One minute has passed.
So slow! This is garbage property!
One minute and eighteen seconds later, the elevator doors finally opened.
Ji Mingshu swept inside like a gust of wind, pushing Gu Kaiyang, who was still playing on his phone, out in the process.
Gu Kaiyang was stunned when he was kicked out of the elevator. Was that Ji Mingshu just now? Holy crap, I didn't bring my access card! I was in a hurry to go to the grave, girl!
To be honest, Ji Mingshu's feelings were no different from those of someone going to a grave.
She was uneasy the whole way, and felt a little guilty for no reason. The key thing was that she didn't know when Cen Sen arrived, what he had talked about with Cen Yang downstairs, and most importantly—Cen Yang had hugged her when he brought her back. Could he have seen it?
Ji Mingshu's heart was pounding like a drum, but after a while, she felt something was wrong—
This scoundrel invested in Li Wenying's movie and acted so self-righteous and arrogant. What's wrong with her meeting with Cen Yang? What's wrong with old friends hugging?
He, Cen Sen, completed all fourteenth day of the lunar month, while Ji Mingshu only stretched out her little foot to step on the edge of the fifteenth day. What was she feeling guilty about?
Yes, that's right.
Thinking about it this way, Ji Mingshu unconsciously straightened his back a little.
She reflected on it and realized that this might be a consequence of having overly strong moral values and a rigid sense of justice. It's bad, very bad; it's too self-destructive for Lison.
The Star Harbour International building has a very high volume of people coming and going. Although we took the elevator, it stopped almost every two floors and paused every three floors as people were getting on and off. It took a full five minutes to go from the 33rd floor to the 1st floor.
It was snowing outside, the temperature was low, and the wind was cold.
Ji Mingshu wrapped his trench coat tighter and walked to the intersection to cross the street. He hurried along with the crowd until he realized that Cen Yang and his white Mercedes were gone. Only Cen Sen remained, his hands in his coat pockets, leaning against the door of the Maybach, his gaze indifferent, with the air of a judge.
This is truly a vivid example: Hell is empty, but Cen Sen is on his way.
Ji Mingshu asked instinctively, "Where's Cen Yang? Did he leave?"
"They're gone."
Cen Sen's response was brief, his voice as if wrapped in snow, clear and cold.
Ji Mingshu's heart skipped a beat. After a moment of stiffness, she forced herself to ask hesitantly, "So, what were you talking about just now?"
What do you think?
Cen Sen looked down at her.
Ji Mingshu opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.
After a long pause, she asked in a different way, "When did you arrive?"
Cen Sen: "Six-thirty."
...?
She had just left at 6:30, so he saw everything from when she left until Cen Yang brought her back.
Ji Mingshu instinctively wanted to explain, but the words caught in her throat as she recalled the series of thoughts that had crossed her mind when she got off the elevator... What was there to explain? What was there to explain? Why should she explain to that bastard Cen Sen?
In just three or four seconds, Ji Mingshu's attitude suddenly changed. She straightened her back, poked Cen Sen's chest with a finger, and said indignantly, "Please note that you and I are currently in a state of impending divorce! You dared to invest in Li Wenying's movie, so what's wrong with me having a meal and hugging Cen Yang! I haven't even judged you yet, so don't even think about judging me here!"
Cen Sen remained silent, his gaze still, but suddenly grasped the finger she was pressing against her chest, and then took her hand, naturally slipping it into his coat pocket.
? ? ?
Ji Mingshu's mind went blank.
“I was working on a merger and acquisition deal a few days ago, working non-stop for 72 hours without sleep. I came back this morning and rested for a few hours. I was planning to pick you up for dinner tonight and watch a movie. You've already eaten, but I haven't eaten anything since this morning.”
His gaze remained calm, and his voice was flat, as if he were giving a report at a meeting. However, Ji Mingshu could inexplicably detect a slight sense of grievance in his schedule report.
And the key point is that he actually came to pick her up for dinner and a movie at 6:30. The little bit of bravado she had just mustered vanished instantly, and she even felt a deep sense of regret and guilt.
After a long silence, she lowered her eyelashes and muttered softly, "Actually, I wasn't full after that French meal."
After a moment's hesitation, Cen Sen said, "Let's go eat."
He casually brushed the snowflakes off Ji Mingshu's trench coat and led her to the passenger seat.
The car door opened, and Ji Mingshu slowly sat down. Just as she was about to reach for the seatbelt, Cen Sen leaned over and fastened it before she could.
In the few seconds it took to fasten the seatbelt, the two were very close. Ji Mingshu could smell the faint scent of fir on him and see six snowflakes quietly melting on the ends of his short hair.
For some reason, Ji Mingshu suddenly had a strong urge to kiss him.
He'd been standing outside for so long; his lips must be cool now, like jelly taken out of a freezer.
Just then, Cen Sen also turned to look at her.
The moment their eyes met, Ji Mingshu leaned back in her chair, her expression reserved, but every cell in her body was screaming: "Kiss me! Kiss me! Kiss me now! If you kiss me, I won't make you kneel down and beg for forgiveness!!!"
Unfortunately, after a three-second eye contact, Cen Sen, oblivious to the impropriety, straightened up and opened the car door from the other side, as if his previous act of putting his hands in his pockets was something a nearby ghost had done for him.
"..."
Ha, it seems he still prefers to kneel down and admit his mistakes :)
Just as Ji Mingshu was feeling a surge of excitement, he suddenly received a call from Gu Kaiyang.
She said "Hello" and then said in a serious tone, "I'm a little hungry, I'm going out to get something to eat and then I'll come back. What's wrong? Is something the matter? Did you work overtime and not eat? Do you want me to bring you something?"
"No, it's alright. It's nothing, I just... dialed the wrong number, um, dialed the wrong number."
Gu Kaiyang hung up the phone quickly and decisively, and stood on the side of the road for a long time, watching the Maybach speed away across the street.
The cold wind was howling, and it was only when the flower girl called her "sister" that she snapped out of her reverie.
She quickly bought a bouquet of flowers and then called Jiang Chun, "Where are you?"
Jiang Chun was eating and mumbled a reply, "Tang Zhizhou and I are having hot pot over here at Biqiao."
Gu Kaiyang: "Are you going back to your apartment to sleep tonight?"
Jiang Chun blushed, swallowed the beef roll, took a sip of cola, and whispered while covering her phone, "What nonsense are you talking about? Tang Zhizhou and I are completely innocent! Of course I'll go home to sleep! Besides, my dad calls to check up on me every day at midnight!"
Gu Kaiyang had no time to care about human life. "Then you can let me stay for one night. You eat first, and I'll wait for you at the coffee shop downstairs from your house. That woman Ji Mingshu left with her husband and took my room key with her!"
Jiang Chun: "Then why don't you have her send it to you?"
Gu Kaiyang: "Is your brain stuffed with hot pot broth? You think I'd waste such a golden opportunity to send someone off like this? I, Gu Kaiyang, would rather freeze to death under a bridge tonight than call Ji Mingshu even half a second time!"
Jiang Chun: "..."
That's absolutely amazing.
On Christmas Eve, the city center was filled with a festive atmosphere, with Christmas carols playing everywhere. The squares and roadsides were lined with Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, and a thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the ground. Judging from the look of it, it would continue to snow for quite some time.
Although it was a holiday, most of the restaurants still open close to midnight were Japanese restaurants and hot pot restaurants; the remaining noodle shops and barbecue restaurants had very basic dining environments. In addition, Cen Sen didn't like Japanese food, so hot pot was their only remaining option.
The service at this hot pot restaurant was excellent. Even late at night, the staff were still very energetic, wishing the two of them a Merry Christmas while handing them towels and Santa hats.
Ji Mingshu has a small appetite. After having a big meal in the evening, she couldn't eat much anymore. She ordered a few vegetables as a token gesture and then handed the tablet to Cen Sen.
Cen Sen didn't order much. After placing the order, he handed the tablet to the waiter and then glanced at Ji Mingshu's bare legs under the table. "Are you cold?"
Ji Mingshu: "It's alright."
If you can't even stand this little bit of cold, what kind of beautiful and charming socialite are you?
Actually, a sweater dress paired with a trench coat is her usual winter outfit. The main problem is that she was in a rush when she went out and didn't have time to change her boots. She just put on a pair of high heels and ran out. Now her feet are really a bit cold.
Upon hearing this, Cen Sen was about to take off his coat when the waiter suddenly appeared at the table without anyone noticing, holding a blanket in his hand and smiling, "Miss, you should keep warm in winter. This is a blanket for you."
"Oh... thank you."
Ji Mingshu was also visiting for the first time and was slightly surprised by the thoughtful service, but she accepted it with a smile.
Cen Sen looked up and glanced at the waiter.
The waiter, completely oblivious, asked flawlessly, "Sir, would you like one?"
"……Need not."
Cen Sen felt that he probably hadn't eaten hot pot in a long time, and he didn't realize that the service at semi-self-service restaurants like hot pot restaurants had become so excellent.
Ji Mingshu is a rather troublesome woman when she's away from home. When eating hot pot, she doesn't know how to make her own condiments, pour her own water, or peel shelled food herself.
Despite being such a troublesome woman, Cen Sen was unable to do anything for her at all; the all-powerful waiters did everything for her immediately.
Before leaving, Ji Mingshu praised the restaurant's service, saying it was excellent and no worse than Japanese or French restaurants that cost thousands of yuan per person.
Cen Sen didn't say anything, but casually crumpled the receipt and threw it into the trash can without any mercy.
The waiter stood at the door seeing the customer off, somewhat puzzled as to what the male customer was dissatisfied with. The service had been so attentive throughout, yet as he left, his face clearly said, "I will never come to your restaurant again." The restaurant industry must be so tough.
It was quite late when the two finished their hot pot meal. The west entrance of the mall, which was originally open, had been closed, and only one elevator leading down from the cinema was still in operation.
As they walked to the cinema, Cen Sen suddenly asked, "Do you want to see a movie?"
"Oh? A movie? That's fine too."
Ji Mingshu felt a pink bubble of excitement inside, but on the surface, she responded with great reluctance and difficulty.
The only movie still on sale this late is a romance film that premiered today, with three screenings scheduled from midnight to 6 a.m.
The midnight showing was packed, but the 2 AM showing they wanted to see was completely empty.
The theater was dimly lit, and the romance film was slow-paced. Seeing that no one else was around, Ji Mingshu subconsciously muttered to himself about the movie's plot as he watched.
When she saw the male lead misunderstand that the female lead had slept with the second male lead, she couldn't help but complain: "This is so melodramatic. Are investors just burning money these days? Why are they investing in any movie? This guy is out of his mind. The female lead clearly likes him, and he still misunderstands. Is he an idiot? He's incredibly stupid."
Cen Sen didn't speak, but he silently agreed in his heart that it was indeed incredibly stupid.
Cen Yang talked to him a lot tonight, but he didn't really listen or care. However, there was one sentence he heard clearly and remembered very well: "Xiao Shu likes you now, but that doesn't mean she will like you forever."
Now, I like you.
His gaze towards the curtain softened inexplicably, and the corners of his lips turned up slightly.
Ji Mingshu was furious with the plot, but when he turned around, he saw Cen Sen smiling, and his mind was full of questions.
Is this guy a pervert? The female lead is suffering so much, yet he can still laugh. Does he have no humanity?
Author's Note: Little Canary Baby: My little feet hadn't even fully extended before they retracted, so tragic, waaaaah!
Chapter 51