the film industry. He said since we're studying acting, we should go and network; maybe it'll help us out in the future. Do you want to go?"

All I want is to never have anything to do with He Jichen ever again in my life. Why would I ever go to a party he's attending?

Reflexively, Ji Yi answered, "No..."

After she said this, Ji Yi realized she'd forgotten her manners for a moment and quickly changed her tone of voice by adding, "... I have plans tonight."

Lin Ya asked, "Is it important? If it isn't important, then cancel your plans and go out with me! It's not easy for us to get the chance to mingle with people in this industry. It'd be such a shame to miss out on such a rare opportunity."

"Thanks Lin Ya, I appreciate your kindness, but I really..." Before Ji Yi could finish, a string of knocks was heard at the door.

Lin Ya, who was closest to the door, bolted up and pulled the door open. Seeing He Jichen at the door, she was stunned at first, but then her face was all smiles. "He Dage, why'd you come to pick me up?"

He Jichen didn't say anything or enter the room, but he stood there at the door with a dull expression on his face.

When Ji Yi heard Lin Ya's words, she knew the person who arrived was He Jichen. She stared unwaveringly at her book, pretending to be so engrossed in her book that she didn't realize someone had arrived. She didn't even glance over at the door.

Lin Ya was afraid He Jichen would get impatient waiting, so she quickly finished getting ready. "He Dage, let's go."

He Jichen still didn't say a word, but he gave a slight nod and straightened up. Just as he was ready to leave, he caught a glimpse of where Ji Yi was sitting from the corner of his eye. His attention wasn't drawn to her, but to the trash next to her table.

Even though she purposefully used the trash as a cover, he could clearly see the unfinished milk tea inside.

It was left exactly how it was the night before, without a single sip taken, thrown into the trash can just like that.

Lin Ya took two steps towards the door, stopped, and turned to Ji Yi, "Xiao Yi, you're really not coming with me—"

Before Lin Ya could finish, He Jichen finally spoke from the front door. His voice was abrupt and a little cold, "Tonight's party isn't open for everyone. Don't go around inviting random people!"

CHAPTER 12

Deep down inside, she was glad to have a book to stare at. Before Lin Ya could say anything, she politely looked over at her. Had she not done so, she really wouldn't have known how else to react to He Jichen's words.

After he'd said his piece, He Jichen didn't linger for even a second. He turned around and strode out, leaving the room with a lingering awkwardness in the air.

Lin Ya stood there with a helpless expression on her face as she looked over at He Jichen's back and then at Ji Yi. She wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.

He Jichen, who'd walked quite a distance away now, could sense that Lin Ya hadn't caught up. He said, "Let's go."

Lin Ya could hear the obvious impatience in his voice. She pursed her lips and left with a "Sorry Xiao Yi...". Then she darted out of the room, closed the door, and tried to catch up with He Jichen.

Ji Yi was the only one left in the dorm room. She kept the same posture and stared at the book with a peaceful expression on her face for a long time before she softly blinked. She raised her fingers and turned the page.

She stared at the words on the paper. She stared and stared, dead straight ahead.

-

Ji Yi's rejection of Lin Ya's offer with the words "I have plans tonight" wasn't an excuse. Though it wasn't anything serious, she really did have plans that night. Yesterday, her dad had returned to Bejing from a business trip in Hong Kong, so her mum asked her to come home for dinner that night.

B-film wasn't particularly far from Ji Yi's house, so she wanted to finish reading the book in her hands before heading back home. However, He Jichen's appearance just now ruined her mood, so she simply tossed her book aside in defeat and headed out early.

She arrived home just before five. Her parents were probably out on a stroll since there was no one at home, so Ji Yi headed straight for her bedroom.

She didn't have a break at noon, so she was a little sleepy. Soon after Ji Yi climbed into bed, she fell asleep.

Ji Yi wasn't sure how long she was asleep for, but she groggily woke up from her dreams to the sound of someone talking.

The skies outside were dark, and the gentle night's breeze blew in wafts of the sweet aroma of Osmanthus flowers from downstairs.

She heard the faint sound of the TV outside her room, so she figured her parents must've already returned home.

Ji Yi climbed out of bed. She first went to the bathroom to wash her face, then pulled the door open and walked out.

In the living room every now and then, she heard her dad talking and assumed he was on the phone. She didn't think much of it and walked right down the stairs.

It wasn't until she reached the first floor that she heard another voice. As the person was a little quiet, Ji Yi couldn't quite make out who the voice belonged to.