Gu Kaiyang was not surprised that the dish was not cooked. What shocked her more was that Ji Mingshu, this pampered young lady who never lifted a finger, had suddenly thought of cooking.
Ji Mingshu wanted to move on from this dark history, so he sat up straight and said to Gu Kaiyang seriously, "Yangyang, I've thought about this carefully today, and I think you're right. I can't keep relying on others to support me like this. Jiang Chun specifically asked me for some inside information today, saying that Junyi withdrew its investment in Li Wenying's movie a couple of days ago."
Gu Kaiyang was a little confused by her train of thought. "Well, isn't this a good thing? I told you there was definitely a misunderstanding between you and Cen Sen. Wait, why did you suddenly think that you can't rely on others to support you..."
"Whether he was just following the proper procedures and made Li Wenying go through the proper channels, or he simply didn't know the content of the movie, it's a fact that he didn't consider my feelings or respect me at all."
"He doesn't respect me because he thinks I'm just a canary he keeps in his cage, and there's no need for him to respect me. But ultimately, it's all my fault. I wanted money and respect, I wanted too much. And my second uncle and his family, didn't they just assume I couldn't survive without Cen Sen?"
Gu Kaiyang was shocked by Ji Mingshu's serious expression and hesitated before asking, "Are you about to transform into Niu Hulu Shushu?"
"Be serious, I'm being earnest. Aren't we all trying our best to live our lives? Although Cen Sen is a bit of a complicated person, his work ethic is commendable. I heard from his assistant that he once slept only three hours a day for half a month straight to negotiate a merger deal. And you, you work so hard and diligently every day, and you still get scolded by the editor-in-chief because of me, this burden. I should also..."
Gu Kaiyang: "Wait, how did you know I got scolded by the editor-in-chief?"
Ji Mingshu paused, then quickly turned the tables and said, "How can you be like this? It's all your fault for interrupting my train of thought; I completely forgot what I was going to say."
She glanced at the time again. "It's almost ten o'clock, aren't you going to sleep? Gu Kaiyang, are you even going to work tomorrow?"
Gu Kaiyang suddenly realized something when she remembered the box of pastries her assistant had brought her that afternoon.
That night, Ji Mingshu and Gu Kaiyang both went to bed early. Ji Mingshu closed his eyes, recalling what he had heard when he went to the magazine office in the afternoon, and the roadside vendors he had encountered on his way back in a daze. He pulled the blanket tighter around himself.
In this world, everyone is working hard to make a living, so why can't Ji Mingshu do the same?
She had to admit that she felt a little bit of smug when she received the message from Jiang Chun today, but if she went back like that without any backbone, Cen Sen would look down on her for the rest of his life.
She's so greedy. Now she not only wants Cen Sen's money, but also his respect, his affection, and his heart.
While Ji Mingshu and Gu Kaiyang went to bed early, the nightlife in the capital was just beginning.
Cen Sen is usually a very restrained person. Apart from social engagements, he rarely participates in entertainment activities or goes to nightclubs.
But when Jiang Che came over today, Shu Yang kept calling them, asking them to go to the pub, saying he wanted to buy them drinks to apologize, so the two of them moved along.
This is the same pub where Ji Mingshu stood up for Jiang Chun. Thanks to the promotion of Zhang Er Gongzi's birthday party, it has become a new favorite entertainment venue for party animals in the capital. The party-loving people there often run into each other.
When Cen Sen and Jiang Che arrived, the nightclub was at its most exciting, with men and women in colorful clothes swaying on the dance floor, surrounded by a dazzling array of lights.
As the two walked along the booths, amidst the music and noise, Cen Sen suddenly heard someone nearby mention "Ji Mingshu." He turned his head slightly in the direction of the voice.
"I really don't know what she's so arrogant about all day long, that Yangzhou courtesan wants to divorce her husband. I'm dying of laughter. If she really gets a divorce, I'll change my name!"
“What’s so great about writing it backwards? I can even take her surname, hahahahaha.”
"No wonder she wanted a divorce. Her husband wanted to invest in a movie about his first love. Holy crap, I've never seen such a novel and unique way of slapping someone in the face. Her husband is really something else."
"I heard the movie they're making is a tribute to their relationship? It would be a miracle if Ji Mingshu could tolerate that. Doesn't she always seem so aloof and dignified?"
"Hey, I have to say, Ji Mingshu is really pretty. It wouldn't be bad if they really got divorced. I could get her into my lap and see what this princess is like..."
Before the man could finish his filthy words, a white light suddenly appeared before his eyes, and he felt a warm liquid slowly flowing down his forehead.
"ah--!"
The girls in the booth screamed and hurriedly got up to avoid the shards of broken glass from the bottle.
Chapter 43
Jiang Che stood two steps away, slightly surprised by the sudden attack.
Cen Sen has been quiet since childhood, and has a somewhat aloof attitude that is not quite in line with his peers. He has never bothered to argue or fight with unnecessary people.
If you really offend him, he will strike at the other person's weak point in a more direct way, retaliating precisely without drawing blood.
The last time he saw him take action... Jiang Che thought back carefully and was even more surprised, because this was the first time he had ever seen Cen Sen take action.
Inside the pub, the heavy metal music was still deafening and energetic, and the colorful lights were still hazy and ever-changing. In the dim night, the bizarre and wonderful lights intertwined, and desires were hidden in the murky undercurrent.
The air near the booths was filled with the smell of nicotine and alcohol, but a faint scent of blood was also present.
Cen Sen grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him from his seat, then grabbed his neck, his knuckles icy cold, and the veins on the back of his hand were faintly visible.
Blood was still gushing from the man's forehead, flowing down between his eyebrows and eyes. His lips, which were rapidly changing color due to lack of oxygen and fear, appeared even paler against the backdrop of the thick blood.
Cen Sen showed no intention of letting go; his gaze was as cold and icy as ice, low and devoid of warmth. The blood-covered face seemed to be nothing to him.
The girls who had just been talking about Ji Mingshu with the man were so frightened that their hands and feet went weak. After screaming, they frantically looked for help.
Soon, Cen Sen's bodyguards rushed in. They were dressed in black suits, with strong and muscular builds, and their expressions were just as indifferent as their boss's.
They stood outside the booth to protect Cen Sen, as if it didn't matter if someone died inside; their attitude was clear: no one was allowed to help.
In fact, Cen Sen has rarely appeared in public in the past two years. Most of the playboys who frequent nightclubs would find it difficult to connect him with the Crown Prince Junyi. But with Jiang Che present today, even a fool could recognize his identity.
Some people had initially wanted to meddle, but they all wisely backed down, since no one wanted to offend the future head of the Cen family for the sake of some insignificant passerby.
Others may not care, but Zhang Er, the nightclub owner, cannot.
Hearing that the Cen family and the Jiang family had graced him with their presence and were about to beat him to death, Zhang Er felt his scalp tingle and inwardly groaned.
What a terrible thing this is.
His wife showed up and caused a ruckus on the day of his birthday party opening! He could only manage a forced smile.
Today, the very person I haven't seen in ages has come to this little temple, heading straight in the direction where someone will die without looking back. There are so many unambitious people running nightclubs in the whole capital, how come he's the only one who's so unlucky?!
"Brother Sen! Brother Sen!" Zhang Er saw that the guy was being choked to the point of almost not breathing and kept calling out to Cen Sen. His heart almost stopped and he almost died along with the guy. "Why are you here? Oh, I just heard about it from someone. My bad, my bad!"
Jiang Che slightly raised his hand to stop him, his voice lazy, "Don't rush, he knows what he's doing."
How could I not be anxious?!
If someone dies at his place, his old man at home will chop off his hands and feet and lock him up in solitary confinement!
Unable to get in from outside, Zhang Er felt as if his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were being fried on an iron plate, burning with rage. He could only tremble as he lit a cigarette for Jiang Che, hoping to get some details from this young master.
Jiang Che didn't like dealing with these people, so he just glanced at him and mocked, "With your guts, what are you doing running a nightclub?"
Zhang Er wanted to say something more, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cen Sen let go and throw the person on the ground. He suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and cold sweat soaked the back of his t-shirt, making it a shade darker.
Cen Sen stood there motionless, and no one knew that for a moment, he had genuinely disregarded the "appropriate measure" that Jiang Che had mentioned.
Hearing the noise, Shu Yang came out of the private room, put his hands on the railing, and looked down.
Just then, the light bulb spun, illuminating Cen Sen's sharply defined profile, making the bloodstains on his white shirt collar somewhat shocking.
"Holy crap, what's wrong with Brother Sen?" He was dumbfounded.
Li Wenying also stepped forward slowly, gently leaned on the railing, and watched the man downstairs slowly wiping his hands.
Shu Yang remembered something and was about to warn Li Wenying, but Li Wenying stared at him for a while, then suddenly turned and left without saying a word. He chased after her and called out twice before entering the elevator first.
When this happened downstairs, Zhang Er was calling people to clear the area and also told someone to drag his half-dead brother aside to wait for the ambulance.
The music stopped, but the lights continued to create a hazy, nighttime atmosphere.
Li Wenying came downstairs and, standing outside the heavy guards, suddenly called out, "Cen Sen!"
Cen Sen didn't respond, nor did he turn around.
She continued, "Can I talk to you alone?"
Jiang Che didn't like getting involved and was about to leave, but Cen Sen glanced at him and gestured for him to stay. He then sat down next to the still-uncleaned bloodstain and said coldly, "Whatever you want to talk about, talk about it here."
The bodyguard slightly stepped aside to let Li Wenying into the booth.
Li Wenying didn't sit down, but stood in front of Cen Sen, her voice gentle and calm, "I heard that Ming Shu is getting a divorce from you because of the movie? When you called me that night, I didn't realize things had gotten this serious. I'm sorry."
She lowered her eyes slightly.
Cen Sen didn't speak or look at her.
Jiang Che was texting his girlfriend and didn't want to listen to these women's little tricks at all.
Li Wenying kept her eyes downcast and continued, "I thought I could recommend talented people without avoiding old ones, but I didn't expect it would still implicate you. It's right for Junyi to withdraw its investment. I'm really sorry."
“But as for movies, I think I have the right to continue making them.” She suddenly raised her head again, looked directly at Cen Sen, her gaze frank and clear. “This has nothing to do with you. In essence, whether I make movies or what I make is my own business. I hope that even if we can’t be lovers or friends, at least we won’t become enemies.”
“I know that given your personality, you would never even consider the possibility of my movie not being released smoothly. Mingshu and I have a conflict, but that's between us, and we'll resolve it ourselves. Asen, you shouldn't interfere in our relationship…”
"Ji Mingshu is my wife."
Before Li Wenying could finish speaking, Cen Sen interrupted her directly.
He unbuttoned his blood-stained shirt to let it breathe, then looked up at Li Wenying with a blank expression.
“Ms. Li, I thought we made things very clear on the phone last time. No one is stopping you from making movies; do your own thing. But what I want to do is also my own business.”
"Also, you and me, it's just you and me. Ji Mingshu and me, it's us, do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Che didn't even look up. He sent a message to Zhou You, his girlfriend who was pretending to be casual but actually testing the waters regarding a certain rumored affair at the company, saying, "She and I are just her and me. You and I are us. Do you understand?"
After a moment of silence, the other end sent back an emoji of a little girl nodding.
Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that this meant he was satisfied.
But Li Wenying couldn't breathe properly.
Her mind went blank for a moment. All of this, including Ji Mingshu's impatience and mention of divorce, was within her expectations. How could this be...?
She didn't understand where things went wrong, nor did she want to think about the possibility that Cen Sen liked Ji Mingshu...
Before she could gather her thoughts, Cen Sen had already gotten up and walked out, unwilling to waste any more words with her.
Shu Yang had just come downstairs and saw Cen Sen walk out of the booth, and was about to talk to him.
Cen Sen suddenly looked at him and said coldly, "This is the last time."
Shu Yang looked completely bewildered. What happened again? He grabbed Jiang Che, who came out last, and asked, "What did he say? What did he mean by 'the last time'?"
Jiang Che: "It means there will be a next time, and we can't be friends anymore."
Shu Yang was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized, "Wait, he doesn't think I called Li Wenying, does he? Damn it, I'm so innocent!"
He looked completely bewildered. "I specifically called you two over to apologize after Big Mouth caused trouble last time. I was singing with the young lady in the private room when this woman and that sickly guy from the Yuan family suddenly came over to say hello. I couldn't just kick them out."
"I was completely stunned! And before I could even say anything, this happened, and then she came running downstairs like a shot... Hey, what's she up to now? Damn, this girl really screwed me over!"
Jiang Che didn't even lift his eyelids. "What's the use of telling me?"
The only way to resolve this would be to explain it to Cen Sen, but Cen Sen clearly didn't have time to deal with Shu Yang right now.
He left the pub, still wearing his blood-stained shirt, and got into the back seat of the car, immediately giving the destination, "Star Harbor International."